HONOR recently made a lot of noise at MWC 2023, particularly with the announcement of the flagship Magic 5s. The brand didn’t stop there. Not wanting to be outdone in the ever-competitive midrange tier, the HONOR X8a was released.

Marketing for this specific model focused on its 100MP main camera, offering customers a DSLR-like experience. But does the phone really merit top-of-the-head consideration for people? We went to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for an exhaustive break-in.

Temper your expectations

The HONOR X8a’s camera package consists of the following:

• 100MP f/1.9 main camera
• 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
• 2MP f/2.4 macro camera

To say the least, it’s intriguing what the phone offers when it comes to mobile photography. I have mixed views about it as it was able to hit some benchmarks yet also missed a few.

The ultra-wide lens does its job.

It is imperative nowadays to get quality, especially captures of cityscapes and nightscapes, this is a handy device to bring and make memories with.

I was able to take good shots of Ho Chi Minh City’s “skyline” and city center, as well as many of their countless parks which make the trip reinvigorating.

The auto-focus works steadily.

As seen on this ice cream on the foreground against a park and some close-up shots of food. Should you want the camera to focus on a specific subject within the frame, it also does the trick.

I had modest expectations when it came to how the HONOR X8a’s cameras would perform at night, but I must say it delivered quite nicely, even when shooting only using default mode.

As Vietnam’s busy city streets transform in the night into an LED-filled spectacle, I was only fitting to sneak some snaps of billboards, storefronts, and more in.

When you use Night Mode, the phone will trigger a four-second countdown.

It allows it to absorb more light and produce slightly more vivid images, like these ones at Bui Vien Walking Street and Le Thi Rieng, one of the city’s busier rotondas.

Of course, don’t expect moving subjects to come out perfect; there will naturally be blurry objects when you leave the shutter open for four seconds, like these motorcycles.

At daytime, the shutter speed works decently to capture moving objects or snap photos while walking. But of course, it is still best to take your time first.

Elsewhere, the selfie camera also covers a lot of space if you want to include yourself in pictures of historical sites and landmarks throughout the area.

Needs improvement

On the downside, however, the HONOR X8a also underwhelmed on a number of aspects.

To top it off, pictures did not come out as impressive as I expected in terms of its color, vividness, and being close to the subject’s real appearance, which is quite a bummer for a mid-ranger.

I’ve tried earlier versions of Samsung A series phones and realme’s lower midrange models, which produced better results. One can argue that using Hi-Res mode (higher file sizes) would suffice, yet I didn’t need that on other phones to begin with.

When using default mode at 1x zoom, the camera doesn’t really fit much into the frame, which kind of forces the user to opt for the ultra-wide lens by default.

I tried using the ultra-macro mode a couple of times on souvenirs to test if it captures tiny details well enough.

It is a bit challenging to achieve the proper focus even if you’ve already bookishly followed the ideal distance of about an inch or two. Sharpness is also lacking.

In terms of usability, the shutter button’s position is quite lower than expected, and the button itself is relatively smaller. I would sometimes have to tap twice to make sure I am able to get a photo of something.

Imagine if you missed out on taking a picture with a famous celebrity or athlete because of these little things.

Performance: Just your usual

The HONOR X8a is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 processor. We did say we put this to the test in Vietnam, and once under scorching heat of Saigon, the camera app was forced to close because the phone’s temperature apparently got too hot.

It took a few minutes before I was able to open the app again, so perhaps bring an umbrella outdoors when you plan to take pictures during the noon or afternoon.

Nevertheless, here are some snaps outside which were taken usually after lunch time:

Speaking of which, it is also challenging to use this phone when it is bright outside, since you won’t be able to see the photos you have just taken in real-time that clearly.

The phone has a 6.7-inch FullView display which has a lower peak brightness than mid-range phones I’ve had or have been using. Admittedly, it was quite a hassle to have to cover the phone screen with my hand first just to review some pictures, nor do they appear as crystal-clear as you would want them to.

Usability needs work

Unlike other phones, the HONOR X8a does not have a floating home button at the bottom, along with the hamburger icon for apps currently open.

To switch in between apps, one has to swipe in a particular manner from bottom to the middle of the screen and hold for a while in order for the apps list to show. It’s quite confusing at first, to say the least, and I am definitely not a fan of having to take too much time just to exit some apps.

On the positive end, the screen wasn’t laggy when switching apps, browsing, typing, or doing simple everyday tasks on your phone.

The phone supports up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It can withstand playing games and heavy tasks, but it’s also best to be cautious and make sure usage is optimized.

Looooong battery life

If there is anything that stands out with this phone is that its 4,500mAh battery’s life can endure the lengths. Throughout my stay in Vietnam, I had this routine of using the phone for hours to shoot while walking along the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

But after that, I would barely use it. When in Power Saving Mode, the phone loses just about 2 or 3% overnight.

As it supports the usual fast charging expected of a phone for its price point (22.5W), the phone also replenishes its battery percentage quickly.

Is the HONOR X8a your GadgetMatch?

The HONOR X8a is now available for pre-orders, retailing for PhP 10,990 in the Cyan Lake, Titanium Silver, and Midnight Black colorways. It is incredibly lightweight, which could be a good thing for specific users.

But as it is being promoted as a reliable mid-ranger for mobile photography, there are just so many items on the criteria the phone does not surpass.

If I had anywhere between PhP 12,000 to PhP 18,000 and were thinking about upgrading my current budget or midrange device, the X8a wouldn’t be the first model I’d be thinking of, and that’s just the truth.

OPPO’s premier flip smartphone is now in the Philippines!

The super compact smartphone delivers power and premier design, making it an ideal daily driver. It prides itself on a crease-free display, a waterdrop hinge made from aircraft-grade high-strength steel and polymer, and a tough build that allows 400,000 cycles of folding and unfolding the smartphone.

The Find N2 Flip is also equipped with a powerful set of cameras, co-developed with Hasselblad. Moreover, it’s equipped with a large 4300mAh battery capable of 44W SUPERVOOC charge, enabling up to 20 hours of video streaming, 16 hours of social media browsing, or 6 hours of video calls.

It also comes with a generous 3.26-inch display on its cover screen, the largest of its kind on any flip smartphone today.

Price, availability

The OPPO Find N2 Flip retails for PhP 49,999 and is now available at select OPPO concept stores nationwide. It comes in two stunning colors: Moonlit Purple and Astral Black.

0% installment plans

The Find N2 Flip is available at Lazada, offering freebies for every purchase such as the OPPO Watch Free (worth PhP 5,499), and the OPPO Enco Air 3 (worth PhP 3,999). It also comes with 0% interest installment for 45 days via LazPayLater, as well as free shipping.

Alternatively, it’s also available via Home Credit with installment options for 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months with the lowest monthly payment at PhP 1,504.

The same goes for credit cards, where customers can avail of the Find N2 Flip at 6 or 12 months installment at 0% interest.

Via Postpaid

The esteemed compact phone is also available via Globe Plan 1499 with a cash out of PhP 28,800. It also comes in Plan 999 with a cash out of PhP 33,600. Both plans offer the OPPO Enco Air 3 and OPPO Band 2 as freebies.

For Smart, the Find N2 Flip is available at Plan 1499 with cash out available and the same freebies.

Summer comes early at the sight of vivo’s new smartphone — the v27 — promising portraits that make your holidays picture-perfect.

All eyes are on the aura light system but of course, there’s more to the vivo V27 than its pocket-studio feature.

Unboxing

The vivo V27 comes in a gray box with a loud, debossed yet radiant logo spelled out.

What’s inside?

The vivo V27 came in an idyllic Emerald Green colorway. While it’s far from the Emerald we’ve known, the pastel vibe pictures the clear, turquoise waters you can find across pristine beaches in the Philippines such as El Nido, Siquijor, and Bohol.

Up close, you can see its protruding triple camera system housed on an island together with the ring light.

It’s worth noting that, unlike its siblings, the vivo V27 has a photochromic feature that changes the color of its rear panel when exposed to UV light. The touted feature from the vivo V23 series was retained in its successors, albeit only in the base unit.

Inside the box, you can find a clear, jelly case for protection.

What else?

You can find other important notes on the smartphone through its information and warranty card.

There’s also a 66W wall charger along with a USB-A to USB-C cable.

Underneath the cable, you can find the SIM ejection tray pin.

Beauty and a beast?

The vivo V27 has an insanely attractive design that makes it look a tad deluxe. But beauty isn’t its only redeeming factor. With a pocket studio appeal, Aura Portrait algorithm, and a Sony IMX766V sensor together with an EIS+OIS Dual Ultra Stabilization, it has a 50-megapixel Eye AF vlogging front camera.

Whether you use the front or the rear cameras, the vivo V27 is surely a performer in terms of camera prowess. To fully maximize its capabilities, we’re cooking something here in GadgetMatch to showcase the vivo V27’s cameras.

Aside from its obvious contenders, the vivo V27 prides itself on a combined 12GB RAM and 8GB extended RAM, as well as 256GB of internal storage. It runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200 and is equipped with a 4600mAh all-day battery life capable of 66W fast charging.

Price and availability

The vivo V27 5G retails for PhP 24,999. Its sibling, the vivo V27e, retails for PhP 16,999.

Both units are currently available for preorders via vivo’s online store.