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MediaTek sold more chips than Qualcomm in 2020

Huawei played a critical role here

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MediaTek

Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek shipped more chips than Qualcomm in 2020, grabbing a market share of 27 percent globally. It’s now the top smartphone processor maker in the world by shipping 351.8 million units. Much of the credit for this achievement goes to Huawei though.

MediaTek recorded a 47.8 percent increase over 2019, marking a massive jump of 10 percent in just one year. Meanwhile, Qualcomm saw an 18 percent year-on-year drop in chip shipments last year and shipped 319 million units of its Snapdragon-series processors.

According to a report from analyst firm Omdia, MediaTek’s growth was in aggressive price segments as the world was impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic in the first half of 2020. This was followed by a slow recovery in the second half, with a looming semiconductor shortage.

MediaTek seems to have benefited the most from the sanctions imposed by the US on Huawei. The blacklist barred the Chinese phone maker from acquiring chips via American companies like Qualcomm. Hence, its only available option was MediaTek. Huawei is one of the world’s largest phone makers and this helped MediaTek ship more units than ever because the demand was unstoppable.

Adding to this, companies like Xiaomi also relied heavily on midrange and entry-level MediaTek processors, which sold like hot cakes amid the pandemic. Xiaomi shipped 63.7 million phones, marking a growth of more than 22o percent YoY.

OPPO was second with 55.3 million units sold, but if we include its subsidiary realme, OPPO actually sold 83.19 million units.

The rivalry between Qualcomm and MediaTek is similar to that of Intel and AMD. While Qualcomm undoubtedly leads the flagship segment, MediaTek has made great strides in offering maximum value for money in the affordable and midrange segment, without cutting corners in performance.

Gaming

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to the Switch

Both games will be available starting February 27.

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Millennials, prepare to have your nostalgia get hit right in the feels. Nintendo has officially announced that Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to the Switch.

This year, the Pokémon franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Naturally, with Pokémon Day coming up, it’s only right to celebrate the event with something huge. Finally, two of the most prolific titles in the series are coming to a modern console.

Originally released in 2004, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen were remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. At the time, the two titles reimagined the older games for the Game Boy Advance. Additionally, they introduced new post-game content set in the Sevii Islands, where Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Deoxys reside in the Kanto region.

Based on the short teaser trailer, the upcoming Switch versions will feature all of both games’ content. It will likely be remastered for the Switch’s larger screen.

To showcase more of the Switch version, Nintendo is hosting a Pokémon Presents on February 27. The brand has not mentioned anything about a potential physical version yet. However, they do promise that both games will be available on the Nintendo eShop as soon as next week’s Pokémon Presents concludes. Each game will cost US$ 19.99.

SEE ALSO: A Pokémon leak reveals an MMO-style remake of Hoenn, Sinnoh

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HUAWEI launches Mate X7, MatePad 11.5 S 2026, FreeClip 2

Price, availability, preorder freebies in the Philippines

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HUAWEI has officially launched its latest flagship foldable offering, the HUAWEI Mate X7, in the Philippines.

The powerful device was introduced alongside the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 tablet and HUAWEI FreeClip 2 earbuds.

The Mate X7 is dubbed as the “King of Foldables”, with top-tier photography features. It has a 50MP Ultra Lighting HDR main camera with 17.5 EV dynamic range.

This is complemented by a 50MP camera that serves as both a telephoto and macro shooter.

Unfolded, the Mate X7 has a large 8-inch display, with features like Live Multitask. Users can also explore Google apps on the X7.

The foldable also comes with 360-degree protection, as well as IP58 dust and water resistance.

MatePad 11.5 S 2026: PC-like efficiency

Meanwhile, the MatePad 11.5 S 2026 offers 4-in-1 productivity for modern users. It has WPS Office 3.0, which supports advanced math functions and inserting documents or links.

The bundle includes the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro, Smart Magnetic Keyboard, and HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse, all powered by NearLink Tehnology.

The slate’s panel features 2.8K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth and comfortable viewing. HUAWEI’s Notes and GoPaint apps have also been upgraded.

Inside is an 8,800mAh battery for extended usage. This battery has support or 40W SuperCharge.

FreeClip 2: Immersive listening

Completing the flagship triumvirate is the HUAWEI FreeClip 2, which comes with a unique Airy C-Bridge design.

The lightweight, open-ear wearable serves as both a reliable audio device and fashionable piece. It is powered by an NPU AI Processor and Dual-Diaphragm Driver for better bass performance and a fuller, more dynamic audio.

Meanwhile, its 3-mic noise cancellation system keeps calls crystal-clear on both ends. The FreeClip 2 also comes with IP57 protection and can last up to 38 hours with its charging case.

Price, availability

The three devices are now available for preorder online via HUAWEI, Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok, as well as HUAWEI Experience Stores.

HUAWEI Mate X7: PhP 119,999

Comes with preorder freebies worth up to Ph 45,998:

  • HUAWEI WATCH GT 5
  • Trade-in tokens worth PhP 12,000
  • 1-Time Accidental Damage Screen Protection
  • Up to PhP 10,000 off with select banks until February 26

HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026: PhP 29,999 (from PhP 31,999 until March 22)

  • Up to PhP 2,000 Early Bird vouchers
  • Free HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
  • WPS Office
  • HUAWEI M-Pencil
  • Bluetooth Mouse

HUAWEI FreeClip 2: PhP 9,999

  • Up to PhP 1,000 Early Bird vouchers
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iPhone 17 Pro Max is somehow the most traded-in phone today

All of the recent Pro Max models are sitting at the top, too.

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For a lot of people, reselling or trading-in is the natural end of their time with an iPhone. After all, an iPhone is too expensive to leave lying stagnant in a drawer. Now, this usually happens years after a phone fully lives out its usefulness. However, the new iPhone 17 Pro Max has somehow claimed the top spot as the most traded-in phone today.

According to reports organized by SellCell, a surprising number of people are reselling their iPhone 17 Pro Max. Today, 11.5 percent of trade-ins are of the current generation’s most premium model. The next models, the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, all sit between 7.2 percent and 7.3 percent apiece. This is a staggering growth, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max was sitting at only 5.1 percent of trade-ins in late November.

There’s no confirmed reason as to why people are trading their premium models so early into the model’s lifecycle. However, if it’s any indication, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the lowest depreciation for a premium iPhone model, when compared to its predecessors in the same time frame.

Given that the resale value of a new iPhone 17 Pro Max is still pretty high today, it’s possible that users aren’t completely satisfied with the model and opted to trade in their new phones for something more manageable. After all, the new phone is as premium as they come. It’s also as large as they come.

That said, it’s certainly an odd tidbit that the most premium iPhone is the one that people are dumping the most.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi 17 Pro Max takes a jab at Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max

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