News

Meizu Pro 6 Plus and M3X take after Samsung’s best

Published

December 1, 2016

Marvin Velasco

Obviously threatened by the likes of OPPO and Vivo dominating both the Chinese and global markets, fellow rival Meizu felt the need to launch a pair of smartphones that’ll shape its long-term future.

Let’s begin with the 5.7-inch Pro 6 Plus, the company’s newly crowned flagship. It has something in common with Samsung’s own top-shelf smartphone, and this has nothing to do with looks.

The metal-clad Pro 6 Plus utilizes an Exynos 8890 processor, which is the same one used in the Samsung Galaxy S7 series. There’s also a Quad HD resolution on top of its Super AMOLED screen and 4GB of memory inside — again, just like Sammy’s current best.

That’s where most of the similarities end, but you’d be surprised at how Meizu surpasses Samsung in some aspects.

For starters, you can find a heart rate sensor baked into the fingerprint scanner, and the display is pressure-sensitive using what Meizu calls 3D Press technology. The 12-megapixel rear camera, which is optically image stabilized and has laser autofocus, makes use of ten tiny LED lights to illuminate subjects.

With a capacity of 3400mAh, the battery isn’t that hefty, but it keeps the profile slim at only 7.3mm. Fast charging is available through its USB Type-C port, so you won’t have to wait that long for a full load.

The real highlight, however, is the price. Retailing for only CNY 3,000 or $435 for the 64GB storage version, the Pro 6 Plus now lives among other bang-for-buck beasts, such as those from OnePlus and Xiaomi. Alternatively, you can fork over an additional CNY 300 ($43) to bump the storage to 128GB.

Meizu’s midrange M3X is a lot less interesting, but it favors the more budget-conscious consumers, costing only CNY 1,700 ($246) for the configuration containing 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, or CNY 2,000 ($290) for the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

To keep the costs down, the M3X uses a much weaker MediaTek Helio P20 chipset and just a Full HD resolution on top of its 5.5-inch display. Not bad by any means, actually, if you compare it to the competition.

What’s cool is that the midranger carries over some of the Pro 6 Plus’ best features, including the 12-megapixel rear shooter with 5-megapixel selfie cam, front-mounted fingerprint reader on the home button, and USB Type-C port with fast charging for the 3200mAh battery.

Both handsets apply Meizu’s own Flyme 6.0 operating system, which is based on Android. Shipping will soon begin in the brand’s home market of China, with launches happening in foreign markets in the coming months.

[irp posts=”4365″ name=”Meizu’s new M3 Max has 6-inch screen and huge battery”]

Source: Meizu, (2)

News

Lionel Messi’s face just unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra early

Technically, it’s a custom Caviar phone with Messi’s face on it.

Published

July 20, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Image source: Caviar

And just like that, the World Cup season is over. Spain prevailed over Argentina in a 1-0 caper. Despite the loss, however, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is (indirectly) leaving us a little surprise by spoiling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra a few days early.

Technically, it’s not Messi himself doing the spoiling. Caviar, the infamous luxury smartphone company, has revealed an extravagant Lionel Messi-themed edition of the unannounced Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

As with the brand’s other creations, the special smartphone is covered in 24-karat gold plating. The design is styled to look like Messi and the colors of the Argentinian football team.

Image source: Caviar

Now, before you say that this design is worthless now after the loss to Spain, the edition is meant to celebrate the 2022 win, exemplified by the badge on Messi’s shirt saying “2022”. And even then, Messi is still one of the most globally recognized sports personalities in the world, making this quite the collector’s item.

However, if you’re looking for any hardware leaks, you’re out of luck. The listing has no mention of specs, except for the storage, which includes options for 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Other than that, you’ll have to wait like the rest of us.

Additionally, if you’re interested in the Messi-themed edition, it will cost you a fortune. Caviar’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will start at a whopping US$ 13,130.

Besides its nature as a special edition, this phone is the most official thing we’ve seen of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Samsung is still scheduled to launch the new foldable, along with other models, in a few days. The brand is also rumored to launch a wide version of this model.

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140th anniversary at the Presidential Car Museum

A generation’s worth of presidential Benz models under one roof

Published

July 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last month, Mercedes-Benz Philippines kicked off its 140^th -anniversary “Welcome Home” campaign. Designed to celebrate the iconic Chedeng and introduce a new generation to the brand, the campaign attracts old and new customers alike. Now, the brand’s 140^th year is also hitting history buffs with a special showcase at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City.

Since President Cory Aquino’s term, the official presidential car has been a Benz, offering comfort and protection for the current head of state. It is here where Mercedes-Benz wants to celebrate the legacy of the brand, especially in the annals of Philippine history.

Amid the cars of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Macapagal-Arroyo, Mercedes-Benz is displaying a replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica, which is the world’s first automobile introduced by Karl Benz in 1886. The replica will be on display until December 2026.

Outside the Presidential Car Museum, Mercedes-Benz is running discounts through the end of July. There are also special aftersales services for those who already own a Benz. Finally, the brand will continue to run activations throughout the anniversary, so expect to hear a lot more about the Chedeng throughout the year.

News

Samsung releases teaser with Spider-Man: Brand New Day Easter eggs

Spot also teases upcoming Galaxy foldable devices

Published

July 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Samsung has just premiered a new spot that showcases clips directly from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, just a few weeks before the movie hits cinemas later this month.

The clip showcases Spider-Man as he fights crime and puts his phone through the wear and tear of superhero life.

In the spot, the Fabricator creates a number of devices for Spider-Man built to stand up to the pace and unpredictability of life behind the mask. This includes what clearly looks like a Galaxy Z Flip phone.

This provides a behind the scenes look into how Peter Parker ultimately landed on a Samsung phone — as fans speculated from the first trailer.

Meanwhile, Ned can also be seen using the Spidey Tracker to try and catch Spider-Man throughout the city on his Samsung phone.

The campaign pretty much formalizes Jacob Batalon — who plays Ned Leeds — as Samsung’s Team Galaxy’s newest ambassador.

The clip ends with the text “A brand new shape for a Brand New Day”, which is also a callback to what the brand has been teasing regarding the future of its Galaxy foldable devices.

Samsung to release latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked

Next week, Samsung is set to launch its latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

Ahead of the launch, customers who wish to reserve as early as now can get a US$ 30 credit during pre-order, for a total of up to US$ 1,230 in savings.

Customers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 10 US$ 500 Samsung.com gift cards towards their purchase.