News

Moto is back in the Philippines with full lineup

Published

October 20, 2016

Marvin Velasco

We’ve waited patiently, and now we got it: Moto is back in the Philippines, bringing along its modular Moto Z (with Moto Mods) flagships, midrange Moto G series, and entry-level Moto E Power.

Making the announcement all the more special is the introduction of power couple James Reid and Nadine Lustre as the brand’s new local ambassadors. Commonly referred to as JaDine, the tandem is expected to inject some youthful charm into the Lenovo-owned company.

It was just two weeks ago when we first got word of Moto’s intent of coming back. The teaser, which was posted on the company’s Facebook page, subtly hinted at the pending launch of the Moto Z and G4 series. Now, we have all the important details.

Moto Z and friends

First, the top-end Moto Z. It’s going to cost PhP 33,999 and will come bundled with a Moto Style Shell, so users can experience the modularity right away. The price may seem a little steep, but you must consider the specs it comes with, which include a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, and 4GB of memory with 64GB of built-in storage in a frame that’s — get this — only 5.2mm thick.

Moto Z

The slightly thicker yet more affordable Moto Z Play tagged along in the cross-country journey. Its pocket-friendly PhP 22,999 is a lot easier to swallow, but you’ll have to play with a more midrange-like chipset, specifically a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 625 processor, and 3GB of RAM with 32GB of expandable storage.

To get a better idea of how the Moto Mods work, it’s best to watch our first-look video below:

These are the retail prices of the Moto Mods: PhP 699 for the Moto Style Shell (Herringbone Nylon or Crimson Nylon), PhP 999 for the Moto Style Shell (Black Leather), PhP 4,999 for the Incipio offGRID Power Pack, PhP 5,499 for the JBL SoundBoost Speaker Mod, PhP 14,099 for the Hasselblad True Zoom, and PhP 14,999 for the Moto Insta-Share Projector.

Everything related to the Moto Z is already available at selected MemoXpress and Silicon Valley shops in SM North EDSA, Megamall, and Mall of Asia. An online shop will also be set up on Lazada Philippines.

Moto Z Play

Midrange Moto G

You don’t have to look too far down if you want something a little more ordinary. The three Moto G handsets represent Lenovo’s middle-class segment, and have no access to the fancy Moto Mods. What’s interesting is that the most powerful of the trio, the Moto G4 Plus, is the only one you can buy without network carrier restrictions; the G4 Play and G Turbo Edition are exclusive to Smart Communications and Globe Telecom, respectively.

Dish out a total of PhP 13,999, and the Moto G4 Plus is yours. It’s not going to wow you with extraordinary internals, but that’s what you’d expect at this price range; it has a middling Snapdragon 617 chip and standard 5.5-inch Full HD LCD screen.

Moto G4 Plus

The other two don’t offer anything better in terms of performance. You can acquire the 5-inch, Snapdragon 410-powered Moto G4 Play for free through Smart’s SurfPlus Plan 999, while the 5-inch Moto G Turbo Edition has a faster Snapdragon 615 on board and can be gotten without any additional cost on Globe’s MyLifeStyle Plan 799.

Truly entry-level Moto E Power

Moto labels the E Power as “more than meets the eye,” but the only thing worth writing about is the 3500mAh battery capacity. Coupled with the 5-inch HD display and battery-efficient MediaTek processor, it’s possible to push the phone beyond a day of usage on a single charge. In addition, the battery can be swapped for a spare one if you’re desperate.

Moto E Power

But that’s not all

Lenovo and Moto really went all out with their launch earlier this evening. On top of showing off their sassy endorsers, the unified company is offering a special deal from October 21 to 23. Anyone who buys a Moto Z or Z Play in the aforementioned MemoXpress, Silicon Valley, and Lazada stores will also get a free JBL SoundBoost Speaker Mod. We assume the bundled Moto Style Shell is still included, because it would be too cruel to leave it out.

Globe extends the early holiday spirit with a few special deals of its own. Under its PhP 2,399 plan, you get the Moto Z with the Hasselblad Mod, while the PhP 2,299 plan nets you the Moto Z with the JBL and Incipio Mods, and the PhP 1,499 plan gives you just the JBL Speaker Mod with the Moto Z.

Let’s hope that this time, Moto will stick around long enough for Filipinos to invest in its modular smartphones.

[irp posts=”2529″ name=”Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus are now official in India”]

Related Topics:Lenovo Moto Moto E Power Moto G Turbo Edition Moto G4 Play Moto G4 Plus Moto Mods Moto Z Moto Z Play

News

ZTE nubia Neo 2 5G now in the Philippines: Pricing, details

ZTE’s budget gaming phone gets an upgrade

Published

April 25, 2024

GadgetMatch

ZTE has announced the availability of the nubia Neo 2 5G in the Philippines. The successor to the nubia Neo budget gaming smartphone, the second iteration is armed with an upgraded gaming control experience for Filipino gamers to enjoy.

The nubia Neo 2 5G retains the distinct Bionic Mecha with “Hero Eye” design from its predecessor. It is available in Storm Gray, Sunfire Yellow, and Frost Silver for PhP 9,999.

The phone is powered by a Unisoc T820 processor (6nm). It supports even more Dynamic RAM at 12GB to complement its 8GB base RAM, and also offers 5G dual-card intelligent switching. Additionally, the nubia Neo 2 5G carries an even larger 6,000mAh battery, which supports 33W fast charging.

ALSO READ: ZTE nubia Neo 5G: Decent for gaming

In front, the device sports a 6.72-inch FHD+ display with a 2,400 x 1,800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate for seamless viewing and scrolling. At the back is a 50MP main camera.

Upgraded Game Space

The nubia Neo 2 5G features Game Space 2.0, an assistance tool that is reminiscent of a professional gaming layout. Here, users may tinker with game optimization functions, including Game Performance Enhancement. This adjusts the device’s CPU and GPU resources to help it manage power and battery usage.

The phone also supports ByPass Charging for uninterrupted gaming. Users may activate this charging feature while the charging cable is connected to the device. When under ByPass Charging, the phone gets powered up but without the battery charging so it can reduce heat.

Upgraded experience

Furthermore, one of the highlights of the nubia Neo 2 5G is its gaming shoulder triggers. This gives users more freedom and control while navigating and playing. Users may also customize the shoulder buttons based on their personal preferences.

Meanwhile, the phone’s Dual Stereo Speakers with DTS:X Ultra provide impressive sound quality. This is further enhanced with four built-in sound effects.

News

Apple announces new special event for iPads

Scheduled for May 7

Published

April 24, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

The next Apple event is coming! Two weeks ahead of the big launch, the iPad maker has announced an upcoming event dedicated to the tablet.

As always, Apple has added a tagline to tease what’s coming for the brand. This time, it’s “Let loose.”

Now, you won’t get a lot of clues from something so vague. Thankfully, the graphic is much more telling. It features a hand clearly grasping an Apple Pencil. For sure, the event will focus on new iPads.

The special event will start on May 7, 10AM ET. Interested viewers can watch the event live.

There’s no confirmation what models are getting new faces for the event. However, rumors are swirling that we’re getting a new iPad Pro. We can likely expect a new Apple Pencil too, especially since the stylus is a main focus for the invite.

New iPhones are likely out, though. Apple usually holds the event for those later in the year. That leaves the Macs and the Vision Pro in the less-likely-but-still-possible realm.

That said, if you’re looking for new tablets, it’s time to wait a bit.

News

MediaTek eyes video generative AI for mobile, next-gen sat broadband, more

MediaTek sets its eyes on the future

Published

April 24, 2024

GadgetMatch

Without question, AI-powered features have been integral for smartphones nowadays. And although it’s still “limited” what users can do with AI on their phones, MediaTek is trying to bring more advanced capabilities to mobile devices. This, as the semiconductor company is eyeing video generative AI for mobile, as part of its goals for the near future.

A few months ago at MWC 2024, MediaTek showcased on-device generative AI video diffusion powered entirely by its Dimensity 9300 processor. This leading smartphone chip incorporates the world’s first hardware-based generative AI Engine with secure, personalized AI. It is capable of bandwidth reduction, LoRA Fusion, and 8X faster generative AI performance, compared to MediaTek’s preceding AI processor.

Sooner rather than later, users can perhaps elevate the short video-editing experience on their smartphones by leveraging video generative AI, something reserved for heavyweight devices and software programs for now.

World’s first 5G-advanced satellite broadband

Aside from video generative AI on mobile devices, MediaTek is working on improving connectivity across various technologies. For instance, the company is working on a 5G-NR-NTN satellite chip that can deliver broadband speeds of up to 100mbps. They are working with Rohde & Schwarz for this innovation. One industry that will surely benefit from this is the automotive industry, with MediaTek utilizing advanced LEO satellite support over the Ku-band.

New platforms for 5G IoT, wearables

Meanwhile, the newly-announced MediaTek T300 platform will make it easy for IoT designers to transition to 5G-NR especially for applications requiring ultra-efficient connectivity and long-lasting battery life. This includes wearables, lightweight AR devices, and always-connected IoT devices. MediaTek likewise demonstrated at MWC 2024 how it can achieve consistent low latency for AR and IoT devices. This was made possible by the company’s new RedCap RFSoC using the Keysight UXM5G Wireless Test Platform.

5G CPE for better performance

Moreover, MediaTek showcased its latest 5G CPE devices powered by the T830 platform. Using three transmission antennae (3TX) applicable across 5G NR band combinations, MediaTek eyes performance enhancements for Wi-Fi routers, promising low latency, low loss, and a significant reduction in network delay.

Auto industry collaborations

Earlier in the year, MediaTek also released AI-driven chipsets specifically for smart cars. This is another aspect the company wants to build on. Using OpenSynergy Hypervisor technology, MediaTek wants advanced safety-first features through a virtualized OS within the vehicle. Additionally, MediaTek and ACCESS Twine4Car are working together to develop richer multiscreen entertainment and interactive services. Of course, the former already has the Dimensity Auto smart cockpit and infotainment platforms working to provide highly capable processing.

These platforms can handle demanding processes. These include multiple operating systems, wireless connectivity feeds, and multiple concurrent video playbacks. It can even support advanced 3D graphics and generative AI for the driver and passengers in the vehicle, elevating the overall smart car experience.

Smart home IoT connectivity

Lastly, MediaTek is envisioning a “home gateway” concept which it calls “Ambient Computing.” This will allow users to manage their network of IoT devices in a better, faster, and more direct manner. This will be done by having the technology solve the indoor-outdoor network barrier through bypassing third-party networks.

In other words, users will be able to control everything from their mobile device, minus third-party services. And because multiple devices are working together, a user may technically use a PC to accelerate tasks on the smartphone — beyond what’s possible on a mobile chip. That extends the phone’s life considerably, too.