News

motorola launches the world’s first 200MP phone with the moto X30 Pro

Alongside the flagship-killer S30 Pro

Published

August 11, 2022

Vincenz

Image by GadgetMatch

Other than the first 144Hz foldable smartphone, motorola also announces two more buzz-worthy smartphones in China.

moto X30 Pro: World’s first 200MP smartphone camera

Another milestone in motorola’s latest August 2022 Chinese launch can be found at the moto X30 Pro’s back. The main shooter is a 200MP Samsung HP1 image sensor with an aperture of f/1.95, sensor size of 1/1.22-inches, and a pixel size of 2.56μm. The moto X30 Pro holds the record for having the first 200MP smartphone camera that can also shoot 8K/30p footages.

Image by GadgetMatch

But it doesn’t stop there. The moto X30 Pro also has a 50MP f/2.2 117-degree ultra-wide angle camera as well as a 12MP f/1.6 2x telephoto lens based on a Sony IMX663 sensor. The selfie shooter is also a headliner with a 60MP sensor and an f/2.2 lens opening.

Image by GadgetMatch

The moto X30 Pro runs the flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor equipped with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128/256/512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It’s also paired with a custom-grade copper block with 11-dimensional VC liquid cooling for better cooling and heat dissipation.

Paired with its 4610mAh battery, another headline feature is the promising 125W GaN (Gallium Nitride) fast flash charger which promises a 50% charge in just seven minutes and 100% under 20 minutes. Moreover, it also supports 50W wireless fast charging as well as 10W reverse charging for hassle-free top-ups.

Image by GadgetMatch

Unlike newer flagships with flat displays, the moto X30 Pro features a 6.67-inch 144Hz IPS Full HD+ display with a curvature of 53-degrees which makes the visual experience seamless. It’s also a color-accurate display with 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, 10-bit HDR10+ and 1 Billion Color support.

Touch sampling rate is also bumped up to a whopping 1500Hz. Peak brightness reaches up to 1250nits with SGS dual certification against harmful low-blue light.

Image by GadgetMatch

For that full-on entertainment experience, it also has stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support and X-axis linear RichTap motor for better haptic feedback.

moto S30 Pro: A new flagship-killer

Another smartphone in motorola’s new lineup is the moto S30 Pro. It’s a real treat to those who are looking for a flagship-grade smartphone with a midrange-grade price tag.

Image by GadgetMatch

It’s equipped with a Snapdragon 888+ chipset — still a flagship-grade chipset despite being announced last year. It also features either an 8GB or 12GB of RAM with 128/256/512GB of storage selections. Other moto X30 Pro-like features remain like the multi-dimensional VC liquid cooling system as well as the set of speakers that support Dolby Atmos.

Image by GadgetMatch

The 6.55 pOLED display is a tad bit smaller and has different a different display tech, but still with 53-degree curvature and a buttery smooth 144Hz refresh rate like its bigger sibling.

Of course, there will be downgrades from its bigger sibling. Unlike the moto X30 Pro’s gigantic 200MP main camera, the moto S30 Pro relies on a 50MP f/1.8 main sensor instead. There’s also a 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera with a 123-degree Field of View (FoV) and a bonus portrait sensor. On its front, there’s a 32MP for selfies.

Image by GadgetMatch

It also has a measly 65W fast wired charging — which is still fast in today’s standards. It promises a 50% charge in just ten minutes.

There’s no wireless charging support though as the back relies on a micro velvet glass process with a PU Leather material. It’s front glass is protected by Gorilla Glass 6 and the side railings are all-metal so there’s no need to worry about overall durability.

Pricing and Availability

Currently, the moto X30 Pro and S30 Pro are China-exclusives. The moto X30 Pro is available for pre-orders in Clear Frost White and Ink Rhythm Black finishes while the S30 Pro has Moonlit Night and Spring River Blue colorways.

Image by GadgetMatch

The two devices are pretty affordable for what they offer. Specific Chinese pricing and configuration are as follows:

moto X30 Pro

8GB + 128GB = CNY 3499 (US$ 518 / S$ 713 / ₱28,842)
12GB + 256GB = CNY 3999 (US$ 592 / S$ 815 / ₱32,965)
12GB + 512GB = CNY 4299 (US$ 637 / S$ 876 / ₱35,437)

moto S30 Pro

8GB + 128GB = CNY 1999 (US$ 296 / S$ 407 / ₱16,478)
12GB + 256GB = CNY 2499 (US$ 370 / S$ 509 / ₱20,600)
12GB + 512GB = CNY 2699 (US$ 400 / S$ 550 / ₱22,248)

There’s no word on availability outside China just yet. We have to wait for motorola (or Lenovo) for future announcements.

News

The iPhone 18 might sell out for an unexpected reason

The ongoing shortage might play a part in the phone selling out earlier than expected.

Published

August 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

An iPhone selling out is not news. Because of how popular the phones are, it’s within the realm of probability that Apple runs out of stock at some point. According to a new report, this year won’t be any different… but it’s for an entirely different reason.

First reported by analyst Tim Culpan, Apple is reportedly struggling to meet its demand for semiconductors for the iPhone 18 and the foldable iPhone. The ongoing memory shortage is cutting off Apple’s ability to deliver the required supply of smartphones in a timely fashion. The report even claims that TSMC, which helps produce the iPhone, is sitting on a shipment of processors, worth US$ 1 billion, that don’t have memory chips.

Now, Apple is still confident that it can weather the launch. However, if the shortage persists, the iPhone 18 generation will likely sell out much more quickly than expected.

It’s an interesting time for Apple to experience such a shortage. It’s been heavily rumored that the company will launch its very first foldable phone next month, creating a new market for the brand. Apple definitely wants this attempt to succeed after the tepid response to its last new product, the Vision Pro.

News

These “smart” glasses just sold out in under a week

DuckDuckGo touts that these glasses have zero AI, zero cameras, and an infinite battery life.

Published

August 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Smart glasses are in a weird place right now. While a chunk of the population views them as cool and innovative, another significant chunk sees them as a privacy nightmare. If you’re in the latter group but want to see what life is like on the former, DuckDuckGo has a new product: a pair of anti-surveillance glasses with no camera or AI, otherwise known as just normal sunglasses.

If it’s not obvious, yes, it’s a troll product. DuckDuckGo is a search engine famously known for pushing privacy as a priority, opposing Google’s penchant for advertising and AI. Now, the search engine is taking on the smart glasses market.

Partnering with Knockaround, DuckDuckGo released the Paso Robles, a pair of sunglasses touted as having zero cameras, an always-offline mode, and a battery life of infinity.

It’s a statement piece. The rims have a logo mark, similar to the Meta’s glasses. The packaging also states that the glasses are “designed to block the sun, not send data to the cloud.”

Now, if you want a pair, they cost only US$ 35, as opposed to Meta’s US$ 299 price tag, but they are already sold out.

Which says quite a bit about today’s sentiment against AI and for privacy. Of course, to be fair, DuckDuckGo’s supply is certainly less than Meta’s stock for their smart glasses. It does, however, prove that the sentiment is there.

As of now, the world is slowly realizing that unimpeded smart glasses aren’t such a good idea, leading to people concerned about their privacy. In fact, some states have already started banning the technology in certain public spaces.

News

Google will force Android users to use Gemini next month

Google Assistant will be retired as well.

Published

August 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

What is Google’s voice assistant called? Technically, there are two possible answers: Google Assistant and Gemini. Despite Google’s push for Gemini, the ubiquitous Google Assistant is still a common option for most users. However, the company will soon take that choice away as the voice assistant will retire in favor of Gemini.

First reported by 9to5Google, Google has sent emails to users, declaring that Google Assistant will no longer be an option for Android users starting September 4. On that date, the company will slowly roll out an update to get rid of the assistant’s availability on device.

Google also makes it clear that Gemini will be “the assistant experience on Android” moving forward. If you’re used to Google Assistant to help you with handsfree use, you’ll have only one option soon. This also affects other peripherals including smartwatches and audio accessories.

Of course, there are a few exceptions. Devices that can’t support an AI-powered assistant like Gemini are mercifully spared of the forced transition. Likewise, devices in countries that don’t support the AI assistant are also saved.

Despite the tepid reception of AI today, Google remains adamant about pushing Gemini to more users, regardless of whether they want it or not. In fact, a forced move like this will likely inflate the numbers that more devices are using Google’s AI software than ever before, while conveniently hiding the fact that most users never really had much of a choice.