By now, you’ve probably heard of Apple’s and Google’s irreverent advertising campaigns. For example, Apple used to claim that the iPhone is much more secure than an Android. Google, on the other hand, made fun of Apple for adopting new features way behind the curve. Now, a new challenger has entered the battlefield. Nothing has officially confirmed the Phone (4a) by essentially jumping on the hype for the next Apple event.

Recently, Apple released a very interesting invite for an unexpected event on March 4. It was interesting because of its unconventional timing and the recent rumor of a new entry-level MacBook. Naturally, there’s a lot of hype heading into March.

Apropos the brand’s usual marketing strategies, Nothing has released an invite of its own, confirming the launch of the launch of the Phone (4a) on March 5, a day after Apple’s event.

Of course, we’ve known about the Phone (4a) for a while now, thanks to Carl Pei’s own words last month. The more interesting bit is the invite itself.

Rather than bringing out its usual fashion-oriented aesthetics, Nothing just used Apple’s invite and literally spray-painted “Nothing” and “5 March” in neon pink letters.

It’s definitely an unconventional way to hype an event. Then again, everyone’s already excited for Apple, anyway. So it’s a case of “work smarter, not harder,” albeit straddling the fine line of ethical considerations.

SEE ALSO: Nothing opens first India store in Bengaluru

The vivo V70 is set to release in the Philippines on February 28 with a Pop Mart ZSIGA Golden Hour colorway as part of a high-profile collaboration.

vivo says the exclusive design is inspired by warmth, self-expression, and modern lifestyle aesthetics. It draws inspiration from the glow of the setting sun while also aligning with ZSIGA’s “Under The Sun” series.

This collaboration explores the intersection of fashion, imaging, and personal identity. The partnership aims to connect the younger generation by blending creative storytelling with cutting-edge smartphone design.

vivo’s latest midrange device under the V series comes with a completely refreshed design. The manufacturer says the look balances elegance and durability, with an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy frame.

In addition, the camera module is crafted from metal material to elevate the phone’s premium feel. A matte black panel uses high-end glass as well for resistance to fingerprints and stains.

In front, the vivo V70’s display will feature just 1.25mm bezels for a more immersive viewing experience.

Joining the Golden Hour colorway is Alpine Gray for those who want another option. The vivo V70 x Pop Mart ZSIGA collab drops on February 28 at 5:00 PM via the vivo Philippines Facebook page.

We’ve only just started seeing the Infinix NOTE 60 Pro, and I have to be honest — this one didn’t walk into the room quietly.

Sometimes you go on a first date and immediately think, “You remind me of someone.” That’s the NOTE 60 Pro for me.

So in this edition of Match Pulse, here’s what stood out so far — the good, the questionable, and the things I’m still figuring out.

First Look

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

The back design pulls heavily from the iPhone playbook. The camera layout, the proportions — even the default lock screen aesthetic feels familiar. And not in a subtle way.

To be fair, Infinix isn’t alone here. A lot of Chinese smartphone brands borrow from Apple’s design language. But there’s always a fine line between inspiration and imitation. When it leans too close to the latter, it can feel a little tacky.

To its credit, Infinix tries to differentiate the NOTE 60 Pro with its Active Matrix Display. It’s an interactive LED strip embedded across the camera module that lights up for notifications, shows the time, and even runs small animations and pixel pets.

It’s cute and playful.

Right now, though, it feels more like a gimmick than a defining feature. I haven’t spent enough time with it to know whether it becomes genuinely useful or something you admire once, then forget about.

In hand, the phone feels… fine.

Not bad. Not exceptional. Just firmly midrange. The metal frame and contoured edges help, but the overall feel doesn’t quite cross into premium territory. It’s comfortable, inoffensive, and familiar — which is both its strength and its limitation.

There are also more buttons than usual. An extra button sits on the right side, echoing what we’ve seen from Apple and even devices like the HONOR Magic8 Pro. On the left, another button triggers Infinix’s AI assistant, Folax, with a long press.

It’s a lot of physical shortcuts. Whether that translates to convenience or clutter will depend entirely on how much you lean into them.

First Date

This is the first Infinix phone powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 5G, and that’s a notable shift for the brand.

In use, the phone feels quick and stable. Apps launch without hesitation, multitasking is smooth, and the system holds up well even when you start doing more than one thing at a time. CPU and GPU improvements are clearly there, and the phone is tuned to support up to 120FPS gaming in titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Brigida on the Infinix NOTE 60 Pro’s screen.

The 144Hz 1.5K display is one of its strongest traits. It’s bright, fluid, and genuinely enjoyable for content consumption. Brigida showed up on screen in one of our shots, and the clarity immediately stood out — sharp details, lively colors, no distractions. It’s an easy panel to appreciate.

Paired with JBL-tuned stereo speakers, the NOTE 60 Pro makes a solid case for itself as a media-first phone. If you watch a lot, scroll a lot, or play a lot, this is where it shines most confidently.

The cameras are less compelling.

The 50MP main camera tends to lean bright. Images come out clean but a little flat, often brighter than my personal taste would prefer. It’s perfectly usable, but it doesn’t feel particularly expressive or memorable.

Battery life, at least on paper, looks promising. A large capacity battery paired with aggressive wired charging and even wireless charging suggests endurance won’t be an issue. But that’s something that needs time to really validate.

First Impressions

So, is there a spark?

I’m still undecided.

The Infinix Note 60 Pro feels ambitious. It wants to offer high refresh rates, gaming-ready performance, flashy design elements, and features you don’t always expect in this segment — all at once.

That ambition is admirable. But right now, it also feels like a phone still searching for its clearest identity.

Is it about performance?
Is it about visual flair?
Is it about borrowing familiar design cues and remixing them with playful extras?

Maybe it’s a bit of everything.

At the moment, the Note 60 Pro feels like a first date that tries very hard to impress. There’s a lot to like, a few things to question, and just enough intrigue to warrant a second look.

We’ll need more time to see where this goes.

Infinix NOTE 60 Pro specs