News
Nokia XR20: Rugged smartphone with 4 years of updates
Launched alongside the budget C30 and a 6310 remake
Fancy a smartphone that could withstand extreme conditions? Well, Nokia now has one — and with guaranteed four years of updates too. The Nokia XR20 is the company’s first rugged smartphone, complete with a host of features.
The design, for a start, is something that you would expect from a rugged smartphone. It’s a bit chunky and for a good reason: the phone is MIL-STD certified, surviving drops from 1.8 meters. The ruggedized casing also helps in shock-proofing the phone. For a peace of mind, the phone also has an IP68 water and dust resistance along with Gorilla Glass Victus on the front.
Now, some people would equate rugged smartphones with outdated specs. This is not the case for the Nokia XR20, as it rocks features on par for the mid-range market.
First up, it has a sizable 6.67-inch IPS FHD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. One unique thing about this display is that it has a maximum brightness of 550 nits, and it can even operate with gloves. It’s also worth mentioning that the front bezels here don’t have any “Nokia” branding at all — a first for the company’s recent smartphone lineup.
The camera on this phone is also par for the course. Up front, there is an 8MP selfie camera located on a centered punch hole. Meanwhile, the rear cameras are made of a main 48MP wide-angle lens and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens.
On the performance front, there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 chipset powering the device. It is a mid-range chipset at its best, and fortunately, it has 5G built-in for future-proofing. By default, it comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It also has plenty of support — four years of security updates, plus three years of major OS updates.
For connectivity, it has a lone USB 3.0 Type-C port with Bluetooth 5.1 built in. There’s even a 3.5 mm headphone jack included into the mix. However, Nokia also integrated dual speakers on this device if listening out loud is your jam. Finally, the device can keep up for two days thanks to its 4,630mAh battery.
The device will retail on August 24 for a price of US$ 549. Buyers can get it in two color configurations: Ultra Blue or Granite Grey.
Nokia C30 and 6310: budget and nostalgic pairs
Aside from the rugged XR20, the company also announced two new devices — the Nokia C30 and 6310. The former is a budget device that adds to the fledgling Nokia C-series line-up. It has a big 6.82 HD+ display, complete with a V-notch housing the 5MP selfie camera. The back houses the two rear cameras with a 13 MP wide-angle lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. Nokia is using an Unisoc processor here, along with the trimmed-down Android 11 Go. Furthermore, it comes with a 6,000mAh battery which is humongous for its class.
Meanwhile, the Nokia 6310 is revived and modernized 6310 that many people know from the past. Just like you would expect, it features the classic design of the long-gone feature phone but with a twist. It has a curved 2.8-inch display, a rear-facing 0.3MP camera, and Series 30+ OS. Strangely enough, there is Bluetooth 5.0 here yet 4G is nowhere to be found.
The Nokia C30 will retail for EUR 99 while the 6310 will go for EUR 40.
Accessories
Xiaomi launches latest ecosystem devices: Watch 5, Redmi Buds 8 Pro, more
Smart, on-the-go products debut
Xiaomi has launched an entire slate of smart, on-the-go devices as part of their major first quarter ecosystem release.
These products, ranging from smartwatches to earbuds to smart home devices and electric scooters, were introduced alongside the flagship Xiaomi 17 series smartphones and Xiaomi Pad 8 series tablets.
All are now available in the Philippines. Here’s a quick rundown.
Xiaomi Watch 5
Price: PhP 18,999
The Xiaomi Watch 5 runs on Wear OS by Google. It has a large 1.54-inch display reinforced by strong sapphire glass.
The watch has a stainless steel middle frame, and a flagship dual-chipset design. Inside are the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and BES2800 low-power processor.
Users can leverage quick gestures with EMG, IMU, and PPG sensors for essential actions. Such can execute tasks like dismissing calls, silencing alarms, launching workouts, and more.
As usual, there are several sport modes, and advanced health monitoring features, which have been refined to deliver a better experience.
Redmi Buds 8 Pro
Price: PhP 3,999
The wearable leverages a 3-mic system with up to 12 m/s wind noise cancellation and up to 55dB ANC.
Inside are coaxial triple drivers for rich sound complemented by Dolby Audio. There are three color options: Obsidian Black, Cloud White, and Glacier Blue.
Users can enjoy up to 33 hours of playback along with its charging case.
As a quick addition, a Xiaomi Tag is available for PhP 899 for a single piece or PhP 2,799 for the four-pack.
This tool is compatible with Apple Find My or Google Android Find Hub, working within a user’s chosen OS ecosystem.
Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000
Price: Php 3,699 (Black and Silver) | PhP 3,899 (Radiant Orange)
Furthermore, Xiaomi’s latest power bank supports simultaneous charging of two devices while sporting a slim and portable look.
It is capable of up to 15W of wireless charging, and 22.5W of USB-C fast charging.
Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier
Price: PhP 14,999 | PhP 9,499 (Lite)
For smart home devices, the company’s latest dehumidifier has 5 noise-reduction designs for as low as just a 35.8dB ambient noise.
It features smart dehumidification, an external drainage, and three modes, including a clothes drying mode.
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Ultra
Price: PhP 46,999
Lastly, Xiaomi’s latest electric scooter is all about upgrades. It has improved front and rear disc brakes, as well as 12-inch tires.
The e-scooter comes with dual swing-arm suspension for better support, an ergonomic design, and a 3-inch display for the rider.
It also has a 1200W peak power with Boost mode, which is vital for uphill climbs or quick acceleration.
On a full charge, the ridable is capable of a 75-kilometer range, making it fit for casual commutes around the city and quick trips.
Other variants include the Electric Scooter 6 Lite and Electric Scooter 6 to suit
All the aforementioned Xiaomi AIoT devices are available at Xiaomi Authorized Stores nationwide, as well as Lazada and Shopee.
News
Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi Pad 8 series price, availability in PH
Xiaomi’s latest flagship devices have arrived
Xiaomi has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone series, the Xiaomi 17, in the Philippines. The lineup consists of two models: the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
Customers can get the Xiaomi 17 in four color options: Alpine Pink, Ice Blue, Venture Green, and Black. The base model is available via Lazada, Shopee, and Xiaomi authorized stores for the following prices:
- 12GB+256GB: PhP 49,999 (from 53,999) until March 19
- 12GB+512GB: PhP 53,999 (from 55,999) until March 19
Early purchases also come with the following perks:
- Up to PhP 4,000 off on Shopee
- Up to PhP 2,000 off on Lazada
- Free Xiaomi Watch S4 41mm worth PhP 7,799
- Chance to win a Leica Q3 worth PhP417,000 (only one entry per customer per purchase)
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is available at PhP 84,999 for the 16GB+512GB configuration. That’s a generous reduction from its base price of PhP 99,999.
Exclusive Shopee online perks until March 19 include:
- Free Xiaomi Watch 5 worth PhP 18,999
- Free Xiaomi Photography Kit
- Raffle entry to win Leica Q3
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features an outstanding camera system, making it one of the best camera-focused flagships available now.
It comes with a 50MP f/1.67 main Leica Optical Summilux high-speed lens, with a large 1-inch sensor size.
This camera is complemented by a 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera and a 200MP f/2.39~2.96 telephoto camera with 3.2x~4.3x continuous optical zoom. The latter uses a 1/1.4-inch Samsung ISOCELL sensor.
The Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and has a large 6.9-inch 120Hz 2k display.
For a comprehensive review, read here: Forget the Phone: Xiaomi 17 Ultra Is A CAMERA!
On the other hand, the Xiaomi 17 has a more compact 6.3-inch design, Leica triple cameras, a 6,330mAh battery with support for 100W charging, and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
Xiaomi Pad 8 series
In addition to Xiaomi’s latest flagships, the company has also launched its latest premium tablet locally.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 series is now available in the Pad 8 and Pad 8 Pro variants. Both come in Pine Green, Gray, and Blue color options. Exclusive pre-order bundles are available until March 26:
- Pad 8 Pro: PhP 36,999 (from 38,999) with Touch Keyboard, free Focus Pen Pro
- Pad 8: PhP 27,999 (from 29,999) with Normal Keyboard, free Focus Pen Pro
In addition, there is also a Matte Glass version available from PhP 45,999.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 has an 11.2-inch 144Hz IPS LCD display with ample 3.2K resolution, 345ppi pixel density, and 800 nits peak brightness.
It comes in a lightweight body at 485 grams, and is even thinner than its predecessor at 5.75mm. The slate is also equipped with a 9,200mAh battery for longer use.
Professional workflows are likewise supported with integrated WPS Office PC.
Meanwhile, the Pad 8 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite. It even has a 50MP rear camera, 32MP front camera, and up to 512GB of storage, as well as 67W HyperCharge.
For the full review, read here: Xiaomi Pad 8 review: Slab that slaps!
News
Smart ends 2025 with revenue growth, higher ARPU, 5G adoption
Network provider to continue investments, expand digital services in 2026
Smart Communications closed 2025 on a strong note, posting a 5% quarter-on-quarter revenue increase in Q4 of the year.
This marked a turnaround for their wireless business following weaker results earlier in the same year.
Smart experienced a 2% revenue decline during Q1, as it focused value-led growth through targeted customer initiatives and sustained network investments.
Their fourth quarter gains were primarily driven by higher Average Revenue Per User (APRU), supported by personalized digital offers.
Smart Prepaid, in particular, recorded a 5% sequential ARPU while mass-market brand TNT posted a 3% uplift.
Moreover, subscriber momentum also improved. There were 606,079 net additions in Q4. Churn was kept at 2.5% by year-end.
Network investments and expanding 5G adoption further supported performance, as Smart handled 11.2 million 5G-latched devices as of end-2025. This is a 35% year-on-year growth.
Affordable 5G smartphones also accelerated adoption, driving an 88% surge in 5G data traffic.
Fixed Wireless Access revenues, meanwhile, rose 22% to PhP 1.8 billion for the full year. This reflects the growing demand for affordable 5G wireless routers.
Building on its fourth quarter momentum, Smart expressed optimism about its growth outlook for 2026. The company noted that accelerating 5G usage and rising device penetration are unlocking new sources of data demand.
For this year, Smart will look to continue network investments and expand digital services.
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