Computers

Explaining OLED screens and Dark Mode

Why that screen fits in the dark

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Most of the applications you’re currently using must have rolled out their own version of dark mode by now. The smooth transition from a light to dark interface can be done through a push of a button, or by sending the moon emoji on Messenger. A lot of people also find dark mode quite sexy, and that’s probably because of the screen they’re looking at.

A lot of newly released smartphones now have OLED screens, and dark mode seems to work best on such displays! But why is that? How do OLED panels allow dark mode to flourish?

Better, blacker, affordable screens

Organic LED (light-emitting diode) or OLED is essentially a kind of display technology. In a nutshell, OLED panels allow for better and clearer images and colors.

Thin layers of carbon fiber make up OLED screens. Because of these lightweight fibers, screens show brighter and more vibrant colors. Apart from that, OLED screens show deeper blacks and reduce instances of motion blur when navigating. The best part is that OLED screens are becoming gradually cheaper to manufacture. That explains why more and more of today’s smartphones use this panel.

More colorful than the rest

In comparison to regular LED screens of the past, OLED promises more accurate colors by producing light from individual pixels, instead of relying on backlighting. Back then, LCD screens relied heavily on the backlight of the display to make colors pop. Although, such displays also make the colors seem washed, especially when compared to OLED.

Image credit: Denise Chan

However, OLED’s colors don’t always turn out better than on LED and LCD screens. One such case is when you turn your screen’s brightness to its maximum, especially under strong daylight conditions. LED and LCD screens are designed to perform relatively better in color accuracy when your screen’s brightness is set to max. OLED screens were not designed for maximum brightness, so colors at that point would be saturated.

Which OLED is best?

There are two types of OLED technologies that currently exist: AMOLED and PMOLED. A lot of people hear AMOLED tossed around a lot because lots of smartphones use it. Essentially, AMOLED uses a storage capacitor that controls how much light each individual pixel will give off. It’s the one responsible for projecting all sorts of vibrant colors on most OLED smartphone screens. Apart from that, AMOLED screens do support wider resolutions at a more affordable and efficient rate.

PMOLED, on the other hand, does not have a storage capacitor and instead relies on user control. Essentially, the user will control lighting settings, and the individual pixels will adjust accordingly. You can find PMOLED screens on smaller devices like older iPods and pocket Wi-Fi devices. Take note that these screens use more power to implement such color changes.

Joining the dark side

Ever since dark mode rolled out for different apps and interfaces, people have been contemplating on switching to it — and for good reason. On normal LED or LCD screens, the new feature does not bode well with the technology. The depth of the black their dark mode possesses is not reflected well, to the point that the blacks look more gray than actual black. This is much more obvious when the screen’s brightness is turned all the way up.

Image credit: Mike Enerio

Aesthetically, dark mode looks better on OLED screens because of the technology’s emphasis on deeper blacks. Most OLED screens have capacitors that control light passing through each pixel, which also works for blacks and whites. As such, dark mode shows up deeper and blacker, which is the intended look compared to regular modes. But, there’s actually more to just aesthetics for this mode.

It’s also been proven that dark mode on OLED helps save your battery life. Google confirmed this at its Android Dev Summit, citing that on max brightness, blacks consume less power than all other colors. Individual pixels need less electricity to show blacks on screen, which results in lower power consumption through time. Note that Google got these findings through tests on their original Pixel smartphones and their own apps like YouTube.

What’s left for OLED and dark mode

Apps and operating systems are now starting to embrace or consider incorporating dark mode into their software. While apps like Twitter and YouTube introduced such an option early on, others are beginning to take notice. Of course, you’re gonna need the right screen to fully immerse yourself.

Image credit: Simone Dalmeri

It has been proven: OLED and dark mode are indeed a perfect match. But, it is entirely up to you whether you want to stay in the light or switch to the dark side.

Computers

ASUS and ROG Grand Tech Fair 2026 offers holiday deals

Freebies, cashback, and raffle prizes

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ROG Xbox Ally

ASUS and Republic of Gamers (ROG) are bringing holiday deals to shoppers nationwide through the ASUS and ROG Grand Tech Fair 2026.

Running from November 9, 2026, to January 17, 2027, the campaign offers freebies, cashback, and raffle prizes. Shoppers can also enjoy exclusive deals during weekend mall caravans.

The promotions cover ASUS and ROG’s consumer and gaming lineup. These include ProArt, Zenbook, Vivobook, ROG, and TUF Gaming laptops. ASUS All-in-One PCs and desktop computers are also part of the campaign.

Win prizes worth over PHP 180,000

The 12 Gifts of ASUS nationwide raffle gives eligible buyers a chance to win prizes worth over PHP 180,000.

Purchases of qualifying consumer laptops, gaming laptops, select desktops, and All-in-One PCs automatically qualify for one raffle entry. Buyers must register their products online by 11:59PM on January 17, 2027.

Each unique device serial number qualifies for one registration and raffle entry.

The campaign features two raffle draws:

  • Minor draw (December 16, 2026): Six winners will receive prizes, including the ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE Gaming Keyboard, JBL Charge 6, and Midea TF Bladeless Fan.
  • Major draw (January 25, 2027): Six winners will receive prizes, including the ROG Xbox Ally, DJI Osmo Pocket 3, Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo, and ROG Slash Luggage Edition 20.

Get a free Chipolo POP Smart Tracker

Buyers can also receive a free Chipolo POP Smart Tracker when purchasing select devices from ASUS and ROG Exclusive Stores.

Eligible products include Vivobook S, Vivobook Flip, Vivobook 14/15/16, Vivobook Go, ASUS Gaming, and TUF Gaming laptops.

The offer also covers ROG Strix G16 laptops, TUF Gaming desktops, ASUS Mini Tower desktops, and All-in-One PCs.

Get up to PHP 5,000 in GCash rebates

The ASUS and ROG Grand Tech Fair 2026 Mall Caravans bring additional deals to 13 SM Cyberzone locations.

Starting November 14, shoppers can visit participating malls every weekend. They can enjoy instant GCash rebates of up to PHP 5,000 on eligible products.

The caravans also feature exclusive gifts, product demonstrations, and other activities.

Here’s the caravan schedule:

Date Mall
November 14–15 SM Megamall
November 21–22 SM City Fairview, SM City Baguio, and SM City Legazpi
November 28–29 SM City North EDSA and SM City Iloilo
December 5–6 SM City Clark and SM Seaside City Cebu
December 12–13 SM City Davao, SM City Dasmariñas, and SM City Puerto Princesa
December 19–20 SM Mall of Asia Cyberzone and SM City Bacolod

GCash rebates vary by product series:

  • PHP 5,000: ProArt laptops, Zenbook DUO, Zenbook S, ROG Zephyrus, and ROG Flow laptops.
  • PHP 3,000: Vivobook S, Vivobook Flip, Zenbook A, Zenbook, ROG Strix, and ROG Strix SCAR laptops. This tier also covers ASUS Mini Tower V5 desktops, ASUS V400 and V600 All-in-One PCs, and ROG G700 desktops.
  • PHP 1,000: Vivobook, TUF Gaming, and ASUS Gaming laptops. Select TUF Gaming desktops and ASUS Mini Tower S5 desktops also qualify.

Buyers can get an additional PHP 300 cashback when purchasing a qualifying device with select ASUS or ROG accessories.

These include ROG gaming bags, ASUS mice, keyboards, keyboard-and-mouse sets, and chargers.

ASUS highlights its market leadership

The holiday campaign also celebrates ASUS’s position as the Philippines’ leading consumer laptop and PC brand.

According to the IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker for Q3 2026, ASUS held a 32.6% share of the consumer laptop market. The company also recorded a 111.4% increase in laptop shipments from Q2 to Q3 2026.

ASUS also holds the top position in the country’s overall consumer and gaming PC categories.

The company complements its products with the ASUS No. 1 Quality and Service Package. This includes up to three years of local and international warranty coverage, one-year local accidental damage protection, and up to six free device cleanings.

The package also includes a 14-day return policy. ASUS supports customers through more than 130 local service centers and drop-off points, with international warranty coverage in over 90 countries.

Shop the ASUS and ROG Grand Tech Fair 2026

The ASUS and ROG Grand Tech Fair 2026 runs until January 17, 2027, at participating ASUS and ROG stores and authorized resellers nationwide.

For complete promotion mechanics, eligible products, and participating retailers, visit the official ASUS Grand Tech Fair 2026 website.

You can also follow ASUS Philippines and ROG Philippines on Facebook for updates.

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Computers

Apple unveils new iMac with M6 chip

M6 brings faster AI performance

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iMac M6

Apple has unveiled its new iMac powered by the M6 chip, bringing faster performance, enhanced on-device AI capabilities, and improved connectivity to its all-in-one desktop computer.

Announced on October 27, the new iMac retains its slim design and 24-inch display while introducing hardware upgrades for everyday productivity, creative workflows, and AI-powered applications.

Apple claims the M6-powered iMac delivers up to 18 times faster performance than the most popular Intel-based iMac. It also offers up to five times faster on-device AI performance than the previous-generation M4 model.

The new iMac comes in seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.

M6 brings faster performance and AI capabilities

The new iMac features Apple’s M6 chip, with configurations offering either a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU or a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU.

The 12-core CPU delivers improved performance for everyday applications, multitasking, and demanding workloads. Meanwhile, the GPU now features Neural Accelerators in every core to accelerate AI processing and graphics-intensive tasks.

Apple claims the new iMac delivers up to twice the graphics performance of the M4 model. Users can expect improvements in photo editing, video production, and gaming, including titles that use ray tracing.

The M6 also features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which delivers up to twice the AI computing performance of the previous generation. Combined with memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s, the chip can handle demanding on-device AI workloads, including running large language models.

Apple highlights several performance improvements over previous generations:

  • Up to 2.5 times faster performance in Microsoft Excel compared to the M1 iMac.
  • Up to 3.3 times faster graphics performance in applications such as Affinity compared to the M1 iMac.
  • Up to 12 times faster on-device AI prompt processing in LM Studio compared to the M1 iMac.
  • Up to twice the gaming performance with ray tracing compared to the M4 iMac.

These improvements make the iMac a more capable desktop for professionals, students, and creators who need additional computing power without moving to a separate desktop tower.

A desktop built for AI

Apple is positioning the new iMac as a platform for its expanding AI ecosystem.

Running macOS 27, the desktop supports Apple Intelligence features and Siri AI, Apple’s next-generation assistant. Users can ask questions, search for information across their messages and emails, and perform actions across supported applications.

Siri AI is also integrated into Spotlight, allowing users to search for information and ask follow-up questions. Visual Intelligence lets users interact with content on their screen, whether it’s a chart in a spreadsheet or an image in a browser.

Other AI-powered features extend to everyday applications. Safari can automatically organize tabs into topics and notify users about website changes, including product restocks and price drops. Users can also create Shortcuts automations by describing what they want to accomplish.

For creative professionals, Apple Intelligence adds tools for photo editing and other productivity tasks. The iMac also supports third-party AI applications optimized for Apple silicon, including LM Studio and Topaz Studio.

Apple says these capabilities allow users to run supported AI workloads locally, helping preserve privacy by processing certain tasks directly on the device.

Siri AI is available in beta in macOS 27.2, with language and regional availability restrictions applying to some Apple Intelligence features.

24-inch 4.5K Retina display

The new iMac retains its 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, which offers a resolution of 4,480 x 2,520 pixels and 500 nits of brightness.

The display supports the P3 wide color gamut and more than one billion colors, making it suitable for photo editing, video production, and everyday entertainment.

Apple also offers an optional nano-texture display finish on supported configurations to reduce reflections and glare in challenging lighting conditions.

For video calls, the iMac features a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View. Its three-microphone array and six-speaker sound system deliver an integrated audiovisual setup without requiring additional peripherals.

The speakers feature force-cancelling woofers and tweeters, with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and faster storage

Connectivity receives an upgrade with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

The higher-end configuration can also be equipped with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, offering up to 2.5 times faster wired connectivity than the previous generation.

Apple claims the new iMac delivers up to twice the SSD read and write performance of its predecessor, helping applications launch faster and large files load more quickly.

Port availability depends on the configuration. The higher-end model includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing users to connect external storage, docks, and other accessories.

The iMac also supports up to two external 6K displays, providing additional screen space for demanding workflows.

Apple continues to bundle color-matched accessories with the desktop. Depending on the configuration, these include a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and either a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. The accessories feature USB-C charging ports.

macOS 27 and sustainability

The new iMac runs macOS 27, which brings refinements to the Liquid Glass interface, system performance, and search.

Users can adjust the transparency of Liquid Glass through a new setting, choosing an appearance that ranges from clearer to more tinted. Apple has also refined app icons and other interface elements.

The iMac continues Apple’s sustainability efforts. Its stand uses 100 percent recycled aluminum, while its magnets use 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. Apple-designed printed circuit boards also use 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin solder.

Apple says the new iMac is manufactured using renewable electricity across its supply chain. The company continues working toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030.

iMac with M6 pricing and availability

In the United States, the new iMac with M6 starts at US$1,499 for the configuration with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Education pricing starts at US$1,449.

The higher-end configuration, featuring a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, starts at US$1,699, with education pricing starting at US$1,599.

Pre-orders in the United States and 34 other countries and regions begin on October 28, 2026. Availability starts November 6.

In the Philippines, the new iMac with M6 starts at PHP 109,990 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration. Eligible students and educators can purchase it for PHP 105,990.

The higher-end configuration with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU starts at PHP 124,990, with education pricing at PHP 117,990.

Apple says the new iMac will be available soon through the Philippine Apple Store online and Apple Authorized Resellers. Local availability dates have yet to be announced.

In Singapore, the new iMac starts at SGD 2,099 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration, with education pricing at SGD 2,029.

The 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU configuration starts at SGD 2,399, with education pricing at SGD 2,259. Pre-orders in Singapore begin on October 29, with availability starting November 6.

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Computers

Lenovo tech behind DreamWorks Animation hit ‘Forgotten Island’

Partnership powers modern demands of animation production

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DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island has definitely become a big screen hit, debuting with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and being well received particularly by a large Filipino fanbase.

And behind the movie is DreamWorks Animation’s partnership with tech giant, Lenovo. The collaboration is helping power the former’s production slate, including the studio’s animated feature inspired by Filipino culture, mythology, and experiences.

In 2025, DreamWorks expanded its relationship with Lenovo by naming the company its preferred compute services, workstation, and solutions provider.

Such partnership brings together Lenovo workstations, high-performance infrastructure, data center technology, and services to support the demanding needs of modern animation production.

It is a collaboration that builds on years of work between the two companies. DreamWorks has used Lenovo workstations as part of workflows across the studio.

Lenovo infrastructure has also supported the large-scale computing requirements involved in creating animated worlds and characters.

Still in cinemas, Forgotten Island follows lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. and Filipino actress Liza Soberano.

As the two prepare to take different paths after high school, they unexpectedly find themselves transported to Nakali, a fantastical island populated by magical and mythological creatures rooted in stories from their Filipino families.

The film is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and produced by Academy Award nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Its voice cast also includes Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga.

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