News

The OnePlus 5 could have nifty spec bumps, dual cameras

Published

May 8, 2017

Rodneil Quiteles

OnePlus fans rejoice! The company has confirmed to The Verge that its next flagship is coming soon and will be named the OnePlus 5.

Why 5?

Plenty of reasons. First, it is the fifth phone in OnePlus’ lineup with the fourth one being the OnePlus 3T. Second, like many other Chinese companies, OnePlus is skipping the number four, as it’s considered unlucky because of its relation to death. Last, and curiously, OnePlus told The Verge that many of the company’s employees are fans of retired NBA player Robert Horry who sported the number five on his jersey. They are such big fans that they actually have paintings of “Big Shot Rob” in their office.

Top-of-the-line specs

Don’t expect OnePlus to drop its “flagship killer” tag any time soon. Like its earlier phones, the OnePlus 5 plans to take on current flagships with components that rival, if not exceed, the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the LG G6.

Powering the smartphone is the latest from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 835 processor. There have been rumors it will match the OnePlus 3T’s memory and storage options (6GB RAM, 128GB storage), but other rumors pointed to a variant that will have a whopping 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

However, notable tech scooper Evan Blass posted on Twitter a product listing of the OnePlus 5 on online shopping site GearBest with a rather comprehensive look at the specs.

From the looks of it, the OnePlus 5 will indeed come with 8GB of RAM, but not with the massive internal storage indicated by earlier rumors (only 64GB on this listing). Interesting to note, though, is that the OnePlus 5 will have a microSD card slot that supports a storage bump of up to 128GB.

This particular variant also has two nano-SIM card slots and will support dual standby. From the way it’s detailed, it appears it won’t be the usual case wherein one of the sim card slots converts to a microSD card slot. That’s great news if you need both slots and the additional storage!

OnePlus 5 equals dual cameras

The listing also includes an image of the OnePlus 5, and the first thing you’ll notice is the vertical dual cameras on its back.

The specs sheet only lists 23 megapixels on the back camera, and 16MP on the front. We’re not sure if it means the other back camera also sports 23MP, and what kind of functionality it will offer. If you’re curious about dual cameras we have listed 5 facts about them that you may want to know.

OnePlus appears to also be taking an “if it’s not broken why fix it” approach on the design, as there aren’t any major changes from the OnePlus 3/3T. It’s nearly identical save for the cameras at the back. A OnePlus 5 with these dimensions (152.7 x 74.7 x 7mm) and weight (156g) will also be slightly thinner and lighter compared to its predecessor (152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4mm, 158g).

Bigger battery, still not water-resistant

Despite the slight body adjustments, OnePlus managed to pack a bigger non-removable battery at 4000mAh compared to the 3 and 3T’s 3000mAh and 3400mAh capacities, respectively.

No IP-whatever rating, which suggests you will still need to keep it from getting wet. It will also have the standard headphone jack in case that’s something you were worried about.

When is the official announcement?

Your guess is as good as ours. OnePlus hasn’t exactly been consistent in terms of launch dates for its phones, but it did tell The Verge the phone is coming this summer, so expect a June or July release.

[irp posts=”12129″ name=”OnePlus 3T review (3 months later)”]

Gaming

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to the Switch

Both games will be available starting February 27.

Published

February 20, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Millennials, prepare to have your nostalgia get hit right in the feels. Nintendo has officially announced that Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to the Switch.

This year, the Pokémon franchise is celebrating its 30^th anniversary. Naturally, with Pokémon Day coming up, it’s only right to celebrate the event with something huge. Finally, two of the most prolific titles in the series are coming to a modern console.

Originally released in 2004, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen were remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. At the time, the two titles reimagined the older games for the Game Boy Advance. Additionally, they introduced new post-game content set in the Sevii Islands, where Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Deoxys reside in the Kanto region.

Based on the short teaser trailer, the upcoming Switch versions will feature all of both games’ content. It will likely be remastered for the Switch’s larger screen.

To showcase more of the Switch version, Nintendo is hosting a Pokémon Presents on February 27. The brand has not mentioned anything about a potential physical version yet. However, they do promise that both games will be available on the Nintendo eShop as soon as next week’s Pokémon Presents concludes. Each game will cost US$ 19.99.

News

HUAWEI launches Mate X7, MatePad 11.5 S 2026, FreeClip 2

Price, availability, preorder freebies in the Philippines

Published

February 20, 2026

GadgetMatch

HUAWEI has officially launched its latest flagship foldable offering, the HUAWEI Mate X7, in the Philippines.

The powerful device was introduced alongside the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 tablet and HUAWEI FreeClip 2 earbuds.

The Mate X7 is dubbed as the “King of Foldables”, with top-tier photography features. It has a 50MP Ultra Lighting HDR main camera with 17.5 EV dynamic range.

This is complemented by a 50MP camera that serves as both a telephoto and macro shooter.

Unfolded, the Mate X7 has a large 8-inch display, with features like Live Multitask. Users can also explore Google apps on the X7.

The foldable also comes with 360-degree protection, as well as IP58 dust and water resistance.

MatePad 11.5 S 2026: PC-like efficiency

Meanwhile, the MatePad 11.5 S 2026 offers 4-in-1 productivity for modern users. It has WPS Office 3.0, which supports advanced math functions and inserting documents or links.

The bundle includes the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro, Smart Magnetic Keyboard, and HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse, all powered by NearLink Tehnology.

The slate’s panel features 2.8K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth and comfortable viewing. HUAWEI’s Notes and GoPaint apps have also been upgraded.

Inside is an 8,800mAh battery for extended usage. This battery has support or 40W SuperCharge.

FreeClip 2: Immersive listening

Completing the flagship triumvirate is the HUAWEI FreeClip 2, which comes with a unique Airy C-Bridge design.

The lightweight, open-ear wearable serves as both a reliable audio device and fashionable piece. It is powered by an NPU AI Processor and Dual-Diaphragm Driver for better bass performance and a fuller, more dynamic audio.

Meanwhile, its 3-mic noise cancellation system keeps calls crystal-clear on both ends. The FreeClip 2 also comes with IP57 protection and can last up to 38 hours with its charging case.

Price, availability

The three devices are now available for preorder online via HUAWEI, Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok, as well as HUAWEI Experience Stores.

HUAWEI Mate X7: PhP 119,999

Comes with preorder freebies worth up to Ph 45,998:

HUAWEI WATCH GT 5
Trade-in tokens worth PhP 12,000
1-Time Accidental Damage Screen Protection
Up to PhP 10,000 off with select banks until February 26

HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026: PhP 29,999 (from PhP 31,999 until March 22)

Up to PhP 2,000 Early Bird vouchers
Free HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
WPS Office
HUAWEI M-Pencil
Bluetooth Mouse

HUAWEI FreeClip 2: PhP 9,999

Up to PhP 1,000 Early Bird vouchers

News

iPhone 17 Pro Max is somehow the most traded-in phone today

All of the recent Pro Max models are sitting at the top, too.

Published

February 19, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

For a lot of people, reselling or trading-in is the natural end of their time with an iPhone. After all, an iPhone is too expensive to leave lying stagnant in a drawer. Now, this usually happens years after a phone fully lives out its usefulness. However, the new iPhone 17 Pro Max has somehow claimed the top spot as the most traded-in phone today.

According to reports organized by SellCell, a surprising number of people are reselling their iPhone 17 Pro Max. Today, 11.5 percent of trade-ins are of the current generation’s most premium model. The next models, the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, all sit between 7.2 percent and 7.3 percent apiece. This is a staggering growth, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max was sitting at only 5.1 percent of trade-ins in late November.

There’s no confirmed reason as to why people are trading their premium models so early into the model’s lifecycle. However, if it’s any indication, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the lowest depreciation for a premium iPhone model, when compared to its predecessors in the same time frame.

Given that the resale value of a new iPhone 17 Pro Max is still pretty high today, it’s possible that users aren’t completely satisfied with the model and opted to trade in their new phones for something more manageable. After all, the new phone is as premium as they come. It’s also as large as they come.

That said, it’s certainly an odd tidbit that the most premium iPhone is the one that people are dumping the most.