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

Xbox might get rid of physical discs too

The experimental disc-to-digital feature will digitize your physical library.

Published

July 2, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Sony and Microsoft are seemingly locked in a farcical battle to sink their own ship first. Just today, the PlayStation fired its most damaging salvo yet by cancelling physical games starting 2028. Not to be outdone, the Xbox is going pound-for-pound through an experimental disc-to-digital feature to digitize physical games.

According to The Verge, Microsoft is currently testing a feature which will allow users to completely digitize their collection of physical games on the Xbox One and the Series X. Upon inserting the disc, the Xbox will create a digital copy attached to the physical disc.

Being attached to the disc means that the digital copy can move from console to console. Once the disc is inserted to another console, the digital copy transfers with it.

The feature will prevent more than a single person from using the disc at the same time. It sounds similar to Nintendo’s Virtual Game Card but without the ability to lend games out to friends and family.

It’s still an experimental feature, so there’s no schedule for a global rollout yet. Still, the disc-to-digital feature sounds like an eerie prelude to Microsoft similarly eliminating physical discs for the future. If it’s any consolation (but it’s probably not), Nintendo already got the ball rolling by introducing the Virtual Game Card feature, but the Switch 2 mercifully hasn’t removed physical cartridges.

Laptops

ASUS launches the ExpertBook Ultra

Flagship AI business laptop

Published

July 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available in the Philippines. It is ASUS’ latest AI-powered business laptop for professionals who want a lightweight machine without sacrificing performance.

Positioned as the flagship of the ASUS ExpertBook lineup, it combines a sub-1kg chassis with Intel Core Ultra processors, enterprise-grade security, and AI features. ASUS is targeting executives, business users, and creators with the new laptop.

Built for portability and performance

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra weighs as little as 0.99kg. It measures just 10.9mm thick. The laptop uses an aerospace-grade magnesium-aluminum chassis with ASUS Nano Ceramic Technology. ASUS says the finish delivers five times greater scratch resistance than the industry standard.

Despite its slim profile, the laptop packs a 70Wh battery. ASUS rates it for up to 26 hours of battery life.

Power comes from Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. The lineup is topped by the Intel Core Ultra X9-388H. Buyers can configure the laptop with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 9600 MT/s and up to a 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD.

ASUS also highlights its ExpertCool Pro thermal system. It allows the processor to sustain up to 50W of CPU performance while keeping fan noise low.

Tandem OLED display and premium hardware

The ExpertBook Ultra features a 14-inch 3K Tandem OLED touchscreen. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,400 nits of HDR brightness. Corning Gorilla Glass Matte helps reduce reflections while preserving image quality.

Other hardware highlights include:

1.5mm travel spill-resistant keyboard
Edge-to-edge haptic touchpad
Six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system
Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports
Two USB-A ports
HDMI 2.1
3.5mm audio jack

AI and enterprise security

As a Copilot+ PC, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra includes AI-powered tools through the MyExpert suite. These include AI ExpertMeet and a local Knowledge Hub.

The laptop also focuses on enterprise security. Features include dual biometric authentication, a physical webcam shutter, self-healing BIOS, TPM 2.0, Microsoft Pluton, and compliance with the NIST SP 800-193 firmware security standard.

Price and availability

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available through ASUS authorized stores and select retailers nationwide.

Pricing starts at PhP 129,995. Higher-end configurations go up to PhP 215,995.

ASUS is also offering an Early Bird Bundle until July 31, 2026. Eligible purchases include an ASUS 100W GaN charger and PhP 10,000 worth of SSI gift vouchers.

Gaming

PlayStation goes all-digital in 2028

Physical discs are ending

Published

July 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

Sony PlayStation will stop producing physical game discs for all new PlayStation titles starting January 2028.

The company says the move reflects changing consumer habits. More players now buy games digitally instead of on disc.

Games released before January 2028 will not be affected. Those titles will continue to receive physical editions as planned.

After the transition, all new PlayStation games will launch in digital format only. Players can buy them through the PlayStation Store or from retailers selling digital game codes.

Sony says the shift will help it focus on digital distribution. It also wants to give players more ways to purchase games while continuing to improve the gaming experience.

The move also signals a major change for the industry.

Players will no longer be able to buy physical copies of new PlayStation games after January 2028. That could reduce the second-hand game market since digital purchases cannot usually be resold.

Collectors may also see fewer special editions that include game discs. Future collector’s editions could instead bundle digital download codes with physical merchandise.

The transition also makes reliable internet access more important. Every new game will need to be downloaded, and players may need to upgrade their storage as game sizes continue to grow.

For Sony and game publishers, the move could lower manufacturing and shipping costs. It also gives them greater control over pricing, distribution, and digital sales.

While the company did not mention game preservation, some players may also raise concerns about long-term ownership. Unlike physical discs, digital games depend on online storefronts and account access.

Sony thanked players for their continued support and said it remains committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience as the industry continues its shift toward digital.