Reviews

OPPO A74 5G review: Did OPPO balance its midranger properly?

We list hits, misses, and everything in between

Published

June 16, 2021

Karlo Lovenia

Creating a mid-range device in 2021 has become incredibly challenging for a variety of reasons. The limitation in price forces companies to cut corners when it comes to their offerings in this segment. It’s a task that’s easier said than done considering how stiff competition is. You need to find a way to stand out while working with a budget that’s far from optimal. It’s like a balancing act in the circus. One wrong move and you’ll be remembered for the wrong reasons.

OPPO’s latest attempt at overcoming this challenge is the OPPO A74 5G. Just from its name, you can already tell what it’s using to try and stand out from the rest. But there’s more to this device than its promise of the fastest connectivity possible in the Philippine market.

The question now is, did OPPO balance its features properly to create a device that will satisfy everyday users? Let’s answer that by checking which were its Heavy Hitters, what Middleground the phone took to balance things out, and the Debbie Downers it needed to accept so they could come up with this device at this price point.

The Heavy Hitters: The OPPO A74 5G highlight features

5G is here and it’s one of those features you can’t help but call a win. Admittedly, the difference between 5G and your regular LTE isn’t that significant. This is one of those cases where showing you the Speedtest result of 5G won’t do the experience justice. You have to use it to believe it.

There are ways to go to make the technology a 100 percent must-have. But there’s no way 5G is a Debbie Downer, and you can’t call an upgrade a Middleground. At the very least, it’s a good way to future-proof your phone. Its benefits aren’t felt today, but it could be very useful if you plan to use the OPPO A74 5G in the long run.

However, you can’t say the same for this phone’s 90Hz display. Coming from a 60Hz device, using this screen was a spiritual experience. The jump is that good. It admittedly becomes normal after a while and it even reaches a point where you become quite spoiled by it. However, you can’t go wrong with a smoother experience. This is a win.

Surprising build quality, smart additions

One surprising Heavy Hitter is its hardware and build quality. Out of the box, I initially thought this phone was made out of glass. Turns out, OPPO used plastic for the back and it’s of premium quality. The device feels sturdy, and it has the right amount of weight, so it doesn’t feel cheap. The gradient effect was also a nice touch to the design.

You also can’t go wrong with having a fingerprint scanner on the power button. Having a headphone jack in your device in the year 2021 is an automatic win for the consumer. These features might feel dated for others, but they’re undoubtedly useful. You can’t even call OPPO out for cutting corners, because for others, these are exclusions that should have never been made in the first place. They’re useful and they work. There’s no doubting that.

Finally, the presence of Optimized Night Charging was a great touch from OPPO. Having the peace of mind of having a fully charged phone the next day without worrying about your battery getting fried is a feature more manufacturers should have on their phones. For this to be on a mid-ranger is a pretty sweet deal.

The Middleground: They cut corners, but in the right places

90Hz can only do so much and that’s evident with how the OPPO A74 5G performs with its Snapdragon 480 5G processor. It’s okay. It isn’t supremely good, but it isn’t terrible either. It works. You shouldn’t expect the A74 5G to run graphic-intensive games at high settings, but you can still play some games here and there. Social media use is a breeze. You can’t go wrong on this end.

The software of the device is also okay. It’s not stock Android, but it isn’t the mess some people paint Chinese software to be. ColorOS is a version of Android that works even for the most critical of Android users. There can be some hiccups, especially with heavy use, but they were tolerable.

Monitor your battery use

Battery life wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good enough to be considered a Heavy Hitter. The device houses a 5000mAh battery, but you have to be careful with your usage of 5G and 90Hz. They can drain the device quickly, but in most cases, it’s an all-day phone. The phone comes with an 18W Fast Charger, which in 2021 is average. You’d want to have more as a consumer, but it isn’t too much of a slog.

The LTPS IPS LCD screen of the A74 5G was also respectable. It has decent viewing angles even in direct sunlight and watching media content on the device was pleasing. There are some instances where it feels like we could experience more out of the 90Hz feature, but that’s the sacrifice required out of this price point. At the very least, it works, and you can only have minimal complaints.

The Debbie Downers: Even for a mid-ranger, these were disappointing

We live in the age of social media, so it wasn’t disappointing to see the A74 5G house a camera that came out as incredibly inconsistent.

This was a shame because its main camera performed quite well in good lighting conditions. Details were sharp enough, colors were a bit saturated, but not to the point you’d need to lower its saturation on post-processing.

The device came out with some pretty good photos that could contend with the best of the best. That’s what you’d want out of a smartphone in 2021.

Misses in certain situations

But it couldn’t perform as well in other lighting conditions. Indoor shots left much to be desired. It captured too much of the color coming from the background and ignored the natural colors of the subject. This was especially evident when I took photos of the delicious burgers from Sweet Ecstasy. It caught too much of the yellow coming from the light bulbs and the walls in the store.

The selfie camera was okay, at least that was passable enough with its results.

Night shots, even without night mode, had some respectable shots. But you couldn’t say the same for its other lenses.

Especially disappointing was its wide-angle lens. If the main camera came out with saturated images, the wide-angle reduced the color even in good lighting conditions. You’d understand a slight drop in quality, but the difference between the two lenses had too big of a gap. It definitely didn’t help the macro lens had some focusing issues, which made it difficult to take proper test shots for this review.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

I mentioned at the start of this review that coming up with a midrange device is like a balancing act. One wrong move and you’re remembered for the wrong reasons. Safe to say, OPPO won’t be remembered fondly, but they won’t be laughed at either for this device. The device was okay. It wasn’t a Debbie Downer. It’s safe to say they were able to at least achieve some form Middleground.

But in today’s competitive mid-range landscape, achieving the Middleground might not be enough. Its inconsistent cameras might be an automatic turn-off for some consumers. Its performance isn’t good enough to sway the opinion of hardcore gamers. However, if you’re someone who wants the promise of futureproofing from 5G and the smooth experience of a 90 Hz display packaged with well-built hardware, the OPPO A74 5G might just be for you.

Automotive

BYD Seagull is the perfect starter car today

It’s the car you wish you got when you were younger.

Published

September 30, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Over ten years ago, I got my first car. It was a gift from my parents for graduating college: a humble 2013 Honda City. Over the years, it’s been through everything like dates, work events, long road trips, breakups. And it’s still going strong. There’s not much that beats the feeling of your first car.

Ten-and-a-half years since then, I got my hands on the BYD Seagull, the smallest vehicle in BYD’s lineup, and it feels oh-so-nostalgic. It’s like I got my very first car all over again.

Big things, small packages, and all that

Since this is BYD’s smallest car, you can’t really expect the usual eye-watering performance that BYD is so known for. That said, there’s still much to love about this small package — 75 of them, to be precise.

The BYD Seagull sports 75 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque. It’s around what you’d expect from a starter car, but the drive is still pretty smooth. The car’s speed is powerful enough for city driving, including sharp inclines and twisty turns. Steering is also buttery smooth. Even if you have to go through hours of Manila traffic, the Seagull is a comfort to drive.

During my short stint with the car, I drove through Taguig and Makati. Normally, this is a nightmare scenario for me. But with the Seagull, I didn’t get the usual back pain that I get from long drives.

Maybe not the suspension, though

Now, that said… I’m not a big fan of the suspension. On smooth roads, the Seagull is perfectly fine. However, I took this guy out during the height of the typhoon season, which also means potholes wherever you go.

You don’t really expect much from a small car, but this one was bumpy. It wasn’t too uncomfortable. If you’re used to smoother rides, though, the Seagull might give you a surprise.

There were also one or two times that I accidentally went through sharper potholes. (Sorry, BYD!) Now, those were painful. If you have this car, you’ll need to be more careful about what you put the car through. One wrong move, and you’re inflicting serious damage on the car.

An interior to make other starter cars weep

If you have an aversion for how tiny hatchbacks look, check out how the Seagull looks on the inside. The first thing that will stand out is the cushy leather seats. Normally, a seat this comfy has no business being in a starter car, but BYD makes it work. It looks and feels plush.

Besides the luxurious seats, the car has a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so I had no problem keeping my drive smooth. And yes, the screen rotates, as you’d expect from BYD.

Despite the digital console, it still has a bunch of analog controls — including climate and volume dials — laid on a cylindrical format. Not having normal buttons takes some getting used to, but I appreciate the tactile sensation, nonetheless. I didn’t have to fiddle around with screens for when I needed to have my eyes focused on the road.

Though small, there’s a lot of space for your things. When the rear seats are folded, the cabin can hold 930 liters of baggage. In a pinch, you can definitely use the Seagull for moving houses.

Finally, the car has USB ports, a panel for wireless charging, and vehicle-to-load plugs. If you get stuck in traffic, you won’t get anxiety from dying devices.

Range anxiety is real

Though your devices will likely get through the day unscathed, the actual drive might be more of a problem. The Seagull says that you can squeeze out around 300 kilometers from a single charge. I had trouble replicating this.

After only three days, the full battery fell to less than 20 percent. Critically, I wasn’t even driving somewhere far. For two of those days, I was driving only around Quezon City. It was only on the third day that I took it to Taguig and Makati. This was using a combination of the car’s Normal and Eco modes.

I didn’t have the car long enough to test it on a common work week. However, based on those numbers, it’s hard to imagine that the Seagull can last an entire week going back and forth two cities.

Much like other electric vehicles, this one has regenerative braking. According to the driver who brought the car to my house, you can charge the car by up to 10 percent with a single run on the Skyway. I wasn’t able to take this car myself to the Skyway, but I did try to replicate what he did on open stretches of road. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t replicate what he claimed. Of course, I’m not saying that he was lying, but there might be a sweet spot that I just couldn’t find.

If you’re savvier, you might be able to squeeze numbers closer to the promised 300 kilometers. But for my driving style, the efficiency was just fine.

Charging is thankfully easy

Range anxiety aside, charging the battery is easy, at least. At the time of my review, the cost of charging was around PhP 28 to PhP 35 per kilowatt. Via DC charging, PhP 500 got me 50 percent of the battery back in only around 40 minutes. Because the battery is so small, topping up after a long day isn’t too much of a chore.

Additionally, the car comes with a home charging kit. A single overnight charging session should get you up and ready for the coming day.

Is the BYD Seagull your GadgetMatch?

There are only a few things that a starter car needs to be. It doesn’t need to be flashy, luxurious, or expensive. All it needs to do is get the job done of taking you from point A to point B on a daily basis.

It’s also not expensive. It starts at PhP 898,000. It comes in three colorway options: Delan Black, Apricity White, and Sprout Green.

Now, if I got the BYD Seagull as my very first starter car, I would’ve been more over the moon that I already was with my 2013 Honda City. The hybrid offers you a decent helping of automotive technology. It makes for a comfortable daily drive.

It’s not a perfect vehicle by any means. There are still some aspects that I didn’t really love. But there are still a lot that I did. If I put myself in the shoes of a recent graduate, I would immediately think, “Wow, I want these features for my next car years down the road.”

For that, the BYD Seagull gets a Swipe Right for being an amazing starter car for new graduates and young professionals today.

Luxury Smart Home

Yeedi S16 Plus: A working mom’s best friend

Certified household companion

Published

September 28, 2025

Dorothy Baylon

As a working mom of two young children — with no helper at home — life often feels like a whirlwind. Between work, chores, and making sure my kids are cared for, finding time to breathe can be a challenge. That’s why the Yeedi S16 Plus has been a game-changer in our household. It doesn’t just clean; it gives me back precious time to focus on what truly matters — my family.

There are so many features I love about the Yeedi S-16 Plus, but here are my top seven reasons why it has become my reliable partner in homemaking:

1) Powerful Cleaning

With 16,600Pa suction power and the BLAST Airflow Suction System, the Yeedi S-16 Plus is both efficient and surprisingly quiet. It easily captures dust, pet fur, and everyday messes from both hard floors and carpets. For me, this means a cleaner home and fewer allergy triggers for my kids — and that makes all the difference.

2) Triple Lift System

The Yeedi S-16 Plus automatically lifts its roller mop, side brush, and main brush as it moves across different surfaces. No more stopping to manually adjust settings! This prevents smearing on hard floors and keeps carpets dry, so I can let it do its thing while I focus on mine.

3) Self-Washing Mop

This feature has saved me countless hours. The OZMO roller instant self-washing technology continuously rinses itself during mopping, ensuring it isn’t just spreading dirty water around. Plus, with the OMNI Station’s hot-water washing, drying, and solution dispensing, I know my floors are truly clean and safe for little hands (and feet!) crawling around.

4) Smart Navigation

Thanks to its AIVI 3D 3.0 Omni-Approach Technology, this robot vacuum can identify and avoid obstacles in real time. It navigates corners and tight spots with ease, without constantly bumping into furniture or getting stuck. I love that I don’t have to clear every little thing from the floor before running it.

5) Adaptive Edge Cleaning

The TruEdge 2.0 Adaptive Edge Cleaning system ensures even corners and edges get the attention they deserve. The roller mop extends to reach tricky spots, providing maximum coverage without collisions — perfect for those hard-to-reach areas that normally need extra effort.

6) Designed with Kids and Pets in Mind

Between long hair (mine!) and pet hair, tangles used to be a nightmare. The Zero Tangle 3.0 Anti-Tangle System solves this by preventing hair from wrapping around the brushes. It even has a built-in child-lock mode, so my little ones can’t accidentally stop it mid-cycle.

7) Gentle Reminders

With so many things on a mom’s plate, I appreciate the app’s cleaning prompts and reminders. It tells me which parts need attention or maintenance, so I don’t have to keep track — the vacuum does it for me.

The Yeedi S16 Plus is a household companion

We think Levi the cat likes the Yeedi S16 Plus

Overall, the Yeedi S16 Plus isn’t just a vacuum; it’s a household companion. From deep cleaning to self-maintenance, it truly lightens my daily load and helps keep our home safe, clean, and cozy.

The Yeedi S-6 Plus is available on Amazon for USD 1,399.90 — and honestly, for the peace of mind and time it gives back, it’s worth every cent.

Reviews

Can a budget phone be a concert in your pocket?

The nubia Music Pro turns heads with bold looks and booming sound

Published

September 27, 2025

Budget smartphones rarely stand out. Most play it safe and choose practicality over personality. The nubia Music Pro breaks that mold. With flamboyant colorways, a vinyl-inspired back, and an LED ring that pulses to your music, it’s unapologetically loud in design and spirit.

Priced at just PhP 4,299, the nubia Music Pro promises a “pocket-sized concert” experience. The question is: can it deliver more than flashy gimmicks?

Design & Build

The nubia Music Pro makes a visual statement. It comes in bold Pop Art and Melody Wave patterns with a vinyl-style speaker that takes up a third of the phone. The LED ring syncs with your music and notifications, making it an instant conversation starter.

It measures 6.7 inches with an all-plastic chassis and a glossy back panel. While it lacks the heft of premium builds, its size gives it presence. It strikes a balance between lightweight usability and a solid feel.

It’s comfortable for one-handed use and avoids feeling toy-like, which is impressive at this price.

Display

Up front, you get a 6.7-inch HD+ display built for TikTok doomscrolling and Netflix marathons. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth navigation, but the 720p resolution shows the phone’s limits.

Colors lack punch and brightness struggles under direct sunlight. For casual browsing and streaming, though, it does the job.

Gaming Performance

The nubia Music Pro isn’t marketed as a gaming phone, but it handles casual titles just fine. Games like Mobile Legends and Stardew Valley run smoothly, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps navigation snappy.

Push it with heavier titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, and you’ll need to dial down the settings to keep them playable.

The HD+ resolution also means visuals aren’t the sharpest. On the bright side, the loud speakers make gaming more immersive.

Sound: The Star of the Show

This is where the nubia Music Pro earns its name. Here are the top three standout features:

600% Volume Boost: Goes up to 95dB, essentially louder than your average hairdryer.
BT Loudspeaker Mode: Lets you use the phone as a Bluetooth speaker — a fun, unique feature.
3.5mm headphone jack: Wired is still king, powering high-impedance IEMs with ease.

Powered by a 2.1-channel speaker system with three full-range drivers, the Music Pro delivers room-filling sound. Whether you’re vibing to playlists or watching a movie, it gets impressively loud.

It also throws in some extras:

Seven-color customizable LED lights that sync with music and alerts.
Touch-to-share music with other nubia devices.
NFC playback via Tag for seamless sharing.

So, it’s loud and feature-packed. But does it sound good?

After testing in my room, in the car, and on a rooftop, one thing is clear: it’s the loudest budget phone I’ve heard. Mids and highs come through clean, and vocals stay sharp no matter the genre. That makes it great for movies or dialogue-heavy shows.

The bass, however, falls short. Push the volume boost too far, and distortion creeps in, especially with busy tracks like layered rock songs. If your playlist leans toward ballads, pop songs, or podcasts, you’ll enjoy crisp and punchy audio.

In short, the nubia Music Pro nails volume and vocal clarity, even if it misses on bass.

Is the nubia Music Pro your GadgetMatch?

For its price, the nubia Music Pro is a confident swipe right. It’s bold, fun, practical, and refreshingly different. It nails vocal clarity, delivers personality, and offers features you won’t find in most budget phones.

It’s great especially if you want a phone as expressive as your playlist.