Smartphones

OPPO Find X8 Ultra shows off why camera is king

Showcases a next-gen penta camera

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OPPO is once again showing off why camera is king. Today, the brand has revealed the next evolution of camera phones. If you’re in the market for a new smartphone or a new camera, take the OPPO Find X8 Ultra, with a next-generation penta camera, into consideration.

Five amazing cameras in one package

Co-engineered with Hasselblad, the Find X8 Ultra packs in five cameras. In one smartphone, you’ll get a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 50-megapixel wide camera with a 1-inch sensor, two 50-megapixel periscope telephoto cameras, and a True Chroma camera for more natural colors.

Further, the 50-megapixel wide sensor comes with a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor. It has an 8-elements lens to minimize chromatic aberration. The f/1.8 aperture and in-house OIS further increase picture quality.

Meanwhile, the first periscope lens allows for 3x magnification. It has an f/2.1 aperture and anti-glare Super Blue Glass to capture more light. It also allows for a focus distance of only 10cm, creating new telemacro capabilities. The second telephoto lens allows for 6x magnification and has increased light intake of 151 percent.

Finally, the exclusive True Chroma camera can divide images into 6×8 grids. It can record color temperature separately, allowing for more accurate white balance processing.

Top-tier engines inside

As with its predecessors, the Find X8 Ultra comes with a Next-Gen HyperTone Image Engine. It’s an AI-based in-house computational system that can further improve image quality on the software side.

The ProXDR can enhance both brightness and color information. A new Hi-Res mode can capture 25-megapixel photos on all of the rear cameras.

The Hasselblad Portrait Mode can masterfully utilize the 6x periscope zoom to maximize natural bokeh effects. It can also do the same in low-light conditions.

Finally, for the professional photographer in you, the Master Mode allows for maximum control over your photos. It now offers 50-megapixel JPEG MAX and RAW MAX output. Plus, it supports Night Mode, Focus Magnifier, and Focus Peaking. And, it has 15 built-in presets for easy editing.

Under the hood

Outside of the camera, the Find X8 Ultra touts itself as the thinnest camera phone, clocking in an 8.78mm profile. It has a 6.82-inch QHD screen.

Underneath, the smartphone features the Snapdragon 8 Elite, up to 16GB LPDDR5X-9600 RAM, and up to 1TB UFS 4.1 storage. It is rated for IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance.

Finally, the Find X8 Ultra comes with a 6100mAh battery, compatible with 100W SUPERVOOC charging and 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging.

SEE ALSO: OPPO Find N5 in the World’s Longest Flight

Deals

nubia expands gaming lineup with Neo 5 Max, Neo 5 GT Special Edition

Get them with freebies until August 8

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Mobile gamers are in for a treat as the newly-released nubia Neo 5 Max PadPhone, as well as the Neo 5 GT Special Edition, have special deals throughout the weekend.

This is as part of the “#NEOVerseMaxOut: Max Out Your World” campaign, with nubia offering the two new models under their popular Neo series.

Purchases until August 8 come with a free 3-month Viu Premium subscription, as well as up to PhP 7,999 worth of freebies.

Freebies include power banks, Bluetooth speakers, earbuds, portable fans, and more.

Both smartphones offer users more ways to enjoy immersive entertainment, gaming, and everyday productivity.

The recently-launched Neo 5 Max comes with a 7.5-inch display for more room for content consumption and gaming.

It also houses a 7,100mAh dual-cell battery for more power, specially in extended sessions, streaming marathons, or busy days.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7100 chipset, along with more features like Dolby Atmos, Neo Triggers 5.0, RGB Eagle Eye Lighting, and IP64 dust and water resistance.

It is priced at PhP 19,999.

Meanwhile, the Neo 5 GT Special Edition brings together nubia’s most advanced gaming technologies.

At the heart of the device is the AquaCore Cooling System. This is the only liquid and air dual active cooling system in its class.

The handset comes with a 6.8-inch 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED display (SGS-certified Eye Care), a Dimensity 7400 processor, and up to 24GB of dynamic RAM.

Inside is a 6,210mAh battery with support for 80W charging. It has a similar 50MP camera as well as IP64 rating.

This variant is priced at PhP 26,999.

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News

Google will force Android users to use Gemini next month

Google Assistant will be retired as well.

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What is Google’s voice assistant called? Technically, there are two possible answers: Google Assistant and Gemini. Despite Google’s push for Gemini, the ubiquitous Google Assistant is still a common option for most users. However, the company will soon take that choice away as the voice assistant will retire in favor of Gemini.

First reported by 9to5Google, Google has sent emails to users, declaring that Google Assistant will no longer be an option for Android users starting September 4. On that date, the company will slowly roll out an update to get rid of the assistant’s availability on device.

Google also makes it clear that Gemini will be “the assistant experience on Android” moving forward. If you’re used to Google Assistant to help you with handsfree use, you’ll have only one option soon. This also affects other peripherals including smartwatches and audio accessories.

Of course, there are a few exceptions. Devices that can’t support an AI-powered assistant like Gemini are mercifully spared of the forced transition. Likewise, devices in countries that don’t support the AI assistant are also saved.

Despite the tepid reception of AI today, Google remains adamant about pushing Gemini to more users, regardless of whether they want it or not. In fact, a forced move like this will likely inflate the numbers that more devices are using Google’s AI software than ever before, while conveniently hiding the fact that most users never really had much of a choice.

SEE ALSO: Apple gives up on making AI, inks a deal with Gemini to power Siri

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News

OnePlus officially leaves the United States and Canada

The brand’s smartphones are now sold out in the United States.

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Once upon a time, OnePlus used to be the darling child of smartphone users on a budget. For a more meager price than a flagship, users can enjoy flagship specs on a uniquely designed phone. Who can forget the iconic OnePlus One?

Unfortunately, prices have a way of catching up. Though the brand’s phones are still perfectly good, more options have already emerged as alternatives for a so-called flagship killer, including OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s Nothing.

Now, marking the brand’s next step, whatever that is, OnePlus has officially left the North American market. As of today, the company has sold its last smartphone in the United States and Canada. Going on the official OnePlus website will warrant a Sold Out sign for both the OnePlus 15 and 15R. If anything, users can still get a handful of earbuds and cases.

As with everything that sells out, if you really want to cop one of the last remaining models in America, you can grab one off a third-party retailer, but who knows until when that will last?

This isn’t just a stocking issue, either. In July, the company already confirmed that it is pulling out of the region starting this month. It’s a sign of internal restructuring happening inside OPPO and all the brands under its umbrella. There’s also a rumor that OnePlus was relegated to being a sub-brand of OPPO once again.

SEE ALSO: OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

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