News
OPPO R15 and R15 Pro Edition now official with a notch
Just as expected
OPPO finally made their latest R series official and we’re not just getting one, but two new smartphones for the upper midrange segment — the OPPO R15 and OPPO R15 Pro.
Both versions of the OPPO R15 have a 6.28-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels or simply Full HD with additional pixels for the taller 19:9 aspect ratio. One would see the R15 to be a blend of the new iPhones (8 Plus and X) because of the glass back with the horizontal camera setup and notch on the display. Unfortunately, OPPO still treats their latest releases with a micro-USB port, but the R15 has the latest ColorOS 5.0 based on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

The similarities of the new OPPO phones end there, though.
The R15 is powered by the new Helio P60 processor with Mali-G72 MP3 graphics. The memory and storage configuration is set at 6GB and 128GB, respectively, which is truly abundant. VOOC, OPPO’s fast-charging tech, is fully supported by the built-in 3450mAh battery.

It has dual rear cameras with a main 16-megapixel Sony sensor with an f/1.7 aperture lens and a secondary 5-megapixel shooter. The cameras are also equipped with artificial intelligence that, according to OPPO, can recognize 120 scenes and do portrait lighting effects just like with the latest iPhones. Selfies are taken care of by the 20-megapixel front camera complete with bokeh effects.
The R15 Pro, also known as the Dream Mirror Edition, is the international version that will ship to other parts of the globe later on. It’s a beefed-up version of the R15 that’s powered by the Snapdragon 660 processor and Adreno 512 graphics. It still has 6GB of memory and 128GB of storage but has a slightly smaller 3400mAh VOOC-enabled battery.

There are still two rear cameras on board the R15 Pro, but the same 16-megapixel Sony sensor from the regular variant is now partnered with a 20-megapixel f/1.7 shooter. It’s a similar setup with the R11s and OnePlus 5T. There are still AI features on top of the usual camera controls, but the 20-megapixel front camera gets an exclusive portrait mode. We’re not yet sure how different it is with the other portrait modes, but it’s there.
The OPPO R15 and R15 Pro (Chinese version) will be available in China by April 1. The R15, which will only available in China, is priced at CNY 2,999 (US$ 475). It has three color options: Rouge Red, Frost White, and Nebula Purple. The R15 Pro, on the other hand, has a CNY 3,299 (US$ 520) price tag for the Ruby Red gradient and CNY 3,499 for the Infinity Black.
Gaming
Xbox saves Kojima’s PHYSINT after PlayStation drops support
PlayStation says the separation was mutual, but Kojima hints otherwise.
Things aren’t going well in the PlayStation camp. After two months of frankly questionable decisions, the company adds another to the pile by dropping support for Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT.
For a while now, Kojima and PlayStation were in a very productive relationship with the Death Stranding duology, a critically acclaimed collection of titles for the platform. When things looked like they were going well, Kojima announced PHYSINT, an espionage-themed game which reminded fans way too much of Metal Gear Solid.
If you were investing in a PlayStation 5 to play Kojima’s latest thriller, you might want to move your chips elsewhere now. PlayStation has just dropped support for the espionage game, meaning PHYSINT will no longer be a first-party title for the platform.
Though PlayStation claims that the decision came after “careful consideration,” Kojima himself has said that the move was “unexpected,” going against PlayStation’s assurance of a mutual separation.
Very quickly, Xbox has announced that their platform will support PHYSINT instead. It’s a big get for the competing brand because Xbox Game Studios is already supporting OD, Kojima’s other upcoming horror project starring Sophia Lillis.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say more. As is tradition, Kojima will not explain much more about his upcoming titles. In fact, OD’s trailer barely says anything. One thing’s for sure, though: we’re all in for quite a ride.
Entertainment
PH to celebrate 1st ever National Cinema Day; movies start at less than $2
Watch a movie on September 12 for a fraction of the cost
The Philippines will be celebrating its first ever National Cinema Day on September 12. On this day, movie tickets will go for as low as PhP 100 (US$ 1.60) at regular 2D cinemas.
The campaign aims to make moviegoing more accessible to audiences. This includes families, friends, students, and cinephiles in general.
Such initiative has been a staple in other countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. The same concept applies, with movie tickets going on sale for a lot less.
What’s great about the celebration is that all movies scheduled for exhibition on September 12, whether local or international, shall get the special admission price.
Advanced tickets sales have already begun. Customers can purchase through participating box offices, official websites, mobile apps, and authorized platforms.
Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to theater capacity. Prices vary for other viewing formats like Director’s Club or IMAX, for instance.
The campaign is organized by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), along with industry and government partners.
The initiative is supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the Metro Manila Film Festival through the MMDA.
Participating cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, CityMall Cinema, Megaworld Cinemas, and more.
Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It uses a passport-style design that opens into a larger display while retaining a more conventional smartphone experience when folded.
Price and availability
The iPhone Duo starts at PhP 159,990 in the Philippines for the 256GB model as listed on the Apple website.
Here’s the full local pricing:
- 256GB — PhP 159,990
- 512GB — PhP 175,990
- 1TB — PhP 207,990
- 2TB — PhP 254,990
The iPhone Duo comes in Star White and Night Sky.
Actual availability in the Philippines has yet to be officially announced.
A foldable design with two displays
The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display when folded and expands to a 7.6-inch main display when opened. Both orientations use the same aspect ratio, allowing iOS to transition between them seamlessly.
The rear chassis uses Ceramic Shield, while the front display gets Ceramic Shield 2. The device is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
Its hinge uses carbon fiber supports and magnets that produce an audible click when the phone is folded.
A20 Pro brings flagship performance
The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro series. Apple says the chip delivers 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
It also comes with the new C2 cellular modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster uploads. Like other foldables, the Duo can be used in different configurations, including tent mode and a partially folded book-like position.
48-megapixel camera system
The iPhone Duo gets a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera alongside a 12-megapixel 2x telephoto camera.
For selfies and video calls, it has a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. The inner display also uses an under-screen camera for a cleaner look.
Battery life goes beyond a day
The iPhone Duo offers up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display.
Charging is also quick. Apple says a 20-minute charge can replenish half the battery, while a five-minute charge can provide up to five hours of video playback.
For the complete specifications and first-look details, check out our main iPhone Duo launch coverage.
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