Smartphones

Excelsior! Unboxing the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition

Avengers fans assemble!

Published

April 9, 2021

Apple Gamboa

As the late Godfather of Marvel Comics Stan Lee’s catchphrase means “ever upward”, OPPO keeps revolutionizing to greater heights as they released the OPPO Reno5 into a whole new remarkable limited-edition phone — the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition.

Just seeing the package of this phone, it is screaming for Marvel fans to assemble. I can’t wait to show you what OPPO has in store for all of us.

A for Awesome

Up front, we are greeted by the embossed Avengers symbol on the black box further emphasized by the red linings on the edges of the box.

On the side, you can see the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition label, making you realize that this really is a limited-edition phone.

I also love how much attention to detail OPPO has put into this phonee. Even the back of the box lid features the original 6 Avengers drawn on it — Hawkeye, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man and Black Widow.

This is very reminiscent of the opening credits of every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. It always gives me that feel that I’m about to get into action and join in an adventure, just like unboxing this phone.

Correspondingly, you’ll see the debossed logos of the six original Avengers on the black sleeve where you can also find the user’s guide and warranty manual.

What’s beyond the suit?

Upon lifting the sleeve, the box contains the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition phone which comes with an awesome thin but not flimsy plastic case which has the same comical design as the inner part of the box with a big silver Marvel logo.

As for the part where you’d have to fit in your phone, you’ll notice that it has a pattern similar to Spider-Man’s suit.

I’m actually torn when I should use this given that the phone already looks amazing as it is. Both actually look good, so it’s really hard to choose!

OPPO continues to surprise us as they give us a SIM card Extractor PIN that also has the Avenger logo on it. This would probably be your go-to SIM ejector moving forward.

A runner-up on my favorite when it comes to this phone’s accessories is the earphones. It has the Captain America shield on one earbud and Iron Man on the other. These are 3.5mm audio jack earphones which would most definitely be compatible with your existing smartphone.

Even the USB-Type C cable and adapter has Marvel branding all over it. It comes in this red and black colorway. This is a 50W charger which I could even call “Quicksilver” as it can fully charge the OPPO Reno5 Marvel phone in just an hour.

The Infinity Phone

The Marvel fan in me went crazy when I finally got to hold, feel and experience the OPPO Reno5 Marvel edition phone.

By unwrapping it from its plastic, the vision of the majestic back of the phone is revealed. At the center of it, an “A” logo is found which combines two iconic Marvel elements — the Avengers logo and Captain America’s shield. You will also notice the letter “X”, taking its inspiration from Black Widow’s logo.

The smudge-proof matte and textured finish of the whole back of the phone which can give you a sensory overload is based on the high-tech Quantum Suits worn by the Avengers on the movie Avengers: Endgame.

On the right side of the phone, you can also find the red power button while on the left, you can find the red volume rocker.

Both sides of the phone are also accentuated with the Avengers design. I think these are the reasons why the border of the Marvel casing is translucent so can still the see the details on the sides of the phone.

On the front is a 6.4-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen which support a 90HZ refresh rate, providing you with a clear and immersive viewing experience.

Upon opening it, you are greeted by a revolving Avengers logo, taking you back to the iconic opening scenes of the Avengers: Endgame.

Once you’ve gone through the phone setup, you’ll be in for a treat. You will see a customizable system UI and icons full of Marvel elements, as if you are creating your own Marvel world.

Echoing the external design of the unit, the phone’s user interface takes inspiration from the Avengers’ Quantum Suits and spacecraft based on the latest version of the ColorOS 11.1

Some easily identifiable icons are the Phone icon based on the logo and the weapon worn by S.H.I.E.L.D director Nick Fury, the Camera icon based on Iron Man, Messages icon inspired by Captain America and Browser icon designed according to Vision.

The phone also comes with six custom lock screen wallpaper featuring the original MCU Avengers. By just pressing the button at the corner left of the lock screen, you can swiftly select wallpapers by just tapping one of the heroes through a flip book-style animation.

When charging the phone, a revolving charging status icon based upon the HUD inside Iron Man’s helmet appears over the Avengers wallpaper, which can make you feel like you are preparing for a battle alongside your chosen superhero.

More to Marvel about

There’s definitely more to the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition than all its Marvel details and features.

This phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. This means you can continue to enjoy gaming as it can smoothly run your games such as Marvel Super War or Marvel Contest of Champions.

It is also equipped with powerful camera features — 44MP selfie camera and 64MP Quadcamera setup. As you can see on the photos, the phone has decent dynamic range.

I was able to capture an acceptable amount of information on darker portions of the image as I exposed on the sky. colors also aren’t too saturated.

As for night phoneography, the phone has a fair amount of noise reduction. Even if the image became a bit soft, details can still be seen.

Now if I’d be asked to choose between the original OPPO Reno 5 4G or this Marvel Edition which is at a PhP 1,000 higher price tag? I’d strongly choose the latter.

Everything is marvelous with this phone — from the experience of unboxing it, to using all of its unique and powerful features. As Captain Steve Rogers aka Captain America would say “I can do this all day”. Yes, you’d definitely want to use this all day.

The OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition is available in selected OPPO concept stores nationwide and can also be ordered via Lazada and Shopee for PhP 19,999.

News

nubia Neo 5 series launches in the PH, starts below PhP 12K

Built-in cooling fan highlights latest nubia gaming series

Published

March 28, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

nubia has officially launched the nubia Neo 5 series gaming smartphones in the Philippines through a fan activation event at SM Megamall.

The series consists of the nubia Neo 5, nubia Neo 5 Pro, and nubia Neo 5 GT.

Here are the pricing details and storage configurations for each variant:

nubia Neo 5 (8GB+128GB): PhP 11,999
nubia Neo 5 Pro (12GB+256GB): PhP 14,999
nubia Neo 5 GT (8GB+256GB): PhP 17,999
nubia Neo 5 GT (12GB+512GB): PhP 19,999

In particular, the top-of-the-line nubia Neo 5 GT is available in Phantom Black, Stellar Silver, and Electro Gold.

The entire series builds on the nubia Neo history of gaming-centric features, from the phones’ aesthetic, RGB lighting, OS design, and features.

New to the series is a built-in active cooling fan, and a large VC vapor chamber cooling panel.

This system eliminates the need for an external cooling fan which was among the freebies for the previous series, so users can simply focus on gaming sessions.

The phone has small exhaust vents on both sides. The series retains the shoulder triggers, although the presence of the vents pushes the volume buttons and power button lower on the right-hand side of the phone.

Powering the nubia Neo 5 GT variant is the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor for up to 2.6GHz clock speed.

The handset comes with up to 12GB of base RAM (plus 12GB expansion), and up to 512GB of internal storage. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for fast and stable connectivity.

Inside is a 6,210mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging, as well as charge separation to directly charge the phone while bypassing the battery for extended sessions.

In front is a 6.8-inch 1.5K OLED display with up to 144Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits peak brightness. This screen also has a 439ppi pixel density for sharp visuals. It is also complemented by DTS:X Ultra surround sound technology.

For its camera, the Neo 5 GT has a 50MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera.

News

Samsung Galaxy A57, A37 bring Galaxy AI closer to more users

Galaxy AI meets midrange

Published

March 25, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Samsung is expanding its AI push beyond flagships with the launch of the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 — two devices positioned as accessible entry points into the broader Galaxy ecosystem.

These new Galaxy A Series smartphones don’t just refresh specs. They carry over a growing part of what Samsung now considers core to the Galaxy experience: AI-powered tools, long-term software support, and tighter ecosystem integration.

For users who aren’t quite ready to commit to a flagship Galaxy S device, this is Samsung making its case: you can start here.

A softer entry into Galaxy AI

The headline feature here is what Samsung calls “Awesome Intelligence,” its midrange-friendly take on Galaxy AI.

Running on One UI 8.5, both devices bring features that feel familiar if you’ve seen Samsung’s recent flagships — just scaled for a wider audience.

There’s Voice Transcription baked into the Voice Recorder, letting you convert recordings into text. AI Select surfaces contextual actions directly from the screen, making it easier to grab text, images, or snippets without jumping between apps. And yes, Circle to Search with Google is here too, now with multi-object recognition.

Even Samsung’s voice assistant gets a boost. Bixby becomes more conversational, while Google’s Gemini is integrated to handle more complex, cross-app tasks.

It’s not the full flagship AI suite, but it’s enough to give you a taste of how Samsung sees everyday interactions evolving.

And that’s really the pitch: not everything, but enough to get you started.

Cameras that lean on AI, not just megapixels

Both phones pack a familiar but reliable triple-camera setup, anchored by a 50MP main sensor.

On paper, it’s straightforward. In practice, Samsung is leaning heavily on AI to elevate the experience.

Object Eraser now produces more natural edits. Best Face (on the Galaxy A57 5G) helps salvage group shots. And scene optimization works in the background to balance exposure, skin tones, and detail.

Low-light photography also gets a boost with improved Nightography, aiming for clearer shots without needing manual tweaks.

The Galaxy A57 pulls slightly ahead here, with better image processing, faster shutter speeds, and more refined detail handling — the kind of upgrades you’ll notice when shooting moving subjects or tricky lighting conditions.

For most users, though, both cameras aim to do the same thing: remove friction. Point, shoot, fix — all within seconds.

Built for everyday use (and long-term ownership)

Where the Galaxy A Series continues to shine is in longevity.

Both the Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G promise up to six generations of Android and One UI updates, plus six years of security patches — a commitment that used to be reserved for premium devices.

That’s paired with practical hardware choices:

6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate
5,000mAh battery on both models
IP68 water and dust resistance
Samsung Knox security with features like Private Album and Privacy Alerts

The Galaxy A57 5G adds a bit more headroom for performance, with upgraded CPU, GPU, and NPU, along with a larger vapor chamber to keep things stable during longer sessions. That’s true whether it’s for gaming, recording, or just heavy multitasking.

It’s also slimmer and lighter, with a more refined finish that pushes the Galaxy A Series closer to flagship territory, at least in-hand.

The ecosystem play

More than anything, the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 feel like onboarding devices.

They’re not trying to outshine the Galaxy S lineup. Instead, they introduce you to how Samsung wants everything to work together — from AI tools to SmartThings to cross-device workflows.

It’s the kind of phone you get when you’re curious about Galaxy, but not fully committed yet.

You get a preview of the experience. The AI tools. The software longevity. The ecosystem hooks.

And if it clicks, Samsung is betting you’ll eventually move deeper into its lineup.

Pricing and availability

Philippine pricing and availability

The Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G are now available in Samsung Authorized Stores nationwide.

For pricing, the Galaxy A57 5G comes in three configurations:

128GB – PhP28,990
256GB – PhP30,990
512GB – PhP37,990

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A37 5G is available in:

128GB – PhP25,990
256GB – PhP27,990

Color options vary per model. The Galaxy A57 5G is offered in Awesome Navy, Awesome Gray, Awesome Icyblue, and Awesome Lilac. The Galaxy A37 5G, on the other hand, comes in Awesome Lavender, Awesome Charcoal, Awesome Graygreen, and Awesome White.

For added peace of mind, Samsung Care+ is also available, offering coverage options designed to help protect the device’s value over time.

In the US, the Galaxy A57 5G starts at $549.99, while the Galaxy A37 5G starts at $449.99.

Context matters here.

In the US, these price points sit firmly in the midrange — not quite “entry-level,” but still more accessible than flagship devices that typically start at $799 and above. They’re often positioned as practical upgrades for users coming from older devices or prepaid/carrier plans.

But when directly converted to Philippine pesos, that’s roughly around PhP30,000+ and PhP25,000+, respectively — a range that already overlaps with aggressively priced upper midrange and even some near-flagship alternatives locally.

For comparison, what many would consider a true “entry point” in the Philippines usually starts closer to PhP12,000 to PhP15,000 ($200–$250).

Which makes the positioning interesting.

These may be “entry points” into the Galaxy ecosystem — but not necessarily entry-level in terms of price, especially in markets like the Philippines. That’s a distinction that matters.

Early take

On paper, the Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G check a lot of boxes: modern design, capable cameras, meaningful AI features, and long-term support.

As much as these feel like “entry points,” they’re also creeping closer to premium territory. And that balance will ultimately decide how compelling they really are.

News

More iPhone switchers this year than Android switchers, report says

Only the Google Pixel might be exempt from a global Android dip.

Published

March 24, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

With the prices of chips skyrocketing this year, the commonly held rule of thumb is to hold on to your devices for as long as possible. Of course, the dip in demand will also translate to a dip in supply. According to new reports, users this year might favor switching to an iPhone over an Android phone.

As early as late last year, smartphone makers have already warned consumers that the prices of new devices might go up to anticipate the rising prices of RAM. For now, the prices are still manageable, but forecasts don’t look too kindly on the future.

According to a Morgan Stanley report via Investing.com, the shipments of Android phones might drop by as much as 15 percent this year, compared to the last. This encompasses all brands using the platform.

However, there is one notable holdout: the Google Pixel. According to the same report, the lineup will still enjoy some modicum of growth heading into their release schedule this year.

More notably, though, Apple might be the biggest winner this year. Though iPhone shipments might still drop by 2 percent, it’s nothing compared to the former’s 15 percent drop. When comparing the two, that should translate to a growth in Apple’s share of the pie this year. In other words, more people might switch to Apple, compared to people switching to any phone running on Android.

Now, to be fair, these are all just predictions. Anything can still happen, but it looks like Apple might be heading to a stellar performance later this year.