The year is almost coming to a close but Vivo isn’t letting up on the new phone announcements as they unveil the Vivo S1 Pro.

First thing that you’ll notice is the S1 Pro’s camera module. The cameras are arranged in a diamond like position. Speaking of cameras, this phone has four: a 48MP (f/1.8) main camera, an 8MP (f/2.2) super wide angle camera, a 2MP (f/2.4) super macro camera, and another 2MP (f/2.4) lens for bokeh purposes. Up front, you still get Vivo’s usual 32MP selfie camera.

Powering the smartphone is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It has a 4500mAh battery which supports Dual-Engine Fast Charging which you can charge through its micro USB-C port. Yes, it took a while but a non-flagship Vivo phone is finally rocking Type-C.

It has a 6.38″ Super Amoled display and underneath it is Vivo’s fast in-display fingerprint scanning technology.

Pricing and availability

The Vivo S1 Pro will come in Knight Black and Fancy Sky colors and will be available in the Philippines starting November 30 for P15,999.

On paper, the Vivo S1 Pro seems like a worthy midrange challenger but it’s facing stiff competition with the likes of Xiaomi and Realme who have both released smartphones with 64mP main cameras in that price range.

SEE ALSO: Vivo S1 review: The Skyline’s the limit

Do you use Grab daily? If so, then watch out for your Grab credits these coming weeks. An antitrust body in the Philippines ruled that Grab was overpricing its customers and ordered the company to refund its customers.

Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) announced on Monday that it has ordered Grab to return an estimated PhP 5.05 million to its riders. The antitrust body ruled that the company overcharged its car-hailing service from February 2019 to May 2019. So, the next time you open the Grab app, watch out for additional credits. You will receive it within 60 days — the time period PCC allotted for Grab to comply.

The exact reason why PCC found the company overcharging is unknown. However, this is not the first time the company was fined for overcharging. Last July 2018, Grab returned PhP 10 million plus rebate to its customers for overcharging and imposing a PhP 2 waiting time penalty to its riders.

PCC has already set conditions for Grab to avoid overcharging in the future. You are likely to benefit from these conditions, as Grab’s monopoly in Southeast Asia made it increase prices recently. Also, these conditions are meant to improve Grab’s car-hailing service, which is a win-win situation for you, the company, and the government.

However, the PhP 5.05 million fine is just a drop in the bucket for Grab. The company has diversified into new market segments, ensuring more profits and revenue. Plus, a big-name car manufacturer invested in the company last year for improving its car-hailing operations.

SOURCE: CNN Philippines

First announced alongside the Samsung Galaxy S10 and refined later on in 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has now made its way to the Philippines. The country’s two biggest telecommunication providers are also joining in the fray.

With Globe, pre-orders start November 18 with Globe’s ThePLAN or ThePLATINUM. It will be available until December 1st or until stocks last; only 400 units will be available.

With Smart, interested parties may start their application by preparing the following requirements: contact information, proof of income or financial capacity, proof of identity, proof of address, and email address. Visit a Smart Signature store anywhere in the country to submit your requirements. For more details visit Smart’s website.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is available at Signature Device Plan L at PhP 4,099 per month for 24 months with a one-time cash-out of PhP 20,700. With it comes 15GB of monthly data, Unli AnyNet Texts, Unli On-Net Calls, and 150 minutes of AnyNet calls.

It’s also available with the premium postpaid plan called Smart Infinity under the Limitless/Traveler Plan 3500 with a monthly amortization of PhP 2,000 for 24 months. Under the Limitless/Traveler Plan 5000 for 30 months, the Galaxy Fold can be had for free.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is available for PhP 109,990 at Abensons, Ansons, Samsung Experience Stores, Lazada, and other official distributors. It’ll come with a pair of Galaxy Buds, one year of Samsung Care+ and Samsung Concierge.

Samsung Concierge and Samsung Care+

Samsung Concierge gives access to specialized customer care programs including a 24/7 dedicated hotline, free pick-up and delivery assistance, and service express lanes, among others. Customers get to directly consult with the company’s tech experts for any queries.

Samsung Care+ is a hassle-free year-long program to assist Galaxy Fold owners for any emergency concerns. It also includes repair coverage for one year.

A new device category

The Galaxy Fold is Samsung’s first foldable smartphone. It sports a foldable 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display. Revealed months ago, the display can freely transform between an expansive 7.3-inch tablet and a smaller 4.6-inch phone. Unfolded, the phone is a QXGA+ resolution powerhouse. Folded, the phone carries a workable HD+ display.

Powering the device is a 7nm octa-core processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage. Outside, the phone carries a triple rear camera setup — 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera + 12-megapixel wide-angle camera + a telephoto lens. In front, it has a 16-megapixel selfie shooter when folded. It has two batteries that combine for a total of 4380mAh.

During the first reveal, the Galaxy Fold was said to be available in four colors with LTE and 5G variants and will retail for US$ 1,980. Global availability of the refined version was announced in September at IFA 2019 in Berlin.

SEE ALSO

Samsung is already working on a more affordable Galaxy Fold

Samsung admits redesigned Galaxy Fold is still too fragile

The Galaxy Fold fails a crucial folding test

Samsung teases the next Galaxy Fold