Hands-On

realme C55 Hands-on: Modesty at its finest

Definitely not an iPhone 14 Pro Max killer

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The much-anticipated realme C55 has finally landed in the Philippine archipelago. It’s the first of its kind Android smartphone to bring the iPhone-like Mini Capsule functionality. Can the realme C55 be a “just right” phone to those who have a “just right” amount of savings to spend?

My quick unboxing and hands-on with the phone might help you decide.

Usual unboxing

Like we all expected, the realme C55 comes in this usual, highly-energizing yellow packaging.

Lifting the box lid reveals us its packet of extras. Beneath it is where the phone rests.

Opening the “motivational” packet reveals the SIM tray ejector pin, usual paperwork (specifically user manual and warranty card)…

as well as the typical smoked jelly case.

The deeper level of the box is where we can find its 33W SuperVOOC charger…

and USB-C to USB-A cable.

Unfortunately, there are no free wired earphones unlike before.

Visually pleasing

At first glance, the realme C55 is visually pleasing on both sides.

It boasts a flashy back — at least with the colorway that I have.

It is a stunner compared to other boring-looking plastic afforda-phones.

On hand, it doesn’t feel very cheap.

It looks and feels solid. Moreover, it’s just 7.89mm thin.

And while we’re at the topic, the realme C55 has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for the phone’s security and biometrics.

On the flip side, it features a large 6.72-inch display perfect for users who always want a bigger screen for multimedia consumption.

It doesn’t stop there. There’s the oh-so-crispy and juicy Full HD+ IPS LCD screen that’s great for watching visually-magnetizing content.

The fast 90Hz refresh rate is also a great addition instead of the outdated 60Hz panel for slicker scrolling, swiping, and multitasking.

Dynamic Island ❎
Mini Capsule ✅

The main highlight of this phone is none other than its iPhone 14 Pro Max-like UI feature.

Dubbed as the “Mini Capsule”, it mimics iPhone’s Dynamic Island functionality even when the realme C55 doesn’t have face unlock sensors and only has a single punch-hole camera cutout on its massive display.

For now, it can only display charging, low battery, and data consumption alerts. So yeah, definitely not the iPhone 14 Pro Max “killer” you’re hoping for.

Modest performer

The realme C55 is equipped with MediaTek’s Helio G88 processor based on a 12nm process. You can choose between a 6GB or an 8GB memory.

Internal storage is limited to either 128GB or 256GB options but the additional microSDXC slot will be helpful not just for that extra storage, but also for offline backups.

For light to moderate tasks such as scrolling through social media, browsing the web, listening to music, or watching videos, it’s adequate.

But if you’re the type of user who frequently uses apps that need extensive CPU and GPU power, the realme C55 shouldn’t be on your radar.

I’m not saying games aren’t totally playable. It’s just that, you cannot truly enjoy any game just by choosing the lowest playable graphic setting.

Reliable power

With the 5000mAh battery capacity of the realme C55, it can last a whole day on moderate use — and more than that if it’s on longer stand-by hours.

But the lack of a beefy chipset means we can’t maximize the phone to its extremes.

Just in case you forgot to fully-charge your realme C55, it has a decently-fast 33W SuperVOOC charging.

It’s not the fastest but definitely a lot faster than the 25W charger of iPhones and Galaxys.

Essential camera

You read that right! The realme C55 only has ONE usable camera — its 64-megapixel AI-powered shooter. The other circle? Well, just a 2MP depth sensor.

With enough natural light, photos should look good — better than its competition even.

But if you’re a huge night mode user, photo quality is enough but expect nothing too grand.

Its camera UI displays “2x” and “5x” zoom options — even if it doesn’t include a dedicated zoom lens.

Surprisingly, they came out alright with fair exposure, sharpness, and contrast.

But with the absence of the “quintessential” ultra-wide camera, you have no choice but to back out more if you’re opting to shoot “wider than wide” photos — or just completely ditch the idea overall.

This also means you’ll miss the ongoing “Gen Z selfie” trend — a.k.a photos taken using the rear 0.5x ultra-wide angle camera. Not that it’s a huge dealbreaker but will probably be if a parent decides to buy his/her Gen Z child a realme C55.

Senseless sensor

As previously mentioned, that second camera bump houses the realme C55’s 2MP depth sensor.

It just felt like a waste of space because it’s very evident that its depth segmentation is a hit or miss when taking portrait mode shots.

Pleasing portraits

And while selfies are (and will always be) subjective, my selcas (or “self-capture” in the dictionary of any Korean/Koreaboo) show how they are naturally-looking and human-like — no unnecessary smoothening. smearing, and blatant whitewashing a la K-Pop idol.

Still, you can keep your selfies with beauty mode turned on with various levels of adjustments.

Is the realme C55 your BudgetMatch?

The realme C55 is available in two configurations: the 6GB + 128GB base model starts at just PhP 8,999 while the 8GB + 256GB variant retails for PhP 10,999.

Here are the perks when you pre-order the realme C55:

realme TikTok Shop (April 18, 7:30PM to 11:30PM)

  • PhP 1,000 OFF for both variants
  • 6GB+128GB variant: FREE realme Mobile Game Finger Sleeves for the first buyers
  • 8GB+256GB variant: FREE realme Mobile Game Trigger for the first buyers

realme Lazada Flagship Store (April 19 to 21)

  • Php 1,000 OFF Flash Sale Discount for both variants (limited quantities only)

realme E-store (April 19 to 25)

  • 5% Upfront discount and FREE TechLife Power Bank (worth PhP 799) for both variants

If you’re looking for an affordable smartphone that has the “essentials”, the realme C55 should be in your list. Its cameras perform great albeit the lack of an extra ultra-wide camera might shoo away some of you. For gaming alone, you really have to look elsewhere.

It’s better as an all-around multimedia smartphone especially with its vibrant and fast display, wired earphones-friendly, plus that microSDXC expandability that even flagship smartphones fail to supply in this modern age.

Hands-On

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series Hands-on

And everything announced during Apple’s September 2026 Event

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The latest Apple event isn’t just about the shiny new Apple Duo. There’s a lot to talk about!

In this video, we break down everything Apple has announced during their September 2026 keynote.

First, there’s the updated iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. That’s alongside their design and color changes, battery and performance improvements. Even that massive camera upgrade.

There’s even the ANC-infused AirPods 5 alongside the newer Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Plus, the latest software updates coming to both these wearables.

So, are these worth the upgrade?

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Accessories

OBSBOT Meet Flip Hands-on

It’s tinier and folds this time

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Phones flip and fold. Now webcams do too.

Foldable screens have found their way into phones, tablets, and laptops in recent years. Now, OBSBOT is taking that idea in a considerably smaller direction: the webcam.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is the company’s first foldable 4K webcam packing:

  • 1/2-inch stacked CMOS sensor
  • intelligent audio
  • a collection of AI-powered meeting tools

All of these inside a body weighing just 37.7 grams.

A fold that does something, not just a gimmick

The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t foldable just to make it easier to throw into a bag.

Closing the webcam physically blocks the lens and puts the device into sleep mode. Open it when you want to be seen, flip it shut when you don’t.

A physical privacy cover isn’t novel in itself. What’s clever here is how it’s part of the folding design.

As someone with a love-hate relationship with data privacy, I almost always keep some physical barrier over my laptop webcam. And if I can avoid having a webcam there entirely, even better.

Serious camera hardware in a pocket-sized webcam

Despite its size, OBSBOT hasn’t treated the Meet Flip like a basic laptop-camera replacement.

Inside is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology, capable of recording 4K UHD at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. It also packs an f/1.8 aperture, HDR, PDAF autofocus, ISO 100–6400, and up to 4x digital zoom.

At its core is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology.

It can record:

  • 4K UHD at 30fps
  • 1080p at 60fps

You also get:

  • f/1.8 aperture
  • HDR
  • PDAF autofocus
  • ISO 100–6400
  • up to 4x digital zoom

On paper, that gives the Meet Flip a better shot at handling the situations built-in laptop webcams often struggle with: dim rooms, harsh backlighting, changing lighting conditions, or simply moving around in front of the camera.

HDR helps keep faces visible against bright backgrounds, while PDAF autofocus continuously adjusts focus as you move closer to or farther from the lens.

The wider f/1.8 aperture should also help in less-than-ideal lighting.

The point is that once the Meet Flip is set up, you shouldn’t have to spend much time thinking about the camera itself.

It listens differently depending on the room setup

The Meet Flip also uses an intelligent dual-microphone system combining omnidirectional and directional microphones.

Instead of relying on one pickup pattern for every situation, it offers four audio modes for different setups:

Directional Mode focuses on sound coming from the front, making it the obvious choice for solo calls.

Dual-Directional Mode listens to both the front and rear of the webcam, which could be useful for interviews or conversations between two people sitting across from each other.

Conference Meeting

Smart Omni Mode is designed for group meetings, picking up voices from around the room.

And Pure Audio Mode provides unprocessed left and right stereo channels for users who would rather handle the audio themselves in post-production.

Auto Gain and AI Noise Reduction also work across the first three modes, helping clean up audio without requiring much manual adjustment.

It gives the Meet Flip more flexibility than a typical webcam microphone, especially if you regularly switch between solo calls, interviews, and group meetings.

AI that doesn’t intrude

AI has become an almost obligatory addition to new hardware in 2026, but several of the Meet Flip’s features put it to work on real-world meeting annoyances.

AI Auto Framing keeps you in frame, with options for:

  • Group
  • Single Close-up
  • Upper Body
  • Full Body

Gesture controls can also toggle Auto Framing or adjust the zoom without reaching for a keyboard or mouse.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

More interesting is AI Magic Notes.

Through OBSBOT Center, it provides real-time transcription and can automatically generate meeting summaries with key points, decisions, and action items. It works across Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Although AI Magic Notes is offered as a subscription service, every Meet Flip includes 120 complimentary minutes to get started.

MORE with OBSBOT Center & OBSBOT Live

There are plenty of other software features as well. OBSBOT Center includes:

  • Background Blur and Background Replacement
  • Real-Time Beauty Mode
  • Picture-in-Picture overlays
  • Smart Eye Tracking
  • Teleprompter support
  • Detailed image adjustments

The Meet Flip isn’t limited to laptops or desktops either. Through OBSBOT Live, it can connect directly to smartphones and tablets over USB-C for mobile streaming and content creation.

Flip it open. Fold it away.

None of those features reinvent the webcam on their own.

Taken together, though, they make the Meet Flip a more thoughtful take on a piece of hardware whose basic design and features have barely changed.

The flip may grab your attention first, but it’s how OBSBOT uses that design alongside its camera, audio, and software features that makes the Meet Flip interesting.

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is now available at US$ 119 and is currently available through OBSBOT’s official store, Amazon US, and select retailers.

&

@gadgetmatchPhones flip. Now webcams do too. 👀 Meet the OBSBOT Meet Flip, a tiny foldable 4K webcam with a lot packed inside. ✨

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

If you buy one, here’s what you’ll get out of the box!

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Accessories

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

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DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

  • Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
  • Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
  • Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

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