News

realme ranks as no. 1 smartphone brand in the Philippines

An impressive showing for the brand

Published

December 7, 2020

Kenrick Buduan

It’s no secret that realme is really doing well in the Philippine market. But, just how well is the brand doing? Well, Canalys and Counterpoint Research just crowned realme as the no.1 smartphone brand in the country during Q3 2020.

There’s a broad amount of data to prove realme’s dominance. Global market intelligence firm IDC reported that the brand achieved a staggering 962.5% annual growth. and The brand also captured 25.4% of the local market share this third quarter according to the same report.

The brand’s performance is all the more commendable given that its closest competitor — vivo — only grabbed 14.3% of the total market share. It registered a 66.7% market growth, making it one of the only three brands to register positive annual growth along with realme and Huawei.

However, all the top five brands in the country — realme, vivo, OPPO, Huawei, and Samsung — all registered positive quarterly growth. IDC pinpoints this to the gradual reopening efforts of the country which saw these brands bounce back from a hard lockdown earlier this 2020.

A report from Canalys also paints the same picture. According to the firm, realme snagged a 25% market share. It also achieved a 531% year-on-year growth, which is the fastest quarterly growth a smartphone vendor has attained in the country this year. Counterpoint Research also came to the same conclusion, crowning realme as the top smartphone brand for Q3 2020.

These quarterly reports mean well for realme. The brand has technically gone from being nothing almost two years ago to a force to be reckoned with this year.

Aggressive marketing strategy, affordable smartphones

Two factors play a huge role in realme’s success in the country. Chief among them is the brand’s aggressive marketing strategy, targeting mostly the younger generation and today’s tech trends.

For example, realme partnered with Moonton, the publisher of the ever-famous Mobile Legends. The brand also boasts having the biggest smartphone online community.

On top of it all, the brand has firmly established itself in key market areas across the country. realme currently has 465 kiosks, 119 concept stores, and 5200+ partner stores in the country. It also commands a strong presence on e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee, consistently topping the platforms’ list of best-selling brands.

It also can’t be denied that realme offers bang-for-the-buck devices that offer more specs for less price. One good example of that is the recently-launched realme narzo 20. Then, there’s also the realme 7 series which continues to improve upon its predecessors in meaningful ways.

However, realme can’t rest its laurels yet on being the no.1 smartphone brand. Its competitors are also continuously innovating, ensuring a lively competition for the Philippine smartphone market. With the holiday season and a new year approaching, more and more smartphone brands are eager to bounce back from a slump year.

News

nubia to launch new Neo 5 series gaming phones on March 28

Head to SM Megamall for activities, guest appearances, surprises

Published

March 21, 2026

GadgetMatch

nubia Philippines will officially launch the nubia Neo 5 series gaming smartphone on March 28 at their “Enter The NEOVerse: Born To Win” event. It will be held at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall in Metro Manila.

The nubia Neo 5 series’ design and details will be unveiled during the event. It is inspired by the REDMAGIC Gaming Lab, which is behind the REDMAGIC’s high-performance gaming ecosystem.

The nubia Neo 5 series will introduce a bold gaming-centric aesthetic, paired with performance-driven specs.

Customers can expect a sleek, futuristic styling, as well as powerful hardware engineered to elevate everyday mobile gameplay.

Across the lineup, users can expect high refresh rate displays, powerful processors, advanced cooling systems, and the familiar gaming triggers from the previous series.

It does look like nubia is adding AI-powered gaming optimization to give players an extra edge for every competitive match.

All these, of course, minus the flagship price tag.

Enter the NEOverse

At nubia’s launch event, the activity area will be transformed into a gaming-inspired universe.

Guests can explore interactive zones, participate in challenges, and experience the nubia Neo 5 series firsthand. They can also unlock exclusive rewards and prizes.

Moreover, the event will feature appearances from nubia ambassadors Sanya Lopez and ONIC Philippines.

From there, there will be 1v1 gaming sessions with ONIC PH players, as well as a special “Play” segment featuring a yet-to-be-revealed cosplayer.

nubia will also offer event-exclusive deals for early shoppers during the launch. Customers can enjoy up to seven premium freebies per nubia Neo 5 model. This is available for the first 100 customers.

Furthermore, nubia will officially announce its TikTok Super Brand Week, as well as partnerships with Yanlala and Geely.

News

REDMI Note 15 Series named Presenting Partner for Spartan Race Philippines 2026 season

Titan Toughness takes center stage!

Published

March 20, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Being a Spartan athlete for five years has taught me that endurance isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about the mental grit to keep moving when your body begs you to stop.

In this world, “toughness” becomes more than just a marketing buzzword. Now, it’s a requirement for survival. That’s why the partnership between Spartan Race Philippines and the REDMI Note 15 Series feels like a shared philosophy.

Partner for a tough course

Starting March 21, 2026, at Parklinks, Pasig City, the REDMI Note 15 Series officially joins the Spartan circuit.

For someone who has navigated these obstacles for years, I know that technology usually doesn’t belong in the mud. But the “Titan Tough” promise of the REDMI Note 15 is built for this exact routine.

It’s designed to be there for the moments that matter. For capturing the raw, unpolished triumph of the finish line; for surviving the grit of the course so you can focus on the next hurdle; and for finding the device at the heart of the festival area and the winner’s circle, mirroring the resilience of the athletes themselves.

Join the journey

Whether you are a seasoned elite racer or stepping into your first Open heat, this season is about testing your limits.

To help you get to that starting line, you can use the discount code REDMINOTE15 to get 10% OFF on all Spartan Race OCR, Spartan Kids Race, and Hurricane Heat events.

See you at the starting line. AROO!

News

Stylish, student-friendly HONOR X8d launches

Price, pre-order offers

Published

March 19, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

HONOR Philippines has launched its latest mass-market smartphone entry that caters to students and the youthful market in general: the HONOR X8d.

The budget smartphone is priced at PhP 15,999 and is available in Blue, Velvet Black, and Velvet Grey colors.

As part of launch offers, those who pre-order until March 27 can get a free accessory and can also avail of 0% installment plans via credit cards and Home Credit.

Customers can get the device through Lazada, Shopee, and HONOR stores.

REVIEW: The HONOR X8d is serviceable

The HONOR X8d is powered by a Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM (plus 8GB expansion) and 256GB of storage.

It has a large 7,000mAh battery which supports 45W charging, making it a very long-lasting daily value companion.

The device features a 6.77-inch 120Hz display which has up to 3,000 nits of brightness, making it useful for practical situations.

The handset comes with usual display certifications and protections, including 3840Hz PWM dimming, E-Book mode, SGS drop resistance, and an IP65 rating.

For its cameras, the X8d has a 108MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera. The main shooter can capture decent quality at 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom ranges.

There are also handy AI editing tools like AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Upscale.

Out of the box, the HONOR X8d runs on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. It also has staple productivity tools like AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, and AI Recorder, alongside features such as Magic Portal and Circle to Search.