News
Rwanda releases first smartphones made entirely in Africa
Specifically in Rwanda
Rwanda, through the Mara Group, has launched two smartphones made entirely in Africa.
The two phones are the Mara X (US$ 130) and the Mara Z (US$ 190). Specs-wise, there’s not a lot to harp about.
The Mara X has a 5.5-inch display and runs Android 8.1 Oreo (The Go version). It’s powered by a Quad-Core ARM Cortex A53 1.5Ghz Processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It has a single 13MP rear cam and a 5MP selfie cam.
Meanwhile, the Mara Z has a 5.7-inch display and runs Android 9 Pie. It’s a tad more powerful equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 SoC. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The front and rear camera are both 13MP.
Made in Africa
The real story here is how all the parts needed to assemble and mass produce the phones are all made in Rwanda in Africa. Rwanda has dreams of becoming the tech hub in the region and this is definitely a step in that direction.
While other phones are built elsewhere in Africa, the Mara Group has managed to keep the entire process within the bounds of the country.
Source: FastCompany
News
iPhone 18 Pro series pre-orders now open via Power Mac Center
Philippines gears up for iPhone 18 Pro series midnight launch later this month
Premier Apple partner Power Mac Center (PMC) in the Philippines has opened pre-orders for the newest iPhone 18 Pro series.
As part of the announcement, exclusive activities were held at Greenbelt 3 and SM Mall of Asia. The nationwide pre-order opens on October 2.
Being among the first to pre-order the latest iPhone entitles customers to secure premium freebies.
Those visiting the aforementioned mall activations will also enjoy pre-order kits and UpTrade Boost, as well as freebies and a chance to win raffle prizes.
In any case, by October 2, nationwide pre-order will commence at Apple Premium partner stores. Meanwhile, PMC stores nationwide will accept pre-orders during mall hours.
In-store pre-order customers will also get pre-order kits and UpTrade Boost. In addition, there will be early access for customers who will line up for partner-exclusive offers at select locations:
- BPI at Greenbelt 3
- UnionBank at SM Megamall, The Annex SM North EDSA, Molito Lifestyle Center
- Billease at SM City Tuguegarao
Lastly, customers who prefer online transactions can visit PMC’s official web store and the new official Lazada flagship store starting October 2.
Customers may use their 1 Infinite loyalty points as payment. Bank offers are also available.
The pre-order period ends on October 15.
iPhone 18 Pro series midnight launch
As usual, the iPhone 18 Pro series will officially be welcomed in the Philippines through a midnight launch.
There will be six locations where customers can take part in the festivities: Greenbelt 3, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Iloilo, SM Lanang, SM Megamall, and SM North EDSA.
Midnight launch participants can get exclusive gifts when they avail in select locations:
- Additional freebies for first 75 customers: Greenbelt 3 and SM Mall of Asia
- Additional freebies for first 50 customers: SM City Iloilo and SM Lanang
- Additional freebies for first 25 customers: SM Megamall and SM North EDSA
- Voucher for non-Apple accessory: Midnight selling participants at SM Megamall and SM North EDSA
More details will be announced on Power Mac Center’s social media accounts.
News
Apple wants to release new iPhones more regularly
Apple CEO John Ternus is aiming for a new direction.
Only a month after taking the reins from Tim Cook, Apple CEO John Ternus already changed how the company runs. As you’ve probably gathered, the company is now experimenting with a new release schedule by launching the two Pro models ahead of the regular iPhone duo. According to a new report, it’s all intentional as Ternus looks to make the company’s releases much more regular and unique.
That should come as no surprise for everyone. As opposed to the more managerial style of Tim Cook, Ternus comes specifically from an engineering background, ensuring that we’ll likely get crazier ideas going forward.
Right now, we don’t know how this new status quo will look like. It’s likely that we’ll see the regular iPhone 18 siblings next year, but who knows what else Apple has planned? Currently, there are rumors that the company might host a home-themed event this month.
Apple is now going through the tough teething stage of Ternus’s young term. Besides changing schedules, the company is also slowly shelving some projects to make itself leaner. Unfortunately, doing so also means layoffs. At the very least, Apple is allowing affected employees to find new work within the company to prevent getting laid off.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series review
News
Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab S12 series for work, creativity, and life on the go
Samsung’s latest tablet lineup brings a slim design, Galaxy AI, and pro-level tools!
Samsung has a new tablet for flexible, modern workspaces. The Galaxy Tab S12 series has officially arrived.
The lineup includes the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+. Both feature Samsung’s latest Galaxy AI, upgraded performance, long battery life, and a remarkably slim profile. The series targets users moving between work, learning, and creative projects throughout the day.
Slim profile, vivid display
At 5.1mm thin, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is Samsung’s thinnest tablet yet. It pairs this ultra-thin design with a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S12+ features a 12.6-inch display with slimmer bezels. Both screens reach up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness. An upgraded Vision Booster improves visibility in bright lighting.
All-day power, durability
Battery performance gets a noticeable boost. Samsung states the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra lasts up to 23 hours per charge. The Galaxy Tab S12+ reaches up to 21 hours. Both models support 45W fast charging. A full charge takes about 95 minutes under standard conditions.
Both models carry an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. This adds extra durability and peace of mind for daily travel.
Upgraded Internal Hardware
The hardware underneath sees significant gains. A new 3nm processor delivers up to 61% faster NPU processing, 19% faster CPU performance, and 17% improved GPU performance compared to the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.
A redesigned 3D Vapor Chamber efficiently manages heat during heavy tasks like video editing and graphic design.
Smart productivity with S Pen and AI
The included S Pen brings tactile precision to the display. Users can easily write notes, annotate documents, and sketch. Multi Window splits the screen into up to three sections.
You can run a lecture video, Samsung Notes, and an AI assistant simultaneously. Note Assist condenses lengthy notes into quick summaries.
Galaxy AI simplifies information management across the system. The lineup includes a six-month trial of Google AI Pro. Gemini Notebook combines notes, images, recordings, and files into one workspace. Users can also quickly generate summaries, podcasts, and quizzes from their materials.
Pro-level creative suite
Samsung delivers a serious software lineup for creative work. Adobe Photoshop comes pre-loaded on the Galaxy Tab S12 series.
This marks the first time Photoshop comes pre-installed on an Android tablet. The optimized experience supports the S Pen and includes AI tools like Generative Fill and Image to Video.
The lineup also supports top apps like Notability, Goodnotes, LumaFusion, Notion, and Clip Studio Paint. These tools expand performance beyond everyday note-taking into digital art, video editing, writing, and organization.
Price, availability in the Philippines
In the Philippines, pre-orders run exclusively on Shopee from October 9 to 20. The official online launch occurs on October 21 via Samsung.com, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Shopee, MemoX.com, and Abenson.com. Physical availability follows at Samsung Experience and Authorized stores on October 28.
Every launch purchase includes a productivity bundle valued at up to PhP 18,279. It features the Book Cover Keyboard Slim, S Pen, and 45W travel adapter. Buyers also receive app perks worth up to PhP 24,161. These include a one-year Microsoft 365 subscription, six months of Google AI Pro, and four months of Adobe Photoshop.
Combining a large display, portable design, S Pen, Galaxy AI, and pro tools, the Galaxy Tab S12 series unchains your full workspace from a standard desk.
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