News

Samsung Galaxy A80 offers an all-display solution

Spoiler: It’s a rotating camera

Published

April 10, 2019

Rodneil Quiteles

Nearly every phone manufacturer is taking a crack at giving us a solution to the notches and punch-holes “problem.” As a result, we’ve seen pop-up cameras and secondary displays. With the Samsung Galaxy A80, the company is offering their take on the pop-up camera solution — the rotating camera.

Instead of just having the front-facing camera hide inside the phone, Samsung’s idea is to make the upper part of the phone lift then flip the camera module to face you. This happens automatically when you switch to selfie mode on the camera app. At around a little over a second, it’s pretty fast considering the number of actions that have to take place before the camera flips.

It’s important to note that we have seen a mechanism similar to this before from the likes of OPPO and Gionnee. However, those rotating cameras had to be moved manually unlike the automatic one on the Galaxy A80.

What are the cameras you ask? The Galaxy A80 has a three-camera setup. There’s a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra wide-angle lens, and lastly, a 3D depth sensor. We only had a limited time with the device, but take a look at these quick samples so you can judge for yourself how it performs:

Capable of live streaming

Samsung is positioning the Galaxy A80 as the phone perfect for the “era of live.” The company believes that people are moving on from selfies to live streaming. Having this camera mechanism makes sure no quality is sacrificed when you decide to take selfies or go live.

As of writing, we’re still confirming what chipset the phone is using. Samsung representatives tell us that it’s an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, but we don’t know which series yet. You also get 8GB of RAM along with 128GB of internal storage.

Samsung says the Galaxy A80 is equipped with an “intelligent performance enhancer” which regulates the phone’s usage. This includes controlling the CPU, RAM, and battery usage for optimum performance. Speaking of the battery, it has a 3700mAh capacity (much lower than the one on the Galaxy A70) that supports 25W fast charging.

All-display goodness

Front and center is the 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED New Infinity Display which is extremely satisfying to look at. The display also houses an on-screen fingerprint sensor and when taking calls, it vibrates, effectively becoming the call’s audio source.

The Samsung Galaxy A80 comes in three colors: Phantom Black, Angel Gold, and Ghost White but only black and gold will come to the Philippines. One can only assume the white one decided to ghost the country.

Pricing will be announced soon.

News

vivo X300 Ultra goes global with ZEISS Master Lenses

Pro imaging flagship debuts globally

Published

April 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

vivo has officially announced the global launch of the X300 Ultra, marking the first international debut of its top-tier imaging flagship.

The device introduces the ZEISS Master Lenses Collection, featuring triple prime focal lengths at 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm. It supports up to 200MP output across key focal lengths and can extend reach to 200mm and 400mm using optional telephoto extenders.

A 200MP 85mm telephoto camera with gimbal-level stabilization and 60fps AF tracking enables detailed long-range shots. Meanwhile, the 35mm camera uses a large Sony LYTIA sensor for natural perspective and improved low-light performance.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

For video, the X300 Ultra supports multi-focal 4K 120fps recording in both 10-bit Log and Dolby Vision formats. It also introduces Pro Video mode with LUT support and compatibility with ACES workflows for advanced color grading.

The phone runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with a dedicated imaging chip. It packs a 6600mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging.

Other features include a 2K ZEISS Master Color Display, quad-mic audio recording system, IP68/IP69 durability, and up to five years of OS updates.

Pricing and availability will depend on the region.

Read more: vivo X300 Ultra wants to beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max in pro video

Enterprise

Allbirds suddenly turns into an AI company

Published

April 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Allbirds is an odd shoe company. Though it already enjoyed a cult following in some circles around the world, the brand suddenly expanded its reach everywhere, offering a lighter and more environment-friendly alternative to the usual suspects of the shoe world. Now, getting even odder, Allbirds is ditching the shoes and going barefoot into the world of AI.

It’s one of the oddest transitions in the corporate world. In an official statement, Allbirds has confirmed that it will pivot fully into a “fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service and AI-native cloud solutions provider.” From Allbirds, it will be known as NewBird AI.

It’s not an incredibly abrupt change, though. The shoe brand and its stores won’t disappear overnight. The company will still hold a shareholder vote on May 18. If approved, they will transition into the new brand gradually.

The transition to AI, itself a gremlin of a keyword in today’s financial world, has resulted in the company’s stock value rising up. However, its long-term viability is in question, especially for a company with no experience in a world already drowning in AI.

From last year to today, AI has been the darling child of investors and a plague to consumers. While the former salivates over the short-term gain of AI adoption, the latter ruminates on the technology’s projected effects on the world.

News

vivo X300 FE launches with ZEISS telephoto system

Compact phone with pro zoom

Published

April 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

vivo has announced the vivo X300 FE, a compact flagship built around pro-grade imaging, long battery life, and extended software support.

The device features a ZEISS co-engineered camera system, led by a 50MP Super Telephoto camera with up to 200mm equivalent focal length via the all-new Telephoto Extender Gen 2. It also includes a 50MP main camera alongside a 110° ultra-wide lens.

This camera system is designed for flexible shooting across travel, concerts, and street photography.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

AI imaging powers much of the experience, with features like AI True Clarity Engine, Stage Mode for low-light concerts, and AI editing tools such as AI Erase and AI Image Expander. Video capabilities go up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps.

The X300 FE adopts a compact flat design with a 6.31-inch display, weighing 191g and measuring 7.99mm thin. It comes in Mist Purple, Glow White, Luxe Black, and Urban Olive colorways.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. You should not confuse it though with the more superior Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Moreover, it has a 6500mAh battery paired with 90W wired charging plus 40W wireless charging that the newer V70 series lacks.. It also features a vapor chamber cooling system for sustained performance.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The phone runs OriginOS 6 with cross-device features and promises five years of OS updates, seven years of security patches, and long-term smooth performance.

The vivo X300 FE also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Pricing and availability will depend on the region.