News

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series price in the Philippines

Available in 5G and LTE variants

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The latest Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series is coming to the Philippines. Kudos to Samsung for avoiding any delays despite the Coronavirus pandemic.

Let’s dive into the phones. The Galaxy Note 20 series consists of two phones — the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

The Galaxy Note 20 is being positioned as a device for breaking into the world of the Galaxy Note. If you’re coming from a different phone but want to make the switch, this is the Note to get. It has all benefits of the Note line without being an overwhelming spec and feature monster.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is for the legacy users — loyalists of the Galaxy Note line who are familiar with its ins and outs and can make the most of all its power.

Here are the specs

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Galaxy Note 20
Display 6.9” edge Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display

496ppi

HDR10+ certified

120Hz refresh rate

6.7” flat FHD+ Infinity-O Display

393ppi

HDR10+ certified

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+

(Exynos 990 in some markets)

Front Camera 10MP, f2.2, 1.22μm
Rear cameras 12MP Ultra Wide Camera

Pixel size: 1.4μm

FOV: 120 ̊

F.No (aperture): F2.2

108MP Wide-angle Camera

PDAF, OIS

Pixel size: 0.8μm

FOV: 79 ̊

F.No (aperture): F1.8

1/1.33″ image sensor size

12MP Telephoto Camera

Pixel size: 1.0μm

FOV: 20 ̊

F.No (aperture): F3.0

Laser AF Sensor

Space Zoom

5x Optical Zoom

Up to 50x Super Resolution Zoom

OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)

Tracking AF

12MP Ultra Wide Camera

Pixel size: 1.4μm

FOV: 120 ̊

F.No (aperture): F2.2

12MP Wide-angle Camera

Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, OIS

Pixel size: 1.8μm

FOV: 79 ̊

F.No (aperture): F1.8

1/1.76″ image sensor size

64MP Telephoto Camera

Pixel size: 0.8μm

FOV: 76 ̊

F.No (aperture): F2.0

Space Zoom

. 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom

. Up to 30x Super Resolution Zoom

OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)

Tracking AF

RAM and Storage 12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 512GB internal storage

12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 128GB internal storage

8GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 128GB internal storage
SIM and Expanded Storage One Nano SIM

One MicroSD slot (sold separately, up to 1TB)

One Nano SIM
Battery 4500mAh 4300mAh
Charging Improved wireless charging speeds with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0

Fast Charging compatible on wired and wireless

Wireless PowerShare

OS Android 10, OneUI 2.1
Network and Connectivity [5G]

5G Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave

[LTE]

Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20

Up to 2.0Gbps Download / Up to 200Mbps Upload

[Wi-Fi]

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4G+5GHz, HE80, MIMO, 1024-QAM

Up to 1.2Gbps Download / Up to 1.2Gbps Upload

[Bluetooth]

Bluetooth® v 5.0, USB type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou)

[Ultra Wide Band]

NFC

Sensors Ultrasonic Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor

Proximity sensor, Ambient Light Sensor

Water Resistance IP68

Productivity and S Pen improved 

The Galaxy Note series wouldn’t be what it is without its key accessory — the S Pen. Naturally, this has been improved for better accuracy and responsiveness for an experience that’s as close to “pen-to-paper” as possible.

The new trick up its sleeve is the Anywhere actions. There are five to be exact. This allows for touchless navigation — like returning to the home screen or taking a screenshot — as simple as a flick of the wrist.

The Samsung Notes app also gets significant improvements. Its auto-save and syncing features have been upgraded. This means you can seamlessly switch from one device to another and continue where you left off.

If, like me, your penmanship is atrocious, the Notes app can straighten it out for you. It also lets you annotate and highlight on PDF files as well as record audio as you take notes.

It will work seamlessly with a Windows 10 PC thanks to the upgraded Windows Link. With it you can send messages, manage notifications, sync photos and mirror your phone.

Elevated gaming 

The Microsoft integration goes beyond productivity. All work and no play, after all, can burn you out.

Starting September 15, you’ll be able to access Xbox games on the Galaxy Note 20 directly from the cloud (beta) using the Xbox Game Pass ultimate. That means access to a wide library of games on your phone — and not just the mobile kind.

Gaming, overall, should also feel leveled-up with the AI game booster, Bluetooth audio response optimization, and 240Hz touch latency (on the Galaxy Note 210 Ultra).

Samsung Dex has also been upgraded so you can take both productivity and play to a larger screen. Previously, you needed a dock and/or a dongle to use this feature. Now, you can do so wirelessly so long as the Smart TV supports Miracast. So you can continue using apps on your phone, while playing media on the TV.

Pricing and availability

Samsung will open a midnight exclusive pre-order offer to customers who want to be first to own the Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra while watching Unpacked. The midnight exclusive promo will start on August 5 at 10PM to August 6 at 6AM through Samsung online partners.

Starting August 7, the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra will be available for pre-order through Samsung Experience Stores, and select Abenson and SM Appliance Stores. Customers who want to avail of the 5G variants can get them from Globe and Smart.

Those who will pre-order the devices will be entitled to freebies worth up to PHP 16,995. The Galaxy Note20 Series will be available at authorized Samsung stores and online partner merchants beginning August 21. Pricing starts at:

  • PhP 53,990 for the Galaxy Note 20
  • PhP 67,990 for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
  • PhP 72,990 for the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (pre-order-exclusive model)

Color variants are as follows:

  • Galaxy Note20 Ultra: Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze
  • Galaxy Note20: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Green, and Mystic Gray

News

realme C85 with 7000mAh battery, 5G connectivity officially launches

Starts at PhP 10,989 in the Philippines

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The realme C85 5G is now available in the Philippines, marking the biggest leap yet in realme’s C series lineup.

Building on the features of previous releases, the realme C85 is the first to feature a 7000mAh battery plus 5G connectivity, pushing the brand’s budget smartphone line to new heights.

Customers can get the device for as low as PhP 10,989 via realme’s official TikTok Shop, from its SRP of PhP 14,999.

As a launch offer, a free TechLife Power Bank (10000mAh) is also included while supplies last when customers buy via official stores nationwide.

Built for heavy use, realme C85 features triple IP66, IP68, and IP69K water and dust resistance rating, as well as military-grade durability.

It can resist damage from several types of liquids — including household cleaning solutions — and handle accidental drops.

At its heart is a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor for ample performance. The large battery capacity enables all-day use, while 45W SUPERVOOC charging lets users replenish the device’s power up to 50% in just 42 minutes.

In front is a 6.8-inch display with 144Hz refresh rate. The panel also supports 1,200 nits of peak brightness for visibility even outdoors. AI Outdoor Mode also automatically boosts screen brightness and optimizes network performance.

Not to be outdone in the camera department, the C85 has a 50MP AI camera plus handy features like AI Ultra Clarity and AI Edit Genie.

Alongside the 5G model, a 4G variant is also available.

realme Buds Clip also launched

Aside from the C85, realme also launched the new realme Buds Clip, a new open-ear, ear-clip style Bluetooth wearable.

It has 11mm dual-magnet large-amplitude speakers and supports AI Dual-Mic ENC. There are likewise audio enhancements, including NextBass Algorithm, Sound-Leap Directional Tech, and 3D Spatial Audio.

Users can enjoy up to 36 hours of battery life with the charging case. The earphones also provide 45ms low latency, dual-device connection, and even AI real-time translation, among other helpful features.

The realme Buds Clip is priced at PhP 4,999.

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News

Xiaomi: Smartphone prices will get worse next year

And it’s all because of AI.

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Xiaomi Logo

The prices of smartphones have long been a subject of controversy for years. Every year, people constantly whine about how the prices of new phones are just too much. If you’re in the same camp, the status quo won’t go away anytime soon. According to Xiaomi, smartphones are going to get even pricier next year, and it’s all thanks to AI.

If you haven’t noticed, AI is a buzzword these days. Every smartphone brand has an AI-powered phone today. Of course, smartphones aren’t the only bastions for AI technology. Larger infrastructures are also relying more on AI. Apparently, it’s this battleground that might ripple towards higher smartphone prices.

During an earnings call, Xiaomi President Lu Weibing, via Reuters, explained that chipmakers are shifting their production more towards high-bandwidth memory chips for infrastructure, away from mobile chipsets. As such, the prices of mobile chips are expected to keep rising next year.

“Overall, consumers are likely to see a sizeable rise in product retail prices,” he said.

Though the company saw an increase in performance from last year, consumers are worried about their prices. If you know Xiaomi, that’s a legitimate worry. Like its Chinese contemporaries, Xiaomi maintains a healthy lineup of smartphones spanning from flagships to affordable budget phones. If pricing is a concern for them, then the status of the whole industry is also in question.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi 15T Series, Gold Collection pricing in the Philippines

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Gaming

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 bags record-breaking 12 nominations at Game Awards

These include Game of the Year and three Best Performance nods.

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Gamers today will rightly point out that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the game that will most likely bag the coveted Game of the Year award for 2025. Ahead of December 11, the popular turn-based RPG has not won yet. However, the nominations have just been announced, and it’s now safe to say that Expedition 33 has a real shot for the award.

The annual Game Awards has a lengthy list of awards it usually hands out. Of course, the highlight is Game of the Year. Besides Expedition 33, five other titles are vying for the crown: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

Besides the coveted award, Expedition 33 also got 11 other nominations, totalling 12, which is the most a single game has gotten in the twelve-year history of The Game Awards. This includes Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Independent Game, Best Indie Game Debut, and Best RPG.

If you’ve been counting, that’s just nine nominations. The remaining three of the 12 need their own spotlight. For Best Performance, the game single-handedly got three nominees in: Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English. That’s half of the list, rounded out by Ghost of Yotei’s Erika Ishii, Silent Hill f’s Konatsu Kato, and Indiana Jones’s Troy Baker. Notably, even 2023’s Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t get multiple nominees in the category.

While Expedition 33 has a real chance with running away with a good chunk of the awards, viewers can control 10 percent of the vote via the fan voting process already up now. Plus, the awards will soon include a Players’ Voice award, which goes up on December 1.

SEE ALSO: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review: Beautifully haunting

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