News

Samsung announces Galaxy Ring, Watch7, Watch Ultra

Samsung’s latest AI-powered wearables

Published

July 10, 2024

Manila Connoisseur

Samsung has officially announced its latest batch of wearables, all powered by Galaxy AI to provide intelligent health experiences for all. They are the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch7, and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The newest additions align with Samsung’s vision for Galaxy AI to enhance digital health. All devices boast of sensor innovations, enabling them to deliver personalized insights and tailored health experiences by obtaining more accurate, detailed, and advanced user information.

Particularly, both the Galaxy Watch7 and Watch Ultra feature a 3nm Exynos W1000 processor. This allows them to deliver faster performance on the Wear OS 5 platform.

All devices also introduce novel health monitoring capabilities and support for various workouts not seen in previous versions of Samsung’s Galaxy wearable lineups. For added convenience, both watches support advanced features like Gestures and wallet payments. The Ring can also take photos using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone via double pinching.

Price, availability, preorder offers

The Galaxy Ring is available in Titanium Black, Silver, and Gold. There are sizing kits to help interested customers find the right fit from nine sizes. It is priced starting at US$ 399.99.

The Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra come in the following sizes and colors:

Galaxy Watch7 44mm: Green and Silver
Galaxy Watch7 40mm: Green and Cream
Galaxy Watch Ultra 47mm: Titanium Silver, Gray, and White

The Galaxy Watch7 starts at US$ 299.99 while the Watch Ultra will retail for US$ 649.99.

All three new offerings will be available on Samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, and other major retailers. Preorders in the United States will be open by July 10, 2024, with general sales beginning on July 24.

Galaxy Ring

Samsung first teased about the Galaxy Ring six months ago, and then unveiled it at MWC Barcelona earlier in the year. It is designed for 24/7 health monitoring, coming in the lightweight form of a stylish accessory. The ring has 10ATM water resistance and a Titanium Grade 5 finish.

More than its appearance, the Samsung Galaxy Ring integrates data and insights into Samsung Health for seamless access. It offers users an advanced sleep AI algorithm to help them understand their sleeping patterns through advanced sleep metrics.

Furthermore, the Galaxy Ring can provide personalized recommendations based on four significant factors: Sleep, Activity, Sleeping Heart Rate, and Sleeping Heart Rate Variability.

For everyday wellness monitoring, the wearable supports Heart Rate Alert and Live Heart Rate Check. It also helps users maintain an active lifestyle with Auto Workout Detection and Inactive Alert.

Galaxy Watch7

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch7 is designed to give users a better understanding of themselves. It supports over 100 workouts, and lets users develop active habits with Workout Routine. Body Composition, on the other hand, gives them a comprehensive understanding of their physical bodies.

Likewise new to the Galaxy Watch7 is an advanced AI algorithm, and the De Novo FDA-authorized Sleep Apnea feature. This simple tool checks potential signs for moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Among the smartwatch’s advanced monitoring capabilities are Heart Rate, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN), and Electrocardiogram (ECG). The Watch7’s BioActive Sensor makes tracking these indicators in a more accurate manner possible. Moreover, the device can track advanced glycation end products (AGEs) right from a user’s wrist. AGEs reflect an indication of metabolic health.

The Watch 7 is equipped with a 3nm processor, delivering an even faster performance compared to its predecessor. It is also the first Galaxy product to feature dual-frequency GPS system.

Galaxy Watch Ultra

For a personal active performance companion, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is your best bet. Aside from having the Galaxy Watch7’s advanced health monitoring features and powerful hardware, the Watch Ultra variant also supports enhanced fitness experiences.

The watch is built for extreme durability with its 10ATM water resistance and Titanium Grade 4 frame. It can operate at up to 500 meters below sea level, or 9,000 meters above. It can also last up to 100 hours on Power Saving and 48 in Exercise Power Saving.

For high-level athletes, the Watch Ultra features a new Functional Threshold Power (FTP) for cycling power. This is an AI-powered metric that helps athletes unlock their full potential based on their own indicators. The device also has a Personalized HR Zone and Multi-sports tile for multi-course workouts.

Among its other features are Quick Button and Emergency Siren, which are both helpful during workouts.

Gaming

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to the Switch

Both games will be available starting February 27.

Published

February 20, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Millennials, prepare to have your nostalgia get hit right in the feels. Nintendo has officially announced that Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to the Switch.

This year, the Pokémon franchise is celebrating its 30^th anniversary. Naturally, with Pokémon Day coming up, it’s only right to celebrate the event with something huge. Finally, two of the most prolific titles in the series are coming to a modern console.

Originally released in 2004, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen were remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. At the time, the two titles reimagined the older games for the Game Boy Advance. Additionally, they introduced new post-game content set in the Sevii Islands, where Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Deoxys reside in the Kanto region.

Based on the short teaser trailer, the upcoming Switch versions will feature all of both games’ content. It will likely be remastered for the Switch’s larger screen.

To showcase more of the Switch version, Nintendo is hosting a Pokémon Presents on February 27. The brand has not mentioned anything about a potential physical version yet. However, they do promise that both games will be available on the Nintendo eShop as soon as next week’s Pokémon Presents concludes. Each game will cost US$ 19.99.

News

HUAWEI launches Mate X7, MatePad 11.5 S 2026, FreeClip 2

Price, availability, preorder freebies in the Philippines

Published

February 20, 2026

GadgetMatch

HUAWEI has officially launched its latest flagship foldable offering, the HUAWEI Mate X7, in the Philippines.

The powerful device was introduced alongside the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 tablet and HUAWEI FreeClip 2 earbuds.

The Mate X7 is dubbed as the “King of Foldables”, with top-tier photography features. It has a 50MP Ultra Lighting HDR main camera with 17.5 EV dynamic range.

This is complemented by a 50MP camera that serves as both a telephoto and macro shooter.

Unfolded, the Mate X7 has a large 8-inch display, with features like Live Multitask. Users can also explore Google apps on the X7.

The foldable also comes with 360-degree protection, as well as IP58 dust and water resistance.

MatePad 11.5 S 2026: PC-like efficiency

Meanwhile, the MatePad 11.5 S 2026 offers 4-in-1 productivity for modern users. It has WPS Office 3.0, which supports advanced math functions and inserting documents or links.

The bundle includes the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro, Smart Magnetic Keyboard, and HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse, all powered by NearLink Tehnology.

The slate’s panel features 2.8K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth and comfortable viewing. HUAWEI’s Notes and GoPaint apps have also been upgraded.

Inside is an 8,800mAh battery for extended usage. This battery has support or 40W SuperCharge.

FreeClip 2: Immersive listening

Completing the flagship triumvirate is the HUAWEI FreeClip 2, which comes with a unique Airy C-Bridge design.

The lightweight, open-ear wearable serves as both a reliable audio device and fashionable piece. It is powered by an NPU AI Processor and Dual-Diaphragm Driver for better bass performance and a fuller, more dynamic audio.

Meanwhile, its 3-mic noise cancellation system keeps calls crystal-clear on both ends. The FreeClip 2 also comes with IP57 protection and can last up to 38 hours with its charging case.

Price, availability

The three devices are now available for preorder online via HUAWEI, Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok, as well as HUAWEI Experience Stores.

HUAWEI Mate X7: PhP 119,999

Comes with preorder freebies worth up to Ph 45,998:

HUAWEI WATCH GT 5
Trade-in tokens worth PhP 12,000
1-Time Accidental Damage Screen Protection
Up to PhP 10,000 off with select banks until February 26

HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026: PhP 29,999 (from PhP 31,999 until March 22)

Up to PhP 2,000 Early Bird vouchers
Free HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
WPS Office
HUAWEI M-Pencil
Bluetooth Mouse

HUAWEI FreeClip 2: PhP 9,999

Up to PhP 1,000 Early Bird vouchers

News

iPhone 17 Pro Max is somehow the most traded-in phone today

All of the recent Pro Max models are sitting at the top, too.

Published

February 19, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

For a lot of people, reselling or trading-in is the natural end of their time with an iPhone. After all, an iPhone is too expensive to leave lying stagnant in a drawer. Now, this usually happens years after a phone fully lives out its usefulness. However, the new iPhone 17 Pro Max has somehow claimed the top spot as the most traded-in phone today.

According to reports organized by SellCell, a surprising number of people are reselling their iPhone 17 Pro Max. Today, 11.5 percent of trade-ins are of the current generation’s most premium model. The next models, the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, all sit between 7.2 percent and 7.3 percent apiece. This is a staggering growth, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max was sitting at only 5.1 percent of trade-ins in late November.

There’s no confirmed reason as to why people are trading their premium models so early into the model’s lifecycle. However, if it’s any indication, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the lowest depreciation for a premium iPhone model, when compared to its predecessors in the same time frame.

Given that the resale value of a new iPhone 17 Pro Max is still pretty high today, it’s possible that users aren’t completely satisfied with the model and opted to trade in their new phones for something more manageable. After all, the new phone is as premium as they come. It’s also as large as they come.

That said, it’s certainly an odd tidbit that the most premium iPhone is the one that people are dumping the most.