Smartphones

Galaxy S21 pricing accidentally leaked in Europe

It’s pricey

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At this point, it’s inevitable. Someone was going to leak the Galaxy S21 pricing eventually. For months, several sources have slowly revealed details about the upcoming flagship series. With the official launch just a week away, the world will certainly see the series in its entirety before the event. Now, we have an idea what the different variants will cost.

Today, a Belgian carrier, Voo, accidentally revealed the Galaxy S21’s pricing on its site. Thankfully, a leaker managed to take a screenshot of the pricing before the carrier took it down.

According to the leaked pricing, the regular Galaxy S21 will cost EUR 849 (or approximately US$ 1,044). On the other hand, the Galaxy S21 Plus will cost EUR 1,049 (or approximately US$ 1,290). Finally, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will retail for EUR 1,399 (or approximately US$ 1,720). Of note, however, the leak reveals only the 128GB base variants. The higher-tier variants will push this price even further.

Compared to last year’s Galaxy S20 launch pricing, the first two Galaxy S21 variants are slightly pricier by around US$ 100. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is much more expensive. But these are obviously prices in Europe. International prices might vary on launch day.

Still, if these prices are true, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a huge step apart from the pack. Samsung has a lot to justify for an exorbitant price tag. If anything, the premium version is expected to come with S Pen support.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S21 series on January 14.

SEE ALSO: Galaxy S21 will lose the microSD slot, leak says

Accessories

UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W review: One mighty brick with a powerful trick

All the speed you need in one charging brick

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Chargers aren’t just tiny bricks we plug into the wall anymore.

As our everyday gadgets become hungrier in power, chargers have gotten mightier, too.

More wattage, more ports, and apparently, more brains. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W takes all of those in one thicc body.

A heavy charger with plenty of power

Let’s address the elephant in the room — literally and figuratively. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W is one CHONKY charger.

The US version weighs 310 grams, which is heavier than usual charging bricks you’d bring with you.

Visual comparison alone, this is how it tries to dwarf its 100W Uno cousin.

Then again, UGREEN’s Nexode Pro isn’t your conventional charger. And by that, it boasts a total output of 160W — though not saying every port gives a 160W output.

The first USB-C port (C1) is capable of delivering up to 140W. Meanwhile, USB-C2 supports up to 100W, while the lonesome USB-A port can supply up to 22.5W.

To make it even crazier, it also has a retractable USB-C cable — more on that later.

These all mean I can plug in my MacBook Pro, high-end Android flagship, iPhone, and other accessories without ever bringing separate charging bricks for each one.

And honestly, when there’s so much power inside one brick, I’ll generously accept that added heft.

Watt you see is watt you get

One trick up in Nexode Pro 160W’s sleeves is that, it has a front display.

With a touch capacitive button above the USB-C1 port, the display can show not just the general (or combined) charging wattage. It can also show real-time speeds in watts (W), voltage (V), and even ampere (A).

For regular users, it’s probably something you’ll glance at occasionally. For stats nerds? It’s eye candy. For a gadget reviewer like me? A charge test companion.

Seeing real-time charging data gives me a better idea if I have the best charging cable possible for each device. More so, if those devices actually get the charging speeds they require.

And, if something suddenly starts charging slower than usual, those numbers can help me determine whether the device, charger, or cable might be the culprit.

I can only have my sigh of relief when I see it’s pulling the amount of power I expect.

Even if I always say numbers aren’t everything, the real-time charging data I see with my two eyes is more believable than just relying on that “Fast Charging” indicator.

So, watt did I even get?

Of course, I couldn’t just take that 160W figure just at its face value.

In a not-so-typical GadgetMatch Charge Test, I tried and tested the charger by occupying all ports with the devices I regularly use and watched the numbers fly.

Mind you, I tried my best to make them as equal as possible by draining every device down to 0%. Just so the actual charge test starts at the very base.

From a lengthy documentations in my Notes app, I tried simplifying the results into these table instead:

Port Device Cable Type 10-minute charge 30-minute charge 1-hour charge
USB-C1 14” M2 Max MacBook Pro Apple MagSafe 3 to USB-C 15% 45% 84%
USB-C2 Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max USB-C to Lightning 7% 21% 42%
Retractable USB-C vivo X300 Ultra*

*wireless charging
USB-C to UGREEN MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 2% 3% 7%
USB-A HONOR Watch 5 Ultra USB-A to wireless charging base 18% 58% 76%

Aside from the charger itself, there are more factors that contribute to a device’s charging output.

One is basically how many devices are connected. Another would be the type of cable used (standard 3A cable or faster yet thicker 5A or 6A cord).

More so, if the best charging mode is used. Even actual room and device temperatures matter, too.

In easier words, a charger boasting 160W power doesn’t mean every device gets its maximum charging speeds simultaneously.

The charger still has to distribute its available power between everything connected.

Pull it, use it, and never lose it

Perhaps its most “secretive” trick is hidden within.

UGREEN has managed to fit a 70cm retractable USB-C cable in its squarish body. Pull it whenever you need it and retract it back inside once you’re done.

It’s incredibly handy when I don’t want to dig through my big and messy backpack.

Worst case scenario? Whenever I forget to bring a cable — which already happened numerous times as an aging young adult who keeps being unnecessarily forgetful.

Vincenz’s two cents? He would NOT always rely on using it.

For one, there’s the matter of longevity.

A regular USB-C cable eventually breaks? Replace it. A retractable cable permanently attached to your charger? That’s a different story.

Another would be all about its actual charging speed output. Not every device behaves the same way with that built-in cable.

Device Max Charging Observed Power 30-minute charge 1-hour charge
14” M2 Max MacBook Pro 96W 68.6W 53% 87%
vivo X500 Pro Max 90W 20.2W~23.6W 34% 62%
vivo X300 Ultra 100W 9.6W~12.9W 26% 52%
HONOR 600 Pro 80W 16.5W 35% 64%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 45W 17.8W 41% 74%

For instance, my vivo X300 Ultra supports 90W FlashCharge speeds. Yet, I observed only around below a 13W output during one test. Thus, only achieving 26% in thirty minutes.

Even the shiny new vivo X500 Pro Max wasn’t exempted in the list with only being able to achieve 34% in the same time frame.

For added context, using their bundled FlashCharge adapters would have already filled the phones way past the 60% mark.

This doesn’t necessarily mean the built-in cable is bad. It just means you shouldn’t expect every proprietary charging standard to hit its advertised maximum just with the cable alone.

So while it’s one of my favorite conveniences here, I still see it as a handy backup rather than the only cable one would ever need.

Connect to inspect

I can’t believe I’m saying this. A charger can now be connected via an app.

Just like me, you’re probably scratching your head the moment you are reading this. Well, after much use, it actually made sense to me.

With their new and very own UgreenConnect app, not only you can see and capture charging stats, UGREEN lets you switch between charging modes as well depending on your charging needs.

Heck! You can even turn off ports individually without affecting other devices being charged.

Furthermore, you can also change the display’s brightness and sleep time, customize wallpapers. The Nexode Pro 160W also supports OTA updates.

Again, it’s mostly nerdy. But that’s precisely why I like this charger more than what I already have and use.

Feel the heat, keep it neat

The Nexode Pro gets warm. Quite warm, actually.

But, with a charger this large and powerful, that’s hardly surprising given all the charging components packed inside.

Thankfully, the temperature remained manageable throughout my use. UGREEN also lists Thermal Guard Temperature Control alongside GaN Infinity technology and SmartCharge power distribution.

The different charging modes can also help manage and lessen that heat further.

If I don’t need something charged immediately, I can opt for smarter or lower-temperature Thermal-safe charging instead of constantly pushing as much power as possible. Power when I need it. Less heat when I don’t.

Although for my day-to-day use-case, Priority Charging makes the most sense.

Case in point: I tested this with the vivo X300 Ultra I’m dilly dallying.

vivo X300 Ultra Adaptive Charging Priority Charging 
Charging Output 9.6W ~ 12.9W
8.1V / 1.6A
26.8W ~ 27.2W
7.9V / 3.5A
START TIME (from 0%) 9:11PM 12:31AM
3 minutes 4% 6%
5 minutes 5% 8%
10 minutes 9% 16%
15 minutes 13% 21%
30 minutes 26% 42%
45 minutes 39% 61%
1 hour 52% 80%

Adaptive Charging obviously charged it slower than ever. But when I enabled Priority Charging, it initially pulled around 30.8W to 31.2W for the first two minutes before settling around 26.8W to 27.2W. That’s still higher than the output through Adaptive Mode.

More so, it was able to reach 42% after 30 minutes and 80% after an hour in contrast to the 26% and 52% level of the former.

My MacBook Pro and flagship Android phones need significantly more power than smaller accessories. So, instead of letting everything fight equally for those watts, I can prioritize whichever device actually needs the extra juice.

Is the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W your GadgetMatch?

At PhP 4999 / SG$ 140 / MYR 419, the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W might sound like an overkill if all you need is something to charge your phone every night.

But, if you’re someone like me who owns lots of gadgets and constantly switches between a laptop, several smartphones, at least one tablet, a smartwatch, wireless headphones, and many other gadget ever imaginable, owning this charger quickly makes sense.

That’s most especially for the ultimate convenience it brings by only using one socket and fits right inside your bag’s tight pocket. I can fully rely on one brick instead of carrying multiple clunky chargers around.

Additives include its display that lets me see stats while doubling as a useful review tool to legitimize the charge tests in the reviews I do.

Charging modes lets me decide which power-hungry device deserves more juice. Priority when I see one getting slow. Thermal-charging if I sense that it’s getting warmer than the usual.

That retractable cable? It’s a real wonder as it will truly save me whenever I forget one in another unintentional scenario.

The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W now has a permanent spot in my charging arsenal. It is a Swipe Right, Super Swipe, and definitely a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

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Reviews

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series review

Hype versus Reality

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It’s been over two weeks since the Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max hit the shelves. And after daily real-world testing, the hype around the new variable aperture camera is only half the story.

In this iPhone 18 Pro review, we go beyond the spec sheet to test the massive battery life upgrades. More so, the A20 Pro chip’s improved thermal cooling and the game-changing iOS 27 Pro camera controls.

While others are obsessing over the new black titanium and the mechanical six-blade aperture that creates real starbursts, the actual reason your photos will look better is much simpler.

We put the new lens to the test in low light, bright sun, and high-motion video using Cinematic Mode and the new Focus Lock.

Should you upgrade from the iPhone 17 Pro, wait for the rumored spring iPhone 18, or save up for the foldable iPhone Duo?

We’ll help you decide if the iPhone 18 Pro is your GadgetMatch.

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News

HONOR Magic9 Pro Max launches in China with ARRI-powered imaging

ARRI tech meets mobile filmmaking

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HONOR has launched the Magic9 Pro Max in China. It’s the company’s latest flagship with an end-to-end professional cinema workflow co-engineered with ARRI.

The Magic9 Pro Max is positioned as a handheld cinema system, combining Dual 200MP cameras with selected elements of ARRI Image Science. The system includes ARRI LogC3, 10-bit color depth, ARRI Wide Gamut 3, and ARRI Looks.

Its 200MP Ultra Night Main Camera uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/1.57 aperture, OIS, and 3-degree gimbal-level stabilization. It is paired with a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto Camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, f/2.6 aperture, and OIS, alongside a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Both 200MP cameras achieve CIPA 8.0 stabilization performance.

The phone’s HONOR Imaging Chip H1 processes AI noise reduction in the RAW domain. HONOR says its testing showed an 8dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and support for up to 14 stops of cinematic dynamic range under defined test conditions.

ARRI CINEMA

For video, ARRI CINEMA Mode supports recording at up to 4K 60fps. The phone also includes 14 preset ARRI Looks, with the ARRI Look Library offering 87 predefined creative color gradings.

HONOR also adds Cinematic LiveVideo, which captures a three-second moving moment after the user presses and holds the record button. It supports up to 4K resolution. The phone also features a four-microphone Cinematic Directional Microphone system and Stereo Dual 1216 Speakers.

The cinematic workflow extends to optional accessories, including the HONOR SmallRig Mobile Video Kit and HONOR Teleconverter G200 and G500.

HONOR has also redesigned the Magic9 Pro Max around cinema-camera heritage. Its rear camera layout draws inspiration from ARRI’s three-lens turret ARRIFLEX cameras. The main, telephoto, and ultra-wide cameras arranged in a 1+2 configuration.

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Mobile Platform and features an 8,800mAh battery with 100W wired and 80W wireless charging.

It also packs a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with up to 10,000 nits peak brightness, while MagicOS 11 introduces features such as YOYO Memory, Video Highlights, and YOYO Tasks.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max is available in China in Shadow Black, Glacier Silver, and Moss Green.

It comes in four memory and storage configurations, with prices starting at CNY 6499.

HONOR says regional launches across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Southeast Asia, and other markets will be announced soon.

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