News
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series: Focused refinement
‘Nightography,’ Gaming, Customization, and Sustainability
Refinement and polishing continues to be the theme for the Samsung Galaxy S Line. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Series has officially launched and consists of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra.
If you’re looking for bombastic changes, you might not find that here. Instead, Samsung is doubling down on the things they’re already good at while improving in certain areas that they hope would make them more appealing to today’s young crowd. To do so, they’re highlighting four core pillars: “Nightography”, Gaming, Customization, and Sustainability.
Nightography
Samsung started using this whole “nightography” branding with the Galaxy S20 series and have since stuck with it. Essentially, this is their approach to producing clear, quality images even in dark shooting environments or situations.
It’s quite a treat to behold as the phones actually take a few seconds to process an image. At first, you’ll see the image as seen on the viewfinder. It shows a photo that looks like it was properly lit after the the software image processing kicks in.
On the Galaxy S23 Ultra, this is achieved, in part, thanks to the new 200MP Pixel Sensor — a first for Samsung. What it does is combine 16 pixels into one large pixel to make brighter shots in low light environments.
They’re applying the similar output effect to videos too. They’re calling the tech Adaptive VDIS which analyzes and subdivides movements and recognizes lighting conditions. Paired with the now 2x wider OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), Samsung is confident you can record at night and still come out with clear looking videos.
Mobile Gaming
No doubt, mobile gaming has picked up steam over the past few years. And more and more developers are creating mobile games that — at least looks-wise — can go toe-to-toe with those made for last generation consoles. Pair that with the wider exposure due to easier accessibility, it’s easy to see why so many people have turned to it and why Samsung is highlighting the phones’ gaming capabilities.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is powering this series. Yes, that’s across the board in all markets. It’s the the most advanced chip for smartphones right now.
However, gaming needs more than a powerful processor because a heating chip affects performance. To address that, Samsung took special care in improving the cooling system. Combined with the improved battery capacity for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+, this should ensure a smooth, immersive, and extended gaming experience.
Customization
Your Galaxy. That’s essentially the central idea behind Samsung’s whole customization approach. And they’re doing it on both hardware and software fronts.
For hardware, they have this whole BeSpoke thing going on. It’s essentially a bunch of cases, accessories, stickers, and whatnot that you can equip on your Galaxy device to make it truly yours. Other than global partners like CASETiFY, they also have country-specific partners to truly appeal locally.
Sustainability
Samsung has been pretty loud about their sustainability efforts especially during media presentations. With the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, they’ve taken things up a notch.
First, the packaging is made up of 100% recycled paper. Naturally, it doesn’t stop there. Recycled plastic was also used to craft the phones. The top speaker module, side key, and volume keys are made with recycled water barrels. Then, the back glass (deco film) and case front were made with recycled PET bottles. Meanwhile, recycled discarded fishing nets were used for the S Pen inner cover (for the Galaxy S23 Ultra) and bottom speaker module. Lastly, one of the layers for the front screen and the back cover were made using pre-consumer recycled glass.
For the Galaxy S23 Ultra, 12 internal and external components used recycled materials. That’s double the six from the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series Specs
Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Display — 6.8-inch QHD+ Edge, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, Vision Booster, Enhanced Comfort
- Processor — Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM and Storage — 12GB+1TB, 12GB+512GB, 12GB+256GB
- Battery and Charging — 5,000mAh, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless Powershare
- OS — Android 13, ONE UI 5.1
- Water Resistance — IP68
- Cameras:
- 200MP f/1.7 Wide
- 12MP, f/2.2 Ultra-Wide
- 10MP, f/2.4 Telephoto, 3x optical zoom
- 10MP, f/4.9 Telephoto, 10x optical zoom
- 12MP, f/2.2 Front
Samsung Galaxy S23+
- Display — 6.6-inch FHD+, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, Vision Booster, Enhanced Comfort
- Processor — Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM and Storage — 8GB+512GB, 8GB+256GB
- Battery and Charging — 4,700mAh, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless Powershare
- OS — Android 13, ONE UI 5.1
- Water Resistance — IP68
- Cameras:
- 50MP f/1.8 Wide
- 12MP, f/2.2 Ultra-Wide
- 10MP, f/2.4 Telephoto, 3x optical zoom
- 12MP, f/2.2 Front
Galaxy S23
- Display — 6.6-inch FHD+, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, Vision Booster, Enhanced Comfort
- Processor — Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM and Storage — 8GB+256GB, 8GB+128GB
- Battery and Charging — 3,900mAh, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless Powershare
- OS — Android 13, ONE UI 5.1
- Water Resistance — IP68
- Cameras:
- 50MP f/1.8 Wide
- 12MP, f/2.2 Ultra-Wide
- 10MP, f/2.4 Telephoto, 3x optical zoom
- 12MP, f/2.2 Front
Computers
ASUS, ROG announce 2026 desktops, AiO availabilities in PH
For gaming, heavy workloads, modern setups
ASUS and ROG have announced the availabilities of their latest 2026 desktops and all-in-one (AiO) PCs in the Philippines.
Headlining the lineup is the ASUS V600 All-in-One PC, the latest addition to the AiO series. It has a sleek aesthetic and is powered by up to an AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 processor, capable of handling demanding workloads with ease.
This processor is paired with AMD Radeon 820M graphics, up to 16GB DDR5 memory, and up to 512GB SSD storage.
The V600 has a 23.8-inch FHD IPS 178-degree view display with a wide 93% screen-to-body ratio, anti-glare coating, and is certified for eye comfort.
The 50 TOPs NPU PC is also part of the Copilot+ family, making it efficient for AI computing tasks. Other features include ASUS AI Noise-Cancelling and Adaptive Lock.
Price: PhP 56,995
ASUS V500 Mini Tower
Meanwhile, the ASUS V500 Mini Tower is crafted to blend modern workspaces while delivering dependable performance.
It touts up to an Intel Core 7 240H processor and comes in a Dark Wood color. It operates at as low as 24dB in whisper mode.
An addition, it features up to 80 PLUS Platinum-certified PSU, reducing heat generation and eliminating power-consumption concerns. The PC has support for up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage.
Price: Starts at PhP 41,995
ASUS TUF Gaming TM500
Moreover, the ASUS TUF Gaming TM500 is a compact gaming desktop that delivers power and efficiency in a streamlined form factor.
It is fueled by an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor, reaching a maximum boost speed of 5.1GHz. Along with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, users can experience seamless gameplay.
The PC comes with 16GB DDR5 memory, and two more SO-DIMM slots to support up to 64GB of memory. This allows the machine to breeze through memory-heavy workloads, outside of the most demanding AAA titles.
Complementing these hardware is a custom heatsink with 1,218cm2 of total dissipation area, copper heat piping, and 90 mm cooling fan.
Price: Starts at PhP 76,995
ROG GM700
Lastly, the ROG GM700 features the undisputed power and beastly performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU.
With up to 32GB of memory, the PC can process jaw-dropping visuals at ultra-fast speeds. With up to 2TB of storage, it guarantees swift load times, high frame rates, and freedom from stutters in high-stakes gaming.
The ROG GM700 is also amenable for customization, maintenance, and future-proofing. Users can enjoy an upgrade potential of up to four DDR5 U-DIMM slots and multiple M.2 slots.
Price: starts at PhP 139,995
News
Google pushes AI tools to help Filipinos stay safe online
Google highlights new AI tools for safer internet use.
Google Philippines is marking Safer Internet Day 2026 by highlighting how artificial intelligence can help Filipinos stay safe online.
Under the theme “sA Internet, Ingat!”, Google showcased new and updated tools designed to make digital safety easier, faster, and more intuitive for Pinoy users of all ages.
During the event, Google PH Head of Communications and Public Affairs Mervin Wenke discussed how AI-powered features across Search, Android, and Gemini can help users spot scams, verify content, and protect their devices in real time.
Using AI to spot misinformation
As AI-generated content becomes more common, Google says critical thinking is now a core digital skill.
To help users evaluate what they see online, Google recommends the SIFT method: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims back to the original context.
Supporting this are tools built directly into Google Search:
- About this image, which shows where an image came from and how it has been used online
- SynthID, a technology that embeds digital watermarks into AI-generated content to help identify manipulated media and deepfakes
Together, these tools aim to give users more context before they trust or share what they see.
Fighting scams with Circle to Search and Lens
Scams remain one of the biggest online threats in the Philippines, often arriving through SMS or social media messages.
Google is now using AI in Google Lens and Circle to Search to help users detect scams instantly. Users can take a screenshot of a suspicious message and scan it with Google Lens, or long-press the home button on Android and circle the text on screen.
Google AI then analyzes the content in real time and alerts users if the message is likely a scam.
Stronger protection for lost or stolen phones
Google is also strengthening Android security in case devices fall into the wrong hands. New and upgraded features include:
- Theft Detection Lock, which uses on-device AI to detect sudden motion patterns linked to snatch-and-run thefts and automatically locks the screen
- Biometric Identity Check, adding extra protection for sensitive settings
- Failed Authentication Lock, which secures the device after repeated incorrect login attempts
These features are designed to protect personal data even when a phone is physically stolen.
Tools for kids and families
For younger users, Google emphasized the importance of building healthy digital habits early. Parents can use:
- Family Link to manage screen time, approve app downloads, and apply content filters
- Be Internet Awesome, an educational program that teaches kids to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online
- YouTube Shorts Timer, which lets parents set time limits for short-form videos, including the option to block Shorts during homework time
Google says the Shorts timer is an industry-first parental control focused on short-form content.
Encouraging deeper learning with Gemini
As AI becomes more common in education, Google says it wants students to learn how to think, not just how to get answers.
Through Guided Learning in Gemini, students are encouraged to work through problems step by step. The feature is designed to support logic and critical thinking, positioning AI as a learning companion rather than a shortcut.
Google says these updates reflect its broader goal for Safer Internet Day: helping Filipinos navigate the AI era with confidence and peace of mind.
The curtains have finally been lifted. Though it took a while compared to previous years, Samsung has revealed when the year’s first Galaxy Unpacked will happen. And yes, as expected, the event will see the debut of the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
Previously, rumors have suggested that Samsung is holding its next Galaxy Unpacked at a later date. Traditionally, Samsung holds the annual event towards the tail end of January. Since we’re already in February, it’s abundantly clear that the rumors were right. Now, it’s confirmed.
Samsung has officially released invites for the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked. The event is scheduled for February 25.
As expected, Samsung is bringing its next flagship, the Galaxy S26 series to the event. The brand will also update Galaxy AI for the flagship series.
As early as last year, reports have already hinted at improvements coming to the series. Right now, the biggest headline is how the upcoming Exynos 2600, which will debut with the Galaxy S26 series, is reportedly at par with Apple’s A19 Pro.
In other news, the series will supposedly retire the Plus model, which would otherwise have been the Galaxy S26+. The middle child of a flagship series is often the experimental one. Besides Samsung, Apple will reportedly sunset the iPhone Air, its own version of the middle child.
Right now, all we can do is speculate on the upcoming series. Until its arrival soon, that is. For now, stay tuned for more coverage of the series launch from GadgetMatch.
SEE ALSO: Samsung will reportedly delay Galaxy S26 launch to late February
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