Infinix wasn’t done serving us budget gaming smartphones for champion values when it announced the Infinix GT 30.

As if the Infinix GT 30 Pro wasn’t affordable enough for its overall package, Transsion’s beloved gaming and all-around smartphone brand has kept giving us options to suit the spending capacities of consumers who may have tighter budgets right now.

I can already tell you that the so-called base model (but I prefer calling it the standard model for added flair) still brings steady gaming performance, simple and reliable every day use, and extra gravy in between.

Essential daily carry

For this review, I once again enlisted the help of my nephew who loves playing games both on mobile and PC. He’s currently in college, and has used the phone as his everyday companion.

Outdoors, he sneaks in 30-minute sessions in between, plus the usual daily usage like messaging, music listening, browsing, and watching videos.

More than the 5500mAh battery, it’s the optimized performance and power management that keep the GT 30 running until he’s back home.

My nephew said how the Dimensity 7400 chipset smartly distributes power across tasks stood out the most. Infinix promised performance upgrades, and they walked their talk on this aspect.

In fact, on lighter days where he didn’t have to view the display all the time, he’d still end up with 50% after a half day (4 to 6 hours) in school, plus gaming during travel time. That’s with mobile data turned on.

As such, standby is also optimized. And if you need a quick replenishment, the 45W charging capacity will refuel its battery by about 60% in an hour.

On days where he doesn’t have academic undertakings, he spends a lot more time on the phone for gaming. For longer sessions, he plugs it in and utilizes Bypass Charging so it doesn’t heat up too much. It’s a great touch for budget-conscious mobile users.

Budget gaming champ

Naturally, I just reminded by nephew to test a variety of mobile titles. He went above and beyond and of course, we have to throw one of the most demanding titles you can play on a mobile device into the mix: Genshin Impact.

To be completely fair, he had to lower the graphics to low and cap the frame rate to 60 fps to be able to enjoy it. That’s still fairly impressive for a handset this affordable.

On Wi-Fi and without other background apps running, it will drain about 20% after three hours of Genshin Impact, showing just optimized it is.

On 5G data, however, it drained faster and reach about 40°C about after 20 minutes of gameplay at low resolution, 60 fps.

Moreover, the extended RAM really helps a lot in enabling him play on of the toughest games on mobile.

For other titles, as expected, gameplay went smoothly.

GT Trigger: Tactical edge

Like its Pro sibling, the GT 30 features shoulder-mounted GT Triggers. These controls can be easily mapped and my nephew took advantage of these for Call of Duty Mobile.

He pointed out that CODM regulars usually have four fingers all on the screen, so these buttons provide a good alternative while still seeing most of the action.

For him, personally, he used these for quick slide and shoot combos. The triggers also illuminate in red and blue for added effects.

Even for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, he said the extra buttons enabled him to buy items on the fly while in the middle of clashes. Those saved him crucial seconds of response and taps in the heat of battle.

More importantly, responsiveness was snappy. They really feel like actual buttons in terms of the extra low latency.

And even for non-gaming scenarios, the buttons can be used for tasks like camera shutter.

Display: Just as smooth and clear

Accompanying gaming and endless binge-watching is a 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display. The aspect ratio is more on the thicker and chunkier side rather than longer and slimmer.

And that’s with a 440ppi pixel density which is darn impressive for this price segment. Details are sharp and clear, not pixelated, while the edges aren’t jagged.

The 89.4% screen-to-body ratio helps with seeing more, instead of annoying bezels. Plus with GT Triggers, it all comes together to provide smooth visuals (and this is personally why I prefer flat screens over curved screens).

No lagging either in the case of 1080p video playback, and the tough battery gives you hours of continuous watching. And even just 20% brightness is enough indoors.

Cameras: Handy and helpful

Onto its camera, the 64MP main shooter on the Infinix GT 30 gives you more than just documentation.

Shots come out clear and detailed at a glance. Just don’t expect perfect color representation, and the same sharpness at longer focal lengths.

But overall, it’s good for every day landscapes, food, casual portraits, and more. The camera even offers good segmentation for portraits.

Focus for close-ups takes a bit of trial and error, but it’s all manageable.

The camera even excels in low light and retains more quality in the dark or just illuminates the entire photo. Pretty impressive, to be honest.

Granted, there’s not much mitigation against glare or backlight, or power for fast-captures, but c’mon, it’s a US$ 200 phone.

There’s even an 8MP ultra-wide lens for wider captures outside or for tighter spaces. The 13MP selfie camera in front isn’t shabby either.

As an entire package, the cameras hold their own.

Design, appearance, and feel

Coming from a different brand, my nephew mentioned that he has no general problems navigating Infinix’s OS UI.

The floating window function was helpful whenever he wanted his girlfriend’s chats seen while playing games.

But that said, there will still adjustments to make. For instance, the floating window tends to go to a random area on the screen instead of a more fixed position.

He did have an issue with the keyboard that auto-adjusts to one-hand mode by default when games are open, as he trash-talks in-game.

After a system update, my nephew did note the top and bottom parts of the screen weren’t responding to swipes, which included the notification panel and switching apps. But it did get resolved immediately.

Futuristic mecha is still the design identity’s backbone. The lighting effects look simplified this time. There are four color options for this iteration, and we got the blue variant.

Surprisingly, even with a reflective glass cover at the back, my nephew noted that it wasn’t too slippery especially when he is one-handing it.

But without a case, it does have a lessened grip with pulling it out of a pocket or holding from the frames. And, it’s a sucker for fingerprints.

There are angles where it looks premium, although the glass cover gets in the way. I personally still prefer being able to feel the texture of the design.

Is this your BudgetMatch?

The Infinix GT 30 is a definitive Swipe Right. We would have given it a Super Swipe though some quirks held it back.

Still, it is a budget gaming performer with champion value. Even if you’re not a hardcore mobile gamer, this is a phone you’d take with you daily to keep you connected, entertained, and even distracted.

And at just about US$ 200 / PhP 11,999, it puts other lower mid-rangers that compromise elsewhere to shame. Chalk up another win for Infinix in their famed GT line.

Infinix GT 30 specs

• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7400 5G, 4nm process, up to 2.6GHz
• OS: XOS 15 (Android 15)
• Memory: 8GB base RAM, up to 8GB RAM expansion
• Storage: 256GB
• Display: 6.78-inch 1.5K 144Hz display, 89.4% screen-to-body ratio, 1600 nits peak brightness, 440ppi pixel density
• Battery and charging: 45W wired, 10W reverse wired, Bypass Charging support
• Cameras: 64MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 13MP selfie
• IP rating: IP64

There are days when the world gets a little too loud, like when every honk or notification feels like a personal attack. Even as an extrovert, I sometimes crave the quiet.

Sure, I love people and the chatter inside cafés, but there are moments when I want to turn the volume of life all the way down with a pair of headphones. Although, I’ve never really been a “headphones person.”

The last time I owned a pair was back in 2017-2018. A Sony H.Ear On 2 and an Mpow H5 that saw brief daylight before I decided I preferred the freedom of earbuds. Then came wireless earbuds, and eventually open-ear ones, which suited my lifestyle perfectly.

But maybe this is what growing older does to you. You start craving peace like it’s a luxury item. Because for the past three months, I’ve been living with the Dyson OnTrac.

And now that the honeymoon phase is over, I can say it plainly: I love everything about it, except a few things.

That Dyson DNA

The first time I saw the Dyson OnTrac, it didn’t even look like a gadget. It looked like something you’d wear with a crisp blazer or bring into an airport lounge. It’s unmistakably Dyson: minimal yet distinct.

Mine came in Copper, which felt like it was made for me. It matches my gold earrings and necklaces perfectly, as if it was designed to live in my wardrobe.

That’s the thing about Dyson. They make technology feel personal, like a statement piece that just happens to have a power button.

Even the small details feel intentional. The outer caps and ear cushions can be swapped for colors of your choice, and those cushions — soft and made from microfiber — hug your ears like velvet clouds.

The OnTrac is so comfortable that I’ve worn it through entire flights and long editing sessions without a single ache or hint of warmth. It never clamps too tightly, either.

My only complaint? It’s oddly designed when you want to rest it on your neck. You have to flip it so it lays flat against your collarbones. Otherwise, the ear cups sit awkwardly and press against your neck.

It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s… fussy. Beautiful, yes, but impractical in that “fashion before function” kind of way.

Still, that comfort kept me company from my flight to Hong Kong to my bus ride into Shenzhen. It was so light, I almost forgot I was wearing it. Almost.

And that battery life — 55 hours, give or take — held up. I didn’t even need to charge it while traveling from Hong Kong to Zhengzhou and back to the Philippines.

The silence I needed

Wearing the OnTrac, I couldn’t hear the hum of the plane’s engine, the crying baby, or the chatty group behind me on the bus. Its Active Noise Cancellation is easily one of the best I’ve tried.

It feels like being inside a bubble, a little world of your own. Only a few pairs of headphones can deliver this kind of isolation without feeling suffocating. You know that eerie stillness where you start hearing your own thoughts? It’s like that, but gentler.

Of course, there are better options for pure noise-cancelling performance, but none of them look this good doing it.

The OnTrac also automatically pauses when you take it off, which I love. It’s the closest thing to someone gently turning down the world for you.

Through the MyDyson app, you can tweak your experience. You can adjust isolation levels, switch between transparency modes, and decide how much of the outside world you want to let in. It’s thoughtful and seamless, exactly what you’d expect from Dyson.

The sound I didn’t want

There’s more to tweak in the MyDyson app, including a sound exposure monitor and an adjustable equalizer with four modes: Enhanced, Bass Boost, Neutral, and Custom. I tried them all. I really did. And yet, the sound never quite came alive.

Despite its brilliance in design and noise control, the OnTrac sounds… flat. It’s clean, but too clean that it’s lacking depth and warmth. The vocals don’t quite have texture, and the bass feels subdued. Even my colleagues noticed as we compared it to the more affordable Sony WH-1000XM6 and JBL Tour One M3.

Somehow, the OnTrac falls short. It’s not bad. It’s just not enough for the price Dyson asks. It’s like ordering a luxury dessert and realizing it looks exquisite, but doesn’t melt the way you hoped.

Price and availability

The Dyson OnTrac retails for US$ 499 / PhP 32,900 in the Philippines. It’s available in CNC Black Nickel and CNC Copper.

You can personalize it further with ear cushions (PhP 3,500) in colors like Oyster Pink, Khaki, Chrome Yellow, Prussian Blue, and Ultra Blue.

The outer caps (PhP 3,500) are also swappable, with options like Ceramic Blue, Coarse Titanium, and Ceramic Cinnabar.
Even the braided Aux cable with an in-flight adapter feels premium, though it’ll set you back PhP 2,000.

Is the Dyson OnTrac your GadgetMatch?

It’s rare to find a pair of headphones that feel as much like a fashion statement as a functional device. The Dyson OnTrac is exactly that — a piece of wearable art that lets you shut the world out in style.

If you see headphones as an extension of how you carry yourself and not just a tool for listening, then this could easily be a Swipe Right.

That is, if you have a little money to burn. Maybe the comfort, aesthetics, and excellent ANC are enough to make you splurge.

But if you’re after a rich, dynamic sound profile, looks alone won’t do. It’s automatically a Swipe Left, as there are better options out there. Both the JBL Tour One M3 and Sony WH-1000XM6 sound fuller and more balanced for less.

Maybe that’s the irony of the OnTrac. It perfects the art of silence but forgets the poetry of sound. Still, every time I slip it on, it feels like I’m putting the world on mute.

And for now, that’s the kind of peace I’m willing to pay for.

We’ve spent enough time with the ROG Xbox Ally X to say this: it’s no longer just a novelty. It’s a handheld that finally knows what it wants to be.

The original ROG Ally from 2023 was exciting. It was a bold step toward making PC gaming portable. But after a few sessions, it started to feel more like a prototype for what was coming next.

This one? It feels a little more complete.

So, let’s talk about how the ROG Xbox Ally X grips better, plays longer, and why it feels like a proper sequel.

Built for real hands, not show floors

The first touch felt awkward — the kind of feeling you get when you’re not sure how to hold something new. But the longer you hold it, the more it starts to make sense.

The redesigned grips, patterned after Xbox controllers, give it a natural curve that rests well in your palms. It still doesn’t dig in as much as the Legion Go S – my personal preference as of writing – but it’s certainly an improvement.

It’s also subtly heavier than the original, yet the weight works in its favor. The balance feels right. The texture, more grounded. It feels made for long sessions, not quick demos.

This is where ASUS seems to have listened. What was once a bit slippery now feels like an extension of your hands. The matte finish stays clean, the edges no longer bite. It’s a small but significant shift — and one that changes how you use it.

There is one thing I found myself wishing for: a slightly larger, and better (maybe OLED?) screen. The size isn’t a deal-breaker, but with the improved grips and better weight distribution, it feels like the device could comfortably accommodate just a bit more display real estate

Buttons and controls that take some getting used to

The button placements might be an issue for some. You know how in controllers, the little top left and top right buttons closer to the middle — in this case, the screen — are universally the “Select” and “Start” buttons? That’s not how it goes on the ROG Xbox Ally X.

The top left button brings up a Quick Settings version of Armoury Crate SE, while the top right one opens your Game Library. The buttons that function similarly to “Select” and “Start” sit right beneath them. And as far as I’ve checked, there’s no way to remap.

That’s quite a puzzling choice, as any gamer with experience will tell you this runs counter to what most of us are used to. Even now, I still press these buttons by mistake.

For the rest of the controls, the ROG Xbox Ally X follows Xbox’s asymmetrical layout. The face buttons feel tactile and responsive enough, so there’s little to complain about. The joysticks feel good, too — though only time will tell if they’ll fall victim to the dreaded stick drift. Other ROG Ally variants had few reports of this happening, and hopefully that remains the case here.

A battery built for actual gaming

We tested it the same way we tested the original: unplugged, Turbo mode, 25W TDP, NBA 2K Quick Play and a few other titles.

Back then, we couldn’t finish more than a single game and a few minutes of freestyle practice before the battery flatlined.

This time, it’s double that.

Two full games before reaching for the charger — and that’s without dialing down the settings. The new 80Wh battery doesn’t just promise endurance; it delivers it.

The cooling system has also been reworked, quieter yet just as efficient. It’s the kind of update that doesn’t make headlines, but you notice it — or in this case, don’t notice it as much.

Together, these tweaks make the ROG Xbox Ally X something the original never quite managed to be — a handheld that lets you play longer unplugged.

Designed for the Xbox era

The Xbox influence is everywhere, and it’s not just branding. The ROG Xbox Ally X now boots straight into the Xbox app, with the familiar button logo acting as your home key. Press it to launch the game bar and help you navigate your device using just the built-in handheld controls.

It feels less like a PC pretending to be a console and more like a handheld that understands both worlds. Although, it is still very much a compact PC.

You can still jump into Steam, Ubisoft Connect, and back to the Xbox app with ease. The tweaks that Microsoft made certainly make it easier to navigate the device using just the handheld controls. But the feel is still more PC than Xbox console.

Don’t get me wrong — it is certainly better than what the original Ally had to offer. Back then, it felt like ASUS built the hardware and hoped the software would catch up. Now, it feels like both sides have somewhat met halfway.

Performance that respects your time

Under the hood, the ROG Xbox Ally X runs the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, but ASUS focused on optimizing what surrounds it — thermals, battery management, and storage.

The internal layout has been reworked to accommodate a much larger 1TB M.2 SSD and 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM. These aren’t just specs on paper; they change how the device behaves over time.

Load times feel a tad shorter. Switching between games and platforms/apps is smoother. You spend less time waiting and more time playing.

The fans, too, are less intrusive. You’ll still hear them when pushing the TDP to max, but they no longer spin up as abruptly. The entire system feels calmer — mature, even.

That’s the word that keeps coming back when describing the ROG Xbox Ally X. It’s the same idea, refined by time and feedback.

Software that finally plays nice

Armoury Crate SE still serves a purpose. You can still tweak TDP, fan profiles, and button mapping. It’s the experience that feels most familiar coming from older versions of the ROG Ally.

Meanwhile, Xbox integration makes it easier for casual players to jump in without touching a single setting. The ROG Xbox Ally X adapts to both power users and those who just want to play their preferred games on the couch, in bed, or wherever, really.

The software is designed around how people actually use the device — not how engineers think they might.

Is the ROG Xbox Ally X your GadgetMatch?

What makes the ROG Xbox Ally X a proper sequel isn’t raw power or a single headline feature. It’s the way everything now feels more connected.

The new grip design complements the bigger battery. The improved cooling complements the quieter operation. The tighter Xbox integration complements the way it fits naturally into your gaming habits.

It’s not perfect — the ergonomics could still go deeper, Windows still feels like an awkward fit for small screens, and this particular 7-inch screen could probably use an inch more. 

Overall though, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a Swipe Right. It no longer feels like a prototype or a statement piece. It feels like a handheld built for everyday play.

If the first ROG Ally was the promising first installment, then this one is a proper sequel – one that could pave the way to a blockbuster franchise.

Learn more about the ROG Xbox Ally X here.

WHERE TO BUY.  (PhP 56,995/ USD 999.99)