Tablets

Galaxy Tab S8 beats iPad for first tablet without a free charger

No charger in the box

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Years ago, Samsung clowned Apple for removing the free charger from their iPhone boxes. The company’s jokes quickly came to an end, though. Soon after Apple’s decision, Samsung followed suit, removing their own free chargers from purchased smartphones. Now, the tables have turned. The new Galaxy Tab S8 does not have a charger in the box, beating out Apple for a charger-less tablet.

Noted by The Verge’s Dan Seifert on Twitter, the recently launched Tab S8 did not come with the free accessory out of the box. Instead, like the company’s smartphones, it comes with only a charging cable.

Because a lot of smartphones don’t come with chargers anymore, it does seem odd to note the Tab S8’s packaging. However, the tablet’s lack of a charger carries some importance. Apple, who started the charger-less trend in the first place, still ships all of their iPads with a charging adapter in the box. Samsung beats out Apple in its own trend.

However, though the two brands are often at odds with each other, this specific trend might not be one that Samsung was rushing to beat Apple in. Since Apple’s first charger-less device, users have lamented over brands ridding themselves of the coveted accessory.

Additionally, shipping a Galaxy Tab S8 without a charger seems more controversial than usual. A tablet is still considered a premium purchase that often needs bundled accessories to maximize their potential.

The Galaxy Tab S8 is available now. The base model starts at US$ 699.99, while its more premium models go above US$ 1,000.

SEE ALSO: Samsung launches the Galaxy Tab S8 series

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TechLife Pad Neo SE: Price, availability in the Philippines

Now available at PhP 8,999 SRP, with deals on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

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TechLife has officially launched the Pad Neo SE. It’s a 10.1-inch tablet aimed at families, positioned as a study device first, with room for creativity and after-school entertainment. It comes in Space Grey, Bubble Blue, and Aurora Green.

The Eye Comfort Display is the main draw. The larger screen gives kids more space for research and online classes. It’s designed to keep longer study sessions easier on the eyes.

Dual stereo speakers handle lessons and shared family viewing, while split-screen support lets kids and parents run two tasks at once.

The tablet supports Smart Parental Control and Google Kids Space. Parents can pick the apps, books, videos, and learning content their kids can access.

For the hardware, the Pad Neo SE runs Android 16 on an octa-core processor. It offers up to 8GB of RAM, including memory expansion, and 64GB of storage that can be expanded up to 1TB.

Also, its 6000mAh battery last through a full school day of classes and lessons. Rounding out the spec sheet are 5MP front and rear cameras and the Google Gemini AI assistant.

Price, availability in the Philippines

The Pad Neo SE retails at PhP 8,999. With vouchers, it can go for as low as PhP 7,099 on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

As part of TechLife’s Peak Season offers, which run from October 29, 2026 to January 3, 2027, buyers get a free Folio Case or a free Power Bank R211 5,000mAh, depending on availability. An online giveaway for the Pad Neo SE also starts October 29 on TechLife’s official social media pages.

Vouchers apply to participating online platforms only. Stocks and vouchers are limited. Freebies are available while supplies last.

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Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 out now, starts at PhP 25,995

Designed for today’s media consumption habits

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Lenovo has launched the new Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 tablet designed to deliver an immersive entertainment experience for today’s media consumption habits.

It is priced at PhP 25,995. As part of the launch, Lenovo is offering special freebies for purchases from October 28 to November 15, while supplies last.

Early buyers can get a free Lenovo Tab One or in-store vouchers up to PhP 3,000. Full mechanics can be seen here.

The tablet features a 12.1-inch 2.5K display with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, complemented by a JBL-engineered 9-speaker system with Dolby Atmos.

A built-in Bluetooth speaker mode also enables the tablet to function as a standalone speaker.

This combination takes care of the audiovisual aspect, but the tablet comes with upgrades across versatility and intelligent features. Such expands the role of the slate across a broader range of activities and environments.

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 comes with a 360-degree rotating kickstand, supporting multiple positions across both portrait and landscape modes.

This versatility support various scenarios, like streaming in bed, following recipes in the kitchen, or taking the tablet on a camping trip.

The tablet houses a 10,200mAh battery to support long usage hours. It charges at up to 45W. Also inside are up to 12GB of memory and up to 256GB of storage, as well as a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor.

For multitaskers, the Tab Plus Gen 2 can also be connected with the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus, Lenovo Wireless Keyboard, and Lenovo 68W USB-C Wall Charger.

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Apple unveils its biggest iPad mini update yet

Apple upgrades its compact tablet.

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Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini, introducing an OLED display, a faster processor, and improved durability. The update brings significant changes to Apple’s smallest tablet while retaining its compact form factor.

The new iPad mini features an 8.5-inch OLED display, up from the previous model’s 8.3-inch LCD screen. The upgrade promises deeper blacks, improved contrast, and a better viewing experience for videos, games, and other content.

Apple has also equipped the tablet with its A20 Pro chip, delivering improved performance and enhanced capabilities for artificial intelligence tasks.

Bigger OLED display, improved performance

The new iPad mini features a Super Retina XDR OLED display with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits for HDR content. It can also reduce its brightness to just 1 nit, making it more comfortable to use in darker environments.

Apple has reduced the tablet’s thickness to 5.4mm while retaining its compact design. The redesigned model also features slimmer bezels.

For video calls, the tablet features a 12-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera positioned along its landscape edge. This makes video calls more convenient when using the tablet horizontally.

The new model also introduces IP67 water and dust resistance, offering additional protection against everyday accidents.

Improved AI capabilities

The A20 Pro chip powers the new iPad mini, bringing improvements to CPU and graphics performance.

Apple says the processor delivers up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance and up to 4.5 times faster AI performance compared with the previous generation.

These improvements support Apple’s expanding Apple Intelligence ecosystem and its latest Siri capabilities.

The upgraded hardware should also benefit users who edit photos, multitask across applications, and run demanding games on the compact tablet.

Pricing and availability

The new iPad mini starts at US$699 for the Wi-Fi model and US$849 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant in the United States.

In Singapore, the tablet starts at S$999 for the Wi-Fi model and S$1,229 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version. Eligible customers can get the Wi-Fi model starting at S$929 with education pricing.

In the Philippines, the new iPad mini starts at PhP 49,990 for the Wi-Fi model and PhP 59,990 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant. Eligible customers can purchase it with education pricing starting at PhP 45,990.

The tablet comes in midnight and starlight finishes, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage configurations.

In the United States, preorders begin October 28, 2026, with availability starting November 6. Singapore preorders open October 29, with availability also beginning November 6.

Apple has yet to announce a specific preorder or release date for the Philippines. The company says the new iPad mini will be available soon through its Philippine online store and authorized resellers.

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