I’ve always believed in the art of continuous improvement. Small, consistent gains—just one percent better each day—can lead to significant changes.
I didn’t build strength by forcing myself to lift weights double my size. Instead, it was the consistent effort to move every day, no matter how small or light the activity, that made the difference.
For me, each day is an opportunity to redefine your limits. It’s about discovering new movements, finding techniques that work for your body, and embracing routines that keep you motivated to continue.
Fitness is a deeply personal journey, something that belongs entirely to you. Like a smartwatch tailored to your needs, your fitness journey is uniquely yours.
Once you’ve taken ownership of your journey, the next step is to elevate it—with a device that supports you as you push your boundaries and surpass your best.
That’s where the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra comes in. It’s not just a performance smartwatch; it’s your companion in the pursuit of strength, power, and endurance.
Time to bring your game
I began my training journey five years ago, inspired by my love for a multi-sport athlete. Starting with bodyweight exercises in the privacy of my own room, I avoided the gym due to insecurities about my thin, frail body.
I struggled with basic lifts because I lacked a solid foundation of strength. The journey was challenging, so I enlisted the help of Coach Genaro Sabile, who also serves as the S&C Coach for the UP Men’s and Women’s Football Teams.
Under his guidance, I gained the knowledge, proper form, techniques, and strength needed to participate in the sports I’ve come to love over the years—Boxing, Muay Thai, Road and Trail Running, Obstacle Course Racing, and Fencing.
Now that I’m active in the multi-sport scene, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has become the perfect tool, helping me elevate my game and push beyond what I once thought possible.
With over 100 workout modes, the watch tracks my sports and other fitness activities with precision. I love the multi-sport tile, where I can choose my three preferred exercises.
While I don’t do triathlons, I know how physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially demanding they can be. If you’re just starting out, the Galaxy Watch Ultra can act as your personal coach, guiding you through those challenging initial stages.
Recovery goes a long way
On days when my muscles are sore and fatigue sets in, it’s tempting to slow down. But this watch is more than just a tracker—it’s a reminder that true progress comes when you embrace the grind.
The new Energy Score feature has become my go-to guide for knowing whether my body is ready for another workout.
After wearing the watch for 24 hours, it calculates a score based on my daily activity, weekly sleep patterns, average sleeping heart rate, and heart rate variability. It even takes into account my age and gender, making the assessment uniquely tailored to me.
Galaxy AI processes all this data and delivers a comprehensive report right in the Samsung Health app. Along with the Energy Score, I also rely on detailed insights like Sleep Stages and Sleep Scores to gauge how prepared I am for the day ahead.
These reports have become essential tools in understanding my body’s readiness and ensuring I’m on track to meet my goals.
I’ve learned firsthand that sleep quality has a profound impact on my performance, which is why I rely on Galaxy AI to analyze my data and provide insights for improvement.
It’s easy to overlook, but sleep truly is the number one factor in helping me reach my best. When I prioritize recovery and take it seriously, I see the difference it makes in how I feel and perform each day.
On the path to improvement
From pull-ups and push-ups to weighted squats and deadlifts, every rep matters. The Galaxy Watch Ultra tracks each movement, pushing me to perfect my form, lift heavier, and move with purpose.
It’s designed to start counting reps only when you’re in the correct position, though you can manually input counts if needed. The watch also auto-detects workouts like walking and running, so I never miss a session—even if I forget to start tracking because I’m too eager to get moving. It helps me stay focused on getting stronger.
Strength isn’t just about lifting weights, contrary to popular belief. It’s about mastering your body. The Galaxy Watch Ultra adapts to your routine, ensuring that you’re always on the path to improvement.
It provides real-time performance feedback, comparing your current session with previous ones. With Race Mode, it tracks key metrics like pace, speed, distance, and heart rate, letting you see how you stack up against past performances on the same route or activity.
This helps me understand if I’m improving or if I need to adjust my approach. However, it’s important to remember that goals can evolve. Strength isn’t solely about beating your best; sometimes, injuries or setbacks mean progress takes time.
The watch helps me adapt, learn from challenges, and come back stronger, armed with lessons from my journey.
Over time, the integration with Samsung Health gives me a comprehensive view of my fitness level, allowing me to monitor my progress and adjust my training plans as needed.
The test of strength and endurance
It’s easy to stay within your comfort zone, sticking to what you’re good at. But with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I’m always pushing myself to seek new challenges and ways to build muscle, stamina, and resilience.
Often, pushing past your limits is a mental battle. The advanced BioActive Sensor in the Galaxy Watch Ultra enhances heart rate monitoring accuracy, which is incredibly useful during intense workouts.
Even when I think I can’t push any further, the watch keeps reminding me that I can do better. Sometimes, our biggest obstacle is our own mindset.
I used to have conversations with coaches who saw me as someone hesitant to fully unleash my potential. I’d often slip into fight-or-flight mode, clinging to my comfort zone.
But with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I’ve been able to break through those barriers.
Even when the barbell feels too heavy or the pull-up bar seems unreachable, I know the smartwatch is tracking every effort and struggle. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s evidence of my progress, rep by rep.
Just as the smartwatch is built with Grade 4 Titanium to withstand extreme conditions, it inspires me to handle the rigorous tests of my own strength and endurance.
A symbol of commitment
This journey isn’t just about gaining muscle—it’s about mastering control and building a foundation that supports me in every aspect of life.
Whether I’m navigating everyday tasks or diving into the sports I love, each session with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra helps me refine my strength and resilience.
From lifting weights to perfecting new moves, the watch is there every step of the way, pushing me to surpass my previous performances.
Training isn’t just for competitions; it’s a lifelong commitment to becoming the strongest, most powerful version of myself. With the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra by my side, I’m confident that no matter the challenge, I’ll rise to meet it.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra retails for PhP 40,990. It is available in Samsung’s official stores nationwide.
This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Samsung Philippines.
Apple Pay is officially in the Philippines!
Pushing the country forward into a cashless and cardless future, Apple has now brought its contactless payment system to the Philippines. As with other countries, Apply Pay will work seamlessly and easily even for those who have problems with technology.
Now, despite how easy it is, sometimes we need to be pointed in the right direction. Here’s how you can set up Apple Pay on your iPhone:
Everything starts with the Wallet app. First, open your Wallet app. Tap the “+” button on the top and select “Debit or Credit Card.”
Normally, this is where you can input your card details (which you can still do, by the way), but the default method now is to just tap your card on the back of your iPhone. Your phone does the rest. You might need to confirm with your bank, but it’s as easy as a single tap.
Pick which cards to use. Once you have your cards online, you might need to change which one is the default card. Again, it’s easy. Just drag your preferred card to the front.
Afterwards, you can tap to pay in supported stores by priming the Wallet app for use. Tapping to pay is also available for Apple Watch. Meanwhile, online transactions can also work on MacBook.
Secure, all the time. If you’re worried about your security especially with online transactions, Apple keeps your information only between you and the seller. They don’t store your data.
Also, it’s not easy to make a transaction without your consent. You need Face ID, Touch ID, or your password. If you lose your phone, you can easily shut your phone down with the Find My app to prevent malicious parties from making transactions.
DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.
The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.
Freedom behind the lens
The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.
On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.
FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.
ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.
It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.
None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.
And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.
The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.
The trade-offs in touch
The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.
DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.
You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.
Finding your ideal workflow
The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.
If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.
Price, availability
DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.
- Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
- Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
- Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.
Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?
The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.
If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.
Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.
Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.
And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.
Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.
This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.
Features
GadgetSnaps: Westminster Abbey
A thousand years of history, unfolded with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Westminster Abbey isn’t just another stop on the London tourist trail.
It’s the stage for coronations, royal weddings, and burials that span nearly a thousand years, all still playing out under the same vaulted ceilings that have been standing since before most countries had names.
Once you get past the crowds and the audio guides, a quieter version of the abbey starts to show itself: worn stone steps, poets resting a few feet from kings, light that shifts across the nave like it’s in on the performance too.
While losing track of time in Poets’ Corner (yes, me, playing amateur historian for an afternoon), I unfolded the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and decided the abbey deserved more than a quick tourist snap.
All photos captured using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
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