Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 review: Foldable you can afford

All the burning questions, answered

Published

August 24, 2021

When phones with foldable displays became a thing a few years ago — as could be expected from a bleeding-edge tech of any kind — they came with a hefty price tag.

But it’s been three years and finally, they’re starting to become relatively, more affordable. That’s the story of this year’s new Galaxy Z Flip3 — a foldable phone that more people can afford.

But should you rush out to buy one?

Samsung’s newest and cheaper foldable

This is the Galaxy Z Flip3. TL;DR for those who don’t have all the time in the world: It’s slightly redesigned, built with more durable materials, has a new fast 120Hz display on its inside, a larger, more usable cover screen on its outside, and it comes with a cheaper price tag.

Of course, these “cliff notes” don’t tell the whole story of the Flip3. And they don’t particularly answer the question: Why should you buy the Flip3?

Design

I’ve been using the new Flip3 for about a week now, and I’m really digging this two-tone color scheme.

The black contrasts well against this cream finish, or any of the other colors for that matter.

Be it Green…

… or Lavender.

These three color options feature a frame and hinge that have an improved matte finish and color-match the phone. The glass, however, has a glossy finish to it. Very much unlike last year’s mirror finish which was a huge smudge magnet.

If you want a glass with a frosted matte finish, there’s an all-black model also. And if you’re willing to wait three to five weeks, there are special Samsung.com exclusive colors — Grey, White, and Pink. These options are all matte with a black frame and hinge.

While just about the same size, the new Flip3 looks and feels different. The design features flat lines and edges which reflects the current design trend that favors flat versus curvy. The result is a phone that looks more modern and trendy.

So, why should you buy it?

Across all its iterations, I’ve always enjoyed using the Flip. I love having to open it up and also occasionally slamming it shut. And above all, I think the “coolness factor” is going to be the main reason to buy this phone. It’s a bit retro and futuristic at the same time. Definitely the trendiest phone you can buy today.

Size, of course, is also another consideration. When folded shut, it takes up half the space of your usual candybar phone. Perfect for smaller pockets. Or purses.

For me, that’s never been an issue. But I know lots of girlfriends who struggle with tiny pockets, or only want to carry what can fit inside a small purse. This phone solves that.

And then there’s “perks of the form factor”. When folded at a 90-degree angle, the phone props itself up for say, taking photos sans a tripod. Or being able to lay the Flip3 on a pile of books to take Zoom calls like you would on a laptop.

Challenges of the design

Of course, a foldable phone doesn’t come without its challenges. One of which is durability. While the hinge design is still the same, Samsung is using tougher aluminum. It’s also using a different kind of plastic for one of the layers of the display. One that should be more forgiving to the stress of opening and closing it a lot.

I can’t vouch for this improved durability — only time will tell and I will definitely give you feedback maybe next year in my Flip4 review. But for what it’s worth, Samsung is promising 200,000 cycles which translates to opening and closing it 100 times a day for five years.

On top of that, the phone is also water-resistant with an IPX8 rating. Thanks to the internals being coated with some sort of water-repelling protective film.

Although, I still don’t recommend that you take your Flip3 swimming. Take a look at Samsung’s fine print — water damage is not covered by your warranty.

Not a gimmick anymore

Another challenge is giving the phone purpose while in its folded state so the foldable display becomes more than just a gimmick. In 2021, when you have a folding phone, you want it to be as useful and practical when shut as it is when open.

And that’s the biggest improvement to come to the Flip3. Simply put, last year’s front display was too small to be useful. On the Flip3, the cover screen is 1.5 inches diagonally.

That’s enough space for four lines of notifications, and you can also scroll up to read more. That’s also enough space to be able to compose a selfie, and enough to display the time or some other widget.

Samsung has also made this Cover Display more usable, too. For example, swipe up and you can use Samsung Pay. Swipe down and you can adjust brightness or volume. Although, I’d argue getting to the volume button is easier.

That Cover Display

Actually, while we’re on the topic, activating the cover screen can be a bit cumbersome. While you can have the always-on display showing you the time and date (and if there’s an orange, it’s a way to let you know that you have a notification), getting to the actual notification or any of the other Cover Display features requires you to double-tap to wake up the display.

Only after you’ve done that can you swipe to the right to read your notifications. Or to the left to access music controls or the weather. I know the purpose is to prevent accidental taps and unnecessary battery drain, but I wish there were an easier way.

I’d go a bit further as to say, I prefer the front screen on the Motorola Razr. It’s larger and even more useful like I can even load apps on the display. I’d like to see even more functionality on the next iteration of this device.

By the way, someone asked on Instagram if you can accept calls when the phone is closed. The answer is yes — the call will show up on the cover screen. And when you swipe to accept, it will activate the Speaker mode.

If you open up the phone, it will stay in Speaker mode unless you change it.

Performance and everyday use

With the phone opened, this phone performs just like any high-end Samsung smartphone. With top-of-the-line specs like a Snapdragon 888 processor, performance will be as expected. Powerful!

Whether you’re just using it for social or for gaming, even the display is now a top-of-the-line 120Hz OLED panel. And now, unlike last year, you get stereo speakers too. So it’s good for content consumption also.

One question I get asked a lot is about the crease. It’s still there — really that’s just the nature of the material and the hinge design. You can definitely feel it. And see it. But it doesn’t really bother me.

If you’re worried about it being distracting when watching movies, don’t worry. You’ll barely notice it’s there.

Cameras

Now let’s talk cameras. The Galaxy Z Flip3 has two on the outside — 12-megapixel wide and ultra-wide-angle cameras. And one 10-megapixel selfie camera on the inside. On paper, the hardware is the same as last year. Meaning, the same cameras and sensors were just carried over.

That said, software improvements will still get you a better picture overall. Of course, I have samples to prove it. I took tons of photos comparing the last year’s flip with the Flip3, and also for the fun of it — versus the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Check it out: Galaxy Z Flip3 vs Z Flip 5G vs S21 Ultra: Camera shootout

But whether you’re using the wide or ultra-wide camera during the day, you won’t notice much of a difference. Except for a much better white balance on the Flip3. The original Flip comes with a yellower hue.

You also get better low-light performance too on the Flip3. And while we’re comparing, this is where the Galaxy S21 Ultra pulls ahead — its camera is still the best on a Samsung phone. On top of that, the S21 Ultra also has a telephoto lens. Meaning, it can take closer shots.

Camera features

Every year, Samsung introduces new camera features too. And the Flip3 gets everything introduced on the S21 series. Portrait Video and Pro Video mode are new.

Night Mode comes to the selfie camera too, and then there’s Single Take Mode. Which is great for when you’re alone and want to take a few frames for Instagram. You can just prop up the phone, start posing, and then have artificial intelligence take a series of photos for you. And what’s impressive is that it does a good job.

Selfies

Previously on the original Flip, you could take photos using the tiny cover screen. But because it was so small, you almost had to compose a shot blindly. Now thanks to the bigger screen, you can take photos easily. Just double press the power button to launch the camera.

You can swipe down on the screen to switch between wide and ultra-wide-angle cameras. And then, what I like to do is just flash my palm to trigger the shutter. Or you can also use the volume up or down buttons.

New on the Flip3 is the ability to also shoot video while the phone is closed. From photo mode, just swipe to the left to switch to video mode. And press one of the volume buttons to begin a recording.

All of this is great and all but I have a complaint. Photos and videos shot this way all come out square. And there’s no setting that allows you to change that. It doesn’t make sense as using these cameras when the phone is open, you can shoot both photos and videos with standard aspect ratios.

Oh, one more thing. There’s an icon that turns on Cover Preview, which basically lets the person you’re taking photos of preview a shot as you’re composing it.

That way, it’s like looking in a mirror to help them find the right pose.

About its battery life…

The Galaxy Z Flip3 lasted about a full day with moderate use. That’s usually two to three hours of screen-on time. I usually charge it in the morning while I’m having breakfast, and the phone lasts till sometime in the middle of the night when I’m sleeping. But it’s usually dead by the time I wake up.

To be honest, that’s NOT enough for a heavy user like me. I understand that it’s an engineering challenge to cram a bigger battery into such limited space. But I would have loved it if the Flip could last much longer. And to call a spade a spade it’s probably the Flip3’s biggest flaw.

Top-ups aren’t extra speedy either since a full charge takes about an hour and a half on average, using Samsung’s 25W USB-C charger. Wireless charging the device takes even longer.

And speaking of wireless charging, if you’ve got the juice to spare, you can also turn on reverse wireless charging. To charge, say your new Galaxy Buds2 or Galaxy Watch4.

But let’s be honest: With so little battery capacity available, I’m not going to do any of that. Even in a pinch.

Accessories to enjoy

By the way, in case it still needs to be pointed out in 2021, there’s no charger in the box. If you want an unboxing, check this video. But long story short, you basically get a phone and a cable. That’s it.

Guess that’s a good jump-off point to what else you can get for your Flip3. Apart from the 25W charger which comes in white and black and can be had for US$ 19.99, I’m really excited about Samsung’s lineup of cases. There’s a fancy Aramid Cover, a Leather Cover which is what I bought last year, and a Clear Cover.

But what I really like are the new Silicone Cover with Ring and Silicone Cover with Strap.

They’re both trendy and stylish and are useful because both give you a way to securely hold on to your phone. These cases are US$ 39.99 per piece.

Is the Galaxy Z Flip3 your GadgetMatch?

As always, if you own last year’s Flip then the most financially responsible thing to do is wait at least another year before you upgrade. But if you’ve been holding off — just waiting for the right time to snag a folding phone. Then now’s a definitely good time, if US$ 999 for you is affordable.

But is the Galaxy Z Flip3 really worth it? I think so. This phone, for me, is many things. A conversation starter. A cool and trendy gadget. A bite out of the future.

As you all know, I carry an iPhone in one pocket and an Android in the other. And for most of last year — the Flip was my Android phone of choice. And this year’s Flip3 will most likely claim that coveted pocket space. It might not be perfect — battery life for one needs some work. And cameras could be even better.

But there’s something about the Flip3 that keeps me coming back for more. And that je ne sais quoi cannot be denied. I have a feeling this is going to be a very popular phone this year. It’s definitely one worthy of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

WATCH: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Review: Flip or Flop?

Galaxy Z Flip3 5G — BUY here
Galaxy Fold3 5G — BUY here
Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic — BUY here
Galaxy Tab S7 FE — BUY here
Galaxy Buds2 — BUY here

Gaming

ROG G700 review: The best prebuilt PC you can get off the shelf

This PC will make you stop worrying about specs.

Published

October 28, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The last time I touched a PC was 2014.

At the time, I’d just finished moving houses. While my old house had space for a desk and a fairly decent PC for its time, I opted for a smaller workstation because I was confident that laptops were the future.

Now, more than ten years later, I wish I didn’t dismiss PCs so readily. Thanks to AI, the price of a new PC has reached new levels of absurdity today. It’s not easy to stock up on components anymore.

So, it was like a very heavy blessing falling down from heaven and crash-landing on my lap when the ROG G700 arrived on my doorstep. It’s my first PC in over a decade, and, wow, what a return.

A box with everything you need

The art of building a PC takes a lot of effort these days. You’ll need a command over every little detail that every single component can do. Obviously, you also need to time the market for better prices.

That said, the ROG G700 is not for the minmaxers. It’s a fully built tower you can — gingerly — pick up from the shelf and play on just as soon as you get home.

It’s perfect for people like me. Now, if I had the time and the money, I’d definitely make a little more effort to explore every single detail. However, as someone returning to the PC world after a decade, this prebuilt PC is more than enough to dip my toes back into it.

It is quite the package, though. The tower is 9.45 inches wide by 20.05 inches long. It’s also 18.88 inches tall. If you have a small space, you might struggle to find a space for this behemoth.

Plus, it weighs 40.39 pounds. If you live up a flight of stairs, you’d better not skip leg day. Even then, it was scary to handle this tower, knowing how much hardware I was holding up a few feet from the ground.

A clean design for gamers

Usually, I’m not a fan of heavy gamer aesthetics. As much as I identify as a gamer, I prefer keeping that part of my identity lowkey from how I look. I don’t go for all the edgy angles and the RGB lighting.

But the ROG G700 is one exception to my rule. Even then, it’s not that huge of an exception.

The ROG G700 exudes that gamer aesthetic, but it’s still pretty clean. The chassis has subtle grilles that ease cooling. The main panel is transparent that peeks into a cleanly organized system with heavy ROG visuals. The brand’s logo is peppered throughout the system. The RGB lighting, though bright at times, was easy to get used to.

Personally, I liked how clean the internals are organized. It always hits the right part of my brain when I see something well put together.

Additionally, though it could use a tiny bit more, the G700 has an ample number of ports well situated at the back and up top. When I was setting everything up, I had enough space to make sure I didn’t end up with wire clutter. My workstation was clean at all times.

The 2026 machine

Now, let’s get into the performance. With the highest configuration, the ROG G700 goes up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, up to a 16GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage. All thing considered, this is a very powerful machine for today’s world.

If you’re not down on particulars and just want something off the rack, this is more than enough. I tested the G700 on this year’s games like 007 First Light and Forza Horizon 6. Both games performed without a hitch. In fact, I appreciated both games a lot more than when I played them on older laptops. The graphics were absurdly crisp without sacrificing a smooth performance.

Also, as a hard multitasker, I love alt-tabbing even while I’m playing. While other setups usually complain, the G700 doesn’t really care. You can run a Twitch stream, play a YouTube video, or have Spotify open in the background, all while playing an intensive game. This is a machine that tells you to leave your worries at the front door because it can handle everything.

If anything, it can get too powerful. Despite the cooling system with a tri-fan intake, the tower still gets hot with heavy loads. After an hour on 007 First Light, my room started getting much warmer. Though you won’t get performance dips, all that heat is coming your way.

Is the ROG G700 your GadgetMatch?

As someone getting back into PCs, the ROG G700 is a powerful off-the-shelf prebuilt PC. Now, do you need all this hardware for day-to-day gaming? Probably not. But if you don’t want to worry if your rig can do certain things, get the ROG G700.

If you have the money, that is.

Being a powerful machine, the G700 comes with a hefty price tag. When it was launched, the machine started at PhP 179,995. Now, with prices of RAM steadily climbing, prices are likely higher today. Plus, you need good peripherals to maximize this PC, so expect to spend a lot more. Overall, it’s very expensive, but at least you’re getting your money’s worth on the investment.

For that, the ROG G700 gets a Swipe Right and a Super Swipe for being a powerful machine you can get today. It is, however, a Swipe Left if you’re looking for cheaper options that won’t break your bank.

Gaming

HP OMEN Max 16 review: Gamer-maxxing in deep black

Peripherals deemed necessary to max this out

Published

October 23, 2026

Gab Orlina

It’s not every day that you come across a machine that looks good and plays even better. Oftentimes, subtle aesthetics take a back seat to sheer performance and power. Whenever a gaming machine looks sleeker, it seems to lack the power to push it forward. Simply put, you can’t have the best of both worlds these days.

But what if you could have it all? Not just money, fame, and other fortunes, but also a machine with everything you’re looking for! Gone are the days of wanting only power to keep you playing all day or wanting to look good while playing. On paper, this is what the HP OMEN Max 16 promises: the best of both worlds.

Unboxing a beast inside

When you first take it out of the box, the HP OMEN Max 16 looks unassuming in its overall design. It’s bulky yet sleek in its Shadow Black colorway, with nothing too fancy or flashy while powered down. From the outside, the machine screams premium, even though its dark color can attract more visible dirt than lighter finishes.

Opening it up reveals a 16-inch OLED display with a peak refresh rate of 240Hz, seamlessly connected to a base with a full-sized keyboard and a large trackpad. The bright, seemingly anti-glare display makes colors pop when watching or editing videos on the go.

Furthermore, HP places the ports in convenient spots along the rear and sides of the laptop. This makes it incredibly easy to set up and manage external peripherals while providing more room for ventilation under heavy loads.

Of course, the device’s biggest features lie in the hardware powering it from within. An Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 5090 Laptop GPU should give you an idea of how well this machine can perform. It’s also a great combination for demanding productivity tasks and creative work!

Power that AI can only hope to replicate

The HP OMEN Max 16 lived up to many of our expectations in terms of performance. From startup to shutdown, it delivered on what its hardware promised. You can watch videos for longer, edit photos and videos to your heart’s content, and enjoy casual gaming without slowing down. Furthermore, the wide display gives you plenty of space to accommodate all these activities.

When you step up to more competitive gaming, the machine doesn’t miss a beat. Most titles deliver high frame rates regardless of the quality or performance settings you choose. With more advanced visual settings enabled, the RTX 5090 does a fantastic job of keeping supported games within a solid 40–50 FPS range. Pair it with a high-refresh-rate OLED display, and you get crisp details and faster input response to help you get ahead in ranked games all day long.

If there’s one thing to complain about, it’s the extra optimization required through the OMEN Gaming Hub. Features such as network prioritization, automatic power-mode switching, and system optimization are useful, but you’ll need to spend time configuring them during initial setup. The laptop also comes with OMEN AI, which promises to maximize FPS with a single click. However, it was only okay at best.

Runs longer, cools off smoother

Surely, a gaming laptop this bulky and powerful can’t last that long on battery, right? Well, the HP OMEN Max 16 averages around three hours of battery life during intensive gaming, which gives you a decent amount of playing time. For general use, battery life extends to around five and a half hours with Balanced power settings. It holds up reasonably well if you forget to bring your charger.

When you do have the massive 330W charger with you, charging doesn’t take too long either. During our tests, a full charge took two hours, with charging progressing slightly faster when we left the laptop idle. Charging the battery to 50% took around 20 minutes, giving you enough juice to squeeze in another game!

Another factor in prolonged use is how the device expels hot air through its sides and rear. We touched on this earlier, but it bears repeating: the laptop provides plenty of ventilation through its vapor chamber and multiple external vents. Instead of directing heat toward the keyboard, it pushes hot air through the vents, where it can hit your hands or peripherals. At least the keyboard stays cooler, right?

Is this your GadgetMatch?

At PHP 229,990, the HP OMEN Max 16 is a sleek-looking machine with incredible power under the hood. Despite its initial bulk, it delivers impressive performance for both casual and competitive gamers. Inside and out, it packs plenty of hardware and features to let you tailor the experience to your needs.

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with decent battery life, this is a solid choice, but don’t expect it to last half a day. Of course, you wouldn’t use this machine entirely on its own, even if the unboxing experience might suggest otherwise.

Peripherals such as the HyperX Cloud Alpha Air and Solocast 2 Pro can further enhance the experience.

Overall, this is a Swipe Right for its features, performance, and premium design. However, if you don’t have an infinite money glitch to buy it right now, you’re better off saving up for this beast of a machine!

Reviews

vivo V80 review: Good phone, tough sell

A capable travel companion

Published

October 19, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

The vivo V80 is a capable midrange smartphone with a versatile camera system, excellent battery life, and a display that works well even in bright daylight. However, some camera quirks and its asking price give you a few things to think about.

vivo V80 specifications

Component	Specifications
Display	6.59-inch AMOLED, 1.5K (2750 × 1260), up to 144Hz, 5,000-nit local peak brightness
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, 4nm
RAM / storage	8GB RAM; 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options vary by market
Rear main camera	50MP Sony LYTIA 700V, OIS, f/1.88
Telephoto camera	50MP Sony IMX882, OIS, 3× optical zoom, up to 10× digital zoom
Ultra-wide camera	8MP, 115° field of view
Front camera	50MP autofocus, f/2.0, 92° field of view
Video	Front and rear cameras support 4K at 60fps
Battery	7,200mAh typical capacity; 90W FlashCharge
Charging	Advertised 50% charge in 30 minutes; Multi-Scenario Bypass Charging
Operating system	OriginOS 7, based on Android 17
Durability	IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance
Build	Cold-carved glass back, aerospace-grade metal frame
Dimensions / weight	157.52 × 74.33 × 7.69mm; 203g
Security updates	Six years of annual security updates, according to the launch materials

A pretty face, but nothing fancy

The vivo V80’s design goes from “wow” when you first unbox it to subtly eye-catching the more you use it.

I used the phone primarily with a case, although I didn’t feel like I needed one. Overall, it has a plastic-like feel. Nothing I would call premium, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. It’s par for the course for a base-model midranger.

It’s light and easy to hold. I’d say it feels like your prototypical base-model midranger, just with a poppy back design.

A travel buddy with a few quirks

I took plenty of photos during my trip to Hanoi, Vietnam.

It’s worth noting that the phone received around three updates during my testing. Some of these included camera improvements. If there’s some unevenness in my experience and the resulting photos, I would attribute it to this.

Overall, though, the vivo V80 is a serviceable travel companion. I took plenty of food photos, and this is one of the few phones where I genuinely preferred Food Mode over the regular camera settings.

It made the many satisfying Vietnamese dishes I had during this trip look even more appetizing.

The camera can be quite hit or miss in certain lighting conditions. One thing I noticed is that it tends to brighten scenes more than I would like. My advice is to adjust exposure compensation between -1 and -3 when the situation calls for it. This can help keep scenes from looking too bright, but you don’t need to change the setting for every shot.

Beyond exposure issues, I also noticed considerable lag when opening the camera after the phone had been idle. There’s a noticeable wait before the camera app becomes usable.

This could mean missing the moment, which is crucial when taking photos. The solution is to stay ready, although a software patch to address this wouldn’t hurt.

Despite those two issues, I enjoyed taking photos with the vivo V80. More samples below.

Quaint little cafe

vivo Textured

I realized I was shooting mostly in Vivid mode so I tried textured for a while. Here are the results.

Best souvenir shop: Goi Gem

Portrait photography

Portraits weren’t my main focus during my time with the device. I only took four regular portrait shots while visiting a train-themed tourist attraction with some friends.

Lighting was a hit or miss here, too.

Time to talk games

Ha. Here we go.

I realized I can’t cop out anymore and keep saying I don’t play mobile games. To address this, I identified three games I would use in my smartphone reviews. Some may change from time to time.

Battle Cats was the most casual game I tried and probably the most fun I had playing. The phone had no trouble running it. The experience was smooth.

The same can be said about Asphalt Legends. Even when the graphics settings weren’t at their highest, the game still looked good and played well.

Wuthering Waves, meanwhile, defaulted to medium graphics settings. The game still looked decent, but you could already tell it could look better. The phone’s default settings prioritized a consistent and mostly lag-free experience. I wouldn’t push it beyond that.

I’m still on the lookout for mobile games I can include in these tests. Preferably, I’d like something that plays as simply as Battle Cats but offers peak graphical fidelity. I’m open to recommendations!

A screen that gets it right

Still Isa-holic after a few reviews

The vivo V80’s display is pretty darn good.

Even in broad daylight, I had no trouble seeing what was on the screen. I spent time at a cafe near a window in the early afternoon, watching STAYC Isa content and catching up on Doctor X: Mafia in White on Netflix.

I wanted to watch Merry Berry Love and see Imada Mio, too, but Disney+ wasn’t available in Vietnam during my trip. I settled for watching some trailers instead.

The display also performed well during gaming. I didn’t notice anything in particular that stood out, and I mean that in a good way. Everything looked and played as expected.

To me, that means the display technology worked to perfection. It delivered a clear, smooth experience without drawing attention to itself for the wrong reasons.

Two days? Maybe. One day? Absolutely

YES. Very dependable.

I had a hard time curating photos for this review because I took hundreds of them during my trip to Hanoi.

Between taking photos, testing games, doomscrolling, watching STAYC Isa content across different platforms, and catching up on shows like Doctor X: Mafia in White on Netflix, I never felt like I needed to find a plug or charge the phone in the middle of the day.

I typically ended the day with around 40–45% battery remaining. The vivo V80 can endure heavy days and likely more. Battery performance is excellent.

And you won’t feel like you’re away from the phone for too long when you finally need to charge it after a long day out. Topping it off takes roughly the time it takes to watch an episode and a half of anime, or about one episode of The Rookie. That’s around 30–40 minutes for a full charge.

The battery life and charging speeds are likely among the better ones in its class. Having both in a phone that’s relatively light and compact is quite a feat. I suppose this is the new normal for midrangers now.

OriginOS still feels a little offbeat

I’ve been using OriginOS sparingly for the last year or so. Something about it still feels offbeat to me.

Although, if you use phones from other Chinese manufacturers, you shouldn’t have too much difficulty adjusting. They all have subtle differences here and there, mostly in their icons and animations. However, the general feel will be familiar to most Android users.

Is the vivo V80 your GadgetMatch?

The vivo V80 is a good phone. It’s serviceable for mobile gaming, more than decent for everyday browsing and social media scrolling, mostly fantastic for taking photos, and capable of staying powered throughout all those activities.

The display is another highlight. It remains easy to see in bright daylight and delivers a smooth gaming experience without calling attention to itself. Meanwhile, the battery easily keeps up with heavy days of photography, gaming, and entertainment.

The kicker, like in most things, is usually the price.

Midrange phones have become harder to place of late. In a vacuum, they’re really good smartphones. But the asking price, which can be influenced by multiple factors, will give you pause.

The vivo V80 is listed at PhP 42,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model in the Philippines. In India, the same base storage configuration starts at INR 62,999. That’s quite a lot, especially for a smartphone that feels like it should be priced closer to its predecessor, which started at PhP 31,999.

It’s still a Swipe Right, but a shaky one at that. At this price point, I’m thinking I’d rather start saving up for a more premium smartphone. It’s easier to justify a higher price tag for something that performs excellently across the board and that I know I’ll use for years.