News

Smart delivers best mobile video experience in PH — Ookla

Smooth mobile streaming

Published

on

Smart Ookla

Subscribers of Smart Communications and its value brand TNT enjoy the best mobile video experience in the Philippines, according to a new recognition from Ookla, the global network intelligence firm behind Speedtest.

Smart recently earned the Best Mobile Video Experience award based on analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data covering Q3 to Q4 2025.

The award measures users’ real-world quality of experience when streaming video over mobile networks. It evaluates three equally weighted factors: fast video start time, uninterrupted playback, and the ability to stream in full HD resolution.

Smart achieved a Video Score of 78.60, the highest among mobile operators nationwide.

Ookla’s methodology reflects the percentage of users who experience video start times of less than two seconds, minimal rebuffering interruptions, and 1080p or higher resolution in most playbacks.

For subscribers, this translates to smoother streaming of content on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Netflix without long loading times or constant buffering.

Customers also benefit from faster video start times and clearer HD playback whether they are watching trending series during a commute, livestreaming events, sharing short-form videos, or tuning in to sports and concerts on their phones.

Filipinos among the world’s top video consumers

“We are proud to recognize Smart for winning Best Video Experience in the Philippines,” said Stephen Bye, President and CEO of Ookla. “This accolade is a testament to their industry-leading performance, as proven by Ookla’s methodology.”

Smart says the recognition reflects its ongoing investment in strengthening its mobile network.

“This latest recognition affirms our continued efforts in strengthening our network to support the growing digital needs of Filipinos, who are among the top video consumers in the world today,” said Debbie M. Hu, First Vice President and Head of Wireless Networks at Smart.

According to the Digital 2026 Report by Meltwater and We Are Social, Filipinos spend 20.48 hours per week watching online videos — the second highest in the world after Kenya.

“As video increasingly becomes the primary way people learn, work, and entertain themselves online, we remain focused on delivering a consistently superior streaming experience for our customers,” Hu added.

Back-to-back network recognitions

The latest award follows an earlier recognition from Ookla for Best Mobile Latency in the Philippines, highlighting the responsiveness of Smart’s network.

Low latency refers to the reduced delay between sending and receiving data. It plays a crucial role in delivering smooth experiences for real-time applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and video calls.

“Winning both the Best Mobile Video Experience and Best Mobile Latency awards reflects our goal of continuously elevating the digital experience of our customers,” said Lloyd R. Manaloto, First Vice President and co-OIC at Smart.

“As demand for high-quality video continues to grow, Smart will keep investing in network innovation to ensure Filipinos across the country continue to enjoy world-class mobile experiences wherever they are,” added Marjorie C. Garrovillo, also First Vice President and co-OIC at Smart.

The recognition also supports the broader mission of the PLDT Group to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and help build a more connected nation.

Computex 2026

The new NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops are AI PCs on steroids

Published

on

“Useful AI has arrived,” NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed in his monumental keynote speech to kick off COMPUTEX 2026, essentially admitting to the state of AI prior to today. But don’t let the past mess with how you view the present. AI today, according to the graphics-turned-AI company, will now serve everyday users, rather than procuring abstract and intangible benefits. For us normal people, it all starts with the new RTX Spark.

Rarely does a new product claim to reinvent the entire industry. Confident in its own abilities, that’s just what the RTX Spark wants to do. But what is it exactly?

Think of it like Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs but on AI-powered steroids. NVIDIA wants to bring the power of a supercomputer into the hands of regular consumers, just like how the personal computer (PC) brought gigantic computers to the comfort of everyone’s homes.

Co-engineered with Microsoft, RTX Spark will run autonomous AI agents the entire day. The agent is tied to you and your intent but will orchestrate all your devices under one roof.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The new series will leverage a Blackwell RTX GPU and a 20-core Grace CPU from MediaTek. It can also support up to 128GB of unified memory, delivering several of the most powerful (and most expensive) PCs available to consumers today. With the capabilities comparable to an RTX 5070, the series can supposedly play modern games with ease.

Inside, it will come with CUDA, the trove of information that powers AI technology today. Finally, despite how slim NVIDIA promises the series will be, the RTX Spark should come with a battery that lasts the entire day.

The first NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops will launch later this fall with six premium laptops for various brands. This, along with the 30 models launching soon after, will include Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. No word yet on how much these will cost, though.

Continue Reading

Accessories

UGREEN launches FineTrack Series with Apple Find My support

Track valuables with ease

Published

on

UGREEN FineTrack

UGREEN is expanding its smart travel lineup with the launch of the new FineTrack Series, a collection of compact trackers designed to help users keep tabs on everyday essentials.

Leading the announcement are the FineTrack 2 and FineTrack Mini 2, both of which support Apple’s Find My network for easy location tracking through compatible Apple devices. The trackers are built for travelers and commuters who want an extra layer of security for items such as keys, bags, wallets, and passports.

The FineTrack 2 comes in a soccer-inspired design created to celebrate the upcoming 2026 World Cup, while the FineTrack Mini 2 adopts a slimmer tag-style form factor that fits more easily inside wallets and passport holders. Both devices feature glow-in-the-dark accents for improved visibility in low-light conditions.

UGREEN says the trackers offer global tracking capabilities through Apple’s Find My ecosystem, along with smart left-behind alerts that notify users before they accidentally leave important belongings behind. When an item is nearby, users can trigger an alarm reaching up to 110dB to help locate it faster.

The company also highlights long-term reliability, with battery life rated for up to seven years. The FineTrack 2 additionally carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

UGREEN has also announced Southeast Asia pricing for the new FineTrack Series.

Price and availability

In Singapore, the FineTrack 2 is priced at SGD 29.99, while the FineTrack Mini 2 costs SGD 25.99. Malaysian pricing comes in at RM 69 and RM 59, respectively.

For the Philippines, the FineTrack 2 retails for PHP 850, while the FineTrack Mini 2 is priced at PHP 799. In Vietnam, the trackers cost VND 369,000 and VND 339,000, respectively. Thailand pricing starts at THB 590 for both models.

Alongside the FineTrack Series, UGREEN also introduced its new Air Editions lineup. This includes the Nexode Air 65W Charger, Nexode Air 45W Charger Slim, and the MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 15W, all designed around portability with compact and lightweight builds. The company has separately announced Southeast Asia pricing for these accessories.

The FineTrack Series is now rolling out across select Southeast Asian markets.

Continue Reading

News

Xiaomi introduces more wearables, smart home devices

Launched alongside the Xiaomi 17T Series

Published

on

Along with the launch of the Xiaomi 17T Series, the company has likewise introduced a new lineup of AIoT offerings from wearables to smart home devices.

The new Xiaomi ecosystem lineup includes the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm, Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro, and Xiaomi Buds 6 on the wearables end.

Furthermore, there’s the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series 2026 and Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer 9kg on the smart home front.

All these products are available with early bird offers also in store for consumers until June 7.

Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm

The Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm combines a refined 46mm stainless steel design with a 1.48-inch AMOLED display.

It has up to 21 days of battery life, supports over 150 sports modes, and has upgraded heart rate monitoring and system GNSS.

It also offers deeper sleep insights, Xiaomi HyperOS 3, and Xiaomi Home integration.

This wearable retails for PhP 10,229 (SRP: PhP 10,999) with a free strap. The Special Edition retails for PhP 11,159 (SRP PhP 11,999).

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro

Additionally, there’s the everyday wellness tracking device in the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro. It has a 1.74-inch AMOLED display, up to 2,000 nits brightness, and up to 21 days of battery life.

It supports upgraded heart rate tracking and more than 150 sports modes, as well as more improvements.

It is priced at PhP 4,199 (SRP: PhP 4,499) with a Special Edition retailing for PhP 5,019 (PhP 5,399) — both with free straps during the promo period.

Xiaomi Buds 6

Furthermore, there’s the Xiaomi Buds 6, bringing a semi in-ear audio experience for comfortable and immersive listening.

It features an 11mm triple-magnet dynamic driver, Harman-tuned audio, Qualcomm aptX Lossless technology (on compatible devices), dimensional audio with head-tracking, ANC, 3-mic AI noise reduction, and HyperOS support.

It is available for PhP 5,679 (SRP: PhP 6,099).

Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series 2026

For home entertainment, the new Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series 2026 brings cinematic entertainment in five different sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch, and 98-inch.

The TV is powered by QD-Mini LED technology, and supports up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness. Other features include HDR10+, HLG, Filmmaker Mode, and Dolby Vision on select models.

The series also supports Google TV with Apple AirPlay, Google Assistant, and Google Cast support.

Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer 9kg

Lastly, the Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer 9kg combines two laundry tasks into one smart solution.

It has a large drum, power wash technology, high-temperature steam hygiene mode, and over 30 wash programs. Included is a 15-minute quick wash, as well as one-tap wash-and-dry function.

Through the Xiaomi Home app, users can also monitor cycles, customize settings, save preferences, and receive software updates over time.

Continue Reading

Trending