Philippines

Smart Holideals: Cebuano Breadwinner scores brand new ride

Via Smart Holideals

Published

on

Jimboy Nuiñez, a 29-year-old from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, just wanted a new phone when he signed up for Smart’s Holideals back in December. Little did he know, the universe (and Smart!) had something way bigger in store for him.

Can you even imagine the shock? Out of literally millions who joined the promo, this dude ended up bagging the grandest of grand prizes: a shiny, brand-spanking-new Toyota Land Cruiser ZX! Talk about an upgrade!

“I actually joined the promo right after grabbing a new Smart eSIM. Honestly, the grand prize being a car totally flew over my head,” Jimboy confessed. He’s been a loyal Smart user since way back in 2017, so clearly good things come to those who stick around!

“When I got the call telling me I won, my first thought was, ‘Seriously? Is this some kind of joke?’ It took a hot minute for it all to sink in, and man, am I glad I picked up that call!” he added, probably still pinching himself.

For Jimboy, being the eldest of five and the one who takes care of the family, this isn’t just a new car – it’s a total game-changer.

“I’m just beyond grateful to Smart,” he said. “I’m so stoked for all the adventures my family and I are going to have with this car!”

There’s more goodness for Smart Fam!

Jimboy wasn’t the only lucky one. Thousands of other Smart subscribers also snagged some sweet prizes in this promo. It was Smart’s big way of saying “thanks” and giving back some awesome experiences.

From November to January, lucky folks were getting daily data freebies and winning weekly raffle prizes like the drool-worthy iPhone 15 Pro Max, the sleek Samsung Galaxy S24, and the budget-friendly ZTE Blade A75 5G. Plus, there were vouchers for Viu and Foodpanda for some extra entertainment and yummy eats!

“Here at Smart, we’re all about more than just a solid network. We’re serious about giving back to our loyal users with rewards and experiences that actually matter. This promo? It’s all about putting our customers first,” said Alexis B. Winters, the big boss of Smart Customer Development Group VisMin.

Smart’s commitment to making subscribers happy is part of the whole PLDT Group’s mission to empower Filipinos with the best mobile network and service, helping everyone live their best lives.

Want in on the next awesome thing from Smart? Make sure to grab the Smart App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and hit that follow button on Smart’s official Facebook, X, and Instagram. You won’t want to miss out

News

PLDT Home, GCash partner to make Fiber Prepaid reloads more rewarding

Score exclusive perks and discounts when loading via GCash GLoad

Published

on

PLDT Home has joined forces with GCash to integrate Fiber Prepaid reloads directly into the GCash GLoad platform.

The partnership aims to make high-speed home connectivity significantly more accessible and budget-friendly for Filipino households. In the process, transactions come with exclusive rewards, app-based discounts, and more offers.

PLDT Home originally introduced its Fiber Prepaid lineup to cater to students, remote workers, and small business owners who require robust internet speeds but prefer to avoid rigid monthly lock-in contracts.

Integrating reloads via the GCash app gives users even more flexibility when it comes to payments, given a secure and cashless ecosystem.

The platform lets users tailor their internet usage to their actual budget. For instance, the entry-level PLDT Home Fiber Prepaid package starts at PhP 999.

This comes bundled with 30 days of unlimited internet at speeds of up to 50 Mbps. Beyond the base tier, customers can freely opt for flexible top-ups ranging from a single day up to a full 365-day package, with speeds topping out at a blazing 300 Mbps.

To start loading and claiming exclusive perks, users can simply head over to the GLoad section within their active GCash app.

Continue Reading

Gaming

ASUS brings 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo, G16, and G14 to the Philippines

New Zephyrus laptops arrive

Published

on

ROG Strix 2026

ASUS Republic of Gamers has announced the Philippine availability and pricing of its 2026 ROG Zephyrus lineup.

Headlining the range is the new ROG Zephyrus Duo, joined by refreshed versions of the Zephyrus G16 and Zephyrus G14. The latest models feature Intel Core Ultra processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs, upgraded cooling systems, and ROG Nebula HDR OLED displays.

The lineup is available through authorized retailers starting June 24, 2026.

ROG Zephyrus Duo introduces dual-screen gaming

The 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo (GX651AX) is billed as the world’s first 16-inch dual-screen gaming laptop.

It features two 16-inch 16:10 touch displays with 120Hz refresh rates. Together, they provide up to 32 inches of combined screen space for multitasking, content creation, streaming, and gaming.

The primary display is a 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with up to 1,100 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision HDR support, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color coverage.

A new 320-degree kickstand hinge enables multiple usage modes, including Laptop Mode, Dual-Screen Mode, Book Mode, Tent Mode, and Sharing Mode. ASUS ScreenXpert software manages display layouts and transitions between modes.

Powering the device are an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 64GB LPDDR5X memory, and 2TB SSD storage.

ROG Zephyrus Duo price in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus Duo GX651AX-SR071WSM (RTX 5090, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 559,995

The laptop comes bundled with an ASUS Pen 3.0, ROG Universal Backpack, ROG Gladius III Gaming Mouse, and ASUS warranty package.

ROG Zephyrus G16 gets RTX 5090 option

The refreshed ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU606) retains its slim aluminum chassis, measuring 1.49cm thick and weighing 1.85kg.

Configurations include up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with up to 160W TGP. ASUS says the laptop supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation technologies.

The 16-inch display uses a 2.5K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification, and NVIDIA G-SYNC support.

Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours of video playback, while ROG Intelligent Cooling combines Tri-Fan Technology, liquid metal, and expanded ventilation for sustained performance.

ROG Zephyrus G16 prices in the Philippines

  • ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AR-TB061WSM (RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 289,995
  • ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AX-TB084WSM (RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 429,995

Both variants include an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

ROG Zephyrus G14 focuses on portability

The ROG Zephyrus G14 (GU405) continues to target gamers who want a more compact machine.

It measures 1.59cm thin and weighs 1.5kg. Despite its size, ASUS equips the laptop with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with up to 130W TGP.

The device sports a 14-inch 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-SYNC support, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification.

ASUS also redesigned the thermal system with thicker heat pipes, additional copper fins, and improved ventilation to boost cooling performance.

ROG Zephyrus G14 prices in the Philippines

  • ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AP-SY057WSM (RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 224,995
  • ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AW-SY069WSM (RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 324,995

Each model ships with an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

Warranty and launch promos

All 2026 ROG Zephyrus laptops sold locally come with ASUS’ No. 1 Quality & Service Program. This includes a three-year international and local warranty, one-year accidental damage protection, and Premium Care support.

Buyers also receive a gaming mouse, three months of PC Game Pass, an Office 2024 lifetime license, one year of Microsoft 365 Basic with 100GB cloud storage, and up to 700GB of ASUS Cloud Storage.

Meanwhile, the new ROG Slash Collection 4.0 accessories, including the Slash Backpack 4.0 and Slash Sling Bag 4.0, will arrive in select ROG stores starting July 2026.

Continue Reading

News

Budget smartphone realme C100 Series launches

Long battery life, ruggedness, more

Published

on

The realme C100 Series, the brand’s latest rugged essential smartphone in the budget segment, has officially launched in the Philippines.

The series introduces up to an 8,000mAh Titan Battery on the realme C100 model, as well as IP69 Pro certification.

This means the handset has IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings to handle high-pressure water exposure and submersion for up to six meters and 30 minutes.

The C100 also supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging for quick battery top-ups. It even has a 10W reverse charging support to power other small devices.

On the other hand, the realme C100i comes with a 7,000mAh Titan Battery to likewise power all-day use. This model supports a steady 15W charging and 6W reverse charging. It is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.

In addition, both models support Rain Touch Mode, making the 6.8-inch 120Hz display optimized for touches even when it is wet. This panel also comes with ArmorShell Glass protection.

Powering the C100 is the MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor while the C100i has as Unisoc T7250 processor. The devices run on realme UI 7.0 (Android 16).

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the realme C100 Series comes in various storage configurations:

  • C100i (4GB+64GB): PhP 6,313 (SRP: PhP 8,999)
  • C100i (4GB+128GB): PhP 7,379 (SRP: PhP 11,999)
  • C100i (4GB+256GB): PhP 8,199 (SRP: PhP 13,999)
  • C100 (4GB+256GB): PhP 11,195 (SRP: PhP 16,999)
  • C100 (8GB+256GB): PhP 14,000 (SRP: PhP 19,999)

Limited-time launch offers are available through Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok from June 18 to June 30.

The phones are also available at realme concept stores, kiosks, and partner retailers nationwide. Potential freebies include a TechLife Smart band, extended warranty and screen damage protection, privilege card, or additional cash discount.

Continue Reading

Trending