News

The Sony Xperia 1 III is your ultimate all-in-one smartphone

World’s first 4K 120Hz smartphone display, Alpha-grade cameras, world-class audio and gaming experience

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Sony Xperia 1 III
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Sony is a leader both in entertainment and hardware technologies — whether it’s the Sony Alpha, PlayStation, and even their audio products. But with LG’s sudden exit from the mobile division, people were speculating that Sony suffer the same fate. But today, Sony has debunked all those rumors and announced the Xperia 1 III.

A typical 2021 flagship

Just like other flagships released this year, the Xperia 1 III isn’t a stranger to power-packed hardware. It rocks the latest Snapdragon 888 processor with 5G support and Adreno 660 graphics. It also boasts 12GB of RAM and comes in either 256GB or 512GB storage options.

Image by GadgetMatch

While the 4,500mAh battery may sound small nowadays, Sony’s Adaptive Charging technology gives you the best of power and performance. They’re also promising a 3-year longer lifespan battery compared to conventional smartphone batteries.

It also supports Qi wireless charging and has IP65-68 water/dust resistance just like its predecessor.

First 4K 120Hz smartphone display

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Sony’s Xperia line are the only smartphones that have 4K displays. This year, they made it even better as the Xperia 1 III boasts 120Hz refresh rate with 4K resolution — a first in any smartphone today.

Other than that, it supports 120fps games and has 240Hz touch scanning rate for better game input and less lag.

With its 6.5-inch 21:9 OLED HDR display, expect stunning colors and contrast — especially with the help of their X1 Mobile HDR Remaster technology that’s only found among high-end Sony BRAVIA TVs.

Serious photography on a smartphone

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Just like its predecessor, the Xperia 1 III has triple 12-megapixel cameras for its wide (f/1.7), ultra-wide (f/2.2), and telephoto (f/2.3-2.8) lenses, plus an extra 3D iToF Sensor. But another first in this list is Sony’s variable telephoto lens that supports 70-105mm focal length (equivalent to 2.9x and 4.4x zoom) that can zoom up to 300mm (12.5x) digitally. Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra has two different lenses for different focal lengths.

Other than that, it’s also the world’s first smartphone that’s capable of shooting 20fps burst mode and has the new Real-time Tracking technology that can focus on moving subjects while shooting. It’s different from the existing Real-time Eye AF that only focuses on human’s eyes. You won’t run out of autofocus coverage areas as it covers 247 AF points (70% of the frame).

Sony Xperia 1 III

Image by GadgetMatch

Sony hasn’t omitted the dedicated shutter button to make the experience similar to its existing alpha lineup. Speaking of, ZEISS T* coating (found on most Sony alpha lenses) is still here despite ZEISS having to share that same lens coating on the new vivo X60 Pro+. This is helpful for reducing glare and reflections when shooting.

Professional cinematography on the go

Sony Xperia 1 III

Image by GadgetMatch

For amateur and professional filmmakers, this smartphone is also capable of shooting Hollywood-style films. There’s a new Intelligent wind filter that reduces wind and outdoor noise when shooting in forests or fields.

It supports 4K HDR between the regular 24fps (frames per second) or up to 120fps slow motion that can even go slower of up to 5 times. For a more professional look and feel, there’s the Cinematography Pro app where you can manually adjust controls based on your shooting scenario. It also has built-in 8-look color filters for on-the-spot color grading.

The ultimate device for audiophiles

Long-live audiophiles! Sony still has the 3.5mm audio jack, making it the flagship smartphone that’s capable of doing so.

There’s an AI-based DSEE Ultimate sound optimization technology that’s capable of producing hi-res audio even when playing compressed audio files. This goes hand-in-hand with Sony’s Hi-Res audio support (whether wired or wireless) as well as support for LDAC.

For a more immersive audiovisual experience, there’s Dolby Atmos, 360 Spatial Sound, and 360 Reality Audio also found on high-end Sony headphones such as the WH-1000XM4.

Pricing and Availability

Xperia 1 III

The Xperia 1 III comes in three shades: Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, and Frosted Purple. Singapore will only have the black and purple options.

Pricing wasn’t revealed by Sony during its live announcement but it will be available in early summer (or third quarter) of 2021 in countries where the Xperia line is readily available.

Stay tuned for more pricing updates.

SEE ALSO: Sony announces the Xperia 5 III and Xperia 10 III

Drones

DJI officially launches the Avata 360 with 8K immersive imaging

The new flagship drone introduces 1-inch sensors and 360-degree capture to the FPV world.

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DJI just redefined the “single take.”

The new DJI Avata 360 combines the raw thrill of FPV flight with a flagship 8K 360° camera system. It effectively gives creators a flying virtual camera that sees everything at once.

This means you no longer have to worry about pointing a gimbal while flying at high speeds. You can simply record the entire environment and choose your favorite angles later in post-production.

Brilliant imaging, post-flight freedom

The headline feature is the imaging, which utilizes dual 1-inch-equivalent sensors capable of 8K/60fps HDR video and 120MP stills.

These massive 2.4 μm pixels handle low light and high dynamic range like a pro, ensuring light and shadow are captured with exquisite clarity.

If you prefer a more traditional look, you can switch to Single Lens mode to capture classic Avata-style cinematic lines in 4K/60fps.

Because the drone records in a full sphere, the Virtual Gimbal feature allows for infinite rotation and tilt during editing.

You can fly in one direction while digitally rotating the horizon or shifting the perspective to look directly behind the drone without ever changing your actual flight path.

Flagship transmission, smarter safety

DJI didn’t just slap a new camera on the old frame. They beefed up the internals to ensure the flight experience is as stable as the footage.

The drone leverages the flagship O4+ video transmission system to deliver crystal-clear 1080p/60fps feeds with a massive 20 km range and strong anti-interference capabilities.

Safety has also seen a major upgrade with Nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing. This makes sunset and low-light flights significantly less stressful.

Plus, the front lens element now features a user-replaceable design. If you push a gap a little too hard and scratch the glass, you can swap it out yourself instead of shipping the whole unit back for repairs.

Intelligent tracking, high-speed workflow

The magic continues once the drone is back on the ground through the DJI Fly and Studio apps.

Features like ActiveTrack 360° and Spotlight Free allow the drone to lock onto subjects and replicate sophisticated camera movements that usually require a professional dual-operator setup.

With 42GB of internal storage and high-speed Wi-Fi 6 transfer, you can capture 30 minutes of 8K footage without an SD card and beam it to your phone at up to 100 MB/s.

Price, availability

The DJI Avata 360 is compatible with DJI Goggles, the RC Motion 3, and standard RC 2 controllers, with pre-orders live today and shipping starting in April 2026.

  • DJI Avata 360 (DJI RC 2): PhP 38,290
  • DJI Avata 360 Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2): PhP 47,890
  • DJI Avata 360 Motion Fly More Combo (Goggles N3): PhP 47,890
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Automotive

The Changan Eado Plus officially lands in the Philippines

Its aggressive launch pricing challenges the compact sedan status quo.

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Inchcape Philippines is officially shaking up the compact sedan segment.

The Changan Eado Plus has arrived on local shores, and it’s gunning for the top spot in your driveway.

Available in two trims — Luxe and Lite — the Eado Plus offers the Filipino driver a car that looks like a million bucks without the massive price tag.

Modern aesthetic inside and out

On the outside, the Eado Plus makes a bold statement with its prominent three-dimensional grille and streamlined body lines.

This polished, premium look relies on LED lighting to command a strong presence on the road. Inside, a meticulously curated cabin handles the daily grind with ease.

The Luxe variant carries a massive 10-inch touchscreen equipped with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meanwhile, the Lite variant keeps you connected with a 7-inch display.

To beat the local climate, Changan included a PM2.5 air filter to keep the cabin air clean, alongside a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that puts all your vital driving data front and center.

Performance and safety without compromise

Under the hood, a 1.5L Bluecore gasoline engine powers both variants. This engine works with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission (WDCT) to deliver a stable, responsive ride.

For those who want more control, the Luxe variant offers selectable Eco and Normal driving modes to match your mood or the traffic conditions.

Safety remains a top priority, as the Eado Plus houses a comprehensive suite of protection. Beyond the standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the car packs in practical features like rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX tethers for families.

Pricing, availability

To celebrate the launch, Changan offers the Eado Plus with aggressive introductory pricing through April 30, 2026.

During this period, the 1.5 Luxe DCT costs only PhP 749,999, while the 1.5 Lite DCT goes for just PhP 699,000. These rates offer a significant discount from the standard prices of PhP 799,999 and PhP 750,000, respectively.

Drivers can choose from four colors: White, Black, Andean Gray, and Titanium Silver Gray (via special order).

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Gaming

Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical

Physical releases will have the same price.

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The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.

Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.

The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.

The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.

To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.

Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States

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