Accessories

What’s your Chinese Zodiac Sign’s Sony GadgetMatch?

Here’s a fun and quirky list from Sony

Published

February 2, 2022

GadgetMatch

Here’s a fun exercise! Celebrating Chinese New Year, Sony put together a rather intriguing listicle. The company matched Zodiac signs to products they need according to their forecast for the Lunar New Year.

If you’re curious what your sign’s GadgetMatch is, just go through the list below!

Year of the Rat — WH-1000XM4
(born in 1984, 1996, 2009, 2020)

Rats are known for being smart planners and while it seems like your plans needs to be adjusted often in this fast-paced Tiger year, remind yourself to always stay calm and avoid overreacting when coping with Murphy’s law.

Rats have lots of energy and you never give up, but you do sometimes tend to panic first. Plug in to your WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Earphones and cancel away all negativity as you listen to positive beats and remember to believe in yourself for all situations that comes your way this year!

Buy the Sony WH-1000XM4 here

Year of the Ox — Bravia XR-X90J
(born in 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)

A year of flourishing success and monetary rewards are on the cards for the Ox!

For individuals born in the year of the Ox, 2022 is set to be the year where you will see an upturn in all areas of your life — you may find your life partner or even consider settling down.

Perfect time for you to spruce your home with the BRAVIA XR-X90J –the World’s first Cognitive Intelligence TV which takes vision and sound to the next level with the ingenious Cognitive Processor XR. Immerse your family and friends in a multi-dimensional experience like never before as you reap the rewards of your hard work with this revolutionary product.

Buy the Bravoa XR-X90J here

Year of the Tiger — Sony A7 IV
(born in 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)

Individuals born in the year of the Tiger clash with Tai Sui in 2022, making it an arduous year ahead.

Still amidst all the downs, there are also ups to look forward to for our Tiger friends. Your courage to take on each obstacle head-on will help you make it through the year safely.

Take the time to nurture your love and capture nature’s beauty with the Alpha 7 IV full-frame hybrid camera as you head outdoors more often and continue to keep a positive outlook on life.

Year of the Rabbit — HT-A7000
(born in 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

It’s been a challenging time for our sensitive Rabbits but in 2022, your time has come. Opportunities abound this year and do take the time to research before you invest time and money into things that come your way.

People born in the year of the Rabbit are known for their exquisite taste. You appreciate the finer things in life and our flagship soundbar HT-A7000 is the perfect companion for your stylish home.

Enjoy music the way the artists truly intended with High-Resolution Audio for crystal clear precision. With the HT-A7000, your music comes to life like never before.

Year of the Dragon — SRS NB10
(born in 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

Dragons are blessed with great strength of character and real leadership qualities. No matter what 2022 throws at you, you are smart and resourceful enough to adapt to the changes.

Tough times don’t last but tough people do. For Dragons, the new SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Speaker is the perfect companion to tide us through this year as we walk around in comfort taking work calls and more. Just in time for Lunar New Year, the SRS-NB10 will be available locally beginning February 11, 2021.

Year of the Snake — Sony A7C
(born in 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

This energetic year might be a little stressful for the reserved Snake, but your calm and diplomatic nature will be a real asset in the corporate world — you may find your colleagues come asking for advice this year.

As lucky stars elevate your relationship luck, you must shed the habit of overthinking and keeping things to yourself. For the married Snakes, maintain the spark with your partner by exploring new activities together – don’t forget to capture the action as it happens, in beautiful detail with the Alpha 7C Compact full-frame camera! The Alpha 7C will ensure that you won’t miss that important split-second shot. That’s thanks to its state-of-the-art AF and speedy continuous shooting capability

Buy the Sony Alpha 7C here

Year of the Horse — WF-C500
(born in 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

Gallop into a year of increase as 2022 is set to be an easy race for all Horses!

Romance is in the air for single Horses and relationships will be strengthened for those attached. Hardworking Horses can expect career successes in the workplace but do remember to take care of your health while reaping the rewards of your efforts.

Soak in the sun and bring along the trusty WF-C500 Truly Wireless Headphones for all your hikes and fitness routines. With an IPX4 water resistance rating, splashes and sweat won’t stop these headphones – so you can keep on moving to the music.

Year of the Goat — Bravia KD-X80J
(born in 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)

Great news for our friends born in the year of the Goat as the energy of the Year of the Tiger will make you the star wherever you go!

Your flourishing relationship luck means you’ll be meeting more like-minded friends and potential collaborations. You are magnetically popular this year, and everyone wants to be your friend.

Share your favorite films and feel-good shows with newfound friends and have a movie marathon on the BRAVIA KD-X80J. Discover worlds of entertainment on this Google TV, brought to life in beautiful color by the realism of our picture and sound technology. With the powerful 4K HDR Processor X1–color, contrast, and clarity are enhanced for all your favorite content.

Buy the Bravia KD-X80J here

Year of the Monkey — SRS-XP700
(born in 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004)

2022 may seem like a challenging year for the Monkey. Fret not, there is always a silver lining in every cloud.

The Monkey likes to stay busy, and your social life is packed as ever. Bring forth your sociable characteristic and meet like-minded individuals as you bond over fun activities and good food.

Whether you are hosting a party, a jamming session or just simply chilling around while listening to your favorite music, the SRS-XP700’s Omnidirectional sound and colorful ambient lighting surely makes it an ideal companion for small gatherings with friends.

Year of the Rooster — SRS RA3000
(born in 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)

Here’s the great news – the Rooster is luckiest of all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Tiger in 2022! People born in the year of the Rooster can look forward to sustained wealth and success, with the extra benefits of possible monetary rewards.

It’s only the beginning of a year which will be full of fun and choices ahead. A you enjoy the fast-paced Tiger year, do remember to self-care and take some time out to curl up on the sofa with a good read and experience the perfect musical backdrop with ambient room-filling sound from our compact wireless speaker SRS-RA3000.

Year of the Dog — WF-1000XM4
(born in 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)

Those who are born in the year of the Dog are known for their loyalty and courage. These great qualities are keys to your success in 2022 which is filled with opportunities.

Mundane routines can make you feel dull and lonely. Change up the usual by making use of your free time to upgrade your skills and learn something new!

With the WF-1000XM4’s advanced noise-cancelling performance, you can focus on online lectures while on-the-go and not be distracted by the surroundings. Perfect for the go-getter attitude of yours!

Buy the Sony WF-1000XM4 here

Year of the Pig — Sony ZV-1
(born in 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)

Lucky stars abound for the Pig in the Year of the Tiger as you are set to sail through life and work with happy tidings in 2022!

Pigs are great networkers and known to have many ideas. For those who are seeking new opportunities, this is the time to make your #likeaboss dream a reality!

First impression counts and the ZV-1 Digital Camera is your best bet with its Product Showcase Setting which widens the angle and allows you to instantly focus on small products with just a single button – perfect for those product shots!

Buy the Sony ZV-1 here

Accessories

TP-Link Archer Air R5 and E5: For the minimalist

As sleek as they come

Published

September 29, 2023

GadgetMatch

Don’t you just love it when certain tech around your home just blends in, not drawing any unnecessary attention to itself? That appears to be the primary design focus of the TP-Link Archer Air R5 and E5. It’s a Wi-Fi router and range extender combo.

Unboxing

We unboxed the TP-Link Archer Air R5 and E5 (or just R5 and E5). Other than the flat, white units, you’ll see some documentation, cables, power adapter, and adhesives inside the box.

Watch the unboxing.

@gadgetmatch Unboxing the TP-Link Archer Air R5 and E5! #router #rangeextender ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

Understated and simple

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that there isn’t much to the R5 and E5, and that’s by the design. TP-Link specifically made this router and range extender combo to blend into your home. No antennas sticking out, just a couple of slabs that you can wall mount.

Set-up is also just as simple as the devices look. You simply plug the adapter, hook it up to your modem using the included ethernet cable. We were ready to use the router in less than 10 minutes.

One thing to note is that the cords of the power adapters are rather short. Same is true with the included ethernet cable which isn’t as much of an issue as the power adapters. This means you have to be a little creative with where you’ll place these. Depending on the power outlet situation in your home, you might have to buy a few new extension cords to achieve your preferred look.

The E5 was a little more troublesome to set-up at first. But this was because we plugged it a few paces away from the R5. To avoid the hiccups we went through, make sure you set the E5 up right next to the R5. After the set-up, you can move the E5 to maximize its range-extending capabilities. From there, it’s all about just following the prompts on the Tether app.

Tether app

Yes, this router-range extender combo comes with an app. The Tether app is TP-Link’s own and is compatible with their devices. The app makes the set-up as breezy as possible. If you have any trouble setting things up, just simply follow the prompts and instructions on the app and you should be good to go.

You can consider the app as your main hub for making the most of your R5 and E5. Here, you can make sure that the devices’ firmware are updated. You can also monitor all the gadgets connected to them.

A neat feature is that you can create profiles in the app. Each profile assigns a role for traditional family members. This is a great tool for parents who want to limit the time and content that their children can access.

Performance

The R5 and E5 are WiFi 6 capable. It’s tech that’s been around for about half a decade now but there’s still plenty who are missing out on its capabilities. For instance, most modems issued by local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are still a generation behind.

With WiF 6 capable routers, you’re bound to experience a boost in speeds. Take us for instance, the service plan we’re subscribed to is supposed to max out at around 250 mbps. And multiple speed tests, when connected only directly to the modem, returned results that hover around 210 mbps for download speeds and 201 mbps upload speeds.

After connecting to the R5, the speeds we were getting literally doubled. Tested multiple times in multiple days since setting up the router, we would average 413 mbps download speeds and 419 mbps upload speeds. We’re particularly happy about the upload speeds given that we do have to upload videos a lot these days.

We didn’t particularly need the E5 since we live in a tiny apartment. But the extended range came in handy when we wanted to step outside and get some fresh air from the common area balcony. It’s a few paces away from our unit and was previously completely out of reach by our Wi-Fi. That isn’t the case anymore with the E5.

The R5 and E5 have the OneMesh feature. What it does is seamlessly move the connection of your smartphone or laptop to the nearest Wi-Fi connection. This means uninterrupted browsing as you move around.

Additional services

The R5 is also compatible with the use of VPN or Virtual Private Networks. This helps shield your IP address and provides a generally more secure way to browse the Internet. Another benefit of VPN use is you can switch the location of your IP and gain access to streaming app content you otherwise would not have access to.

For its part, TP-Link offers security services on the Tether app. We didn’t see the need to subscribe but it’s there as an option if you feel you need to add extra layers of protection.

Is the TP-Link R5 and E5 your GadgetMatch?

Truthfully, the TP-Link Archer Air R5 and E5 is easy to recommend. This Wi-Fi router and range extender combo is perfect for people who like their devices to be understated and simple. The size of this pair also means they’re easy to fit even in tiny living spaces.

The R5 and E5 perform as advertised with TP-Link offering additional security options for your peace of mind. This is a perfect addition for any household looking to improve their Internet Connection without having to upgrade their ISP plan.

The TP-Link R5 retails for PhP 6,590 while the TP-Link E5 retails for 5,590.

Accessories

TP-Link launches next-gen Archer AX12 router

Your next-generation router

Published

September 27, 2023

GadgetMatch

TP-Link has made the Archer AX12 router in the Philippines. Marketed as a next-generation router, the new product is engineered to cater to the connectivity needs of today’s households and businesses.

The Archer AX12 utilizes Wi-Fi 6 technology, enabling everyone to stream up to 4K videos or play their favorite games lag-free.

The router achieves up to 1.5 Gbps of speed with ease. It also uses Wi-Fi 6’s OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies for simultaneous communication of up to 128 devices without lag for better internet connection and faster download speeds.

Moreover, the router is quick and easy to set up through the TP-Link tether app. The product likewise supports EasyMesh and OneMesh for customers to be able to integrate their existing networks.

The Archer AX12 is now available at TP-Link’s flagship store at the 3rd level of SM North EDSA Annex, its authorized resellers, and Lazada and Shopee.

Accessories

Apple Watch Series 9 + Watch Ultra 2 Unboxing

Featuring the bundled bands plus the new FineWoven and Nike Sport bands

Published

September 26, 2023

GadgetMatch

Apple’s September 2023 “Wonderlust” Event isn’t just about the new iPhones. They’ve also announced updates to the well-loved Apple Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 may not look so different from their predecessors, but the new features cater to older Apple Watch users to upgrade.

Aside from the upgraded S9 SiP (System in a Chip), this also enables new features like having a built-in Siri and even Double Tap using your two fingers and wrist.

And thanks to Apple’s Carbon Neutral goal by 2030, the new Apple Watches (at least the Ultra 2 and aluminum-cased Series 9s) are now more sustainable for the environment.

This also means saying bye-bye to our good ol’ leather Watch bands — but wait until you see what Apple has to offer.

Watch our latest unboxing of the new Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Series 9 (in Aluminum and Stainless Steel), plus a plethora of bands to try out!