News
Vivo brings in high-end Xplay 6, midrange X9 and X9 Plus
Vivo has really stepped up its game this week. After releasing the V5 in India a couple of days ago, the Chinese manufacturer went back to its home country to launch its new flagship Xplay 6, along with two additions to the X series.
This has to be the company’s answer to pressure forged by rivals Xiaomi and Huawei after they came out with some of the most impressive hardware we’ve seen this year. Vivo can rest easy with its second-place ranking in China, but there’s no telling when the tides could shift to another brand’s favor — just ask former top-ranker Xiaomi.
[irp posts=”7758″ name=”Vivo V5 with 20MP front camera launched in India”]
The Xplay 6, in particular, is no joke. Although it imitates a lot of the established ideas from fellow Chinese flagships, the price competes with Google’s Pixel phones at a bewildering CNY 4,498; that’s $655, seriously!
What makes this smartphone so special? Looking down the feature list, there’s nothing out of this world if you’re updated on the latest mobile tech.
Standing out the most is the curved 5.46-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, which is something you’d find on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. But the Xplay 6’s advantage over its Korean counterpart is the use of 6GB of memory and a larger 4080mAh battery with built-in fast charging.
There’s also the inclusion of smartphone technology’s latest trending feature: a dual-camera setup. With a pair of 12- and 5-megapixel rear cameras, the former does the photo taking with the help of optical image stabilization, while the latter provides depth information to produce sharper subjects with blurred-out backgrounds.
Curiously, Vivo decided to go with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor instead of the newer 821. Reminds us of what HTC had done earlier with the Bolt. The Android version is also stuck at 6.0 Marshmallow, and not the much maturer 7.0 Nougat.
Even if you consider the full-metal body, fingerprint scanner in front, and super-cool rose gold color, the Xplay 6 is a tough sell. You can purchase it beginning December 12, if you really must.
And then we have the X9 and X9 Plus, which fit between the lower-end V5 and premium Xplay 6. The 5.5-inch X9 retails at CNY 2,798 ($407) for the 64GB storage variant, and the 128GB storage option goes for CNY 2,998 ($436); both are already available for pre-order. No details have been revealed for the 5.88-inch X9 Plus.
The X9 and X9 Plus have one thing in common, and that’s the dual-front-facing cameras. One is 20 megapixels in resolution, and the other has an 8-megapixel image sensor for depth info, just like the rear camera setup of the Xplay 6. Both have a plain 16-megapixel shooter at the back.
Other than that, you can already spell out what else they offer. The smaller X9 has a midrange Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB of memory, and 3050mAh battery. As for the larger X9 Plus, it has a faster Snapdragon 653 chipset, 6GB of memory, and 4000mAh capacity for its battery.
If all these sound too expensive for you, you can always look down the pricing ladder towards the Vivo Y55. It got our thumbs up in both its full review and our best budget phones list, plus it costs only $165.
[irp posts=”7340″ name=”Vivo Y55 unboxing and review”]
Sources: Fone Arena, (2)
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.
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
Automotive
The Changan Eado Plus officially lands in the Philippines
Its aggressive launch pricing challenges the compact sedan status quo.
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).
Gaming
Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical
Physical releases will have the same price.
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.
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