The vivo V27 series is the latest from vivo in the Philippines. It’s a smartphone series that features a light ring on its camera module instead of the usual flash. The series is comprised of the vivo V27e and the vivo V27 5G. Both are available both via credit card payment and through Home Credit.

Credit Card

You can earn rewards when you purchase either of the vivo V27 phones via credit card. The lowest payment schemes are:

• vivo V27e — PhP 708.29 on a 24-month installment with zero percent interest.
• vivo V27 5G — PhP 1,041.63 on a 24-month installment also with zero percent interest.

Home Credit

vivo and Home Credit Philippines partnered to offer flexible payment terms and low monthly installment rates. Installment plans are available in 9, 12 and 18-month options.

• vivo V27e — 10% initial downpayment with zero interest rate. The 18-month plan costs PhP 877 per month.
• vivo V27 5G — Also a 10% initial downpayment. The 18-month plan costs PhP 1,289 per month.

 vivo V27 — #AuraPortraitMaster

vivo calls the light ring on the vivo V27 series’ camera module the Aura Light. The vivo V27 series has a f/1.9 IMX766V 50MP ultra-sensing main camera. This is supported by EIS+OIS dual ultra-stabilization for sharp and high-quality shots even when moving or at night. The Aura Portrait Algorithm paves the way for impressive image and video-processing yet on a vivo smartphone for its category.

Both are equipped with 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED screens. The 7.36mm 3D curved screen on the V27 5G is the thinnest yet for a V series phone. Meanwhile, the V27e has a 7.7mm thickness.

There are three colorway choices:

• Color-changing Emerald Green
• Lavender Purple
• Glory Black (specifically for the V27e, which is said to shimmer at night)

SEE ALSO: Vibe Check: vivo V27 5G

HONOR recently made a lot of noise at MWC 2023, particularly with the announcement of the flagship Magic 5s. The brand didn’t stop there. Not wanting to be outdone in the ever-competitive midrange tier, the HONOR X8a was released.

Marketing for this specific model focused on its 100MP main camera, offering customers a DSLR-like experience. But does the phone really merit top-of-the-head consideration for people? We went to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for an exhaustive break-in.

Temper your expectations

The HONOR X8a’s camera package consists of the following:

• 100MP f/1.9 main camera
• 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
• 2MP f/2.4 macro camera

To say the least, it’s intriguing what the phone offers when it comes to mobile photography. I have mixed views about it as it was able to hit some benchmarks yet also missed a few.

The ultra-wide lens does its job.

It is imperative nowadays to get quality, especially captures of cityscapes and nightscapes, this is a handy device to bring and make memories with.

I was able to take good shots of Ho Chi Minh City’s “skyline” and city center, as well as many of their countless parks which make the trip reinvigorating.

The auto-focus works steadily.

As seen on this ice cream on the foreground against a park and some close-up shots of food. Should you want the camera to focus on a specific subject within the frame, it also does the trick.

I had modest expectations when it came to how the HONOR X8a’s cameras would perform at night, but I must say it delivered quite nicely, even when shooting only using default mode.

As Vietnam’s busy city streets transform in the night into an LED-filled spectacle, I was only fitting to sneak some snaps of billboards, storefronts, and more in.

When you use Night Mode, the phone will trigger a four-second countdown.

It allows it to absorb more light and produce slightly more vivid images, like these ones at Bui Vien Walking Street and Le Thi Rieng, one of the city’s busier rotondas.

Of course, don’t expect moving subjects to come out perfect; there will naturally be blurry objects when you leave the shutter open for four seconds, like these motorcycles.

At daytime, the shutter speed works decently to capture moving objects or snap photos while walking. But of course, it is still best to take your time first.

Elsewhere, the selfie camera also covers a lot of space if you want to include yourself in pictures of historical sites and landmarks throughout the area.

Needs improvement

On the downside, however, the HONOR X8a also underwhelmed on a number of aspects.

To top it off, pictures did not come out as impressive as I expected in terms of its color, vividness, and being close to the subject’s real appearance, which is quite a bummer for a mid-ranger.

I’ve tried earlier versions of Samsung A series phones and realme’s lower midrange models, which produced better results. One can argue that using Hi-Res mode (higher file sizes) would suffice, yet I didn’t need that on other phones to begin with.

When using default mode at 1x zoom, the camera doesn’t really fit much into the frame, which kind of forces the user to opt for the ultra-wide lens by default.

I tried using the ultra-macro mode a couple of times on souvenirs to test if it captures tiny details well enough.

It is a bit challenging to achieve the proper focus even if you’ve already bookishly followed the ideal distance of about an inch or two. Sharpness is also lacking.

In terms of usability, the shutter button’s position is quite lower than expected, and the button itself is relatively smaller. I would sometimes have to tap twice to make sure I am able to get a photo of something.

Imagine if you missed out on taking a picture with a famous celebrity or athlete because of these little things.

Performance: Just your usual

The HONOR X8a is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 processor. We did say we put this to the test in Vietnam, and once under scorching heat of Saigon, the camera app was forced to close because the phone’s temperature apparently got too hot.

It took a few minutes before I was able to open the app again, so perhaps bring an umbrella outdoors when you plan to take pictures during the noon or afternoon.

Nevertheless, here are some snaps outside which were taken usually after lunch time:

Speaking of which, it is also challenging to use this phone when it is bright outside, since you won’t be able to see the photos you have just taken in real-time that clearly.

The phone has a 6.7-inch FullView display which has a lower peak brightness than mid-range phones I’ve had or have been using. Admittedly, it was quite a hassle to have to cover the phone screen with my hand first just to review some pictures, nor do they appear as crystal-clear as you would want them to.

Usability needs work

Unlike other phones, the HONOR X8a does not have a floating home button at the bottom, along with the hamburger icon for apps currently open.

To switch in between apps, one has to swipe in a particular manner from bottom to the middle of the screen and hold for a while in order for the apps list to show. It’s quite confusing at first, to say the least, and I am definitely not a fan of having to take too much time just to exit some apps.

On the positive end, the screen wasn’t laggy when switching apps, browsing, typing, or doing simple everyday tasks on your phone.

The phone supports up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It can withstand playing games and heavy tasks, but it’s also best to be cautious and make sure usage is optimized.

Looooong battery life

If there is anything that stands out with this phone is that its 4,500mAh battery’s life can endure the lengths. Throughout my stay in Vietnam, I had this routine of using the phone for hours to shoot while walking along the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

But after that, I would barely use it. When in Power Saving Mode, the phone loses just about 2 or 3% overnight.

As it supports the usual fast charging expected of a phone for its price point (22.5W), the phone also replenishes its battery percentage quickly.

Is the HONOR X8a your GadgetMatch?

The HONOR X8a is now available for pre-orders, retailing for PhP 10,990 in the Cyan Lake, Titanium Silver, and Midnight Black colorways. It is incredibly lightweight, which could be a good thing for specific users.

But as it is being promoted as a reliable mid-ranger for mobile photography, there are just so many items on the criteria the phone does not surpass.

If I had anywhere between PhP 12,000 to PhP 18,000 and were thinking about upgrading my current budget or midrange device, the X8a wouldn’t be the first model I’d be thinking of, and that’s just the truth.

OPPO’s premier flip smartphone is now in the Philippines!

The super compact smartphone delivers power and premier design, making it an ideal daily driver. It prides itself on a crease-free display, a waterdrop hinge made from aircraft-grade high-strength steel and polymer, and a tough build that allows 400,000 cycles of folding and unfolding the smartphone.

The Find N2 Flip is also equipped with a powerful set of cameras, co-developed with Hasselblad. Moreover, it’s equipped with a large 4300mAh battery capable of 44W SUPERVOOC charge, enabling up to 20 hours of video streaming, 16 hours of social media browsing, or 6 hours of video calls.

It also comes with a generous 3.26-inch display on its cover screen, the largest of its kind on any flip smartphone today.

Price, availability

The OPPO Find N2 Flip retails for PhP 49,999 and is now available at select OPPO concept stores nationwide. It comes in two stunning colors: Moonlit Purple and Astral Black.

0% installment plans

The Find N2 Flip is available at Lazada, offering freebies for every purchase such as the OPPO Watch Free (worth PhP 5,499), and the OPPO Enco Air 3 (worth PhP 3,999). It also comes with 0% interest installment for 45 days via LazPayLater, as well as free shipping.

Alternatively, it’s also available via Home Credit with installment options for 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months with the lowest monthly payment at PhP 1,504.

The same goes for credit cards, where customers can avail of the Find N2 Flip at 6 or 12 months installment at 0% interest.

Via Postpaid

The esteemed compact phone is also available via Globe Plan 1499 with a cash out of PhP 28,800. It also comes in Plan 999 with a cash out of PhP 33,600. Both plans offer the OPPO Enco Air 3 and OPPO Band 2 as freebies.

For Smart, the Find N2 Flip is available at Plan 1499 with cash out available and the same freebies.