Hands-On

Vivo V5 Plus Hands-On Review

Published

on

Whenever a smartphone has a Plus at the end of its name you expect it to be bigger and better than its namesake.

But that’s not the case when it comes to the V5 Plus, the newest smartphone from Chinese up and comer Vivo. In fact when it comes down to the tale of the tape, the V5 Plus is roughly the same size as the V5 that came a few months before it.

The Vivo V5 and the V5 Plus – same size but different internals.

Of course when it comes down to it, the V5 Plus is a better phone overall, but it is also $150 more expensive – which in the midrange segment is a significant enough of a price difference. Does its improvements justify the extra cost? Why should you get the plus model over the non plus model? Keep reading to find out.

Dual Selfie Cameras

The headline feature of the V5 Plus is its 20 megapixel selfie camera. That along with a front facing flash and a camera app that comes with a host of beautification modes gives the phone a pretty good value proposition – great selfies on a budget.

The V5 Plus takes that a step further with a second selfie camera.

Spot the difference. The Vivo V5 Plus has two selfie cameras.

While dual cameras are slowly becoming a trend, very rarely do we see a phone with two up front. On the V5 Plus, this second camera is used to measure the depth of a photo giving you selfies with that creamy bokeh effect.     

In our tests this extra depth of field effect gave our selfies a more professional feel to them, although in some cases felt a bit too much.

SELFIES Vivo V5 (left), V5 Plus (center) and adjusting aperture on the V5 Plus (right)

Thankfully if you feel that’s the case, you can dial back on the photo’s aperture when you’re taking the photo or after the photo has been taken (via the edit menu on your camera roll). 

Overall the second selfie camera didn’t feel like a gimmick and gave us the best looking selfies we’ve seen on a smartphone today.

[irp posts=”8380″ name=”Vivo V5 vs Oppo F1S”]

More Refined Design

It’s peculiar that the V5 Plus looks reasonably different from the V5 considering they’re both current models. With only a few months between them, the V5 plus looks much more refined, albeit obviously very much a copy of the iPhone 7. Just look at those antenna bands.

Looks familiar. Did the Vivo copy the iPhone 7?

On the V5 Plus, Vivo brings back the home button which on the V5 was more of a touchpad that you couldn’t really press down on. Fingerprint unlock times are just as super quick.

The user interface too is slightly improved with cleaner more consistent looking square icons with rounded corners, an additional row of quick settings, and a new multitasking interface. Overall, FunTouch OS is still one of the better Android implementations around, except for the fact that it’s 2017 and they’re still both running Marshmallow and not Nougat.

More Power

Apart from its second camera, the V5 Plus gets its name from other welcome hardware improvements. For starters it gets a much more capable processor, additional storage space, a slightly bigger battery, and a better main camera.

It also gets a Full HD display which I personally believe should be a standard among mid-range phones these days.  The display on the V5 Plus is nice and crisp with pretty decent contrast and beautifully saturated colors.

Last but not least, and thankfully unlike the V5, the V5 Plus supports fast charging. The omission was a big head scratcher considering the feature came standard on last year’s V3 and V3 Max. In our tests the V5 Plus went from 0 to 80% in 60 minutes and full in just under an hour and 30. The battery lasted us a good full day and then some. 

The Vivo V5 has a beautiful Full HD display and fits comfortably in the hands.

Is the Vivo V5 Plus your GadgetMatch?

Because they are so similar, it’s hard to justify spending an extra $150 to get the V5 Plus over the V5 even if the hardware improvements are very much welcome. The V5 Plus is everything the V5 should have been, except for its price tag.

The phone retails for Php 19,990 in the Philippines and INR 27,980 in India (about $400 US). At that price point there are plenty of other worthy contenders like the Asus Zenfone 3 5.5, Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) or the OnePlus 3T. And for a little bit more there’s also the Xiaomi Mi5s Plus or the Huawei P9.

That’s not to say the V5 Plus is overpriced. For what it’s worth it a solid mid-range smartphone, one that’s a great value for your money. Plus (pun intended) if selfies are very important to you, you’d be hard pressed to find a better phone today.

[irp posts=”8917″ name=”Vivo V5 unboxing and review”]

Accessories

The GameSir G8 Galileo is great for PS Remote Play

While we wait for the PlayStation Portal

Published

on

Gamesir G8 Galileo | PS Remote Play

We happen to be in a region where the PlayStation Portal has yet to be released. Good thing, PS Remote Play is available and GameSir has a controller you can hook up to your smartphone that’s readily compatible. Enter the GameSir G8 Galileo.

You might not see it right away, but the biggest difference with the G8 Galileo compared to other smartphone controllers (even the ones GameSir made themselves) is it’s actually full size. 

Watch our unboxing. 

@gadgetmatch

Unboxing the Gamesir G8 Galileo. Best smartphone controllers right now? #gaming #mobilegaming #remoteplay #RemotePlay #remoteplayps5 #mobilecontroller #controller #controllers

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch – GadgetMatch

 

Most smartphone controllers prioritize portability. Thus, they’re more compact. That means smaller face buttons, smaller thumbsticks, and generally smaller overall profile. 

Usable, sure. But not exactly ideal for people with chubby hands like yours truly. 

BackBone One | GameSir G8 Galileo

This is also one of the primary reasons why, despite owning a Backbone One, I’ve rarely used it for its intended purpose. And the reason why the PlayStation Portal is appealing to me. 

Gamesir G8 Galileo | PS Remote Play

The GameSir G8 Galileo changes all of that because of its size. It’s also not just larger. Its ergonomics are great too. Your hands will sit nicely on the nice, curved handles for a more comfortable, more enjoyable handheld gaming session.

PS Remote Play 

Gamesir G8 Galileo | PS Remote Play

Another big area of convenience is you don’t necessarily have to have the GameSir app to make it work. Simply download the PS Remote Play app, register, and fire it up. 

To make sure it’s on PS Remote Play compatible mode, just press the Share and Options buttons simultaneously. Those are the tiny buttons on the left and right hand side of the controllers right above the left thumb stick and the face buttons. 

Upon pressing simultaneously, make sure the color on the GameSir logo on the lower right part of the controller is white. That’s how you know it’s on PS Remote Play mode. 

Currently green so you have to press the buttons for Remote Play.

Once done, just easily plug-in your smartphone with a USB-C port on GameSir’s signature flexible USB-C plug and off you go. 

Actual play time

Here’s a quick Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 gameplay using the GameSir G8 Galileo along with the HONOR Magic5 Pro with Remote Play:

This under a minute clip, naturally, isn’t representative of the entire Remote Play experience. Anyone who has tried it before knows that with extended play time, you’ll likely experience a few hiccups here and there. That’s just the nature of the beast. 

That said, this whole set-up has been generally great. Other than Spider-Man 2, I’ve managed to play a handful of quick NBA 2K24 games like this. I still racked up a handful of wins despite suffering from occasional latency trouble. 

The feel of the controller is fantastic and is easily the most enjoyable out of every other smartphone controller that I’ve tried before. And I’ve tried a few other than the Backbone One. There’s the GameSir X3,  GameSir X2 Pro-Xbox, and the Razer Kishi V2. 

Compatible games, mapping

Depending on the platform you’re on, the GameSir G8 Galileo will work on multiple other games. If you’re an iPhone 15 Series user, Remote Play, select Apple Arcade games, and even the AAA games set to release for that iPhone will work with this controller. 

For Android users, it’s the usual handful of controller supported games that will work with this. For everything else, you’ll have to resort to mapping — a task for those with patience. 

If you need more tutorials on how to get it working, just follow GameSir on Facebook or YouTube. They constantly post tutorials. 


You can buy the GameSir G8 Galileo here: https://bit.ly/gsg8galileo 

Use G8Creator on the Coupon Code for 10% off.

 

Continue Reading

Cameras

GoPro HERO12 Black: Making heroic shots with the new HERO

Small but not terrible

Published

on

By

The HERO of action cameras is back! And no doubt, the GoPro HERO 12 Black is one of the hottest action cameras around.

Not only does it provide great video output, it’s also packed with features and improvements that make it stand out from the crowd.

Packed Inside and Out

If you’re already planning to purchase the new GoPro HERO 12 Black, here’s what you should expect with its thicc packaging.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GadgetMatch (@gadgetmatch)

If you’re here for the nitty-gritty new features of the brand’s latest action cam, you can see all the specifics in this article.

Keep on reading for the actual hands-on experience..

Reels-Ready

With the continuous rise of Reels and/or TikToks, having to shoot vertically is the way to go.

This is where the new Vertical Framing feature comes handy as it can shoot vertical videos for you without actually turning the device — as opposed to other action cameras including its older counterparts.

Make It Even Wider

The GoPro HERO 12 Black, just like any other action camera, comes with a default lens that it’s enough to shoot wide enough footage.

But with the optional Max Lens Mod 2.0, it makes shots even wider.

You can choose between three lens views: the default Wide (16-34mm), Max SuperView (middle ground), and the Max HyperView (the extremest view).

Just remember, you can only apply these when shooting in the default horizontal orientation.

If you’re shooting for Reels or TikTok and want this super wide look, you can stick with the default FoV (Field of View) of Vertical Mode. Otherwise, you can shoot in Horizontal Mode and just rotate it during post-process (or via GoPro’s Quik app available in both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store).

Also, don’t forget to enable it in its drop-down quick settings menu. This way you can fully-maximize its full-blown super-wide angle view whenever, wherever.

Memento Making

I enjoyed using the combination of the new lens and vertical shooting of this wonder cam during the duration of my travel. And with just one press of the top button, it instantly starts recording.

Several swipes also enables it to shoot photos or record timelapses.

Terrific Thailand.mov

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @vincenzlee

Cute Capy Cafe.mp4

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @vincenzlee

Short Singapore Stop.mkv

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @vincenzlee

What’s Poppin’ in this Pop Up.hevc

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @vincenzlee

Compact Camera Companion

The GoPro HERO 12 Black is fantastic for recording and keeping travel mementos. But other than that, it’s also be good for documenting your everyday life.

The thing I love about the GoPro HERO 12 Black is that it features a built-in mount that can be flapped out within seconds.

My former action camera relies on its case before it can actually be mounted.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @vincenzlee

Despite the continuous advancements of smartphone cameras and their video-making improvements and capabilities, the ultra-wide lenses aren’t the best performers when you’re trying to shoot videos. This is true even if you rock the latest flagship Android smartphone or even the maxed out iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The GoPro continues to exist to fulfill that vital role in shooting. Its compact form, ease of access, easy usability, and rugged-readiness are more points to consider on owning a GoPro HERO12 Black. It’s better than actually pawning your phones just to shoot UWA (ultra-wide angle) footages in the harshest conditions.

Pricing and Availability

The GoPro HERO12 Black is being sold for PhP 24,990 (US$ 399.99 / EUR 449.99 / GBP 399.99 / SG$ 580). Meanwhile, the HERO12 Black Creator Edition retails for PhP 36,990 (US$ 599.99 / EUR 679.99 / GBP 599.99 / SG$ 890).

The Max Lens Mod 2.0 is a separate purchase for PhP 7,490 (US$ 99.99). A special bundle is available for other regions. Visit GoPro.com for specific pricing and other bundle offers in your respective regions.

Continue Reading

Hands-On

I used the Infinix ZERO 30 5G to film my workout routines

It looks too posh as a workout recorder, but it does the job!

Published

on

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

When you don’t have a flip smartphone that’s versatile enough to help you film your workout routines, what do you look for?

An affordable smartphone with a high-resolution front camera!

Nowadays, it’s important to have an excellent selfie shooter. It can be for vanity, for helping you review your form, or you just love recording yourself while living in the moment.

Before I got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and the OPPO Find N3 Flip, I was using the Infinix ZERO 30 5G. And boy, did it help me in my fitness journey.

Let’s talk about its cameras

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

On its rear, the Infinix ZERO 30 5G has a triple set of cameras. A 108-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and another 2-megapixel for depth.

With those numbers, on paper, the Infinix ZERO 30 5G would’ve been ideal to record my fitness journey. Except, we don’t normally film using the rear cameras.

Inside the gym, I always place the smartphone somewhere I can see it. I look at the phone recording from time to time to check my form, and to check the shooting angle.

It’s also respectful for other gym-goers to see if they might be filmed while you’re working out. A lot of times, they’re uncomfortable being seen as part of your content. The proper gym etiquette is to ask them if they’re comfortable to be seen in the background while you film.

With that in mind, it’s precisely the reason why I enjoyed using the Infinix ZERO 30 5G.

The front shooter’s a beast

Not a lot of smartphones prioritize their front cameras. All eyes are on its rear cameras capable of up to 100x zoom or something like that. While they’re nice to have when you’re traveling and out and about, I appreciate the efforts Infinix put into the ZERO 30 5G.

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

It’s equipped with a 50-megapixel front camera that’s capable of recording 4K videos at 30 or 60fps, and 1080p at 30fps.

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

Having that camera system allowed me to film my fitness journey, especially at a time when I was hitting almost rock bottom and I was only living life between home and the gym.

Here’s a reel stitched from 4K videos, all taken using the Infinix ZERO 30 5G.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by maybe: jaye (@hemjaye)

Sleek and slim, like yours truly

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

Aside from the camera capabilities of the Infinix ZERO 30 5G, I liked its design and build whenever I brought it to the gym. This particular unit I have is coated in Rome Green eco-leather.

Accented by gold on its camera island and sides, it looked posh and sophisticated, matching the vibe of my Anytime Fitness gym: Somewhat expensive, but still affordable.

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

Moreover, it’s lightweight yet feels durable enough which gives me extra assurance whenever I place it near the free weights.

It might look fragile given that it looks a little bit ritzy, but trust me, it’s tough. It’s equipped with a Gorilla Glass 5 upfront. Also, it has a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen which gave me a vivid preview of my photos and videos.

And even with that slim frame, it still sports a 5000mAh battery capacity, capable of 68W fast wired charging through its USB-C port on the bottom side.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The Infinix ZERO 30 5G retails at PhP 14,999. For its looks and capabilities, you’d think it comes with a higher price tag.

Infinix ZERO 30 5G

Now, if you use mostly your cameras as part of your everyday life and don’t want to shell out lots of cash just to get a device that takes excellent photos, this is worthy of your attention.

It’s a sweet candidate for its price range. If you’re looking for a sign to get a device that you can use for your obsession with TikTok videos and Instagram Reels, the Infinix ZERO 30 5G might be it.

Continue Reading

Trending