Features

vivo Y35: Sets the bar higher for entry-level phones

Hard not to recommend

Published

September 9, 2022

GadgetMatch

I’m sure a lot of us have experienced using entry-level smartphones at some point in our lives. We can still remember the burden of choosing which apps to keep with the lack of storage. There’s also keeping usage at a minimum because of the slow performance and never missing out on an overnight charge or else you won’t have a phone the next day.

Sadly, these are struggles that a lot of us just learned to live with. We simply accepted these drawbacks since it’s what we can afford.

But now, the time has come to finally bid farewell to these challenges.

Once again, vivo levels up the playing field and shocks the entry-level smartphone market with this new contender. A smartphone that boasts high performance, massive storage capacity and one of the fastest charging to ever set foot in this price segment — the vivo Y35.

Let us share with you the noteworthy features.

Really quick fast charging with a battery that keeps you going

With everything we can do with smartphones nowadays, we always seem to run out of power. And seeing people lug around a power bank plugged to their phones has already been a norm. It’s either that or just keep your phone plugged and remove it when you’re ready to go.

Thankfully, that won’t be the case anymore with the vivo Y35. Loaded with a 44W FastCharge, charging speeds on this tier of smartphones has never been faster.

This phone is capable of charging its internal 5,000mAh battery up to 70 percent in just over 30 minutes. Which means it’ll likely be fully charged in time for you to leave if you plug it in the morning before you take a shower.

Seriously, these are speeds that we only get to experience on flagships or other higher end phones. And having this available on their Y series is mind-blowing.

Plus, having that large battery capacity means we can now have more time for content creation, media consumption and gaming without needing to stay near a power outlet.

More storage than we probably need

It wasn’t too long ago when we were buying phones that had 64GB storage and thought that was already enough. Nowadays, that amount of storage is far from bare minimum. We sometimes even see people buying another phone to have a spare one for leisure and media storage aside from their daily driver.

This problem is pretty much solved with the Y35’s 256GB internal storage that is expandable up to 1TB. Having such a massive amount of storage, we’ll probably be torn about which games to play. We can download so much on this phone without worrying about how much we have left.

At that size, we can even use this phone as a handy media storage device for transferring movies from our laptop or desktop. And the low storage warning will take longer to show up.

Processor and RAM: Designed with speed in mind

The vivo Y35 is the first in the Y series to be packed with 8GB of RAM plus 8GB of extended RAM that is paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. That means, not only is this phone capable of storing all the apps we plan on using, but it’ll also run it smoothly.

As we all well know, gaming demands some high horsepower and this phone has that exactly. Having that Snapdragon chipset, I’m sure this phone is already in the radar of gamers.

And in our initial tests with Call of Duty: Mobile, we can already tell that this does not disappoint.

But perhaps the best part is, apps won’t close anymore whenever we switch between them. Having such a big buffer in RAM is a tremendous convenience.

Photogenic design but can also snap your photos

We’ve grown quite familiar with the designs of entry-level phones. We can genuinely say that this one is a big stand out. As you can see in these photos, the Dawn Gold colorway is just absolutely stunning to look at.

Simply by the way it looks, we already noticed some people glancing at this phone when we were taking its photos.

The back has a subtle texture that kind of reminiscent of touching precious gemstones and the matte glittery finish isn’t a smudge magnet at all. Combine that with a metal frame with curved edges and we have ourselves a phone that not only feels premium but also one you can surely brag in your trendy mirror selfies.

But not only does this phone look great in photographs, it also takes great ones as well.

Coming from a brand who has always produced excellent shooters, we already expected that the cameras on these would perform well. The Y35 sports a triple camera setup that has a 50MP main camera, 2MP Bokeh camera and 2MP Macro camera.

Judging by these sample photos, we can agree that it is on point.

It captures great detail with portraits and landscapes and it also doesn’t back down even for night shooting.

Faster and more fluid display than before

We’ve always thought that better display and sound quality are features that are only reserved for the top end market.

Which is why we’re surprised with the display on the Y35. This phone feasts our eyes with its 6.58-inch, FullHD+, 90Hz display that is even paired with Hi-Res Audio.

Crispy was actually the first word that came to my mind upon seeing this. You can really see how sharp the images are being displayed thanks to its high resolution.

From swiping and navigating the interface to streaming videos on YouTube, everything felt fluid in a visual sense. You won’t even need to look for the difference from other entry-level offerings as it is very evident how improved this display experience is.

To put it simply, the media consumption experience on this phone shoots way above its weight class.

The vivo Y35 is simply hard not to recommend

Considering that these are just our initial impressions on the vivo Y35 already says a lot.

Believe it or not, I think vivo has yet again set a higher standard for all brands to follow with all the features they decided to put in this device.

At the price it is being offered, I even doubt that we can find a phone that is packed with the same features of the Y35.

With the super fast 44W Flash Charge, a very abundant 256GB storage, the up to the task performance of the Snapdragon 680 chipset with 8GB of RAM and the high resolution 90Hz refresh rate screen all shelled in a beautiful package, the vivo Y35 is a phone that is hard not to recommend.

Whether you are a working professional, a student or a content creator, there’s no person who wouldn’t benefit from the features this phone has to offer.

Price and availability

The vivo Y35 retails for PhP 14,999 and is available in Dawn Gold and Argate Black. It will be available online starting September 3, 2022 on their official Shopee, Lazada, Tiktok Shop and vivo e-store. While you can also purchase it from any vivo Concept store nationwide starting September 10, 2022.

vivo is also giving away a free Voguard TWS and a DITO SIM Card for purchases of the vivo Y35 from their official online stores.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and vivo Philippines.

Hands-On

Leica virgin? Try the Xiaomi 13T Pro

Cameras powered by Leica

Published

September 26, 2023

Rodneil Quiteles

Xiaomi is going all in on their partnership with Leica making it the headliner even in the “T” editions of their flagships. The company is flexing it even more with the Xiaomi 13T Pro and the Xiaomi 13T.

The extra push is warranted. Just ask my colleague Vincenz who has refused to let go of the Xiaomi 13 ever since being handed the unit for review. Even myself was enamored with the photo-taking capabilities of the flagship released earlier this year. The thing made me look like a pro when I took it around Barcelona.

The Xiaomi 13T Pro isn’t that much different. You still get to choose between Leica Authentic or Leica Vibrant when you first launch the camera app. Don’t fret though as the choice isn’t final. You can easily toggle the selection by tapping on the upper-right area of the screen when using the camera app.

You also get the Leica custom photographic styles that add so much character to your shots when used appropriately. There’s plenty to choose from with the Leica BW NAT, F-50, and Gold Vibes being some of my personal favorites.

But talk is cheap. So, enjoy some of these photos taken over the past few days.

Leica Authentic

Filtered

Portraits

Photo-taking experience

You don’t have to think much when using the Xiaomi 13T Pro to take photos. Even after just a few days with it, I can say it delivers some of the best photos from the many smartphones I’ve tried this year.

It makes things easy too. The color science applied by Xiaomi and Leica does a lot of the heavy lifting. All you have to do is to learn how to compose better shots and you’ll look almost like a pro in no time.

Incredibly smooth

One of the first things I noticed when I started using the Xiaomi 13T Pro is how incredibly smooth the display is. The 144Hz refresh rate on paper delivers without fail. It’s super evident especially since I’ve been splitting my time between this and another smartphone. Although, to be fair, that one’s an upper mid-ranger that doesn’t have this high of a refresh rate.

It makes doom scrolling feel extra fine. Yes, the world is burning on the Internet but hey, you’re seeing it through a Full HD AMOLED Display that slides effortlessly each time you scroll. It’s all good. I guess.

I also watched my fair share of short videos on this thing. Particularly, some fancams from TWICE’s Ready To Be Tour that happened over the weekend in Bangkok. I’ve yet to watch any HDR-capable content, but I can say the general viewing experience is enjoyable. It helps that the speakers aren’t too shabby either. The sound is clean and does not distort even when pushed to maximum.

The audio was enjoyable too when listening to my favorite tracks. One night I put Yena’s “Love War” on repeat and I was jamming to it until I fell asleep. I also listened to some of my favorite hoop podcasts on the Xiaomi 13T Pro. And well, no complaints here. I got my NBA fix through The Lowe Post and The Hoop Collective all while playing them on the phone.

Battery and charging

It’s only been a few days so I can’t say anything definitive here. Plus, my usage varied so much and I haven’t been keeping track of it completely. I can say I felt the 5,000mAh capacity drained faster than I expected, especially after a night of intense doom scrolling.

However, topping it up was fast and easy. With 32% left, I watched a couple of anime episodes on TV and found the thing already fully charged after.

Between upper-midrange and flagship build

The unit we have in particular is the Meadow Green that has a glossy finish. And while it’s slightly heavier than its Alpine Blue sibling, it still felt so much lighter than what I’m used to using. For context, I rock an iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and HONOR Magic5 Pro when I’m not reviewing a smartphone.

I’m personally not a fan of the glossy finish and that’s a fact for any smartphone. It’s not completely a smudge magnet but you’re probably better off using a case with this one. I’ve been rocking it in its birthday suit since it feels tough enough on its own. But if you’re forking out your hard earned cash on a smartphone, my general advice is to always use protection.

Experience Leica

The main draw of the Xiaomi 13T Pro, without a doubt, is how it lets you experience a Leica camera without it costing you an arm and a leg. We all know how expensive Leica cameras are but Xiaomi is giving you the chance to experience it at a fraction of the cost. Now, I’m not saying you get the exact same photo quality. But output-wise, this is about as close as you’re going to get.

Elsewhere, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is also a winner. The silky smooth display catches your attention immediately, and its general size and overall build makes you feel secure. You just have this peace of mind that what you’re holding is made with care and won’t break easily. There’s also something about it that’s hard to describe or quantify. You just know, you’re using a device that’s better than most.

Xiaomi 13T Pro Specs

Display — 6.67″ FHD CrystalRes AMOLED display. Up to 144Hz refresh rate, Pro HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Processor — MediaTek Dimensity 9200+
RAM+ Storage — 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB, 16GB+1TB
Battery and Charging — 5,000mAh, Xiaomi 120W HyperCharge
OS — MIUI 14 based on Android 13
Connectivity — Dual SIM, Wi-Fi7, NFC9, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G
Cameras:

LEICA VARIO-SUMMICRON 1:1.9-2.2/15-50mm ASPH.

24mm Leica main camera

50MP wide angle camera
1/1.28” sensor size
1.22μm pixel size, 2.44μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel
f/1.9, 7P aspherical lens, OIS
Supports HDR10+ video recording for up to 4K at 30fps
Supports 8K video recording at 24fps
10-bit LOG video recording, supports LUT import

50mm Leica telephoto camera

50MP
f/1.9, 5P aspherical lens

15mm Leica ultra-wide camera

12MP
f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens

20MP front camera

f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens
Night mode
Portrait mode
HDR

Price and availability

The Xiaomi 13T Pro retails for PhP 37,999 for the 12GB+512GB variant and PhP 39,999 for the 16GB+1TB variant.

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!