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Reviews

Xiaomi 11T review: Better than expected

The vanilla variant surprised us!

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Xiaomi is back with another round of smartphones, bringing the 11T series but without the usual “Mi” branding. All eyes are on the Xiaomi 11T Pro for a multitude of reasons. 120W HyperCharge technology, pro-grade lens for 8K recording, and a Snapdragon 888 processor.

Although, that might be too much for some people. The next best option is the vanilla and toned-down Xiaomi 11T. But is it any good like its promise?

Design

The Xiaomi 11T looks like the Xiaomi 11T Pro. You won’t really notice the difference until you see the Harman/Kardon signature on the Pro variant.

Xiaomi 11T

Despite the glaring similarities, the Xiaomi 11T looks and feels sophisticated. At a glance, it looks like a shiny phone, especially the Meteorite Gray colorway. But the devil is in the details. Underneath the glass coating, you’ll see a brushed metal texture when you peruse it up close. The refinement certainly added personality to an otherwise lackluster rear design.

Xiaomi 11T

The Xiaomi 11T’s top, right, and bottom sides house essential features you’ll need from a smartphone. A SIM card tray, microphone, USB-C port, speaker grilles, volume rockers, a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner, and an IR blaster.

Xiaomi 11T

The camera placement seemed smooth and subtle with its curves, looking thinner than most cutouts on several smartphones released this year. Lenses are symmetrically arranged, blending easily with the phone’s design.

Xiaomi 11T

Moreover, the back has a curved design for ergonomic reasons. It’s easier to grip, and the phone offers the right amount of heft whenever you carry or hold it.

Display

Sure, the Xiaomi 11T has a curved back design. But up front, it has a 6.67-inch flat FHD+ AMOLED display. It’s something I’ve been enjoying nowadays since I don’t have to worry about my fingers sliding on a curved screen, accidentally swiping and/or opening up apps, windows, and notifications.

Xiaomi 11T

For visual experiences, the Xiaomi 11T is quite a treat. It’s not the best display, but casual users opting for the vanilla variant might enjoy watching and playing on the Xiaomi 11T. The AMOLED display surely helped showcase better colors, contrast, and better dynamic range as compared to its predecessor.

Moreover, those who rave for higher refresh rates will be thrilled to find a 120Hz refresh rate on the Xiaomi 11T. The faster refresh rate will do wonders whether you’re switching between apps, scrolling through social media, or while playing graphics-intensive games.

Xiaomi 11T

My only issue, despite having an AMOLED display, is the sunlight legibility for the Xiaomi 11T. Despite having 800 to 1000 nits, I was struggling to look at the screen especially when taking photos on a sunny day.

It was difficult to appreciate the affirmations I wrote on the customizable Always-On display when you need to squint your eyes a little to read it.

Performance

On paper, the Xiaomi 11T might be a downer. Especially for people who are used to Snapdragon’s buttery-smooth performance. Fret not, Mediatek’s Dimensity 1200 still proved to be enough for the vanilla variant.

I was able to play Sprite Fantasia, a graphics-intensive mobile game, without overheating. It was able to keep it cool even if I was playing for an hour.

Xiaomi 11T

The unit I have runs on MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 and has a configuration of 8GB RAM with 128GB of internal storage. If you need more, there’s a 256GB option.

Frankly, I’m still in disbelief with how smooth everything was. I’m one of the people who always preferred Snapdragon as a processor because the chipset never failed me and my smartphone experience.

Mediatek is changing the way I think and feel about their Dimensity chipsets. The same experience can be found in my review on the vivo X70, which sports the Dimensity 1200 as well.

Xiaomi 11T

Battery

The Xiaomi 11T may not have 120W HyperCharge, but it’s still capable of 67W wired charging. For most smartphones in the same bracket, Xiaomi’s charging technology is still faster. In less than an hour, I was able to fill its juice to 100 percent, starting from 14 percent.

Battery consumption is also better than most midrange smartphones, draining slowly whether on standby or constant usage. Staying connected all day, catching up with your tasks via email, notes, and other productivity tools, and occasional entertainment can deplete the battery throughout the day.

Xiaomi 11T

I recently went out on a hundred percent battery at 9 in the morning and went home with a 15 percent battery at 10 in the evening.

On standby mode, the Xiaomi 11T lasts longer than expected. It was a Saturday when I took the Xiaomi 11T and the vivo X70 out on my indoor climbing session. I was taking photos to compare which one looks better, and after my exhilarating activity, I passed out.

I left the phones on my tote bag on standby with no Wi-Fi starting from Saturday until Wednesday. As expected, the vivo X70 is dead while the Xiaomi 11T still has 26 percent battery left.

Xiaomi 11T

Cameras

The Xiaomi 11T carries a triple camera setup on its rear: a 108-megapixel wide camera, a 5-megapixel telemacro, and an 8-megapixel 120° ultra-wide lens.

Xiaomi 11T

What I like the most about its rear cameras is the consistency of color accuracy and reproduction whether you use different lenses.

It depicts the scenarios perfectly and balances out the image during the processing for proper portrayal. I didn’t have overexposed photos or came out with blown highlights. Photos aren’t vibrant either, producing real-life-like outputs.

Some people wouldn’t prefer this since the photos might look desaturated, but that’s the result of smartphones constantly producing vibrant and saturated processed results.

The same goes for the 108-megapixel shots.

Selfies, on another note, used less beautification. It’s closer to real life, which I had mixed feelings for. I used to like how Xiaomi pads a little beautification that doesn’t make me look like a Ken Doll — keeping scars and wrinkles throughout my selfies without looking like I just got out of bed or life threw me a curve ball.

This time around, I need to pay attention to how I really look and learn how to not rely on a selfie camera’s processing. If I look weary, I can’t use my smartphone to fake it. That might be a good behavior to fix.

On the other hand, portraits that were taken using both the front and rear camera still have a long way to go like most midrange smartphones.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The Xiaomi 11T surprised us when it did wonders for a vanilla smartphone. Most smartphone lineups focus on their Pro variants since their headliners got almost everything you could possibly want out of a smartphone. But not most people want the best, the brightest, or the most feature-packed.

Xiaomi 11T

Sometimes, what people want is a smartphone that can accompany them in their daily lives. Possibly help out with everyday tasks, offer an avenue for self-expression, a tool for unwinding, and capture great life moments. And the Xiaomi 11T did so.

I had really low expectations for most base variants, but for a midrange smartphone, the Xiaomi 11T is really better than expected. It’s packaged with power blended with graceful beauty that might seem too much for a casual user, but enough to use for their everyday, modern life.

Price and availability

Xiaomi 11T

The Xiaomi 11T retails for PhP 21,990 for the 8GB/128GB configuration. For higher storage, the 8GB/256GB configuration costs PhP 24,990. There are three colors to choose from: Meteorite Gray, Moonlight White, and Celestial Blue.

Starting October 30, 2021, every purchase of the Xiaomi 11T entitles buyers to a free Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic. Xiaomi Philippines will also have an open sale on the same date where buyers of the Xiaomi 11T and Xiaomi 11T Pro will get a free Xiaomi 11T Series Edition Bluetooth Speaker worth PhP 3,250.

Xiaomi 11T

Meanwhile, the Official Xiaomi Philippines Shopee store will also be including a free Mi Robot Vacuum and eco bag with every purchase of the Xiaomi 11T. Each purchase of the device comes with a 1+1 year limited warranty and free screen replacement within six months.

Reviews

realme 12 5G review: It was enchanting to meet you

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realme 12 5G

Just when we thought the Midnights’ era was over and the clock’s hands are now pointing to the tortured poets, a ‘Lavender Haze’ has arrived in the midrange smartphone department of the Philippines.

The realme 12 5G is here, and dang, does it look magical!

Just over a month after the official release of the realme 12 series, a new younger sibling just arrived, dead set on satisfying a niche that wants a competitive mobile device but has arguably smaller pockets.

You showed me colors you know I can’t see in anyone else

realme 12 5G

Right off the bat, the realme 12 5G is nothing short of stunning. The unit I have is in Twilight Purple, and believe me when I say that it’s a feast for the eyes. The other color variant of the phone is Woodland Green and its deep green hues will certainly win many hearts as well. 

Despite not having the vegan leather of its older siblings, the realme 12 5G still has the ability to turn heads and serve the borahae aesthetic which a lot of people (count me in!) like.

The camera layout of the realme 12 5G is a visual language we’re familiar with all too well. The luxury watch design is something I will always be a fan of. I really admire smartphone brands that create their own visual identity rather than those who take the easy route of copying a certain bitten fruit brand.

However, I must say that the metal frame of the realme 12 5G is a certified fingerprint magnet. But if you’re like part of the, say, 99% of the population who use smartphone cases, the free clear case that comes straight out of the box is an easy fix. That’s another episode of android-smartphones’-generosity-saves-the-day! 

It is also an important thing to note that while I really love the big camera design of the realme 12 5G, it can be bothersome when using the phone in landscape orientation. My fingers are naturally covering/touching the cameras. While it’s not that uncomfortable, you might have to wipe the lenses much more than you think you should.

The ports and buttons are pretty generic for the most part. The volume controls and power buttons are sitting on the right, the USB-C port, stereo speakers, and the 3.5mm headphone jack (yes, a headphone jack in 2024? I know, right!)  are on the bottom. realme, however, stepped up the game through the power button because it does not only double as a fingerprint scanner, it also allows custom shortcuts by double-tapping or double-pressing. This feature is called the dynamic button.

A display made for ‘Islang Pantropiko’ (Tropical Island)

realme 12 5G

BINI Jhoanna 🥰

Rocking a 6.72 FHD+ LTPS LCD display that supports a screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz is another impressive feature the realme 12 5G boasts under its purple sleeves. With a screen-to-body ratio of 91.4% and a camera punch hole that effortlessly blends with the display, an immersive experience is guaranteed.

The image looks sharp, the colors are vivid, and scrolling on this device is a breeze. Although, I would have loved it more if the bezels are thinner or at least, proportionally distributed but again, that’s just me being a true-blooded Virgo.

But that’s not where the display admiration ends. The realme 12 5G also supports up to 800 nits of screen brightness. It can go further to 950 nits when the ‘Extra Brightness’ mode found on the display settings is toggled on. 

This makes the display easily viewable even outdoors. That’s especially true during these ‘Islang Pantropiko’ summer weather when the sun’s scorching heat is not that forgiving to smartphones with dim displays.

The cameras: Do I love it? Do I hate it? I guess it’s up and down!

I would like to be very honest, I initially wanted to name this portion of the review as “The tortured camera department” but I feel like that would not be accurate of what I really feel towards the shooters of the realme 12 5G.

The smartphone sports three cameras in total. At the back lies the 108MP main camera that supports 3X zoom and a 2MP portrait camera. Meanwhile, the 8MP AI selfie camera resides on the front panel.

The quality of the photos produced by the realme 12 5G is a hit or miss for me. There are times when I really feel like it’s doing a great job but there are also times when I just feel like it could have done so much better. Take a look at these sample photos.

Photos taken in broad daylight look pretty good. The colors are vivid and the sharpness is on point. The only thing I can complain about is the dynamic range which, on some conditions, can look underwhelming or too processed for my liking.

 

 

 

Despite the not so accurate edge detection, portrait shots of the realme 12 5G can produce decent outputs. However, I highly suggest using the 1X option rather than the 3X one for a natural looking and overall better quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The High Res mode dedicated to capture 108MP photos doesn’t really pose that much of a difference. Sure, the photos may appear a tad but brighter but when looking closely, the highlights are overexposed. 

Not just that, photos taken using the High Res mode generate massive files. I even took a single photo that is over 90MB in size.

The 3X zoom seems underperforming and inconsistent as well. The photos can look good and usable one time but frequently, it just appears oversharpened and heavily processed. The colors can be too saturated as well.

Low light photos taken using the realme 12 5G is also another yin and yang for me. When there is enough light, it can produce really impressive results but it can also struggle during the darker times when you feel like you really need it to perform as intended.

 

As for the selfies, I can say that I am quite happy with the phone’s performance. It may not be flagship level but it won’t let you down in your “me” moments.

The video is limited to 1080p at 30FPS for both the rear and front-facing cameras. I do believe that there’s some sort of EIS for the rear camera but the quality is nowhere near amazing.

So long, realme

realme 12 5G

One thing I really love about the midrange Android market is despite the competition price point, companies are really generous when it comes to battery and charging speeds. realme 12 5G is not an exception.

Packed with 5000mAh battery that supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging, quick battery drain and slow charging speed are a thing of the past. Being a heavy social media user, the realme 12 5G lasted me a whole day of use with a few more juice left before I reached out for its charger. 

realme promises a 0-100% of charge in just 83 minutes. True to its claims, I was able to charge the phone from 20% to full in just 72 minutes. Impressive is an understatement.

You need to calm down, you’re being too loud

realme 12 5G

The realme 12 5G’s dual stereo speaker also has a feature called the Ultra Volume Mode that allows you to push up the volume level up to 200%. While it’s not necessarily bad, I find the audio quality to be a little bit harsh-edged and crunchy. 

The bass is really lacking as well to the point that it kinda affects my music time with my current favorite bubble gum P-pop songs. The normal volume, albeit a little bit better, is not really an entirely different story. This just goes to show that just because it’s loud, doesn’t mean it’s a great speaker.

I think there’s been a glitch…or two?

realme 12 5G

Moving forward to speed talks, the realme 12 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6100+. Basic operations like browsing on social media is an easy feat for realme’s newest midrange device. Even multitasking seems smooth on this device, switching back and forth between apps hasn’t really been an issue on my end. 

It does reload some apps, mostly games, when reopening them but I feel like that’s pretty normal for midrange android devices.

The gaming experience, however, is kind of underwhelming. When playing Roblox even on automatic graphics quality, I still experienced a considerably significant amount of frame drops. That became more frequent when I dialed up the graphics settings to maximum quality. 

Surprisingly, I didn’t notice any frame drop when I played Asphalt 9 on default graphics settings and only a few occurred when I modified the settings to the highest graphics quality and 60FPS option. 

As for the device’s temperature, the realme 12 5G may warm up during heavy use over an extended period, but it remains comfortable to hold. A brief rest allows the phone to cool down quickly.

You’ve got some tricks up your sleeves 

realme 12 5G

Another thing that makes the realme 12 5G so interesting is the special features that come with it. Even though some of them can be viewed as plain gimmicks, some could be really useful. For example, the mini capsule 2.0 as realme likes to call it  is an animation feature that is quite similar to Apple’s dynamic island, is nowhere near impressive and does not really improve the phone’s functions in any way.  

realme 12 5G

On the other hand, the Snap Cards feature of the device which allows you to use your phone to store RFIDs by scanning the actual RFIDs could be a game changer for some people. Imagine you forgot your work RFID that records your attendance but hey, your phone is there to save the day! I believe things like these are what makes the realme 12 5G a fun device to have inside your pocket.

Other features worth mentioning include RAM expansion, dynamic button, and extra brightness.

Final Thoughts

realme 12 5G

To sum everything up, the realme 12 5G offers a wide spectrum of features a lot of people will love. With its unique aesthetic and color options, impressive sunlight display, and long-lasting battery life, it offers a holistic and fun experience for its users. . The device’s ability to deliver decent photos is also worth keeping in mind.

Its performance, although not perfect, still provides a satisfying user experience. To top all that off, it also has special features under its belt. With its competitive pricing, I will definitely recommend the realme 12 5G for people who love aesthetics and value functionality but do not want to break the bank.

Pricing and Availability

The realme 12 5G is the least expensive offering among the realme 12 series. Priced at Php 14,999, the handset comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You may purchase the device and get freebies on realme’s TikTok shop until April 30. The realme 12 5G will also be available on realme’s official Shopee and Lazada store on May 5 to 10.

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Gaming

Stellar Blade review: Strenuous but Stylish

Alluring beyond visuals

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Stellar Blade

We didn’t have the best impression of Stellar Blade after spending time with the demo. Unlike certain players who poured a full game’s length of hours playing, our reception was lukewarm due to various reasons. But after finally having some time to focus on it, we now have a better understanding of its charm–and that goes beyond character design. 

The game’s director has been ever-present in various gaming and tech news websites sharing nuggets about the game and reacting to the many comments made about the proportions of its female characters. That’s a rabbit hole we’re not diving into. Instead, we’re piggy-backing on one of his responses: Just pick up a controller and play it. 

Steep combat learning curve

Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade’s combat didn’t click with us right away. But that’s because we approached it more like a hack-and-slash and not for the precise combo-parry sequence that it demands. A fellow reviewer aptly described our experience: It was a lot more “Soulslike” than we anticipated.

It took a while to get over that hurdle. For one, this writer isn’t particularly fond of Soulslikes. Skill issue. That’s tough considering a big part of this game’s charm is its combat. We can’t say that it fully clicked with us, but it certainly has its moments. 

In combat, you have to pay attention not only to your enemy but also to how the protagonist, Eve, acts in different combo animations. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself getting hit during a lull in your combo.

You don’t have to memorize every single combo, although if you could, that’s certainly an advantage. We can compare the practice to memorizing combos of characters in Tekken, although at a milder rate. 

Parrying is tricky but that’s not the only way to counter your enemies. One of the first skills you unlock is one that lets you get behind your enemy after they unleash a fatal attack (cued in with blue indicators) and hit back with your own counter. The animation looks so good that you’ll feel like an absolute badass every time you do it. It’s one of the moves that never got old throughout the entire playthrough. 

As you progress through the game you’ll unlock ranged weapons that will expand your combat capabilities further. Hard combat enthusiasts should have a field day. 

For more casual players, there’s no shame in switching to Story Mode which is what we did for about 70% of the playthrough. It’s easier, sure. But it can still present challenges especially during certain encounters. 

The boss battles are TOUGH

Stellar Blade

We’re going to chalk this up again to skill, and perhaps patience, issue. But Stellar Blade’s boss battles are incredibly tough. Not to the point that you’ll want to throw your DualSense controller though. 

What can make it frustrating is that the patterns of the enemies, especially the earlier bosses and mini-bosses, are easy to track. But they’re not exactly easy to deal with. 

Parrying becomes an even more critical skill in these encounters. It’s one of the reasons why we opted to slide down the difficulty. Otherwise, this writer will never finish the game. 

Pulling from different games, worlds 

Stellar Blade

 

We have seen many compare Stellar Blade to the Nier games. Other than the setting, another big contributing factor in that comparison is the soundtrack. 

During roaming, exploring, and combat, the music will change from time to time. However, they stick to this theme that’s a little eerie. It’s hard for us to describe but it’s almost like a crescendo that never quite swells up. It matches the game’s world perfectly — it feels hollow and devoid of life but still has a sliver of hope. 

Combat isn’t the only thing you’re doing here. While it’s mostly linear at first, Stellar Blade offers a healthy mix of exploration, platforming, and puzzle-solving. 

The puzzles don’t get in the way of the pacing. They’re quite engaging and offer a decent level of challenge. Roaming and exploration will yield you loot to improve your gear and stats. Occasionally, a Naytiba (the game’s primary foils) will surprise you for a good jumpscare moment. 

Stellar Blade doesn’t reinvent anything nor does it offer anything particularly new or groundbreaking. But everything it borrowed from other games is retrofitted to match the game’s vibe and overall aesthetic. The result is a polished experience of familiar gaming mechanics. 

Eve 

Stellar Blade

Another aspect that did not grab us as much during the demo is the main character, Eve. The first hour of the game doesn’t do much to endear the player to her. 

That slowly changes as you play through the game. Through a mix of cut scenes and world-building collectibles, you get a better sense of what Eve is, her mission, and ultimately her purpose. 

If you’re familiar with the animé Violet Evergarden, Eve and that show’s protagonist share a similar character arc. They initially seem one note and bland, but the layers are peeled back as you learn more about them and how they relate to the world and the people around them. 

 

Is she hot? Hell yeah. But as cliché as it is, she’s certainly more than what meets the eye. 

Should you play Stellar Blade

Unlike the PlayStation 5 exclusive that immediately preceded it, Stellar Blade has plenty in common with past PS5 exclusives — visually captivating, cinematic experiences, with satisfying gameplay. 

Its level of challenge is closer to Sekiro and Bloodborne but it’s also not quite as difficult. In the same category but certainly not in the same stratosphere. 

It also has an alluring charm that goes beyond its aesthetics. As mentioned earlier, nothing about it is particularly new or groundbreaking. But it’s polished and cohesive. There’s something about the overall feel of the game that draws you in and makes you want to see it through. 

Stellar Blade is a Day 1 purchase if you’re up for the challenge. And if you consider the game director’s goal of having a high quality AAA console game from South Korea which is dominated by PC and mobile gaming, we say they did just that. Now, it’s just up to us to pick-up the controller and play.

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Reviews

Challengers review: A thrilling drama wrapped as a tennis anime

Catch it in Ayala Cinemas starting April 24th

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Tennis is more than just hitting a ball really hard with a racquet. There are player tics, serving techniques, mind games, and, of course, drama off the court. Challengers, starring Zendaya, takes the entire game and turns it into a dramatic thriller worthy of Wimbledon.

In Challengers, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) is an aging tennis superstar desperate for one more big win. His wife Tashi (Zendaya), a retired tennis star in her own right, does everything to coach Art back to his winning ways. Opposite them is Patrick Zweig, a former-friend-turned-rival, facing Art in the final match of a Challenger.

As premises go, Challengers seemingly presents a straightforward sports drama. It’s a simple one-versus-one, after all. However, the film’s 2-hour-plus runtime hides a more complex drama.

The second-strangest ménage à trois in film

The film starts in media res: the first set of the final match. It doesn’t tell you who Art, Patrick, or Tashi is. It’s just a friendly match. There are, however, questions abound. Why is Zendaya’s character looking intently at one of the players? Why is the other player concerned that she is looking at his rival and not him? Who are these people?

Before you can ponder each question, the film takes you through multiple time jumps. The earliest (and longest) of which — thirteen years ago — sets up the story. Art and Patrick are two best friends and tennis prodigies teaming up to decimate the competition at their school. Everything changes when the two friends catch a match of another young prodigy, Tashi Duncan.

Both friends engage in a friendly competition to see who can successfully flirt with her. The sequence ends in the second-strangest ménage à trois committed to film. (To see the strangest one, catch Alfonso Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también, a clear inspiration to Challengers.)

The time jumps don’t end there. The story quickly volleys back and forth between different times in the past and the present, including years, months, weeks, and even hours ago. Sometimes, the skips result in the cinematic equivalent of whiplash from watching a tennis ball rapidly travel from left to right. But if you just follow the ball, it ends with one of the most thrilling, edge-of-your-seat dramas this year.

Blink and you’ll miss it

Despite how creative the time skips already are, Challengers shines with its subtler elements: the tiny movements, the tics that seasoned sports watchers can catch. Much like how a play-by-play commentator directs a viewer’s attention to what makes a player tick, the film subtly shows you elements of an even deeper story that it may or may not expound on.

Early on, Challengers shows a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene featuring Tashi’s knees. If you weren’t paying attention, you might have missed a scar from a surgical incision, hinting at why Tashi retired from the sport.

In that particular example, the film does dwell on it a bit in a past flashback. However, there are plot points that the film just drops on audiences with nary an explanation. For example, you might see telltale injection marks up Patrick’s wrist or a short-but-telling rehab session for Art. The film drops these nuggets only for the viewer to ponder. They’re short, but they paint a compelling picture to complement the action on the court.

It’s a tennis anime

In essence, Challengers is just about a tennis match between two emboldened competitors. However, like an anime battle that takes ten episodes to resolve, the film understands that the sport is not just about results: it’s about all the tiny movements, strategies, and dramas. If Wimbledon was this thrilling all the time, I should probably tune in a lot more.

Challengers shows exclusively in Ayala Cinemas starting April 24th.

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