News
Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi Pad 8 series price, availability in PH
Xiaomi’s latest flagship devices have arrived
Xiaomi has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone series, the Xiaomi 17, in the Philippines. The lineup consists of two models: the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
Customers can get the Xiaomi 17 in four color options: Alpine Pink, Ice Blue, Venture Green, and Black. The base model is available via Lazada, Shopee, and Xiaomi authorized stores for the following prices:
- 12GB+256GB: PhP 49,999 (from 53,999) until March 19
- 12GB+512GB: PhP 53,999 (from 55,999) until March 19
Early purchases also come with the following perks:
- Up to PhP 4,000 off on Shopee
- Up to PhP 2,000 off on Lazada
- Free Xiaomi Watch S4 41mm worth PhP 7,799
- Chance to win a Leica Q3 worth PhP417,000 (only one entry per customer per purchase)
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is available at PhP 84,999 for the 16GB+512GB configuration. That’s a generous reduction from its base price of PhP 99,999.
Exclusive Shopee online perks until March 19 include:
- Free Xiaomi Watch 5 worth PhP 18,999
- Free Xiaomi Photography Kit
- Raffle entry to win Leica Q3
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features an outstanding camera system, making it one of the best camera-focused flagships available now.
It comes with a 50MP f/1.67 main Leica Optical Summilux high-speed lens, with a large 1-inch sensor size.
This camera is complemented by a 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera and a 200MP f/2.39~2.96 telephoto camera with 3.2x~4.3x continuous optical zoom. The latter uses a 1/1.4-inch Samsung ISOCELL sensor.
The Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and has a large 6.9-inch 120Hz 2k display.
For a comprehensive review, read here: Forget the Phone: Xiaomi 17 Ultra Is A CAMERA!
On the other hand, the Xiaomi 17 has a more compact 6.3-inch design, Leica triple cameras, a 6,330mAh battery with support for 100W charging, and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
Xiaomi Pad 8 series
In addition to Xiaomi’s latest flagships, the company has also launched its latest premium tablet locally.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 series is now available in the Pad 8 and Pad 8 Pro variants. Both come in Pine Green, Gray, and Blue color options. Exclusive pre-order bundles are available until March 26:
- Pad 8 Pro: PhP 36,999 (from 38,999) with Touch Keyboard, free Focus Pen Pro
- Pad 8: PhP 27,999 (from 29,999) with Normal Keyboard, free Focus Pen Pro
In addition, there is also a Matte Glass version available from PhP 45,999.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 has an 11.2-inch 144Hz IPS LCD display with ample 3.2K resolution, 345ppi pixel density, and 800 nits peak brightness.
It comes in a lightweight body at 485 grams, and is even thinner than its predecessor at 5.75mm. The slate is also equipped with a 9,200mAh battery for longer use.
Professional workflows are likewise supported with integrated WPS Office PC.
Meanwhile, the Pad 8 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite. It even has a 50MP rear camera, 32MP front camera, and up to 512GB of storage, as well as 67W HyperCharge.
For the full review, read here: Xiaomi Pad 8 review: Slab that slaps!
Just a month after its Mainland China release, Xiaomi reveals the refreshed REDMI Note 17 and Note 17 Pro series for global markets.
Boosted all around
REDMI is giving the Note 17 series a major endurance boost!
The headliner is none other than REDMI Note 17 Pro Max with its monstrous 10,000mAh battery capacity — or 9210mAh for other regions.
That’s followed by the REDMI Note 17 Pro with a 8,340mAh battery. For context, the 15 Pro+ and 15 Pro models only had 6500+mAh batteries.
The 5G and 4G versions of the REDMI Note 17 weren’t left behind as well with their 7700mAh tanks. These two base models rely on Xiaomi’s 45W Turbo charging.
On the other hand, the REDMI Note 17 Pro features a speedier 67W HyperCharge while the Note 17 Pro Max has the fastest of ’em all at 100W HyperCharge.
All models support 22.5W wired reverse charging.
More than just big batteries
The REDMI Note 17 Pro and Pro Max both rock a 6.83-inch 1.5K CrystalRes 1.5K AMOLED display. They also feature up to 3,500 nits peak brightness, 12-bit color depth.
Meanwhile, the REDMI Note 17 5G and Note 17 4G share the same 6.99-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen.
More display feats include a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, plus instantaneous touch sampling reaching 3200Hz — as long as you enable Game Turbo.
The base Note 17 models share the same camera system: 50MP f/1.8 main plus 16MP f/2.5 selfie camera. The Pro series also possess a similar rear camera system: 50MP f/1.8 + 8MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide Angle (UWA).
Selfie shooters are different though. 16MP f/2.4 for the Pro model while a larger and brighter 32MP f/2.2 for the Pro Max.
Furthermore, each models differ a lot based on what’s in their cores:
| REDMI Note 17 Pro Max | REDMI Note 17 Pro | REDMI Note 17 5G | REDMI Note 17 4G |
| Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 | Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 | Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 |
| LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.1 or 2.2 storage | LPDDR4X memory + UFS 3.1 or 2.2 storage | LPDDR4X memory + UFS 2.2 storage | LPDDR4X memory + UFS 2.2 storage |
| 8+128GB 8+256GB 8+512GB 12+256GB |
6+128GB 6+256GB 8+256GB 8+512GB 12+256GB |
6+128GB 6+256GB 8+256GB |
4+128GB 4+256GB 6+128GB 6+256GB 8+256GB |
| 10,001mAh / 9210mAh 100W HyperCharge |
8340mAh 67W HyperCharge |
7700mAh 45W Turbo Charge |
7700mAh 45W Turbo Charge |
All phones ship with Xiaomi HyperOS 3. Other than Google’s Gemini and Circle to Search, Xiaomi’s built-in AI Creativity Assistant.
However, the Note 17 Pro Max takes it up a notch with Xiaomi HyperAI features:
- AI Writing
- AI Interpreter
- AI Speech Recognition
- AI Dynamic Wallpapers and more
Built to take a beating
Both models of the REDMI Note 17 Pro series boast the reinforced Titan Structure for utmost durability. Moreover, they bear multiple IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. Certified resistance to immersion of up to 2 meters for 72 hours.
REDMI also claims certified drop resistance of up to 3 meters onto granite surfaces.
It doesn’t stop there. The Pro displays are protected by the flagship-grade Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Eye safety wasn’t compromised too with its 3840Hz PWM dimming. Even so, it brags three TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue light, flicker-free, and circadian-friendly use cases.
Wet Touch Technology 2.0 also allows the display to remain responsive when used with wet, oily, foamy, or even sweaty fingers.
Lastly, the base REDMI Note 17 models are limited to IP65 rating. They also have dedicated microSD card slots that the Pro models lack.
Pricing and Availability
The base pricing and color options of the REDMI Note 17 series are as follows:
REDMI Note 17 Pro Max
- starts at US$ 499
- Cloud Blush, Green, Purple, Black colorways
REDMI Note 17 Pro
- starts at US$ 399
- Sky Blue, Satin Orange, Purple, Black colorways
REDMI Note 17 5G
- starts at US$ 299
- Celestial Purple, Sky Teal, Black colorways
REDMI Note 17 4G
- starts at US$ 249
- Celestial Purple, Sky Teal, Black colorways
Additionally, prospective buyers of the REDMI Note 17 Series in eligible markets will enjoy several benefits at no extra cost:
- 6-month trial / Google One + 200GB cloud storage
- 2-month trial / YouTube Premium
- 3-month trail / Spotify Premium
Gaming
Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panels help demos at gamescom 2026
Hundreds of gaming monitors feature company’s QD-OLED panels
Samsung Display is showcasing the gaming performance advantages of QD-OLED at gamescom 2026 through hundreds of monitors helping with playable demos.
Samsung Display partnered with CAPCOM, KRAFTON, and CD PROJEKT RED, with their highly anticipated titles being showcased at gamescom 2026 (August 26 to 30, Cologne, Germany) on several gaming monitors featuring Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panels.
This demonstrates the outstanding picture quality of QD-OLED to gamers from around the world.
In addition, the company has announced that it will begin the mass production of 24.5-inch QD-OLED panels optimized for eSports and FPS games by the end of the year.
At CAPCOM’s booth, visitors can get a hands-on experience with the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen.
Other playable titles include PRAGMATA, Street Fighter 6, and Mega Man: Dual Override.
Samsung Display is supplying a total of 90 QD-OLED gaming monitors, including the EVNIA 32MN8900, GIGABYTE MO32U24 and MSI MAG 321UP QD-OLED X24, for the hands-on gameplay.
Meanwhile, KRAFTON will showcase three of its five upcoming titles on 85 Alienware QD-OLED gaming monitors.
Visitors will have the opportunity to preview the multi-team tactical arena game Project ZETA, two-player coop AG Twisters, and the action RPG TARAE: The Unbound.
Lastly, at the CD PROJEKT RED booth, a trailer for Songs of the Past, the third expansion pack for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be shown on eight QD-OLED TVs.
Visitors can also watch gameplay demonstrations on monitors equipped with similar displays. This gives Samsung Display the chance to highlight the QD-OLED Penta Tandem technology.
News
Facebook, Instagram gets away with $18 billion fine for being too addictive for kids
However, Meta is changing some policies regarding teenage use.
Are Facebook and Instagram too addictive for children and teenagers? That’s a question that the United States wants Meta to answer. The answer, however, comes in the form of a US$ 18 billion fine and changes to how teenagers can use the platforms.
Recently, Meta found itself in a pool of hot water over how addictive their platforms are for younger users. The government alleges that the company incentivizes a teenager’s prolonged usage and collects their data without their consent.
After some deliberation, Meta has agreed to the US$ 18 billion settlement and policy changes for younger users, pending the court’s agreement, of course.
Besides the hefty (but ultimately insignificant for the multi-billion dollar company) fine, Meta will impose stricter limits on teenage use. For example, teenagers can now use the platforms for only up to two hours per day. Meta will also block usage between midnight to 6AM. Parents can still manually change these limits. The platforms are also blocking notifications for younger users at night and during school hours.
Meta says that they’ll increase these limits to only one hour per day and a block from 10PM to 7AM, if rival platforms like YouTube and TikTok follow in their footsteps. They will also withhold 30 percent of the fine, unless these same platforms agree to the limits.
Most notably, Meta is starting a new “non-algorithmic” feed for teenagers which limits what they see only to accounts that they actually follow. This prevents the algorithm from sinking them into an endless doom-scrolling loop. Honestly, we wish that this “feature,” which is already what Meta was years before, comes to all users, too.
Though these measures are a welcome change to combat addiction, it’s only the tip of the iceberg on what Facebook and Instagram can change for the better. One can hope that this settlement will lead to more changes in the future.
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