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Xiaomi Buds 3 series: Price and availability in the Philippines

Immersive beats at a cut-rate price tag

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Xiaomi’s latest wearables finally arrived in the Philippines. The tech giant brings in the Xiaomi Buds 3 and the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro.

Studio-level sound, ANC

Unlike its previous pair of wireless earbuds, Xiaomi puts the focus on studio-level sound through its latest devices. The Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro sports a 10mm dual-magnet dynamic driver with sectional DLC coating, as well as support for LHDC 4.0 audio codec.

The Xiaomi Buds 3, on the other hand, features an ultra-dynamic dual-magnetic driver unit designed to deliver audio output with detailing at every level.

Both pairs offer up to 40dB hybrid active noise cancellation. They also come with three ANC modes with the option to choose Adaptive Mode to let the earbuds adjust automatically based on the ambient noise level. Furthermore, both devices come with an IP55 certification.

Xiaomi Buds 3

Dimensional audio, long-lasting connection

The Xiaomi Buds 3 series sports a next-generation Dimensional audio feature, creating a 360-degree soundscape to reproduce an audio experience similar to theaters. Each individual sound detail retains its position when set to Track Head Movement mode. It’s comfortably fit and secure, so it’s easier to enjoy a 3D experience even when you move your head.

Battery-wise, the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro power up to 6 hours of playback on one charge and 24 hours with the case. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi Buds 3 can be used for up to 7 hours with a single charge or 32 hours when used with the charging case.

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro

Price and availability

The Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro will retail at PhP 6,999 while the Xiaomi Buds 3 is available for PhP 4,999.

Get discounts and freebies on Xiaomi’s official online stores from March 24 to 25 on Shopee and March 27 to 28 on Lazada. The Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro will be selling for only PhP 5,999. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Buds 3 is also discounted at PhP 3,999.

Both devices will come with a free Xiaomi Sports Fanny Pack. Shop the Xiaomi Buds 3 or the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro.

News

OPPO Find X9 series are now live in China

Global launch to follow on October 28

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Just days after vivo’s widely-anticipated X300 series, its sister brand OPPO releases the Find X9 series. It’s their latest line of flagships for 2025.

Flagship Find

The OPPO Find X9 and Find X9 Pro are the next line of smartphones equipped with MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9500 SoC based on a powerful and power-efficient 3nm process.

Much like its closest cousins, the base and Pro models of the Find X9 differ in certain aspects.

First and foremost, the Pro has the bigger 6.78-inch display. Meanwhile, the vanilla variant has a “more compact” 6.59-inch.

OPPO says though that both units boast an ultra-thin 1.15mm symmetrical bezels on all sides.

Moreover, battery capacities are also different.

The Find X9 has 7025mAh while the Find X9 Pro possess a larger 7500mAh battery.

These phones are expected to run the all-new ColorOS 16 with primary focus on silky-smooth animation, as well as smarter AI feats, seamless connectivity between PCs, Macs, and other accessories, as well as band overall user experience.

Hasselblad Legacy

Different from what OnePlus is doing, OPPO continues to strengthen its partnership with the renowned Swedish camera-maker Hasselblad.

With this continuous collaboration, both the Find X9 and X9 Pro feature the Hasselblad Camera System alongside OPPO’s all-new LUMO Image Engine.

Furthermore, the Find X9 Pro offers a 200MP telephoto camera co-developed with Hasselblad — both in sensor calibration and optical design.

Additionally, these Find models also deliver exceptional video capabilities with up to 4K / 120fps Dolby Vision support as well as LOG recording with ACES support for that seamless and professional workflow.

The Find X9 series are also concert-ready with cutting-edge telephoto optimizations such as Stage Mode and AI Sound Focus.

Pricing and Availability

The OPPO Find X9 are available in three colorways: Titanium Grey, Space Black, and Velvet Red.

Meanwhile, the Find X9 Pro is being offered in two shades: Silk White and Titanium Charcoal.

In line with the China-exclusive launch, the announcement of the Find X9 series slated for global markets will be held in Barcelona, Spain on October 28th.

Mark your calendars!

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Accessories

Samsung launched a charger that’s incompatible with all its phones

None of their phones have built-in Qi2 magnets.

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In the world of wireless charging, Qi2 is where it’s at. The newer magnetic system automatically aligns the phone with the best positions to charge wirelessly. That said, it’s taking a while for most smartphones to get the charging standard. In an odder twist, Samsung, who does not currently have any native Qi2 devices, has launched its own Qi2 chargers.

In the United States, Samsung rolled out the Qi2-compatible Single Wireless Charger and Car Wireless Charger. As both their names indicate, the chargers will allow for wireless charging in a variety of situations.

Retailing for US$ 34.99, the single puck can charge by up to 25W when paired with a charging adapter (sold separately). The car charger, on the other hand, comes with its own 12V car adapter and a rotating mount. It’s very pricy, coming in at US$ 84.99.

Now, the kicker is that the chargers are compatible with Samsung’s current flagships including the Galaxy S25, the Flip7, and the Fold7. Technically, yes, these smartphones can charge using this duo. However, none of them have the built-in magnets to natively connect to the pucks. They need a separate case with a Qi2-certified magnet included.

It seems pretty scummy to offer a Qi2 charger for smartphones without the magnets built inside. On the bright side, it’s a good sign that Samsung’s upcoming smartphones, starting with the Galaxy S26 early next year, will likely offer Qi2 charging natively. (At least, we hope. Otherwise, this might be the priciest charger in recent memory.)

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review: Closer to flagship than ever

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Apps

ChatGPT will soon allow NSFW conversations

The platform will start age-gating users in December.

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Every day, we inch closer and closer to the strange reality of Joaquin Phoenix’s Her. Today’s AI-powered chatbots have inevitably adapted to address our more carnal desires. Some, such as those offered by xAI, are even explicitly designed to only flirt with the user. Soon, ChatGPT will offer the same thing: a way for adult users to… well, be adults.

Through a post on X, OpenAI’s Sam Altman reiterated ChatGPT’s impending drive to introduce age-gating in December. Keeping younger users from the platform will open ChatGPT to more “mature” conversations. Altman specifically names “erotica” as one of the potential uses of a looser platform.

Additionally, ChatGPT is rolling out an update which will make the platform more personable and comparable to actual conversations. This includes using more emojis or talking like a friend.

The platform is also adding more safeguards when it comes to mental health issues, given that more people are using it as a makeshift therapist. Recently, Altman made sure that ChatGPT treated mental health with more delicateness. To some, especially those without such issues, the platform became more unusable. To bring back how it used to be, the platform will add better tools to detect whether the user is in “mental distress.”

Finally, OpenAI is implementing a backend solution to mental health by creating a new council of researchers and experts to accurately determine the impact of AI on mental health. Currently, it’s still unknown how much this new technology is helping (or harming) our wellbeing.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT Go now available in the Philippines, more Asian countries

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