News

Xiaomi Mi 6 has Galaxy S8’s power, iPhone’s dual-camera

Published

April 19, 2017

Marvin Velasco

Xiaomi has done it again; its Mi 6 flagship smartphone takes the best features of today’s hottest handsets, mashes them into a sleek design, and sells it at a fraction of the others’ cost.

The thing is, Xiaomi isn’t even shy about copying its rivals. Just look at one of its official marketing materials from the official website:

That image is referring to the Mi 6’s use of two main cameras, one 12-megapixel camera for regular wide-angle shots and another 12-megapixel shooter for zoomed in photos just like — you guessed it — the iPhone 7 Plus. It’s admittedly a great setup, and something we appreciated on phones like the ZenFone 3 Zoom, as well.

As for the processor, it’s a Snapdragon 835, the same chip found in Samsung’s Galaxy S8, which was the first to launch with it. We detailed its best features when Qualcomm first announced it, but in a nutshell, it’s way ahead of the pack in terms of performance and efficiency thanks to a new fabrication, and you’ll want this in your next smartphone as much as possible.

The rest of the specs are just as impressive: 6GB of memory by default, a choice between 64GB and 128GB of internal storage, and a splendidly sized 3350mAh battery sandwiched between the 5.15-inch Full HD LCD in front and curved glass back. The only glaring omission is the 3.5mm audio port, which is odd considering how this isn’t exactly a razor-thin phone like the Moto Z. Just another case of Apple copying, perhaps?

In exchange for the lost port, we’re treated to stereo loudspeakers, splash resistance, and a well-aligned design Xiaomi appears to be so proud of. If you look closely at the promotional images, the slots and ports are symmetrical from top to bottom, side to side. No doubt it’s a good-looking gadget, but we’ll leave the final judgement to when we get it in our hands.

Now, for the best part: The Mi 6 will retail for a starting price of CNY 2,499 (a little over $360). That’s for the 64GB storage version. If you want the 128GB variant, you’ll have to fork over CNY 2,899 (about $420). And if you really want to treat yourself, there’s a ceramic black version with 128GB of storage priced at CNY 2,999 ($435).

These are very competitive prices for a phone that’s likely faster than any other handset available right now. We just have to hope Xiaomi will ship this beauty outside of China, and without added tax that may otherwise ruin such a great deal.

[irp posts=”12207″ name=”One month with Xiaomi’s Yuemi mechanical keyboard”]

News

Budget smartphone realme C100 Series launches

Long battery life, ruggedness, more

Published

June 18, 2026

GadgetMatch

The realme C100 Series, the brand’s latest rugged essential smartphone in the budget segment, has officially launched in the Philippines.

The series introduces up to an 8,000mAh Titan Battery on the realme C100 model, as well as IP69 Pro certification.

This means the handset has IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings to handle high-pressure water exposure and submersion for up to six meters and 30 minutes.

The C100 also supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging for quick battery top-ups. It even has a 10W reverse charging support to power other small devices.

On the other hand, the realme C100i comes with a 7,000mAh Titan Battery to likewise power all-day use. This model supports a steady 15W charging and 6W reverse charging. It is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.

In addition, both models support Rain Touch Mode, making the 6.8-inch 120Hz display optimized for touches even when it is wet. This panel also comes with ArmorShell Glass protection.

Powering the C100 is the MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor while the C100i has as Unisoc T7250 processor. The devices run on realme UI 7.0 (Android 16).

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the realme C100 Series comes in various storage configurations:

C100i (4GB+64GB): PhP 6,313 (SRP: PhP 8,999)
C100i (4GB+128GB): PhP 7,379 (SRP: PhP 11,999)
C100i (4GB+256GB): PhP 8,199 (SRP: PhP 13,999)
C100 (4GB+256GB): PhP 11,195 (SRP: PhP 16,999)
C100 (8GB+256GB): PhP 14,000 (SRP: PhP 19,999)

Limited-time launch offers are available through Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok from June 18 to June 30.

The phones are also available at realme concept stores, kiosks, and partner retailers nationwide. Potential freebies include a TechLife Smart band, extended warranty and screen damage protection, privilege card, or additional cash discount.

News

Did Tim Cook just confirm that iPhone prices are going up?

Once again, it might be because of the RAM crisis.

Published

June 18, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

If there’s one thing you can count on in the smartphone world, it’s the high price of an iPhone. Unfortunately, with the ongoing RAM shortages, things might get worse. Apple’s Tim Cook has essentially confirmed that the brand is about to raise its prices.

Via an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Cook said, “Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable.” As with other companies, the outgoing CEO is talking about the RAM crisis. With a lot of chips going to AI, consumer-ready silicon is getting scarcer and scarcer. Thankfully, some brands are shielding its users from the increases, but it’s reaching levels that aren’t sustainable for business.

“We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable,” he said.

Cook did not explain how much prices will go up or when. However, with the iPhone 18 series (and a potential iPhone Fold) just on the horizon, it seems nigh.

Apple isn’t the first brand to react to the shortages (nor will it be the last). Now, regardless of whether or not Apple has the capabilities to tank the crisis, the biggest culprit is still AI. Companies today are more than willing to use AI as a scapegoat, real or otherwise, for shady cost-cutting or profit-enhancing practices.

News

Apple might launch an iPhone Air 2 next year

This is despite the iPhone Air’s reportedly low demand.

Published

June 18, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Is this the most varied that an iPhone lineup has ever been? With an iPhone Fold supposedly coming out later this year, the current lineup includes a base model, two Pro models, an ultra-thin Air model, and the affordable 17e. There’s now an iPhone for everyone. According to a new report, next year won’t be any different. Apple is reportedly launching the iPhone Air 2 early next year.

Among all the current models in the lineup, the iPhone Air does seem like the oddest of the bunch. Whereas the other models already have established niches, the Air is positioned simply as a thinner iPhone, riding on the short-lived ultra-thin phone trend. In fact, recent reports suggest that the Air isn’t as popular as its contemporaries.

Apparently, Apple doesn’t see it that way. According to Bloomberg, the brand is still surging forward with an iPhone Air 2. The upcoming version might even add a second camera and an improved processor.

Despite reports that it isn’t that popular, Apple might still believe in the model’s future. At this point, they should; Apple has always had a problem with the base model’s partner. Years of flip-flopping around what it should be, Apple wants to stay a little bit longer on the Air.