Hands-On

Redmi 14C: Look further or look elsewhere?

You simply get what you pay for

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Redmi (or Xiaomi) has launched some extravagant midrangers in their home-turf — the Redmi Note 14 Pro and 14 Pro+ to be very precise. But at the other side of the Asian continent comes a new budget phone. It’s none other than the Redmi 14C.

Shining, shimmering, splendid

Gone are the days of cheap-looking phones.

While circular camera islands used to be limited to flagship and midrange Android models, manufacturers were able to bring such design language to the budget smartphone segment as well. The Redmi 14C is a testament to that.

Personally, I like the subdued elegance in its massive hump. The grid pattern complements the concentric texture and iridescent gradient along those set of circles that house its camera and flash.

All that in a chassis that managed to be just around 8.2mm thin.

The Midnight Black plus Dreamy Purple model I have with me weigh at 211 grams. Meanwhile, Sage Green is lighter at 207 grams while Starry Blue is the lightest at only 204 grams.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Regardless of the minor differences in heft, the Redmi 14C feels nice when held with its smooth aluminum-like plastic frame.

It’s then sandwiched by glass in both front and back (except for that one colorway with eco-leather backing). Buttons also provide enough clicky-ness.

It’s also a nice touch to include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor instead of relying on the old-fashioned pattern/PIN unlocking or the never thief-proof Face Unlocking.

Lastly, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack living on top of this smartphone — a feature that used to be exclusive to Pro phones.

Big and smooth

Who would have thought budget phones would reach this point? Redmi has managed to do something that Apple can’t even do with their latest base iPhone 16 models.

The headlining feature of the Redmi 14C is its massive 6.88-inch IPS LCD panel that can display a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

For the 720p resolution it offers, of course it’s not the sharpest but it should be legible enough for reading and/or consuming content.

In harsh sunlight conditions, it can achieve between 450 nits of peak brightness to 600 nits in HBM (High Brightness Mode).

It’s also nice to note that the display offers eye-care protection features certified by TÜV Rheinland. Those include constant DC dimming, low blue light, dark mode, and a flicker-free panel altogether.

Lastly, its “Dot Drop” display sticks with the dated notch and thicker bezels over the punch-hole cutout and slimmer bezels of some affordable contenders.

HyperOS with less hyper hardware

The Redmi 14C packs a MediaTek Helio G81 Ultra SoC. My unit comes with 4GB of LPDDR4 memory and 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage.

For the simplest apps and basic tasks, the Redmi 14C should run fine.

Easy-peasy games should run as well but power-hungry titles, whether it is FPS or MOBA, simply wouldn’t make you a gaming champ. For that purpose, you really have to look elsewhere.

Its 5160mAh battery can last enough for a day or more than 2-3 days when casually used.

And unlike the Xiaomi 14T series excluding a charger in its box, Xiaomi still managed to bundle a 33W charger and USB-C cable in Redmi 14C’s box.

Albeit, charging speeds are limited to just 18W. So, expect that battery to be filled up longer than other budget smartphones with a higher price tag.

Adequate shooter

Despite that massive camera bump I praised earlier, it offers nothing grand.

The right circle is where its 50MP f/1.8 main camera lies. On the parallel side, there’s an auxillary lens.

Top circle houses the flash unit while the bottom circle is just there to complete the overall aesthetic.

For this price point, I have nothing against its output. You get fair shots with the right amount of light.

The large megapixel count also means the Redmi 14C can also take 2x zoom photos by sensor cropping.

I assume that the “Auxillary Lens” I mentioned earlier might just be for that portrait mode bokeh.

Thanks to filmCamera, you can apply built-in filters in its camera app to level up the look of both your photos and videos.

Up front, there’s the 13MP f/2.0 camera for casual selfies — or for Meet / Zoom calls.

Speaking of, both the front and rear camera maxes out at 1080p Full HD at 30fps when video recording.

Deal with the compromises

Of course, a sub-PhP 5,000 (US$ 100) phone should be expected with compromises.

If you’re a power user, this is by no means, meant for you.

This smartphone is more ideal for students who are looking for a capable budget phone (minus the gaming part). Its cameras are enough for taking black/whiteboard notes, PowerPoint or Canva presentations, or just taking random snaps of their day-to-day life as a hardworking student.

It’s also ideal for TNVS riders who mostly uses their phones for ride-hailing apps, tuning in to Waze and Google Maps, and scrolling through TikToks while on a scorchy hot afternoon break.

It can also be a gift for your parents or grandparents that aren’t into tech. This is a good turning point from people who are still using “dumb phones” or the older feature phones with the classic keypad arrangement.

Believe it or not, such type of users still exists. And it’s not always about the hardware packed inside, rather the usability it gives to people who barely need that crunch.

Is the Redmi 14C your BudgetMatch?

In the Philippines, Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C comes in three configurations:

  • 4+128GB = PhP 4,999 (US$ 87)
  • 4+256GB = PhP 5,999 (US$ 104)
  • 8+256GB = PhP 6,999 (US$ 122)

For what it’s worth, you simply get nothing more than what you pay for. But competition-wise, its closest competitor is none other than the Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G.

Not only they both possess the same amount of memory, storage, 18W charging support, and 120Hz display, their battery capacities as well as camera hardware and design are quite alike. Admittedly, the Blade A75 5G has one standout spec — 5G support.

Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G | 2024

If you’re looking for a basic phone with blazing-fast internet speeds that can also serve as your mobile hotspot, ZTE would honestly be the better deal. That’s not to say it also has a cleaner-looking punch-hole display.

The only good thing I can say about the Redmi 14C over the Blade is its microSDXC support — but that’s a cover-up for the lackluster eMMC 5.1 standard over Blade’s faster and more power-efficient UFS 3.1 protocol.

itel S24 | 2024

There is also one brand you may not have ever heard of but itel S24 is also a worthy opponent.

It might sound like a downgrade with its smaller 6.6-inch 90Hz display. But for an additional PhP 700, you get twice the LPDDR4X RAM, eMMC 5.1 storage, and more camera megapixel count at 108MP.

It also runs MediaTek’s Helio Ultra chip but with a different number (G91 Ultra vs G81 Ultra of the Redmi 14C). Charging speeds and battery are barely different at 18W and 5000mAh.

Accessories

OBSBOT Meet Flip Hands-on

It’s tinier and folds this time

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Phones flip and fold. Now webcams do too.

Foldable screens have found their way into phones, tablets, and laptops in recent years. Now, OBSBOT is taking that idea in a considerably smaller direction: the webcam.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is the company’s first foldable 4K webcam packing:

  • 1/2-inch stacked CMOS sensor
  • intelligent audio
  • a collection of AI-powered meeting tools

All of these inside a body weighing just 37.7 grams.

A fold that does something, not just a gimmick

The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t foldable just to make it easier to throw into a bag.

Closing the webcam physically blocks the lens and puts the device into sleep mode. Open it when you want to be seen, flip it shut when you don’t.

A physical privacy cover isn’t novel in itself. What’s clever here is how it’s part of the folding design.

As someone with a love-hate relationship with data privacy, I almost always keep some physical barrier over my laptop webcam. And if I can avoid having a webcam there entirely, even better.

Serious camera hardware in a pocket-sized webcam

Despite its size, OBSBOT hasn’t treated the Meet Flip like a basic laptop-camera replacement.

Inside is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology, capable of recording 4K UHD at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. It also packs an f/1.8 aperture, HDR, PDAF autofocus, ISO 100–6400, and up to 4x digital zoom.

At its core is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology.

It can record:

  • 4K UHD at 30fps
  • 1080p at 60fps

You also get:

  • f/1.8 aperture
  • HDR
  • PDAF autofocus
  • ISO 100–6400
  • up to 4x digital zoom

On paper, that gives the Meet Flip a better shot at handling the situations built-in laptop webcams often struggle with: dim rooms, harsh backlighting, changing lighting conditions, or simply moving around in front of the camera.

HDR helps keep faces visible against bright backgrounds, while PDAF autofocus continuously adjusts focus as you move closer to or farther from the lens.

The wider f/1.8 aperture should also help in less-than-ideal lighting.

The point is that once the Meet Flip is set up, you shouldn’t have to spend much time thinking about the camera itself.

It listens differently depending on the room setup

The Meet Flip also uses an intelligent dual-microphone system combining omnidirectional and directional microphones.

Instead of relying on one pickup pattern for every situation, it offers four audio modes for different setups:

Directional Mode focuses on sound coming from the front, making it the obvious choice for solo calls.

Dual-Directional Mode listens to both the front and rear of the webcam, which could be useful for interviews or conversations between two people sitting across from each other.

Conference Meeting

Smart Omni Mode is designed for group meetings, picking up voices from around the room.

And Pure Audio Mode provides unprocessed left and right stereo channels for users who would rather handle the audio themselves in post-production.

Auto Gain and AI Noise Reduction also work across the first three modes, helping clean up audio without requiring much manual adjustment.

It gives the Meet Flip more flexibility than a typical webcam microphone, especially if you regularly switch between solo calls, interviews, and group meetings.

AI that doesn’t intrude

AI has become an almost obligatory addition to new hardware in 2026, but several of the Meet Flip’s features put it to work on real-world meeting annoyances.

AI Auto Framing keeps you in frame, with options for:

  • Group
  • Single Close-up
  • Upper Body
  • Full Body

Gesture controls can also toggle Auto Framing or adjust the zoom without reaching for a keyboard or mouse.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

More interesting is AI Magic Notes.

Through OBSBOT Center, it provides real-time transcription and can automatically generate meeting summaries with key points, decisions, and action items. It works across Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Although AI Magic Notes is offered as a subscription service, every Meet Flip includes 120 complimentary minutes to get started.

MORE with OBSBOT Center & OBSBOT Live

There are plenty of other software features as well. OBSBOT Center includes:

  • Background Blur and Background Replacement
  • Real-Time Beauty Mode
  • Picture-in-Picture overlays
  • Smart Eye Tracking
  • Teleprompter support
  • Detailed image adjustments

The Meet Flip isn’t limited to laptops or desktops either. Through OBSBOT Live, it can connect directly to smartphones and tablets over USB-C for mobile streaming and content creation.

Flip it open. Fold it away.

None of those features reinvent the webcam on their own.

Taken together, though, they make the Meet Flip a more thoughtful take on a piece of hardware whose basic design and features have barely changed.

The flip may grab your attention first, but it’s how OBSBOT uses that design alongside its camera, audio, and software features that makes the Meet Flip interesting.

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is now available at US$ 119 and is currently available through OBSBOT’s official store, Amazon US, and select retailers.

&

@gadgetmatchPhones flip. Now webcams do too. 👀 Meet the OBSBOT Meet Flip, a tiny foldable 4K webcam with a lot packed inside. ✨

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

If you buy one, here’s what you’ll get out of the box!

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Accessories

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

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DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

  • Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
  • Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
  • Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

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Hands-On

Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, Ultra

Samsung’s freshest foldables come out of the oven

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Three foldables. Three very different people.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra — the productivity maximizer. Heritage form factor, everything cranked to the max.

The Galaxy Z Flip8, pure style. The smallest, loudest, most you one of the bunch.

And finally, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 — the new beginning.

Built for the way most of us actually use our phones: watching, reading, scrolling. The one I keep reaching for and have a feeling THE Michael Josh will be using a lot.

Same family. Three ways to experience it.

Head over to our hands-on video on the latest and greatest Galaxy Z8 family for you to know your best bet.

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