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Xiaomi Redmi S2 goes official with AI selfies and cheap price tag

Another promising budget phone from Xiaomi

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Xiaomi has a new budget phone in its homeland and the focus of their new device is mobile photography. Dual cameras on phones are now slowly crawling to cheaper devices and the Redmi S2 is the new entry-level phone to sport two rear cameras.

The phone shares some DNA with the Redmi Note 5 with an almost identical body and similarly sized 5.99-inch 18:9 display, but with a lower HD+ resolution. It’s powered by the good old Snapdragon 625 processor with up to 4GB of memory and up to 64GB of storage.

As for the cameras, it packs an AI-assisted 16-megapixel selfie camera with its own LED flash and AI Smart Beauty. The rear setup, on the other hand, is a 12- and 5-megapixel combo similar to the Redmi Note 5 which has electronic image stabilization, AI portrait mode, and HDR.

The phone sports a respectable 3080mAh battery that charges through the micro-USB port and runs MIUI 9 based on Android Oreo out of the box.

The Redmi S2 is priced at CNY 999 (US$ 160) for the 3GB/32GB variant, while the 4GB/64GB will go for CNY 1,299 (US$ 205). It’s available in three colors: Rose Gold, Champagne Gold, Platinum Silver. It’s currently on exclusive sale in China through Suning.com.

SEE ALSO: $100 Phone vs $900 Phone: Camera Shootout

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This rumored iPhone 18 color will make you switch phones

The rumored Dark Cherry color looks so premium.

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Image source: Macworld

(Cosmic) orange is the new black. With the iPhone 17 series, Apple introduced the color as the next fashion statement for the ubiquitous phone. If you see an orange phone today, chances are that it’s an all-new iPhone 17 Pro Max. This year, the series might get another new statement color: Dark Cherry.

Though the usual suspects of colors will always be there, Apple often leaves a bit of room for more experimental options for those who want to stand out with their new phone. As you can probably tell from the ongoing deluge of orange, the strategy is working well for Apple.

According to Macworld, Apple is working on a Dark Cherry option for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

Red isn’t a color foreign to the iPhone. In the past, several generations included a limited red colorway option. If the reports are true, red might be a standard option, rather than a limited edition.

But, of course, Dark Cherry is different from the red that we’re used to. Instead of the bright red, the new option will be more similar to the color of wine.

Besides Dark Cherry, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will also have Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver as options. Though Light Blue also looks great, the wine-like color looks like a personal highlight for me. I didn’t know I wanted a wine-colored iPhone until I saw the renders for this.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 may have lower specs and a delayed launch, rumor says

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Google might be moving away from flat design

Bye bye, Material Design.

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It’s time to kindly shove off, flat design. After over a decade of Google’s Material Design, Android is finally showing signs of ditching flat, monotonous colors. In a series of logo redesigns, Google is reportedly trying out gradients as its latest reinvention.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google is moving forward with incorporating gradients into its designs. Previously, the company started changing the icons of a few first-party apps including Photos and Maps. Now, it seems that the new design philosophy will reach the rest of Google’s suite.

In the obtained designs, the rest of Google’s plethora of apps will no longer look static. The splash of gradient adds the feeling of layering without losing the company’s roots in flat design. Docs and Sheets, for example, look like a light shining on pieces of paper.

Image source: 9to5Google

It’s unknown when Google plans to incorporate the new philosophy. However, with Google I/O coming fast, it’s fair to bet that an update might come out around that time, especially since that event’s logo already has gradients.

Google’s evolution is not without its precedent. Besides the company’s small trial previously, Apple’s iOS has also made inroads into more three-dimensional designs with the new Liquid Glass. However, unlike Apple, Google’s newest design is a far cry from the former’s return to Windows Vista aesthetics.

Personally, I don’t mind the transition to 3D, as long as it’s done well. Though still visually pleasing, flat design has started overstaying its welcome. It’s time to try something new.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O is officially confirmed for May 19

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OPPO Find X9s now official in PH: Price, availability, pre-order info

Everyday premium arrives

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OPPO Find X9s

OPPO has also introduced the OPPO Find X9s in the Philippines, offering a more accessible premium experience for everyday users.

The device is priced at PHP 69,999.

Pre-order and availability

Pre-orders begin April 24 at select OPPO Brand Stores. Early buyers will receive a Portable Power Gift Box.

The Find X9s officially goes on sale on May 15, available through:

  • OPPO Online Store
  • Select OPPO Brand Stores

Online store purchases include the Portable Power Gift Box and Enco X3s earbuds, while Shopee offers the gift box bundle.

Key highlights

The OPPO Find X9s features a 50MP Hasselblad co-developed triple camera system with 4K recording across all lenses. It also packs a 7025mAh battery, slim 7.99mm design, and durability ratings up to IP69, making it a balanced daily driver.

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