Hands-On

The Xiaomi Watch S5 proves you don’t have to take it off

Elegant enough for dinner. Tough enough for Spartan.

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Picture this: one night, I’m dressed for a sophisticated gala in a carefully curated look. The following morning, less than twelve hours later, I’m standing at the starting line of a Spartan Trail 10K in Arden Botanical Estate with dirt on my shoes.

I’ve always struggled with smartwatches (or other timepieces) because they tend to ask you to choose a side. For instance, a classic timepiece looks right with tailoring, dinner jackets, and occasions where dress codes actually matter.

Meanwhile, a sports watch belongs in training kits, race bibs, and muddy obstacle courses. I’ve spent years switching between both, often leaving my smartwatch behind whenever the outfit called for something more refined.

Then, the Xiaomi Watch S5 arrived and challenged that whole routine. For once, I didn’t feel like I had to pick between looking polished and being athletic. I didn’t feel like I had to separate one part of my life from another.

A wardrobe investment

The Xiaomi Watch S5 immediately felt sleek. The upgraded stainless steel frame gives it the weight and polish of a traditional luxury watch. It looks expensive in the way a great accessory does.

It slips easily under a cuff, works with tailoring, and doesn’t compete with the rest of what you’re wearing. That mattered to me because I wore it to an evening event, styled like any proper watch would be.

Then the next morning, I wore it at a Spartan Race — at 6:00 AM, I was running the Spartan Trail 10K during a sudden downpour. Heavy rain poured over the course. Mud thickened under every step.

A few hours later at 9:30 AM, I was back on the course for the Spartan Sprint Open under the complete opposite conditions. Bright sun, harsh heat, and definitely no shade. By the time I crossed the finish line, I had visible sunburn.

I wore the Watch S5 across back-to-back races in completely different conditions. When it rained, the 5ATM water resistance handled it and allowed me to finish the Spartan Trail 10K with 350m elevation gain in 1 hour, 20 minutes.

And even in full sun, the 2500-nit AMOLED display was bright enough for me to check my pace and metrics without squinting through sweat.

In a way, that is the whole point of versatility. You don’t have to look good in one setting. You just survive all of it.

High-fashion navigation on a sample sale budget

I love gear that performs. I love it even more when it doesn’t cost as much as a plane ticket.

My Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) — which I had since 2023 — remains my benchmark for race-day navigation. It’s dependable and incredibly capable. It also costs enough to make me stare at my credit card statement in silence.

The Xiaomi Watch S5 gave me a surprisingly similar sense of confidence with built-in offline maps at a much more approachable price.

For trail races where routes are usually marked, that feature becomes less about finding your way and more about peace of mind.

Knowing you can navigate technical terrain without reaching for your phone feels reassuring, especially when weather conditions change fast — and on race day, mine certainly did.

One moment I was climbing through rain. A few hours later I was baking under direct sunlight wondering how my shoulders had already turned red.

The Watch S5 handled both like it was no big deal.

Keeping pace with a social butterfly’s calendar

A wearable becomes part of your wardrobe when you stop thinking about it. That’s where battery life matters.

The Xiaomi Watch S5 runs up to 14 days on normal use, which means I wore it across workdays, training sessions, events, recovery days, and race weekend without needing to obsess over charging it overnight.

It outlasted my phone, my laptop, and possibly my emotional stability somewhere between the last aid station and the fire jump.

Once I finally got home, showered off layers of mud and sunscreen, and collapsed into bed with sore legs and sunburn, the Watch S5 kept doing its job in the background.

Sleep tracking, recovery insights, and wellness metrics all quietly continued while I did absolutely nothing.

Is the Xiaomi Watch S5 your GadgetMatch?

What I like most about the Xiaomi Watch S5 is that it doesn’t force a choice. It doesn’t ask you to pick between being sporty or polished. There’s no need to separate performance from style.

It looks elegant enough for formalwear, and tough enough for weathering the elements. For me, it went from chic events to an action-packed Spartan Race day without feeling out of place. And maybe, that’s the best way to describe it.

Swipe Right if you want a smartwatch that can keep up with both your calendar and your training schedule. The Xiaomi Watch S5 feels right at home with tailored looks, yet it’s durable enough for muddy race courses, sudden downpours, and long hours under the sun.

This is for the people who go from dinner reservations to race day without warning.

Swipe Left if you want highly advanced training analytics or a deeply specialized multi-sport watch for serious race preparations. Athletes who rely heavily on performance metrics may still prefer something more purpose-built.

For PhP 10,999, the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm feels more like a wardrobe investment. One that happens to track your sleep, navigate a trail course and survive the elements, and still look good at dinner.

The Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm comes with an early-bird price of PhP 10,229 and a free strap. The Special Edition retails for PhP 11,999, with an early-bird price of PhP 11,159 and a free strap.

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Convenient Smart Home

30 days with the LG AeroMini

The upgrade my new space ~badly~ needed

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October 5, 2026

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Moving into a new space comes with a long list of things to figure out, and lately, I’ve been paying more attention to something that’s easy to overlook: air quality.

After using the LG AeroMini for about a month, it has become a subtle but welcome addition to my space. It helps make the room feel fresher, while its compact and stylish design fits naturally into my setup. Here are the things that stood out to me most after living with it for a month.

360° purification for a fresher space

One of the things I appreciate about the AeroMini is its 360° air purification, designed to bring purified air in every direction.

For me, this is particularly useful in a new space where I’m spending a lot of time working, relaxing, and just settling in.

Combined with its True HEPA filter, which is designed to remove 99.999% of 0.01μm fine dust and allergens, it gives me added peace of mind about the air I’m breathing every day.

After a month, I can genuinely say that the space feels fresher with it running.

Surprisingly quiet

This is probably my favorite feature.

The LG AeroMini operates at just 26dB, and after using it for a month, what stands out is how easy it is to forget that it’s even running.

I can have it running while I’m working or sleeping without the noise becoming a distraction. For an appliance that’s designed to continuously improve the air around you, I think that’s a big deal.

Sometimes, the best feature is the one you barely notice.

Design that fits my space

Since I recently moved, I’ve been pretty conscious about what I bring into the space. I want things to be functional, but I also don’t want appliances that feel like they’re taking over the room.

The AeroMini’s slim and compact design makes it easy to incorporate into my setup. It doesn’t feel bulky or industrial, and I like that I can leave it out without feeling like I need to hide it away.

For me, that balance between functionality and aesthetics makes it feel more like part of the space rather than just another appliance.

Air quality at a glance

Another feature I’ve found convenient is its Smart Control. Through the app, I can monitor and control the AeroMini while getting real-time updates on the indoor air quality.

It’s a small convenience, but being able to check the air quality without having to interact with the purifier directly makes it easier to keep track of what’s happening in the room.

Easy to maintain

I also appreciate that the AeroMini is designed with an all-in-one dust and deodorization filter that makes replacement and maintenance easier.

That matters to me because the best home gadgets are the ones that don’t create another complicated chore. I want something I can set up, use regularly, and maintain without too much fuss.

After a month, would I keep it?

Yes, and mainly because it quietly fits into my everyday routine.

The LG AeroMini has helped make my new space feel fresher and more comfortable, while its compact design means it doesn’t compromise the look of the room. But if I had to pick just one thing I appreciate most, it’s still how incredibly quiet it is.

It’s one of those upgrades that doesn’t demand your attention. It simply works in the background.

If you’re also looking to make your home a fresher and more comfortable space for yourself and your family, visit https://www.lg.com/ph/ to learn more about the LG AeroMini and how it can fit into your everyday life.

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Hands-On

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series Hands-on

And everything announced during Apple’s September 2026 Event

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September 13, 2026

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The latest Apple event isn’t just about the shiny new Apple Duo. There’s a lot to talk about!

In this video, we break down everything Apple has announced during their September 2026 keynote.

First, there’s the updated iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. That’s alongside their design and color changes, battery and performance improvements. Even that massive camera upgrade.

There’s even the ANC-infused AirPods 5 alongside the newer Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Plus, the latest software updates coming to both these wearables.

So, are these worth the upgrade?

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Accessories

OBSBOT Meet Flip Hands-on

It’s tinier and folds this time

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August 14, 2026

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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.

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@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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