Smartphones

Xiaomi 12 Lite Unboxing

Published

August 16, 2022

GadgetMatch

There’s always a Lite at the end of every Xiaomi flagship tunnel. Here, we’re unboxing the Xiaomi 12 Lite.

Unboxing

It’s not everyday that we get smartphones in this luggage-like package.

Opening it up reveals the Xiaomi 12 Lite box. There’s a bunch of other stuff in there. But they’re mostly for goods for the upcoming Malaysia trip we have which we’ll document using this phone. Be sure to wait for that one to come out.

Here’s a closer look at the lower end of the box just so we can pad this article with more photos and words.

Opening the box you’ll see the phone itself covered in paper detailing its key features. The following are highlighted: Featherweight slim design, Studio-level 108MP triple camera, Smart 67W turbo charging, and 120Hz AMOLED display.

There’s also the cardboard box thing containing the jelly case, documentation, and what not. Everything from here on out is a pretty standard affair.

Digging deeper into the box, you’ll find the power brick which is no longer a staple inclusion in all brand new smartphones.

And the USB-C cable.

That’s pretty much it for the contents of the box. Now, onto the phone itself.

Closer look at the Xiaomi 12 Lite

The unit we have is the Lite Green colorway. It also comes in Lite Pink and Black.

The right hand side has the volume rockers and power button. The other side is empty.

And at the bottom you’ll find the speaker grille, USB-C port, and SIM Tray slot. Yes, it’s dual-sim, and no, it doesn’t have any storage expansion slots. Onboard storage goes up to 256GB for some variants. This particular one we have only has 128GB.

Here’s a closer look at the rear camera module. The 108MP f/1.9 main camera is flanked by an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, and a tacked on 2MP f/2.4 macro lens. Up front, it has a 32MP f/2.5 selfie shooter.

The phone runs on the Android 12-based MIUI 13.

It has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz screen refresh rate. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ where applicable. The phone is relatively easy to hold and doesn’t feel too big despite the large screen.

That’s it for the Unboxing! As mentioned earlier, we’ll have a GadgetSnaps feature to show you what its cameras can do. Pricing details should be available on August 18th and the full review will come after.

Philippines

vivo Y36 BGC shoot: Super Night Algorithm at work

Improve details, eliminate noise

Published

August 22, 2023

GadgetMatch

To prove the power of the new vivo Y36 to shoot well during nighttime and in low-light conditions, the mid-ranger was taken for a spin at BGC, Taguig for a round of sample photos.

Just to recap, the phone has a 50MP Super Night Algorithm feature which combines numerous exposures to improve details and eliminate noise for shots taken under such conditions.

The algorithm also takes advantage of advanced computational photography techniques. This significantly enhances the camera’s performance and process photos accordingly in low-light scenarios.

The long shot of the famous Bonifacio High Street has the fountain’s stream of water frozen in the phone’s capture. Meanwhile, the familiar W building and the establishments in the background are illuminated.

The BGC Arts Center, on the other hand, allows travelers to go on a creative adventure. With the vivo Y36, taking shots are again made effortless.

Aside from the phone’s 50MP main camera, it also has a 2MP f/2.4 depth and 2MP f/2.4 macro. There’s also a 16MP wide selfie camera. The phone’s 256GB internal storage ensures that users can take as many shots as they can.

Interested in getting the vivo Y36? It’s priced at just PhP 12,999, available in Glitter Aqua and Meteor Black on vivo’s official website, Shopee, Lazada and TikTok, and physical stores nationwide.

This is a sponsored press release by vivo Philippines.

News

Caviar is selling a Barbie collection of smartphones

Including the Galaxy Z Flip5, iPhone 15, and Apple Watch 9

Published

August 22, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Exactly a month since the film premiered, Barbie fever is still high. If the love for all things pink hasn’t left you yet, Caviar has a new smartphone collection for you — if you have the cash, that is. As is typical with the brand, the smartphone customization company has released a new collection that it called #Barbiecore.

For years, Caviar has been known for creating luxurious versions of popular smartphones. Sometimes, the company does tie-ins with popular franchises of the time. The brand is also notorious for selling its products for way higher than the usual price of an unmodified smartphone.

The latest #Barbiecore collection is no different. However, it is iconic of what a Barbie fan might expect from such a model. The collection will include five difference devices: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, the Galaxy Z Flip5, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the Apple Watch 9.

The Galaxy Z series will come with a golden rear panel outfitted with a small pink pom-pom made of faux fur. The rear panel, engraved with Barbie-themed graphics, will also come with 49 rubies.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 series will come with pink alligator skin for its rear panel. Outside of the stylized panel, the series is covered in 24K gold all over. Plus, the cameras are surrounded by 61 Swarovski crystals.

Finally, the Apple Watch 9 is covered in Rose Gold PVD coating. The pink rubber strap is less spectacular, but it does complement the theme and the attractiveness of the watch.

As always, all devices in the collection cost quite a lot. The Galaxy Z series will start at US$ 8,560. The iPhone 15 series starts at US$ 7,990. Finally, the Watch 9 costs US$ 1,900.

News

Samsung is reportedly testing a Galaxy Z FE

Coming after the Flip6 and Fold6

Published

August 22, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Foldable smartphones are still too expensive to replace traditional slab phones as everyone’s daily drivers. Next year might finally change the zeitgeist, though. According to a new rumor, Samsung is testing FE models for the Galaxy Z series.

After a brief break from the series, Samsung is reportedly resurrecting Fan Editions. The company already spoiled that the Galaxy S23 FE is likely launching later this year. Additionally, Samsung France made no qualms about revealing the existence of a Galaxy Tab S9 FE and FE+.

The S23 FE is set to be released soon, and there are possibilities that Samsung plans to consistently introduce the FE brand annually. Simultaneously, there are rumors of ongoing testing for the launch of the Galaxy Z FE(lite model), after the Fold/Flip 6.

— Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) August 20, 2023

Now, the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold are the next devices to get an FE-themed rub. According to @Tech_Reve on X, a Galaxy Z Flip6 FE and a Galaxy Z Fold6 FE are coming as early as next year. As the Fan Editions are known for, the rumored devices will likely knock the price points of the foldable series down a notch. By how much is still a mystery, though.

Regardless, a Fan Edition for the foldable devices is still a big bump for the market. Despite the abundance of foldable devices in the market today, Samsung is still feasting atop the industry. Adding a competitively priced foldable will hopefully bring the segment down to manageable prices.