First Look

realme 9 Pro+ Unboxing and First impressions

All about that Sony IMX766 sensor

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realme 9 Pro+

Just in time as things slowly get back to its former nature with this pandemic, realme releases a combination of smartphones that are packed with serious image capturing devices — the realme 9 Pro and the realme 9 Pro+.

Right now, we will be looking at what the realme 9 Pro+ has to offer.

Once again, the signature yellow realme box

realme 9 Pro+

A warm welcome from the realme family

Some of the accessories, a smoke gray jelly case, SIM ejector pin and manuals

realme 9 Pro+

The 60W SuperDart charger and the USB-C cable

realme 9 Pro+

Here is the shiny realme 9 Pro+ in its classy looking Aurora Green colorway

realme 9 Pro+

At the bottom is the headphone jack, USB-C charging port and speaker grille

realme 9 Pro+

Onto its left is the SIM card slot and the volume rockers

 

realme 9 Pro+

And to the right is the power button

realme 9 Pro+

The realme 9 Pro+ has a 6.4-inch, 90Hz, Super AMOLED display with a punch hole selfie camera on the upper right

realme 9 Pro+

The screen is also home to the under display fingerprint sensor

realme 9 Pro+

A closer look of the cameras wrapped in blue green chrome rings with the OIS labeling

realme 9 Pro+

First Impressions 

What really got me excited with this phone is that it is armed with a Sony IMX766 sensor. It shoots 50 megapixels for its main camera, 8 megapixels ultrawide and 2 megapixels for its macro.

For those unfamiliar with camera sensors, the Sony IMX is what a lot of flagship phones run on. It’s bigger than the usual sensors we’re used to. That means it will capture more light and perform better under difficult lighting situations. This also means it will result in an overall cleaner image. Plus, a bigger sensor will also produce more depth and dimension creating a more desirable output.

I’ve already gone out for a test run with this camera and I am genuinely amazed at the images it can produce. So better watch out for our full review on this one.

Here are some of the samples I took.

Specs and performance

Onto its other specs, this is also equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G Chipset, 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage that is all being powered by a 4,500 mAh battery.

A superior chipset to the already great performing Dimensity 900. So expect that this is also a capable performer for day-to-day tasks and will keep us connected with the fastest cellular networks available.

realme 9 Pro+

And judging by our initial testing, swift performance, high refresh rate display and great cameras, this is one snappy feeling phone.

I know you’re probably eager to get your hands on the realme 9 Pro+ to #CaptureTheLight so be sure to tune in to the livestream launch for the realme 9 Pro and realme 9 Pro+ on March 15, 2022 on realme’s official Facebook page.

Accessories

Apple Vision Pro First Impressions

Plus a dedicated YouTubers’ React segment!

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The WWDC 2023 Keynote was packed with incredible new updates to iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS.

Apple announced new hardware including a 15-inch MacBook Air and M2 Max/Ultra-powered Mac Studio and Mac Pro.

But the most ambitious product they’ve ever created? The Apple Vision Pro.

Apple is clear that this isn’t just an AR Glasses. The Vision Pro is the company’s “first spatial computer”.

But how does it even look and feel IRL?

This is our first impressions of the new Apple Vision Pro — plus our YouTuber friends’ reactions.

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First Look

Vibe Check: realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola Edition

Refreshing special edition smartphone!

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When realme announced its partnership with Coca-Cola® for a special edition smartphone, it was quite amusing but not surprising.

As a brand, realme has always showcased youthful energy, promoting fun and spontaneity through its campaigns and experiences. Coca-Cola®shares the same virtue of fun — celebrating friendship and happiness through a carbonated drink.

When we got our hands on the realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola® edition, we were ecstatic at the sight of a possible special edition smartphone done right.

Unboxing

Opening the box, there’s a Coca-Cola® bottle outline that you can peel to get the papers you’ll need…

…or you can just open it from the top side.

Inside, you can find cool, branded DIY stickers.

There are also a limited number card and a custom-made SIM ejector tool resembling a bottle cap.

Underneath, you can find the smartphone’s essentials.

There’s the 33W SuperVOOC adapter…

…and a USB-C to USB-A cable.

It comes with a transparent case so you can see the Coca-Cola® design clearly.

P.S. You can plaster the jelly case with the DIY stickers included in the box.

In true Coca-Cola® fashion

Everything from the box up to the smartphone, the Coca-Cola® branding stood out as a refreshing take on special edition smartphones. The collaboration is somewhat reminiscent of partnerships between tech brands and high fashion.

For most people, the design can be a bit tacky. But I know all too well that there are people who are true Coca-Cola® fans, willing to parade their special edition smartphone. (My best friend is one!)

Moreover, the units got sold out upon launching on realme’s official channels. For that to happen, I knew right away they did something right.

Coca-Cola® inside and out

Most special edition smartphones don’t care about the user interface and experience after plastering their designs on the phone’s back panel and the box.

The realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola® Edition is a different breed. Its lock screen comes with a dynamic soda fizz bubble effect, and the skin for realme UI follows a retro red and black palette, sticking to the Coca-Cola® branding.

It also comes with exclusive 80s cola filters, and to make it even more refreshing, the camera shutter mimics the popping sound of a freshly-opened bottle of Coke® when taking photos.

Furthermore, you can customize the ringtone and notification sounds using nostalgic Coca-Cola® jingles.

Just like the realme 10 Pro 5G

It isn’t just bells and whistles for this smartphone. After all, it’s still the realme 10 Pro 5G housing a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, a 5000mAh battery, and 256GB of internal storage.

If you haven’t read our review (which I suggest you should), take the time to peruse it and see why this smartphone is an ultra-reliable phone with numerous enhancements.

READ: realme 10 Pro 5G review: Putting ‘boundless’ in mid-range phones

But if you don’t have the luxury of time… in a nutshell, the realme 10 Pro 5G is a worthy midrange pickup. It’s got a display worth looking at, next-level specs that let you play and multitask, magical cameras for a smartphone with an affordable price point, and a smooth AF performance.

Price and availability

The realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola® Edition retails for PhP 18,499 via Shopee.

On the other hand, the realme 10 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB) retails for PhP 16,999. Meanwhile, the realme 10 Pro+ 5G starts at PhP 19,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant and PhP 24,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant.

The smartphones are available in stores and in realme’s official online channels.

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First Look

Vibe Check: Huawei P60 Pro

Another smartphone photography champ?

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The Huawei P60 Series launched in China some time late March 2023. The company flew GadgetMatch along with other members of the media to Shenzen, China and to experience the P60 Pro. Here’s our initial impressions after spending roughly around 24 hours with it.

That camera module is distinct 

Whether you like how it looks or not, one thing you can say for sure about the camera module on the Huawei P60 Pro is that it’s unique. There’s literally nothing else in the market that looks like it.

Housed in that module is the crowning feature of the P60 Pro — its full set of cameras. Here are the numbers: 

  • 48MP main (wide) camera with a Dual Variable aperture system
  • 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
  • 48MP f/2.1 telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom

The Dual Variable aperture system lets users switch between f/1.4-4.0. Different focal lengths for different shooting scenarios. Huawei is confident that this, along with their robust AI, will produce the smartphone images to date. 

Sample photos

So, what kind of images does the P60 Pro produce? Here are a few shots we took over the past 24 hours. 

Day time, through hotel window

Day time, outdoors

Portrait and faces

Day time indoors, cafe

Ddalgi

Food

10x Zoom

1x and 10x Zoom

Late afternoon, outdoors

Night time, through hotel window

Bonus: Black Swan

Per usual, the photos above were taken in auto mode and were only resized for faster loading. The colors are consistent with what you see in real life with just the right amount of oomph. There’s a fair amount of detail retained whether you’re shooting with the main wide camera or up to 10x Zoom.

We’ll have more chances to discuss the image outputs and overall photography experience in future articles. For now, enjoy the quick snaps above.

Black and white

The Huawei P60 Pro comes in two colors: Black and white. The black one has a feathered glass texture while the white one is made with Rococo Pearl. Fun fact: Huawei says there are no two Rococo Pearl variants that will look exactly alike because of how it’s made.

The phone also has what the company is calling a quad-curve design. This means edges of the phone from both front and back curves to the side. In our experience, this helps make the phone easier to hold.

Watch this quick video. 

The curved display is 6.67″ and has a Full HD+ resolution and based on the LTPO OLED technology. Refresh rate is a dynamic 1~120Hz with support for DCI-P3 wide color gamut plus 1.07 Billion Colors. It’s also TÜV Rheinland certified. It’s also protected by the tough Kunlun Glass. The punch-hole cutout houses a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle (UWA) front camera.

More specs 

Inside the P60 Pro are a flagship-grade Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and Adreno 730. Storage goes up to 1TB.

It has a Silicon-Carbon battery with a capacity of 5100mAh. Still, it has the 88W Huawei SuperCharge capability of its Pro sibling. The power brick also has a cool dual-port design. This means whether you have a USB-A to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C cable, you’ll be able to use it. Just not at the same time.

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