November Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

And just like that, we’re done with another month. And since it’s already December, let’s welcome this month with a recap of all the gadgets we’ve reviewed. This includes the Sony Xperia Z5, Huawei Mate S, Lenovo Vibe P1, and Alcatel Flash 2. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for November 2015.

Full Review

iON Adventure Action Camera

The iON Adventure, although with somewhat outdated specs, still proved to be a handy device for short and casual shooting with its impressive video quality but might not be the best option for its price. We liked that it could also double as a dashcam but I personally would rather have a good action camera and just get a cheap dashcam if I wanted to have both.

HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635

The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635 retails for Php 4,499 with a black and a tri-color cartridge included. Like most HP Ink Advantage printers, the printer is costlier than the competition but the original cartridges cost are cheaper. In the long run, it will be a great investment.

ZUK Z1

Combining a minimal yet mixed look and a software well-integrated to perform, the ZUK Z1 is poised to stand up against the competition as a bang-for-the-buck device. At Php15,299, you get to have a smartphone capable of offering great performance with good battery life and added features in tow.

Huawei Mate S

The Huawei Mate S has got everything you will need in a flagship smartphone — beautiful design and build quality, impressive performance, great camera, good battery life with a few extra sprinkles of goodness. Definitely better than the Mate 7 and just an inch ahead of the P8.

Lenovo Vibe P1

It’s difficult not to like the Vibe P1. It has a premium build with an attractive design, generous quality display, good CPU and RAM that can manage light to heavy tasks, good camera, fingerprint scanner, a slew of connectivity features, and a large 5,000mAh battery. It’s basically a tank! And you get all that for Php14,999 which is not bad.

LG G4 Beat

While most mid-range devices having 2GB of RAM, the LG G4 Beat only has 1.5GB. It could be just us nitpicking but for Php 12,990, we expected better. Nevertheless, LG was able to deliver in terms of design. The smartphone definite has good looks with average performance.

Sony Xperia Z5

The last time we considered an Xperia handset as the best smartphone of the year was back in the very first Xperia Z. This time around, the Xperia Z5 has all the makings of a strong flagship handset plus a few bells and whistles. It’s elegant, gorgeous and packs a mean punch.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is one of the most powerful pocket-friendly phones in the market today, and that could mean a price tag that would be as high as its AnTuTu benchmark score. It’s still an expensive phone despite being cheaper than the Z3 compact when it first launched last year. At Php29,990, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is a great buy for those looking for a smaller alternative to the Xperia Z5.

Infinix Hot Note

To conclude, the Infinix Hot Note is not the type of smartphone that will dazzle you with its design or features. What it is offering to the consumers is a smartphone that can last you up to two days and can handle the most important tasks even gaming without breaking the bank.

Alcatel Flash 2

For just Php 6,190, you’ll get an Android smartphone offering LTE, quality HD screen, and superb build. The camera might not perform well in all scenarios but it is acceptable given the price of the device. If you’re a first time smartphone buyer or looking for a new mid-range device for your awaited upgrade, the Alcatel Flash 2 is definitely a good buy.

Neo Shift N81

The Neo Shift N81 is the kind of dual-booting tablet that also wants to be a 2-in-1 convertible tablet. In concept, it is very likable, it has a decent screen real-estate, 3G connectivity, capable hardware spec, portable build, pre-loaded with Windows 10, and already has a keyboard dock included. And it doesn’t cost much at Php8,999.

Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3

The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 is that kind of smartphone that not only looks good but also performs well. It is a solid multimedia device thanks to its 5.5-inch Full HD display and loud dual-front facing speakers. The Snapdragon 615 octa-core CPU and 2GB RAM can keep up with different types of users – light to heavy. Not to mention, it’s bundled with a smart watch.

Quick Review

Huawei G8

If you’re looking for a smartphone built with premium quality at Php17,990, a price range that’s less than that of the flagships, the Huawei G8 can surely deliver with an all-metal unibody, a good performance, and a great camera. The elegance it exudes from the build and aesthetics alone does justify the price tag, and can surely compete along with other new contenders in the mid-range wars.

The post November Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

And just like that, September is over. And to start the first week of October we’ve curated all the gadget reviews we’ve done last month. This includes the Zenfone 2 Laser, Lenovo A7000 Plus, OPPO R7 Plus, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for September 2015.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser

ASUS has a strong yet affordable offering with the Zenfone 2 Laser. At Php7,695 for the 5-inch ZE500KL model, and Php8,695 for the 5.5-inch, ZE550KL model, buyers can get a Lollipop-powered smartphone with a good build and design, decent display and performance, and great battery life. Add to that the more than capable 13 megapixel shooter with Laser-guided autofocus which appeals to casual shooters who demand better AF performance.

JBL Cinema SB400 Soundbar

The JBL Cinema SB400 soundbar is a solid performer. It can be easily set up with the soundbar capable of being hung or placed in front of the television, while its subwoofer (although heavy) could be situated anywhere in the room and communicate to the central speaker via Bluetooth. It is currently priced at Php29,999, and as a whole is a good investment/starting point if you’re new to setting up your own home theater.

ASUS SBW-06D2X-U External Blu-ray Writer

The ASUS SBW-06D2X-U is a well-performing external Blu-ray writer that offers a wealth of features with an eye-catching design. It doesn’t require rocket science to set up, and pretty much covers almost all of your CD/DVD/Blu-ray burning needs.

Lenovo K80

The Lenovo K80 is a good smartphone with a good display, performance, camera, and battery life. However, it is hindered with a flawed firmware and bloatware. Although it is slated to receive Android Lollipop, it is stuck in KitKat with a broken OTA updater. Like the K3 Note, it’s not officially offered in the country so you will have to rely on imported units. On the up side, it doesn’t cost much at Php9,990.

Zumi Dashboard Camera

During our time with the Zumi dashcam, we would say that it gets the job done of recording your travels decently. It’s also pretty straightforward to use and comes packed with handy features normally seen on more expensive models.

Lenovo A7000 Plus

The A7000 Plus brings to the table what we loved about the K3 Note with some improvements – good display and build, very capable processor, LTE connectivity with dual-SIM, above average battery life, a firmware optimized for our marketm and a Php7,999 price tag.

Marshall Major II Headphones

The Marshall Major II still maintained the same SRP upon launch at Php4,650. Considering its price, it still is pretty affordable for what it offers — a looker with its rugged attitude and is light to bring around. The pads sometimes strain the ears but still remains secured even when you move around. Performance-wise, we commend it for being consistent at providing balanced sound across the spectrum.

LG G4 Stylus

The LG G4 Stylus is a stylish and good-looking smartphone with a nice large display and a decent camera with Laser AF. It also comes with a stylus for those moments that you want to use it as a notepad. Although useful, the overall experience is impaired by the very limited RAM and internal storage. You can ignore this if you’re a very light user but for it’s asking price of Php10,990 it will be difficult considering that its competitors are offering better specs at a much lesser cost.

Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)

Categorized as a budget offering from Motorola, the Moto E has advantages over similar devices in terms of software, support, and trust. It carries the brand proudly and boasts Android to perform well without having monster specifications. With a price tag of Php 6,990, which is steeper compared to competing phones, you’ll get a clearly packaged smartphone and established Motorola experience.

Bose SoundLink Mini II

Overall, the Mini II performed really well and, like its predecessor, it is well-balanced yet versatile at the same time. Regardless of what genre of music you’re playing or just using it as an external player for watching movies this tiny speaker can certainly deliver. Those who want to use it as a speakerphone will be glad as it now has that feature. Plus, it now has a longer battery life compared to its predecessor.

OPPO R7 Plus

OPPO’s R7 Plus is an all-around solid performer. It belongs to the mid-range category, but we sometimes forget that due to its premium look and smooth performance. We used it for quite a while and we came across a fluid experience of gliding from app to app, took detailed shots with natural colors using its camera, and used the phone for up to 2 days on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

It is without a doubt that the Galaxy Note 5 is the most beautiful phablet Samsung has ever made. They certainly learned a lot from the positive reception of the Galaxy S6. Add to that the massive internal hardware upgrade they made along with some additional engineering feat.

The post September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

And just like that, September is over. And to start the first week of October we’ve curated all the gadget reviews we’ve done last month. This includes the Zenfone 2 Laser, Lenovo A7000 Plus, OPPO R7 Plus, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for September 2015.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser

ASUS has a strong yet affordable offering with the Zenfone 2 Laser. At Php7,695 for the 5-inch ZE500KL model, and Php8,695 for the 5.5-inch, ZE550KL model, buyers can get a Lollipop-powered smartphone with a good build and design, decent display and performance, and great battery life. Add to that the more than capable 13 megapixel shooter with Laser-guided autofocus which appeals to casual shooters who demand better AF performance.

JBL Cinema SB400 Soundbar

The JBL Cinema SB400 soundbar is a solid performer. It can be easily set up with the soundbar capable of being hung or placed in front of the television, while its subwoofer (although heavy) could be situated anywhere in the room and communicate to the central speaker via Bluetooth. It is currently priced at Php29,999, and as a whole is a good investment/starting point if you’re new to setting up your own home theater.

ASUS SBW-06D2X-U External Blu-ray Writer

The ASUS SBW-06D2X-U is a well-performing external Blu-ray writer that offers a wealth of features with an eye-catching design. It doesn’t require rocket science to set up, and pretty much covers almost all of your CD/DVD/Blu-ray burning needs.

Lenovo K80

The Lenovo K80 is a good smartphone with a good display, performance, camera, and battery life. However, it is hindered with a flawed firmware and bloatware. Although it is slated to receive Android Lollipop, it is stuck in KitKat with a broken OTA updater. Like the K3 Note, it’s not officially offered in the country so you will have to rely on imported units. On the up side, it doesn’t cost much at Php9,990.

Zumi Dashboard Camera

During our time with the Zumi dashcam, we would say that it gets the job done of recording your travels decently. It’s also pretty straightforward to use and comes packed with handy features normally seen on more expensive models.

Lenovo A7000 Plus

The A7000 Plus brings to the table what we loved about the K3 Note with some improvements – good display and build, very capable processor, LTE connectivity with dual-SIM, above average battery life, a firmware optimized for our marketm and a Php7,999 price tag.

Marshall Major II Headphones

The Marshall Major II still maintained the same SRP upon launch at Php4,650. Considering its price, it still is pretty affordable for what it offers — a looker with its rugged attitude and is light to bring around. The pads sometimes strain the ears but still remains secured even when you move around. Performance-wise, we commend it for being consistent at providing balanced sound across the spectrum.

LG G4 Stylus

The LG G4 Stylus is a stylish and good-looking smartphone with a nice large display and a decent camera with Laser AF. It also comes with a stylus for those moments that you want to use it as a notepad. Although useful, the overall experience is impaired by the very limited RAM and internal storage. You can ignore this if you’re a very light user but for it’s asking price of Php10,990 it will be difficult considering that its competitors are offering better specs at a much lesser cost.

Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)

Categorized as a budget offering from Motorola, the Moto E has advantages over similar devices in terms of software, support, and trust. It carries the brand proudly and boasts Android to perform well without having monster specifications. With a price tag of Php 6,990, which is steeper compared to competing phones, you’ll get a clearly packaged smartphone and established Motorola experience.

Bose SoundLink Mini II

Overall, the Mini II performed really well and, like its predecessor, it is well-balanced yet versatile at the same time. Regardless of what genre of music you’re playing or just using it as an external player for watching movies this tiny speaker can certainly deliver. Those who want to use it as a speakerphone will be glad as it now has that feature. Plus, it now has a longer battery life compared to its predecessor.

OPPO R7 Plus

OPPO’s R7 Plus is an all-around solid performer. It belongs to the mid-range category, but we sometimes forget that due to its premium look and smooth performance. We used it for quite a while and we came across a fluid experience of gliding from app to app, took detailed shots with natural colors using its camera, and used the phone for up to 2 days on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

It is without a doubt that the Galaxy Note 5 is the most beautiful phablet Samsung has ever made. They certainly learned a lot from the positive reception of the Galaxy S6. Add to that the massive internal hardware upgrade they made along with some additional engineering feat.

The post September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

And just like that, September is over. And to start the first week of October we’ve curated all the gadget reviews we’ve done last month. This includes the Zenfone 2 Laser, Lenovo A7000 Plus, OPPO R7 Plus, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for September 2015.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser

ASUS has a strong yet affordable offering with the Zenfone 2 Laser. At Php7,695 for the 5-inch ZE500KL model, and Php8,695 for the 5.5-inch, ZE550KL model, buyers can get a Lollipop-powered smartphone with a good build and design, decent display and performance, and great battery life. Add to that the more than capable 13 megapixel shooter with Laser-guided autofocus which appeals to casual shooters who demand better AF performance.

JBL Cinema SB400 Soundbar

The JBL Cinema SB400 soundbar is a solid performer. It can be easily set up with the soundbar capable of being hung or placed in front of the television, while its subwoofer (although heavy) could be situated anywhere in the room and communicate to the central speaker via Bluetooth. It is currently priced at Php29,999, and as a whole is a good investment/starting point if you’re new to setting up your own home theater.

ASUS SBW-06D2X-U External Blu-ray Writer

The ASUS SBW-06D2X-U is a well-performing external Blu-ray writer that offers a wealth of features with an eye-catching design. It doesn’t require rocket science to set up, and pretty much covers almost all of your CD/DVD/Blu-ray burning needs.

Lenovo K80

The Lenovo K80 is a good smartphone with a good display, performance, camera, and battery life. However, it is hindered with a flawed firmware and bloatware. Although it is slated to receive Android Lollipop, it is stuck in KitKat with a broken OTA updater. Like the K3 Note, it’s not officially offered in the country so you will have to rely on imported units. On the up side, it doesn’t cost much at Php9,990.

Zumi Dashboard Camera

During our time with the Zumi dashcam, we would say that it gets the job done of recording your travels decently. It’s also pretty straightforward to use and comes packed with handy features normally seen on more expensive models.

Lenovo A7000 Plus

The A7000 Plus brings to the table what we loved about the K3 Note with some improvements – good display and build, very capable processor, LTE connectivity with dual-SIM, above average battery life, a firmware optimized for our marketm and a Php7,999 price tag.

Marshall Major II Headphones

The Marshall Major II still maintained the same SRP upon launch at Php4,650. Considering its price, it still is pretty affordable for what it offers — a looker with its rugged attitude and is light to bring around. The pads sometimes strain the ears but still remains secured even when you move around. Performance-wise, we commend it for being consistent at providing balanced sound across the spectrum.

LG G4 Stylus

The LG G4 Stylus is a stylish and good-looking smartphone with a nice large display and a decent camera with Laser AF. It also comes with a stylus for those moments that you want to use it as a notepad. Although useful, the overall experience is impaired by the very limited RAM and internal storage. You can ignore this if you’re a very light user but for it’s asking price of Php10,990 it will be difficult considering that its competitors are offering better specs at a much lesser cost.

Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)

Categorized as a budget offering from Motorola, the Moto E has advantages over similar devices in terms of software, support, and trust. It carries the brand proudly and boasts Android to perform well without having monster specifications. With a price tag of Php 6,990, which is steeper compared to competing phones, you’ll get a clearly packaged smartphone and established Motorola experience.

Bose SoundLink Mini II

Overall, the Mini II performed really well and, like its predecessor, it is well-balanced yet versatile at the same time. Regardless of what genre of music you’re playing or just using it as an external player for watching movies this tiny speaker can certainly deliver. Those who want to use it as a speakerphone will be glad as it now has that feature. Plus, it now has a longer battery life compared to its predecessor.

OPPO R7 Plus

OPPO’s R7 Plus is an all-around solid performer. It belongs to the mid-range category, but we sometimes forget that due to its premium look and smooth performance. We used it for quite a while and we came across a fluid experience of gliding from app to app, took detailed shots with natural colors using its camera, and used the phone for up to 2 days on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

It is without a doubt that the Galaxy Note 5 is the most beautiful phablet Samsung has ever made. They certainly learned a lot from the positive reception of the Galaxy S6. Add to that the massive internal hardware upgrade they made along with some additional engineering feat.

The post September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

And just like that, September is over. And to start the first week of October we’ve curated all the gadget reviews we’ve done last month. This includes the Zenfone 2 Laser, Lenovo A7000 Plus, OPPO R7 Plus, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for September 2015.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser

ASUS has a strong yet affordable offering with the Zenfone 2 Laser. At Php7,695 for the 5-inch ZE500KL model, and Php8,695 for the 5.5-inch, ZE550KL model, buyers can get a Lollipop-powered smartphone with a good build and design, decent display and performance, and great battery life. Add to that the more than capable 13 megapixel shooter with Laser-guided autofocus which appeals to casual shooters who demand better AF performance.

JBL Cinema SB400 Soundbar

The JBL Cinema SB400 soundbar is a solid performer. It can be easily set up with the soundbar capable of being hung or placed in front of the television, while its subwoofer (although heavy) could be situated anywhere in the room and communicate to the central speaker via Bluetooth. It is currently priced at Php29,999, and as a whole is a good investment/starting point if you’re new to setting up your own home theater.

ASUS SBW-06D2X-U External Blu-ray Writer

The ASUS SBW-06D2X-U is a well-performing external Blu-ray writer that offers a wealth of features with an eye-catching design. It doesn’t require rocket science to set up, and pretty much covers almost all of your CD/DVD/Blu-ray burning needs.

Lenovo K80

The Lenovo K80 is a good smartphone with a good display, performance, camera, and battery life. However, it is hindered with a flawed firmware and bloatware. Although it is slated to receive Android Lollipop, it is stuck in KitKat with a broken OTA updater. Like the K3 Note, it’s not officially offered in the country so you will have to rely on imported units. On the up side, it doesn’t cost much at Php9,990.

Zumi Dashboard Camera

During our time with the Zumi dashcam, we would say that it gets the job done of recording your travels decently. It’s also pretty straightforward to use and comes packed with handy features normally seen on more expensive models.

Lenovo A7000 Plus

The A7000 Plus brings to the table what we loved about the K3 Note with some improvements – good display and build, very capable processor, LTE connectivity with dual-SIM, above average battery life, a firmware optimized for our marketm and a Php7,999 price tag.

Marshall Major II Headphones

The Marshall Major II still maintained the same SRP upon launch at Php4,650. Considering its price, it still is pretty affordable for what it offers — a looker with its rugged attitude and is light to bring around. The pads sometimes strain the ears but still remains secured even when you move around. Performance-wise, we commend it for being consistent at providing balanced sound across the spectrum.

LG G4 Stylus

The LG G4 Stylus is a stylish and good-looking smartphone with a nice large display and a decent camera with Laser AF. It also comes with a stylus for those moments that you want to use it as a notepad. Although useful, the overall experience is impaired by the very limited RAM and internal storage. You can ignore this if you’re a very light user but for it’s asking price of Php10,990 it will be difficult considering that its competitors are offering better specs at a much lesser cost.

Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)

Categorized as a budget offering from Motorola, the Moto E has advantages over similar devices in terms of software, support, and trust. It carries the brand proudly and boasts Android to perform well without having monster specifications. With a price tag of Php 6,990, which is steeper compared to competing phones, you’ll get a clearly packaged smartphone and established Motorola experience.

Bose SoundLink Mini II

Overall, the Mini II performed really well and, like its predecessor, it is well-balanced yet versatile at the same time. Regardless of what genre of music you’re playing or just using it as an external player for watching movies this tiny speaker can certainly deliver. Those who want to use it as a speakerphone will be glad as it now has that feature. Plus, it now has a longer battery life compared to its predecessor.

OPPO R7 Plus

OPPO’s R7 Plus is an all-around solid performer. It belongs to the mid-range category, but we sometimes forget that due to its premium look and smooth performance. We used it for quite a while and we came across a fluid experience of gliding from app to app, took detailed shots with natural colors using its camera, and used the phone for up to 2 days on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

It is without a doubt that the Galaxy Note 5 is the most beautiful phablet Samsung has ever made. They certainly learned a lot from the positive reception of the Galaxy S6. Add to that the massive internal hardware upgrade they made along with some additional engineering feat.

The post September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.