March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

It’s a new month once again so we’re here to give you a roundup of all the devices we’ve reviewed recently. This includes the HTC Desire Eye, Cherry Mobile One, Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM, Meizu M1 Note, ASUS Zenfone C, the expensive Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers, and a number of affordable AWEI headphones. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for the month of March.

GRR-March2015

Full Review:

HTC Desire Eye

The Desire Eye, like many other HTC smartphones before it, is a thing of beauty. It is a well rounded, well-equipped handset that puts everything else in place. It has a good front-facing camera, great performance, water-resistant body, and excellent battery life.

 

Cherry Mobile One

For Php3,999 people can now own a Google-tested device without breaking the bank and be one of the first to receive the latest Android flavors when it comes out. And for a budget-conscious market like ours that’s a very good thing.

 

CloudFone CloudPad One 7.0

For Php7K you have a 7-inch tablet that performs well on casual browsing and video-watching. It comes across hangs and lags every once in a while, but could still get better once a newer update of Lollipop rolls out. Battery life is also impressive — which makes it something that would prove useful to bring around when you’re on-the-go.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite Headphones

So what do you get for almost Php12K? For one, you get a stylish pair of headphones that demand some quick glances from people as you walk the streets with its design. Build quality is also top-notch as we were confident enough to put serious amount of stress on its headband during our time with it. Sound quality is balanced all around with lows, mids, and highs unified.

 

AWEI TS-150vi In-Ear Headphones

The TS-150vi is capable of producing sounds of acceptable to good quality. It’s good with RnB, Acoustic, Jazz and Rock music but falls a bit short when it comes to the bassy Hip Hop and Club. Design-wise, its sporty look should appeal to people with active lifestyles. Quality-wise, it feels cheap which is the same thing I can say for its price. The Awei TS-150vi only costs Php490 which is less expensive than most in-ear headphones out there.

 

Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers

This flagship speaker from Bose deserves to be the headliner in its home theater series. The speakers are easy to squeeze and blends effortlessly into any living room, sound quality is life-like, you have a sub-woofer that pumps out chest-shaking lows, it easily fills a large living room, and finally don’t forget about its easy setup.

 

AWEI ES-Q5 Noise Isolation Earphones

Priced at a little over Php200, the AWEI ES-Q5 delivered above-average sound quality for the value it’s asking for. There’s no in-line microphone or navigation buttons but you get a nice in-ear that you can easily bring around with, and has a nice touch of nature too. Is it a good buy? Yes. We’re just not sure about the durability of these in the long run, but for 200 pesos it doesn’t hurt the pocket that much.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Headphones

Both the Urbanite and Urbanite XL have the same neat and easily-noticeable design, while having premium materials comprising it. They have commendable sound performance with slight differences, but overall provide an enjoyable musical experience. Comfort is also aced by both models so it’s just up to you if you prefer the feel of having bigger cups — although choosing the XL will set you back Php4K more.

 

AWEI ES100M In-Ear Headphones

Overall, its performance is better than most stock earphones that you see bundled with a phone. We’ve pointed this before on our previous AWEI review and it’s still the case here. What we’re seeing here is that the company is offering better alternatives for music-listeners that don’t want to break their banks.

 

AWEI ES900i In-Ear Headphones

The ES900i is like the opposite of the TS-150vi. It’s good when it comes to bass but doesn’t exercise a lot of control when it comes to trebles. It’s still a very good pair though considering its price. You won’t get in-line controls like the TS-150vi but you’ll get tangle-free flat cables and a much better build. And for just Php349, it certainly won’t break the bank.

 

Meizu M1 Note

There’s really no reason why shouldn’t go for the Meizu M1 Note if you have the money to buy it. The handset offers respectable performance, it’s got great design albeit undeniably patterned to the iPhone 5C and the battery life is outstanding, making it difficult to pass up the sweet Php7,990 deal that Novo7 Tech is billing for this exceptional mid-range smartphone.

 

Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth Speaker

The Bowers & Wilkins T7 is one of the nicest-looking Bluetooth speakers we’ve used so far. It supports aptX technology, has great quality and build, a simple yet attractive design, and long battery life. Sound-wise, the T7 can produce really good sounds that should satisfy listeners of all kinds of music. Overall, the T7 is a great Bluetooth speaker.

 

HTC Re

It’s a fun, nice-looking and easy to use action camera that deserves a second look (especially if you’re an HTC fan). One minor concern though is the lack of accessories, even a carrying case.

 

Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM

With an asking price with just a little over Php4K, the Lumia 435 Dual-SIM is a good phone to keep in mind if you find yourself having affinity for Windows phones and at the same time are tight on budget. We had some trouble with our Microsoft account but it carried everyday tasks smoothly. The need to convert high-res videos into lower resolution is cumbersome, but on the bright side the speakers are powerful which is not common for entry-level phones.

 

Asus Zenfone C

The Zenfone C is a decent entry-level smartphone with an adequate performance. Marking itself as one of the most affordable Intel-equipped smartphones in the market today, its lauded design and build also seen on its other siblings, the increased screen size and battery capacity, and the software skin that is of the ZenUI are some of its great points not to be missed out.

 

Quick Review:

JBL Clip

If we are to bring a compact speaker for a trek or hike, we will definitely include the JBL Clip to our choices. Its portable design and loud yet clear output is already a good selling point. Add to that the Bluetooth and hands-free feature. However, the lack of water-proofing is a let-down. With an SRP of Php2,995, it is a good option for those who need it.

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

March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

It’s a new month once again so we’re here to give you a roundup of all the devices we’ve reviewed recently. This includes the HTC Desire Eye, Cherry Mobile One, Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM, Meizu M1 Note, ASUS Zenfone C, the expensive Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers, and a number of affordable AWEI headphones. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for the month of March.

GRR-March2015

Full Review:

HTC Desire Eye

The Desire Eye, like many other HTC smartphones before it, is a thing of beauty. It is a well rounded, well-equipped handset that puts everything else in place. It has a good front-facing camera, great performance, water-resistant body, and excellent battery life.

 

Cherry Mobile One

For Php3,999 people can now own a Google-tested device without breaking the bank and be one of the first to receive the latest Android flavors when it comes out. And for a budget-conscious market like ours that’s a very good thing.

 

CloudFone CloudPad One 7.0

For Php7K you have a 7-inch tablet that performs well on casual browsing and video-watching. It comes across hangs and lags every once in a while, but could still get better once a newer update of Lollipop rolls out. Battery life is also impressive — which makes it something that would prove useful to bring around when you’re on-the-go.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite Headphones

So what do you get for almost Php12K? For one, you get a stylish pair of headphones that demand some quick glances from people as you walk the streets with its design. Build quality is also top-notch as we were confident enough to put serious amount of stress on its headband during our time with it. Sound quality is balanced all around with lows, mids, and highs unified.

 

AWEI TS-150vi In-Ear Headphones

The TS-150vi is capable of producing sounds of acceptable to good quality. It’s good with RnB, Acoustic, Jazz and Rock music but falls a bit short when it comes to the bassy Hip Hop and Club. Design-wise, its sporty look should appeal to people with active lifestyles. Quality-wise, it feels cheap which is the same thing I can say for its price. The Awei TS-150vi only costs Php490 which is less expensive than most in-ear headphones out there.

 

Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers

This flagship speaker from Bose deserves to be the headliner in its home theater series. The speakers are easy to squeeze and blends effortlessly into any living room, sound quality is life-like, you have a sub-woofer that pumps out chest-shaking lows, it easily fills a large living room, and finally don’t forget about its easy setup.

 

AWEI ES-Q5 Noise Isolation Earphones

Priced at a little over Php200, the AWEI ES-Q5 delivered above-average sound quality for the value it’s asking for. There’s no in-line microphone or navigation buttons but you get a nice in-ear that you can easily bring around with, and has a nice touch of nature too. Is it a good buy? Yes. We’re just not sure about the durability of these in the long run, but for 200 pesos it doesn’t hurt the pocket that much.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Headphones

Both the Urbanite and Urbanite XL have the same neat and easily-noticeable design, while having premium materials comprising it. They have commendable sound performance with slight differences, but overall provide an enjoyable musical experience. Comfort is also aced by both models so it’s just up to you if you prefer the feel of having bigger cups — although choosing the XL will set you back Php4K more.

 

AWEI ES100M In-Ear Headphones

Overall, its performance is better than most stock earphones that you see bundled with a phone. We’ve pointed this before on our previous AWEI review and it’s still the case here. What we’re seeing here is that the company is offering better alternatives for music-listeners that don’t want to break their banks.

 

AWEI ES900i In-Ear Headphones

The ES900i is like the opposite of the TS-150vi. It’s good when it comes to bass but doesn’t exercise a lot of control when it comes to trebles. It’s still a very good pair though considering its price. You won’t get in-line controls like the TS-150vi but you’ll get tangle-free flat cables and a much better build. And for just Php349, it certainly won’t break the bank.

 

Meizu M1 Note

There’s really no reason why shouldn’t go for the Meizu M1 Note if you have the money to buy it. The handset offers respectable performance, it’s got great design albeit undeniably patterned to the iPhone 5C and the battery life is outstanding, making it difficult to pass up the sweet Php7,990 deal that Novo7 Tech is billing for this exceptional mid-range smartphone.

 

Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth Speaker

The Bowers & Wilkins T7 is one of the nicest-looking Bluetooth speakers we’ve used so far. It supports aptX technology, has great quality and build, a simple yet attractive design, and long battery life. Sound-wise, the T7 can produce really good sounds that should satisfy listeners of all kinds of music. Overall, the T7 is a great Bluetooth speaker.

 

HTC Re

It’s a fun, nice-looking and easy to use action camera that deserves a second look (especially if you’re an HTC fan). One minor concern though is the lack of accessories, even a carrying case.

 

Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM

With an asking price with just a little over Php4K, the Lumia 435 Dual-SIM is a good phone to keep in mind if you find yourself having affinity for Windows phones and at the same time are tight on budget. We had some trouble with our Microsoft account but it carried everyday tasks smoothly. The need to convert high-res videos into lower resolution is cumbersome, but on the bright side the speakers are powerful which is not common for entry-level phones.

 

Asus Zenfone C

The Zenfone C is a decent entry-level smartphone with an adequate performance. Marking itself as one of the most affordable Intel-equipped smartphones in the market today, its lauded design and build also seen on its other siblings, the increased screen size and battery capacity, and the software skin that is of the ZenUI are some of its great points not to be missed out.

 

Quick Review:

JBL Clip

If we are to bring a compact speaker for a trek or hike, we will definitely include the JBL Clip to our choices. Its portable design and loud yet clear output is already a good selling point. Add to that the Bluetooth and hands-free feature. However, the lack of water-proofing is a let-down. With an SRP of Php2,995, it is a good option for those who need it.

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

December Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014

Lazada Philippines

Here we go guys, our last Gadget Reviews Roundup for 2014. This includes the ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite, LG G Watch R, Sony Xperia Z3, BlackBerry Passport, Cherry Mobile Selfie, Nikon D810, and a few products from Bose. Check out all the gadgets we reviewed in December 2014.

Full Reviews

O+ 8.17

Having a form factor that deviates from the usual cheap-looking plastic, the O+ 8.17 isn’t something that will shy away when placed side-by-side other phones with bigger names. For the price of Php10,995, you get a pretty good deal that comes with Sennheiser in-ear plugs and 8GB Sandisk microSD card for additional storage.

Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph

We like the Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph, because it’s the local company telling us that it’s not only interested in bringing only Android to the Philippines. With a 10.1-inch Windows 8.1 convertible coming from Cherry Mobile, people may finally be able to get some work done for just Php11,999.

Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker

The Bose SoundLink Color is an amazing speaker that comes in a portable package. It doesn’t have fancy features like waterproofing or NFC but it has a nice build and youthful appearance which very well compliment the sound quality it produces. Although small, it is loud and has a good battery life.

Bose QC25 Noise-cancelling Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort 25, assuming you’re into constantly listening to music, is one of those headphones that would be on your Christmas list for two reasons: One is because of all the niceties you’ll get when you buy it, and the other one is because it’s steeply-priced at Php20,000. For an average person, it’s not something you’d see and decide to buy instantly.

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

To conclude, the Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth headphones is an amazing wireless audio device that can produce great sounds. Regardless of what type of music you listen to this headphone can deliver it very well. In addition, it’s portable, comfortable, has Bluetooth connectivity, can accept calls, and has a long battery life. It’s a bit expensive though at Php13,500 but you won’t be disappointed.

LG G3 Stylus Dual

The LG G3 Stylus Dual is a smartphone with a decent performance. It has a great camera, a crisp and loud speaker, a great battery life, and OS functions same of the flagship device. If you’re eyeing to buy the G3 but you are out of budget, this is definitely a good alternative.

Happy Mobile Oracle

The Happy Mobile Oracle is a very capable device with a nice looking design, thin but sturdy body, better than average display, decent performance and Android KitKat. However it is ruined by the very limited non-expandable storage, ugly default UI skin, and below average battery life. And for its asking price of Php9,999 that’s too steep given its shortcomings.

Sony Xperia Z3

The Xperia Z3 remains to be one of the most gorgeous and well-designed smartphone ever made. The great hardware, impressive performance, connectivity with other Sony devices and appliances are all packed in a sleek, weather-proof, glass sandwich body. One can no longer ask for anything more.

O+ 360

O+ and its rear touch technology on its 360 smartphone series is taking a good track — the feature can be useful for those who want a distraction-free reading by offering navigation at the back. This also, however, proved to be a bit of a nuisance for the common screen-swiping Juan whose experience may be ruined when he’s not careful on what his fingers are resting upon the back of the device. At Php6,395, the 360 is a good deal if you do not mind having bad audio quality and a measly 2000mAh battery capacity.

Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL

The Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL has a respectable design and build quality, ample screen size with decent quality, and a good camera and battery life. However, its Php6,999 price tag puts it in a rather awkward spot between dirt-cheap octa-cores like the Phoenix X1 or the Excite 501o and other more premium offerings like Happy Mobile Oracle or the new Kata i4.

Luxa2 Groovy W Wireless Charging Speaker

The Luxa2 Groovy W is a wireless speaker that can definitely be a travel buddy. It’s not that compact but its functionality regarding charging batteries is a good backup plan for your devices when no outlet is in the area. Sound quality is good, but with minor gripes. It also gives you a choice in terms of connectivity whether to use Bluetooth or NFC although in our case, NFC didn’t work at all.

Nikon D810

There’s not a lot you can do to improve something that’s already great to begin with. It’s a double-edged sword for Nikon; on one hand they’re already off to great start and would only have to make minor refinements for the D810, on the other hand, they can only do so much with the next iteration that some D800/D800E users may not find the need to upgrade to the latest model.

Quick Reviews

LG L Fino

It is a well-balanced phone with smooth performance and fantastic software touches. Though, for Php 7,990, it doesn’t have an HD screen, HD video recording, and an HD front camera. Basically, everything high definition is removed from the L Fino.

ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite

The Lite version of the Zenfone 5 is a good alternative to other local phones in the same price range. But if you would compare it to the original Zenfone 5, we think it lost a fair amount of traits that made the Zenfone 5 a hot device in the market. Priced at Php5,595, you only save Php900 from getting the Zenfone 5 that has HD display, 2GB RAM, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. On the other hand, you get more juice with its bigger battery.

Bose SoundDock XT

The Bose SoundDock XT is definitely aimed mainly at Apple users, with its capability of playing music from other devices only coming as secondary. It’s got limited connectivity, lacking AirPlay or even just Bluetooth; but will try to win you over with its attractive design. Portability is also out of the question since it relies solely on cabled power. Sound quality is overall impressive, considering the speaker is not that big.

BlackBerry Passport

All-in-all, the BlackBerry Passport is a solid release. It’s powerful, nicely designed and carries a physical keyboard that we rarely see these days. If you are willing to shell out Php35,790 for a unit, then that should say how much you really like this device.

LG G Watch R

The LG G Watch R is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chip with 512MB RAM and Android Wear . It is also water and dust resistant, giving you some level of confidence whenever the watch gets the occasional splash. With an SRP of Php13,990, we feel it’s a bit above the usual price for a smartwatch. We still think the G Watch R is a looker of a smartwatch.

Swans M10 2.1 Speakers

The Swans M10 is one of those speakers that looks really simple and straightforward, but don’t let that fool you as it’s got a decent sound reproduction for both music and movies. Volume can go loud but turning it up to maximum creates slight distortion so just keep it at a nice level to enjoy it. Sound quality-wise, it could be compared to Microlab and Creative speakers.

DTC Fiesta Plus

The DTC Fiesta Plus is a capable device that is aimed at users who want a smartphone with a large screen for watching videos or playing games at an affordable price. Unfortunately, it’s running an aging Android Jelly Bean OS which is a real downer considering that buyers are now expecting KitKat for a phone with this kind of hardware.

Luxa2 Groovy T Magic Boom Box Speaker

If you’re looking for a simple music player that effectively does its job, the Luxa2 Groovy T is one of the devices to consider. It’s also competitively-priced at just Php750 so those minor niggles aren’t really something to complain about. It will be available starting this January 2015.

Happy Mobile D-Lite

For the price of Php2,699, the Happy Mobile D-Lite is a great phone. It has specs that perform decently for its price, great audio recording, clean Android 4.4 KitKat and a beautiful and solid design. Unless you are willing to add more to get things like a better display, the D Lite does just fine.

DTC Jupiter Plus

The DTC Jupiter Plus is a decent device that with an interesting design, easy-to-hold body, and acceptable performance. However, it carries a high SRP of Php7,990 for a Jelly Bean-powered device. Even with their limited time offer of Php5,990, it will have a hard time competing with affordable offerings from other brands like the ASUS Zenfone 5 series which is priced under Php7k.

AKG Y40 On-Ear Headphones

The AKG Y40 is a cool-looking pair of headphones that aims to please bass lovers with a limited budget. It packs a good punch when it comes to lows but not so much on mids and highs. It doesn’t offer well-balanced sounds but if you like your tracks bassy or mostly listen to club and hip hop music, then the Y40 is a decent headphone to have.

Cherry Mobile Selfie

The Cherry Mobile Selfie is a product of today’s trend, especially here in the Philippines. As the selfie capital of the world, it’s understandable why the company designed a smartphone dedicated to imaging. The Selfie is a device with a good and attractive form factor, a fluid UI, and cameras that take good photos even in low-light areas.

Pioneer FREEme Bluetooth Speaker

The Pioneer FREEme is a good portable Bluetooth speaker with a classy design and appeal with decent sound quality. However, if you’re looking for something worthy to play your tracks for a small party this is not it. It’s great for boardrooms and offices thanks to its hands-free voice call feature. It’s also a good addition to your home office or living room for some casual music listening. And due to its portable size, you can easily bring it with you during trips.

The post December Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

December Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014

Lazada Philippines

Here we go guys, our last Gadget Reviews Roundup for 2014. This includes the ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite, LG G Watch R, Sony Xperia Z3, BlackBerry Passport, Cherry Mobile Selfie, Nikon D810, and a few products from Bose. Check out all the gadgets we reviewed in December 2014.

Full Reviews

O+ 8.17

Having a form factor that deviates from the usual cheap-looking plastic, the O+ 8.17 isn’t something that will shy away when placed side-by-side other phones with bigger names. For the price of Php10,995, you get a pretty good deal that comes with Sennheiser in-ear plugs and 8GB Sandisk microSD card for additional storage.

Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph

We like the Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph, because it’s the local company telling us that it’s not only interested in bringing only Android to the Philippines. With a 10.1-inch Windows 8.1 convertible coming from Cherry Mobile, people may finally be able to get some work done for just Php11,999.

Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker

The Bose SoundLink Color is an amazing speaker that comes in a portable package. It doesn’t have fancy features like waterproofing or NFC but it has a nice build and youthful appearance which very well compliment the sound quality it produces. Although small, it is loud and has a good battery life.

Bose QC25 Noise-cancelling Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort 25, assuming you’re into constantly listening to music, is one of those headphones that would be on your Christmas list for two reasons: One is because of all the niceties you’ll get when you buy it, and the other one is because it’s steeply-priced at Php20,000. For an average person, it’s not something you’d see and decide to buy instantly.

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

To conclude, the Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth headphones is an amazing wireless audio device that can produce great sounds. Regardless of what type of music you listen to this headphone can deliver it very well. In addition, it’s portable, comfortable, has Bluetooth connectivity, can accept calls, and has a long battery life. It’s a bit expensive though at Php13,500 but you won’t be disappointed.

LG G3 Stylus Dual

The LG G3 Stylus Dual is a smartphone with a decent performance. It has a great camera, a crisp and loud speaker, a great battery life, and OS functions same of the flagship device. If you’re eyeing to buy the G3 but you are out of budget, this is definitely a good alternative.

Happy Mobile Oracle

The Happy Mobile Oracle is a very capable device with a nice looking design, thin but sturdy body, better than average display, decent performance and Android KitKat. However it is ruined by the very limited non-expandable storage, ugly default UI skin, and below average battery life. And for its asking price of Php9,999 that’s too steep given its shortcomings.

Sony Xperia Z3

The Xperia Z3 remains to be one of the most gorgeous and well-designed smartphone ever made. The great hardware, impressive performance, connectivity with other Sony devices and appliances are all packed in a sleek, weather-proof, glass sandwich body. One can no longer ask for anything more.

O+ 360

O+ and its rear touch technology on its 360 smartphone series is taking a good track — the feature can be useful for those who want a distraction-free reading by offering navigation at the back. This also, however, proved to be a bit of a nuisance for the common screen-swiping Juan whose experience may be ruined when he’s not careful on what his fingers are resting upon the back of the device. At Php6,395, the 360 is a good deal if you do not mind having bad audio quality and a measly 2000mAh battery capacity.

Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL

The Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL has a respectable design and build quality, ample screen size with decent quality, and a good camera and battery life. However, its Php6,999 price tag puts it in a rather awkward spot between dirt-cheap octa-cores like the Phoenix X1 or the Excite 501o and other more premium offerings like Happy Mobile Oracle or the new Kata i4.

Luxa2 Groovy W Wireless Charging Speaker

The Luxa2 Groovy W is a wireless speaker that can definitely be a travel buddy. It’s not that compact but its functionality regarding charging batteries is a good backup plan for your devices when no outlet is in the area. Sound quality is good, but with minor gripes. It also gives you a choice in terms of connectivity whether to use Bluetooth or NFC although in our case, NFC didn’t work at all.

Nikon D810

There’s not a lot you can do to improve something that’s already great to begin with. It’s a double-edged sword for Nikon; on one hand they’re already off to great start and would only have to make minor refinements for the D810, on the other hand, they can only do so much with the next iteration that some D800/D800E users may not find the need to upgrade to the latest model.

Quick Reviews

LG L Fino

It is a well-balanced phone with smooth performance and fantastic software touches. Though, for Php 7,990, it doesn’t have an HD screen, HD video recording, and an HD front camera. Basically, everything high definition is removed from the L Fino.

ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite

The Lite version of the Zenfone 5 is a good alternative to other local phones in the same price range. But if you would compare it to the original Zenfone 5, we think it lost a fair amount of traits that made the Zenfone 5 a hot device in the market. Priced at Php5,595, you only save Php900 from getting the Zenfone 5 that has HD display, 2GB RAM, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. On the other hand, you get more juice with its bigger battery.

Bose SoundDock XT

The Bose SoundDock XT is definitely aimed mainly at Apple users, with its capability of playing music from other devices only coming as secondary. It’s got limited connectivity, lacking AirPlay or even just Bluetooth; but will try to win you over with its attractive design. Portability is also out of the question since it relies solely on cabled power. Sound quality is overall impressive, considering the speaker is not that big.

BlackBerry Passport

All-in-all, the BlackBerry Passport is a solid release. It’s powerful, nicely designed and carries a physical keyboard that we rarely see these days. If you are willing to shell out Php35,790 for a unit, then that should say how much you really like this device.

LG G Watch R

The LG G Watch R is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chip with 512MB RAM and Android Wear . It is also water and dust resistant, giving you some level of confidence whenever the watch gets the occasional splash. With an SRP of Php13,990, we feel it’s a bit above the usual price for a smartwatch. We still think the G Watch R is a looker of a smartwatch.

Swans M10 2.1 Speakers

The Swans M10 is one of those speakers that looks really simple and straightforward, but don’t let that fool you as it’s got a decent sound reproduction for both music and movies. Volume can go loud but turning it up to maximum creates slight distortion so just keep it at a nice level to enjoy it. Sound quality-wise, it could be compared to Microlab and Creative speakers.

DTC Fiesta Plus

The DTC Fiesta Plus is a capable device that is aimed at users who want a smartphone with a large screen for watching videos or playing games at an affordable price. Unfortunately, it’s running an aging Android Jelly Bean OS which is a real downer considering that buyers are now expecting KitKat for a phone with this kind of hardware.

Luxa2 Groovy T Magic Boom Box Speaker

If you’re looking for a simple music player that effectively does its job, the Luxa2 Groovy T is one of the devices to consider. It’s also competitively-priced at just Php750 so those minor niggles aren’t really something to complain about. It will be available starting this January 2015.

Happy Mobile D-Lite

For the price of Php2,699, the Happy Mobile D-Lite is a great phone. It has specs that perform decently for its price, great audio recording, clean Android 4.4 KitKat and a beautiful and solid design. Unless you are willing to add more to get things like a better display, the D Lite does just fine.

DTC Jupiter Plus

The DTC Jupiter Plus is a decent device that with an interesting design, easy-to-hold body, and acceptable performance. However, it carries a high SRP of Php7,990 for a Jelly Bean-powered device. Even with their limited time offer of Php5,990, it will have a hard time competing with affordable offerings from other brands like the ASUS Zenfone 5 series which is priced under Php7k.

AKG Y40 On-Ear Headphones

The AKG Y40 is a cool-looking pair of headphones that aims to please bass lovers with a limited budget. It packs a good punch when it comes to lows but not so much on mids and highs. It doesn’t offer well-balanced sounds but if you like your tracks bassy or mostly listen to club and hip hop music, then the Y40 is a decent headphone to have.

Cherry Mobile Selfie

The Cherry Mobile Selfie is a product of today’s trend, especially here in the Philippines. As the selfie capital of the world, it’s understandable why the company designed a smartphone dedicated to imaging. The Selfie is a device with a good and attractive form factor, a fluid UI, and cameras that take good photos even in low-light areas.

Pioneer FREEme Bluetooth Speaker

The Pioneer FREEme is a good portable Bluetooth speaker with a classy design and appeal with decent sound quality. However, if you’re looking for something worthy to play your tracks for a small party this is not it. It’s great for boardrooms and offices thanks to its hands-free voice call feature. It’s also a good addition to your home office or living room for some casual music listening. And due to its portable size, you can easily bring it with you during trips.

The post December Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

December Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014

Lazada Philippines

Here we go guys, our last Gadget Reviews Roundup for 2014. This includes the ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite, LG G Watch R, Sony Xperia Z3, BlackBerry Passport, Cherry Mobile Selfie, Nikon D810, and a few products from Bose. Check out all the gadgets we reviewed in December 2014.

Full Reviews

O+ 8.17

Having a form factor that deviates from the usual cheap-looking plastic, the O+ 8.17 isn’t something that will shy away when placed side-by-side other phones with bigger names. For the price of Php10,995, you get a pretty good deal that comes with Sennheiser in-ear plugs and 8GB Sandisk microSD card for additional storage.

Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph

We like the Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph, because it’s the local company telling us that it’s not only interested in bringing only Android to the Philippines. With a 10.1-inch Windows 8.1 convertible coming from Cherry Mobile, people may finally be able to get some work done for just Php11,999.

Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker

The Bose SoundLink Color is an amazing speaker that comes in a portable package. It doesn’t have fancy features like waterproofing or NFC but it has a nice build and youthful appearance which very well compliment the sound quality it produces. Although small, it is loud and has a good battery life.

Bose QC25 Noise-cancelling Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort 25, assuming you’re into constantly listening to music, is one of those headphones that would be on your Christmas list for two reasons: One is because of all the niceties you’ll get when you buy it, and the other one is because it’s steeply-priced at Php20,000. For an average person, it’s not something you’d see and decide to buy instantly.

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

To conclude, the Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth headphones is an amazing wireless audio device that can produce great sounds. Regardless of what type of music you listen to this headphone can deliver it very well. In addition, it’s portable, comfortable, has Bluetooth connectivity, can accept calls, and has a long battery life. It’s a bit expensive though at Php13,500 but you won’t be disappointed.

LG G3 Stylus Dual

The LG G3 Stylus Dual is a smartphone with a decent performance. It has a great camera, a crisp and loud speaker, a great battery life, and OS functions same of the flagship device. If you’re eyeing to buy the G3 but you are out of budget, this is definitely a good alternative.

Happy Mobile Oracle

The Happy Mobile Oracle is a very capable device with a nice looking design, thin but sturdy body, better than average display, decent performance and Android KitKat. However it is ruined by the very limited non-expandable storage, ugly default UI skin, and below average battery life. And for its asking price of Php9,999 that’s too steep given its shortcomings.

Sony Xperia Z3

The Xperia Z3 remains to be one of the most gorgeous and well-designed smartphone ever made. The great hardware, impressive performance, connectivity with other Sony devices and appliances are all packed in a sleek, weather-proof, glass sandwich body. One can no longer ask for anything more.

O+ 360

O+ and its rear touch technology on its 360 smartphone series is taking a good track — the feature can be useful for those who want a distraction-free reading by offering navigation at the back. This also, however, proved to be a bit of a nuisance for the common screen-swiping Juan whose experience may be ruined when he’s not careful on what his fingers are resting upon the back of the device. At Php6,395, the 360 is a good deal if you do not mind having bad audio quality and a measly 2000mAh battery capacity.

Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL

The Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL has a respectable design and build quality, ample screen size with decent quality, and a good camera and battery life. However, its Php6,999 price tag puts it in a rather awkward spot between dirt-cheap octa-cores like the Phoenix X1 or the Excite 501o and other more premium offerings like Happy Mobile Oracle or the new Kata i4.

Luxa2 Groovy W Wireless Charging Speaker

The Luxa2 Groovy W is a wireless speaker that can definitely be a travel buddy. It’s not that compact but its functionality regarding charging batteries is a good backup plan for your devices when no outlet is in the area. Sound quality is good, but with minor gripes. It also gives you a choice in terms of connectivity whether to use Bluetooth or NFC although in our case, NFC didn’t work at all.

Nikon D810

There’s not a lot you can do to improve something that’s already great to begin with. It’s a double-edged sword for Nikon; on one hand they’re already off to great start and would only have to make minor refinements for the D810, on the other hand, they can only do so much with the next iteration that some D800/D800E users may not find the need to upgrade to the latest model.

Quick Reviews

LG L Fino

It is a well-balanced phone with smooth performance and fantastic software touches. Though, for Php 7,990, it doesn’t have an HD screen, HD video recording, and an HD front camera. Basically, everything high definition is removed from the L Fino.

ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite

The Lite version of the Zenfone 5 is a good alternative to other local phones in the same price range. But if you would compare it to the original Zenfone 5, we think it lost a fair amount of traits that made the Zenfone 5 a hot device in the market. Priced at Php5,595, you only save Php900 from getting the Zenfone 5 that has HD display, 2GB RAM, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. On the other hand, you get more juice with its bigger battery.

Bose SoundDock XT

The Bose SoundDock XT is definitely aimed mainly at Apple users, with its capability of playing music from other devices only coming as secondary. It’s got limited connectivity, lacking AirPlay or even just Bluetooth; but will try to win you over with its attractive design. Portability is also out of the question since it relies solely on cabled power. Sound quality is overall impressive, considering the speaker is not that big.

BlackBerry Passport

All-in-all, the BlackBerry Passport is a solid release. It’s powerful, nicely designed and carries a physical keyboard that we rarely see these days. If you are willing to shell out Php35,790 for a unit, then that should say how much you really like this device.

LG G Watch R

The LG G Watch R is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chip with 512MB RAM and Android Wear . It is also water and dust resistant, giving you some level of confidence whenever the watch gets the occasional splash. With an SRP of Php13,990, we feel it’s a bit above the usual price for a smartwatch. We still think the G Watch R is a looker of a smartwatch.

Swans M10 2.1 Speakers

The Swans M10 is one of those speakers that looks really simple and straightforward, but don’t let that fool you as it’s got a decent sound reproduction for both music and movies. Volume can go loud but turning it up to maximum creates slight distortion so just keep it at a nice level to enjoy it. Sound quality-wise, it could be compared to Microlab and Creative speakers.

DTC Fiesta Plus

The DTC Fiesta Plus is a capable device that is aimed at users who want a smartphone with a large screen for watching videos or playing games at an affordable price. Unfortunately, it’s running an aging Android Jelly Bean OS which is a real downer considering that buyers are now expecting KitKat for a phone with this kind of hardware.

Luxa2 Groovy T Magic Boom Box Speaker

If you’re looking for a simple music player that effectively does its job, the Luxa2 Groovy T is one of the devices to consider. It’s also competitively-priced at just Php750 so those minor niggles aren’t really something to complain about. It will be available starting this January 2015.

Happy Mobile D-Lite

For the price of Php2,699, the Happy Mobile D-Lite is a great phone. It has specs that perform decently for its price, great audio recording, clean Android 4.4 KitKat and a beautiful and solid design. Unless you are willing to add more to get things like a better display, the D Lite does just fine.

DTC Jupiter Plus

The DTC Jupiter Plus is a decent device that with an interesting design, easy-to-hold body, and acceptable performance. However, it carries a high SRP of Php7,990 for a Jelly Bean-powered device. Even with their limited time offer of Php5,990, it will have a hard time competing with affordable offerings from other brands like the ASUS Zenfone 5 series which is priced under Php7k.

AKG Y40 On-Ear Headphones

The AKG Y40 is a cool-looking pair of headphones that aims to please bass lovers with a limited budget. It packs a good punch when it comes to lows but not so much on mids and highs. It doesn’t offer well-balanced sounds but if you like your tracks bassy or mostly listen to club and hip hop music, then the Y40 is a decent headphone to have.

Cherry Mobile Selfie

The Cherry Mobile Selfie is a product of today’s trend, especially here in the Philippines. As the selfie capital of the world, it’s understandable why the company designed a smartphone dedicated to imaging. The Selfie is a device with a good and attractive form factor, a fluid UI, and cameras that take good photos even in low-light areas.

Pioneer FREEme Bluetooth Speaker

The Pioneer FREEme is a good portable Bluetooth speaker with a classy design and appeal with decent sound quality. However, if you’re looking for something worthy to play your tracks for a small party this is not it. It’s great for boardrooms and offices thanks to its hands-free voice call feature. It’s also a good addition to your home office or living room for some casual music listening. And due to its portable size, you can easily bring it with you during trips.

The post December Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.