Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015

The Christmas season is once again fast approaching and as what we usually do, we’ve compiled some of the outstanding gadgets in their respective categories and group them for easy browsing. Here are some laptop selections if you’re looking for a portable PC you can get for yourself or give someone as a gift.

 

2015GiftGuide-LAPTOP

Note: The laptops listed here are all available in the Philippines with accompanying local prices for your browsing pleasure. If you have something to add, simply throw them at the comments section to further expand the list and help more readers in shopping for a new portable PC this holiday. 

Let’s get started!

Budget Laptops

Kicking things off in the list is the convertible device from Cherry Mobile –the Alpha Morph that recently got a dual-boot version. It sports a 10-inch WXGA IPS touch display, is powered by a 1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F and Intel HD Gen 7 Graphics, and pairs up with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory with microSD expansion of up to 64GB. The Windows-only variant is priced in the Philippines at Php5,999 with the dual-boot model is available for Php7,999. Both come with free Office 365, storage space from OneDrive, and are USB-OTG ready.

hp-stream-11

For those that have a bit more more cash to spare, you can try the HP Stream 11. It packs some decent specs for its price including an Intel Celeron N2840 dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, and an 11.6-inch LED display. Additionally, it has a claimed battery life of more than 8 hours on a single charge and is priced at Php13,980. There’s also a 13.3-inch variant called the HP Stream 13 which retails for a higher Php15,984.

asus_x200ma

Next up we have the ASUS X200MA. It’s the one packaged by SmartBro in one of its Plans which sports an 11.6-inch HD LCD display, an Intel Celeron dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 500GB of HDD storage. This Windows 8.1-powered laptop is available locally for Php12,995. However, if you prefer similar specs with a bigger 14-inch screen, you can also check out the Dell Inspiron 3442 with a more affordable Php11,999 price tag.

lenovo-laptop-ideapad-s20

Looking for a feature-packed laptop? The Lenovo S20 boasts AccuType keyboard with finger-friendly curved keys and ergonomic spacing so typing is easier. It also has Dolby Advanced Audio, USB 3.0, and an HD webcam for your video calling needs. The S20 is priced at Php14,988 and includes an 11.6-inch display, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage, and runs on Windows 8.1 OS.

Mid-range Laptops

Moving up the price category, we have the Samsung ATIV Book 2 that has a 64-bit Windows 8 installed, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage space, and a lineup of bundled software ready to be used. It has a modest price of Php21,900 which shouldn’t break the bank for a decent device. By adding about Php2K more and you could get a Sony VAIO E Series that has an 11.6- or 14-inch WXGA TFT display, 4GB RAM, 500GB internal storage, and a 1.7GHz AMD accelerated processor.

hp-pavilion-x360

There’s also the HP Pavilion x360 that was launched with other notebooks in SEA countries last May. This totally flexible device flaunts an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, comes with an array of CPU configurations, and could support up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It has an SRP of Php23,990 for the base model.

Meanwhile, ASUS has its K401 laptop that possesses a 14-inch Full HD display with 4GB of RAM that can stretch up to 12GB. Storage space is at 500GB with an optional 128GB/256GB solid-state drive. It is priced at Php34,995 with its bigger sibling, the K501, is at Php47,995 and comes with 15-inch display and 1TB of internal storage.

asus-zenbook-ux305

In addition, if you want something that’s guaranteed to turn heads due to its sleek and stylish design, you may check out the ASUS ZenBook UX305FA with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, 128GB M.2SSD, and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers. It is similarly-priced at Php34,995 and you may check out our review by clicking the link.

lenovo-laptop-thinkpad-e450

Saved enough for something better? The Lenovo ThinkPad E450 might be the one for you. It’s equipped with useful functionalities like the three-button trackpad, Dolby speakers, and the company’s cloud storage so you could store and save more files. Specs-wise, you’ll get an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of DDR3L RAM, and a battery that Lenovo claims to have a 9-hour life. It’s locally priced at Php49,992.

And if you’re on that price range, the 5th-gen MacBook Air would also make nice alternatives with the 11- and 13-inch models at Php44,990 and Php49,990, respectively.

High-End Laptops

Now, we go to the big players since investing on a really capable laptop is never a bad thing whether you use for work or even playing.

microsoft-surface-pro-3-2

Headlining this category is the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (while still waiting for the local availability of the Pro 4) that you can definitely rely on for on-the-go productivity. It has a Surface Pen, a multi-position kickstand, and a Type Cover to fully take advantage of all its capabilities — all for Php60,000.

dell-xps-13-2015

Dell’s XPS 13 features some really thin bezels in what the company calls the Virtually Borderless Infinity Display. Aside from that, it carries an UltraSharp Full HD display spanning 13.3 inches across, edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass protection, Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD to name some of its key selling points. For what it offers, the Php74,990 price tag is actually not so bad.

lenovo_yoga3pro

Add a little more and you can include the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro on your list for Php76,995. It comes with similar specs as the XPS 13, but with a bigger 512GB of SSD. You may read our review of the ultrabook by clicking the link.

 

For the gamers out there, feast your eyes on the ASUS ROG G752 Series that comes equipped with a sizeable 17-inch Full HD display backed up by the 6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GPU. Along with those beefy specs come a Php79,995 SRP. Apart from the VL model with 8GB RAM and 1TB storage, you can also opt for the more expensive VT variant that has double the RAM (16GB) and an additional 128GB of SSD in addition to the 1TB space — all for Php99,995.

macbook-pro

All those laptops still below your price range? The 2015 MacBook Pro tops our list with its 15-inch Retina display, 2.5GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU, 16GB of embedded RAM, 512GB PCIe-based flash storage, and 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon R9 M370X that further enhance the graphics department. There is a configuration worth Php99,990, but the one with the aforementioned specs carry a price tag of Php124,990. Whew.

 

 

 

 

The post Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015

The Christmas season is once again fast approaching and as what we usually do, we’ve compiled some of the outstanding gadgets in their respective categories and group them for easy browsing. Here are some laptop selections if you’re looking for a portable PC you can get for yourself or give someone as a gift.

 

2015GiftGuide-LAPTOP

Note: The laptops listed here are all available in the Philippines with accompanying local prices for your browsing pleasure. If you have something to add, simply throw them at the comments section to further expand the list and help more readers in shopping for a new portable PC this holiday. 

Let’s get started!

Budget Laptops

Kicking things off in the list is the convertible device from Cherry Mobile –the Alpha Morph that recently got a dual-boot version. It sports a 10-inch WXGA IPS touch display, is powered by a 1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F and Intel HD Gen 7 Graphics, and pairs up with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory with microSD expansion of up to 64GB. The Windows-only variant is priced in the Philippines at Php5,999 with the dual-boot model is available for Php7,999. Both come with free Office 365, storage space from OneDrive, and are USB-OTG ready.

hp-stream-11

For those that have a bit more more cash to spare, you can try the HP Stream 11. It packs some decent specs for its price including an Intel Celeron N2840 dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, and an 11.6-inch LED display. Additionally, it has a claimed battery life of more than 8 hours on a single charge and is priced at Php13,980. There’s also a 13.3-inch variant called the HP Stream 13 which retails for a higher Php15,984.

asus_x200ma

Next up we have the ASUS X200MA. It’s the one packaged by SmartBro in one of its Plans which sports an 11.6-inch HD LCD display, an Intel Celeron dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 500GB of HDD storage. This Windows 8.1-powered laptop is available locally for Php12,995. However, if you prefer similar specs with a bigger 14-inch screen, you can also check out the Dell Inspiron 3442 with a more affordable Php11,999 price tag.

lenovo-laptop-ideapad-s20

Looking for a feature-packed laptop? The Lenovo S20 boasts AccuType keyboard with finger-friendly curved keys and ergonomic spacing so typing is easier. It also has Dolby Advanced Audio, USB 3.0, and an HD webcam for your video calling needs. The S20 is priced at Php14,988 and includes an 11.6-inch display, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage, and runs on Windows 8.1 OS.

Mid-range Laptops

Moving up the price category, we have the Samsung ATIV Book 2 that has a 64-bit Windows 8 installed, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage space, and a lineup of bundled software ready to be used. It has a modest price of Php21,900 which shouldn’t break the bank for a decent device. By adding about Php2K more and you could get a Sony VAIO E Series that has an 11.6- or 14-inch WXGA TFT display, 4GB RAM, 500GB internal storage, and a 1.7GHz AMD accelerated processor.

hp-pavilion-x360

There’s also the HP Pavilion x360 that was launched with other notebooks in SEA countries last May. This totally flexible device flaunts an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, comes with an array of CPU configurations, and could support up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It has an SRP of Php23,990 for the base model.

Meanwhile, ASUS has its K401 laptop that possesses a 14-inch Full HD display with 4GB of RAM that can stretch up to 12GB. Storage space is at 500GB with an optional 128GB/256GB solid-state drive. It is priced at Php34,995 with its bigger sibling, the K501, is at Php47,995 and comes with 15-inch display and 1TB of internal storage.

asus-zenbook-ux305

In addition, if you want something that’s guaranteed to turn heads due to its sleek and stylish design, you may check out the ASUS ZenBook UX305FA with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, 128GB M.2SSD, and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers. It is similarly-priced at Php34,995 and you may check out our review by clicking the link.

lenovo-laptop-thinkpad-e450

Saved enough for something better? The Lenovo ThinkPad E450 might be the one for you. It’s equipped with useful functionalities like the three-button trackpad, Dolby speakers, and the company’s cloud storage so you could store and save more files. Specs-wise, you’ll get an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of DDR3L RAM, and a battery that Lenovo claims to have a 9-hour life. It’s locally priced at Php49,992.

And if you’re on that price range, the 5th-gen MacBook Air would also make nice alternatives with the 11- and 13-inch models at Php44,990 and Php49,990, respectively.

High-End Laptops

Now, we go to the big players since investing on a really capable laptop is never a bad thing whether you use for work or even playing.

microsoft-surface-pro-3-2

Headlining this category is the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (while still waiting for the local availability of the Pro 4) that you can definitely rely on for on-the-go productivity. It has a Surface Pen, a multi-position kickstand, and a Type Cover to fully take advantage of all its capabilities — all for Php60,000.

dell-xps-13-2015

Dell’s XPS 13 features some really thin bezels in what the company calls the Virtually Borderless Infinity Display. Aside from that, it carries an UltraSharp Full HD display spanning 13.3 inches across, edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass protection, Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD to name some of its key selling points. For what it offers, the Php74,990 price tag is actually not so bad.

lenovo_yoga3pro

Add a little more and you can include the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro on your list for Php76,995. It comes with similar specs as the XPS 13, but with a bigger 512GB of SSD. You may read our review of the ultrabook by clicking the link.

 

For the gamers out there, feast your eyes on the ASUS ROG G752 Series that comes equipped with a sizeable 17-inch Full HD display backed up by the 6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GPU. Along with those beefy specs come a Php79,995 SRP. Apart from the VL model with 8GB RAM and 1TB storage, you can also opt for the more expensive VT variant that has double the RAM (16GB) and an additional 128GB of SSD in addition to the 1TB space — all for Php99,995.

macbook-pro

All those laptops still below your price range? The 2015 MacBook Pro tops our list with its 15-inch Retina display, 2.5GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU, 16GB of embedded RAM, 512GB PCIe-based flash storage, and 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon R9 M370X that further enhance the graphics department. There is a configuration worth Php99,990, but the one with the aforementioned specs carry a price tag of Php124,990. Whew.

 

 

 

 

The post Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Huawei Google Nexus 6P to be available at Villman

With the official local launch of the Huawei-made Google Nexus 6P just around the corner, Villman has listed on its website that it will soon offer the said Nexus flagship in its stores.

Google Nexus 6P (Huawei) specs:
5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED Display, 2560 x 1440 @ 515ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 octa-core 64-bit processor
3GB RAM
64GB internal storage
12.3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
4K video recording
8-megapixel front camera
4G/LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth 4.1
GPS w/ A-GPS, GLONASS
Dual Front-facing speakers
MicroUSB Type-C port
Nexus Imprint
3,450mAh Li-Po battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm (dimensions)
178 grams (weight)
Graphite color

The Huawei Nexus 6P has a SRP of Php29,990 and will be available on December 11. See listing here.

The post Huawei Google Nexus 6P to be available at Villman appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

BSP gives banks until January 2017 to switch to EMV chip ATM

In light of the recent series of ATM skimming, the Central Bank has reiterated its message for people to be careful when making withdrawals in ATM machines.

EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa. EMV cards have chips embedded inside them which contain information required to authenticate credit and debit card transactions.

The main advantage of EMV-based cards over its predecessor is the information on magnetic strip on the former is dynamic as opposed to static. This added level of complexity makes it more challenging for hackers and skimmers to copy the information on the card.

The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas have mandated that all banks switch to the EMV chip on all their ATM cards before January 2017.

The post BSP gives banks until January 2017 to switch to EMV chip ATM appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Camera Blind Test: Galaxy S6 Edge+ vs. iPhone 6S Plus

Last week, we did the smartphone camera blind test between the iPhone 6S and the Galaxy S6.

In this round, we’re pitting the Galaxy S6 Edge+ against the iPhone 6S Plus. We’re showing you two similar photos taken by each handset and you can pick which one you like better. Photos will be labeled A and B only so you don’t know which photo was taken by which device. At the end of the week, we tally the votes and reveal to you the results.

Outdoors Garden:

A B Outdoors

Close-up:

A B AB

Macro shot:
B-macro A-macro AB-macro

Sky and skyscrapers:

A B AB

Skyline:
A B AB

Dynamic Range:
AB-dynamicrange B-dynamicrange A-dynamicrange

Low-light, indoor shot:
B-indoorcloseup A-indoorcloseup AB-indoorcloseup

Dark, low-light shot:

A B AB

HD Video Recording:


Note: Play video before voting below. Camera B is on the right and Camera A is on the left.

The post Camera Blind Test: Galaxy S6 Edge+ vs. iPhone 6S Plus appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.