Category: yugatech reviews

Before we dive in to the cool gadgets of June, let’s take a look back at our reviews for the month May. This includes LG G5, HTC 10, Vivo V3 Max, and the Flash Plus 2. So if you dig these devices, then check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for May 2016.

Elephone P8000

In a country where local smartphones thrive with affordable offerings, Elephone enters with a premise of bringing in a slew of devices that also promise the same bang-for-the-buck experience. In retrospect, the P8000 is a beast when it can deliver a long-lasting device performance with a stock Android UI experience meant to be enjoyed by everyone.

Canon G3X

From its compact build and weather-resistant body that makes it a good companion for traveling, to its superzoom capabilities in an instant, and down to its decent battery life, the Canon G3X is an effective consumer product for casual photographers looking for a compact camera with a good telephoto lens.

LG G5

In an age where every other smartphone looks and performs almost the same, it’s very hard to distinguish one flagship from the next. LG’s approach with the G5 is quite interesting and a first of many. The modular design offers a slew of possibilities and while the current available modules are the LG Cam Plus and the HiFi Plus, LG is opening this to 3rd-party developers and manufacturer to expand the functionality and features of the G5.

Lume Cube External Smartphone Flash

Lume Cube is a handy tool to have around especially when you’re traveling and plan to shoot along the way. Its form factor is small so you could just throw it in a bag along with your other shooting gear. We also like that it’s fully waterproof — eliminating the need to be extra careful when using it.

Microsoft Lumia 550

The Microsoft Lumia 550 retails for Php 6,490. That’s not cheap for a budget offering when compared to Android counterparts and frankly, since Microsoft took over Nokia’s mobile business, the quality of their smartphones became inferior. The specifications have always been on the low side since Windows Phone doesn’t need much power but the overall build and durability of the handset is in question. With the lack of apps, buggy software, and questionable support, users who are not keen on having Windows 10 Mobile at a budget are better off with something else.

Hanergy Solar Flexible Paper Charger

The Hanergy Solar Flexible Paper Charger is ideal for camping, hiking, or during emergency scenarios. Speaking of hiking, there are 4 holes on each corner of the sheet and Hanergy included 4 carabiners so you can hang, clip, or hook it anywhere the sun is shining.

HTC 10

The HTC 10 is, without a doubt, a beautifully crafted phone packaged with a impressive set of hardware. It’s a looker and we often get people very curious about it every time we fished it out of our pocket. All things considered, the HTC 10 is one excellent flagship device — handsome, well-rounded and a real workhorse.

Canon Pixma G3000

The Canon Pixma G3000 is a capable printer with quality and a complete set of features suitable for everyday printing with a long-term ink solution but for Php 9,995, it can be expensive for some. It does come with three black in bottles to kick start your printing blues while refills for each pigment will only cost you Php 295 per bottle.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5S

ASUS still has a strong yet affordable offering with the Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5S. At Php8,995, buyers can get a Lollipop-powered smartphone with a good build and design, decent display and a more capable performance, plus 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.

Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited Edition

All things considered, we enjoyed using the Grand Vitara during our out of town trip and would definitely be a good vehicle for those looking to do so as well. It’s got comfortable seats and leg room, has a capable engine for carrying loads, and doesn’t stop when the road gets rough.

X-mini Click Bluetooth Speaker

The X-mini Click Bluetooth speaker is commendable not for its audio quality but for its size. It’s the same dimensions as your smallest shot glass yet it’s a full featured Bluetooth speaker that can do hands-free calls and as a clicker. For Php1,399, there are some better options out there but not as tiny as this.

Vivo V3 Max

Vivo Mobile is off to a good start in the Philippines with the Vivo V3 Max. It’s well-made with premium characteristics, very capable internal specs, and not-so-demanding price tag. For Php16,990, you’ll get a smartphone with a 5.5-inch Full HD display, capable Snapdragon 652 octa-core CPU, large 4GB RAM, a starting storage of 32GB which is also expandable via microSD, 4G LTE, and fingerprint scanner. What’s left to do now is for Vivo to upgrade it to Marshmallow. Other than that, it’s all good.

Flash Plus 2

The Flash Plus 2 is a pretty decent device and ordinary mid-range device but its suggested retail price makes it stand out among an over crowded market of local and international smartphones. All things considered, the Flash Plus 2 is a solid device and you’ll be hard pressed to find any other smartphone with these set of features in its price category.

X-mini Evolve Bluetooth Headphone Speakers

For Php 5,490, the Xmini Evolve is a pretty decent Bluetooth headphone and a wireless speaker as well. Its dual function is a nifty feature to have and does have its perks.

The post May Gadget Reviews Roundup 2016 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

April is finally here and with a new month comes a new batch of reviews. For the month of March we have fully reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, ASUS Zenfone Zoom, Huawei Mate 8, and Xiaomi Mi 5, just to name a few. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup below

Full:

Lenovo Vibe S1

Lenovo has made a quality handset with the Vibe S1. You get all the goodies to expect from a mid-ranger with snappy performance, premium design, solid build, and boastful camera features. Although its SRP of Php15,999 could turn some consumer down but you’re paying for a better handset from the established Lenovo brand.

Cloudfone Excite Prime

It has a nice build, good HD display, decent performance, good camera (but needs some improvement in AF speed), Android Lollipop, and an average battery life. It’s not perfect though, as there’s no LTE connectivity and has an underwhelimg loudspeaker, but if you’re in a tight budget and don’t mind the cons mentioned, the Excite Prime is a good buy.

ASUS Zenfone Zoom

The ASUS Zenfone Zoom definitely has the characteristics of a flagship smartphone — a premium form factor that doesn’t look past the smaller details, multimedia support with its SonicMaster 2.0 and 128GB storage, some serious hardware for its camera, speedy LTE connectivity, and a solid performer for daily tasks that might come your way.

Huawei Mate 8

With its 6-inch display, the Mate 8 is definitely sitting on the phablet category which is not for everyone. Still, the enormous display is justified by a small footprint making it smaller than most handset in this size. The home-baked powerful Kirin 950 paired with 4GB of RAM is already a good selling point but the 1080p display is a letdown compared to QHD rivals especially when we have an SRP of Php32,990.

Samsung Galaxy S7

With all the refinements done to the Galaxy S7 that the S6 lacks, Samsung’s game in this age is to put all the features in a simply packaged handset. Adding water-resistance, storage expansion, and bigger battery is a good move before deviating from the appreciated looks and feel of its predecessor. The S7 is definitely a flagship Samsung can be proud of.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge might not look that much different from its predecessor but majority of the enhancements were done under the hood. Almost all of the biggest gripes from the previous model were address in the Galaxy S7 Edge — bigger battery, water resistance, expandable storage. Frankly, it’s almost perfect.

ASUS ZenBook UX305LA

The ASUS ZenBook UX305LA is one of the best Windows ultrabooks we’ve used so far. It has a fantastic high-resolution display, powerful Intel Core i7 processor, healthy 8GB RAM, fast 512GB SSD, and long battery life. Not to mention that all of that are housed in a sleek premium body that you wouldn’t mind carrying with you all the time.

Samsung Level On Wireless Pro

The Samsung Level On Wireless Pro is one feature-packed headphone — from the touch sensitive controls, music-sharing, and down to the Level app, the South Korean giant squeezed it all inside its plastic shell. We appreciated how not only it has active noise cancellation, but also passive noise blocking thanks to its comfortable ear pads.

OPPO F1

OPPO has a strong offering with the F1. The company markets it as a selfie smartphone but we don’t see it that way probably because it doesn’t have a flamboyant front camera setup like the ASUS Zenfone Selfie and Sony Xperia C5 Ultra. Still, the OPPO F1 proved to be a good imaging device with a premium build and design, good performance, and a reasonable Php11,990 price tag. If you’re looking for a phone with the said strengths, the OPPO F1 is definitely worth considering.

MyPhone my28S

There’s no denying that MyPhone got ahead in the sub-1K smartphone race with the announcement of the Smart my28/my28S, and the masses loved the offer. For Php888, the common Juan who never got a smartphone can finally get his hands on the most affordable Android Lollipop device that can deliver a decent touch experience, or those who would opt for this as a secondary smartphone to use in public places.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2

The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 is a worthy upgrade from its first model and now has AUX function if you opt to just go for wired connectivity. We also liked that it has its own rechargeable battery so it doesn’t wholly rely on being plugged to a socket and you can bring it from one room to the other easily. As for the sound, we loved how it could produce really clear audio even when you crank its volume all the way up.

Xiaomi Mi 5

Xiaomi has consistently produced topnotch smartphones for years and the Xiaomi Mi 5 is no exception. In fact, we think it’s their best one yet. For a starting price of just Php15,000, you get a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 820 chip and 3GB of RAM on a beautiful body that packs everything you’ll ask for in a flagship handset. It’s like getting a Galaxy S6 at half the price.

ASUS PRO BU201

The ASUS PRO BU201 can get you through your usual business work day. It’s portable to be slipped into bags and carried around yet it’s also sturdy and built tough for everyday wear and tear plus occasional drops. For an asking price of Php 76,995, it’s quite hard to sell it to average consumers who would easily shrug it off and opt for a better option.

O+ Duo

For its Php6,995 asking price, the O+ Duo is a tablet capable of delivering a generally good performance. With the added flexibility of choosing your own operating system to work on, you have the freedom of taking the pick between work and play all the same device. This eight-incher is surprisingly a good bet for getting the best of both worlds on one device.

AspectSolar DUO-Flex 2 Solar Charger

Having the AspectSolar DUO-Flex 2 around is definitely nifty when in remote areas. As long as bright sunlight is around, you’ll definitely have ample power to keep your mobile devices or power banks filled with juice. Plus, the water-resistant compartment and pouch design make it a great road warrior companion.

Ricoh Theta S 360-degree Camera

The Ricoh Theta S has a nice, compact build with an easy to navigate buttons which make it a really straightforward device. Its free app is a must-have since it adds more flexibility to shooting and makes it possible to produce additional effects (like time lapse via interval shooting). It has an ample battery life that didn’t leave us hanging while shooting, but video quality doesn’t hit us as impressive.

Quick:

Remix Mini Android PC

Jide’s Remix Mini is a very capable Android PC with attractive looks. However, the main star of the show is not the hardware but the software. The Remix OS is a great reinvention of Android, making it a better productivity tool compared to its original counterpart. However, it’s full potential is still hampered by app compatibility.

JBL Reflect Response Sports Headphones

The JBL Reflect Response is a solid performer with specific users in mind. As mentioned in the beginning of this review, it targets those with an active lifestyle by providing the mentioned features and honestly, it delivered well doing them.

JBL Everest 300 Wireless Headphones

The JBL Everest 300 is a recommendable device for those who travel a lot but don’t want to compromise sound quality over ease of use or comfort. Its companion app that won’t work properly is certainly a turn-off until it becomes fixed, but its ShareMe 2.0 is pretty cool to use. Grab a JBL Everest 300 for Php7,499.

O+ Ultra 2.0

The device is priced at Php6,895 and although it doesn’t have the best specifications available, it still handled tasks well and we actually haven’t encountered anything disappointing. If we were to nitpick, we’re not totally fans of its 8MP main camera due to the digital noise that’s easily seen, more so at night.

OontZ Angle 3XL Bluetooth Speaker

The OontZ Angle 3XL is an amazing speaker that packs big sound into a small package. Not only that, it also comes with good features that allow it to become more than just a Bluetooth-enabled music player like the speaker phone function, power bank, and Dual Wireless Pairing.

OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker

The OontZ Angle 3 is the kind of Bluetooth speaker that packs big sound in a portable package. It comes with a rugged build, water and dust resistant body, speaker phone function, and youthful design. As expected, it’s not perfect. Given its size, it won’t compete with bigger and more expensive portable speakers. But if you’re in need of a speaker that you can take with you by the pool or beach without breaking the bank, the Angle 3 is a good option.

Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II

The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II is a good pair of wired cans that can satisfy audio lovers who listen to a wide range of music genres. It doesn’t have the benefits of a wireless headphone but it comes with in-line microphone and controls which should be enough for casual users.

Happy Mobile Neo Lite

This entry-level device from Happy Mobile presents itself with a good performance tucked beneath a well-crafted polycarbonate body. The Neo Lite is a compact smartphone packed with a surprisingly good battery performance, coupled with occasional wireless updates and loud speaker sound.

Blackphone 2

It’s pretty obvious the Blackphone 2 is not for everyone. In fact, we only know of a few people in the industry (enterprise, pharmacy, military, government) who might be in need of this device but for those who do, the features that the Blackphone 2 offers are certainly well thought out. It might be expensive at Ph

Bose SoundSport In-Ear Headphones

The Bose Soundsport is the kind of in-ear headphones with a personality. It’s built for people who have active lifestyle and a taste for bass-dominated music. It’s a perfect gym or running companion thanks to its sweat- and weather-resistant body and expressive colors.
 

The post March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2016 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

With the arrival of a new month comes a new compilation of gadget reviews. For the month of February we played with the Samsung Galaxy S7, Gionee Elife E8, Cherry Mobile Flare S5 Plus, MSI GS60 6QE Ghost Pro 4K, and ASUS ROG GX700VO. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for February 2016.

Cherry Mobile Flare S4 Plus

Cherry Mobile has always positioned the Flare to be the king of the budget tier, but this line has gone a premium facelift as it introduced three new models last year. The biggest of the three, the Flare S4 Plus, is a device bearing a capable performance, a good camera, a near-stock Android experience coupled with occasional wireless updates, and a fairly modest battery life (not for power users) for a price commonly reigned by bang-for-the-buck champs.

Gionee Elife E8

Gionee has a powerful device in the form of the Elife E8. It has a great build and looks, generous 6-inch AMOLED display, good camera and performance, and really nice speakers. It’s a multimedia powerhouse and a strong Android gaming device that would satisfy a lot of users.

Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II

The Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II, even with such a long name, is a very desirable audio device. It is convenient thanks to its wireless capabilities including NFC for easy pairing, fantastic sound, and good battery life. The build feels good and sturdy. Design-wise, nothing much has changed in two years. Size is a bit big though compared to the Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones which we liked bringing with us on trips since it’s small.

Starmobile Engage 7i

The Starmobile Engage 7i is a very useful yet not so impressive device. Its main features are the call-and-text function, affordable price of Php3,990, and the freebies provided by Smart. However, if you’re looking for something that can do more than that, you’re better off looking somewhere else.

MSI GS60 6QE Ghost Pro 4K Gaming Laptop

The MSI GS60 6QE Ghost Pro 4K is a really powerful machine that will appeal to those who prefer a gaming laptop with a slim build, sleek design, high-resolution display, really nice keyboard, and high-end specs to deliver those demanding games and software. It’s not perfect though as there’s the very short battery life, gets really hot when playing games, and doesn’t have enough power to run games in UHD resolution. It’s also pricey at Php134,995, but if you have the budget and you’re looking for the advantages mentioned, this laptop is worth considering.

Polaroid C270 Dashcam

The Polaroid C270 has an overall good form factor. Although the entirety of its shell is made of plastic and could easily attract smudges and fingerprint, it didn’t really matter much since it was tucked away behind the car’s rear-view mirror anyway.

Polaroid C201 Dashcam

Once again, Polaroid proved that you don’t specifically need a high-resolution camera sensor to produce decent images. The 2MP shooter generally performed well even in low light situations, although understandably with some digital noise present.

Samsung Galaxy S7

This year’s release of the Galaxy S7 is a testament to the confidence and solid performance of Samsung’s flagship handsets. They’re confident enough to retain the same design and incorporate a slew of improvements that will continue to solidify its position. It might look incremental but we think it’s definitely a step towards the right direction. It’s more evolutionary rather than revolutionary — and perhaps, that is a good thing.

Bose SoundTouch 10 and SoundTouch 20 Series III

The SoundTouch 10 and SoundTouch 20 Series III are an impressive set of speakers that not only can deliver great audio quality that Bose is known for but also packs wireless features that take advantage of today’s popular music streaming services.

Samsung Gear VR

In the end, what will really keep anyone from using the Gear VR on a regular basis is the availability of interesting content. Otherwise, it will just be left stored in the drawer until something new comes around. For those who own a Samsung Galaxy S6 and its variants as well as the Galaxy Note 5, the Samsung Gear VR is definitely a really good buy.

CloudFone Special Edition

For less than five thousand bucks, you’ll get a Disney bundle and a decent performing smartphone. Specs are average and there’s really nothing ‘special’ about the device itself apart from the included Disney accessories. If you’re rooting for that, then the CloudFone Special Edition is available for Php4,999.

ASUS ROG GX700VO Liquid-cooled Gaming Laptop

We’d like to think of the ASUS ROG GX700VO and the ROG Hydro Overclocking System as Iron Man and his Hulk Buster suit. On its own, it’s already a powerful machine and a solid multimedia powerhouse, but if you require more power, just bring out the Hydro Overclocking System. From there the ROG GX700VO becomes one of the powerful laptops out there designed to deliver one thing – top-notch gaming experience.

The post February Gadget Reviews Roundup 2016 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.