Speed November-December 2020 by speedmagph

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FAST-PACED LIFESTYLE

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

g n i p p o h S tips w normal’ for the ‘ne rush holiday

d e r e t l i f Un joy doza Maine Men ies 0 ser for vivo V2

Brilliant buys

t s i L t o H 0 2 0 2

uide 2020

tG Holiday Gif

NOV-DEC 2020

ISSN 1655-9827

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©2020 Lenovo. All rights reserved. Depending on many factors such as the processing capability of peripheral devices, file attributes, and other factors related to system configuration and operating environments, the actual transfer rate using the various USB connectors on this device will vary and is typically slower than the data rates as defined by the respective USB specifications: - 5 Gbit/s for USB 3.1 Gen1; 10 Gbit/s for USB 3.1 Gen2 & 20 Gbit/s for USB 3.2. These products are available while supplies last. Prices shown are subject to change without notice. For any questions concerning price, please contact your Lenovo Account Executive. Lenovo is not responsible for photographic or typographic errors. Warranty: For a copy of applicable warranties, write to: Warranty Information, 500 Park Offices Drive, RTP, NC 27709, Attn: Dept. ZPYA/B600. Lenovo makes no representation or warranty regarding third-party products or services. Trademarks: Lenovo, the Lenovo logo, Rescue and Recovery, ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkStation, ThinkVantage, and ThinkVision are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lenovo. Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other company, product and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

ISSUE.193

11-12.20

Cover Girl Maine Mendoza is Yaya Dub no more. This TV host and vivo ambassador shares what her life has been like adjusting to the “new normal” and using her wide social media reach for good.

Geek-spotting Get to know this month’s experts and enthusiasts who have an overflowing passion for a certain field, topic, or activity.

hotspot

EVERY MONTH 8 Contributors / Staff box 10 Inbox 102 Billboard 104 Store Directory 105 Mobile Buyer’s Guide 112 Before You Go

Form Factor Feast your eyes on elegant, sophisticated creations by Porsche Desig

Cover Story

Holiday Gift Guide

Press Play

Speed made a list (and checked it twice) of all the hottest happenings and releases of the year in the worlds of technology, lifestyle, motoring, entertainment, and pop culture.

Looking for gifts to put under your Christmas tree? Check out our gift guide for awesome ideas.

Home for the holidays? Start a good ol’ fashioned marathon watching the newest shows and movies on your favorite streaming services.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Maine Mendoza for vivo Image courtesy of vivo

T090P073020VS

ISSUE.193

trending

11-12.20

proving ground

TechnoSphere

Tech Frontiers

2020 saw form factordefying innovations in the smartphone world with foldables and multi-screen devices. Is the world ready to have these mold-breaking devices in their pockets?

Harley-Davidson takes on an eco-friendly approach with its latest standalone e-bike brand, Serial 1 Cycles.

Click Here

manual

All About the UX Due to the pandemic, many people have taken their businesses, hobbies, and social lives online. Check out this list of Facebook groups that will keep you connected amid the quarantine.

Follow these accounts for awesome gifts and giveaway ideas for the holidays.

Games All the hottest titles to play on your next-gen consoles and PCs.

Arsenal Next-level releases from the biggest brands, including the Huawei Mate 40 series, iPhone 12 series, realme 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, Kia Stonic, Honda City, and more.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

columns

How To

Game On

Tips on holiday shopping in the “new nor al and finding the right noise-canceling audio gear for you.

Love seeing memes on your social feeds? Jovi Figueroa shares her favorite gaming-themed memes that you’ll relate to if you play Fall Guys, Among Us, Genshin Impact, and more.

Tested

Ask the Editor

Hot products we tested this month.

We answer any tech curiosity, trouble, or query you have in mind.

Open Forum It’s been quite the year. Guest columnist Jean Ricelle Aquino puts 2020 up for review, looking back at the highs and lows of the year while looking forward to what 2021 has in store.

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Established in 1996, Pru Life UK is the pioneer of insuravest, or investment-linked life insurance products, in the Philippines and is one of the first life insurance companies approved to distribute US dollar-denominated investment-linked life insurance policies in the country. Since its establishment, Pru Life UK has expanded its reach to over 190 branches in the Philippines, with the biggest life agency force of over 40,800 licensed agents. The company ranked second (2nd) among the country’s life insurers based on the Insurance Commission’s 2019 rankings in terms of new business annual premium equivalent and total premium income. Pru Life UK is headquartered in Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City. Pru Life UK and Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States, Prudential Assurance Company (a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all Philippine-registered companies). Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH YAMAHA

Escape the daily crush in style with the

Yamaha NMAX

ore than ever, commuters are looking for an alternative transport go-to to avoid the daily bus and train crush. No wonder then that the number of two-wheeled vehicles on the streets continues to grow. The new Yamaha NMAX is an ideal option for those looking for a new form of urban mobility. While it’s designed and engineered for new riders, it’s also becoming a favorite with experienced riders for its luxurious styling and sporty performance. The icing on top? It’s economical to run. The new-generation Yamaha NMAX is powered by an improved 4-stroke 155cc liquid-cooled SOHC single-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Actuation (VVA). This fuel-injected engine, mated to a CVT, produces 15hp at 8,000rpm and 13.9Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. A new cylinder head and a compact combustion chamber achieve a higher compression ratio, which boosts its efficiency. Function meets performance Carrying the MAX DNA, the new NMAX comes with a 6-bulb LED headlight—four on the top row for low beam, two below for high beam—while the rear stylish taillight sports a unique threedimensional design.

A Smart Key System enables the rider to start the bike without needing to insert the key. The NMAX also comes with an easy-to-read multifunction full digital speedometer, a 12V electronic power socket in the left-hand storage pocket, and a right-side storage pocket with a waterproof lid for smartphones and tablets. On top of these, the new NMAX gets improved functions such as an anti-lock brake system (ABS) that’s better equipped for higher stopping control. The handlebar switch control has a convenient lever-style switch that allows the riders to cycle through displayed data, while the maxi seat design with a two-level seat gives you a relaxing and comfortable journey.

This scooter also has a 23.3L capacity luggage, which is big enough to fit an XL full face helmet. Its 7.1L fuel tank is conveniently located inside the center tunnel and can be opened with a button press. There’s no need to open the seat when refueling. You can get the all-new Yamaha NMAX for P119,900 (NMAX) and P134,500 (NMAX ABS). The former is available in Midnight Black, Phantom Blue, and Tech Camo, while the NMAX ABS is available in Tech Camo, Matte Red, and Midnight Black.

What practical gift would you give a family member this Christmas?

EDITORIAL

editorial@speedmagazine.ph EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Katrina Rivere-Diga | katrina@speedmagazine.ph

I’ll give my mom a trusty set of headphones. Hoping this will help her stay focused while working from home!

Electric head and neck pillow massager for my husband so he can literally sit back and relax (even while working, if that’s possible!)

CONTRIBUTORS

ONLINE CONTENT PRODUCER Anthony Sierra | ant@speedmagazine.ph EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Ayie Licsi | ayie@speedmagazine.ph CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Val Gonzales, Andy Leuterio, Gadjo Sevilla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Earl Manalansan, Anjon Galauran, Jovi Figueroa, Trixie Reyna-Benedicto

DESIGN

Gardening tool set for my mom.

SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST John Paul Dizon | jp@speedmagazine.ph

A new handheld mixer for my mom. I can feel how much she misses baking; hopefully this can help spark her passion again.

GRAPHIC ARTIST Francesca Lopez | francesca@speedmagazine.ph

Jean Ricelle Aquino is a solo parent-slash-PR practitioner by day—and by night. She’s a geek, a bookworm, and a lakwatsera. If she’s not busy answering emails or replying to Viber messages, she’s probably making sure her plants get enough sunlight and water, and that her four-year-old Chubba isn’t eating too much sweets or that Coraline the Cat isn’t scratching Jean’s favorite chair.

FINAL ARTIST Arnaldo G. Santos PHOTOGRAPHERS Dookie Ducay, Marlon Pecjo

SALES & MARKE TING

I’ll give my wife more plants to add to her collection.

SENIOR SALES MANAGER James B. Orlanda | james@speedmagazine.ph ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Mia C. Morales | mia@speedmagazine.ph

marketing@speedmagazine.ph

ADMIN | PRODUC TION PRODUC TION OFFICER Kate Villareal | production@speedmagazine.ph

A bicycle for my dad to help him improve his health.

I’ll give my kids basic workout equipment like jump rope, yoga mat, and dumbbells to keep them physically fit while at home.

HRD OFFICER Lala Nañola-Talob | lala@speedmagazine.ph ACCOUNTING STAFF Charmaine Dabu-Urrutia | accounting@speedmagazine.ph CIRCUL ATION MANAGER David R. Domingo Jr. | circulation@speedmagazine.ph

PUBLISHER

Airo Media International, Inc. CEO/PRESIDENT Marcos A. Sosmeña | nmsosmena@speedmagazine.ph CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Susan M. Sosmeña | smsosmena@speedmagazine.ph LEGAL COUNSEL Tolentino Corvera Macasaet & Reig

Jovi Figueroa started making ruckus in the media industry in 2014, fresh from snagging a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. When she’s not encumbered with work, she is playing violent shooting games, running around the ice, or musing over Murakami.

Earl Manalansan is a selfconfessed car enthusiast. Although his passion lies in ‘60s-’70s American muscle cars, he appreciates all makes and models, and will drive an 18-wheeler if given a chance. He’s always on the prowl for good street food when biking. His typical day is listening to ’80s music while working on his laptop. Ultimately, he wants to build his own man-cave, if and when his wife permits him.

C TP AND LITHOGRAPHY Megatone Printhauz, Inc.

MAGAZINE

Speed is published monthly by Airo Media International, Inc. Address all correspondence to 123 Gen. Ordoñez St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City 1810. Our telephone numbers are (02) 8374-6771 to 73. All rights reserved. Speed is a registered trademark of Airo Media International, Inc. (AMII). Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AMII and its officers and management. While every care is taken to ensure that the content of Speed is accurate, the publisher and printer assume no responsibility for any effect from errors or omissions arising therefrom. Likewise, the advertisers in this magazine are separate and independent from AMII. AMII does not in any way warrant or guarantee the accuracy or genuineness of the contents provided by the advertisers and AMII shall not be responsible for any false information or misdeclaration provided therein.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Pat Calica writes for a living, which, if you ask her, is one of the coolest things she can do in life. This twenty-something loves books, everything and anything Harry Potter, good food, beaches, and sunsets.

20/20 hen we were planning â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speed 2020â&#x20AC;? last year, we were, as usual, hopeful and optimistic. What fresh, exciting things can we do to make Speed better? What else can we offer our readers and partners? Where do we want to take Speed in 2020? We were, as usual, excited about technology and our fast-paced lifestyle. What stories should we write a o t ill we find ore folda le phones in o r poc ets ill e ever where hich flagship devices will set o r hearts afl tter nd then arrived and dealt s a hand that we were neither prepared for nor e ipped to cope with This year has been extra tough: a pandemic, political and social unrest, natural disasters, job losses, economic downturn, illnesses, and deaths. And yet Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to think this year has also helped us change for the etter and eco e ore appreciative of what we have o, this isn t to ic positivit a ter eing sed a lot latel t s eing gratef l for what we have a id the hardship nd so we end this roller coaster of a ear with a a pac ed iss e that hopes to serve as a re inder that while it a feel li e ever thing aro nd s is in fla es, we can eep fighting thro gh it and learn to cherish the little moments and small wins. In the following pages, we list down the hottest newsmakers in the world of tech, lifestyle, entertainment, and pop c lt re help o with o r shopping list with o r olida ift ide s ggest shows and ovies to watch on o r favorite strea ing services while o sta at ho e for the holida s and reco end so e nstagra acco nts o sho ld follow for so e aweso e giveawa ideas e also ca ght p with wherever she goes

host and vivo a

assador

aine

endo a, who radiates nfiltered o

What we thought was going to become an awesome 2020 is apparently dim and blurry. And yet while this ear wasn t e actl as clear as , we still choose to cele rate hrist as, especiall not in spite of but because of. ave a

eaningf l hrist as

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF katrina@speedmagazine.ph

HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S QUIET E-VOLUTION Serial 1 Cycles

WOR DS K AT R I NA R I VER E-DI GA

"Eco-friendly" and "Harley-Davidson" are two terms you don't usually associate with one another. But since 2019, the company's all-electric motorcycle, the Livewire, has been on the market. Now, the brand has added another model to its green mobility solutions via its standalone e-bike brand, Serial 1 Cycles. The brand, which took its name from Harley-Davidson’s oldest known motorcycle, has revealed its initial lineup of battery-powered pedal-assist city bikes—all of which pack a grease- and oil-free Gates Carbon Drive belt and a Brose S-Mag motor that generates 90Nm of torque. The four models are called MOSH/CTY, RUSH/CTY Step-Thru, RUSH/CTY, and RUSH/CTY Speed. There are two battery options: a 706Wh battery available in the RUSH/CTY and RUSH/CTY Speed models, and a smaller 529Wh cell in the RUSH/CTY Step-thru and MOSH/CTY models. These e-bikes feature light and strong hydroformed aluminum frames, quiet and maintenance-free drive belts, integrated LED lighting, dedicated mobile app integration, and different ride modes, among others. The MOSH/CTY is the most affordable one at $3,399, while the flagship RUSH/CTY Speed goes for $4,999. These are now available for pre-order and will start shipping in early spring 2021.

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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

CLICK HERE!

How the ‘Gram saved Christmas The ultimate guide for holiday gift shopping online

The coronavirus pandemic may have put many lives on hold around the world, but it is not stopping Filipinos from celebrating their ost festive season of the ear hrist as t doesn t have to e grand, especiall d ring these di c lt ti es hat s i portant is that ever one gets a chance to spend so e f n ti es and war o ents with fa ilies and the closest of friends o prepare o for the grand letide festivities, here s a list of stores to chec o t for gifts and giveawa s ideas he are all on nstagra and ta e orders online, so o can have contactless transactions and avoid crowded ph sical spaces

THE GREAT BAKE-OFF

o e ade edi le goods are the sweetest gifts and h ngr t ies with war th

Handwritten by Maria

he can fill hearts

You can send your best buddies and close colleagues customized buttercream and fondant cakes from Baked by Deane (@bakedbydeane ot onl are these ade to order ca es delicio s, t the loo e tra as well with designs that range from trendy minimalist to pretty ones with o trageo s ca e toppers a ed eane also prepares other ho e ade treats s ch as oh so rownies, anana loaves, and chocolate crin les Friends will love to receive a tray of fresh homebaked, creamy lasagna from Mum’s Lasagna (@mumslasagna. ph he have s all tra s that are great for gifting, t the also have ig ones perfect for gathering and events Want to share more baked goods? Get on the sushi bake trend and try the Kani Aburi Tray from Taste & Tell (@tasteandtellmnl he also have a i nagi, callop al on, and te i ri on their en

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

SOMETHING PERSONAL

othing sa s o re special ore than a personali ed gift to o r loved ones hese eepsa es spea directl to the heart and t rn the cele rations into a tr l e ora le one Communicate what’s in your heart with the help of Handwritten by Maria (@handwrittenbymaria), a writing service that creates and sends snail mails to the cherished people of o r life he shop s pac ages include a handwritten letter, a personalized envelope, a short playlist of songs, pressed plants bookmark, and a collection of your favorite otes o can add a chocolate or crochet coaster, too ow a o t so e c rated and well tho ght of gift o es Sage and Ivory Gifting Studio (@sageandivorybox) creates care pac ages that contain wellness and self care ite s o can choose the content of the o to atch the personalit of the receiver A gift that won’t break the bank: personalized notebooks from local brand Papernotes (@papernotesbrand heir note oo s co e with a ini alist design and soft fa leather feel l s, o can have a na e e ossed on the corner of the note oo

W O R D S PAT C A L I C A

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FOR THE GREEN-THUMBED

CLASSIC TITAS AND TITOS

Have your loved ones started a new hobby during quarantine? Are they currently busy taking care of their new potted plants and cute succulents?

From your actual titos and titas to friends in their “adulting” phase, there’s a whole group in your network that would appreciate items that can help them embrace aging stylishly.

For the plantitos and plantitas in your circle, scour for the perfect gift at Potted Plants Manila (@pottedplantsmanilaph). They have a wide variety of plants for sale—each a perfect addition to the homes of your greenery-loving BFFs and relatives. The shop also sells beautiful clay pots if you also want to give a new stylish home to the flora you just bought.

Plattorney (@plattorney) offers a wide range of plates, cups, spoons, fork, food covers, placemats, and other homeware. Each piece is carefully curated and ranges from cute, themed ones to classic, high-end looking items. It’s the perfect gift for aunts who love to entertain guests or a buddy who just moved into a new place and is starting from scratch.

If you want to get your plant parent buddies more quirky pots, head over to Gawa ni Femi (@gawanifemi). Femi Cahola’s handpainted ceramic pots are designed with cute characters and vibrant colors. You can be sure that no two pieces are alike. Kahoy-An Furniture (@kahoyanfurniturestore) builds furniture made out of reclaimed and repurposed wood. Recently, the local shop started offering pot holders, plant racks, and stands—all with rustic vibes.

Potted Plants Manila

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Go beyond the dinner space and provide your fam and friends with items that can help them organize their homes. The Organized Home MNL (theorganizedhomemnl) has all kinds of storage solutions they may need. elp the refine their taste in coffee or start learning more about their favorite drink. Coffee Lab (@coffeelabph) has everything and anything they will need to start their coffee journey, including beans, grinders, presses, machines, and more.

Plattorney

GAMES

Holiday gaming Start saving up for these exciting new titles coming in time for your holiday gaming budget!

For us busy gamers, the holiday season only means one thing: more time to play. And just as well, it’s in time for the release of the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5, too! Whether you’re on the lookout for new titles to accompany the new gen consoles, or wanting to make the most out of your recently pgraded , here are five new ga es that should be in your holiday gaming list.

Bugsnax

Holiday 2020 (Windows, macOS, PS4, PS5) We’re not yet done with the kawaii genre after this year’s Fall Guys and Among Us. This new game by independent game studio Young Horses—makers of equally adorable game OctoDad will get o hoo ed over adorable bugs and catchy game tunes. One quick watch of the Bugsnax trailer video will suck you right into that catchy OST. But don t let the see ingl lova le characters and tunes fool you. There’s actually some prett serio s sle thing and ster involved in this game. The plot: you play the role of a newspaper reporter who needs to investigate issing

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

disgraced explorer Elizabert Megafig. On your quest, you’ll come across r p ses natives of the na tooth sland that o ll go to who will give you quests to hunt for Bugsnax—half bug, half snack. Once captured, the Bugsnax can be fed to the Grumpuses, transforming their bodies based on the properties of whatever gsna they eat. part fro the interesting advent re and quest aspect, the game also has that “collect them all” lure that is particularly tempting to completionists. So, imagine Pokemon, but they’re all bugtype and look ten times cuter. It took Young Horses about six ears to develop this ga e, reportedly so they won’t get “burned out.” While that’s particularly long for a nonhigh stakes game, it looks like the years of patience and hard work will pay off in what looks like the cutest game to debut on the new console.

HOLIDAY GAMING

Cyberpunk 2077

November 19 (Windows, macOS, PS4; later on Stadia, PS5, and Xbox Series X) It’s no understatement that Cyberpunk 2077 is the most talked about and most anticipated release of this year. After the hype of casting Keanu Reeves and the supposed plethora of customizations available, it looks like Cyberpunk 2077 is headed for a blockbuster release.

Cyberpunk 2077 will be an open-world role playing game where you will be playing as the customizable mercenary named V. You can take advantage of every upgradable weapon, the diverse skill tree, and various body-enhancing implants to become the best hired gun in Night City, California. Apart from the spectacular visuals and gameplay that we’ve already seen from countless videos, we’re equally excited for all the secret nooks and spots to explore in Night City, the different languages from NPCs, and the different endings that will surely get us replaying more than once.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales November 19 (PS4, PS5)

Spider-Man: Miles Morales will continue the narrative of the 2018 video game, and will place a year after Miles has fully grown into his role as the new Spider-Man. This time, Miles will be trying to protect Harlem and the rest of New York from a brewing gang war between two high-tech villains. There will also be an available DLC titled The City That Never Sleeps, where Miles will get bitten by a genetically enhanced spider that will give him powers similar to the iconic Peter Parker. Gameplay-wise, this Spider-Man game takes full advantage of the capabilities of the new PlayStation 5, improving even more the super satisfying web-shooting dynamics of the 2018 game.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

November 10 (Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Stadia, Amazon Luna)

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, you will be playing Eivor, a viking raider that will get entangled in the conflict etween g ess what the rotherhood of ssassins and the Templar Order, of course. This time, however, you will traverse the world of the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. There have been a lot of updates to this Assassin’s Creed title, such as doublewielding, the return of social stealth, and a new leveling system focused on skill trees. t what s ost interesting and possi l frustrating during gameplay) would be the AI learning ability of enemies, where they will be able to adapt to the player's actions and co at, and find wa s to defend the selves as the fight progresses

Dirt 5

Holiday 2020 (Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia) The sound of skidding cars, complaining brakes, and screeching tires make a comeback in Dirt 5, the 14th game in the Colin McRae Rally series. On top of its multiplayer offers, Dirt 5 will also have a narrative-focused career mode that pits you against a rival driver called r no rand hile there s nothing too special about Dirt 5, what would be interesting to look forward to are the superstar voices that will grace the career ode r no will e voiced olan North, the same guy who voiced the iconic Desmond of the Assassin’s Creed series and Nathan Drake from Uncharted. You will also have a entor na ed le ani e , voiced ro a er oel iller of The Last of Us). NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

Ready to take a leap further? Huawei Mate 40 series W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

The launch of the Mate 40 series is like the exclamation mark to Huaweiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tumultuous year. While its smartphone future is in question no thanks to a trade spat between the United States and China, Huaweiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business is still booming. It remains to be one of the top smartphone vendors in the world, even emerging on top for the rst time in the second quarter of 2020.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

HUAWEI MATE 40 SERIES

TECH IT TO THE TOP The Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, and Mate 40 Pro+ pack all the top tech expected from a flagship phone. The series comes with a new nm irin chipset for the Mate displays and a uni ue pace ing design for its cameras. lexing its technological prowess uawei e uipped the Mate series with its in house irin chipset that has more than . billion transistors making it the densest and most full featured o to date. Its n octa core architecture boasts awesome processing chops. It clocks in fre uencies at up to . and pairs an core with a core . The ro variants carry mAh batteries with support for W wireless charging and W wired charging. They also offer reverse wireless charging to power other accessories and phones. The Mate has a mAh cell with W wired charging. The Mate ro and ro have in display ngerprint sensors inside their . inch display. The vanilla Mate on the other hand has a smaller . inch p display. All three phones offer I dust and water resistance. SHOOT FOR THE STARS uawei continues its partnership with erman engineering powerhouse eica for the Mate series cameras. With the ual ine ameras and ual ltra Wide ameras on the Mate ro and Mate ro users can capture wide angle videos and images from both the front and rear facing cameras.

The Mate ro is e uipped with a M main camera M ultrawide M periscope with x optical oom and a M telephoto with x optical oom. Meanwhile the Mate ros array consists of the same M main camera and M ultrawide but the M telephoto is capable of x hybrid oom and x digital oom. The vanilla Mate comes with a M main sensor a M ultra wide and an M telephoto with x optical x hybrid and x digital oom. The cameras offer video features like teady hot usion ideo Tracking hot and tory reator.

or the sel e camera the ros feature a M camera as well as a To sensor for face unlock. The vanilla Mate gets a single hole punch front facing shooter that allows for face unlock capability. ike other uawei phones the new Mate series ships with uawei Mobile ervices with apps such as etal earch etal Maps and uawei ocs. oming in black white silver yellow and green the Mate is priced at while the Mate ro is priced at . The Mate ro available in eramic lack and eramic White goes for .

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

TECH LOOK

BACK IN THE HUSTLE Missed dressing up to hit the town with your homies? Well, you can still wear fresh threads when you step out for errands.

Don’t forget the essentials! Bring a (1) Sunnies Daily Duo Mask & Shield (P650) with you as you head out.

Another must-have is the (4) realme 7 (8GB+128GB P14,990). Donning a trendy mirror-inspired design, this device packs a big 5,000mAh battery, which will stay powered throughout the day. The 64MP quad cameras on the back are capable of taking shots worthy for the ‘Gram, too.

Keep warm and look cool in the chilly weather with a (2) Pull & Bear Tie-dye Anorak (P2,495) and (3) 361° Cross Training Knit Pants (P2,195).

For extra protection, keep a (6) Cherry Car Ionizer with Air uri er (P2,500) in your ride to keep you safe and healthy.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

Turn heads while you’re stomping around in a pair of (5) Nike Air Force 1 LV8 Utility (P5,795).

ARSENAL

TECH LOOK

READY FOR GIRLS’ NIGHT Gather up the gals for a good old-fashioned sleepover, virtual-style. Who’s ready for a ovie arathon via etfli art or a chikahan sesh on Zoom?

tay warm the whole night with (3) Bleeves Regular Size (P695), a wearable blanket with sleeves.

tay comfy and co y in a (1) Cotton On Body Twist Front Crop Tank Top (P929) paired with (2) Copper Break No Sweat Baggy Sweatpants (P795).

When it s time to tuck in get a better night s sleep with (4) Bose Sleepbuds II ($249.95). These earbuds have an ultralightweight design with proprietary eartips that provide a snug, all-night t. The updated ose Sleep app also has 14 noise making tracks and 15 naturescapes.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

Track your sleep with the (5) Huawei Watch Fit (P4,999) based on your heart rate and Huawei TruSleep 2.0 sleep tracking technology. See noti cations and the time clearer even with the lights out with this smartwatchs 1.64-inch AMOLED display.

ARSENAL

TECH LOOK

CREATIVE AT HOME

or a creative li e o , it s i portant to sta prod ctive and eep o r creative ices flowing t o need to ta e a rea once in a while, too, to refresh o rself

Equip yourself with a convertible (1) Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga i ($879) powered by 11th-gen Intel Core processors. When its Smart Pen is pulled out, it will automatically open your notetaking apps so you can jot down ideas as they come.

Stick with a casual (3) Zara Long Sleeve Compact T-Shirt (P1,495) and (4) Uniqlo Dry Stretch Easy Shorts (P790).

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Work comfortably with the help of a (5) Muji Neck Cushion Curved Type (P695).

W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

Pair the powerful laptop with a colorful (2) vivo Y20i (P7,499). This trendy phone lets you express yourself with itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dual rear cameras featuring AI Portrait technology for snazzier shots.

MOBILE DEVICES

consider. It pretty much packs all the same features as the standard iPhone 12, except that this one is more pocketfriendly, size- and price-wise.

FANTASTIC FOUR

Apple iPhone 12 Apple hits a lot of price points for its latest iPhones. The iPhone 12 series is available in not just three, but four new models, with prices ranging from $399 to $1,099.

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

The 12 series comes with a new chip, better photo- and video-taking capabilities, 5G support, Super Retina XDR display, Ceramic Shield protection, and a MagSafe system for wireless charging. They also feature a new flat edge design that s re iniscent of earlier iPhones like the iPhone 5. hat the i hone doesn t co e with are a power charger and a pair of earbuds. Apple says dumping these two accessories mean a smaller and lighter iPhone box, which in turn will reduce carbon emissions by two million metric tons per year. iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini The iPhone 12 ($799) comes with a 6.1-inch

OLED display that has twice more pixels per inch than its predecessor.

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max The iPhone 12 Pro ($999) has the same display size as the standard iPhone 12 at 6.1-inches, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max ($1,099) is the co pan s iggest phone et, with a 6.7-inch display.

The A14 Bionic chip, equipped in all phones in the range, is built on a 5nm process and features a 16-core Neural Engine for performance boost.

These Pro models come with a LiDAR sensor that boosts autofocus speeds and unlocks new possibilities in augmented reality (AR) apps.

For cameras, the iPhone 12 comes with a dual rear camera setup composed of a 12MP ultrawide and a 12MP wide lens with f/1.6 apert re hat s ore, the i hone can now shoot HDR videos in Dolby Vision.

The 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max sport a triple camera setup at the back: three 12MP wide, telephoto, and ultrawide lenses. The Pro Max gets a larger wide-angle sensor with sensor-shift image stabilization and a longer 65mm telephoto (the 12 Pro has 52mm one). Both models support Dolby Video HDR.

Meanwhile, fans of smaller handsets have the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini ($699) to

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

MOBILE DEVICES

FRESHER THAN EVER

Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G, Mi 10T Pro 5G

While Xiaomiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s T series are mainly meant to serve as more affordable options for its flagship line the Mi 10T and Mi10T Pro get impressive performance upgrades including a super smooth adaptive 144Hz display.

Google Pixel 5

oogle s latest flagship device rea s the old again, t not in the wa that o thin ts s d ed spec ps a e ho h , t the i el is still one solid s artphone t is, afterall, one of oogle s first devices aside fro the i el to feat re s pport he co pact i el sports a inch displa protected orilla lass t has an d st and water resistance, giving this phone the d ra ilit to handle an splashes here s no ch n top e el on the phone this ti e nstead, there s a hole p nch selfie ca era on the top left side of the screen he i el

has an al

in rear cover, co ing in either st lac or orta age, which gives the phone a ini alistic aesthetic

t sports two rear ca eras consisting of a egapi el ain ca era and a egapi el ltrawide lens hese co e with new software feat res s ch as powered ortrait ight ode, ine atic an, and three new sta ili ation odes t of the o , this flagship r ns on ndroid and is powered a napdragon processor t also has with of internal storage, which is nfort natel ne panda le as there s no icro slot his phone can wirelessl power p other devices, too, thro gh reverse wireless charging

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

The phones run on Android with MI I baked on top. This iaomi packs some handy features like Mi emote for controlling media devices ame Turbo for optimi ing game performance a built in screen recorder and a code scanner. Its rear cameras aren t as high functioning as the Mi series but the shooters on the Mi 10T Pro are still notable: 108MP main M ultrawide and M macro shooter.

W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

SIMPLER UPGRADES

This refresh rate is bound to take a toll on a devices battery life so these phones come with a napdragon processor and a big mAh battery to keep it powered all day. In settings the phones also let you adjust the refresh rates to 60Hz or 90Hz so it won t take up much power. urthermore the Adaptive ync technology will dynamically switch refresh rates depending on the app you re running.

MOBILE DEVICES

POWER AND SPEED

realme 7 Pro

in per screen with a fingerprint reader built into it, an 8GB RAM + 128GB combo, a 64MP main camera, and a 4500mAh battery that charges in st over half an ho r o nds li e a phone o d pa a lot of one for, right rong he real e ro is co petitivel priced at , , and aside fro the a ove, o also get video sta ili ation capa ilit for oth its rear and in displa front ca eras eanwhile, nder the hood is a alco napdragon o ile processor with an accelerated on device e enting the real e ro s dependa ilit and d ra ilit is its heinland artphone elia ilit erification t s the first s artphone in the world to receive this verification, passing a or tests of dail se scenarios, fo r co ponents relia ilit , and si e tre e environ ents and inor tests

EVERY COLOR, EVERY HUE

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE een ad iring the a s ng ala fro afar ell, it s now within easier reach than s to the ala his device delivers flagship e periences at a ore accessi le price point , t co es with the series displa , powered ca era, advanced chipset, fast connectivit , large atter , and e panda le storage he ala pace oo

co es with a selfie shooter and a triple rear ca era s ste with integration will detect and re ove otion l r and s ggest the est shots

ther feat res of the ala potif ntegration,

incl de a inch nfinit per screen, so nd and h atter with fast charging and wireless power sharing, and water and d st resistance rating

he phone also feat res what a s ng calls a pre i te t red ha e effect that ini i es fingerprints and s dges o can choose fro the si availa le colors lo d av , lo d avender, lo d ed, lo d int, lo d hite, and lo d range

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

LAPTOPS

HEAVY-DUTY FEATHERWEIGHT

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano At less than 1kg, the ThinkPad X1 Nano is being billed as the lightest Lenovo ThinkPad ever. Make no mistake, however; this laptop is one featherweight powerhouse. This 907-gram (1.99lb) laptop uses the Intel Evo platform and is powered by the 11thgeneration Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris X. on gurable with up to x memory up to T PCIe SSD storage, and a 17-hour battery life, the laptop promises all-day use in this new hybrid working world.

Huawei MateBook 14

n the surface the uawei Mate ook is a gorgeous piece of hardware with its classy pace ray color and metal body. ut its compact dimensions and light weight (1.49kg) belie the power under the hood. This thin and portable laptop comes with a y en processor based on AM s en architecture. It also has of AM of storage a adeon graphics card a Wh battery with W wired fast charging, and dual-fan shark fin cooling system. The Mate ook s inch uawei ull iew isplay boasts a screen to body ratio and supports of the color gamut. It even features an ye omfort Mode with T heinland ow lue ight Certification, which protects your eyes from harmful blue light. The Huawei Share tag is built into the touchpad, which means you can simply tap your phone to the touchpad so that your phone screen will pop up automatically on laptop. Not only does Huawei Share allow you to drag and drop your files between your PC and phone easily, it also lets you make or pick up your phone call from the PC.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

The laptop has four speakers with Dolby Atmos support for immersive sound, and it has four degree mics to ensure loud and clear audio for audio and video calls. Another rst for this Think ad is its updated suite of AI and biometric ThinkShield security feature. These features include voice recognition and human presence detection, which enables zero touch login and device lock when the user walks away. The ThinkPad X1 Nano will be available in the fourth quarter of the year for $1,399 around .

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

IS THIS YOUR IDEAL MATE?

The 13-inch 2K display sports a aspect ratio a rst in Lenovo laptops, giving it narrower bezels on all sides. This panel is Dolby Visioncerti ed and covers of the s color gamut. Theres also an option for touchscreen for more functionality.

AUDIO

BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL

Marshall Major IV

Following in the footsteps of the Major III, the Marshall Major IV goes for an improved ergonomic design while still retaining the signature guitar amp-inspired look. But what’s impressive about these wireless headphones is its promised incredible 80-hour battery life— and takes just 15 minutes to get 15 hours of playback. The Major IV also supports wireless charging. Just sit the gear on a wireless charging mat to juice it up. These headphones deliver signature Marshall sound through its 40mm custom-tuned dynamic drivers that pump out roaring bass, smooth mids, and brilliant treble. On its ear cup is a multi-directional knob for music control, adjusting the volume, and powering the headphones on or off.

FOR YOUR EARS ONLY

UE Fits

arbuds aren t a one si e ts all kind of gadget. The silicone ear tips they come with out of the box come in different sizes to suit its user, but sometimes, they’re still not the right t. nter the its custom earbuds that will mold to the shape of your ear. esigned by ltimate ars the its have gel lled tips which will permanently harden to the shape of your ears. The molding process will start once the user turns it on through the Fits app. After 60 seconds, you get earphones made to cradle every crevice of your ear.

W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

These buds come with 10mm drivers for detailed sound with punchy bass. They also promise eight hours of listening time, while the charging case adds 20 more hours. They’re also sweat-proof and water-resistant. Although they lack active noise cancellation, the personali ed t should give some passive noise isolation. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

CARS

MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER

Toyota Fortuner

Toyota has toughened up the Toyota Fortuner, pulling out the big guns by giving the midsize SUV not just aesthetic alterations but also a bee er engine. The refreshed ortuner is available with two engine options a . liter turbodiesel with hp and m and a . liter turbodiesel that produces up to hp and m of tor ue. All variants get a six speed automatic gearbox save for the base MT variant which gets a six speed manual. nly the top of the line . T AT variant comes with a x drivetrain. The T trim gets a uni ue aero kit black front grille split type exterior paint ob and

headlights new inch alloy wheels.

foglights and taillights a two tone

Meanwhile the . . and variants all have an all black front grille redesigned bi beam sleeker taillights and a revised front and rear bumper design.

headlights and

Android Auto and Apple ar lay are standard on all units as well as touchscreen infotainment displays. ower variants get a six speaker setup while the top spec T gets a premium nine speaker sound system. Toyota didn t skimp on safety features. All variants come with airbags for the T anti lock brake system with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution vehicle stability control with traction control hill start assist control rear parking sensors reversing camera for models and panoramic monitor and T . The x T variant also has downhill assist control. Toyota afety ense is also available on the ortuner and T giving these variants a pre collision system lane departure alert and adaptive cruise control. for the . x T AT. while pearlescent colors for the

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

The refreshed Toyota ortuner starts at for the . MT and tops out at The White earl rystal hine paint ob for T models is available for an additional and are available for an additional .

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

CARS

CHIC CROSSOVER

Kia Stonic

Bold and eye-catching, the Kia Stonic is a hip and stylish runabout thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designed to stand out. Positioned to meet the demands of the young and active market, the Stonic features sharp lines, smooth surfaces, and Kiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature Tiger Nose Grille. The compact crossover features projector headlamps with LED daytime running lamps exclusive to the variant a sleek roofline with heavy duty roof rails and a mm ground clearance. While compact in size, this small SUV still features a multifunctional storage space with full fold flat rear seats. ven if the seats are still upright it provides liters of ample room for huge hauls on grocery runs. To accompany you on long road trips or help you beat traffic boredom ia tted the tonic with an inch infotainment touchscreen unit compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Music blasts out from six speakers packaged as standard on the Stonic. The ia tonic is powered by a . dual T engine matched with either a ve speed manual or a six speed automatic transmission. Automatic units g enerate 99hp, while manual ones produce 94hp. For safety, the Stonic is equipped with rear parking sensors, rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, electronic stability control, and hill start assist (all exclusive for the EX variant). The .

MT variant is priced at The top of the line .

while the AT version goes for AT is priced at .

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

CARS

NO MORE GAS PAINS

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV After rolling out over

units across urope orth America apan and Australia Mitsubishi has nally brought the world s rst hybrid to the hilippines.

The Mitsubishi utlander packs a . liter gasoline engine hp and m combined with two electric motors one up front kW m and the other one at the rear kW m . With this setup the hybrid can drive up to km on solely electric power. Meanwhile Mitsubishi says the is capable of achieving . kp . ay goodbye to gas pains It s got uper All Wheel ontrol an advanced full time four wheel drive system that promises incredible traction solid stability and intuitive linear handling. eed to recharge

imply connect the utlander to a power outlet at home to replenish the battery. eed to leave TAT ou can recharge up to in minutes via uick charge.

ther features of the utlander include an inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple ar lay compatibility power tailgate and sunroof paddle shifters and safety and driver assist tech such as forward collision and ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation systems adaptive cruise control blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert.

SPORTY CROSSOVER

Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 AMG

And yet despite its size, the GLA gives y ou lots of space to ride and more room to shop and stow. The rear backrest is 40:20:40 split, with each section folding down individually. Its luggage compartment can also be adjusted in two stages, thanks to a contin o s floor console Locally, the GLA is available as the GLA 200 AMG Line, which comes with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 163hp

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

and 250Nm of torque. This is paired with a 7G dual-clutch automatic transmission with cruise control and driver selectable modes (ECO, Comfort, Sport, and Individual). Advanced driving aids include active braking assist and attention assist. Inside, it features the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system with a 7-inch instrument

and media display and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The P3,290,000 GLA 200 AMG boasts an attractive sporty appearance both inside and out. The AMG Body Styling features a diamond radiator grille with pins in chrome, 19-inch 5-twin-spoke light alloy wheels, black roof liner, and polished aluminum roof rails.

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

The second generation Mercedes-Benz GLA combines the best from the two high-volume segments: compact cars and SUV. To reinforce its SUV stature, Mercedes increased the GLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall height by 100mm (it now stands at 1,611mm or 1,616mm with roof rails) while maintaining its compact size.

ARSENAL

CARS

HANDSOME HARD WORKER

Toyota Hilux

Age is just a number, they say. And the tough, dependable Toyota Hilux proves itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still as good as ever, even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s over 50 years old. The latest ilux gets a new aggressive looking hexagonal front grille flanked by sleek headlamps. The sides still look muscular highlighted by new alloy rims. The rear also gets a new set of taillights. xclusive to its on uest variants is a new motional ed color. ther on uest only features include bi beam headlamps and rear combination lamps with line guide as well as a sports bar with lamps. The tailgate gets the signature ilux branding with an over fender garnish and on uest decals on both sides of the cargo bed. The hardworking ilux is available in on uest and on uest variants AT and MT and MT. It retains its . liter and . liter turbodiesel options but both have received some slight improvements. The . liter turbodiesel engine available in the on uest variants produces hp and m of tor ue m for the MT variant . Meanwhile the . liter mill available in the other variants put out hp and m. Toyota says both engines are now more fuel efficient. eyless entry is available for the on uest and grades with on uest variants getting mart ntry and ush tart ystem. All three grades also have power ad ust with auto fold for side mirrors speed sensing door locks steering wheel mounted controls touchscreen infotainment system and Apple ar lay Android Auto compatibility. The on uest gets cruise control. or safety all three grades come with airbags pt. seatbelts A with and brake assist vehicle stability control and hill start assist. on uest variants also have downhill assist control and active traction control. for the .

ab hassis MT variant and go all the way up to that motional ed color e prepared to add another

for the .

on uest AT. ig

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

rices start at

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

CARS

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Honda City

Since its arrival in the Philippines in 1996, the Honda City has always been known for its smart style, spacious interior, and efficiency. onda couldn t have given a better name for a practical and reliable well city car. ver the years the ity grew and became more re ned. ow the th generation model looks to impress yet again with its sharp design and upgraded features. onger wider and lower than the th generation ity this all new model sports a redesigned grille flanked by swept back headlights with daytime running lights. At the back are wide hori ontal taillights that extend toward the vehicles sides. The ity comes in four variants including the top spec T. This sportier version comes with high gloss black honeycomb grille with an logo emblem sporty front bumper and grille black power folding door mirrors with integrated side turn signals gloss black trunk spoiler and inch alloy wheels. Inside its still a spacious cabin but with upgraded features such as push to start ignition and speed sensing door locks across all variants. All trims save for the . MT get an inch touchscreen infotainment display with support for Apple ar lay Android Auto and Web ink. Theres also a new air conditioning design with rotary knobs digital display and illumination. n top of that the . and . T come with rear ventilation. or safety the ity scores an impressive star A A A rating. ehicle stability assist with agile handling assist emergency stop signal A with and hill start assist are standard across the range. The and T variants are e uipped with a multi view rear camera. The onda ity is powered by a . liter four cylinder gasoline engine capable of hp and m of tor ue. This is mated to a continuously variable transmission. The trim however offers a choice between a T and a six speed manual transmission. The onda ity . The .

is priced at T goes for

for the manual transmission model and while the top spec T is priced at

for the .

W O R D S K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ARSENAL

CARS

SMALL SIZE, BIG PERSONALITY

Hyundai Venue

Fun, functional, and fashionable, the Hyundai Venue is a crossover that’s made with the dynamic lifestyle of today’s urban go-getter in mind. he s allest in ndai s line p feat res the ar e s signat re cascading grille flan ed ni el designed lighting clusters: bi-function halogen headlights with static blending and LED DRL and position lamps. It’s also got vol ino s wheel arches, lac cladding aro nd the fender, and strong character lines

This crossover is available in two variants: the 1.6 GL 6AT (P915,000) and the 1.6 GLS 6AT (985,000). Both are powered by a Gamma 1.6-liter MPI gasoline mill capable of 121hp and up to 151Nm of torque. This is mated to a sixspeed automatic transmission, and power is put to the ground by a two-wheel drivetrain. It also comes with drive (Eco, Sport, Normal) and traction modes (Snow, Mud, Sand). ive color options are availa le at la nch

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

eni

l e, ava range, os ic ra , olar

hite, and hanto

lac

WORDS

Inside, the Venue is equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen display with support for Apple CarPlay and ndroid to, and either si or fo r spea ers

K AT R I N A R I V E R E - D I G A

eanwhile, the rear is characteri ed shaped taillights, ac p la ps incorporated at oth ends of the rear bumper, and “Venue” emblazoned in white with chrome outline set against a wide rear door. The Venue rolls on either 15-inch or 17-inch alloy wheels, depending on the variant you’re getting.

p.42 AMBITIOUS, EXPENSIVE WORK IN PROGRESS

MICROSOFT SURFACE DUO p.38

REALME 7 PRO

p.39

MOMAX SPARK | VIVO TWS NEO

p.40

LENOVO LEGION 7i

p.41

VIVO X50 PRO

p.43

FORD F-150 3.5L V6 ECOBOOST 4X2 LARIAT

p.44

CHERY ARRIZO 5E

p.45 MAZDA CX-8 SIGNATURE

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

TESTED

PLUG & GO

PRODUCT TEST NO.

realme 7 Pro

2280 THE NUMBERS

WORD S KAT R IN A R IV E R E- DIGA

real e is reall getting good at i ing the feat res o d e pect to find in ore pre i phones with wallet friendl prices his is the case with the ro re, it does awa with the displa and optical oo of its predecessor, overall, this device is still a well ro nded pac age

OS realme UI (Android 10) DISPLAY 6.4-inch 1080 x 2400 Super AMOLED CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G MEMORY 8GB STORAGE 128GB, microSD card CAMERA 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front CONNECTIVITY 4G, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB-C PRICE P17,990

he ad shooters ta e great photos in daylight. Images are sharp and have pretty accurate colors that loo nat ral read not artificiall oosted eanwhile, night shots co e o t well alanced, than s to the phone s dedicated night mode.

I love the design of the ac cover hile it s ade o t of pol car onate aterial, it neither loo s cheap nor fli s n fact, the atte finish that s split as etricall loo s premium and has a nice effect when o ove the device in different directions.

ro has a eef h atter ltho gh s aller than the real e s h, the one on the ro sho ld still last o a whole da or even ore l s, the per art fast charging can fill it p fro to in st in tes t too a o t in tes to reach , which is i pressive

nli e the previo s gen ro and the real e , the ro doesn t have a refresh rate displa nstead, real e e ipped this with a per one that s right it s legi le nder s nlight and vi rant , that s an aweso e consolation pri e his device also gets an in displa fingerprint scanner that wor s snappil

he ro feels solid in the hand and has a pretty nice heft to it. han s to its c rved sides, the device is eas to hold, altho gh one handed operation can e quite challenging especially for those with s all hands

he processor and storage co o wor well together, and e perienced ero lags and crashes during my ti e with the ro he ndroid ased real e is s ooth, clean, and eas to navigate

GEEK METER SPEED SAYS

DIMENSIONS 160.9 x 74.3 x 8.7mm, 182g

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a power user who needs a long-lasting battery that charges fast, then the realme 7 Pro should be on your list. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a great-looking display, good cameras, and solid overall performance wrapped in an attractive package.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

8.5

PRODUCT TEST NO.

2281

2282

THE NUMBERS

DRIVER 14.2mm dynamic FREQUENCY 20-20,000Hz CONNECTIVITY Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C WATER RESISTANCE IP54 BATTERY 22.5hr (max. listening time with charging case) DIMENSIONS 33.9 x 18.6 x 16.5mm, 4.7g (earphone); 58.1 x51.6 x 24mm, 25.7g (charging case) PRICE P4,999

DRIVER 5.8mm FREQUENCY 20-20,000Hz CONNECTIVITY Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C BATTERY 20hr (max. listening time with charging case) DIMENSIONS 39 x 22 x 24mm (earbuds); 63.5mm x 51.5mm x 26.5mm (Charging Case) PRICE P4,990

ALL-AROUND BUDS

vivo TWS Neo WO RD S AYIE L IC S I

vivos first atte pt at tr l wireless ear ds is one solid effort hile its design is si ilar to ost in the market, the vivo TWS Neo is packed with features that more expensive earbuds don’t offer.

CALLS AS CLEAR AS DAY

Momax Spark WOR D S K AT R I NA R I VER E- DIGA

he vivo eo co es in a lightweight, poc eta le, and st lish charging case t has a gloss , reflective finish, which a es the case and ear ds h ge fingerprint agnets

The Momax Spark is a no-nonsense pair of truly wireless earbuds that offer decent quality sound, noise reduction via its dualmicrophone system, and clear calls and voice quality. While it’s not exactly premium— the buds are mostly made of plastic in matte finish its light weight a es it co forta le to wear for an entire afternoon of eetings and sic listening

ince the ds also co e with the gloss finish, there were times when I’d feel like they’d slip out of ears hese slipper feeling ds are rated, which a es the sa le for e ercising or if o re ca ght r nning in the rain sed these for workouts and they didn’t fall out on me, but I did a lot of ad sting st to a e s re the didn t

The buds are equipped with 5.8mm dynamic drivers that produce deep and full lows. We wish the ids and highs co ld e crisper and clearer, tho gh eanwhile, as pro ised, the par wor s great for calls the person on the other end could hear me loud and clear even if was in front of a whirring electric fan

he ds so nd prett good for open fit earphones, t the do let in ac gro nd noise he drivers prod ce crisp a dio and decent bass.

The Spark also supports touch controls, which means you can answer a call, control o r sic, or activate iri or oogle ssistant adl , a light to ch so eti es doesn t wor o ll have to tap a little harder to control your music.

he to ch sensitive ste s allow for changing the volume with a swipe. I didn’t have to reach for my phone to turn up the volume every so often.

These earbuds don’t come with active noise cancellation t since the fit great in my ears, they’re able to drown out some noise while still allowing e to e aware of s rro ndings heir effective range also lets e wal aro nd the roo or refill my water bottle in the kitchen without eing disconnected

ne cool thing a o t the ds is that the automatically pair with your phone (if your l etooth is on once the charging case is opened. There’s a neat animation, too, on vivo phones, which shows the battery life of the case and each earbud. Furthermore, it pairs quick and seamless.

he atter lasts five ho rs, therea o ts hen the ice r ns o t, o can recharge the via the cla shell charging case hat s notable about this case is that it can be charged two wa s via or wirelessl

As for battery life, I was able to listen to my playlists for half a work-day with the TWS Neo efore needing to p t the ac in the case for a recharge

SPEED SAYS The vivo TWS Neo packs style, decent audio, and reliable battery life in its lightweight form factor. These earbuds make for a good pair for your phone.

GEEK METER

7.5

GEEK METER

SPEED SAYS Whether you need a pair of TWS earbuds for your endless Zoom meetings or for just listening to music, the Momax Spark delivers.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

TESTED

PRODUCT TEST NO.

2283 THE NUMBERS OS Windows 10 Home DISPLAY 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 240Hz PROCESSOR 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER w/ Max-Q design 8GB GDDR6 RAM 16GB DDR4 RAM STORAGE 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD BATTERY 80Wh CAMERA 720p HD webcam with shutter AUDIO 2x 2W Dolby Atmos speakers CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 2, HDMI 2.0, RJ45 Ethernet, Thunderbolt 3 Type-C, USB-C (DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.1 Gen 1), headphone/mic combo PRICE P134,995

TOP-SHELF PERFORMANCE

Lenovo Legion 7i WOR D S KAT R IN A R IV E R E- DIGA

Gone are the days when gaming laptops are used just for gaming. Today, they’re also utilized in a wide variety of settings and scenarios, including in the suit-wearing corporate world. The Lenovo Legion 7i is one such powerful machine that you can take to a board meeting and still look polished and professional. The Legion 7i looks sleek and clean for a gaming laptop. It’s not loud or edgy, with Lenovo placing the Legion badge on the corner instead of front and center. It’s also relatively thin as far as gaming notebooks go, at just 19.9mm. Note, however, that it comes at a hefty 2.1kg, so it can be cumbersome to travel around with.

The Legion 7i packs a 15.6-inch full HD display. It’s bright (500 nit max) and comes with an insane 240Hz refresh rate. It also has great viewing angles, incredible color accuracy (100% sRGB color coverage), and is just plain awesome to look at. The bezels are slim, but Lenovo managed to place an HD webcam on the top bezel—with a manual privacy shutter to boot!

The keyboard is big, wellspaced out, and has generous feedback. Because this laptop is huge, Lenovo was able to throw in a number pad as well.

Most of the ports are placed at the rear for better cable management and a cleaner desk. he sides also ho se ports for pl gging in flash drives or headsets. Meanwhile, the hinge allows the screen to be angled up to 180 degrees so you can adjust it to suit your viewing needs. The Legion 7i packs an 80 watt-hour battery that can last about six hours when using the laptop mostly for productivity tasks. Its Rapid Charge Pro technology allows the battery to be charged from 0 to 50 percent in 30 minutes. As expected, the Legion 7i’s potent power—10th-gen Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and RTX 2070 Super Max-Q—allows users to breeze through just about any task with ease. No lags, no hiccups. There’s a bit of warming on the right side of the keyboard, though, but thanks to Lenovo’s Legion ColdFront 2.0, heat is minimal even after hours of use.

The vertically oriented vents along the edges of the device and the precision drilled holes above the keyboard and along the bottom cover give the Legion 7i plenty of room to breathe. The rubber feet also elevate the laptop enough to give space for good airflow

SPEED SAYS

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT 360 x 255 x 20mm, 2.1kg

The Lenovo Legion 7i’s powerful processor, beefy GPU, good battery life, and fantastic screen is a gamer’s dream come true. We won’t be surprised, though, if photographers, video editors, art directors, and content creators will want to get one, too. It’s got a hefty price tag, but I think it’s a fair price for a portable machine that’s packed to the gills with top-end components.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

GEEK METER

PRODUCT TEST NO.

2284 THE NUMBERS OS Android 10 with FunTouch 10.5 DISPLAY 6.56-inch 1080 x 2376 AMOLED CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G MEMORY 8GB STORAGE 128/256GB CAMERA 48MP + 8MP + 13MP + 8MP rear, 32MP front CONNECTIVITY 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB-C PRICE P39,999

A CAMERA IN DISGUISE

vivo X50 Pro WO RD S AYIE L IC S I

When a smartphone is branded with “professional photography” on its body, it better have one heck of a camera. This is what the vivo X50 Pro promises as it comes stacked with pro-level lenses and a built-in gimbal for a main shooter. This phone is beginning to sound more like a camera than a phone, but believe me, the X50 Pro excels as both.

he gi al ca era delivers tried fil ing while riding in a tricycle and while walking (scenarios where I usually get shaky footage) and the clips came out stable and smooth like I was using pro equipment.

This phone has a 90Hz refresh rate, a feature that I have come to enjoy since it creates a smoother and more dynamic display. It sports a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with curved-off edges. They don’t fully spill over to the sides (there’s still space for the physical power button and volume rocker), so at least I wasn’t accidentally touching what’s on screen with my palm.

The FunTouchOS 10.5 it runs on is easy to navigate and feat re filled ne downside is that there’s a number of bloatware pre-installed and the daily notifications fro ovi (vivo’s smart assistant) can get pretty annoying.

The X50 Pro is easy on the eyes. The subtle sheen and atte frosted finish on the rear p the phone’s premium aesthetic. It doesn’t catch fingerprints as ch even witho t a case he camera module is pretty big, but it doesn’t take away from the device’s deluxe look.

The built-in gimbal helped stabilize shots in the 60x Hyper Zoom mode, but the photos still come out a tad blurry.

With casual use, the phone can last me a whole day before needing a charge. I kind of wish that the phone supports wireless charging though, The 33W fast charger it comes with can fully replenish the battery in a little over an hour.

The X50 Pro has a big camera module consisting of a 48MP main shooter, 13MP and 8MP telephoto lenses, and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. I noticed that photos are warmer or more saturated, but I’m okay with it since they come out more vibrant.

his flagship device ight not have the ost advanced chip like other premium phones in the market, but the Snapdragon 765 does the job. It was able to run most graphicsintensive games like Sky: Children of the Light without crashing.

GEEK METER

SPEED SAYS DIMENSIONS 158.5 x 72.8 x 8mm, 181.5g

The vivo X50 Pro is basically a camera disguised as a smartphone. There are some trade-offs, such as the processor and the lack of wireless charging and IP rating. But if you’re looking for a capable phone that can also take good photos and buttery-smooth videos, then the vivo X50 Pro is a good choice. It’s a pretty solid device with a premium look and build to boot.

8.5

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

TESTED

AMBITIOUS, EXPENSIVE WORK IN PROGRESS

PRODUCT TEST NO.

Microsoft Surface Duo

2285

WOR D S GADJO CAR D E N AS S E V IL L A

THE NUMBERS OS Android 10 DISPLAY 8.1-inch AMOLED 2700 x 1800 (open) 5.6-inch AMOLED 1800 x 1350 (closed) CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 MEMORY 6GB RAM STORAGE 128 or 256GB CAMERA 11MP, f/2.0 adaptive camera CONNECTIVITY 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 3.1 PRICE $1,399 (128GB); $1,499 (256GB) *The unit reviewed here was released in the U.S. market.

By now you’ve probably read the scathing reviews of Microsoft’s ambitious and expensive new dual-screen phone. Currently availa le onl in the for , rface o is icrosofts first ndroid device and was ilt with oogles colla oration To create such a slim device, Microsoft had to sacrifice so e feat res, a ong the connectivit , a headphone ac , connectivit , and water resistance. The Surface Duo is built for multitasking and is capable of running two apps at the same time. It is also for spanning one app across the 8.1inch display composed of two inch displays connected by a hinge. The Surface Duo is composed of two screens that can be used independently or together in various ways. This makes it more versatile than a three-screen folding phone—as long as you don’t mind the seam in the middle where the hinge resides.

The Duo’s design is exquisite and decisively pre i t is co pletel encased in orilla lass and it is n elieva l thin at ven when folded, the rface o is not ch thic er than an i hone or a ala ote

Surface Duo can take pen input, but it is nowhere as sophisticated as Samsung’s S Pen. Using a Surface Pen on the Duo makes it feel like a very high tech and exorbitantly priced Moleskine notebook. The Duo’s articulating hinge enables a full 360° rotation of the dual screens. This allows multiple modes of use including single screen mode, tablet mode, tent mode, and compose mode.

a ers can a e se of one screen for the ga e and the lower screen for controls. While the Surface Duo runs last ear s flagship specs, it still feels reasona l fast n oo ode r nning e eader apps li e a on indle, rface Duo offers the most immersive reading experience as you can hold it just like a softcover book. he rface o r ns ndroid with so e icrosoft odifications to handle the lti screen e perience ost apps run well side by side; you can have Instagram and a we rowser open at the sa e ti e, or etfli and hro e, or nstagra and oogle hotos o get it al screens shine for certain apps like Maps, which can take up the whole screen and display additional information.

Some of the disadvantages of the Surface o are that o can t see notifications when it is closed and that you can’t use it onehanded o itigate the lac of notifications and aw ward phone e perience, sed a it it Ionic as well as Bluetooth earbuds to route notifications and calls

SPEED SAYS DIMENSIONS 145.2 x 186.9 x 4.8mm (open) 145.2 x 93.3 x 9.9mm (closed) 250g

The Microsoft Surface Duo is an example of a brave and innovative product that will likely sell poorly. But if Microsoft and Google continue to refine the dual-screen functionality, it may be the start of a whole new category.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

GEEK METER

HAULING POWER

PRODUCT TEST NO.

Ford F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost 4x2 Lariat

2286 THE NUMBERS ENGINE 3.5L V6 EcoBoost with auto startstop technology TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic with select shift POWER 375hp @ 5,000rpm TORQUE 637Nm @ 3,500 rpm BRAKES front and rear vented discs SUSPENSION independent front suspension with gas pressurized twin tube front shocks; solid axle and leaf springs with staggered outboard mounted rear shocks TIRES 275/55 R20 SAFETY front seat side airbag and safety canopy system with side curtain airbags and rollover sensor, 360-degree camera, active park assist, curve control, hill start assist, trailer sway control, tire pressure monitoring system, ABS with EBD, crash severity sensor, Ford Co-Pilot 360 PRICE P2,698,000

WO R D S E AR L M AN AL AN SAN

The Ford F-150 is back after a two-decade hiatus. The new model is a far cry from its popular predecessor; this one gets decked out with a myriad of safety features as well as driver’s aid. The back sports high mount stop lamp and cargo lamp. The tailgate is removable for easier access, and can also be opened remotely. Dropping of tailgate is eliminated with the tailgate lift assist.

While some might ask for the V8 model, make no mistake—the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine is up to the task. Boasting a muscular 375hp and 637Nm of torque, it will put older powertrains to shame.

The Park Assist and 360º camera make it easier to maneuver even in the tiniest places. And that’s something given the size of this truck.

The F-150 offers three different drive modes. You can pick your engine output— from frugal to power.

Body color pers flan the 2-level quad beam LED headlights with DRLs and fog lamps.

he ig fits the st right. The combination provides stability for the big rig, and is also capable for loading and towing. The all-season tires are quiet during high-speeds.

The 10-speed automatic transmission takes advantage of the engine’s high output. It can pull heavy loads, as well as speed up on highways. High-speed cruising is actually economical— 100kph at a measly 1,300rpm. Meanwhile, long trips without frequent fuel stops is assured with a 98-liter fuel tank.

INTERIOR

The F-150’s interior is huge enough that even basketball players can be seated comfortably. It’s so spacious that the center console is almost a whopping 9 inches wide.

The seats are very comfortable, with the front seats having a 10-way power adjust. The driver seat even has a memory feature. Front and rear seats also have climate control.

3 2

The Lariat’s interior is simple but sporty. Black leather with white stitching completes the look. The dashboard is also in black with silver trims.

The 8-inch screen serves multiple functions such as for the 360º camera, navigation system, and various entertainment options. Sound quality is top-notch with the 10-speaker system.

GEEK METER

SPEED SAYS

DIMENSIONS 5,890 x 2,029 x 1,961mm

The Ford F-150 is back with a vengeance. It is more driver/passenger focused, with more amenities than we can describe. The creature comforts are attuned with the times, making it obvious that comfort and ease of ownership are the main design considerations. Although it still has the heft, it’s very much easy to use in and around the city.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

TESTED

PRODUCT TEST NO.

2287 THE NUMBERS ENGINE Electric Motor powered by lithium battery pack TRANSMISSION Mono-gear with reverse and stallspeed engage POWER 120kW TORQUE 250Nm BRAKES vented disc front, disc rear SUSPENSION MacPherson struts front, torsion independent rear TIRE SIZE 205/55 R16 SAFETY 6 airbags, 360-degree camera, active park assist, electronic control, tire pressure monitoring system, hill start assist PRICE P1,900,000

CHARGING INTO EV TERRITORY

Chery Arrizo 5e WO R D S E AR L M AN AL AN SAN

The Chery Arrizo 5e may look like your typical mid-variant sedan, but you’ll be surprised as everything inside is pretty upscale. From the electric motor motivation to its various luxury accouterments, the Arrizo 5e is far from the usual mishmash experimental electric cars of yesteryears. The electric motor with the one-gear transmission is a powerful drivetrain combination. It boasts 120kW of power—or an equivalent of over 160hp—which is very impressive for a sedan its size. The transmission’s central role is to transfer power gradually to the wheels.

The motor is deafeningly quiet, and the dash lights are the only indication that the motor is activated. The only noise you will hear is the whirring of the AC cooling fans.

The only disadvantage here is the long charging time. It takes about 7 hours reach 100%. If you’re in a hurry, a 30-minute charge will yield a 25% juice, enough to get to your nearby destination.

INTERIOR

The electric motor boasts power and torque and ease of operation, not to mention zero-emissions. The 400-kilometer range is almost at par with a small gas-powered sub compact.

The charging port is in the middle of the front grille. Notable is the absence of slots or openings for cooling as the electric motor does not need controlled temperature. In lieu of the typical cabinet-sized charger, the Arrizo 5e can be charged via a small DC charger the size of a mousepad. You can charge at home using a regular outlet, at your convenience. All you need is an industrialthick extension cord.

The driver-centric dash is tastefully designed, mixing brown leather with black dash top. The display shows split LCD half gauges for the speedometer at the left and charge meter on the right.

A 9-inch infotainment display dominates the middle of the dashboard, complemented by another 8-inch touchscreen for the climate control.

1 2 3

The center console houses the buttons for traction control, electric brake, hold, and drive modes. It also boasts the rotary gear selector, which only displays Reverse, Neutral, and Drive.

SPEED SAYS DIMENSIONS 4572 x 1825 x 1496mm

The Chery Arrizo 5e showcases the future of automobiles. It also shows the simplicity of converting a gas-powered sedan to an electric power. In fact, the Arrizo still has remnants of its heritage like the gas cap cover and gas cap indicator in the dash. This is not a hastily manufactured sedan, though; rather, it’s a carefully thought-out variant that entertained the eventual change of power.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

GEEK METER

PREMIUM CROSSOVER

PRODUCT TEST NO.

Mazda CX-8 2WD Signature

2288

WO R D S E AR L M AN AL AN SAN

THE NUMBERS

Mazda is known for producing top-notch vehicles. Its vehicle designs are simply awesome (some, even awardwinning) and its offerings are technologically advanced, too. Which is why it’s no surprise that prices of Mazda vehicles are above the median. The Mazda CX-8 2WD is no exception. Priced at P2,290,000, this 7-seater SUV is one handsome beast that’s equipped way better than its contemporaries.

ENGINE 2.5L SkyActiv-G naturally aspirated 4-cylinder TRANSMISSION 6-speed automatic POWER 187hp @ 6,020 rpm TORQUE 252Nm @ 4,000 rpm BRAKES ventilated disc front, drum rear SUSPENSION MacPherson struts front, multi-link rear TIRES 225/55 R19 SAFETY 360º view monitor, ABS with EBD, adaptive radar cruise control, smart brake support, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention alert, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and blind-spot monitors, stability control, front/rear parking sensors PRICE P2,290,000

he design profile of the is ore a in to a sport sedan rather than a crossover, especiall with the flowing elt line and graceful blending of the hood to the windshield and roof.

The front features the trademark Mazda gaping grille, with slim headlights and semi-circle DRLs. Powerful driving lights on the lower valance panel are very bright despite their small size.

The wheels are big and are fitted with pre i o o Proxes tires. The rolling stock combination offers stability and traction, not to mention good looks.

The SkyActiv-G 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder is powerful but also quite fuel e cient, capa le of propelling the heav CX-8 to respectable performance.

INTERIOR

The interior is subdued elegance with the Deep Red Nappa leather seats, black dash, and aluminum trims.

Triple-zone climate control with second-row controls ensure that passengers are cool and comfortable wherever they are seated.

The 8-inch display houses the entertainment, navigation, and monitor of the 360º camera. What it lacks in size is more than made for by the 10-speaker Bose setup.

GEEK METER

SPEED SAYS DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT 3,565 x 1,520 x 1,549mm; 1,170kg

Like other Mazda vehicles, the CX-8 2WD Signature gives emphasis on comfort, power, and elegance courtesy of the SkyActiv technology and the brand’s Kodo design philosophy. Mazda believes that its discriminating clientele will want something that has more to offer than just basic transportation— a drive that oozes with relaxation and adventure. The Mazda CX-8 is all that and more.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

TECHNOSPHERE

ARE WE READY FOR NEW PHONE FORM FACTORS? It’s time for a

tidal shift in the smartphone industry. The candy-bar form factor that we’ve seen for over 14 years is starting to show its age. perating s ste s are tr ing to find wa s to improve the user experience. Even Apple’s iOS, the oldest ‘modern’ mobile operating system, has made concessions to add app folders and widgets. The tablet age, which was ushered by the iPad ten years ago, has also seen some maturity. Tablets no longer want to be tweener devices running blown-up smartphone apps; they want to be PCs. But PCs are also pivoting toward the tablet space with 2-in-1s and convertibles that can shapeshift from tablets to laptops. Everything is constantly changing.

Time for a change With smartphones, the changes are more dramatic. Samsung and Huawei have started to push the folding form factor—basically, a tablet that folds inwards or outwards into a phone. Microsoft’s Surface Duo (reviewed in this issue) avoided the hassle of a delicate folding display by hinging its first Android device on two separate displays that can work independently—or together—in a variety of ways. LG’s Wing is a multiscreen device that flips a second screen horizontally for a T formation. What will they think of next? The market seems to be starving for new form factors and manufacturers (most of them, anyway) are daring to be different and trying new things. Sure, smartphone buyers know what they want, but is it because they’re just buying the latest version of what they are used to? Even the idea that a smartphone is used like a traditional phone, by holding it up to your ear, is somewhat antiquated. We now use headphones and Bluetooth earbuds, and are mostly video calling to communicate. There’s also something about today’s smartphones, which are expanses of screen that are always on, and our Pavlovian response to always mind what’s happening when the screen lights up. Having a device that closes shut or reverts to a reduced state helps us concentrate on other things, and I can’t help but think we need to unlearn a lot of our bad smartphone habits. What’s needed? Building a great new mobile device experience is a complex brew. It may start with the hardware and the processing power as well as the form factor. For manufacturers,

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

GADJO CARDENAS SEVILLA

this means breaking the mold and going beyond their already successful products to try something new. Giants like Samsung can do this, like selling the Fold as well as the Galaxy and Note lines simultaneously, but smaller makers will be taking a massive risk to push their ideas forward (see the Essential Phone 2). Operating systems need to undergo massive change to support these new form factors, which can be challenging since OS makers and app developers need to be invested in finding new wa s to se the new for factors As consumers, we decide what products succeed or fail when we go out and purchase them. Are we ready for something more than the smartphone designs we have today? If not now, then when? Early days A lot of these expressions of design aren’t ready for the mainstream. They’re very expensive, have a lot of kinks to iron out, and might not work for everyone right now. But here’s the good news: the technology is available and there are vanguard designers and engineers pushing this forward. So, while the current smartphone form factors will be around for a while longer, some serious and exciting competition is emerging—and that’s something to celebrate.

ALL ABOUT THE UX

FACEBOOK GROUPS WORTH JOINING DURING THE PANDEMIC

TRIXIE REYNA-BENEDICTO

find ore co fort and se in it now that I’m a new mom in the midst of a pandemic. When I’m feeling hopeless, helpless, or just clueless what to feed my baby or where to get the things she needs, I seem to always find the answer a ong the posts of fellow moms going through the same thing I am. While I’ve always been just a lurker, the GOMs have been the virtual “village” helping me raise my child while I’m away from my actual village of family and friends. Hope Bank (1.9K members) Everyone is going through something: be it having a loved one or oneself stric en with COVID-19 or on the frontlines of the battle against it, losing a job or business, or even loneliness f o re specificall after ental health support during these trying times, you may want to join Hope Bank, a “safe online space” where people share messages of hope through art, music, poetry, or feel-good quotes. We all need a dose of positivity in our lives, and even in our own little ways, we can help uplift others.

So much for

trying to cut down on Facebook use in 2020. The social network has been among the best ways to stay connected to our loved ones and the community as the COVID-19 pandemic left us stranded in our homes. On it we stay up to date on coronavirus news, video chat with family and friends on Messenger, and, lately, communicate with strangers on various groups that saw a dramatic increase in memberships, whether established before or as a result of community quarantines. It caught the attention of Facebook executives as early as April, when they had a virtual three-day event titled Community Connect: Navigating COVID-19, in which Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged, "Even if not organizing directly around coronavirus yourself, your groups have provided an escape for people or a sounding board for people who need support and comfort during this time.” I noticed this trend when I started receiving several invites from Facebook friends at the beginning of the lockdown for a wide variety of groups: from supporting small businesses and bartering to exchanging recipes and parenting tips.

the pandemic, just to check in on how fellow parents are coping, what they’re cooking, what they’re buying, and how they spend their time at home. As my version of a 2020 year-end roundup, here’s my list of Facebook groups worth joining to keep you connected, entertained, and sane as this pandemic rages on into 2021. Bounce Back PH (56.8K members) With unemployment at an all-time low and so many businesses struggling to stay afloat because of the pandemic, people have turned to Facebook not only to look for work but also for opportunities to help. Bounce Back PH gathers entrepreneurs, freelancers, professionals, and small to medium business owners in one space to give each other a boost in this time of crisis. Members can search or share job opportunities, ask support for struggling businesses, seek advice on how to earn more during these challenging times, or simply offer help where needed.

The beauty of Facebook groups is that it lets users who share common interests come together to interact and post stories, photos, and various content in one space.

Let’s Cook Pare (95K members) The lockdown shuttered a lot of restaurants, whether temporarily or permanently, and some that have been allowed to operate only accept orders for take-out or delivery. This made cooking at home the only viable, not to mention safer, option. It’s no wonder this group for sharing recipes became so popular—and necessary.

I started spending more time browsing the groups I decided to join before and during

Glam-O-Mamas (39K members) This group has been around for years, but I

Best of the Best Manila (25K members) If you’re looking for recommendations for the best of anything—from the best places to get baked goods or fresh food, best movies and series to watch during quarantine, and best ways to pass the time during lockdown—join this group that lets members ask and give recos. Some topics are great for a laugh or nostalgia i e est s e ories , while most offer practical tips, especially for getting through the pandemic. Barter groups The pandemic has caused a global economic crisis, and it’s making people turn to an ancient way of exchanging goods before money was invented: bartering. A lot of these cashless exchanges happen on Facebook, where barter groups have popped up like mushrooms. People barter anything, from rubbing alcohol, tissue paper, Lysol, and face masks; to sacks of rice, fruits, bottles of wine, plants, work-from-home furniture, and baby essentials like wipes and strollers. Some even exchange services. A lot of the local barter groups credit the acolod arter o nit with e ers and co nting for starting the pandemic barter trend in May 2020. Soon after, cities around the Philippines created their own loilo arter o nit e ers , e on it arter o nit e ers , anila arter o nit e ers , etro anila arter o nit e ers , and ore

ollow e on @trixiereyna , trixiereynadotcom , and log trixiereyna.com NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

GAME ON

JOVI FIGUEROA Genshin Impact

memesgenshin

Fall Guys

HOLIDAY MEME-ING While 2020 has

been rough, one of the good things we got out from this year was memes—because well, people had more time to make useless stuff. By this time, memes have become so popular the re asicall the chips to o r fish, the t rf to our surf. But did you ever get curious and Google the history of memes? Let me save you some time. The term “meme” actually dates back to 1976, when evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in his book The elfish ene to refer to “cultural ideas that were no different than genes—concepts that had to spread themselves from brain to brain as quickly as they could, replicating and mutating as they went.” Fast forward to the age of the internet. The internet memes as we know them now actually started in the mid-1990s. These were image macros people shared through Usenet forums and e-mail. Remember the LOLcats, the dancing babies and hamsters, the “all your base are belong to us” taglines? No? Okay. Too young. But my point is, it all started with these cute cats and babies and just general absurdity. 48

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

@UnicornHairz

Animal Crossing: New Horizon

As social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook began to shape online discourse by the 2000s, meme generator sites started to churn out memes like a factory would churn out bars of chocolate. Before, it took awhile for memes to spread and die down. But nowadays, you only need a couple of hours for your meme to see the light of day and then get washed away to the deep dark archive of the internet. Having said all that, the point I’m trying to make is: memes are great. Scrolling through Reddit for absurd memes are what I would say is time well spent. They make me laugh, they make me smile, they make me appreciate that I am part of something because I get it! And while 2020 has been brutal, the millions of gamers and geeks stuck at home found a way to make it better by populating the internet with so many memes. So, let me share with you some of my favorite ones that you may have missed, based on the games that took off this year. Let this be my tribute to the games that saved this year, and not my way of getting off from writing a longer gaming column that could have contributed, even just a bit, to our collective techie community.

@liliuhms

Among Us

Screenrant

OPEN FORUM

JEAN RICELLE AQUINO world if you haven’t seen Mulan yet or if you haven’t had your hands on the latest flagship phone. Most industries are doing their best to stay afloat and not suffer any more losses this year. The more launches we see, the greater the effort a rand is e erting to eep the economy flowing. That’s a good sign that things might be looking up for 2021. Notable positive moments this year The cons may seem to have outweighed the pros this year, but there are still some positive moments worth acknowledging. lease don t ta e this as a for of to ic positivity. I know that many are struggling, many have lost their loved ones, and a lot of people are scared, mad, and frustrated. This part right here is just to remind everyone that there are some things that can still stamp a smile on your face. For instance, Christmas is right around the corner, and even tho gh the tra c in is back to as it was pre-pandemic, you won’t have to deal with the stressful holiday rush hour since most of us are staying indoors. What’s more, buying gifts can also be done safely at home.

2020: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE IN-BETWEEN—AND WHAT AWAITS US NEXT YEAR

The year 2020

gave a new meaning to the phrase “times are tough.” It has been hard for most of us, if not all, to survive this year, but hey—we’re two months away from posting on social media that the year is over and we have another chance for a fresh start. In this column, I will attempt to “review” this year and list down things that we can be hopeful for in 2021 and the years to come. 2020 hasn’t been the friendliest 2020 was a good start for many Filipinos— until the Taal Volcano started spewing ashes in January. Who would have known that it wasn’t the worst that would happen this year? By March, the longest lockdown in the world was implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a “new normal” was introduced, studied. Now, it’s not new anymore. The world came to a screeching halt the minute the World Health Organization

realized that COVID-19 is a deadly virus and there is no cure for it. So, how has 2020 been so far? To quote one of the emo songs I put on repeat back in high school, “Days grow longer and nights grow shorter.” Sure, working from home is a blessing, t it s not all rain ows and tterflies, especially when the stress of work (which sho ld e left in the o ce is i ed with the comfort of home. The truth is the entire situation is taking a toll on everyone— ph sicall , e otionall , entall , financiall , and more. Keeping up, not with the Kardashians, but with the trying times These are trying times, and it feels like the more we progress toward the end of the year, the harder it is to keep up. Wherever you look, there’s something new: a product la nched a certain rand, or a fil ade available for streaming. hese things are e citing, t it also helps to be reminded that it’s not the end of the

The private sector has stepped up to help out in resolving problems brought by the pandemic. Imagine Jollibee and McDonald’s coming together for an advocacy campaign. That is one of the good things that we can smile about: competitors setting aside their rivalry to help the country survive. nd who can forget a o t the plantitos and plantitas? They’re everywhere! I hope this becomes more than just a trend and eventually encourages everyone to go for a sustainable lifestyle by growing their produce at home. What to look forward to Things may seem bleak now, but I know things will get better eventually. One thing I’m thankful for about this lockdown is that I get to spend every day with my kid at home— a challenge, but more of a blessing. I look forward to better days. I look forward to shopping for useful and cute gifts for my loved ones this Christmas. I look forward to “a better normal” once a vaccine has been approved. I look forward to going out without a mask or a face shield and not being afraid for my life when I bump shoulders with a stranger. Not to romanticize resilience, but I feel the need to say this: these times may be tough, but we are tougher than these trying times. For now, let’s hold on to dear life, stay safe and healthy, practice physical distancing and proper sanitation, and take it easy. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

2020

t o H ist L COVID-19 may have taken over our lives and the whole of 2020, but here at Speed, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlooked the fun, useful, and innovative tech and gaming treats that popped up in the scene this year.

Behold our annual Hot List. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

Top 10 Mobile Devices 2. 1.

5. 4.

1. SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 20 SERIES

The phones in the Note 20 series are the devices to beat in terms of productivity and overall functionality thanks to their industry-leading specs, innovative features, and top-class design. The Galaxy Note 20 phones are stylish (that Mystic Bronze colorway is absolutely stunning!), and come with gorgeous Infinity-O displays and bodies that ooze with premium style. Plus, the improved S Pen arrives with better accuracy and more capabilities. The devices also boast improved camera hardware, Exynos processors, and AMOLED screens that appeal to all types of users. Meanwhile, the Ultra model in the series ups the ante with up to 512GB storage capacity, 120Hz screen refresh rate, and 5G connectivity.

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2. APPLE IPHONE 12 SERIES While most of the features offered by the iPhone 12 series are already available in earlier launched Android models, the new Apple devices still win big points, especially for Apple fans. All models in the series already come with 5G support, which is fastly becoming a standard among smartphones. It comes with a refreshed design, a powerful A14 Bionic chip built on a 5nm process and features a 16-core Neural Engine, and the new iOS 14, which now allows extra home screen customization with the introduction of widgets, among other features.

4. OPPO FIND X2 PRO

3. HUAWEI MATE 40 SERIES Like its predecessor, the Huawei Mate 40 series remains to be a solid mobile device choice thanks to its top-of-its-class specs and solid hardware. The Mate 40s are among the best camera phones today with their professional-grade, Leica-powered shooters. The series also carries the powerful Kirin 9000 processor, making it the last Huawei flagship to use a Kirin chip—or at least for a while, as long as the US trade ban continues. It is 5G-ready as well. The only thing that keeps the Mate 40 from really overtaking competitors is its app store, the Huawei AppGallery, which is still relatively sparse compared to the App Store and Google Play Store.

5. REALME 7 PRO

From this young brand comes a feature-packed device that won’t break the bank. Just almost half the price of other brands’ flagship device at P17,990, the 7 Pro competes with its powerful cameras (64MP triple rear and 32MP front cameras), powerful internals (Spadragon 720G, 8GB RAM +128GB ROM), a Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, 5G network, and 4,5000mAh battery with 65W SuperDart Charge. Meanwhile, the Mirror Design at the back and Corning Gorilla Glass in front give this phone a premium look. If you’re a smart spender, the realme 7 Pro should be on your list.

A real Android flagship contender, the OPPO Find X2 Pro has everything you want in a premium smartphone— simple yet elegant design, dynamic performance, gorgeous display, and a great camera. Among the top features of this model are its fast Snapdragon 865 processor, a whopping 12GB RAM and 512GB storage capacity, and the beautiful OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 is among the best fast-charging technology out there, making up for this phone’s average battery life. Through the Find X2 Pro, OPPO also showed that there is no need to add more cameras to get great photos; you just need to have high-specced, highquality ones.

W O R D S PAT C A L I C A

2020 HOT LIST

7. 8.

10.

6. XIAOMI MI 10 T PRO

True to Xiaomi’s tradition of offering flagship-level devices at affordable prices, the Mi 10T Pro delivers class-leading display, design and hardware. To start, the smartphone boasts an IPS display with HDR10 support, Adaptive Sync, and a maximum 144Hz refresh rate. The Mi 10 T Pro also wows with its 108MP triple rear camera and 20MP front shooter. Under the hood are the Snapdragon 865 chipset, 8GB RAM, 128GB built-in storage, and a 5000mAh battery with a 33W wired fast charge. This Xiaomi phone also already comes with support for 5G network. If you consider all that, the sub-P25,000 price tag is a definite steal!

7. VIVO V20 PRO

The vivo V20 Pro targets the social media-savvy generation with its contentcentric features. The 44MP + 8MP ultra-wide, dual front camera promises vivid selfies at all times and is capable enough for users’ vlogging needs. It works with the impressive 64MP triple rear cameras in producing quality content. Features such as Dual Camera recording, 4K video, Night Mode, and more ensure that users can capture moments at any time. The phone is also 5G-enabled, comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and 33W wired fast-charging, and has a beautiful design. Its walletfriendly price makes the V20 Pro a solid option for younger users.

9. MOTOROLA RAZR 5G 8. ONEPLUS NORD The Nord is a surprise launch from smartphone brand OnePlus, who’s known for outing mostly flagship and pricey devices only. Not that we mind. This midranger brings OnePlus premium features at a very good price. This model arrives with a Snapdragon 765G processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM, 5G connectivity, and a 90Hz display. Of course, the brand needs to cut corners on some aspects but nothing major that will make users say no to this device.

The nostalgia and novelty brought by the motorola razr are enough for it to land on this list. But Lenovo and Motorola don’t want this device to be just a trinket from the past, so they made sure that the razr 5G keeps up with the modern times. It launches with up-to-date features and essential functions: two great and capable displays, fast Snapdragon 765G chip, huge RAM and built-in storage, competitive 48MP rear and 20MP front cameras, and 5G connectivity. The biggest draw to this phone is its foldable design, although the hefty price tag may throw off interested buyers.

10. ASUS ROG PHONE 3

The popularity of the ASUS ROG Phone series proves that gaming is a bankable category for mobile devices. The ROG Phone 3 boasts Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865+ processor with 5G capabilities, 16GB of RAM, 512GB built-in storage, a monster 6000mAh battery, and 144Hz 1ms AMOLED display. It also arrives with upgraded gaming features such as AirTrigger 3, motion and touch sensors, sidecharging design, front-facing speakers, and a full range of modular accessories. But while most of this phone’s features and its whole design is intended for gamers’ use, its impressive specs allow even everyday smartphone users to enjoy this device.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

Top 2 Tech News 1. COVID-19 AND THE RACE TO FIND A CURE The start of the new decade was marked by a massive global pandemic that shut down the whole world. In December 2019, an outbreak of a mysterious pneumonia—characterized by fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath—started from a wet market in Wuhan, China. In the following months, the virus, identified as COVID-19, infected thousands of locals in neighboring provinces, cities, and eventually other countries. By March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic as it continued to spread to more than 100 countries leading to tens of thousands of cases, including a staggering number of deaths in a matter of a few months. With the virus spreading through water droplets, people started wearing face masks and practicing good hygiene to protect themselves from exposure. In the first few months of the outbreak, governments implemented lockdowns to prevent further spread of the disease. The overwhelming number of cases crippled healthcare systems worldwide, with frontliners like doctors and nurses falling ill to the virus, too. To fight this new strain of the coronavirus, drug companies around the world are racing to develop a vaccine. As of press time, Pfizer and Moderna report vaccines with 90 effectiveness against the deadly virus. Our fervent hope is that a vaccine (and medicine) will be developed and made available at the soonest possible time.

2. FROM-HOME EVERYTHING

The world will never be the same after COVID-19. To go back to the way things were isn’t that simple. It will take more than a vaccine for people all over the world to stop wearing masks, following physical distancing protocols, and complying with increased precautionary hygiene measures.

Online shopping is hotter than ever, with people adding home essentials to their cart as an alternative to visiting malls and groceries. Most businesses are taking their products and services online, too, to make them more accessible to customers at home. Welcome to our new reality, the next normal.

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W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

Aside from these practices, our current reality sees a shift toward the digital. Everything has gone online—education, work, hobbies, events, health consultations, and shopping. People are also using video conferencing apps now more than ever to attend meetings for work or online classes, and to keep in touch with loved ones during the quarantine.

2020 HOT LIST

Top 5 TWS Earbuds HONORABLE MENTION 5. 1.

SONY WF1000XM3

1. BOSE QUIETCOMFORT EARBUDS Bose was late to the party; it took them quite a while to get the QuietComfort Earbuds to stores. But, boy, did they make a splash! These premium wireless, noise-canceling earbuds are difficult to knock. They’re great all-rounders, offering rich sound with good detail, balanced sound, and powerful bass. More importantly, they live up to the esteemed QuietComfort name when it comes to noise-canceling. If silence matters to you, then here’s your match. The QC Earbuds may not be perfect (battery life could be improved), but they’re pretty close to being one.

These TWS earbuds may be a year old, but they’re still worth mentioning. Besides, Sony has yet to replace them, which means they’re still their flagship in-ear model. The Sony WF-1000XM3 is a compact, stylish pair with industryleading noisereduction tech, all-day battery life, and great fidelity. So yes, even after a year since they were launched, these Sony earbuds are still extremely impressive.

3. SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS LIVE

2. SENNHEISER MOMENTUM TRUE WIRELESS 2 Smart looks, stunning sound. The Momentum True Wireless 2 improves on the original with a slightly smaller, more comfortable design, as well as better audio quality and battery life. It also now comes with active noise cancellation to suck out background chatter. Like the original, sound quality is refined and sophisticated.

Props to Samsung for these TWS earbuds’ unconventional bean-shaped design that lets them sit flush with your ear without a weird-looking stem sticking out. That they sound pretty good (they’re AKGtuned, mind you) and have strong battery life make them even more appealing. They have active noise canceling, too, but they’re pretty mild compared to the QC Earbuds, Momentum True Wireless 2, and even the AirPods Pro. If sealing off the outside world is important to you, the Buds Live aren’t for you. But if you’re looking for good sound and design with a little bit of noise cancellation, check this one out.

5. MPOW X3 4. GOOGLE PIXEL BUDS 2020 Google’s Pixel Buds are a competent pair, particularly for Android phone users. Small and low-profile, these buds offer hands-free Google Assistant, good sound, and high-quality microphone for calls. They don’t offer much in the way of noise isolation or cancellation, but other than that, the second-gen Pixel Buds are a pretty solid pair.

The Mpow X3 is proof that wireless earbuds don’t have to be expensive to sound good. For less than P5,000, you get active noise cancellation, good overall sound and bass reproduction, long battery life, and comfortable fit. Sure, the design doesn’t wow (they’re pretty much copycats of other TWS earbuds in the market), but just about everything else works well. They’re even IPX8 waterproof-grade, so you can use them for intense workouts.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

Top 5 Laptops

4. 3. 1. APPLE MACBOOK AIR Thanks to the revolutionary ARM-based Apple M1 chip, the new Apple MacBook Air is one of the best laptops money can buy right now. The Air retains its thin and light form factor but now offers performance and speed unlike any we’ve seen before—while also offering incredible battery life.

Apple’s move to ARM-based processors also allows the machines to run iOS and iPadOS apps, giving it access to a wide array of mobile apps and games. On top of that, the M1powered MacBook Air boasts all the features users have come to love about the thinand-light device: a Retina display, the Magic Keyboard that types like a dream, and speakers that support Dolby Atmos audio. This is a notebook that even Windows laptops users would be curious about—and could even convince them to give macOS a try.

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2. LENOVO YOGA C940

This sleek convertible offers flagship performance for various types of users. Whether you’re a content creator, an entrepreneur, a boss, or an artist, you’ll find the Lenovo Yoga C940 suitable for your needs. It’s powered by a 10th-gen Intel Core processor and features a unique hinge that doubles as a speaker. Said hinge can rotate 360 degrees to turn the Yoga C940 into a tablet. What we find really special about this 2-in-1, however, are its extra features: a webcam shutter and pen support capability. This is one powerful and gorgeous machine for users looking for portability, performance, and style.

3. ASUS ZENBOOK 14 (UX425)

Thin and light notebooks usually skimp on ports. Well, not the ASUS ZenBook 14 (UX425). At 13.9mm thin, this ZenBook boasts a complete set of I/O ports: Thunderbolt 3, standard HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, along with a microSD card reader. This, plus its lightweight body and 67Wh cell, make it an ideal machine for onthe-go users who require comprehensive connectivity and all-day battery. It’s also an ultraportable with ultra-looks, thanks to its sophisticated chassis, NanoEdge display with 90% screen-to-body ratio, and Pine Grey or Lilac Mist colorway.

4. HUAWEI MATEBOOK 14

Powered by a Ryzen 5 4600H processor based on AMD’s Zen 2 architecture and equipped with 16GB RAM and 512GB of SSD, the Huawei MateBook 14 is one powerhouse of a portable device. Now sprinkle in niceties like a sleek body, a 2K Huawei FullView Display with Eye Comfort Mode with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification, a big 56Wh battery, and brilliant keyboard, and the P54,999 price tag really looks, nay, is a steal. Huawei phone users will also love the Huawei Share feature that allows them to drag and drop their files between their PC and phone easily. They can even make or answer phone calls from the PC—no need to pick up their phone.

5. HP SPECTRE X360

HP’s highly praised 2-in-1 gets a 2020 refresh, and this time, it’s even more powerful with internals like a 10th-gen Intel Core processor and Intel Iris Plus graphics. The 360-degree-tiltable form factor makes this laptop a multitool. If you care about aesthetics as much as you do performance and overall quality, this laptop may just be right up your alley. Its stunning Nightfall Black colorway with copper luxe accents give the Spectre x360 a look that can seamlessly switch from an office gear to a fashionable accessory.

COVER STORY

Top 6 Apps 2.

1. 3. 6.

2. TIKTOK

No app has seen a growth like Zoom did this year. What was a relatively unknown video conferencing tool has become a household name in 2020 due to the pandemic. People flocked to Zoom because it’s free and easy to use and up to 100 people can join a call. The app has expanded its reach beyond work and education purposes as people started using it for staying in touch with friends, building online communities, and even attending virtual weddings!

TikTok has been steadily rising to the top of the app charts since 2019 and it’s only getting bigger and bigger. The short-form video app became an instant hit among people looking for new hobbies during the quarantine. With over 800 million active users worldwide, the platform now sees a variety of unique content besides the usual lip syncs and comedy sketches. This 2020, you can watch quick unboxing videos, beauty and DIY tutorials, and socially aware challenges.

3. MICROSOFT TEAMS

5. NETFLIX PARTY

As many workplaces shift to the digital space, the demand for online collaboration tools rose. Microsoft Teams became a popular choice among users who already have other Office 365 products. It syncs well with other Microsoft programs, serving as an all-in-one platform where colleagues can seamlessly start video conferences, share files, set meetings, and more. Teams became a digital office workspace while employees worked remotely.

4. MICROSOFT OFFICE

Microsoft rolled all its mobile apps— Word, Excel, and Powerpoint—in one convenient, unified Office app. This allin-one tool doesn’t just ditch the need for users to individually download each app, it also brings in mobile-focused features like voice-totext, cards view, easy media integration, transforming pictures into documents, signing PDFs, and more.

HONORABLE MENTION

KUMU 58

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Short for the Filipino expression “kumusta,” Kumu provided Pinoys with a community platform where they can livestream, video chat, play live games, and hang out online. The app also allowed users to earn money with their content through brand sponsorships and virtual gifts.

DISCORD

People took to the internet to watch movies and shows with their buddies to still make it a collective experience. Netflix and other streaming platforms don’t offer a “watch together” feature, but a little Google Chrome add-on called Netflix Party (now Teleparty since it has expanded to HBO, Hulu, and Disney+) did the trick. With the plug-in, friends were able to stream shows and movies together, no matter where they are. They can even chat together on this add-on.

6. PHOTOSHOP CAMERA What would filters look like if Adobe made them? The answer: Photoshop Camera. This photo editing app is designed to replace the native camera app, allowing users to edit their shot before even taking it. PsC is packed with AI-powered features that let you tinker with many facets of the camera from focus, exposure, aspect ratio, and more. But what made this app stand out is its slew of cool lens filters that are ready for the ‘Gram.

Discord mainly served the gaming community, but now it is serving more segments. The app has become a tool for day-to-day communication now, especially with the pandemic increasing the demand for voice and video chat services. And with online multiplayer games like Among Us blowing up, Discord saw a spike in mobile app downloads.

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1. ZOOM

2020 HOT LIST

Top 5 Movies

1. HONORABLE MENTION

TENET

The pandemic shut cinema doors since March, leaving films to premiere on streaming platforms instead. But Tenet sparked hope for the return of movies to theaters. Christopher Nolan’s thriller became the first Hollywood movie to premiere the old fashioned way since the lockdown after facing numerous delays.

5. 4.

1. HAMILTON

W O R D S AY I E L I C S I

Who would’ve thought a hip hop musical about one of America’s founding fathers would become the most streamed movie in 2020? Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton instantly became a Broadway hit in 2015 and was even set for a theatrical release in 2021, but the pandemic bumped Hamilfilm s debut a year early through Disney+. The original cast returned for a Zoom performance of “Alexander Hamilton’’ on John Krasinski’s YouTube channel in April. Now, we want to be in the Zoom where that happened.

2. MULAN

After being delayed multiple times by the pandemic, Mulan eventually premiered on Disney+ for a premium fee on top of the monthly subscription. The live-action version was plagued with a handful of controversies— from boycott calls due to lead actress Yifei Liu being accused of supporting police brutality in Hong Kong to lack of diversity in the production team. Still, the remake received praise for its gutsy reinvention of the original cartoon.

3. THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7

Although set in the 1960s, the Trial of the Chicago 7 still feels timely as issues about freedom of speech and assembly are still relevant today. This docudrama is seen by critics as one of 2020’s serious Oscar contenders thanks to its stellar ensemble cast and compelling story. The treatment of the eighth man on trial, Black Panther Bobby Seale, charges the film with a sobering reality as Americans currently cry out justice for the Black Lives Matter movement.

4. THE OLD GUARD

Superhero movies are continuing to evolve in 2020. The Old Guard is no exception as it pumps new blood into the genre. Starring Charlize Theron as an immortal, ancient warrior, and KiKi Layne as a newbie-immortal just coming to terms with her own powers, this graphic novel-based flick was lauded for its have-you-onthe-edge-of-your-seat action sequences.

5. ENOLA HOMES

Sherlock Holmes’ story has been done and re-done for the past 100 years, but Enola Holmes brought a breath of fresh air to Baker Street. Having Enola think out loud via fourth wall breaks was a fun take that took viewers into the mind of the precocious detective. The women s suffrage movement happening in the background gives the film an extra oomph that made it more than just your regular girl power movie.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

Top 6 Battle Royale Games 3.

6. 5.

(PC, PLAYSTATION 4) Fall Guys is the

ultimate breakout battle royale game of this year, selling over two million copies of the game a week after its release in August. It was such a breakout success that on the first day of release, servers overflowed due to the millions of people in matchmaking. The game is basically Takeshi’s Castle made into battle royale format, where you play as super cute characters trying to make it to the next level, and then maybe emerge as the last man standing.

2. PLAYER UNKNOWN’S BATTLE GROUNDS

(PC, XBOX ONE, PLAYSTATION 4, IOS, ANDROID, STADIA)

Almost three years after its release, PUBG remains to be the biggest and most popular battle royale game across all gaming platforms. It is what essentially gave birth to the battle royale format, and is the only game that has made it to the top five of both the bestselling and mostplayed video games lists. As of this year, a version has already been released on Stadia and it has been downloaded on mobile over 600 million times.

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(IOS, ANDROID)

Those who can’t play on the PC and the consoles are finally treated to a decent Call of Duty title for smartphones. A free-to-play shooter game with battle royale mechanics, Call of Duty Mobile saw the largest mobile game launched in history, generating over $327 million with 250 million downloads by June 2020. Even though it’s on mobile, it doesn’t feel like a watered-down version of the original Call of Duty format. It became even more popular this year when Activision Blizzard partnered with Sony to hold the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship 2020 Tournament, with more than $1 million in total prizes.

4. CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE

(PC, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE) The Call of Duty

franchise is popular enough on its own, but this new free-to-play battle royale released by Activision is a different blockbuster altogether. The second installment in the Call of Duty franchise, Warzone features two primary game modes that can support up to 150 players in a single match. Some limitedtime events can support up to 200 players. Unlike the usual format where it’s game over once you die, here, you respawn at the Gulag, where players engage in one-on-one combat with another defeated player for a chance to be respawned.

(PC, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, PLAYSTATION 5, XBOX X) Imagine if Ready Player One and Mirror’s Edge

were combined to make a battle royale. Set in the year 2054 in Neo-Arcadia, you play in a world where Hyper Scape exists as a video game, and players battle in a sport called the Crown Rush. Even though it’s a shooter game, there’s so much more to the terrain that allows for varied play style and tactics. What’s interesting is that throughout the match, the AI host can modify the game world to switch things up. Sometimes, it can reveal enemy locations in the mini map, give infinite ammo, or turn on low-gravity mode. It’s the ultimate futuristic game since those watching on Twitch can even vote and help influence the decisions of the AI host.

6. SPELLBREAK (PC, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, SWITCH) Spellbreak breaks

away from your traditional battle royale by equipping everyone with staffs and magic spells instead of guns. In this free-to-play class-based battle royale, players can choose from six available classes—wind, ice, fire, lightning, stone, and toxic—as their primary gauntlet. Throughout the match, players can also pick up secondary gauntlets that can be combined with your existing element to make more powerful spells. The 2D visual effects are also a refreshing break from the traditional battle royale.

WORDS JOVI FIGUEROA

1. FALL GUYS: ULTIMATE KNOCKOUT

3. CALL OF DUTY MOBILE

5. HYPER SCAPE

2020 HOT LIST

Top 6 Gacha Games for Mobile 4.

5. 3.

1. 2.

1. GENSHIN IMPACT Genshin Impact was quick to make an impact when it released in September—and for good reason. More than a gacha game with gorgeous and unique characters, it is an open-world RPG that’s begging to be explored. The world is stunning—even on mobile—which has many people flocking to the iOS and Android servers. Even though it’s free to play, Genshin Impact also offers the most hours of free content to enjoy. As of writing, players can unlock up to 24 playable characters, and control up to four at a time.

2. AZUR LANE Azur Lane remains to be one of the most popular gacha games with one of the highest scores on the Google PlayStore. Set in an alternate World War II timeline, this sidescrolling shooter game with strategy RPG and gacha mechanics delivers beautiful moe-anthropomorphic interpretations of WWII warships. Apart from its main battle mode where the characters transform into warships, there is a dormitory feature where characters in their chibi forms walk around, sit, sleep, and bathe. The game has more than 300 characters to collect, so prepare to get invested!

3. ARKNIGHTS After enjoying success in China last year, Arknights finally released this year to the rest of the world— and our feed is filled with the beautifully drawn anime-style characters from this game! Set in the postapocalyptic planet of Terra, Arknights is essentially a tower defense game, where you, as the doctor, collect and command a number of operators as your towers. The lore is super extensive for a simple tower defense game, making it all the more interesting. Non-grinders would also appreciate the fact that it features autoplay mechanics for levels completed with a threestar rating.

4. THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS: GRAND CROSS It doesn’t matter whether you’re already a fan of the anime or you’re encountering The Seven Deadly Sins for the first time because you’ll definitely want to play this mobile game. Grand Cross is essentially an RPG version of the stories and adventures from the anime and manga, voiced even by the original Japanese characters themselves. It’s a well-balanced gacha game that allows F2P players to be as strong as paying ones, and features a lot of little things in addition to the core game like cooking, getting drinks at the bar, and co-op raids.

6. COOKING BATTLE

5. MARVEL CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS This particular Marvel game remains to be one of the most-talked about gacha games online, maybe because you get to wield the world’s most popular superheroes to join your mission. It’s so satisfying to bring together villains, heroes, and minions from the Marvel universe to fight in turn-based battles. Each team is made up of up to five characters that battle until defeated or reinforcements arrive. This year, it became even more popular when a bug caused premium items to be distributed to thousands of players.

If you enjoyed Overcooked, you’ll love this quirky mobile game that lets you play with adorable chibi characters. In this game, you team up with one other online player to go against two other chefs in a time-sensitive cooking battle. You will be using chefs with different unique skills that can help you play defensively or offensively—so choose wisely depending on the dishes that need to be served and the map that you’ll be playing on. Many chefs can be bought straight from the store, but the rarer ones and the accessories can only be acquired via gacha mechanics.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

2020 HOT LIST

Top 6 Online Multiplayer Games 3.

1. ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS (NINTENDO SWITCH)

This maybe the tamest and least violent game you’ll find in any online multiplayer list, but it’s definitely one of the most blockbuster releases of all time. It is impossible to not know about this newest Animal Crossing release, which can be credited, in part, for the success of the Nintendo Switch this year. Explore island, craft items, catch insects, customize your character, and play with your friends—this is the most enjoyable, appealing, and familyfriendly multiplayer simulation game that we’ve seen in years.

2. AMONG US

(PC, IOS, ANDROID) Among Us was released back in 2018, but it’s only this year that its popularity blew out of proportion thanks to the pick-up of Twitch streamers and Youtubers. In this game, you play the role of crewmates in a spacethemed setting, going about your crew chores, while two players take the role of the imposter—out to kill everyone and sabotage the mission. Crewmates will try to uncover the imposter through votation; but beware not to kick out your innocent crewmates!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

3. VALORANT (PC)

Valorant is a freeto-play tactical firstshooter game where you play as one of the many agents assigned to either defend or attack the objective. This 5v5 multiplayer game has become popular to many players thanks to the interesting abilities and characteristics of the agents. To date, there are four game modes: Unrated (best of 25 rounds), Spike Rush (Best of 7), Competitive (Unrated and Spike Rush, but with a ranked ladder), and Deathmatch (6-minute free for all).

4. DREAMS

5. DOOM ETERNAL

6. JOURNEY TO THE SAVAGE PLANET

Dreams is one of the most groundbreaking games to hit the console, which is essentially a platform where players—aka dreamers—can create and develop usergenerated content that other dreamers can then access. Every dreamer controls an imp, which is customizable and used to interact with the game’s world. Dreams has already given birth to so much user-created games— some quirky and weird, some based on popular icons and pop culture, and others straight up unbelievable and brimming with potential.

Following the events of Doom (2016), the player again takes the role of Doom Slayer to once again stop alien Maykrs’ plans to exterminate humanity. Praised heavily for its remarkable campaign mode, Doom Eternal also includes an asymmetrical 2v1 Demons-versus-Slayer multiplayer Battlemode. You can either play the fully-armed Slayer or one of the two demons in a best-of-five match. It’s a bit tricky to master the mechanics of this mode, but very rewarding for those who do.

Another quirky, but interesting new game to play with a friend! What’s on the surface a mundane adventure game, Journey to the Savage Planet is actually a breath of fresh air from your usual gaming experience. As an employee for Kindred Aerospace, you’re tasked to explore a new planet named ARY-26 to catalogue various flora and fauna. To do this, you will need to collect resources to craft items and upgrades to explore new areas. Fun to play alone, but better to play with a friend.

(PLAYSTATION 4)

(PC, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, STADIA)

(PC, PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, SWITCH)

WORDS JOVI FIGUEROA

COVER STORY

Top 10 Cars 1.

5. 1. TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS More than 50 years since its debut, the Toyota Corolla has continued to evolve to meet the needs of the times and of the places where it is sold. Today, the nameplate has evolved yet again to suit the growing demand for SUVs.

Aside from two good engine options, the Corolla Cross also boasts of a smart (albeit conservative) design, lots of creature comforts, and a suite of safety features that will give you peace of mind. These are just some of the reasons why the Corolla Cross sits at the top of this list. That it’s a Toyota— a brand synonymous with reliability and worry-free driving and ownership— is just icing on the cake.

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5. FORD TERRITORY 2. GEELY AZKARRA Dubbed as a “mild hybrid,” the Azkarra utilizes the electric motor in traffic or at speeds below 40kph, after which the gasoline motor steps in. Additional power is provided by the electric motor when needed, such as in overtaking. It has four drive modes that allow you to pick your kind of drive to fit your adventure. The off-road mode features a 4WD system that can handle mud or gravel just in case you opt to go off the beaten path. Meanwhile, the interior showcases the trademark Geely luxurious upholstery and trimmings.

3. KIA STONIC

4. MAXUS G50

This subcompact crossover screams young and fun thanks to its attractive exterior design. Its fuelefficient 1.4-liter engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission makes it an ideal city transport for its target market. It’s also loaded with high-tech features such as a rear camera, push start/stop button, and collision alert. All these (and more), plus its affordable price, make the Stonic the perfect entry-level vehicle.

Maxus’ latest offering is their answer to the MPV boom. The 7-seater G50 offers more creature comforts than its competitors, and does it with a lot of flair and style. Not only does it look good outside, it also has the driver and passenger in mind when it comes to cabin features— from the comfortable seats to the huge entertainment unit to wireless charging. Its 1.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled engine offers more power when needed, but can also be fuel-efficient when lightly driven.

A product of the American car manufacturer’s joint venture with Jiangling Motors Corporation, this Ford-engineered and designed SUV comes with smart and safe technologies, a spacious interior, and a trendy design that valueseeking young professionals and starting families will love. Its creature comforts make the drive more relaxed, making traffic-prone trips or extra long jaunts more bearable. There’s no doubt Ford designed the Territory for customers who want efficiency, demand the utmost in safety and convenience (it’s got selfparking capabilities!), and need connectivity and all the tech bells and whistles.

WORDS EARL MANALANSAN

The Toyota Corolla Cross is what you get when you cross a RAV4 with the Altis sedan. Like the latest Altis, the Cross comes with a hybrid version. It’s powered by a 16-valve DOHC 4-cylinder gas engine working in tandem with an electric motor. There’s also a gas engine variant that’s priced lower than the hybrid one.

2020 HOT LIST

10.

6. MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV The world’s first hybrid SUV has finally arrived on our shores, and it’s quite the attractive package. It’s a crossover with 4x4 off-road capabilities that fully utilizes both electric and gas power. Just plug it in and use regenerative power to charge the electric battery. If that’s not enough, the gasoline engine will get you to your destination without a hitch. Need to recharge? Simply connect the Outlander PHEV to a power outlet at home to replenish the battery. If you need to leave, STAT, don’t worry—you can recharge up to 80% in 25 minutes via quick charge. To top it all off, the Outland PHEV is also a looker, proving that hybrids and EVs need not look drab.

9. FORD F-150 7. CHERY ARRIZO 5E With a price tag of P1.9 million, the Chery Arrizo 5e lets you get the full EV experience without the high cost of acquisition. It’s powered by a 53.6kWh lithium ion battery that’s good for a maximum 500km driving range between full charges. The power and torque are comparable to a 200hp gasoline engine. This, coupled with the Sport mode, elicits smiles. It’s also got cutting-edge tech inside, such as a huge infotainment touchscreen, 360-degree camera, wireless charging, and tire pressure monitor, among others.

8. SUZUKI S-PRESSO Suzuki’s version of the kei car is small in dimensions but big in variety of usage. Its high roof proportions can seat four tall passengers. Interior is spartan, but the center gauge cluster gives it a unique flair. However, cargo space is limited even when rear sets are folded, as they don’t fall all the way. Well, you can’t have it all. The 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine is surprisingly powerful, with respectable pull even at full capacity. And it’s the king of fuel frugality; making fuel stops an afterthought. This is the ideal runabout for young professionals or students.

The iconic pickup is back in the country after a twodecade absence and with it comes features that are more akin to a premium SUV than a workhorse: push start button, premium entertainment system with full video and 360 camera, climate-controlled power seats, and lane change alert, to name a few. Make no mistake, however; this is still as tough as a Ford pickup can be. The engine, now a smaller but more powerful 3.5 liter V6, but in twin turbo form, is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain can be frugal enough to be compared to a smaller displacement engine, but full power is there on demand. It’s also rated for heavy-duty towing.

10. BMW 7 SERIES The latest iteration of the 7 series makes quite an impression. Luxury accouterments, like the famed BMW Personal Assistant and the two rearseat twin entertainment system with HD screens, have been improved. There are two engine options for this flagship sedan: a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo-gas engine, and a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbo plug-in hybrid. But the most talked about feature here is the price: P5,990,000 for the 730i Pure Excellence variant, which is much lower than expected from the German brand. (The 745Le Pure Excellence retails for a cool P9,590,000). This is a luxury sedan for bosses and captains of industries without the tycoon price tag.

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH WATCHWORKS

Give the gift of time

Cheesy as the saying goes, time really is the most precious gift you can give. If there’s anything this pandemic has taught us, it’s that our lives are fleeting, and the ultimate gift we can give our loved ones is our time. On the other hand, if you take the phrase literally, well, it still holds true. Time is a precious gift; a well-made watch is an investment that withstands the test of time and can even be passed on for generations. This season, show how much you care by giving the gift of time— literally and figuratively—to your loved ones. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with the literal part with this roundup of classic, sporty, and everyday timepieces.

Orient RA-AC0010S This Orient mechanical watch features a domed dial and domed crystal design in a just-right 36.4mm size case. It comes with baton hour markers and thin dauphine hands that help accentuate the white sunburst dial. The all-occasion brown leather strap adds to its contemporary classic vibe.

Michel Herbelin Perles For the woman in your life who loves jewelry, here’s a fabulously luxurious feminine watch. The bracelet is made up of five delicate strands beads or ‘perles’—while the white Mother of Pearl dial is housed in a stainless steel square case.

Can’t go wrong with the classic For the man and woman with a classic sense of style, these wrist candies offer a chic, timeless look.

Jazzmaster Lady Auto For the woman who likes to juggle her time e ciently and gracefully, this classic watch is a must. This 34mm timepiece features sleek indexes on the white dial, a date indication window at the 6 o’clock position, and a see-through case back that shows the Viewmatic movement. A silver-toned stainless steel bracelet completes the look.

Oris Classic Date The name couldn’t be more apt—this truly is a classiclooking watch. Available in 28.5mm and 42mm sizes, the Oris Classic Date has a three-piece stainless steel case, big crown, and exquisitely engraved numerals and indices on a finely patterned dial.

Michel Herbelin Trophy It may be designed for adventures at sea, but the black dial, steel strap, and 42mm case of the Michel Herbelin Trophy give it a classic look perfect for the seafaring adventurer who wants a timeless piece on his wrist.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH WATCHWORKS

Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart Lady Auto This is a sophisticated watch that reveals a glimpse of the Swiss-made automatic movement through its precise cut-out design. The Jazzmaster Open Heart Lady Auto is available with a cool blue dial and a metal bracelet for the urban woman who wants a sleek, contemporary timepiece she can wear anytime.

Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono A modern reworking of a 1968 signature piece, this watch offers a sporty but classic look. If your dad, brother, or husband appreciates a vintage-inspired chronograph, then he will most likely dig this watch. It combines authentic appeal with the modern H-31 automatic movement, plus that panda dial is just lovely to look at.

Goanywhere,anywhere doanything Looking for a reliable, stylish watch that can be worn every day and that works with almost anything? Check out these timepieces.

Michel Herbelin Newport Chrono This Michel Herbelin piece makes a bold style statement with its dial that turns from deep black on the outside to an intense blue at the center. It features a date window at 4:30 and three counters in azure blue at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. This modern watch is characterized by its clean-cut style housed in a steel case and paired with a steel strap.

Orient RA-AS0004S Classic style meets contemporary design in this mechanical watch from Orient’s Sun & Moon Semi-Skeleton series. The Sun & Moon subdial at 6 o’clock and semi-skeleton view at 9 o’clock are set in an elegant dial framed in a stainless steel gold case and curved sapphire crystal glass. A rich brown leather band completes the look.

Oris Aquis Date A watch that’s at home in the boardroom or at the beach, the Oris Aquis Date is a no-brainer if you’re looking to give your loved one an accessible yet robust dive watch with a Swiss automatic movement but enough elegance for daily use. This Aquis Date model with a green dial is simply gorgeous, but you can also get it in different colors such as black, blue, brown, and white.

Orient Star RE-AU0306L This mechanical sports diver watch features a stainless steel band complemented by a sleek black dial with a date window at 3 o’clock, and luminous watch hands for high visibility in the dark. It’s got special ring frames for a high level of shock-absorption, a diving bezel, 200-meter resistance, and meets ISO standards.

Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto The Khaki Navy Scuba Auto from Hamilton is available in a variety of colorful dial and strap options, but this particular one (pictured) has a fresh, nautical look to it. The beach or ocean lover in your Christmas list will definitely make a splash when this watch is strapped on his wrist.

READY FOR the OUTDOORS If the thrill-seeker in your gift list loves diving, hiking, camping, or just anything to do with the outdoors, here are some pieces you can check out.

Oris Divers Sixty-Five Retro charm—this vintagelooking chronograph has lots of it. It’s based on the design of the very first diver s watch Oris created in 1965 and features a robust stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, and an automatic Swiss-made mechanical movement. The Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph can be worn with either a leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet.

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical H69439411 This 38mm watch has that oldschool-cool vibe to it thanks to its classic army style. It features a matte stainless steel case, three-hand display, and durable NATO strap. This Hamilton piece is rugged, resilient, and robust, which makes it an ideal timepiece for those who seek adventure.

Orient Divers FEM75001BR For those who love big watches, here’s an upsized diver from Orient. It has a 44.5mm case and a black dial enhanced by luminous silver-tone hands. While this is a diver watch, it’s actually pretty versatile and will suit any occasion—from formal to sporty to casual.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020

Holiday Gift Guide

2020 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been one long, crazy, stressful year, and the holidays will inevitably be different. Still, despite the ban on gatherings and other restrictions, the spirit of Christmas and giving is alive and well. In case you still havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bought presents for your loved ones (or yourself), we ve listed some thoughtful gift ideas that will surely put a smile on their faces.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020

o fo o e e e tial Logitech H390 P1,900 Crystal-clear conversations and online meetings are possible with this USB computer headset with in-line controls.

Klean Kanteen Insulated TKWide 32oz P2,400 Make sure you keep hydrated throughout the day. The Climate Lock keeps contents hot up to 22 hours or cold up to 75 hours.

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Starts at P48,995 Powerful convertible designed to let you get things done with no fuss

Mi Smart Power Strip 5 Ports P545 Aside from overload protection, this Mi Smart Power Strip can be controlled remotely when connected to the Mi Home app. You can even monitor your energy consumption!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Ofix Deluxe-5H High Back Mesh Chair P2,499 Sit comfortably with this high back chair with adjustable seat height, backrest angle adjustment, and fixed lumbar support.

Stance EasyDesk P2,490 Converts the standard desk to a standing desk, forcing the workaholic to get up and stretch.

Relaxia Shiatsu Massage Pillow P3,450 Release some tension with a good kneading courtesy of this massage pillow with four built-in kneading massage heads. Available at B Sports

Samsung Galaxy M51 P19,990 Its 7,000mAh battery lasts all day, even after youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve logged off from work.

Mi LED Desk Lamp Pro P2,590 This lamp helps reduce eye strain with its ad ustable color temperature and intensity.

LG 25-inch UltraWide IPS 25UM58 P12,699 Multitasking becomes easier with an ultra-wide monitor that allows you to have several windows open simultaneously.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020

P DT Home Wifi Prepaid d ance P2,495 It’s always wise to have a backup connection. This plug-and-play LTE-A device can be reloaded conveniently using GrabPay, PayMaya, myPLDT Smart app, or through PLDT Home and Smart retailers.

MyPhone myT8 P3,999 This LTE-ready device comes with an 8-inch screen, Android 10 (Go edition), and a 4,000mAh battery—perfect for students on a budget.

B P1,499 These lightweight headphones come with a volume limit below 85dB to ensure that they’re safe for kids to use.

eno o IdeaPad Slim P25,995 Making reports and finishing modules are a breeze with this capable AMD Ryzen 3 4300U variant.

SM Home e ra Collapsi le Storage Box P379.75 Keep school materials in this cute storage box and say goodbye to cluttered spaces.

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Joyroom Whirlwind Series Clip an P890 Keep your child’s study area cool with this fan that can be clipped on tables and chairs.

IF Cardboard Creations: The Handy Tablet P975 This stand will hold your kid’s tablet at the perfect viewing angle. It even comes with a stylus to help keep your tablet’s screen messyfinger-free.

Medi Ser e Give the gift of health. Send a MediXServe gift voucher so your family member can consult with a licensed nurse or doctor without leaving their home.

ull Booked i t Certificate Send a virtual gift card to the book lover in your list. Go to giftaway.ph or gifted.ph to get one.

ra ood i t Card Host a virtual Christmas party with your o cemates. ust because you can t be together doesn t mean you can t eat together (online)

et ix lectronic i t Card This is perfect for binge watchers. Netflix Prepaid Codes can be bought on codashop.com in denominations of P149, P550, P1,000, and P1,500.

Steam Wallet A gamer s dream come true don t pay ust play The Steam Wallet Code will be sent to your recipient as an email or voucher PDF file.

Sodexo Mo ile Pass A voucher in your phone means no more misplaced, crumpled, or torn gift certificates. our recipient can use the Sodexo Mobile Pass in thousands of grocery, shopping, and dining merchants.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020

H Sony ZV-1 P42,999 For your sister whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s into vlogging, this lightweight and compact camera will let her capture great-looking videos without any tricky setup.

SMEG Stand Mixer SMF02PGEU P31,995 This retro mixer has variable speed control, as well as a smooth start function that prevents the ingredients from spilling out when the machine is started.

realme X3 SuperZoom P22,990 Got an astrophotographer wannabe on your list? Help him get started with the realme X3 SuperZoom featuring a Starry Mode that uses AI algorithms and multi-frame image processing to produce shots of the night sky.

DJI Osmo Mobile 4 P6,990 The budding videographer will love the Osmo Mobile 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new features such as dynamic zoom, Clone Me panorama tool, and flashlight mode.

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The Kitchen Wrap aprons Starts at P400 Stylish aprons for the starting baker or cooking enthusiast

Dr.Meter S30 Soil Moisture Meter $14.99 For the urban gardener who wants to know when to water and control the PH level of her plant—and whether it’s getting adequate sunlight

Plant mister P572 - P723 Keep your plants hydrated with this cute 300ml plant mister/spritzer from the dongxi.ph Shopee store.

Brother JA1450NT P9,995 Encourage your favorite aunt’s hobby by gifting her this easy-to-use sewing machine with 14 built-in sewing stitches.

Samsung 32L Smart Oven P12,795 Something’s cooking! Your mom will love this smart oven that can lets her bake, grill, steam, slim fry, microwave, and even ferment.

Prestigio 18” LED dimmable ring light P4,480 Make your photos and videos look professional with the help of this dimmable ring light with two color filters.

Bosch GO 2 P3,199.75 The handyman of the house will appreciate this smart screwdriver. Just push to drive the screws!

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020

H adidas cable skipping rope P1,125 Let your bro practice his single, double, and triple unders with this skipping rope coated in steel cable for picking up maximum speed.

Huawei Band 4 Pro P2,990 Monitor your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, and sleep with this sleek band.

Xtreme XH-BL600 P1,554 Create healthy smoothies in this 600ml personal blender with travel lid.

Fitbit Versa 3 P14,790 This do-all smartwatch comes with built-in GPS, Active Zone Minutes, and music experiences to encourage you to keep moving.

Nike Yoga Leggings P1,679 These leggings wrap you in stretchy, sweat-wicking fabric to keep you dry and moving comfortably.

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Reebok Double-Sided Yoga/ Pilates Mat P1,120 This chic yoga mat has a non-slip sticky texture and a 4mm thickness that provides comfortable cushion against hard surfaces.

Samsung 55” Crystal UHD TU8000 P27,999 Looking for a big 4K smart TV? For a limited time, you can get this 55” UHD TV at less than P30,000. Go ahead Netflix and chill LG XBoom Go PL5 P5,990 Play your favorite tunes while working from home, exercising, or even partying with your loved ones.

OPPO Enco W31 P2,990 These budget true wireless earbuds can provide 3.5 hours of playback (or about two movies back to back). That can be extended to 15 hours with the charging case. Perfect for an afternoon movie marathon.

Devant SBS-150 2.1CH Soundbar P7,995 Watching your favorite flicks is made even better with this soundbar with a subwoofer and built-in amplifier. The panel display is a nice touch as it shows your current equalizer setting.

Nintendo Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. P5,795 For your tito who misses his old console, here’s a more modern take on the classic device.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020

Momax UV Wireless Charging Sanitizing Box P3,990 Make sure your devices are clean with this sanitizing box that promises to kill up to 99.9% of germs with its UV light.

UNIQLO AIRism Mask P590 This washable and breathable mask has a high-performance filter that sits between the outer mesh fabric and the AIRism layer.

World Balance neck gaiter P349 Great for those who do outdoor rides and errands. This neck gaiter helps prevent virus droplets from reaching the wearer’s face.

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Cherry Ion Lite P2,300 Create a 3-foot zone of cleaner and healthier air around you with this around your neck.

Sharp FP-J40E-W Air Plasmacluster ir Purifier P12,998 Get this one for your family. This air purifier (30sqm recommended area) boasts of Sharp’s famed Plasmacluster Ion technology, which has been proven to deactivate suspended airborne mold, viruses, dust mite allergens and bacteria.

Damask FullShield P1,450 This full face shield is coated with fog and scratch-resistant coatings to mitigate fogging and minor scratches on the shield’s surface.

FORM FACTOR

PRECISION, PERFECTION ts

Porsche Design is known for its elegant style, sophisticated, and timeless creations. erstate esi la a e is o i all o its creatio s a colla oratio s ith iffere t brands. Check out some of the recent products imbibing the premium lifestyle brand’s sophisticated functional design and impressive level of technological innovation.

ACER BOOK RS Atop the Acer Book RS’ diamond-cut, CNC-machined metal chassis is a carbon fiber cover, an homage to Porsche’s motorsport heritage. The sleek magnesium body houses an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce MX350 graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch touchscreen display with an antibacterial layer. And true to its design inspiration, this sleek notebook is both light and thin, measuring just 1.25kg and 16mm thick. It also comes bundled with a leather notebook sleeve with an integrated mouse pad, and a Porsche Design Acer Mouse RS.

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PRECISION, PERFECTION

O PD

Porsche Design brings its industrial aesthetic to the gaming orld ith its first-e er amin monitor in partnership ith A C nspired b the ca e o the orsche RSR, the rameless -inch cur ed monitor has a resolution displa , a re resh rate or smooth, sharp isuals, SA ispla R certification, and built-in speakers or ma imum stabilit , the A N comes ith a sturd roll ca e-st le sil er color stand

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

FORM FACTOR

PORSCHE DESIGN H W I W TCH T Timeless styling and modern technology come together in the Porsche Design Huawei Watch GT 2. This wearable bears the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature titanium design aesthetic: a 46.7mm titanium case and a fully adjustable titanium metal link bracelet that can be sized without the need of a tool. The case frames a 1.39-inch touchscreen with faces by Porsche Design. All the expected smartwatch features are here, including heart and blood oxygen sensors, and over 100 workout modes.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

PRECISION, PERFECTION

PDS Here’s a wireless speaker that looks as good as it sounds. The PDS50 is enclosed in a “layered” structure and constructed out of a single block of solid aluminum. This 500-gram speaker features an strip, a recessed bass-re e port, and an ele ant, ireless QI charging surface that includes a USB-C port. It boasts up to 20 hours of battery life, a 3-inch + 1-inch tweeter combination, and IPX4 water resistance rating,

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PRESS PLAY

ADD THESE SHOWS AND MOVIES TO YOUR WATCH LIST Grab a cup of hot cocoa and gather the family â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;round the couch. Make bonding time during the holidays more fun with these shows and movies hitting your favorite streaming services. WORD S AYIE L IC S I

The Crown (Season 4) ove er etfli et in the late s, eason of he rown sees een li a eth livia ol an and her fa il wor ing to safeg ard the line of s ccession sec ring an appropriate ride for rince harles osh onnor harles ro ance with a o ng ad iana pencer li a eth e ic i provides a ch needed fair tale to nite the ritish people eanwhile, argaret hatcher illian nderson rises to power as pri e inister The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special ove er isne eing the last edi on arth is a heav rden on e s sho lders ith the a st aro nd the corner, she leaves her friends ehind to o rne with nowledge of the orce s she a es her wa to the oo ie ho eworld of across so ething stical in a edi te ple that sends her h rtling across ti legends, and visiting places of the past

The Liberator ove er oo ie festival of ife to gain a deeper ash , she co es e, eeting tar ars

etfli

sing state of the art rioscope nhanced rid ani ation a i of and live action , he i erator tells the stor of one of the loodiest attles of orld ar with a graphic novel vis al st le r o cer eli par s and his ro gh and t le s ad of soldiers charge against the is owers in a i controlled rope ased on tr e events, this adaptation of le ershaw s oo follows the events of the llied nvasion of tal d ring orld ar

Robin Robin ece er etfli hen her egg rolls into a r ish d p, o in, a a ro in red reast, is raised a fa il of ice s she grows p, she notices that she s different fro her fa il and starts estioning where she reall elongs o prove to her fa il that she can e a reall good o se, o in e ar s on a heist to end all heists n the process, she ends p discovering who she reall is

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

ADD THESE SHOWS AND MOVIES TO YOUR WATCH LIST

WandaVision December | Disney+ The Midnight Sky ece er etfli Something’s gone wrong. Mission specialist Sullivan (Felicity Jones) and her crew of astronauts are returning from Jupiter exploration, but mission control has gone silent. From what they’re seeing, toxic clouds swirl around the Earth. Meanwhile, Augustine Lofthouse (George Clooney), a cancer-stricken scientist in the Arctic, remains at a snow o nd o servator , thin ing he s the onl an left on the planet e soon finds a child named Iris (Caoilinn Springall), who now depends on him for survival. Augustine races to contact Sullivan’s crew with a warning message: turn back.

Hillbilly Elegy ove er

etfli

Ah, the American Dream. Born into an Appalachian family, J.D. Vance (Gabriel Basso), current Yale Law student, is on the verge of landing his dream job. However, a family crisis forces him to return to the home he’s tried to forget. He again has to deal with his rocky relationship with his mother Bev (Amy Adams), who is struggling with addiction. Remembering what his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close) taught him, J.D. comes to embrace his family’s indelible imprint on his identity.

Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are living their ideal suburban life: married and living in a beautiful home in the ‘50s. But the two super-powered beings begin to suspect that things are not as they seem.

WandaVision also stars Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeu, the daughter of Maria in Captain Marvel, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis (Thor), and Kathryn Hahn.

Soul December 25 | Disney+ Joe Gardner (Jaime Foxx), a middle school teacher, dreams of nothing more than to perform a onstage e finall gets a chance to i press other sicians d ring an opening at the Half Note Club. With his head in cloud nine, he falls into a manhole, causing his soul to be separated from his body. He falls into The Great Before, a world where souls develop their personalities, quirks, and traits before being born on earth. In this realm, he meets 22 (Tina Fey), a soul with a dim outlook on life.

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COVER GIRL

a z o d n e M e n

i a M 88

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: s u c o In f

INTERVIEW BY THE SPEED EDITORIAL TEAM PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIVO PHILIPPINES

IN FOCUS: MAINE MENDOZA

“TRUE TO ITS TITLE, [THE “BAWAL JUDGMENTAL” SEGMENT] MADE ME REALIZE THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET TO BE KIND.” It s been a little over five years since Maine Mendoza made her first appearance as aya Dub in GMA-7 s noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga It truly was a uly to remember aside from being introduced as the personal assistant of Lola Nidora (Wally Bayola) in the show s uan For All, All For uan segment, it was also on that fateful month when the phenomenal AlDub love team was born. Today, Maine is aya Dub no more, but she remains as a co-host of the noontime show. After months of doing livestream sessions of Eat Bulaga from home, she has gone back to the studio, albeit in a different setup. The celebrity and TV host and vivo ambassador is now as busy as ever, taking on new challenges, ad usting to the new normal at work, and using her wide social media reach for good to extend help to those who need it most. How has your life changed since the pandemic? I ust had a lot of realizations about life mainly on how blessed I am to be with my family and that they are safe and healthy during this pandemic. I am also grateful that I was able to help some people and that I have a stable ob amidst this crisis. There are ust so many things to be grateful for despite all di culties and uncertainties. What’s it like taping shows during these times? It felt odd and di cult at first but you ll eventually get used to it. Everyone s ad usting to the new normal regulations everywhere, especially at our respective workplaces for the safety of everyone coming in and out of work. There are di culties caused by the restrictions, like how some things take a bit more time and effort to be done due to the skeleton workforce. But if it s for the safety of everyone, what is there to complain about

What do you miss most from pre-COVID life? Being spontaneous Going out whenever I want, wherever I want, with the people who matter the most to me. Spending time with my family and friends whenever our schedule permits or whenever we feel like it I miss going to new places and ust to explore and learn new things about the world

Did you pick up any new hobbies during the lockdown? If babysitting is considered a hobby then it d be babysitting for me. I love looking after my pamangkins when everyone s out of the house. I love that I got to spend so much time at home that the kids finally know (and remember) that I am still their aunt. Haha

What was it like working from home for you in the beginning of the quarantine? Work from home for us was like doing a livestream session of the show Eat Bulaga in the comfort and safety of our homes But of course it is way different and so much better being in the studio, interacting with the audience. We were still able to reach and interact with some dabarkads from

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COVER GIRL

IN FOCUS: MAINE MENDOZA

different parts of the country albeit virtually, which isn t so bad after all. But you know what they say, the show must go on I am still looking forward to performing live and hearing the cheers and claps of our live audience when the pandemic is all over.

“I THINK WE ONLY WISH FOR THIS PANDEMIC TO BE OVER, GOOD HEALTH FOR OUR FAMILIES, [AND] A COVID-FREE WORLD SO WE CAN GO BACK TO THE NORMAL LIVES THAT WE USED TO HAVE BEFORE THIS.”

The “Bawal Judgmental” segment on Eat Bulaga has brought a lot of eye-opening stories to mainstream TV. What’s been your favorite part of it from a host’s perspective? I love how educational and eyeopening the segment is. ou can really pick up a lesson or two from each person s story that they boldly share in the show. I admire the bravery of these people and ust listening to their stories make you realize so many things about the harsh realities of life. It makes you look at things and people differently in a more empathic way. True to its title, it made me realize that no matter what the circumstances are, we should never forget to be kind. How are you planning to spend the holidays? I d spend the holidays with the family in my hometown in Bulacan. That s what we always do it s our simple Christmas and New ear tradition. Noche buena and media noche, exchanging gifts, gift giving, uniform shirts, and the like. I still look forward to my parents new and crispy twenty peso bills inside an ang pao. It s always the simple things that bring us oy. What gifts do you want to see under your tree this 2020? First of all, a tree. I have never had a Christmas tree my whole life. I am not kidding But seriously, I think we only wish for this pandemic to be over, good health for our families, and a COVID-free world so we can go back to the normal lives that we used to have before this. That s all I can wish for now. What are three things you are most grateful for this year? Grateful for the safety and health of my loved ones cooperation and solidarity from strangers amid the pandemic and the opportunity to help others. What are you looking forward to in 2021? I am looking forward to a better year, which means going back to a world without COVID. Praying for better days for everyone

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

IN ASSOCIATION WITH VIVO

The vivo V20 series packs the ‘ultimate’ selfie camera

hat can you pack in a device that’s less than 7.4 millimeters thin and weighs under 175 grams? A lot, apparently. Within the slim design of the vivo V20 series lies the brand’s latest cutting-edge mobile photography innovation. In particular, the 7.39mm V20 Pro—the thinnest and lightest 5G smartphone in the market today—and the 7.38mm V20—the current thinnest and lightest smartphone in the market—pack a 44MP Eye Autofocus Dual front camera and 64MP back camera. Not only do these phones boast of superb, crisp, and clear selfie-and-video-taking capabilities, they also come with convenient and content-enhancing features that give users the edge to stand out and #BeTheFocus in the realm of content creation. All the details, anytime and anywhere With an industry-leading 44MP camera and eye autofocus technology, the vivo V20 and V20 Pro can capture crisp, detailed shots. Enhancing this further are features such as AI Face beauty,

which uses artificial intelligence to come up with the perfect settings that match the environment of your selfies. Meanwhile, the super wide angle selfie feature exclusive to the V20 Pro, lets you capture the beautiful background in its entirety. Thanks to the Night Scene feature pre-installed in V20 series, taking photos in low-light scenarios produces clean and vibrant selfies. The high-megapixel count of the front shooter can shoot 4K videos, which is perfect at this time wherein content creators only have themselves to rely on for shooting, editing, and churning out professional-grade content. The best of both worlds in motion Successful vlogs are the way they are because of the different creative elements and content that captivate audiences. Most of the time, though, it all boils down to good footage of the creators sharing their sought-after opinion, edited with a couple of supporting visuals to highlight their statements. So what if you could combine these in one frame? With the vivo V20 series, you can simultaneously record footage from the front and back cameras,

which is perfect for reaction videos and similar vlogs that are in demand. The V20 series also locks in to a subject with its Steadiface video feature, so you need not worry about dizzying footage. There’s also a Front Slo-Mo feature, so your audience can appreciate your amazing content frame by frame. Besides its innovative camera technology and industry-leading features, the latest additions to the top-selling V series come in various color options—Midnight Jazz, Moonlight Sonata, and Sunset Melody for the V20 Pro; Midnight Jazz and Sunset Melody for the V20; and Gravity Black and Oxygen Blue for the V20 SE. With its lightweight and ultra-thin design, high-definition front and back cameras, and powerful performance, the latest additions to the V20 series will surely give you the edge you need to stand out.

#BeTheFocus today with the vivo V20 series, available on Lazada and Shopee, or through vivo concept stores and kiosks nationwide. To learn more, visit vivoglobal.ph.

GEEK-SPOTTING

TONI BOY ACUESTA

Marketing Section Senior Supervisor, Yamaha Motor Philippines, Inc. Tell us about what you do at Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH). I work as part of the Marketing team and we are challenged to always keep customer experience a one-of-a-kind rev the Yamaha way.

Was this the career path that you prepared for back in college? Actually, this was my second choice but I learned to love this path and challenged myself to make a difference. In fact, I even took up Masters in Business and now I can truly say that I’m more prepared and am enjoying working.

No, they’re not the eyeglasswearing, backpack-carrying, socially awkward people who pop culture has molded into a bad stereotype. They are the experts and enthusiasts who show an inordinate amount of passion for a certain field, topic, or activity.

Speed scours the streets for these different types of geeks—from intellectuals to die-hard aficionados, from professionals to devout amateurs. They are aplenty, and we aim to showcase what a special bunch they are by featuring a select few one issue at a time.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Before Yamaha, I used to work at an advertising company. That time I was doing a special project about general motorcycles. That’s where my interest started, and the rest, as they say, is history.

How has this new normal a ected your work and personal life? Work has really changed. There’s fewer face-to-face encounters; everything needs to be online. At first it was di cult as you have to differentiate the work-from-home from stay-at-home and patience is the key to make this all doable. When it comes to personal/day-to-day life, it also needs to shift online as much as possible to lessen your exposure outside. Only go outside as necessary. Adaptability to this situation will make things easier. This so-called new normal gives me more time for my loved ones and more time to discover new interests and hobbies. The downside is there’s less interaction with others. Everything needs to be done over the screen. Also, isolation and distancing put an extra layer of pressure that sometimes

affects your work productivity, relationship, and well-being.

What gadgets, tools, and apps have helped you become more producti e and e cient in our current situation? First things first a reliable internet. Also, since the quarantine started, I can say that I’ve fully maximized my iPhone—to pay bills, make online purchases, order food online, etc. For working out, I have my Fitbit Versa watch. I also have this interesting app called HomeCourt that’s really amazing. It uses AI to record and track your training to give you real-time feedback on your performance. I watch Netflix on my iPad and do work-related stuff on my laptop. I use Microsoft Teams and Zoom for work communication.

How do you unwind these days? After work, I socialize with friends using the Discord app. This feels like you are

just in one place talking while playing Among Us. During weekends, I ride my Yamaha Mio Aerox for a quick escape from the city. I’ve also just picked up cycling, which is an alternative for my home workout.

What things did you discover about yourself during this quarantine period? Aside from cooking, I must say I can finish reading a book in ust a day. I learned that I can stay at home, which I couldn’t really do before since I’m an outdoorsy person.

What are you looking forward to in 2021? Looking at the brighter side, I think 2021 will be a year of re-creating ways to start a new beginning. Like most people, I also wish the current health crisis would end. I’m looking forward to events and gatherings without fear of shaking hands, traveling without a mask.

JOEY TYLER BUAN

Chef, Fahrenheit By Tyler How old were you when you started cooking? What were your favorite dishes growing up?

then the Strawberry Shortcake for sure. But if you want something rich and fruity, then the cheesecake is the way to go. And for those savory cravings, my Parmesan Crusted Baked Salmon is not to be missed.

If I can remember correctly, I started cooking at the age of 7. I would always watch my great grandmother cook for us. My favorite food growing up would probably be anything spicy.

Yum! What about you? What’s your personal favorite from your creations?

Who or what inspired you to be a chef ?

My personal favorite would probably be the Vegan Banana Loaf. We have it every day for breakfast at home.

At a young age I was exposed to a lot of cooking shows on TLC and Food Network, and I remember saying to myself that “Wow, I want to be like them someday.” At that time I had the faintest idea of what being a chef was. So every time I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I just said, “the one who cooks,” then they’d say, “So, a chef ?” And ever since then it became my goal and dream.

The photos of the goodies look great, too! Do you also have a bit of background in photography? Actually I don’t. The launch photos were taken by my dad, who is a photographer. The everyday photos we post are taken using camera phones, all by amateur wanna-be photographers at home :)

Got any tips for those who are trying to kickstart their business online during the pandemic?

What prompted you to open a bakeshop amid the pandemic? Actually, I started baking when the ECQ started in March. I baked cookies every day for our frontliners. I baked a total of around 10,000 oatmeal cookies for almost three months and we gave them out to frontliners through LGUs and the church. At that time, the only thought was to help other people in our own little ways. There was no business plan yet and Fahrenheit By Tyler was just conceptualized three months after. My mom and I decided to start up our online bakeshop since the pandemic started right after my graduation from MIHCA (Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts). My batchmates and I were supposed to start applying

You have to love what you do and don’t do it ust for the profit. Always be open to criticism. Be patient.

When you’re not in the kitchen, how do you spend your free time? I spend my free time playing video games, watching Netflix, and resting. for cruise ship employment but because of the pandemic, companies stopped hiring and I didn’t want to be unproductive with all the time I have. Also, I wanted to have an avenue where I can still learn and practice my training in Culinary and Pastry school. We officially launched the online shop last July 18.

background in business whatsoever and I really hate math. I’m just lucky and blessed with a great support system (my family) and I would not have survived my first month without them. We have a lot of plans for the brand and hopefully we branch out to having a physical store. Not really taking it o ine but more of expanding it physically.

How is it like running an online shop? Do you plan to take your akeshop o ine someda

What do you think is a must-try from your menu?

To be honest, it’s challenging, I have no

If you prefer something light and soft,

How are you planning to celebrate the Holidays? Just a simple yet meaningful celebration with my family. By this, I am thinking of incorporating some charity work in my own little ways, especially this upcoming holiday.

What are you looking forward to in 2021? I’m mostly looking forward to traveling again and to be able to focus more on my business.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

TECH TIPS

id you just hit the ‘Send’ button before you realized a spelling error, incorrect recipient, or wrong subject line? Or maybe you forgot to attach the file that you were supposed to send? Prevent yourself from having an embarrassing situation by adjusting a simple setting— that is, if you’re using Gmail. Go to Settings > General and look for Undo Send. Make sure to adjust the setting to a higher number (we suggest 30 seconds). That will buy you (hopefully) enough time to realize you made an error and hit the ‘Undo send’ button.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

HOW TO

SHOPPING TIPS FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ HOLIDAY RUSH WOR DS A NT SI E RRA

Because of the ongoing pandemic and current COVID-19 situation in the country, we are all encouraged to stay indoors. But who says that’s going to stop us from celebrating Christmas the ‘new normal’ style? Click and shop While it’s prudent to not hold parties and big reunions to avoid the spread of the virus, you can still have that semblance of Christmas by buying gifts for your loved ones. 96

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E-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora allow you to search and shop for goods without having to leave the comforts of your home. A lot of retail establishments and independent sellers have also migrated their products and services to the digital space. It can be a bit overwhelming to shop with this level of ease, and o a find o rself buying items out of impulse. This may also cause you to overlook details such as

SHOPPING TIPS FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ HOLIDAY RUSH

product descriptions, reviews, and even package inclusions. You must pay attention to these details. Not all deals are worth it. The quality of some products are as cheap as their price. For better deals, it would be wiser to buy from official online stores that offer warranties. Buy smart You don’t have to spend a lot to buy nice gifts. Even if money is a little tight, we’re sure you can find so ething that will suit your recipient perfectly. You just need to put some thought and effort. Having a budget is also a good way to make sure you’re able to get your loved ones something without breaking the bank. A cool trick to try is by using mobile wallets such as PayMaya, GrabPay, ShopeePay, and GCash. Load a fi ed a o nt on o r o ile wallet and treat that as your budget limit. That way, you’ll be forced to work around that amount. Another nice thing about using mobile wallets is that they offer cashback rewards, points, or coins. What’s essential? Staying indoors has changed our habits and behaviors. By now, you’ve probably

realized you don’t need all those pairs of shoes and all those clothes and bags. With uncertainty pressing on from COVID-19 and from-home work and learning looking like it will be the norm for a while, many have started investing in products that help increase productivity. These include home office needs for working adults, and online class essentials for students. Think about what your siblings, friends, or kids need. It can be as simple as a nice desk organizer or a cool lamp for their study table. Support small businesses Not all gifts come from big retailers. In fact some of the more unique items that we’re sure you’d find interesting come from small, independent sellers who are looking to get their brands noticed. Small businesses also allow for customization, which gives your gift a more personal touch to it.

Reaching out to these businesses is also easy thanks to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Not only do their pages contain products and contact information, but other customers also leave their reviews to share their level of satisfaction. Be wise. Sanitize. Online shopping means having your goods delivered to your home. Make sure to properly disinfect the packages before bringing them into your home. According to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 virus can remain viable for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, up to four hours on copper, and up to 24 hours on cardboard. Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling packages. So, are you ready to do your shopping? Make your loved ones merry this Christmas with gifts of love and goodies from the heart! NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

HOW TO

SOUND OF SILENCE How to shop for noise-canceling audio gear WO RD S AYIE L IC S I

Here are some factors to consider before you plunk down your money. What devices are you going to use it on? One of the differences between earbuds and headphones is its connectivity option. On one hand, TWS earbuds can only connect via Bluetooth while on the other, some noise-canceling headphones have a 3.5mm audio jack so you can play tunes while you’re wired to your device. If you’re only planning to use your audio gear with a smartphone or maybe with a laptop equipped with decent Bluetooth, go with earbuds. But if you want to use it with ga ing consoles e g intendo witch or for when you’re editing videos, you should go for headphones. For how long are you expecting to use it in a day? Headphones come with padding to make them comfortable for long hours of use. However, note that they can get pretty hot. And depending on the headphones you’ll get, the headband can cause discomfort if not adequately padded. Meanwhile, TWS earbuds don’t cover your entire ear; instead, they sit on your ear canal. It can hurt after a while but at least the buds won’t interfere with your hairstyle, glasses, or earrings. Where are you going to use it and what for? Earbuds are portable and headphones can be bulky. The charging cases most ds co e in will easil fit in o r poc et Headphones, on the other hand, can be cumbersome to carry around.

ometimes, regular earphones or headphones just don’t cut it when it comes to keeping the noise out. Drowning out the cacophony of distracting sound needs the magic of noise cancellation so you can stay focused on the task at hand. Thankfully, there are many TWS earbuds and headphones in the market with noise cancellation features, and they come in different shapes, sizes, and prices. But how do you know which one is best suited for you? Like other gadgets, it’s not a one si e fits all ind of thing oise canceling TWS earbuds and headphones have their pros and cons, and in the end, what you get should meet your needs and preferences. 98

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Earbuds are also easier to use when you’re out or if you’re working out. Buds also have a bigger battery life thanks to the charging case. The verdict: TWS earbuds are the better outdoor buddy. But if you’re just going to be sitting indoors while listening to your tunes, headphones are a great option. How much are you willing to shell out? oise canceling headphones are generall more expensive than TWS earbuds. For example, Sony’s latest WH-1000XM4s are priced at P19,999 while Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live goes for P8,990. You get decent sound with either device, but probably better noise cancellation with headphones since the padding on the earc p helps filter o t more noise.

ASK THE EDITOR

Storage woes

Hum to search

Hey, guys! Do you know that song that goes “tan-nanana-nanan tanana-nanan…” I’m kidding! But seriously, I usually have a song stuck in my head for days and for the life of me I can’t remember the title of the song, How do I cure this? Thanks! CAM DE BORJA

Hello! I heard that Google is set to make unlimited free storage for high-quality photos and videos go away starting June next year. Gah!!! I’m not keen on ponying up for additional storage space. But I’m just worried—and curious—as to how much space I have left and how much time I have until I fill it up. STEPHEN MERCADO Hello, Stephen! Like you, we’re bummed about this news. But it is what it is. To check how much space (and time) you have left with your existing storage space, follow these steps: • Go to photos.google.com/storage and log in using the Google Account you want to check. • A small graph will show you the details about which Google service is occupying how much space. • If you want to know more details and manage the data consuming your free 15GB, go to myaccount. google.com, go to cco nt torage anage torage option o ll find a color coded graph that tells you which service is consuming what. Blue is for Google Drive, Red is for Gmail, and Yellow is for Google Photos. • You can click on the redirect icon beside each option so you can go to the respective website. From there, you can clean up your data to free up some precious storage.

a e et i sa er r i s Dear Speed,

My 6-year-old son knows his way around our smart TV. While I’ve set up his own kids profile on Netflix (picked the profile maturity rating and title restrictions already), he still sometimes insists on watching other shows that I’m kinda wary about—whether it’s the language or the amount of violence. Is there a way to have more parental control on Netflix? Need your advice. SHERYL ROBLES Hi, Sheryl! Aside from setting the rofile at rit ating and Title Restrictions, another thing you can do is to protect the 100

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other non id with s

etfli profiles

o do this, go to the rofile Parental Controls, then click on the profile that o don t want o r id to access elect rofile Lock and tick the box that says

e ire a to access profile nter a , then clic on Save. Of course, it’s also important to explain to your kid why he is not allowed to watch certain shows just yet.

Hey, Cam! That’s easy as you can now Google search any song or melody just by humming or whistling it—”no lyrics, artist name, or perfect pitch required,” according to the tech giant. To try the Hum to Search feature, open the latest version of the Google app or find your Google Search widget on your phone, tap the mic icon and say “What’s this song?” or click the “Search a song” button. Whistle, hum, or sing for 10 to 15 seconds, after which Google’s machine learning algorithm will help identify potential song matches. According to Google, the feature should work even if your pitch isn’t perfect. As for those of s who are tone deaf, however… Well, there’s only one way to find out!

BILLBOARD

RENOVATED VOLVO SHOWROOM IS READY FOR THE NEW NORMAL In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Volvo Philippines embarked on its biggest and most extensive makeover of its local headquarters in Makati. The freshly renovated showroom stays true to the brand’s Swedish roots. The new Volvo lifestyle area embodies minimalist Scandinavian design with its clean lines and modern features. In response to the call of the times, the new Volvo showroom provides a haven of comfort and safety for all its guests. With people as a priority, innovative features and systems are put in place. Strict guidelines are observed, including wearing of face masks, social distancing, checking of body temperature, provision of alcohol disinfectants in key areas, and other protective measures. All high-traffic areas such as the showroom and service center follow strict safety guidelines. For a safe and seamless showroom experience, visitors who want to know more about Volvo products and services can do so with the aid of the latest retail technologies. For example, guests can simply scan the QR code on the vehicle tag to get more information about the vehicle on display.

Spotify unveils nine platform-exclusive Filipino podcasts Audio streaming service Spotify has partnered with nine Filipino podcasts, making these must-listen-to shows available only and exclusively on the platform. Available to Free and Premium users, the nine shows from some of the country’s top content creators make up part of the more than 1.5 million podcast titles available on Spotify. These podcasts include, Adulting with Joyce Pring, Sleeping Pill With Inka, Wake Up With Jim and Saab, The KoolPals, Boiling Waters PH, The Eve’s Drop, Ask Say, Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, and Walwal Sesh. These shows join Spotify’s growing catalog of podcasts from some of the world’s biggest creators including Michelle Obama, Joe Rogan, Nas Daily, and upcoming content from the likes of Kim Kardashian West, DC Comics, and more.

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Singlife, GCash offer no-fuss protection to Filipinos Mobile-first life insurer Singlife Philippines has partnered with GCash to offer simple and flexible insurance products at affordable prices. The first product of this partnership is Cash for Dengue Costs, a comprehensive yet affordable protection product that provides a multi-level benefit against medical costs due to mild to severe cases of dengue. This product has customizable coverage levels, payment terms, and the option to cover an individual or the whole family. The application process for Cash for Dengue Costs only takes less than five minutes. Customers can even pay, view, manage, and file claims on their Singlife policies directly in the GCash app.

LG PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE VIA LAZADA FLAGSHIP STORE LG Philippines has opened a new online channel to cater to the needs of customers. he cial lagship tore in a ada, along with the tech giant s online partners, will carr ost of the rand s prod ct lines hese incl de ho e appliances, ho e entertain ent, air conditioners, and onitors ll ite s to e sold are g aranteed a thentic and en o the relia le warrant services that lo al c sto ers have co e to now and rel on ne ig enefit fro

ordering fro

s a ada page is free storewide shipping

hec o t the

cial lagship tore at la a a co

h ho lg o c al tore .

Toyota the official Viber Community for all Filipino Toyota owners, future customers, and a cionados can be accessed by searching for the veri ed Toyota PH community on Viber via mobile or desktop internet browsers.

Meanwhile, Facebook users can start using TMPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enhanced Facebook Messenger chat to send inquiries and be connected with the official acebook Messenger chat of their preferred Toyota dealer. They can also go to Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page and tap on the Messenger icon or link.

ere s a new app that will help o navigate the all even efore o leave o r ho e

he app also sports an indoor navigation feat re to help all g ests in ic l and safel finding their wa aro nd the all fro the par ing area to the store or resta rant the intend to visit

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has activated two new chat channels to give customers options to connect with the car manufacturer without leaving the safety of their homes.

Members will receive the latest news and updates straight from TMP, car care tips, special deals and promos, exclusive content, and more.

ega orl fe t le all o le a a e a gat g the all etter he egaworld ifest le alls o ile app, availa le for download on the oogle la tore and the pp tore, incl des a virt al shopping director , which gives sers access to a co plete list of shopping, dining, entertain ent, and service partners in all egaworld ifest le alls across the co ntr he director contains store locations and erchants contact details, which can co e in hand for sers loo ing to place advance orders for pic p or deliver

Toyota activates chat apps to connect with customers

A Messenger chat bubble is also available while browsing TM s official website.

he app also feat res real ti e pdates on events, store pro os, and the latest ovie sched le at egaworld ine as ccording to , f t re pdates will add functionalities to the app.

ore

The enhanced Messenger chat allows users to select their preferred vehicles and dealers with just a few taps. Dealer representatives will then contact the customer to assist them to make their car purchase process quick and seamless.

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STORE DIRECTORY

Apple Available in all authorized retailers apple.com Bleeves bleeves.com Bose Eleksis Marketing Corp. 273 Connecticut St., Greenhills, San Juan (02) 724-9566 / 724-7527 eleksis.com Cherry cherryshop.com.ph Cotton On Available in Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Century Mall, Eastwood Mall, Evia Mall, Festival Mall, Fisher Mall, Greenbelt 3, Lucky Chinatown, Robinsons Ermita, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, SM Aura, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall, TriNoma, and UP Town Center cottonon.com Copper shopcopper.com Google store.google.com Honda Honda Philippines, Inc. hondaphil.com Huawei Huawei Technologies Phils., Inc. Picadilly Star, 4th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig consumer.huawei.com/ph Hyundai Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. BGC Corporate Center, 30th St. cor. 11th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig hyundai.ph Kia Kia Motors Philippines kia.com/ph Lenovo Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 10/F, 11th Corporate Center, 11th Avenue cor. Triangle Drive, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig lenovo.com/ph

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Marshall Available at all Digital Walker stores nationwide digits.ph

Samsung Available at all Samsung stores and authorized retailers samsung.com/ph

Mercedes-Benz Auto Nation Group, Inc. 1008 EDSA Greenhills, San Juan (02) 784-5005 mercedes-benz.com.ph

Sunnies ph.sunniesstudios.com

Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Motors Philippines No. 1 Auto Park Ave., Greenfield Automotive Park Special Economic Zone, Santa Rosa, Laguna mmpc.ph Muji muji.com/ph/ facebook.com/muji.ph Nike Nike Philippines 10/F Marajo Tower, 312 26th St. West cor. 4th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig nike.com/ph/en_gb Pull & Bear pullandbear.com/ph realme Available at all authorized retailers realme.com/ph

Toyota Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Highway, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (02) 825-8888 toyota.com.ph UE custom.ultimateears.com/ vivo vivo Philippines East Tower Philippines Stock Exchange Center, Pasig vivoglobal.ph Xiaomi Available at Mi stores in SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, and Gateway Mall mi.com.ph Zara Available at Zara boutiques in Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Mall of Asia, and TriNoma zara.com/ph

MOBILE PHONES + TA B L E T S

p.106

UNDER P10,000

p.108

UNDER P20,000

p.110

P20,000 AND ABOVE

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NEW!

Cherry Mobile Flare Y5 P2,999

• Android 10 Go Edition • 1.4GHz Quad-Core SC9832E • 8MP rear, 5MP front • 5.45” IPS TrueView • 16GB built-in, microSD; 2GB RAM • LTE • dual SIM

P5,999

• Android 9 Pie • 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P23 • 16MP + 2MP rear 13MP front • 7” FHD+ • 64GB built-in, microSD; 4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Honor 20 Lite P9,990

• Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9.0 • octa-core Kirin 710F • 24MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.21” 2340 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Huawei MediaPad T3 8” P6,490

• EMUI 5.1 (Android 7) • Qualcomm MSM8917 • 5MP rear, 2MP front • 8” HD 1280 x 800 • 16GB built-in, microSD; 2GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Huawei Y5p

Huawei Y6p

Huawei Y7p

Lenovo K5 Play

• EMUI 10.1 (Android 10) • 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6762R • 8MP rear; 5MP front • 5.45” HD+ 1440 x 720 • 32GB built-in, microSD ; 2GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• EMUI 10.1 (Android 10) • 2.0Ghz octa-core MediaTek MT6762R • 13MP + 5MP + 2MP rear; 8MP front • 6.3” HD 1280 x 720 • 64GB built-in, microSD ; 4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• EMUI 9.1 (Android 9 Pie) • 2.2GHz octa-core Hauwei Kirin 710F • 48MP+8MP+2MP rear, 8MP front • 6.39” 1560 x 720 • 64GB built-in, microSD; 4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• ZUI 3.7 (Android 8.0) • 2.05GHz octa-core Snapdragon 430 • 13MP + 2MP rear; 8MP front • 5.7” HD+ 1440 x 720 • 32GB built-in, microSD ; 3GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P4,990

P5,990

P9,990

P3,990

Lenovo S5 Pro

Nokia 2.3

Nokia C1

realme 5i

• ZUI 5 (Android 8.1) • 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 • 12MP + 20MP rear; 20MP + 8MP front • 6.2”” FHD+ 2246 x 1080 • 64/128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android One (Android 10 ready) • 2GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 • 13MP + 2MP rear, 5MP front • 6.2” HD+ • 32GB built-in, microSD; 2GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android 9 pie (Go Edition) • 1.3GHz quad-core processor • 5MP rear, 5MP front • 5.45” IPS • 16GB built-in, microSD; 1GB RAM

• Android 9 Pie • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665AIE • 12MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 8MP front • 6.5” HD+ 1600 x 720 • 64GB built-in, microSD; 3GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P7,490 (64GB) P8,490 (128GB)

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Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Max

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

P5,990

P2,990

P6,990

Huawei MatePad T8

P5,990

• EMUI 10.01 (Android 10) • 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek MT8768 • 5MP rear; 2MP front • 8” HD 1280 x 720 • 32GB built-in, microSD ; 2GB RAM • Wi-Fi

Lenovo K5 Pro P5,990 (4GB) P6,990 (6GB)

• Android 8.1 • 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 • 16MP + 5MP rear; 16MP + 5MP front • 5.99” FHD+ 2160 x 1080 • 64GB built-in, microSD ; 4/6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

realme 6i P7,990 (3GB+64GB) P9,990 (4gb+128GB)

• Realme UI (Android 10) • 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 16MP front • 6.5” 720 x 1600 HD+ • 64/128GB built-in, microSD; 3/4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

UNDER P10,000

NEW!

realme C11 P4,990

realme c12

• realme UI (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 • 13MP + 2MP rear, 5MP front • 6.5” 720 x 1600 • 32GB built-in, microSD, 2GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P5,990

• realme UI (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 • 13MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 5MP front • 6.5” HD+ • 32GB built-in, microSD; 3GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Standing out in the budget segment, the realme C11 combines a sportypremium look with capable performance that can help you accomplish tasks and provide you with hours of entertainment.

realme C15

P6,490 (3GB RAM) P6,990 (4GB RAM)

• realme UI (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 • 13MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 8MP front • 6.5” HD+ • 64GB built-in, microSD; 3/4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Samsung Galaxy A01

Samsung Galaxy A11

Samsung Galaxy A21s

Samsung Galaxy M11

• One UI 2 (Android 10) • 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 • 13Mp + 2MP rear, 5MP front • 5.7” 720 x 1520 HD+ • 16GB built-in; 2GB RAM • 4G LTE • Dual SIM

• OneUI 2.0 (Android 10) • 1.8GHz octa-core • 13MP + 2MP + 5MP rear, 8MP front • 6.4” 720 x 1560 • 32GB built-in, microSD, 3GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• OneUI 2.0 (Android 10) • 2.0GHz octa-core • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 13MP front • 6.5” 720 x 1600 • 64GB built-in, microSD, 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• OneUI 2.0 (Android 10 • 1.8GHZ octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 • 13MP + 2MP + 5MP rear, 8MP front • 6.4” 720 x 1560 • 32GB built-in, microSD; 3GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P5,490

Vivo Y11 (2019) P6,499

• Android 9 Pie with Funtouch OS 9.1 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 • 13MP + 2MP rear, 8MP front • 6.53” 720 x 1544 • 32GB built-in; 3GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P7,490

Xiaomi Redmi 8

P6,490 (3GB+32GB) P6,990 (4GB+64GB)

• Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10 • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 • 12MP + 2MP rear, 8MP front • 6.22” 1520 x 720 • 32/64GB built-in, microSD; 3/4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P11,990

Xiaomi Redmi 8A P5,490

• Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10 • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 • 12MP rear, 8MP front • 6.2” 1520 x 720 • 32GB built-in, microSD; 2GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P7,490

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 P7,990 (3GB+64GB) P9,990 (4GB+128GB)

• MIUI 11 (Android 10) • 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear; 13MP front • 6.53” FHD+ 2340 x 1080 • 64/128GB built-in, microSD; 3/4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

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NEW!

Apple iPad 8th-gen

Honor 9X

Huawei Y8p

Huawei nova 7 SE 5G

• Android 9 Pie • 2.1GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P70 •16MP + 5MP + 2MP rear, 16MP +2MP front • 6.26” FHD+ FullScreen • 512GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9.1.1 • 2.2GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 710F • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 16MP front • 6.59” 2340 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• EMUI 10.1 (Android 10) • 2.2GHz octa-core Kirin 710F • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 16MP front • 6.3” FHD+ • 128GB, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE

• EMUI 10.1 (Android 10) • Huawei Kirin 985 octa-core • 64MP + 8MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.53” FHD+ • 256GB built-in, 8GB RAM • 5G, 4G LTE • dual SIM

Huawei Y9s

Nokia 7.2

Nokia 8.1

OPPO A9 2020

• EMUI 9.1 (Android 9 Pie) • Octa-core Kirin 710F • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 16MP front • 6.59” FHD+ 1080 x 2340 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android 9 Pie • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 • 48MP + 8MP + 5MP rear, 20MP front • 6.3” FHD+ • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android 9 Pie • 2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 • 12MP + 13MP rear, 20MP front • 6.18” FHD+ • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G VoLTE • dual SIM

• Android 9 Pie with ColorOs 6.0.1 • 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon • 48MP+8MP+2MP+2MP rear, 16MP front • 6.5” 720 x 1600 • 128GB built-in; 8GB RAM • LTE • Dual SIM

P18,990 (Wi-Fi, 32GB)

• iPadOS 14 • A12 Bionic chip • 8MP rear, 1.2MP front • 10.2” (2160 x 1620) Retina • 32GB built-in

P13,990

NEW!

OPPO Reno 4 P18,990

• ColorOS 7.2 (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 32MP + AI smart sensor front • 6.4” FHD+ • 128GB, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM 108

NEW!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Plus P12,990

P15,990

P12,490

P12,990

P12,999

P13,990

NEW!

POCO X3 NFC

P10,990 (64GB) P12,990 (128GB)

• MIUI 12 for POCO (Android 10) • Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G octa-core • 64MP + 13MP + 2MP + 2MP rear. 20MP front • 6.67” FHD+ • 64/128GB, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P17,999

P13,990

NEW!

realme 6

realme 6 Pro

realme 7

• Realme UI (Android 10) • 2.05GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G90T • 64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear; 16MP front • 6.5”” FHD+ 2400 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD ; 4/8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Realme UI (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G • 64MP + 8MP + 12MP + 2MP rear; 16MP + 8MP front • 6.6”” FHD+ 2400 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD ; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• realme UI (Android 10) • 2.05GHz MediaTek Helio G95 • 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 16MP front • 6.5” FHD+ • 128GB built-in; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P11,990 (4GB) P13,990 (8GB)

P16,990

P14,990

UNDER P20,000

NEW!

realme 7 Pro

P17,990 • realme UI (Android 10) • 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G • 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.4” FHD+ • 128GB built-in; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

NEW!

Samsung Galaxy M31

Samsung Galaxy M51

TCL Plex

• One UI 2.0 (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 9611 • 64MP + 8MP + 5MP rear; 32MP front • 6.4” FHD+ 2340 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD ; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android 10 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G • 64MP + 12MP + 12MP + 5MP rear, 32MP front • 6.7” Full HD+ • 128GB built-in, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android 9 Pie with TCL UI • Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 • 48MP + 16MP + 2MP rear, 24MP front • 6.53” 2340 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P13,990

P19,990

P15,990

Vivo V19 Neo P15,999

Vivo S1

P12,999

• Android 9 Pie with Funtouch 9 • 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P65 • 16MP+8MP+2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.38” 2340 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Vivo S1 Pro

P13,999 • Android 9 Pie with Funtouch OS 9.2 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.38” 1080 x 2340 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (64GB)

Xiaomi Mi A3

• Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10 • 2.84GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 • 48MP+13MP+8MP rear, 20MP front • 6.39” 2340 x 1080 • 64GB built-in, microSD; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Android One (Android 9 Pie) • 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 • 48MP+8MP+2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.088” 1560 x 720 • 128GB built-in, ; 4GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P18,990

P11,990

• Funtouch OS 10 (Android 10) • Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP rear; 32MP front • 6.44” FHD+ Super AMOLED Ultra O Screen • 128GB built-in, 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM When it comes down to what most people need these days, the Vivo V19 Neo delivers. It’s reliable and performs as well as you’d expect it would within its segment. However, there are a couple of devices out there that offer more features for the same price or even less.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite P16,990 (6GB+64GB) P18,990 (8GB+128GB)

• MIUI 11 (Android 10) • 2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G • 64MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP rear; 16MP front • 6.47” FHD+ 2340 x 1080 • 64/128GB built-in ; 6/8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro

P12,490 (64GB) P13,990 (128GB)

• MIUI 11 (Android 10) • 2.3GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G • 64MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP rear; 16MP front • 6.67” 2400 x 1080 • 64/128GB built-in, microSD ; 6GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

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NEW!

Apple iPad 8th-gen

32GB: P26,990 (Wi-Fi + cellular) 128GB: P24,990 (Wi-Fi); P32,990 (Wi-Fi + cellular) • iPadOS 14 • A12 Bionic chip • 8MP rear, 1.2MP front • 10.2” (2160 x 1620) Retina • 32/128GB built-in

Apple iPhone 11 P47,990 (64GB) P50,990 (128GB) P56,990 (256GB)

• iOS13 • A13 Bionic chip, 3rd-gen Neural Engine • 12MP dual rear, 12MP front • 6.1” 1792 x 828 • 64/128/256GB built-in; 4GB RAM • LTE • dual SIM

Apple iPhone 11 Pro P67,990 (64GB) P76,990 (256GB) P89,990 (512GB)

• iOS13 • A13 Bionic chip, 3rd-gen Neural Engine • 12MP triple rear, 12MP front • 5.8” 2436 x 1125 • 64/256/512GB built-in; 4GB RAM • LTE • dual SIM

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max P73,990 (64GB) P82,990 (256GB) P95,990 (512GB)

• iOS13 • A13 Bionic chip, 3rd-gen Neural Engine • 12MP triple rear, 12MP front • 6.5” 2688 x 1242 • 64/256/512GB built-in; 4GB RAM • LTE • dual SIM

Huawei P40 Pro+ P69,990

Apple iPhone SE (2020) P26,490 (64GB) P30,490 (128GB) P36,490 (256GB)

• iOS 13 • Apple A13 Bionic chip • 12MP rear, 7MP front • 4.7” 1334 x 750 Retina HD • 64/128/256GB built-in; 3GB RAM • 4G LTE

Huawei P40 P36,990

• EMUI 10 (Android 10) • 2.86GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 990 • 50MP + 16MP + 8MP rear, 32MP front • 6.1” 2340 x 1080 FHD+ • 128GB built-in, Nano Memory Card; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• 2.8GHz octa-core Kirin 990 5G • EMUI 10.1 (Android 10) • 50MP + 40MP + 8MP + 8MP + ToF rear, 32MP + depth front • 6.58” 1200 x 2640 • 512GB built-in, NM card; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE, 5G The Huawei P40 Pro+ is a beautiful phone with a premium build, powerful internals, and a ludicrous amount of storage. Its powerful set of cameras is unmatched, and the outstanding performance of its 10x optical zoom is the pinnacle of smartphone photography. That said, its P69,990 price tag is quite exorbitant. But if you’re serious about mobile photography and you’ve got lots of cash to spare, you can’t do much better than the Huawei P40 Pro+.

NEW!

Huawei P40 Pro P50,990

• EMUI 10 (Android 10) • 2.86GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G • 50MP + 40MP + 12MP + ToF rear, 32MP front • 6.58” 2640 x 1200 FHD+ • 256GB built-in, Nano Memory Card; 8GB RAM • 5G • dual SIM

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OnePlus Nord

P21,990 (128GB + 8GB) P25,990 (256GB + 12GB)

• Oxygen OS 10.5 (Android 10) • 2.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G • 48MP+ 8MP + 5MP + 2MP rear, 32MP + 8MP front • 6.44”” FHD+ • 128/256GB built-in; 8/12GB RAM • 5G, 4G LTE • dual SIM

OPPO Find X2 Pro

OPPO Reno3 Pro

• Android 10 with Color OS7.1 • 2.84GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 • 48MP + 49MP + 13MP rear, 32MP front • 6.7” 1440 x 3168 • 512GB built-in, 12GB RAM • 4G LTE, 5G • dual SIM

• Android 10 with Color OS7 • MediaTek Helio P95 • 64MP + 13MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 44MP + 2MP front • 6.4” 1080 x 2400 • 256GB built-in, 8GB RAM • 4G LTE

P65,990

P28,990

P20,000 AND ABOVE

NEW!

realme X3 SuperZoom

Samsung Galaxy A71

• realme UI (Android 10) • 2.96GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ • 64MP + 8MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 32MP + 8MP front • 6.6” 1080x 2400 • 256GB built-in, 12GB RAM • 4G LTE

• ONE UI 2.0 (Android 10) • 2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G • 64MP+12MP+5MP+ 5MP rear, 32MP front • 6.7” 2400 x 1080 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P24,990

P22,990

Samsung Galaxy S20

Samsung Galaxy S20+

• One UI 2.0 (Android 10) • 2.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 • 12MP+12MP+64MP rear, 10MP front • 6.2”QHD+ • 128GB built-in, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• One UI 2.0 (Android 10) • 2.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 • 12MP+12MP+64MP+ Depth Vision rear, 10MP front • 6.7” QHD+ • 128GB built-in, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P49,990

P55,990

vivo X50

vivo X50 Pro

• Funtouch OS 10.5 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 • 48MP + 13MP + 8MP + 5MP rear, 32MP front • 6.56” FHD+ • 128GB built-in; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

• Funtouch OS 10.5 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G • 48MP + 13MP + 8MP + 8MP rear, 32MP front • 6.56” FHD+ • 256GB built-in; 8GB RAM • 5G, 4G LTE • dual SIM

P25,999

P39,999

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 P109,990

• OneUI (Android 10) • Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 + • 12MP + 12MP + 12MP rear, 10MP cover camera, 10MP front camer • 7.6” QXGA+ Infinity Flex Display, 6.2” HD+ Super AMOLED display • 256GB built-in; 12GB RAM • 5G, 4G LTE • dual SIM

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

P53,990

• Android 10 • Exynos 990 • 64MP + 12MP + 12MP rear, 10MP front • 6.7” FHD+ • 128GB built-in; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

• One UI 2.0 (Android 10) • 2.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 • 108MP+12MP+48MP +Depth Vision rear, 40MP front • 6.9”” QHD+ • 128GB built-in, microSD; 12GB RAM • 5G, 4G/LTE • dual SIM

• 2.3GHz quad-core + 1.7GHz quad-core • OneUI 2 (Android 10) • 8MP rear, 5MP front • 10.4” 1200 x 2000 • 128GB built-in, microSD; 4GBRAM • 4G LTE

P69,990

Xiaomi Black Shark 2

P22,990 (6GB +128GB) P23,990 (8GB + 128GB) P28,990 (12GB +256GB) • Android 9 Pie with Black Shark OS • 2.84GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon • 48MP + 12MP rear, 20MP front • 6.39” 2340 x 1080 • 128/256GB built-in; 6/8/12GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

P26,990

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro

P27,990 (8GB + 128GB) P33,490 (12GB +256GB)

• Android 9 Pie with Black Shark OS • 2.96GHz octa-core Qualcoom Snapdragon 855+ • 48MP + 12MP rear, 20MP front • 6.39” 2340 x 1080 • 128/256GB built-in; 8/12GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

P67,990 (8GB + 256GB) P72,990 (12GB + 256GB 5G) • Android 10 • Exynos 990 • 108MP + 12MP + 12MP rear, 10MP front • 6.9” WQHD+ • 25GGB built-in, microSD; 8/12GB RAM • 5G/4G LTE • dual SIM

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip P79,990

• Android 10 • 2.95GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ • 12MP+12MP rear, 10MP front • 6.7” 2636 x 1080 main, 1.1-inch 300 x 112 • 256GB built-in, microSD; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro

P29,990

• Android 9 Pie with MIUI 11 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G • 108MP + 12MP + 20MP + 5MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front • 6.47” 1080 x 2340 • 256GB built-in; 8GB RAM • 4G LTE • dual SIM

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BEFORE YOU GO

It’s beginning to sound a lot like

Christmas

It looks like Spotify listeners may be seeking comfort from holiday music earlier than usual this year. Who can blame them, really? According to Spotify data, many have started tuning in to the platform’s holiday playlist, “Christmas Hits,” as early as September. Spotify also saw a 25 percent increase in holiday listening in October compared to previous years. What remains the same: the most-listened-to holiday album on the streaming platform is still Michael Bublé’s Christmas album with more than 1.8 billion streams, while the number one song is still All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey. Ready to stream some Christmas tunes? Check out the “Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection “ playlist here:

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