HONOR, Fidesmo partner for contactless payments across Europe, Middle East
Enabling contactless payments on the HONOR Watch 6 The post HONOR, Fidesmo partner for contactless payments across Europe, Middle East appeared first on GadgetMatch.
Samsung to increase mobile DRAM and NAND prices again for Apple and chinese phone makers
Samsung Electronics seeks a 7–10% price hike on mobile DRAM and NAND flash memory for Apple and Chinese OEMs as HBM production strains the supply chain.Samsung LPDDR5X RAMMemory prices going up again?Samsung Electronics is moving to raise the prices of mobile DRAM and NAND flash memory supplied to major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple and leading Chinese device makers. The planned price increases come as semiconductor manufacturers divert critical production capacity toward specialized artificial intelligence chips, creating an industry-wide supply bottleneck for standard smartphone memory components.According to industry sources, Samsung's memory division is currently conducting or preparing price renegotiations across its key global smartphone clientele. Chinese phone manufacturers face updated pricing starting after the third quarter, while Apple is set to encounter higher rates beginning in the fourth quarter. The company is seeking an additional rate hike of 7 to 10 percent above existing contracts, with final pricing dependent on order volumes, memory specifications, and contract terms.This upward momentum builds on a prolonged cost surge driven by market research data from Omdia. A standard smartphone memory setup combining 8GB of DRAM and 256GB of storage soared from USD 35 in Q3 of 2023 to USD 132 in Q2 of 2024. Prices are expected to reach USD 140 in Q3 2024. This represents nearly a 300 percent year-over-year surge. Higher capacity configurations, such as 12GB RAM with 512GB of storage, show an even steeper jump, climbing from USD 60 in late 2023 to over USD by late 2024.The surge in components creates internal pressures even for Samsung itself. While its chipmaking arm benefits from higher selling prices, Samsung's consumer mobile device business saw memory jump to 12.2 percent of its total raw material costs in the second quarter, up from 9.4 percent in the previous quarter. This places memory above display panels and camera modules in terms of production cost. In contrast, large volume buyers like Apple possess stronger leverage during price talks. Apple's massive purchasing scale, consuming double the NAND storage capacity of Samsung's mobile division, enables it to use long-term contracts and large bulk orders to soften the impact of price hikes and secure priority supply.This continued escalation of mobile memory prices forces smartphone brands into a difficult balancing act between protecting profit margins and avoiding consumer pushback. Because hardware makers cannot easily pass double- or triple-digit component price increases straight to retail price tags without risking lower sales, they are likely to adopt alternative cost-cutting measures. Consumers can expect phone makers to compensate by reducing marketing budgets, reusing older hardware components across new models, offering lower baseline memory capacities, or reserving significant price hikes exclusively for flagship and premium devices.What do you guys think?Source: sisajournal-e, Via: GSMArena
Samsung Galaxy A08 launched: 6.7-inch LCD, Helio G99, 6,000mAh battery
Samsung has quietly added the Galaxy A08 to its website in Western countries, revealing its full details.Galaxy A08 design and displaySamsung Galaxy A08 goes officialIn terms of colors and design, the Galaxy A08 will be available in Silver, Green, and Dark Blue, and carries an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance.IP64 ratingOn the display front, the device features a 6.7-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1600 x 720 and a 90Hz refresh rate.Powering the phone is a Helio G99 chipset with a 2.2GHz octa-core CPU, paired with 4GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.6,000mAh batteryThe Galaxy A08 is equipped with a 6,000 mAh battery, marking its only apparent difference from the Galaxy A07, which has a 1,000 mAh smaller cell.The camerasFor imaging, the phone sports a 50MP f/1.8 primary rear camera + 2MP f/2.4 auxiliary sensor, while an 8MP camera sits in the display's U-shaped notch up front. Both the front and rear cameras are capable of recording Full HD (1080p) video at 30fps.Rounding out the hardware, the device includes a fingerprint sensor and a 3.5mm headphone jack.On connectivity, the Galaxy A08 supports WiFi, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and dual-SIM functionality.The phone ships with Android 17 and One UI 9, and Samsung has committed to six major OS upgrades and six years of security updates.Samsung Galaxy A08 key specs, features:6.7-inch LCD screen with HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate6nm Helio G99 octa-core processorMali-G57 MC2 GPU4GB RAM128GB storage6,000mAh battery25W fast charging50MP main camera + 2MP auxiliary sensor8MP selfie cameraSingle bottom-firing speaker3.5mm audio jackSide-mounted fingerprint sensorAndroid 17 with One UI 9.0US price with direct-to-PHP conversion (no taxes and duties yet):Samsung Galaxy A08 - USD 170 (around PHP 10.6K)It is currently listed in Samsung Serbia and Bosnia. No word yet for other countries at the moment.What do you guys think?Sources: Samsung (Serbia), (Bosnia)
vivo Confirms OriginOS 7 Launch on September 21
vivo has confirmed that OriginOS 7 will officially roll out globally this month. The announcement was shared through vivo’s X account. According to a…
MediaTek’s 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro is here. OPPO gets first dibs
The 2nm race has finally hit the Android ecosystem. While Apple already beat the rest of the industry to the punch by getting 2nm silicon into the hands of consumers, MediaTek seems poised to lead the charge on the other side of the mobile landscape. The Taiwanese company has taken the wraps off the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, its newest flagship chipset. And in a coordinated move that probably surprised no one who follows the smartphone release cycle, OPPO stepped up to claim first dibs. Built on a bleeding-edge TSMC 2nm process, the Dimensity 9600 Pro promises the usual holy ... The post MediaTek’s 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro is here. OPPO gets first dibs appeared first on REVU Philippines.
HONOR Play 11 launched: Snapdragon 4 Gen 4, 6.87-inch HD+ screen, 8,300mAh battery
HONOR Play launched as the vanilla variant in the series, following the introduction of the Pro model.HONOR Play 11HONOR Play 11 goes officialThe device measures 168.3 x 78.54 x 8.30mm, weighs 216.5 grams, and comes in four color options: Desert Gold, Mist Purple, Meteor Silver, and Phantom Black. On durability, the phone carries IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings for water and dust resistance, along with SGS Gold Label five-star certification for drop and compression resistance; HONOR states the device can withstand drops from heights of up to 2.5 metres.The designThe Play 11 is equipped with a 6.87-inch TFT LCD display with HD+ 1592 x 720 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel can reach a peak brightness of 1,020 nits in HBM mode and supports DC dimming, an eye comfort mode, and a natural light-like display setting.Powering the device is Qualcomm's 4nm Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.On the power front, the phone houses an 8,300mAh battery + 45W USB-C fast charging. HONOR also states that, under its specified laboratory conditions, the battery is designed to maintain its health over a six-year period.The camerasFor imaging, the Play 11 is fitted with a 50MP rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, alongside a 5MP front-facing camera with an f/2.2 aperture for selfies and video calls.Additional features include stereo speakers with a high-volume mode capable of boosting output by up to 400 percent, along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric security. The device also includes a dedicated AI button, which allows users to identify and dismiss pop-up windows with a single press. The same button provides quick access to other AI-driven functions, including Honor's Any Door feature, remote assistance, and AI face-swap detection.In terms of connectivity, the Play 11 supports WiFi 5, 5G, 4G, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and dual nano-SIM functionality.The device runs on Android 16-based MagicOS 10.0 out of the box.HONOR Play 11 key specs, feature:6.87-inch TFT LCD HD+ 1592 x 720 resolution, 120Hz refreshg rate4nm Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 octa-core processorUp to 8GB RAM256GB storage8,300mAh battery45W fast charging50MP camera5MP front cameraStereo speakers with 400% volumeSide-mounted fingerprint scannerAI buttonWiFi 5, 5G, 4GAndroid 16 with MagicOS 10.0China price with direct conversion to PHP (no taxes and duties yet):HONOR Play 11 6GB/128GB - CNY 1,399 (around PHP 13K)HONOR Play 11 8GB/128GB - CNY 1,599 (around PHP 14.9K)HONOR Play 11 8GB/256GB - CNY 1,899 (around PHP 17.7K)It is currently available in China. HONOR hasn't mentioned availability in other markets at the moment.What do you guys think?Source: HONOR
Redmi Note 17 5G and 4G debut in PH with big batteries, early-bird promos
Redmi Note 17 5G and 4G launch in PH with Titan durability and freebies. The post Redmi Note 17 5G and 4G debut in PH with big batteries, early-bird promos appeared first on Technobaboy.
HUAWEI FreeClip 2 now available in Berry Purple in PH
HUAWEI Philippines’ open-ear audio lineup is getting a little more colorful. The company has announced that the HUAWEI FreeClip 2, the C-bridge earbuds we reviewed earlier this year, is now available in Berry Purple. If you’ve been considering open-ear earbuds that double as a style accessory, the new shade adds a bit more personality to the design. The Berry Purple HUAWEI FreeClip 2 retails for ₱9,999 (roughly $159) and is available now through HUAWEI’s online and offline stores. Early buyers can also get freebies worth up to ₱1,478 ($24), including a one-year HUAWEI Loss Care plan valued at ₱479 ($8) ... The post HUAWEI FreeClip 2 now available in Berry Purple in PH appeared first on REVU Philippines.
Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max 5G launch in PH with Titan durability
Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max 5G debut in PH with Titan durability. The post Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max 5G launch in PH with Titan durability appeared first on Technobaboy.
Visa, Maya enable Google Pay for all Maya Visa wallet cards
The rollout extends Google Pay support to all Maya Visa credit and wallet cards, physical and virtual.Maya and Visa logosGoogle Pay now covers all Maya cardsVisa and Maya have enabled Maya wallet cards for Google Wallet and Google Pay, extending the payment technology to all Maya Visa cards, both credit and wallet, physical and virtual.The rollout builds on Maya's earlier Google Wallet and Google Pay launch for credit cardholders in November 2025, when it became one of the first issuers in the Philippines to offer the technology. With the expansion, Maya wallet cardholders can now pay using Google Pay at shops, on public transport, and at tourist destinations.Google Pay transactions run on Visa's tokenization technology, which replaces actual card numbers with unique digital tokens to prevent real account information from being shared with merchants or stored on devices, reducing fraud risk.Jeffrey Navarro, country manager for Visa Philippines, said the Philippines is undergoing a rapid shift toward contactless, digital payments, and that Visa and Maya are helping drive that shift by providing speed, convenience, and security with every contactless transaction, aligning with the government's goal of a cash-lite economy.Shailesh Baidwan, Maya group president and Maya Bank co-founder, said enabling Google Pay for Maya Visa wallet cards extends the simplicity and flexibility users expect, letting them make secure contactless payments using devices they already carry.According to the release, more than 71 percent of consumers across Asia Pacific already prefer using mobile or smart devices for in-store or online payments. Visa research also found that 97 percent of travelers in the region want to use credit, debit, or prepaid cards while traveling, with only 17 percent intending to bring cash.What do you think?