Brahm Daniel Verano
(He/Him)
- Editor-in-Chief, Tekku Philippines
- Contributing Writer, Explained PH
- Contributing Writer, Assortedge
Manila
Covers:
Android, Mobile Phones, Consumer Technology, Anime, Video Games
Doesn't Cover:
Politics, Sports
Chasing stories over jargon. @tekkudotph. Consumer Tech Reporter. Ex-Assortedge, Explained PH. 📩 brahm@tekku.ph
Articles by Brahm Daniel Verano
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: More flagship, less fan-friendly
Last August, Tekku Philippines attended the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, the smartphone maker's latest addition to the S26 family. The phone aims to bring the core camera and AI experience from its S26 siblings, and it's the first phone in the lineup to run on One UI 9, boasting enhanced camera capabilities and more Galaxy AI features than its predecessor.
vivo X Fold 6 with Dimensity 9500 Super, now available globally
vivo X Fold 6 now available in the global market. (Image credit: vivo) vivo has recently made the X Fold 6 globally, finally bringing the smartphone maker's latest foldable device to the global market on October 1. Available in Black and Blue colors, the vivo X Fold 6 sports a 6.51-inch outer display that goes up to a large 8.02-inch display when unfolded. Both displays use AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates and 5,000 nits of peak brightness and a 20MP sensor for selfies.
TECNO CAMON Slim 5G launched, price starts at PHP 24,999
Ultra-thin smartphone TECNO CAMON Slim 5G goes official in the Philippines. (Image credit: TECNO) MANILA, Philippines — TECNO has recently unveiled the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G in the Philippines on Thursday, October 1. The phone offers an ultra-slim design with multiple water and dust resistance ratings and a fast display, with prices starting at PHP 24,999.
vivo V80 Lite with 10,000mAh battery to launch in PH on October 4
vivo V80 Lite with a massive 10,000mAh battery capacity will be launched this week in the Philippines. (Image credit: vivo) MANILA, Philippines — vivo has announced that it will be launching the vivo V80 Lite, the brand's upcoming smartphone featuring a 10,000mAh battery, on Sunday, October 4, in the Philippines.
HONOR 600S launched in PH with durable design, large battery
HONOR 600S launched in the Philippines with an introductory price of PHP 19,999. (Image credit: Brahm Daniel Verano, Tekku Philippines) MANILA, Philippines — HONOR has announced the HONOR 600S, the smartphone maker's newest mid-range offering, in the Philippines, introducing a new addition to the brand's X Number product catalog on Thursday, October 1, at an exclusive launch event held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Samsung launches Galaxy Tab S12+, Tab S12 Ultra with slim design, powerful performance
Samsung launches the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra in the Philippines on Wednesday, September 30. (Image credit: Dante Bisais, Tekku Philippines) MANILA, Philippines — Samsung announced the latest Galaxy Tab S12 series — the brand's flagship tablet lineup — in the Philippines on Wednesday, September 30.
Samsung unveils the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a passport-style form factor alongside the Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 in three colors from left to right: Cream, Graphite, and Lavender. (Image credit: Brahm Daniel Verano, Tekku Philippines) Samsung has announced the brand's latest Galaxy Z foldables in the Philippines — consisting of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Z Flip 8 — making it the first trio release within the brand's foldable lineup, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
OnePlus Nord 6 now available for pre-order in PH via Digital Walker
The phone, available in two memory configurations, features a simple design with a squircle-like camera bump and a metal-like frame. Digital Walker brings the OnePlus Nord 6 to the Philippines Having first debuted in India on April 7, the OnePlus Nord 6 makes its way in the Philippines via Digital Walker. While the phone may have launched in India at first, the model brought here in the country carries a different battery capacity.
Nothing Phone (4a), Phone (4a) Pro launched in PH via Digital Walker
Samsung announces the Galaxy A37 and A57 in the Philippines. (Image credit: Brahm Daniel Verano, Tekku Philippines) Smartphone giant Samsung has announced both the Galaxy A37 5G and A57 5G in the Philippines, bringing a brand-new mid-range duo to the Galaxy A family, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The two new devices from Samsung introduces a redesign of the camera layout called the “Ambient Island,” embracing a translucent aesthetic for the camera bump.
Samsung launches Galaxy A37, A57 with slimmer bezels, Ambient Island
Black Shark launches Ice Cooling Back Clip 6 Pro Magnetic Edition in China. (Image credit: Black Shark) Xiaomi gaming sub-brand Black Shark has launched the Ice Cooling Back Clip 6 Pro Magnetic Edition in China. The specs of the Ice Cooling Back Clip 6 Pro Magnetic Edition include a 40x40mm custom TEC chip with 35W cooling power, achieving a maximum temperature drop of 50°C in a 25°C environment.
HONOR X8d First Impressions: Striking but underwhelming
Last Thursday, February 26, Tekku Philippines was invited over to the first Galaxy Unpacked of the year 2026 to witness the launch of the Galaxy S26 series. Notice something? The year, the date, the series — all three depicting the same number 26. While the date feels intentional, it’s actually a coincidence for us here in the Philippines.
Nothing Phone (4a) Pro price surfaces in Gadget Pilipinas unboxing video
Shenzhen-based Transsion and its brands Infinix, itel, and TECNO are no strangers to experimentation. Ultra fast charging, colored e-ink back that can change to any photo you want it to display, and many more. For starters, CNET shared a video of the TECNO POVA Neon in action.
HONOR unveils battery-heavy HONOR X8d with clear display, slim design
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) warn Roblox of possible restrictions should they not improve their security in protecting minors and cooperating with local law enforcement. Roblox, a popular creative gaming platform, has over 400 million users globally, the majority being minors. It has faced scrutiny last year for .
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: First Impressions
Last Thursday, February 26, Tekku Philippines was invited over to the first Galaxy Unpacked of the year 2026 to witness the launch of the Galaxy S26 series. Notice something? The year, the date, the series — all three depicting the same number 26. While the date feels intentional, it’s actually a coincidence for us here in the Philippines.
The Nothing Phone (4a) is part of the latest Phone (a) series alongside the Phone (4a) Pro and the latest Nothing Headphone (a). Nothing Phone (4a) has the same display size of 6.77-inch but now with better glass protection, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, and a new glyph bar with 63 precision mini-LEDs, which is up to 40% brighter.
HONOR Philippines sets release window for HONOR X9d, arrives January 9
HONOR Philippines releases HONOR X9d, the brand's toughest phone to date, on January 9. (Image credit: HONOR Philippines, Facebook) MANILA, Philippines — HONOR Philippines kicks off 2026 early with a release date announcement for the brand's upcoming durability-focused smartphone, the HONOR X9d, in the country. Having first teased late December 2025 on the brand's social media channels, HONOR has been demonstrating the toughness of its upcoming mid-range handset in a set of short-form videos.
Black Shark returns with gaming tablet, revealed to have Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
Discover more Tablet computer Samsung Electronics Quick Share Best smartphone androidist smartphone Androidist app mobile app Mobile app The upcoming Black Shark gaming tablet is announced to sport a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. (Image credit: Black Shark Malaysia, Facebook) MANILA, Philippines — Xiaomi gaming sub-brand Black Shark today has announced the chipset of its upcoming gaming tablet, marking the return of the renowned gaming brand to the mobile tech scene.
OPPO Find X9 now available in PH with triple 50MP cameras, 120x super zoom
Smartphone maker OPPO has now officially launched the Find X9, the brand’s newest flagship offering to date, in the Philippines. Announced as a new member of the Find X family, OPPO brings a new camera system to the Find X9 with a new set of AI-powered features and powerful internals, setting a benchmark for mobile photography within the new lineup. The new flagship handset from OPPO shares the same 6.59-inch display as last year’s model, but opts for a slightly thicker 7.99-millimeter body (vs.
Google announces Quick Share support for Apple devices, now works with AirDrop
MANILA, Philippines — Technology giant Google announces AirDrop support on Android in new QuickShare update, making file transfer compatible across Android and iPhone devices, on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The update, now rolling out to Pixel 10 smartphones, brings Quick Share to work with Apple's AirDrop on mobile devices, bridging the gap between the two mobile systems on file transfer.
Google Wallet brings contactless payment portal in PH with tap-to-pay
On November 18, 2025 (Tuesday), Google has officially launched Google Wallet in the Philippines, bringing a contactless payment portal to the country. The new payment platform from the technology giant gives mobile devices the ability to pay in stores, online, and in-app through the platform’s ‘tap-to-pay’ system, providing users a convenient way to manage contactless transactions without opening the app.
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite now available for pre-order in the Philippines
Renowned local gadget distributor Digital Walker has announced the pre-order period for the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite in the Philippines. The phone, available in two memory configurations, carries the signature Nothing design but drops the Glyph interface for the sleek aesthetic. The Phone (3a) Lite is Nothing‘s newest entry to the brand’s mid-range family. It boasts an enormous 6.77-inch AMOLED display, backed by a 120Hz refresh rate, Full HD+ resolution, and 3,000-nits of peak brightness.
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Review: Chic, Bold and Brave
Last September, we saw the launch of the Galaxy Tab S11 series in the Philippines, where it featured several devices as part of the lineup. While the highlight of the event was the tablet series, we were also introduced to the affordable counterpart of the Galaxy S25 — which is called the Galaxy S25 FE — seven months after the release of the vanilla model. What makes it interesting is that it carries the FE moniker, which is shared among the accessible models of the Galaxy S family.
Redmi announces K90, K90 Pro Max with Bose-tuned speakers, embossed camera bar
Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi has announced the K90 and the K90 Pro Max today, October 23, 2025, in China. The two new smartphones from the Chinese brand share similarities on the camera design, as well as the audio configuration, and the flat display panel. Key differences of the Redmi K90 and the K90 Pro are as follows: (K90) Snapdragon 8 Elite vs. (K90 Pro Max) Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (K90) 6.59-inch 2K LTPO display vs. (K90 Pro Max) 6.9-inch M10 OLED 2K display (K90) 7,100mAh battery vs.
nubia Z80 Ultra announced with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, massive battery
Chinese smartphone brand nubia has announced the Z80 Ultra in China. The new smartphone, announced on October 23, 2025 (Thursday), highlights the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and a massive 7,200mAh battery that charges at 90W (wired) and 80W (wireless). While the phone may have been launched in China just now, the smartphone maker has confirmed that it will hit shelves globally on November 6, according to a GSMArena report.
realme announces GT8 series with interchangeable camera frame, anti-glare lens
On October 21, 2025 (Tuesday), Chinese smartphone giant realme announced its latest flagship duo in China with the release of the realme GT8 and GT8 Pro. Both phones carry the Rico GR cameras, with differences on the camera configuration and the processor. While both models feature a bespoke camera design, it’s only the Pro model that has an interchangeable camera frame, the non-Pro model is not customizable (via GSMArena).
HONOR X7d lands in the Philippines, 512GB model priced under PHP 10K
MANILA, Philippines — Smartphone brand HONOR has launched the brand's newest durable phone to date, the HONOR X7d. Announced online on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the HONOR X7d boasts durability-centric features, with big batteries and massive memory configurations, with the 512GB model being priced only at PHP 9,999. 108MP camera, 6,500mAh battery The latest smartphone from HONOR uses a 6.77-inch HD+ display in a TFT LCD panel.
OxygenOS 16 teased for October 2025 release, eligible devices listed
MANILA, Philippines — Oxygen OS 16, the long-awaited software update for OnePlus devices, was teased in the first week of October 2025. The teaser was posted on the brand's official X handle, indicating a release date for the new system version, which was set on October 16, 2025.
MyPhone returns with budget-friendly tablet myT10, priced at PHP 3,999
androidist reviews products independently. We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through our affiliate links. Stories Friday, 10 October MANILA, Philippines — For almost four years of being silent in the scene, local phone brand MyPhone announces budget-friendly tablet myT10, marking its return in the smartphone business since its last release in 2020.
Smart announces iPhone 17 plans with pre-order perks, flexible payment options
MANILA, Philippines — Telecom giant Smart, also known as Smart Communications, Inc, has announced its pre-order promos for the much-anticipated iPhone 17 series. Available in Smart Postpaid, Smart Infinity, and Smart Prepaid plans, the telecom brand encourages its subscribers to make the most of Apple's latest iPhone yet, powered by its superior 5G network.
HONOR Philippines launch Magic V5 foldable via Globe, MagicPad 3 tags along
MANILA, Philippines — HONOR Philippines has officially launched its latest flagship foldable, Magic V5 in the country, along with MagicPad 3, at an event on Friday, September 5, 2025. The event marks the brand’s breakthrough in the foldable landscape, with the HONOR Magic V5 weighing only 217 grams with a thickness of 8.8 millimeters (vs.
Samsung announces Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy Tab S11 series with thin design, powerful hardware
MANILA, Philippines — Samsung Philippines has launched its latest smartphones and tablets in the Philippines, announcing the brand's new roster of products, dedicated to expanding the Galaxy AI ecosystem on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The event unveiled the Galaxy S25 FE and the Galaxy Tab S11 series, which come with content-aware capabilities, AI-enhanced tools, and upgraded Samsung DeX for the latter.
HONOR foldable Magic V5 showcased in preview event, arrives September 5
MANILA, Philippines — Consumer technology brand HONOR has showcased the brand's incoming flagship foldable Magic V5 at an exclusive preview event at Baked Studios, Makati, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. A breakthrough in foldable design, performance, and user experience, the HONOR Magic V5 was put to several tests, in which the foldable succeeded in dealing with such pressures, including its capability to lift a 104-kilogram sofa, certified by Guinness World Records.
TECNO and DITO join forces in new promo collab for exclusive gaming bundles
androidist reviews products independently. We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through our affiliate links. Stories Sunday, 10 August MANILA, Philippines — Telecom company DITO has recently announced a collaboration with smartphone maker TECNO Mobile in a new set of gaming bundles. The collaboration, announced last Wednesday, August 6, 2025, features exclusive SIM bundles for two new TECNO smartphones, both of which carry gaming internals in the mid-range segment.
'Ragnarok V: Returns' Launched in North America, Latin America, and Oceania
Gravity Game Tech (GGT), a Thai subsidiary of the global game company Gravity, has announced the launch of its MMORPG title Ragnarok V: Returns in North America, Latin America, and Oceania. Servers went live on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM Brasília Time (BRT, GMT-3), and have since been available for download on PC and mobile devices.
OPPO brings the Reno14 series in PH with photography-centric features, glowing design
MANILA, Philippines — Smartphone giant OPPO has announced the brand's latest additions to the Reno family, the Reno14 series. The new smartphone lineup consists of three models — the Reno14, Reno14 Pro, and Reno 14 F — that offer next-generation camera capabilities with AI features that will breathe new life into mobile photography.
Smart launches KiQ as new prepaid mobile brand with personalized eSIM experience
MANILA, Philippines — Telecom company Smart has announced the launch of its new prepaid mobile brand KiQ (pronounced "kick") in the Philippines, bringing the country's first and personalized app-based eSIM experience, in a press release sent to androidist on Friday, August 8, 2025. The new digital prepaid brand from the telecom company offers a personalized digital telco experience, giving users full control over their mobile lifestyle.
Lenovo Philippines announce 2025 laptop collection, launching new laptops for Yoga and Legion series
MANILA, Philippines – Lenovo Philippines announces its 2025 collection of productivity and performance-focused laptops, bringing a catalog of new products for the Yoga and Legion series, at an exclusive media event at Ascott Makati on Wednesday, July 30.
HONOR Philippines teases arrival of the 400 Pro
MANILA, Philippines — HONOR Philippines has posted teaser images of the HONOR 400 Pro across the brand's social media channels, revealing that a Pro model is on its way into the country. The Pro model was initially teased on July 23, and the brand continues to post teaser images to this day. On-screen couple Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto can be seen in the subsequent set of teasers as brand ambassadors holding the HONOR 400 Pro with a huge "PRO" text in the background.
Plants vs. Zombies remaster surfaces in leaked video
A leak for a Plants vs. Zombies remaster called "Replanted" has surfaced online in a now-deleted Bilibili video. The remaster was up on EA's servers for a short amount of time in China, but one Bilibili user was able to pre-order the game in a recorded video clip, essentially sharing extra details such as the title art, release date and pricing information in the process. The game costs HK$ 149.00 which is around PHP 1,077 or US $18.92 and releases October 23.
OPPO K13 Turbo, K13 Turbo Pro debuts in China
MANILA, Philippines — Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has launched the K13 Turbo and K13 Turbo Pro, two of the brand's latest gaming-focused mid-range devices, on an event in China on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The two devices are inherently similar, with minimal differences on the appearance, camera sensors, and the chipset. OPPO K13 Turbo Pro The OPPO K13 Turbo Pro highlights the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM.
Samsung announces new Galaxy Z foldables with larger displays, compact design
MANILA, Philippines — Samsung announced the latest Galaxy Z series — the brand’s foldable lineup — in the Philippines last Wednesday, May 9. The foldable lineup consists of the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Z Flip7 FE, which offers a significant boost in terms of display, performance, and Artificial Intelligence. Galaxy Z Fold7 The Galaxy Z Fold7 is Samsung’s latest entry to its foldable tablet catalog.
Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Flip7, Z Fold7 with 200MP camera, thinner material
Galaxy Z Fold7 Weighing at 215 grams, this year's Fold focuses on power and flexibility. The Galaxy Z Fold7 measures 8.9 mm thickness when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded. It has a 6.5-inch AMOLED cover display, with a wider panel, and a new 21:9 aspect ratio. Meanwhile, the main display uses an 8-inch AMOLED panel, with up to 2,600-nits of peak brightness, complemented by the device's in-house Vision Booster for screen visibility in direct sunlight.
OnePlus Nord 5, Nord CE 5 confirmed for Philippine release
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. MANILA, Philippines — In a post on Instagram, local gadget distributor Digital Walker has teased the arrival of the OnePlus Nord 5 series in the Philippines through the social media platform on Monday, July 7, 2025. The social media post is a short, animated video clip showcasing the brand's dynamic mantra (with visuals for the Nord), reasserting its dominance in the mid-range segment.
VOLTME partners with Cognetics Philippines for Philippine launch
MANILA, Philippines — Charging technology brand VOLTME announces partnership with consumer electronics distributor Cognetics Philippines, bringing the brand's wide range of portfolio to the Philippine market, in a press release sent to Dekko on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Samsung Galaxy A06 and A16 gets PHP 1,000 price cut
MANILA, Philippines — Samsung Philippines announces new pricing details for the Galaxy A06 and A16 in the country, in a press release sent to androidist on Wednesday, June 18. The media release shares new information about the two phones, which include both 5G and LTE variants, making them more affordable for the masses. On The Dot Select Samsung smartphones in the country get PHP 1,000 off. Part of the discounts are the Galaxy A06 and A16.
HONOR launches AI smartphone HONOR 400 in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — HONOR Philippines held an event last Tuesday, June 17, at Okada Manila in Parañaque, launching the brand's latest AI smartphone in the country. Positioning itself with the 'Your AI Phone' tagline, the new smartphone from HONOR comes with game-changing AI features that redefine flexibility in the mobile photography scene — the HONOR 400 5G. On The Dot HONOR 400 is launched in the Philippines.
HONOR 400 5G debuts in PH with breakthrough AI features, 200MP camera
MANILA, Philippines — Renowned consumer technology brand HONOR has launched the brand’s latest AI smartphone, the HONOR 400 5G, in the Philippines on Tuesday, June 17 at an event held in Okada Manila, Parañaque. The new smartphone highlights never-before-seen AI capabilities on a smartphone, including the phone’s breakthrough ‘Image-to-Video’ feature.
Google releases Android 16 for Pixel devices, Material 3 Expressive 'later this year'
Google has officially announced the release of Android 16, in a blog post dated Tuesday, June 10, on The Keyword, Google's official publication. The new update is now rolling out to select Pixel devices, 'with more phone brands to come later this year' according to the search engine giant. On The Dot Android 16 is now official. The update is now rolling out to the Pixel 6 series all the way to Pixel 9.
OPPO Pad SE arrives in the Philippines
The newest tablet from OPPO starts at PHP 9,999 (~roughly US $180). MANILA, Philippines — Technology company OPPO has finally announced the arrival of the OPPO Pad SE in the Philippines, a week after its initial teaser. The tablet, now officially available in the country, was launched earlier today via the brand's official Facebook handle on Monday, May 26, 2025. On The Dot OPPO Pad SE is now in the Philippines It starts at PHP 9,999 (~roughly US $180).
Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 brings Material 3 Expressive to Pixel devices
The newest Android QPR beta is now live on Pixel 6 phones and later. MANILA, Philippines — The first QPR (Quarterly Platform Release) beta of the upcoming Android 16 is now out on selected Pixel devices, in a release note dated Tuesday, May 20, 2025, on the Android Developers website. This release brings the much-anticipated Material 3 Expressive design overhaul to eligible smartphones, as well as API level advancement, and other changes intended for developers. On The Dot.
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