Showing posts with label TechPinas Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TechPinas Reviews. Show all posts

Monday, 26 June 2017

Old Nokia 3310 Phone vs New 2017 Nokia 3310 Design and Features Comparison, In Photos

For my ABS-CBN News Channel Future Perfect guesting the other week, our friends from HMD Global Philippines and my good friend Mr. Karel Holub of argomall lent me units of the re-imagined 2017 version of the Nokia 3310 as well as one old Nokia 3310 from 2000. (Really, what would I be without my helpful and supportive friends?)

I took the liberty of snapping these side-by-side comparison photos of the phones as reference for those who are wondering how the new Nokia 3310 fares against the old version in terms of design and dimensions.

New Nokia 3310 vs Old Nokia 3310
2017 Nokia 3310 vs 2000 Nokia 3310, respectively.

New Nokia 3310 vs Old Nokia 3310

The new model has dimensions of 115.6 x 51 x 12.8 mm while the old one measures 113 x 48 x 22 mm. The 2017 release is taller and wider than the 2000 model by around 2 millimeters but it is far slimmer or thinner, making it easier to hold and keep in the pocket.


The re-imagined Nokia 3310 is also far lighter, weighing only around 80 grams while its near-ancient predecessor weighs in at 133 grams.


Apart from its obvious heft, the old Nokia 3310 thicker plastic exterior and interior parts made it heavier. Though, these are also the elements that made this model a legend when it comes to sheer durability.


In a future TechPinas post, I will talk about some features of the 2017 Nokia 3310 that make it a good purchase at Php 2,490 here the Philippines.

For now, let me share the features that make it far better than its predecessor, which sold for around Php 8,000 brand new, 17 years ago.

New Nokia 3310 vs Old Nokia 3310
Of course, the screen is now bigger at 2.4 inches and is even colored! You can even change the background photo and the interface is likewise more intuitive and easier to navigate.

2017 Nokia 3310 vs 2000 Nokia 3310
Another notable new feature is the 2 MegaPixel fixed focus rear camera with LED flash that delivers less than impressive shots but is good enough for taking photos of cellphone numbers, shopping lists, among other things that one needs to take note of.


For those who love listening to music tracks on the go, you'll be glad that the new Nokia 3310 has a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack so you can enjoy your favorite songs anywhere you are with this phone. And yes, it also supports FM Radio.


But perhaps the one feature that makes Nokia 3310 far superior to the old one and to most other smartphones that are out in the market is its incredible battery life! This release's removable 1,200 mAh Li-Ion battery pack is capable of delivering up a whole month of Standby Time and almost 24 hours of Talk Time! This is a handset that you'd want to put in your emergency kit or bag at home or in the office.


If there's one thing about the old Nokia 3310 apart from the build quality that makes it superior to the new version, it would have to be the keyboard, which I find easier to thumb-type on. Perhaps, in HMD Global's effort to make the 2017 model look and feel more sleek, the resulting keyboard - especially the main navigation button - became less protruding or more depressed. Personally, I prefer the old keyboard better. But hey, that's just me.

Feel free to try out the New Nokia 3310 when it hits store shelves across the Philippines by the end of June 2017. Again, its official price is Php 2,490 and it will be out in four colors, namely, Grey, Yellow, Warm Red, and Dark Blue.

Saturday, 17 June 2017

Nokia 5 Philippines Official Price is Php 9,990, Specs, Initial Review, Actual Unit Photos

I'm tempted to call HMD Global's Nokia 5 as but the less powerful and more affordable version of the Nokia 6. But really, it's so much more than that.

Nokia 5

For one, many might find its 'rounder' design language more attractive than the 'boxy' and more masculine look of the Nokia 6.

Nokia 5

I would imagine that the sleeker curves - reminiscent of some Lumia handsets of old - would more visually pleasing to women and even young consumers.

Nokia 5 flaunts an anodized aluminum unibody shell with rather thick antenna bands that are neatly placed on the top and bottom panels. Holding the phone, you will immediately feel the flex-free build that exudes a reassuring heft.

Another thing of note about this model would have to be its imaging capabilities. Nokia 5 sports a 13 MegaPixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus, which performs well in various lighting conditions and snaps images quickly. This shooter can also record Full HD videos at 30 frames per second.

Nokia 5 Philippines

The rear cam is complemented by an 8 MegaPixel front-facing snapper with f/2.0 aperture and the same 1.12 µm pixel size, which is similar to what's on the Nokia 6! This one has Beautification Mode that instantly enhances selfies, making them ready for sharing on social networking sites.

If you enjoy taking selfies and posting them online, you might fall in love with this release.

Nokia 5 Philippines

One department where the Nokia 6 has clear superiority over the Nokia 5 in terms of display size and clarity. Nokia 6 has a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display whereas this more affordable model only has a 5.2-inch HD IPS screen. Nonetheless, both faces feature 2.5D Curved Scratch-Resistant Gorilla Glass.


Under the hood, surprisingly, Nokia 5 has the exact same processor as what's inside the Nokia 6; It's a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Adreno 505 GPU based Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset, which means that they share similar features and capabilities in that area. However, Nokia 6 has more RAM and ROM at 3GB and 32GB, respectively. On the other hand, Nokia 5 has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage that can easily be augmented via the hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot that also supports microSD card expansion slot.


For those who are interested, Nokia 5 will hit store shelves across the country come the end of June 2017 with official suggested retail price of Php 9,990. This midrange release will be out in four elegant colors, namely, Silver, Copper, Matte Black, and Tempered Blue.

Nokia 5 Philippines

Does the Nokia 5 feel like a classic Nokia release? Frankly, in terms of build alone, I would say that this model more or less has the durability and finish that we have come to love on Nokia phones of old. The aluminum shell reminds me of the Nokia N8 and the rounded construction is reminiscent of Nokia Lumia 720. I invite you to try out this smartphone when demo units are released at authorized retail channels nationwide a few days from by the last week of June 2017.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name : Nokia 5
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 149.7 x 72.5 x 8 mm
Weight : TBD
Available Colors : Tempered Blue, Silver, Matte Black, Copper
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display : 5.2 inches (~68.7% screen-to-body ratio), 720 x 1280 pixels (~282 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.D Curved Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset
RAM : 2GB RAM
Internal Storage : 16GB ROM, expandable via hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot that also works as a microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, Dual Tone LED flash, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, 1.12 µm pixel size,
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Stellar Build and Design, Near Vanilla Android Experience
Announcement : Philippines - June 8, 2017
Availability : Philippines - End of June 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 9,990

Saturday, 15 April 2017

Samsung Service Center Experience and Review : Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Screen Replacement

Apart from the 2017 flagship release, Samsung Galaxy S8, there's currently another thing about the Korean Giant that I find particularly impressive: Their after-sales support here in the Philippines.

Last Friday - April 7, 2017, I visited the Samsung Service Center in SM North EDSA Annex to have my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge fixed.

Frankly, before I headed there, I had expected the experience to be terrible; Long lines, hours of waiting, and grumpy support staff. I mean, like what most of use are used to when having our devices repaired in centers like this.

Thankfully, everything turned out better than what I thought it would be. A lot better.

In fact, the whole experience panned out as the complete opposite of my initial expectations.

Mark Milan Macanas, Samsung Service Center Philippines
I want to give a shout out to Joana of Samsung Service Center SM North EDSA for being so helpful.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Screen Damage

My Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge unit had a relatively 'simple' issue that I found quite annoying.

As soon as I returned home from my trip in Europe last month, I noticed a horizontal thread-thin line of dead pixels right smack in the middle of the screen.

The black line seemingly appeared randomly or out of nowhere as I never mishandled my phone while I was abroad; Never dropped it nor hit the screen with something that could have damaged it.

Apart from that problem, my unit was working perfectly.


I arrived at the Service Center at around 5:45PM and I immediately got a number to have my phone's problem addressed.

Apparently, Samsung Philippines has different lines or queues depending on the product or the phone model that you have.

Thankfully, they have a special line for their current flagship-level handsets, Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which I own. So I was but one customer away from talking to a representative at the counter when I entered the waiting area; It was really fast.

When it was my turn, I handed Joana my SGS7Edge and pointed out the issue. She looked at the screen and confirmed it.

After which, she asked if I still have my official receipt. I answered, "Sadly, Joana, I no longer have it. Honestly, I think I've lost it in my pile of documents at home."

She answered, "No problem, Sir. I will just check in our system when the unit was made to see if it's still covered by warranty. As per checking, the screen's issue is not caused by physical damage." She was very courteous and straight-forward.

Thankfully, Joana was able to confirm that my device was good for 100% service and parts warranty.

She then asked me to back-up all the files in my phone first as the unit will be factory reset to complete the repair process.

Good thing I had my laptop with me. It took me around 15 minutes to transfer content - photos, videos, and other files - from my handset to my computer.

After I handed her the phone, Joana went inside the 'repair booth' and asked the technicians if they have the parts needed for the repair, among other things.

Joana returned to the counter and told me, "Sir Mark, I think we can repair your unit in 2 to 3 hours! Just leave it us and we'll text you once it's been fixed."

I was pleasantly surprised as I was expecting that I would have to leave my beloved phone for 2-3 days to be repaired.

The Service Center is located in one of the largest malls in world so I knew I could easily make the most of the 2-3 hours of waiting time.


After buying shirts at H&M with my good friend, Lucky, I received a messaged from Samsung Service Center. It was at 8:23PM or a little more than two hours since I handed Joana my phone.

"Hi good day! This is from Samsung Service.Your unit is ready for pick up. Thank you."

Again, I was impressed.


When I returned to the Service Center, Joana had already left but she had endorsed my case to her colleagues.

One of them handed me my repaired unit - with a brand new Edge screen - and asked me to sign the 'release' papers.

I didn't have to pay a cent for the service and the new screen. I believe I was able to save more than Php 12,000, which is amazing.

While I was checking if my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is working properly after the display replacement, I asked the staff, "Do you offer the same speedy repair service to owners of other Galaxy models? Even those in the entry-level category?"

One of them answered, "[Sir Mark, we always try to fix units the fastest way we can regardless of the model. Your phone's problem was less complicated compared to other issues so we were able to do fix it in less than three hours. It really depends on the problem of the unit.]"

Fair enough.

Anyway, I decided to share this story for those who are now planning to have their Samsung devices fixed at any official Service Center of the company and also to give praise where it is due. And with that, let me say, "Thumbs up, Samsung Philippines! Your after-sales support is top-notch! Keep up the good work!"

Monday, 13 March 2017

Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom Philippines Initial Review, Sample 2.3X Zoomed Camera Shots

Last March 10, 2017, just before my trip to Davao City, our friends from Asus Philippines sent me a brand new Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom retail pack to unbox and play with while having my adventure in the southern part of our country.

As its very name suggests, Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is the sterling follow-up to the very gorgeous Asus ZenFone Zoom from 2015, which became popular because of its stunning design and its rather rare optical zoom capability. A true upgrade, this 2017 refresh has a thinner and lighter build compared to its predecessor, more advanced imaging capabilities and technical specifications, and a far larger battery pack resulting in longer uptime.

Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom Philippines

In this post, I'll share with you the three things that I thoroughly liked about this new flagship cameraphone as well as a couple of details that Asus can look into in making the follow-up far better.


The first thing that I find quite pleasing about this model is its flex-free, solid construction.


The sleek real metal back plate - with rounded edges and corners - meets seamlessly with the 2.D curved Gorilla Glass 5 face to give the phone a reassuring, flex-free feel in the hand.


You can tell it's a well-crafted device with one grasp. I'm sure ZenFone 3 Zoom can easily survive the knocks and bumps of daily use.

I can't say I'm in love with the design, though, only because this model doesn't look all that unique. I mean, let's face it: Its aesthetics are clearly borrowed from the Asus ZenFone 3 Max and the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. This is one of the things that Asus can definitely improve on when crafting the next iteration.


Needless to say, the highlight of this release are its imaging capabilities -- and that's the second thing that I like about the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom.


This handset is equipped with a dual camera set-up at the back that incorporates two 12 MegaPixel optics: One - the SuperPixel camera - has a wide-angle 1/2.5" lens with f/1.7 aperture and Sony's IMX362 sensor while the other has - what appears to be - a telephoto lens that give the camera 2.3 times optical zoom capability.


Aware of the phone's imaging capabilities, I took ZenFone 3 Zoom out for a spin in Davao and shot various subjects. Here are some photos in my gallery that highlight the shooter's 2.3X lossless optical zoom feature (Click for larger view. Best viewed on desktop):

1X

2.3X Optical Zoom


I find the clarity of this zoomed shot particularly impressive. What do you think?


The phone's 13 MegaPixel f/2.0 front cam - just like that of the regular ZenFone 3 - benefits from Asus's Beauty Mode for selfies. The software automatically evens out skin tone and highlights good facial features resulting in self-portraits that are instantly ready for sharing on Facebook or Instagram. I have to note, though, that Asus should try to minimize the bottle-nose effect that users get when the camera is used this close to the face.

I mean, my nose is already big to begin with. But you get the point.

If there's one thing that puts Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom head and shoulders above other imaging-centric Android smartphones that are out in the market, it would have to be its unusually large battery, which is the third thing about this release that I really appreciate.


I don't understand great cameraphones with very limited uptime. What good is a smartphone that takes good photos if it can't stay on for too long?

With depth of just 7.99 mm and weighing only 170 grams, Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is the thinnest and lightest dual camera phone with a 5 000 mAH battery pack. Inside, it is powered by the powerful yet energy-efficient 64-Bit Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor that works with the ginormous battery to deliver a whopping 42 days of standby or 6.4 hours of 4K video recording – the longest from any smartphone in the world currently.

Personally, I simply find joy in not worrying that this cameraphone would run out of juice in the middle of the day or just when I finally need it to snap photos. In this sense, I can call Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom utterly reliable. You'd probably find a more capable cameraphone with better sensor -- but in terms of sheer uptime, this model is king.

For the geeks: The phone's Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage give it an Antutu Benchmark Score in the range of 60,000 to 63,000. Earlier, I got 61,879 when I ran the test on my unit. This mark reflects the device's above average 3D gaming performance, smooth screen transitions, and great responsiveness to touch gestures. Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is not the most powerful Android smartphone out there but it should be good enough for even the most demanding mobile gamer.

Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom Philippines

Alright! I'll have more things to say about this smartphone in the coming days so stay tuned. For now, let me wrap this up by disclosing that Asus Philippines will be launching the ZenFone 3 Zoom on April 6, 2017. As for the price, they haven't given official word on it but I reckon it won't be cheap. Right now, I'm just hoping that it won't exceed Php 20,000 -- but that's highly unlikely; Still, it doesn't hurt to be optimistic.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)
Name : Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : High-End
Dimensions : 154.3 x 77 x 7.99 mm
Weight : 170 grams
Available Colors : Navy Black, Glacier Silver, Rose Gold
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Zen UI 3.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), AMOLED, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 506 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: Dual 12 MegaPixels = (25mm, f/1.7, OIS 4-axis) + (59mm, f/2.8), Tri-Tech autofocus, 2.3x optical zoom factor, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Front: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.0
Video Capture : 4K 30 frames per second, Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat6
GPS : A-GPS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner at the back
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : 42 days of standby or 6.4 hours of 4K video recording
Value-Added Features : Aluminum Alloy Shell, Big Battery, AMOLED display, Dual Camera, 2.3X optical zoom, Fingerprint Scanner, Zen UI, Thin and Light Build
Announcement : April 6, 2017
Availability : Philippines - April 2017
Price : TBA