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EU exempts smartwatches, wireless earbuds from replaceable battery rules

The European Commission (EU) has granted exemptions to six device categories, meaning they won’t need to feature user-replaceable batteries. These include smartwatches, fitness bands, smart glasses, certain medical tools, electronic toys, thermometers, and devices used in hazardous areas. The original regulation, introduced in 2023 under the European Green Deal, was designed to cut electronic waste by making batteries easier to swap out. That rule was supposed to kick in by 2027 . However, officials have now decided that for some products, letting users open up the device could hurt performance or safety. For example, water resistance or durability might suffer if the battery is too easy to access. Even though these gadgets are exempt, they still must be repairable by qualified technicians. Wireless earbuds, like Apple’s AirPods, may also qualify for this exception if the Commission decides that user access to the battery poses risks. Smartphones are not exempt. They st...
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Smart opens Galaxy Z8 Series pre-orders in PH with free storage upgrade, trade-in savings

Filipinos who reserve a Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra , Z Fold8 , or Z Flip8 through Smart Postpaid or Infinity from July 22 to August 13 get a complimentary 512GB bump and stacked device perks. Smart Communications has opened pre-orders for Samsung’s Galaxy Z8 Series in the Philippines, running from July 22 to August 13, 2026, ahead of an August 7 general retail launch. The lineup, unveiled at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22, includes three foldables: the new passport-shaped Galaxy Z Fold8, the first Ultra-branded Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip8. Both Folds run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. The standard Fold8 tips the scales at 201 grams and carries a 4,800 mAh battery, while the Ultra adds a 5,000 mAh silicon-carbon cell, a 200-megapixel main camera, and Samsung’s new “Flex Titanium” display structure. Philippine SRPs across storage tiers: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra — 256GB at Php123,9...
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Xbox Backward Compatibility arrives on PC, handheld

You can now play classic console games on your modern gaming PC or handheld console with Xbox Backward Compatibility. The Xbox Backward Compatibility has arrived on Windows PC and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X . The feature is now available with an early preview for these supported titles: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge Conker: Live and Reloaded Fuzion Frenzy BLiNX: The Time Sweeper Apart from allowing you to play these classic games on your modern machine, the titles on the list will also come with new features that are said to offer a better gaming experience. Those additional features include customizable graphics settings like 4x resolution upscaling, support for VSync, anisotropic filtering, better anti-aliasing, and more. These new games are now available for purchase on PC and have been added to the XBOX Game Pass library and are available on any plan. The best part is, if you already own any of these games, you can use that...
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Chinese EV maker XPeng coming to the Philippines this 2026

A new Chinese company making electric vehicles is coming to the Philippines. This time, it’s XPeng. We already spotted newly created Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X pages for XPeng Philippines. From what it looks like, their local availability will be handled by XPeng Philippines, a direct subsidiary of XPeng Motors that is based in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The brand’s Facebook page has a cover photo showcasing a fleet of EVs that we may expect to arrive here in the Philippines. We can spot the XPeng L03, which is a “next-gen AI SUV Coupe” as per its website. There’s also a 7-seater van called the Xpeng X9, the XPeng P7+ hatch, XPeng G9 SUV, Xpeng G6, and the Xpeng P7 sedan. Both the XPeng X9 and L03 were already found on the Department of Energy’s list a few days ago. XPeng is expected to officially launch in the Philippines this September. This article, Chinese EV maker XPeng coming to the Philippines this 2026 , ...
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Future iOS update may restrict financed or leased devices after missed payments — report

Code discovered in the iOS 27 beta suggests that Apple is developing a system that could restrict leased or financed devices if users miss their monthly payments. This aligns with an earlier report claiming that Apple may soon launch an Apple Upgrade leasing program in the United States, giving customers a more affordable way to get the latest Apple hardware through lower monthly payments. The report came from Bloomberg, which said that Apple will partner with Klarna, a Swedish fintech company, to power the financing service. The program is expected to cover the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. According to the report, iPhone and Apple Watch leases may last up to 24 months, while Mac and iPad leases could extend up to 36 months. Similar to car leases in the United States, customers can either keep the device by paying off the remaining balance or return it at the end of the lease. They may also have the option to upgrade to a newer model before the lease term en...
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: 8″ foldable display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU, 5,000mAh battery

Samsung is shaking up its foldable line-up. The Galaxy Z Fold8 came out with a boxy design, which meant that the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold7, which has that traditional tall design, is now called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features a large 8-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X foldable display, with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and Vision Booster. A similar panel is used for the 6.5-inch cover display. L-R: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Flip8, Z Fold8 Like a true flagship, the Z Fold8 Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which was slightly tuned specifically to work better for this Samsung foldable. It can be paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Keeping the lights on is a relatively small 5,000mAh dual-cell battery, paired with a relatively slow 45W USB-C charger that provides a 67% charge in just half an hour. It also boasts 20W fast wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare reve...
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TCL C7L Mini LED TV series coming to the Philippines

One of TCL’s most advanced smart TVs is coming to the Philippines: the new TCL C7L Mini LED TV. The TCL C7L Mini LED TV is made in four sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch. Although no word yet on which model will come to the Philippines. These new TVs are equipped with TCL’s SQD Mini LED panel, which is said to offer 2000-level local Precise Dimming Zones and TCL’s Super QLED and Ultra Color Filter Panel. TCL claims its Super QLED delivers 69% increase in color dot accuracy. It also boasts 3,000-nit peak brightness for HDR, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10 and HDR10+, HLG, up to 100% BT.2020 coverage, 288VRR Game Accelerator, a Game Master control panel, and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The HVA 2.0 Pro Panel lessens glare and reflections. The Dolby Vision works with gaming, too. Meanwhile, audio is provided by Bang & Olufsen. Of course, it has tons of AI features that enhance the viewing experience by identifying if you’re ...
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