Samsung PH unveils new Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Z Flip3 5G, priced

Samsung today opened the next chapter in foldable innovation with two new smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. Both devices are premium foldable smartphones built with the craftsmanship and flagship innovations Samsung users have come to love and expect.

The third generation of these category-defining devices incorporates key improvements that Samsung foldable users have asked for—making them more durable with more optimized foldable experiences than ever before. From iconic design to immersive entertainment, Galaxy Z Flip3 5G and Galaxy Z Fold3 5G offer users unique new ways to work, watch, and play.

For those who need the ultimate device for productivity and immersive entertainment, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a true multitasking powerhouse with next-level performance, an undisrupted 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display, and the first-ever S Pen support on a Galaxy foldable device.

Others who want style that comes with function, Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the ideal device with its sleek, compact, and pocketable design, enhanced camera features, and a larger Cover Screen built for quick use on the go.

Advanced craftsmanship built to last

Samsung users expect foldable devices that are built to last. That’s why this generation of Galaxy Z devices is built with unrivaled craftsmanship. For the first time ever on a Galaxy foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G are equipped with IPX8 water resistance, so users no longer have to worry when caught in the rain.

Both devices are also built with the company’s new Armor Aluminum—the strongest aluminum ever used on a Galaxy smartphone—along with the toughest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus to protect against scratches and accidental drops. In addition, both devices include a new protective film made of stretchable PET and optimized display panel layers resulting in a main screen that’s 80% more durable than previous devices.

Samsung continues its legacy of foldable leadership with rigorous processes to create devices that remain reliable after years of use. The revolutionary Hideaway Hinge, first introduced on Galaxy Z Flip, enables the devices to stay in place at any angle for innovative user experiences with Flex mode.

And thanks to enhanced Sweeper technology, the bristles inside the Hinge are now shorter, helping to repel dust and other particles and maintain the devices’ durability and seamless user experiences. The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G were also put through a strenuous folding test, verified by Bureau Veritas, to withstand folding 200,000 times.

Plus, they’re equipped with the latest powerful 5nm AP and 5G band compatibility for the best experience inside and out.

Galaxy Z Fold3 5G: Ultimate productivity and entertainment

Unfold the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G to immerse yourself in theater-like viewing experiences and stay fully engaged in your favorite content on the uninterrupted 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display—thanks to its new Under Display Camera technology.

With minimum pixels applied on top of the camera hole, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G features an increased viewable area so users get an unbroken canvas for their favorite apps. With the new Eco² display technology applied to the screen, it’s 29% brighter while consuming less energy.

Experience even smoother scrolling and quick device interaction with the Super Smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate now on both the Main and Cover Screens.

For the first time ever on the Galaxy Z series, Samsung is bringing its beloved Note series technology to the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G—the S Pen functionality. Users can take advantage of fully optimized S Pen features on their foldable screen, which is a perfect fit for on-the-go multitaskers.

On the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G’s massive Main Screen, it’s easier than ever for users to jot down notes during a video call or check off a to-do list while reading emails, as users can also power their creativity and productivity with the company’s fan-favorite S Pen.

The S Pen Fold Edition features a specially engineered retractable Pro tip with force limit technology to protect the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G’s Main Screen for peace of mind. This is Samsung’s best S Pen experience yet, with even lower latency for true-to-life composition—ensuring that note-taking and sending messages are seamless and intuitive.

Productivity seekers will also enjoy the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G’s enhanced Flex mode features, which let you do more at once, such as joining a video call on the device’s top screen while checking meeting notes on the bottom.

With the updated Multi-Active Window, it’s even easier to make dinner plans over text while checking your calendar, all on the device’s large screen. And now on the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, users can create a shortcut and reopen apps in the same way later thanks to enhanced App Pair.

Plus, they can use the new Taskbar to quickly switch between apps without returning to the Home screen.

The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is built with a sleeker, thinner, and lighter design for even better portability than Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. It comes with a choice of three timeless colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, and Phantom Silver.

Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: The ideal balance of style, function, and nonstop fun

The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G empowers users to express themselves with bold color options, a sleek design, and premium features. With the choice of four trendy colors—Cream, Green, Lavender, and Phantom Black—plus new stylish ring grips and strap cases that make it even easier to hold and fold the phone, the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a device for true self-expression.

The redesigned Cover Screen is now four times larger and makes it easier to view notifications and messages without having to open the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. Users can keep up with their schedule, check the weather, and monitor their daily step count with new Cover Screen widgets or coordinate the Cover Screen wallpaper with their new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic for a matching look.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is also crafted to give users the best capability for capturing and sharing memories. Packed with some of Samsung’s latest camera features, users can take even more stunning selfies hands-free with Flex mode. Or they can keep the device folded and capture a quick photo—and now, even video—right from the Cover Screen using enhanced Quick Shot by double-clicking the power key. Plus, scrolling and sharing are super smooth, thanks to its new 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.

Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is great for relaxing and watching a YouTube vlog or a TV show hands-free. Thanks to the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G’s new, upgraded Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos, you get immersive sound with incredible clarity, depth, and spatial effects, no matter what you’re watching or listening to.

And the new Flex Mode Panel feature makes apps look better and easier to use. When the device is partially folded, Flex Mode Panel gives you new ways to interact with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, offering a more convenient viewing experience by moving the video to the top half of the screen and the show’s controls—like brightness and volume—to the bottom half.

Optimized Foldable Experiences Open Up New Possibilities

With the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, users will get access to more apps that take full advantage of the foldable screen. Samsung is expanding partnerships with leading companies like Google, Microsoft, and more, so users can enjoy more of their go-to apps tailored to their unique needs.

Collaborate effectively with Microsoft Teams app: Enjoy optimized meeting experience adapting based on the Flex mode of your Galaxy Z series and the power of Office and Teams coming together. For the best productivity at work, Microsoft Outlook’s dual-pane mode for Samsung foldables enables users to read a full email while previewing others on the side, just like a desktop experience.

To bring users even more choices, Samsung’s new Labs feature offers users the ability to optimize even more apps to the foldable screen when needed.

Furthermore, Samsung continues to rethink how app developers can create amazing user experiences from anywhere. To provide them with more options while ensuring high-quality optimization, Samsung supports Remote Test Lab(RTL), giving app developers the ability to directly install and test their applications in real-time, from wherever they are.

Galaxy Buds2: Buds for everyone with premium sound and comfortable fit

Joining the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the Galaxy Buds2 – designed for a comfortable fit made to be worn all day, and provide premium sound quality so you can immerse yourself in the moment, wherever you are.

As one of the latest additions to the Galaxy Buds lineup, the Galaxy Buds2 joins the Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds Pro, providing more choices to consumers to fit their needs. As a part of the Galaxy ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds2 makes the perfect companion to your Galaxy smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch.

Whether you use your Galaxy Buds2 to listen to music or dial into a conference call, you’ve got all the features you need to immerse yourself in your own world. The dynamic two-way speakers deliver crisp, clear high notes and deep bass, while Active Noise Cancellation helps block out unwanted noise.

If you need to hear your surroundings, simply tune back in with three adjustable ambient sound levels. And now your voice will be clearer on calls, thanks to a new, machine learning-based solution that filters out a variety of distracting background noises.

Galaxy Buds2 is Samsung’s smallest and lightest earbuds yet boasting an iconic curved shape. For a more perfect fit, Samsung has developed the ‘Earbud fit test’ in the Galaxy Wearable app. Choose from four contemporary colors —graphite, white, olive, and online-exclusive lavender—to show off your personal style.

Pricing and availability

From August 19 – September 21, 2021, customers can pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G in all Samsung Experience Stores, select Samsung Blue Stores, Abenson, and SM Appliance Stores, and Authorized Samsung online partners. Freebies and discounts worth up to Php 27,400 are up for grabs.

Apart from receiving one-year free protection from Samsung Care+, choose from either an e-voucher worth up to PhP 5,000, 50% off on a Flip Cover with S Pen, a FREE Galaxy Buds Pro, and a 25W Travel Adapter, or a token worth up to PhP 10,000, and a 25W Travel Adapter.

Customers can also pre-order through Samsung.com to get as much as PhP 20,400 worth of freebies, including an e-voucher worth up to PhP 10,000, a 25W Travel Adapter, and one-year free protection from Samsung Care+.

Samsung is committed to giving more consumers access to the unique foldable experience. Starting September 22, 2021, the newest foldable devices will be available in samsung.com/ph, Authorized Samsung Stores, Samsung online partners, and telco partners.

The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G will retail at PhP 87,990 SRP for 256GB (Phantom Black and Phantom Silver) and PhP 95,990 for the 512GB variant (Phantom Black and Phantom Green). On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G will be available at PhP 52,990 SRP for the 128GB variant and PhP 56,990 SRP for the 256GB variant, all available in Cream, Green, Lavender, and Phantom Black colorways.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds2 is priced at PhP 6,990 SRP, and comes in stunning Olive Green, Graphite, White, and online-exclusive Lavender.

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Mazda3 edition100 review: Celebrating beauty

For Mazda Philippines, there were two ways of celebrating winning the world’s best-designed car award for 2020: Posting an ordinary photo on its social media recognizing their achievement OR going all out and producing limited edition Mazda3 to make this big news even bigger. And if it wasn’t for the second option, we wouldn’t have this special feature article right here.

That’s right. The Mazda3 won the World Car Design of the Year for 2020 and Bermaz Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda in the Philippines, introduces the Mazda3 edition100 to celebrate this momentous occasion. And mind you, there are only 50 of these in the country. Talk about exclusivity, right?

The edition100 is basically the five-door Mazda3 Sportback Premium with tweaked aesthetics. Think of it as customizing an already beautiful piece of art. With that in mind, this vehicle still carries its KODO design language with more sophistication and follows its aesthetic mantra of going for simplicity.

It comes in three new colorways that further highlight the dynamic features of the award-winning model — the very attractive Snowflake White Pearl, the passionate Soul Red Crystal, and the edgy Jet Black.

What we have here is the Soul Red Crystal with its deep red color that’s generally subdued but still demands to be noticed. It’s important to note that apart from the Soul Red variant which features a gloss black body kit, the two other color variants adopt a striking Soul Red highlight.

The Snowflake White Pearl edition100 with its Soul Red kits, gloss black rims, and red brake calipers.

Another thing you’ll notice is that it now wears 18-inch Midnight Black alloy wheels with red calipers and left its gunmetal rims back home. The company says the black and red hues evoke the brand’s sporty heritage and indeed, they do look the part.

This affinity for red color continues inside as the seats are wrapped in red leather so feeling that premium vibe doesn’t stop outside.

The interior trims are also wrapped in this soft and padded material that’s very nice to the touch. If the exterior exudes a bold look, the interior screams premium comfort.

The interior still sports an 8.8-inch infotainment display, 12-speaker Bose sound system, dual-zone climate control, and a 10-way power driver adjust. Adding to those, driving features include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera, among others.

Under the hood, the edition100 still remains powered by the 2-liter Skyactiv-G engine with a six-speed automatic gearbox. We enjoyed a spirited drive in and out of the highway and even went through a mountain’s twisties and the vehicle handled itself gracefully.

In terms of safety, it also comes with the company’s advanced i-Activsense which consists of an array of safety features. It has Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Smart Brake Support, and Driver Attention Alert. With all these safety tech and more, it’s no wonder that the 2020 Mazda3 received the Top Safety Pick+ status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

And finally, the last refinement done to the edition100 is its relocated front license plate holder. It’s now moved to just above the body kit so the front grille of the car can be viewed in its entirety.

Personally, Mazda is one of the car manufacturers that really focus on what matters. From the exterior, it has that bold design that says a lot but through means of simplicity. The interior is an eye-candy, definitely, but it doesn’t end there; it’s very comfortable and ergonomic as well. Even its 2-liter engine is just the right power for what this vehicle needs.

There is no shortage of entertainment features either. In fact, it has some of the best speakers in vehicles today, and that display with no touch function? Safety is the reason why it has its physical knob for navigation.

These small, but thought-out implementations for me, are what put Mazda in a league of their own when it comes to driving experience. In short, while most manufacturers aim for balance in overall performance, Mazda is one of those who really does things right.

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