The Tech Upgrades You Need to Get Now

Published On: July 5, 2024, 10:44 AM

Updated On: July 5, 2024, 12:01 PM

Looking to increase your productivity at work or at school? Check out these new gadgets that can help you work faster and more efficiently.

Whether for work or for school, we all have the same standards for our gadgets: we want them fast, user-friendly, reasonably-priced, long-lasting, and dependable, the type that would always deliver most especially during the times we're rushing to beat an impending deadline.

While the market will never run out of shiny, flashy options (there's something for every budget!), only a handful of new products are worth checking out.

We've rounded up the tech upgrades that you have to invest in, so you can carry out any type of task, whether you're a student or a professional ---- and beat procrastination ASAP!

The Laptops That Won't Let You Down

Accelerated learning, seamless gaming, heavy duty computing, uninterrupted multi-tasking, these are only a few of the goodness that you would find in NVIDIA GeForce RTX- and Studio RTX-powered laptops and PCs.

Students of engineering, architecture, computer science, data science, economics, will benefit from these computers because the RTX allows for smoother 3D design and modeling and faster AI training and simulation.

These RTX-equipped computers are also powerful, portable, and quiet. They come in thin and sturdy designs with extended battery life, operating at whisper-quiet levels, making sure that users won't disturb others when they're working on their computers in a public space.

With the NVIDIA Broadcast app and AI-enhancing features, like noise removal and virtual backgrounds, video calls and streams (especially if you're a gamer) would always be crystal clear and hassle-free.

GeForce computers also come with a personalized private chatbot, the ChatRTX, which allows users to search for their notes, organize their schedules, or find images and other files quickly with a simple text or voice prompt.

Serious and heavy gamers would be delighted to know that the RTX computers give the most realistic, immersive graphics with ray tracing, a quantum leap in performance, and the lowest system latency, thanks to the NVIDIA Reflex technology.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX Laptops and PCs Back to School promotion is ongoing from June 13 to July 28, 2024, available both in-store and online at Silicon Valley and PC Express branches nationwide.

(From left) Archie Buenaventura of SIlicon Valley; Jesse Tan, vice president for Marketing and Sales, PC Express; John Gillooly, Senior Technical Marketing Manager, NVIDIA; Jerome Matti, Consumer Sales Lead, NVIDIA Philippines; and Phaister, event host

The Multitasking Phone For the Busy Person

Luxe meets functionality and affordability in the realme 12 Pro+ 5G. Not only is it a winner in the looks department, it also comes with features that can give the more premium smartphone brands a run for their money.

A serious contender in the midrange camera phone segment, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G is equipped with a 64MP Periscope Portrait Camera (with 3x optical zoom and 120x SuperZoom) that turns ordinary snaps into professional-level photos. Its flagship-level sensor can help users achieve next-gen photography with the support of Optical Image Stabilization, perfect for aspiring photographers who want fast, fuss-free results.

Handling work-related matter and other tasks is now made easier with the realme 12 Pro+ 5G, thanks to its ultra-powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon® 7s Gen 2, allowing users to experience smooth transitions when switching between apps and managing multiple tasks, all done with low power consumption.

Its 6.7" 120Hz Curved OLED Display offers a true flagship phone experience. With up to 120Hz refresh rate, users can enjoy ultra fast scrolling and see images or videos in super brilliant colors and clarity, no matter how bright or dim their surroundings.

The phone is also powered by a 5000mAh battery, making it a reliable companion. Users need not worry about running out of juice in the middle of the day. And when the phone battery needs charging, its 67W SUPERVOOC Charge will make waiting time a lot less shorter. It can get the unit from 1% to 50% in 19 minutes and up to 100% in less than 50 minutes.

The realme 12 Pro+ 5G retails for P25,999 and comes in the highest 12GB+512GB storage variant available in two colorways: Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige.

The WiFi Router That You Can Trust

Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and electronics company Acer just expanded its wireless router portfolio with two new options designed for gamers and a wide range of individuals, including families and remote workers.

For seamless operations for households with multiple connected devices, the sleek Acer Wave 7 takes advantage of the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 standard, offering blazing fast speeds up to 6400 Mbps with low latency. Available in two configurations, a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz combination or a 2.4 GHz and 6 GHz combination, users have the set the the optimal speeds based on their needs.

The Wave 7 also utilizes 320 MHz channel support and Multi-Link Operations (MLO) technology, allowing devices to transmit and receive data simultaneously across different frequencies, significantly boosting throughput, minimizing latency, and reducing interference. This innovative mesh system allows for further expansion by adding additional access points, creating a seamless blanket of Wi-Fi coverage throughout the entire home or large space. The Wave 7 also features three Gigabit Ethernet ports with switchable WAN/LAN capability, and built-in Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security for added peace of mind.

For heavy gamers who want an uninterrupted gaming experience, the Predator Connect W6x boasts Wi-Fi 6 support, delivering speeds up to 6000 Mbps.

Powered with a quad-core processor, 1 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256 MB of ROM, this router prioritizes near-zero packet loss for smooth, uninterrupted gameplay. It also has a LED light indicator that shows the network connection status.

Gamers can take control of their network remotely with the Predator Connect utility app downloadable on smartphones or tablets starting in July. The Predator Connect W6x also has multiple ports, including four Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN connectivity and a single 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port for WAN connectivity.

The Acer Wave 7 (left) and the Predator Connect W6x (right) will give your home office the WiFi connection speeds that it needs.

The No-Fuss Phone That Won't Easily Break

If you're the type who favors the sturdier type of smartphones --- you know, the ones that won't easily break if you drop them down the stairs or accidentally knock them against a hard surface --- the OPPO A60 may be a good and affordable option for you.

This smartphone comes with a 5,000mAh battery. Its 45W SUPERVOOC™ Flash Charge feature can power up the device's battery from 0% to 50% in just 30 minutes. Its ColorOS 14's Trinity Engine works to enhance the phone's overall smooth performance and stability by optimizing hardware computing resources.

It's equipped with a 50 MP Main camera and an 8 MP front camera, and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor, which is pretty okay for a phone in its price point and segment. It has a dual SIM slot (Nano-SIM) and a 3.55mm audio jack.

OPPO A60's best feature is, of course, its Military-Grade Shock Resistance. It can withstand accidental drops from up to 1.22 meters; while its IP54 rating provides protection from accidental splashes. The A60's innovative Splash Touch feature also allows users to work on their phones even when the screen is wet or smudged with oil or grease.

It's also decent for watching videos and browsing. Aside from its Dual Stereo Speakers, its ultra-bright 950-nit peak brightness display and 6.67-inch HD screen supports a 90Hz refresh rate, making this smartphone a good option for students.

Available in two colorways, the Ripple Blue and Midnight Purple, the OPPO A60 retails for PhP9,999 for its 8GB+128GB model; or Php11,999 for its 8GB+256GB variant.

Here are some clips that will make you consider this unit as your next purchase.

The Wireless Printer-Scanner You Can Depend On

There's a common joke among us millennial office workers: any printer can almost always sense when you're in a hurry or panicking to get something done. And the moment it does sense you're rushing, it suddently acts up. And if there's deadline hanging over your head, your trusty old printer, the one that works just fine on any other day, suddenly comes up with an error that you haven't encountered before.

The new HP Smart Tank 580 won't bother you with any of those problems. It's a machine that is always ready when you are.

For one, it's easy to set-up, thanks to a mobile guided process with step-by-step animations. For Titos and Titas, who don't have the time to browse the manual or watch a wordy YouTube tutorial, this is super helpful.

Refilling the ink tank of this printer-scanner is also super easy, especially to those who hate getting ink on their fingers. The ink refills come in innovative bottles designed to allow users to have the cleanest refill experience every time.

This machine --- made of 45% recycled plastic--- is also packed with a list of capabilities: it can print, scan, and copy. Aside from that it can monitor ink levels with its smart sensors, it also offers enhanced connectivity with a self-healing Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.