News

You should replace your Samsung Galaxy Note 7 before it’s too late

Published

September 9, 2016

Marvin Velasco

As you might have heard, Samsung’s best phone ever is literally exploding around the world. The chances of you owning an unsafe unit are slim – Samsung claims only one in every 42,000 units are affected – but the inconvenience of replacing your Galaxy Note 7 or asking for a refund shouldn’t hold you back. Take the latest incidents as examples.

In what seems to be the most damaging instance yet, a man’s garage in Horry County, South Carolina caught fire while charging his Galaxy Note 7 two days ago. The scare happened as Wesley Hartzog came back to his home after leaving his Samsung phone charging in the room. The source of damage was found to be near the electric socket used to charge the handset, leading to the speculation. No one was injured, but Hartzog and his family are now forced to live in hotels while repairs are made.

Another similarly scary case also happened two days ago in St. Petersburg, Florida, where another man lost his Jeep Grand Cherokee to a fire. The cause is centered around the Galaxy Note 7 Nathan Dornacher left charging inside the vehicle, as he and his wife were unloading a desk they bought from a yard sale. While you shouldn’t leave a phone charging in a car under the scorching sun, a handset shouldn’t explode strong enough to destroy a large SUV either. Again, luckily, no was harmed.

The situation has become so bad that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sent out a statement advising Galaxy Note 7 users against charging or even turning on their phones while in flight. Despite there being only 35 reported incidents as of September 1 (doesn’t include the two reported here), the FAA is taking no risks, and considers the Samsung phone a possible explosive. To make matters worse, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers who own a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to “power them down and stop charging or using the device.” Samsung is agreeing with the CPSC, and is asking users to exchange their phones right away.

So, what exactly is causing the explosions? Samsung UK explained that it’s an issue with the battery cell, wherein overheating occurs when the anode-to-cathode comes into contact, which is a “very rare manufacturing error.”

We recently explained how to tell if your Galaxy Note 7 is safe or a possible hazard, and we also covered the replacement process for customers in the Philippines. Our advice is to choose the latter option before any more unnecessary accidents arise.

[irp posts=”9766″ name=”Everything you need to know about the Note 7 investigation”]

Sources: WMBF News, Fox 13

Apps

Significantly better ChatGPT Images 2.0 launches

Stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more formats, improved overall experience

Published

April 22, 2026

GadgetMatch

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Images 2.0. This updated image generation model has a meaningful jump over competitors and its current ImageGen 1.5.

Now available across ChatGPT, Codex and the API, Images 2.0 delivers stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more flexible formats, and a faster, more intuitive user experience.

Paid users (Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise) will benefit from a more advanced image experience (ImageGen Thinking 2.0). The state-of-the-art model can take on complex visual tasks and produce precise and immediately usable visuals.

ChatGPT Images 2.0 is likewise better for creative and professional use cases. It has a significantly better performance at producing text-heavy assets, infographics, product mockups, UI concepts, and more structured visuals.

Moreover, users can generate images in a wider range of aspect ratios. The outputs are limitless, from posters to comics or anime to detailed infographics to simple images. API users, on the other hand, will also have access to 4K resolution.

To try the upgraded image generation model, simply head to ChatGPT and select “Images” in the sidebar.

Users will be able to see the top five prompts as well, curated by OpenAI, for them to try. This is to highlight the capabilities of the new model.

Overall, ChatGPT Images 2.0 offers a more seamless experience on mobile, web, and desktop. The intuitive user experience includes improved prompt suggestions, loading states, editing features, and multi-output views.

Malaysia

HONOR 600 Series debuts globally in Malaysia

Pre-orders now open

Published

April 22, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Malaysia is first to get the HONOR 600 Series.

HONOR has officially unveiled its latest “accessible flagship” lineup, bringing both the HONOR 600 and HONOR 600 Pro to the global stage.

The series focuses on combining flagship-level features with more attainable pricing, starting at RM2,599.

Pre-orders are now open until April 29, 2026. Early buyers can enjoy a RM200 instant rebate along with free gifts and protection bundles worth up to RM1,935.

For the HONOR 600 Pro, customers get a free Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay+ alongside extended warranty and damage protection. Meanwhile, HONOR 600 buyers receive a free HONOR CHOICE Watch 2 Epic with similar coverage.

The devices will be available starting April 30, 2026 through HONOR’s official stores, online platforms, and partner retailers.

Flagship features come to the N Series

With the HONOR 600 Series, the company is pushing its N Series further into flagship territory.

Leading the charge is a 200MP main camera with a large 1/1.4-inch sensor. The Pro model adds a 50MP telephoto lens with up to 120x zoom and enhanced stabilization, while the standard version supports up to 30x zoom.

Both devices are designed to handle low-light scenarios with improved night processing and color accuracy.

AI Image to Video 2.0 also returns as a headline feature. It allows users to turn still images into short video clips using prompts, templates, and multiple reference images.

On the performance side, the HONOR 600 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, marking the first time the series gets an Elite-tier chip.

The standard HONOR 600 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, offering solid gains in both CPU and GPU performance for everyday use.

Bright display, big battery, and added durability

Both devices feature a 6.57-inch display with up to 8000 nits peak brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate.

HONOR also highlights its Eye Comfort Display tech, which includes high-frequency PWM dimming and adaptive brightness controls for long viewing sessions.

Battery is another key focus.

The series packs up to a 7000mAh battery, paired with 80W wired charging and reverse charging support. The Pro model also adds 50W wireless charging.

Durability sees an upgrade as well, with IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings alongside SGS 5-star drop and crush certification.

Pricing and availability

The HONOR 600 Series comes in Orange, Golden White, and Black.

Malaysia pricing is as follows:

HONOR 600 (12GB + 512GB): RM2,599
HONOR 600 Pro (12GB + 256GB): RM3,099
HONOR 600 Pro (12GB + 512GB): RM3,299

Pre-orders run until April 29, 2026, with general availability starting April 30.

Europe pricing

In Europe, the HONOR 600 is priced at €649.9 for the 256GB model and €699.9 for the 512GB variant.

With launch coupons, both configurations are effectively reduced to €499.9, bundled with 12 months of screen insurance.

The HONOR 600 Pro (512GB) is priced at €999.9, with a €200 coupon bringing it down to €799.9. Early buyers also receive bundled freebies, including either a tablet or projector, plus headphones for select orders, alongside 12 months of screen protection.

United Kingdom pricing

In the UK, the HONOR 600 Pro (512GB) is priced at £899.99.

The HONOR 600 is available at £549.99 for the 256GB model and £599.99 for the 512GB variant.

A Lite version is also available, with the HONOR 600 Lite (256GB) priced at £369.99.

News

iPhone 18 may have lower specs and a delayed launch, rumor says

Once again, it’s because of rising RAM prices.

Published

April 22, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

A tale as old as time by now, Apple will always launch the latest generation of the iPhone in the fall every year. Lately, however, the more affordable iPhone e series found a home much earlier in the year. Next year, according to rumors, the regular iPhone 18 duo will join the iPhone 18e’s launch next spring, and it will be heavily downgraded.

Much ado has been said about the lack of differences between the four models of the current iPhone series. The “which iPhone is best for you” debate is still a worthy one today. Now, a new rumor from Weibo states that the base iPhone 18 will delineate itself further from the Pro and the Pro Max because of downgraded specs. The rumor has not detailed which pieces of hardware will get budget cuts.

The downgrade is supposedly due to the rising RAM prices in the industry today. That said, it also serves as a way to maintain the premium niche of the Pro and the Pro Max. However, pushing the base iPhone 18 away from the premium models naturally pushes it towards the iPhone 18e. Only its launch can tell how Apple will keep the two models separate from one another.

Besides the difference in specs, a previous rumor has also speculated that the base model will depart its usual launch window in September for a delayed one in March, right next to the iPhone 18e.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review