Every so often, we acquire our own gadget so we can review them for you even before they arrive in the country. This year, we’ll do a run down of drool-worthy devices that we bought and reviewed here in YugaTech.
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Last year, we spent over Php300k in review units and actually promised to slow down in 2012. Turns out, we did so much more this year.
Here’s a recap of all the gadgets we got in 2012:
iPad 3. This is the first time Apple introduced Retina Display into the iPad line, a resolution much higher than 1080p. Apple even called it the new iPad which made it very confusing.
iPhone 5. When the iPhone 5 was released, there was huge demand and very little supply making it very expensive. Some enterprising folks in neighboring Singapore and HK brough them in an padded the prices by at least Php8k a piece. We got ours for Php40k the day after it was released in Singapore.
iPod Touch 5th Gen. Apple released the 5th generation iPod Touch without much funfare. It was the thinnest iPod Touch and also introduced a number of colors, including the Product Red. It started out at Php16k for the 32GB and has now normalized at Php13k.
iPod Nano 7th Gen. The 7th generation iPod Nano saw another re-design, added support for video but dropped the form factor that allowed people to use is as a smartwatch.
iPad Mini. The iPad Mini is the most popular device in 2012, according to Google PH. It’s the first time that Apple introduced a smaller form factor to the iPad line and is sanwiched by the 9.7-inch iPad and the 4-inch iPod Touch.
Asus Transformer Prime TF201. Asus introduced their 2nd generation tablet in the first quarter of the year. Stocks were very few as there as lack of supply. We managed to buy one the same day it was released in stores for about Php33k.
Asus Zenbook UX21. We got the first ultrabook from Asus in the first quarter of the year and it became our primary blogging machine. The Zenbook was among the first challenger to the Macbook Air, just a little cheaper by 10-20%.
Asus Zenbook Prime UX21A. Asus re-introduced the Zenbook line with a full HD IPS display. We bought the review unit from Asus at a discount — Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD and 4GB RAM.
Asus Padfone. It was our first time to attend Computex in Taiwan and was also fortunate enough to be able to buy the Padfone there.
Google Nexus 7. We shipped the Nexus 7 straight from the US, thru a friend and using JAC as the forwarder. We also recently bought a 32GB Nexus 7 over at the Multiply Discounted Deals site.
Canon S100, S110. During the Black Friday sales last November, we saw the Canon S100 going on sale for under Php10k and quickly got one. The last week, we saw the Canon S110 go on sale at Multiply Shopping and go another one too. We now have 3 Canon S100/S110 and we’re planning to do some special video projects with them.
Kindle Fire HD. Also bought the Kindle Fire HD during Black Friday sale and paid full price. However, when we went to San Diego that same month, we spotted a sale on the Fire HD at 50% off so we got one more (out of frustration that we bought one at full price just days before).
Microsoft Surface RT. We bought this one at the Microsoft Store the last time we went to the US. We have yet to post the review for this one.
GoPro Hero 3. Got this one on Best Buy as well. We still need time to play with it but review will be out soon.
Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch. I just could not resist getting this one at Best Buy because it was on sale, at 40% off. It’s selling for Php45k here and we got our for only Php25k. Review will be up soon.
Parrot Zik. The first wireless headphones we actually invested on. Retails for Php21k in stores.
Some of the items above, we bought in multiples (like 2 Kindle Fire HD, 2 Canon Powershot S1xx, two Nexus 7). We racked up a total of Php420k in expenses for acquiring review units this year. That doesn’t include the PC rig we’ve built from scratch.
That’s the highest we spent to get you the most complete, comprehensive and up to date gadget reviews in the country so far.
Again, we will try to slow down next year and spend less. Instead we will focus on being able to attend international events like CES, Computex or IFA on our own budget. Nevertheless, we will continue to dish out the same volume, or more, of the usual gadget reviews we’ve been doing every year for the last 5 years.
How about you, what gadgets did you buy this year? Do chime in via the comments section below.
YugaTech.com is the largest and longest-running technology site in the Philippines. Originally established in October 2002, the site was transformed into a full-fledged technology platform in 2005.
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Kenj says:
“iPod Touch 5th Gen…. It started out at Php16k for the 32GB and has now normalized at Php13k.”
Normalized at 13K? What’s the meaning of that? Nag-itouch hunting ako and nasa 16k mark lahat. :(
Alex says:
Asus Zenbook UX21A, Samsung Galaxy Note then got jealous when the Note 2 came out so bought the Note 2 also. Coby Tablet for my daughter for Christmas
Ivan says:
Gadgets i bought last year:
Creative Bluetooth Speaker
iPad 3
X-mini speaker
Samsung Galaxy SIII
i spent less in 2012 compared to 2011. Happy for this achievement!
Lance Jose says:
Hala pano na mga latest gadgets ng 2013 edi kokonti na lang irereview nyo? :((
Mica says:
It was a great year. Congrats Yugatech!
wapski says:
I bought the following items in order
MSI GX660, Asus TF101, Acer A501, MSIGTX 670, Asus TF101G, Lenovo P700, Alcatel 918N, Asus TF300 and before the year ended, I bought an LG 42LM6200 3DTV, WD My Book 2 TB and a 2nd hand Wii Console for my family..
Dazed_32 says:
Bought myself an Ipad 3 and Galaxy Note 2. That was P420K well spent considering the fact that I based my purchases from your product reviews.
Ivan says:
Huwaaaaat? 420k for those two gadgets?? Are they made from gold and diamonds?
Bryan says:
ASUS ROG G75VW BBK5
NEXUS 7 32GB 3g
yun lang :( wala pang bagong phone :( kailangan ko na palitan xperia x10 mini ko. :(
Benchmark says:
why not auction it out here in yugadeals? :D I think this is a win win situation for everyone! :)
Well I bought my self another Motorola Razr at multiply/widgetcity when my Motorola Razr was snatched from me in the MRT, same color, same model…after a week, Widgetcity released a white version of Razr ~ bummer. :(
Then I bought my son (ours of course) a 32in Devant LED for our newly renovated pad.
BS walks_money_talks says:
Anti Apple people are just sore losers whom can’t afford the best !
Ivan says:
Iphone 5 with its microscopic screen and lack of new features is the best? Ipad mini with its slower processor and mediocre screen resution is the best? Almost every singe tech blog and magazine out there has named the Samsung SIII as mobile phone of the year and the Google Nexus 7 as the 7-inch tablet of the year. Apple products are the best? Maybe the new ipad but certainly not the ipad mini and the iphone 5. Nice try, apple fantard.
iDiot
Cocolumboy says:
S2
Bb9790
Iphone5
Samsung 40″ led3d tv
Tama na muna,,,, :)
akosijayboy says:
you the man yuga!
It was a tipid year for me. For 2012 I bought the following:
8GB of Ram (for macbook)
battery for macbook
Total: 6000
gian says:
kaya solid reader ako ng blog nato eh. Thankz sir yuga for ur effort.
Brndy says:
Naku si Roi Eros talaga. OK na sana may ganyan ka pa. Di kaya ikaw ang dapat magbago ? Try reading other tech blog may mga ganyan post din besides thats according to you na pinangalandakan lang ang post na to. Booo isang tao na naman ang hindi naturuan ng mabuti ng magulang.
Enzo says:
Ganyan talaga pag puno ng inggit. Magbago na dapat yan.
Roi Eros Love says:
Weeehh? No need naman talaga this article. Pinangalandakan mo lang kung gaano ka kayaman. You just want to milk out from your big expense by telling it to the whole world so that, kahit papanu, makakabawi ka dahil may naiingit sa yo. Ang selfish mo pre. Magbago ka na. 2013 na.
# no_offense_planned
Lovely Joy Merced says:
I only bought two gadgets for the whole year lol, a Samsung Notebook series 3 and a Canon SLR!
Kudos for going the extra mile to make great reviews! Cheers!
Rommel A. says:
Isa lang ang binili kong gadget this year nung 28 December – my first ever Android phone and its MyPhone A848i duo, love it so far..na maski hindi high end phone eh masaya ako basta galing sa pinaghirapan ang pambili at hindi basta hinihingi. Happy New Year mate!
Sese says:
Macbook air 13″
Iphone4s
Ipad mini
Bb curve 9780
Marshalls headset
Next year: wala,
junz says:
thanks for those reviews sir yuga. it helped me a lot.
i bought – macbook pro 13″ retina
– ipad 3
– asha 303
– iphone 5
next yr ayaw ko na, wala na pera. hehe
ChrisP says:
Woah! I agree to spend less this year but I hope you can cover the CES, IFA and MWC! And of course more comprehensive reviews and giveaways! :)
This 2012 I bought my first android phone (sony ericsson xperia mini) and its accessories (sony ericsson mw600 and sony ericsson ms430 speaker).
Darelle Andrade says:
Go Pro Hero 3? Whats that? Hmmnn. I’ll just search about it.
Mitee de la Cruz says:
to give way for newer gadgets for 2013 give away the 2012 gadgets! :)
Ben Richie Rubion says:
Salamat Yugatech for the service. Salamat for the unparalleled service.
ryan_fab says:
xperia s, nikon d5100, acer aspire v3, ipod touch 4th gen, :D
gian says:
ipod nano 6 , BB curve 9300 , ipad mini :))
Amaya_sy says:
Htc xe & note1 january 2012 , tab 2 10.1 august, note2 oct, ipad mini november
JV says:
Blackberry Curve 9320, WD MyBook 3tb External HDD, iPod Touch 5th Gen.
Jes says:
Nokia N110 lang. P2,090 and very satisfied ako. Happy new year!
edisson says:
Gadgets? The only thing I remember buying is….well foods xD
WHAT GADGET? =)) says:
I’m like, “Wait, gadget? What gadget? Want some Pringles?” HAHAHA. High Five dude! =)))
tmcr7 says:
Great devices. Although puro Apple at ASUS. Wala sa listahan yung Samsung Galaxy S 3?
Cherry Mobile Flare? CloudFone Thrill 430X? Galaxy Camera? Nokia Lumia 920? Nokia Pureview 808? More diversity next year, hopefully. Happy New Year!
Enzo says:
Mine:
1 MacBook Pro-R 13″
2 Experia S
3 Nexus 7
4 Playstation 3 SS
5 iPhone 5
tarush says:
For me, it’s Apple products again:
iPhone 5
iPad Mini
and Samsung too:
Samsung 32″ LED TV :)
jose procopio says:
dumb consumer… hahaha
darren philip mozo says:
wooah..420k haha. the “slow down next year and spend less” is like a deja vu. ^_^
well, it only proves your dedication to serve people about techs. more POWER!