Every new year almost always marks a change — or better yet, an upgrade. When it comes to the Filipinos’ way of living, trends point to more homes adopting smart technology in and out of the house for a more convenient, more fun, and ultimately a better-lived life. In fact, in a study conducted in November last year, Statista projects 1.1 million smart homes in the Philippines in 2024 based on how fast the country is moving forward.
As more Filipinos continue to live smarter with more smart tech devices around, they’ll need a constant stream of info and reviews to guide them in their ever-evolving digital lifestyles.
One content platform on smart home tech and living is the YouTube channel Next Upgrade, brought to life in 2021 following pandemic restrictions. The channel has since earned an Anvil award in 2023 and a YouTube Works Awards nomination in 2022. Now streaming its third season, Next Upgrade is keen to help more Filipinos thrive in the hybrid era with more relevant content.
Hosts and smart home experts Justin Quirino, Bea Chu, and Jaime Bunag dish out their hands-on reviews and talk about the latest in smart tech, gadgets, and wearables while discussing the promise of smarter living. From answering the latest questions about the newest smart home applications and devices to understanding how artificial intelligence or AI can help make home life easier, the Next Upgrade team has more content coming in 2024.
Next Upgrade ‘upgraded’
In Next Upgrade’s third season, the hosts got some backup — game streamer and cosplayer
Een Mercado, chef and actor Gerick Manalo, and online personalities Chico Cruz and Danzel Fernandez are among these new faces joining to lend their own takes in (smart) homemaking.
Among the highlights of the current season is the premiere episode, wherein Bea and Jaime answer frequently asked questions about smart home devices and setups. They go into concerns such as the price of upgrading to smart devices and whether they contribute to a higher electric bill. It’s informative for those who are considering but haven’t taken the plunge just yet.
Justin Quirino puts his tech geek side on full display as Next Upgrade’s host since the first season
On episode three, Bea joins Chef Gerick Manalo as they explore the possibilities of generative AI when it comes to homemaking. They browse ChatGPT for promising recipes for healthy home-cooked meals, which they then cook using a digital air fryer. It’s got to be seen to be believed!
On the 2023 year-ender episode, all three main hosts come together to wrap up all the smart tech in 2023 and look forward to the innovations 2024 will bring. They go into their favorite smart device picks, such as the Steam Deck OLED, the Meta Quest 3 VR headset, and the eufyCam 3, to name a few.