PLDT’s wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), is upgrading the 5G experience for ordinary Filipinos through its value mobile brand, TNT, with the launch of 5G Max—a boosted network experience that delivers faster speeds and more reliable connectivity for subscribers.
A big step toward TNT’s thrust to bring the many benefits of 5G technology to the masses, the TNT 5G Max experience is initially available at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and its surrounding areas – a bustling area of people from all walks of life, including office workers, college students, entrepreneurs, and tourists, among others.
Powered by TNT 5G Max, subscribers can experience seamless connectivity as they go about their daily online activities like upload and download heavy files instantly, staying active on their productivity apps, streaming their favorite shows in ultra-high definition without interruption,and play high-bandwidth mobile games without lag.
What is the TNT 5G Panalo Phone?
Together with the TNT 5G Max rollout in Taguig and nearby areas, Smart has also unveiled a TNT-branded Android phone. It’s quite refreshing to see an Android loading screen greeted by an animated TNT logo. The phone itself has a prominent TNT logo on the back. But what gives? Why has Smart / TNT rolled out its own branded phone?
Do recall that this is not the first time Smart has done this. More than a decade ago, Smart rolled out the Netphone at Mobile World Congress 2011, and prior to that, the Smart Amazing Phone running on Windows Mobile that predates social media.
We chatted with Lloyd Manaloto, First Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Brand at Smart and he said that the all-out branding was important to make 5G ubiquitous to the masses. “We’re bringing 5G to the masses. To do this, we needed to really get a device with decent specs, less of the nice to haves and more of the important essentials to deliver a 5G device at below php 4k.”
The TNT 5G Panalo Phone isn’t about specs. It’s about accessibility. For P3,990 you get a device that can make use of the 5G network of Smart / TNT. That’s not to say that the device isn’t a write-off. For the price, you get a 2.2GHz 5G Octacore processor running Android 14, 13MP back camera, 64GB storage (12GB is used by the system) with expansion to 512GB, dual SIM, and 4GB RAM.
Obviously, the specs aren’t going to excite tech pundits — but the price will. Putting it all into perspective, it’s become even more affordable to gain access to a 5G device. Just a few years ago, you would need to spend more than P50,000 for a flagship phone to be able to use 5G. Today, it’s barely a fraction of the cost. For the mass market, 5G connectivity can make a world of a difference in downloading bigger files, playing games, and consuming video on YouTube or Netflix.
Of note, the TNT 5G Panalo Phone is also 5G SA ready meaning that it can take advantage of forthcoming 5G network enhancements without any need for SIM / software / hardware upgrades.
Subscribers who plan to purchase the TNT 5G Panalo Phone can unlock its full potential by topping up with TNT’s Saya All 99 or Unli 5G 75 promos.
With TNT Saya All 99, users get 6GB of open access data, unlimited access to Facebook, Messenger, TikTok, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, as well as unlimited calls and texts to all networks, all valid for 7 days. Subscribers can also rely on TNT Unli 5G 75, which offers unlimited 5G data for 1 day.
The TNT 5G Panalo Phone is now available at accredited retailers nationwide.
