Genshin Impact Version 1.2 Details Revealed: Free Wishes & Quality-of-Life Improvements

Mihoyo just revealed quite a number of details for
Genshin Impact
‘s upcoming
Version 1.2 update
. Most of them are quality-of-life improvements, but one of the new changes is quite interesting: ascending characters will now reward free wishes.

That’s right, once Version 1.2 of Genshin Impact is live, ascending characters will reward players with Acquaint Fates, which can be used for the standard banner. One Fate will be given each time a character is ascended at level 20, 50, and 70; that’s a total of three free wishes for every character. Pretty good, isn’t it?

Developer v1.2 Notes Summary
– Chat messaging
– Notes or avatar to specific friend
– Trackable map pins
– Repeat Domain option
– Domain/Leyline item straight to inv
– Auto-play dialog
– Travel Log
– Acquaint Fate when ascending a character at lvl 20,50, or 70
#GenshinImpact

#原神

pic.twitter.com/mvu8yxMJS6
— Zeniet (@Zeniiet)
December 4, 2020

What about characters that players have already ascended prior to Version 1.2? Don’t worry: you can still claim your Acquaint Fates for these characters from the Ascension Materials Preview page. Of course, you will only be able to do so once Version 1.2 rolls out.

Other new features that will be added to Genshin Impact in Version 1.2 include a chat function, trackable map pins for easier navigation, the option to repeat Domains (so you don’t have to leave and enter the same Domain again), as well as autoplay dialogues. Loots from Domains and Ley Line Outcrops will also be automatically added to your inventory in the next update.

No word yet on exactly when Version 1.2 of Genshin Impact will go live, though we expect it to happen sometime this month. There’s a chance it will be rolled out not long after the
current Zhongli banner
 (Gentry of Hermitage) ends on 22 December.

Read more:

Genshin Impact 1.2 Arrives 23 December; Ganyu, Albedo & Dragonspine Incoming


5 – 11 December Fuel Price: Prices Are Up (Again)

Fuel prices are going up across the board for the fourth time in a row this coming week. Both RON 95 and RON 97 go up by 3 sen per litre this midnight, while diesel sees a higher price hike of 5 sen per litre.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.70 per litre (up from RM1.67) and RON 97 to RM2.00 per litre (RM1.97 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM1.90 per litre this coming week compared to RM1.85 previously.

These prices will be in effect from 5 to 11 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Huawei Mate 40 Pro Costs RM4,299 in Malaysia; Goes on Sale 12 December

Initially unveiled back in October, the
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
 is finally landing in Malaysia later this week. Set to go on sale here on 12 December, only the Pro model will be available on our shores; the more affordable Mate 40 doesn’t seem to be arriving here anytime soon.

Anyway, only one variant of the Mate 40 Pro is offered here in Malaysia. Priced at RM4,299, it features 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. Not particularly generous capacities – especially at this price point – but should be enough for most users.

One of the standout features of the Mate 40 Pro has to be its triple camera system. It’s made up of a 50MP “Ultra Vision” f/1.9 primary sensor, a 20MP f/1.8 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 12MP f/3.4 periscope telephoto lens that can do 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom. There is also a laser autofocus system to lock in focus quicker and more accurately.

Other specifications of the Mate 40 Pro include a Kirin 9000 chip (fabricated on a 5nm process), a 6.76-inch 1080p OLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 13MP f/2.4 selfie camera paired with a 3D depth sensing camera, 5G connectivity, and EMUI 11 based on Android 10 out of the box. Naturally, it still doesn’t come with Google Mobile Services.

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro will be available in Malaysia later this week on 12 December for RM4,299. Those who purchase the flagship phone can also redeem a Huawei Sound X Bluetooth speaker worth RM1,299, though this is limited to 1,000 units. The Sound X speaker can be redeemed through the Huawei Member Center app from 18 to 20 December.


2020 Ducky Year of the Rat Is Ducky’s First Hotswap Keyboard

Well this is quite a surprise: Ducky announced its first-ever keyboard with a hotswap PCB. This is the 2020 Ducky Year of the Rat limited edition keyboard, which is a collaboration between the Taiwanese company and graffiti artist Bounce.

Every year, Ducky releases a limited edition keyboard that is themed after the Chinese zodiac of the year. Since 2020 is the Year of the Rat, we have this 60% keyboard right here. As mentioned, it’s a collaboration with graffiti artist Bounce, who designed the looks of the keyboard.

What’s particularly interesting about the 2020 Year of the Rat keyboard is its hotswap PCB, which allows users to easily swap out the switches without the need for soldering. According to Ducky, this keyboard is “based on the newest version of Ducky’s hotswap keyboard.” Perhaps this is an indication that the company will release more keyboards with hotswap capability in the future.

Other specifications of the 2020 Year of the Rat keyboard include Cherry MX switches, dye-sublimated PBT keycaps, RGB lighting, a plastic case, a stainless steel plate, plate-mounted stabilisers, and a USB-C connection. All in all, it looks to be a promising 60% keyboard. After all, this
is
 a Ducky product, though it’s worth noting that it is limited to only 2020 units.

Unfortunately, no word yet on the exact pricing or availability of the 2020 Ducky Year of the Rat keyboard, though we’re optimistic it will be sold here in Malaysia soon. After all,
Ducky Malaysia
 itself posted about this keyboard on its Facebook page, and Ducky’s previous Chinese zodiac keyboards eventually made it to our shores as well.


The Premium Lenovo Yoga 9i Convertible Laptop Lands in Malaysia From RM6,499

Aside from the very lightweight
Yoga Slim 7i Carbon
, the equally premium Lenovo Yoga 9i has been launched in Malaysia as well. Although it’s not quite as light as the former, the Yoga 9i is a convertible laptop with a rather unique leather cover.

At the moment, only the 14-inch model of the Yoga 9i is offered in Malaysia. According to Lenovo, two variants of the convertible laptop are available here. The more affordable aluminium model features an Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, and a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS touch-enabled screen for RM6,499.

Do note that the above variant of the Yoga 9i is only offered at retail stores in Malaysia. If you want the leather-covered model instead, it will set you back RM6,909 for the same internals. Basically, you’ll be paying RM410 for the leather cover, and this variant – unlike the aluminium model – will only be sold on
Lenovo’s online store
.

As a premium productivity laptop, the Yoga 9i does have a number of must-have features for a machine in this segment, including good portability and long battery life. With a 14.6mm chassis that weighs 1.37kg, this laptop can also deliver up to 18 hours of battery life for the Full HD model, which is the only variant set to be available in our market.

Speaking of which, no word yet on exactly when the Lenovo Yoga 9i will be sold in Malaysia, though we were told it will be available on our shores very soon. To recap, the Yoga 9i with an aluminium case retails at RM6,499, while the leather-covered model costs RM6,909.


You Can Get the Proton X50 in Only 7 Days From Flux

Don’t want to wait for months to get your hands on the exceedingly popular
Proton X50
? Then consider getting the B-segment SUV from Flux, a car subscription service. The company just added the Proton X50 to its list of available cars, and you only need to wait
seven days to get the SUV
 instead of months.

According to Flux, it has both the Flagship and Premium variants of the X50 for subscription, but only the Premium model is available at the time of writing. Evidently, the Flagship model is the one everyone is going for. In fact, Flux
even has a waitlist for the X50
 if you don’t quite fancy the Premium model.

But if you do want the Premium X50, Flux is offering it – a brand new unit, to boot – for RM1,969.48 per month (with 6% service fee included and 1,250km monthly mileage) on a 36-month contract; you will need to pay an upfront fee of RM3,009 as well. While that’s quite a large sum of money, you won’t need to worry about insurance, road tax, maintenance, or wear and tear with Flux. All of these are included in the monthly cost.

If you want to outright purchase the Premium X50 after your subscription ends, you can actually do so with Flux’s “Subscribe to Own” feature. For the 36-month contract, you will need to pay RM68,000 to own the car. On top of that, Flux also allows you to swap cars if you don’t like the X50 during your subscription period.

Keen to subscribe to the Proton X50 on Flux? You can do so
right here
. Given that the Flagship models were snatched up so quickly, you may want to act quickly if you want the remaining Premium variants.


Mihoyo: Zhongli Working as Intended in Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact’s newest 5-star character,
Zhongli
, got very mixed receptions from players. This prompted Mihoyo to give a response on the power level of the character, and while there
is
a bug with one of Zhongli’s abilities, the character itself is basically working as intended.

Mihoyo gave a rather lengthy response addressing Zhongli’s power level on
Genshin Impact’s forums
. The developer wrote that Zhongli is designed as a support character, and his core abilities do just that. His Jade Shield provides “effective absorption and cover without relying on any other equipment,” while his Elemental Burst, Planet Befall, “exerts effective control over groups of enemies without relying on elemental reactions or equipment bonuses.”

“From a design standpoint, these two features enable Zhongli to fulfill his role as a support character, and from a review of actual game data, we have discovered that Zhongli is, in fact, effectively improving Travelers’ survival capabilities,” Mihoyo added.

What about the bug with Zhongli’s ability? Turns out, when his Level 2 Constellation ability is active, casting an Elemental Burst may not trigger the damage boost given by the Elemental Resonance effect of Enduring Rock (which increases attack damage by 15% when protected by a shield). This will be fixed with an update on 10 December, and as compensation, Mihoyo will give 100 Primogems to all players.

“We are engaged in a deep analysis of Zhongli. In future versions, we will continue to analyse, assess, and adjust things so that all the characters you love have their roles to play and moments to shine. We can only ask that Travelers continue to be patient in the meantime,” said Mihoyo.

I managed to pull for Zhongli in the current banner, and while he’s not the most ideal DPS character, the utility of his shield and Elemental Burst (which hits quite hard) are nice to have for survivability and crowd control. Of course, some players are of the opinion that these abilities do not match his status as a 5-star character, but it’s worth pointing out that this may change in the future.

After all, if rumours are to be believed, more Geo characters are coming to Genshin Impact. The upcoming Version 1.2 update, for one, is said to add Albedo as another 5-star Geo character. We’ll find out soon if Zhongli and Albedo will be able to complement each other’s abilities.


HP Omen 15 With GTX 1650 Now in Malaysia for RM4,439

HP just launched its latest gaming laptop in Malaysia, the HP Omen 15. Compared to its predecessor, the new Omen 15 has a much more subdued, minimalist design that looks a lot more modern. On top of that, it also has a thinner chassis now for better portability.

Only one variant of the Omen 15 is available for the Malaysian market right now. Retailing at RM4,439, this model comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, an Intel Core i5-10300H processor paired with 8GB of 2933MHz DDR4 RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a conventional 60Hz refresh rate.

Now, it’s worth noting that there are more powerful variants of the Omen 15 with much beefier GPU options – up to an RTX 2070 Super – and even a blazing fast 300Hz screen. At the moment, only this one configuration of the gaming laptop is offered for the Malaysian market, though we wouldn’t be surprised if more variants are offered in the future.

Nonetheless, one of the best aspects of the Omen 15 has to be its much more understated design. There’s only a simple diamond logo on the gaming laptop’s lid, and measuring 22.5mm tall, it’s actually 11% slimmer than its predecessor. But weighing 2.36kg, it’s still quite a hefty machine.

We were told that the HP Omen 15 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM4,439, though it’s not in stock yet on
HP’s Malaysian online store
 at the time of writing. According to HP, a RM100 ewallet voucher will also be given out to buyers.


Acer Swift 5 & Swift 3 With Intel Tiger Lake Chips Now in Malaysia; From RM3,299

More laptops powered by Intel’s latest 11th generation Tiger Lake chips are coming to Malaysia. Enter the new Acer Swift 5 and Acer Swift 3; thin and light productivity laptops that don’t cost quite as much as their competition. This is especially true with the Swift 3.

Since it’s the more affordable option, let’s talk about the Swift 3 first. With a 15.95mm thin chassis that weighs only 1.2kg, it’s an ideal productivity laptop for those who are always on the go. Two variants of the Swift 3 are offered for the Malaysian market: the Core i5-1135G7 model with 8GB of RAM costs RM3,299, while the higher-end Core i7-1165G7 configuration with 16GB of RAM goes for RM4,199.

Regardless of which variant you go for, you will get 512GB of SSD storage, a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen, and Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.

The Acer Swift 3
The Acer Swift 5

As for the more premium Swift 5, it’s even lighter and thinner than the Swift 3. It measures only 14.95mm thin, and tipping the scales at merely 1.05kg, this is a very lightweight, very portable productivity laptop. Acer managed to trim down the weight of the Swift 5 using a combination of high-grade magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminium.

Just like the Swift 3, there are two variants of the Swift 5 for the local market. The base model comes with a Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB RAM for RM3,999, while the Core i7-1165G7 model with 16GB of RAM is priced at RM4,999. Both configurations also have a 14-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 512GB SSD.

To recap, the Acer Swift 5 and Swift 3 retail from RM3,999 and RM3,299 respectively, and they are now available for purchase in Malaysia. Do note that both of these productivity laptops also come with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 pre-installed.


2020 Honda CR-V Facelift Received 1,700 Bookings; 1,300 Units Already Delivered

The
2020 Honda CR-V facelift
 was launched here in Malaysia just last month, and it has garnered over 1,700 bookings to date. According to Honda Malaysia, this is a 180% increase in bookings within a month. What’s even more impressive is the fact that 1,300 units of the C-segment SUV have already been delivered to customers.

Out of the 1,700 bookings, the 1.5L TC-P 2WD variant of the CR-V – which sits just below the range-topping 1.5L TC-P 4WD trim – is the most popular model, accounting for 45% of the total booking. As for colour option, the Dark Olive Metallic is the most preferred one, with 30% of buyers going for that shade.

Again, with over 1,300 units already delivered, Honda Malaysia “assures that the New CR-V will be delivered to customers in a timely manner.” If you’re worried the SUV wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the 100% tax exemption given by the government – which is ending this month – you can rest easy now.

The facelifted CR-V is offered with two engine options. The base 2.0L 2WD model is powered by a 2.0L SOHC i-VTEC engine that puts out 154PS and 189Nm of torque, while the other two turbo variants are packed with a more powerful 1.5L DOHC VTEC turbocharged engine with 193PS and 243Nm of torque.

Both engine options are paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent to the front wheels, except for the all-wheel drive 1.5L TC-P 4WD model. Honda LaneWatch is also offered as standard, but only the turbo variants get the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, which include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low Speed Follow (LSF), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS).

The facelifted Honda CR-V starts at RM139,912.53 for the 2.0L 2WD trim, and the price goes up to RM157,615.91 and RM162,910.18 for the 1.5L TC-P 2WD and 1.5L TC-P 4WD models respectively. Note that these prices are only valid until 31 December 2020, since the tax exemption period is set to end then. Come 2021, they will go for RM145,400, RM164,300, and RM169,900 respectively.


The Sleek & Rugged Acer Enduro N3 Lands in Malaysia; Starts at RM4,699

Initially unveiled back at Acer’s Next@Acer Global Press Conference in June, the rugged Acer Enduro N3 is now available in Malaysia. Despite its rugged nature, it is still surprisingly sleek. In fact, Acer touts this as the thinnest and lightest 14-inch laptop with an IP53 rating.

That’s right, the Enduro N3 is IP53-rated, so it is resistant to both dust and water to a certain extent. Tipping the scales at 1.99kg with a 24.85mm chassis – along with MIL-STD-810G certification – the N3 is also noticeably thinner and lighter than other rugged laptops.

Two variants of the Enduro N3 are available in Malaysia. The base model features an Intel Core i5-10210U processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage for RM4,699, while the higher-end Core i7-10510U model with the same amount of RAM – but with a more generous 512GB SSD – goes for RM5,699.

Other specifications of the Enduro N3 include a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen, up to 13 hours of battery life, reinforced corners to withstand drops, Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the display from water, and an “Aquafan” that repels water from all angles.

According to Acer Malaysia, the Acer Enduro N3 will be available for pre-order on its
official website
. If you need a rugged laptop for your work environment, consider the Enduro N3 – it’s far sleeker than other laptops in this segment.


M1 Macs Are Now Available in Malaysia

We
first spotted the new M1 Macs on SIRIM
 a couple of weeks ago, and they are now officially available for purchase here in Malaysia. These include the M1-powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini; just in time for the holidays.

Out of the three new products, the MacBook Air will ship the earliest on
Apple’s Malaysian online store
. Both the 256GB and 512GB configurations are said to be delivered to customers in three to five business days. As for the MacBook Pro and Mac mini, they are set to ship between five to seven business days.

To recap, the M1 Mac mini retails from RM2,999 for the base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage; you can get the RM3,799 model if you want to upgrade the SSD storage to 512GB. The M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, on the other hand, start at RM4,399 and RM5,599 respectively; both base models feature 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

Compared to their Intel counterparts, the M1 chip powering these new Macs bring some notable improvements. For one, as it is built on a 5nm process, its power efficiency is far better. With the MacBook Pro, for example, users can expect to get up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge with the new processor; 18 hours for the MacBook Air.

On top of that, Apple also promises that the M1 chip is packed with the world’s fastest CPU core and integrated GPU.

If you’d like to get the new M1-powered Macs before the Christmas holiday, you may want to order it as soon as possible on
Apple’s Malaysian online store
. Alternatively, you can also head to your nearest Apple reseller.


2021 Hyundai Elantra Lands in Malaysia for RM158,888; CBU From South Korea

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) officially launched the 2021 Hyundai Elantra in Malaysia today. The new C-segment sedan is certainly more eye-catching than its competition thanks to its aggressive styling, and since the seventh generation Elantra is fully imported (CBU) from South Korea, it costs quite a bit more too.

As we’ve previously reported
, only a single variant of the new Elantra is offered for the Malaysian market. Retailing at RM158,888 (excluding insurance), this price is actually with tax exemption applied, so expect the C-segment sedan to cost even more come next year.

For that kind of money, the latest Elantra does come with some nice bells and whistles. Aside from its unique looks, it also features Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of active safety features, which include Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with stop and go function, and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

As for what’s under the hood, the Elantra is powered by a 1.6L SmartStream four-cylinder MPI engine that offers 123PS and 154Nm of torque paired with Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), the Korean company’s version of a CVT gearbox. It is said to offer “superior efficiency and simulates gear shifts” like a conventional automatic transmission.

Other specifications of the new Elantra include 17-inch alloy wheels, two choices of interior colour scheme (black or light grey), leather seats, six airbags, and four colour options: Intense Blue, Amazon Grey, Electric Shadow, and Polar White.

To recap, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra is now on sale in Malaysia for RM158,888. This being a CBU from South Korea, it obviously doesn’t offer as good value for money as other C-segment sedans, such as the locally assembled (CKD)
Honda Civic
. Nonetheless, the new Elantra is easily one of the most eye-catching sedans in the market now, though its aggressive styling may not be to everyone’s taste.


Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite Official, Coming to Malaysia Soon

Xiaomi just revealed its latest smartwatch, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite. Basically, it’s the global version of the Redmi Watch, which was recently launched in China. Aside from that, we also have good reason to believe that the affordable smartwatch will be made available in Malaysia very soon.

While we were going through SIRIM’s database, we notice that both Era International Network and Rainbow Distribution registered a smartwatch with the model number REDMIWT02. In the latter’s listing, it’s described as the Mi Watch Lite, signaling that the smartwatch is in fact making its way here.

Design wise, there’s no denying that the Mi Watch Lite looks very similar to the
Apple Watch
. It has a rectangular 1.4-inch 320 x 320 screen, which is an LCD panel. Of course, it would’ve been great if it was an OLED display instead, but given the affordable positioning of this smartwatch, some sacrifices had to be made.

Other specifications of the Mi Watch Lite include a 230mAh battery that can deliver up to nine days of battery life, a heart rate sensor for activity and sleep monitoring, 11 workout modes, over 120 different watch faces, as well as a 5 ATM water resistance rating.

No word yet on the Malaysian availability or local pricing of the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite. But given that it has already been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it’s only a matter of time before the smartwatch is officially launched here.


Glorious Panda Switch Quick Review: Great Tactile Switch (For Enthusiasts)

Glorious has been in the PC peripheral market for quite some time, but it seems to be focusing quite a bit on the
custom mechanical keyboard
 scene in recent times. Enter the company’s first-ever switch, the Glorious Panda, which is based on the very popular Holy Panda tactile switch.

Overall, the Glorious Panda switch left quite a favourable impression on me, but there are some noteworthy shortcomings that could be a dealbreaker to some. But if you want one of the most accessible – and affordable – “Holy Panda variants” in the market now, the Glorious Panda fits the bill.

What It Is

What makes the Glorious Panda quite a bit more interesting than other Holy Panda clones in the market now is Glorious’ claim that its switch is made using the original Invyr Panda housing molds, which were thought to be either destroyed or damaged. The stem, however, is Glorious’ own design that supposedly offers less pre-travel and stronger upstroke.

Besides that, the Glorious Panda bottoms out at 67g with a three-pin design – making this a plate-mounted switch – and it is shipped completely unlubed. For the Malaysian market, a box of Glorious Panda switches (which include 36 pieces)
costs RM109
. Not exactly affordable, but certainly cheaper than, say,
Drop’s Holy Panda switch
.

The Good Stuff

Switches that are modelled after the Holy Panda offer very pronounced tactile bump, and the same applies to the Glorious Panda. But unlike other “highly tactile” switches that aim for maximum tactility – this is not always a good thing – the Glorious Panda has a rounded tactile bump that makes for a more…comfortable typing experience.

On top of that, there is almost no pre-travel before the tactile bump either, so the bump starts at the very beginning of the downstroke. Granted, I tend to bottom out quite often because of this, but my typing accuracy actually improved after switching (no pun intended) to the Glorious Panda. The pronounced – but not overly so – tactile feedback definitely contribute to this.

Aside from that, I quite dig the sound profile of the Glorious Panda too. Every activation of the switch produces a “snappy” sound of sorts, and while it’s quite loud, it is not at all unpleasant. Once the Glorious Panda is lubed and filmed, I imagine it will sound even better. There’s definitely potential for the switch to produce a “thockier” sound profile.

Last but definitely not least is the packaging of the Glorious Panda. Granted, this does not directly impact the performance of the switch itself, but I really applaud Glorious’ effort to package the switch in such a nice-looking box. In a landscape where most mechanical keyboard switches ship in a simple ziplock bag, Glorious’ packaging certainly stands out.

The Bad Stuff

Now, while I do like the sound profile of the Glorious Panda, it does have some other unpleasant sounds too. One of the most prominent issues is the pinging of the spring, especially at faster typing speeds. On top of that, a number of the switches have noticeably louder ticking sounds from the leaf as well, along with some audible scratchiness.

These two issues can be attributed to the unlubed nature of the Glorious Panda, which brings me to the other shortcoming of this switch. While enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that they can control exactly how much lube to apply to these switches, those that are not comfortable with lubing (especially beginners) will not be able to bring out the maximum potential of the Glorious Panda.

In that sense, this is not the best switch for beginners or folks that don’t plan to lube or film the switches.

And then there’s the Glorious Panda’s wobble, which isn’t great for a 67g switch. While it doesn’t have much vertical wobble, the horizontal wobble is far more pronounced. Paired with a set of MT3 keycaps, the horizontal wobble is definitely noticeable. Granted, MT3 keycaps are quite a bit taller than Cherry profile keycaps, so any form of wobble will be more evident.

Is It Worth It?

Out of the box, the Glorious Panda isn’t the best stock tactile switch, though it is far from the worst. To get the most out of this switch, it absolutely needs to be lubed to remove the scratchiness, spring ping, and ticking of the leaf. Once it is lubed, this is easily one of the best
and
most accessible Holy Panda variants in the market now.

That’s right, even here in Malaysia, you can get the Glorious Panda switch from local retailers. Dotatech and Sun Cycle are the two authorised retailers for Glorious products locally, so hopefully, these two companies will also bring in the
GMMK Pro
 custom mechanical keyboard in the near future.


Proton to Focus on Export Markets in 2021, Including Proton X50’s International Debut

Proton just revealed more details on its export business. Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, the national carmaker’s export business has actually grown by 10.6% this year. This month itself, Proton will be entering more international markets, including the international debut of the highly sought-after
Proton X50
.

Of course, we’ve actually covered this in our previous report when the X50 was
open for booking in Brunei
. According to the press release sent by Proton, the B-segment SUV is only set to debut in Brunei at the moment, though there is a good chance the X50 will also be sold in other markets in the future.

Aside from the X50, Proton will commence CKD and sales operations in two markets as well: Kenya and Pakistan. The carmaker did not reveal which particular model will be sold in these two countries, but according to a
Facebook post by State House Kenya
, at least the Proton Saga is confirmed for the Kenyan market.

Speaking of the Saga, both Bangladesh and Egypt will be launching the A-segment sedan in their respective markets sometime this month, followed by Nepal before the end of the year. Evidently, Proton is focusing on the Saga quite a bit for its export business.

Now, despite putting more emphasis on export markets in 2021, Proton will definitely continue to meet local demand as well. “The company (Proton) strives to meet strong local demand for its products in December,” the carmaker said. Hopefully, this means more customers will get their X50 soon, given that only
2,203 units of the SUV
 have been delivered as of the end of November.


12 – 18 December Fuel Price: Another Price increase

Fuel prices are going up across the board for the
fifth
 time in a row this coming week. RON 95, RON 97, and even diesel will go up by 3 sen per litre this midnight. Consider fueling up later tonight if you need to.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.73 per litre (up from RM1.70) and RON 97 to RM2.03 per litre (RM2.00 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM1.93 per litre this coming week compared to RM1.90 previously.

These prices will be in effect from 12 to 18 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Video: PlayStation 5 Unboxing!

The
PlayStation 5
 is officially available in Malaysia today! We were lucky enough to pre-order a unit of the standard model, so if you’re wondering what you get with Sony’s next generation console, here’s our unboxing of the PS5!

What surprised us quite a bit is the sheer size of the PS5, and it’s a pretty hefty console too, tipping the scales at 4.5kg. Unlike its predecessors, the PS5 is actually bundled with a stand, which is actually necessary to lay the console horizontally. The console can actually be propped up vertically without using the stand, but we’d definitely install it for better airflow.

No word yet on future restocks of the PlayStation 5 for the Malaysian market, but we reckon more units of the console will arrive here in the near future; we don’t recommend
purchasing the system above retail price from scalpers
. To recap, the standard PS5 goes for RM2,299 here, while the PS5 Digital Edition costs RM1,869.


Genshin Impact 1.2 Arrives 23 December; Ganyu, Albedo & Dragonspine Incoming

Mihoyo just revealed a lot more details on Genshin Impact’s upcoming Version 1.2 update. Not only are we getting a new area (Dragonspine), the 1.2 update will also see the debut of two new 5-star characters: Ganyu and Albedo.

It’s not confirmed yet just which of the two 5-star characters will be introduced first, but given that Ganyu’s “Sinae Unicornis” story quest will only be released in mid-January 2021 – while Albedo’s “Princeps Cretaceus” quest is set to go live after the Version 1.2 update – it’s likely that Albedo’s banner will go live first on 23 December.

It makes sense for Albedo to be available in the game earlier, given that Version 1.2 will introduce a new seasonal event called The Chalk Prince and the Dragon. This event will see the Traveler joining forces with Albedo to investigate a mysterious sword called the Festering Desire. In fact, players can actually obtain and fully refine that sword (it’s a 4-star weapon) through this event.

Of course, there’s also the new Dragonspine map, which introduces the new Sheer Cold mechanic. Given the cold climate of Dragonspine, players will need to find ways to keep warm in the new area. Otherwise, Sheer Cold will slowly chip away at the player’s health. Naturally, new enemies and craftable weapons can also be found in Dragonspine.

Genshin Impact’s Version 1.2 update will go live on 23 December 2020, right after the
current Zhongli banner
 (Gentry of Hermitage) ends on 22 December. For other new changes that will be introduced in Version 1.2, check out
our previous article
.


Asus TUF Gaming A17 Laptop With RTX 3060 & Ryzen 7 5800H Surfaces

Gaming laptops are about to get more powerful next year. According to an early product listing, the 2021 Asus TUF Gaming A17 gaming laptop will come with the yet to be announced AMD Ryzen 5800H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. If these hardware are accurate, the A17 is shaping up to be a reasonably capable gaming laptop.

First spotted by
VideoCardz
, a listing for the new TUF Gaming A17 is still live on
Expert.de
; the listing also revealed some key specifications of the new Ryzen 7 5800H. It’s said to have a base clock speed of 3.0GHz, which can be boosted up to 4.3GHz. For comparison, these clock speeds are 100MHz faster than its direct predecessor, the Ryzen 7 4800H.

As for the RTX 3060, only the GPU’s 6GB GDDR6 memory is revealed in the listing. But given the general performance improvement the RTX 30 series brings to the table, we reckon this mobile RTX 3060 Will be quite a bit faster than the RTX 2060 GPU found in most gaming laptops in the market now.

Other specifications of the TUF Gaming A17 shown in the listing include a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB SSD storage. Basically, standard hardware for a gaming laptop in this segment. There doesn’t seem to be any drastic design changes either.

Given that CES 2021 is happening very soon, there’s a good chance the new Asus TUF Gaming A17 will make its debut at the trade show. It’ll be interesting to see if Asus’ other gaming laptops – especially the compact
ROG Zephyrus G14
 – will also be updated with the new Ryzen 5000 processors and RTX 30 series GPUs then.


Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale – 120 Milo Packs Were Sold Every Minute

Shopee just revealed some rather interesting figures for its 12.12 Birthday Sale last weekend. Not only did over 875,000 items were sold in
Selangor
 alone within the first hour of the sale, as many as 120 packs of Milo were sold
every minute
 on the platform in the morning of 12 December – that’s a lot of Milo to go around.

Besides that, one individual actually made 180 orders on Shopee that morning on 12 December, though the e-commerce platform didn’t reveal exactly what the user bought. Even more impressive is the fact that in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, 12 million items were collectively sold on Shopee in the first 24 minutes of its 12.12 Birthday Sale.

Other interesting figures throughout the Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale for the Malaysian market include over 1.2 million home and living items sold, 670,000 stationary items purchased with more than 200,000 school uniforms, bags, shoes, and pencil cases sold, as well as the purchase of over half a million snacks.

“Being able to record another groundbreaking 12.12 Birthday Sale and coming a long way the past five years is extremely humbling for all of us at Shopee. This year especially as 2020 has presented us with a whirlwind of experiences. Given the unprecedented circumstances, we wanted to ensure that our fifth birthday would be a special day not just for Shopee but more so, for the people we serve,” said the regional managing director of Shopee, Ian Ho.

Online shopping adoption has definitely increased quite a bit here in Malaysia, especially more so this year with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Shopee’s 12.12 sales figures show that online shopping has grown immensely on our shores.


2020 Honda City RM2,000 Discount Extended to 31 December; 5,800 Units Delivered

Didn’t manage to book the
2020 Honda City
 to be eligible for the
RM2,000 discount
? Well, good news: Honda Malaysia announced that the promotion has now been extended to 31 December. Any customer that placed a booking and registered their City by the end of the year will get the RM2,000 rebate.

Of course, just like the previous promotion, this RM2,000 discount is only applicable to the S and E variants of the new City. The V trim, which is the range-topping petrol model, is not part of the promotion. Neither is the top-of-the-line RS e:HEV variant, which is only set to be available in Malaysia sometime in January next month.

On top of that, the Japanese company also revealed that close to 5,800 units of the City have already been delivered to customers. The number of bookings have also grown to 11,100, though Honda Malaysia did not reveal the variant breakdown. “We endeavour to continue to work hard to meet customer demand and deliver the cars to all customers in a timely manner,” said the managing director and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Toichi Ishiyama.

Anyway, under the hood of the S, E, and V variants of the City is the same 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque. It is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent to the front wheels. The V model gets 16-inch alloy wheels, while the more affordable S and E trims get 15-inch alloys.

Honda City Variant
Price with sales tax exemption
Price without sales tax exemption
Price difference
S
RM74,191.27
RM76,800
RM
2,608.73
E
RM81,664.82
RM84,800
RM3,135.18
V
RM86,561.45
RM89,800
RM3,238.55

You can now head to your nearest Honda dealership to place a booking for the 2020 Honda City; those who book the S or E variant and register their vehicle by 31 December 2020 will also receive a RM2,000 rebate. Of course, the 100% sales tax exemption will be included as well – the prices before and after tax are shown in the table above.


Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite Lands in Malaysia 20 December for RM249; Early Birds Get RM50 Discount

The Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite is landing in Malaysia very soon. We first spotted the smartwatch
just last week on SIRIM
, and we just got word from Xiaomi Malaysia that the wearable will be available locally from 20 December onwards for RM249 – a reasonably low price tag.

If you want an even better deal for the Mi Watch Lite, you can actually place a pre-order for the smartwatch tomorrow on 17 December from Xiaomi’s official store on Lazada. Instead of RM249, the wearable will be sold
at only RM199
, though we were told that limited quantities are available.

As far as looks go, the Mi Watch Lite is very similar to the
Apple Watch
; it even has a rectangular 1.4-inch 320 x 320 LCD screen. While it would’ve been great if it came with an OLED display instead, this
is
 an affordable smartwatch. Some sacrifices had to be made to bring down the price of the wearable.

Other specifications of the Mi Watch Lite include a 230mAh battery that can deliver up to nine days of battery life, a heart rate sensor for activity and sleep monitoring, 11 workout modes, over 120 different watch faces – though only five are available out of the box – as well as a 5 ATM water resistance rating.

The Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite will be available for pre-order tomorrow in Malaysia through Lazada
for only RM199
 instead of RM249. If you want to check out the smartwatch at a physical outlet instead, you can do so from 20 December onwards.


Logitech G Pro X Superlight Gaming Mouse Costs RM649 in Malaysia

The extremely lightweight
Logitech G Pro X Superlight
 gaming mouse seems to be arriving in Malaysia very soon. Introduced globally just last month, the Superlight will cost RM649 on our shores – a premium price tag for an equally premium gaming mouse.

We first spotted the Malaysian pricing of the G Pro X Superlight on
Logitech’s official Malaysian website
. The gaming mouse is said to cost RM649 here, though the exact local availability has not been revealed yet. It’s worth noting that at this price point, the Superlight is actually slightly more affordable than the original asking price of Logitech’s other high-end, lightweight gaming mouse, the G Pro Wireless (RM669).

For that kind of money, you do get a very impressive mouse. The G Pro X Superlight tips the scales at 63g, but you can actually remove the magnetic plate on the bottom of the mouse to reduce the weight to
only 60g
. It also has much larger “zero-additive” PTFE feet (in comparison to the G Pro Wireless) for a smoother glide, along with up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Besides that, the G Pro X Superlight also uses the same sensor as the G Pro Wireless, which is still considered to be one of the best wireless gaming mice in the market now. However, compared to the latter, the Superlight does exclude a number of features. It doesn’t have as much LED lighting, the DPI button on the bottom of the mouse has been removed, and it no longer has the modular, removable buttons on the right side of the mouse for left-handed gamers.

To recap, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight retails at RM649 in Malaysia. We’ve reached out to Logitech to confirm exactly when the lightweight gaming mouse will be available for purchase locally; we’ll update this article accordingly once we hear back from the company.


Video: Glorious Panda Switch Review & Sound Test

The Holy Panda is easily one of the most popular switches in the custom mechanical keyboard scene, so it’s no surprise then that a lot of “Holy Panda variants” have been released over the years. One of which is this one right here: the Glorious Panda.

But unlike the majority of switches in the market now, the Glorious Panda is far more accessible; at least for us here in Malaysia. Right now, you can get a box of the switch (which include 36 pieces)
for RM109
. Compared to other Holy Panda-inspired switches, the Glorious Panda is actually one of the more affordable options.

Still not quite sure the Glorious Panda is for you? Then check out the video above and our written review of the switch
right here
.


Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5) Quick Review: Must-Play PS5 Launch Title

Marvel’s Spider-Man for the PlayStation 4 was easily one of the best “superhero games” to hit the market in recent times, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales builds upon the original to deliver a fresh new experience. Taking advantage of the PlayStation 5’s extra power, Miles Morales is a fantastic-looking game with some meaningful additions over the previous entry in the series.

If you’re a new PS5 owner, Miles Morales is a must-play to showcase the sheer power of the next generation console. The game does have some shortcomings here and there, but it’s still a proper AAA title that does the series justice.

What It Is

Spider-Man: Miles Morales takes place some time after the events of the first game. Miles is the new Spider-Man protecting New York on his lonesome while Peter Parker is away on vacation. If you’ve played the original, you would be right at home with Miles Morales. Both games play very similarly with some small differences here and there.

The Good Stuff

One of the best features of Spider-Man: Miles Morales has to be its
gorgeous
 graphics. Thanks to the PS5’s much beefier hardware, the game can run at 60fps
even
 with ray tracing enabled. Really, the extra frames and improved fidelity make this game an absolutely joy to behold, even as I’m just swinging around the streets of New York.

Besides that, compared to Peter, Miles has more tricks up his sleeves. Not only can he turn invisible – making stealth gameplay a lot easier – he can also channel bioelectricity. This gives him a suite of (very flashy) electro-powered special attacks that make for a more dynamic combat system. Even his finishers look more stylish!

Of course, the immersive world exploration of the first game is very much present in Miles Morales too. It’s essentially the same map as before, though Miles do get his own side missions to pad up the post-story content of the game. Just like the original, Miles Morales has a New Game+ mode as well, which unlocks a number of abilities not available on the initial playthrough.

As for the main storyline of Miles Morales, it’s quite enjoyable. While I do wish it was a tad longer, it still has a fleshed out plot that doesn’t feel rushed or too brief. It explores Miles’ own struggle as Spider-Man, and it feels unique to his character.

The Bad Stuff

Despite leveraging on the extra graphics power of the PS5, Spider-Man: Miles Morales didn’t take advantage of the new DualSense controller as much as I had hoped. There were a number of in-game moments that used the more refined haptic feedback of the controller, but these instances were few and far between.

Same goes for the DualSense’s other big new feature, the adaptive triggers. As I was swinging around New York with Miles, I can feel the adaptive triggers giving
some
resistance, but they don’t exactly add much to the immersion of the game. In comparison, Astro’s Playroom used the DualSense’s new features much more effectively, but granted, that game was designed to showcase the capabilities of the new controller.

And then there’s the cost of Miles Morales. Even though it
retails at RM209
 – the going rate for a typical AAA title – you’re not getting a whole lot of content with the game. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Miles Morales, but it doesn’t exactly compare to, say, the sheer amount of content offered in the original game.

Is It Worth It?

Even though Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is quite expensive for the amount of content that’s included in the game, it’s definitely worth it for those who plan to play it on the PS5 system for the gorgeous graphics, more dynamic combat system, and storyline that expands upon the first game.

If you’re new to the series, Miles Morales is even easier to recommend with the Ultimate Edition, which includes the remastered version of the first game for only RM299. You’re getting
much more
 value for your money with this bundle, given that the remastered edition includes all of the DLCs that were previously released for the game
and
 upgraded visuals.

It’ll be exciting to see what direction Insomniac Games will take with its Spider-Man series after Miles Morales. With two Spider-Mans co-existing in the same universe, this franchise has a lot of potential for growth, and I absolutely cannot wait to play the next instalment of the game.


2021 Toyota Yaris Facelift Lands in Malaysia: Toyota Safety Sense & Android Auto From RM71k With SST

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) launched a slew of new models in Malaysia today, and one of them is the 2021 Toyota Yaris facelift. Now equipped with Toyota’s Safety Sense – the Japanese company’s suite of driver assistance systems – the new B-segment hatchback also comes with a slightly different front end design along with support for Android Auto.

First, let’s talk prices; the final prices of the Yaris are actually lower than the
estimated pricing unveiled last month
. The base J variant goes for RM70,940, while the higher-end E and G models cost RM80,380 and RM84,808 respectively. These are on-the-road prices with SST included, suggesting that deliveries for the hatchback will only begin next year.

One of the biggest upgrades the facelifted Yaris received is Toyota Safety Sense. Available on the E and G variants – the base J model doesn’t get this – it includes two major features: Pre-Collision System (PCS) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA). The former warns the driver and automatically applies the brakes when there’s a risk of frontal collision, while LDA alerts the driver when the car is (unintentionally) getting out of lane.

Under the hood of the new Yaris is the very same Dual VVT-i 2NR-FE 1.5L engine found in the pre-facelift model. It outputs 107PS and 140Nm of torque, with drive sent to the front wheels by a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a seven-speed Shiftmatic mode.

Aside from that, the front end of the Yaris is slightly reworked as well. LED headlights are now standard across the range, and the lower grille is much wider now. These changes don’t radically change the looks of the Yaris, but they do give the hatchback a cleaner, more aggressive styling, in our opinion. As for wheels, the J model gets 15-inch alloys, while the E and G trims come with larger 16-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, all variants of the updated Yaris come with fabric seats and seven airbags. The J and E models get urethane steering wheels with manual air-conditioning, while the range-topping G models has a leather-wrapped steering wheel with single-zone automatic air-conditioning. It’s also worth noting that the infotainment system of the E and G models now supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay too.

The 2021 Toyota Yaris facelift is now available for viewing and test drive at all Toyota dealerships and UMWT branches nationwide. The B-segment hatchback is offered in three colours: Red Mica Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Silver Metallic.


2021 Toyota Vios Facelift & Vios GR-S Launched in Malaysia – RM75k to RM95k

Aside from the
facelifted Yaris
, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) also introduced its sedan sibling in Malaysia, the
2021 Toyota Vios facelift
. On top of that, the company unveiled the sportier Vios GR-S on our shores too. Compared to the regular Vios, the GR-S model has a more aggressive styling with a sports-tuned suspension, among other things.

Four different models of the Vios are offered here. The most affordable J variant costs RM74,623, while the E and G trims go for RM82,593 and RM87,584 respectively. As for the sporty Vios GR-S – which is based on the G variant of the regular Vios – it is priced at RM95,284.

Just like the facelifted Yaris, these prices are with SST included, suggesting that deliveries of the Vios will only start next year.

The regular Vios
The Vios GR-S

Regardless of which variant you go for – yes, even the Vios GR-S – the updated Vios soldiers on with the same Dual VVT-i 2NR-FE 1.5L engine that does 107PS and 140Nm of torque. It is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a seven-speed Shiftmatic mode, though the Vios GR-S gets a 10-speed CVT instead.

The 10-speed CVT isn’t the only equipment that’s unique to the Vios GR-S. It also comes with the aforementioned sports-tuned suspension for “increased handling and confidence in high speed as well as comfort,” 17-inch alloy wheels, sports seats wrapped in leather and suede, and a more aggressively-styled aerokit than the regular Vios.

These differences aside, other aspects of the Vios GR-S are identical to the G model. That means it still features the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance systems, which is actually offered in all variants of the Vios except for the base J trim. Safety Sense includes Pre-Collision System (PCS) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and these two features can be switched off if the driver doesn’t need them.

Every model of the Vios also gets seven airbags, but only the G variant gets leather wrapped steering wheel and seats; other trims of the regular Vios feature urethane steering wheels and fabric upholstery instead. Besides that, the facelifted Vios supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well, though the base J model does not.

The 2021 Toyota Vios facelift is now available for viewing and testing at all Toyota dealerships and UMWT branches. The Vios GR-S, on the other hand, can only be test driven at
selected showrooms
.


19 – 25 December Fuel Price: RON 95 & RON 97 Up 5 Sen, Diesel Up 3 Sen

Fuel prices are going up yet again across the board for the sixth time in a row this coming week. RON 95 and RON 97 will go up by 5 sen per litre this midnight, while diesel sees a smaller price increase of 3 sen per litre.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.78 per litre (up from RM1.73) and RON 97 to RM2.08 per litre (RM2.03 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM1.96 per litre this coming week compared to RM1.93 previously.

These prices will be in effect from 19 to 25 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Video: Dell XPS 13 Hands-On

When it comes to premium productivity laptops, few are quite as accomplished as Dell’s XPS series, and the 2020 Dell XPS 13 exemplifies this. Sporting a compact chassis, a fantastic 16:10 screen, and a minimalist, sleek-looking design, the XPS 13 is a great option for those that want a compact, premium laptop for productivity tasks.

But first, a disclaimer: Dell sent us this unit of the XPS 13. Of course, we will still give the productivity laptop a fair, honest assessment. Rest assured, we will not be misleading our dear readers in this hands on and the subsequent review!

The new Dell XPS 13 with Intel’s latest Tiger Lake processors are now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM6,399. The full model lineup can be found
over here
.


Genshin Impact 1.3 Update Will Buff Zhongli & Geo Element

Mihoyo
just announced
 some exciting changes coming to
Genshin Impact
 Version 1.3. Once the update is rolled out, the 5-star character Zhongli will receive some pretty significant buffs. The Geo element will also see some notable changes that will provide much more utility.

First, let’s talk about the (tentative) buffs to Zhongli. One of the most significant changes lies in his passive talent, Dominance of Earth. Currently, this talent only increases the damage of his Elemental Burst (Planet Befall), but once Version 1.3 is here, the damage of his normal attacks and Elemental Skill (Dominus Lapidis) will also be increased based on his max HP.

Zhongli’s buffed normal attack (left) in Version 1.3
Holding Dominus Lapidis (left) will also summon a Stone Stele in Version 1.3
The increased interruption resistance (left) of Dominus Lapidis in action

Aside from that, Zhongli’s Dominus Lapidis Elemental Skill will be reworked too. Right now, holding the skill will only create a shield, but the new version will
also
 summon a Stone Stele. On top of that, the interruption resistance of the skill in holding mode will be significantly increased too; Zhongli can even tank a hit from a
Mitachurl’s shield attack
 thanks to this.

The Geo element will also be reworked in Version 1.3 of Genshin Impact. A Geo shield, for one, will be able to absorb 150% physical
and
 elemental damage (instead of only 250% Geo damage) in the future update, making it much more effective at blocking different sources of damage. This effect applies to Geo shields created by Zhongli, Noelle, and even Geo crystals dropped by Geovishap Hatchlings.

Oh, the Geo Resonance “Enduring Rock” effect will be changed too in Version 1.3. Not only will it increase shield strength by 15%, characters protected by a shield will also deal 15% more damage. To make things even better, the Geo resistance of attacked enemies will also be lowered by 20% for 15 seconds.

Evidently, these tentative changes to Version 1.3 of Genshin Impact are meant to make Zhongli and a Geo-based team much more viable. But Mihoyo mentioned that these changes are not final, and more testing will be done in the 1.3 beta test server first before these reworks make it into the official game.

Of course, no word yet on exactly when the Genshin Impact 1.3 update will be released. But given that Version 1.2 will go live
next week on 23 December
 – about 40 days after Version 1.1 was introduced – we expect the 1.3 update to arrive sometime in February 2021.

Now that Zhongli is set to be buffed, there’s extra incentive to roll for him – his
current banner
 (Gentry of Hermitage) will be ending this Tuesday on 22 December.


Genshin Impact Albedo Banner Confirmed for 23 December With Bennett, Sucrose & Fischl

Mihoyo just confirmed Albedo’s banner for
Genshin Impact
, which will be released right after the Version 1.2 update this Wednesday on 23 December. Aside from the 5-star character Albedo, the “Secretum Secretorum” banner will also be joined by Bennett, Sucrose, and Fischl – these are some of the best 4-star characters in the game.

Just like Genshin Impact’s previous character event banners, the “drop rate” of Albedo, Bennett, Sucrose, and Fischl will be increased. In the case of Albedo, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be him. If it’s not Albedo, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be him.

Since Genshin Impact’s pity system ensures that you will get at least one 5-star item every 90 wishes, you will have to do 180 rolls for a guaranteed Albedo.

As mentioned, the 4-star characters featured in Albedo’s banner are some of the best in Genshin Impact. Fischl – which was actually featured before in Venti’s banner – is a great bow-wielding DPS character. Sucrose, on the other hand – she appeared in Klee’s banner before – is one of the best enablers in the game, which allows for absurd damages from elemental reactions.

Bennett is also a very good enabler like Sucrose, and this is the first time he is featured on a character banner. These two characters are basically essential to any team composition that wants to take advantage of elemental reactions, making this a very good banner to spend your precious Primogems on. Plus, Fischl is a good DPS character too.

Albedo’s Secretum Secretorum banner will be released this Wednesday on 23 December right after the Version 1.2 update, which is scheduled to go live at 11AM for us here in Malaysia. Check out our
previous article
 to learn more about the other changes coming to
Version 1.2 of Genshin Impact
.


Genshin Impact 1.2 Update Rewards Free Primogems to Returning Players

Version 1.2 of Genshin Impact
 will be going live this Wednesday on 23 December, and Mihoyo just announced that returning players will receive a number of rewards through the “Stellar Reunion” event. These include free Primogems, Fragile Resins, and even a complimentary 4-star weapon.

Of course, in order to be eligible for the Stellar Reunion event, a number of criteria have to be met. Only players that have not logged in for 14 days can activate the event, and they would have to be at Adventure Rank 10 or above as well.

The Stellar Reunion event is divided into four parts. The
Reunion Rewards
 give out free Primogems, Fragile Resin, and other rewards for a one-time claim. Aside from that, there’s also the
Passage of Time
 login reward, which requires players to log in daily to claim “Primogems, Fragile Resin, Hero’s Wit, Mystic Enhancement Ore, and other rewards.”

Next, there’s
Homeward Path
. By completing designated quests every day, returning players can claim rewards and accumulate points. Once you’ve got enough points, you can get the 4-star sword Prototype Rancour. The list of quests for this particular event refreshes every day at 4AM.

Last but certainly not least is
Reunion Blessing
. Basically, this event gives returning players three extra opportunities (each day) to get double drops from “Petrified Trees in Domains, Blossoms of Wealth, and Blossoms of Revelation” using Original Resin.

If you haven’t logged into
Genshin Impact
 for 14 days, the Stellar Reunion event will certainly help you catch up to other players. If you’d like to know what other changes are coming to Genshin Impact 1.2,
we’ve got you covered
.


Evil Airy Switch Quick Review: No Holy Panda, But a Decent Tactile Switch

The Evil Airy and Evil Miami tactile switches went up for group buy on
iLumkb
 in late September, and I finally received the former not too long ago. Now, one of the most interesting features of the Airy is the fact that it is “made by Panda factory,” which seems to suggest that this is another Holy Panda-inspired switch.

But after testing out the switch extensively, the Evil Airy is not quite in the same archetype as other Holy Panda variants. It’s a good tactile switch, no doubt, but if you were hoping it would be a good alternative to the Holy Panda, you should look elsewhere.

What It Is

The Evil Airy is a tactile switch with a 67g spring and a three-pin design, so it is a plate-mounted switch. Besides that, while the product page of the switch didn’t mention if it was factory lubed, the spring was definitely coated in some sort of lube to remove any possible pinging. We opened up a few of the switches just to make sure, and aside from the spring, other parts of the Airy seem to be dry.

As mentioned, I got the Airy from iLumkb’s group buy, which listed the switch at S$8.5 (about RM25) for 10 switches. This brings the price of the Airy to about RM2.50 per switch, so it’s reasonably affordable, especially when compared to other Holy Panda-esque switches like the
Glorious Panda
.

The Good Stuff

What immediately stood out to me when I started typing on the Evil Airy is the lack of any pre-travel. Thanks to this, the tactile bump of the switch starts at the very top of the downstroke, just like how it was with the Glorious Panda. In that sense, both switches have a similar typing characteristic, which is a good thing in my book.

While we’re still comparing the Airy to the Glorious Panda, the former also has a smaller (but still rounded) tactile bump compared to the Panda. If you’re not a fan of tactile switches with overly pronounced tactile bumps, you will like the Airy. That being said, despite its less pronounced tactile event, it’s still a reasonably tactile switch.

To better describe the Airy’s typing characteristic, let’s compare it to a more mainstream tactile switch, the Cherry MX Brown. The Airy – without a shadow of a doubt – has a much more pronounced tactile bump at the very beginning of the downstroke. The MX Brown, on the other hand, offer a very subtle, almost…mushy tactile bump towards the end of the downstroke.

Aside from that, I’m actually quite a fan of the Airy’s colour scheme too. With a white stem, light blue top housing, and grey bottom housing, the Airy definitely stands out from the majority of other switches in the market now. I quite like the EVIL branding on the top housing as well – it’ll definitely match keycap sets like the GMK Evil Dolch.

The Bad Stuff

Given that the Evil Airy is described as a switch made by “the Panda factory,” you’d be inclined to believe it is a Holy Panda-inspired switch of sorts. Unfortunately, this is not quite the case. Yes, it does have a more pronounced tactile bump than a mainstream tactile switch like the MX Brown, but I wouldn’t categorise it as a “highly tactile switch” – one of the defining features of switches modeled after the Holy Panda.

Again, let’s compare the Airy to the Glorious Panda. Not only does the Panda have a much more pronounced tactile bump, the Airy doesn’t feel quite as “snappy” either. For lack of a better word, the Airy doesn’t have the “eagerness” of the Panda’s upstroke, for example.

Another area where the Airy could improve upon is the audible scratchiness of the switch. Granted, this is not exactly unexpected from an unlubed switch – only the spring is lubed, after all – but you definitely need to lube it for a quieter, smoother typing experience. In fact, consider filming it as well; the stem wobble isn’t very good, with very noticeable horizontal wobble.

Is It Worth It?

Well, it depends. If you want a tactile switch that doesn’t shoot for maximum tactility, while still maintaining a modest tactile bump, then you will be very happy with the Evil Airy. But if you want a switch that’s akin to the Holy Panda with a strong tactile event, then the Airy doesn’t quite fit the bill.

Simply put, the Airy has a similar typing characteristic as the Holy Panda, but with a less pronounced tactile bump. If this is exactly what you’re looking for, great – consider picking it up. On top of that, it’s not the most expensive switch either, but the only problem is…you can’t actually purchase the Airy at the time of writing.

So far, the Evil Airy has only been offered as a
group buy on iLumkb
, and the Singapore-based retailer is currently fulfilling these orders. Once that’s done, there’s a chance iLumkb will list the switch as an in stock item sometime in the near future. if you’re interested to get the Airy, keep an eye on the retailer for any possible restock.


Tan Chong Motor Signs MoU to Sell China’s GAC Vehicles in Malaysia & Vietnam

Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH)
just announced
 that it is looking into the possibility of assembling and selling China’s GAC vehicles in Malaysia and Vietnam. If this cooperation goes forward, the local automotive industry will see the entry of another established brand.

TCMH’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TC Overseas Assets Holdings Labuan (TCOAHL), entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAC Motor International Limited (GAC International) just today to “study on the potential and feasibility of the business opportunity.” That is, to introduce GAC vehicles in Malaysia and Vietnam.

On top of that, the MoU also states that the sales, distribution, assembly, and provision of aftersales services for GAC models in the said countries (Malaysia and Vietnam) will be appointed exclusively to TCMH, or any company under it. Having GAC vehicles locally assembled here in Malaysia will be a great thing, given that the lower taxation – compared to full imported (CBU) models – will allow TCMH to offer these GAC vehicles at a more competitive price point.

Of course, given that this is only an MoU at this point in time, it’s not confirmed yet if Tan Chong Motor will in fact sell GAC models here in Malaysia and Vietnam. The MoU will be valid until 1 July 2021, unless revised by mutual agreement in writing.


Video: Evil Airy Switch Review & Sound Test

The
Evil Airy
 is a curious tactile switch. Said to be “made by Panda factory,” most would be inclined to believe that it is modeled after the hugely popular Holy Panda switch. However, after putting the Airy through its paces, this is not exactly the case.

Even though the Airy has the typing characteristic of a typical “Holy Panda variant,” its tactile bump isn’t particularly pronounced. In short, it can be described as a Holy Panda switch…with a less pronounced tactile event. If this is exactly what you’re looking for, then you may like the Airy.

At the moment, the Evil Airy switch is not available for purchase, though we reckon iLumkb – which ran the
original group buy
 – will be listing it for sale once pre-orders of the switch have been fulfilled. Check out our written review of the Airy
here
 and the video review above to learn more about this tactile switch!


26 December – 1 January Fuel Price: Prices Are Up Yet Again

Fuel prices are going up yet again across the board for the
seventh
 time in a row this coming week. RON 95, RON 97, and even diesel will go up by 2 sen per litre this midnight. Consider fueling up tonight if you need to!

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.80 per litre (up from RM1.78) and RON 97 to RM2.10 per litre (RM2.08 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM1.98 per litre this coming week compared to RM1.96 previously.

These prices will be in effect from 26 December to 1 January next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


This 165Hz Gaming Monitor Costs Only RM499

Looking for a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate on a budget? Then consider Tech Armory’s brand new Commandos Spectrum series of monitors. Retailing from only RM499, these gaming-centric monitors will definitely appeal to budget-conscious gamers.

Currently, the Commandos Spectrum series are made up of two gaming monitors. The G2411FN is a 24-inch 1080p gaming monitor with a RM499 price tag, while the higher-end G2711CA sports a larger 27-inch 1920 x 1080 curved screen for only RM699. To top it off, both of these monitors feature a fast 165Hz refresh rate with support for adaptive sync.

The Commandos Spectrum G2711CA

Out of the two products, we reckon the G2711CA is the more exciting gaming monitor despite its slightly higher asking price. After all, it has a curved screen with a 1500R curvature for a more immersive gaming experience. The display itself is also a VA panel, which should offer good contrast ratio at the expense of slightly worse viewing angles compared to an IPS display.

As for the G2411FN, it’s a no-frills, affordable gaming monitor. But given its affordable price tag, do note that it only has a “Super TN” screen. Compared to the VA panel of the G2711CA monitor, the viewing angles of the G2411FN’s TN display won’t be quite as good. Keep this in mind if you’re thinking of going with this more affordable option.

The Commandos Spectrum G2411FN

Both of the Commandos Spectrum gaming monitors are now available for purchase on
Tech Armory’s online store
. Check out the product listings of the
G2411FN
 (RM499) and
G2711CA
 (RM699) to learn more about them.


CKD Car Prices in Malaysia Won’t Increase in 2021 – Excise Duty Remains the Same

Here’s a bit of good news to end the year: the prices of locally assembled (CKD) cars will not increase come 2021. Originally, new excise duty regulations set by the customs department would’ve increased prices of CKD cars next year, but this is no longer the case.

This was confirmed by the President of Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), Datuk Aishah Ahmad, when contacted by the folks over at
Paul Tan
. This is great news, given that CKD car prices would’ve increased by
up to 20%
 if the new excise duty regulations were put into effect.

However, it’s worth noting that car prices in general will increase in 2021: the sales tax exemption on CKD and fully imported (CBU) cars as part of the government’s Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) will be ending on 31 December 2020 this Thursday. Unfortunately, it seems like the tax exemption period will not be extended.

Nonetheless, at least the prices of CKD cars will only be affected by the reintroduction of sales tax, instead of yet another price hike due to new excise duty regulations.


Xiaomi Mi 11 Official – First Snapdragon 888 Phone With 120Hz AMOLED Screen

The very first smartphone powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 888, is here. Enter the Xiaomi Mi 11, which has just been launched in China. Beyond the processor powering the phone, the Mi 11’s other hardware are reasonably high-end too.

Let’s start with the curved display of the Mi 11. It’s a rather sizeable 6.81-inch 1440p AMOLED panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, and not only does it has a 480Hz touch sampling rate – making it ideal for gamers that want the best responsiveness – this screen also has a searingly bright max brightness of 1,500 nits along with HDR 10+ certification.

In the camera department, the Mi 11 has a triple camera system made up of a 108MP f/1.85 primary sensor, a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 5MP f/2.4 telemacro lens. Not a super sophisticated camera system, but it should be able to capture good-looking shots.

Other specifications of the Mi 11 include a 20MP f/2.4 front-facing camera, a 4,600mAh battery, an in-screen fingerprint sensor – which can even measure heart rate – up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage, as well as MIUI 12.5 based on Android 10 out of the box.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 is now available for pre-order in China, though the global availability of the flagship smartphone has not been revealed yet. It retails from only 3,999 Chinese yuan (about RM2,480) in Xiaomi’s home country, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Mi 11’s competitive price tag will be retained in other markets too, including Malaysia.


Sales Tax Exemption on CKD & CBU Cars Extended to 30 June 2021

Great news! The sales tax exemption for locally assembled (CKD) and fully imported (CBU) cars in Malaysia – which was set to end this Thursday on 31 December – will be extended to 30 June 2021. This was officially confirmed by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) yesterday evening.

According to MoF, its decision to extend the sales tax exemption under the government’s Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) is to keep up the momentum of the local automotive sector’s growth. This is evident from the
encouraging sales figures
 posted by car brands in Malaysia despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Siaran media berkenaan lanjutan pengecualian cukai jualan ke atas kereta penumpang (termasuk MPV & SUV) completely knocked-down (CKD), completely built- up (CBU) import baharu & CBU import terpakai di bawah PENJANA.
pic.twitter.com/Amn0RE8HLi
— Ministry of Finance🇲🇾 (@MOFmalaysia)
December 29, 2020

Naturally, the amount of sales tax exemption for CKD and CBU cars (including MPV and SUV) remain the same at 100% and 50% respectively. This tax exemption will be valid until 30 June 2021; ample amount of time for car buyers to enjoy the discount.

Aside from this tax exemption, it’s worth noting that the
new excise duty regulations
 set by the customs department – which would have increased prices of CKD cars by up to 20% – will not be implemented come next year. In short, it’s a great time to purchase a new car until 30 June 2021.


Proton X50 Deliveries Stand at 3,200 Units; Delay Caused by CMCO

Many customers are eagerly waiting to take delivery of their
Proton X50
, which is proving to the one of the most popular B-segment SUVs in the market now. Unfortunately, according to Proton, the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) have delayed the production of the X50.

In an interview with
The Malaysian Reserve
, the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah, revealed that 3,200 units of the X50 have been delivered to customers. Besides that, total bookings of the SUV have passed the 30,000 mark too. Clearly, the X50 is a highly sought-after model.

However, due to CMCO and the closure of international borders, it is difficult to secure parts necessary for the production of the X50. “We have about 60 local vendors for the X50, of which one had to shut down operations as a COVID-19 cluster was detected in the area. This is affecting the supply chain and we cannot simply make substitutes as we need to maintain the quality promised to the customers,” said Roslan.

Roslan further elaborated that Proton is looking to deliver the X50 for existing bookings within the next two months. Those who made new bookings, on the other hand, would need to wait between three to four months for the SUV. Pretty optimistic timelines in our opinion, but that’s what the national carmaker is aiming for.

Nonetheless, now that the sales tax exemption for locally assembled (CKD) and fully imported (CBU) cars have been
extended to 30 June 2021
, there should be ample time for Proton to deliver the X50 to customers who want to take advantage of the discount. Hopefully, those who placed their bookings on
16 September itself
 will get the B-segment SUV very, very soon.


Mihoyo Buffs Zhongli (Again) in Genshin Impact

It seems like Mihoyo is giving Zhongli yet another buff in
Genshin Impact
. After receiving feedback from testers and players,
the developer revealed
 that the 5-star character’s Jade Shield created by holding down his Elemental Skill (Dominus Lapidis) will provide more utility in Version 1.3 of the game.

Aside from providing damage absorption, Zhongli’s reworked Jade Shield will now reduce the elemental and physical resistance of nearby enemies by 20%. Do note that this change will be applied on top of the
previous buffs to the Elemental Skill
, which significantly increases the interruption resistance of the skill in holding mode and summoning a Stone Stele if the “maximum number of Stone Steles has not been reached.”

Dominus Lapidis’ reworked Jade Shield (left) in Version 1.3

The previously announced Zhongli buff also made some changes to his passive talent, Dominance of Earth. Currently, this talent only increases the damage of his Elemental Burst (Planet Befall), but once Version 1.3 is here, the damage of his normal attacks and Elemental Skill will also be increased based on his max HP.

Obviously, these buffs to Zhongli are great news to those who managed to get the character when his banner was live. But do note that these changes are not final. More testing will be done in the 1.3 beta test server of Genshin Impact first before these reworks make it into the official game.

According to Mihoyo, it will continue to monitor data on the test server to see how the Zhongli adjustments are performing; the developer will also continue listening to players’ feedback. The final adjustment to Zhongli will be announced before
Version 1.3 of Genshin Impact
 arrives in the future.


5 Must-Play Games of 2020: Genshin Impact, The Last of Us Part II & More

The year is coming to an end, so let’s taking a look at some of the most noteworthy games that were released in 2020. Of course, I’ve personally played these games, and in my opinion, these titles are absolutely worth checking out. This is especially the case if you have the relevant system – such as the PlayStation exclusives – to play them.

Without further ado, let’s get to the list, starting with the game that I have invested hours of gameplay into.

Genshin Impact

If there’s any game that I can’t get enough of this year, it’s
Genshin Impact
. Developed by Mihoyo – the same developer behind Honkai Impact – this is a free-to-play gacha game…that doesn’t feel too much like a gacha game. With its incredible storyline, sophisticated gameplay, and a vast, beautiful world to explore, Genshin Impact is much more than just a gacha game.

Of course, it is still inherently a gacha game, so there are some typical gacha pitfalls here. Say you want a specific character or weapon: you’ll have to keep rolling for either one of them using Primogems, the in-game premium currency. Needless to say, it can be frustrating if you fail to get what you’re aiming for.

But even so, the sheer amount of content packed into Genshin Impact makes it an incredibly worthwhile game to invest both time and money into. Just when I was starting to get bored of the game, Mihoyo adds
even more
 content to keep the experience fresh. I also love the fact that Genshin Impact supports cross-platform progression, unless you’re playing on a PS4 or PS5.

The Last of Us Part II

Naughty Dog’s latest title is a devastating, heart-wrenching game that showcases the studio’s masterful storytelling.
The Last of Us Part II
, despite its divisive story, tells a very engrossing narrative that no other game has managed to accomplish.

Aside from that, The Last of Us Part II also features
stunning
 graphics that pushes the PS4 to its limits. Coupled with the game’s excellent gameplay elements, you’ve got yourself one of the best – if not
the best
 – games of 2020. If you’re a PS4 owner, this is simply a must-play title.

Unless, of course, you haven’t played the first instalment of the game yet. To truly enjoy this sequel, you definitely have to play The Last of Us first.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

If you were lucky enough to get yourself a PS5,
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
 is a fantastic launch title. Thanks to the PS5’s much beefier hardware compared to its predecessor, the game can run at 60fps
even
with ray tracing enabled. The extra frames and improved fidelity make this game an absolutely joy to play through, even as I’m just swinging around the streets of New York.

Granted, at RM209, Miles Morales does not offer a whole lot of content to justify that price tag. But if you’re new to the series, the Ultimate Edition of the game is much easier to recommend, which includes the remastered version of the first game (along with all of the DLCs that were previously released) for only RM299.

Even if you don’t own a PS5 system, you can still play Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the PS4. Owning either versions of the game also gives you access to the game on both consoles, so you can actually carry your progress from the PS4 to the PS5 with relative ease.

Ghost of Tsushima

Yes, this is another PlayStation exclusive, but that just goes to show the quality of exclusives on the platform.
Ghost of Tsushima
 is an open-world game set in beautifully rendered feudal Japan, and it’s a stunning samurai adventure with a solid, exciting gameplay.

If you’ve always wanted to play as a samurai in an open-world setting, Ghost of Tsushima is basically that. If being a samurai is not quite your thing, you can even employ “Ghost tactics” that rely on stealth and deception. While the enemy AI is not particularly…intelligent, I still had a ball in this game.

Once you’re done with the single-player story, you can jump into the
Legends mode
 for some online multiplayer fun. You can play with up to three other players in this mode.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Last but definitely not least is one of Nintendo’s biggest games of the year, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I was never interested in the Animal Crossing franchise, but that changed when the government issued a lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Boy, was I glad I had the game then to keep me company in isolation.

The laid-back, calming nature of New Horizons was a much-needed escape from the dreary reality brought on by the (ongoing) pandemic. There’s no real “objective” in the game, aside from shaping my island to how I envision it to be, catching some bugs and fishes to complete the museum, as well as recruiting animal villagers to my island.

To top it off, I could also keep in touch with friends and families by visiting their own islands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the lockdown. Even though I haven’t visited my island for quite some time now, I will certainly cherish my time in the game when I needed a distraction. I’m sure it kept a lot of people company during isolation too.

And there you have it: five must-play games of 2020. In a year filled with many challenges of different shapes and sizes, these games make it easier to get through a difficult year for many of us. If you need a good distraction or some stress relief, take a look at either one of these five games – you’ll definitely enjoy yourself.


2 – 8 January Fuel Price: RON 95, RON 97 Up 4 Sen, Diesel Up 3 Sen

Happy new year! Unfortunately, fuel prices are going up yet again across the board for the
eighth
 time in a row this coming week. RON 95 and RON 97 will go up by 4 sen, while diesel sees a slightly lower increase of 3 sen per litre this midnight. Consider fueling up tonight if you need to!

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.84 per litre (up from RM1.80) and RON 97 to RM2.14 per litre (RM2.10 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM2.01 per litre this coming week compared to RM1.98 previously.

These prices will be in effect from 2 to 8 January next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


2021 Proton Iriz R3 Edition Images Leaked – Launching With Saga R3 Edition?

While everyone’s attention is on the highly sought-after
Proton X50
, the national carmaker is working on a number of new models behind the scenes. Well, not entirely new ones, but limited editions of its existing models: leaked images of the R3-branded Proton Iriz and Proton Saga have started circulating online.

Just recently,
WapCar
 received a several images of the special edition Iriz with R3 brandings from one of its readers. In the meantime, we’re gonna call this the Iriz R3 Edition for the sake of clarity, though it obviously doesn’t have an official name yet.

Image source:
WapCar

Anyway, just like how it was with the
Proton Saga Anniversary Edition
, the leaked images show that the exterior of the Iriz R3 Edition has some yellow accents here and there. These include a yellow streak across the front end of the B-segment hatchback, as well as side mirrors finished in the same colour. It seems to be sporting new blacked-out alloy wheels as well, though any performance upgrade is unlikely.

On the inside, only the front seat of the Iriz R3 Edition is pictured with the R3 design. In fact, this looks very similar to the seat of the Saga R3 Edition. Leaked pictures of this limited edition A-segment sedan were shared by
Careta
, which also gave us a look at the dashboard of the upcoming model. As expected, the black and yellow colour scheme continues in the interior.

Image source:
Careta

Looking back at
our previous report
, the Proton Iriz – along with its sedan sibling, the Proton Persona – will be facelifted sometime this year with a four-speed automatic gearbox, among other changes. Given that the Iriz R3 Edition looks similar to the existing model, we reckon this is not the facelifted version.

Anyway, now that leaked images of the R3-branded Iriz and Saga have started appearing online, we reckon Proton will launch these two models in the near future. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on this.


Official: Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Coming 14 January

It’s official: Samsung just confirmed the launch date of its next flagship smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event is happening next week on 14 January, where the Galaxy S21 series is expected to be unveiled.

As with Samsung’s previous teasers for its Unpacked events, this one gives us an idea of what to expect, even if the Galaxy S21 series has been leaked extensively. Anyway, the “Welcome to the Everyday Epic” teaser image seems to be showing off the camera module of the upcoming flagship smartphone.

The Galaxy S21 series, just like last year, will reportedly include three devices: the standard Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21+, and of course, the range-topping Galaxy S21 Ultra. All three smartphones will supposedly feature 120Hz flat screens (instead of curved) with support for variable refresh rate, though the S21 and S21+ are said to feature 1080p displays. Naturally, the S21 Ultra is believed to retain the 1440p screen of its predecessor.

Other rumoured specifications of the Galaxy S21 series include either an Exynos 2100 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset for selected markets, a triple camera system with the usual three focal lengths – the S21 Ultra will reportedly feature a quad camera setup instead with two telephoto sensors – as well as 4,000mAh, 4,800mAh, and 5,000mAh batteries for the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra respectively.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 (left) and Galaxy S21+. Image source: WinFuture
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Image source: WinFuture

Of course, these are only leaked specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, so things may change once the flagship smartphones are officially unveiled next week on 14 January. You can register your interest for the Galaxy S21 series
right here
 – those who registered successfully will be entitled to a complimentary Galaxy Fit 2 (worth RM179) if they decide to pre-order any of the S21 smartphones.


3,787 Proton X50 Delivered in 2020; Ranked Third in B-Segment SUV Market

Proton just released its full sales figure for 2020, and we got some interesting details from the report. The
Proton X50
, for one, was delivered to 3,787 lucky owners in 2020. This is enough to make the X50 the third most popular B-segment SUV in Malaysia.

Given that the X50 was only launched in
late October last year
, the fact that it managed to place third in the B-segment SUV market for 2020 is quite impressive. While it falls short of the 4,000 units Proton was aiming for, 3,787 units delivered isn’t too far off the mark. “The X50 surpassed expectations despite its later than planned arrival,” Proton said in the press release.

With over
30,000 bookings placed for the SUV
 – as confirmed by the national carmaker – this is certainly the case. Moving forward, we reckon the X50 will sit at the top of the B-segment SUV market in 2021, assuming Proton can meet customer demand. Now that the government’s sales tax exemption for locally assembled (CKD) and fully imported (CBU) cars have been
extended to 30 June 2021
, the carmaker definitely has more breathing room to fulfill the rest of the 30,000 bookings.

Aside from that, three other Proton models lead their respective segments in 2020. These include the
Proton X70
 (21,944 units), Proton Persona (23,917 units), and Proton Exora (5,849 units). As for the Iriz, 7,636 units were sold, ranking it third in the B-segment hatchback market. The Saga, on the other hand, is the most popular Proton model with 46,527 units delivered; it sits in the second position in the A-segment sedan market.

Collectively, Proton sold over 109,716 cars in 2020, which is an improvement of 8.8% compared to its 2019 sales figure of 100,821 units sold. With the hugely popular X50, X70, and the soon-to-be released
R3-branded Iriz and Saga
 – not to mention the
Persona and Iriz facelifts
 – in its product lineup, Proton may just achieve higher sales numbers in 2021.


Lenovo Legion Slim 7i Now in Malaysia; World’s Lightest 15″ RTX Gaming Laptop From RM7,599

Lenovo’s latest thin and light gaming laptop, the
Lenovo Legion Slim 7i
, is set to be available here in Malaysia very soon. Touted as the lightest 15-inch gaming laptop with an RTX graphics card, it’s an interesting option for those who want a portable gaming machine.

Of course, given its portable nature, the Legion Slim 7i is not an affordable product. At the moment, we only got details on one variant of the gaming laptop, which costs RM7,599. For that kind of money, you’re getting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 memory, as well as an Intel Core i7-10750H processor.

Aside from that, this variant of the Legion Slim 7i also features a fast 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, 16GB of RAM, a generous 1TB SSD, Windows 10 Home out of the box, and a 71WHr battery that promises up to 7.75 hours of battery life on a single charge. It’ll be interesting to see if it can really deliver this level of battery life.

As mentioned, the portability of the Legion Slim 7i is the highlight of this gaming laptop; after all, it’s touted as the world’s lightest 15-inch gaming laptop with an RTX GPU. It tips the scales at 1.86kg, and while this doesn’t sound particularly impressive, it
is
 quite lightweight for a gaming machine of this calibre. It also has a 17.9mm thin chassis, making it one of the slimmest gaming laptops in the market.

We were told that the Lenovo Legion Slim 7i will be available for purchase in Malaysia sometime in early 2021. The gaming laptop will also be available for pre-order and customisation on
Lenovo’s Malaysian online store
 sometime this month.


Honda Malaysia Offering up to RM10,000 Discount for CNY

If you’ve been eyeing to get any new Honda model, now’s a great time to place your booking. Although Chinese New Year is only happening in February, Honda Malaysia is already starting its CNY promotion, offering up to a whopping RM10,000 discount.

Of course, this steep discount is only reserved for specific models. The
Honda Accord
 1.5 TC (2020 model year) is offered with a huge RM10,000 discount, while the higher-end 1.5 TC-P trim (also 2020 model year) receives a RM5,000 discount. The Honda Odyssey MPV (2020 model) is discounted heavily by RM10,000 as well.

If you want something more compact, there’s Honda’s B-segment hatchback, the Honda Jazz. Naturally, these discounts are for the 2020 models: the base S variant is offered with RM5,500 worth of savings, while the better equipped E and V models are discounted by RM4,500. Given that the current generation Jazz has been in the Malaysian market for quite some time now, these discounts are appropriate.

Other notable discounts given by Honda Malaysia include the
all-new Honda City
 (RM2,000 for the S and E models, RM1,000 for the V trim), RM2,000 for all variants of the
Honda Civic
, and RM3,000 discounts for both the Honda HR-V and
Honda BR-V
. Of course, these discounts are reserved for 2020 models of the respective cars.

In order to be eligible for these discounts, you would have to register your new Honda model by 31 January 2021. The discounts are also only valid while stocks last, and you can refer to
Honda Malaysia’s website
 for the full list of discounts for 2020 and 2021 Honda models.


2020 Honda City: 10,800 Units Delivered With 15,200 Total Bookings

Honda Malaysia just released its sales figures for the 2020. With over 60,469 units sold, the Japanese company maintains its position as the top non-national car brand in Malaysia for the sixth consecutive year. Aside from that, the carmaker also delivered 10,800 units of the
all-new Honda City
 to date; that’s really quite impressive.

In December 2020 alone, Honda Malaysia delivered 5,500 units of the City, which is the highest monthly sales in the history of the B-segment sedan. On top of that, the City also received 15,200 bookings – it’s proving to be a real winner for the Japanese carmaker.

According to Honda Malaysia, the V model of the City – the range-topping petrol variant – accounts for 52% of total sales. The Platinum White Pearl colour option is also the most popular choice, representing 26% of overall sales for the City. It’ll be interesting to see if the highest-end RS e:HEV variant – this hybrid model is expected to be launched sometime this month – will further bolster the sales of the sedan.

Of the 60,469 units sold by Honda Malaysia, the City actually made up 34% of that figure; it is the carmaker’s most popular model in 2020. This is followed by the
Honda Civic
; the C-segment sedan accounts for 20% of total sales. In third place is the Honda HR-V with 17% contribution.

Now that the government’s sales tax exemption for locally assembled (CKD) cars – which is the majority of Honda models sold here in Malaysia – has been
extended to 30 June 2021
, we reckon the carmaker’s strong sales performance will maintain its momentum. Not only is the range-topping RS e:HEV variant of the City arriving here soon, Honda Malaysia is also running a
Chinese New Year promotion until 31 January 2021
.


Deal: Get the Sony WH-1000XM4 for Only RM989

The
Sony WH-1000XM4
, one of the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones in the market now, is more affordable than ever. Originally retailing at RM1,599, you can now get the XM4
for only RM989
.

This deal is offered by Preferred Shopee retailer Cplus Digital. It is listing the WH-1000XM4 for RM999, and you can collect a RM10 voucher from the retailer to bring down the price
to only RM989
. Compared to the launch price of the headphones, you’re saving a whopping RM610 with this deal.

Without a doubt RM989 for a pair of noise-cancelling wireless headphones of this calibre is a very,
very
 good deal. Not quite convinced? Then check out our
review of the Sony WH-1000XM4
.


Dell’s New Latitude Business Laptops Feature an Automatic Webcam Shutter

CES 2021 is happening very soon, and Dell already unveiled a number of rather interesting products. These include the new Dell Latitude 9420 and Latitude 9520 business-class laptops, which feature a physical webcam shutter that will automatically open and close – quite a neat feature for users that value privacy above all else.

Dubbed SafeShutter, Dell claims that this automated webcam shutter – it’s an optional add-on – is an industry first. The Latitude 9420 and Latitude 9520 are the first Dell laptops to come with this neat little feature, which allows the webcam shutter to “automatically open or close by syncing with your video conferencing applications,” as Dell puts it.

Aside from that, the Latitude 9420 also comes with Intel’s latest 11th Gen vPro chips that tops out at a Core i7 processor. You can get this laptop in two form factors too: the convertible version features a sharp 2560 x 1600 touch-enabled screen, while the more conventional laptop variant has a 1920 x 1280 display. Regardless of which model you go for, both are equipped with 14-inch 16:10 panels.

Other specifications of the Latitude 9420 include Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, up to 32GB of on-board RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, as well as optional LTE or 5G connectivity. The Latitude 9520, on the other hand, is very similar to the 9420; the only difference is the former’s larger 15.6-inch screen.

The Dell Latitude 9420 and Latitude 9520 business-class laptops will be arriving in Malaysia sometime in March 2021. Local pricing of the two laptops have not been revealed yet, but given that they
are
 business-centric machines, expect them to cost quite a bit of money.


The Joi Book SK3000 Is a Snapdragon 850 Windows 10 Laptop for RM2,199

If you want an affordable Windows 10 laptop with 4G connectivity, consider this product from SNS Network, a local retailer. Not only is the Joi Book SK3000 a rather affordable laptop, it’s also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 chipset.

Only one variant of the Joi Book SK3000 is offered at the moment. Retailing at RM2,199, it features the aforementioned Snapdragon 850 processor – which also gives it 4G connectivity – 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 4,500mAh battery that promises up to 10 hours of use on a single charge, and Windows 10 Pro out of the box.

Aside from that, the SK3000 also has a 12.5-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with relatively thin bezels surrounding the display, though the bottom bezel is quite sizeable. Nonetheless, the laptop as a whole does look quite modern with a full aluminium chassis.

Speaking of which, the SK3000 has a pretty slim and light chassis. It measures less than 15mm thin, and tipping the scales at 1.05kg, it’s an ideal laptop for those who are always on the go. Connectivity wise, this laptop has one USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and…that’s it, unfortunately enough.

The Joi Book SK3000 is now available for purchase on
Shopee
, as well as SNS Network’s own online store,
Gloo
. To recap, this Windows laptop retails at only RM2,199. More details on the SK3000 can be found on its
official product page
.