Genshin Impact Tartaglia Banner Revealed With Rosaria, Fischl & Barbara

Mihoyo just revealed more details on Tartaglia’s banner in
Genshin Impact
. Set to go live next week on 6 April, the 5-star character will be accompanied by Rosaria – a new 4-star Cryo character – Fischl, as well as Barbara.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event banners
, the “drop rate” of Tartaglia, Rosaria, Fischl, and Barbara will be increased. In the case of Tartaglia, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be him. If it’s not him, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Tartaglia.

Since Genshin Impact’s pity system ensures that you will get at least one 5-star character or weapon every 90 wishes – depending on which banner you’re rolling – you will have to do 180 rolls for a guaranteed chance to get Tartaglia. The same rule applies to 4-star characters (guaranteed every 10 roll instead), but given that there are three of them featured in the event banner, it’s a little bit more random.

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Rosaria, Fischl, or Barbara. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters – especially Rosaria, given that she’s a brand new character – you will likely have to roll a good number of times, depending on your luck.

Tartaglia’s “Farewell of Snezhnaya” banner will go live on Genshin Impact this coming Tuesday on 6 April at 6PM for us here in Malaysia. The banner will be available until 27 April, so there’s plenty of time to collect more Primogems for Tartaglia or Rosaria.


Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Malaysian Pre-Orders Live – Get RM1,000 Worth of Freebies

We spotted the
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
 in SIRIM’s database back in January 2021, and the 16-inch gaming laptop is now available for pre-order in Malaysia. With up to RM1,000 worth of freebies up for grabs for early birds, the Legion 5 Pro offers pretty good value for money too.

Only one variant of the Legion 5 Pro is offered in Malaysia. For RM6,799, you get an Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS screen with a fast 165Hz refresh rate – complete with Nvidia G-Sync support. That’s right, even though this is a gaming laptop, the Legion 5 Pro has a 16:10 screen, which is typically found on productivity-focused laptops.

If you want something more affordable, the standard Legion 5 is also available for pre-order right now for RM6,099. It has the same processor, RAM, and SSD configuration as the Pro model, but it swaps out the graphics card for a more modest RTX 3060 GPU. Aside from that, it has a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 165Hz refresh rate too with G-Sync support.

Those who pre-order either one of these two gaming laptops by 18 April will receive RM1,000 worth of freebies (while stocks last) as well. These include a RM200 Steam Wallet voucher, a TTRacing Surge gaming chair, as well as a number of Legion-branded merchandise.

The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro and Legion 5 are now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM6,799 and RM6,099 respectively on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
. Alternatively, you can place a pre-order with Lenovo itself for only RM1,000
right here
. According to the listings of the two gaming laptops, they are set to start shipping to customers by the end of this month.

Thanks for the tip, Pang!


Wilba.tech Salvation Pre-Orders Now Open – $295 Custom Keyboard With Leaf Spring Mounting System

Salvation, a custom mechanical keyboard by Wilba.tech and Salvun – two well-known individuals in the enthusiast keyboard scene – is available for pre-order now. What makes this keyboard particularly attractive is its unique leaf spring mounting system, and for a keyboard of this calibre, it doesn’t cost too much either.

Granted, retailing from $295 for the solderable version – the hotswap model costs an extra $5 – the Salvation is not exactly an “affordable” custom mechanical keyboard. But for that kind of money, you
are
 getting the aforementioned leaf spring mounting system. Not only does it offer a soft typing experience (thanks to the flexibility of the mounting system), it has a very nice sound profile too.

Really, hear for yourself with Alexotos’ sound test below.

Basically, the PCB of the Salvation is “supported by silicon rubber standoffs attached to FR4 (fibreglass) leaf springs mounted to the case.” There are also foam pads underneath the leaf springs to dampen vibration from typing and provide force modulation for a unique typing feel. There’s a brass weight in the bottom case as well to further enhance the typing sound.

Beyond its unique mounting system, the Salvation is a 60% keyboard with an aluminium case and an FR4 plate by default. Five different colours of the Salvation are available: Soul Black, Business Grey, Lightning Silver, Samurai Blue, and Momentum Red. That’s quite a wide selection of colours.

Keen to get the Salvation? You can place your pre-order with the vendors below. To get the best shipping rate, go with the vendor that’s closest to your location.

Salvun (Europe)
 – 295 euro (VAT included)
NovelKeys (US)
  – 295 USD
Keyboard Treehouse (AU/NZ/OCE)
 – 325 USD (GST included)
Zfrontier (China)
 – 2,285 Chinese yuan (VAT and shipping included)
Ashkeebs (Canada)
 – 370 CAD
Ilumkb (SEA)
 – 425 SGD (GST included)

The Wilba.tech Salvation is now available for pre-order until 5 May 2021. It is set to start shipping sometime in Q4 2021, but depending on how many pre-orders are received, this timeline may change. More details on the Salvation can be found
right here
.


Video: Monstargear XO K80 Alu Review

Looking to get a custom TKL mechanical keyboard? Then consider the Monstargear XO K80 Alu. Retailing from only $295 – that comes up to about RM1,220 – the K80 offers
incredibly
good value for money, especially for an enthusiast-level TKL keyboard. Not quite convinced? Then watch our video review below!

As mentioned, the K80 is a TKL custom keyboard. It also has an aluminium casing, an aluminium plate – you can get an FR4 plate as well, which is what we’re using in this review – a brass weight, and a sandwich mounting system. You can also purchase the gasket kit (which we did) to change it to a gasket-mounted keyboard instead.

If you’re keen to purchase the Monstargear XO K80, you can do so
right here
. That’s right, it is actually
in stock
 right now, so you don’t have to wait very long to get your hands on the keyboard. If you want a TKL custom keyboard with immensely good value for money, the K80 is the one to get.


Vivo X60 Pro Review: Premium, Sleek Flagship Phone With Zeiss Optics

The Vivo X60 Pro is one of the Chinese company’s more exciting flagship smartphone in recent times. Not only does it feature a sleek, premium design, it also comes with a camera system co-engineered by Zeiss and Vivo. Paired with a fast processor and screen, the X60 Pro is really quite a complete flagship device.

However, retailing at RM3,299, it’s also a costly device with a number of shortcomings here and there. But for that kind of money, you
are
 getting a handsome flagship smartphone with a capable camera system, among other positives. Keep on reading this review to find out if the X60 Pro is worth picking up or not!

What It Is

Display
6.56-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2376 x 1080), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 3.2GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 650
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
48MP f/1.5, PDAF, gimbal stabilisation
13MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide angle)
13MP f/2.5 (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom
Camera (front)
32MP f/2.5
Battery
4,200mAh
Dimensions
158.58 x 73.24 x 7.69 mm
Weight
179g
OS
Funtouch OS 11.1 based on Android 11
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.1
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
USB Type-C
Price
RM3,299

For a device marketed as a flagship smartphone, the X60 Pro certainly has the hardware to back it up. It has a fast AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a capable Snapdragon 870 chipset, as well as a Zeiss-branded triple camera system that can capture some really good-looking shots – more on that further down this review.

The Good Stuff

Personally, I think the design of the X60 Pro is one of its main highlights. The sleek, dual curved AMOLED display is complemented by a glass back with a matte, iridescent-like finish. While this does make the phone a little slippery, it’s worth the trade-off for a phone that looks and feels this premium.

The screen quality of the X60 Pro is quite good too. Although it’s not quite on the same level as the AMOLED panels found on Samsung’s flagship smartphones, the 6.56-inch 1080p AMOLED screen of the X60 Pro is still pleasant to look at. It has deep, true blacks, good viewing angles, and reasonably punchy colours as well.

Of course, the fast 120Hz refresh rate of the X60 Pro’s AMOLED screen also ensures that every single motion on the display looks extra smooth. Whether I’m just scrolling through a webpage or playing a mobile game – that can actually run at 120Hz, of course – the extra frames afforded by the fast screen improve user experience quite a bit.

Speaking of which, throughout my time with the X60 Pro, I’m impressed with the performance level of the Snapdragon 870. Although it’s not as fast as the Snapdragon 888, it’s still no slouch. Whether I’m multitasking or playing more intensive mobile games like
Genshin Impact
, the Snapdragon 870 just chugs along with no noticeable slowdown.

Battery life of the X60 Pro is quite good as well. On average, I can squeeze out five hours of screen on time from the 4,200mAh battery. While it’s not exactly the longest-lasting smartphone, this is still very respectable battery life. I had absolutely no issue getting through a typical work day with this phone.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the X60 Pro. Its triple camera system (48MP f/1.5 primary + 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 13MP f/2.5 telephoto) can return good-looking shots regardless of lighting condition with some effort, and the gimbal stabilisation of the 48MP main sensor also ensures that I can capture sharp, blur-free images quite easily.

However, the X60 Pro is by no means superior to, say, the
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
 in the
camera department
. Yes, it’s quite capable, but the S21 Ultra still offers better low light camera performance, especially when it comes to the ultra-wide angle and telephoto sensors.

The Bad Stuff

Vivo has come a long way in the software department, and the X60 Pro is a testament to that. It is no longer using a heavily modified version of Android, opting instead for a cleaner, stock Android experience. Unfortunately, bloatware is still an issue with the X60 Pro. On top of that, several apps actually crashed in my time with the phone – I don’t remember the last time I had this issue with devices I’ve reviewed.

Just look at the amount of bloatware

Aside from that, the X60 Pro doesn’t have any water or dust resistance either. For a flagship-class smartphone at this price point, an IP rating is really something that should have been included. After all, even mid-range smartphones like the
Samsung Galaxy A72
 and Galaxy A52 – which undercut the RM3,299 price tag of the X60 Pro quite a bit – have an IP67 rating.

Is It Worth It?

Now, even though the Vivo X60 Pro is quite a costly smartphone at RM3,299 with a software experience that could be better – not to mention the lack of an IP rating – it’s still a reasonably good, sleek-looking, premium flagship smartphone. It also offers a 120Hz screen, fast performance, relatively long battery life, as well as a capable camera system with Zeiss optics.

Value for money is not the X60 Pro’s main selling point. Rather, you’re paying a premium for the phone’s equally premium appeal. If you like how the X60 Pro looks and feels – I certainly do – and you don’t mind paying extra for that, then yes, it is worth picking up.


New Acer Nitro 5 & Predator Helios 300 (RTX 3060) Arrive in Malaysia – Retails From RM3,799

Acer just announced the Malaysian availability of two new gaming laptops: the Acer Nitro 5, and the higher-end Acer Predator Helios 300. Both of these laptops are refreshed with new hardware under the hood. The former gets Intel’s latest 11th generation H-series processor, while the Helios 300 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU.

Let’s start with the more affordable laptop of the two, the Nitro 5. Two variants of the gaming laptop are offered in Malaysia: the RM3,799 base model features a Core i5-11300H processor, while the Core i7-11370H configuration costs RM4,399. Beyond the different processor, other specifications of the two variants are the same.

Both the Core i5 and Core i7 configurations of the Nitro 5 come with a GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, as well as a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate. These are not particularly beefy hardware, but it should still be able to run most games relatively well with tweaked graphics settings.

If you want a more powerful gaming laptop, then consider then new Helios 300. It features a beefier RTX 3060 GPU, which is a lot more capable than the Nitro 5’s GTX 1650 graphics card. That being said, it also ships with Intel’s 10th generation chips instead: the Core i5-10500H model costs RM5,299, while the Core i7-10870H variant retails at RM5,999.

Other specifications of the Helios 300 include a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a four-zone RGB keyboard.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 and Nitro 5 are now available in Malaysia at all Acer official online stores and Acer authorised resellers nationwide. Those who purchase either one of these two laptops before 30 June 2021 can also redeem a number of free gifts
over here
, which include a RM100 Touch ‘n Go eWallet or Boost credit.


Proton X50 – Add a Wireless Charger for RM450

Always wanted to add a wireless charger to the
Proton X50
? Well, you will be able to do so in the very near future. According to a brochure that’s been going around the internet, Proton will soon offer an (optional) wireless charger for its very popular B-segment SUV.

This bit of information was first reported by
WapCar
. According to the site, which has gotten in touch with a number of Proton dealers, the wireless charger will be offered by Proton 2S, 3S, and 4S centres for about RM450. The brochure also shows that the charger will be positioned right underneath the air-conditioning controls, and it is capable of “fast” wireless charging (10W) with an LED indicator.

That being said, WapCar further elaborated that the wireless charger has to be pre-ordered first before it can be installed to your Proton X50; assuming you’re lucky enough to be driving one right now. So far, Proton has fulfilled
over 11,654 bookings of the SUV
, though with over 30,000 bookings collected – as of the end of 2020, to boot – the national carmaker still has some ways to go.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying the popularity of the X50. After all, it retails from only RM79,200 to RM103,300, which is quite a bit lower than its main competition in the B-segment SUV market. Granted, the
Perodua Ativa
 (from RM61,500 to RM71,200) is quite a bit more affordable, but that SUV not exactly in the same playing field as the X50.

Given that the brochure of the optional wireless charger for the Proton X50 has started circulating, we reckon it won’t be long until Proton confirms the availability of the add-on. Of course, we will keep a close eye on this matter.


Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Costs RM4,299 in Malaysia – Available for Pre-Order 8 April

Xiaomi’s most ambitious flagship smartphone yet, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, will be available for pre-order here in Malaysia on 8 April. Retailing at RM4,299, it is also not an affordable device, though it does come with a number of intriguing features, including an OLED screen inside the rear camera’s housing.

That’s right, the Mi 11 Ultra’s triple camera system on the back actually has a 1.1-inch 294 x 126 AMOLED panel. According to Xiaomi, this screen can be used as a selfie viewfinder, an always on display, or even a way to check incoming notifications. It’s definitely an intriguing hardware, though it may not be the most practical feature.

Aside from that, the Mi 11 Ultra’s triple camera system itself is quite sophisticated as well. It is made up of a 50MP f/1.95 primary sensor, a 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 48MP f/4.1 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. In fact, this sensor can even do 10x hybrid zoom and
120x digital zoom
. On the front, there’s a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera.

Other specifications of the Mi 11 Ultra include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 12GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, a 6.81-inch 1440p AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W wireless and wired charging, as well as an IP68 rating.

For the Malaysian market, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra retails at RM4,299. Without a doubt that is a lot of money, but you do get a pretty intriguing flagship smartphone. If you want to pick it up, you can
place your pre-order on Shopee
 once the listing is live on 8 April. Not sure if it’s the phone for you? Then stay tuned for our hands-on of the Mi 11 Ultra!


Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Hands-On: Worth RM4,299 for the Very Promising Camera

Xiaomi made a name for itself with its affordable smartphones that offer incredibly good value for money, but in recent times, the Chinese company is steadily moving up the price range. Its latest flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, exemplifies this the best. After all, it carries a hefty RM4,299 price tag for the Malaysian market.

However, at that price point, the Mi 11 Ultra really is a proper flagship smartphone through and through with a very promising camera system – complete with an AMOLED screen. I had a brief hands-on with the device, and I’m quite certain that it can hold a candle to other high-end smartphones at the same price point.

The only thing is: are Xiaomi’s previous shortcomings still present on the Mi 11 Ultra? Let’s find out.

Since the Mi 11 Ultra’s camera system is one of its most exciting features, let’s start with that first. The primary sensor of its triple camera system is a 50MP f/1.95 lens with a large 1/1.12-inch sensor, which (in theory) offers markedly better performance than other sensors in the market now, especially in low light conditions.

Apart from that, the Mi 11 Ultra also has a 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter and a 48MP f/4.1 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. I tested out the zooming performance of the camera for a bit, and I’m…actually quite impressed. Judge for yourself with the sample shots below:

48MP ultra-wide angle
50MP primary
50MP primary (2x zoom)
48MP telephoto (5x zoom)
48MP telephoto (10x zoom)
48MP telephoto (120x zoom)

That’s right, the Mi 11 Ultra’s camera system can do up to 120x digital zoom, and the detail preservation at this level of zoom still looks pretty good. Granted, this was taken under ideal lighting, so it’ll be interesting to see if the camera can still return this kind of shot in low light conditions. Overall, this triple camera system looks very promising, and I can’t wait to put it through its paces in more challenging lighting situations.

Oh, there’s also a small 1.1-inch 294 x 126 AMOLED panel right beside the three camera sensors of the Mi 11 Ultra. It can serve as a viewfinder for selfie shots – there’s still a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera on the front of the phone – an always on display, and it can even display incoming notifications. Personally, I think this is a gimmicky feature, though I do have to
actually
 use the phone first for a more conclusive opinion.

But I can say this with certainty: I am absolutely not a fan of the
huge
 camera bump. Not only does it protrude out of the phone in a very jarring manner, the large size of the camera module itself further draw attention to the bump.

Anyway, at least the Mi 11 Ultra still looks and feels very premium. It has solid build quality (thanks to its IP68-rated chassis and ceramic back) as well as a vibrant 6.81-inch 1440p AMOLED dual curved screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Since it’s an AMOLED panel, it offers punchy colours and wide viewing angles. Basically, it’s a high quality screen.

In the performance department, the Mi 11 Ultra will not disappoint. It’s powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, and in my brief time with the phone, it definitely feels fast and zippy. Just like how a flagship-class smartphone should be.

The performance of the Mi 11 Ultra is not the only thing that’s fast; its charging speed is very impressive as well. Not only does it have a generous 5,000mAh battery, the Mi 11 Ultra also supports blazing fast 67W wired
and wireless
 charging. According to Xiaomi, this allows the phone to be fully charged in only 36 minutes “with virtually no time discrepancy between wired and wireless” charging.

Overall, the Mi 11 Ultra is a solid, high-end flagship smartphone through and through. But the thing is, Xiaomi smartphones all share one major issue: subpar software experience. Granted, I didn’t notice any big issue with the Mi 11 Ultra’s software in my short time with it, but that could change once I use the device as my daily driver.

Software issues – especially when it comes to notifications – can only be truly detected in actual everyday use. I’ve reviewed a fair number of Xiaomi smartphones in the past, and I really don’t have a good impression of their software experiences. Hopefully, things could be different with the Mi 11 Ultra.

Nonetheless, I still think the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra can justify its RM4,299 price tag. In a vacuum (even more so for a Xiaomi phone), this price tag may look steep, but that’s really the going rate for a proper flagship smartphone in today’s market. The
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
, for example, has a much higher
starting price of RM4,999
.

But, again, is the Mi 11 Ultra comparable to other high-end flagship smartphones like the S21 Ultra? Well, I do need to use the phone more extensively to give a fair assessment, but I
am
 impressed with the camera performance and the overall user experience of the Mi 11 Ultra so far. Yes, it is expensive, but it could (very possibly) be well worth it.


8 – 14 April Fuel Price: RON 97 up Again by 2 sen

Another week, another price increase for RON 97. Currently set at RM2.52 per litre, it will go up by 2 sen per litre this midnight. The price of RON 95 and diesel, on the other hand, remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains the same at RM2.05 per litre, while RON 97 costs RM2.54 per litre (up from RM2.52). As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre until 14 April next week.

These prices will be in effect from 8 to 14 April next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Asus ROG Phone 5 Hands-On: Fast, Sleek Flagship-Class Gaming Phone for Only RM2,999

The
Asus ROG Phone 5
 is now available for purchase in Malaysia, and it’s quite an intriguing gaming smartphone. Not only does it come with a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, it also offers a sleeker design than
its predecessor

while
 retaining good value for money. After all, it retails from only RM2,999 locally.

For that kind of money, the ROG Phone 5 is an excellent choice for anyone that wants a flagship-class gaming smartphone without breaking the bank (too much). We have the device in for review now, so here’s a quick hands-on of Asus’ latest gaming smartphone.

First up, hardware. The ROG Phone 5 features the aforementioned Snapdragon 888 chipset clocked at 2.84GHz, a 6.78-inch 2448 x 1080 AMOLED screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate (to reduce input lag), as well as a very generous 6,000mAh battery with support for very fast 65W charging.

Aside from that, the ROG Phone 5 also has a triple camera system made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 5MP f/2.0 macro lens. Not a super sophisticated camera sensor, but this is a gaming smartphone after all – the camera system isn’t exactly the main focus here.

If you’re into selfies, the ROG Phone 5 has a 24MP f/2.45 camera on the front.

But the most attractive selling point of the ROG Phone 5 (to me) has to be its value proposition. We received the 128GB variant of the phone with 8GB of RAM, which retails at only RM2,999 in Malaysia. While it’s not the most affordable Snapdragon 888 phone – the
Xiaomi Mi 11
 is slightly cheaper at RM2,799 – this gaming phone still offers really good value for money.

Anyway, let’s talk about the performance of the ROG Phone 5 now. The first game I installed on this phone has to be
Genshin Impact
, a game that even flagship phones struggle to run consistently at 60fps. I was excited to see how this gaming phone would handle the game, and I’m happy to report that Genshin Impact plays quite well on the ROG Phone 5 with a reasonably stable frame rate.

That being said, even after a quick session of Genshin Impact, the phone got quite warm. I’ll keep an eye on the thermal performance of the ROG Phone 5 to see if this is a cause for concern in the full review.

The fast 144Hz AMOLED display of the ROG Phone 5 is also one of its main selling points. Although it’s tough to tell the difference between 144Hz and 120Hz – the latter is more commonly found on the majority of flagship smartphones in the market now – it does lend to a very smooth, very responsive user experience.

On top of that, the 300Hz touch sampling rate of the ROG Phone 5’s display minimises input lag as well. While this is likely not a feature the average consumer would notice or care about, gamers who want the competitive edge will appreciate this high touch sampling rate and the display’s equally high 144Hz refresh rate.

Of course, since this is an AMOLED panel, it also offers vibrant, punchy colours with deep blacks and wide viewing angles.

And then there’s the design of the ROG Phone 5, which I absolutely love. This is especially the case with the Storm White colourway of the gaming phone pictured here. The white and blue colour scheme is a refreshing change compared to the overplayed black and red colour combo, and of course, there’s still an ROG logo on the back with RGB lighting.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the ROG Phone 5, which is…surprisingly decent. Sure, it’s not in the same league as class leaders like the
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
 and
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
, but it can still take reasonably good-looking shots. Granted, I’ve only tested the ROG Phone 5’s camera under ideal lighting, so it’ll be interesting to see if it can still deliver in low light conditions.

Even though I’ve just started using the Asus ROG Phone 5 as my daily driver, I’m really liking it already. I’ve been having a ball playing Genshin Impact on this gaming phone, and with the phone’s large 6,000mAh battery, it should be able to offer many hours of gaming too. If you’re into FPS games, you’ll appreciate the ultrasonic-based AirTrigger shoulder buttons as well.

Given its hardware and feature set, the fact that the ROG Phone 5 retails from only RM2,999 does make it an enticing gaming-focused smartphone. If you want the 256GB model with 16GB (!) of RAM instead, that will set you back RM3,799. That’s quite a bit more money than the 128GB + 8GB (RM2,999) base model, so personally, I’d go with the latter for the best bang for buck.

I will be putting the ROG Phone 5 through its paces in the next few weeks to see if it is worth picking up or not, but as far as first impressions, I’m impressed. It’s a powerful, handsome gaming smartphone with a fast 144Hz refresh rate for not too much money – what more can you ask for?

Well, unless I run into some big issue with the phone in the review period. Until then, stay tuned to the full review of the ROG Phone 5!


Video: Redmi Note 10 Pro Review

The Redmi Note series has always been considered the value champion in the mid-range market, so naturally, the same still applies to the latest Redmi Note 10 Pro. Retailing from only RM999, its value proposition is one of the best in the mid-range segment, and it comes with a number of winning features as well.

Two variants of the Redmi Note 10 Pro are available here in Malaysia. The 6GB + 128GB model retails at RM999, while the 8GB + 128GB configuration costs RM1,099. For that kind of money, you’re getting a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G chipset, and a large 5,020mAh battery – really good value for money here.

Of course, the Redmi Note 10 Pro still has some shortcomings here in there, especially in the camera department. Nonetheless, it’s still an excellent buy from only RM999. Watch our video review above to find out more about the Redmi Note 10 Pro!


Monster Hunter Rise Review: Rekindling My Love for the Series

Monster Hunter has a special place in my heart. My first game in the series was 2008’s Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PlayStation Portable, and I’ve spent countless hours in that game, as well as every successive title in the series. In fact, I even got the
PS4 Pro Monster Hunter: World Rathalos Edition
 console.

But as years go by, I started to lose interest in the series. That is, until Monster Hunter Rise was announced. It’s the first proper
portable
 Monster Hunter game in a long time, and it really rekindled my love for the series with its new mechanics, much better mobility, and most of all, its portable nature.

In short, Monster Hunter Rise is easily the best Monster Hunter game to date, and to me, it is also the best game yet to be released for the Nintendo Switch.

What It Is

Monster Hunter Rise succeeds Monster Hunter: World, which was originally released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and eventually PC not long after in 2018. What sets Rise apart from World is the fact that it is actually exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, though it will be arriving on PC sometime in early 2022 next year.

Anyway, Monster Hunter Rise marks the series’ return to a portable console in earnest. Yes, the Switch did get Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate in 2018, but that game was still based on Monster Hunter Generations, which was released way back in 2015. In that sense, there hasn’t been a “properly new” Monster Hunter game for portable consoles in six long years.

That’s the reason why the release of Monster Hunter Rise on a portable console like the Switch is such a big deal. On top of that, Rise also brings with it a suite of quality of life improvements from World – let’s get to that in the next section.

The Good Stuff

Compared to older games in the series, Monster Hunter Rise is a lot more accessible to newcomers, thanks to a range of features brought forward from Monster Hunter: World. Monsters are marked automatically on the map – you don’t have to roam around the map endlessly to look for your target anymore – gathering items can be done with just one click of a button now, and the different areas of a map are no longer broken up by loading screens.

Aside from that, despite running on the Switch’s less powerful hardware, Rise still looks gorgeous. Utilising Capcom’s RE Engine, the character models are quite detailed, and so are the monsters. Sure, the environment is not quite as lush or as elaborate as World – monsters further away from the player are also rendered in a lower frame rate – but it still looks very impressive for a Switch game.

Another aspect of Monster Hunter Rise I absolutely love is the improved mobility. Thanks to two new mechanics – a pet dog Palamute and the Wirebug – I can move faster than ever in Rise. I can ride on a Palamute to sprint from one area to another relatively quickly, and the Wirebug allows me to traverse over terrains very easily.

Traversing is not the only use of the Wirebug. When you’re sent flying by a monster, you can use the Wirebug to quickly recover and move away from a monster’s incoming attack. On top of that, there are also new “Silkbind” attacks for each weapon too, which can even be customised as you progress further into the game.

Speaking of weapons, there are a total of
14 different weapons
 to choose from in Monster Hunter Rise, each with their own distinct mechanics. Every weapon in the game is viable, and finding one that suits your personal playstyle will definitely make the game that much more enjoyable. I’m currently using the Long Sword, and I love the new ways I can counter a monster’s attack with the weapon now.

But really, the best part of Rise – or any Monster Hunter game for that matter – are the
countless
hours of gameplay it offers. Once you’re done with the main storyline (it took me about 11 hours to get to the game’s credits), that’s when the game truly starts. More challenging monsters are unlocked, I can craft even more powerful weapons, and the grind to get the best endgame equipment begins.

On top of that, Capcom will also add new content to Rise in the future to keep the experience fresh. If World’s post-launch updates are anything to go by, expect to get some pretty interesting new content in Rise.

The Bad Stuff

From the moment I started Monster Hunter Rise, one annoyance immediately popped up (quite literally): I get bombarded with tutorial pop-ups at almost every possibility. Granted, some of the tutorials are quite helpful, but I imagine it can get quite overwhelming to those who are new to the game.

Despite the barrage of tutorials, there are still a number of mechanics in Rise that are not explained particularly well, especially the weapon controls. To get more information, you’ll have to access the Hunter’s Notes, which is buried in the start menu. Thankfully, once you’re in the right page, you do get the information you need.

Another area where Rise feels a little underwhelming is its storyline. Just like every other Monster Hunter game, there’s no elaborate, immersive story to speak of here. Rise really only has a storyline for the sake of it, so if you pick up the game expecting to be blown away by an engrossing narrative, you will be quite disappointed.

Is It Worth It?

Of course, the Monster Hunter franchise is not known for its storytelling chops. Instead, it’s all about hunting large, intimidating monsters with a weapon of your choice, harvesting their materials, craft new weapons and armors with said materials, and hunt even bigger monsters.

Monster Hunter Rise allows you to do this for many,
many hours
 with gorgeous graphics, new weapon mechanics, mobility that has never been offered in previous Monster Hunter games, and a number of quality of life improvements that make it much more accessible to newcomers.

If you’ve always wanted to get into the series, Monster Hunter Rise is the best entry point yet. Besides that, I’m sure veteran hunters will enjoy this game for hours on end as well – I certainly do.

Monster Hunter Rise is now available for the Nintendo Switch.


Video: Asus ROG Flow X13 Review

Looking to get a premium productivity laptop? Then consider this…gaming laptop, the
Asus ROG Flow X13
. Even though it’s marketed as a gaming machine, the Flow X13 is actually a very,
very
 good productivity laptop. Not convinced? Then watch our video review of the laptop below!

The Flow X13 configuration we got for this review has an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as a 1TB SSD. Retailing at RM6,499, this variant of the Flow X13 offers the best value for money (in our opinion).

Really, the Asus ROG Flow X13 can serve as an excellent productivity laptop, thanks to its 16:10 display, convertible form factor, and of course, very respectable battery life. Watch our video review above to find out more! If you prefer to read instead, our written review can be found
right here
.


Get up to 70% Discounts on Your Summons From JPJ & PDRM

If you haven’t settled your summons with JPJ or PDRM, good news: you can get up to 70% discount. In celebration of its 75th anniversary, JPJ is offering 70% discount on its summonses. PDRM, on the other hand, is offering a 50% discount. Needless to say, now’s a great time to clear your summons – if you have any.

However, do note that there are a few caveats. In the case of JPJ, only compoundable summonses are eligible for the 70% discount. If the summon requires you to go to a court hearing, you will not be able to enjoy the discount. Aside from that, the 70% discount is valid from today until 11 June 2021, so that’s 60 days to settle your JPJ summons.

However, as for the 50% discount for PDRM summons, it is only valid until this Thursday on 15 April through the
MyBayar portal
 or app on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. If you want to enjoy this discount from PDRM, you really have to act fast.

Anyway, for JPJ summons, you can enjoy the 70% discount by paying over the counter, kiosk, or its online portal. The 50% discount for PDRM summons, as mentioned, is only applicable for payments made through
MyBayar
.


Dell Launches Sleek New Inspiron Laptops – Arriving in Malaysia This Month

Enter Dell’s brand new Inspiron laptops. Built from the ground up, these redesigned laptops are notably sleeker than their respective predecessors. They have minimal screen bezels now, more expansive keyboards, as well as bigger touchpads, which effectively make them better productivity laptops.

The new Inspiron series consists of four different laptops: the Inspiron 14, Inspiron 14 2-in-1, Inspiron 15, as well as the Inspiron 16 Plus. Naturally, these Inspiron laptops use either Intel’s latest 11th generation processors or AMD’s Ryzen 5000 U-series chips.

Out of the four laptops, the Inspiron 15 and Inspiron 16 Plus are the higher-end offerings. Both can be configured with Nvidia’s dedicated GPUs – the Malaysian market will receive the RTX 3050 (that’s right, an unannounced GPU) configurations of the two machines – as well as Intel’s 11th generation H-series processors.

Aside from that, the Inspiron 16 Plus also has a 16-inch 3072 x 1920 screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. According to Dell, the tall aspect ratio increases the active area of the screen by 11% while only “expanding the dimensions of the device by 5%.” We imagine the minimal bezels of the screen contribute to the more compact dimensions of the laptop as well.

The Dell Inspiron 14, Inspiron 14 2-in-1, as well as the Inspiron 15 will be arriving in Malaysia sometime this month. The Inspiron 15 and Inspiron 16 Plus with RTX 3050 GPUs, on the other hand, will be available here in early June 2021.


Acer Nitro 5 With AMD Ryzen 5000 Chips Lands in Malaysia – up to RTX 3080 for RM8,999

Acer Malaysia just launched six new variants of the budget-centric Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop locally. Powered by AMD’s new Ryzen 5000 processors, this laptop’s range-topping configuration even comes with a beefy Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU – a first for the Nitro 5 series.

Let’s break down the prices of the six new Nitro 5 models, starting with the RTX 3080 configuration. Retailing at RM8,999, this variant features the aforementioned GPU, a Ryzen 9 5900HX processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a fast 165Hz 15.6-inch QHD IPS screen.

And then there are the RTX 3070 configurations of the Nitro 5. Two models are offered: the variant with a 165Hz QHD screen retails at RM6,399, while the 144Hz FHD model costs RM5,799. Only the screen differentiates the two model; both are powered by a Ryzen 7 5800H processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

Moving down the price range is the Nitro 5 with an RTX 3060 GPU. The sole RM4,899 variant also has a Ryzen 7 5800H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 144Hz FHD IPS screen. Last but not least are the GTX 1650 models: the Ryzen 7 5800H model costs RM4,199, while the base model with a Ryzen 5 5600H chip goes for RM3,699.

Beyond the different processor, both GTX 1650 models feature a 144Hz FHD IPS screen, 512GB of SSD storage, and 8GB of RAM.

The GTX 1650 configurations of the new Acer Nitro 5 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia first from 14 to 16 April. Pre-orders for the RTX 3060 model, on the other hand, will go live from 27 to 29 April. As for the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 models, they will be available for pre-order locally from 10 to 12 May.


165Hz Acer Nitro QG241YP Gaming Monitor Now in Malaysia for RM749 – Almost RM100 Discount for Early Birds

Aside from the new
Acer Nitro 5
 gaming laptop, Acer Malaysia also launched a new monitor, the Acer Nitro QG241YP. Sporting a fast 165Hz refresh rate, this Nitro-branded gaming monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium and HDR10. The best part is, it’s quite an affordable monitor too.

Retailing at RM749, the Nitro QG241YP is available for purchase right now in Malaysia. In fact, those who get this gaming monitor by 16 April on
Acer Malaysia’s official Shopee store
 can get it for only RM653; that’s exactly RM96 worth of savings. Given the feature set of this Nitro monitor, you’re getting good value for your money here.

As mentioned, the Nitro QG241YP’s 23.8-inch 1920 x 1080 VA panel has a fast 165Hz refresh rate, though you’ll need to use the DisplayPort to hit that refresh rate. If you use the HDMI port instead, this monitor can only achieve 144Hz. Anyway, the Nitro monitor also has fast 1ms VRB response time, so you will get good motion clarity.

Other specifications of the Nitro QG241YP include up to 250 nits of brightness, support for FreeSync Premium – this eliminates screen tearing with a compatible AMD Radeon GPU – and HDR10, as well as tilt adjustment. Unfortunately, there’s no swivel or height adjustment, which doesn’t come as a surprise for an affordable gaming monitor like this.

The Acer Nitro QG241YP is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM749. Again, if you place your order by 16 April on
Acer’s official Shopee store
, you can get a RM96 discount, reducing the price of this gaming monitor to only RM653.


15 – 21 April Fuel Price: All Prices Remain

Another week, another update for fuel prices in Malaysia. RON 97 finally stopped increasing in price this week, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains the same at RM2.05 per litre. Same goes for RON 97, which will continue to cost RM2.54 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 15 to 21 April next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Sony Xperia 1 III & Xperia 5 III Flagship Phones Unveiled – Coming to Malaysia From July 2021

Sony just unveiled two flagship smartphones – the Sony Xperia 1 III, and the more compact Sony Xperia 5 III. What makes these two flagship-class devices particularly interesting is their camera systems: both of them have a variable telephoto lens, and Sony said it is the first company to implement such a system on a smartphone.

As its name suggests, the variable telephoto lens allows the 12MP telephoto sensor of the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III to change its focal length between 70mm to 105mm. The system is also paired with a “Dual PD sensor,” which promises fast autofocus speeds, even when switching between different focal lengths.

Aside from the telephoto lens, both phones also feature a 12MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter.

Just like their
respective predecessors
, the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III retain their tall and narrow 21:9 displays, though they have been upgraded to much faster 120Hz HDR OLED panels. The Xperia 1 III also gets a sharp 6.5-inch 4K screen, while the Xperia 5 III settles for a more power-efficient 6.1-inch 1080p display.

Other specifications of the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 12GB of RAM (8GB for the Xperia 5 III), 256GB of expandable storage – the Xperia 1 III gets a 512GB option as well – an 8MP selfie camera, a 4,500mAh battery, IP65/IP68 rating, and Android 11 out of the box.

We were told that the Sony Xperia 1 III will be arriving here in Malaysia first by the end of July 2021. The compact Sony Xperia 5 III, on the other hand, will land on our shores sometime in September 2021. Naturally, the Malaysian pricing of the two flagship smartphones have not been announced yet, though you can register your interest
right here
.


Sony Xperia 10 III Arrives in Malaysia August 2021 – Water-Resistant Snapdragon 690 Phone

Aside from the
Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III
 flagship smartphones, Sony Malaysia also revealed the local availability of its mid-range offering, the Sony Xperia 10 III. Set to arrive here sometime in August 2021, the Xperia 10 III is a water-resistant mid-ranger with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 chipset.

Compared to
its predecessor
‘s Snapdragon 665 chipset, the Xperia 10 III’s Snapdragon 690 chipset should be quite a bit faster and more power-efficient. After all, it’s built on an 8nm process instead of the Snapdragon 665’s 11nm process, which should translate to better battery life.

Speaking of which, the Xperia 10 III features a larger battery capacity than its predecessor as well. Packed with a 4,500mAh battery – compared to the previous model’s 3,600mAh cell – you should be able to get very good battery life. It’s worth noting that despite only packing a 3,600mAh battery, last year’s Xperia 10 II
can still deliver very respectable battery life
.

Other specifications of the Xperia 10 III include a compact 6-inch 2520 x 1080 OLED screen with a tall 21:9 aspect ratio – unfortunately, it’s still locked at 60Hz – a triple camera system (12MP f/1.8 primary + 8MP f/2.4 telephoto + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle), an 8MP f/2.0 selfie camera, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and an IP65/IP68 rating.

The Sony Xperia 10 III is set to arrive in Malaysia sometime in August 2021. Its local pricing has not been revealed yet, but there’s a good chance it will be priced close to its predecessor, which retailed at RM1,799.


This Is the New 2022 Honda Civic in Production Form – More Details on 28 April

This is it, our first look at the production unit of the upcoming 2022 Honda Civic. The 11th generation model pretty much retains most of the
styling cues of the prototype
, which was unveiled back in November last year. Compared to the design of the
current 10th generation Civic FC
, the new sedan does look more mature.

Just like the Civic Prototype, the production unit of the 2022 Civic has a longer hood “for a more premium side view,” as Honda puts it. On top of that, the A-pillars have been pushed back as well. The Japanese carmaker explained that this is done to improve driver visibility, which is the very same reason why the side mirrors are now mounted on the doors.

The 2022 Civic in production form
The 2022 Civic Prototype

Aside from that, the headlights of the 2022 Civic are slimmer than the current generation model. This, and the fact that the chrome (or piano black) grille is no longer here either, give the C-segment sedan a more mature-looking design. If you’re not a fan of the Civic FC’s aggressive-styling, the 2022 model could be for you.

Unfortunately, the rear design and interior of the new Civic have not been detailed yet. But based on previous leaks, the L-shaped LED taillights from the prototype are brought over to the production unit. As for the interior – which has only been revealed in a sketch so far – expect a floating infotainment screen; the centre armrest is no longer partly exposed either.

Anyway, we will get more details on the 2022 Honda Civic come 28 April 2021. According to the carmaker, the new Civic’s specifications will also be revealed then.


Another PlayStation 5 Restock Happening Tonight

Missed out on the
previous PlayStation

5 restocks
? Then set your alarm for 12:01AM tonight on 16 April: the next generation console will be available for purchase on
Sony Malaysia’s official Lazada store
 then.

Unfortunately, unlike previous PS5 restocks,
only the standard model
 – which retails at RM2,299 – is available for purchase tonight; the Digital Edition (RM1,869) will not be offered this time around. As usual, this PS5 restock is done on a first-come, first-served basis, so you have to be quick to secure a unit.

As with every restock of the PlayStation 5, we expect there to be limited units of the console up for grabs. Head on to the product listing
right here
 if you want to try your luck at 12:01AM on 16 April tonight. In the meantime, check out our
unboxing of the PS5
.


ShopeePay Introduces “Deals Near Me” Feature – Offers up to RM8 Cashback

To drive more footfall to offline businesses, ShopeePay is introducing the “Deals Near Me” feature. Basically, it allows ShopeePay users to discover cashback vouchers from nearby merchants – you can get up to RM8 cashback with this new feature.

Deals Near Me is an online-to-offline (O2O) feature that is meant to encourage ShopeePay users to visit nearby businesses, including cafes, restaurants, and even services. Once you’re in the Deals Near Me page, you will find a list of vouchers offered by nearby merchants.

These vouchers, which can be purchased for only 5 sen, offers a range of cashback up to RM8. Of course, in order to enjoy this cashback, you will need to pay using ShopeePay. According to Shopee, the introduction of Deals Near Me has “driven footfall of over 100,000 customers to 130 early adopters” of the feature.

In order to gain access to ShopeePay and the Deals Near Me feature, you’ll need to use the Shopee app. You can download it over at the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Proton X50 Received 40,000 Bookings to Date – Booking For Standard Model Suspended

By the end of 2020, the hugely popular
Proton X50
 already received over 30,000 bookings. Now, the number has grown to a whopping 40,000 bookings. To shorten waiting time for the B-segment SUV, Proton is also suspending bookings for the Standard model.

That’s right, you won’t be able to place a booking for the Standard variant of the Proton X50 until further notice. Speaking to
The Edge
, Proton said that the Standard model “had the fewest bookings, accounting for only 5%. Due to these circumstances, we decided to temporarily suspend bookings only on the Standard variant of the X50 to focus on the larger population of bookings.”

Proton added that based on current projections, the waiting period for the X50 is about six months, though there are a number of customers that have waited longer than that. On the bright side, the national carmaker has definitely ramped up production of the SUV. Last month alone, Proton delivered
 3,513 units of the X50
.

According to the carmaker, this figure is already “above the initial planned capacity,” and Proton is planning to increase the production capacity of the X50 even further throughout the year. Hopefully, this would translate to faster booking fulfilment. As of March 2021,
11,654 units of the SUV have been delivered
.

Without a doubt the Proton X50 is a very attractive B-segment SUV, and the huge number of bookings for the model certainly reflect this. If you’d like to learn more about the X50, check out our comprehensive video review above!


Hyundai Kona Facelift Now in Malaysia – From RM120k to RM137k

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) just launched the facelifted Hyundai Kona here in Malaysia, which made its international debut back in September last year. Sporting a sleeker, updated design, the B-segment SUV – fully imported (CBU) from South Korea – gets some changes under the skin as well, including a new transmission.

Oddly enough, the 1.6 Turbo variant of the
pre-facelift Kona
 is not part of the updated model lineup. Instead, the facelifted Kona is now offered in the base 2.0 model for RM119,888, as well as the better equipped 2.0 Active trim, which costs RM136,888. These prices are actually RM4,000 and RM2,000 less compared to the pre-facelift models of the same trim.

As their names suggest, both variants of the facelifted Kona are powered by a Smartstream G2.0 MPI four-cylinder engine that outputs 149PS and 180Nm of torque. Unlike the previous six-speed automatic transmission, these two models now feature Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), the Korean company’s version of a CVT gearbox.

Aside from that, the 2.0 Active also comes with Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of active safety features, which include Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Lane Following Assist (LFA). Unfortunately, there’s no adaptive cruise control here.

Other specifications of the updated 2.0 Active Kona include leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, and even a head-up display. The base 2.0 model, on the other hand, comes with fabric seats and 17-inch alloys instead. Aside from that, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (very nice) as well as six airbags are standard across the range.

The facelifted Hyundai Kona is now available for booking in Malaysia. If these two models don’t catch your fancy, perhaps you’d be interested in the sportier N Line trim. It’s said to be arriving here in the near future, and there’s a good chance it will be equipped with the more powerful 1.6 T-GDI engine found in the pre-facelift model.


CannonKeys Bakeneko60 – Gasket-Mounted Aluminium 60% Custom Keyboard for Only $130

If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly custom mechanical keyboard, this will pique your interest. Enter the Bakeneko60, a new 60% keyboard from
CannonKeys
, a renowned vendor in the custom keyboard scene. Not only is it relatively affordable, it also has an aluminium case and a gasket mounting system.

That’s right, this $130 custom keyboard – that comes up to about RM535 – the Bakeneko offers an aluminium case and an O-ring gasket mounting system. This is similar to the mounting system of the popular TGR x SINGA Unikorn keyboard, which was designed by a couple of Malaysians.

Like most gasket-mounted keyboard, the Bakeneko has a soft, flexible typing feel with a clean, high-pitched sound profile. You can hear for yourself in the sound test of the keyboard in the video above. Aside from that, the Bakeneko uses Cherry clip-in stabilisers as well, which will be more stable than plate-mounted ones; the latter is more commonly used by affordable keyboards.

It’s worth noting that the Bakeneko’s case is made from aluminium alloy using a casting process, which allows CannonKeys to produce a large number of the keyboards quickly. With this in mind, the vendor is able to sell the Bakeneko as an in stock product instead of a pre-order, which usually takes months (up to a year, even) to be fulfilled.

Four colours of the Bakeneko60: White, Black, Aqua, Navy Blue

However, the casting process also means that the Bakeneko’s case does not take well to anodisation; a process that gives the keyboard its colour and finish. To solve this, CannonKeys decided to have the case painted instead. It may not look or feel as nice as an anodisation process, but it’s a good budget-friendly option to keep the price of the keyboard low.

Other items that are bundled with the Bakeneko include a CannonKeys-branded foam carrying case, an FR4 plate, a hotswap PCB, Cherry clip-in stabilisers, as well as custom silicone feet. Since this is a keyboard kit, the Bakeneko doesn’t come with switches or keycaps – you will need to purchase these two parts separately to complete the keyboard.

Now, even though $130 may seem like a steep price tag for a keyboard – especially when compared to an off-the-shelf keyboard – the CannonKeys Bakeneko60 really does offer
incredibly
good value for money. You’d be hard pressed to find a similar custom keyboard with an aluminium case and a gasket mounting system with such a clean sound profile.

If you’re keen to grab the Bakeneko, you can do so on
CannonKeys’ storefront
 come 21 April at 2PM EST; that’s 2AM on 22 April for us here in Malaysia.


Genshin Impact 1.5 Arrives 28 April With PS5 Version – Eula, Yanfei, Housing System Confirmed

Mihoyo revealed a slew of
Genshin Impact
 news recently. Not only do we have a release date for Version 1.5 of Genshin Impact (28 April), the developer also announced that the PlayStation 5 version of the hit game will be arriving on the same day. On top of that, two new characters – Eula and Yanfei – will be added to the game too.

Let’s start with the new characters. Eula is a 5-star Cryo character that wields a claymore, while Yanfei is a 4-star Pyro character that uses a catalyst. According to Mihoyo, Eula will get her own banner in Version 1.5, while Yanfei will be featured in Zhongli’s banner – that’s right, Zhongli will be available to roll again in the new update.

Eula
Yanfei

Aside from that, a new item called “Serenitea Pot” will be introduced in Version 1.5 of Genshin Impact as well. Basically, it’s your own personal realm where you can build your own “house” and decorate it accordingly. In terms of gameplay, a number of improvements will be made too, such as reducing the amount of original resin required to claim rewards from the weekly bosses to 30 resin (Dvalin, Andrius, Childe).

Speaking of bosses, a new weekly boss will also be added once Version 1.5 is live. Dubbed Azhdaha, the “Lord of Vishaps,” he will likely play a central role in Zhongli’s second story quest. Aside from that, there will be a new world boss as well, the Cryo Hypostasis. Just like the other Hypostasis in the game, the new boss will drop materials for character ascensions.

As for the native version of Genshin Impact for PS5, it will support 4K resolution, enhanced textures, and faster loading times.

To top it all off, Mihoyo even teased Inazuma in a number of concept arts, which will be introduced as a new region in Genshin Impact sometime in the future. It’s great that Mihoyo is adding so much new content in Version 1.5 of the game come 28 April to keep the experience fresh, and if you’re not sure if the game is for you or not, check out our long-term review of Genshin Impact
right here
.


Keychron Teases New “QMK Keyboard” – Gasket Mount, Hotswap PCB, Screw-In Stabilisers

Keychron, a pretty popular manufacturer in the mainstream keyboard scene, is teasing a rather interesting new keyboard. Dubbed “QMK Keyboard,” it features a number of features more commonly found on enthusiast-level custom mechanical keyboards, including support for – you guessed it – QMK and VIA.

QMK and VIA support seems to be one of the most highlighted features of the QMK Keyboard. Basically, QMK and VIA are software solutions that allow users to customise the mapping of a keyboard. VIA, for one, has a simple user interface that makes it very easy to change what every key on a keyboard does.

Aside from that, the QMK Keyboard will also feature a gasket-mounted plate, one of the most popular mounting styles in the custom keyboard scene now. It remains to be seen if this is a similar implementation to the gasket mounting system of the
Glorious GMMK Pro
, though if Keychron’s new keyboard is using a “traditional” gasket mount, it should offer a soft typing feel with a clean sound profile.

Other specifications of the QMK Keyboard listed on the website include support for screw-in stabilisers – this is more secure than plate-mounted stabilisers – a hotswap PCB, which makes it easy and seamless to swap switches, as well as an aluminium body. Looking at the teaser image, it looks to be sporting a 75% layout as well.

Based on these revealed specifications, the new Keychron QMK Keyboard does look like a rather promising product that could match the quality of entry-level custom mechanical keyboards. It’ll be interesting to see how much it will be priced at once Keychron is ready to reveal more details.

If you’re interested to learn more about the QMK Keyboard, you can register your interest
right here
.


Dell XPS 13 (9305) Quietly Launched in Malaysia – More Affordable Model With 16:9 Screen From RM4,499

It appears the new Dell XPS 13 (9305) has been quietly launched here in Malaysia. Basically, it’s a more affordable variant of the
higher-end XPS 13 (9310)
, but with a different display. Instead of a 16:10 screen, the newer, more budget-friendly XPS 13 features a 16:9 panel.

In fact, upon closer inspection, there’s a very good chance the XPS 13 (9305) uses the same chassis as the
2019 XPS 13
, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, starting at RM4,499, it is quite a bit more affordable than the XPS 13 (9310). That particular model
retails from RM5,399
 – a RM900 price difference is quite big.

For RM4,499, the new XPS 13 features Intel’s latest 11th generation Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, 512GB of SSD storage, as well as a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 InfinityEdge screen. All in all, a reasonably well-equipped premium productivity laptop for that kind of money.

If you want more processing power, you can opt for the Core i7-1165G7 configuration of the XPS 13. Aside from the faster processor, you also get a much sharper 13.3-inch 3840 x 2160 InfinityEdge touch-enabled screen, 16GB of RAM, the same 512GB SSD, and Iris Xe graphics. Of course, these upgrades do increase the price of the XPS 13 quite a bit to RM5,899.

The new Dell XPS 13 (9305) is now available for purchase on
Dell’s Malaysian online store
 from RM4,499. If you don’t mind its slightly narrower 16:9 screen, this model is certainly a good alternative to the higher-end XPS 13 (9310).


2022 Honda Civic May Arrive in Malaysia Sometime in 2021

Now this is a bit of a surprise: the upcoming
2022 Honda Civic
 may arrive here in Malaysia sometime
this year
 in 2021. This was revealed by the President and Chief Operations Officer of Honda Malaysia, Sarly Adle Sarkum, in an interview on Honda’s very own
WithDreams online magazine
.

In the interview, Sarly was asked if there was anything “exciting in store” that he can share, to which he brought up the world premiere of the 2022 Civic. “Hints for 2021…tunggu (wait)…,” was what he said after that statement. It’s a little vague, but it does seem to indicate that we could see the local debut of the brand new C-segment sedan as early as this year.

However, it’s entirely possible Sarly is hinting at a preview of the 2022 Civic in Malaysia rather than a local launch in 2021.

Nonetheless, it’s definitely an exciting sign for those who are eagerly waiting for the local availability of the 11th generation Civic. Just like the
Civic Prototype
, the production unit of the sedan has a longer hood “for a more premium side view,” as Honda puts it. On top of that, the A-pillars have been pushed back as well to improve driver visibility.

In comparison to the current
10th generation Civic FC
, the 2022 Civic’s headlights are also slimmer now. This, and the absence of the chrome (or piano black) grille certainly give the new sedan a more mature-looking design. If you’re not a fan of the Civic FC’s aggressive-styling, the 2022 model may just tickle your fancy.

The 10th generation Honda Civic FC

According to the Japanese carmaker, more details on the 2022 Honda Civic will be revealed next week on 28 April. Stay tuned to Nextrift then to find out more about the new C-segment sedan!


Huawei MateBook 2021 Series Now in Malaysia From RM3,299 – Early Birds Get RM800 Freebies

Huawei just launched a slew of new laptops in Malaysia. These include the MateBook 14, MateBook D 14, MateBook D 15, as well as the top-of-the-line laptop in the series, the premium MateBook X Pro. Naturally, all of these laptops – except for the MateBook D 14 – feature Intel’s latest 11th generation processors, and they’re quite sleek-looking too.

The most affordable machine in the series is the MateBook D 15, which retails from RM3,299 for the 10th generation Core i5-10210U configuration with Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620. If you want better CPU and GPU performances, you can opt for the Core i5-1135G7 model with Intel Iris Xe Graphics for RM3,899.

If you want a 14-inch laptop instead, there’s the MateBook D 14. It retails at RM3,499 with a Core i5-10210U processor.

And then there’s the more premium MateBook 14. While the aforementioned laptops are equipped with a 1080p screen, the MateBook 14 features a sharper 14-inch 2160 x 1440 touch-enabled screen and a Core 15-1135G7 processor. Of course, this means it’s quite a bit more costly too, retailing at RM4,899.

Last but certainly not least is the range-topping MateBook X Pro. Offered in only one variant, it comes with a 13.9-inch 3000 x 2000 touch-enabled display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, making it ideal for productivity tasks. Aside from that, it is also equipped with a Core i5-1135G7 processor, Iris Xe Graphics, and a RM6,899 price tag.

It’s worth noting that regardless of which 2021 MateBook you purchase, you will get 512GB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM – very practical capacities.

The Huawei MateBook 2021 series is now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 23 April; it will hit store shelves the very next day on 24 April. Those who place a pre-order by 23 April will also receive up to RM800 worth of freebies, including a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365, a Huawei-branded backpack, and a “city travel gift package.” Those who purchase the MateBook 14 or MateBook X Pro will also get a Huawei Bluetooth mouse.


Starting at RM4,499, The Dell XPS 13 Is the Default Premium Productivity Laptop

A premium productivity laptop, as its name suggests, usually cost a premium. But in recent times, the prices of these high-end laptops have steadily dropped, and the Dell XPS 13 is the latest one that caught our eyes. Retailing
from only RM4,499 now
, you’re getting an excellent productivity laptop for that kind of money.

Of course, we’re talking about the new Dell XPS 13 (9305) that was quietly launched here in Malaysia. Now, despite this being a “new” model, its design and feature set are actually very similar to the
2019 XPS 13
. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course: it still looks quite sleek, and it has upgraded internals as well.

By (seemingly) using the same chassis as the older model, Dell is able to offer this variant of the XPS 13 at a lower price point. In my opinion, this is quite a smart move on Dell’s part. If you want a premium productivity laptop with good value for money, consider this new model of the XPS 13.

What Are You Sacrificing?

So what is the main difference between the XPS 13 (9305) and the higher-end, more costly
XPS 13 (9310)
? Well, you get a slightly narrower and smaller 16:9 display with the former, which may not be a big sacrifice to certain folks. Of course, the XPS 13 (9310)’s taller 16:10 screen does look sleeker (it’s also better suited for productivity tasks), but a 16:9 display is still plenty good.

After all, you’re getting a high quality panel with the more affordable XPS 13 (9305). Its 13.3-inch 1080p or 4K InfinityEdge screen still offers 100% sRGB colour coverage, and it even has a peak brightness of 400 nits, which should be bright enough for most use case scenarios. While it has a rather noticeable bottom screen bezel than the XPS 13 (9310), I would argue it’s still a handsome-looking machine.

The XPS 13 (9305)
The XPS 13 (9310)

More Importantly, It’s Far More Affordable

Now this is really the biggest reason to get the XPS 13 (9305). As mentioned, it retails from only RM4,499, which makes it one of the most affordable premium-class productivity laptops in the Malaysian market now. To put this into context, the XPS 13 (9310)
starts at RM5,399
 – that’s a RM900 price difference.

But are you getting your money’s worth with the RM4,499 XPS 13 (9305)? Definitely. For that kind of money, you’re getting Intel’s latest 11th generation Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM – the very same chip that powers the costlier XPS 13 (9310) – an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 512GB of SSD storage, as well as a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 InfinityEdge screen.

If you want even more processing power and RAM, you can opt for the RM5,899 model. Not only does it feature a faster Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, you’re also getting a much sharper 13.3-inch 3840 x 2160 InfinityEdge touch-enabled screen. In comparison, a similarly configured XPS 13 (9310) would set you back
a whopping RM6,999
. Yes, you have to pay RM1,000 more.

Different Target Audience, Same Premium Laptop

That being said, the XPS 13 (9305) and XPS 13 (9310) are meant to appeal to different audiences. The more affordable 9305 model is made for folks that want a premium productivity laptop without breaking the bank, while the higher-end 9310 variant is for those that are looking to get the best productivity laptop Dell has to offer right now.

Regardless, both variants of the XPS 13 are still premium laptops through and through. They are some of the sleekest laptops in the market now, they have stunning displays, and of course, they provide more than enough processing power for the average user with Intel’s latest 11th generation processors.

By offering two distinct models of the Dell XPS 13 at different price points, the premium productivity laptop is
that
 much more appealing to a wider audience. If your budget permits, I reckon you won’t be disappointed with either one of these two laptops.


Apple Introduces New (Very Colourful) iMac With M1 Chip – Malaysian Pricing Starts at RM5,599

Apple just unveiled the all-new all-in-one iMac, and it is very, very colourful. In fact, it’s available in
seven
 different colours, and just like other recently unveiled Macs, the new iMac is sporting Apple’s very own M1 chip, promising better performance than its predecessor in a thinner package.

According to Apple, the M1 chip powering the new iMac provides up to 85% faster performance than the previous model – that’s quite a big performance gain. What’s even more impressive is the fact that the whole design of the AIO is thinner than ever now. This is exemplified in the slim side profile of the new iMac.

As for the screen itself, the updated iMac now features a 24-inch 4.5k Retina Display with True Tone support. The slim bezels surrounding the display also give the machine a rather sleek aesthetic. That being said, it does have a rather large “chin” under the screen, which slightly detracts from an otherwise very modern-looking AIO.

Of course, the new iMac also gets colour-matched mouse and keyboard, not to mention a magnetic power connector – also colour-matched, naturally. It has a 1080p camera now too with improved mics for a better video call experience. To top it all off, Apple also said that the new iMac is quieter and will run cooler than its predecessor.

Malaysian availability of the new iMac has not been revealed yet, though we do know its
local pricing already
. The base model with a 7-core GPU, 256GB of SSD storage, and 8GB of RAM retails at RM5,599. A tier up is the RM6,449 variant, which gets an 8-core GPU. If you need more storage space, you can upgrade the storage to 512GB (with the same 8-core GPU) for a cool RM7,249.


The iPad Pro Gets Even More Powerful – Now With M1 Chip & Mini-LED Display From RM3,499

Aside from the
brand new iMac
, Apple also updated the iPad Pro with its M1 chip. That’s right, the tablet gets even more powerful now with Apple’s very own processor – the very same chip that powers the Cupertino company’s range of Mac products.

With the M1 chip, the new iPad Pro is said to offer 50% faster CPU performance than its predecessor, which
already
 had very good processing power. On top of that, in the GPU department, the new iPad Pro promises 40% improvement, courtesy of the 8-core GPU of the M1 chip.

Beyond its performance upgrade, the new iPad Pro also gets an impressive 2732 x 2048 mini-LED screen dubbed “Liquid Retina XDR,” though this is only limited to the larger 12.9-inch model. The more affordable 11-inch variant, on the other hand, gets a regular 2388 x 1668 IPS screen. Anyway, according to Apple, the mini-LED panel of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro offers a peak brightness of
1,600 nits
.

In the camera department, the updated iPad Pro gets a new 12MP ultra-wide angle sensor with TrueDepth support, allowing users to unlock the iPad with Face ID now. There’s also a rather cool new feature called “Centre Stage,” which uses the ultra-wide angle shooter to automatically “pan” the camera to keep a subject centred in the frame.

Just like the updated iMac, the new iPad Pro has no Malaysian release date yet, but
local pricing has been revealed
. The 11-inch model retails from RM3,499, while the better equipped 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at RM4,799. Both of these base models are WiFi-only with 128GB of storage.


Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 – 75″ 4K QLED 120Hz Smart TV May Arrive in Malaysia Soon

Now this is quite interesting: there’s a good chance Xiaomi is
finally
 launching (at the very least) one of its Smart TVs here in Malaysia. We have good reason to believe that the Chinese company will be introducing the Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 on our shores soon, a 75-inch 4K QLED smart TV with a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

As usual, we were going through SIRIM’s database when we saw a rather peculiar product registered by Xiaomi Malaysia earlier today. Carrying the model number L75M6-ESG, this is none other than the Mi TV Q1, a feature-packed smart TV with excellent value for money.

The headline feature of the Mi TV Q1 has to be its expansive 75-inch 3840 x 2160 QLED panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. On top of that, the almost bezel-less design – aside from the small bottom chin – also gives the smart TV a very sleek, modern-looking design. Thanks to the QLED panel, it also meets 100% NTSC and 95% DCI-P3 colour standards.

Aside from that, the Mi TV Q1 runs on Android TV 10 out of the box too, which allows you to download a slew of apps and the ability to cast content to the TV from your mobile device. As for connectivity, it includes a HDMI 2.1 eARC/ALLM input, two HDMI 2.0 port, two USB 2.0 connections, Bluetooth 5.0, and WiFi 2.4GHz/5GHz.

For the European market, the Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 retails at €1,299, which comes up to about RM6,430. This is a competitive price tag for a smart TV of this calibre, though we don’t know yet when (or if) it will be available here in Malaysia. It’s worth noting, however, that Xiaomi
did mention
 it intends to offer its range of smart TVs locally last year.

Nonetheless, we have contacted Xiaomi Malaysia regarding this – we’ll update this article if we hear back from the company.


22 – 28 April Fuel Price: RON 97 up Again

While RON 97 stopped increasing in price last week, it’s a different story this week. It is set to go up by 4 sen per litre this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

This brings the price of RON 97 to RM2.58 per litre (up from RM2.54). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, remains the same at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 22 to 28 April next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Huawei Band 6 Review: A Sleek, Long-Lasting Fitness Band

Huawei’s range of wearables have gotten better over the years, and the latest fitness band from the Chinese company, the Huawei Band 6, is its best one yet. Not only does it look sleek, it’s also very long-lasting, offering up to two weeks of battery life.

Retailing at RM219, it is not too expensive either. If you want a sleek-looking fitness band to track your well-being, the Huawei Band 6 really is quite a good option. Not convinced? Then keep on reading this review!

What It Is

Compared to Huawei’s previous fitness bands, the Band 6 has a much sleeker design, thanks to its expansive 1.47-inch 368 x 194 AMOLED screen. Aside from that, even though Huawei did not reveal the battery capacity of this wearable, it can supposedly deliver up to 14 days of use as well.

It’s also worth noting that the Band 6 offers rather robust sleep tracking. Dubbed TruSleep 2.0, it can automatically detect exactly when I fall asleep; I don’t need to manually prompt the wearable when I’m about to go to bed. I’ll elaborate more on this feature in the next section, but suffice to say…I’m quite impressed with it.

The Good Stuff

The overall design of the Huawei Band 6 is its strongest selling point, in my opinion. In fact, even with the display switched off, this wearable still looks really good on my wrist. I’m quite a fan of this Forest Green colourway as well with the matching watchface.

Speaking of which, the AMOLED display of the Band 6 is quite pleasant to look at too. Given that this is an AMOLED panel, it has deep, true blacks, vibrant colours, and wide viewing angles. It’s also quite a pixel-dense screen, so texts look sharp and crisp; especially useful for reading notifications.

Another feature of the Band 6 that I really like is its sleep tracking ability. As mentioned, the fitness band can automatically detect when I fall asleep, and it provides quite an elaborate set of data as well. It shows how long my sleep was, how long I spent in different sleep stages, and it can even measure the
quality
of my sleep.

And then there’s the Band 6’s battery life. Ever since I started using the wearable daily for about a week and a half, I haven’t needed to charge it at all. With this in mind, Huawei’s claim of up to 14 days of use on a single charge with this fitness band is certainly a realistic estimate.

Naturally, the Band 6 has a 5 ATM water resistance rating as well. I can wash it after my workouts without worry, and it can track swimming routines too. Unfortunately, I couldn’t put this feature to the test, given that we’re still in the middle of a pandemic.

Last but certainly not least is the Band 6’s notification system, which is decent. Every single notification that I get on my phone are pushed accordingly to the wearable, and on occasions where my phone is in my pocket, it’s great to not have to take out my phone just to check my notifications.

The Bad Stuff

Now, while the Huawei Band 6 can receive push notifications in a timely manner, the notification system as a whole still feels quite limited. I cannot interact with any of the notifications, and they are all jumbled up too; it would’ve been great if the notifications are grouped by the respective apps that send them.

Then again, it’s worth noting that the Band 6 is not the only fitness band that has this limitation.

As for its ability as a fitness tracker, the Band 6 is (obviously) quite good. It does a good job of tracking my workouts, and after I’m done with a particular exercise, it shows my average heart rate throughout the workout, how long the workout was, and the amount of calories I’ve burnt.

Unfortunately, the tracking itself is a little buggy. Regardless of the intensity of the workout, it always shows that I’m in the “extreme” heart rate zone, even at the very start of a workout. It’s a small bug, but it’s definitely worth pointing out.

Is It Worth It

Even though its notification system and fitness tracking is a little unrefined, the Huawei Band 6 is still a very good fitness band. Not only does it look sleek, it also has long battery life, a nice, vibrant AMOLED screen, as well as an excellent sleep tracking ability.

All of these features make the Band 6 a good option for those who want a fitness band that doesn’t break the bank. After all, it retails at only RM219. While it’s not the most affordable wearable in the market, you’re certainly getting your money’s worth with the Band 6.


Asus ROG Phone 5 Review: Fast RM2,999 Gaming Device, Okay Smartphone

I had a blast gaming on the Asus ROG Phone 5. Even when running particularly demanding mobile games like
Genshin Impact
 at maxed out graphics settings, it doesn’t show any sign of stutter or lag – the phone just keeps chugging along without breaking a sweat. Basically, this is a very,
very
 fast gaming smartphone, and it offers good value for money too.

However, outside of gaming, the ROG Phone 5…could be better. That’s not to say it is a bad flagship smartphone; it just falls short in a number of areas. Then again, this
is
, first and foremost, a gaming device. If you’re an avid mobile gamer that wants the best gaming performance out of a smartphone, the ROG Phone 5 is an excellent choice.

Especially for only RM2,999.

What It Is

Display
6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2448 x 1080), 144Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 2.84GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 660
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
64MP f/1.8, PDAF
13MP f/2.4 (ultra-wide angle)
5MP f/2.0 (macro)
Camera (front)
24MP f/2.5
Battery
6,000mAh
Dimensions
173 x 77 x 9.9 mm
Weight
239g
OS
ROG UI based on Android 11
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5/6GHz)
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone jack
Price
RM2,999

For this review, we received the 128GB variant of the ROG Phone 5 with 8GB of RAM, which retails at only RM2,999. There’s also a 256GB model with 16GB (!) of RAM that goes for RM3,799, and given that this phone does not feature a microSD card slot, you may want to go for this configuration if you absolutely need more storage space.

The Good Stuff

Since the ROG Phone 5 is a gaming smartphone, let’s talk about its performance first. Regardless of what game I throw at it, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset powering this phone can handle it with no issue at all. I’m especially impressed with how well it can run Genshin Impact.

As I’ve mentioned earlier on, the ROG Phone 5 can run the game extremely well even with maxed out graphics settings
at 60fps
. Genshin Impact is a game that even flagship-class Android smartphones struggle to run properly at this frame rate, so needless to say, the performance level of this gaming smartphone – and the Snapdragon 888, of course – is very impressive.

This level of performance is further complemented by the ROG Phone 5’s 6.78-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate. Games that support this high refresh rate is very, very enjoyable to play on this powerful device. Coupled with the display’s 300Hz touch sampling rate, input delay is reduced to a minimum too.

As for the panel quality itself, it’s a pleasant screen to look at. This is an AMOLED panel, so naturally, it offers deep, true blacks, vibrant colours, and wide viewing angles. Of course, it still doesn’t quite compare to the stunning, sharper display of, say, the
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
. But overall, you’re still getting an above average screen here.

Okay, so the ROG Phone 5 is a fast gaming smartphone with an equally fast, high quality screen; what about its battery life? As it turns out, the phone’s very generous 6,000mAh battery can return
excellent
 battery life. Throughout the review period, I can consistently get over seven hours of screen on time with this device.

Needless to say, I can easily get through a typical work day with the ROG Phone 5, even with a few sessions of Genshin Impact thrown in throughout the day.

Last but certainly not least is the overall design of the ROG Phone 5, which I really quite like, especially this Storm White colourway. The white and blue colour scheme is a refreshing change compared to the overplayed black and red colour combo, and the ROG logo on the back with RGB lighting is a nice design element too.

The Bad Stuff

It’s obvious the ROG Phone 5 is a very good smartphone for gaming purposes, but beyond that scenario, it isn’t quite as refined in other regards. Take its software experience: while I love the fact that the user interface is very close to stock Android, push notifications from certain apps such as Gmail and Twitter are very delayed.

In fact, there were a few instances where I had to
actually
launch the app to finally get the notifications. While this may not be a big issue to some users, it’s definitely a very real problem for myself in this line of work. While using this phone, I actually missed a number of important work-related emails.

Aside from that, the ROG Phone 5’s fingerprint sensor isn’t great either. Not only is it difficult to register my fingerprint, it has issue accurately recognising my fingerprint as well. Thankfully, a recent software update made the sensor much more accurate, though it is still a little difficult to register my fingerprint.

Given that the ROG Phone 5 is a gaming-centric smartphone, it’s no surprise that the camera performance is not fantastic. The triple camera system doesn’t even have a zoom lens, and the low light performance of the 64MP primary sensor isn’t particularly great either with lacklustre detail preservation and dynamic range.

In fact, the 13MP ultra-wide angle shooter can actually take
better-looking shots
in low light conditions, though it does so by using a long exposure mode. Anyway, judge for yourself with these sample shots:

64MP primary
13MP ultra-wide angle

Naturally, under good lighting, the ROG Phone 5 can still take rather good-looking shots. It may not be able to deliver amazing picture quality, but it will certainly do in a pinch. After all, this is (again) first and foremost a gaming-focused smartphone.

However, that brings me to my last negative with the ROG Phone 5: it runs
hot
. In prolonged gaming sessions, the side frames and top portion of the phone get uncomfortably hot, though I didn’t notice any major performance throttling when this happens. Obviously, you won’t feel the heat with a casing on, but that doesn’t exactly solve the thermal issue itself.

Is It Worth It?

Even though it runs hot, I still absolutely enjoy gaming on the Asus ROG Phone 5; it is my go-to smartphone for my Genshin Impact fix now. On top of that, it also offers long battery life, a fast, vibrant 144Hz AMOLED display, as well as a refreshing white and blue colour scheme (in my opinion).

Yes, the ROG Phone 5 does have its fair share of shortcomings, but as a gaming smartphone, it serves its purpose very well. On top of that, retailing from RM2,999, there’s no denying the sheer value proposition of this high-end gaming smartphone. If that’s what you want, then look no further than the ROG Phone 5.


Genshin Impact for PlayStation 5 Reduces Loading Times to Less Than 2 Seconds

The PlayStation 5 version of
Genshin Impact
 is coming on 28 April alongside the
Version 1.5 update
, and Mihoyo revealed a number of interesting new details for the new version of the game. For example, it takes the game merely
seconds
 to load a new area on the PS5.

This improvement is possible thanks to the powerful SSD of the PS5. Mihoyo released a video showcasing the development build of the PS5 version of Genshin Impact, and as you can see in the video below, it takes less than two whole seconds for the game to load a brand new area.

As Mihoyo puts it
, “you can jump right into domains almost instantaneously.”

This incredibly fast loading time is very impressive, given that even high-end gaming PCs can’t match the PS5 in this regard. Granted, Mihoyo
is
using a tailor-made file-loading system for the PS5 version of Genshin Impact to achieve this speedy loading time.

Interestingly, Mihoyo also mentioned that it is looking to implement more features of the DualSense controller in Genshin Impact in the PS5 version. For now, only the improved haptic feedback of the next generation controller is implemented in the game; more DualSense features (perhaps even the adaptive triggers) will be integrated in the future.

“The DualSense controller adopts very different technologies, and we’re still redesigning the controller support from scratch to explore its full potential,” said Mihoyo.

To recap, Genshin Impact for the PlayStation 5 will be arriving next week on 28 April together with the Version 1.5 update of the game, which will introduce a slew of other new content and improvements. You can learn more about these changes
right here
.


Genshin Impact Zhongli Banner Arrives 28 April With Yanfei, Diona, Noelle

Mihoyo just revealed Zhongli’s banner for Genshin Impact, which is set to arrive this Wednesday on 28 April. This is the second time the 5-star character is featured on a banner, and he will be accompanied by Yanfei – a new 4-star Pyro character – Diona, as well as Noelle.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event banners
, the “drop rate” of Zhongli, Yanfei, Diona, and Noelle will be increased. In the case of Zhongli, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be him. If it’s not him, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Zhongli.

Since Genshin Impact’s pity system ensures that you will get at least one 5-star character or weapon every 90 wishes – depending on which banner you’re rolling – you will have to do 180 rolls for a guaranteed chance to get Zhongli. The same rule applies to 4-star characters (guaranteed every 10 roll instead), but given that there are three of them featured in the event banner, it’s a little bit more random.

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Yanfei, Diona, or Noelle. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters – especially Yanfei, given that she’s a brand new character – you will likely have to roll a good number of times, depending on your luck.

Yanfei, a new 4-star Pyro character
Eula, a new 5-star Cryo character

Zhongli’s “Gentry of Hermitage” banner will go live on Genshin Impact this Wednesday on 28 April right after the
Version 1.5 update
. The banner will be available until 18 May, so there’s plenty of time to collect more Primogems for Zhongli or Yanfei. The new 5-star character Eula, on the other hand, will be coming after Zhongli’s banner.


Volvo XC40 Recharge EV Arriving in Malaysia Soon – 400km Range, 0-100km/h in 4.9 Seconds

It appears Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) is gearing up to introduce the Volvo XC40 Recharge EV in our local market. Registration of interest for the full electric model is now
open on VCM’s website
, so chances are, it won’t be long until the EV is officially launched here in Malaysia.

The XC40 Recharge EV is Volvo’s first mass-produced electric SUV, and it’s packed with a number of interesting features. According to the carmaker, the SUV has an all-electric range of 418km on a single charge, thanks to its 78kWh battery.

As for charging time, the XC40 Recharge EV can be charged up to 80% in only 40 minutes with a 150kW DC charging station (under ideal conditions). When charging at home instead, a three-phase 11kW wallbox can fully charge the XC40 in about eight hours from completely empty.

In terms of performance, the XC40 Recharge EV can go from 0-100km/h in only 4.9 seconds; this figure is highlighted on the product page of the SUV on Volvo Car Malaysia’s website. This suggests that the Malaysian market will at least receive the AWD variant, which gets 408PS and 660Nm of torque out of a dual-motor setup.

No word yet on exactly when the Volvo XC40 Recharge EV will be launched here in Malaysia, but we reckon it is happening very, very soon. In the meantime, you can register your interest for the electric SUV over at
VCM’s website
.


Proton X50 Production Focused on Malaysian Market First Before Exports

Still waiting to get the
Proton X50
? Well, if you’re afraid Proton’s export plans will affect local delivery of the B-segment SUV, you can rest easy now. Even though the national carmaker is
focusing quite a bit on export markets this year
, the X50’s production will still be catered to the Malaysian market.

In a statement sent out to
Paul Tan
, Proton said that its main priority right now is to “deliver cars for domestic market orders first and to address the waiting times currently faced by our customers.” Given that the waiting period for the SUV now stands at over six months – some customers have waited even longer than that – this is a good move.

Of course, Proton added that the X50 will eventually be exported to other markets. This includes Pakistan, though no tentative timeline was given. Once the B-segment SUV is introduced there, it will also be locally assembled alongside the
X70
 and Saga – the CKD production of the latter two in Pakistan are set to begin sometime in Q3 2021.

Back here in Malaysia, Proton is ramping up production of the X50 to meet consumer demand. With over
3,513 units
 of the SUV delivered in March last month, the national carmaker said that this is already “above the initial planned capacity.” Throughout the year, the production capacity of the X50 will be increased even further too.

With over 40,000 bookings
 already placed for the Proton X50 since its launch in late October last year, it is without a doubt a very popular B-segment SUV. Check out our comprehensive review of the X50 in the video above to find out why!


Production of Proton X50 Will Increase, But Not Immediately

The
Proton X50
 is, without a doubt, one of the most hyped B-segment SUVs in the market now. In fact, in a statement sent out to
Paultan.org
, Proton said that it has “literally been playing ‘catch-up’ since day one” because of the huge number of bookings. Well, the good news is, production volume of the SUV will be increased, though it’s not happening overnight.

“Our production volume is not limited by plant capacity. We want to and will gradually build up the volume (of the X50), but it can’t be done immediately. It takes a considerable amount of lead time to increase production capacity and we are working with our vendors and suppliers to source enough parts to do just that,” said a Proton spokesperson to Paultan.org.

Proton added that the various Movement Control Orders (MCO) and shutdowns caused by COVID-19 clusters further delayed the initial production of the X50. Of course, these are also affecting how quickly the national carmaker can increase production numbers of the SUV.

That being said, it’s worth noting that Proton still managed to deliver
over 3,513 units of the X50 last month
, and the carmaker said that this is already “above the initial planned capacity.” Chances are, the number of units delivered this month would be in the same range too – or perhaps even higher, if things go to plan.

As of March 2021 last month, Proton has delivered 11,654 units of the Proton X50. But with
over 40,000 bookings
 already placed for the B-segment SUV, the national carmaker certainly has some ways to go still – waiting period of the X50 currently stands at over six months.


Proton to Enter EV Market When Time Is Right

Electric vehicles (EV) have only gotten more popular in recent times, so it’s really only a matter of time before more carmakers start producing their own EVs. Proton, for one, said that it already has the capability to introduce EV technology, but the national carmaker is waiting for the right time to do so.

This was revealed by the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah, in an online interview with
The Malaysian Reserve
. According to Roslan, Proton is “awaiting clarity on the country’s direction in the (EV) segment” before deciding to introduce any EV technology, among other things.

“We could bring the technology, but the question is what would happen to aftersales in the next five years? We are not looking at selling the product alone but throughout the customer experience of owning an EV car as well,” said Roslan.

“How many consumers could afford an EV? In Malaysia, a part of the forces in sales is price affordability. If we have to bring down the price level, would it meet certain regulations later on, if any? These are key points we are looking at in determining to bring EVs. We (need to) look for the right product and the right time,” he added.

Based on these statements, it’s unlikely Proton will enter the EV market anytime soon. That is, unless the Malaysian government starts pushing for electrification of cars. Thailand, for one, is banning sales of non-EV cars by 2035 in its effort to “transform itself from a Southeast Asian hub for the production of conventional autos to one making electric cars,”
Bloomberg reported
.


Vivo V21 Now in Malaysia – 44MP Selfie Camera With OIS for RM1,599

Vivo just launched two new smartphones here in Malaysia: the Vivo V21, and the more affordable Vivo V21e. Out of the two devices, the V21 is naturally the more exciting device. After all, it features a 44MP selfie camera with optical image stabilisation – not a feature you typically find on a smartphone.

In fact, Vivo Malaysia says that the V21 is the only phone in the market now with an optically stabilised selfie camera, which makes it easier to capture blur-free images. On top of that, the 44MP f/2.0 front-facing camera has an autofocus system too for properly focused selfies. Normally, selfie cameras have a fixed focus system.

Beyond its selfie camera, other specifications of the V21 include a MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 6.44-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, a triple camera system (64MP f/1.79 primary with OIS + 8MP wide angle f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 macro), and a 4,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.

If you want a more affordable option, there’s the RM1,299 V21e. While it’s quite similar to the higher-end V21 – which retails at RM1,599 – it does have a number of distinct differences. The V21e’s chipset, for one, is swapped out for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor. Aside from that, its selfie shooter and primary rear camera do not have OIS either.

Both the Vivo V21 and Vivo V21e are now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 4 May; it will hit store shelves the very next day on 5 May. Those who pre-order the V21 can get freebies worth RM699, while the V21e is bundled with RM559 worth of free gifts.