Apple Watch Ultra Features Rugged Design & 60 Hours Battery Life for RM3,799

Here’s a brand new Apple Watch, and it’s dubbed Apple Watch Ultra. Given the rugged nature and long battery life of the smartwatch – for a wearable of this calibre – it does deserve the Ultra branding. Of course, it also carries an equally…ultra pricing.

Here in Malaysia, the Apple Watch Ultra goes for a cool RM3,799; that’s twice the price of the new Series 8, which
starts at RM1,899
. Of course, you do get a number of neat upgrades for that kind of money, including much longer battery life – up to 36 hours or 60 hours in low power mode – and sturdier sapphire front crystal.

Unique to the Watch Ultra is dual-frequency GPS that integrates both L1 and L5 frequencies; perfect for the target audience of this rugged, premium smartwatch. There’s also a new Action button that can be customised to different features.

To recap, the Apple Watch Ultra starts at RM3,799 in Malaysia. It remains to be seen when the rugged smartwatch will be available for purchase here, but rest assured, we’ll keep a close eye for any pertaining information.


Apple Watch Series 8 Coming to Malaysia Soon From RM1,899

The Apple Watch Series 8 is set to be available in Malaysia soon, and we now know how much the new smartwatch will cost on our shores. Naturally, it features a number of upgrades, including new watchfaces, a temperature sensor, and even the ability to detect a crash.

For the Malaysian market, the Series 8
retails from RM1,899
; that’s RM150 more than the starting price of the Series 7. For that kind of money, the Series 8 looks more modern than its predecessor, thanks to the new watchfaces, even if the design remains largely the same.

Also new to the Series 8 is a temperature sensor, which can help women track their ovulation cycle. It can also detect if the wearer is involved in a car crash; this can be a literal lifesaver. As for battery life, the Series 8 offers up to 18 hours of use on a single charge, and it can be further extended to 36 hours in low power mode.

Pricing wise, the Apple Watch Series 8 starts at RM1,899 in Malaysia for the GPS only model. If you want the cellular version, it will set you back RM2,299. No word yet on the exact availability of the new Apple Watch in Malaysia, though we reckon it should arrive here very soon.


Toshiba Launches 2022 Smart TV Lineup in Malaysia, Including Flagship 65″ Z770 for RM4,999

Toshiba recently showcased its 2022 lineup of smart TVs in Malaysia. With prices ranging from RM999 to RM4,999, the Japanese company’s offerings look to offer reasonably good value for money; even its flagship Toshiba Z770 Android TV isn’t priced exorbitantly.

For the Malaysian market, the Z770 is offered in a sole 65-inch model
for a cool RM4,999
, which is actually discounted from its original RM7,999 price tag. For that kind of money, it offers a sharp 4K display with quantum dot technology, as well as support for AMD FreeSync Premium.

A tier down is the Toshiba M550L, which is also a 4K TV, though it’s not quite as feature-packed as the Z770; it doesn’t feature Android TV or FreeSync support. Of course, that also means it is much more affordable: the 75-inch M550L, for example, is going
for only RM4,049 right now
.

Besides these two models, there are also the C350L (from RM1,799), V35 (from RM1,399), and the most affordable of the lot, the V31 series (from RM999). You can check out the rest of Toshiba’s offerings on its
official Shopee Mall store
.


MTG Dominaria United Now Available – Features Limited Edition Token for SEA

Magic: The Gathering’s latest set, Dominaria United, is now available for tabletop. It’s a set that coincides with MTG’s 30th anniversary, and it is the first of a multi-set storyline that takes place within Magic’s original plane, Dominaria.

Containing 281 cards, Dominaria United also sees the return of Jumpstart Booster packs. Each pack showcases 10 unique themes from Dominaria’s world, and the 20-card park can be combined with a second Jumpstart Booster to start playing a limited-lite format of play; perfect for newcomers.

Aside from that, there is also an exclusive token for MTG players in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The token is given to pre-orders of Dominaria United products worth RM450. Just like the set itself, the token is the first of a three-part series set that will form a battlefield mural.

Dominaria United is now available for tabletop worldwide – including Malaysia, of course – as Draft, Set, Collector, and Jumpstart Boosters; Commander decks and Bundles are also offered. If you’re keen to check out the new set, give your
nearest hobby shop
 a visit tonight. After all, it’s Friday Night Magic!


Acer Swift 5 (2022) Review: Premium Thin & Light Laptop With Excellent Battery Life

The Acer Swift 5 series had always offered a good balance between premium features and value for money. Though the latest Swift 5 now sits at a higher price bracket – no thanks to inflation – it does retain its premium appeal, not to mention much improved battery life.

While it does have its shortcomings, the Swift 5 is easily the best update in the series yet. It has all the makings of a premium productivity laptop, and it’s not priced as exorbitantly as its competition either – a winning formula that worked well for previous Swift 5 laptops.

What It Is

Display
14-inch WQXGA IPS (2560 x 1600), 60Hz
Processor
Intel Core i7-1260P (12C/16T, 2.1GHz with boost up to 4.7GHz)
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM
16GB LPDDR5
Storage
1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Camera
1080p webcam
Battery
56Wh
Dimensions
310.5 x 213.3 x 14.95 mm
Weight
1.2kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4
2x USB-A 3.2
1x HDMI 2.1
Price
RM6,599

The Swift 5 in this review is the RM6,599 range-topping model with a fast Core i7-1260P processor, generous 1TB SSD, and a sharp 2560 x 1600 IPS touch-enabled display. There’s also a more affordable RM4,699 variant with a Core i5-1240P chip, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 1920 x 1200 panel.

If you want a configuration that’s a mix of the two models above, there’s the mid-tier Swift 5. It has the same Core i7-1260P processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD of the highest-end variant, though it retains the 1920 x 1200 display of the base i5 model; all for RM5,999.

The Good Stuff

What makes or breaks a productivity laptop (in my opinion) is its keyboard, and in this regard, the Swift 5 delivers! It is by no means the best laptop keyboard I’ve ever tried, but it
is
 comfortable to do a lot of typing on with just enough key travel, very pronounced tactile feedback, and a layout that’s easy to get accustomed to.

Surprisingly enough, despite being made out of plastic – recycled plastic, at that – the Swift 5’s OceanGlass trackpad still feels smooth to the touch. Of course, it can also track my fingers accurately; never did I feel the need to use a mouse with this laptop for productivity tasks, and that’s a good thing.

Performance wise, the Swift 5 can keep up with my tasks without any issue. Whether it’s juggling in excess of 15 Chrome tabs at any given time with some light photo editing, there’s no noticeable slowdown at all. The Intel Iris Xe can do some light gaming as well, so it won’t have any trouble running games like Dota 2 or
Diablo Immortal
.

And then there’s the
long
 battery life of the Swift 5. On a single charge, I can get about
nine hours of use
 before the laptop runs out of juice. To get this level of battery life, I set the power plan to battery saver with the display dimmed to a comfortable (but still quite bright) level.

Though I haven’t tested it out myself, I’m confident other variants of the Swift 5 with a more power-efficient 1920 x 1200 screen can deliver even better battery life.

Speaking of which, the Swift 5’s 14-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display looks great too with vibrant colours, wide viewing angles, and good brightness. The fact that this is also a touch-enabled display is an added bonus, though I personally don’t use it much. I definitely appreciate the 16:10 aspect ratio though, as it allows for more vertical screen real estate for productivity tasks.

Last but not least is the build quality of the Swift 5, which is premium through and through. The aluminium chassis feels and looks great, there’s no creaking at all with added pressure, and there’s minimal screen flex as well.

Tipping the scales at 1.2kg with a 14.95mm thin side profile, it’s also a portable laptop that I don’t mind lugging around in my backpack.

The Bad Stuff

As much as I enjoy looking at the bright and vibrant display of the Swift 5, I’m not crazy about the glossy finish of the screen. It’s fine when I’m using the laptop indoors with minimal outdoor lighting, but when I’m working in a cafe outdoor, for example, the reflective nature of the panel can be quite distracting.

And then there’s the finicky fingerprint sensor of the Swift 5. Throughout my time with the laptop, the sensor couldn’t recognise my fingerprint consistently enough. When it does work, it’s fast and seamless. But when it doesn’t (which happens more often), I need to key in my password instead to get into the laptop; not a very pleasant experience.

Is It Worth It?

Definitely. Yes, I would’ve loved for the Acer Swift 5 to come with a matte display instead – along with a fingerprint sensor that works as intended – but the other winning qualities of the laptop more than make up for these shortcomings. Plus, with a RM4,699 starting price, it’s definitely one of the most affordable premium-tier Windows laptops.

Beyond its value proposition, the Swift 5 is also a long-lasting productivity laptop with very respectable performance level and comfortable keyboard for long typing sessions. Paired with its premium build quality, the Swift 5 is an easy recommendation for those who are shopping for a refined productivity laptop without breaking the bank.


Genshin Impact x Domino’s Pizza Collab Happening in Malaysia – Merch up for Grabs

Now this is an interesting collaboration between Genshin Impact and Domino’s Pizza. Happening right here in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, the event allows customers to purchase “Emergency Food” combo from Domino’s, which also includes Genshin Impact merchandise.

The event will take place between 14 September to 26 October, so there’s plenty of time for Genshin Impact fans to get the special combo from Domino’s Pizza. For the Malaysian market, two combos are available, and each of them offer slightly different merchandise.

The Genshin Impact merchandise you can get

Take the more affordable RM29.95 combo, which includes a Genshin Impact non-woven pizza bag, postcard, and tinplate button badge. The RM59.90 combo, on the other hand, throws in an extra Genshin Impact plastic A4 file folder, along with an extra postcard and tinplate button badge.

Aside from these special combos, several Domino’s Pizza outlets throughout Malaysia will be decorated with Genshin Impact elements as well; some of them will even have activities that offer Genshin Impact prizes. The full list of participating outlets and activity schedule can be found
here
.

Read more:

You Can Now Get Genshin Impact Merch With Domino’s Pizza “Emergency Food” Combo


Video: Damiensaber Xenopixel Lightsaber Review – $169 vs. $379 Hilt!

Here’s our video review of the
Damiensaber Xenopixel lightsaber
! If you’ve wanted to see the lightsaber in action, watch the video above. Trust us, it will look like something out of a Star Wars movie – well, sort of.

To recap, Damiensaber’s Xenopixel lightsaber features a neopixel blade, so it looks very bright; almost like an actual lightsaber. Paired with its extremely smooth swinging sound, it really does feel like we’re living our Jedi (or Sith) dreams.

If you’re keen to purchase a Xenopixel lightsaber from Damiensaber, you can do so on its
official online store
. You can also join its
Discord server
 to get some valuable resources (and updates) on its products.


PRISM+ Opening First Physical Store in Sunway Pyramid on 16 September 2022

PRISM+ will soon have a physical presence right here in Malaysia! The company is set to open its first-ever outlet on our shores at Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya, and we are the first market outside of Singapore to have a physical store.

To celebrate the opening of the PRISM+ outlet on 16 September next week – in conjunction with Malaysia Day, no less – the first 100 shoppers to visit the store will get exclusive discounts on four products as shown below:

PRISM+ Q43-QE Android TV: RM1,299 (RRP: RM3,199)
PRISM+ Q55-QE Android TV: RM1,699 (RRP: RM3,599)
PRISM+ W220v monitor: RM299 (RRP: RM599)
PRISM+ F220 144Hz gaming monitor: RM449 (RRP: RM849)

Aside from PRISM+’s range of gaming monitors and Android TVs, the outlet also features several Logitech products. These include the Logitech G304 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse, Logitech G331 gaming headset, and even the Logitech G512 Carbon GX mechanical keyboard.

“With the launch of our first physical store in Malaysia, we hope to provide a better shopping experience for customers who prefer to touch and feel the products they buy. This way customers get to interact with our products and have a better hands-on experience with the brand, now that the country is opening up post-pandemic,” said the country director of PRISM+ Malaysia, Eric Kam.

“We hope the new outlet will help grow trust and confidence in the brand which is already immensely popular in the online space,” he added.

The PRISM+ physical outlet at Sunway Pyramid will open its doors on 16 September next week. If you’re keen to get a new Android TV or gaming monitor from the brand, give the store a visit to score some good discounts.


Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro Review: Surprisingly Good Pre-Built Keyboard!

Razer’s range of PC peripherals are easily some of the most recognisable options in the market. From its lineup of gaming mice to mechanical keyboards, there’s no denying the sheer popularity of the company’s products, and the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro is one of the latest releases from Razer.

Sporting a low profile design with Razer’s own optical switches, the DeathStalker V2 Pro is a…well, surprisingly good pre-built keyboard. Although it’s quite a costly product, it could be ideal for some folks – especially those that can’t be bothered to build a custom keyboard.

What It Is

There are three different variants of the DeathStalker V2. The most affordable one is the standard DeathStalker V2 wired keyboard (RM799), followed by the DeathStalker V2 Pro Tenkeyless (RM929) and the DeathStalker V2 Pro (RM999) you see in this review – the latter two are wireless keyboards.

As mentioned, the DeathStalker V2 series are low profile keyboards with Razer’s optical switches. The model we received is installed with the red linear switch, though there’s also a clicky option. Of course, Razer Chroma RGB is available on these keyboards too.

Another neat feature of the DeathStalker V2 Pro is the metal scroll wheel, which can be used to adjust volume; it can even be clicked to mute audio. It’s also worth noting that this wireless keyboard supports both Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz dongle, not to mention pretty darn long battery life – more on this further down this review.

The Good Stuff

What really surprised me when I first started using the DeathStalker V2 Pro is how
refined
 the typing experience is. Yes, it’s a stiff keyboard, but I’m absolutely a fan of the linear optical switch. It does have some audible scratchiness if I put my ear against the switch, but overall, it really has quite a smooth downstroke.

Not only is it a reasonably smooth switch, Razer’s linear optical switch has a nice cushioned bottom out as well; it’s as if I’m bottoming out on a topre keyboard, which is high praise for the DeathStalker V2 Pro. Thanks to the minimal key travel – this is a low profile keyboard, after all – it has fast actuation to boot.

I’m also quite a fan of the DeathStalker V2 Pro’s keycap quality. While it’s not amazing by any means, the double shot ABS keycaps definitely feel and look above average. The shine-through legends are quite sharp and consistent, and the texture of the keycaps is quite nice to the touch too. It doesn’t feel cheap, basically.

Wireless performance of the DeathStalker V2 Pro is worth highlighting as well. The keyboard’s “HyperSpeed” Wireless tech – which uses a 2.4GHz dongle – promises 25% faster performance than other wireless tech, and…I’m inclined to agree with the company here.

Throughout the review period, the keyboard feels very responsive whether I’m in wired mode or wireless mode with the dongle. It still feels reasonably responsive on a Bluetooth connection as well.

Speaking of wireless connectivity, the battery life of the DeathStalker V2 Pro (despite its thin chassis) is very respectable. Razer quoted up to 40 hours of battery life with the backlight set to 50%, and in my testing – while also using the HyperSpeed dongle – this is right on the money.

Last but not least is the metal scroll wheel of the DeathStalker V2 Pro. It’s quite satisfying to use it to control the volume, and it’s a feature that’s not typically found on a custom keyboard – an advantage that is definitely worth highlighting as we move on to the next section.

The Bad Stuff

As impressive as the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro is, it’s still a pre-built keyboard at the end of the day, so it has a few shortcomings in this regard. For one, its stabilisers are rattly, though this is somewhat masked by the shorter key travel of the low profile design.

This comes down to the stabiliser wires of the keyboard, which doesn’t seem to be lubed at all. Thankfully, it’s quite easy to squeeze in a bit of lube in between the wire and the stabiliser housing with a syringe to eliminate ticking and rattling, though this does require some effort from end-users.

And that brings us to the sound profile of the DeathStalker V2 Pro. While I like the fact that it’s a relatively quiet keyboard, it still has the plasticky typing sound of a pre-built board. For a keyboard that sits at this price point, I expect a more refined sound profile.

For RM999, the DeathStalker V2 Pro is by no means an affordable keyboard either. For the same amount of money, you can get a custom keyboard with superior sound signature, typing experience, and customisability…if you’re willing to put in the work, of course.

Is It Worth It?

A pre-built keyboard has a different target audience than a custom keyboard, so it’s important to put this into perspective. Yes, a custom build has its advantages, but its disadvantage (read: limited availability) makes a pre-built keyboard like the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro a much more accessible and compelling option.

As a custom keyboard enthusiast, I do think the DeathStalker V2 Pro can be the right choice for folks who want a mechanical keyboard that just
works
, and it does work quite well. Even if it doesn’t have well-tuned stabilisers or the most pleasant sound profile, it still has other winning qualities, such as smooth optical linear switches, long battery life, fast wireless connectivity, and a low profile design.

If these qualities are exactly what you look for in a mechanical keyboard, then give the DeathStalker V2 Pro a consideration.


Genshin Impact 3.1 Livestream Set for 16 September – New Sumeru Area?

Hoyoverse just revealed the livestream date for
Genshin Impact
‘s next update, Version 3.1. Set to take place on 16 September this Friday – Malaysia Day! – the version update should see the introduction of a new area within Sumeru.

So far, the Sumeru region in Genshin Impact 3.0 consists of the forest area; there’s no desert landscape as shown in the teaser image of the upcoming livestream. It’s also worth noting that Hoyoverse already gave us a glimpse of Sumeru’s desert area in the Gamescom 2022 trailer below.

The Version 3.1 update is dubbed King Deshret and the Three Magi, which looks to be a continuation of the current Sumeru storyline in Genshin Impact. Aside from that, the new update should see the introduction of three new playable characters that were previously teased, namely
Nilou, Cyno, and Candace
.

As with previous Genshin Impact version update livestreams, redemption codes offering Primogems will be given during the stream as well. You can catch the livestream of Genshin Impact Version 3.1 through
Twitch
 this Saturday on 16 September at 8PM for us here in Malaysia.

If you missed the stream, don’t worry: the special program
will be on YouTube
 shortly after at 12AM the next day (16 September). Looking at the release schedule shared by Hoyoverse a while back, Genshin Impact 3.1 should be released on 28 September.


God of War Ragnarok’s Latest Trailer Looks Amazing – Coming to PS5 & PS4 on 9 November

At Sony’s State of Play event this morning, the Japanese company released a new story trailer for God of War Ragnarok. Set to be available on 9 November, the latest entry in the God of War franchise will be playable on both the PS5 and PS4.

Ragnarok takes place a few years after the events of the 2018 God of War. Kratos’ son, Atreus, is now a teenager, and he “wants to understand who he is more than anything,” as the developer puts it. After all, the big revelation of the previous game is the fact that he is – spoiler alert – the infamous Loki in Norse mythology.

Yes, that is Thor

Speaking of which, Kratos and Atreus will also face off against the legendary Aesir god Thor in Ragnarok, along with Freya from the previous game. Naturally, Ragnarok will introduce a number of new enemies and abilities as well. Kratos will have new attacks and weapons, while Atreus seems to have gained some new tricks as well.

You can now pre-order God of War Ragnarok: the Standard Edition for the PS4 costs RM249, while the PS5 version goes for RM299. There’s also a
Digital Deluxe Edition for RM339
, which includes both the PS4 and PS5 version, a Dark Horse digital mini artbook, an avatar set, a PS4 theme, a digital soundtrack, and in-game cosmetic items.


PS5 Pre-Orders Open Again From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 17 September – First Sale Since Price Hike

Pre-orders of the PS5 are open again from Sony Centre Mid Valley, though not everyone will be able to place an order for the console. It’s also worth noting that this is the first sale of the PS5
since its price hike
, which was announced last month.

Just like previous pre-orders from Sony Centre Mid Valley, you’ll have to fill up
this Google Form
 to be in the running for a
chance
 to pre-order the PS5. If you’re fortunate enough to be selected, you will be contacted from 18 September onwards to finalise your pre-order of the next-gen console.

Do note that you only have until 17 September at 2PM this Saturday to register your interest for the PS5 pre-order. This isn’t a first-come, first-served sale either; filling up the form just means you’re in the running to be chosen to pre-order the PS5.

While it wasn’t mentioned, it’s likely that stocks are very limited, so don’t be disheartened if you’re not chosen to pre-order the PS5. If you want a better chance of securing a unit, we recommend checking in with your favourite game shop to get into the waiting list – if the store has one.


Video: EVIS Intelligent Desk Review – RM4,099 Feature-packed Standing Desk!

You may have heard of smart desks, but what about an intelligent desk? Well, that’s exactly what the EVIS Intelligent Desk is. Not only does it have a smart lamp, it can even keep your coffee hot! Even though it’s quite costly, it is a feature-packed standing desk.

So how much does the Intelligent Desk cost? A cool RM4,099, and that’s only the base price of the standing desk. But for that kind of money, you do get a slew of features, including the aforementioned smart lamp – it can be controlled with gestures – and cup warmer. Did we mention it has a built-in wireless charger as well?

If you’re keen to learn more about the EVIS Intelligent Desk, watch our video review above! You can also check out EVIS’
online store
 for more details on the standing desk.


15 – 21 September Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 5 Sen, Now RM4.15 Per Litre

Great news: the downward trend on the price of RON 97 continues. The price of the premium fuel is set to go down by 5 sen this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is now set at RM4.15 per litre (down from RM4.20) for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 15 to 21 September 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


You Can Now Get Genshin Impact Merch With Domino’s Pizza “Emergency Food” Combo

Genshin Impact’s collaboration with Domino’s Pizza is now live in Malaysia! Starting from today until 26 October, customers can purchase an “Emergency Food” combo from Domino’s and walk away with some Genshin Impact merchandise.

For us here in Malaysia – the event is also available in Singapore and Thailand – two Emergency Food combos are available, and each of them offer slightly different merchandise. The more affordable RM29.95 combo, for one, includes a Genshin Impact non-woven pizza bag, a postcard, and a tinplate button badge.

As for the RM59.90 combo, it throws in an extra Genshin Impact plastic A4 file folder, along with an extra postcard and tinplate button badge.

The Genshin Impact merchandise you can get

Aside from these special combos, several Domino’s Pizza outlets throughout Malaysia will be decorated with Genshin Impact elements as well; some of them will even have activities that offer Genshin Impact prizes. The full list of participating outlets and activity schedule can be found
here
.

Once you’ve purchased any of the two Emergency Food combos from Domino’s, you can also register for a lucky draw event with UniPin
right here
. Not only can you win Domino’s free pizza vouchers, 40 (!) 1:1 standees of Jean and Amber are up for grabs too.


300 Samsung Employees Went Around Klang Valley to Get User Feedback

Now this isn’t something you see every day. Just last week, over 300 Samsung Malaysia employees – including the field force and management team – went around the Klang Valley area to gather user feedback.

Some of the major malls that Samsung’s employees visited include KLCC, Pavilion KL, Mid Valley Megamall, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, and Sunway Pyramid. In total, they covered over 300 Samsung outlets at 230 different locations – that’s quite a lot of ground to cover in a single day.

“When Samsung first launched the highly celebrated Galaxy Z Series foldable smartphones, we opened up a whole new mobile category and experience engineered for a new era. In order to continue delivering the most personalised user experience, Samsung remains committed to putting customer needs and desires at the heart of every product,” said the president of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, Edward Han.

“In directly connecting with existing and future Samsung mobile phone users at our experience stores, we aim to #UnfoldYourWorld to a whole new era of foldable smartphones by sharing the full breadth and depth of the Galaxy ecosystem, in addition to gathering consumer feedback to help improve the way we do business,” he added.


Malaysia Keyboard Meetup Lucky Draw Prizes Revealed – Typ 60 Lite, SINGAKBD Unikorn & More

The lucky draw prizes for the upcoming Malaysia keyboard meetup have been revealed! These prizes can only be won by those who have purchased the RM60 keypass ticket, so if you’re one of 250 folks that got the pass, here’s what you stand to win.

Some of the big ticket items for the lucky draw include SINGAKBD’s prototype Unikorn R2.2 in Berlin Blue, Axiom Studios’ Typ 60 Lite (also prototype) with patina treatment by KneeDeep, as well as a prototype unit of
Geonworks’s unique W1-AT keyboard
. Needless to say, these are mighty compelling keyboards.

Besides that, there will also be other prizes to be won, including a Soma macro pad, keycap sets, artisans, deskmats, and even switches.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keebmunity (@keebmunity)

As previously revealed, the Malaysia keyboard meetup will be held at the Grey Box in GMBB Kuala Lumpur on 1 October 2022. It will run from 10AM to 6PM, so expect a number of activities to be held throughout the day. Several vendors at the meetup have been confirmed too, including Rebult Keyboards and
Mecha Store
.

Aside from that, Sun Cycle – one of the most recognisable distributors – will also be at the keyboard meetup. The company will be bringing as many as
six
notable brands to the event: Keychron, Akko, Glorious, Ducky, Tecware, and Shurikey.

The Malaysia keyboard meetup is really shaping up to be quite a big affair. Of course, Nextrift will also be attending the event, and if you managed to get a keypass or free entry ticket to the meetup,
check out the FAQ
 before heading to the event on 1 October next month!


SINGAKBD Unikorn R2.2 Rerun Happening Q3/Q4 2022 – In-stock Sale, RM1,800 Estimated Price

Local brand SINGAKBD’s very popular Unikorn custom keyboard is set to go on sale very soon; as soon as this month, in fact. Set to be sold as an in-stock product – albeit through a raffle – only 600 units of the highly sought-after 60% keyboard will be available.

Four different colours of the Unikorn R2.2 have been confirmed: Berlin Blue, Flamenco Red, Reseda Green, and Pewter. All of these colourways are aluminium models, so there will not be a polycarbonate version of the keyboard for this round of sale.

According to SINGAKBD, 600 units of the Unikorn R2.2 are available in-stock; they will be sold in two runs (300 units each). The keyboard’s sale will be done through a raffle instead of a first-come-first-served format as well.

As for pricing, the SINGAKBD Unikorn R2.2 rerun is expected to go for around RM1,800; a price increase of approximately RM200 due to higher metal prices. Beyond the Q3/Q4 2022 time frame, no exact date has been given for the raffle of the Unikorn R2.2 – follow SINGAKBD’s
official Discord channel
 for the latest updates.


Unboxing MTG Dominaria United Set Booster – Stained Glass Foil Cards!

Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, Dominaria United, is now available for tabletop. It’s a set that coincides with MTG’s 30th anniversary, and it is the first of a multi-set storyline that takes place within Magic’s original plane, Dominaria.

To celebrate the launch of the new set, Wizards of the Coast sent us a Set Booster box of Dominaria United to check out. If you’re interested to pick up the new set, here’s our unboxing of the Set Booster! We’re quite a fan of Dominaria United’s showcase cards with the stained glass treatment.

Unlike a Draft Booster, a Set Booster is meant to be more “exciting” to crack open. This is probably why it is popular among folks who just enjoy opening booster packs instead of using them for Limited play (Draft or Sealed).

So…what makes a Set Booster more exciting to open? Well, quite a number of things. There is a structure to this 14-card pack for Dominaria United. 12 of them are guaranteed Magic cards, while the other two are an art card and a token/ad card; the latter has a chance to be replaced with a card from “The List.”

Some of the art cards we got

For Dominaria United, every Set Booster box comes with a Legends Retold Box Topper. Legends Retold is a “series of 20 legendary creatures (Commander legal) from Dominaria’s history with totally new designs,” as Wizards puts it, and it is inspired by Magic’s 1994 Legends set.

In our particular Set Booster, we got Hazezon, Shaper of Sand. It’s worth noting that the 20 cards you can get in this Box Topper consist of uncommon, rare, and even mythic rare cards, so depending on your luck, you may crack open a valuable card.

Speaking of which, when you crack open a Set Booster, the first card you’ll see is an art card, followed by a basic land card in a standard frame or a full art stained glass basic treatment for Dominaria United. If you’re lucky enough, there is a 15% chance that this land card will be foil. If you do get a foil land, it doesn’t prevent you from getting another foil card in the pack.

After the basic land card, you’ll also get six regular commons and uncommons with some form of “connection” to each other. In the case of Dominaria United, these cards will be three commons and three uncommons; simple enough.

Aside from these common and uncommon cards, Dominaria United’s Set Booster will also include an uncommon legendary creature card with the sleek-looking stained glass treatment. You’ll also get two “wildcards” of any rarity, so you can get anything from a common to a
mythic rare
 card.

Of course, the Set Booster pack will also have a guaranteed rare or mythic rare card, which is no different than the same slot found in Draft Boosters. You also get a guaranteed foil card, and it can be of any rarity, including Booster Fun cards with showcase stained glass, borderless, or Phyrexian-language treatments.

Last but certainly not least is a token/ad card. However, there is a 25% chance this will be replaced with a card from “The List” – a list of 300 interesting cards from Magic’s past. If a Set Booster pack has such a card, it can be of any rarity. We got a Treasure Hunter in one of our packs.

That is basically what a Set Booster is. Its unique card structure certainly makes it interesting to crack open, especially with the increased chance of getting a rare or mythic rare card; who doesn’t like the feeling of getting a valuable card?

And that’s our unboxing of the Set Booster of Magic: The Gathering’s new Dominaria United set. If you’re keen to check out this new set, give your
nearest hobby shop
 a visit. The return of the Jumpstart Booster for Dominaria United is a great way for new and returning players to play the game as well.


You Can Now Pre-Order the iPhone 14 in Malaysia – Deliveries Begin 23 September

Happy Malaysia Day! Coinciding with this celebration is the local pre-orders of the latest iPhone 14 series on our shores. Deliveries of the shiny new iPhones are also set to begin as soon as next week on 23 September.

However, this does not apply to all four iPhone 14 models. While deliveries of the standard iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max will begin on 23 September, it will take slightly longer for the iPhone 14 Plus – a new entry to the lineup – to start shipping. This particular model will arrive here on 7 October next month.

To recap, the iPhone 14 series starts at RM4,199 for the regular model, going up to RM4,699 for the iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 Pro, on the other hand, is priced at RM5,299, while the range-topping iPhone 14 Pro Max goes for RM5,799.

You can pre-order the iPhone 14 series on
Apple’s Malaysian

online store
. Of course, other outlets are also taking pre-orders of the latest and greatest iPhones, including
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.


Genshin Impact 3.1 Arrives 28 September – New Sumeru Desert Area, 3 New Playable Characters

Genshin Impact 3.1 is shaping up to be quite a big update. After all, it marks the live service game’s second anniversary, and a number of exciting events and features are coming, including the addition of a new area in Sumeru and three playable characters.

The three characters are,
as expected
, Nilou, Cyno, and Candace, who all hail from Sumeru. Cyno and Candace will be featured in the first phase of the event wish – alongside Venti’s rerun – followed by Nilou and Albedo’s banners; quite a jam-packed lineup.

Of course, Genshin Impact 3.1 will also continue Sumeru’s Archon quest, and it will involve a number of characters previously revealed. These include Dehya, Alhaitham, Cyno, Candace, and even two Fatui Harbingers: Scaramouche and Il Dottore. Personally, we can’t wait to see how the story will unfold.

Back in Mondstadt, the annual Weinlesefest event will take place in Version 3.1 of Genshin Impact, which will see the debut of a new character, Mika. The daily login event is also coming back, offering players up to 10 Intertwined Fates, 1,600 Primogems, and even a pet of sorts.

Oh, the Version 3.1 update will add dynamic terrain deformation as well to better simulate trails on sand, not to mention a more elaborate DualSense support that adds vibration feedback when characters unleash their respective Elemental Bursts. A card game (for real) will also be added in Version 3.3!

Genshin Impact 3.1 will go live in the next two weeks on 28 September. Once the update drops, Cyno, Candace, and Venti’s rerun banner will be available, followed by Nilou and Albedo’s event wishes in the second phase.


A Genshin Impact Anime Is Coming From Ufotable – The Studio Behind Demon Slayer

Now this is quite the announcement! Hoyoverse just revealed that it is working on a Genshin Impact anime – even if this is only implied at the moment – with Ufotable, the studio behind the highly successful Demon Slayer anime.

The collaboration between Hoyoverse and Ufotable is dubbed a long-term project launch, which does heavily imply that an anime based on Genshin Impact is in the works. Shown alongside the announcement is the
stunning
 trailer below.

Unfortunately, that’s all the information that was revealed by Hoyoverse, though fans certainly have their hopes up. After all, Ufotable is one of the most recognisable studios that is responsible for many high animes, including the aforementioned Demon Slayer and Fate series.

Evidently, Hoyoverse is expanding the Genshin Impact franchise beyond the (very) successful live service game. The Version 3.1 update will be dropping on 28 September as well – check out our coverage on the update
here
 to learn more about it.


Fiture Fitness Mirror Now in Malaysia From RM3,999 – Early Birds Get RM1,000 Discount

If you’ve always wanted a smart mirror that can help with your workouts – though that is a very specific need – Fiture’s range of fitness mirrors do just that. Not only do they offer a wide range of workouts with form correction, these mirrors look quite sleek too.

Two Fiture fitness mirrors are offered in Malaysia. The more affordable of the two is the Fiture Mini for RM3,999, while the larger Fiture Core retails at RM6,999. Those who purchase either fitness mirrors by 19 October can get a pretty generous RM1,000 discount, along with a three-month subscription.

Do note that you’ll need an active subscription to…well, use the coaching features of the Fiture smart mirrors. It costs RM129 a month.

For that kind of money, the Fiture Core and Fiture Mini do appear to be refined fitness mirrors. They’re said to have “hundreds of workouts,” including bodybuilding, yoga, HIIT, and even form correction. On top of that, Fiture’s patented Motion Engine technology also helps you to get the correct form, pacing, timing, and movements for these workouts.

Naturally, there are also a couple of differences between the Fiture Core and Fiture Mini fitness mirrors. Aside from the size difference, the Core has an HD screen for a “true in-studio experience,” as the company puts it. The two fitness mirrors also have built-in speakers too, and there are even some games that you can play on the mirror.

The Fiture Core and Fiture Mini are now available for purchase in Malaysia through
Fiture’s official Shopee store
. To recap, the Fiture Core retails at RM6,999, while the Fiture Mini costs RM3,999. You can get a RM1,000 discount on the two fitness mirrors if you purchase them by 19 October next month.


Asus ROG Phone 6D & 6D Ultimate Official – MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, Coming to Malaysia Soon

Asus just unveiled two new gaming smartphones, the Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate. These two phones are essentially the MediaTek version of the previously released
ROG Phone 6
 series, though the 6D Ultimate does have a neat new feature that improves cooling performance.

While the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is similar to the
ROG Phone 6 Pro
 with an ROG Vision coloured PMOLED display on the back panel, it also has an AeroActive Portal. This “door” opens up when the phone is connected to the AeroActive Cooler 6, improving thermal efficiency by up to 20%. This should translate to better sustained performance.

One other new hardware of the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate is the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, which is said to deliver 10% faster performance compared to the standard Dimensity 9000. It’ll be interesting to see how this chip compares to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip found in the regular ROG Phone 6.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate include a 6.78-inch 1080p 165Hz AMOLED display, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro), a 12MP selfie camera, and a generous 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

It remains to be seen exactly when the Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate will arrive in Malaysia, though Asus Malaysia said the local pricing and availability of the two phones will be revealed soon.


Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition Unveiled, and It May Be Coming to Malaysia

Announced alongside the new ROG Phone 6D series is the Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition. Based on the standard ROG Phone 6 or 6D, this limited edition gaming phone is meant to appeal to fans of the Dark Knight.

Unique to the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition is a special semi-matte finish on the back of the phone that “mimics a cloudy night sky penetrated by a searchlight” when it catches the light. The software of the phone has also been revamped to prominently feature the Dark Knight himself.

Also bundled with the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition are a number of accessories themed after the superhero. Not only do you get a miniature replica of the famous searchlight that can project two versions of the Bat-Signal, you also get a case and SIM pin ejector with Batman’s design elements. All of these accessories (and the phone itself) are kept in a custom storage case.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition are the same as the standard ROG Phone 6/6D. These include either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, a 6.78-inch 1080p 165Hz AMOLED display, a triple camera system – 50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro – a 12MP selfie camera, and a generous 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

There’s no official confirmation yet on the Malaysian availability of the Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition, but given Asus Malaysia’s commitment to our market, there’s a good chance it will be offered on our shores in due time. The only question is whether we’re getting the Qualcomm or MediaTek version of the gaming phone.


Video: Geonworks W1-AT Review – Old-School Custom Keyboard!

Tired of modern custom keyboards? Want a more “old-school” board? Well, the Geonworks’ W1-AT is just that. Not only does it have a unique layout, it also has other features that are…well, a blast from the past. Watch our video review above to find out more!

Some of the unique features of the W1-AT – beyond its unconventional layout – is a plateless build with two mounting styles: top mount or tadpole mount. The former is a stiff mounting style, while the latter provides a softer, more comfortable typing experience.

Although the groupbuy for the Geonworks W1-AT has ended, you can still purchase it through the extras sale, which could happen soon on
Swagkeys
. Alternatively, you can also follow
Geonworks’ Discord server
 for the latest updates.


Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection Arrives on PC 19 October for RM209

Initially announced for both PS5 and PC,
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
 is currently only available on Sony’s next-gen console. For those who have been waiting for the game to come to PC, good news: the PC version of the collection is dropping next month on 19 October.

The collection is a remaster of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and it’s worth noting that this is the first time any of the Uncharted franchise is releasing on the PC. The PC version of the collection is naturally optimised for the platform, and it has a number of enhancements.

These include a reimagined UI, scale sliders, GPU and VRAM detection, variable load speed, and of course, support for both 4K resolution and ultrawide monitors. You can also adjust the texture, model quality, anisotropic filtering, shadows, reflections, as well as ambient occlusion.

If you happen to own a DualSense controller, the refined haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the PS5 controller will work on the PC version of Legacy of Thieves Collection too. However, this requires a wired connection to the PC.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will be available on PC next month on 19 October 2022. You can currently pre-order the game from the
Epic Games Store
 – which includes Sully’s “new” seaplane glider for use in Fortnite – or
Steam
 for RM209.


Honda Malaysia Recalls 702 Units of 2022 Civic FE & 2021 City RS Hybrid

If you own either the
2022 Honda Civic FE
 or the
2021 Honda City RS e:HEV
 hybrid, take note. Both of these models – 702 units, to be specific – have been recalled by Honda Malaysia as a safety precaution. Affected customers will be informed via notification letters.

The two models are recalled for different reasons. In the case of the Civic FE, the welding point at the slide adjuster of the driver seat needs to be rectified. The issue may cause the driver seat to not be fixed in position when driving, which can compromise seatbelt protection for the driver. For this issue, 72 units of the Civic FE are affected.

As for the City RS e:HEV, the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) camera that’s fitted in the front windscreen needs to be replaced. According to Honda Malaysia, the camera may not operate properly as it is, causing ADAS to be inactive when driving. 630 units of the City RS are affected by this.

Honda Malaysia apologises for the inconvenience caused by this recall, and the inspection, repair, and replacement of affected parts are (naturally) free of charge. The carmaker also assures customers that Honda models in production and on sale right now are not affected by this product recall.

No incidences of crashes or injuries caused by this issue have been reported in Malaysia.


Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Unboxing & Hands-on: RM1,899 Premium Smartwatch

Samsung’s smartwatches have consistently been some of the best options in the Android space, so the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro certainly has big shoes to fill. This particular model is a brand new entry to the lineup, offering a number of features that were not found on the Korean company’s previous smartwatches.

But that also comes with a premium: retailing at RM1,899, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is not exactly affordable. But for that kind of money, it does feel like a capable, sophisticated smartwatch, and this is our unboxing and quick hands-on of Samsung’s most premium watch to date.

The packaging of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is very minimalist. Inside the long box is the smartwatch itself, along with the magnetic charger and user manual. Unfortunately, a charging brick is not provided in the box, so you’ll have to find a USB-C charger to recharge the watch.

Unlike the standard Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro uses a magnetic clasp Samsung dubs D-Buckle Sport Band. The initial setup can be quite tricky – I had to refer to the user manual to figure out how it works – but once it’s set up, I love how convenient it is to put on and remove the watch.

Now let’s talk specifications. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro features an Exynos W920 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a sapphire crystal display, and the ability to measure body temperature. That sensor is used to improve the smartwatch’s sleeping tracking feature; I’ll definitely put this to the test in the full review.

Other specifications of the Watch 5 Pro include a 1.4-inch 450 x 450 circular Super AMOLED display, a generous 590mAh battery (the biggest battery found in a Samsung wearable), a titanium case, as well as GPX support, which allows the smartwatch to track hiking and cycling routes.

Design wise, I do like how the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro looks, even though it’s quite a sizeable smartwatch with a thick, chunky case. It sits on my wrist relatively well, but it may look out of place on a smaller wrist. If you’re concerned about the size of the watch, consider trying it out at a Samsung store first.

Of course, the large size of the Watch 5 Pro does offer a number of advantages, including excellent battery life. I’ve been using the watch for a while now, and it does seem to be quite long-lasting. I can get about three days’ worth of use before needing to charge it up, which is great for a smartwatch of this calibre.

It’s worth noting that I also enabled the always on display to get this level of battery life. I’ll see how its battery life holds up in the final review.

Speaking of which, the display of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is unsurprisingly bright and vibrant; as we’ve come to expect from Samsung. The display is still very legible under bright sunlight, and the always on display looks good as well. I also like the smooth surface of the sapphire crystal cover.

What I’m not too fond of is the touch-sensitive bezel of the Watch 5 Pro. While it works….relatively well, it’s still not as precise or as satisfying to use as a physical rotating bezel, which was found on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Needless to say, I’m a little disappointed by this omission.

Making a return on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the very useful body composition analysis. By using the Samsung BioActive Sensor on the back of the watch, the sensor can give me interesting data such as my skeletal muscle, fat mass, body fat percentage, BMI, and even my body water percentage.

These data are useful as a guideline for health tracking, and it’s convenient that I can get these stats from the Watch 5 Pro itself instead of a dedicated measuring device. Even if this is not a diagnostic tool, I still find it useful to track my health goals.

And then there’s the aforementioned GPX feature of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. It can track cycling and hiking routes complete with turn-by-turn navigation, but this is assuming you have a GPX file ready to go. Otherwise, you’ll have to complete a cycling or hiking route first and download it as a GPX file through the Samsung Health app.

I haven’t had the chance to try out the Watch 5 Pro’s GPX feature yet – I’m not a very outdoorsy person – but I’ll certainly give it a shot when I can. Obviously, the GPX support is meant to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is through and through a premium smartwatch. It looks great, it has long battery life (so far), and the GPX feature – aside from the bigger battery – is its big differentiator over the standard Galaxy Watch 5.

Now, you do have to pay quite a bit more for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (RM1,899 versus RM1,099), but for folks that want a long-lasting smartwatch with GPX support, it may just be worth the price premium. If you’re still on the fence about getting the Watch 5 Pro or the regular model, stay tuned for our full review of the former.


Vivo V25 Pro With 120Hz AMOLED Display & Colour-Changing Design Now in Malaysia for RM2,499

Vivo just added another phone to the V25 series in Malaysia. The Vivo V25 Pro is the highest-end device in the lineup, so naturally, it is packed with some attractive features, including a dual curved AMOLED display and a colour-changing back panel.

Only one variant of the V25 Pro is available in Malaysia. The sole 12GB + 256GB configuration is priced at RM2,499, and two colours are offered: Surfing Blue and Starlight Black. It remains to be seen if Vivo Malaysia will also bring in the more affordable 8GB + 128GB variant of the V25 Pro.

For that kind of money, the V25 Pro features the aforementioned 6.56-inch 1080p dual curved AMOLED panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. There’s also the colour-changing back panel that will change shade when exposed to sunlight. For the Surfing Blue model, it will change to a darker shade of…well, blue.

Other specifications of the V25 Pro include a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 32MP selfie camera, and a 4,830mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging.

The Vivo V25 Pro is now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM2,499. Those who purchase the phone by 23 October will receive freebies worth RM697, including a Foome wireless earbuds, a one-year extended warranty, and a one-year screen crack protection.


PS VR2 Sense Controller Registered With SIRIM – Malaysia One of First Markets to Get PS VR2?

Now this is quite the news: we just spotted the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller in SIRIM’s database! Evidently, Sony is hard at work to get the controller registered with the certification body before it can be officially sold here, which suggests that Malaysia could be one of the first markets to get the PS VR2 system.

The PS VR2 Sense controller appeared in SIRIM’s database just today on 20 September. The two controllers (left and right) carry the model numbers CFI-ZCVL1 and CFI-ZCVR1. We know these are the Sense controllers thanks to an
image of the product from FCC
 with matching names.

An FCC listing of the PS VR2 Sense controller

Notice the familiar silhouette of the Sense controller

As previously revealed by Sony, the PS VR2 Sense controller sports the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback for an immersive gameplay experience. Interestingly, the next-gen VR controller also has finger touch detection; it can detect your fingers (without pressing any button) in the areas where you place your thumb, index, or middle fingers.

The PlayStation VR2 is set to hit the market sometime in early 2023 next year, though no other details (including pricing) were announced. Given that the Sense controller has been registered with SIRIM, we reckon Malaysia will be one of the first markets to get the next-generation VR headset.


22 – 28 September Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 10 Sen, Now RM4.05 Per Litre

The price of RON 97 continues to go down this week. The price of the premium fuel is set to be cheaper by 10 sen this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is now set at RM4.05 per litre (down from RM4.15) for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays 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 September 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


iBasso DX170 Review: Fantastic Mid-Range DAP (With Some Quirks)

Digital audio players (DAP) are something of a rare sight these days. Understandably so, given that it’s just much more convenient to directly plug in your earphones to your phone or PC, assuming you’re not using a pair of TWS.

There’s also the hassle of lugging around yet another device in your pocket, though for those who want the best audio experience (read: audiophiles), it’s worth the trouble. If you’re an audiophile, it’s likely that you’ve got an amp or DAC already, be it the desktop or portable kind. But if you don’t, maybe it’s high time to get one, or even consider a DAP.

A DAP is an all-in-one solution for powering your headphones or IEMs while also alleviating the need to store or stream your music on a separate device. Having a standalone device to handle such a task also means that the processing of audio is its primary focus, and there shouldn’t be any noticeable interference from other components.

But the question is: do you actually need one?

What It Is

We received the
iBasso DX170
 from the company itself, which is its latest mid-range DAP. For the uninitiated, iBasso is a Chinese brand that has released numerous DAP, DAC, as well as IEMs at various price points. The brand is (sort of) in the same vein as Chinese brands like Fiio, Hiby, and Hidizs, if those are more familiar names to you.

Pricing wise, the DX170 retails at RM1,999 here in Malaysia; in the US, it goes for $449. If you’re familiar with iBasso’s products, you can probably piece together that the DX170 succeeds the discontinued DX160. It was an incredibly popular player in the mid-range $400 price point, boasting performance close to high-end DAPs at half the price.

But the DX160 does have its flaws, and while the DX170 brings some notable improvements, it still shares some of the same shortcomings. More on these later.

Packaging of the DX170 is quite nice: there’s the player itself, a transparent silicone case, a USB-C to USB-A cable, as well as two plastic screen protectors. Hardware wise, the DX170 uses a Rockchip RK3566 SoC and a Dual Cirrus CS43131 DAC chip. It also has 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and it runs on Android 11 out of the box.

There’s also playback support for up to PCM 32bit/384kHz and Native DSD256. While it doesn’t have the typical AKM or ESS DAC in its arsenal, the Dual Cirrus CS43131 DAC chip more than holds its own against them.

Build & Functionality

The DX170 has a brushed aluminium body and a glass front panel. It is offered in black, grey, and blue; the unit you see in this review is the grey colour option. On the right side of the DAP is a slightly recessed scroll wheel, as well as three buttons for playback controls (previous track, play/pause, next track).

On the other side of the DX170 is a single MicroSD card slot that is (oddly) not sealed. Right on top is a USB-C port, while the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports are located on the bottom of the DAP.

In hand, the DX170 feels solid and rightly premium, but it lacks some heft, so it doesn’t feel quite as robust. This could be a plus point for some folks though, as it’ll be easier to carry around and feels less like a brick in your pocket or bag.

While the thin, recessed scroll wheel of the DX170 means less accidental clicks and scrolls, it’s also more difficult to get a proper grip on it. There’s no real tactile feedback either, so it’s not quite as intuitive to adjust the volume. The three playback buttons are more responsive with a nice click, but with the included protective case on, they do feel a bit more mushy.

While we’re talking about responsiveness, the Rockchip RK3566 processor and 2GB RAM of the DX170 do show their limits when I have several apps open. Not only does the interface feel more sluggish as a result, the player even froze on me several times.

That being said, with only Spotify or the default Mango Player open, the DX170 remains responsive. In my experience, it’s best to also remove all the pre-installed bloatware to free up resources and tidy up the overall user interface of the player.

Sound Signature & Tonality

Using the DX170 purely for music listening – how it’s meant to be primarily used for, basically – is when it truly shines. Its tuning leans mostly towards neutral, with a hint of warmth. Compared to music playback on a smartphone or PC, you’ll immediately notice the cleaner, lower noise floor. Instruments are also a little more spaced out, and you’ll get the sense of a more forward soundstage vertically, though not by a large amount.

Bass seems to be a tad tighter and more impactful, while mids are warmer and thicker. The treble also sounds smoother and more tame, though that doesn’t mean the DX170 has a coloured sound signature – far from it.

The speed of the bass is still vey natural, aside from the subtle warmth that comes through. This thickness sounds particularly great for male vocals, as well as hip-hop and some rock tracks. The warmth also pairs well with the smooth treble, giving you a fatigue-free listening experience.

In terms of power, the DX170 has more than sufficient power to drive consumer audio products from IEMs to full-size headphones. I never found the need to go beyond 50% volume on low gain, and I often hover around 35% to 40% on high gain.

Do note that the the player does get a bit warm after prolonged listening sessions, particularly on high gain.

Battery Life & Charging

iBasso claims that the 3,200mAh battery of the DX170 should last around 11 hours, and I did manage to get this level of battery life, though I was on low gain mode at around 30% to 50% volume. It’s only when I stream music via WiFi that the battery life take a noticeable hit: I got about eight hours of use just streaming music on Spotify at the highest quality setting.

The DX170 supports several fast charging standards, namely QC3.0, PD2.0, and MTK PE Plus Quick Charge. With a 40W charger, I can fully charge the player in about an hour and a half.

Is It Worth It?

All in all, the iBasso DX170 is a great mid-range DAP that gives you sound quality that isn’t far off from much more expensive players…as long as you use it mainly for music listening. Beyond that, it is not the most responsive DAP with a rather sluggish interface.

But whether or not you actually want or need a dedicated music player will depend on how serious you take your music listening experience. If you want to bring out the best of your IEM or headphones and supply them with a source that’s clean and powerful enough, the DX170 will do just that.

There are some quirks with the software and functionality of this DAP, but in terms of performance and overall musical quality, the DX170 is one of the best in its class. Yes, this is despite the fact that it carries a RM1,999 price tag, which is – believe it or not – good value in the audiophile space.

If you’re keen to get the DX170, check out
iBasso’s official website
 to find out where you can purchase the DAP.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


Hoyo Fest 2022 Returns to Malaysia With La Juiceria on 28 September – Merch up for Grabs

Hoyo Fest is coming back to Malaysia! This time around, Hoyoverse is collaborating with La Juiceria Superfoods for the event, and you can get Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Tears of Themis merchandise by visiting the cafe from next week onwards on 28 September.

More specifically, the La Juiceria Superfoods Signature outlet at Nadi Bangsar. Throughout Hoyo Fest, the cafe will be themed after Genshin Impact, Tears of Themis, and Honkai Impact 3rd in that order. Yes, Genshin Impact will be the first game featured for this year’s Hoyo Fest.

Of course, merchandise from these three games will be sold at the cafe too – you can refer to the
official Hoyo Fest website
 for the full list of items on sale. Do note that you can only purchase the merchandise if you dine-in at the cafe; there’s no delivery or takeaway option, unfortunately enough.

On top of that, only those with a reservation can enter the cafe, so make sure you booked a time slot
right here
 before giving it a visit. Reservations will be opened from 22 September tomorrow at 10AM, and it will be closed on 27 September at 10PM on a first-come, first-served basis.

More details on Hoyoverse’s 2022 Hoyo Fest can be found on its
official website
. The event will kick off next week on 28 September with Genshin Impact until 9 October, followed by Tears of Themis (12 – 23 October), and finally, Honkai Impact 3rd from 26 October to 6 November.


Video: Chosfox Arctic Fox Sound Test + Quick Review – Interesting Clicky Switch!

Clicky switches are (almost) unanimously disliked in the custom keyboard scene. Not only is it more difficult to lube due to its design, the loud nature of the switch is also considered undesirable. For myself, I just don’t like the fact that a clicky switch masks the sound profile of a keyboard.

But the Chosfox Arctic Fox, to my surprise, is actually an interesting clicky switch. While I won’t consider it to be a high-end switch by any means, it’s certainly giving me second thoughts about my opinion on clicky switches – just take a listen in our sound test video above.

Here’s a quick summary of the Arctic Fox: it’s a clicky switch with 52g operating force and a
long
 20mm spring for a more “responsive” typing experience, as the switches will have a more pronounced return. Aside from that, it also has polycarbonate top and bottom housings, while the stem is made of POM.

When actuating the Arctic Fox on its own – that is, without mounting it on a keyboard – it is
unmistakably
 loud with a high-pitched click; even more so than the Kailh Box Jade or Navy switch. But once it’s installed on a keyboard, it sounds more muted and subdued, though some may still find it too loud, as you can hear in the video above.

But what I like is the typing feel of the Arctic Fox, especially its tactile bump. Not only is it a pleasant medium tactility, the switch’s click jacket also has a crisp feel to it when it’s actuated. I also appreciate the fact that the tactile event is situated almost in the middle of the downstroke – it has 1.7mm pre-travel with a total travel of 3.6mm.

Thanks to the Arctic Fox’s box design, this switch has minimal wobble as well, which makes for a more stable typing experience. However, it’s worth noting that the downstroke of the switch has a slight scratchiness to it, though the tactile click does mask this quite well.

I personally quite like the Chosfox Arctic Fox despite not being a fan of clicky switches. While I wouldn’t exactly take this switch over, say, the
SP-Star Meteor White
 – linear switches are still my favourite – I was definitely surprised by how much I actually like it.

Of course, if you’re not a fan of clicky switches, I don’t think the Arctic Fox will change your mind. Nonetheless, those who are keen to get this clicky switch can do so on Chosfox’s
official online store
.


Hearthstone Maw and Disorder Mini-Set Arrives 27 September With 35 New Cards

Blizzard’s latest Mini-Set for
Hearthstone
, Maw and Disorder, will be released on 27 September. It’s a part of the current Murder at Castle Nathria expansion, and the Mini-Set introduces 35 new cards to the game. As per usual, it can be purchased with cash or in-game gold – there’s even an all-Golden set.

The Maw and Disorder Mini-Set bundles 66 cards, which are multiple copies of the 35 new cards. These are made up of 4 Legendary cards (x1), 1 Epic card (x2), 14 Rare cards (x2), and 16 Common cards (x2). How much does the Mini-Set cost? 2,000 in-game gold or 1,500 Runestones, which can be purchased for $14.99 (about RM70).

As for the all-Golden set, it will set you back $69.99 (approximately RM320).

The first Mini-Set (Darkmoon Races) was introduced back in January 2021 as part of the Madness at the Darkmoon Faire expansion. Generally, Mini-Sets offer great value, especially for free-to-play players. If you’ve got 2,000 gold lying around, it’s definitely worth getting the new Mini-Set.

Maw and Disorder will go live in Hearthstone next week on 27 September. With the addition of the 35 new cards, expect the meta to change accordingly. There may even be some card adjustments in the future, which usually happens after a new set is released.


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: The Most Refined Foldable Yet

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is not remarkably different from its predecessor, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Instead of releasing a brand new design, Samsung decided to refine a winning formula, and the result is one of the most polished foldables yet.

Even though the Z Fold 4 is also slightly costlier than its predecessor at launch, it does offer some noteworthy upgrades, including a more robust design, improved performance, and a superior camera system.

Of course, it does have some shortcomings still, but for the most part, the Z Fold 4 is a worthy successor to last year’s model.

What It Is

Display
Main: 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2176 x 1812), adaptive 120Hz
Cover: 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2316 x 904), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 3.18GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 730
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB/512GB/1TB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
50MP f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
10MP f2.4 (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom
Camera (front)
10MP f/2.2 (cover), 4MP f/1.8 UDC (inner screen)
Battery
4,400mAh with 25W fast charging
Dimensions
Unfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mm
Folded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2~15.8 mm
Weight
263g
OS
One UI 4.1.1 based on Android 12L
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
USB Type-C
Price
RM6,799 (256GB), RM7,299 (512GB), RM8,299 (1TB)

Hardware wise, there’s no denying that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a flagship phone through and through. It has a fast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, an equally fast 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, and even a rather sophisticated triple camera system with three different focal lengths.

Unfortunately, the battery capacity of the Z Fold 4 remains the same at 4,400mAh, though it can still offer reasonably good battery life…depending on how you use the foldable phone.

The Good Stuff

Compared to its predecessor, one area where the Galaxy Z Fold 4 improved on is the hinge. It feels much tighter now, which inspires confidence. The tension of the hinge is also consistent when I fold and unfold the phone; last year’s Z Fold 3 takes less effort to close up.

The design of the Z Fold 4 has also been slightly tweaked. It’s more comfortable now to hold the foldable phone, thanks to the flatter sides. The bezels surrounding the 6.2-inch cover screen have been shrunk as well, slightly increasing the size of the display.

These small design changes do improve the overall refinement of the Z Fold 4. It may not look like a new phone, but it does feel like a different phone in my hands.

Aside from that, the display quality of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is as excellent as ever. Even though the HD+ resolution of the 6.2-inch cover screen isn’t as pixel-dense as I would’ve liked, it’s still a pleasant screen to look at with deep blacks and vibrant colours. Its 120Hz refresh rate lends to a very fluid user experience as well.

Naturally, the Z Fold 4’s primary 7.6-inch 2640 x 1080 Dynamic AMOLED 2X foldable screen – also with a 120Hz refresh rate, though it can go down to as low as 1Hz when needed – is its defining feature. Yes, the crease is still there, though I personally don’t see it as an issue.

While I can still feel the crease when I run my finger over it, I don’t notice it much in normal use. It would’ve been great if Samsung can somehow eliminate the crease, though I have a different qualm with the foldable screen – more on this in the next section of the review.

Performance wise, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is without a doubt a fast phone, though it is not without faults. While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset can keep up with whatever tasks I throw at it, it can’t quite run Genshin Impact consistently at 60fps; something that many other flagship smartphones also struggle with.

Nonetheless, it’s no doubt that the Z Fold 4 still provides the performance level of a proper flagship smartphone.

Another neat feature of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the Taskbar, which is an Android 12L feature. It can be summoned by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, providing quick access to my favourite apps. I can also tap and drag any of the apps and drop it on the screen to open said app in a new window; it’s quite convenient.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the Z Fold 4. Sporting a triple camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom – similar to the camera setup of the
Galaxy S22 and S22+
 – it’s a capable camera array.

Judge for yourself with these sample shots:

12MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

10MP telephoto

12MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

10MP telephoto

12MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

10MP telephoto

In more challenging lighting conditions, the Z Fold 4’s camera does struggle with noise and detail preservation, though it’s still comfortably a flagship-tier camera system. It may not be the best, but it’s much improved over last year’s model.

The Bad Stuff

I love the fact that I have access to a bigger screen when I unfold the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but what I don’t love is how the phone handles the switch between tablet and phone mode. Say I have Telegram open on the cover screen: if I unfold the phone while the app is still open, it wouldn’t switch to the tablet interface automatically.

To force the Z Fold 4 to switch to the tablet interface, I had to restart the app, which does negatively impact the overall user experience. Evidently, some optimisation is still needed here, either on Samsung’s or Android’s side.

And then there’s the battery life of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. For my own use, I use the cover screen more often than the larger, primary foldable display, and I can get about five hours of screen on time consistently with this usage pattern. But when I use the bigger screen more frequently, the screen on time goes down to about four hours.

Although the Z Fold 4’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip is more power efficient than its predecessor’s Snapdragon 888 SoC, the fact that the 4,400mAh battery sees no change doesn’t quite improve the battery life by a meaningful amount, much to my chagrin.

I’m also not crazy about the amount of dust that the inner screen collects when I put the phone in my pocket due to the gap when it’s folded. Sure, it’s not difficult to clean, though it’s still an annoyance worth pointing out.

The gap allows dust to collect easily

Finally, there’s the asking price of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Retailing from RM6,799, it’s not exactly an affordable device, which limits the mainstream appeal of the foldable phone.

Is It Worth It?

It really depends on what you look for in a phone, foldable or not. If you want access to a smartphone with a large screen in a pocketable form factor – even if the Z Fold 4 is quite a chunky device when it’s folded – then yes, I would say it’s worth it, even with its steep RM6,799 price tag.

After all, Samsung is the leading player in the foldable smartphone market, and the Z Fold 4 is your best option right now, especially here in Malaysia.

Even with its shortcomings, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has a lot of winning qualities, including a more robust hinge, stunning display, fast performance, and of course, IPX8 water resistance. If you’re willing to fork out the money for it, you’ll get a refined, practical, and most importantly, durable foldable smartphone that (should) be able to withstand years of daily use.


iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max Now Available in Malaysia

The new iPhone 14 series is now available in Malaysia! We’re getting it just a week after the global launch of the new phones, which is great for folks who have been eagerly waiting to get their hands on them.

But it’s worth noting that only the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are currently available for purchase. As for the iPhone 14 Plus – a new entry to the lineup – it will arrive here on 7 October next month, though you can
pre-order the phone right now
.

To recap, the iPhone 14 series starts at RM4,199 for the regular model, going up to RM4,699 for the iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 Pro, on the other hand, is priced from RM5,299, while the range-topping iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at RM5,799.

You can purchase the iPhone 14 series on
Apple’s Malaysian

online store
 right now. Of course, you can also get the shiny new iPhones from other outlets, including
Shopee
,
Lazada
, and Apple Premium Resellers nationwide.


Video: Akko MOD 007S v2 + Akko POM Silver Switch Sound Test

One of the biggest appeals of the Akko MOD 007S v2 is the fact that it is the brand’s first-ever custom keyboard with south-facing switches, ensuring maximum compatibility with various keycap profiles. We’re also testing out Akko’s new POM Silver linear switches in this sound test!

Aside from the new south-facing switch orientation, the MOD 007S v2 also features an aluminium case, a gasket mounting system, a hotswap PCB, polycarbonate and aluminium plates, as well as plate-mounted stabilisers, though it supports screw-in stabilisers as well. As for the POM Silver switch, it’s a linear switch with a full POM construction and a long 22mm spring.

If you’re keen to get the Akko MOD 007S v2 or the POM Silver switch, you can do so on
Akko’s official online store
. Stay tuned to our
YouTube channel
 for the full review of these two products!


Genshin Impact Cyno & Venti Banners Land 28 September With Candace, Kuki Shinobu, Sayu

Cyno’s and Venti’s banners have been revealed for
Genshin Impact
! Set to arrive this Wednesday on 28 September, the event wish for these two 5-star characters will be accompanied by Candace, Kuki Shinobu, and Sayu.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact

double banners
, Cyno and Venti both share the same roster of 4-star characters despite the fact that they’re featured in separate event wishes. Of course, pity is also shared between the two banners, and the wish guarantee count
will
 carry over to future character banners too.

Similar to Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event wishes
, the “drop rate” of Cyno, Venti, Candace, Kuki Shinobu, and Sayu will be increased. In the case of Cyno and Venti, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be either of them, depending on which banner you’re wishing. If you got a different character, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be them.

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

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Candace, Kuki Shinobu, or Sayu. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters, you will likely have to roll a good number of times, depending on your luck.

Cyno’s “Twilight Arbiter” and Venti’s “Ballad in Goblets” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 28 September 2022, right after the
Version 3.1 update
 goes live. Their banners will be offered until 14 October; Nilou and Albedo’s rerun banners will follow suit then.


iPhone 14 Pro Hands-on: Welcome to Dynamic Island

The iPhone 14 Pro finally sees a design revision. Gone is the notch, and it its place is a new…pill-shaped notch. But Apple did implement some smart software tricks to the new display cutout dubbed “Dynamic Island,” and it is quite interesting, to say the least.

While the iPhone 14 series does see a price hike in Malaysia – no thanks to our weakening Ringgit – the iPhone 14 Pro does bring a slew of improvements. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your iPhone, now’s as good a time as any.

First, let’s talk about the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island. Compared to the display notch on last year’s model, the new screen cutout is certainly an upgrade, in my opinion. Not only does it look better, it is also
surprisingly
 functional.

When I’m playing music on YouTube Music or Spotify, for example, the Dynamic Island will actually expand to show the album art and waveform when I minimise the app. If I start a timer while the music is still playing in the background, the Dynamic Island will dynamically (excuse the pun) add the timer on the notch too.

Basically, instead of minimising the notch like every other phone maker, Apple is actually putting a lot of focus on the Dynamic Island cutout by adding these neat little features. Chances are, it’s only a matter of time before other brands copy the Dynamic Island – some are
already doing it
.

Yes, this is the always-on display

Beyond the Dynamic Island, the iPhone 14 Pro also brings another new feature: an always-on display. But compared to other implementations of the feature, Apple’s method is more…unconventional. When the always-on display is activated, it’s essentially a dimmed lock screen.

Of course, the display’s refresh rate is also reduced to only 1Hz to conserve power when it’s in always-on mode. But because it’s just a dimmed lock screen, I can’t quite get used to it in the first few days of use. I thought I hadn’t put the phone to sleep because the display looks…well, switched on.

Once I am accustomed to the always-on display, I actually like it quite a bit. I love the fact that I can see all of my notifications at a glance (instead of just icons), though I am curious if battery life will be impacted by this. I’ll keep an eye on this in the full review of the phone.

And then there’s the new camera system of the iPhone 14 Pro. It now features a triple camera system made up of a 48MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. There’s even an option for 2x zoom now, which crops a 12MP image from the larger 48MP primary camera.

I took some shots with the iPhone 14 Pro, and the results (naturally) look great on all three focal lengths. Well, four focal lengths if we count the 2x zoom as well, which looks good despite being a cropped image from the main 48MP sensor. I’m definitely looking forward to testing out the low light performance of this new camera configuration.

12MP ultra-wide

48MP primary

48MP primary (2x zoom)

12MP telephoto

Under the hood, the iPhone 14 Pro is powered by the new Apple A16 Bionic chip; only the Pro iPhones get the new processor this year. Compared to last year’s A15 chip, the A16 offers better performance and superior power efficiency, ensuring that the iPhone can still deliver all-day battery life.

To put the A16 Bionic through its paces, I fired up
Genshin Impact
 to see how well it can run the game. Not surprisingly, Genshin is buttery smooth on the iPhone 14 Pro, even though the game can only run at 60fps right now. Hoyoverse has not added support for 120fps to the new iPhone yet, it seems.

Speaking of which, the iPhone 14 Pro features a brighter 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 OLED display now. It has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits now, and compared to the iPhone 13 Pro’s max brightness of 1,200 nits, this is quite a big improvement. The higher peak brightness will definitely come in handy when using the phone under bright sunlight.

As for the iPhone 14 Pro’s display quality itself, it remains one of the best screens on a smartphone. Not only can it get searingly bright, it also has punchy, vibrant colours, and the deep blacks of an OLED panel; winning characteristics of the display technology.

All in all, I am impressed with the iPhone 14 Pro. Even compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, I prefer the more compact design of the standard Pro model. It’s also more affordable with a RM5,299 starting price, compared to the 14 Pro Max, which retails from RM5,799.

Without a doubt RM5,299 is still a lot of money for a smartphone, but that’s how much you’ll have to pay for the latest and greatest Pro iPhone. Whether or not the iPhone 14 Pro is worth that kind of money…I’ll reserve judgment until the full review.

But for what it’s worth, I am enjoying using the iPhone 14 Pro as my daily driver so far.


Genshin Impact Teases Nahida & Layla – Playable in Version 3.2?

Just a couple of days before the
Version 3.1 update
 goes live, Hoyoverse is teasing two new characters coming to
Genshin Impact
, and one of them is a big one. The new characters are Nahida and Layla, and both of them should be playable in the Version 3.2 update.

Typically, characters that are teased by Hoyoverse are playable in the next version update of Genshin Impact, so there’s no reason the same wouldn’t apply to Nahida and Layla. Unfortunately, the rarity of the new characters has not been revealed yet, though we reckon Nahida will be a 5-star character, given her importance in the story.

That being said, Hoyoverse did show the elements that the characters wield. Nahida, as the Lesser Lord Kusanali herself, wields the element she reigns over, Dendro. As for Layla, she is a Cryo character. No mention of the weapons that the two characters use, unfortunately enough.

Nonetheless, expect Nahida and Layla to be playable characters in Genshin Impact 3.2, which is set to be released on 2 November. This is only about five weeks away, and compared to previous updates, this is a shorter time period. According to Hoyoverse, this timing will be applicable until the Version 3.3 update of Genshin Impact.


Lenovo ThinkStation P620 Workstation Lands in Malaysia With Threadripper Pro From RM9,733

The next-generation Lenovo ThinkStation P620 workstation has just been launched in Malaysia, and it is a powerhouse. Featuring AMD’s very capable Threadripper Pro processors, it’s a serious workstation made for the most demanding creative professionals – even Aston Martin uses this machine.

According to Lenovo, the ThinkStation P620 is the world’s first (and only) workstation with AMD’s Threadripper Pro processors. At the time of writing, it starts
at a cool RM9,733
 on Lenovo’s Malaysian online store; premium price tag for a premium machine.

For that kind of money, the base model of the ThinkStation P620 features an AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 3945WX processor paired with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 1TB 7200RPM HDD, a 256GB SSD, a 1000W PSU, and Windows 10 Pro out of the box. No GPU is offered for the base model, though you can add one through the configurator.

Of course, the prices vary depending on which GPU you want with the P620. Take the Nvidia RTX A6000, which costs RM27,180; you can even get
two
of them for RM55,420. Aside from the RTX A6000, there are a wide variety of other GPUs to choose from, including Quadro RTX 6000, RTX A5500, or even options from the AMD camp (Radeon Pro W6800, Radeon Pro VII).

The next-generation Lenovo ThinkStation P620 workstation is now available for purchase in Malaysia through
Lenovo’s Malaysian online store
. It starts at RM9,733, though expect to pay more as you configure the machine to your liking.


God of War Ragnarok Limited Edition DualSense Controller Comes to Malaysia 9 November for RM369

Sony just revealed the local pricing and availability of the recently announced limited edition God of War Ragnarok DualSense controller. This is actually the next-gen controller’s first limited release, and it will arrive in Malaysia on 9 November alongside
the new God of War game
.

As for pricing, the God of War Ragnarok DualSense controller retails at RM369 for the Malaysian market; the
same price as other new DualSense colourways
. But given that this is a limited edition model, you may want to place a pre-order of the controller from your favourite game store soon if you’re keen to get it.

Naturally, the limited edition God of War Ragnarok DualSense controller features the same two-tone colourway of other models. It also has a bear and wolf insignia on the touchpad, which is said to be a representation of Kratos and Atreus.

The limited edition God of War Ragnarok DualSense controller and the game itself will be available in Malaysia on 9 November 2022. To recap, the controller retails at RM369, while the game starts at RM249 for the PS4 version – the PS5 version goes for RM299.


PS5 Pre-Orders Open Again From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 29 September – New FIFA 23 Bundle

Pre-orders of the PS5 is open again from Sony Centre Mid Valley; this is the second one to take place in the same month, which is quite interesting. It’s also worth noting that this is a pre-order for the new PS5 FIFA 23 bundle.

Just like previous pre-orders from Sony Centre Mid Valley, you’ll have to fill up
this Google Form
 to be in the running for a
chance
 to pre-order the PS5. If you’re fortunate enough to be selected, you will be contacted from 29 September onwards to finalise your pre-order of the next-gen console.

Do note that you only have until 29 September at 2PM this Thursday to register your interest for the PS5 pre-order. This isn’t a first-come, first-served sale either; filling up the form just means you’re in the running to be chosen to pre-order the PS5.

While it wasn’t mentioned, it’s likely that stocks are very limited, so don’t be disheartened if you’re not chosen to pre-order the PS5. If you want a better chance of securing a unit, we recommend checking in with your favourite game shop to get into the waiting list – if the store has one.


Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Best (Sounding) Wireless Earbuds Below RM1,000

Since Samsung acquired Harman, the Korean company’s line of wireless earbuds have been lauded for their audio quality. Both the
Galaxy Buds 2
 and
Galaxy Buds Pro
 were great sounding earbuds, so expectations are high for the latter’s successor, the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

And it doesn’t disappoint. Not only is it the best sounding wireless earbuds yet from Samsung, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is also, in my opinion, the earbuds to get below RM1,000 if you want the best audio quality. I do have some qualms with it, but for the most part, it’s certainly worth the money.

What It Is

What sets the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro apart from its competition is the earbud’s ability to playback 24-bit audio via Bluetooth, promising a hi-fidelity listening experience. But there is a limitation to this: it can only achieve 24-bit audio playback when it’s connected to a Samsung phone running on One UI 4.0 or higher.

It also depends on which app is used, given that some streaming services (such as Spotify) don’t support 24-bit audio. While this is a feature worth highlighting, I personally don’t notice any major difference in audio quality between 24-bit and 16-bit. At least, not on a pair of wireless earbuds like these.

Aside from that, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro also features active noise cancellation (ANC), a custom coaxial two-way driver setup, up to eight hours of use on a single charge – five hours with ANC activated – and of course, tuning by AKG, so the tuning of these earbuds is (as expected) excellent. Aside from that, the earbuds are offered in three colours: Bora Purple, Graphite, and White.

The Good Stuff

My favourite feature of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has to be its audio quality. It has strong, controlled bass, relatively neutral mids – though a bit too recessed for my liking – and pleasant treble that definitely doesn’t sound piercing or shrill to my ears.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of the Buds 2 Pro’s mids (more on this later on), I
am
 very impressed with its bass response. It is punchy, textured, and most of all,
satisfying
. All of these are done without the bass bleeding into the mids – that would’ve made for a muddy sound profile.

The ANC of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is great as well. It can effectively eliminate low frequency sounds very well, making it ideal to be worn in, say, trains or busses. It can’t quite cancel out higher frequencies, unfortunately, though this is also true for most wireless earbuds with ANC.

As for battery life, I did manage to get Samsung’s quoted battery life of up to five hours (with ANC enabled) out of the Buds 2 Pro on a single charge. While this isn’t exactly class-leading, it’s more than good enough for my particular usage.

When necessary, I can always just pop the earbuds back into the charging case to quickly juice them up for a total of 18 hours battery life.

Another feature of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro that I love is the “voice detect” feature. When I start speaking, the earbuds will automatically let in ambient noise so that I can have a conversation. It’s similar to the “Speak-to-Chat” feature on the
Sony WF-1000XM4
, basically.

Last but not least is the IPX7 water resistance of the Buds 2 Pro, making it a great pair of wireless earbuds for working out. I can also quickly rinse it off after a heavy workout without worrying about water damage.

The Bad Stuff

As the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is a pair of wireless earbuds, it does have one inherent shortcoming: its technical performance isn’t particularly good. Detail retrieval is especially lacking, though this isn’t exactly an issue that is exclusive to these earbuds.

Though I dig the tuning of the Buds 2 Pro, I’m not too crazy about its recessed mids. As a results, vocals don’t sound as forward as I would’ve liked, and guitar solos on rock tracks are a tad too quiet for my taste. Then again, some folks may not mind this at all; they may even find this quality desirable.

And then there’s the passive noise cancellation of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro – or lack thereof. It’s not particularly easy to get a good fit with these earbuds, so it’s not as well-isolated as it should be. In short, ambient noise – especially higher frequency sounds – is still quite audible with the earbuds on.

Is It Worth It?

For RM899, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is an easy,
easy
 recommendation, even with its shortcomings. It still has fantastic audio quality – best I’ve heard for wireless earbuds under RM1,000 – good ANC performance, and long enough battery life.

The value proposition of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro really cannot be understated. While RM899 isn’t exactly a small amount of money, you are getting a lot of bang for your buck here. If you want a pair of wireless earbuds with excellent audio quality for your daily transit or workouts, look no further than the Buds 2 Pro.


Photo Essay: Hoyo Fest 2022 With Genshin Impact at La Juiceria Superfoods Signature

Today marks the start of Hoyoverse’s Hoyo Fest 2022 in Malaysia! The first game to be featured is Genshin Impact, and we were invited by Hoyoverse to experience the event at La Juiceria Superfoods Signature outlet at Nadi Bangsar.

Naturally, the cafe is furnished with Genshin Impact decorations; there’s even a photo wall right outside with the main Hoyo Fest visual for fans to take pictures with. Yes, Klee’s bomb and the (hilarious) Luxurious Sea-Lord claymore are also there for fans to use.

Getting into the cafe is a seamless process: just show up on time for your reserved time slot, wait in line, and you’ll be allowed in once the tables are ready. Do note that each time slot is limited to 45 minutes, and only those with reservations are allowed entry, so overcrowding shouldn’t be an issue.

Once you step into the cafe, you’ll be greeted by a plethora of Genshin Impact decorations. There are standees of various characters – including the Raiden Shogun herself – large posters with art from the game, and even Hoyo Fest themed tables. It’s a very festive ambiance, basically.

Then comes the main reason – well, one of the reasons – to visit Hoyo Fest: the food! There are two options: the RM36 set comes with a main and a drink, while the RM45 set adds on an appetiser. Patrons can choose between four different mains and three drinks, which are all themed after Genshin Impact.

Oh, you can also look for a staff with a “special hair accessory” at the cafe to get a scratch card. You’ll just have to show the staff that you follow Genshin Impact on any social media sites to get the card. Depending on your luck, the scratch card can win you either a postcard or a cute chibi-style standee of certain characters.

Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to get the latter.

There’s even a wishing wall! We saw one wishing for Cyno to come home

You can get your merchandise here

Once you’re done with your meal, you can head to the merchandise area to get your…Genshin Impact merchandise. Each patron can only buy one item of the same style, with a limit of 10 items per person. You can look at the full list of merchandise on sale
here
.

And that’s our Hoyo Fest 2022 experience at La Juiceria Superfoods Signature! If you’re driving there (like we did), you’ll be happy to know that parking there is quite easy. Nadi Bangsar itself has enough parking spaces when we got there for our 12PM time slot, and you can also park at the open air parking opposite the building.

As mentioned, only those with a reservation can enter the cafe for Hoyo Fest 2022, so make sure you booked a time slot
right here
 before giving it a visit. Genshin Impact will be featured at the cafe until 9 October, followed by Tears of Themis (12 – 23 October) and Honkai Impact 3rd from 26 October to 6 November.