Redesigned iPad (10th Gen) Now in Malaysia From RM2,099

Besides the
new iPad Pro
, Apple has also brought in the redesigned entry-level iPad to the Malaysian market. Featuring a new design, a larger display,
and
 USB-C port, the 10th gen iPad looks much sleeker and modern now, along with some performance improvements.

For the Malaysian market, the new iPad
retails from RM2,099
, and that gets you the 64GB model; a tier up is the 256GB variant for RM2,849. Four colour options are available: Blue, Pink, Yellow, and a more minimalist Silver.

At a glance, the most notable change to the updated iPad is the larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with smaller bezels. There’s no more physical home button either, with Touch ID moved to the power button, much like how it is on the
iPad Pro
 and
iPad mini
.

Under the hood, the revamped iPad also gets the Apple A14 Bionic chip, an upgrade over its predecessor’s A13 Bionic. The new iPad’s 12MP ultra-wide camera has also been moved to the landscape edge of the tablet for better video calling experience.

Other upgrades to the redesigned iPad include support for the new Magic Keyboard Folio and the 1st gen Apple Pencil, an updated 12MP rear camera, WiFi 6 and 5G support, and of course, the aforementioned USB-C port.

To recap, the 10th gen iPad
starts at RM2,099
 in Malaysia, and it will be
sold alongside last year’s model
, which is currently going for RM1,599. Now that the new entry-level iPad is available on Apple’s Malaysian online store, there’s a good chance retail stores will have the new tablet in stock soon as well.


PS5 & God of War Ragnarok Bundle Pre-Orders Open From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 13 November 2022

Another month, another round of pre-orders of the PS5 from Sony Centre Mid Valley. This is actually the fourth sale of the next-gen console after the
price hike
 that was announced back in August 2022, and the new
God of War Ragnarok bundle
 is also included this time around.

Just like previous pre-orders of the PS5 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 console. If you’re fortunate enough to be selected, you will be contacted from 10 November onwards to finalise your pre-order of the PS5.

Do note that you only have until 13 November at 5PM this Sunday 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.


Perodua Sold a Whopping 222,203 Cars in 2022 So Far – Set to Hit Beyond 247k Sales Target

Perodua shared its sales performance for the first 10 months of 2022, and it is looking great for the national carmaker. Between January to October this year, the company sold a very respectable 222,203 cars – that’s a huge 51.2% improvement compared to the same period last year.

Earlier this year, Perodua set a 247,800 sales target for 2022. Looking at its sales performance so far, the carmaker looks on track to achieve that figure, and then some. After all, in October 2022 alone, Perodua sold 25,849 units, with the Bezza in the lead (6,768 units sold), followed by the Myvi (6,130) and Axia (4,989).

“Looking ahead, we plan to further increase our production and sales volume as we try to go beyond our earlier set sales target for 2022 and by doing so will reduce the waiting period for our customers,” said the president and CEO of Perodua, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

It’s also worth noting that Perodua manufactured 22,974 units in October last month, bringing the total number of vehicles produced by the carmaker to 229,811 units in 2022 so far. Evidently, Perodua is doing its best to meet demand for its range of models.


God of War Ragnarok Pop-Up Happening at APW Bangsar Until 13 November

To celebrate the launch of
God of War Ragnarok
, Sony has set up a pop-up themed after the highly anticipated game at APW Bangsar. Not only are there interesting installations at the venue, you can even try out the game for yourselves on the PS5.

One of the most eye-catching installations at the God of War Ragnarok pop-up has to be the
wayang kulit
 (shadow puppet) depiction of Kratos and Atreus. The puppets are intricately designed by Malaysian artist Tintoy Chuo, who is the founder and primary concept creator for Fusion Wayang Kulit.

Besides that, there are also various products based on God of War Ragnarok at the pop-up. These include the
limited edition DualSense controller
, Casetify cases based on the game, and limited edition Ragnarok apparel from New Era and #FR2. There’s also the neat weapons installation of Thor’s iconic Mjolnir and Kratos’ Leviathan Axe.

The God of War Ragnarok pop-up will be at APW Bangsar until this Sunday on 13 November from 10AM to 10PM. As for the wall mural and weapons installation, these will be on display until 7 December next month. If you haven’t picked up the game yet, check out our review of
God of War Ragnarok
 – it’s really an amazing sequel to the 2018 game.


2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS Coming to Malaysia 15 November – 2.0L Engine, 184PS/315Nm, Key Card!

Honda Malaysia will be launching the 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS on our shores next week! The hybrid Civic is the first Honda model in Malaysia to feature the Japanese company’s 2.0L e:HEV powertrain, making it the most powerful Civic FE yet in our local market.

Similar to Honda Malaysia’s previous e:HEV models – the
City RS
 and its
hatchback sibling
 – the Civic e:HEV RS’ 2.0L direct-injection engine (143PS/189Nm) mainly acts as a generator for the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system. It is made up of the engine and an electric motor.

It is the electric motor that largely drives the Civic e:HEV RS, which offers a very respectable 184PS and 315Nm of torque, so it is (again) the most powerful Civic FE in Malaysia yet. Of course, at higher speeds – such as highway cruising – the petrol engine will be used instead through a lock-up clutch for better efficiency.

Beyond a different powertrain, the hybrid Civic FE also has a neat key card system; it is the first Honda model on our shores to feature this. For the most part, the Civic e:HEV mirrors the equipment of the petrol RS model too, though it does have some unique elements.

These include new 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, blue accents on the Honda logos, as well as chrome finishes on the front grille and window line.

The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS is set to be launched in Malaysia next week on 15 November, and it is now available for booking in Malaysia at Honda showrooms nationwide. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking online
here
 or through the HondaTouch app – you can download the latter from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.

Naturally, the pricing of the Civic e:HEV RS has not been revealed yet, but expect it to cost more than the petrol RS model, which is currently going for RM150,700.


MTG The Brothers’ War Arrives 18 November – Transformers Crossover

Magic: The Gathering’s latest set, The Brothers’ War, will be released for tabletop later this week on 18 November. It is the second instalment in MTG’s four-part Phyrexian storyline, and it is a crossover with Transformers – yes,
that
 Transformers.

Containing 287 cards, The Brothers’ War brings back several mechanics, including Meld. It’s a keyword that combines two cards to create one oversized card – perfectly in theme with the Transformers crossover – and there’s also Unearth, which returns cards from the graveyard, though they are exiled at the end of the turn.

As is the case with previous MTG expansions as of late, The Brothers’ War offer exclusive tokens (Construct and Urzan Automaton) for players in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. One of the tokens is given to purchases of The Brothers’ War products worth RM450, and the tokens can be connected to the exclusive token released in
Dominaria United
 – and the following set after this one – to form a battlefield mural.

The Brothers’ War will be available for tabletop worldwide – including Malaysia, of course – as Draft, Set, Collector, and Jumpstart Boosters later this week on 18 November; Commander decks and Bundles are also offered. If you’re keen to pre-order the new set, check with your
nearest hobby shop
.


Asus ROG Phone 6D & 6D Ultimate Now in Malaysia From RM3,499

Asus’ latest gaming smartphones are now in Malaysia. The ROG Phone 6D series – which includes the standard ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate – are essentially the MediaTek version of the previously released
ROG Phone 6
 series, though the Ultimate does have a neat new feature that improves cooling performance.

First, let’s talk pricing. The base ROG Phone 6D with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage retails at RM3,499, while the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (16GB + 512GB) goes for RM4,999. Do note that the Ultimate is also bundled with an AeroCooler 6 cooling system.

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.

Both the Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the 6D is priced at RM3,499, while the 6D Ultimate goes for RM4,999.


Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition Launched in Malaysia – Dimensity 9000+ Variant for RM4,799

Launched alongside the new
ROG Phone 6D series
 in Malaysia is the Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition. Based on the standard ROG Phone 6D for our local market, this limited edition gaming phone is meant to appeal to fans of the Dark Knight.

Here in Malaysia, the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset instead of a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. Priced at RM4,799, it features 12GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, and several Batman accessories, including a bat-signal projector, a case themed after the superhero, and a Batman SIM ejector pin.

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 customised to prominently feature the Dark Knight himself.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition are the same as the standard ROG Phone 6D. These 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.

To recap, the Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition is priced at RM4,799 in Malaysia. It’s set to arrive on our shores towards the end of the month on 25 November 2022.


Acerpure Pro P2 Review: Feature-Rich Air Purifier For RM1,099

Acer is well-known for its range of laptops, desktops, and monitors, and in recent times, the Taiwanese company is also focusing quite a bit on smart home products. This includes the Acerpure Pro P2, an air purifier with quite a number of compelling features.

If you’re looking to get an air purifier for your living room or bedroom, consider the Pro P2. While it’s not exactly affordable with a RM1,299 price tag – though you can easily get it for as low as RM1,099 now – it will certainly get the job done.

Besides that, it looks quite sleek too, in my opinion.

What It Is

First and foremost, the Acerpure Pro P2 air purifier has a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 324 m3/h. Basically, the higher the CADR figure, the more efficient it is at filtering out pollutants from the air. At 324 m3/h, the Pro P2 can effectively provide clean air to a typical apartment’s living room or bedroom.

Besides that, the Pro P2 is said to be ideal for room sizes ranging up to 45 m2, which comes up to about 484sqft. It also has an LCD display to show air quality, a power-efficient DC motor, five purifier speeds, WiFi connectivity – yes, there’s an app for it – and even a cute little remote control to change the air purifier’s settings.

As mentioned, the Acerpure Pro P2 retails at RM1,299, though it is going
for only RM1,099
 now from Shopee Mall retailer Just IT. Even Acer Malaysia itself is listing the air purifier
at RM1,199
, which does improve its value proposition quite a bit.

The Good Stuff

Given the primary function of an air purifier is to…well, purify the air, let’s talk about the Acerpure Pro P2’s performance first. Throughout my time with the air purifier – it’s been about three months now – the Pro P2 does work as intended.

I placed the Pro P2 in my bedroom, and since I started using it, I do notice less dust in the room. There’s also a certain “fresh air” scent as I enter my bedroom after a long day at work after switching on the air purifier about an hour before I arrive home.

And that brings us to the Acerpure Life app. Not only is it quite intuitive to use, I can also easily control the Pro P2 through the app, such as scheduling when I want to switch it on and off. Another neat feature of the app is the fact that it shows both indoor and outdoor air quality.

Setup process of the Acerpure Pro P2 is quite easy too. All I needed to do was take off the wrappers, push in the HEPA filter into the compartment, close it up, and…that’s it. Thanks to this seamless setup process, replacing the filter when needed will be a breeze too. The app will even let me know when a replacement is due.

Another neat feature of the Pro P2 is its remote control. While I would’ve liked for the remote to be slightly bigger, I do like the convenience of controlling the air purifier from the comfort of my bed. I also appreciate the fact that I can magnetically attach it to the back of the air purifier.

Last but not least is the design of the Pro P2. In my opinion, it looks sleek enough to not look out of place in the living room or bedroom. Of course, this is a subjective matter.

The Bad Stuff

But what is not subjective is my main qualm with the Acerpure Pro P2: the screen does not switch off automatically. It will constantly display the current air quality, which is fine for most of the day, but not when I’m going to bed. To have the display (somewhat) light up one corner of the bedroom is a bit of an annoyance.

Thankfully, it
is
 possible to switch off the display with the remote control, but I’ll have to do this every single night. The display’s behaviour resets after every shut down, unfortunately.

Aside from that, the Pro P2 does get noticeably loud at higher speeds, especially in Turbo mode. It also vibrates quite a bit at higher speeds, so I tend to not have it run at such a high setting for an extended period of time.

Once air quality has improved though, the air purifier does run much quieter in Smart mode. It’s barely audible, so I can sleep soundly with it running in the background.

Is It Worth It?

If you want a quiet air purifier that can effectively improve the air quality of your living space – provided it’s not a huge room – the Acerpure Pro P2 is definitely worth considering. Not only does it work quite well, it’s also quiet (once air quality has improved accordingly) with a rather sleek-looking design.

Plus, you can now get the Pro P2 with a pretty good amount of discount. Granted,
RM1,099 is still quite a bit of money
, but you are getting an air purifier that gets the job done.


2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS Launched in Malaysia for RM166,500 – Hybrid With 184PS/315Nm & Key Card

Honda Malaysia just launched the 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS on our shores! The hybrid Civic is the first Honda model in Malaysia to feature the Japanese company’s 2.0L e:HEV powertrain, making it the most powerful Civic FE yet in our local market.

For the Malaysian market, the Civic e:HEV RS is priced at a cool RM166,500, so it sits at the top of the price range for the 11th generation Civic. For the sake of comparison, the petrol variants of the C-segment sedan range from RM130,700 to RM150,700.

Similar to Honda Malaysia’s previous e:HEV models – the
City RS
 and its
hatchback sibling
 – the Civic e:HEV RS’ 2.0L direct-injection engine (143PS/189Nm) mainly acts as a generator for the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system. It is made up of the engine and an electric motor.

It is the electric motor that largely drives the Civic e:HEV RS, which offers a very respectable 184PS and 315Nm of torque, so it is (again) the most powerful Civic FE in Malaysia yet. Of course, at higher speeds – such as highway cruising – the petrol engine will be used instead through a lock-up clutch for better efficiency.

Beyond a different powertrain, the hybrid Civic FE also has a neat key card system; it is the first Honda model on our shores to feature this. For the most part, the Civic e:HEV mirrors the equipment of the petrol RS model too, though it does have some unique elements. These include new 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, blue accents on the Honda logos, as well as chrome finishes on the front grille and window line.

The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS is now available for booking in Malaysia at Honda showrooms nationwide for RM166,500. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking online
here
 or through the HondaTouch app – you can download the latter from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Google Wallet Now in Malaysia to Take on Apple Pay – Supports CIMB, Public Bank, Hong Leong Bank, HSBC

Back in August,
Apple Pay
 was introduced for the Malaysian market. Fast forward to today, Google Wallet is now available on our shores too. If you’ve got cards issued by CIMB, Public Bank, or Hong Leong Bank, you can start using Google’s own cashless payment service locally right now.

Do note that only selected cards from these banks currently support Google Wallet. Here’s a breakdown of cards that can be added to the payment service now:

CIMB (Mastercard credit cards)

Public Bank (Visa credit and debit cards)

Hong Leong Bank (Visa credit and Mastercard debit cards)

HSBC and HSBC Amanah (Visa and Mastercard credit cards) *in coming months

Curiously, HSBC and HSBC Amanah cards will only support Google Wallet in the coming months. But if you do have cards from the other banks listed above, you can start adding them to the Google Wallet app immediately.

Once you’ve set up Google Wallet with a supported card on your phone, you can start making payments at retailers that accept the payment method. Basically, if a particular retailer has a card terminal, Google Wallet – or in this case, Google Pay – should be supported.

To start using Google Wallet on your Android phone, you can download the app from the
Google Play Store
.


Genshin Impact Yae Miko & Tartaglia Rerun Banners Coming 18 November With Layla, Heizou, Thoma

Yae Miko’s and Tartaglia’s rerun banners have just been revealed. Set to go live in
Genshin Impact
 this Friday on 18 November, the two 5-star characters will be accompanied by Layla – a new 4-star character – Shikanoin Heizou, and Thoma.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact

double banners
, Yae Miko and Tartaglia both have 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.

The same rule applies to the increased “drop rate” of Yae Miko, Tartaglia, Layla, Heizou, and Thoma. In the case of Yae Miko and Tartaglia, 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 Yae Miko or Tartaglia. The same rule applies to 4-star characters (guaranteed every 10-roll instead), but given that there are three of them featured in the banner, it’s a little bit more random.

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Layla, Heizou, or Thoma. 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.

Yae Miko’s “Everbloom Violet” and Tartaglia’s “Farewell of Snezhnaya” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 18 November 2022 this Friday. Their banners will be offered until 6 December, and we can expect
Wanderer’s and Faruzan’s event wishes
 (pictured above) to be available once the Version 3.3 update is here – it’s estimated to be released on 7 December.


PlayStation VR2 Now Available for Pre-Order in Malaysia From RM2,799

Sony’s upcoming virtual reality system for the
PS5
, the PlayStation VR2, is now available for pre-order here in Malaysia. Retailing from RM2,799, the VR system is – curiously enough – priced higher than the PS5 console itself, which starts at RM2,069 now after a
price hike back in August 2022
.

Several popular game stores locally have already opened pre-orders for the PS VR2. These include
Impulse Gaming
,
HeavyArm Store
,
M4G
, and even
CK Multimedia System
. Every retailer has its own pre-order system, so check with your preferred store if you’re keen to purchase the PS VR2.

Compared to the first generation PS VR, the PS VR2 features a number of improvements. The headset, for one, has a built-in motor with vibrations that is meant to amplify “the sensations of in-game actions from the player.” For example, you can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, or even the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, as Sony puts it.

Other specifications of the PS VR2 include support for 4K HDR, a display resolution of 2040 x 2000 per eye, an OLED panel with a 90/120Hz refresh rate, 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering.

And then there’s the PS VR2 Sense controller, which naturally 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 be released worldwide (including Malaysia) on 22 February 2023 next year from RM2,799 for the standard model. There’s also the Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle for RM2,999, along with a PS VR2 Sense controller charging station priced at RM229 – the latter is ideal for those who want the added convenience of charging the controller easily.


SINGAKBD Unikorn R2.2 Rerun – First In-Stock Sale on 28 November 2022 for RM1,950

We finally got a sale date for the 2022 rerun of SINGAKBD’s very popular Unikorn custom keyboard. The first in-stock sale of three (!) is happening on 28 November, but as usual, the sale will be done through a raffle.

As previously revealed by SINGAKBD, this first round of Unikorn sale will consist of 300 units; it will be a combination of the Flamenco Red and Reseda Green colourways. A second sale (also 300 units) will be held sometime in Q1 2023 for the other two colours: Berlin Blue and Pewter Grey.

Do note that those who won the first round of raffle (Red + Green) for the Unikorn rerun cannot join the second round (Blue + Grey). However, there will be a third round of raffle sale for 60 units of a Special Edition Unikorn sometime in the future; that one will be a free for all.

As for pricing, the SINGAKBD Unikorn R2.2 rerun is set to go for RM1,950; the price increase is attributed to higher metal prices. Check out SINGAKBD’s
official Discord channel
 and
this page
 for more information on the sale come 28 November.


Gallery: 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS in Platinum White Pearl – Fastest Civic FE Yet in Malaysia for RM166,500

The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS made its debut in Malaysia yesterday. The hybrid Civic is the first Honda model in Malaysia to feature the Japanese company’s 2.0L e:HEV powertrain, making it the most powerful Civic FE yet in our local market. If you’re keen to place a booking for it, here’s a gallery of the new Civic variant in Platinum White Pearl.

For the Malaysian market, the Civic e:HEV RS is priced at a cool RM166,500, so it sits at the top of the price range for the 11th generation Civic. For the sake of comparison, the petrol variants of the C-segment sedan range from RM130,700 to RM150,700.

The 497L boot capacity is the same as the petrol models

Similar to Honda Malaysia’s previous e:HEV models – the
City RS
 and its
hatchback sibling
 – the Civic e:HEV RS’ 2.0L direct-injection engine (143PS/189Nm) mainly acts as a generator for the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system. It is made up of the engine and an electric motor.

It is the electric motor that largely drives the Civic e:HEV RS, which offers a very respectable 184PS and 315Nm of torque, so it is (again) the most powerful Civic FE in Malaysia yet. Of course, at higher speeds – such as highway cruising – the petrol engine will be used instead through a lock-up clutch for better efficiency.

Rear passengers get air-cond vents and two USB-A charging ports

Beyond a different powertrain, the hybrid Civic FE also has a neat key card system; it is the first Honda model on our shores to feature this. For the most part, the Civic e:HEV mirrors the equipment of the petrol RS model too, though it does have some unique elements.

These include new 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, blue accents on the Honda logos, as well as chrome finishes on the front grille and window line. On top of that, the e:HEV Civic is also the only model to get a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster along with a wireless charger, which complements the wireless Apple CarPlay support nicely.

Unfortunately, the same convenience doesn’t extend to Android users: Android Auto still doesn’t work wirelessly with the hybrid Civic.

The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS is now available for booking in Malaysia at Honda showrooms nationwide for RM166,500. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking online
here
 or through the HondaTouch app – you can download the latter from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


17 – 23 November Fuel Price: RON 97 Still RM3.95 Per Litre

For the sixth week in a row, the price of RON 97 sees no change yet again. Of course, the same applies to RON 95 and diesel, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.95 per litre 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 17 to 23 November next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


2022 Honda Civic – C-Segment Leader in Malaysia With Almost 7,000 Units Sold

At the Malaysian launch of the
2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS
, the Japanese carmaker also revealed the latest sales performance of the C-segment sedan on our shores. Since its debut here in January 2022, almost 7,000 units of the 11th generation Civic were sold to date.

This makes the Civic FE the class leader in the Malaysian C-segment sedan market with 81% market share as of September 2022. With the launch of the e:HEV RS model yesterday, we reckon it will further bolster the sales of the sedan with its unique (and powerful) hybrid powertrain.

To recap, the Civic e:HEV RS features an electric motor – which largely drives the car – that outputs 184PS and 315Nm of torque, so it is the most powerful Civic FE in Malaysia yet. Of course, at higher speeds – such as highway cruising – the 2.0L petrol engine (143PS/189Nm) will be used instead through a lock-up clutch for better efficiency.

For the Malaysian market, the Civic e:HEV RS is priced at a cool RM166,500, so it sits at the top of the price range for the 11th generation Civic. For the sake of comparison, the petrol variants of the C-segment sedan range from RM130,700 to RM150,700.

All variants of the 2022 Honda Civic, including the new e:HEV RS model, are now available for booking in Malaysia at Honda showrooms nationwide. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking online
here
 or through the HondaTouch app – you can download the latter from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


New Apple TV 4K Now Available for Purchase in Malaysia From RM699

We reported the
SIRIM certification
 of the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K just last week, and the new streaming box is now available for purchase in Malaysia. Compared to its predecessor, it sports a slew of upgrades, including a faster A15 Bionic chip, support for HDR10+, and a Siri Remote with USB-C charging.

Two models of the new Apple TV 4K
 are offered in Malaysia. The WiFi-only base model with 64GB of storage is priced at RM699, while the 128GB variant with the addition of an ethernet port goes for RM799. It’s also worth noting that the 128GB model features Thread mesh networking protocol to connect to other smart home accessories.

Thanks to its faster Apple A15 Bionic chip, the next-gen Apple TV 4K offers up to 50% faster CPU performance, while GPU performance sees a notable 30% improvement. With support for HDR10+ (and Dolby Vision), you can be assured to enjoy HDR on a wider amount of content too.

Of course, there’s also the Siri Remote for the new Apple TV 4K, which now charges via USB-C instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector. This should make it easier to charge up the remote, especially if you’ve got a lot of USB-C cables lying around.

The 3rd generation Apple TV 4K is now available for purchase on
Apple’s Malaysian online store
. Chances are, retail stores will have the new streaming box in stock soon as well.


Affordable Fitness Band Like the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Can Be Useful for Health Tracking

Fitness bands have come a long way. Not only have they gotten much more feature-packed, they still remain (relatively) affordable. One such fitness band is the Xiaomi Smart Band 7, and thanks to its range of features, the device has helped me monitor my COVID-19 symptoms over the past week.

I recently recovered from the illness – for the second time, unfortunately enough – and I found the fitness band to be quite useful. In my opinion, the accessibility of wearables like the Smart Band 7, thanks to its budget-friendly nature, can be useful for health tracking.

The one feature of the Smart Band 7 that I used the most when I had COVID-19 was its ability to track blood oxygen level. After all, one of the risks of the illness is low blood oxygen level, so it’s convenient to be able to measure my blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) at any given time.

While a pulse oximeter does the same thing, what gives the Smart Band 7 an edge is the fact that it can track my blood oxygen level throughout the day. If my blood oxygen saturation falls below a certain threshold – I can choose between 90% to 80% – the wearable will send an alert.

Of course, it’s worth noting that the majority of fitness bands like the Smart Band 7 are not medical devices, so it’s important to not take the readings as absolute values. However, if the readings
are
 low, it’s a good idea to seek medical consultation. This is one area where a fitness band can prove to be helpful.

There’s also the fact that most fitness bands are quite affordable. The Xiaomi Smart Band 7, for one, can be gotten for RM199 through
Shopee
,
Lazada
, or Xiaomi Authorised Stores nationwide. If you time your purchase right, you can get it at a lower price point too, especially during big sales like 11.11.

The budget-friendly nature of fitness bands means that most folks will be able to get one to monitor their wellbeing, among other things. Beyond health and fitness, a good smart band can be useful in other regards too, including receiving push notifications from a connected device.

In this regard, the Smart Band 7 does a reasonably good job. Granted, I can’t interact with notifications from the wearable itself, but it still offers the convenience of getting push notifications from a phone. Plus, this is a sub-RM200 wearable – there’s only so much we can expect from a product this affordable.

Another noteworthy feature of the Smart Band 7 is its 1.62-inch 490 x 192 AMOLED screen. With a peak brightness of 500 nits, the display is visible even under bright sunlight. However, it doesn’t support automatic brightness, which is unfortunate, but (again) not exactly surprising at this price point.

It’s worth noting that the Smart Band 7 supports always-on display as well, so I can just glance at it to check the time. But there is a downside to enabling this feature: it draws quite a bit of power.

The always-on display of the Xiaomi Smart Band 7

Xiaomi claims that the Smart Band 7’s 180mAh battery can last up to 14 days, but in my usage, I can only get four full days of use out of the fitness band, including using it for sleep tracking. Granted, I enabled almost every single feature it offers, including the always-on display, all-day bloody oxygen tracking, and frequent heart rate monitoring.

I imagine disabling some of these features – especially the always-on display – can extend the battery life of the Smart Band 7 quite a bit. But in my opinion, it’s worth enabling all of these features to fully utilise the fitness band. Having to charge up the wearable once every four days is completely acceptable to me.

Whether you want the convenience of a wearable, monitor your health, or keep track of your fitness routines, you can’t go wrong with an affordable fitness band like the Xiaomi Smart Band 7. It’s a basic wearable, to be sure, but for only RM199, it offers great value for money.

If you want a more sophisticated wearable, there are higher-end options like the
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
 or the
latest Apple Watch lineup
 for iPhone users. But if you’re not quite sure yet what you want out of a wearable – or you’re limited by budget – the Smart Band 7 is a good starting point.


Samsung Shows Off Genshin Impact Edition of Galaxy Z Fold 4 & Buds 2 Pro With Ganyu

It appears more phone brands are releasing special edition devices themed after
Genshin Impact
. OnePlus, for one, released the
OnePlus Ace Pro with Hu Tao’s design elements
 in China last month, and this time around, it’s Samsung with Ganyu-themed
Galaxy Z Fold 4
 and
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
.

Looking at images

posted online
, the Genshin Impact edition Z Fold 4 and Buds 2 Pro look to be mainly focused on accessories for the two devices, though there seems to be a special Ganyu theme for the foldable phone. The Buds 2 Pro also gets a rather neat-looking cover for the charging case.

Image source:
Twitter (@gen_sanjyu)

The special edition Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Buds 2 Pro are said to be showcased at G-Star, an annual game expo that takes place in Busan, South Korea. Aside from this Genshin Impact collaboration, Samsung released other devices themed after Cookie Run and Civilization: Reign of Power as well.

Given that Samsung is only showcasing the Genshin Impact edition Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in South Korea – at the moment, anyway – it’s likely the two devices won’t be offered in other markets. Nonetheless, we reckon parallel importers will bring in the device into other markets (including Malaysia) one way or another.


Unboxing MTG The Brothers’ War Set Booster – Robots in Disguise

Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, The Brothers’ War, is released for tabletop today. It is the second instalment in MTG’s four-part Phyrexian storyline, and it is a crossover with Transformers – yes,
that
 Transformers. Robots in disguise!

To celebrate the launch of the new set, Wizards of the Coast sent us a Set Booster box of The Brothers’ War to check out. If you’re interested to pick up the new set, here’s our unboxing of the Set Booster. Aside from some cool Transformers cards, the set features a number of other eye-catching cards too.

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, such as Draft or Sealed.

So what exactly makes a Set Booster more exciting to open? Well, quite a number of things. There is a structure to this 14-card pack for The Brothers’ War. 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.”

Typical content of a The Brothers’ War Set Booster

The full-art mech basic land cards look fantastic

When you crack open a Set Booster, the first card you’ll see is an art card, followed by a basic land or full-art mech basic land card for The Brothers’ War. 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 The Brothers’ War, these cards will be three commons and three uncommons; simple enough.

Aside from these common and uncommon cards, The Brothers’ War’s Set Booster also includes two “wildcards” of any rarity, so you can get anything from a common to a
mythic rare
 card. On top of that, there’s a chance that these cards can be The Brothers’ War Commander cards, Jumpstart Booster rares, Transformers cards, or retro artifacts and retro schematics – the latter two are quite eye-catching.

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 borderless rares, Transformers cards, retro artifacts, retro schematics, Jumpstart cards, or Commander cards.

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 very nice Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools card 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 The Brothers’ War set. If you’re keen to check out this new set, give your
nearest hobby shop
 a visit. If you’re a new or returning player, check out The Brothers’ War Jumpstart Booster; it is a great way kickstart your MTG experience.


Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Review: Ridiculously Lightweight, Comfortable Gaming Mouse for RM749

Razer’s lineup of DeathAdder gaming mice are known for their comfortable, ergonomic design. The same remains true for the latest Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, and to top it off, the gaming mouse is also lighter than ever now – it’s said to be 25% lighter than its predecessor.

Tipping the scales at 63g, the DeathAdder V3 Pro is a ridiculously lightweight mouse, and it still retains the signature ergonomic design without any “holes” to reduce weight. Of course, it’s not exactly an affordable mouse either, but you
are
 getting a fantastic gaming mouse.

What It Is

The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, like the previous models, features an ergonomic shell. Unfortunately, it’s shaped for right-handed users, and there is no left-handed version of the mouse – not yet, anyway. It is also a wireless mouse that can be paired with the Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle for reduced latency.

However, that dongle is a separate purchase (RM149), and it’s really only made for the most serious of gamers that want the absolute best wireless performance. In my usage, the standard 2.4GHz 1,000Hz receiver is more than fast enough for my needs. I’ll elaborate more further down the review.

Naturally, the lightweight nature of the DeathAdder V3 Pro is one of its best selling points too. Curiously, the Black model tips the scales at 63g, while the White model is ever so slightly heavier at 64g. While a mere gram of difference does not sound much, it’s still worth pointing out.

Last but not least is the asking price of the DeathAdder V3 Pro, which is set at RM749 in Malaysia. That’s quite a hefty price tag, but its feature set does justify the cost, though it still depends on your needs and requirements for a gaming mouse.

The Good Stuff

The first time I picked up the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, I was surprised by its weight – or rather, lack thereof. It is
very
 lightweight, to the point that my personal Logitech G Pro feels heavy in comparison, which weighs 80g. The 14g difference between the Razer and Logitech mice is really quite noticeable.

Thanks to the lightweight nature of the DeathAdder V3 Pro, it’s my favourite gaming mouse for…well, gaming. Whether it’s fast-paced games like Valorant or Fortnite, the DeathAdder is a joy to game with. I can position my shots quickly and more accurately with this mouse than, say, the aforementioned Logitech G Pro.

Aside from that, the Razer Focus Pro 30K optical sensor of the DeathAdder V3 Pro feels competent too. Not only can it can track my movements without issues, there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable latency either – as expected of Razer.

Speaking of latency, I used the default 1000Hz receiver with the DeathAdder V3 Pro, and it feels just as responsive as a wired gaming mouse, in my opinion. I don’t think the RM149 Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle – which increases the polling rate from 1,000Hz to 4,000Hz – is necessary at all for my particular usage.

And then we have the DeathAdder V3 Pro’s battery life, and it is excellent. Razer promises up to 90 hours of use on a single charge, and I can get this level of battery life effortlessly. However, do note that if paired to the Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, the mouse’s battery life drops to 24 hours.

Next, we have the 100% PTFE mouse feet of the DeathAdder V3 Pro. On a
regular deskmat
 – not one of those gamer-centric mousepads and whatnot – the feet still allow the mouse to glide smoothly. There’s no “scratchy” sensation of any kind either.

Last but not least is the overall shape and design of the DeathAdder V3 Pro. The ergonomic shell fits my hand well – and I don’t have particularly large hands – and it’s comfortable enough for prolonged use outside of gaming too. I’m quite fond of the minimalist Razer logo on the mouse as well.

The Bad Stuff

Slippery. The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is one slippery mouse. Granted, Razer does provide pre-cut grip tapes with the mouse to make it…grippier, but I’m not a fan of the tapes’ texture. It feels a tad too “sticky” for my liking, though it does make it much easier to get a good grip on the mouse.

I’m not too fond of the DeathAdder V3 Pro’s side buttons either. They’re a tad too big, so I find myself accidentally clicking them quite often, especially in heated gaming sessions. Of course, depending on the size of your hands and grip style, you may not face this issue.

While this isn’t a negative in my book, the DeathAdder V3 Pro’s lack of RGB lighting can be a shortcoming to some folks. It’s a completely fine omission in my opinion to maximise the DeathAdder’s battery life, but if you want your mouse to come with bright, dazzling lights, you won’t get that here.

Is It Worth It?

The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is made for folks that want a lightweight gaming mouse with an ergonomic design and long battery life. It may not be the lightest or most eye-catching mouse in the market now, but it
is
 comfortable, thanks to its ergonomic shape.

Yes, retailing at RM749, the DeathAdder V3 Pro is not a budget-friendly gaming mouse. But given its feature set, I do see the justification for the price tag. It’s not an affordable mouse, but it’s certainly an comfortable, very lightweight mouse that’s excellent for gaming – it’s also quite long-lasting.


PlayStation Black Friday Sale Offers Discount on DualSense Controller & AAA Games (75% Off)

Sony is holding a Black Friday sale until 28 November next week. Not only can you grab the DualSense controller for the PS5 at a discount, a good number of AAA games have their prices slashed by up to 75% as well.

Let’s start with the DualSense controller. Normally retailing from RM349, its price will be reduced to RM269 for the whole promotion period. If you need to get a replacement for your DualSense controller, now is as good a time as any.

Besides that, several AAA games (physical copies) for the PS5 and PS4 are discounted as well. These include
Horizon Forbidden West
,
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
,
Gran Turismo 7
, and even the 2018 God of War. You can also check out the
PlayStation Store
 for the full list of discounted games.

It’s also worth noting that all tiers of PlayStation Plus are also discounted by 25%. If your subscription is expiring, it’s a good time to extend your membership. As mentioned, all of these offers will be valid until 28 November 2022 next week.


Asus ROG Phone 6 Diablo Immortal Edition Unveiled – Special Diablo Design & Accessories

Here’s another special edition of the
Asus ROG Phone 6
. This time around, it’s a collaboration with Blizzard for Diablo Immortal, and it looks quite nice with some special Diablo-themed design elements and accessories.

One of the most eye-catching aesthetics of the ROG Phone 6 Diablo Immortal Edition is the rear panel with an “exclusive Aura RGB Diablo Immortal logo,” as Asus puts it. There are even a slew of Diablo-themed accessories for the phone, including a Horadric Cube giftbox, a Shield Blessing Aero case, and even a map of Sanctuary.

Hardware wise, the special edition ROG Phone 6 is no different from the standard model. These include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset paired with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, 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.

For the US market, the Asus ROG Phone 6 Diablo Immortal Edition goes for a cool $1,299 – that comes up to about RM5,950. No word yet on the Malaysian availability of the special edition phone, but given that the
Batman Edition made it here
, there’s a good chance this Diablo Immortal model will be launched in Malaysia as well.


Sony Xperia 5 IV Review: Niche Photography-Focused RM4,899 Smartphone

Sony’s range of smartphones are not quite as popular as they used to be. In a bid to differentiate itself in the highly competitive market, the Japanese company implemented a number of photography-focused features in the Sony Xperia 5 IV, and for the most part, it succeeded.

But for the everyday user who just wants a smartphone that
works
 well out of the box, the Xperia 5 IV falls short in this regard. Yes, it is a reasonably capable flagship phone with a camera that offers a multitude of manual options, but it’s not the best camera system in the default shooting mode.

Beyond that, the Xperia 5 IV doesn’t offer a very polished software experience either, not to mention the fact that it is also a costly smartphone with a RM4,899 price tag. Unless you want the phone for its elaborate camera controls and dedicated shutter button, other devices may prove to be better.

What It Is

Display
6.1-inch FHD+ OLED (2520 x 1080), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 3.0GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 730
RAM
8GB
Storage
256GB, expandable
Camera (rear)
12MP f/1.7, OIS
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
12MP f/2.4, OIS (telephoto)
Camera (front)
12MP f/2.0
Battery
5,000mAh with PD fast charging
Dimensions
156 x 67 x 8.2 mm
Weight
172g
OS
Android 12
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone jack
Price
RM4,899

Hardware wise, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is well-equipped, even it if doesn’t come with the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. Despite its rather compact dimensions, this phone still features a sizeable 5,000mAh battery; that’s quite impressive.

Of course, the Xperia 5 IV also has IP65/IP68 dust and water resistance, a rating that all flagship smartphones should have. It also has a…unconventionally tall and narrow Full HD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This 21:9 aspect ratio does make for an interesting user experience, to say the least.

The Good Stuff

I love compact phones, and while the Sony Xperia 5 IV doesn’t quite fit into the category – it’s slightly taller than the
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
, for example – it is much narrower than a typical phone, thanks to the 21:9 display. This makes one-handed use with the device a breeze, which is a win in my book.

Build quality of the Xperia 5 IV is also very good. Not only is it well-built, the glass back with a matte finish looks and feels great too. In short, there’s no denying that the Xperia 5 IV has the build quality of a proper flagship smartphone.

In the display department, the Xperia 5 IV features a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Not only does this panel offer punchy, vibrant colours with true, deep blacks – typical traits of an OLED display – the high refresh rate lend to a fluid user experience as well with smooth animations.

As for performance, the Xperia 5 IV is fast and zippy. Even though it’s powered by the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset instead of the newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, it can still offer a respectable level of performance. That being said, it can’t quite run Genshin Impact at 60fps consistently – not many Android flagships can – but it’s still very much playable.

Moving on, the battery life of the Xperia 5 IV is great, thanks to its generous 5,000mAh battery. On average, I can easily get over five hours of screen on time with the phone. Not a fantastic figure by any means, but certainly above average, especially for a phone this compact.

Notice the dedicated shutter button

The camera’s Basic mode

The Manual Exposure mode

Last but not least is the Xperia 5 IV’s camera system. It offers
a ton
 of manual controls – and a dedicated shutter button – that experienced photographers will certainly appreciate. This opens up the possibilities for creative shots, which is something that many other flagship phones cannot replicate.

Beyond that, the Xperia 5 IV’s triple camera system made up of a 12MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 12MP telephoto lens can take some good-looking shots. Judge for yourself with these sample shots – all of them were taken in the default “Basic” camera mode.

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP telephoto

12MP ultra-wide

12MP telephoto

12MP telephoto

12MP telephoto

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP telephoto

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP telephoto

12MP primary

While these images look good, the Xperia 5 IV’s camera performance still can’t quite compare to its competition – that is a good segue to the next section.

The Bad Stuff

While it’s great that the Sony Xperia 5 IV’s camera system offers a slew of manual controls, its performance isn’t great in the default Basic mode. Yes, the pictures look good, but they’re not fantastic. Other flagships like the
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
 or
iPhone 14 Pro
 can easily take more impressive shots without fiddling around with the camera controls.

Besides that, the software of the Xperia 5 IV isn’t as polished as it should be either. To disable WiFi from the notification shade, for example, it requires a click on the internet button and
then
 the WiFi option; other versions of Android can just do this with a single click. There’s also the fact that apps in the background are closed quite aggressively by the software.

And then there’s the asking price of the Xperia 5 IV. Retailing at RM4,899, the phone is priced very closely to other flagships, including the aforementioned Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro. Yes, the Xperia 5 IV has its own winning qualities, but it’s tough to contend with these popular options.

Is It Worth It?

It depends on what you look for in a flagship smartphone. If you want a reasonably compact device with a camera system that offers various manual controls, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is a great option. But if you want a phone that can take great-looking shots out of the box without any fuss, then you may want to look elsewhere, especially at this price point.

For what it’s worth, I do appreciate the compact, narrow design of the Xperia 5 IV. It’s a design language that Sony has been pushing for quite some time now, and while it’s not a groundbreaking feature by any means, I do see its appeal.

If you find the unique design of the Xperia 5 IV appealing, and you want the dedicated shutter button and robust manual controls of the camera system, then give this flagship phone a consideration – it may be right up your alley.


TTRacing Duo V4 Pro Review: Reasonable RM499 Gaming Chair

Shopping for a gaming chair is quite intimidating. With so many different options in the market now, getting one that suits your needs can be difficult, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Well, if you happen to be shopping for a sub-RM500 gaming chair, consider the TTRacing Duo V4 Pro.

Not only is it (relatively) affordable, the Duo V4 Pro is also quite a comfortable gaming chair with some neat features. While it’s not as comfortable as TTRacing’s more premium options – like the
Maxx
 – its feature set certainly reflects the price tag.

What It Is

The TTRacing Duo V4 Pro is one of the brand’s most affordable gaming chairs for RM499, though the standard Duo V4 is even more budget-friendly with a RM429 retail price. Compared to the Pro model, the regular Duo V4 doesn’t feature an adjustable headrest or XL lumbar pillow.

Beyond these two differences and a slightly different design, both the Duo V4 and Duo V4 Pro have the same features. These include a SeatFit seat base with a wide “open-ended” structure, a combination of PU leather and TTRacing’s Air Threads fabric upholsteries, cushioned armrests, as well as heavy duty nylon wheelbase and PU castors.

With that in mind, if you don’t need the Duo V4 Pro’s adjustable headrest and XL lumbar pillow, the standard Duo V4 will do just fine. That being said, I’d argue that it’s worth paying the extra RM70 for the Pro model to get these two features.

The Good Stuff

Compared to a typical office chair, the TTRacing Duo V4 Pro is certainly more comfortable to sit on. The SeatFit seat base is quite supportive with a large sitting area – so even bigger individuals can sit comfortably on it – and the XL lumbar pillow does add support to my lower back, though I do have my qualms with it; more on this later.

Aside from that, the adjustable headrest of the Duo V4 Pro is also useful to get a comfortable position for my head to rest on. Personally, I still prefer a head pillow for even more support, though that’s not to say this gaming chair’s headrest is inadequate.

Another positive aspect of the Duo V4 Pro when it comes to comfort are the cushioned armrests. While the cushioning is not particularly firm, it does provide a good amount of support for my elbows as I’m typing away on my desk.

Even though the armrests are not adjustable – acceptable for a gaming chair at this price point, in my opinion – I do find them to be placed in a comfortable position.

Speaking of which, getting a comfortable height with the Duo V4 Pro is a seamless process too, thanks to its smooth hydraulics. More often than not, affordable gaming chairs don’t have the smoothest hydraulics, so it’s great that this doesn’t apply to the V4 Pro.

And that is a good segue to the equally smooth castors of the Duo V4 Pro. Moving from one place to another with the gaming chair is quite fun (and breezy), given the sheer smoothness of the castors. In fact, I think they are
too
 smooth; I find myself drifting back at the slightest push with my legs when I’m working at my desk.

And then there’s the affordability of the Duo V4 Pro. For RM499 – or RM429 if you forego the adjustable headrest and lumbar pillow with the regular Duo V4 – you’re getting quite a comfortable gaming chair for not too much money. However, it does have some shortcomings, which I’ll get to in the following section.

The Bad Stuff

While the TTRacing Duo V4 Pro is a comfortable chair, the seat base is not quite as firm or as supportive as I would’ve liked. It’s nice, soft, and cushioned when I first sit on it, but after some time, it does get slightly uncomfortable. It’s not as supportive as the firmer TTRacing Maxx, for example, though that is also a
much more costly gaming chair
.

I don’t quite like the XL lumbar pillow of the Duo V4 Pro either. The tall shape of the pillow doesn’t provide enough support for my lower back, so I prefer using the gaming chair without the pillow to get a “deeper” sitting position instead. Of course, your mileage may vary.

My last qualm with the Duo V4 Pro is its lack of backrest adjustment, so you only have one fixed sitting position. While there is tilt support, it’s not quite as useful as an adjustable backrest. Granted, this feature is usually reserved for more premium gaming chairs.

Is It Worth It?

Despite its shortcomings, it’s worth noting that the TTRacing Duo V4 Pro is only a RM499 gaming chair. Sure, the plush (but a tad too soft) seat base and fixed sitting position of the V4 Pro are not great, but it’s not exactly surprising for a gaming chair at this price point.

For RM499, the Duo V4 Pro is a reasonably compelling gaming chair with a number of nice creature comforts, such as an adjustable headrest, a large lumbar pillow – even if I’m not a big fan of it – and a wide seat base. If you like the looks of the Duo V4 Pro, and you’ve got RM499 to spare, give it a consideration.

You can get the Duo V4 Pro – or any other gaming chairs from the brand – on
TTRacing’s official store
; use the code NEXTRIFT10 to get a 10% discount with no minimum spend. We also have an
assembly guide of the Duo V4 Pro
.


Genshin Impact 3.3 Livestream Set for 25 November With Wanderer & Arataki Itto

Hoyoverse just revealed the livestream date for
Genshin Impact
‘s Version 3.3 update. Scheduled for this Friday on 25 November, the version update looks to feature both Wanderer and Arataki Itto.

Genshin Impact’s Version 3.3 update is dubbed
All Senses Clear, All Existence Void
, which could be a reference to the Wanderer’s storyline. After all, we still don’t know exactly how he managed to get an Anemo vision.

Aside from that, the new update will likely see the introduction of
the Wanderer himself and Faruzan
 as playable characters – both of them have been teased already.

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 3.3 through
Twitch
 this Friday on 25 November at 8PM for us here in Malaysia.

If you can’t watch the stream, don’t worry: the special program
will be on YouTube
 shortly after at 12AM the next day (26 November). Looking at the release schedule shared by Hoyoverse a while back, Genshin Impact 3.3 is expected be released on 7 December.


Honor Magic Vs Official – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Competitor With Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

Honor just launched a brand new foldable phone to take on the
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
. The Honor Magic Vs is a slightly upgraded version of the original
Magic V
 – which was launched earlier this year – and naturally, it sports a number of high-end features.

Powering the Magic Vs, for one, is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. It should be able to deliver the performance level of a proper flagship smartphone, and aside from that, it also has a larger 5,000mAh battery now (250mAh more) than the Magic V with support for 66W fast charging.

Other specifications of the Magic Vs include the familiar 7.9-inch 2272 x 1984 OLED foldable display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 6.45-inch 2560 x 1080 OLED cover screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system – 54MP primary + 50MP ultra-wide + 8MP telephoto – and a 16MP selfie camera.

The Honor Magic Vs is only available in China at the moment, and it remains to be seen if it will be sold in other markets, including Malaysia. Anyway, in China, the foldable phone retails from 7,499 Chinese yuan (about RM4,795) for the base 8GB + 256GB model.


24 – 30 November Fuel Price: RON 97 Still RM3.95 Per Litre

It’s been seven week in a row now for there to be no price change to RON 97. Of course, the same applies to RON 95 and diesel, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.95 per litre 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 24 to 30 November next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Nothing Ear Stick Review: Surprisingly Good (And Sleek) RM469 Wireless Earbuds

It’s quite impressive that the Nothing Ear Stick is only the brand’s third product after the
Nothing Phone 1
 and Nothing Ear 1. Particularly because it’s a surprisingly good pair of wireless earbuds despite its pared-down features, and the unique transparent design is quite eye-catching too.

Of course, the Ear Stick isn’t without fault. Compared to other wireless earbuds at this price point, it is not quite as feature-rich; the absence of active noise cancellation (ANC) being one of its main shortcomings. That being said, the Ear Stick also has other winning qualities that may matter more to you, depending on your preferences.

What It Is

The Nothing Ear Stick, while not as feature-packed as the Nothing Ear 1, is a more affordable pair of wireless earbuds; it’s priced at RM469 here in Malaysia. It even features better battery life – up to seven hours on a single charge – and a unique cylindrical charging case that can further extend the battery life by up to 29 hours.

Naturally, Nothing’s signature transparent design is featured prominently with the Ear Stick as well. It even comes with a custom 12.6mm dynamic driver that offers “rich depths, clear highs, and bold details,” as the company puts it. While it doesn’t feature ANC or silicone tips, the Ear Stick actually delivers reasonably good audio quality.

The Good Stuff

I have to be honest: I wasn’t expecting much out of the Nothing Ear Stick when it comes to audio fidelity. After all, it doesn’t feature silicone tips for better seal and passive noise isolation, which would improve audio quality. On top of that, it doesn’t have ANC either, but much to my surprise, the Ear Stick actually sounds…good.

Well, as good as an earbud without silicone tips can be. The Ear Stick offers a good amount of bass – even if it’s not particularly textured – details are reproduced quite well, and overall, I do enjoy listening to my favourite tunes with it. But this is only the case when I can actually get a good fit – I’ll get back to this later.

Personally, I find the transparent design of the Ear Stick to be its best selling point. No other mainstream wireless earbuds look quite like it (with the exception of the Ear 1), and I love the details of its internals. Even the cylindrical charging case is quite eye-catching with an interesting design.

Unlike conventional earbuds cases that flip open, the Ear Stick’s case
spins open
. I can twist the right side of the case to reveal the earbuds, and this unique mechanism – even if it’s nothing groundbreaking, excuse the pun – does make for a “fun” charging case.

Next, we have the touch controls of the Ear Stick, which are quite intuitive and seamless to use. Much like the
Apple AirPods Pro
, I can pinch the stem to pause playback (one pinch), skip track (double pinch), or pinch and hold to control the volume (left side to decrease, right side to increase).

To be honest, I prefer the volume controls of the AirPods Pro, which involves swiping up or down on the stem to increase and lower the volume respectively. This gesture works with both earbuds, while the Ear Stick’s implementation requires me to pinch and hold a specific side.

Of course, this isn’t exactly a big issue, and the Ear Stick’s touch controls work just fine throughout the review period.

Battery life of the Ear Stick is reasonably good as well. Nothing quotes up to seven hours of use on a single charge, and I got close to this estimate. While this level of battery life isn’t amazing, it’s largely similar to other wireless earbuds at this price point.

The Bad Stuff

The biggest shortcoming of the Nothing Ear Stick, in my opinion, has to be the fact that it doesn’t have silicone ear tips. Not only does this make it tough to get a good, secure fit – it even feels loose at times – the sound quality of the wireless earbuds also suffers.

It’s a shame, as the Ear Stick’s driver
does
 seem quite competent. If the earbuds offered better fit, I’m confident they would offer one of the best audio qualities at this price point.

Aside from that, the omission of ANC on the Ear Stick makes it tough to recommend to folks who do a lot of commuting in noisy environments. Basically, you’ll hear quite a bit of ambient noise with these earbuds due to the lack of noise cancellation, whether it’s active or passive.

Is It Worth It?

But the absence of ANC – not necessarily the lack of silicone ear tips – is somewhat justified by the lower price tag of the Nothing Ear Stick. Retailing at RM469, it’s a relatively affordable pair of wireless earbuds with a sleek, transparent design, a unique charging case design, and good audio quality.

But if you’re in noisy environments often, then the Ear Stick may not be the best option; a wireless earbuds with ANC – such as the RM499
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
 – would be better in this regard. Unless, of course, you actually
want
 to be aware of your surroundings for safety reasons, such as when you’re out for a jog.

In that case, yes, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Ear Stick, provided you don’t mind its lack of noise isolation. It’s really an eye-catching pair of wireless earbuds, and I’m looking forward to future products from Nothing.

Perhaps a Nothing Ear 2 that incorporates the best features of the Ear 1 and Ear Stick is just beyond the horizon.


Acer Swift Edge Review: Lightweight 16″ Laptop With Stunning OLED Screen From RM5,299

Acer’s lineup of Swift laptops are known to be lightweight, premium productivity machines, and the Acer Swift Edge continues the trend. Not only does it retain the series’ lightweight design, it also features an expansive, sharp, and
stunning
16-inch 4K OLED panel.

If you need a large 16-inch laptop without the added weight – along with an impressive display – the Swift Edge is one of the best options in the market now. Of course, it does have some shortcomings, but the value proposition of this RM5,299 laptop is hard to beat.

What It Is

Display
16-inch WQUXGA OLED (3840 x 2400), 60Hz
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (8C/16T, 2.7GHz with boost up to 4.7GHz)
GPU
AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM
16GB LPDDR5
Storage
1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Camera
1080p webcam
Battery
54Wh
Dimensions
356.7 x 242.3 x 12.95 mm
Weight
1.1kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
2x USB-C 3.2 (DisplayPort)
2x USB-A 3.2
1x HDMI 2.1
Price
RM6,299

There are two variants of the Swift Edge for the Malaysian market. The RM5,299 base model features an AMD Ryzen 5 6600U 6-core processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The model in this review, on the other hand, is the higher-end Ryzen 7 6800U variant with twice the RAM and SSD storage at 16GB and 1TB respectively for RM6,299.

If you need the extra performance, RAM, and SSD storage of the Ryzen 7 Swift Edge, it’s worth paying the extra RM1,000, in my opinion. Beyond these differences, you’re getting the same hardware for both variants, including the sharp 4K OLED panel.

The Good Stuff

Without a doubt the display of the Acer Swift Edge is its most eye-catching hardware. The expansive 16-inch 4K OLED screen offers punchy, vibrant colours with deep, true blacks; inherent advantages of an OLED panel. On top of that, the display can get quite bright as well with a peak brightness of 500 nits.

It’s also worth noting that the Swift Edge’s display features a taller than usual 16:10 aspect ratio, making it ideal for productivity tasks. After all, you’ve got more vertical space to work with, so you won’t have to scroll as much to read through a document, for example.

Besides that, I appreciate that the bezels surrounding the display are quite minimalist, giving the laptop a sleek, modern-looking design.

And then we have the lightweight nature of the Swift Edge. Tipping the scales at only 1.1kg, this is really light for a 16-inch laptop. It may not sound particularly lightweight, but once you’ve held the laptop for yourself, the lack of weight becomes very apparent for a laptop this big.

Complementing the lightweight chassis of the Swift Edge is its slim profile. Measuring 12.95mm thin, I can easily slip this into my backpack without issue. Typically, it would be quite difficult to lug around a 16-inch laptop, but this isn’t particularly bothersome with the Swift Edge, thanks to its slim, lightweight design.

Portability is obviously one of the Swift Edge’s best aspects, and so is its performance. The Ryzen 7 6800U processor can keep up with any productivity tasks I throw at it, including some light photo editing. The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics can even do some light gaming, including Dota 2 and
Diablo Immortal
.

Battery life of the Swift Edge is not too shabby either. On average, I can get about eight hours of use on a single charge before it runs out of juice; respectable figure for a laptop with such a large display. To achieve this level of battery life, I set the power plan to battery saver with the display dimmed to a comfortable level.

Last but not least is the value proposition of the Swift Edge. With a RM5,299 starting price, the features you’re getting for that kind of money are very compelling, such as the stunning 4K OLED panel and lightweight, slim design. You’d be hard-pressed to find another laptop with a similar feature set at this price point.

The Bad Stuff

But the Swift Edge does have some shortcomings, such as its input devices. The keyboard, for one, isn’t particularly great. The key travel is quite short, which makes for a shallow typing feel. Thankfully, the keyboard does have a rather cushioned bottom out with a good amount of tactile feedback, so it’s not an entirely negative typing experience.

As for the Swift Edge’s trackpad, it is accurate, but it does have a tendency to behave erratically at times. It feels…sluggish at random, though disabling and enabling the trackpad again does solve this odd issue. While this is not a big problem, it does affect the overall polish of the laptop.

My last qualm with the Swift Edge is its glossy display, making it a bit of a challenge to use the laptop under bright sunlight. Yes, the high brightness of the screen does make up for this to an extent, but if the panel had a matte finish instead, it would’ve made for a more pleasant user experience.

Is It Worth It?

Yes, of course. For RM5,299, the Acer Swift Edge offers a bright, vibrant, and expansive 16-inch OLED display packed in a lightweight, thin chassis for easy portability. It also offers a respectable level of performance for a productivity laptop, thanks to the AMD Ryzen 6000 series chips.

The Swift Edge’s input devices and glossy displays are not great, but the overall package of the 16-inch laptop is quite complete. At this price point, there are little to no alternatives that can match its feature set. If the Swift Edge meets your requirements, give it a consideration – I reckon you won’t be disappointed by the lightweight laptop.


Truthear Hexa Review – Keeping the Momentum in a Big Way

Truthear is one of the many new players in the ChiFi audio game that have cropped up in the perpetual budget IEM race. Prior to the Truthear Hexa you see in this review, the company had only one other IEM to its name – the
Truthear Zero
 of Crinacle fame. The company is far from inexperienced, however, as its chief engineer is (supposedly) from Moondrop.

All eyes were on Truthear when the company revealed the Hexa, a 1DD + 3BA IEM, as a follow-up to the dual dynamic driver Zero. This is because early measurements of the IEM show that it measures quite similarly to the esteemed Moondrop Blessing 2, which was – and still is, to an extent – the benchmark IEM in the $300 price point.

And so, many hailed the Truthear Hexa as a “budget Blessing,” and that’s solely based on its price and frequency response graph. For $79.90 (about RM360) on
SHENZHENAUDIO
, let’s see if the Hexa can bring the same excitement as the $49.90 (approximately RM225) Zero.

What It Is

Packaging of the Truthear Hexa is a step above your average ChiFi IEM packaging with quite a few goodies included in the box. As is the current trend in the ChiFi space, there is (naturally) an anime waifu pictured on the box of the Hexa. There’s even a standee version of “Virgo” the waifu to display on your desk, if that’s your kind of thing.

There’s also a pretty nice synthetic leather carrying pouch that’s bundled with the Hexa. While the pouch feels extremely plush, it doesn’t really offer much protection from say, being squashed in your backpack. It’s still a sweet inclusion nonetheless.

Tip selection is quite extensive, with options for narrow and wide bores in S, M and L sizes; there are even M-sized foam tips thrown in for good measure. The wide bore ear tips should provide more treble emphasis, while the narrow bore and foam tips boost the low-end at the cost of less air in the treble region.

The cable that comes with the Hexa is…decent. It’s an all-black 2-pin cable that’s thin and quite prone to tangling up. It’s actually the same cable that ships with the Truthear Zero, so if you’ve come across that IEM, you’d know what to expect.

Design wise, the housing of the Hexa is a translucent, smokey black shell that’s 3D printed by HeyGears – the same folks that print several Moondrop shells, including the aforementioned Blessing 2. Black anodised aluminium alloy faceplates are secured to the housing by a screw, with only the right shell bearing the Truthear branding. It’s a departure from the glittery blue faceplate of the Zero, but the sleek and minimalist look isn’t bad at all.

Interestingly, the Hexa’s shells are lightweight and smaller than conventional IEM shells, but they fit very comfortably in my ears. I don’t feel any discomfort or fatigue after long listening sessions, and isolation is above average as well.

How Does It Sound?

Overall tuning of the Truthear Hexa leans towards neutral, with a focus on treble and a slight bump in the sub-bass. It also isn’t the most dynamic set of earphones, but what it lacks in energy is made up in clarity.

Imaging and technicality of the Hexa is quite impressive, while instruments are clear and clean while still sounding very natural. The BA drivers are definitely putting in the work in retrieving detail, and it does so with precision.

As a quick sidenote, the
Tripowin Rhombus
 is one example of a dynamic and balanced armature driver combo that doesn’t work too well together. On that IEM, the BA drivers did most of the heavy lifting, while the dynamic driver was barely noticeable. On the Truthear Hexa, you can clearly hear the coherence that was missing from the Tripowin set, and no single driver type stands out from the other.

Soundstage wise, the Hexa has decent width, but vertical depth and height leaves much to be desired. Still, the more intimate presentation lends well to the detail and clarity of the earphones.

Bass

Sub-bass of the Hexa is bumped up a tad, but to my ears, there isn’t quite enough
rumble
 and extension. Mid-bass also takes a step back with a more modest presentation, though it’s still fast, clean, and should still be sufficient for most genres of music.

Mids

The tame bass of the Hexa leaves the mids well alone with no bleed whatsoever. But this also makes the mids “drier” with a thinner note weight. Vocals could benefit with a touch more warmth, but they still sound organic as it is. Even with the more intimate soundstage and emphasised treble, vocals on the Hexa are not at all shouty or overbearing.

Treble

In treble region, the Hexa really flexes its muscles – or rather, drivers. The high-end is quite well extended with ample amounts of air, and cymbals in particular have a nice, clear sparkle while still being smooth and not at all shrill. Again, there’s none of the usual metallic timbre commonly associated with BA drivers.

Is It Worth It?

The Truthear Hexa isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but the IEM do go against the grain and stand out among the typical Harman target ChiFi options. It makes full use of its single DD and triple BA configuration to produce a balanced, coherent sound signature.

With a more tame bass shelf, the Hexa isn’t the most dynamic set of earphones. But its organic timbre, impressive technicalities, and comfortable fit make it an excellent contender in the sub-$100 price range, going against popular offerings like the
Moondrop Aria Snow Edition
.

I can’t say for sure whether I’ll consider the Hexa to be a budget version of the Moondrop Blessing 2, as I unfortunately do not have that IEM in hand to compare. But I do know that Truthear, as a newcomer, has done it yet again, I can’t wait to see what’s next for the young brand.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


Ora Good Cat Lands in Malaysia – Affordable EV With 500km Range From RM140k

Great Wall Motor (GWM) just launched the Ora Good Cat in Malaysia, which is currently the most affordable EV on our shores with a RM139,800 starting price. Aside from its cute, quirky design, the EV also has a respectable range of up to 500km.

Of course, the RM139,800 starting price is for the base 400 Pro model. As its name suggests, the 400 Pro has a range of up to 400km from its 47.8kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The 500 Ultra, on the other hand, has a larger 63.1kWh ternary lithium cell (up to 500km range) for RM169,800.

Beyond its range, the Ora Good Cat can be charged – with a DC fast charger – from 30% to 80% in only 32 minutes or 40 minutes for the 400 Pro and 500 Ultra models respectively. It also has an electric motor driving the front wheels that offers a respectable 143PS and 210Nm of torque.

Other specifications of the Ora Good Cat include a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree surround camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

The Ora Good Cat is now available for booking and test drive at GWM’s designated authorised dealers in Glenmarie, Puchong, and Penang from RM139,800. Deliveries are expected to start from December 2022 next month, so you won’t have to wait too long to get the cute EV.


GWM Launching 9 New Models in Malaysia Next 3 Years – CKD Operations in 2023

At the Malaysian launch of the
Ora Good Cat
 EV, Great Wall Motor (GWM) revealed that it is planning to launch as many as nine new models in Malaysia in the next three years. These include sedans, SUVS, pickup trucks, and more.

All nine GWM models that are to be launched in Malaysia look to be xEV vehicles; that is, they are electrified to some extent. No word yet on what these models could be, though the Haval H6 and Haval Jolion have been spotted on our local roads.

Aside from that, GWM also announced that it will start its CKD (local assembly) operations right here in Malaysia as early as next month. The plan will see the creation of over 2,000 jobs, and there’s a good chance locally assembled GWM models will be priced even more competitively.

Speaking of competitive pricing, GWM’s Ora Good Cat is currently the most affordable EV in Malaysia right now with a RM139,800 starting price. Check out our full coverage of the electric hatchback’s local launch
right here
.


Genshin Impact 3.3 Coming 7 December With Wanderer, Faruzan, New Card Game

The next Genshin Impact update is quite jam-packed with content. Not only are we getting two new playable characters – the 5-star Wanderer and 4-star Faruzan,
as teased by Hoyoverse last month
 – a card game (Genius Invokation TCG) will also be added to the Version 3.3 update.

Of course, there’s a new story quest in Genshin Impact 3.3 too that will explain Scaramouche’s transformation to become the Wanderer. He will “walk down a different path under Nahida’s custody,” as Hoyoverse puts it, and players will go to Irminsul with him in the
Inversion of Genesis
 Archon Interlude quest.

And then there’s the new Genius Invokation card game that combines Genshin Impact’s element-based combat system with strategy development. Players can compete with both NPCs and other players with their collection of cards that can be expanded by defeating said NPCs. Dynamic Skins can be redeemed from the Card Shop too.

Aside from that, Arataki Itto will be featured in the
Akitsu Kimodameshi
 event in Genshin Impact 3.3 as well; it will see players completing “brick-breaker” mini-games with him. Several characters will have rerun banners too, including Itto, Kamisato Ayato, and the Raiden Shogun herself.

Genshin Impact Version 3.3 will arrive next week on 7 December. The Wanderer, Faruzan, and Itto’s event wishes will go live then, followed by the Raiden Shogun’s and Ayato’s rerun banners in the second phase.


Akko ACR TOP 75 + Chosfox Voyager Review: Sleek, Affordable Top-Mounted Acrylic Keyboard

Akko has released quite a number of keyboards throughout the year, and one such keyboard is the Akko ACR TOP 75. Not only does it have an eye-catching design with an acrylic case and RGB lighting, it also has a top mount construction – that’s pretty rare in today’s market.

For this review, the ACR TOP 75 is paired with the Chosfox Voyager tactile switch, which complements the keyboard quite well with its stiff top-mounted design. If you’re looking to get an affordable top mount keyboard or a new tactile switch, keep on reading!

Akko ACR Top 75

Let’s start with the ACR TOP 75. As its name suggests, it is a 75% keyboard with the aforementioned top mount design, making for a stiff typing experience. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course: some folks prefer the stiffness of top-mounted keyboards.

Aside from that, the ACR TOP 75 is available with either an acrylic case – the model you see in this review – or a more substantial aluminium case. However, do note that the aluminium version does not feature the RGB lighting of the acrylic model, which gives the keyboard an eye-catching aesthetic, in my opinion.

As for plate option, the ACR TOP 75 features a brass plate, which stiffens up the typing feel even more. Paired with the top mount design of the keyboard, there’s no doubt that this is a rigid, stiff keyboard. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, as it depends on your preference. Do note that the aluminium version comes with an additional FR4 plate, which should offer a slightly softer typing feel.

Pricing wise, the ACR TOP 75
starts at $125.99
 for the acrylic version, while the aluminium one is priced at $169.99. For us here in Malaysia, however, the keyboard is slightly more affordable:
Akko’s store on Shopee
 is listing the acrylic and aluminium versions of the TOP 75 for RM469.99 and RM689.99 respectively, though the former is currently sold out.

So…how is it like to type on the ACR TOP 75? As expected, it’s stiff; like, really rigid. The keyboard’s top mount design and brass plate offer absolutely no amount of flexibility, so you don’t get any of that bouncy or soft typing experience. If a stiff typing feel is what you want, you’ll definitely get that with this keyboard.

Sound profile of the ACR TOP 75, as you can hear in the sound test at the beginning of this review, is quite pleasant – to my ears, anyway. Paired with the Chosfox Voyager tactile switch, it has a nice, “poppy” clackiness to it. There’s no pinging of any kind either, which can be attributed to the keyboard’s acrylic case.

If you’re a fan of RGB lighting, you’ll definitely find the ACR TOP 75 appealing. Well, this acrylic version, anyway. The RGB lighting diffuses throughout the acrylic case quite nicely, and even though there are other keyboards that offer a similar aesthetic, there’s no denying that it looks good on this keyboard.

Chosfox Voyager

If you like highly tactile switches such as the
Gazzew U4T
 and
Glorious Panda
, the Chosfox Voyager will be right up your alley. Not only does it have a very pronounced (and quite sharp) tactile bump, there’s almost no pre-travel either. I would’ve liked if the Voyager had a more rounded bump, but this is just my own personal preference.

When it comes to sound profile, the Voyager is definitely a clacky, higher-pitched switch. Thanks to the 62.5g two-stage spring, its upstroke is quite “aggressive” too, which does make for a…responsive typing experience, for lack of a better word.

Stem wobble of the Voyager is not too bad either, but certainly not the best. It does feel like a stable switch to type on – even with higher profile keycaps – though there’s still noticeable horizontal and vertical wobble. Not the worst, of course, but definitely not the best.

Overall, the Voyager is definitely an interesting tactile switch. It feels great to type on out of the box as well with a relatively smooth downstroke, thanks to the factory lube.
Priced at $19.25
 (about RM85) for 35 switches, it’s not a particularly expensive switch either.

The Akko ACR Top 75 and Chosfox Voyager are two great products, especially for those who are on a tighter budget. They are by no means the best keyboard or tactile switch in the market now, but their value propositions are very good – an important quality for affordable products like these.


1 – 7 December Fuel Price: RON 97 Finally Down 10 Sen – Now RM3.85 Per Litre

There’s finally a price change to RON 97 after two months, and it’s good news: the premium fuel will go down by 10 sen at the stroke of midnight. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 will be set at RM3.85 per litre (down from RM3.95). RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 1 to 7 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Gentari Launches Malaysia’s First 350kW EV Charger at X Park Sunway Serene

Gentari, a subsidiary of Petronas that focuses on clean energy, just launched the first 350kW public EV charger in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Located at X Park Sunway Serene, the fast 350kW charger is part of an EV charging hub rolled out by Gentari in partnership with EV Connection Sdn Bhd (EVC).

Aside from the 350kW EV charger, the EV charging hub at the location also offers two other DC fast chargers (180kW) and five AC chargers. Depending on which charger you use, you will be charged – excuse the pun – at different rates.

The 350kW charger, for one, costs RM1.20 per kWh; yes, Gentari is the first to offer a kWh-based pricing mechanism. If you use the 180kW charger instead, you’ll be charged slightly lower at RM1 per kWh. As for the AC chargers, they are priced at RM0.55 per kWh.

Aside from the EV charging hub at X Park Sunway Serene, Gentari is also working on another hub at Bangi Golf Resort. There won’t be any 350kW chargers there, but there are a good combination of DC and AC chargers at the resort, including Kempower DC chargers.

Those are quite interesting, as you can scan a QR code generated by the charger with your phone to check on your car’s current charge level whenever you want to.

The EV charging hub at Bangi Golf Resort under construction

Anyway, you can check out Gentari’s brand new 350kW EV charger at X Park Sunway Serene. The EV charging hub at Bangi Golf Resort, on the other hand, isn’t quite ready yet, though it does look near to completion when we visited the resort today.


Ora Good Cat Test Drive: Upmarket RM140k Electric Hatchback

The EV market in Malaysia is steadily growing as more brands are bringing in their lineup of electrified vehicles to our shores. One such brand is Great Wall Motor (GWM), which just launched the Ora Good Cat
earlier this week
.

Touted as the most affordable EV in Malaysia with a RM139,800 starting price, I managed to take the electric hatchback out for a spin for a few hours. Despite being the “cheapest” EV in Malaysia, the hatchback does not feel cheap at all…for the most part.

First, let’s talk about the Ora Good Cat’s equipment first. Two variants of the EV are offered in Malaysia: the 400 Pro base model goes for RM139,800, and it offers up to 400km of range from its 47.8kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The higher-end 500 Ultra variant, on the other hand, has a larger 63.1kWh ternary lithium cell (up to 500km range) for RM169,800.

Beyond its range, the Ora Good Cat can be charged – with a DC fast charger – from 30% to 80% in only 32 minutes or 40 minutes for the 400 Pro and 500 Ultra models respectively. It also has an electric motor driving the front wheels that offers a respectable 143PS and 210Nm of torque.

Other specifications of the Ora Good Cat include a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree surround camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

In pictures, the Ora Good Cat looks like a cute, relatively compact electric hatchback. But in person, the EV is actually quite sizeable! In fact, measuring 4,235mm long and 1,825mm wide, it’s actually wider than, say, the latest
Honda City Hatchback
, though the B-segment car is a bit longer by 110mm.

In short, the Ora Good Cat is certainly not a small car; I reckon it can comfortably accommodate four adults on a road trip too. Its ground clearance is also slightly higher than a typical hatchback, to the point where it almost feels like a crossover of sorts.

And then we have the interior of the Ora Good Cat, which is
excellent
. There are plenty of soft touch points inside the cabin, and the design elements both look and feel great. For an EV at this price point, the quality of the interior is definitely a class above – it feels very, very premium.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the infotainment system’s software. It is not intuitive to navigate, it feels quite sluggish, and some settings can only be accessed here. If I want to adjust the air-conditioning, for example, I have to go through a number of menu before I can do so.

Yes, there are no physical buttons for climate control. Even volume control is limited to the steering wheel and infotainment screen. Not exactly a great user experience.

But what the Ora Good Cat lacks in practicality is made up by its driving dynamics, in my opinion. The instant 210Nm of torque from the electric motor, for one, is great to quickly get up to speed. I even get pushed back into the seat when I put my foot down on the accelerator pedal – the perk of an EV with a lot of torque to offer.

The ride quality of the Ora Good Cat is refined as well. Despite its large 18-inch alloy wheels, it still offers a comfortable ride. This comes at the expense of noticeable body roll, unfortunately enough, but for folks who aren’t driving enthusiasts, they’ll definitely appreciate the smooth ride of this electric hatchback.

As for the handling of the Ora Good Cat, it’s good enough. While I do wish the steering was quicker and less numb for a more dynamic driving experience, it does feel adequate for city driving, which is (probably) where the EV will spend most of its time in.

Last but not least is the ADAS capability of the Ora Good Cat. The steering assist – albeit a touch too aggressive for my liking – can negotiate even tight corners quite well. The ADAS will even slow the car down as it approaches any given corner; very nice.

However, the adaptive cruise control of the Ora Good Cat does have room for improvement. Not only is the braking not as smooth as it should be (it’s quite sudden), it leaves too big of a gap between the lead car in slow-moving traffic as well, even when I’ve selected the shortest distance.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying the premium appeal of the Ora Good Cat. Its interior is very impressive – far more impressive than any other car at this price point – it has good performance under the hood, and its cute, quirky design gives it a…unique appeal, to say the least.

While I do wish it had better driving dynamics with a more refined adaptive cruise control and infotainment system, some folks may not mind these shortcomings at all. And to be fair, I’ve only spent a few hours driving the car, so there may be more to the car beyond these drawbacks.

For what it’s worth, I did enjoy driving the Ora Good Cat, and I look forward to driving it again at the next opportunity.


Redmi Note 12 5G Coming to Malaysia Soon – Affordable Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 Phone

The Redmi Note 12 5G was introduced in China just last month, and it looks like the affordable phone will be available in Malaysia very soon. Once it’s launched on our shores, it will likely be the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 phone in our local market.

As usual, we were going through SIRIM’s database when we came across the Redmi Note 12 5G. It was registered under Xiaomi Malaysia just today on 30 November with the model number 22111317G, so it looks like the company is gearing up to bring the phone to our shores.

Given its affordable nature, the hardware of the Redmi Note 12 5G are quite modest. These include the aforementioned Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset paired with up to 8GB RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage, a 6.67-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (48MP primary + 2MP depth), an 8MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.

No word yet from Xiaomi Malaysia on the local availability of the Redmi Note 12 5G. But given that it’s been certified by SIRIM already, we reckon it will be launched on our shores very soon. As for pricing, the Redmi Note 12 5G starts at only 1,199 Chinese yuan, which comes up to about RM745.


PlayStation Plus December 2022 Free Games: Mass Effect, Divine Knockout, Biomutant

PlayStation Plus’ December 2022 free games have just been announced. The lineup includes Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Divine Knockout: Founder’s Edition, and Biomutant. Curiously, there are no extra games for the Asian region this time around either, just like last month.

The three games are playable on both the PS5 and PS4, though there’s no PS5 version of Mass Effect. With that in mind, it won’t benefit from faster loading times or the DualSense controller’s range of features like adaptive triggers and more refined haptic feedback.

With the
revamped PS Plus membership
, these three games can be claimed by subscribers of any tiers. Whether you’re on the Essential, Extra, or Deluxe plan, you will have access to these monthly PS Plus games.

All three games can be claimed by PS Plus members from 6 December 2022 to 2 January 2023. That means you have until this coming Monday (5 December) to get your hands on November 2022’s free games, including
Nioh 2, Lego Harry Potter Collection, and Heavenly Bodies
.


Honda Malaysia December 2022 Offer – Up to RM8,000 Discount & Signed Messi Jersey

Honda Malaysia is offering even more attractive discounts for its range of models in December 2022 this month, which include the
popular Honda City
, Accord, and
CR-V
. On top of that, those who register a Honda model until 31 December 2022 also stand a chance to win a signed Messi jersey.

Naturally, the
Honda Accord
 gets the best discount. Both the range-topping TC-P and more affordable TC variants of the D-segment sedan receive a RM8,000 rebate. Aside from that, the
Honda BR-V
 seven-seater MPV gets quite a generous RM6,000 discount as well.

A tier down is the Honda City, which gets a RM4,000 discount for all variants of the B-segment sedan, including the range-topping
RS e:HEV model
. If you want the
Honda City Hatchback
 instead, all variants of the model receive a RM2,500 discount.

If you want an SUV instead, you can opt for the
Honda CR-V
, which is offered with a RM4,000 discount. Do note that these discounts are only applicable for bookings placed after 30 June 2022, and the vehicles have to be registered between 1 to 31 December 2022.

More information on the deal can be found on
Honda Malaysia’s website
. If you’re interested to get any of these Honda models with the rebates, you can place a pre-booking online
here
. Alternatively, bookings can be done through the HondaTouch app as well – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.