Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 & Galaxy Buds Live Now in Malaysia; Priced From RM699

The recently announced Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch and Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds have been confirmed for the Malaysian market. Unveiled alongside the new
Galaxy Note 20 series
, these two products are quite interesting, especially the Buds Live.

Here in Malaysia, the Galaxy Buds Live earbuds retail at RM699, and it is available in three colours: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic White. As for the Galaxy Watch 3, it goes for RM1,699 or RM1,799 for the 41mm and 45mm models respectively. The 41mm variant is offered in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Silver, while the bigger 45mm version comes in Mystic Black and Mystic Silver.

Out of the two products, the Galaxy Buds Live is arguably the more exciting product, especially with its…unique bean-like design. In fact, this is not your traditional pair of wireless earbuds: they don’t actually come with any ear tips. Because of this unconventional design, these earbuds basically just sit in your ears’ contours, so you’ll definitely hear the outside world with the earbuds “on.”

That’s a little odd, given that the Buds Live actually comes with active noise cancellation. It wouldn’t be able to cut down on ambient noise quite as well as traditional earbuds like Sony’s WF-1000XM3, but according to Samsung, it will be able to “reduce background noises without missing what’s important, like voices and announcements.”

As for battery life, the Buds Live can last for six hours – eight hours with ANC and Bixby Voice switched off – on a single charge. With the charging case, you can get a total of 21 hours of use or 29 hours with ANC disabled.

And then there’s the Galaxy Watch 3, the successor to 2018’s Galaxy Watch. For the most part, it looks largely the same as the previous model, complete with a rotating bezel and rugged-looking design. There are some notable changes, of course. Not only is it thinner and smaller, it’s also 15% lighter now, which should make it feel more comfortable on the wrist.

Other specifications of the Galaxy Watch 3 include an OLED screen, a stainless steel case, better sleep tracking capability – the algorithm has been reworked – and in the near future, it will be able to monitor blood oxygen (SpO2 and VO2 Max). It can also measure blood pressure and electrocardiography (EKG), though these two features will only be enabled in certain markets.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 20 August; those who place their order of the smartwatch in this time period will get a complimentary wireless charger worth RM239. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, on the other hand, will go on sale locally on 21 August.


Sony WH-1000XM4 Finally Here: Improved ANC, Multipoint Support, RM1,599 Price Tag

The Sony WH-1000XM4 has been rumoured for quite some time now, and it is finally official now. The successor to the highly regarded WH-1000XM3 brings with it a suite of improvements, including better active noise cancellation, the ability to pair with two devices at the same time over Bluetooth, and improved microphones. On top of that, the XM4 is now available here in Malaysia as well.

That’s right, you can purchase the WH-1000XM4 locally right now.
Priced at RM1,599
 – the exact same price tag as the WH-1000XM3 at launch – the new wireless headphones are available in two colours: Black and Silver. To sweeten the deal, early birds will also receive a limited edition 1000X headphones stand for free, along with a RM50 Starbucks gift card.

Compared to the previous model, the updated WH-1000XM4 doesn’t look all that different; you’d be hard-pressed to differentiate between the two wireless headphones. But under the hood, there are some notable improvements. The performance of the active noise cancellation, for one, is better now, thanks to a new algorithm and Bluetooth Audio SoC.

In fact, thanks to the addition of the SoC, the WH-1000XM4 can analyse music, noise signals, and even the “acoustic characteristics between the driver unit and ears” over 700 times per second. Collectively, this allows the XM4 to cancel out ambient sounds more effectively, making for a more pleasant listening experience.

Besides that, the WH-1000XM4 can
finally
 pair with two devices at the same time with Bluetooth multipoint. This was one of the biggest issues with its predecessor, so it’s great to see that Sony is listening to its customers. Of course, you can also quickly switch between two paired devices with the touch of a button.

Last but certainly not least is better voice call quality. The WH-1000XM4 now comes with Precise Voice Pickup Technology that combines the five built-in microphones of the headphones with advanced audio signal processing. The result? Clearer voice quality in your calls. There’s even a neat Speak-to-Chat feature that automatically pauses the music when you start talking.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones are now available for purchase in Malaysia.
For RM1,599
, it’s not a particularly affordable product, but you do get a very good pair of cans with excellent noise cancellation. After all, there’s a reason its predecessor was so successful, and it’s even better now with the XM4.


Deal: Poco F2 Pro Going for Only RM1,799 Tomorrow

The Poco F2 Pro is one of the most affordable flagship smartphones in the market now, and it’s about to be
even more affordable
. In conjunction with Lazada’s 8.8 sale tomorrow, you can get this Snapdragon 865 smartphone
for only RM1,799
.

Originally going for RM2,199, you can save RM400 on the 128GB + 6GB Poco F2 Pro with this deal tomorrow. That’s quite a sizeable discount, especially for a phone at this price point. Of course, this deal is offered by Xiaomi itself on its official Lazada store, so rest assured, it is a legitimate deal.

That being said, do note that this promo price for the Poco F2 Pro is part of Lazada’s flash sale that will begin at 12AM tonight. If you want to grab this Snapdragon 865 smartphone
for only RM1,799
, it’s best to act fast – we reckon stocks will run out quite fast.


MSI Creator 17 With Mini-LED Screen Now in Malaysia; Retails From RM11,499

The MSI Creator 17, which is touted by the Taiwanese company as the world’s first laptop with a Mini-LED display, is now available in Malaysia. If you’re a creative professional, you might want to look into this machine; it could be for you.

Of course, the most exciting hardware of the Creator 17 has to be its 17.3-inch 4K Mini-LED display. Compared to regular LCD panels, this Mini-LED screen allows for better control of local dimming, which enhances contrast ratio quite a bit. According to MSI, this laptop’s display has 240 local dimming zones; that’s quite a lot for a panel of this size.

Besides that, the Mini-LED display screen also has a peak brightness of 1000 nits. This, complemented by the superior local dimming and 4K resolution of the panel, should make for a very pleasant screen to look at. This is especially the case with HDR content, which needs a high level of brightness to really shine.

Now, let’s talk about the other hardware under the hood of the Creator 17. Its processing power, for one, comes from Intel’s latest 10th generation Core i7-10875H processor, which should be fast enough for most tasks. Besides that, it is packed with either 16GB or 32GB of RAM, depending on which variant you go for.

Speaking of which, you can either get the Creator 17 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU or a more powerful RTX 2070 Super Max-Q graphics card. The former option comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, while the RTX 2070 Super model features 32GB of RAM with a generous 1TB SSD.

Despite all of these beefy hardware under the hood of the Creator 17, it’s a surprisingly thin machine. With a 20.25mm side profile, it is noticeably thinner than the majority of other similarly equipped laptops in the market now. It also has pretty good connectivity options, including two USB-C ports, three full-size USB-A connections, an HDMI output, a microSD card reader, and even an RJ45 port.

The MSI Creator 17 is now available for purchase in Malaysia. The RTX 2060 variant retails at RM11,499, while the higher-end RTX 2070 Super Max Q model goes for RM13,999. Given that the latter offers a faster GPU
and
 twice the amount of RAM and SSD storage for RM2,500 more, it’s the model to go for if you want the best value for your money.


Huawei MatePad Pro Quick Review: Surprisingly Good Without Google

The Huawei MatePad Pro is the Chinese company’s latest flagship Android tablet, and it’s a premium device through and through. Not only does it pack flagship-tier performance, it also offers a large, vibrant screen in a sleek form factor. But there is one thing that holds it back: it doesn’t ship with Google Mobile Services.

While that limits the amount of apps the MatePad Pro can access, it is
actually
 a pretty good tablet without Google. For certain folks, the MatePad Pro can certainly serve them well, especially if you’re planning to use it for browser-based tasks.

What It Is

Display
10.8-inch WQXGA IPS (2560 x 1600)
Chipset
Huawei Kirin 990 2.86GHz octa-core
GPU
ARM Mali-G76
RAM
8GB
Storage
256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
13MP f/1.8
Camera (front)
8MP f/2.0
Battery
7,250mAh
Dimensions
246 x 159 x 7.2 mm
Weight
492g
OS
EMUI 10 based on Android 10
Connectivity
5G
LTE
Bluetooth 5.1
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
Price
RM2,399 (LTE), RM3,299 (5G)

As a premium tablet, the MatePad Pro got some high-end hardware under the hood. It’s powered by a Kirin 990 chipset – the very same one found in Huawei’s current crop of flagship smartphones – and the 10.8-inch display is sharp and vibrant as well. On top of that, it also comes with a very generous 7,250mAh battery, which can return
very good
 battery life.

The Good Stuff

Since we’re already on the topic, let’s talk about the impressive battery life of the MatePad Pro first. Throughout my time with the tablet as my work device, I managed to squeeze well over a day’s worth of use out of it. In fact, I actually find it quite difficult to completely drain the battery in a single work day; that’s how long-lasting this tablet is.

To really put the MatePad Pro’s battery life to the test, I continuously played YouTube videos on the tablet with the volume and screen brightness set to a comfortable level. Surprisingly enough, the tablet reached almost
15 hours of playback
 before it shut itself down. Needless to say, this is
ridiculously
 good battery life.

Complementing the excellent battery life of the MatePad Pro is the Huawei Kirin 990 chipset, which is fabricated on a 7nm process. This makes it a power-efficient chip, and it offers high-end performance too. Whether I’m multitasking or playing demanding games on the tablet, the Kirin 990 can keep up with ease.

And then there’s the 10.8-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS screen. It’s a very pleasant display to look at with punchy colours, good maximum brightness, and wide viewing angles. But what I like the most about this panel is its 16:10 aspect ratio: thanks to the extra vertical space, this is an ideal screen for productivity work.

Speaking of work, the keyboard case is surprisingly good to type on. While the cramp, compact layout is not for everyone, I can type quite comfortably on it. Sure, the limited key travel isn’t great, but they are tactile enough to provide a reasonably good typing experience.

If you need a stylus, there’s the Huawei M-Pencil for the MatePad Pro. I don’t use it too much throughout the review period, but it does feel quite natural when I use it to scribble some notes. The M-Pencil can also detect 4,096 levels of pressure, which is something digital artists will appreciate.

Last but certainly not least is the quad speaker system of the MatePad Pro, which offers one of the best audio qualities I’ve heard from a tablet. It can get really loud without noticeable distortion, and the amount of bass it can produce is quite commendable as well.

The Bad Stuff

There’s no denying the robust hardware of the MatePad Pro, but there is one major shortcoming of the MatePad Pro: app support. Due to the US sanction, Huawei isn’t allowed to use Google Mobile Services on its Android devices. This means that a number of essential Android apps are not pre-installed on this tablet, including Google Chrome, YouTube, Google Drive, and of course, the indispensable Play Store.

Even if you don’t use any of Google’s apps, not having access to the plethora of apps available on the Google Play Store really limits the MatePad Pro’s usability. Sure, Huawei has its own AppGallery in lieu of Google’s offering, and while there are a quite a number of apps there, it still pales in comparison to the sheer scale of the Play Store.

Of course, there are a few ways to circumvent this limitation, one of which is to install a third-party app store. While this somewhat solves the lack of popular apps on the MatePad Pro, it’s not exactly something an average user is comfortable doing. There’s also the fact that third-party app stores are not as secure as the Google Play Store.

However, depending on how you plan to use the MatePad Pro, not having access to these apps may not be that big of a deal. If you, say, want to use this tablet as more of an alternative to a laptop – like how I did – the built-in browser is more than good enough for this purpose. I can even force the browser to display websites in desktop view; I didn’t encounter any compatibility issues by doing so either.

Is It Worth It?

Looking at its hardware alone, the Huawei MatePad Pro is an excellent, high-end Android tablet. It offers fast performance, a vibrant display, great audio quality, and most of all,
fantastic
 battery life. It doesn’t cost all that much either at RM2,399, though you’d have to pay quite a bit more – RM3,299, to be specific – for the 5G model.

Really, the
only thing
 holding the MatePad Pro back is the lack of Google support. As mentioned, depending on how you use the tablet, this may not be an issue at all. Of course, not having access to the Play Store does limit the usability of the MatePad Pro to an extend, but there are ways around this. It’s not an ideal solution, but it’s definitely viable for more tech-savvy folks.

It’s unfortunate the MatePad Pro doesn’t have access to Google’s apps services; it would’ve been the complete package. On its own, it’s a very accomplished flagship Android tablet with a competitive price point, marred only by the lack of Google.


HTC Wildfire E2 Launches in Russia, Starting From RM500

The HTC Wildfire E2 was quietly launched in Russia last week. Given the entry-level positioning of the new device, it doesn’t exactly have any groundbreaking features, though it does carry a pretty affordable price tag.

Powering the Wildfire E2 is a MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, an octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz. It can be bought with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM, along with two storage options (32GB and 64GB). If you need more storage space, you can take advantage of the microSD card slot – it supports cards up to 128GB.

On top of that, the Wildfire E2 comes with a 6.22-inch 1560 x 720 IPS notched screen with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It would’ve been great if it had a higher resolution panel or a more modern-looking screen design, but it would be unrealistic to expect these from an entry-level device.

Camera wise, the Wildfire E2 offers a 16MP primary camera with a 2MP depth sensor on the back. On the front of the phone, there’s an 8MP shooter for selfies. Other notable features of the Wildfire E2 include a 4,000mAh battery, a rear fingerprint sensor, and Android 10 out of the box.

The HTC Wildfire E2 is now available in Russia. Retailing from 8,760 Russian ruble – which is roughly RM500 – it’s really quite an affordable smartphone. At the moment, it remains to be seen if the Wildfire E2 will ever be launched in other markets.


Realme C11 With 5,000mAh Battery Now Offers 3GB of RAM for RM479

The Realme C11 was launched here in Malaysia just last month, but at the time, it only came with 2GB of RAM. That’s not an awful lot of RAM, even for an entry-level Android smartphone. Thankfully, you can now get the C11 locally with a much more practical 3GB RAM for not a lot more money.

Originally retailing at RM429 for the 2GB RAM model, the new Realme C11 variant with 3GB of RAM costs RM479. You’re essentially paying RM50 more to get 1GB more RAM, which is definitely worth it for a more pleasant user experience. After all, as apps get more demanding and resource-hungry, you need all the RAM you can get.

Beyond the extra RAM capacity, other specifications of the C11 remain the same. For one, it still features a large 5,000mAh battery that should be able to to deliver excellent battery life on a single charge. In fact, you can even use it as a power bank to charge other devices, thanks to its support for reverse charging.

Besides that, the Realme C11 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset. Sure, it’s a decidedly entry-level chip, but it’s suited for a device at this price point. Plus, the Helio G35 is fabricated on a 12nm process; MediaTek says that this gives the chip good power efficiency, which will further improve the battery life of the C11.

It’s also worth noting that the C11 comes with a 6.5-inch 1600 x 720 display. It would’ve been great if it came with a higher resolution 1080p screen, but that would also take up more power than the 720p panel of the C11. Given that excellent battery life is one of the most highlighted features of this phone – and this
is
 an entry-level device – it’s an understandable compromise.

In the camera department, the Realme C11 comes with two rear cameras: a 13MP f/2.2 primary sensor and a 2MP f/2.4 portrait lens. On the front, it features a 5MP f/2.4 selfie camera. Not the most sophisticated camera system, but it should do in a pinch, especially for a sub-RM500 phone.

Other specifications of the C11 include 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a microUSB port, and Realme UI based on Android 10 out of the box.

The new Realme C11 variant with 3GB of RAM will be available for purchase from retail outlets in Malaysia from 15 August onwards for RM479. Alternatively, you can get the C11 online from
Realme’s official Lazada store
 on 28 August; a complimentary Realme Buds 2 will be bundled on that day.


OnePlus Nord Launching in Malaysia on 18 August

OnePlus finally confirmed the Malaysian launch of its latest mid-range smartphone, the
OnePlus Nord
. Set to arrive here next week on 18 August, the Nord will compete against other premium mid-range smartphones in Malaysia; its local pricing will determine if it can stand toe-to-toe with them.

The Malaysian launch of the OnePlus Nord is confirmed by the company itself on its Facebook page. Details are light, but the “special launch” event is said to take place on 18 August at 11AM. Chances are, this will be an online-only affair.

What makes the Nord particularly interesting is the whole package it offers. Not only does it sport a premium glass and metal build, it also features a 6.44-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate; perfectly suited for a mid-range device like it. There’s also an oblong-shaped hole-punch cutout on the top left of the screen, which houses two selfie cameras.

That’s right, the Nord come with two front-facing shooters. One is a 32MP f/2.45 primary sensor, while the other lens is an 8MP f/2.45 ultra-wide angle lens that’s ideal for capturing wider group selfies. In fact, the ultra-wide angle selfie camera is a first for OnePlus. No other smartphone from the company offers that.

Besides that, powering the Nord is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset, giving the phone a reasonably good level of performance and 5G connectivity. Granted, this is not the fastest processor in the market, but it
is
Qualcomm’s best SoC outside of the range-topping Snapdragon 8 series chips. That’s a good position to be in.

Other specifications of the Nord include a generous 4,115mAh battery with support for OnePlus’ Warp Charge 30T fast charging technology – it can supposedly charge up the phone to 70% from empty in just 30 minutes – an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and OxygenOS based on Android 10 out of the box.

The OnePlus Nord is set to be launched in Malaysia next week on 18 August. We don’t know yet exactly how much the mid-range smartphone will cost here, but the company already listed two different variants of the Nord on its local Shopee store. Two models of the phone will be offered here: the
128GB variant with 8GB of RAM
, and the range-topping
256GB option with 12GB of RAM
.

Aside from that, based on the listings, both the Blue Marble and Grey Onyx colourways of the Nord will be available here.


2020 Asus ZenBook 13 & ZenBook 14 Officially Launched in Malaysia; Priced From RM3,999

Asus has officially introduced the 2020 iterations of the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 for the Malaysian market. Packing Intel’s latest 10th generation Ice Lake processors in a sleek, thin chassis, these two productivity laptops are made for those who are always on the go.

As we’ve
previously reported
, there are two different variants for both the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14. The Core i5-1035G1 model for the two laptops cost RM3,999, while the more powerful Core i7-1065G7 configurations go for RM4,699. That’s right, there is no price difference between the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14.

This makes sense, given that both laptops are almost identical to each other. Only the display size and weight of the two machines are different: the ZenBook 13 weighs 1.07kg with a 13.3-inch 1080p display, while the ZenBook 14 tips the scales at 1.13kg with a bigger 14-inch 1080p screen. It’s also worth noting that the former has an 88% screen-to-body ratio; the ZenBook 14 is slightly better at 90%.

As mentioned, both ZenBook laptops can be purchased with either a Core i5-1035G1 or Core i7-1065G7 processor for the Malaysian market. Regardless of which configuration you go for, the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 still come with 512GB of SSD storage and 8GB of RAM; you won’t get more RAM or storage with the higher-end Core i7 model.

Beyond these hardware, what makes the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 particularly interesting is its portable nature. After all, both laptops measure only 13.9mm thin. It’s really quite interesting that Asus manage to retain the thin profile of the more compact ZenBook 13 with the larger ZenBook 14 as well.

Despite their slim profiles, the connectivity options of the ZenBook laptops are surprisingly complete. They have two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, a USB-A connection, an HDMI output, and a microSD card reader. However, the 3.5mm headphone jack is omitted on both machines, though a dongle for it is provided with the laptops.

The Asus ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the Core i5 models cost RM3,999, while the Core i7 configurations go for RM4,699. To celebrate the launch of the new ZenBook laptops, Asus is offering a RM100 rebate for the first 20 buyers of the two products on its
official Shopee store
. This deal is only available until 12 August tomorrow, and users have to use the ASUSZB100 discount code at checkout.


Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Unleashed: 120x Zoom, 120W Fast Charging, 120Hz Screen, RM3,200 Starting Price

Xiaomi just unveiled the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra for the Chinese market, and it’s sporting some very high-end hardware. Not only does it have a camera system that can do 120x zoom, it also comes with a 120Hz screen
and
 support for fast 120W charging.

Aesthetically, The Mi 10 Ultra looks similar to the
other Mi 10 phones
, except for the new camera module on the back. The quad camera system now comes with a 48MP f/1.85 primary sensor, a 48MP f/4.1 periscope telephoto lens capable of 10x optical zoom or 120x digital zoom, a 20MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 12MP f/2.0 portrait camera.

Needless to say, this is an impressive camera configuration. In fact, the Mi 10 Ultra is currently
sitting at the top of DxOMark’s ranking
. According to the site, the quad camera system has excellent detail preservation, accurate white balance, wide dynamic range – even for the ultra-wide angle sensor – and good bokeh effect with natural-looking blur.

Of course, the Mi 10 Ultra’s camera performance does have a number of shortcomings too. For one, there are some artifacts and unnatural texture rendering in HDR shots, along with a more noticeable noise level and loss of detail in ultra-wide angle shots. But all in all, the Ultra still gets a total score of 140; the highest score DxOMark ever gave for a smartphone camera.

Besides that, there’s the extremely fast 120W fast charging rate of the Mi 10 Ultra. According to Xiaomi, this allows the phone’s 4,500mAh battery to be fully charged in only
23 minutes
. If you’re in a rush, a five-minute charge is enough to get the battery from completely empty to 41% – this is
very
 impressive charging rate.

And then there’s the equally fast 120Hz screen of the Mi 10 Ultra; an improvement over the regular Mi 10’s 90Hz display. Beyond the faster refresh rate, this is still a 6.67-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED panel with a hole-punch cutout on the top left of the screen for the 20MP selfie camera.

Other specifications of the Mi 10 Ultra include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset – not the newer Snapdragon 865+ SoC, oddly enough – up to 16GB of RAM, three storage options (128GB, 256GB, and 512GB), an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and MIUI 12 based on Android 10 out of the box.

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra will be available for purchase in China from 16 August onwards with a 5,299 Chinese yuan starting price; that comes up to about RM3,200. Naturally, there’s no word yet on the Malaysian availability of the Mi 10 Ultra.


Redmi K30 Ultra Unveiled With MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ Chip & 120Hz Screen for RM1,200

Aside from the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra, the Redmi K30 Ultra was also introduced in China. Although it’s not quite as high-end as the former, the new K30 Ultra does come with a number of interesting features. These include a fast 120Hz screen, along with a new processor: the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+.

Compared to other flagship-tier chipsets in the market now, the Dimensity 1000+ is a reasonably capable SoC with support for 5G networks. While it’s not quite as fast as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, you can still expect to get a very good level of performance with the Dimensity 1000+. After all, it’s MediaTek’s best chip to date.

Besides that, the K30 Ultra also comes with a fast 120Hz panel now with a 240Hz touch sampling rate. It’s a marked improvement over the
K30 Pro
‘s screen, which only had a 60Hz refresh rate with a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Beyond the faster and more responsive display, the K30 Ultra still features a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED panel.

In fact, other aspects of the K30 Ultra are almost identical to the K30 Pro. It has the same quad camera system (64MP main + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 5M telemacro + 2MP depth), a 20MP pop-up front-facing camera, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB of internal storage, as well as an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

That being said, it’s worth noting that the K30 Ultra comes with a slightly smaller 4,500mAh battery; the K30 Pro had a bigger 4,700mAh cell.

The Redmi K30 Ultra will go on sale in China from 14 August onwards. With a 1,999 Chinese yuan starting price – that comes up to about RM1,205 – it’s definitely an affordable smartphone. Here’s hoping the K30 Ultra will be made available in Malaysia as well.


Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Malaysian Launch Set for 28 August

Update 13 August:
 Samsung Malaysia just confirmed that the Galaxy Tab S7 tablets will be available for purchase locally from 28 August onwards. Three colours are offered: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic Silver.

The original article follows.

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series was launched globally just last week alongside the
Galaxy Note 20 smartphones
. At the time, Malaysian availability of the Tab S7 was not revealed, but we’ve got good reason to believe that the new Android tablet will be arriving here very soon.

As usual, we were going through SIRIM’s database when we saw that Samsung Malaysia registered a new device with the model number SM-T975 just today. After a little bit of digging, we found a support page for the Galaxy Tab S7+ with the very same model number on
Samsung Australia’s website
.

Chances are, the Galaxy Tab S7+ will be landing here in Malaysia very soon. While the standard Galaxy Tab S7 isn’t registered with SIRIM yet, we’re confident it will be launched alongside the higher-end Tab S7+ as well. After all, the
product page for the Tab S7
 is already up on Samsung Malaysia’s website.

Both the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ are flagship tablets, so they’re packing some high-end hardware under the hood. These include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chip, 5G connectivity, and fast 120Hz screens. The Tab S7+ features a 12.4-inch 2800 x 1752 Super AMOLED display, while the Tab S7 has a slightly smaller 11-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS panel.

It remains to be seen exactly when the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series will be launched here in Malaysia, but given that the Tab S7+ has already been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it will be happening very soon.


Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 Malaysian Launch Happening on 17 August

Asus already launched
a slew of gaming laptops
 powered by Intel’s latest 10th generation processors in Malaysia, but one machine hasn’t been officially launched yet: the dual screen
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15
. According to Asus, the high-end gaming laptop will be landing in Malaysia next week on 17 August.

Now, it’s worth noting that the Zephyrus Duo 15 is already available for pre-order from certain local retailers. While the retail price of the gaming laptop has not been announced yet, we’ve got the details from a trusted source: the Zephyrus Duo 15 will go for RM19,999 here.

According to the same source, two variants of the Zephyrus Duo 15 will be offered here. One will come with a 15.6-inch 4K display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, while the other features a faster 300Hz panel with a 1080p resolution. Both variants retail at the same RM19,999 price point, but only the former is available this month; the 300Hz configuration will be sold sometime in September next month.

Beyond its display option, other specifications of the Zephyrus Duo 15 are decidedly high-end. It features a secondary 14.1-inch 3840 x 1100 touch-enabled screen above the keyboard, a Core i9-10980HK processor paired with 32GB of RAM, a beefy RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU, and 2TB of SSD storage. Basically, powerful hardware for a premium product.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 will be officially launched in Malaysia next week on 17 August. If you’d like to learn more about this unique gaming laptop, check out
our hands-on
.


Microsoft Surface Duo Specs & Price Revealed: Dual Screen Android Phone for $1,399

Initially unveiled in October last year, the Microsoft Surface Duo’s full specifications have finally been revealed. On top of that, the unique, dual screen Android smartphone is also available for pre-order in the US now, and as expected, it’s quite a costly device.

In the States, the Surface Duo carries a steep $1,399 price tag, which comes up to about RM5,860. For that kind of money, you’re getting 128GB of internal storage; the more generous 256GB variant demands an additional $100 (about RM420). Needless to say, the Duo is not an affordable smartphone.

But given the unique appeal of the Surface Duo, the hefty asking price is not exactly a surprise. For one, this Android smartphone has two 5.6-inch 1800 x 1350 AMOLED displays. When connected together, they form a single 8.1-inch 2700 x 1800 panel with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This unique dual screen setup will definitely come in handy for users that need it, especially for productivity work.

Besides the two AMOLED screens, other specifications of the Surface Duo are akin to that of a 2019 flagship smartphone. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM, a single 11MP f/2.0 camera – it serves as the rear and front-facing camera – a 3,577mAh battery, and Microsoft Surface Duo UI based on Android 10 out of the box.

The Microsoft Surface Duo is now available for pre-order in the US; it will start shipping on 10 September. Naturally, there’s no word yet on the Malaysian availability of the Duo.


2020 Honda City Now Open for Booking in Malaysia: 1.5L Engine, 253Nm Torque, Q4 Launch

After weeks of teasers, Honda Malaysia finally revealed more information on the brand new 2020 Honda City for the Malaysian market, and it’s very interesting. Not only are we the very first market to receive the City RS intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid model, booking for the new B-segment sedan is now open locally too.

That’s right, Honda Malaysia says that the introduction of the City RS i-MMD on our shores will be the “world premiere” of the hybrid model. On top of that, this range-topping variant is also the most powerful offering: its i-MMD powertrain is able to output 253Nm of torque, thanks to the hybrid’s electric motor.

According to Honda, this allows the City RS to have “a powerful and smooth acceleration that performs better than a C-segment and D-segment model.”

If you’re not keen to get a hybrid model, other variants of the fifth generation City – four of them in total, including the RS trim – will be powered by a new 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine. It produces 121PS and 145Nm of torque, and just like the current fourth generation model, it is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Aside from that, there are also a number of improvements to the all-new City, which are touted as a first in the segment. One of them is a Honda LaneWatch camera positioned on the left side mirror: whenever you signal to the left, the infotainment screen in the centre console will display what’s on the left side of the car to allow for safer lane changes. Unfortunately, this feature is only offered on the RS and V models.

Speaking of which, other items that are exclusive to the RS and V trims of the new City include LED headlights and 16-inch aluminium wheels with a two-tone design. Naturally, there are some features that are only offered on the RS model as well, such as black door mirror caps and an electric parking brake.

The all-new Honda City will be launching in Malaysia sometime in the fourth quarter of 2020. Local pricing has not been revealed yet, though booking for the B-segment sedan is now open. To sweeten the deal, those who book the new City will also receive a RM1,000 service voucher with a one-year validity.

To learn more about the fifth generation City, head on to Honda Malaysia’s
official website
.


Redmi 9C With 3GB RAM & 64GB storage Landing in Malaysia for RM479

The Redmi 9C was released here in Malaysia last June, but it only came with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. While that’s not bad for an entry-level smartphone, you can now get the 9C with more RAM and storage for just a little bit more cash.

Previously, the Redmi 9C with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage retailed at RM429. This new variant, on the other hand, features 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for only RM50 more, bringing the price up to RM479. In our opinion, it’s worth paying extra for the new model to get more RAM and
double
 the internal storage.

Beyond the extra RAM and storage, this new variant of the Redmi 9C still comes with the same hardware. It’s powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, and fabricated on a 12nm process, it should be power-efficient enough to allow the 9C to return respectable battery life. After all, it’s packing a very generous 5,000mAh battery.

Moving on to the camera, the Redmi 9C has a triple camera system made up of a 13MP f/2.2 primary camera, a 2MP f/2.4 macro shooter, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. Not the most sophisticated camera system, but it should do in a pinch, especially for a phone at this price point.

Other specifications of the Redmi 9C include a 6.53-inch 1600 x 720 display, a 5MP f/2.2 front camera, as well as a rear fingerprint sensor.

The Redmi 9C with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage is now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM479 until 21 August; it will hit store shelves on 22 August onwards. If you can’t wait, you can still purchase the slightly more affordable Redmi 9C with 2GB RAM and 32GB of storage
for only RM399 today
.


Redmi’s First Gaming Laptop Features Large 16.1″ 144Hz Screen & GTX 1650 Ti

Redmi just launched its first-ever gaming laptop in China, the Redmi G. Featuring a large 16.1-inch display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU, it’s a reasonably capable gaming laptop. On top of that, it’s priced quite competitively as well.

Three different variants of the Redmi G are available in China. The most affordable base model comes with an Intel Core i5-10200H processor, a GTX 1650 GPU, and a 16.1-inch 1080p screen with a 60Hz refresh rate. Not very impressive hardware, but given that this variant costs only 5,299 Chinese yuan (about RM3,195), it offers decent value for money.

A tier up is the GTX 1650 Ti variant of the Redmi G. Not only does this model come with a beefier GPU, it also has a better Core i5-10300H processor and a much faster 144Hz screen. Of course, given the higher-end hardware, it also costs quite a bit more over the base model at 6,299 yuan (approximately RM3,800).

Last but certainly not least is the range-topping Redmi G. Compared to the previous configuration, this model swaps out the processor for an even faster Core i7-10750H chip, and…that’s it. For this processor upgrade, you’ll have to fork out 6,999 yuan, which comes up to around RM4,220.

Regardless of which configuration you go for, this gaming laptop is packed with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

Beyond these hardware, the Redmi G has a pretty good selection of connectivity options as well. It features a single USB-C port, three full-size USB-A connections, a mini DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI 2.0 output, and an RJ45 connection. It would’ve been great if it had an SD card reader as well, given the large size of the laptop.

Design wise, the Redmi G looks like your everyday gaming laptop. It has angular lines, relatively small bezels surrounding the screen – though the bottom bezel is quite thick – and a pretty unique-looking textured top lid. If there’s any odd design element of the laptop, it would be the positioning of the webcam right below the screen. It’s not exactly the most flattering angle.

At the moment, the Redmi G gaming laptop is only available in China. Chances are, it won’t be officially offered outside of the country, though we’ll definitely keep a close eye on this.


Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 Now in Malaysia: Two Screens, RTX 2080 Super, RM19,999 Price Tag

Asus officially launched the high-end, unique
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15
 in Malaysia. Sporting two screens, a fast Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU, as well as a sleek design, it is the Taiwanese company’s most ambitious gaming laptop yet. Not surprisingly, it comes with a price to match as well.

As we’ve previously reported, there are two variants of the Zephyrus Duo 15 for the Malaysian market. Both configurations retail at the same RM19,999 price point, with only the screen differentiating the two models: one features a sharp 15.6-inch 4K panel – this is also the configuration available for purchase right now – while the other comes with a faster 1080p panel with a 300Hz refresh rate.

Unfortunately, the Zephyrus Duo 15 with the more responsive 300Hz screen option will only be available in Malaysia by the end of September next month; you’ll have to wait just a bit more to get your hands on that configuration. Anyway, regardless of which display you go for, both are Pantone Validated panels with support for Nvidia’s G-Sync technology.

Besides the primary screen of the Zephyrus Duo 15, there’s also a smaller secondary ScreenPad Plus display right above the gaming laptop’s keyboard. It’s a 14.1-inch 3840 x 1100 touch-enabled panel, which is configured as an extension of the main display. It also props up at an angle when the lid is opened for better visibility of the screen.

Naturally, the Zephyrus Duo 15 also has some very beefy hardware under the hood. Its processor, for one, is Intel’s latest 10th generation Core i9-10980HK processor paired with 32GB of RAM and a whopping 2TB of SSD storage. This is also an overclockable chip, so you can squeeze even more processing power out of the Core i9 processor if you want to.

In the graphics department, the Zephyrus Duo 15 is powered by the very capable RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU. Together with the Core i9-10980HK processor, you can expect to get top-tier gaming performance out of this gaming laptop.

Even with all of these powerful hardware, the Zephyrus Duo 15 is still a surprisingly slim gaming laptop with a 20mm thin chassis. But tipping the scales at 2.4kg, this is not exactly a machine you’d want to lug around too often.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is now available for purchase in Malaysia, but this is only the case for the 4K screen model. The configuration with a faster 300Hz display will only reach our shores by the end of September next month. Check out our
hands-on of the Zephyrus Duo 15
 if you’d like to learn more.


Realme C12 With 6,000mAh Battery Coming to Malaysia 25 August

Realme just launched another entry-level smartphone, the Realme C12. Given its budget-friendly positioning, the C12 doesn’t exactly have very impressive hardware, though it does come with a very generous 6,000mAh battery. On top of that, it’s also set to arrive here in Malaysia next week.

As mentioned, the Realme C12 features a sizeable 6,000mAh battery, so without a doubt you will get
excellent
 battery life with this smartphone. After all, not many devices are equipped with such a large battery capacity. If you’re a light smartphone user, we reckon you can comfortably get two days of use on a single charge.

Aside from that, the C12 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz. Thanks to the fact that it’s fabricated on a 12nm process, it’s a power-efficient chip. This complements the generous battery capacity of the phone very well to further improve the battery life.

In the camera department, the Realme C12 has a triple camera system, which consists of a 13MP f/2.2 primary camera, a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome lens, and a 2 MP f/2.4 macro shooter. Judging from the camera hardware, it’s not very sophisticated, but it’s expected for an entry-level smartphone.

Other specifications of the C12 include a 6.5-inch 1560 x 720 notched screen, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a 5MP f/2.0 front camera, and a rear fingerprint sensor.

The Realme C12 is set to be launched in Malaysia next week on 25 August. Naturally, its local pricing has not been revealed yet, but it is listed at 1,899,000 Indonesian rupiah (about RM535) in Indonesia. We’ll find out next week exactly how much the C12 will cost here.


OnePlus Nord Launched in Malaysia From RM1,799

After almost a month since its global debut, the
OnePlus Nord
 is finally here in Malaysia. The premium mid-range smartphone brings with it some pretty neat features, including 5G connectivity, a fast 90Hz screen, and great build quality. On top of that, it doesn’t cost all that much money either.

For the Malaysian market, the Nord is offered in two configurations: the 128GB variant with 8GB of RAM
retails at RM1,799
, while the more generous 256GB option with 12GB of RAM goes for RM2,399 with a OnePlus Buds bundled. The former is available later today on Shopee, while the 256GB variant will go on sale on 25 August.

For that kind of money, you’re getting quite the complete package with the OnePlus Nord. At least, that’s the case for a premium mid-range smartphone. Anyway, one of the main highlights of the Nord has to be its 6.44-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a fast 90Hz refresh rate.

While this refresh rate isn’t quite as high as other smartphones with 120Hz screens, the Nord
is
 a mid-range smartphone. For a device in this segment, 90Hz is plenty fast, and it’s a marked improvement over conventional 60Hz panels. It also helps that this is an AMOLED screen, so you’ll get vibrant colours with deep blacks.

Aside from its display, the Nord is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset; the chipmaker’s best SoC outside of the range-topping Snapdragon 8 series processors. With that in mind, you’ll get a good level of performance out of the Snapdragon 765G, not to mention the fact that it gives the phone 5G connectivity as well.

In the camera department, the Nord features a quad camera array. It’s made up of a 48MP f/1.75 main sensor, an 8MP f/2.25 ultra-wide angle lens, a 5MP f/2.4 depth camera, and a 2MP f/2.4 macro shooter. For selfies, this phone has two front-facing cameras: a 32MP f/2.45 primary sensor and an 8MP f/2.45 ultra-wide angle lens for group selfies.

Other specifications of the OnePlus Nord include a 4,115mAh battery with support for OnePlus’ Warp Charge 30T fast charging technology – this lets the phone charge up to 70% from empty in just 30 minutes – an in-screen fingerprint sensor, as well as OxygenOS based on Android 10 out of the box.

The OnePlus Nord with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM can be purchased later today
on Shopee for RM1,799
. The 256GB variant with 12GB of RAM, on the other hand, will be sold on 25 August; it’ll be priced at RM2,399 with a OnePlus Buds bundled.


Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Arriving in Fall 2020; Free Co-Op Online Multiplayer

Ghost of Tsushima
 is getting a co-op mode later this fall, and it will be offered for free to existing owners of the game. Dubbed
Ghost of Tsushima: Legends
, it’s an online multiplayer mode that can be played with up to four players.

Looking at the trailer for Legends, it seems to be a pretty fleshed out gameplay mode. Designed to be an exclusively cooperative gameplay experience, players can choose between four different classes: Samurai, Ronin, Assassin, and Hunter. In this online co-op mode, you’ll be battling against enemies with supernatural abilities, as Sucker Punch puts it.

At the moment, the studio has yet to reveal more information on the four different classes in Legends, but it’s confirmed that each of them will have unique abilities and advantages. We can get an idea of the differences based on the short trailer above. The Hunter, for one, wields a bow, and the Ronin seems to have a special skill of sorts.

Legends is an additional gameplay mode for Ghost of Tsushima, so it’s not related to the game’s main story mode at all, which follows the journey of Jin Sakai. Instead, Legends focuses on “four warriors who have been built up as legends in stories told by the people of Tsushima.” If you’ve played through the game, you might have come across these stories.

Interestingly, Legends has a number of Story co-op missions reserved for two players. These missions will have increasing difficulty with the same combat system based on the single-player campaign, but with “new magical twists.” Given that you’ll be going against supernatural enemies, you can expect to get some new skills to be on equal grounds with them.

Alternatively, you can play with up to four player in Legends, but there are no Story missions with this amount of players. Instead, they will take on wave-based Survival missions. If this doesn’t sound particularly enticing, there’s the four-player Raid, which will be introduced shortly after the launch of Legends.

According to Sucker Punch, the Raid will “send you and your partners to an entirely new realm to challenge a brutal, terrifying enemy.” Sounds almost like Monster Hunter, doesn’t it?

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is expected to arrive on the PlayStation 4 system later this year in fall. Not sure if the game is for you? Then check out our
comprehensive review of the exclusive game
.


Honor 8S Now Offers 3GB RAM and 64GB Storage for RM429 in Malaysia

The Honor 8S was released in Malaysia last December, but it only came with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage; small capacities, even for an entry-level smartphone. The good news is, the device is now available with more RAM and storage, along with a new colour option for slightly more money.

When the Honor 8S was first launched here with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, it retailed at RM399. Now, this variant can be purchased for only RM369. Of course, if you want even more storage and RAM, you can opt for the new configuration: it offers 3GB of RAM and double the internal storage at 64GB for only RM429.

Aside from the extra RAM and storage, other specifications of the Honor 8S still remain the same. This include a 13MP primary camera, a 5MP front-facing shooter, a 3,020mAh battery, and a MediaTek MT6761 quad-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz. Besides that, it also has a 5.71-inch 1520 x 720 notched display.

As mentioned, there’s also a new colour for the Honor 8S: Aurora Blue. This new shade is exclusively offered on the new 64GB variant, and compared to the regular Blue of the 32GB model, it’s a lighter, almost teal-like colour. It looks pretty unique.

The Honor 8S with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 22 August onwards. You can get it on
Honor’s own online store
 as well as its
official Shopee store
.


Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series Malaysian Launch Promo Include UV Steriliser

The
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series
 has just been launched in Malaysia, and the Korean company got a pretty interesting freebie for those who buy its latest flagship smartphones. Between 21 August to 31 October, every purchase of the Note 20 will come with a complimentary UV steriliser.

That’s right, Samsung will bundle a UV steriliser with every purchase of the Note 20 series; quite a useful accessory in this current pandemic. It’s worth noting that the steriliser itself also features wireless charging, which should come in handy. On top of that, Samsung is also throwing in a regular wireless charger alongside the UV steriliser.

Besides that, there is also a trade-up program for the Galaxy Note 20 series; the company is offering up to RM4,005 for an iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512GB of storage. The full list of smartphones in the trade-up program can be found
here
.

As for the Galaxy Note 20 series itself, it’s made up of two devices: the regular Galaxy Note 20, and more premium Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Naturally, the Note 20 Ultra is the more exciting product of the two, even though both devices are powered by the same Exynos 990 chip.

Compared to the standard model, the Note 20 Ultra has a faster 6.9-inch 1440p Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 120Hz refresh rate; the regular Note 20 is only packing a 60Hz 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED Plus screen. Aside from that, the Ultra also has better build quality, along with a much more sophisticated triple camera system.

In fact, the camera is one of the most exciting new features of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It comes with a 108MP f/1.8 primary sensor with a laser autofocus system, a 12MP f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens that can do 5x optical zoom, as well as a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter. As for the Note 20, it has a more pedestrian triple camera configuration made up of a 12MP f/1.8 main shooter, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto sensor.

Of course, the Galaxy Note 20 smartphones also have an enhanced S Pen. Not only does it have better latency now, the Air Actions gestures are more useful as well. It can be used to access the recent apps page, go to the home screen, and even take a screenshot now.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series is now available for purchase in Malaysia. The Note 20 starts at RM3,899 – RM4,299 for the 5G model – while the Note 20 Ultra costs RM5,199. Check out our
hands-on of the Note 20 series
 if you’d like to learn more.


Asus ZenFone 7 Series Set to Launch in Taiwan 26 August

Asus will be launching the new ZenFone 7 series in its home country Taiwan next week. Based on previous leaks and rumours, two devices are expected to be introduced: the regular ZenFone 7, as well as the higher-end ZenFone 7 Pro.

What (supposedly) differentiates the two phones is the chipset powering them, among other things. The ZenFone 7 Pro is said to be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, while the ZenFone 7 is believed run on a standard Snapdragon 865 SoC instead.

More interestingly,
according to a report from GSMArena
, the ZenFone 7 series will retain the flipping camera mechanism. This allows users to take selfie shots with the same rear camera system, so you get higher quality images. As for the camera module itself, the primary sensor is believed to be a 64MP unit complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens.

On top of that, if the ZenFone 7 series still uses the flipping camera mechanism, we can expect the two devices to have an all-screen screen without the disturbance of a notch or hole-punch cutout. Looking at the teaser of the upcoming phone below, this seems likely.

Get ready to defy ordinary.
#ZenFone7
 is coming soon.
pic.twitter.com/5pGf4PPfsC
— ASUS (@ASUS)
August 18, 2020

To recap, the Asus ZenFone 7 series is scheduled to be released on 26 August in Taiwan. If you’re looking forward to get the device here in Malaysia, don’t hold your breath. We’ve spoken to an Asus representative, and we were told that it’s unlikely the ZenFone 7 lineup will be officially launched here, unfortunately enough.


You Can Redeem a 50″ 4K TV With Every Purchase of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20

The
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series
 was officially launched in Malaysia yesterday, and the Korean company revealed some pretty neat promotions, including a
complimentary UV steriliser
 with every purchase. But this offer is even more interesting: those who bought any of the two Note 20 smartphones can redeem a
 50-inch 4K TV worth RM2,599
.

Of course, there are a couple of caveats here. For one, only 1,200 units of the 50-inch 4K TV are available for redemption, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’ve purchased a Note 20 smartphone, redemption for the TV will begin on 23 August at 10PM
right here
 until 27 August at 11:59PM.

Needless to say, you’ll have to be very quick to score yourself the 4K TV. In order to redeem the TV, you’re also required to register for a Samsung Account. Besides that, Samsung said that a “clear image of proof of purchase or receipt with device IMEI stated” is necessary as well.

If you’re the first 1,200 customers to successfully place your redemption for the 4K TV, it will be delivered to you within 30 working days. Naturally, this promo is only limited to one customer per delivery address; you won’t be able to redeem for multiple TVs if you purchased more than one Note 20 smartphone.

Obviously, getting a free 50-inch 4K TV by just purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is a very good deal, though we reckon it won’t be easy to be the first 1,200 customers to redeem the TV. More information on this promotion can be found
here
.


OnePlus Nord Hands-On: A Better Second Attempt

Over the years, OnePlus focused solely on its flagship smartphones. This has been the case for quite some time now, so when the company added another series to its lineup of smartphones last month – the
OnePlus Nord
 – it’s a pretty big deal.

But this isn’t exactly OnePlus’ first attempt to expand its lineup. Back in 2015, the phone maker released the OnePlus X, which didn’t see much success. So then, will the Nord will suffer from the same fate? Well, after spending a brief time with the phone, I’m positive it will be well-received; it has some genuinely great features for a premium mid-ranger.

First and foremost, let’s talk about the Malaysian pricing of the OnePlus Nord. Two variants of the smartphone are available here: the 128GB model with 8GB of RAM retails at RM1,799, while the 256GB option with 12GB of RAM is sold as a bundle with the OnePlus Buds for RM2,399. At the moment, it’s unlikely the 256GB variant will be sold separately.

Anyway, with a RM1,799 starting price, the Nord isn’t exactly cheap, but it
is
 one of the most affordable 5G-enabled smartphones in the Malaysian market now. Of course, 5G networks are not even available here yet, but it does future-proof the Nord to an extend, which is a good thing.

For that kind of money, you’re getting a pretty darn complete smartphone with the Nord. Its 5G connectivity, for one, comes from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. It’s not as impressive as the Snapdragon 865 chip found in most flagship smartphones, but as far as I can tell, it can provide a very good level of performance. The phone feels fast and zippy in my short time with it.

It’s worth noting that the Nord feels extra responsive thanks to its 6.44-inch 1080p Fluid AMOLED screen with a reasonably fast 90Hz refresh rate. Basically, every single animation on this screen will look very smooth; even just navigating through the home screen feels very satisfying.

Trust me, if you’re upgrading from a phone with a 60Hz screen, you
will
notice the smoother animations and superior motion clarity of the Nord’s faster 90Hz panel. This goes for any phone with a high refresh rate, really.

As for the Nord’s Fluid AMOLED screen itself, it’s pleasant to look at. After all, it’s an AMOLED panel, so it can produce vibrant colours, very deep blacks, and good viewing angles. It can get quite bright as well, so outdoor visibility with the phone is definitely a non-issue.

Just like the OnePlus 8 series, the Nord has a hole-punch cutout on the top left of the screen for the front-facing camera. But there is a small difference: it’s an oblong-shaped cutout instead of a circle. That’s because the Nord actually has two selfie cameras: a 32MP f/2.45 primary sensor and an 8MP f/2.45 ultra-wide angle lens for capturing wider group selfies.

Another feature worth mentioning is the Warp Charge 30T fast charging technology of the Nord. According to the company, the phone’s 4,115mAh battery can be recharged from completely empty to 70% in just 30 minutes; pretty impressive charging rate. Of course, I haven’t had the chance to put this to the test yet, but I’m confident it can do just that.

And then there’s the overall design of the Nord, which I quite like. It has a reasonable heft to it (tipping the scales at 184g), the glass back feels good to the touch, and the frame feels solid. It also looks quite premium, especially this bright Marble Blue colourway of the Nord. If you want something more subtle, there’s the Grey Onyx option.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the Nord. It comes with a quad camera system, which is made up of a 48MP f/1.75 main sensor – the same one found in the OnePlus 8 – an 8MP f/2.25 ultra-wide angle lens, a 5MP f/2.4 depth camera, and a 2MP f/2.4 macro shooter. It would’ve been great if it had a telephoto lens as well, but at least it’s a reasonably capable camera system.

In my short time testing the camera of the Nord, it can take some flattering-looking shots. Detail preservation is good, dynamic range is quite wide, it can lock in focus quickly, and the camera interface feels responsive too. However, I only shot with the Nord in broad daylight, where most phones – especially at this price point – will excel.

Once I have the device in for review, I’ll definitely put the camera through its paces. It’ll be interesting to see if it can still perform just as well in more challenging lighting situations.

The OnePlus Nord, even though it’s not a particularly affordable mid-range smartphone, does offer a number of appealing features. It has a fast 90Hz display, a good level of performance, as well as 5G connectivity; all packed in a sleek, premium chassis.

Granted, the Nord’s RM1,799 starting price puts it close to the price range of flagship smartphones like the
Poco F2 Pro
, but I’d argue the former has enough going for it to warrant that kind of asking price. Sure, the Nord’s processing power isn’t exactly the best in the market, but it can stand toe-to-toe with flagship smartphones in the same price range in other areas.

But until I’ve tested the Nord thoroughly in a full review, I can’t exactly say with certainty it’s a phone worth getting. For what it’s worth, I am quite impressed with the Nord; even more so than the
flagship OnePlus 8 series
.


Xiaomi’s 144Hz Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34″ Coming to Malaysia 24 August

This is a bit of a surprise: Xiaomi just confirmed that its new 34-inch Mi Curved Gaming Monitor is coming to Malaysia on 24 August. Sporting a wide aspect ratio, curved display,
and
 a high 144Hz refresh rate at an affordable price point, this is one interesting monitor.

Xiaomi Malaysia revealed the Malaysian availability of the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor on its Facebook page. Also shown alongside the monitor is the Mi Portable Photo Printer, though the company didn’t reveal the local pricing of either products for our market.

Regardless, we can take the retail price of the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor in other markets to get an idea on how much it might cost here. In Europe, the monitor goes for €399, which comes up to about RM1,970. Do note that the European pricing of the monitor includes VAT, so it’s entirely possible it will be priced lower in Malaysia.

As mentioned, what makes the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor particularly interesting is the sheer value for money it offers. It has a wide 34-inch 3440 x 1440 VA panel – that’s a 21:9 aspect ratio – with a 144Hz refresh rate, 1500R curvature, 121% sRGB colour coverage, and AMD FreeSync Premium support. Basically, a pretty darn good monitor for gaming purposes with a wide, curved display.

The Xiaomi Mi Curved Gaming Monitor and Mi Portable Photo Printer will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 24 August onwards. We’ll find out then exactly how much they cost locally.

Thanks for the tip, Pang!


NovelKeys’ NK65 Milkshake Edition Is the Perfect Custom Keyboard for Beginners

Getting a custom mechanical keyboard is not quite as simple as buying a mass-produced keyboard from any retail store, but this has been steadily changing over the years. Thanks to lower price tags and an easier setup process, it’s not that intimidating anymore to get your own custom keyboard. One such product that offers all of these is
NovelKeys’ new NK65 Milkshake Edition
.

Not only is the NK65 Milkshake sold as a completely assembled keyboard, it also comes with very compelling features. These include a hotswap PCB, per-key RGB lighting, and even an attractive design at an affordable price point. If you want to dip your toes in the custom mechanical keyboard scene, this keyboard is a great way to get into it.

So exactly how much does the NK65 Milkshake cost? Set to be available for pre-order from 18 September onwards, it retails at only $190; that comes up to about RM795. If that seems a little steep – especially when compared to “mainstream” mechanical keyboards – trust me when I say you’re getting a lot of value for your money here.

As mentioned, the NK65 Milkshake is a
fully assembled
 mechanical keyboard. In fact, it’s actually a custom version of the
NK65 Entry Edition
, which sold out extremely quickly when it was in stock back in June for $95 (about RM395). But unlike the Entry, this special Milkshake variant comes with custom switches and keycaps.

Basically, the NK65 Milkshake will be ready to go right out of the box; you can just plug it in and start typing away. Of course, as this is a custom mechanical keyboard, it comes with switches you cannot find on any other mass-produced keyboard. It’s installed with NovelKeys’ own Silk Yellow
linear switch
, but it’s recoloured to match the “milkshake” theme of the board.

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Speaking of which, the NK65 Milkshake is actually a collaboration between NovelKeys and Biip; the latter is the designer behind the Milkshake keycaps featured on this board. They are made out of PBT – a very durable type of plastic – in Cherry profile, and the legends are dye-sublimated; they will not fade even after many years of extensive use.

Still not convinced the NK65 Milkshake offers a lot of bang for your buck? Well, keep in mind that it has a hotswap PCB. This allows you to just pull out the Silk Yellow switches on this keyboard and replace them with different switches without having to solder them on. This is what makes the NK65 (among other features) such a beginner-friendly keyboard.

On top of all of that, NovelKeys is also throwing in a colour-matched coiled cable in red and pink, as well as a carrying case with the NK65 Milkshake. For $190, it’s quite impressive how many items are bundled with the keyboard.

Of course, compared to mass-produced, mainstream keyboards, the NK65 Milkshake’s value proposition isn’t quite on the same level. After all, companies that make custom mechanical keyboards – such as NovelKeys itself, which was only established in 2017 – don’t have the same economy of scale as big brands like Razer, Ducky, and Logitech.

As much as the custom mechanical keyboard market has grown over the years, it’s not quite in the same playfield as these bigger players yet. Be that as it may, I’d argue you’re getting a superior product with the NK65 Milkshake compared to mainstream keyboards. They simply don’t offer the same level of customisation, build quality, and feature-set as the NK65, especially at this price point.

If there’s any downside to getting the NK65 Milkshake, it would be the waiting time. Pre-orders for the keyboard will run from 18 September until 2 October 2020, but it will only start shipping to customers in January and February of 2021. While three to four months of wait isn’t awfully long, some folks may not have the patience.

Besides that, NovelKeys is also based in the US, so if you’re thinking of getting the NK65 Milkshake, you’ll have to pay quite a bit for shipping and taxes to import it into Malaysia, not to mention even longer waiting time. Having an Asian proxy would alleviate some of these issues, but NovelKeys said it is “uncertain on that (regarding proxies),” unfortunately enough.

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Regardless, NovelKeys’ NK65 Milkshake Edition is a fantastic keyboard for anyone that wants to get into the custom mechanical keyboard scene. Granted, the $190 price tag may be a bit much to spend on a keyboard for certain folks, but if you’re an avid gamer, or you spend a lot of time typing on a keyboard – like yours truly – it’s a worthy investment.

If you’d like to get updated on the NK65 Milkshake or other products from NovelKeys, you can sign up for the newsletter on its
official website
.

Read more:

NovelKeys NK65 Milkshake Edition Now Available for Pre-Order

NovelKeys NK65 Milkshake Edition Proxies Confirmed; Wider Global Availability


Acer Nitro 5 With Ryzen 7 4800H & GTX 1650 Lands in Malaysia for RM4,099

Acer just introduced a new variant of its mid-range gaming laptop – the Nitro 5 – in Malaysia. Previously offered with only Intel’s processors, you can now get the Nitro 5 with AMD’s excellent Ryzen 4000 chip; ideal for those that want even more processing power.

Only one version of the AMD-powered Ryzen 5 is offered here, and it’s quite a beefy one. It comes with a fast Ryzen 7 4800H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, as well as a 512GB SSD. For this kind of hardware, the Nitro 5 goes for RM4,099 in Malaysia.

Besides that, the Nitro 5 still retains the fast 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. Thanks to the high refresh rate, you can expect a smooth gameplay experience with great motion clarity, provided the game you’re playing can push enough frames to take advantage of the 144Hz screen.

Also worth a mention is the new RGB keyboard of the Nitro 5; a feature its predecessor did not have. Of course, it’s not per-key RGB lighting – it’s divided into four zones instead – but you can still customise the lighting effect through Acer’s NitroSense software.

The AMD-powered Acer Nitro 5 is now available for purchase in Malaysia at a promotional price of RM3,999; this price will be valid until 30 September. You can also get free gifts worth up to RM478, which include an Acer wireless mouse, a pair of Redmi AirDots wireless earbuds, or a Predator Cestus 310 gaming mouse.


Xiaomi’s 144Hz Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34″ Costs RM1,999 in Malaysia

As promised, Xiaomi Malaysia revealed the retail price of the 34-inch Mi Curved Gaming Monitor for our local market today. Set to go for RM1,999, it’s not quite as affordable as expected, but it does offer a number of attractive features at this price point.

For one, the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor has a 34-inch 3440 x 1440 VA panel (that’s a 21:9 aspect ratio) with a high 144Hz refresh rate. Thanks to this wide aspect ratio and high refresh rate – along with the 1500R curvature of the screen – you’ve got an excellent monitor for gaming.

Besides gaming, the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor is ideal for productivity use as well. After all, the wide nature of the display gives users a lot of screen real estate to work with. It’s also worth nothing that this panel covers 121% of the sRGB colour gamut; ideal for creative professionals, to an extent.

Another feature of the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor worth highlighting is its support for AMD’s FreeSync Premium technology. Basically, this feature will be able to eliminate screen tearing to further enhance your gaming experience. However, given that this is AMD’s technology, it will only work with Radeon graphics cards from the company.

The Xiaomi Mi Curved Gaming Monitor is now available for purchase in Malaysia at all Mi Stores nationwide. Alternatively, you can also get it online from
Xiaomi’s official Lazada store
, though it’s still out of stock at the time of writing.


Realme C12 Launched in Malaysia for RM529

The entry-level Realme C12 has just been launched in Malaysia. With an affordable price tag, a very generous 6,000mAh, as well as a reasonably sleek device, it’s ideal for those that want a long-lasting, budget-friendly smartphone.

For the Malaysian market, the Realme C12 retails at RM529; a pair of Realme Buds Classic earphones is also bundled with the phone. Only a single variant of the device is available, which features 32GB of internal storage – which is further expandable with a microSD card – and 3GB of RAM. Good capacities for an entry-level smartphone.

Of course, for that kind of money, the Realme C12 doesn’t have particularly impressive hardware, but it does come with a sizeable 6,000mAh battery. Thanks to this large battery capacity, this phone should be able to return impressive battery life. In fact, if you’re a light smartphone user, you can expect to comfortably get two days of use on a single charge.

Other specifications of the C12 include a 6.5-inch 1560 x 720 notched screen, a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, a triple camera system (13MP f/2.2 primary + 2MP f/2.4 monochrome + 2 MP f/2.4 macro), a 5MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, and a rear fingerprint sensor. Basically, decent hardware for a phone at this price point.

The Realme C12 will be available for purchase in Malaysia later today on Lazada for RM529 with a Realme Buds Classic bundled together. If you want to get it from a physical retail store instead, you can do so from 31 August onwards.


Motorola Moto G9 Launched in India With Affordable Price Tag

Motorola’s latest smartphone, the Moto G9, has just been launched in India. It features a modest set of hardware with a decidedly mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset, and while that doesn’t sound particularly enticing, the phone does carry an affordable price tag.

As mentioned, the Moto G9 is powered by a Snapdragon 662 quad-core processor. While it’s not a particularly powerful chip, you can still expect a decent level of performance out of it. It’s also fabricated on an 11nm process, making it quite power-efficient. Complemented by the phone’s 5,000mAh battery, you should be able to get good battery life.

Onto the camera department, the Moto G9 has a triple camera setup on the back, which consists of a 48MP f/1.7 primary sensor, a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. This is not the most sophisticated camera array, but it should do in a pinch, especially for a device at this price point.

Other specifications of the Moto G9 include a 6.5-inch 1600 x 720 notched display – which houses an 8MP f/2.2 front-facing camera, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, as well as a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. It’s also offered in two colour options: Forest Green and Sapphire Blue.

The Motorola Moto G9 is set to hit retail stores in India on 31 August for 11,499 Indian rupee (around RM645). It will be dubbed Moto G9 Play for the global market, though it remains to be seen if it will ever be made available here in Malaysia.


Own a Proton Perdana? Replace the Faulty Takata Airbags

Proton Perdana owners, take note: if your model is built from 2012 to the end of August 2018, you’ll need to get the (potentially faulty) passenger airbag inflator replaced. This recall is part of a global initiative for cars equipped with Takata airbags.

Of course, this is not the first time Proton made this announcement: the recall was actually issued back in January last year. However, there are still some Perdana owners that have not gotten the airbags replaced. According to Proton, it has replaced 5,625 of 6,342 units affected so far; that’s a completion rate of 87.5%.

The national carmaker managed to contact these owners of the Perdana, but the company added that it has “not been able to connect with all affected owners due to obsolete or incomplete contact information.” With that in mind, Proton is urging owners of the Perdana to get in touch with the carmaker if they haven’t already done so.

If you want to get the airbags of your Perdana replaced, you can arrange for an appointment with Proton’s service centres. The replacement will be performed free of charge, naturally, and Proton says that it will take approximately one hour.

For more information on this airbag recall for the Proton Perdana, you can give Proton’s customer care hotline a call at 1-800-888-398. Alternatively, you can also drop an email at
[email protected]
.


The Sexy Acer Aspire 5 in Magic Purple Is Now in Malaysia for RM2,599

Aside from the
AMD-powered Nitro 5 gaming laptop
, Acer also introduced an affordable productivity laptop in Malaysia, the Acer Aspire 5. What makes it particularly interesting is the Magic Purple colourway: depending on the angle you’re looking at the laptop from, the colour
actually
 changes; it’s a very unique paint job.

In fact, this is the sole colour option for the Aspire 5 in Malaysia, and it’s also offered in only one variant. Priced at RM2,599, it comes with Intel’s latest 10th generation Core i5-1035G1 processor paired with 4GB of RAM (upgradable to 12GB). Though it would’ve been great if it had more RAM, the Core i5 chip should be able to offer good processing power.

Besides that, the Aspire 5 also features a generous 512GB SSD; a large enough capacity for most users.

In the display department, the Aspire 5 features a 14-inch 19020 x 1080 IPS screen. In our brief time with the laptop, we notice that the display doesn’t get particularly bright, but at least it has a matte coating to help eliminate glare to a certain extend.

As for the Aspire 5’s connectivity options, it has a good selection of ports. These include two full-size USB-A connections, a USB-C port, as well as an HDMI output with HDCP support. It also supports WiFi 6 networks and Bluetooth 5.0.

The Acer Aspire 5 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM2,599. It comes with a three-year local warranty – the first year is covered under international warranty – and it will also be bundled with an activated copy of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019.


Acer Launches Spin 5 Convertible Laptop With 15 Hours Battery Life in Malaysia; Starts at RM4,399

If you’re in the market for a convertible laptop, the new Acer Spin 5 could be for you. Sporting a premium, thin and lightweight design, as well as
very long
 (quoted) battery life, it’s an accomplished productivity-focused laptop, though it does cost quite a bit of money too.

Two variants of the Spin 5 are offered in Malaysia. The base model comes with an Intel Core i5-1035G4 processor paired with 8GB of RAM for RM4,399. The higher-end Core i7-1065G7 variant, on the other hand, features double the RAM (16GB) with a RM5,299 price tag.

Beyond the different chipset and RAM capacity, other hardware of the two Spin 5 models are identical. The display, for one, is a sharp 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 touch-enabled IPS screen. It also supports the Acer Active Stylus bundled with the laptop, which offers 4,096 different levels of pressure.

Battery life of the Spin 5 is very impressive as well. According to Acer, the laptop can last up to 15 hours on a single charge. It’s a very lofty claim, so it’ll be interesting to see if it can actually deliver this level of battery life. We’ll definitely put this to the test once it is in for review.

Rounding out the specifications of the Spin 5 include 512GB of SSD storage, a thin 14.9mm chassis that tips the scales at 1.2kg, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics.

The Acer Spin 5 is now available in Malaysia. To recap, the Core i5 model costs RM4,399, while the Core i7 configuration retails at RM5,299. If you purchase it before 30 September, you can get a RM100 discount for either laptops, along with a number of freebies.


Asus ZenBook 14 (2020) Quick Review: Long-Lasting Thin & Light Productivity Laptop

The latest iteration of the Asus ZenBook 14 was launched here in Malaysia
earlier this month
, and it continues to improve upon its predecessor. Not only is it thinner and lighter now, this productivity-focused laptop also offers
very respectable
 battery life.

However, with a RM3,999 starting price, the ZenBook 14 isn’t exactly an affordable product. But for that kind of money, you are getting a refined, premium laptop. Read on to find out if it is worth your money.

What It Is

Display
14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
Processor
Intel Core i5-1035G1 (4C/8T, 1.0GHz with boost up to 3.6GHz)
Intel Core i7-1065G7 (4C/8T, 1.3GHz with boost up to 3.9GHz)
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics (Core i5)
Intel Iris Plus Graphics (Core i7)
RAM
8GB LPDDR4X 3200MHz
Storage
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Camera
720p (Windows Hello support)
Battery
67WHr
Dimensions
319 x 208 x 13.9 mm
Weight
1.13kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
2x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3)
1x USB 3.2 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x microSD card slot
Price
RM3,999 (Core i5), RM4,699 (Core i7)

For this review, we received the Core i7 variant of the ZenBook 14. Besides the faster processor, this configuration is identical to the Core i5 model. So if you don’t need the extra power of the Core i7 chip, you’ll be perfectly fine with the more affordable base model. After all, both processors are still quad-core chips with eight threads.

Another hardware worth mentioning is the 67WHr battery of the ZenBook 14. It’s not an awfully big capacity, but it can return
excellent
 battery life – more on that in the next section.

The Good Stuff

So exactly how good is the battery life of the ZenBook 14? Well, on average, I can comfortably get between nine to 10 hours of use on a single charge. But to get this level of battery life, I set the power plan to battery saver with the display dimmed to a comfortable level. Regardless, this battery life is still very impressive for a laptop as thin and light as this.

Speaking of which, the slim and lightweight nature of the ZenBook 14 is easily one of its main appeals. It measures only 13.9mm thin, and tipping the scales at 1.13kg, you can just slide this laptop into your backpack and forget about it; I certainly did.

Despite its slim chassis, it has a pretty complete selection of ports. These include two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, a USB-A connection, an HDMI output, and a microSD card reader. However, oddly enough, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, though a USB-C dongle for it is bundled with the laptop. Definitely not an ideal solution, but at least it’s given.

Aside from that, the ZenBook 14’s Core i7-1065G7 processor can easily keep up with my demands. I used it extensively as my work laptop, and whether I’m editing photos, writing reviews, or browsing the web, it doesn’t show any sign of slowdown. For its intended use as a productivity laptop, it has ample processing power.

Another hardware of the ZenBook 14 worth highlighting is the 14-inch 1080p IPS screen. Not only does it have tiny bezels surrounding the screen – lending to a sleek, modern-looking design – the panel itself is pleasant to look at too; it can get reasonably bright with vibrant colours and good viewing angles. The matte finish helps to reduce glare as well.

And then there are the input devices of the ZenBook 14. The trackpad, for one, is much wider than usual, so it doesn’t feel cramped at all. It can also accurately track my fingers, and if you ever need to use a numpad, just tap and hold the top right corner of the trackpad to activate it.

As for the ZenBook 14’s keyboard, it’s surprisingly comfortable to type on. Even though it doesn’t offer a lot of key travel, the large size of the keycaps and tactility of the keys can provide a pleasant typing experience. While I find the keyboard perfectly adequate to type on, it still has some aspects that I don’t quite like..

The Bad Stuff

For some reason, Asus decided to add an extra column of keys to the right of the ZenBook 14’s keyboard, so the layout of the keyboard is shifted slightly to the left. This, coupled with the oddly long modifier keys (shift and enter, for example) make for an awkward layout. Granted, I eventually got used to the layout, but it did take a couple of days.

Aside from that, unlike its predecessor, this new ZenBook 14 does not feature a dedicated GPU, so you won’t be able to game quite as effectively. Sure, it’s not like the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU of the previous model is particularly powerful, but it’s certainly more capable than the integrated Iris Plus Graphics (for the Core i7 model) or UHD Graphics (the Core i5) of the current generation ZenBook 14.

Beyond that, there are actually no other notable downsides with the ZenBook 14, aside from maybe the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s
really
quite puzzling why Asus decided to omit that feature.

Is It Worth It?

For what it offers, the Asus ZenBook 14 is definitely worth it; especially so for the RM3,999 Core i5 option. Unless you really need the extra processing power of the Core i7 processor – which costs RM4,699 – I’d definitely recommend going for the more affordable base model. After all, only the processor differentiates the two variants. You’re essentially paying RM700 just for the Core i7 chip.

No matter which configuration of the ZenBook 14 you go for, you will still get a slim, lightweight premium productivity laptop with excellent battery life, not to mention a bright, vibrant display, as well as a good selection of ports. You can even easily add more storage on the cheap with the microSD card slot of the laptop.

Unless you’re not a fan of the limited key travel and layout of the ZenBook 14’s keyboard (not to mention the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack), you really can’t go wrong with it. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to look for a different thin and light productivity laptop that offers the same feature set at this price point.


Asus ZenFone 7 Series Official: Flipping Camera, 90Hz AMOLED Screen, Snapdragon 865+

The Asus ZenFone 7 series has just been introduced in Taiwan, and as expected, it is made up of two devices. There’s the regular ZenFone 7, as well as the higher-end ZenFone 7 Pro. Regardless of which device you go for, both of them feature the ZenFone 6’s flipping camera mechanism, which has been revamped.

Previously, the ZenFone 6’s flipping camera module only had two sensors. Now, the ZenFone 7 smartphones come with three different camera lenses. These include a 64MP f/1.8 primary shooter, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Both phones have the same sensors, but the primary and telephoto cameras of the Pro model are optically stabilised.

Besides that, the mechanism of the ZenFone 7’s flipping camera itself is more durable now as well. According to Asus, the module can be activated over
200,000 times
. Basically, you can flip the camera over 100 times every day for five years without issue, provided Asus’ estimation is accurate. The company also mentioned that the module can withstand up to 35kg of force.

Beyond the unique camera mechanism, other specifications of the ZenFone 7 are fitting for a flagship series. Naturally, they are powered by Qualcomm’s fastest chip to date. Under the hood of the standard ZenFone 7 is a Snapdragon 865 SoC, while the ZenFone 7 Pro comes with a faster Snapdragon 865+ processor.

Beyond this difference, both ZenFone 7 smartphones essentially have the same hardware. For one, they feature a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Not the fastest display we’ve seen on a flagship smartphone, but it’s still a marked improvement over the ZenFone 6’s more conventional 60Hz IPS panel.

Other specifications of the ZenFone 7 series include up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage – the regular ZenFone 7 maxes out at 128GB – a generous 5,000mAh battery, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, ZenUI 7 based on Android 10 out of the box, as well as two choices of colour: Aurora Black and Pastel White.

The Asus ZenFone 7 series is now available for purchase in Taiwan. The standard ZenFone 7 starts at NT$21,990 (about RM3,125), while the ZenFone 7 Pro goes for NT$27,990 (approximately RM3,975). As we’ve mentioned in
our previous article
, Asus Malaysia does not plan to offer the ZenFone 7 series on our shores, unfortunately enough.

Evidently, the Taiwanese company is focusing on the
Asus ROG Phone 3
 instead for the Malaysian market. The gaming smartphone is expected to be launched here in the middle of September next month.


Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Series Malaysia Pricing Revealed; Starts at RM3,299

We’ve just got pricing details of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series for the Malaysian market. As expected, the two flagship Android tablets do not come cheap: the Galaxy Tab S7 costs RM3,299, while the higher-end Galaxy Tab S7+ goes for a whopping RM4,599.

Of course, for that kind of money, you
are
getting a capable tablet with the Galaxy Tab S7 series. Both of them are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, so you know you’re getting the best level of performance available right now in the Android space.

Besides that, both the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ feature fast 120Hz screens; you don’t typically see an Android tablet with such a high refresh rate panel. Naturally, given its higher-end offering, the Tab S7+ does come with a more impressive 12.4-inch 2800 x 1752 Super AMOLED display. The Tab S7, on the other hand, has a smaller 11-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS screen.

Other specifications of the Galaxy Tab S7 series include 5G connectivity, S Pen support, as well as a keyboard cover (worth RM999) that is bundled with the two tablets. The Tab S7 also features 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and an 8,000mAh battery.

As for the Tab S7+, it has 8GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage, and a more generous 10,090mAh cell.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ will be available for purchase in Malaysia this Friday on 28 August. To recap, the Tab S7 retails at RM3,299, while the Tab S7+ costs RM4,599. Early birds who purchase either tablets can also get a year’s subscription to Microsoft Office 365, along with a complimentary 128GB microSD card.


Asus ProArt StudioBook One Launched in Malaysia For a Cool RM49,999

Asus just launched one of its most expensive laptops in Malaysia: the Asus ProArt StudioBook One. At a glance, it looks like a conventional 15.6-inch workstation laptop, but it actually has some serious power under the hood with a unique design element.

See, unlike most laptops, the major components of the StudioBook One are actually housed right behind the screen. In fact, when the laptop is opened up, the outer cover of the lid at the back of the display automatically opens to increase airflow, improving the thermal performance of the machine. It’s really quite an interesting design choice.

As mentioned, the StudioBook One is packing some serious power under the hood. These include a fast Intel Core i9-9980HK processor paired with a whopping 64GB of RAM, an Nvidia Quadro RTX 6000 GPU – the StudioBook One is actually touted as the first and only laptop with this GPU – as well as 1TB of SSD storage.

Given the StudioBook One’s status as a workstation laptop, it also has a very impressive Pantone Validated screen. Not only is the 15.6-inch IPS display a 3840 x 2160 4K panel that covers 100% of the Adobe RGB colour gamut, it also has a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

The Asus ProArt StudioBook One is now available for purchase in Malaysia for a cool RM49,999. That’s a steep price tag, to be sure, but it does offer very high-end hardware.


Asus ROG Phone 3 Launching in Malaysia 5 September

The Asus ROG Phone 3 gaming smartphone was unveiled to the world last month, and it’s set to arrive here in Malaysia very, very soon. Initially set to be launched locally in the middle of September next month, it appears the Taiwanese company moved the date forward to 5 September.

This launch date was revealed by well-known retailer DirectD on its Facebook page. First spotted by
Lowyat.NET
 – which has confirmed the launch date with Asus itself – three different variants of the ROG Phone 3 will be offered here.

It’s worth noting that out of the three variants, the base model is the ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition. This particular version of the gaming smartphone features a standard Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, while the other two higher-end models is powered by the newer Snapdragon 865+ SoC. Regardless of which model you go for, you can still expect flagship-tier performance.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 3 include a 6.59-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, a large 6,000mAh battery, a triple rear camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.0 macro), a 24MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, as well as an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The Asus ROG Phone 3 will be landing in Malaysia next week on 5 September. Naturally, the local retail price of the gaming smartphone has not been revealed yet, though Asus Malaysia did tell us it will be priced closely to the
ROG Phone II
; the latter retailed from RM2,499 to RM4,499 at launch.

If you’d like to learn more about the ROG Phone 3, check out our
hands-on right here
.


Sony Xperia 1 II With 4K OLED Screen Arriving in Malaysia November 2020

Sony’s latest flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia 1 II, is finally confirmed to be coming to Malaysia. Set to arrive here in November, it’s definitely taking much longer that expected. After all, the high-end smartphone was introduced globally back in February this year.

Nonetheless, the Xperia 1 II does come with a number of intriguing features, such as its sharp 6.5-inch 3840 x 1644 OLED panel with HDR support. That’s right, the Japanese company is retaining the power-hungry 4K screen of its predecessor, along with the tall 21:9 aspect ratio.

In fact, this aspect ratio is similar to the company’s mid-range smartphone, the
Xperia 10 II
. While the tall screen of the device looks odd at first, it actually improves the ergonomics of the Xperia 10 II; and by extension, the Xperia 1 II right here. It allows the chassis to be narrower than usual, so it’s easier to use either phones with only one hand; something that you cannot say of the majority of smartphones in the market.

Anyway, let’s get back to the Xperia 1 II itself. With such a pixel-dense display, we can’t help but to wonder if it will be able to return good enough battery life. Granted, the 4,000mAh battery of the phone is reasonably big, but we’ll have to wait until we have the device in for review to really get a feel for the battery life.

Like most flagship smartphones in the market now, the Xperia 1 II is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. Not only will it be able to provide a very good level of performance, it also gives the phone 5G connectivity; practically a feature every flagship smartphone worth its salt support now, even though 5G networks are not widely available yet.

In the camera department, the Xperia 1 II comes with a triple camera system. It’s made up of a 12MP f/1.7 primary shooter, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 12MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. There’s also a “3D iToF” sensor to improve the autofocus performance of the camera, along with a dedicated shutter button on the side of the phone.

Other specifications of the Xperia 1 II include an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage – expandable with a microSD card up to 1TB – a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, an IP65/68 rating, as well as Android 10 out of the box.

The Sony Xperia 1 II is expected to arrive here in Malaysia later this year in November. We’ll find out then exactly how much this flagship smartphone will cost here. As a point of comparison, it retails at $1,200 in the US; that’s about RM5,000. You can register your interest for the Xperia 1 II
right here
.


Hyundai Kona Open for Booking in Malaysia – 3 Variants, Q4 Launch, From RM11X,XXX

The Hyundai Kona, the Korean company’s B-segment SUV, is finally landing here in Malaysia. Set to be launched here sometime in the fourth quarter of 2020, the Kona is also open for booking now. In fact, those who placed a booking will also get a “special introductory package.”

The local availability of the Kona was revealed by Hyundai Malaysia itself on its
Facebook page
. According to the post, customers can book the SUV for only RM288. They can also enjoy the aforementioned special introductory package, though specific details of the package have not been revealed yet.

According to Paul Tan
, the Kona will be offered in three different variants: 2.0 Standard, 2.0 Mid, and the range-topping 1.6 T-GDI High. The former two is believed to be powered by a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine that can output 149PS and 179Nm of torque, and it will be paired to a six-speed automatic torque converter.

As for the top-of-the-line 1.6 T-GDI High Kona, it’s naturally the most exciting model. Under the hood of this variant is a more powerful 1.6L T-GDI turbo engine that puts out 177PS and 265Nm of torque. It’s also paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which should be more responsive than the six-speed automatic gearbox of the Standard and Mid models.

The Hyundai Kona is set to be available in Malaysia sometime in Q4 2020, so it could be launched here as early as October. You can also
register your interest
 for the Kona on Hyundai’s website, and the B-segment SUV is expected to be priced from RM11X,XXX locally.