Asus ROG Strix Scope RX Hands-On: Surprisingly Good Pre-Built Mechanical Keyboard

While I would always recommend folks to
build a custom mechanical keyboard
, it’s not always feasible to do so, whether it’s due to time constraint or budget limitation. Thankfully, pre-built keyboards have improved steadily over the years, and the Asus ROG Strix Scope RX is one such keyboard.

Not only is it reasonably affordable for a full-size keyboard, the Strix Scope RX features Asus’ very own ROG RX optical switch too, which is
surprisingly
 good. If you want a full-size keyboard with one of the better switches in the market now, consider this keyboard.

First, let’s talk about the specifications of the ROG Strix Scope RX – yes, it has a very long name. As mentioned, it’s a full-size mechanical keyboard, and as with all gaming-centric products, it has per-key RGB lighting with “central RGB LED” for a more consistent, brighter backlighting.

This is possible thanks to the Strix Scope RX’s other interesting hardware: the ROG RX optical switch. It has a unique hollow square stem design for better, more direct backlight diffusion, given that the LED is right in the centre of the switch.

But more importantly, the unique design of the ROG RX optical switch also has one big benefit: it is
very
 stable. Even when compared to switches in the custom mechanical keyboard scene, the ROG RX is easily among the best, courtesy of the scissor-style stabiliser in each switch.

I’m really impressed by the lack of wobble on this optical switch. Speaking of which, the Strix Scope RX I received for this hands-on features the RX Red linear switch with a 55g bottom out, and it is
smooth
. While there’s a faint scratch sound, the downstroke feels incredibly smooth,
especially
 for a stock switch.

One of the major shortcomings of a pre-built keyboard is rattly stabiliser, but the Strix Scope RX actually has very decent stabilisers. It uses a proprietary design, but it works very well. They do not rattle at all – much to my surprise – and there are also traces of lube on the wires.

While the Strix Scope RX does have quite a number of positives, it still has some shortcomings here and there. For one, because it has a custom stem design, you cannot swap out the keycaps with higher quality ones, which are primarily made for MX-style switches.

It’s not that the default keycaps are horrible by any means – though I do wish the legends weren’t so gamer-centric – but it would’ve been great if it was possible to swap them out with aftermarket keycap sets.

Aside from that, I’m not a fan of the Strix Scope RX’s extra long left ctrl key either. According to Asus, the larger size of the ctrl key is to make it easier for FPS players to “quickly find and hit.” It’s a sound logic, but I find myself accidentally hitting the ctrl key when I wanted to press on the Windows key instead.

My last gripe with the Strix Scope RX is its sound profile. Like with most pre-built keyboards, it has a loud, plasticky sound profile. Granted, most consumers who are shopping for a pre-built keyboard wouldn’t necessarily put importance on how the keyboard sounds, but it’s still worth a mention.

All in all, the Asus ROG Strix Scope RX is still quite a compelling pre-built gaming mechanical keyboard. Retailing from
as low as RM459 now
, it really is quite affordable. You’d be hard-pressed to find a different full-size keyboard of this calibre at this price point.

Even though it doesn’t have a particularly pleasant sound profile, the Strix Scope RX offers a very smooth, stable typing experience – the lack of wobble and smoothness of the ROG RX Red optical switch are very impressive – bright, consistent RGB backlighting, as well as pretty good stabilisers. For RM459, you’re getting your money’s worth here.


Illegear Arte Lands in Malaysia – Premium, Lightweight Productivity Laptop From RM4,599

While Illegear is mainly known for its range of customisable gaming laptops, the company carries a few productivity-focused laptops too, such as the brand new Illegear Arte. It’s a premium, lightweight productivity laptop, and it’s priced relatively well too for a machine of this calibre.

The base model of the Arte retails at RM4,599. For that kind of money, you’re getting an Intel Core i5-11300H quad-core processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 500GB of SSD storage, a sharp 14-inch 2880 x 1800 IPS screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 90Hz refresh rate, as well as Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.

This being an Illegear machine, the Arte can be customised to a certain extent too. The processor, for one, can be upgraded to a Core i7-11370H quad-core chip for RM399. You can also add more RAM or SSD storage, though there’s no option for a more powerful discrete GPU.

Then again, gaming performance is not the main appeal of the Arte. It’s targeted at folks who want a portable, modern-looking productivity laptop. After all, it has an impressive 93% screen-to-body ratio. On top of that, tipping the scales at 1.04kg with a 13.6-15.6mm thin chassis, you can easily lug it around in your backpack as well.

The Illegear Arte is now available for purchase on
Illegear’s online store
. To celebrate the launch of the laptop, a Samsung 512GB SSD upgrade (RM199) and a Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut thermal paste (RM99) will be thrown in for free too, along with complimentary colour calibration (RM49). This promotion will be valid until 28 June or while stocks last.


Asus ROG Claymore II Review: RM999 for a Wireless Gaming Keyboard?

Asus’ range of PC peripherals may not be quite as well-known as its laptops or PC hardware, but the Taiwanese company actually has some pretty good products in this category. The Asus ROG Claymore II, for one, is quite an intriguing wireless gaming keyboard.

Not only does the Claymore II offer very good battery life, it also features a detachable numpad and unique ROG RX optical switches that are surprisingly pleasant to type on. However, is it worth forking out RM999 for this wireless gaming keyboard? Keep on reading this review to find out!

What It Is

The ROG Claymore II is a wireless TKL mechanical keyboard, and it can be turned into a full-size keyboard once it is connected to the (detachable) numpad. Just like the
ROG Strix Scope RX
 keyboard, this board comes with Asus’ very own ROG RX optical switches too.

Available with ROG RX Red (55g linear) or RX Blue (60g clicky) optical switch, the Claymore II in this review is configured with the latter switch option. Aside from that, it also has per-key RGB lighting – it’s a gaming keyboard, after all – a 4,000mAh battery that can return up to 144 hours of use, as well as a magnetic wrist rest.

The Good Stuff

Let’s start with the typing experience of the ROG Claymore II. As mentioned, this review unit comes with the RX Blue clicky optical switch, and it is…well, surprisingly good. While I’m not a fan of clicky switches, I didn’t quite mind typing with this RX Blue switch.

It has quite a pronounced tactile bump, it is not obnoxiously loud, and it actually reminds me of the Kailh Box White switch, which is considered to be one of the better clicky switches in the custom mechanical keyboard scene. You can listen to how the RX Blue switches sound like in the video below.

On top of that, the ROG RX Blue switch has very minimal wobble as well, thanks to the unique hollow square stem design with four “corner latches” and scissor-style stabiliser. Even when compared to the plethora of aftermarket switches, the RX Blue switch is up there among the best in terms of stability.

Another advantage of the ROG RX optical switch’s square stem design is superior backlight diffusion. Because the LED is placed right in the middle of the switch, you get very bright and consistent backlighting across all keys. If you want a gaming keyboard with bright, colourful RGB lighting, you’ll be very happy with the Claymore II.

And then there’s the form factor of the Claymore II. As mentioned, it’s a TKL keyboard that can be turned into a full-size board with the numpad attached. The best part is, you can attach the numpad to the left or right side of the keyboard. The numpad itself has these neat tile-shaped media keys too, and the scroll wheel even has a nice weight to it.

One of the appeals of a custom mechanical keyboard is the ability to change the mapping of the keys with relative ease, and the Claymore II can replicate this feature…to an extent. It’s not quite as intuitive to change the function of each key via the Armoury Crate software, but it’s still very possible – that’s a good thing in my books.

Last but certainly not least is the
excellent
 battery life of the Claymore II. Asus’ quoted battery life is up to 144 hours with the backlighting switched off, which is definitely achievable. I’ve used the keyboard for weeks on end now, and it’s still at about 20% battery life.

Granted, I’ve been using the Claymore II without the numpad attached – I prefer a more compact layout – so do keep this in mind. Oh, the wireless performance of this keyboard is very good as well; I didn’t notice any issue with latency while gaming throughout the review period.

The Bad Stuff

Given that the ROG Claymore II is a pre-built keyboard, it does have a number of common shortcomings. One that sticks out the moment I started typing on the keyboard is its sound profile, which is…not very pleasant. It has a loud, plasticky sound profile, and the stabilisers have a tendency to tick too.

The thing is, unlike the
Asus ROG Strix Scope RX
 keyboard I tested, the stabiliser wires of the Claymore II are not lubed at all. As a result, the stabilisers don’t sound quite as good as they should be.

Besides that, the unique stem design of the ROG RX switch also means that you cannot swap out the keycaps with aftermarket keycap sets. It’s not that the default keycaps are of bad quality – though it does attract oil very easily – but it does limit the customisability of the keyboard.

But the biggest negative of the Claymore II has to be its steep price tag. Retailing at RM999, you can build a decent custom mechanical keyboard with that kind of money. That being said, you do have to sacrifice on a number of features if you do so, including wireless support, the full-size layout, and of course, the unique detachable numpad.

Is It Worth It?

If the Asus ROG Claymore II’s feature set appeals to you, then yes, it’s worth it. There’s no denying that the RM999 asking price is high, but you do get a unique, feature-packed gaming keyboard with very long battery life, clicky, stable RX Blue switch – or very smooth RX Red linear switch if that’s more your thing – excellent latency in wireless mode, and detachable numpad.

On the flip side, if you can do without the Claymore II’s unique form factor, full-size layout, and wireless support, you can build a custom mechanical keyboard instead for about the same amount of money. Just be prepared to do a lot of research (and waiting) to build the right keyboard for your needs –
our guides
 should help in that regard.


Genshin Impact Was Down for 16 Minutes in Asia – Free Primogems as Compensation

Mihoyo’s hit game
Genshin Impact
 is rarely ever down outside of the occasional server updates. But this happened in the Asian server for a short while yesterday on 18 June; 16 whole minutes, in fact. As compensation, Mihoyo gave out free Primogems (the in-game currency) for this short downtime.

That’s right, free primogems for a short 16-minute outage! In a mail sent out by Mihoyo to affected players, the Asian server was down between 12:57PM to 1:13PM UTC+8. To compensate for this, everyone in the Asian server are given 60 Primogems.

It’s definitely generous of Mihoyo to give out 60 Primogems for a mere 16-minute downtime. In fact, whenever the servers are down for update maintenance, 60 Primogems are given out each hour.

Genshin Impact servers are usually down for about five hours for the recent version updates, so that’s a total of 300 Primogems. Of course, even if the servers are back online earlier than expected, the full amount of Primogems will still be given to players.

Genshin Impact is certainly proving to be a real success for Mihoyo, and the fact that players are compensated with Primogems for such a short outage really shows how well the game is handled by the company.
Version 1.6 of Genshin Impact
 is currently live, and you should check it out if you can – the new story quest is very engrossing.


Keychron Q1 Retails From $139 – Pre-Orders Open in July 2021

Keychron just revealed a lot more details on its upcoming 75% mechanical keyboard, the Keychron Q1. Not only do we have the retail price of the keyboard now, it will also go on pre-order next month in late July 2021.

Just like Keychron’s other products, the Q1 is a relatively affordable mechanical keyboard, especially taking into account the feature set of the keyboard. The barebone kit of the Q1 – that is, without switches and keycaps – retails at $139, which comes up to about RM575.

If you want a fully assembled Q1 instead, it will set you back $169 (approximately RM700). Basically, you’re paying $30 more for double-shot ABS keycaps and factory lubed Gateron switches – that’s pretty good value for money.

Besides pricing, Keychron also revealed more images and features of the Q1. It is set to be available in black, white, grey, and dark blue. A yellow colourway is being considered too, though this will depend on interest.

Interestingly, it’s possible to add on a rotary encoder, brass weight, and brass plate to the Q1 as well, though the prices for these options have not been revealed yet. Three plate options will be offered in the first round of pre-orders: aluminium, FR4, and polycarbonate.

Other specifications of the Q1 include a gasket mount design – eight gaskets are pre-installed, and another eight will be provided with the keyboard – a full CNC aluminium body, a hotswap PCB with south-facing LEDs, screw-in stabilisers, and VIA support out of the box to easily customise the mapping of the keyboard.

The Keychron Q1’s feature set – on paper, at least – certainly appeals to custom mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. To recap, the Q1 is set to go on pre-order in late July next month from $139; it with start shipping to customers in late August 2021. You can register your interest for the keyboard
over here
.

Update 21 June, 4PM:
 Keychron just released updated details on the Q1’s pricing and availability. The article has been updated to reflect these changes.

Read more:

Keychron Q1 Pre-Orders Open 24 August – Starts at $139

Video: Keychron Q1 – Most Exciting Keychron Keyboard Yet?


Acer Enduro Urban N3 Lands in Malaysia – Slimmer & Lighter Rugged Laptop From RM2,799

Remember the
Enduro N3
? Well, there’s now a slimmer, lighter version of the rugged laptop. Dubbed Acer Enduro Urban N3, the new laptop is now available in Malaysia, and it’s much more affordable too.

Three variants of the Enduro Urban N3 are offered in Malaysia. The base model with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor with 4GB of RAM retails at RM2,799, while the Core i5-1135G7 variant (also with 4GB of RAM) costs RM2,999. If you want even better processing power, there’s the RM3,699 Core i7-1165G7 configuration with 8GB of RAM.

Despite being a rugged laptop, the Enduro Urban N3 is surprisingly portable. Tipping the scales at 1.85kg with a 21.9mm thin chassis, it’s definitely one of the more thin and lightweight laptops in its class. Of course, it is also MIL-STD-810H certified with an IP53 rating.

Other specifications of the Enduro Urban N3 include a 14-inch 1080p IPS screen, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, a 512GB SSD, up to 13 hours of battery life, as well as Windows 10 Home out of the box. A full version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 is also bundled with the laptop.

Both the Core i3 and Core i5 configurations of the Acer Enduro Urban N3 are now available in Malaysia. The highest-end Core i7 model, on the other hand, will go on sale locally by the end of June 2021 this month.


Motorola Moto G100 With Snapdragon 870 & 5,000mAh Battery Coming to Malaysia?

Now this is quite interesting: Motorola’s latest upper mid-range smartphone, the Moto G100, could be coming to Malaysia soon. Sporting a pretty fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset with a very generous 5,000mAh battery, it is touted as Motorola’s fastest Moto G device yet.

In our routine search through SIRIM’s database, we saw that the Moto G100 with the model number XT2125-4 was registered with the certification body under Lenovo Malaysia just today on 21 June. Electronics have to go through SIRIM first before they can be officially sold here, so there’s a chance the G100 will be made available locally soon.

As Motorola puts it, the Moto G100 really is the fastest smartphone in the series yet. Powered by a Snapdragon 870 chipset – which is basically a faster version of the Snapdragon 865 – you can expect to get excellent performance out of the phone with above average battery life, thanks to its huge 5,000mAh battery.

Other specifications of the Moto G100 include a 6.7-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 16MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP depth) with a TOF sensor for faster autofocus, as well as two selfie cameras (16MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle).

No word yet on the Malaysian launch of the Motorola Moto G100. But given that it has been registered with SIRIM already, there’s a good chance it will be sold locally very, very soon. It’ll be interesting to see how much it will be priced at here; for context, the G100 costs €499.99 in European markets, which comes up to about RM2,465.


YTL: Yes Altitude 3 Phone Is Safe to Use

You’ve probably heard of the two Yes Altitude 3 phones that caught on fire over the past week. YTL Communications (YTLC) is aware of this issue, and in a media statement, the company said that the smartphone in question is safe to use.

YTLC is currently working with an “internationally recognised independent laboratory” to investigate the cause of the Altitude 3 phones catching fire. Preliminary investigations have found that the screens of the two affected phones are not damaged, indicating that both devices did not explode.

The company elaborated that in the first incident of the Altitude 3 phone catching fire, the issue “appears to be confined to the battery.” The integrity of the phone isn’t affected, and with a new battery installed, the phone is still fully functional.

The first unit that caught on fire (Image source:
Facebook
)

As for the second incident, the Altitude 3 phone is said to be charged with a third-party charger connected to the phone through an older third-party cable. YTLC added that the phone was also kept inside a shirt pocket hung to the wall – as the power outlet is located relatively high on the wall – when it caught on fire.

“It was observed that sections of the charging cable in use at the time of the incident suffered considerable burns, with wiring exposed. The heat concentrated on the charging cable and top part of the phone around the charging port, suggesting a strong power surge that came in through the charging port,” YTLC said in the statement.

In both incidents, YTLC points to the battery of the Altitude 3 phones being the cause of the fire. But it’s worth noting that the company’s manufacturing partners – China Mobile and UTime Limited (battery manufacturer) – confirmed that the production run of the two affected phones are “fully in compliance with all pertinent international health and safety certifications.”

The second unit that caught on fire (Image source:
Twitter
)

“As confirmed by our manufacturing partners, our phones are safe for use and they fully stand behind the product and its quality. However, YTLC would like to remind our customers to only use original chargers supplied with the relevant phones and quality SIRIM-certified charging cables that are in good condition,” YTLC further added.

So there you have it: the Yes Altitude 3 phone – according to YTLC – is safe to use. Of course, always use the original charger and cable provided with the phone to avoid any possible safety issue; third-party chargers and cables are (usually) the cause of phones catching fire.


Keychron Q2 Is a 65% Version of the Keychron Q1 – Releasing in August 2021

Keychron will be opening pre-orders for the
Keychron Q1
 next month; a 75% gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard with a number of features typically found on enthusiast-level keyboards. Well, if you want a smaller version of the Q1, consider the Keychron Q2, which is set to be released sometime in August 2021.

This was revealed by Nick Xu of Keychron on
Facebook
. According to him, the Q2 is a 65% keyboard with support for VIA, much like the Q1. He also shared some prototype images of the upcoming keyboard, revealing the layout of the Q2. Do note that the bezels of the prototype will be changed in the production unit.

Aside from that, Nick Xu also revealed that the Q2 will share the feature set of the Q1. The prototype appears to be installed with Gateron Yellow switches as well, so there’s a good chance the production unit will follow suit. We reckon other Gateron switches will be offered too.

Since it’s confirmed that the Q2 will be similar to the Q1, its list of specifications should be the same. This means the Q2 will have a gasket mounting system, a CNC aluminium body, and a hotswap PCB with south-facing LEDs for maximum compatibility with keycaps of various profiles.

The prototype unit of the Q2, as expected, features screw-in stabilisers as well, though it doesn’t appear to be sporting a badge or rotary dial like the Q1. Of course, it’s possible the production unit will implement these features, though this is only an educated guess at this point in time.

Anyway, a couple of other images of the Q2 were also posted to Keychron’s
Discord server
. Looking at its side profile, it really does look like a downsized version of the Q1. There seems to be a blue and grey unit of the 65% keyboard as well, so there’s a chance it will be offered in the same colour options as the Q1.

To recap, the Q1 (at this moment) will be available in four different shades: black, white, grey, and dark blue.

The Keychron Q2 is expected to be released sometime in August 2021. Given its smaller form factor, it will likely be more affordable than the Q1, which starts at $139 (about RM580) for the barebone kit. Chances are, the Q2 will also be available as a barebone kit or fully assembled.

Read more:

Keychron Q2 Teaser Page Finally Live – Releasing Soon?


What Are Asus ROG RX Switches?

We’ve reviewed the
Asus ROG Claymore II
 and
Strix Scope RX
 mechanical keyboards, and both of them have one thing in common: they feature Asus’ very own ROG RX optical switches. Surprisingly enough, these switches are actually quite good, even in comparison to
aftermarket

switches
in the enthusiast keyboard scene.

If you’re looking to get a pre-built keyboard, consider an Asus keyboard with these ROG RX switches – they really are quite impressive. Not quite convinced? Then read on!

So what are ROG RX optical switches? Well, there are two of them: there’s the lighter ROG RX Red 55g linear switch, and the slightly heavier RX Blue 60g clicky switch. I’ve tested both of these switches, and even though I prefer the RX Red switch – I prefer smooth, linear switches – the RX Blue is still a great option for fans of clicky switches.

Now, let’s talk about the typing experience of the two switches. The ROG RX Red switch, even in stock form, offers a very smooth downstroke. While there’s a hint of scratch sound, it does not feel scratchy at all.

As for the RX Blue switch, even though it’s not quite as smooth as the RX Red, I love the fact that it has a pronounced tactile bump without being obnoxiously loud. In fact, it reminds me of the Kailh Box White switch, which is considered to be one of the better clicky switches in the custom mechanical keyboard scene.

The ROG RX Red switch
The ROG RX Blue switch

Another characteristic of the ROG RX switches that is worth mentioning is how little wobble they have. Thanks to the unique hollow square stem design with four “corner latches” – as well as the scissor-style stabiliser – both the RX Red and RX Blue switches are incredibly stable.

Even when compared to the plethora of aftermarket switches available in the market now, the ROG RX switches are up there among the best in terms of stability. If you want a “stable” typing experience free of any noticeable wobble, these RX switches offer just that.

Another advantage of the unique hollow square stem design is better, brighter backlighting. Because the LED is placed right in the middle of the ROG RX switch, you get very bright and consistent backlighting across all keys. If you want a gaming keyboard with bright, colourful RGB lighting, look for an Asus keyboard with RX switches.

But not all is great with these ROG RX switches. While they’re great in most aspects, the unconventional stem design of these switches means that you cannot swap out the default keycaps with aftermarket keycap sets from
GMK and the likes
.

Aside from that, the sound profile of the ROG RX switches isn’t great either. Both the RX Blue and RX Red has a tendency to ping – though this isn’t very obvious in regular typing – and they have a rather thin topping out sound too.

Then again, pre-built keyboards don’t exactly have the best sound profile, so this isn’t exactly…well, unexpected.

But overall, when it comes to pre-built keyboards, the Asus ROG RX switches are definitely options worth considering. Given that switches impact the typing experience of a mechanical keyboard quite a bit, there’s no denying just how important they are when you’re deciding on a new keyboard.

Of course, I would still wholeheartedly recommend
building a custom mechanical keyboard
 instead for an even better typing experience and customisation options. But this isn’t always a feasible, whether it’s due to time constraint or budget limitation.

If you’re in such a situation, a pre-built keyboard can still serve you well, especially ones from Asus with ROG RX switches.


NovelKeys NK87 Entry Edition Confirmed – Will Cost Less Than $150

NovelKeys just revealed its upcoming keyboard, the NovelKeys NK87 Entry Edition. Essentially a polycarbonate version of the
NK87 Aluminium Edition
, it will be a pretty affordable TKL custom mechanical keyboard. Set to be available either in August or September 2021, the NK87 Entry Edition will be priced below the $150 (about RM625) mark.

Mike of NovelKeys gave us the very first look at the NK87 Entry Edition on the company’s YouTube channel. He showed off the transparent and black colourways of the TKL keyboard, and looking closer at the right side of the table, you can see other colour options too. There’s light blue, pink, and even a transparent green (or yellow) case.

Unlike the NK87 Aluminium Edition, the Entry Edition can be built with a screwless design, as showcased by Mike in the video above. Basically, the top part of the case – which are fitted with rubber gaskets – are clipped to the bottom case, eliminating the need for screws.

Of course, if you want a stiffer typing experience, the NK87 Entry Edition can still be built with screws, though it appears to be using a tray mount system instead. It will also come with a polycarbonate plate, along with support for screw-in stabilisers.

The NK87 Entry Edition with a transparent case

According to Mike, more details on the NovelKeys NK87 Entry Edition will be revealed in the near future. To recap, the TKL custom mechanical keyboard will be launched sometime in August or September 2021 for less than $150.


24 – 30 June Fuel Price: All Prices Remain

For a change, RON 97 will not go up in price this coming week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel remain the same as well, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is set at RM2.67 per litre. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, remains the same at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 24 to 30 June next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Huawei Watch 3 Series Malaysian Pre-Orders Open 25 June – From RM1,699 to RM2,199

Huawei’s latest smartwatch, the Huawei Watch 3 and Watch 3 Pro, will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from tomorrow onwards on 25 June. Retailing from RM1,699, these are certainly positioned as premium smartwatches, and they are Huawei’s first wearables running its own HarmonyOS operating system too.

Of course, the RM1,699 price tag is for the standard Huawei Watch 3. The more premium Huawei Watch 3 Pro with a titanium construction and longer battery life, on the other hand, costs RM2,199.

The Huawei Watch 3

Early birds who pre-order the Watch 3 will also get a Huawei FreeBuds 3i wireless earbuds with an EasyFit 2 Nylon Strap in Distilled Blue for the watch (worth RM548), while the Pro model is bundled with a FreeBuds 3 instead with the same strap (worth RM828).

As mentioned, the Watch 3 Pro, in comparison to the standard Watch 3, features a more premium build quality courtesy of the titanium construction. It also has longer battery life – up to 21 days, or five days with 4G enabled – as well as more accurate GPS tracking.

The Huawei Watch 3 Pro

Beyond these differences, the Watch 3 and Watch 3 Pro have the same specifications. These include a 1.43-inch circular OLED screen, a rotating crown that can be used to control the smartwatch (similar to the Apple Watch), a temperature sensor, a heart rate tracker, an SpO2 sensor, as well as eSIM support.

Of course, these two smartwatches also run on Huawei’s own HarmonyOS operating system out of the box, which features a grid-style interface – again, very similar to Apple’s watchOS.

The Huawei Watch 3 and Watch 3 Pro will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 25 June at 10AM to 6 July on
Huawei’s own online store
,
Shopee
,
Lazada
, as well as Senheng. To recap, the Watch 3 costs RM1,699, while the Watch 3 Pro retails at RM2,199.


This Is the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback – Slightly Different Looks, 6-Speed Manual

Honda just unveiled the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback, and unlike its predecessor, the new hatchback looks quite a bit more distinctive than its
sedan counterpart
. Sporting different rear and front designs, the C-segment model gets a six-speed manual option as well.

Let’s start with the 11th generation Civic Hatchback’s rear end. Compared to the sedan version, the taillights of the hatchback model is more rounded, and there’s even a thin strip of light that joins them together. It’s quite a departure from the 10th generation Civic Hatchback too, which had almost identical taillights to the sedan model.

On the front, the 2022 Civic Hatchback also gets a slightly different grille. Not only is it concaved, it also has a hexagonal mesh design instead of the sedan’s more…mature-looking horizontal slats. This grille certainly gives the hatchback a sportier appeal, though the overall design of the car still looks more mature than the
10th generation model
.

Naturally, the new Civic Hatchback has the same engine as its sedan counterpart. For the US market, it still comes with either a 2.0L NA engine (158hp/187Nm torque) or a retuned 1.5L turbocharged mill that outputs 180hp and 240Nm of torque – that’s 6hp and 20Nm more torque than the previous 1.5L turbo engine.

Other specifications of the 11th generation Civic Hatchback include a CVT or six-speed manual gearbox, 10 airbags, an updated single-camera Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistance systems, as well as a cleaner-looking, more premium interior.

Given that Honda Malaysia has always brought in the sedan version of the Civic, it’s unlikely the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback will make it here. Nonetheless, there’s a chance the Civic will make its
Malaysian debut sometime this year
.


It’s Official: You Can Access Netflix on Astro Soon

Rumours started circulating not too long ago of a partnership between Astro and Netflix, and well, it is now official. Soon, you will be able to access Netflix on Astro – it seems to be implied that there could be a special package of sorts too.

According to Astro, its current subscribers will be able to access Netflix on connected Ultra Boxes in the near future. Of course, those with connected Ulti Boxes will also get the feature in the coming months, though a specific timeline was not given.

Astro further elaborated that its customers can “enjoy greater convenience by having Netflix with their Astro subscription, providing easy access for payment in a single bill, at the best value.” This seems to suggest that there could be a special package for Astro customers, though this is only our educated guess at this point in time.

“Our partnership with Netflix consolidates Astro’s position as the number one entertainment destination for Malaysians by offering the best streaming services alongside our own best-loved originals, vernacular signatures, live sports and local blockbuster movies,” said the Group CEO of Astro, Henry Tan.

No estimated timeline yet as to when Netflix will be accessible on Astro, though you can register your interest
right here
.


Updating PS5 DualSense Controller – It Should Be Easier

Got a notification to update the DualSense controller on your
PlayStation 5
 console? Then you should update it right then and there. If you choose to do so later, here’s the thing – you cannot manually perform the update.

I ran into this issue when I was notified of an update for the DualSense controller after updating my PS5. The update requires the DualSense to be connected to the PS5 through a USB cable, and once that’s done, I only needed to press X to start the update.

At least, that’s what I was supposed to do. Instead, I accidentally dismissed the notification with the O button, which I did out of habit. After all, O was previously the confirmation button for PlayStation consoles outside of the Western market for the longest time.

Anyway, after this little incident, I decided to dig through the settings page to try to manually update the DualSense. Unfortunately, there’s no such option. I’ll need to wait 24 hours after dismissing the notification – as shown in the screen above – for the PS5 to prompt the update again.

There is a workaround to this, but it does require you to jump through a couple of hoops. As
The Verge
 pointed out, you’ll need to disconnect the PS5 from the internet, skip the internal clock 24 hours forward, and voila: you’ll get the notification again once you’ve rebooted the console or reconnected the DualSense controller.

Of course, this is not a particularly big issue, but it’s odd that users cannot manually perform the DualSense update without needing to trick the console’s internal clock. Anyway, lesson learnt: always press X instead of O for confirmation on the PS5.


Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 Now in Malaysia From RM3,299 – Gaming Phone With 2 Fans

Lenovo Malaysia just announced the local availability of its latest gaming phone, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2. While it looks strikingly similar to
its predecessor
, the Legion Phone Duel 2 does have some notable upgrades: not only does it have
two cooling fans
, it’s also slightly more affordable.

For the Malaysian market, two variants of the Legion Phone Duel 2 are available. The base model with 256GB of non-expandable storage and 12GB of RAM costs RM3,299, while the more generous 512GB configuration with 16GB of RAM goes for RM3,899.

It’s worth noting that these prices are actually RM100 less than what the original Legion Phone went for at launch.

As mentioned, the Legion Phone Duel 2 comes with two cooling fans housed inside the peculiar (and large) centre-positioned camera module. The intake fan draws in cool air, while the hidden exhaust fan removes hot air; each of them have their own vents.

This being a gaming smartphone, the Legion Phone Duel 2 features a fast 6.92-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. On top of that, it also retain its predecessor’s side-mounted 44MP pop-up selfie camera. When you’re gaming with the phone in landscape mode, the selfie camera won’t be obstructed by your hands.

Other specifications of the Legion Phone Duel 2 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, a dual camera system (64MP primary + 16MP ultra-wide angle), as well as an absolutely generous 5,500mAh battery with support for blazing fast 90W fast charging. This can supposedly charge up the phone to 50% from empty in only 12 minutes.

According to Lenovo Malaysia, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is now available for purchase in Malaysia on Shopee and Lazada. To recap, the 256GB + 12GB model retails at RM3,299, while the 512GB + 16GB configuration costs RM3,899.


Unreleased Poco X3 GT Appears in SIRIM – Malaysian Launch Confirmed?

Xiaomi Malaysia launched quite a number smartphones with the Poco, Redmi, as well as its own Xiaomi branding over the past couple of months. Well, it appears another device is on the horizon: the (unreleased) Poco X3 GT will likely make its Malaysian debut soon.

We spotted the Poco X3 GT in our routine search through SIRIM’s database. The upcoming smartphone was registered under Xiaomi Malaysia just yesterday on 24 June with the model number 21061110AG, suggesting that the device could be sold here in Malaysia very soon.

The China-only Redmi Note 10 Pro

Based on previous leaks and rumours, the Poco X3 GT is believed to be the global variant of the China-only Redmi Note 10 Pro. Despite sporting the exact same name, it is actually a different device from the
Redmi Note 10 Pro
, which was launched in Malaysia
a few months back in March
.

Anyway, if that’s the case, the Poco X3 GT will feature a 6.6-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chipset paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging, as well as MIUI 12 (based on Android 11) out of the box.

In the camera department, it should come with a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro) along with a 16MP selfie camera.

No word yet from Xiaomi Malaysia on the local availability of the Poco X3 GT. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the Malaysian launch of the mid-range smartphone.


Windows 11 Looks Great, but Not Everyone Will Get It

Microsoft just unveiled its latest operating system, Windows 11. Set to be a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, it brings some nice visual overhaul to the user interface for a cleaner, more modern look; it can even run Android apps. However, some PCs, especially older ones, will not be able to run the shiny new operating system.

In order to run Windows 11, certain hardware requirements have to be met. While most of them aren’t particularly demanding – you only need a 1GHz processor with two or more cores, 4GB of RAM, and at least 64GB of storage – one of them is a little tricky: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 is required for Windows 11.

The new interface looks cleaner, and more modern

Granted, TPM 2.0 has been around for quite some time. Most modern PCs ( that is, machines that were released in the past five years) support TPM 2.0. However, if your PC or laptop dates back even longer than that, there’s no guarantee it will be able to run Windows 11.

Of course, there is an easy to check if your Windows machine supports Windows 11. All you need to do is download the Microsoft’s PC Health Check app
over here
 to check for compatibility. If you have a custom PC, make sure that TPM is enabled through your BIOS if it says your system is incompatible with Windows 11.

As Microsoft’s Director of OS Security, David Weston,
pointed out
, TPM is called “Intel PTT” for Intel chips, while AMD uses the term “AMD PSP fTPM” – look for these settings in your BIOS page.

No release date was given for Windows 11, though Microsoft did say the new operating system will be coming “later this year” as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users.


Genshin Impact Kazuha Banner Arrives 29 June With Rosaria, Bennett, Razor

Kaedehara Kazuha, the first playable character from Inazuma, is coming to
Genshin Impact
 on 29 June. The banner of the brand new 5-star Anemo character has been revealed too – he will be accompanied by Rosaria, Bennet, as well as Razor.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event banners
, the “drop rate” of Kazuha, Rosaria, Bennett, and Razor will be increased. In the case of Kazuha, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be him. If you didn’t get him in this instance, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Kazuha.

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

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

Kazuha’s “Leaves in the Wind” event wish will go live in Genshin Impact on 29 June this Tuesday at 6PM for us here in Malaysia. His banner will be available until 20 July, and we expect Kazuha’s event wish to be replaced by either
Kamisato Ayaka
 or
Yoimiya
 shortly after – both are Inazuma characters that have been revealed by Mihoyo.


PRISM+ Q Series 4K TVs Land in Malaysia – 55″ & 65″ Android TVs From RM2,299

PRISM+ just expanded its product lineup here in Malaysia with two brand new Android TVs. The PRISM+ Q series 4K TVs – made up of the Q65-QE and Q55-QE – are now available for pre-order locally, and they offer some compelling features with excellent value for money.

Take the Q65-QE: not only does it feature an expansive 65-inch Quantum IPS 3840 x 2160 panel – yes, it uses quantum dot technology for even brighter and vibrant colours – it’s quite affordable too with a RM2,999 price tag. That’s right, this 65-inch 4K Android TV retails at only RM2,999.

If you want a smaller 4K TV, there’s the Q55-QE with a 55-inch screen instead for only RM2,299. Aside from the smaller panel, it has the same feature set as the Q65-QE.

As mentioned, the Q65-QE and Q55-QE feature quantum dot backlight. According to PRISM+, this allows the two TVs to produce 1.07 billion colours. Of course, both TVs meet the HDR10 standard as well, and the IPS panel offers wide viewing angles too.

Given that the Q65-QE and Q55-QE run on Android TV, you’ll have access to over 500 apps on the Google Play Store. You can also cast content to the TV from your mobile device, not to mention the ability to use voice commands via Google Assistant with the provided remote.

“With more time being spent at home, many consumers look to level up their on-screen entertainment but are not willing to splurge on Android TVs,” said the Country Director of PRISM+ Malaysia, Eric Kam. “As the availability of Android TVs has increased significantly, we can now offer industry-standard Android TVs at a lower price point to cater to such consumers,” he added.

The PRISM+ Q65-QE and Q55-QE are now available for pre-order in Malaysia on the company’s own
online store
 and
Lazada
. Early birds who place their pre-orders for the Q65-QE will also receive RM121.90 worth of freebies, including two HDMI cables (a 3m cable and an L-shaped cable), a screen cleaner, and a three-month WeTV VIP subscription.

As for the Q55-QE, it will be bundled with the two HDMI cables and a three-month WeTV VIP subscription; these are worth RM71.90. Of course, both TVs come with a two-year onsite warranty too: it covers parts, accessories, servicing, and customer service support is also available every day. Yes, even on weekends.

Both the Q65-QE and Q55-QE will start shipping to costumers from 20 July onwards in Malaysia. We received the Q65-QE for review as well, so stay tuned for our impressions of the affordable 65-inch 4K Android TV!


Automotive Sector Will Resume Operation in Phase 2 of NRP

The phase one of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) will not be ending today (28 June), though the government has revealed that once we do move on to phase two, more sectors will be allowed to open. These include the automotive sector involving the production of vehicles and components.

But in order to transition to phase two of NRP, three conditions have to be met. Daily COVID-19 cases have to be below 4,000; ICU capacity has to be in the medium range; and vaccination rate – for those who have completed two doses – has to be above 10%.

Given that today’s recorded number of cases is 5,218, it will likely be a while longer until we get to the second phase of the NRP. Thankfully, at least the sales tax exemption on CKD and CBU cars has been
extended to 31 December 2021
 – this should aid the recovery of the local automotive industry, especially with almost no sales at all throughout the month of June 2021.

Car wash centres will also be allowed to open once we transition to the second phase of NRP, along with a number of other businesses, including electronics, computer and telecommunication, and even stationaries.


Mode SixtyFive – Most Customisable Custom Mechanical Keyboard From $299

Fancy getting a custom mechanical keyboard, but none of the offerings in group buy right now quite suit your taste? Well, then check out the new Mode SixtyFive – it’s arguably the most customisable keyboard yet.

Unlike other custom mechanical keyboards – which usually only offer different colours with several plate options – the SixtyFive allows you to change the finish and material for almost every part of the keyboard. These include the top case, bottom case, plate, and even the (magnetic) backpiece.

There’s even a
rather neat configurator
 for the SixtyFive on Mode’s website, which shows you a render of your configured keyboard. You can even change the plate material of the board – there are a total of
seven
 different plate options – a hotswap or solderable PCB, ANSI or ISO layout, and even the colour of the feet.

Do note that depending on which option you pick, the SixtyFive will be delivered to you either in October or December. Certain parts or colours that are more in demand will ship later, unless you managed to order them before the threshold for October delivery has been reached.

Nonetheless, the fact that Mode can deliver the SixtyFive in the span of six months is already very impressive. Most pre-orders for custom mechanical keyboards usually take much longer than that, sometimes even up to a year.

If you’re keen to get the Mode SixtyFive, you can start customising your very own unit over at
Mode’s online store
; it starts from $299 (about RM1,240), which is a good starting price for a custom keyboard of this calibre. No end date was given for the pre-order, but it’s said to be offered for at least a month from 25 June. You can learn more about the SixtyFive
over here
.


Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 Rugged Smartphone Now in Malaysia

As we reported
a couple of weeks ago
, the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5 rugged smartphone is now officially available in Malaysia. While it’s not a particularly high-end device, it’s definitely a very durable smartphone that can take some knocks here and there.

In fact, the Galaxy Xcover 5 can withstand drops up to 1.5m, and it has an IP68 dust and water resistance as well, which allows the phone to be submerged underwater up to 1.5m for as long as 30 minutes. It even comes with a Glove Touch feature to increase the touch sensitivity of the screen for those who need to operate the phone with gloves on.

Other specifications of the Galaxy Xcover 5 include a 5.3-inch HD+ screen, a Samsung Exynos 850 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a 3,000mAh battery – it’s user-replaceable, by the way – a 16MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie shooter, and Android 11 out of the box.

However, given the rugged nature of the Galaxy Xcover 5, it appears to be only available to business customers; no pricing was given for the phone either. That’s right, unfortunately enough, regular consumers will not be able to purchase the Xcover 5.

Anyway, if you are a business customer interested in getting the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5, you can get in touch with Samsung Malaysia
right here
 to purchase the rugged smartphone.


Custom Keyboard Buyer’s Guide – Where to Start?

Believe it or not, building your own custom mechanical keyboard can actually be quite easy; you don’t even need to know how to solder to really get into the hobby. If you’re looking to upgrade your typing experience, read on – here’s what you need to know to get started.

Where to Buy Parts?

We actually
wrote a guide for this
 catered to those who are residing here in Malaysia. Noteworthy keyboard vendors include
Keys.my
 based here in Malaysia,
iLumkb
 from Singapore, and of course,
KBDfans
, which operates out of China.

If you’re just starting out, KBDfans is a fantastic option no matter where you’re located. It has quite a number of budget-friendly keyboard kits to get you started on your custom keyboard journey, which brings us to the next point..

Find a Keyboard Kit You Like

One of the most popular custom keyboard kits to get you started is KBDfans’ very own
Tofu
. Not only is it affordable – it starts at $159, which comes up to about RM660 – it’s also quite a decent keyboard with an aluminium case. You can even do an
o-ring mod
 to the Tofu to improve its typing experience and sound profile.

Alternatively, if you want more options and don’t mind waiting, consider joining a pre-order for a keyboard kit that suits your preference. The currently running
Mode SixtyFive
 is a good kit that’s also very customisable.
MechGroupBuys
is a great website as well to check on what pre-orders are currently running.

Once you’ve narrowed down the kit that catches your fancy, check if the keyboard comes with the proper stabilisers or not. If they don’t – most premium keyboard kits don’t come with them – we highly recommend Durock V2 screw-in or plate-mounted stabilisers, depending on which type the keyboard uses. Generally, most folks prefer screw-in stabilisers.

Oh, if you don’t want do any soldering, make sure that the keyboard kit you’re getting has a hotswap PCB. It allows you to install switches to the PCB without a soldering iron, and you can easily swap out to different types of switches as well, so it’s an excellent choice for those who are new to the hobby to try out different switches.

Speaking of which, let’s move on to the next part: switches.

Choose a Switch

This is really one of the most personal parts of a custom keyboard. Depending on which switch you get, your typing experience will be drastically different. We have outlined the
four main types of switches
 in our previous writeup, which include linear, tactile, clicky, and silent switches.

Do you like a smooth typing experience without any tactile feedback? Get a linear switch. Want the quietest keyboard possible? Silent switches are the way to go. It’s a very personal choice, so you may want to get a
switch sampler pack
 to figure out which one is the right one for you. Consider learning how to lube your switches too for an even better typing experience.

Still not sure which switch to get? Then check out our
switch reviews
!

Start With More Affordable (But Not
Too
 Affordable) Keycap Sets

Last but definitely not least is figuring out which keycap set to get. There are a
wide
 variety of keycaps in the market, but the general rule of thumb is to get a set that isn’t
too
 affordable. After all, it’s the part of the keyboard that you touch the most, so it will impact your typing experience quite a bit.

Some good, readily available options that don’t cost too much money are keycap sets from
ePBT
, though some colourways are priced higher. There are also a number of different keycap profiles, including Cherry, KAT, SA, and even MT3. Watch the video below for our comparison between GMK – arguably the gold standard of keycap sets – and MT3 keycaps.

Unfortunately, keycap sets (especially ones from GMK) are usually only offered on a pre-order basis, so you do have to wait quite a bit to get your hands on them. Alternatively,
Drop
 does have a number of relatively good keycap sets in stock, though your options are definitely more limited.

Once you have purchased a keyboard kit, switches, and a keycap set, all you need to do now is to..

Wait for the Parts to Arrive!

In this hobby, you’ll have to do a lot of waiting. In fact, we’re currently waiting on as many as
five different keyboard kits
 and three keycap sets that were purchased over the course of a year. This is just how the custom keyboard scene operates, though some vendors are offering
more in stock sales
 in recent times to address long waiting times.

But once you do get the parts, it will be worth it once you’ve built the keyboard. Trust us, it’s a very rewarding hobby, and if your job requires you to do a lot of typing, we implore you to build a custom mechanical keyboard – you won’t regret it!


Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ Unveiled – Faster CPU & AI Engine

Over the past few years, Qualcomm refreshes its flagship chipsets in the middle of the year. So naturally, here’s the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+. Sporting faster CPU and AI Engine, the new chip brings some noteworthy performance gains.

Compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 888+’s Kryo 680 CPU is now clocked at 2.995GHz, though the chipmaker is rounding off the figure to 3.0GHz in its marketing material. Anyway, thanks to the faster CPU, there should be some performance gain, though the GPU seems to be unchanged.

The 6th gen Qualcomm AI Engine of the Snapdragon 888+ sees some improvements too. It can now perform 32 trillion operations per second (TOPS) for AI tasks, which is said to be 20% faster than what the original Snapdragon 888 could do.

Smartphones powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ will make their respective debuts sometime in the third quarter of 2021, so we could new devices with the equally new chip as early as next month in July. Brands that are confirmed to be using the Snapdragon 888+ include Asus, Xiaomi, Vivo, Honor, and even Motorola.


Google Pixel 5a Supposedly Launching This August

Even though Google Pixel smartphones are not officially sold here in Malaysia, they are still quite popular among Android purists who purchase these devices from grey importers. If you’ve got your eyes on the latest phone in the series, you’ll be happy to know that the Pixel 5a is supposedly releasing in August 2021.

An August launch for the Pixel 5a has been rumoured for quite some time already, but a new report from
Bloomberg
 has confirmed this launch timing. According to the same report, the upcoming Google phone will also hit store shelves in the same month.

Based on rumours and leaks surrounding the Pixel 5a, it is said to be nearly identical to the Pixel 4a 5G. While some of its dimensions are supposedly slightly different, its list of hardware are the same. Take the processor: under the hood of the yet to be released phone is said to be (still) a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 chipset.

Other rumoured specifications of the Pixel 5a include a 6.2-inch 1080p OLED screen, a dual camera system made up of a 12.2MP primary sensor and a 16MP ultra-wide angle shooter, a rear fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as a “unibody back panel,” which is likely made out of plastic.

Although the Pixel 5a doesn’t look to be a particularly interesting smartphone, the main focus of Google’s “a” series of phones have always been their affordability. Nonetheless, we’ll find out for ourselves just what the Pixel 5a has to offer once it is revealed sometime in August 2021.


Deal: Sony WF-1000XM3 Heavily Discounted to RM579

While the
Sony WF-1000XM3
 has already been succeeded by the
WF-1000XM4
, it’s still a very decent pair of wireless earbuds. The best part is, it is now more affordable than ever: you can grab the WF-1000XM3
for only RM579 now
.

To put this deal into context, the WF-1000XM3 used to go for RM949 at launch, so you’re looking at exactly RM370 worth of savings here. This listing is also offered by Stylizz Online, a Shopee Mall retailer. Rest assured, this is a legitimate offer.

Even though we’ve seen the WF-1000XM3 retail at an
even lower price point
, RM579 for the wireless earbuds is still a very good offer. Keep in mind that its successor, the WF-1000XM4, is priced at RM1,099. You’re basically paying almost half of that amount for the WF-1000XM3.

If you’d like to learn more about the Sony WF-1000XM3, check out our review of the wireless earbuds
right here
. It still offers great active noise cancellation with long battery life and good audio quality.


Deal: Sony WH-1000XM4 Now Going for Only RM1,065

Here’s another deal for those who are looking to get a new audio gear. Launched here in Malaysia back in August last year for RM1,599, the
Sony WH-1000XM4
 can now be yours
for only RM1,065
 – that’s RM534 worth of savings.

This deal on the WH-1000XM4 is offered by Preferred Shopee retailer RoyalTech. Of course, warranty is provided by Sony Malaysia itself, and at the time of writing, there are
two units
 of the Black and Silver models left.

This is actually not the lowest price we’ve seen the WH-1000XM4 go for. At one point in time, it was listed
as low as RM989
. Still,
for RM1,065
, you’re still getting an excellent deal, especially for one of the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones in the market now.

If you’d like to learn more about the Sony WH-1000XM4, check out our review of the wireless headphones
right here
.


iPhone 13 Pro Will Reportedly Feature Ultra-Wide Camera With Autofocus

Ultra-wide angle cameras on smartphones allows users to fit more into a picture, but more often than not, they have a fixed focus. Well, the upcoming iPhone 13 Pro will change this up: the ultra-wide angle lens for the 2021 iPhone will supposedly have an autofocus system.

In a
9to5Mac report
, which quoted renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, at least the iPhone 13 Pro will have an ultra-wide angle camera with autofocus. Unfortunately, this feature is said to be reserved for the Pro models only. The standard 2021 iPhones won’t get it, though Kuo added that it could be a standard feature for 2022 models.

If this turns out to be accurate, it won’t be the first time it’s done on a smartphone. Take the
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
: its 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera even comes with Dual Pixel autofocus, which is quite a bit faster than regular phase detection autofocus.

On top of that, the fact that the S21 Ultra’s…ultra-wide angle sensor has autofocus also lets it take
very
 detailed macro shots. It remains to be seen if Apple has the same implementation planned for the iPhone 13 Pro, though it’s certainly a possibility to take full advantage of the autofocus system in the ultra-wide angle camera.

No word yet on when Apple will officially introduce its 2021 iPhone lineup, but if past launches are anything to go by, it should be happening sometime in September or October.


This Infinix Concept Phone Can Fully Recharge in 10 Minutes With a Colour-Changing Back

Now this is quite an intriguing smartphone. Showcased at MWC 2021, the Infinix Concept Phone 2021 supports 160W fast charging
and
 a colour-changing back panel, though as its name suggests, it’s not actually a consumer-ready device.

According to Infinix, the 160W fast charging tech can recharge the Concept Phone’s 4,000mAh battery from empty in only 10 minutes. It’s also capable of wireless charging, though it’s only limited to 50W.

The back panel of the Infinix Concept Phone is quite interesting too. Thanks to the use of electrochromic and electroluminescence films, the rear panel of the phone can change between silver to blue. It’s not just for show either, as it can be used as a form of notification.

It’s worth noting that these two technologies – the 160W fast charging and colour-changing back panel – are by no means new; both of them have been showcased by other phone makers before. Xiaomi, for one, did a tech demo for its
200W
 fast charging, which can charge up a phone with a 4,000mAh battery in only eight minutes.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying that the Infinix Concept Phone 2021 is an intriguing smartphone. As mentioned, it remains to be seen if it will ever be a consumer-ready device, though we reckon some parts of the two technologies could make it to a consumer smartphone one day.


Video: I Spent 20,000 Primogems For Kazuha in Genshin Impact

The event wish for Kaedehara Kazuha, a brand new 5-star Anemo character from Inazuma, is now live in
Genshin Impact
. I’ve got my eyes on him since he was introduced by Mihoyo, and of course, I spent all of my Primogems (the in-game currency) trying to get the character – all of it.

All 20,000 of my Primogems went to Kazuha’s event wish, and even then…I still didn’t manage to get him. I had to get some additional wishes to finally hit the soft pity and eventually acquired him. You can see all of this (along with my despair) in the video below.

On the bright side, Kazuha is
a lot
 of fun to play, and while I will most definitely miss having over 20,000 Primogems in my account – I saved them up for many, many months – I do think it was worth it. Plus, I now have full Constellations for Rosaria and Razor,
while
 managing to avoid hitting Constellation 6 for Bennett.

I’ll take that as a win.


Huawei P50 Leaks in Dazzling Pink Colourway

The Huawei P50 is said to be launching sometime in July next month, and we now have our very first look at the actual smartphone courtesy of a new leak. Aside from the unique design of the camera module, these images also show off a…very dazzling pink colourway.

According to the
source of the leak
, there’s a chance this pink colour option of the P50 will not be mass-produced, indicating that it could be a limited edition model. We also got a closer look at the Leica-branded quad camera system, with what appears to be a periscope telephoto lens housed in the lower module.

Unfortunately, the front side of the P50 was not pictured, though based on previous leaks, it should be sporting an OLED display with a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. Of course, there could be design differences between different models in the P50 series.

Rumours are also suggesting that the P50 smartphones will be powered by an LTE-only version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, while some devices in the series will be getting Huawei’s very own Kirin 9000 chip instead. This makes sense, given that the Kirin 9000 is used by the
Huawei Mate 40 series
.

We’ll find out just what the Huawei P50 series has to offer once it is officially launched. It’s likely that the P50 smartphones will be unveiled sometime in July 2021 next month.


Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Official – OLED Screen, RTX 3050 Ti, From 7,999 Yuan

The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro X 15 has just been launched in China. Sporting a bright, vibrant OLED screen, a reasonably powerful graphics card, as well as good value for money, this is quite an attractive premium laptop.

Two variants of the Mi Notebook Pro X 15 are offered. The base model with an Intel Core i5-11300H processor paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD retails at 7,999 Chinese yuan (about RM5,140), while the higher-end Core i7-11370H configuration with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage goes for 9,999 yuan (approximately RM6,430).

Given the premium appeal and features of the Mi Notebook Pro X 15, these are really quite good price points. After all, for that kind of money, you’re getting a sharp, vibrant 15.6-inch 3456 x 2160 OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio; perfect for productivity tasks. This panel also has a peak brightness of 600 nits.

Aside from that, both variants of the Mi Notebook Pro X 15 are powered by the same Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Not only do you get RTX-specific features like ray tracing and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) with this graphics card, you can even run AAA games reasonably well.

At the moment, the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro X 15 is only available in China. Even though it’s unlikely the premium laptop will be officially available here in Malaysia, we reckon grey importers will eventually bring it in.


The Dell UltraSharp 4K Webcam Can Keep You in Frame Automatically – Now in Malaysia for RM1,112

It seems like we’ll be working from home for quite a bit longer in this pandemic, so if you’re in the market for a webcam, consider the brand new Dell UltraSharp 4K webcam. Not only does it promise the best image quality in its class, the UltraSharp can even automatically keep you in frame.

By leveraging AI, the UltraSharp is able to keep you centered in the frame. If you move off-centre, the webcam will slowly pan to keep you in the centre of the frame again. It’s quite a smart implementation, and it’s a feature not offered by any of its competition right now.

As mentioned, the UltraSharp promises the best image quality when compared to other 4K webcams. It uses a Sony STARVIS CMOS 8.3MP sensor, and it can record or stream at 4K resolution at 30 or 24 frames per second. If the resolution is set to 1080p or 720p, you can even crank up the frame rate to 60fps.

Other noteworthy specifications of the UltraSharp webcam include support for Windows Hello, HDR capability, three different viewing angles – 65°, 78°, or 90° – up to 5x digital zoom with autofocus, as well as a magnetic privacy cover that can be used to cover up the lens when it’s not in use.

If you’re keen to get your hands on the Dell UltraSharp 4K webcam, you can do so right now over at
Dell’s Malaysian online store
. Retailing at RM1,112, it’s definitely not an affordable webcam, though its feature set may be able to justify the asking price for certain folks.


1 – 7 July Fuel Price: RON 97 up 2 Sen

While the price of RON 97 was unchanged last week, it’s a different case this time around. RON 97 is set to go up by 2 sen per litre this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

For this coming week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM2.69 per litre (up from RM2.67). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, remains the same at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 1 to 7 July next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


There Are Only 25 of This Keyboard in Malaysia

This is the Jelly Epoch, a 75% custom keyboard from Owlab. Back when it went on sale in April as an in-stock drop – though I’ve only received my unit yesterday – only 900 units were offered. 150 were reserved for SEA regions, 50 for the Korean market, and 700 for the rest of the world.

I managed to get one of the 150 units for SEA, and so did 24 other Malaysians. That’s right, there are only 25 units of this keyboard in Malaysia.

Distribution of Jelly Epoch units sold in SEA (Source:
Zion Studios PH
)

Now, the sheer rarity of the Jelly Epoch is not its main appeal. Rather, it’s the sound profile of the keyboard: it is
easily
 one of the deepest, “thockiest” custom keyboard around.

Paired with a price tag that isn’t astronomically high – it retailed from $389, which comes up to about RM1,615 – and you’ve got one of the most sought-after keyboards in the enthusiast scene. Anyway, let’s take a closer look at the Jelly Epoch, shall we?

The Jelly Epoch is a 75% keyboard, so it has a similar layout as a 65% keyboard, but with the addition of an F-row. It also has a unique gasket mounting system that uses eight “jelly” gaskets, which are (essentially) just sleeved to the plate itself instead of having to use adhesives. This makes for a much, much easier installation process.

Aside from that, the Jelly Epoch has
three
different foams in its construction too. They are all optional, but the combination of these foams, the unique gasket mounting system, a polycarbonate plate, and the flexible PCB – it has five flex cuts; not something you typically see – lend to the deep, thocky sound profile of the keyboard.

Just give the sound test below by Alexotos a listen.

Doesn’t sound like any pre-built keyboards, does it? Rest assured, we will be doing a video review of the Jelly Epoch too very soon, and we’ll do our own sound test as well. Speaking of which, I’ve built my unit with an aluminium plate instead, just to see if it’s possible to change the sound profile to be more “clacky.”

With that in mind, I have also opted to use SP-Star Luminous Cyber switches for my Jelly Epoch. SP-Star switches are known to be pretty clacky, and paired with a set of GMK keycaps, I was…surprised with the results! This setup definitely gives the keyboard more of a clacky sound profile, but it’s more of a…deep clack, if you will.

Granted, I did lube the SP-Star switches with Krytox 205g0, and I also filmed them with Deskeys switch films for a cleaner sound profile.

However, aside from its incredible sound profile, the overall design of the Jelly Epoch is…well, an acquired taste. Truth be told, the main reason I got this keyboard is for its sound profile. If I were to judge the Jelly Epoch based purely on aesthetics, I wouldn’t have joined the in-stock sale at all.

There is also one other issue with the design of the Jelly Epoch: the front height is…quite tall. Because of this, the typing angle is quite a bit higher than your usual keyboard, which can be uncomfortable for some folks. This is even more so if you’re using a tall keycap profile such as SA or MT3.

But I do have to admit one thing: the Jelly Epoch looks very unique, especially the brass weight on the bottom of the keyboard. I’m not thrilled with the “Jelly” lettering on the weight, but it’s certainly the centrepiece of the keyboard’s design.

Oh, the brass weight also makes this a
very
 hefty keyboard. Completely built, the Jelly Epoch weighs a
whopping 2.6kg
. There’s absolutely no way the keyboard will move around when you’re furiously typing or gaming with it.

As for the building experience of the Jelly Epoch, it’s actually quite fun. The build guide is easy to follow, though I’m not thrilled by the fact that it requires pretty specific screw bits to assemble. In fact, I had to buy a new screwdriver set because of this.

Nonetheless, I do enjoy building the Jelly Epoch, and its sound profile is just…unlike any custom keyboards I’ve built. To some folks, I reckon it can even be an “endgame” keyboard, though some enthusiasts would argue that there is no such thing as an endgame in this hobby.

At the moment, Owlab has no plans to do another run for the Jelly Epoch, though the company will be offering new keyboards in the near future. Even though the “in-stock” sale wasn’t handled particularly well – as mentioned, I only got my unit two months after the initial sale – I’m still very excited to see what the company has to offer in the future.

After all, Owlab has proven itself to be able to produce a keyboard with a fantastic sound profile at a reasonably good price point. Hopefully, the company will be able to improve on its shortcomings from this sale in the next one – I absolutely cannot wait.


Huawei Nova 8i With Snapdragon Chip & 66W Fast Charging Coming to Malaysia 6 July

It’s been confirmed for quite some time now, but we now have the exact Malaysian launch date of Huawei’s latest mid-ranger, the Huawei Nova 8i. Sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip along with 66W fast charging, Malaysia is one of the first markets to receive the new smartphone.

One of the main highlights of the Nova 8i has to be its 66W fast charging. According to Huawei, the phone’s 4,300mAh battery can be charged up to 60% in only 17 minutes. A full charge, on the other hand, takes only 38 minutes.

In the camera department, the Nova 8i features a quad camera configuration. It’s made up of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. All in all, a reasonably good camera setup for a mid-range smartphone.

Other specifications of the Nova 8i include a 6.67-inch 2376 x 1080 screen with a impressive 94.7% screen-to-body ratio, a Snapdragon 662 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, as well as a 16MP selfie camera.

The Huawei Nova 8i will make its Malaysian debut next week on 6 July. We’re also told that the mid-ranger will be available for pre-order the following day on 7 July.


Huawei Launching 2 Premium Monitors in Malaysia on 6 July

Aside from the
Nova 8i
, Huawei Malaysia will be launching a number of other products as well, including two premium monitors. These include the Huawei MateView 4K monitor, as well as the Huawei MateView GT curved ultrawide gaming monitor.

Let’s start with the MateView GT first. It sports a 34-inch 3440 x 1440 VA panel with a wide 21:9 aspect ratio. It also has a 1500R curvature, and given that this is a gaming-centric monitor, it features a fast 165Hz refresh rate as well. Interestingly, it has a built-in stereo soundbar too.

As for the MateView 4K monitor, it’s catered to creative professionals who need accurate colour reproduction. The MateView’s 28.2-inch 3840 x 2560 IPS screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio covers 98% of the DCI-P3 colour space, and it supports HDR400 as well.

Other notable features of the MateView include an impressive 94% screen-to-body ratio – which lends to a sleek, modern-looking design – a maximum brightness of 500 nits, and just like the MateView GT, this monitor has built-in speakers too (along with dual microphones), though it’s not a soundbar.

The Huawei MateView and Huawei MateView GT do look quite compelling, but given their premium appeal, expect them to cost a premium too. We’ll find out just how much these two monitors will cost once they are officially launched in Malaysia next week on 6 July.


Latest Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Update Adds 120Hz Mode…for 40fps Gameplay

Insomniac Games just released a
new update
 for the PlayStation 5 exclusive
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
. Aside from various bug fixes, the highlight of the update has to be the 120Hz mode, which…enables 40fps gameplay?

You read that right. Basically, compatible TVs that can run at 120Hz will benefit from this new update. When the graphics mode is set to Fidelity – which focuses on delivering the best-looking graphics at 4K resolution with ray-tracing and enhanced lighting – the game will now run at 40fps instead of 30fps.

While that may not sound much, it’s effectively a 33% boost in frame rate. According to Insomniac Games, the new 120Hz mode also reduces input latency when using a compatible display. If 40fps is still not quite good enough for you, opt for the other two Performance modes, which run at 60fps but with reduced graphics fidelity.

The Version 1.002 update for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is now available for download. If you’d like to learn more about the exclusive PS5 title, check out our
review of the game
.


Proton X70 Now in Nepal for a Cool RM300,000 – 1.5L Turbo Engine, AWD

The
Proton X70
 has just been launched in Nepal through official distributor Jagdamba Motors. Unlike the X70 variants available here in Malaysia, the C-segment SUV for the Nepal market features a 1.5L turbo engine – the same one powering the
Proton X50
 – all-wheel drive, and a cool RM300,000 starting price.

Four different variants of the X70 are offered in Nepal. The base 1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD model costs 8.699 million Nepalese rupee (about RM304,275), while the 1.5 TGDi Executive 2WD trim is priced at 9.199 million rupee (approximately RM321,765).

The all-wheel drive 1.5 TGDi Executive and 1.5 TGDi Premium models, on the other hand, go for 9.699 million rupee (around RM339,255) and 10.499 million rupee (about RM367,240) respectively.

Compared to the pricing of the X70 for the Malaysian market – between RM89,900 to RM115,800 now with sales tax exemption – these prices are definitely much,
much
 dearer. But that’s because Nepal imposes high import duties, which drive up the prices of the SUV considerably.

As Proton mentioned before
, the national carmaker will be focusing on its export business quite a bit in 2021. Rest assured, Proton
will still meet local demand
, though the current
total lockdown
 is preventing the carmaker from fulfilling outstanding orders.

Until we transition to phase two of the government’s National Recovery Plan (NRP), most of the automotive sector
will remain closed
.


AstraZeneca Dosing Interval Shortened to 9 Weeks – Appointments Will Be Given Soon

If you’re part of the first opt-in for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, take note: the dosing interval has been shortened to nine weeks now instead of 12. If you received the vaccine back in May, expect to get your second appointment very soon.

This was revealed by Khairy Jamaluddin, the coordinating minister for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. In a Tweet sent out by him, he said the dosing interval for the AstraZeneca vaccine is being shortened on the recommendation of their Technical Working Group.

Based on the recommendation from our Technical Working Group & with greater clarity of the delivery schedule,
@JKJAVMY
 has decided to shorten the dosing interval for AZ from 12 to nine weeks. Those who participated in the first round of AZ will be notified of their 2nd appt soon.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj)
July 1, 2021

Malaysia hari ini terima satu juta dos vaksin AstraZeneca menerusi penerbangan Japan Airlines JL073, sumbangan kerajaan Jepun
@JKJAVMY

@Khairykj

@HishammuddinH2O

@KKMPutrajaya

#LindungDiriLindungSemua

#MenangBersama

pic.twitter.com/CoFa3niJ1y
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom)
July 1, 2021

It’s also worth noting that Malaysia have just received one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine courtesy of the Japanese government. As confirmed by Khairy in a press conference, this batch of the vaccine will be given to folks who signed up for the first opt-in session back in May.

If you received the AstraZeneca vaccine in early May, your second appointment should be happening as early as next week. Make sure to check your MySejahtera app for any update on your appointment.


iPhone 13 Dummy Unit Shown With Smaller Notch & Different Camera Arrangement

As we get closer to the launch of the 2021 iPhones, more leaks surrounding the phones are circulating the internet. This time around, alleged dummy units of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro were posted on
Weibo
, showcasing the smaller notch and new camera arrangement.

Let’s start with the new camera module, which sees a slight revision. Shown below is supposedly the iPhone 13’s camera configuration next to the iPhone 13 Pro. Previously, the iPhone 12 – and in essence, the
iPhone 12 mini
 too – had its two camera sensors arranged horizontally, but the iPhone 13 looks to be moving to a diagonal design.

Several front shots of the alleged iPhone 13 dummy unit were taken too. Although the difference isn’t very noticeable, the notch does look ever so slightly smaller, leaving more space for notifications to be shown at the top of the screen.

Of course, given that these are leaked images, there’s a possibility we’re not looking at the final iteration of the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro. We’ll just have to wait until September or October for Apple to officially introduce its 2021 iPhones – the Pro models may even feature an
ultra-wide angle camera with autofocus
.


MacBooks With Mini-LED Displays Supposedly Launching in September 2021

Apple first used a mini-LED display on its product with the
M1-powered iPad Pro
, but this may change in the near future; as early as September, in fact. According to a new report, the Cupertino company is preparing to release two new MacBook Pro laptops with mini-LED screens.

This bit of info came from
Digitimes
. Citing an anonymous source, two suppliers (Zhen Ding Technology and Tripod Technology) will be ramping up production of mini-LED panels for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops.

The 2020 MacBook Pro

The report also mentioned that these two MacBooks are expected to hit the market in late Q3 2021, so we may be looking at a September launch. Typically, Apple introduces its new range of iPhones in September, though the company only introduced the
iPhone 12 series
 in October last year.

Nonetheless, the prospect of two new MacBook Pro laptops being introduced in the next couple of months is certainly exciting. After all, rumours are suggesting that the new laptops will be sporting an all-new design, though there’s always a chance these rumours could turn out to be false.


2nd Appointment for AstraZeneca Vaccination Now Shown in MySejahtera

Not long after it was announced that the dosing interval for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been
shortened to nine weeks from 12
, it appears appointments for the second dose have been rolled out in the MySejahtera app. Of course, this second appointment will only be received by those who were in the first opt-in for the vaccine.

A fair number of my colleagues – as well as myself – who were in the first opt-in for the AstraZeneca vaccine have already received our appointments for the second dose in MySejahtera. In fact, it is exactly nine weeks after I received my first dose. Naturally, the second appointment is at the very same PPV centre as well.

If you were part of the first opt-in for the AstraZeneca vaccine, check your
vaccination page
 in the MySejahtera app – you may have been given an appointment already. If you have, make sure to confirm your appointment!


Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut Arriving 20 August – Coming to PS5 & PS4

There’s a new version of
Ghost of Tsushima
, and it will be available on both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Not only does Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut include a number of improvements, there is also a whole new island – with a new storyline – for players to explore.

The new area is Iki island, Tsushima’s neighbouring island which was also invaded by the Mongols. In the video below, you can see some sneak peeks of the new environment, which looks particularly stunning on the PS5.

Aside from the new island – which will also introduce new characters – the Director’s Cut will add some improvements to the PS5 version as well. These include support for dynamic 4K resolution targeting 60fps, implementation of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, faster load times, and get this: lip sync for Japanese voice-over.

If you already own the original PS4 version of Ghost of Tsushima, you can transfer your progress to the PS5 version of Director’s Cut once the game is released. You can also upgrade to the PS4 version of Director’s Cut for RM89. If you want to upgrade to the PS5 version instead, that will cost RM129.

Interestingly, if you bought the PS4 version of Director’s Cut after 20 August, you can upgrade to the PS5 version for RM50.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut will be available on PS5 and PS4 next month on 20 August; it will include the original game alongside the new content. The PS5 version costs RM299, while the PS4 version is slightly cheaper at RM249. If you pre-order either version of the game on the PlayStation Store, you’ll have access to the PS4 version of the game immediately.

Not sure if Ghost of Tsushima is for you? Then check out our full review of the game
right here
.


Proton X70 SE Launching Soon – Only 2,000 Units Available

Leaked back in May, the existence of the
Proton X70 SE
 has just been confirmed by Proton. Set to go on sale soon, only 2,000 units of the special edition SUV will be available, so expect it to sell out quickly once it’s officially launched.

Based on the Premium 2WD version of the X70 – so there’s no sunroof – the X70 SE is identical to the “
Exclusive Edition
” of the SUV for the Brunei market pictured below. Well, there is one difference: the SE model will feature an SE badge on the rear end.

Aside from that, the X70 SE also features new 19-inch alloy wheels with the very same design found on the Geely Boyue Pro, the facelifted model of the Boyue – the X70 is based on the latter. It also has a blacked-out roof and side mirrors with two colour options: Ocean Blue (the same shade offered for the
X50
 and
Iriz
) and Ruby Red.

Other specifications of the X70 SE include black nappa leather seats, the same 1.8L turbocharged direct injection engine with 181hp and 300Nm of torque, as well as a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Pricing of the Proton X70 SE has not been revealed yet, so we’ll just have to wait for the official launch of the C-segment SUV to find out. Given that most of the Klang Valley area is under EMCO from 3 to 16 July, there’s a good chance the X70 SE will only be introduced after that.

(Image source:
Fadli Proton Brunei
)


Samsung Galaxy A22 5G Now in Malaysia for RM999 – 90Hz Screen, 5,000mAh Battery

Samsung just launched a new budget-friendly smartphone in Malaysia. Despite being an entry-level device, the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G does have a number of interesting features, including a 90Hz screen and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

Only one variant of the Galaxy A22 is offered for the Malaysian market. Featuring 128GB of expandable storage with 8GB of RAM, this smartphone retails at only RM999. On top of that, those who purchase the phone by 31 August will also receive a free casing worth RM39.

Like most phones in the market now, the Galaxy A22 has a reasonably fast 6.6-inch 1080p LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. It should offer above average battery life too with its 5,000mAh battery, which also supports 15W fast charging.

Other specifications of the Galaxy A22 include a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset with 5G connectivity, a triple camera system (48MP primary + 5MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP depth), an 8MP selfie camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and One UI Core 3.1 based on Android 11 out of the box.

The Samsung Galaxy A22 5G is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM999. It is offered in three different colours: Grey, Violet, and Mint.


Infinix Hot 10S Coming to Malaysia 13 July – 6,000mAh Battery, 90Hz Screen, Helio G85

Infinix entered the Malaysian market not too long ago, and the phone maker has since launched a few affordable smartphones here. Later this month, the Infinix Hot 10S is set to be available here too, and it will be sold exclusively on Shopee.

Of course, local pricing of the Hot 10S has not been revealed yet, though it should be a budget-friendly smartphone. After all, this phone retails from only 9,999 Indian rupee in India – that comes up to about RM555.

One of the main highlights of the Hot 10S is its very generous 6,000mAh battery, which should be able to offer very good battery life. Aside from that, it also has a 6.82-inch IPS screen with a reasonably fast 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, though it is only a 1640 x 720 panel.

Rounding out the specifications of the Hot 10S are a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with up to 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage, a triple camera system (48MP primary + 2MP depth + “AI lens”), an 8MP selfie camera, a rear fingerprint sensor, and Android 11 out of the box.

The Infinix Hot 10S will be launched in Malaysia on 13 July, though the phone maker said that it will be available to be added to the cart on Shopee from 7 July onwards. We’ll find out then exactly how much the Hot 10S will be priced at locally.


I Spent Over RM3,000 on This Keyboard – Worth It?

The custom keyboard hobby can get…well, expensive. Not only do you have to get a keyboard kit, you also have to purchase keycaps, switches, stabilisers, along with a slew of other accessories to assemble a complete keyboard.

Take this keyboard I’ve built a few days ago, the
Jelly Epoch
: it cost me over RM3,000 to put it together. While that is undeniably a lot of money, I definitely did not regret spending this much “just” for a keyboard – read on to find out why.

Cost Breakdown

First, let’s break down the cost of this keyboard:

Jelly Epoch kit: about
RM2,200
(including shipping, extra hotswap PCB, aluminium plate, foams)
GMK White-on-Black keycap set:
RM520
(shipping included)
SP-Star Luminous Cyber switch:
RM215
(81 switches with shipping included)
Durock V2 stabilisers:
RM67
(shipping included)
Total amount:
RM3,002

Do note that due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the current prices of the Jelly Epoch (not that it’s available for purchase now) and GMK WoB keycap set may be different from what I paid above. Thankfully, I do save on shipping for the switches and stabilisers – I sourced these two parts locally from
Keys on Shopee
.

Technically, the Jelly Epoch itself only cost me around RM1,700, but the extras I got for the keyboard drive up the price quite a bit, especially the extra hotswap PCB and aluminium plate. While I’d say the plate is optional, it’s good practice to get an extra PCB in case anything happens.

You wouldn’t want your expensive keyboard to be an expensive paperweight if you have only one PCB, and it breaks somewhere down the road.

It’s also worth noting that the
actual
 amount I spent is more than the figure above; I didn’t include the cost of items needed to lube the switches and tune the stabilisers. These include a switch opener, switch films, brushes, and of course, lube.

Collectively, these items cost more or less around RM100, though I’m not including them in the cost breakdown. After all, I can still use these items across other keyboards, so the cost is spread out.

Wait, Why Are These Parts So Expensive?

Well, some folks would consider the Jelly Epoch a premium keyboard kit, so the parts that I got for it has to match the “status” of the keyboard, so to speak. The GMK keycap set, for one, is really the gold standard for keycaps. The SP-Star switch is also a more premium option, which cost me about RM2.60 per switch.

While it’s entirely possible to lower the cost of this setup by going with more affordable switches and keycap set, you do get what you pay for here. You will not get the same level of quality by going with cheaper options, and as I’ve mentioned earlier, it would only be “fair” to the Jelly Epoch by pairing it with equally premium parts.

Believe it or not, the Jelly Epoch isn’t even the most expensive keyboard kit to hit the market.

Why Spend So Much?

For a number of reasons! As I’ve said before, you get what you pay for, and every single part of the keyboard impacts the typing experience one way or another. I don’t mind paying so much for the Jelly Epoch itself for its
fantastic
 sound profile, which is inherently deep and thocky.

As for the GMK keycap set, it’s costly for a number of reasons: it has a nice, premium feeling texture, and I love how sharp the legends look. Given that the keycap is the part of the keyboard that we touch the most, it’s worth spending on a high quality keycap set like GMK for a more pleasant typing experience.

It doesn’t matter how good the keyboard is if the keycaps feel horrible to the touch.

Last but not least is the SP-Star Luminous Cyber switch. Compared to, say, a much more affordable Gateron Yellow linear switch that costs around RM1 per unit, this particular SP-Star switch is far smoother out of the box. It has very little wobble too, which makes for a more “stable” typing experience.

Plus, this SP-Star Luminous Cyber switch – as its name suggests – glows in the dark! Granted, it’s not like I can see the switches once the keycaps are installed, but it’s a…unique feature nonetheless.

What about the Durock V2 stabiliser? Is it wise to spend RM67 for it? Absolutely. Stabiliser is one part of a keyboard that you really should not cheap out on; there’s nothing worse than the ticking of a cheap set of stabilisers. Anyway, the Durock V2 stabiliser, when tuned properly, is really one of the best options out there.

Can I Get a Similar Typing Experience for Less?

Definitely! Well, to an extent. If you want a deep, thocky sound profile like the Jelly Epoch, you do have to look around for another keyboard kit that offers such a property – and hope that it’s not priced astronomically high.

When a particular keyboard goes on group buy – which is similar to a pre-order – there will usually be a sound test of the keyboard in question, so keep your eyes peeled.
MechGroupBuys
is a great website to check on what pre-orders are currently running in the custom keyboard scene, ranging from keyboard kits, switches, and keycap sets.

Speaking of which, you don’t have to opt for a GMK keycap set either for a good typing experience. A more affordable alternative is an ePBT keycap set, though some colourways can get expensive.

Do note that ePBT keycaps are also made from PBT plastic, so it has a deeper sound profile with a slightly rougher texture than the ABS plastic of GMK keycaps. Some folks actually prefer these properties.

As for switches, the aforementioned Gateron Yellow switch is a great budget choice. It’s definitely not quite as smooth as the SP-Star switch out of the box, but with some lubing, you can definitely get close.

Where Do I Start?

If you want to get into the custom keyboard hobby, we’ve got quite a number of articles to help you get started, such as our
custom keyboard buyer’s guide
. Not sure where to buy keyboard parts?
We got you covered
. Too many switch options out there? We outline the
different types of switches here
, along with some personal recommendations.

Trust me when I say this: it’s unreal how much better a custom keyboard is compared to an off-the-shelf keyboard. Yes, it’s not as straightforward as just purchasing a keyboard from a store – and it’s not as affordable – but a custom keyboard offers superior typing experience, tons of customisation, and most of all, it feels
rewarding
when you’ve built your first keyboard.

Of course, you can always commission someone else to build a custom keyboard for you, but where’s the fun in that?


When Should You Change Your Phone?

The smartphone industry moves at a very rapid pace. That new, shiny phone you just got, for example, will be “replaced” with a newer, more feature-packed device just one year after its initial launch. With that in mind, there’s a good chance the desire to upgrade your phone is an annual affair.

While it’s feasible for some folks to upgrade their smartphones every year, it’s not always practical. If you’re contemplating to change your phone, here are a number of things to consider:

It’s Beginning to Show Its Age

We’ve all been there: phones that could barely last through a whole day of use with a battery that had gone through many cycles of charging and discharging; stuttering and lagging that seem to get worse every day; or just a camera that isn’t up to snuff anymore.

While some of these issues can be rectified easily – such as getting the battery replaced – there comes a time where it’s just more practical to change to an entirely different phone. The question is, how long should you use a phone before it’s time for a replacement?

Personally, I think the best time to upgrade is after three years of use. It’s a good rule of thumb: there should really be no major issues at all in the first two years of use, especially if it’s a high-end flagship phone.

In my experience, it’s only in the third year of ownership where a phone will start slowing down and start showing signs of major battery degradation.

To put this into context, I still swap back to the 2019
Samsung Galaxy S10+
 in between phones I’m reviewing. Sure, it doesn’t feel quite as speedy or as cutting-edge as a 2021 flagship phone, but it’s still fast enough for regular use. Of course, its camera performance is still very good too.

Anyway, let’s move on to the next point, which happens more frequently than one might think.

The Screen Is Cracked

Chances are, you’ve dropped your phone (hard) once or twice, and if you’re unlucky enough, the screen cracked from the impact. Even if the phone still works with a cracked screen, you should really consider getting the screen replaced or getting a new phone.

Obviously, it’s not safe to use a phone with a cracked glass screen; you wouldn’t want to cut yourself. This is why a screen protector – especially a tempered glass one – is worth investing in. It’s also wise to use a casing with a “raised lip” over the screen that prevents it from making contact with the floor in the event of a fall.

Granted, it’s entirely possible that even with a casing and screen protector installed, the display can still break. In this case, get the screen replaced if it’s still a relatively new phone, but keep the next point in mind first.

It Costs Too Much to Repair

When it actually costs more to fix a phone than to outright buy a new one, it makes more financial sense to go with the latter option. However, there are a number of factors to consider. If it costs, say, RM1,000 to replace the screen of a flagship smartphone, it may be worth it to fix it up than to buy a RM1,000 mid-range device.

That being said, it’s a different scenario entirely if we’re talking about repairing a mid-range smartphone for the same amount of money, especially if a brand new unit doesn’t cost that much more.

Limited Software Support

This relates back to our first point, though it differs from one brand to another. While some phone makers promise up to four years of security updates –
such as Samsung
 – a number of other manufacturers don’t provide the same level of support; worse if they promise nothing at all.

There’s no denying the importance of software support over the years of ownership. It’s not just about not getting the latest features; security updates are vital to ensure that your phone is protected from malicious software. This is why it’s also important to consider how well a phone maker handles software support when deciding to buy a certain phone.

In this regard, Apple’s commitment to providing software updates to even its
six-year-old
 phone
 is worth commending – how many other phone makers do the same thing?

Of course, at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you whether or not it’s time to change to a new phone; this article is only meant to be a guide. After all, everyone has their own preferences – there is no one rule that applies to everyone.