Sony Xperia 10 II Hands-On: A Curious RM1,799 Mid-Ranger

The Sony Xperia 10 II – pronounced Xperia 10 Mark II – was unveiled to the world back in February this year, and it’s finally available for purchase in Malaysia now. On paper, it’s a mid-range smartphone powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, which doesn’t sound all that impressive, especially for RM1,799.

That’s right, the Xperia 10 II is a Snapdragon 665 device that costs RM1,799; that is a lot of money for a mid-range smartphone. At a glance, it’s tough to justify that kind of price tag for a phone in this segment, but the thing is…the Xperia 10 II
actually
 has a couple of winning qualities here. Let’s talk about them in this hands-on, shall we?

For one, the Xperia 10 II has a rare feature for any mid-range smartphone: its chassis is IP65/IP68-rated, giving it dust and water resistance. In fact, in the sub-RM2,000 price range, only the
latest iteration of the iPhone SE
 – which costs RM1,999 – immediately comes to mind with any form of water resistance. Chances are, this certification is what drives up the price of the Xperia 10 II to an extent.

Besides that, another unique feature of this mid-ranger is its 6-inch 1080p OLED screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio. Not many phones have a display with such a wide aspect ratio, which gives the Xperia 10 II a rather…well, disproportionate look. That being said, the tall screen allows the device to be narrower, so it’s easier to operate the phone with only one hand; something that you cannot say of the majority of smartphones in the market now.

Of course, the OLED panel of the Xperia 10 II is worth a mention here too. Not only does it offer bright, punchy colours, it also has great viewing angles and extremely good black level. After all, the latter is an inherent property of OLED screens, which are generally considered to be more desirable than LCD panels.

Another benefit of OLED panels is better power efficiency, which complements the Xperia 10 II’s 3,600mAh battery very well. It is not an awfully big battery capacity, but this
is
 a compact smartphone. While I haven’t had the chance to extensively test the battery life of this phone yet, I’m confident it will be quite a long-lasting device.

So far, I’ve only been highlighting unique aspects of the Xperia 10 II that could appeal to folks, so let’s talk about its less-than-stellar hardware now. The most glaring shortcoming of this smartphone has to be its decidedly mid-range Snapdragon 665 chipset. Compared to more modern processors that are faster and more power-efficient – especially at this price point – the Snapdragon 665 certainly pales in comparison.

Granted, in my brief time with the Xperia 10 II, it doesn’t feel particularly sluggish or slow, though it remains to be seen exactly how well it would perform in other tasks that are more demanding. Rest assured, I will put the Snapdragon 665 through its paces in the full review; it’ll be interesting to see if it can offer a pleasant gaming experience.

Design wise, I’m not too crazy about the looks of the Xperia 10 II. While I do appreciate the narrow chassis of the phone (it helps with ergonomics), the sizeable top and bottom bezels – and even the sides, actually – doesn’t give it a particularly sleek appeal. Sure, space had to be made on the bottom bezel to fit the front-facing speaker, but it would’ve been great if Sony retained the minimal chin of
the phone’s predecessor
.

Anyway, at least the Xperia 10 II feels great in my hands. Its plastic frame doesn’t exactly scream premium, but the matte finish does feel nice to the touch. The simple, relatively unblemished rear design looks good too, and the Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protecting the front and back of the phone gives it solid, reassuring build quality.

Last but certainly not least is the triple camera system of the Xperia 10 II. It is made up of a 12MP f/2.0 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and get this: another 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens that can do 2x optical zoom. Mid-range smartphones don’t typically offer a telephoto camera, so it’s nice to see that Sony is including such a sensor in the Xperia 10 II.

However, even though this phone has a versatile camera array with three different focal lengths, the actual image quality and shooting experience don’t seem super promising. See, every time I hit the shutter button, the phone wouldn’t immediately take the shot. Instead, it will attempt to lock in focus again, even though the shot was already focused.

Besides that, the speed of the autofocus system isn’t very impressive either, and same goes for detail preservation,
even
in reasonably well-lit environment. Of course, it’s still much too early to give any verdict on the camera performance of the Xperia 10 II, but I’m not exactly thrilled to shoot with the phone at the moment. Nonetheless, stay tuned for the full review.

The Sony Xperia 10 II is not a mid-range smartphone that is immediately appealing, especially with its steep RM1,799 price tag. But if you can look past its high asking price, there are some really good qualities here that are unique to the phone in this segment. But whether or not these are worth forking out a premium for it is an entirely different question, even if you do get 128GB of expandable storage and 4GB of RAM.

But for what it’s worth, I am quite excited to use the Xperia 10 II as my daily driver, mostly for its unique, compact form factor. Yes, I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of the tall, narrow design
when it debut on the first Xperia 10
, but there’s just something about the Xperia 10 II that piqued my interest. Whether or not my interest will diminish in the next few weeks will depend on just how good the phone really is.


Watch the DualSense Controller for the PlayStation 5 in Action

The
PlayStation 5
 is only set to be launched towards the end of the year, but we get to see the DualSense controller for the next-generation console in action much earlier. In a hands-on session with Geoff Keighley – the man behind The Game Awards – he demonstrated the features of the DualSense in a demo of Astro’s Playroom.

In fact, Astro’s Playroom will be pre-installed on all PlayStation 5 systems as a sort of “orientation” for the DualSense controller. It’s meant to show off what the new controller is capable of, including the new adaptive triggers, improved haptic feedback system – which should be more refined than the DualShock 4’s vibration motor – and even the built-in microphone.

Surprisingly enough, in the hands-on session, it’s the integrated speaker of the DualSense that impressed Keighley quite a bit. According to him, the speaker quality is noticeably better than the one in the DualShock 4. He added that the DualSense’s speaker feels like it has much more range, with more variety in the types of sound that it can produce.

Of course, in the demo of Astro’s Playroom, Keighley also had a chance to feel how the DualSense’s new adaptive triggers work. He “never felt something like this before,” and it seems to be possible to feel the tension of the in-game spring-loaded frog suit as he pushes down on the L2 and R2 triggers. Keighley mentioned that the new adaptive triggers are programmable as well, though it remains to be seen to what extent.

The DualShock 4 next to the DualSense

A new member of the family.
#PlayStation5

#SummerGameFest

pic.twitter.com/xuCTkBmq8h
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley)
July 17, 2020

As for the physical characteristic of the DualSense itself, it does look noticeably bigger than the DualShock 4 when they are next to each other. On top of that, Keighley also said that the new controller is noticeably heavier. The DualSense “has more heft to it in a good way,” he elaborated.

Beyond the DualSense controller, Keighley also interviewed the head of marketing for PlayStation, Eric Lempel, to get some information on the PlayStation 5. Not surprisingly, no major news were shared, though Lempel did mention that pre-orders for the console will be announced ahead of time, and that new colour options for the system and controller will be talked about “at some point.”

This is the
#PlayStation5
 DualSense Controller. Tomorrow at Noon ET / 9 am PT, it's time to go hands on. Can't wait to tell you about my experience.
https://t.co/Hp7WuLrjXk

#SummerGameFest

pic.twitter.com/hvxTouNrc1
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley)
July 16, 2020

This is the very first time we got to see an extensive look at how the DualSense controller works, and it’s certainly building up anticipation for the PlayStation 5. Hopefully, more details will be revealed in the near future ahead of the system’s release by the end of the year. Given that the DualSense controller has
already been certified by SIRIM
, there’s a chance Malaysia will be one of the first markets to receive the next-generation console.


Sony WF-SP800N Wireless Earbuds With ANC & IP55 Rating Now in Malaysia for RM849

Sony’s range of wireless earbuds have gotten pretty good in recent times, and the Japanese company’s latest product, the Sony WF-SP800N, seems to continue the trend. It’s now available here in Malaysia, and it brings some notable improvements, including active noise cancellation, improved battery life, and better water resistance.

For the Malaysian market, the WF-SP800N retail at RM849. While that’s not a particularly affordable price tag, it’s not exactly the most costly earbuds either. Plus, you’re getting active noise cancellation here; not many wireless earbuds come with this feature, especially at this price point.

Besides that, all four colours of the WF-SP800N earbuds are offered locally as well, including Orange, Blue, White, and of course, Black.

Compared to its predecessor, the WF-SP700N – which only had an IPX4 rating – the new WF-SP800N sports a better IP55 water and dust resistance. This makes it much more ideal for those who want to use the earbuds while working out; you won’t have to worry about water damage in the long run. Sony says that the earbuds can even be washed to keep it clean after strenuous workouts.

Also improved accordingly is the battery life of the WF-SP800N. According to Sony, the wireless earbuds can last for up to
13 hours
 on a single charge, and the charging case has enough juice to recharge the earbuds once. Basically, you’re getting up to 26 hours of play time here, which is really quite impressive.

That being said, you can only get that level of battery life with the active noise cancellation disabled. With the feature switched on, the WF-SP800N can offer up to nine hours of use instead. That’s still very good battery life, of course, and it can be extended up to 18 hours with the charging case.

Sony is also highlighting the audio quality of the WF-SP800N; more specifically, the bass performance. Sony promises that these earbuds can deliver “powerful, punchy low-end sound,” so it’ll be interesting to see if this is really the case. We’ll definitely put this to the test once we have it in for review.

The Sony WF-SP800N wireless earbuds are now
available for purchase in Malaysia for RM849
. If you’ve been looking to get a pair of earbuds for your workouts, consider this one – especially if you want a lot of bass.


Asus ROG Phone 3 Coming to Malaysia in September; 16GB RAM, Similar Pricing as ROG Phone II

Asus will be launching its latest gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 3, this Wednesday on 22 July. Well, we just heard from the Taiwanese company on the Malaysian availability of the phone: it’s expected to be landing here sometime in the middle of September, and it will be priced similarly to the
Asus ROG Phone II
 as well.

That’s right, the ROG Phone 3 will be priced “very close” to its predecessor, as Asus Malaysia put it. For comparison, the ROG Phone II retails from RM2,499 to RM4,499, so we can expect the upcoming gaming phone to be positioned within this price range. Not bad at all for a device powered by the fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset.

Official teaser of the Asus ROG Phone 3.

Actually, there is one variant of the gaming phone that won’t be powered by a Snapdragon 865+ processor, which is the ROG Phone 3 Strix. Instead, this model is said to be packing a regular Snapdragon 865 chip instead; still a very capable processor, of course. It’s also equipped with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Besides that, Asus Malaysia also detailed two other ROG Phone 3 variants that will be offered locally. Both will come with a Snapdragon 865+ chipset and 512GB of internal storage, with only the RAM capacity – either 12GB or 16GB of RAM – differentiating the two. You read that right: 16GB of RAM on a smartphone.

TENAA listing of the Asus ROG Phone 3.

Unfortunately, that’s all the details we got from Asus Malaysia on the ROG Phone 3. Looking at the many leaks and rumours surrounding the phone, it’s expected to be largely similar in design to its predecessor with some small changes here and there. The camera, for one, is said to be a triple camera system now.

No changes to the display size of the ROG Phone 3, which is believed to still be a 6.59-inch 2340 x 1080 display with an in-screen fingerprint sensor. The refresh rate of the panel has not been revealed yet, though there is a chance it will be upgraded from 120Hz to 144Hz. Either way, it is almost guaranteed to be sporting a fast display; this is a gaming smartphone, after all.

Other rumoured specifications of the ROG Phone 3 include a large 6,000mAh battery, a 24MP front-facing camera, stereo speakers, as well as Android 10 out of the box.

The Asus ROG Phone 3’s global launch will be happening on 22 July this Wednesday at 11PM Malaysian time. The launch event will be live streamed online on
Asus’ website
 as well as
YouTube
 in the embedded video above.


Laptop Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Gaming Laptop for Your Needs

Shopping for the most ideal gaming laptop for your use can be a tall task, especially if you’re not quite sure what to look out for. Well, to make your shopping experience for a gaming laptop much easier, we’ve prepared a list of features you should consider for your needs.

Ranging from raw performance to more specific features like a good set of keyboard, this list will definitely help you choose the right gaming laptop for yourself. Without further ado, let’s get to it!

Powerful Enough For Your Needs

There are two main components to consider when you’re shopping for a gaming laptop: the processor and graphics card. These two hardware, depending on your gaming appetite, has to be powerful enough to meet your demands. This is especially the case with the GPU, which impacts gaming performance the most.

If you want a budget-friendly option, look for a gaming laptop with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650; this is the most cost-effective GPU for a good gaming experience. While it is an entry-level offering, the GTX 1650 will be able to deliver high enough frame rates in modern AAA titles with some adjustments in the graphics settings.

In the CPU side of things, we highly recommend AMD’s excellent Ryzen 4000 processors. Not only do they deliver an incredibly good level of performance, these chips are also very power-efficient. After all, all Ryzen 4000 mobile processors are fabricated on a 7nm process, making them a lot more power-efficient than their competition.

Fast Display With High Refresh Rate

Any gaming laptop worth its salt has to come with – at the very least – a 120Hz panel for the best gaming experience. Not only is a high refresh rate useful in fast-paced games – the screen is refreshed 120 times every second for a 120Hz panel – it will also provide better motion clarity, which is great in practically any game.

In order to get the best balance between image quality and performance, you can opt for a 1080p screen. After all, to take advantage of a fast panel, the frame rate has to be able to keep up as well; most mobile GPU can maintain a high frame rate at 1080p.

A Keyboard That’s Fit for Gaming

To game effectively, you’ll need a good set of keyboard. There are a few things to look out for in this regard, with the layout of the keyboard being one of the most important factors. It has to be as close to a standard layout as possible with full-size keys, and it’ll be even better if the power button isn’t actually a part of the keyboard to avoid accidentally powering down the laptop.

Besides that, it’s also essential for the keyboard to feature important gamer-centric features like anti-ghosting, quick response time, and of course, good tactility for the best feedback. A nice bonus would be RGB lighting as well; it would really complete “the look” of a gaming laptop, though this is a subjective matter.

SSD Storage & Good Amount of RAM

Most gaming laptops in the market now (thankfully) feature SSD storage, but there are still some that are equipped with only spinning hard disk drives. HDD is great for getting a lot of storage space on the cheap, but it is far from ideal to get the best loading times.

It’s worth noting that SSD prices have steadily decreased, so it’s no longer as expensive as it used to be. With this mind, there’s little reason to go for HDD; SSD storage is so much faster for not too much more money. On top of that, if you’re a big fan of open world games, it’s absolutely essential to get an SSD to reduce “hitching” and texture pop-in.

Also necessary is enough RAM to run demanding games. A good rule of thumb is 8GB RAM being the bare minimum to not bottleneck other vital components; 4GB RAM simply isn’t enough for modern games. If possible, it’s best to get 16GB of RAM instead, which should be more than enough for even AAA titles.

Any Gaming Laptops That Fulfill These Criteria?

Well, Lenovo’s range of Legion gaming laptops fulfill all of these criteria. The Lenovo Legion 5, in particular, is available with a wide range of configuration. It comes with a fast 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rates, a Ryzen 5 4600H or an even more capable Ryzen 7 4800H processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM, and to top it off, it has two storage drives: a fast SSD, and a larger capacity HDD for mass storage – it’s the best of both worlds.

Of course, the legion 5 comes with reasonably good gaming performance as well, thanks to the GTX 1650 GPU under the hood. This keeps the price of the gaming laptop affordable – it starts at only RM3,599 – while also providing high frame rates even in AAA games with some tweaks to the graphics settings.

On top of that, all Lenovo Legion gaming laptops feature what the company calls Legion TrueStrike keyboard. It supports 100% anti-ghosting on all keys, ensuring that all of your inputs are recognised by the system. Lenovo also said that the keyboard has sub-millisecond response times, so any form of user input lag can be minimised.

Another point worth mentioning is the fact that the Legion TrueStrike keyboard sports some features brought over from Lenovo’s much loved ThinkPad laptops. These include a standard keyboard layout, curved keycaps, and soft-landing switches that offer good key travel and tactile feedback. “Users will experience the same enjoyable typing experience on Legion laptops as they do on ThinkPads,” the company told us.

As an added bonus, Legion 5 laptops also ship with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 (worth RM529) out of the box. If you use Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you’ll appreciate this bonus.

If you want a gaming laptop that is fast, well-equipped, and feature a keyboard that is fit for gaming, Lenovo’s range of Legion gaming laptops can do all of that. To learn more about them, check out
Lenovo’s official website
.

Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Lenovo Malaysia.


Vivo X50 Series With Gimbal Camera Pre-Orders Live in Malaysia, Starts at RM2,399

Vivo’s latest range of smartphones, the Vivo X50 series, is now
available for pre-order in Malaysia
 ahead of its scheduled launch later today. Retailing from RM2,399, these are not exactly affordable smartphones, but they
are
premium devices with some neat features. This is especially the case with the X50 Pro, which comes with a gimbal-style camera.

Of course, the
 RM2,399 starting price is for the standard X50
 with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The higher-end X50 Pro, on the other hand, is markedly more expensive
with a RM3,199 price tag
, 256GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM. These are the only two devices in the series that will be offered in Malaysia; as mentioned in our earlier report, the
range-topping X50 Pro+ will not make it here
.

Anyway, the X50 Pro is naturally the more exciting smartphone. The highlight feature is definitely its quad camera system, where the primary 48MP f/1.6 sensor is stabilised with a gimbal system. This lets you stabilise your shot better than a conventional optical image stabilisation, and based on our brief test with the phone, the gimbal system does offer superior stability.

The other three camera sensors of the X50 Pro are befitting of a device in this segment as well. These include an 8MP f/3.4 periscope telephoto sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 13MP f/2.5 portrait lens. This combination of sensors allow the phone to do up to 60x “Hyper Zoom,” though it remains to be seen just how good the image quality is at that level of zoom.

Rounding out the specifications of the X50 Pro include a 6.56-inch 1080p AMOLED dual curved screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset – which gives it 5G connectivity – a 32MP f/2.5 selfie camera, a 4,315mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The regular X50, on the other hand, is very similar to the Pro variant, though it does have some distinct differences here and there. For one, its camera doesn’t have the gimbal system. Instead, it features a more pedestrian quad camera system made up of a 48MP f/1.6 main sensor, a 13MP f/2.5 portrait lens, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 5MP f/2.5 macro camera.

Besides that, the standard X50 also has a flat screen instead of the Pro’s more premium-looking dual curve display. It comes with a slightly smaller 4,200mAh battery too, but the 33W fast charging is retained.

The Vivo X50 and X50 Pro are now
available for pre-order in Malaysia
. Shipping will commence from 25 July onwards, and every purchase of either phones will come with a complimentary air purifier and wireless speaker from SenQ.


OnePlus Nord Finally Official: Snapdragon 765G, 90Hz Fluid AMOLED Screen, Coming to Malaysia Soon

After weeks of teasing, the OnePlus Nord is finally here. Unlike other recent smartphones from the Chinese company, the Nord is a mid-range device with some pretty neat features, including an AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip, and of course, 5G connectivity.

Aesthetically, the Nord is unmistakably a OnePlus product. It has a minimalist rear panel design with an oblong-shaped hole-punch cutout on the top left of the screen housing two selfie cameras. That’s right, the Nord has a dual selfie camera system, which is made up of a 32MP f/2.45 primary sensor and an 8MP f/2.45 ultra-wide angle lens for capturing group selfies.

On the back, the Nord has a quad camera system with the same 48MP f/1.75 main sensor as the
OnePlus 8
, complete with optical image stabilisation. The other three sensors, on the other hand, are made up of an 8MP f/2.25 ultra-wide angle lens, a 5MP f/2.4 depth camera, and a 2MP f/2.4 macro shooter. Unfortunately, there’s no telephoto sensor here, just like the OnePlus 8.

Speaking of which, the Nord’s 6.44-inch 1080p AMOLED screen also has a 90Hz refresh rate like the OnePlus 8. While that’s not quite as fast as the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 120Hz panel, it’s still good enough to provide a smooth user experience. Plus, it’s an AMOLED display, so you can expect to get vibrant colours, deep blacks, and great viewing angles. Not a bad screen at all for a mid-range smartphone.

In the performance department, the Nord is powered by a Snapdragon 765G. Not only does it give the phone 5G connectivity, it’s also a reasonably powerful chipset. After all, it’s Qualcomm’s best SoC outside of the flagship-tier Snapdragon 8 series chips, so you should get pretty good processing power out of the Snapdragon 765G.

Battery capacity of the Nord is quite generous as well. Rated at 4,115mAh, this cell will be able to offer above average battery life. On top of that, OnePlus says that this battery can be charged up to 70% from completely empty in just 30 minutes. This is thanks to the phone maker’s Warp Charge 30T fast charging technology.

Other specifications of the Nord include either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, two storage options (128GB and 256GB), an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and OxygenOS based on Android 10 out of the box.

The moment you've all been waiting for. We'll let the numbers do the talking.
— OnePlus (@oneplus)
July 21, 2020

The OnePlus Nord will be making its way to Malaysia in the very near future. While we don’t know exactly when this will happen, a
local Shopee store

and
 a
Facebook page
 have already been set up for the mid-range smartphone. Naturally, no local pricing has been revealed yet for the Nord, though it does start at 24,999 Indian rupee for the Indian market, which comes up to about RM1,430.


Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 Arriving in Malaysia 24 July

Unveiled to the world just last week, the
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5
 is set to land in Malaysia this Friday on 24 July. Packed with some neat upgrades over its predecessor, the fitness band is now more attractive than ever. To top it off, its affordable price tag is retained as well.

Unfortunately, local pricing of the Mi Smart Band 5 has not been revealed yet, though we imagine it wouldn’t cost considerably more than the Mi Smart Band 4; the latter retailed at RM149 when it was first launched here. To estimate how much the Smart Band 5 could cost locally, it starts at only 189 Chinese yuan in China, which comes up to about RM115.

Of course, the new fitness band won’t retail at the same price point here, though we do hope it won’t be markedly more expensive than its predecessor’s local pricing.

Compared to the previous model, the Mi Smart Band 5 comes with a few upgrades. For one, its AMOLED display has been increased to 1.1-inch with a 294 x 126 resolution; its predecessor had a smaller 0.95-inch 240 x 120 AMOLED screen. Given that the new wearable still features an AMOLED panel, you can expect to get vibrant colours and deep blacks.

Besides that, the Mi Smart Band 5 is far easier to charge now. There are two contact points beneath the heart rate sensor of the fitness band for a magnetic charger to connect to, which makes for a much more seamless charging experience. Previously, the whole housing of the Mi Smart Band 4 had to be removed from the strap to place it into a charger.

Also worth a mention is the Mi Smart Band 5’s PPG heart rate sensor: it is said to be 50% more accurate. On top of that, it can warn users of any abnormality with their heart rate now. Its sleep monitoring capability has been improved as well, with the added ability to measure REM sleep and even short naps.

Other specifications of the Mi Smart Band 5 include a 14-day battery life – it can be extended up to 20 days in power-saving mode – 5 ATM water resistance rating, and the ability to track 11 different sports activities, including jump rope, rowing machine, treadmill, and even yoga.

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 will be arriving in Malaysia on 24 July this Friday. We’ll find out then just how much it will cost locally.


Asus ROG Phone 3 Unleashed: Snapdragon 865+, 144Hz AMOLED Screen, 6,000mAh Battery

The Asus ROG Phone 3 is here, and as expected, it’s one powerful gaming smartphone. At a glance, it doesn’t look remarkably different from its predecessor, but there are some big changes under the hood, including a faster processor, a display with a higher refresh rate, and even a redesigned chassis.

Powering the ROG Phone 3 is none other than the recently announced
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset
. Compared to the regular Snapdragon 865, the new SoC promises up to 10% increase in CPU and GPU performances; both of the components are overclocked to achieve this.

That being said, not all variants of the gaming smartphone will feature the new processor: the ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition is equipped with a standard Snapdragon 865 chip instead. The Strix Edition is meant to serve as a more affordable alternative, with only the processor, RAM, and storage capacities being different from the full-fledged ROG Phone 3.

Anyway, regardless of which variant you go for, this gaming smartphone comes with a 6.59-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display with a very high 144Hz refresh rate. While the ROG Phone 3 is not the first smartphone to pack such a fast screen – that title goes to the
Nubia RedMagic 5G
 – it’s still quite a unique feature. To top it off, the display sports a fast 270Hz touch sampling rate as well.

Design wise, the ROG Phone 3 looks and feels more refined now; it’s more “smartphone-like” than its predecessor. Compared to the previous model, the new phone feels better in the hands, thanks to the redesigned rear panel. Unlike the
textured back of the ROG Phone II
, the ROG Phone 3’s rear panel is just a single piece of glass now, just like a regular smartphone.

The camera configuration of the ROG Phone 3 is upgraded accordingly as well. It now features a triple camera system made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP f/2.0 macro shooter. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t have a telephoto camera.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 3 include two ultrasonic shoulder buttons, a 24MP f/2.0 selfie camera, a huge 6,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging, as well as an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The Asus ROG Phone 3 will be arriving in Malaysia in the middle of September. Three variants will be brought in, including the Strix Edition with a standard Snapdragon 865 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The other two models, on the other hand, feature a Snapdragon 865+ SoC and 512GB of storage, with only the RAM capacity – either 12GB or 16GB of RAM – differentiating the two variants.

Local pricing of the ROG Phone 3 has been revealed yet, though Asus Malaysia says that it will be priced closely to the ROG Phone II. To put this into context, the latter retailed from RM2,499 to RM4,499 here.


Asus ROG Phone 3 Hands-On: Faster, Sleeker Gaming Powerhouse

The Asus ROG Phone 3 is here, and it’s better than ever with cutting-edge hardware under the hood. It’s powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, it has a blazing fast 144Hz screen, and the phone feels a lot more refined than its predecessor.

After spending a brief time with the ROG Phone 3, I’m really quite impressed with this gaming smartphone. It’s superior to the ROG Phone II in almost every single aspect, and to top it off, it will (supposedly) cost about the same as its predecessor. However, it does fall short in certain areas, so should you even consider getting it? Read on to find out.

Right off the bat, the ROG Phone 3 feels
very responsive
. This is thanks to the phone’s blazing fast 6.59-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display with a high 144Hz refresh rate. On top of that, the panel also supports 270Hz touch sampling rate, which reduces input lag to a minimum. The result? You get a super speedy phone that responds to your inputs almost immediately.

Of course, mobile games will benefit the most from the screen’s high refresh rate and touch sampling rate. Not only will games look extra smooth on the 144Hz display – provided the games support the refresh rate – the 270Hz sampling rate will also ensure that your inputs are reflected immediately. Even normal day-to-day will benefit greatly from these two features.

As for the display quality itself, it’s great. The ROG Phone 3’s AMOLED panel supports HDR 10+, so you get great dynamic range, vibrant, punchy colours, and deep blacks. Basically, it’s a stunning screen befitting of a high-end smartphone, and you will not be disappointed with it. Besides that, there’s also a fingerprint sensor underneath the display.

In the performance department, the ROG Phone 3 is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 865+ chip. It’s Qualcomm’s best SoC yet, so rest assured, you will get the best level of performance Android smartphones can offer. I haven’t put the phone through its paces yet, but I’m confident it will be able to run any mobile games with no difficulty.

It’s worth noting that there is actually a more affordable variant of the ROG Phone 3: the Strix Edition. Unlike the regular model, the Strix variant is powered by a standard Snapdragon 865, along with less RAM and storage capacities. Beyond these differences, the Strix Edition is identical to the regular ROG Phone 3 in other aspects.

Anyway, let’s get back to the phone itself. To me, one of the biggest improvements this new gaming smartphone brings is the redesigned back panel. Its predecessor had a weird texture on the rear panel, but this is no longer the case with the ROG Phone 3: it is now just a single piece of glass, so it feels and looks like a regular smartphone now.

Well, except for the illuminated ROG logo on the back.

One of the most important aspects of a gaming smartphone is long battery life, and in this regard, the ROG Phone 3 will not disappoint. After all, it retains the huge 6,000mAh battery of its predecessor, which will be able to provide very respectable battery life on a single charge.

Unfortunately, there is one feature that isn’t carried over to the ROG Phone 3: the 3.5mm headphone jack. For some reason, the new smartphone doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack anymore, which is really quite odd for a gaming device. Granted, wireless solutions have gotten much better over the years, but I imagine there are still plenty of gamers who are still relying on the 3.5mm connector to eliminate audio latency.

Anyway, let’s move on to the camera performance of the ROG Phone 3, which is
surprisingly
 good. It comes with a triple camera system now that’s made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary shooter, a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP f/2.0 macro sensor. I would’ve loved for there to be a telephoto camera, but given that this is a gaming smartphone – where the camera system simply isn’t the focus – it’s a reasonable exclusion.

I took the ROG Phone 3’s camera for a quick spin, and I’m quite pleased with the image quality. While it’s not the best in the market, detail preservation is good with reasonably fast autofocus. I also love that the camera feels very responsive, which make for a more pleasant shooting experience.

64MP primary
13MP ultra-wide angle
64MP primary

The Asus ROG Phone 3 is the Taiwanese company’s most refined gaming smartphone yet. It has the fastest chipset available in the Android space now, it comes with a blazing fast 144Hz screen, and most of all – to me, at least – it looks and feels more like a regular smartphone now.

That being said, the ROG Phone 3 is still a sizeable, heavy smartphone, which may not be for everyone. In fact, compared to its predecessor, it is ever so slightly bigger, though fortunately, it still weighs the same at 240g. Still, there’s no denying the fact that this is a big, hefty phone.

But the same can be said of other gaming smartphones in the market now. If you’re looking for a mobile gaming machine, you probably wouldn’t mind the large size of the phone to accommodate a big screen. The generous 6,000mAh battery adds quite a bit of weight as well.

If you’re eyeing to get the Asus ROG Phone 3, you’ve got until the middle of September to start saving up; that’s when the gaming smartphone will be available here. In terms of pricing, the new phone is expected to be priced closely to the ROG Phone II, which retailed from RM2,4999 to RM4,499 here.


Deal: Grab the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra With RM1,000 Discount

Today is Samsung’s Super Brand Day on Shopee, and there are quite a number of very good deals for the Korean company’s range of products. One of them is the
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
: you can now get the flagship smartphone
with over RM1,000 discount
.

That’s right. Originally retailing at RM4,999, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is now listed
at only RM3,999
 by Samsung’s official store on Shopee. That’s exactly RM1,000 off, and you can even bring down the price further with
discount vouchers from Shopee
.

However, you may want to be quick if you want to grab the Galaxy S20 Ultra at this price point: there are only
four units
 left at the time of writing, and only the Cosmic Grey model is part of this deal. On top of that, this is a Shocking Sale, so it’s only valid until 4PM today.

For only RM3,999
, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a
very
 good buy. Not quite sure it’s the flagship smartphone for you? Then check out our
comprehensive review of the phone
.

Thanks for the tip, Pang!


Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 Costs RM169 in Malaysia, Available Today

As promised, Xiaomi just launched its latest fitness band in Malaysia, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5. Retailing at RM169, it is slightly more expensive than its predecessor, which went for RM149 here. But the price hike isn’t exactly a surprise; the latest iteration of the wearable is more feature-packed now.

Compared to its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 features a larger display. It’s packed with a 1.1-inch 294 x 126 AMOLED screen now, while the previous model featured a smaller 0.95-inch 240 x 120 AMOLED screen. If you think last year’s model didn’t have a big enough display, you should find the Smart Band 5 better in this aspect.

Plus, you will also get vibrant colours and deep blacks with the AMOLED panel.

Aside from that, the Mi Smart Band 5 is now much, much easier to charge. Previously, the Mi Smart Band 4 required users to completely remove the housing of the wearable from the strap to place it into a charger. Thankfully, this is no longer necessary with the Smart Band 5; there are two contact points beneath the heart rate sensor of the fitness band for a magnetic charger to connect to.

Naturally, the Mi Smart Band 5 is a lot more accurate than the previous model. According to Xiaomi, the wearable’s PPG heart rate sensor is said to be 50% more accurate now. This also gives it the ability to warn users of any abnormality with their heart rate. Also improved is the sleep monitoring of the Smart Band 5, with the added ability to measure REM sleep and even short naps.

Battery life has always been a strong suit for the Mi Smart Band series, and the latest model continues this trend. Xiaomi says that the Smart Band 5 can return up to 14 days of use on a single charge, which is quite respectable. If you need even better battery life, you can stretch it to 20 days in power-saving mode.

Last but certainly not least is the 11 different sports activities that the Mi Smart Band 5 can track. These include indoor (and outdoor) cycling, power walking, outdoor running, and even yoga. Thanks to the 5 ATM water resistance rating, you can even use it to track your swim routines.

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM169. You can place your order on
Shopee
 as well as
Lazada
.


Proton Saga Anniversary Edition Sold Out in 5 Days

Launched just two weeks ago, Proton revealed that the
Proton Saga Anniversary Edition
 was sold out in just five days; that’s quite an impressive feat. Granted, there were only 1,100 units of the limited edition model, but there’s no denying the sheer popularity of the one-off Saga.

Compared to its regular counterpart, the Saga AE is finished in a Quartz Black paint job; no other Proton models for consumers come with such a colour. Yellow accents are also added throughout the exterior and interior of the A-segment sedan to further set it apart from other Saga models.

Beyond these cosmetic changes, the Saga AE is identical to the Premium AT trim of the regular Saga, which this model is based on. That means it is still powered by a 1.3L four-cylinder engine that outputs 95hp and 120Nm of torque, with drive sent to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission sourced from Hyundai. The CVT option was phased out when the Saga was facelifted last year.

Besides that, the Saga AE also has 15-inch alloy wheels finished in matte grey, which is unique to this model. Other specifications of this special edition Saga include LED daytime running lights, an Android-based infotainment system, a reverse camera, two airbags, electronic stability control, traction control system, as well as ABS with EBD.

Naturally, it features an N95 cabin filter too; this is offered across all Proton models now.

Even though the Proton Saga Anniversary Edition is a special model, it retailed at the same price point as the normal Premium AT variant, which goes for RM39,300. Chances are, this is one of the reasons why the Saga AE sold out so quickly.


2020 Honda City Teased by Honda Malaysia; Local Launch Happening Soon?

It seems like the all-new fifth-generation Honda City is arriving in Malaysia earlier than expected. Initially unveiled in Thailand back in November last year, the brand new B-segment sedan has just been teased by Honda Malaysia on its Facebook page.

It’s a simple teaser of the new City, which showcases the side profile of the sedan. Honda Malaysia also wrote that “the game will no longer be the same” with the updated City, suggesting that it could be bringing something big to the table.

Of course, we still don’t have any specific details on the local specifications of the new City, and it remains to be seen exactly when it will be launched here. Nonetheless, now that Honda Malaysia has started teasing the popular sedan, we imagine it wouldn’t be long until the fifth-generation City is officially introduced here.

Compared to its predecessor, the new City naturally looks a lot more modern. On the front, it sports the Japanese car maker’s signature Solid Wing Face, along with full LED headlamps with an integrated L-shaped LED turn signal. As for the rear end, there are sleeker-looking two-piece LED taillights now.

Engine options of the updated City, on the other hand, are market-dependent. For the Thailand market, the B-segment sedan is offered with a sole 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder DOHC engine that outputs 122hp and 173Nm of torque. Drives are sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with seven virtual speeds.

But in India, the all-new City comes with two 1.5L four-cylinder engine options: an upgraded i-VTEC petrol mill with DOHC – instead of SOHC – that puts out 121hp and 145Nm of torque, and an i-DTEC diesel engine that churns out 100hp and 200Nm of torque. For the sake of comparison, the current fourth-generation City for the Malaysian market has a 1.5L i-VTEC SOHC engine with 120hp and 145Nm of torque.

Looking at these engine options, the turbocharged one for the Thailand market looks the most appealing, though some may not be thrilled by the small displacement and three-cylinder construction. The latter is often regarded as being “less refined” than a four-cylinder engine, where it’s said to be vibrate and rattle more harshly.

Regardless, we’ll just have to wait for Honda Malaysia to release more information on the local specification of the all-new fifth-generation Honda City. It’s regarded as one of the most popular B-segment sedans here, so needless to say, the new model is highly anticipated.


The Dual Screen Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 Costs RM19,999 in Malaysia; Pre-Orders Open Now

Unveiled to the world back in April, the unique
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15
 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia. While the retail price of the gaming laptop has not been revealed by retailers yet, we’ve got confirmation from a trusted source: the dual screen gaming laptop retails at RM19,999 locally.

Of course, RM19,999 is a
steep
asking price, but the Zephyrus Duo 15 does come with some serious power under the hood. Two configurations of the gaming laptop will be offered in Malaysia with the same price tag; only the screen option differentiate them. One is offered with a fast 15.6-inch 300Hz panel, while the other one comes with a sharper 4K display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate.

Regardless of which variant you go for, both screens are Pantone Validated with support for Nvidia’s G-Sync technology.

Aside from the main display, there is also a secondary ScreenPad Plus screen right above the keyboard. It’s a 14.1-inch 3840 x 1100 touch-enabled panel, which can be used as an extension of the main display. It also props up at an angle when the lid is opened to give you better visibility of the screen.

Displays aside, under the hood of the Zephyrus Duo 15 are some very beefy hardware. Powering this gaming laptop is an overclockable Intel Core i9-10980HK processor paired with 32GB of RAM; plenty of processing power for all kinds of users. In the graphics department, it features an equally powerful RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU with 8GB of VRAM.

Given the premium price tag of the Zephyrus Duo 15, it also comes with two 1TB SSD drives for a
combined storage of 2TB
; you won’t have to worry about running out of storage space with this machine. Even with all of these powerful hardware, this is still quite a thin laptop, measuring only 20mm thin.

Also bundled with the Zephyrus Duo 15 are a few accessories for the Malaysian market. Every purchase of the premium gaming laptop comes with a backpack, an ROG Gladius mouse, as well as a pair of ROG Delta gaming headset.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is expected to be officially launched in Malaysia sometime in August next month. To recap, the unique gaming laptop retails at RM19,999 here, and the configuration with a 4K screen will be available here very soon. The variant with a faster 1080p 300Hz panel, on the other hand, will only be offered here sometime in September.

To learn more about the Zephyrus Duo 15, check out our
hands-on of the gaming laptop
.


Black Shark 3 Pro Quick Review: A Huge, Unique Gaming Smartphone

The gaming smartphone market has gotten increasingly crowded, and most of them are…well, pretty generic. But that’s not the case at all with this phone right here, the Black Shark 3 Pro. Not only is it a powerful gaming smartphone, it also has one unique feature to set it apart from its competition: physical shoulder buttons that pop-up when you need them.

That being said, it is far from the most practical smartphone due to its imposing size, not to mention the fact that it’s also one of the most costly devices in the market now with a RM4,199 price tag. But should you fork out that amount of money for the Black Shark 3 Pro? Read on to find out.

What It Is

Display
7.1-inch QHD+ AMOLED (3120 x 1440), 90Hz refresh rate, 270Hz touch sampling rate
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 2.84GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 650
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
64MP f/1.8
13MP f/2.25 (ultra-wide angle)
5MP f/2.2 (depth)
Camera (front)
20MP f/2.2
Battery
5,000mAh
Dimensions
177.79 x 83.29 x 10.48 mm
Weight
253g
OS
JoyUI 11 based on Android 10
Connectivity
5G
LTE
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
Price
RM4,199

On paper alone, it’s clear that the Black Shark 3 Pro is a capable flagship smartphone. Granted, it no longer has the fastest chipset in the market – not since the Snapdragon 865+ chip entered the market – but the regular Snapdragon 865 is still a speedy chipset that will be able to keep up with anything you throw at it.

The Good Stuff

Since the Black Shark 3 Pro is a gaming smartphone, let’s talk about performance first. Basically, it’s incredibly enjoyable to game on this smartphone. I’ve played PUBG Mobile extensively on it, and never did I encounter any performance issue. Frame rate is high and stable, my inputs are immediately reflected – thanks to the high 270Hz touch sampling rate – and the physical pop-up shoulder buttons are a game changer.

Unlike other gaming smartphones in the market that rely on capacitive buttons, the Black Shark 3 Pro actually has physical shoulder buttons that pop-up when you launch a game. When not in use, the buttons will just retract back into the chassis of the phone. It’s quite surreal watching this in action, and the buttons themselves are also
very
 tactile, which is very satisfying to press on.

Complementing the fast performance and physical shoulder buttons of the Black Shark 3 Pro is the sizeable 7.1-inch 1440p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Yes, it’s not quite as fast as other smartphones’ 120Hz screens, but it’s still a marked improvement over conventional 60Hz panels.

Anyway, thanks to the fast 90Hz refresh rate, every animation on the Black Shark 3 Pro’s screen looks extra smooth. This is noticeable even when I’m just navigating around the home screen. Obviously, games that can support this refresh rate will feel faster as well. After all, the screen is capable of showing 90 frames per second.

Besides that, the battery life of the Black Shark 3 Pro is very respectable too. On average, I was able to consistently get anywhere between six to seven hours of screen-on time out of the 5,000mAh battery. This is
very
 good battery life, which is quite a surprise considering that it has a large 7.1-inch 1440p screen.

Charging rate of this gaming smartphone is extremely impressive as well. In only 30 minutes of charging, the phone’s 65W fast charging support managed to recharge the 5,000mAh battery to
90% from empty
. Do note that I tested this charging rate right after the phone was completely drained without switching it on.

And then there’s the camera performance of the Black Shark 3 Pro. Given that this is a smartphone focused on delivering the best gaming experience, I wasn’t putting much expectation on the camera performance. But to my surprise, the triple camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.25 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.2 depth) can capture some great-looking shots.

This is especially the case with the 64MP primary sensor. It has good detail preservation, it can lock in focus pretty quickly, and the camera interface feels responsive regardless of lighting situation. Judge for yourself the image quality of the 64MP sensor with the shots below.

But not everything is peachy about the camera system, and that brings us to the next section..

The Bad Stuff

While the main 64MP sensor of the Black Shark 3 Pro’s triple camera system is quite capable, the same cannot be said for the 13MP ultra-wide angle lens. It has worse dynamic range, detail preservation, and even the camera interface feels more sluggish when I switch to the ultra-wide angle shooter.

One other area where the Black Shark 3 Pro don’t quite impress is in the software department. Throughout my time with the phone, there were more than a few times where my background apps were cleared out of the blue. This is likely done by the OS to conserve battery life, but it can get quite annoying when I have important apps or games paused in the background.

Another negative – or a positive for certain folks – of the Black Shark 3 Pro is its
sheer size
 to accommodate the 7.1-inch screen. In fact, it’s almost
comically big
 for a smartphone. While I can still keep it in my jeans pocket, it’s a snug fit, and it even sticks out in certain pockets. It’s also worth noting that this is a hefty smartphone, tipping the scales at 253g.

Last but certainly not least is the fact that the Black Shark 3 Pro is a RM4,199 device. That’s
a lot
 of money, even for a flagship gaming smartphone. While you do get quite a bit of features for that kind of money, you’re essentially paying extra for the large 7.1-inch 90Hz screen, physical pop-up shoulder buttons, and fast 65W charging.

So the question is: are these two features worth the price premium?

Is It Worth It?

For RM4,199, the Black Shark 3 Pro is a costly device, but you are getting a gaming smartphone like no other. If you want the huge 90Hz display – which is either a plus or a negative, depending on each individual’s personal preference – the physical pop-up button, and the very fast charging rate, then yes, this is a phone worth considering.

But if you can live without these features, other gaming smartphones will potentially serve you better. That is not to say the Black Shark 3 Pro is not worth it. No other devices offer the unique pop-up shoulder buttons, and if you find that appealing, RM4,199 is the price to pay.


Asus Launches Slew of Intel-Powered Zephyrus Gaming Laptops in Malaysia, Including RM16,999 Zephyrus S17

Aside from the
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15
 gaming powerhouse, the Taiwanese company also introduced a number of other ROG gaming laptops powered by Intel for the Malaysian market. These include the Zephyrus M15, the Zephyrus S15, and the largest product of today’s launch, the Zephyrus S17.

Let’s start with the biggest gaming laptop of the bunch, the Zephyrus S17. The base model – which retails at RM13,999 – features an Intel Core i7-10875H processor paired with 32GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super GPU, a 17.3-inch 1080p display with a blazing fast 300Hz screen (with G-Sync support), and 1TB of fast M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 SSD.

A tier up is the RM16,999 model of the Zephyrus S17. it has the same hardware as the aforementioned model, but it swaps out the RTX 2070 Super GPU for a beefier RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics card.

Next is the Zephyrus S15. Only one variant of the gaming laptop is available in Malaysia right now, which is priced at RM15,999. For that kind of money, you’re getting a Core i7-10875H processor paired with 32GB of RAM, an RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU, a 15.6-inch 1080p screen with a 300Hz refresh rate and support for G-Sync, as well as a two 512GB SSD in Raid 0 configuration.

If that price tag is a little too steep, there is actually a more affordable configuration of the Zephyrus S15 with an RTX 2070 Super. This model is expected to be coming to Malaysia soon, though the pricing for this particular variant has not been revealed yet.

Last but certainly not least is the most affordable Zephyrus gaming laptop launched today, the Zephyrus M15. The sole RM6,999 variant for the Malaysian market features a Core i7-10750H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a GTX 1660 Ti GPU, a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 panel with a pretty fast 240Hz refresh rate, and 1TB of SSD storage.

It’s worth noting that all of the Zephyrus gaming laptops mentioned here feature a Pantone Validated screen, which promises good colour accuracy. On top of that, the processors are applied with Thermal Grizzly’s liquid metal compound as well. This supposedly lowers CPU temperatures by up to 12°C.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus S17, Zephyrus S15, and Zephyrus M15 are now available for purchase in Malaysia. These are unmistakably costly gaming laptops, but that’s how much you have to pay for a premium, slim gaming machine. After all, the Zephyrus series is Asus’ most premium offering.


Asus ROG Strix Gaming Laptops With 10th Gen Intel Chips Land in Malaysia; Starts at RM6,199

Asus unveiled quite a number of gaming laptops powered by Intel’s latest 10th gen processors, and besides the
premium Zephyrus machines
, the Taiwanese company also brought in several Strix gaming laptops to Malaysia. Three of them are now available locally: the Strix G15, the Strix G17, and the more premium Strix Scar 15.

The most affordable of the lot is the Strix G17, which starts at RM6,199. For that kind of money, it comes with a Core i7-10750H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU, a 17.3-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a generous 1TB SSD.

There is also a more powerful variant of the Strix G17 with an RTX 2060 GPU for RM6,699; other specifications of this configuration remain the same as the GTX 1660 Ti variant.

And then there’s the Strix G15. This is essentially the 15-inch version of the Strix G17, though it features a faster 15.6-inch screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. Other hardware under the hood of this laptop include a Core i7-10750H processor, 16GB of RAM, an RTX 2060 GPU, and 1TB of SSD storage. How much do you have to pay for these hardware? RM6,699.

Unfortunately, only this configuration of the Strix G15 is available in Malaysia right now, but three more variants of the laptop will be released locally soon. Two of them are equipped with a Core i7-10750H processor with a GTX 1660 Ti or GTX 1650 Ti GPU, while the third one – the most affordable model – is packed with a Core i5-10300H chip and a GTX 1650 Ti graphics card.

If these laptops don’t quite offer the level of performance you want, consider the Strix Scar 15. It features a Core i7-10875H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an RTX 2060 or RTX 2070 GPU, a blazing fast 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 display with a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 1TB SSD. Price wise, the RTX 2060 model costs RM7,499, while the RTX 2070 configuration goes for RM7,999.

These are not the only variants of the Strix Scar 15 available here: an even more powerful model with an RTX 2070 Super will be offered in Malaysia too, though the local pricing has not been revealed yet. On top of that, the Strix Scar 17 will also be offered here with three different GPU options: an RTX 2060, RTX 2070, or an RTX 2080 Super card.

The Asus ROG Strix G15, Strix G17, and Strix Scar 15 are available for purchase in Malaysia right now. While these gaming laptops are not quite as budget-friendly as Asus’
TUF Gaming lineup
, they do offer a middle ground between the latter and the more premium
Zephyrus series
.


Asus ZenBook 13 & ZenBook 14 With 10th Gen Intel CPU Now in Malaysia; Starts at RM3,999

Initially set to be launched here this month
, the new Asus ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are now available for purchase in Malaysia. Two variants of each model are offered here, and with a
RM3,999 starting price
, these thin and light productivity laptops aren’t priced exorbitantly either.

We first spotted the Malaysian availability of the updated ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 on Thunder Match’s online store, a well-known local retailer. Looking at the company’s listings, the Core i5 configuration of both laptops
cost RM3,999
, while the faster Core i7 models
go for RM4,699
.

That’s right, similar configurations of the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 have no price difference, which makes sense. After all, both models are very similar to each other; only the size of their displays – 13.3-inch for the ZenBook 13 and 14-inch for the ZenBook 14 – set them apart. Aesthetically, these two laptops practically look the same.

Powering the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are none other than Intel’s latest 10th generation Ice Lake processors. As mentioned, two chips are offered for the Malaysian market: the Core i5-1035G1 processor, or the beefier Core i7-1065G7 chip. Regardless of which configuration you go for, you’ll get 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage; it’s just the processor that’s different with the two variants.

One of the most appealing aspects of the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 is the fact that they are both slim and light laptops. Both laptops have a 13.9mm thin chassis, so they’re slimmer than most productivity laptops in the market now. What about the weight of these two laptops? Well, the ZenBook 13 tips the scales at only 1.07kg, while the ZenBook 14 weighs 1.13kg.

Even though these ZenBook laptops have a slim profile, their connectivity options are surprisingly complete. They have two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, a USB-A connection, an HDMI output, and a microSD card reader. But oddly enough, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, though a dongle for it is provided with the laptops.

Other specifications of the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 include a 67WHr battery – which can supposedly return up to 22 hours of use on a single charge – a 1080p display, as well as Microsoft Office Home & Student pre-installed.

The Asus ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the Core i5 models of both laptops are
priced at RM3,999
, while the Core i7 variants
retail at RM4,699
.


The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2020) Is an RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop For Only RM4,599; Now Available in Malaysia

Acer just announced the Malaysian availability of its latest gaming laptop, the new Acer Predator Helios 300. What makes this machine particularly interesting is the fact that it offers very,
very
 good value for money: it’s an RTX 2060 gaming laptop for only RM4,599.

That’s right, the updated Helios 300 starts at only RM4,599, making it one of the most affordable gaming laptops in the market now with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. Besides that, it also has a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for fast-paced games.

This variant of the Helios 300 also features Intel’s latest 10th generation Core i5-10300H chip, along with 8GB of RAM and a generous 512GB SSD storage. The Core i5 processor may not sound super impressive, but it should be fast enough to keep up with the RTX 2060 GPU. As for the RAM capacity, we’d highly recommend upgrading it to 16GB for the best gaming experience.

Besides this Core i5 model, there is also a higher-end configuration of the Helios 300 for our market. It has the same hardware as the aforementioned variant, but the range-topping model comes with a faster Core i7-10750H processor. How much does this upgrade cost? An additional RM600, bringing the price to RM5,199.

Compared to
its predecessor
, the new Helios 300 looks very similar, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It measures only 22.9mm thin, and weighing 2.2kg, it’s not awfully heavy either. Even though it looks almost identical to the previous model, there is one small change: the Predator wording below the logo on the lid has been removed.

Connectivity options of the Helios 300 are quite good as well. It features a USB-C port, three full-size USB-A connections, an HDMI 2.0 output, a mini DisplayPort 1.4, and even an SD card reader. It also comes with a two-year on-site warranty with accidental damage or theft protection, so you’ll have peace of mind if anything were to happen.

The new Acer Predator Helios 300 is now available for purchase on
Acer Malaysia’s official

Shopee store
, and in conjunction with Acer Day 2020, the gaming laptop will be offered with a RM100 discount between 2 to 4 August. A complimentary Predator mousepad, flask, and backpack are also bundled.

On top of that, every purchase of the Helios 300 comes with one of three free gifts: a Predator Cestus gaming mouse, an Acer wireless mouse, or a pair of Redmi AirDots wireless earbuds.


Acer Predator Helios 700 Launched in Malaysia; RTX 2080 Super Laptop for RM17,999

Aside from the
updated Predator Helios 300
, Acer Malaysia also introduced the refreshed Acer Predator Helios 700 on our shores. Designed as a desktop replacement, this is a high-end gaming laptop with a unique feature: its keyboard can be pulled down to reveal the machine’s cooling system.

Of course, this isn’t done only for show (though it does look pretty cool). By sliding out the Helios 700’s keyboard – Acer calls it the HyperDrift keyboard – the improved airflow allows the laptop to deliver better performance. On top of that, with the keyboard pulled down, it acts as a wrist rest for a more comfortable typing experience.

Aside from its unique keyboard, the Helios 700 is naturally a gaming powerhouse as well. For the Malaysian market, it is offered with two different processors: an Intel Core i7-10875H chip, or a faster, overclockable Core i9-10980HK processor. Regardless of which chip you go for, it is paired with (oddly enough) only 16GB of RAM. It would’ve been great if it had more RAM, given that this is a high-end, premium gaming laptop.

Anyway, there are also two GPU options for the Helios 700 over here. The base Core i7 model features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super GPU, while the range-topping variant with a faster Core i9 chip comes with an equally powerful RTX 2080 Super graphics card.

As for storage, the Core i7 model of the Helios 700 is packed with a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD paired with a 1TB 7200RPM HDD. The Core i9 variant, on the other hand, comes with two 512GB SSD in Raid 0 configuration.

In the display department, the Helios 700 is equipped with a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate. On top of that, it also supports Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, so you won’t have to deal with screen tearing as you’re playing your favorite game.

Given that the Helios 700 is touted as a desktop replacement, it has a generous selection of ports. These include two USB-C connections, three full-size USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 output, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, and even an RJ-45 port.

The Acer Helios 700 is now available for pre-order on
Acer Malaysia’s online store
; there is a six to eight weeks of lead time upon purchase. The base Core i7 + RTX 2070 Super model retails at RM12,999, while the higher-end Core i9 + RTX 2080 Super configuration costs a cool RM17,999.

Those who pre-order the Helios 700 will also get free gifts worth up to RM2,767. These include a Predator gaming chair, a backpack, and a choice between a Redmi TV soundbar or a Predator RGB mousepad.


These Sony Bravia TVs Are Ready for the PlayStation 5; Arriving in Malaysia Soon From RM4,299

Sony Malaysia just announced the local availability of two Sony Bravia TVs: the Bravia Z8H (the flagship model) and the more affordable – but still high-end – Bravia X90H range of smart TVs. What makes these two TV series particularly interesting is the fact that they carry the “Ready for PlayStation 5” tagline, which promises the best gaming experience with the next-gen console.

Let’s start with the much more accessible Bravia X90H series. For the Malaysian market, four sizes of the X90H are offered: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch. The most affordable 55-inch model costs RM4,299 here, while the bigger 65-inch variant costs RM6,999. Unfortunately, the pricing for the 75-inch and 85-inch models have not been revealed yet, but expect them to cost quite a bit of money

Given that the Bravia X90H is marketed as an ideal TV for the PlayStation 5, it can naturally deliver 120 frames per second at 4K resolution. Same goes for the Bravia Z8H, even though it has a much higher resolution 8K panel. Regardless, Sony says that “both TVs will provide extremely smooth gaming experiences with the PS5 console.”

On top of that, these two TVs also come with “Bravia Game Mode.” This allows users to play games on the PS5 system with low latency, along with the ability to wake both the TV and PS5 with just the
DualSense controller
 at the same time. It’s even possible to control the next-gen console with the TV remote. Not exactly a big feature, but it can be convenient on certain occasions.

On paper, the Bravia X90H features a 3840 x 2160 LCD panel with full array LED backlighting, local dimming support, as well as support for HDR10. Like most high-end Sony TVs, the X90H runs on Android TV too, giving users access to apps like Netflix and YouTube. Of course, Chromecast is also offered with this TV.

As for the higher-end Bravia Z8H, only the sole 85-inch model is set to be offered locally, which is set to go for a whopping RM79,999. For that kind of money, you’re getting many of the Bravia X90H’s features, along with a much higher resolution 7680 x 4320 panel.

Both the Sony Bravia Z8H and Bravia X90H smart TVs will be sold in Malaysia sometime next month in August. If you want a high-end TV that can fully take advantage of the PlayStation 5’s power, consider these two options.


Stand a Chance to Get a OnePlus Nord for Only RM99 on 4 August

The
OnePlus Nord
 is confirmed to be coming to Malaysia, but we still don’t know exactly when or how much the mid-range smartphone will cost here. Nonetheless, OnePlus does have a pretty interesting thing in store for Malaysian fans: you stand a chance to get a OnePlus Nord for only RM99 on 4 August next week.

This deal is offered as a mystery box on
OnePlus’ official Shopee store
. As many as 450 boxes are available, but only two of them will include the OnePlus Nord. Yes, the odds are not great, but there are a number of other items included in the boxes that don’t contain the phone.

These include the new OnePlus Buds – as many as 10 of the wireless earbuds will be included in the 450 mystery boxes – as well as 15 limited edition OnePlus Nord Tyvek Jackets. If you don’t get any of these items, the other boxes will be filled with a number of OnePlus-branded merchandises, such as a T-shirt, a tote bag, a water bottle, or a set of waterproof stickers.

Of course, it wouldn’t feel great if you don’t win any of the big ticket item, so every mystery box will include a RM99 voucher code to be used on OnePlus’ official Shopee store. If you already plan to purchase the Nord, the OnePlus Buds, or any other product from the store anyway – even if nothing else is listed on the store yet – it’s a win-win situation.

Anyway, the Nord itself is quite an interesting mid-range smartphone. It’s powered by a reasonably fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset – giving it 5G connectivity – which is paired with 12GB of RAM; that’s the RAM capacity listed in the mystery box product page. It should come with 256GB of storage as well, so it’s likely we’re getting the range-topping configuration of this mid-range smartphone.

Other specifications of the Nord include a 6.44-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a quad camera system (48MP f/1.75 primary + 8MP f/2.25 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.4 depth + 2MP f/2.4 macro), two selfie cameras (32MP f/2.45 main + 8MP f/2.45 ultra-wide angle), a 4,115mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The OnePlus Nord’s Malaysian availability and pricing have not been revealed yet, but you can try to get it through OnePlus’ mystery box promotion for RM99. You can make your purchase
right here
 on 4 August.


Google Pixel 4a Finally Launching on 3 August

The
Pixel 4a
 has been leaked for many months now, and it seems like Google will finally launch the mid-range smartphone next week on 3 August. Rumoured to retail for less than RM1,500, the Pixel 4a is set to be Google’s most enticing mid-ranger yet.

First spotted by
9to5Google
, a
teaser for the Pixel 4a
 appeared on Google’s online store. At a glance, it looks like an incomplete page with “lorem ipsum” texts, but upon closer inspection, there are some interesting keywords describing the phone. These include words like “lowlightena,” “bokehus,” and even “longlastingis batterum.”

Oh, if you tap on the boxes at the top of the page to match the colours of Google’s logo (blue, red, yellow, blue, green, and red) the 3 August launch date will be revealed.

So what do we know about the Pixel 4a? Well, based on leaks and rumours surrounding the phone – which are likely to be accurate – Google’s upcoming mid-range smartphone is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chipset. It’s not the fastest SoC in the segment, but it should be able to provide a reasonably good level of performance.

Besides that, the Pixel 4a is rumoured to feature a single 12.2MP camera on the back. That’s right, there is no telephoto or ultra-wide angle sensor to be found here. which is unfortunate. While we’re confident the Pixel 4a can still deliver very good camera performance with the single camera system, it wouldn’t look quite as attractive as other mid-range smartphones’ camera arrays that offer multiple focal lengths.

Anyway, in the display department, the Pixel 4a is believed to sport a 5.81-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED screen with a hole-punch cutout at the top left of the display to house the rumoured 8MP f/2.0 selfie camera. This is said to be the very same front-facing camera found on the
Pixel 3a
, so you can expect to get similar results.

Other leaked specifications of the Pixel 4a include a 3,080mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging, 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, a rear fingerprint sensor, and the return of the 3.5mm headphone jack; it was missing on the
Pixel 4
.

The Google Pixel 4a is expected to be announced on 3 August next week. Rumours indicate that the mid-range phone could go for as low as $349, which comes up to about RM1,480. We’ll find out next week if this really is the starting price of the Pixel 4a.


Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Now Available In Malaysia for RM149

Announced globally just a couple of weeks ago, the
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick
 is now available for purchase here in Malaysia. This streaming device allows any TV with an HDMI port to become a smart TV, and the best part is, it is very affordable too: it can be yours
for merely RM149
.

We spotted this listing of the Mi TV Stick on
Xiaomi Global’s official store on Shopee
. Although it is based in China – meaning the product is shipped from the country too – the listing mentions that the TV Stick comes with a one-year local warranty. Rest assured, this is not a grey import – you wouldn’t get official local warranty support if that was the case.

Anyway, what makes the Mi TV Stick particularly interesting – besides its competitive price point – is its ability to transform any regular TV to a smart TV. Once it’s plugged into an HDMI port, just connect it to the internet to enjoy all the features of Android TV. That’s right, this little, compact device supports Android TV.

Thanks to this feature, the Mi TV Stick has access to the Google Play Store, giving users the ability to download various apps. Whether you’re looking for streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube, you’re only limited by apps that are made for the platform, which is…well, quite a lot.

Also bundled with the Mi TV Stick is a dedicated Bluetooth remote. Not only does it look rather premium, it even comes with a built-in microphone. This allows you to give voice commands to perform various tasks, thanks to the integration of Google Assistant. It’s also quite a simple, minimalist remote, with dedicated buttons to access Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video.

Of course, as with most streaming devices, the Mi TV Stick also supports Chromecast. Basically, you can cast content directly to a connected TV from your phone, laptop, or tablet. The only real limitation to this is the fact that the TV Stick can only stream content at 1080p. But given the affordable price of this device, this is not exactly a surprise.

The Mi TV Stick is now available for purchase in Malaysia on Shopee
for only RM149
. At the time of writing, there are 11 units left, which is not exactly a lot. If you want to get this streaming device for merely RM149, it’s best to act fast.


Black Shark 3S Launched in China With Faster 120Hz Screen & JoyUI 12

Black Shark recently introduced a new gaming smartphone in China, the Black Shark 3S. As its name suggests, it is an incremental upgrade over the
Black Shark 3
, which was unveiled back in March this year. In fact, there is really only one major hardware upgrade that differentiates the two phones: the screen.

Previously packed with a 90Hz screen on the Black Shark 3, the new Black Shark 3S comes with a faster 120Hz panel. Beyond this higher refresh rate, the updated gaming smartphone still features a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED display; no changes to the size or resolution of the screen. Of course, the 270Hz touch sampling rate is retained as well to minimise input lag.

Aside from that, the Black Shark 3S…is practically identical to the Black Shark 3. Well, except for one more thing: it ships with the latest JoyUI 12 software, which adds screen mirroring capability to the device. This is done via the gaming phone’s USB-C port, and while this is only offered on the Black Shark 3S at the moment, we reckon the Black Shark 3 (as well as the Pro model) will also receive the JoyUI 12 update in the future.

Software aside, the Black Shark 3S is still powered by a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. It would’ve been great if this gaming phone was updated with the newer Snapdragon 865+ SoC – which offers 10% better CPU and GPU performances – but at least the regular Snapdragon 865 processor can still deliver a respectable level of performance.

A gaming smartphone has to deliver good battery life, and in this aspect, the Black Shark 3S wouldn’t disappoint. It comes with a generous 4,720mAh battery, which should be able to offer above average battery life. On top of that, the 65W fast charging support ensures that the battery can be charged up very quickly.

In the camera department, the Black Shark 3S features a familiar triple camera system. It’s made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary shooter, a 13MP f/2.3 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP f/2.2 depth sensor. Not a super impressive camera configuration, but this is expected from a gaming smartphone; camera performance isn’t exactly the main focus here.

Other specifications of the Black Shark 3S include a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera, 12GB of RAM – an upgrade over the Black Shark 3’s 8GB RAM – up to 512GB of internal storage, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Black Shark 3S is currently only available in China with a 3,999 Chinese yuan starting price, which comes up to about RM2,430. No word yet on the Malaysian availability of the gaming smartphone, but we’re optimistic it will eventually arrive here.


Oppo Reno 4 Series Lands in Malaysia With RM1,699 Starting Price

The Oppo Reno 4 series has just been launched here in Malaysia, and it’s made up of two devices: the standard Reno 4, and the Reno 4 Pro. With a RM1,699 starting price, these two mid-range devices are not exactly affordable, but you do get a number of interesting features, including support for fast 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging.

First, let’s get the pricing of the two phones out of the way first. The regular Reno 4 – which has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage – retails at RM1,699, while the more feature-packed Reno 4 Pro goes for RM2,399. Given the higher asking price of the Pro model, it does come with twice the amount of storage at 256GB, though it’s still packed with 8GB of RAM.

The Oppo Reno 4 Pro

Compared to the standard model, the Reno 4 Pro does come with a number of upgrades that can justify the added cost. For one, it supports Oppo’s 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging technology. According to the Chinese company, this allows the phone’s 4,000mAh battery to be fully charged in only 36 minutes; that’s quite impressive. As for the standard Reno 4, it features a slightly bigger 4,015mAh cell with 30W fast charging.

Aside from that, the Reno 4 Pro also sports a faster 6.55-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The regular Reno 4, on the other hand, is equipped with a more conventional 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. Regardless of which device you go for, there’s a fingerprint sensor underneath the screen.

The Oppo Reno 4

Beyond these differences, both the Reno 4 and Reno 4 Pro are powered by the same chipset: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC. It’s not the fastest processor in the market – and you’d expect to get a more powerful chip at this price point – but it should still be able to offer a reasonably good level of performance for a pleasant user experience.

In the camera department, these two mid-range smartphones have a similar quad camera system made up of a 48MP f/1.7 primary shooter, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor, a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome camera. On the front, both devices come with a 32MP f/2.4 selfie camera.

The Oppo Reno 4 and Reno 4 Pro are now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 7 August. To recap, the standard model goes for RM1,699, while the Reno 4 Pro costs RM2,399. They will hit store shelves from 8 August onwards.


Google Announces 3 New Smartphones: $349 Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), & Pixel 5

In a surprise announcement, Google just introduced
three
 new smartphones today. These include the much leaked – and very affordable – Pixel 4a, the Pixel 4a (5G), as well as the flagship Pixel 5. It’s interesting how Google is basically revealing its smartphone lineup for the year.

However, today’s announcement is very much focused on the Pixel 4a; Google is still keeping the 5G variant of the Pixel 4a and the flagship Pixel 5 under wraps. Nonetheless, the company did mention that the two smartphones will be revealed sometime this fall. On top of that, Google also confirmed that the Pixel 4a (5G) will retail at $499 (about RM2,110). No word on exactly how much the Pixel 5 will go for, however.

Teaser of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G)

As for the standard Pixel 4a itself, it’s really quite an interesting mid-range smartphone, mostly because of its affordable price tag. After all, it retails at only $349 – that comes up to approximately RM1,475. That makes it
the most affordable
 smartphone Google has ever released in recent times. For the sake of comparison, the Pixel 3a retailed at $399 (around RM1,685) when it was launched last year.

For only $349, the Pixel 4a offers the best feature of any Pixel smartphones: excellent camera performance. Even though it only has a single 12.2MP f/1.7 sensor on the back, Google says that the Pixel 4a has “the same incredible camera experiences from Pixel 4.” Based on early reviews of the phone, this certainly seems to be the case, which is incredible for the mid-ranger.

Camera performance aside, the processor under the hood of the Pixel 4a is quite respectable as well. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset, which should be fast enough to provide a pleasant user experience. Whether you’re gaming or multitasking, we reckon the Snapdragon 730G is up for the task. It also helps that Pixel smartphones have a very clean version of Android.

In the display department, the Pixel 4a sports a rather compact 5.8-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED display with a hole-punch cutout on the top left of the screen for the 8MP f/2.0 selfie camera. Compared to the sizeable top bezel of the
Pixel 4
, the hole-punch design of the Pixel 4a is certainly a breath of fresh air.

Other specifications of the Pixel 4a include 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 3,140mAh battery, and a rear fingerprint sensor.

The Google Pixel 4a is currently open for pre-order in the US. There’s very slim chance of the phone ever making it onto Malaysian shores officially, though it’s almost certain parallel importers will offer the Pixel 4a here one way or another. Just make sure you’re not paying too high of a premium for a phone that costs less than RM1,500 in the States.


Proton Commerce Offers HP Loan With 2.98% Interest Rate for Fresh Graduates

If you’re a fresh graduate looking to get your first car, good news: Proton Commerce Sdn Bhd (PCSB) – a company under Proton – is offering hire purchase loans with as low as 2.98% interest rate for fresh graduates. According to PCSB, this is the lowest rate offered in the segment.

Of course, to be eligible for the Fresh Graduate Campaign, there are a number of conditions that have to be met. For one, applicants need a minimum monthly income of RM1,500. Besides that, only diploma holders (or higher) aged between 18 to 30 can apply for this campaign.

If you meet these conditions, all you need is a letter of employment or a month’s salary slip to apply for a hire purchase loan with Proton Commerce. According to the company, this makes it much easier for fresh graduates to apply for a car loan.

“A key deterrent for this segment of buyers has often been the ability to obtain a HP loan without having the proof of income for three months, a common requirement for most HP loans,” Proton Commerce said in a statement.

Proton Commerce’s Fresh Graduate campaign will run until 31 December 2020. More information on this offer can be found over at the company’s
official website
.


Proton Saga Leads A-Segment Sedan Market in July 2020; 5,421 Units Sold

Proton just posted its sales report for July 2020, and it’s been a very good month for the national carmaker. As many as 13,216 total sales were made by Proton, and the Proton Saga make up for almost half of that figure. As many as 5,421 units of the model were sold, making it the best-selling A-segment sedan last month.

On top of that, July 2020 was Proton’s highest monthly sale since June 2012. In comparison to the same month in 2019, Proton sees a notable 45.7% improvement in sales. Evidently, the launch of the
Proton Saga Anniversary Edition
 bolstered these numbers quite a bit. After all, all 1,100 units of the limited edition model were sold out in just five days.

Besides the Saga, three other Proton models led their respective segments as well. The popular
Proton X70
, for one, remains the best-selling SUV in Malaysia with 3,087 units sold. Not far behind is the Proton Persona: 3,043 units of the B-segment sedan leader were sold last month.

And then there’s the Proton Exora. With 792 units moved, it is the best-selling C-segment MPV locally in July 2020. Rounding out Proton’s sales performance for last month is the Proton Iriz – as many as 873 units of the B-segment hatchback were sold, putting it in third place in its respective segment.

“For August, Proton will look to continue to excite the market and stimulate sales in preparation for more model introductions later in the year,” said Roslan Abdullah, the CEO of Proton Edar. This could be a hint at the imminent arrival of the carmaker’s highly anticipated B-segment SUV, which is believed to be the called the
Proton X50
. Hopefully, the model will be introduced very soon to take advantage of the
100% sales tax exemption
.


Samsung Galaxy Note 20 & Note 20 Ultra Hands-On: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series is finally here, and as expected, it is made up of two smartphones: the standard Galaxy Note 20, and the higher-end Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Compared to their predecessors – yes, I consider the Note 20 Ultra to be the successor to the
Note 10+
 – both devices sport some serious upgrades, and this is especially the case with the Ultra.

However, the hardware disparity between the two flagship smartphones is a lot more drastic now, and in my opinion, it’s a step back. That is not to say the Note 20 series is not quite as exciting; the Note 20 Ultra is a fantastic followup to the Note 10+. It’s just that…if you’re a fan of last year’s
Note 10
, the Note 20 series will not be quite as appealing to you.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Now, I say this because the Galaxy Note 20 is hardly a successor to the Galaxy Note 10. The latter was a compact flagship smartphone that shares a similar camera system as the higher-end Note 10+, but this is not quite the case anymore with the Note 20. Not only is it a much bigger device now with a 6.7-inch screen – the Note 10 had a smaller 6.3-inch panel – it even has a very different camera configuration than the Note 20 Ultra.

This, in turn, makes the Note 20 a similarly sized phone with a more pedestrian camera system next to the Note 20 Ultra. You no longer have a compact Note device this year, which was introduced with the Note 10. As a fan of compact smartphones, this is a bit of a letdown to me, though the Note 20 will serve as a better alternative to the Note 20 Ultra now with the similarly big screen at a more affordable price point.

Anyway, let’s move on to the star of the new Note devices, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. One of the biggest new features introduced on the new flagship is the improved triple camera system. It’s made up of a 108MP f/1.8 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation, a 12MP f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens that can do 5x optical zoom, as well as a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter.

This camera setup is not too different from the
Galaxy S20 Ultra
‘s configuration, but there is one major difference with the Note 20 Ultra: a laser autofocus sensor. Thanks to the addition of this sensor, the autofocus performance of the Note 20 Ultra is
much better
than the S20 Ultra. This basically solves the latter’s inconsistent autofocus performance, which was my biggest qualm with the phone.

As for the performance of the Note 20 Ultra’s camera itself, it does seem to be able to take great-looking shots with good detail preservation and dynamic range; as expected of Samsung. However, I’ve only tested the camera in a well-lit setting, so it remains to be seen just how well it would perform under less than ideal lighting. But, again, this
is
 Samsung: its camera performance rarely disappoints.

What about the standard Galaxy Note 20? Even though its triple camera system (12MP f/1.8 primary + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 64MP f/2.0 telephoto) doesn’t have the laser autofocus sensor, it can still lock in focus very quickly, thanks to the Dual Pixel autofocus system of the main camera. Image quality of the camera is great too, though it doesn’t feel quite as capable as the Ultra’s more sophisticated camera array.

Next, we have the Note 20 Ultra’s bright and vibrant 6.9-inch 3088 x 1440 Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, just like the S20 Ultra. The display also curves on either sides of the phone at a pretty steep angle now, which I quite like. Of course, this is a HDR10+ certified panel as well, so rest assured, this is a very, very pleasant display to look at.

Unfortunately, the regular Note 20 doesn’t have a similar display. Instead, it only comes with a flat 6.7-inch 2400 x 1080 Super AMOLED Plus screen with a conventional 60Hz refresh rate; not very impressive, is it? On top of that, the Infinity-O cutout at the top of the screen is noticeably bigger than the Ultra’s cutout too. Thankfully, it is still a HDR10+ certified panel, so it still looks pretty good.

Despite these differences, there is one vital hardware both smartphones share: the new and improved S Pen. According to Samsung, the latency of the S Pen has been reduced, so it will feel more responsive as you write and draw on the Note 20 smartphones. The Air Actions feature is also more functional now, which can be used to go to the home screen, access the recent apps page, and even take a screenshot.

And then there’s the overall design of the two phones. Naturally, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra feels markedly more premium, thanks to the curved display and back panel. Because of the curvature on the sides of the phone, it feels thinner than it actually is as well.

Obviously, this is not the case with the regular Note 20. Because it has a flat screen, it feels a lot thicker than its Ultra counterpart, even though there’s only a 0.2mm difference in thickness between the two phones. On top of that, I’m not a fan of the Note 20’s back panel either. It feels…plasticky. Almost cheap, even. That being said, I do like the matte finish of the Mystic Bronze colourway pictured above.

Battery life of the two phones is worth a mention too. The Note 20 features a 4,300mAh battery, while the Note 20 Ultra comes with a slightly bigger 4,500mAh cell. These are pretty generous battery capacities, and paired with the 7nm Exynos 990 chip of both phones – yes, the Malaysian market is still getting the Exynos variant – they should be able to return respectable battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series, as with every new iteration of the Note, is better than ever. It’s just disheartening (to me) that the compact Note 10 doesn’t get a proper successor. Instead, what we get is a more affordable alternative to the Note 20 Ultra with the regular Note 20, which…well, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Regardless, I’m definitely excited to put the Galaxy Note 20 series through its paces, especially the Note 20 Ultra. The 108MP camera system doesn’t seem to suffer from inconsistent autofocus performance anymore, the fast 120Hz screen looks fantastic, and its battery life should be better than its predecessor too.

For the Malaysian market, the Galaxy Note 20 series starts at RM3,899 for the 4G variant of the regular Note 20. The 5G version, on the other hand, costs RM4,299; both models feature 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. As for the range-topping Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, it costs a whopping RM5,199. For that kind of money, you get 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Official With Bigger Screens & Snapdragon 865+

Also unveiled at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event besides the new
Note 20 devices
 is the successor to the
Galaxy Fold
, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2; it’s been renamed to streamline the branding for the Korean company’s foldable smartphones. Compared to the original Galaxy Fold, the Z Fold 2 is better in every way. For one, it has a much bigger, far more practical secondary screen on the front of the phone now.

That’s right, the display on the exterior of the Z Fold 2 has been upsized to a much more practical 6.23-inch 2260 x 816 Super AMOLED screen. It even covers almost the entire front of the foldable phone with tiny bezels surrounding the panel, which looks really good. That being said, it’s also a very tall display with a 25:9 aspect ratio.

Open up the Z Fold 2, and you’ll be greeted by the even bigger 7.6-inch 2208 x 1768 Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. The bezels have been shrunk as well, and there’s no longer the weird cutout at the top right of the screen for the front-facing cameras. Instead, the Z Fold 2 now comes with a much sleeker-looking hole-punch cutout for a single 10MP selfie camera.

Of course, just like the
Galaxy Z Flip
, the Z Fold 2’s foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen is protected by Samsung’s UTG – that stands for Ultra Thin Glass. However, the glass itself is covered with a plastic protective layer, so you won’t actually feel the glass material.

Naturally, the Z Fold 2 is also powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset; there’s no Exynos variant here. Thanks to this SoC, you’ll get the best level of performance available in the Android space. It’s worth noting that the Snapdragon 865+ also provides this foldable phone with 5G connectivity.

Other specifications of the Z Fold 2 include a triple camera system (12MP f/1.8 primary + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 12MP f/2.4 telephoto), 12GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, a 4,500mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging – 11W for wireless charging – a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and One UI based on Android 10 out of the box.

Malaysian availability and price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 have not been revealed yet, though we’re optimistic it will eventually arrive here in the near future. After all, Samsung Malaysia already has a dedicated product page for the Z Fold 2, not to mention the fact that both the Galaxy and Z Flip are also officially sold on our shores.


Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series Malaysian Pricing Revealed; From RM3,899 to RM5,199

Samsung Malaysia just revealed the local pricing of the brand new
Galaxy Note 20 series
. Given the premium positioning of the two new Note 20 smartphones, it’s not surprising that these are costly devices: they retail from RM3,899 to a whopping RM5,199.

Of course, the RM3,899 starting price is for the 4G variant of the standard Galaxy Note 20. The 5G model, on the other hand, goes for RM4,299. Regardless of which variant you go for, the Note 20 will come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Three colour options are available: Mystic Grey, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Green – the last one is exclusive to the 5G model.

The Galaxy Note 20
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

As for the higher-end Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, only one variant of the premium device is offered. Packed with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, this flagship smartphone costs RM5,199 in Malaysia. Just like the regular Note 20, it is offered in three different shades: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic White.

To sweeten the deal, those who purchase the Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra will be bundled with a pair of wireless earbuds. Every pre-order of the Note 20 will come with a complimentary Galaxy Buds+ (worth RM599), while those who place a pre-order for the Note 20 Ultra will receive the new Galaxy Buds Live worth RM699.

To recap, the new Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the more exciting phone of the two. Not only does it come with a new 108MP triple camera system with a laser autofocus sensor – along with a a 12MP f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter – it also features a HDR+ certified 6.9-inch 1440p Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

As for the regular Note 20, it doesn’t have the sophisticated 108MP triple camera system of the Ultra, but it still offers three different focal lengths: a 12MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto lens. As for the display, it features a more conventional 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED Plus screen with a 60Hz refresh rate; it is also HDR10+ certified.

Both Galaxy Note 20 devices are powered by the same Samsung Exynos 990 chipset, and the S Pen of the two phones have been improved with better latency as well. There are also other neat new features for the S Pen, including more practical Air Actions gestures.

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series will open tomorrow on 6 August at 10AM until 20 August or while stocks last. If you’d like to learn more about Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones, check out our hands-on of the two Note 20 devices
right here
.