Genshin Impact 3.6 Releasing on 12 April With Baizhu, Kaveh, New Weekly Boss & Story Quests

Genshin Impact’s Version 3.6 update is set to arrive on 12 April. Not only does the update bring two new playable characters – Baizhu and Kaveh, who have already appeared in the game’s main storyline – a new weekly boss will also be introduced alongside the second chapter of Nahida’s story quest.

First, the new playable characters. Baizhu is a 5-star catalyst character, while Kaveh is a 4-star unit who wields a claymore. Both of them have Dendro Visions, and they will be featured in the same banner in the second half of Genshin Impact 3.6’s event wishes alongside Ganyu’s rerun.

Speaking of which, Nahida and Nilou are also getting their rerun banners in the first half of event wishes once the update is live.

A few new enemies, including a weekly boss, will be added in the Version 3.6 update of Genshin Impact as well. Apep, the “Dragon of Verdure,” was said to be the ruler of ancient Sumeru, and the boss will be detailed in Nahida’s story quest
Sapientia Oromasdis Chapter: Act II
. Of course, Baizhu will get his own story quest as well, which will reveal “more anecdotes about the owner of Bubu Pharmacy,” as Hoyoverse puts it.

There is also a new area within the desert area of Sumeru. It’s made up of wastelands and an oasis, and it was one of the main battlefields during the Khaenri’ah cataclysm five hundred years ago, which was mentioned multiple times in the narrative of the game. Of course, there’s also a new in-game event dubbed Akademiya Extravaganza that also takes place in Sumeru.

Genshin Impact 3.6 will go live on 12 April. Once the update is here, Nahida’s and Nilou’s rerun banners will be available first, followed by Baizhu’s, Kaveh’s, and Ganyu’s event wishes at a later date.


Nothing Ear 2 Review: Improved Sound, Same Sleek Looks, RM599 Price Tag

The Nothing Ear 2 is the brand’s first-ever second generation product, and it brings a number of improvements over its predecessor. These include improved sound quality, better, more accurate earbud controls, as well as the same sleek transparent design and price tag as the Ear 1, albeit after a price hike last year.

That is not to say the Ear 2 is without flaws, of course. While I appreciate its unique aesthetics and improved sound quality, it still has some notable drawbacks here and there, such as its battery life and active noise cancellation (ANC) performance.

But for only RM599, you could do a lot worse.

What It Is

While the Nothing Ear 2 looks strikingly familiar to its predecessor, the wireless earbuds do feature a number of improvements under the hood, naturally. These include a custom 11.6mm dynamic driver for better sound quality, new pinch controls, and longer battery life.

The diaphragm of the Ear 2’s custom dynamic driver, for one, is made out of a combination of polyurethane (PU) and graphene, which is said to deliver “purer, more powerful” bass. It is also capable of producing highs that sound clearer and brighter – I find the latter especially true, and I’ll come back to this further down the review.

Other specifications of the Ear 2 include active noise cancellation (ANC), up to six hours of use on a single charge – can be extended up to 36 hours with the charging case – pinch controls on the earbuds instead of the more iffy touch controls found on its predecessor, as well as an IP54 rating; IP55 for the charging case.

Given that it retails at only RM599, the Ear 2 definitely offers respectable feature set for the money.

The Good Stuff

One of the most eye-catching features of the Nothing Ear 2 – and possibly the best reasons for some folks to get these earbuds – is its transparent design. From the see-through case to the transparent shell of the earbuds themselves, Nothing’s signature design element really gives the Ear 2 a unique aesthetic, and I absolutely love it.

Fit and comfort of these earbuds are good too; at least, that’s the case for my ears. I can wear them for long periods of time comfortably, and the default medium ear tips give me a good level of isolation. There’s even a convenient ear tip fit test through the Nothing X companion app to make sure I’m getting a good fit.

It’s important to get a good fit to get the best possible audio quality, and in this regard, the Ear 2 sounds good…even if I’m not a big fan of its bright tuning. I prefer a warmer sound signature, so the pronounced treble of these earbuds is not to my liking, though I can definitely see – or rather, hear – the appeal of such a tuning to some folks.

But I do love the bass response of the Ear 2. While it doesn’t have particularly strong sub-bass – so it lacks a bit of low-end
rumble
 – the mid-bass is certainly there. Basically, it has punchy, relatively well-controlled bass (unlike the Ear 1) that’s sure to appeal to listeners who want good bass output.

Earbud controls of the Ear 2 are well-implemented too. Compared to the Ear 1’s touch-based controls, the Ear 2’s pinch controls are much more refined and “deliberate” in the sense that accidental inputs are reduced. I like that the controls are customisable too, so I can easily adjust the volume or activate ANC with different pinching actions.

And that is a good segue to the next section..

The Bad Stuff

Unfortunately, the ANC of the Nothing Ear 2 leaves much to be desired. While it can eliminate low-end rumbles like bus engine quite well, it can’t do the same for higher frequencies, especially human speech. Granted, for a pair of RM599 wireless earbuds, this level of ANC is within expectations.

Battery life of the Ear 2 could be better too. With ANC activated, I can only get about four hours of listening time on a single charge, which is in line with Nothing’s quoted battery life. With ANC disabled, the battery life can be stretched to around six hours. That is…decent, but certainly not great.

Last but not least are the proprietary ear tips of the Ear 2, limiting its compatibility with aftermarket ear tips. It’s good that three different ear tip sizes are provided with the earbuds, but there’s always a chance that some folks won’t get the best fit with any of them.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking to get a pair of wireless earbuds with a bright sound signature that also offers good, strong bass in a unique, transparent design, then the Nothing Ear 2 is certainly worth considering. Plus, with a RM599 retail price, it’s not awfully expensive either.

It would’ve been great if the Ear 2 has longer battery life with better ANC performance, but with its price tag in mind, these two drawbacks are not dealbreakers by any means, in my opinion. Even more so if you’re a fan of the Ear 2’s transparent design, which I certainly am.


Samsung Galaxy A34 Hands-on: Solid, Water-Resistant RM1,599 Mid-Ranger

The Samsung Galaxy A34, compared to last year’s
Galaxy A33
, brings a number of improvements. Not only does it feature a faster, bigger 120Hz Super AMOLED display now, it also comes with a sleeker-looking design while retaining many of its predecessor’s winning qualities.

One of which is the Galaxy A34’s IP67 rating, which is not something you typically see in a mid-range smartphone; even the majority of flagship-class devices today still don’t have this rating. If you’re looking to get a refined mid-ranger – that’s also water-resistant – the A34 is worth a look.

Priced at RM1,599
, the Galaxy A34 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chip paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB expandable storage. This is quite a departure from the previous model’s Samsung Exynos 1280 processor, and from what I can tell, the MediaTek chip can deliver a reasonably good user experience.

In day-to-day use, the A34 feels more than fast enough. I can juggle between different apps without any major slowdown, and the fast 120Hz display gives the impression of an even faster device. Granted, the Dimensity 1080 does show its limits when I fire up
Genshin Impact
. The A34 can’t quite offer a smooth gameplay experience, though I’ll test the gaming performance of the phone more thoroughly in the full review.

Let’s come back to the Galaxy A34’s 120Hz display. The 6.6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED panel is a tad bigger than the A33’s 6.4-inch screen, and in terms of image quality, this is a pretty darn good display. It has a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, wide viewing angles, and vibrant, punchy colours for a pleasant viewing experience.

In the camera department, the A34 features a 13MP selfie camera, along with a triple camera system on the back. It’s made up of a 48MP main shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP macro sensor. I managed to take some shots with the A34, and while it’s not the best camera I’ve tested on a mid-range phone, it’s more than serviceable.

At least, that’s the case with the 48MP primary camera. The 8MP ultra-wide shooter leaves much to be desired, and I’ll be sure to put it through its paces throughout the review period.

48MP primary

48MP primary

8MP ultra-wide

48MP primary

On a more positive note, the Galaxy A34 offers really good battery life. Packed with a generous 5,000mAh battery, the phone can comfortably last me through a typical workday. So far, I’m getting between five to six hours of screen on time on a single charge; that’s quite respectable.

Last but not least is the design of the Galaxy A34, which I’m quite a fan of (for the most part). While its frame and back panel are made of plastic – with a nice matte finish – the phone doesn’t feel cheap by any means. I also like how the back cover of this “Awesome Lime” colourway has a nice sheen to it when it’s reflecting light.

Depending on which colour you get, the frame of the A34 will also match the chosen shade. I like that the colour of the frame is also visible from the front, which really fits the “fun” theme of the phone, in my opinion. The arrangement of the three camera sensors is aesthetically pleasing to me too.

That being said, the Galaxy A34’s U-shaped notch and the size of its surrounding bezels – especially the bottom one – don’t look particularly great. These design elements lend to a…well, dated-looking phone, and as a result, the A34 looks better from the back than it does from the front.

Nonetheless, priced at RM1,599, the Samsung Galaxy A34 offers a reasonably compelling package. While it doesn’t offer the best performance for the money, its other qualities make up for this. After all, it has IP67 water and dust resistance, not to mention a great-looking display and respectable battery life.

If you’re keen to get the Galaxy A34, it is now available for pre-order in Malaysia; early birds who place their orders by 6 April this Thursday will even get a Samsung Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds worth RM549 for free. You can also use our code AMGA34545G to get a complimentary 35W PD Power Adapter Duo worth RM99 from Samsung’s online store.

As for colour options, the A34 is available in the Awesome Lime shade you see in this article, alongside Awesome Graphite, Awesome Violet, and Awesome Silver.


The Realme Coca-Cola Phone Is Coming to Malaysia

Remember the Coca-Cola phone Realme announced earlier this year? Well, the Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition is now confirmed for our local market, and Malaysia is one of only five countries that are set to get the phone.

Only 6,000 units of the Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition are available worldwide, and it’s certainly an interesting-looking phone, to say the least. Coca-Cola’s branding can be seen from the back of the phone itself to the theme, notification sounds, and the accessories that come with the phone.

Even the SIM eject tool is shaped like a Coca-Cola bottle cap.

Other specifications of the special Coca-Cola Realme 10 Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, a 6.72-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (108MP primary + 2MP depth), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

No tentative release date yet for the Malaysian availability of the Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition, and it remains to be seen how much it will cost on our shores. But given that Realme has already confirmed the Malaysian arrival of the limited edition phone, we reckon it will be launched here very soon.


iQOO Z7 & iQOO Z7X With 120W Charging Coming to Malaysia 10 April

We
spotted the iQOO Z7 in SIRIM’s database
 last month, and today, the Chinese company confirmed that the phone, alongside the iQOO Z7X, are set to arrive here in Malaysia on 10 April. One of the headline features of the iQOO Z7 series is 120W fast charging, though only the Z7 supports the feature.

Without a doubt the Z7 is the higher-end offering. Aside from its 120W charging capability, it also has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, a 6.64-inch 1080p LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (64MP main + 2MP depth), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

As for the iQOO Z7x, it has a more modest list of specs. These include a Snapdragon 695 processor paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, a 6.64-inch 1080p LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (50MP primary + 2MP depth), an 8MP selfie camera, and a generous 6,000mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging.

The iQOO Z7 and iQOO Z7x will be launched in Malaysia next week on 10 April. We’ll find out then just how much the two phones will be priced at for our local market.


Asus ROG Ally Is Actually Real – More Compact Steam Deck Competitor With Faster AMD APU

The Asus ROG Ally was thought to be an April Fools’ Day joke – after all, it was first unveiled on 1 April – but it turns out to be a real product. Basically, it is a competitor to the Steam Deck, and it looks to be more compact too with the “fastest AMD APU yet.”

If we were to take Asus’ claim at face value, the ROG Ally may just offer better gaming performance over the Steam Deck, given that the latter is also powered by an AMD APU, Aerith. The Ally also has a higher resolution 7-inch 1920 x 1080 display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Steam Deck has lower resolution 60Hz panel, though it has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio.

Aside from that, the ROG Ally can also be connected to the (proprietary) ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure for higher fidelity gaming. It’s said to run on Windows 11 as well, so it’ll be interesting to see how this would impact the battery life of the handheld gaming console.

But there are still many aspects of the Asus ROG Ally that are still under wraps. We don’t know exactly when it will go on sale – let alone its Malaysian availability – and more importantly, its retail price has not been revealed yet either. For what it’s worth, it’s said to be priced competitively, which would certainly make the Ally a compelling handheld gaming PC.


Confirmed: Honor Magic 5 Also Coming to Malaysia 6 April

The Honor Magic 5 series – alongside the
Honor Magic Vs foldable phone
 – is set to be launched in Malaysia on 6 April this Thursday. We know that includes the Magic 5 Pro – we
reviewed the phone
, after all – and it’s now confirmed that the standard Magic 5 is also coming to our shores.

In our routine search through SIRIM’s database, we spotted the regular Magic 5; it was registered with the certification body just today on 4 April under Honor Malaysia. The Magic 5 Pro has also been certified by SIRIM last month on 22 March.

Compared to its Pro sibling, the standard Honor Magic 5 has slightly different hardware. While it’s still powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, it has a more modest triple camera system made up of a 54MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 32MP telephoto camera with 2.5x optical zoom or 50x digital zoom.

Rounding out the hardware of the Magic 5 are a 6.73-inch 2688 x 1224 LTPO OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, a 12MP selfie camera, an IP68 rating, and a 5,100mAh battery with 66W fast charging.

The Honor Magic 5 series and the Honor Magic Vs will make their debuts in Malaysia later this week on 6 April. We’ll find out then just how much these phones will go for on our shores.


OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Official – 120Hz Display, 108MP Camera, RM1,099

The affordable OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has just been unveiled. Featuring a 120Hz display with a 108MP camera system – and a budget-friendly price tag – it’s quite an intriguing mid-range smartphone. It also comes in a rather eye-catching Pastel Lime colourway.

Only one variant of the Nord CE 3 Lite is offered in Malaysia. Sporting 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage – pretty generous capacities – the mid-ranger retails at RM1,099 locally. Two colour options are available: the aforementioned Pastel Lime and Chromatic Grey.

Hardware wise, the Nord CE 3 Lite has a modest spec sheet. These include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, a 6.72-inch 1080p LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (108MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 11 to 17 April for RM1,099. Early birds will receive a number of freebies, including the first generation OnePlus Nord Buds, a one-year extended warranty, and a one-year screen protection.


OnePlus Nord Buds 2 Features ANC & 36 Hours Battery Life for RM329

Also introduced alongside the
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
 is the equally affordable OnePlus Nord Buds 2. Despite its budget-friendly nature, the wireless earbuds still feature active noise cancellation (ANC) and a rather respectable battery life of up to 36 hours – with the charging case, of course.

For the Malaysian market, the Nord Buds 2 retails at RM329. Two colour options are offered: Lightning White and Thunder Grey. Just like the Nord CE 3 Lite, the earbuds will also enter pre-order from 11 April onwards. Early birds will even get a RM30 discount, bringing down the price to only RM299.

For that kind of money, the Nord Buds 2 features a single 12.4mm driver that’s said to deliver “rich sound” and impactful bass. Aside from that, it also has five or seven hours of battery life on a single charge with ANC enabled and disabled respectively – extended to 27 hours or 36 hours with the charging case – Bluetooth 5.3, and IP55 water and dust resistance.

To recap, the OnePlus Buds 2 retails at RM329 in Malaysia. It will be available for pre-order locally from 11 April onwards together with the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Early birds can enjoy a RM30 discount as well, so you’ll only be paying RM299 for the wireless earbuds.


Click & Brew Previews New Location in George Town, Penang – Opening in Mid-Q2 2023

Click & Brew, a keyboard cafe located in George Town, Penang, just previewed its new store. Set to be opened sometime in the middle of Q2 2023, the new retail space looks quite a bit bigger – and very “Instagrammable” – over the previous store.

While these look to be rendered images, we reckon the final store will be similar to what’s shown here. There’s the cafe component of the…keyboard cafe, and of course, there’s a keyboard corner too. It looks like there are stairs leading up to a second floor as well; definitely a big retail space!

The exact location of the new Click & Brew store has also been revealed. It will be located at
45, Lebuh Melayu in George Town
. If you’re familiar with the previous store at 4, Lebuh Acheh, the new location is about a 400m walk that will take around five minutes.

Set to be operational sometime in the middle of Q2 2023 – perhaps in May next month – the new Click & Brew store looks quite exciting. It’s great to see the keyboard cafe move to a bigger space, which will certainly benefit the local custom keyboard community.


Alliance Bank Visa Virtual Credit Card Unveiled With Dynamic Card Number

Alliance Bank just introduced what it says to be Malaysia’s first in-app virtual credit card. What makes the Alliance Bank Visa Virtual Credit Card particularly interesting is its dynamic card number system, which randomly generates a 16-digit card number for online transactions whenever necessary.

Of course, the main advantage of the dynamic card number system is security, as the credit card itself doesn’t have a “static” 16-digit number to make payments. Whenever you want to make a transaction with the Visa Virtual Credit Card, you can opt to generate a card number for either a one-time payment or a recurring one, such as for subscription services.

You can even label the cards accordingly

For card numbers that are generated for recurring payments, you can label each of them depending on their purposes. You can even set the maximum charge per transaction, the number of times it can be used, and the expiry date of the card.

As for the Visa Virtual Credit Card itself, it is based on Alliance Bank’s existing Visa Platinum card, though this particular card does not have any annual fees – except for the RM25 service tax charged by the government, of course. According to Alliance Bank, more of its current credit cards will be added to the virtual credit card initiative in the future.

To celebrate the launch of the virtual credit card, Alliance Bank is also offering a 0% flexi payment plan with a RM500 minimum spend (on a 12-month tenure) until 31 December 2023.

If you’re keen to get the Alliance Bank Visa Virtual Credit Card with the new dynamic card number system, you can send in your application online through the Allianceonline Mobile app. It can be downloaded from the
Apple App Store
,
Google Play Store
, as well as the
Huawei AppGallery
.


Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Arrives in Malaysia for RM1,599 – 200MP Camera, 120W Fast Charging

The Redmi Note 12 series has just been launched in Malaysia, and the highlight of the series is the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. It is touted as the “mid-range king,” and it has a number of intriguing features, including a 200MP camera, a 120Hz display, and even 120W fast charging.

Only one variant of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is available in Malaysia. Packed with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the mid-ranger retails at RM1,599 on our shores. Three distinct colour options are offered: Midnight Black, Polar White, and Sky Blue.

As mentioned, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a 200MP main camera, which is also complemented by an 8MP ultra-wide shooter and a 2MP macro lens. As for the display, it’s a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Other specifications of the Note 12 Pro+ include a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage, a 16MP selfie camera, and a 4,980mAh battery with support for 120W HyperCharge. According to Xiaomi, the phone can be fully charged in only
19 minutes
, and of course, a 120W charger is also provided in the box.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 6 to 13 April for RM1,599. Early birds who purchase the phone during the pre-order period will also get a Redmi Smart Band 2 worth RM149 for free.


Redmi Note 12 & Redmi Note 12 5G Also Launched in Malaysia From RM699

Also launched alongside the
Redmi Note 12 Pro+
 is the standard Redmi Note 12 and Redmi Note 12 5G. These two phone are quite a bit more affordable than the Pro model, and in the case of the Note 12 5G, it looks to be one of the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 phones in our local market.

Of the two phones, the Redmi Note 12 is the more affordable device with a RM699 starting price (6GB + 128GB), going up to RM799 for the 8GB + 128GB model. As for the Redmi Note 12 5G, it retails at RM1,099 for the sole 8GB + 256GB configuration.

It’s worth noting that the 6GB + 128GB variant of the Redmi Note 12 is only available online, and early birds can actually get it at a promo price of RM659 – that’s RM40 worth of discount.

Design wise, these two phones look quite similar to each other, and they both feature a 6.67-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 5,000mAh battery (33W fast charging). That being said, they do have different chipsets and camera configurations.

The Redmi Note 12 5G, for one, is powered by the aforementioned Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset with a triple camera system (48MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP depth) and an 8MP selfie camera. As for the Redmi Note 12, it features a Snapdragon 685 SoC with a triple camera system (50MP + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro) and a 13MP selfie camera.

The Redmi Note 12

The Redmi Note 12 5G

The Redmi Note 12 and Redmi Note 12 5G will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 6 to 13 April from RM699 and RM1,099 respectively. Every pre-order of either phones will also come with a Redmi Smart Band 2 worth RM149 for free.


Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition Coming to Malaysia 12 April

Confirmed for the Malaysian market just a couple of days ago, we now have a launch date for the Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition. Set to be launched here next week on 12 April, Malaysia is one of only five countries that are set to get the phone, which include Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, and India.

Only 6,000 units of the Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition are available worldwide, and it’s certainly an interesting-looking phone, to say the least. Coca-Cola’s branding can be seen from the back of the phone itself to the theme, notification sounds, and the accessories that come with the phone.

Even the SIM eject tool is shaped like a Coca-Cola bottle cap.

Other specifications of the special Coca-Cola Realme 10 Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, a 6.72-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (108MP primary + 2MP depth), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

The Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition will be launched in Malaysia next week on 12 April. Its local pricing will be revealed then, and it will be interesting to see exactly how many units will be made available on our shores, given that this is a limited edition phone.


6 – 12 April Fuel Price: RON 97 Still Stays at RM3.35 Per Litre

Unsurprisingly, RON 97 sees no price change yet again this week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.35 per litre for the next seven days. RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 6 to 12 April next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Honor Magic 5 Pro Unleashed in Malaysia – Triple Camera System With 100x Zoom for RM4,299

Unveiled back at MWC 2023, the Honor Magic 5 Pro has finally been launched in Malaysia. Powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the flagship smartphone also has a triple camera system that can do up to 100x zoom.

Here in Malaysia, only one variant of the Magic 5 Pro is offered. Featuring 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, the phone retails at RM4,299. Two colour options are available: Meadow Green – the model you see here – and the more minimalist Black.

As mentioned, the Magic 5 Pro features a triple camera configuration made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP periscope telephoto sensor that can do 3.5x optical zoom or 100x digital zoom. As for the selfie camera, it’s a 12MP unit.

Other specifications of the Magic 5 Pro include a 6.81-inch 2848 x 1312 LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz smart refresh rate, an IP68 rating, a generous 5,100mAh battery with support for 66W wired charging (50W for wireless charging), and MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13.

The Honor Magic 5 Pro will be available for pre-order in Malaysia later today at 5PM for RM4,299; early birds can even get freebies worth up to RM1,200. If you’d like to learn more about the Magic 5 Pro, check out our
full review of the flagship phone
.


Honor Magic Vs Foldable Phone Lands in Malaysia for RM5,999

Aside from the Honor Magic 5 series, the Chinese company also introduced a foldable phone in Malaysia, the Honor Magic Vs. It is a slightly upgraded version of the original
Magic V
 – which was launched early last year – and naturally, it sports a number of high-end features.

For the Malaysian market, the Magic Vs retails at a cool RM5,999 for the sole 12GB + 512GB model. It will be available for pre-order later today, and early birds can get freebies worth over RM2,200, which looks to include a coffee machine of sorts too.

The foldable phone can also be purchased in two different colours: Cyan and Black.

Under the hood of the Magic Vs is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. While it’s not the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Soc, it should still be able to deliver the performance level of a proper flagship smartphone. Aside from that, the Magic Vs also has a larger 5,000mAh battery now (250mAh more) than the Magic V with support for 66W fast charging.

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

To recap, the Honor Magic Vs will be available for pre-oder in Malaysia later today for RM5,999, undercutting its main competition – the
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
, which starts at RM6,799 – by quite a bit.


Honor Magic 5 Also Launched in Malaysia – Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Phone for RM3,499

Honor Malaysia launched a slew of devices in Malaysia today. Aside from the
Magic 5 Pro
 and the
Magic Vs foldable phone
, the company also unveiled the standard Honor Magic 5 on our shores. Interestingly, Malaysia is said to be the only market outside of China to get the smartphone.

Only one variant of the Magic 5 is available in Malaysia. Featuring 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the flagship phone costs RM3,499 locally. It’s also available in two distinct colourways: Glacier Blue and Black.

Compared to its Pro sibling, the standard Honor Magic 5 has slightly different hardware. While it’s still powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, it has a more modest triple camera system made up of a 54MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 32MP telephoto camera with 2.5x optical zoom or 50x digital zoom.

Rounding out the hardware of the Magic 5 are a 6.73-inch 2688 x 1224 LTPO OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 12MP selfie camera, an IP68 rating, a 5,100mAh battery with 66W fast charging, as well as MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13 out of the box.

The Honor Magic 5 will be available in Malaysia on 28 April for RM3,499. Early birds can get freebies worth over RM700, which includes a Bluetooth speaker, a one-year extended warranty, and a 180-day screen crack protection.


Asus ROG Phone 7 Expected to Arrive in Malaysia May 2023

Asus previously revealed that its next gaming smartphone, the Asus ROG Phone 7, will be introduced on 13 April next week. We were previously told that the phone – or phones, given that the ROG Phone series typically consists of several devices – is coming to Malaysia, and we now have a slightly more concrete local launch timeline.

According to our source, the ROG Phone 7 is expected to arrive in Malaysia sometime in May 2023 next month. This lines up with last year’s
ROG Phone 6
; although the global debut of the phone took place in July last year, it was only available for purchase in Malaysia the following month in August 2022.

At the moment, exact specifications of the ROG Phone 7 have not been revealed yet, though we reckon it will at least be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. There should be two devices too: a standard model and a higher-end variant, just like previous iterations of the ROG Phone series.

Of course, these are just educated guesses on our part. We’ll just have to wait until 13 April next month to find out just what the Asus ROG Phone 7 will bring to the table. If the teaser image is anything to go by, there’s a chance the gaming phone will be sporting a new design of sorts.


MTG March of the Machine Carnival Happening in Malaysia This Weekend

Wizards of the Coast will be releasing Magic: The Gathering’s next expansion, March of the Machine (MOM), later this month on 21 April. Ahead of the set’s release for tabletop, Wizards is holding series of “carnival-styled” activities for the upcoming expansion this weekend here in Malaysia.

The MOM carnival will be held at two locations in Klang Valley on 8 and 9 April. There’s Classroom Cafe in Uptown Damansara, as well as Cards & Hobbies in Petaling Jaya. The two game stores will be themed after certain planes found in MTG as well for the carnival. Classroom Cafe will be depicting Phyrexia, while Cards & Hobbies is going with Kamigawa.

During the MOM carnival, a slew of activities will be offered. These include learn-to-play sessions, meet and greet with cosplayers – you can catch Elspeth at the two game stores on 8 April – and to top it off, you can even win prizes at the carnival by just sharing photos of the event on social media.

Those who are interested to attend MTG’s March of the Machine carnival this weekend are encouraged to
pre-register through this Facebook event
. Admission is free, and those who registered will receive two themed booster packs as well.


Tesla Job Recruitment Begins in Malaysia

It was confirmed just last month that
Tesla is officially coming to Malaysia
, and now, the carmaker has started job recruitment on our shores. The company is
looking for quite a number of roles
, and all of them are full-time positions.

The Malaysian job listings are posted on Tesla’s
careers section on its official website
. Based in Kuala Lumpur, the positions offered are from various fields, including engineering, operations, sales and customer support, and even charging.

It was previously revealed that Tesla will be opening a head office in Malaysia, along with Tesla experience and service centres. Of course, the company will develop a Supercharger network locally as well, which will bolster the availability of EV chargers throughout the country. The job listings certainly reflect these plans.

Now that Tesla is already recruiting in Malaysia, the carmaker’s local debut could be nearer than we initially thought. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye for any relevant development – you could be buying a Tesla here from the carmaker itself in the near future.


Proton’s Sales up 50.9% in Q1 2023 With 40,287 Units Sold – X50, Persona Segment Leaders

Proton continues to record high number of sales in March 2023. With 14,573 units sold – domestic and export sales included – the national carmaker sold a total of 40,287 units in Q1 2023; a whopping 50.9% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Three of Proton’s models continue to lead their respective segments. The X50, for one, lead not only the B-segment SUV market, but also the SUV market as a whole with 9,668 units sold in the first quarter of 2023. As for the Persona, as many as 6,773 units were moved.

Last but not least is the Exora with 426 units sold in March 2023, leading the C-segment MPV market.

Although Proton’s sales performance in Q1 2023 is impressive, the carmaker mentioned that sales in this period are inflated. After all, the deadline to deliver cars with sales tax-free prices was 31 March 2023 last month as part of the PENJANA incentive, so every car brand were rushing to meet this deadline.

“A better reflection of market sentiment would emerge by the end of Q2, but we remain confident of maintaining our sales momentum,” said the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah. “We will be launching the Proton X90 soon and will also have more additions to the range later in the year,” he added.

It’s worth noting that public previews of the Proton X90 will be held at six cities in Malaysia from tomorrow onwards (8 April), though no details have been released yet at the time of writing. Nonetheless, the premium D-segment SUV should bolster the carmaker’s sales this year, alongside the possible debut of the “
Proton S50
,” which is believed to be a replacement of the Proton Preve.


Marvel Snap Season Pass Price Raised (Quietly) in Malaysia – Now RM47.99

Every month, a new Season Pass is introduced in Marvel Snap, which offers a new card, variants, as well as extra gold and credit to players who purchase it. Needless to say, it offers good value, but it appears Second Dinner quietly raised the price of the Season Pass in Malaysia.

Previously, the Marvel Snap Season Pass costs RM44.90 in Malaysia, and this was the case up until March 2023. When the April Season Pass went live – featuring the new Hit-Monkey card – the price has gone up to RM47.99. On top of that, there’s no official announcement from Second Dinner either on this price change.

This applies to every platform Marvel Snap is offered too. Whether you’re on iOS, Android, or PC via Steam, the price increase is consistent. A player in India
also reported a similar price increase
 from 899 Indian rupee to 999 rupee. That’s a difference of about RM5, which is slightly more than the price hike in Malaysia.

It’s not great that the price of Marvel Snap’s Season Pass was quietly increased, though it still offers the best value for money if you want to get more gold, credits, and the Season Pass card. Of course, to get the best value out of it, you’d have to reach level 50.


Affordable Samsung Galaxy M14 5G Coming to Malaysia Soon

It looks like Samsung is set to launch another affordable 5G phone here in Malaysia. Aside from 5G connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G also offers a large 6,000mAh battery and a 90Hz display – reasonably fast screen for a budget-friendly phone.

As usual, we were going through SIRIM’s database when we spotted the Galaxy M14 5G. It was registered under Samsung Malaysia with the model number SM-M146B/DSN just today on 7 April. Chances are, the Korean company is preparing to launch the affordable phone on our shores.

The Galaxy M14 5G is actually quite similar to the existing Galaxy A14 5G, which retails at RM949 in Malaysia. It has the same Exynos 1330 chipset, a 6.6-inch 2408 x 1080 PLS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), as well as a 13MP selfie camera. The only difference lies in the battery capacity: the M14 5G comes with the aforementioned 6,000mAh battery over the A14 5G’s 5,000mAh cell.

No word yet from Samsung Malaysia on the local availability of the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G. Given that it’s been certified by SIRIM already, we reckon the affordable 5G phone will be offered on our shores very soon.


OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Review: Sleek, Long-Lasting, Average RM1,099 Phone

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, compared to its predecessor, brings some notable upgrades. Not only does it features a superior 108MP primary camera, it also has larger internal storage with even faster 67W fast charging. The best part is, it’s also priced
lower
than its predecessor.

However, the Nord CE 3 Lite has tough competition in this segment, and although it’s reasonably affordable with a RM1,099 price tag, there are other offerings at this price point that have better value for money. This, paired with a less-than-stellar software experience, doesn’t make OnePlus’ latest mid-ranger particularly compelling.

That being said, it does have some winning qualities, including very,
very
 long battery life and an eye-catching design with solid build quality. If that sounds enticing to you, keen on reading this review of the Nord CE 3 Lite.

What It Is

Display
6.72-inch FHD+ IPS LCD (2400 x 1080), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G 2.2GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 619
RAM
8GB
Storage
256GB, expandable
Camera (rear)
108MP f/1.7
2MP f/2.4 (macro)
2MP f/2.4 (depth)
Camera (front)
16MP f/2.4
Battery
5,000mAh with 67W SUPERVOOC charging
Dimensions
165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm
Weight
195g
OS
OxygenOS 13.1 based on Android 13
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.1
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
Price
RM1,099

For a mid-range phone, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has decent hardware. The Snapdragon 695 chipset is commonly found in this segment, and so is the 120Hz Full HD+ IPS display, though its competition – the
Redmi Note 12 5G
, in particular – comes with a superior AMOLED panel.

But the Nord CE 3 Lite does have an edge when it comes to charging speed. Its 67W SUPERVOOC charging is noticeably faster than, again, the Redmi Note 12 5G, which only offers 33W charging. There’s also the triple camera system headlined by a 108MP sensor, though megapixel count isn’t everything – more on this later.

The Good Stuff

My favourite aspect of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has to be its build quality. Though it has a plastic construction, it feels great in my hands. The plastic frame has a nice matte finish, and the flat sides make it easy to get a firm, secure grip on the phone.

I also really like the back panel of the CE 3 Lite. It may be plastic, but it feels good to the touch without any of that “cheap” feeling. I especially like this Pastel Lime colourway too; it’s a nice shade of yellow that looks almost green under different lighting.

Beyond that, the performance level of the Nord CE 3 Lite is reasonably good too, courtesy of the Snapdragon 695 chipset. It’s more than fast enough for my day-to-day use, and even though it struggles to run Genshin Impact at the lowest graphics settings, it’s still (largely) playable.

After all, it’s a demanding mobile game that even some flagship phones struggle to run well.

And then we have the most impressive feature of the Nord CE 3 Lite: battery life. Throughout the review period, the phone’s 5,000mAh battery never failed to deliver all-day worth of use. In fact, I even managed to get up to
seven hours
 of screen on time effortlessly with the phone. When I need to recharge the phone, the 66W fast charging can quickly top it up too.

This fast charging rate is one of the most highlighted features of this mid-range phone, alongside its 108MP primary camera, which I’ll get to in the following section..

The Bad Stuff

While the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite’s 108MP camera sounds impressive on paper, its actual performance leaves much to be desired. Under ideal lighting, it can deliver good-looking shots – like any smartphone worth its salt should – but in low light conditions, the camera struggles to perform. Judge for yourself with these sample shots:

Not only is noise apparent in nighttime shots, the Nord CE 3 Lite’s 108MP camera doesn’t have great dynamic range or detail preservation either. The other two camera sensors (2MP macro + 2MP depth) don’t meaningfully improve the camera capability of the phone either, in my opinion.

And then there’s the 6.72-inch 1080p IPS display of the CE 3 Lite, which is…average. It’s serviceable, sure, with reasonably good brightness level, but its viewing angles are not particularly wide. Colours noticeably shift at the slightest angle, negatively impacting the user experience.

However, I do appreciate the panel’s fast 120Hz refresh rate, which gives animations nice and smooth transitions.

Last but not least is the software experience of OxygenOS 13.1. Yes, it feels lightweight, but it also doesn’t feel quite as responsive as it should be to my inputs. I also don’t like the fact that I can’t swipe down on multiple notifications from the same app to expand them; other versions of Android has this enabled.

These are by no means huge issues, but they do affect the overall polish of the software experience.

Is It Worth It?

It really depends on what you prioritise in a smartphone. If you want a long-lasting phone with a sleek, eye-catching design and solid build quality, then the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is certainly worth considering. But if you want a phone with a versatile camera system that offers more than just one focal length or a display with wide viewing angles, then you may want to look at other options.

Nonetheless, if you do want to get the Nord CE 3 Lite, you can
pre-order it now until 17 April
. Early birds get up to RM497 worth of freebies – which includes the first generation OnePlus Nord Buds, a one-year extended warranty, and a one-year screen protection – as well as a RM80 discount voucher, bringing down the price of the phone to RM1,019.


RM200 eWallet Credit Under Belia Rahmah Initiative Now Extended to Students & Youths

At the retabling of Budget 2023 by the current government, it was confirmed that youths in Malaysia will get RM200 in ewallet credit sometime in 2023 as part of the Belia Rahmah initiative. Well, this is now extended to university students as well.

This is confirmed by Prime Minister (and Finance Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
 in a sharing session
 at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). Previously, the Belia Rahmah initiative only included youths between the ages of 18 to 20.

There’s no word yet on when the Belia Rahmah initiative will begin, though we reckon more details will be revealed in the near future. It’ll be interesting to see if the government will engage with the same ewallet services for the initiative, which included ShopeePay, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, BigPay, and GrabPay.


Proton X90 Bookings Open – Specifications of 4 Variants Revealed With 6 Colour Options

The
Proton X90
 is finally open for booking in Malaysia! Offered in four different variants, we now got a closer look at the specifications (and colour options) of the premium D-segment SUV, so you can better decide on which particular trim level fits your needs.

We first noticed that the X90 is open for booking when
Proton dealers
 started posting about it on their respective
Facebook pages
. Proton Regal Motors 4S even shared the specifications of the four different variants – Standard, Executive, Premium, and Flagship – and colour options of the new SUV.

Out of the four different variants of the X90, the Flagship trim is the only model with six seats. There are individual “captain seats” for the second row, as you can see in the interior shot above. Based on our brief time with the X90, it does feel very much like a premium SUV. It looks and feels great, and all seven seats – or six seats for the Flagship model – are comfortable, though the third row does have pretty limited leg room.

But in terms of practicality, the X90 ticks all the boxes. Not only are there dedicated USB-A charging ports for all passengers – the second row even gets a USB-C charger – they also get individual air-conditioning vents; great for those
balik kampung
 trips.

If you need to transport large items with the X90, you’ll be happy to know that the D-segment SUV offers up to a whopping 2,050L of boot space with the seats folded down. That is
a lot
 of space.

As previously revealed, the X90 is Proton’s first new energy vehicle (NEV) with a mild hybrid system. Its 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder turbo engine is paired with a 48V electric motor synergy (EMS) system that offers a combined output of 190PS and 300Nm of torque paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to Proton, this mild hybrid system offers up to 15% improved fuel efficiency.

In the safety department, the X90 features Proton’s most elaborate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) yet, which is available on the Premium and Flagship models. The ADAS is said to offer a sophisticated level 2 autonomous driving, including three new features: rear collision warning (RCW), rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), and traffic sign information (TSI).

Yes, the X90’s ADAS can detect and display road signs in Malaysia.

No launch date has been set for the Proton X90, so naturally, the pricing of the D-segment SUV has not been revealed yet either. Nonetheless, you can now head to your nearest Proton dealer to find out more about the premium, modern family SUV – you can also place a booking for it if you’re keen.


Genshin Impact Nahida & Nilou Rerun Banners Go Live 12 April With Kuki Shinobu, Layla, Dori

Details on Nahida’s and Nilou’s rerun banners have been revealed. Set to go live in
Genshin Impact
 this Wednesday on 12 April, the two 5-star characters’ event wishes will be accompanied by Kuki Shinobu, Layla, and Dori.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact banners
, Nahida and Layla both have the same roster of 4-star characters despite the fact that they’re featured in separate event wishes. Of course, pity is also shared between the two banners, and the wish guarantee count will carry over to future character banners too.

The same rule applies to the increased “drop rate” of the featured characters. In the case of Nahida and Nilou, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be either of them, depending on which banner you’re wishing. If you got a different character, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be them.

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

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

Nahida’s “The Moongrass’ Enlightenment” and Nilou’s “Twirling Lotus” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 12 April this Wednesday. Their banners will be offered until 2 May, which is when
Baizhu, Kaveh, and Ganyu’s banners
 will go live.


iQOO Z7 Launched in Malaysia – 120W Fast Charging, Snapdragon 782G, From RM1,299

iQOO is a relatively new brand in Malaysia, and the Chinese company is steadily launching more of its offerings on our shores, including the new iQOO Z7. Not only does it come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chipset, it also supports 120W fast charging.

Two variants of the iQOO Z7 are offered in Malaysia. The base 8GB + 128GB model retails at RM1,299 – exclusively available on Lazada – while the higher-end 12GB + 256GB configuration goes for RM1,499. Two colour options are available locally: Matrix Blue – the colourway pictured here – and Metallic Grey.

Without a doubt the iQOO Z7’s 120W fast charging capability is one of its best selling points; it’s said to be able to charge up the phone’s 5,000mAh battery from empty to full in only 26 minutes. Aside from that, it also has a 6.64-inch 1080p LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (64MP main + 2MP depth), and a 16MP selfie camera.

The iQOO Z7 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia. Early birds who pre-order the phone by 18 April can get a pretty good discount too – and RM498 worth of freebies – which are set at RM1,249 and RM1,399 for the 8GB + 128GB and 12GB + 256GB models respectively.


iQOO Z7x Now in Malaysia – 6,000mAh Battery With 80W Fast Charging From RM999

Aside from the Z7
, iQOO also launched the more affordable iQOO Z7x in Malaysia. Though its hardware are more modest, it’s still quite an intriguing mid-ranger with a large 6,000mAh battery and 80W fast charging.

Just like the higher-end Z7, the iQOO Z7x is offered in two variants too. The base 8GB + 128GB model (only available on Shopee) goes for RM999, while the 8GB + 256GB configuration retails at RM1,099. It’s available in two distinct colourways: Tropical Blue and Metallic Grey.

Aside from the aforementioned 6,000mAh battery and 80W fast charging, the iQOO Z7x also features a Snapdragon 695 processor, a 6.64-inch 1080p LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (50MP primary + 2MP depth), as well as an 8MP selfie camera.

The iQOO Z7x is available for pre-order in Malaysia until 18 April, where it will go for only RM939 and RM999 for the 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants respectively. Early birds can also get RM498 worth of freebies.


Genshin Impact Teases New Dendro Character, Kirara

Hoyoverse, as usual,
just dropped a teaser
 for a new character coming to
Genshin Impact
. This time around, it appears to be a brand new character named Kirara, who have not appeared in the game before. Chances are, she will be playable in the Version 3.7 update of Genshin Impact.

After all, characters that are teased by Hoyoverse are usually playable in the next version update of Genshin Impact, so there’s no reason the same wouldn’t apply to Kirara. Unfortunately, her rarity has not been revealed yet, though it’s possible she’s a 4-star unit, given that she doesn’t seem to be a major character.

As with previous teasers, there’s no mention of the weapon that Kirara uses, though it’s confirmed by Hoyoverse that she possesses a Dendro Vision. It will be interesting to see if she’s more of a support character – which we suspect she is – or a DPS unit.

Expect Kirara to be playable once Genshin Impact 3.7 is here, which should be released sometime in May 2023, given that the Version 3.6 update
drops this Wednesday on 12 April
. That’s also when
Nahida’s and Nilou’s rerun banners
 will go live in Genshin Impact.


Perodua Sold 32,179 Units in March 2023 – Unfulfilled Tax-Free Bookings Will Be Honoured

Perodua just revealed that it delivered even more cars in March 2023 compared to the previous month. With 32,179 units sold, the national carmaker’s Q1 2023 sales currently sit at an impressive 78,564 units.

Compared to the same period last year, where Perodua sold 61,624 units, the carmaker’s Q1 2023 sales is a respectable 27.5% uptick. However, the company added that it didn’t manage to fulfill a small number of PENJANA orders; bookings that were eligible for sales tax exemption.

But there is good news: Perodua will still honour the tax-free prices. “To these customers, we will honour the sales exempt amount guaranteed under the initiative and we apologise for the long wait,” said the president and CEO of Perodua, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad. Certainly a great move on Perodua’s part.

The waiting period of Perodua models has improved quite a bit as well, though some models still have slightly longer wait. “Only particular models such as the Bezza, Axia, and Alza have a slightly longer waiting period based on their respective variants and colour,” said Zainal.

Now that the PENJANA deadline has passed, it’ll be interesting to see if Perodua can continue its impressive sales momentum. But given the popularity of its models, we reckon the national carmaker can achieve its 314,000 sales and 330,000 production targets for 2023.


Proton X90 Booking – Only Proton 4S & 3S Outlets Can Take Bookings

Proton officially announced
 that bookings for the
Proton X90
 were opened on 8 April last Saturday. The national carmaker also revealed that only Proton 4S and 3S outlets can take bookings of the new SUV – that’s certainly interesting.

Back at the media preview of the X90, Proton did mention that only dealers that have met certain criteria are allowed to sell the SUV. With that in mind, it seems only bigger, more established Proton 4S and 3S outlets will offer the premium model.

Nonetheless, the X90 is offered in four variants: Standard, Executive, Premium, and Flagship. Out of the four trim levels, only the Flagship model comes with six seats. There are individual “captain seats” for the second row, as you can see in the interior shot above.

Based on our brief time with the X90, it does feel very much like a premium SUV. It looks and feels great, and all seven seats – or six seats for the Flagship model – are comfortable, though the third row does have pretty limited leg room. But in terms of practicality, the X90 ticks all the boxes. Not only are there dedicated USB-A charging ports for all passengers – the second row even gets a USB-C charger – they also get individual air-conditioning vents; great for those
balik kampung
 trips.

If you need to transport large items with the X90, you’ll be happy to know that the D-segment SUV offers up to a whopping 2,050L of boot space with the seats folded down. That is
a lot
 of space.

As previously revealed, the X90 is Proton’s first new energy vehicle (NEV) with a mild hybrid system. Its 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder turbo engine is paired with a 48V electric motor synergy (EMS) system that offers a combined output of 190PS and 300Nm of torque paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to Proton, this mild hybrid system offers up to 15% improved fuel efficiency.

In the safety department, the X90 features Proton’s most elaborate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) yet, which is available on the Premium and Flagship models. The ADAS is said to offer a sophisticated level 2 autonomous driving, including three new features: rear collision warning (RCW), rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), and traffic sign information (TSI).

Yes, the X90’s ADAS can detect and display road signs in Malaysia.

No launch date has been set for the Proton X90, so naturally, the pricing of the D-segment SUV has not been revealed yet either. Nonetheless, you can now head to your nearest Proton 4S or 3S outlet to find out more about the premium, modern family SUV – you can also place a booking for it if you’re keen.


Proton X90 Public Preview by Invitation Only – Coming to Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak

Proton previously revealed that public previews of the
Proton X90
 will be held from 8 April onwards, though specific details were not given until today. Not surprisingly, the preview is by invitation only, and it’s set to be held at six different states throughout Malaysia.

That being said, public preview of the X90 in the first two states (Selangor/KL and Penang) already happened over the weekend on 8 and 9 April. The next preview is happening in Johor and Pahang on 15 and 16 April this weekend, followed by Sabah and Sarawak on 29 and 30 April.

The X90 is offered in four variants: Standard, Executive, Premium, and Flagship. Out of the four trim levels, only the Flagship model comes with six seats. There are individual “captain seats” for the second row, as you can see in the interior shot above.

Aside from that, the X90 is also Proton’s first new energy vehicle (NEV) with a mild hybrid system. Its 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder turbo engine is paired with a 48V electric motor synergy (EMS) system that offers a combined output of 190PS and 300Nm of torque paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to Proton, this mild hybrid system offers up to 15% improved fuel efficiency.

In the safety department, the X90 features Proton’s most elaborate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) yet, which is available on the Premium and Flagship models. The ADAS is said to offer a sophisticated level 2 autonomous driving, including three new features: rear collision warning (RCW), rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), and traffic sign information (TSI).

If you’re eager to look and feel the new Proton X90 in person – and you’re residing in Johor, Pahang, Sabah, or Sarawak – get in touch with a sales advisor at a Proton 4S or 3S outlet to try and secure an invite to the public preview. After all, bookings for the premium SUV
are only open at these bigger outlets
.


Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) Review: My New Daily Driver

The 2023 MacBook Pro 14, compared to the
2021 model
, is not all that different. It has the same design, the same display, with the only major upgrade being the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips for improved performance and power efficiency. Basically, if you’ve already got the 2021 MacBook Pro, there’s little reason to upgrade to this latest model.

That being said, I have used Windows laptops almost exclusively for the past few years – I had a
short stint with the 2015 MacBook Pro
 back in…2015 – so the 14-inch MacBook Pro feels leaps and bounds better in many regards. So much so that it has replaced my daily driver, and it has improved my workflow quite a bit too.

However, is it really worth paying up to a
whopping RM25,999
 for the MacBook Pro 14? Well, to folks that need this level of performance, absolutely.

Okay, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro
actually starts at RM8,799
. For that kind of money, the base model comes with an M2 Pro chip, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. For most folks – and even for creative professionals who don’t need top-tier performance – this model would suffice, in my opinion.

As for the 14-inch MacBook Pro I’m currently using, it’s the range-topping configuration with an M2 Max chip (12-core CPU and 38-core GPU), a whopping 96GB of memory, and 8TB of SSD storage for a grand total of RM25,999. While that is a large sum of money, this is also a very,
very
 powerful laptop that will meet the needs of even the most demanding creative professional.

So let’s talk about the performance of the MacBook Pro 14 first. Throughout the review period, the M2 Max chip can take on whatever I throw at it. Whether I’m video editing, image processing, or juggling between 20 different open tabs in Google Chrome – yes, I need to better manage my workflow – the MacBook Pro just breezes right through these tasks.

The best part is, the 14-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t even need to be plugged in to a power outlet to “unlock” the full performance of the M2 Max chip. Typically, Windows laptops on battery power has more limited performance for the sake of power efficiency.

Truth be told, I don’t need the performance offered by the M2 Max chip. Even the M2 Pro is overkill for my particular usage, given that I don’t do 3D modelling or edit 4K videos regularly. But is it nice to have such a high level of performance? Oh,
definitely
.

Despite offering such a high level of performance, the MacBook Pro 14 still offers incredibly good battery life. Apple’s quoted battery life is up to 12 hours of wireless web, and I actually got close to this figure. I have absolutely no issue getting through a typical workday with the MacBook, and I can even (comfortably) stretch it to two days of use without charging it.

Of course, this still depends on my overall workload for the two days, but it is no exaggeration to say that there are no Windows laptops that can match the insanely long battery life of the 14-inch MacBook Pro. It feels great to not have to worry about running of out battery as I go from one launch event to another on a busy day.

When it comes to system noise, the MacBook Pro 14 is whisper quiet in my day-to-day use, which involves a ton of web browsing, writing, and video streaming. Only when I’m running some heavy tasks do the fans start spinning, and even then it’s not particularly loud. Under heavy load, the palm rest area remains cool to the touch as well, though the keyboard area does get warmer.

Next, we have the stunning 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display of the MacBook Pro 14. Not only does the 120Hz refresh rate lends to very smooth animations, the screen’s deep blacks are also reminiscent of an OLED panel. On top of that, colour are well-calibrated too, and there’s no noticeable backlight bleed at all. As for the notch, I barely notice it in everyday use.

The six-speaker system of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is worth a mention as well. For a laptop this size, its amazing how good the speakers sound. I’ve never heard bass
this good and punchy
 on such a compact laptop, and I’m impressed with the full mids and crisp highs too.

I’d like to quickly touch on macOS’ Continuity feature; more specifically, with the iPhone. I love the fact that I can just use AirDrop to seamlessly transfer images I took with my
iPhone 14 Pro
 to the MacBook at
full quality
. This is very handy when I’m rushing to furnish my articles with images taken at a launch event.

While Windows does offer a similar feature with various Android phones, it often feels clunkier, not to mention the fact that transferred images are often at a lower quality.

And then we have the keyboard and trackpad of the 14-inch MacBook Pro; two very important input devices for productivity-focused tasks. Overall, I really enjoy typing on this keyboard. While it doesn’t offer the longest key travel, the keys have good tactile feedback and just the right amount of actuation force to let me type fast and accurately.

Unsurprisingly, the trackpad is as accurate as ever. Gestures work flawlessly, the large size of the trackpad makes it easy to navigate around, and the smooth surface allows my fingers to glide effortlessly on it. All in all, it’s an excellent trackpad that can even mimic clicks very well.

After all, Apple has transitioned to a fixed trackpad – it has no moving parts at all – for its range of laptops for quite some time now.

As much as I enjoy using the MacBook Pro 14, it does have some drawbacks. The biggest one (for myself) is the fact that I cannot game effectively on it. Unless the games I want to play are built to run natively on Apple’s chip – such as Resident Evil Village – they won’t run great. In some cases, I can’t play them at all.
Genshin Impact
, for example, is not even available on macOS.

Granted, Apple is steadily making strides to expand macOS’ gaming capability. The hardware of the 14-inch MacBook Pro can certainly run demanding games, so what’s left is for more games to actually support the platform itself.

But the biggest hurdle for the MacBook Pro 14 to overcome is its high price of entry. While this RM25,999 configuration is really made for folks who already know that they need the laptop’s top-tier performance, the “most affordable” RM8,799 base model is still quite costly for the regular consumer. Well, in my opinion, anyway.

Nonetheless, after using the 2023 MacBook Pro 14 as my daily driver for over a month now, that price tag looks…well, justified. There’s no doubt it costs a lot of money, but there’s also no denying that this is one of the best – if not
the best
 – laptops I’ve used for quite some time.

Sure, there’s the whole macOS versus Windows discussion – I’ll leave that for a separate article – but beyond the operating system, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is simply a refined, premium laptop with very long battery life, excellent performance, and a stunning display; all in a compact form factor.

Suffice to say I’ve never been happier with a new daily driver.


Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition Fizzles Its Way to Malaysia for RM1,399

The eye-catching Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition has just been launched in Malaysia. In fact, we are one of only five countries that get the phone, which include Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, and India.

For the Malaysian market, the limited edition Realme 10 Pro retails at RM1,399; just RM100 more than the
standard variant of the phone
 at launch. For that kind of money, it offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Only 6,000 units of the Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition are available worldwide, and it’s certainly an interesting-looking phone, to say the least. Coca-Cola’s branding can be seen from the back of the phone itself to the theme, notification sounds, and the accessories that come with the phone. Even the SIM eject tool is shaped like a Coca-Cola bottle cap.

Under the hood, the special Coca-Cola Realme 10 Pro features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, a 6.72-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (108MP primary + 2MP depth), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

The Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition will go on sale (online) in Malaysia tomorrow on 13 April for RM1,399. Selected stores will also carry the phone the following day on 14 April.


Proton & Perodua Offer Rahmah Service Package With up to 30% Discount

Both Proton and Perodua just announced their respective Rahmah service packages. Offering up to 30% discount on service costs, this initiative is launched by MITI minister Tengku Zafrul to encourage folks to get their vehicles serviced ahead of the Hari Raya celebration.

Proton’s Rahmah service package offers up to 25% discount on service costs, along with a free 40-point safety check. This initiative is targeted at owners of the Saga, Persona, Iriz, and Exora. Those with older Proton models such as the Wira, Waja, and Inspira are also eligible for the Rahman service package, which is valid from today until 31 May.

As for Perodua, it is offering slightly higher discounts of up to 30%, though its Rahmah service package is only extended to Axia and Bezza owners. Nonetheless, its Rahmah campaign also starts today, but it’s set to end earlier on 15 May.

At the moment, only Proton and Perodua have announced their Rahmah service packages; it remains to be seen if other car brands will follow suit. If you’re driving any of the models listed here, it’s worth getting it serviced, especially if you’re planning a
balik kampung
 trip in the near future.


13 – 19 April Fuel Price: RON 97 Still Stays at RM3.35 Per Litre

Unsurprisingly, RON 97 sees no price change yet again this week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.35 per litre for the next seven days. RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 13 to 19 April next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Lotus Eletre Electric SUV Unleashed in Malaysia – Up to 905hp, 600km Max Range, From RM578k

Lotus Cars Malaysia, the distributor for the Lotus brand on our shores, just launched the Lotus Eletre all-electric hyper SUV in Malaysia. Touted as the “world’s fastest dual-motor pure electric SUV,” the Eletre offers up to a
whopping 905hp
 – fully deserving of the hyper SUV moniker. Malaysia is also the first market outside of China to get the Eletre.

All three variants of the Eletre are offered in Malaysia. The standard Eletre is priced at RM578,000, while the Eletre S goes for RM648,000. As for the range-topping Eletre R, it costs a cool RM798,000. These prices are on-the-road without insurance, and it comes with a five-year or 150,000km warranty; eight-year or 200,000km warranty for the battery.

The most exciting model is certainly the Eletre R. It’s the only variant to feature a dual-speed system that outputs 905hp and 985Nm of torque, allowing it to go from 0-100kmph in only 2.95 seconds with a top speed of 265kmph. It also has a max range of 490km (WLTP).

As for the Eletre S and the standard Eletre, both feature the same single-speed system that delivers 603hp and 710Nm of torque. They can do the century sprint in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 258kmph, so while these two models are not as quick as the Eletre R, they do offer a higher driving range of up to 600km; also on the WLTP cycle.

All variants of the Eletre feature a 112kWh battery and a 350kW charger, which enables 10-80% charge in only 20 minutes. It can accept 22kW AC charging as well.

What differentiates the three variants of the Eletre are mostly on the exterior. The base model doesn’t get auto dimming side mirrors, rear privacy glass, or soft-closing doors of the Eletre S and R (though the R gets the Carbon Pack as standard). All variants of the SUV also rides on 22-inch alloy wheels, though the Eletre R gets Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres; regular Pirelli P Zero for the base and S models.

Marketed as a lifestyle SUV, the Eletre comes with a five-seat layout as standard, so it has a boot capacity of 688L or 1,532L with the rear seats folded. There’s also an option for a four-seat configuration as part of the optional Executive Seat Pack, which is shown here.

Naturally, the Eletre has sophisticated advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as well. These include adaptive cruise control, driver monitoring system, rear collision warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign information, and Lotus Intelligent Dynamic Chassis Control. It also has a deployable LIDAR system – said to be a world’s first – that supports end-to-end autonomous driving technology. It is future-proofed for future development via OTA software updates too.

Despite the fact that the Lotus Eletre has only been launched in Malaysia today, it has already collected over 140 bookings. Only 200 units are set to be available here for the whole of 2023, so if you’re keen to get this hyper SUV, you may want to place a booking as soon as you can. More details on the Eletre can be found on
Lotus’ official website
.


Asus ROG Phone 7 Series Official – 2 Variants, Vapour Chamber Cooling, Coming to Malaysia 10 May

Asus just took the wraps off of its latest gaming smartphones, the Asus ROG Phone 7 and the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. For the most part, these two phones feature very similar hardware, though the Ultimate model does come with a rather unique cooling system.

Basically, there is a port on the back of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate – dubbed AeroActive Portal – that opens up when it is connected to the bundled AeroActive Cooler 7. This allows for “nearly 1L of cold air per second” to be blown directly to the heat dissipation fins (in the vapour chamber) that are connected to the CPU.

Oh, it’s worth noting that the AeroActive Cooler 7 is also packed with a
subwoofer
 now for improved bass response.

Aside from that, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, just like last year’s model, features a ROG Vision color PMOLED display on the back panel. It can show customisable graphics for various scenarios, including incoming calls, launching a game, or entering the phone’s high performance “X Mode.”

Beyond these differences, the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate have the same hardware. These include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 6.78-inch 2448 x 1080 AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide + 8MP macro), a 32MP selfie camera, and a 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

The standard Asus ROG Phone 7

The Asus ROG Phone 7 series is set to arrive in Malaysia on 10 May next month. We’ll find out then just how much the phone will go for on our shores. In the meantime, stay tuned to our hands-on of the ROG Phone 7!


Thin & Light Acer Swift 14 & Swift 14 Go Laptops Land in Malaysia From RM3,199

Acer just launched two new thin and light productivity laptops in Malaysia, the Acer Swift 14 and Swift 14 Go. Curiously, the Swift 14 features Intel’s latest 13th gen processor, while the Swift 14 Go is packed with AMD hardware.

Out of the two laptops, the Swift 14 is the higher-end model. Retailing from RM4,299, it can be configured with a Core i7-13700H or Core i5-13500H processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage, a 14-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS touch-enabled display, and a 14.95mm thin chassis that tips the scales at 1.2kg.

The Acer Swift 14

The Acer Swift 14 Go

As for the more affordable Swift 14 Go, it starts at RM3,199. Compared to the Swift 14, this laptop is actually a tad thinner at 14.9mm, though it is also ever so slightly heavier at 1.25kg. It also features an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U or Ryzen 5 5730U processor with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, a 14-inch Full HD IPS display, and Windows 11 out of the box, just like the Swift 14.

Both the Acer Swift 14 and Swift 14 Go will be available in Malaysia by the end of April 2023 this month from RM4,299 and RM3,199 respectively. It’s worth noting that the two laptops also come with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 out of the box.


Acer Predator Helios 16 & Helios 18 Launched in Malaysia – Up to RTX 4080 From RM8,999

We spotted the powerful Acer Predator Helios 16 and Helios 18 in
SIRIM’s database earlier this year
, and today, the two gaming laptops have been launched in Malaysia. Configurable with Nvidia’s fast GeForce RTX 4080 GPU and Intel’s 13th gen Core i9 processor, these are very capable gaming machines.

Price wise, the Helios 16 is slightly more affordable with a RM8,999 starting price, while the Helios 18 retails from RM9,999. Both gaming laptops actually have similar CPU and GPU configurations, so you’re really paying for the different screen sizes (and refresh rate) as well as storage capacities.

The Acer Predator Helios 16

The Acer Predator Helios 18

Both the Helios 16 and Helios 18 can be configured with an RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 GPU, along with a 13th gen Intel Core i9-13900HX processor. These hardware are complemented with up to 32GB of RAM and very generous 2TB worth of SSD storage in Raid 0 configuration.

In the display department, the Helios 16 and Helios 18 feature 16-inch and 18-inch 2560 x 1600 displays respectively with a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, depending on the configuration. These panels also sport a taller than usual 16:10 aspect ratio, so you get more vertical screen real estate compared to a narrower, more typical 16:9 display.

The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Helios 18 will be available in Malaysia from RM8,999 and RM9,999 respectively sometime in May 2023 next month. Both of them are actually available for pre-order today until 30 April, which will come with freebies worth RM1,627. These include an Acer Nitro XV272 gaming monitor, a Predator backpack, and even a three-year onsite warranty with accidental damage and theft coverage.


Affordable Acer Aspire 7 Refreshed in Malaysia – 12th Gen Core i5, GTX 1650, RM3,199

Also launched alongside the
Acer Predator Helios 16 and Helios 18
 in Malaysia is the much more affordable (and refreshed) Acer Aspire 7. Though it doesn’t feature the newest or fastest hardware, it looks to be ideal for gamers who just want a laptop to do some occasional gaming.

Only one variant of the Aspire 7 is available in Malaysia. Packed with a 12th gen Intel Core i5-12450H processor paired with 8GB of RAM (upgradable to 32GB) and a 512GB SSD, the budget-friendly laptop retails at RM3,199.

Aside from that, it also features a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate alongside an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. While this isn’t an awfully powerful GPU – nor is it particularly…new – it should be fast enough for casual gaming.

The Acer Aspire 7 can be purchased in Malaysia by the end of April 2023 this month for RM3,199.
Acer’s online store
 and its official stores on Shopee and Lazada will carry the affordable laptop once it’s available here.


Setel Lite Review: Simpler, Faster Way to Fuel Up

Fuelling with the Setel app, to some folks, is convenient. After all, you just need to activate the pump from the comfort of your car, step out, and start fuelling. You don’t have to go all the way to the counter to make your payment, and while I personally think using a credit card is more convenient, not everyone…well, own a credit card.

But on the other side of the coin, there are also folks who think that fuelling with Setel is more complicated than it should be. The interface may be difficult for some to navigate, and on older or less powerful phones, the app may not run particularly well, negatively affecting the user experience.

And that is where the new Setel Lite app comes in. As its name suggests, it is essentially a “lighter” version of Setel that retains only the necessary features for a faster, simpler fuelling process. I had the opportunity to review the new app ahead of its launch sometime in Q2 2023, and I’m quite a fan of it.

The Setel Lite app

The standard Setel app

Throughout the article, you will see shots of the Setel Lite app first, followed by equivalent images of the standard Setel app for the sake of comparison. Anyway, when I first launch the Setel Lite app, the much simpler interface is a drastic change over the regular Setel app’s more cluttered and “busy” appearance. It is stripped to the bare necessities – which I love – and the refuelling button is front and centre.

When I click on the purchase fuel button, I’m directed to a page to select my pump number. Unlike the regular app, where I have to swipe to find my pump number if it’s beyond the sixth one, the Setel Lite app has all of the pumps displayed on one page. Not only is this more practical, it’s also easier to make sense of at a glance.

The latter is especially true, given that the standard Setel app has both the pump number and amount of fuel I want to purchase displayed on the same page. The Setel Lite app, on the other hand, separates these two elements to different pages. Again, a more practical (and simpler) approach to fuelling.

After I’ve set the amount of fuel I want to get, I’m prompted to punch in my passcode to activate the pump. After that, I just have to wait for the pump to be activated and step out to start fuelling. Oh, it’s worth noting that at this stage of the fuelling process, the Setel Lite app doesn’t have extra visuals at the bottom of the page to purchase more items.

Once I’ve fuelled up with the Setel Lite app, I’m greeted by a page with the amount of Mesra points I’ve earned – which is Petronas’ reward system – with a receipt of my purchase. There’s also a slider to rate how likely I am to recommend the app to my friends. This is similar to the standard Setel app, but the Setel Lite app doesn’t have the prompt to view my membership, which I personally prefer for a cleaner visual experience.

And…that is what it’s like to fuel up with the Setel Lite app. For users that just want to refuel their cars without all the extra features afforded by the full Setel app (myself included), the Setel Lite app is certainly more appealing to use. I can still activate the pump from inside my car, the process is more straightforward, and I can continue to earn Mesra points seamlessly.

But the Setel Lite app does have some noteworthy limitations. The payment method, for one, is only limited to Setel Wallet or Family Wallet. In contrast, the regular Setel app allows users to add their credit or debit cards to make payments. Wallet upgrade – which increases the balance limit from RM500 to RM5,000 – can only be done through the full Setel app too.

Of course, the standard Setel app is also more feature-packed. Not only can you use it to purchase fuel at Petronas stations, you can also redeem your Mesra points for rewards through the app and use your Setel Wallet balance for various payments.

But all things considered, I wouldn’t say that the Setel app is “better” than Setel Lite and vice versa; it all comes down to your personal preference. Yes, the regular Setel app is more comprehensive and versatile, but if you don’t use the extra features or your phone can’t run the app well, then the simplicity and lightweight nature of the Setel Lite app may appeal more to you.

Setel Lite will be launched sometime in Q2 2023. At the moment, it’s only set to be available on Android devices through the Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery. No word yet on Setel Lite’s availability on iOS, though we reckon it will arrive on the platform sooner or later.


Setel Lite Releasing by End-April 2023 – Simpler Version of Setel

We just got word that Setel Lite, a simplified version of the regular Setel app, will be released to the public by the end of April 2023 this month.
We reviewed the Setel Lite app
 ahead of its launch, and while it’s not as feature-rich as the full app, it does provide a fuss-free refuelling experience.

The interface of Setel Lite is much less “cluttered” than the standard Setel app. There are no additional features shown on the home screen except for the purchase fuel button. This, in turn, also means it’s a less demanding app to run, so it should be able to offer a pleasant user experience even on older or less powerful phones.

Setel Lite has a much more minimalist interface

Especially in comparison to Setel’s “busier” interface

Of course, given its more minimalist, lighter nature, the Setel Lite app also has its limitations in comparison to the full app. The payment method, for one, is only limited to Setel Wallet or Family Wallet. In contrast, the regular Setel app allows users to add their credit or debit cards to make payments. Wallet upgrade – which increases the balance limit from RM500 to RM5,000 – can only be done through the full Setel app too.

Nonetheless, Setel Lite is still great for folks that just want to refuel their vehicles quickly without the fuss. To recap, the app will be released to the public by the end of April 2023 this month. At the moment, Setel Lite is only set to be available on Android devices through the Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery.

No word yet on Setel Lite’s availability on iOS, though we reckon it will arrive on the platform sooner or later.


Asus ROG Phone 7 Unboxing & Hands-on: The Consistent Android Gaming Phone

Over the years, we saw the release of many, many gaming phones, but just as many of them don’t see more than a few iterations. Lenovo, for example, ended its line of Legion-branded gaming phones, and things
don’t look particularly great for Black Shark either
.

But one gaming phone brand remains consistent over the years: Asus. Initially launched back in 2018, the Taiwanese company’s gaming phones have remained popular in the segment. Of course, the latest Asus ROG Phone 7 and Phone 7 Ultimate look to continue the brand’s dominance in the market, and I received the former for this unboxing and hands-on – and eventual review, of course.

Without further ado, let’s get to it!

The packaging of the standard ROG Phone 7 isn’t quite as elaborate as the Ultimate version. It comes in a regular box – albeit with some neat-looking, “gamery” designs – and underneath the box is the phone itself in a plastic covering.

Naturally, a 65W charger is bundled with the ROG Phone 7 to complement its 65W fast charging capability. Also provided is a plastic case that has cutouts to show the illuminated ROG logo and lighting element on the back of the gaming phone.

Speaking of which, the back panel of the ROG Phone 7 is different depending on the colourway. For this Phantom Black model, there’s a nice dual-tone finish that separates the two halves of the phone. The bottom portion has a matte finish, while the top features a glossy surface with “translucent elements.”

The so-called translucent elements don’t look particularly convincing on the Storm White ROG Phone 7, which has a full matte finish without the glossy portion. Personally, I prefer the aesthetics of the Phantom Black model for this reason, though I do wish it had the Storm White’s non-pixelated ROG logo instead.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate (top) and the two colourways of the ROG Phone 7

Nonetheless, on paper, the ROG Phone 7 brings a few notable upgrades compared to its predecessor. These include a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a brighter AMOLED display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate, a 32MP selfie camera, and even WiFi 7 support…despite the fact that the standard isn’t even widely used yet.

Anyway, let’s talk about the gaming performance of the ROG Phone 7. As usual, I fire up
Genshin Impact
 to see how the phone handles the demanding mobile game, and unsurprisingly, it can maintain a steady 60fps frame rate will the graphics settings maxed out.

That being said, there
are
 some small stutters as I go around the game’s open world, but for the most part, there’s no denying that Genshin Impact runs great on this phone, courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip.

Next, we have the 6.78-inch 2448 x 1080 AMOLED display of the ROG Phone 7. It’s a bright screen with punchy, saturated colours, and the high 165Hz refresh rate is noticeably faster (though not by a huge margin) than 120Hz panels found on most modern flagship phones. Suffice to say it’s a great display for both gaming and content consumption.

Battery life has always been a strong suit for Asus’ ROG Phones, so it’s no surprise that the 6,000mAh battery of the ROG Phone 7 continues to deliver long battery life. So far, I’m comfortably getting over seven hours of screen on time with about 15% of battery left.

In fact, compared to last year’s model, it feels like the ROG Phone 7 offers even better battery life.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the ROG Phone 7. While I don’t have a lot of expectations in this regard – given that this is a gaming-centric phone – I’m pleasantly surprised by the image quality of the triple camera system. It’s made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 13MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and an 8MP macro lens.

Under good lighting, both the 50MP main camera and 13MP ultra-wide sensor can take good-looking shots. Image quality does take a hit in low light conditions, though they still perform relatively well, as you can see in the sample shots below. Rest assured, I will put the camera through its paces in the full review.

50MP primary

50MP primary

50MP primary

13MP ultra-wide

As far as first impressions go, the Asus ROG Phone 7 has the makings of a premium, proper gaming smartphone for 2023. Even though there’s no major design changes, it’s quite a bit better than its predecessor in terms of performance, display, and camera capability.

The ROG Phone 7 is set to be launched in Malaysia next month on 10 May, so its local pricing will only be revealed then. Once we know how much it costs on our shores, we can better judge its appeal as a high-end gaming phone.


Setel Lite Now Available on Google Play Store & Huawei AppGallery

Originally slated for a release
by the end of April 2023
, Setel Lite is now available on the Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery. We
reviewed the Setel Lite app
 ahead of its launch today, and while it’s not as feature-rich as the full app, it does provide a simpler, more convenient refuelling experience.

The interface of Setel Lite is much less “cluttered” than the standard Setel app; there are no additional features shown on the home screen except for the purchase fuel button. This, in turn, also means it’s a less demanding app to run, so it should be able to offer a pleasant user experience even on older or less powerful phones.

Setel Lite has a much more minimalist interface

Especially in comparison to Setel’s “busier” interface

Of course, given its more minimalist, lighter nature, the Setel Lite app also has its limitations in comparison to the full app. The payment method, for one, is only limited to Setel Wallet or Family Wallet. In contrast, the regular Setel app allows users to add their credit or debit cards to make payments. Wallet upgrade – which increases the balance limit from RM500 to RM5,000 – can only be done through the full Setel app too.

Nonetheless, Setel Lite is still great for folks that just want to refuel their vehicles quickly without the fuss. At the moment, it’s only available for download on the
Google Play Store
 and Huawei AppGallery. No word yet on Setel Lite’s availability on iOS, though we reckon it will arrive on the platform sooner or later. More details on Setel Lite can be found on the
official website
.


Monster Hunter Now Is Niantic’s New Game – Coming September 2023 on iOS & Android

The developer behind the hugely successful Pokemon Go mobile game, Niantic, just announced its new title: Monster Hunter Now. Developed in partnership with Capcom itself, the mobile game looks to be a location-based AR game, just like Pokemon Go.

Naturally, Monster Hunter Now will be free to play with in-app purchases. While the gameplay mechanics have not been detailed much, screenshots of the game do give us an idea. Material can be gathered from mining outcrops throughout the map, and monsters can be encountered in the wild too.

Of course, monster encounters will be a big part of Monster Hunter Now. It remains to be seen exactly how a battle will play out, though the maximum battle time is said to be limited to only 75 seconds. Nonetheless, the producer of the Monster Hunter series for Capcom, Ryozo Tsujimoto, said that the gameplay and hunting action of Monster Hunter will be honoured in the new mobile game.

Monster Hunter Now will arrive sometime in September 2023 on iOS and Android. The closed beta will begin from 25 April, and about 10,000 participants will be selected to give the game a try. You can sign up for the beta test
right here
.


Toll Exemptions for 4 Days During Raya – From 19 to 21 April & 24 April

In conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya celebration, the government is granting toll exemptions for a total of four days. If you’re planning your
balik kampung
 trip in the next few days, you should definitely take advantage of the exemptions.

The first three days of toll exemptions are set between 19 April to 21 April; perfect for folks to start their journey back home. The fourth day of exemption is on 24 April, so you can plan your trip back to the city on that day if you so desire.

The toll exemptions apply to vehicles of all classes across 33 highways throughout Malaysia. Given that tolls will be free on these four days, there’s a good chance more vehicles will be on the road in this period, so plan ahead!


PDRM Summons (Issued Before 2023) Discounted to RM50 From 21 April

If you’ve got any outstanding traffic summonses from PDRM, you can enjoy a pretty darn good discount to clear them from this Friday onwards. From 21 April to 21 May, each traffic summons issued by PDRM will be discounted to only RM50.

You stand to save quite a bit of money through this initiative, which was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Take for example a RM300 traffic summons from PDRM: since it can be settled for only RM50, you save as much as RM250. That is a very respectable amount of discount.

But there is a caveat: only summonses issued before 2023 are eligible for the special RM50 payment rate. Aside from that, while it was mentioned that all PDRM traffic summonses issued in 2022 and before will be discounted, it’s not clear if specific summonses, such as ones that require a court appearance, are eligible for the savings too.

No details yet on the payment method to enjoy the special discount, though we reckon it will be possible to pay for the summons online at the discounted rate through the
MyBayar portal
. MyBayar is also available as an app on the
Apple App Store
,
Google Play Store
, and
Huawei AppGallery
.

To recap, the special RM50 payment rate for all PDRM traffic summonses issued before 2023 is applicable from 21 April to 21 May 2023 next month.


Xiaomi 13 Ultra Official – Quad Leica Camera System With Variable Aperture From 5,999 Yuan

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra has just been launched, and the range-topping device in the series features some impressive camera hardware. Leica branding aside, the flagship phone’s quad camera system is also made up of four 50MP lenses.

In fact, the primary camera of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra even features a 1-inch type sensor and a variable aperture system from f/1.9 to f/4.0. The other three 50MP sensors are a 3.2x telephoto shooter, a 5x telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide angle camera with macro support. Certainly a versatile camera setup.

Other specifications of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra include a 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate – it has a
bright
 peak brightness of 2,600 nits – a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, a 32MP selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

In China, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra starts from 5,999 Chinese yuan, which comes up to about RM3,855. While it’s only offered in China at the moment, it’s confirmed that the flagship phone will also be available in other markets in the future – perhaps that includes Malaysia as well.