Genshin Impact Raiden Shogun Event Wish Coming 1 September With Kujou Sara, Xiangling, Sucrose

The much anticipated event wish for the Raiden Shogun has been revealed! Set to go live in
Genshin Impact
 on 1 September, the banner of the brand new 5-star Electro character will be accompanied by Kujou Sara – also a new 4-star Electro character – Xiangling, and Sucrose.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event wishes
, the “drop rate” of Raiden Shogun, Sara, Xiangling, and Sucrose will be increased. In the case of Raiden Shogun, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be her. If you didn’t get her in this instance, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Raiden Shogun.

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

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Sara, Xiangling, or Sucrose. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters – especially Sara, given that she’s a brand new character – you will have to roll a good number of times, depending on your luck.

Raiden Shogun’s “Reign of Serenity” event wish will go live in Genshin Impact on 1 September this Wednesday right after the
Version 2.1 update
; her banner will be available until 21 September. After that, Sangonomiya Kokomi’s event wish will replace the Raiden Shogun’s banner.


New PS5 Model Has a Smaller Heatsink – May Run Hotter

It’s no secret that a
newer, lighter version of the PlayStation 5
 has started shipping to customers, but it wasn’t known what was changed to reduce the weight of the next-gen console – until now. Turns out, the updated PS5 is lighter because it has a smaller heatsink for the cooling solution.

This was revealed in a video by Austin Evans, who disassembled both the old and new PS5 Digital Edition to see what was changed between the two models. The biggest difference is definitely the downsized heatsink, which seems to increase the operating temperatures of the updated console too.

In comparison to the original PS5, Evans said that the newer model appears to be running 3 to 5°C hotter; that’s quite a big difference. Granted, he only tested the rear exhaust temperatures of the two models, and it’s entirely possible only his unit is running hotter due to variance in manufacturing.

However, given that the heatsink of the new PS5 is physically smaller, it’s likely that it won’t be able to dissipate heat quite as efficiently as the original model with a larger heatsink. Interestingly, despite the fact that it runs hotter, the updated PS5 is actually slightly quieter, which can be attributed to the different fan design.

The heatsink of the old PS5 (left) and the new PS5

Do note that this is only a comparison between the old and new PS5 Digital Edition. It remains to be seen if the standard PS5 received the same hardware revisions too.


Porsche Setting up Local Assembly in Malaysia From 2022 – More Affordable Models Incoming?

Now this is interesting: Porsche just confirmed that it will be setting up local assembly (CKD) here in Malaysia from 2022 onwards. CKD models are not taxed as heavily as fully imported (CBU) cars in Malaysia, so there’s a good chance locally assembled Porsche models will be more affordable in our market.

Porsche’s CKD operations in Malaysia is set up together with its long-standing partner Sime Darby Berhad; the latter is naturally the official distributor of Porsche models in the country. “The site will be responsible for the final assembly of specific models for the local market from 2022 onwards,” Porsche said in a press release.

The carmaker added that the facility will operate alongside Porsche’s established European network of production sites. It remains to be seen exactly which Porsche model will be locally assembled first, though the company did say that these vehicles “will specifically match local requirements and will be available for Malaysia only.”

“Malaysia and the whole ASEAN is a region of great potential and we look forward to the first locally assembled models reaching our Malaysian customers next year,” said Detlev von Platen, member of the executive board for sales and marketing at Porsche.


The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE Is a Fun, Unique Gaming Laptop

Most special edition laptops come and go without leaving much of an impression, but this doesn’t really apply to the
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition
 – yes, it’s quite a mouthful. Not only does the G14 AW SE have a fun, unique packaging, the laptop itself is quite good too – after all, the G14 is a
very accomplished product
.

If you’re a fan of Alan Walker, or you just want a sleek-looking gaming laptop with a unique appeal, consider the G14 AW SE – it will be arriving in Malaysia very soon as well.

First, let’s talk about the most distinctive aspect of the Zephyrus G14 AW SE: the packaging. Now, unlike other gaming laptops, the acrylic packaging of this special edition laptop actually doubles as a DJ deck.

Dubbed ROG Remix, the DJ deck features “conductive pads on the surface that allow users to trigger 18 of Walker’s own sound effects.” The moment it is connected to the G14 through a USB-C to USB-C cable, the ROG Remix software is automatically launched. Oh, the DJ deck even has LED lighting – very neat touch.

Now, I am by no means an aspiring DJ, but the ROG Remix is quite fun to play with. Triggering the 18 available sound effects will play different animations on the laptop’s screen, I can control the playback speed of Alan Walker’s Sorry – you can add your own track to the ROG Remix software too – and I can even isolate the low frequencies.

Further enhancing this “DJ experience” is the G14 AW SE’s amazing quad speaker setup. It sounds crisp and clear with a decent amount of bass, and it can get
pretty darn
 loud. The G14 had always offered very good audio quality, and it’s apt that Asus’ collaboration with Alan Walker is with this particular laptop.

Getting back to the ROG Remix, I really have to give credit to Asus here. The fact that it managed to turn the
packaging
 of the G14 AW SE into a DJ deck is quite ingenious. Of course, this isn’t the only interesting feature of this special edition laptop – the machine itself has some cool design elements too.

The lid of the Zephyrus G14 AW SE, for one, features a reflective belt made of actual fabric with Alan Walker’s and ROG’s brandings. While this version of the G14 still features the AniMe Matrix LED array on the lid, it’s a different “Spectre Blue” lighting instead, which is exclusive to this machine.

Open up the lid, and you’ll be greeted by a custom Alan Walker wallpaper, along with some pretty nice accents on the mod keys. This gives the keyboard a good contrast with the alpha keys, and Alan Walker’s logo are also on the A and W keys.

And…these are all the unique design elements of the Zephyrus G14 AW SE. They are mostly aesthetic changes – well, aside from the neat packaging/DJ deck – and beyond these differences, it’s just like the regular G14.

Only one variant of the G14 AW SE is available. It features a Pantone Validated 14-inch QHD IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of PCIe SSD storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. All in all, a reasonably capable gaming laptop.

I haven’t put the Zephyrus G14 AW SE through its paces yet, but I reckon it will be able to run AAA titles quite well with its RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Granted, it’s not an awfully powerful graphics card, but with some tweaks to the graphics settings, it should be able to return smooth, high frame rate in most graphically demanding games.

Further enhancing the gaming experience of the G14 AW SE is its fast (and sharp) 14-inch 1440p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Thanks to this high refresh rate, it will provide good motion clarity, even in fast-paced games. This being a Pantone Validated screen, it offers good colour accuracy too; it covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space.

The keyboard and trackpad of this laptop are also worth a mention. The keyboard is very comfortable to type on – thanks to its soft bottom out and good amount of key travel – and the smooth glass trackpad can track my fingers accurately too.

Thanks to the refined keyboard and trackpad, I reckon the G14 AW SE can even double as a good productivity laptop, though I’ll have to assess its battery life first. But if the
previous model is any indication
, I’m confident the 76Wh battery can last quite long on a single charge.

So that’s the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition. I was told that this unique gaming laptop will be available here in Malaysia sometime in September next month, though its local pricing has not been revealed yet. To give us an idea of how much it could cost here, this laptop retails at $1,799 (about RM8,315) in the US.

Without a doubt the G14 AW SE is a costly gaming laptop, but you
are
 paying for a special edition product. We’ll find out soon enough how much this sleek-looking laptop will cost in Malaysia.


Keychron Q1 Will Be in Stock Permanently – Price Increase After Pre-Order Period

The
Keychron Q1
 is proving to be quite a popular keyboard. So much so that Keychron has decided to permanently keep the Q1 in stock, making it much more accessible to consumers.

Previously, production of the Q1 was set to end once a new Q-series keyboard is released, such as the upcoming
Keychron Q2
. This is no longer applicable, and to top it off, the coiled cable – which was originally only meant to be bundled with pre-order units – will be included with the Q1 even after the pre-order has ended.

However, after the pre-order period of the Q1 has ended (tentatively after 20 September), its price will be increased by $10 (about RM40) for both the barebone kit and fully assembled model
as shown on the website
. This puts the barebone kit at $159 (around RM660), and the fully assembled model at $179 (about RM745).

To recap, the Q1 is a 75% pre-built keyboard with a gasket mounting system – this mounting style is typically only offered on custom keyboards – along with a full CNC aluminium case. It also features a hotswap PCB (allowing you to swap switches without soldering) that supports VIA out of the box for easy key mapping.

Keychron worked with Gateron quite a bit for the Q1 as well. Not only can it be purchased with three new factory lubed Gateron Phantom switches – Phantom Brown (tactile), Phantom Red (linear), or Phantom Blue (clicky) – it features screw-in stabilisers made by Gateron too.

If you’d like to learn more about the Keychron Q1, check out our extensive review of the keyboard in the video above; we also have a written review
over here
. Not keen to pay shipping costs on Keychron’s website to get the Q1 delivered to Malaysia? Well, Keybot will be opening
local pre-orders of the Q1
 sometime next month.


Mihoyo Teases Thoma – Playable Character in Genshin Impact Version 2.2?

Genshin Impact’s
Version 2.1 update
 is going live tomorrow, but before that, Mihoyo is teasing a brand new character; well, sort of. Thoma, who has appeared in the main storyline of the Inazuma Archon Quest, has just been teased by the developer, suggesting that he will be a playable character in
Genshin Impact
 2.2.

This makes sense, given that
all three characters previously teased by Mihoyo
 are confirmed to be playable in Version 2.1 of Genshin Impact. However, this time around, only Thoma has been revealed; no other characters were teased alongside him, which is quite odd.

"Woof!" — Taroumaru
"What Taroumaru meant was that Thoma is very good at taking care of people and is a very good friend. " — Gorou
◆ Thoma ‧ Protector From Afar
◆ The Kamisato Clan's Housekeeper
◆ Pyro
◆ Rubeum Scutum
#GenshinImpact

pic.twitter.com/N4ztXTlh6C
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact)
August 30, 2021

Anyway, Thoma himself is confirmed to be a Pyro character by Mihoyo. Based on his teaser image, he seems to be wielding a Polearm too. His rarity has not been revealed yet, but if he is a Polearm user, we reckon he is a 4-star character.

Usually, 5-star characters are accompanied by their “signature” weapon in the weapon event wish. Given that a Polearm –
Engulfing Lightning
, which is the Raiden Shogun’s signature weapon – will be the first weapon banner in Version 2.1, it’s unlikely that Thoma is a 5-star character.

Of course, this is only an educated guess on our part. We’ll know for sure as we approach closer to the Version 2.2 update of Genshin Impact, which is set to be released on 13 October 2021.


Realme GT Master Edition With “3D Vegan Leather” Now in Malaysia From RM1,499

Realme just launched a pretty interesting mid-range smartphone in Malaysia. The Realme GT Master Edition is touted to be one of the first phones to use “3D vegan leather” technology, which allows the device to have a unique textured back panel reminiscent of a “suitcase,” as Realme puts it.

This unique design is attributed to Naoto Fukasawa, who is collaborating with Realme yet again for the GT Master Edition. The Voyager Grey colourway of the phone has a curious-looking back panel, complete with Fukasawa’s signature. If you want a smoother, more conventional finish instead, there’s the Daybreak Blue colourway.

Anyway, let’s talk about the hardware of the GT Master. Sporting a 6.43-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch response rate for reduced latency, it’s a feature mobile gamers will appreciate. Aside from that, this phone is also powered by a reasonably fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset.

Other specifications of the GT Master include 8GB of RAM, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 32MP selfie camera, 5G connectivity, as well as a 4,300mAh battery with support for 65W SuperDart fast charging.

For the Malaysian market, the Realme GT Master Edition is available in two configurations: the 128GB model costs RM1,499, while the 256GB variant retails at RM1,699. The former will be offered for RM1,399 during Lazada’s 9.9 sale, while the 256GB configuration will be bundled with a Realme soundbar worth RM129 on the same day.


Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (PS5) Review: Worth the Price of Admission

Ghost of Tsushima by Sucker Punch Productions was a great
swan song for the PlayStation 4
. It had solid, fun gameplay, a beautiful open world setting, and a compelling storyline. But one of my biggest gripes with the PlayStation exclusive was the brief main story, even if the side quests do pad up the overall lore of the game.

This is the very reason why I’m elated that Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut expands on the original story of the first game quite a bit; Iki Island itself also offers even more content for players to explore. If you’re contemplating to upgrade from the original game to the Director’s Cut version, I highly recommend it.

What It Is

The main addition to Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is Iki Island, a brand new area filled with its own main storyline, side quests, and unique open world environment. In addition to Tsushima – which was the premise for the first game – Iki Island was also invaded by the Mongols, so Jin Sakai (the main protagonist) travels to the island to investigate.

As Sucker Punch puts it, Jin’s journey on Iki Island got him “caught up in events with deeply personal stakes that will force him to relive some traumatic moments from his past.” Without going into spoiler territory, suffice to say it’s quite an engrossing story.

The Good Stuff

While the
slew of improvements
 introduced in the PS5 version of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut are great, the one thing that really got me hooked is the Iki Island storyline. In fact, I find it even more entertaining than the original story.

Granted, the main storyline of Iki Island
is
 quite brief; I blazed through it within three to four hours. But as short as it is, I was invested in the narrative, and the side quests available all around Iki Island relates back to the story to a certain extend.

That being said, I highly recommend only accessing Iki Island after you’re done with the main story on Tsushima. Timeline wise, the plot of Iki Island takes place after the original story has concluded, so you
will
 run into some spoilers if you decide to sail over to Iki Island the moment it’s unlocked in Act 2 of Tsushima.

Graphically, Tsushima Director’s Cut looks
absolutely stunning
 on the PS5. The beautiful landscapes of Tsushima and Iki are now rendered in 4K, and further enhancing the visuals of the game is the high, consistent frame rate set at 60fps. Even when I set the graphics settings to Higher Resolution, the game still runs consistently at 60fps.

DualSense implementation in Director’s Cut is quite well implemented too. For example, when I’m pulling back on the bow while aiming, I can feel the triggers vibrating as Jin is losing grip. I can even feel the haptic feedback of the controller changing depending on the terrain my horse is galloping on.

I really can’t say it enough: the DualSense controller of the PS5 really does make games
feel
like a next-gen experience
.

And then there’s the dramatically improved loading time of Director’s Cut on the PS5. Whether I’m fast travelling from one area to another or restarting an encounter, there’s no

loading screen at all. This short loading time, in turn, improves the gaming experience quite a bit.

The Bad Stuff

Of course, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut still has some shortcomings here and there, and one of them is the lip-syncing for Japanese audio. Yes, the PS5 version of Director’s Cut improved on this aspect, but it still looks…well, off.

Simply put, it’s as if the lip-syncing is missing a few syllables in every sentence. I personally find this quite distracting, but I’m sure some folks will not mind it at all.

Even with all of the graphical improvements, the facial expressions of every character in Director’s Cut still don’t look particularly expressive. This, in turn, gives them a stiff appearance, especially in cutscenes. I find this really odd, given that Sucker Punch’s very own Infamous Second Son – which was released back in 2014 on the PS4 – had better facial expressions.

Last but definitely not least is the price of the game. If you’ve never played Ghost of Tsushima before, it’s absolutely worth forking out RM299 (PS5) or RM249 (PS4) for the Director’s Cut version. Even if you’re upgrading from the original PS4 version to Director’s Cut on the PS5 for RM129, I would still say it’s worth it.

But it’s a different situation if you’re on the PS4 thinking of upgrading to Director’s Cut on the same platform. You’ll need to pay RM89 for this, and you’re essentially paying this amount just for the Iki island expansion. The fact that you don’t get the slew of upgrades that comes with the PS5 version does make it harder to justify the cost.

Is It Worth It?

Even though the upgrade path for Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is quite messy, I would still say it’s worth picking up if you want to access even more content in this wonderful open world samurai game. While I was hoping the stiff facial expressions would be addressed in this new version, I still thoroughly enjoy the other additions to the game.

Looking forward, I can’t wait to see what Sucker Punch Productions has in store for the future. The studio really proved itself with Ghost of Tsushima and this Director’s Cut version, and while I wouldn’t mind a sequel, I’m personally hoping Sucker Punch will revive the Infamous franchise – one can hope, right?

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is now available on the PS5 and PS4
.


2 – 8 September Fuel Price: All Prices Remain

No changes to fuel prices this coming week folks, though this mainly applies to RON 97. After all, the price ceilings of RON 95 and diesel have been reached, so naturally, their prices remain the same.

To recap, the price of RON 97 for the coming week is set at RM2.72 per litre. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 2 to 8 September. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Video: Can We Get Raiden Shogun & Her Weapon With 120 Wishes in Genshin Impact?

The much anticipated Raiden Shogun is now in
Genshin Impact
! We’ve got 120 wishes this time around, so can we get both the Shogun herself and her signature weapon, Engulfing Lightning? To top it off, we have to beat the 50/50 odds too!

Here’s a bit of context: we were already at the 74th roll for the character event wish, just shy of the soft pity that starts at the 75th pull. As for the weapon banner, we…didn’t really keep track, but we were a fair bit further from the soft pity.

These are reasonably good odds, but can we get both the Raiden Shogun
and
 her signature weapon with just 120 wishes? Watch the video above to find out!


Genshin Impact 2.1 Nerfs Several Monsters

Genshin Impact
 2.1 is finally here! Aside from the addition of four new playable characters, including the much anticipated
Raiden Shogun
, Mihoyo also nerfed several monsters in response to players’ feedbacks.

The two monsters that are nerfed include the Pyro Hypostasis – I absolutely detest this fiery cube – and the Nobushi; wandering samurai that are found throughout Inazuma. Let’s start with the Pyro Hypostasis. When it does its Pyro pillar attack, the core is now exposed for a longer period of time, giving players more time to damage it.

The Pyro Hypostasis

Aside from that, the duration of the Pyro Hypostasis’ re-ignition skill has been increased too, so you won’t have to race against the clock as much to extinguish the Fire Seeds. If all Fire Seeds have been eliminated, the Pyro Hypostasis will also end its re-ignition skill earlier.

As for the Nobushi, three changes are made by Mihoyo. It will no longer perform the jump back attack, its sword-drawing technique has been optimised so that it’s easier for players to deal with, and more importantly, its weight (along with the bigger Kairagi) is reduced too.

The third change is particularly interesting, as it allows the Nobushi to be lifted by, say,
Kaedehara Kazuha
‘s Elemental Skill.

The Kairagi

It’s great that Mihoyo takes players’ feedbacks seriously and implement these changes as quickly as it did. I, for one, am looking forward to taking on the Pyro Hypostasis again – it’s an absolute nightmare to deal with in the current Spiral Abyss.


Overcooked! All You Can Eat & Hitman 2 Will Be Free to PS+ Members This Month

If you weren’t thrilled with last month’s free games for PlayStation Plus members, the September 2021 lineup may just tickle your fancy. Three games are offered this month: Overcooked! All You Can Eat, Hitman 2, and Predator: Hunting Grounds.

Out of the three games, Overcooked is arguably the most interesting title this month. Not only does it include both the original Overcooked and Overcooked 2, every DLC released for the two games are available too.

More importantly, Overcooked! All You Can Eat is also a remaster of the two games, running at 60fps in 4K resolution, along with faster loading times. Unfortunately, PlayStation is only offering this game on the PS5 – the PS4 version is not included in PlayStation Plus’ September 2021 games.

Anyway, Overcooked! All You Can Eat, Hitman 2, and Predator: Hunting Grounds will be available for download from 7 September to 4 October 2021. If you haven’t claimed
PlayStation Plus’ August 2021
 games yet, you have until next week to do so.


Honda Malaysia Extends up to RM6,000 Discount to September 2021

Last month, in conjunction with Malaysia’s 64th Merdeka Day, Honda Malaysia
offered up to RM6,000 discounts
 for its range of models. Well, good news: the carmaker is now extending the promotion to September 2021 as well.

This month’s discounts are exactly the same as the Merdeka promo. Out of the seven models,
the Accord
 naturally receives the biggest discount. The range-topping 1.5L TC-P trim of the D-segment sedan receives a RM5,000 discount, while the more affordable 1.5L TC model gets a bigger RM6,000 rebate.

If you’re looking to get a seven-seater instead, good news. The
Honda BR-V
 gets a sizeable discount too; both the 1.5L E and 1.5L V trims get a RM4,000 discount. Next is the
all-new Honda City
: the 1.5L E variant receives a RM3,000 discount, while the 1.5L S, 1.5L V, and the
range-topping 1.5L RS
 models get a RM2,000 discount.

Other notable discounts given by Honda Malaysia include RM2,000 savings for all variants of the
Civic
 and
CR-V
, a RM2,500 discount for the
HR-V
, as well as a RM3,000 rebate for the Jazz. Do note that these discounts are only applicable for vehicles registered between 1 to 30 September 2021.

Given that the automotive sector has
resumed operations now
, consumers can really take full advantage of these discounts from Honda Malaysia. If you’re interested in any Honda model, you can place your booking online
here
.

Alternatively, bookings can be done through Honda Malaysia’s HondaTouch app as well – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Why I Prefer Hatchbacks Over Sedans

More often than not, potential car buyers look at two distinct body styles before even deciding on a particular model: hatchback or sedan. While both of them have their own strengths and weaknesses, one body style will be more appealing to you depending on what you look for in a car.

Personally, since I do most of my driving in the city, I much prefer a hatchback for a number of reasons. If you’re considering between a hatchback or a sedan, hear me out – you may lean towards the former by the end of this article.

Hatchbacks Are Easier to Drive in the City

This is by far the biggest advantage of a hatchback. Because it has shorter rear overhang, it is much easier to negotiate dreaded tight corners in KL parking lots with a hatchback rather than a longer sedan, for example.

Aside from that, the shorter overhang also makes it easier to park with a hatchback. Even if most modern cars are equipped with reverse cameras now – which makes parking with a longer car less of a headache – the fact that hatchbacks are physically smaller still makes it easier to park, especially in crowded KL parking lots.

Better Visibility

The ease of driving a hatchback in the city can be attributed to its superior visibility too. Because hatchbacks are more “upright” than sedans, there are more glass area around the car. These bigger windows make it easier to see out of a hatchback, especially when it comes to rear visibility.

On top of that, the bigger windows also make hatchbacks feel less…well, for the lack of a better term, “claustrophobic.” This could be an important factor to consider for certain folks who want a car that feels less confined, though this will be different from one car to another.

Sportier Looks

While sedans usually have more mature stylings, hatchbacks are generally sportier, more aggressive-looking. Of course, there are exceptions to this case, but just compare the
Toyota Yaris
 hatchback to its sedan sibling, the
Toyota Vios
. Both of them are essentially the same car with different body styles.

However, it’s important to note that just because hatchbacks look sporty, it doesn’t automatically mean they are also sportier to drive than a sedan. Yes, a hatchback’s shorter rear overhang (in theory) improves handling, but this may not be all that relevant to more affordable, everyday cars that most folks are looking to buy.

More Practical for Loading Large Items

Even though a hatchback generally has smaller boot space than a sedan, it makes up for this in terms of practicality. As a hatchback’s boot opening has a larger aperture, you can fit in larger items without too much difficulty. Want even more space? Then just fold down the seats.

But Options Are Limited in Malaysia

Unfortunately, as much as I love hatchbacks, options are quite limited here in Malaysia. While you do get a fair number of selections in the B-segment market – such as the exceedingly popular Perodua
Myvi
, Proton
Iriz
, and Toyota Yaris – that’s simply not the case when you’re shopping for, say, a C-segment model.

Take the two most recognisable names in the local C-segment market, the
Honda Civic
 and Toyota Corolla. While both of these models are offered in hatchback and sedan body styles globally, only the latter is available in Malaysia, much to my chagrin.

The 10th generation Honda Civic

This is the very reason why
I opted to get the current 10th gen Honda Civic
 anyway despite the fact that it’s a sedan. I would’ve loved to get a C-segment hatchback instead, but the closest alternative to the Civic (pricing wise) is the Mazda 3 Liftback, which goes for a whopping RM137,660 for the base model.

That’s a huge price disparity compared to the Civic, which now
starts at about RM107,000
. Granted, the Mazda 3 offers a number of features the Civic do not have, but I find it hard to justify the price difference, even if I do prefer the hatchback body style of the Mazda.

Judging by the popularity of the Civic and other C-segment sedans on Malaysian roads, it would seem I am in the minority. While I hope that more carmakers will offer their C-segment hatchbacks locally – especially for Honda Malaysia to bring in the sleek 2022 Civic Hatchback – it’s unlikely, given that the Civic had always been offered only in its sedan form here.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

Nonetheless, it’s a different story if you’re looking to get a B-segment hatchback instead. The new 2022 Proton Iriz looks to be much improved over the previous model, and you can’t go wrong with the popular Perodua Myvi either. If you want something a little more upmarket, there’s the Toyota Yaris too.


New MySejahtera Update Will Make It Easier to Show Risk Level & Vaccination Status

The MySejahtera app will be receiving a new update tonight, which will make it easier to assess the risk level and vaccination status of a user. This will allow for premises to quickly verify whether a person is fully vaccinated or not, among other things.

This was confirmed by the Minister of Heath, Khairy Jamaluddin, who also shared a number of screenshots of how the new user interface would look like. With the new update, your risk level and vaccination status will be displayed the moment you open the MySejahtera app.

The
@my_sejahtera
 team will push a new build tonight making it easier for people to display their risk level and vaccination status – this will ease living with Covid, together.
Will further update and improve the app over the coming weeks.
pic.twitter.com/HlClvaA6dQ
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj)
September 2, 2021

On top of that, the last location you checked in will be shown as well. If you’ve caught COVID-19 (or you’re considered to be high risk), the app will have a bright red indication to signify this. After you’ve checked in to a location, your risk level and vaccination status will (again) be displayed too.

According to Khairy, more updates will be pushed to the
MySejahtera

app
 for other improvements in the coming weeks. At the time of writing, the new update is not available yet, though we reckon it will go live by tomorrow.


You’re Required to Check Out With the MySejahtera App Now

Aside from making it easier to show the risk level and vaccination status of a user, the
new MySejahtera update
 will also add a “check out” button. When you’re leaving a particular premise, you are now required to confirm that you have checked out of the location.

According to the Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, this is done to improve contact tracing. It makes sense: if you’ve checked out before an infected person checks in to a certain premise, you won’t be affected.

A check-out button has also been added in the latest update of MySejahtera. This is to improve contact tracing. After leaving a place, please remember to check-out.
You only need to press a button – no scan needed.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj)
September 2, 2021

Of course, in order to check out, you won’t need to scan any MySejahtera QR code again. All you have to do is to just hit the check out button right below the name of the premise, as shown in the screenshots above.

The new update for the
MySejahtera

app
 is being pushed out tonight, though it’s not available for download yet at the time of writing. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume the new update will go live tomorrow.

Read more:

MySejahtera: Automatic Check Out When You Check In to a New Location

New MySejahtera Update Will Make It Easier to Show Risk Level & Vaccination Status


Perodua Sold 6,988 Units in August 2021 – Chip Shortage Won’t Affect Production

Since the automotive sector was allowed to
resume operations on 16 August
, Perodua managed to increase its monthly sales quite a bit. Compared to its July sales of only 655 units, the carmaker managed to register 6,988 vehicles in August 2021.

“We would see the production and registration numbers multiply in September as the situation normalise,” said the CEO and President of Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. As of August 2021, the carmaker shipped 104,933 units; a 12.5% drop compared to 119,977 vehicles the brand sold in the same period last year.

Given that the automotive sector wasn’t operational between 1 June to 15 August 2021, this drop is expected.

Aside from that, Dato’ Zainal also said that the semiconductor chip shortage will not affect Perodua’s production plan. The carmaker has secured enough chips for its production to resume smoothly this year, and he reiterated that most of Perodua’s outstanding orders
would be met within
 the year.

However, Dato’ Zainal added that “the semiconductor chip supply is still a global issue.” To address this, he said Perodua will be working with its partners and suppliers to limit any disruption this shortage may cause.


Honda Malaysia to Introduce “New Models” in Coming Months – 2022 Civic & City Hatchback?

Now that the
automotive sector has resumed operations
, Honda Malaysia is gearing up to regain its momentum in the last four months of 2021. In its plan to do so, the carmaker is planning to introduce “new models” right here in Malaysia in the coming months – could these be the
2022 Civic
 and City Hatchback?

According to the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Madoka Chujo, Honda Malaysia “has lined up new models that feature Honda’s Next Generation Advanced Technology to be launched in the coming months.”

“These launches will provide Malaysians with more new model options during the current sales tax exemption period, which has been extended to 31 December 2021,” she added.

This seems to indicate that Honda Malaysia will introduce at least two new models by the end of the year. More likely than not, one of the two models should include the
all-new 2022 Civic
, which was
teased by the carmaker itself
 to be launched here sometime this year.

As for the other new model, there’s a good chance it is the City Hatchback. As its name suggests, it is basically the
hatchback version
 of the current City sedan, though it does come with a number of differences. These include Ultra Seats – as found in the current Honda Jazz – and (in our opinion) a sportier rear end.

Only time will tell if Honda Malaysia will introduce both the 2022 Civic and City Hatchback locally by the end of the year. If you’re contemplating to get the newer, more mature-looking 11th gen Civic or the current 10th gen model, give
this article a read
 – it may just help you decide.


Affordable Samsung Galaxy A03s Now in Malaysia for RM559

We spotted the
Samsung Galaxy A03s in SIRIM’s database
 just last week, and Samsung Malaysia just announced today that the phone is now available in Malaysia. If you’re looking to get a budget-friendly smartphone, the A03s fits the bill.

Only one variant of the Galaxy A03s is offered in Malaysia; the company isn’t bringing in the base 32GB model. Anyway, the 64GB configuration of this phone with 4GB of RAM retails at only RM559. If you need more storage space, you can use the microSD card slot.

One of the best selling points of the Galaxy A03s has to be its large 5,000mAh battery, which should be able to return above average battery life. Aside from that, it’s also powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 processor. It’s not a particularly impressive chip, but this
is
 an affordable phone – the chip should still be fast enough for everyday use.

Other specifications of the Galaxy A03s include a 6.5-inch 1600 x 620 display, a triple camera system (16MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), a 5MP selfie camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and Android 11 out of the box.

The Samsung Galaxy A03s is now
available for purchase in Malaysia
 for RM559. It is offered in three colours: Blue, Black, and White.


Horizon Forbidden West Pre-Orders Now Open From RM249 – No Free Upgrade

As promised
, Guerrilla Games’ latest title,
Horizon Forbidden West
, is now available for pre-order. Just like other recent PlayStation exclusive games, the Standard Edition of Forbidden West costs
RM249
 and
RM299
 for the PS4 and PS5 respectively, and there’s no free upgrade either.

Basically, if you purchase the PS4 or PS5 version of Horizon Forbidden West, you can only access the game on the respective platform. “For players looking to have access to both the PS4 and PS5 versions of Horizon Forbidden West, please purchase the Digital Deluxe, Collector’s, or Regalla Edition,” said Guerrilla Games.

With that said, you’ll only have access to Horizon Forbidden West on the PS4 and PS5 if you purchase either one of these three versions of the game. The studio added that this “dual entitlement” does not apply to the Standard or Special Edition copy of Forbidden West – keep this in mind if you own both the PS4 and PS5.

Anyway, for the Malaysian market, only the digital versions are confirmed so far. Aside from the aforementioned Standard Edition for the
PS4 (RM249)
 and
PS5 (RM299)
, there’s also the Digital Deluxe Edition
which costs RM339
. Not only does this copy of the game gives players access to the game on the PS4 and PS5, it has a number of add-ons too.

These include two special outfits, two special weapons, an in-game resource pack, an Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike Piece, exclusive Photo Mode pose and face paint, as well as digital versions of the art book, soundtrack, and The Sunhawk graphic novel based on the original Horizon Zero Dawn game.

Unfortunately, physical editions of Horizon Forbidden West – including the Standard, Special Edition, Collector’s Edition, and Regalla Edition above – have not been revealed yet. Rest assured, we’ll keep an eye for any local retailer that are taking orders for these physical copies of the game.

Horizon Forbidden West launches on the PS5 and PS4 on 18 February 2022.


Deal: Get the Sony WF-1000XM4 for Only RM1,049

Sony’s brand new wireless earbuds, the
Sony WF-1000XM4
, is arguably one of the best earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) right now. On top of that, a couple of retailers are offering a pretty good discount on it too: you can get the WF-1000XM4
for only RM1,049 now
.

Mono Digital
 and
TROCA
, both of which are Shopee Mall retailers, are currently offering the WF-1000XM4 for RM1,049 – that’s a RM50 discount from the original retail price. In order to get the earbuds at this price point, you only need to claim a RM50 discount voucher from the respective retailers.

What makes the WF-1000XM4 particularly interesting is its ANC performance, which is said to be best in class by Sony itself. On top of that, even with ANC activated, the XM4 can last up to eight hours on a single charge – that’s two more hours than its predecessor’s quoted battery life.

In terms of sound quality, the WF-1000XM4 now supports high-resolution audio courtesy of LDAC, so it should be able to deliver better audio quality. On top of that, the
WH-1000XM4
‘s “Speak-to-Chat” feature has been implemented into these wireless earbuds too. Basically, when you start speaking, it will automatically let in ambient sound.

Other noteworthy features of the WF-1000XM4 include IPX4 water resistance – you can use it for your workouts or in the rain without issue – as well as a 40% smaller charging case. The case supports wireless charging, and it can fully charge the earbuds twice, giving you effectively 24 hours of battery life in total.

If you want to get the Sony WF-1000XM4 for only RM1,049, you can do so from
Mono Digital
 and
TROCA
. We’ve received a review unit of these earbuds too, so stay tuned for our full review of the WF-1000XM4!


MySejahtera: Automatic Check Out When You Check In to a New Location

The MySejahtera app was recently updated
with a check out button
, which requires user to utilise the new feature whenever they leave a particular premise or location. But what if you’ve forgotten to check out? Well, worry not: it’s just confirmed that you’ll be automatically checked out when you check in to a new location.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) itself on Twitter. If you need to visit several locations in a short period of time, you’ll definitely appreciate this automatic check out. That being said, as the check out feature was implemented for better contract tracing, it’s highly recommended to check out whenever you leave a location.

To improve contact tracing, we have added a check-out button on the app. All you have to do after leaving a location is click the check-out button.
Forgot to check-out? Don’t worry. You will be checked out and you can check in at another location.
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya)
September 4, 2021

Aside from the check out button, the MySejahtera app was also updated to more prominently show
the risk level and vaccination status of a user
. This makes it much easier for premises to quickly verify whether a person is fully vaccinated or not, among other things.

But oddly enough, at the time of writing, the latest MySejahtera update is only available on the
Apple App Store
 and
Huawei AppGallery
. The
Google Play Store
 does not have the new update yet, so keep this in mind if you’re not seeing the new check out button on you Android device.

Read more:

No, You Won’t Be Fined RM1,500 For Not Checking Out in MySejahtera

New MySejahtera Update Finally Available on Android


Sony Xperia 5 III Finally Registered with SIRIM – Launching in Malaysia Soon?

Previously, we were told that the
Sony Xperia 5 III
 will be available in Malaysia
sometime in August 2021
. Since it’s already September now, we were wondering exactly when the compact flagship phone will actually be launched here. Well, we reckon this is happening very soon, given that the device has finally been registered with SIRIM.

While we were going through SIRIM’s database, we spotted the Xperia 5 III registered under Sony Malaysia with the model number XQ-BQ72 just yesterday on 3 September. This suggests that the phone is ready for its local debut, given that electronics need to be registered with SIRIM first before they can be officially sold here.

The Sony Xperia 1 III (left) and Xperia 5 III

One of the headline features of the Xperia 5 III is its variable telephoto lens system, which allows the 12MP telephoto sensor to change its focal length between 70mm to 105mm. Paired with a “Dual PD sensor,” it promises fast autofocus speeds too, even when switching between different focal lengths. This phone also features a 12MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter.

Rounding out the hardware of the Xperia 5 III are a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage, an 8MP selfie camera, a 4,500mAh battery, as well as an IP65/IP68 rating.

Given that the Sony Xperia 5 III has already been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it will be available for purchase in Malaysia very soon. If you’re wondering, this phone is
set to go for RM4,599 locally
.


Deal: Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip for Only RM2,499 on 9 September

If the brand new
Galaxy Z Flip 3
 is out of your budget, consider its predecessor. Though the original
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, it still sports the same form factor. More importantly, it is far more affordable: you can get the foldable phone
for only RM2,499
 next week.

Compared to the Z Flip’s RM3,999 usual retail price – which was revised back in February from the original RM5,888 launch price – you’re saving a whopping RM1,500. This deal is offered by
Samsung’s LazMall flagship store
 on Lazada in conjunction with the e-commerce platform’s 9.9 Sale next week.

Still,
for RM2,499
, you’re getting a premium smartphone with a unique foldable display. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset – even though it was released back in 2019, it’s still a capable processor – along with a 6.7-inch 2636 x 1080 Dynamic AMOLED “Infinity Flex” Display.

You can grab the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
for only RM2,499
 between 9 to 11 September next week. If you’d like to learn more about this foldable phone, check out our hands-on
right here
.


No, You Won’t Be Fined RM1,500 For Not Checking Out in MySejahtera

Recently, a viral WhatsApp message claims that a RM1,500 fine will be imposed on individuals who fail to “check out” using the
updated MySejahtera app
. Well, fret not: the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that this is not true.

MOH shared dispelled this rumour through its social media pages. However, even though a RM1,500 fine will not be imposed, it’s best to check out whenever you leave a premise or location with the MySejahtera app. After all, this feature was implemented to improve contract tracing.

Grafik yang tular dalam whatsapp ini adalah tidak benar. Tiada denda RM1500 jika tidak "check out" dalam MySejahtera sebagaimana yang dinyatakan dalam grafik tersebut.
pic.twitter.com/yENgXSJSLu
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya)
September 3, 2021

In order to check out, you won’t need to scan any MySejahtera QR code again. All you have to do is to just hit the check out button right below the name of the premise or location. Do note that once you’ve checked in to a new premise, you will be automatically checked out of the previous location.

The new MySejahtera update is now available on the
Apple App Store
,
Google Play Store
, and
Huawei AppGallery
. If you don’t see the check out feature yet, make sure the app is updated to the latest version.


New MySejahtera Update Finally Available on Android

Previously, the
new MySejahtera update
 – which adds the
check out feature
, among other things – was only available on the Apple App Store and Huawei AppGallery. After a couple of days since the update went live on these app stores, it is now finally available on Android.

If the MySejahtera app on your Android device does not have the new check out button yet,
click here
 to update to the latest version on the Google Play Store. Once you’ve done that, the check out feature should be available.

Aside from the check out button, the latest MySejahtera update also has a tweaked user interface. The moment you open up the app, your
risk level and vaccination status
 will be shown.

On top of that, the last location you checked in will be shown as well. If you’ve caught COVID-19 (or you’re considered to be high risk), the app will have a bright red indication to signify this. After you’ve checked in to a location, your risk level and vaccination status will (again) be displayed too.

The new MySejahtera update is now available on the
Apple App Store
,
Google Play Store
, and
Huawei AppGallery
. If you don’t see the new user interface and check out button, make sure the app is updated to the latest version.

Read more:

MySejahtera: Automatic Check Out When You Check In to a New Location

No, You Won’t Be Fined RM1,500 For Not Checking Out in MySejahtera


ShopeeFood Opens Registration for Eateries – Launching in Malaysia This Month?

We previously reported that ShopeeFood, a new food delivery service, will be
available right here in Malaysia
 sometime this month. Well, Shopee just
put up a registration page
 for eateries to sign up to the service, so there’s a good chance the Malaysian debut of ShopeeFood is still on track.

This registration page for ShopeeFood was first spotted by
Amanz
. According to the page, a wide range of vendors can sign up to the food delivery service. These include restaurants, cafes, bars, food trucks, and even hawker stalls.

Once ShopeeFood is available in Malaysia, the service will be directly implemented into the Shopee app. But based on our previous report, ShopeeFood appears to be
only limited to Klang Valley
 at the moment.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, it’s more important now than ever for food delivery services to be available. More information on ShopeeFood can be found
here
. You can also sign up to the food delivery service through
this form
.


Illegear Launches Apex 24 & Apex 27 165Hz Gaming Monitors in Malaysia From RM739

Illegear is widely known for its range of
customisable gaming laptops
, and now, the brand is venturing into gaming monitors. The company is starting off with two products: the Illegear Apex 24, and the higher-end Illegear Apex 27 – both of them sport a fast 165Hz refresh rate with adaptive sync.

Let’s start with the more affordable gaming laptop of the two, the Apex 24. Retailing at only RM739, you’re getting a 165Hz 23.8-inch 1920 x 1080 “Premium TN” screen that covers 98% of the sRGB colour space. On top of that, this monitor is also said to have minimal backlight bleed, along with a glass back panel for a premium touch.

The higher-end Apex 27, on the other hand, sports a larger, sharper, and more vibrant 27-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS display with the same 165Hz refresh rate. Not only does it support HDR, this panel covers 100% of the sRGB colour space too. Given its higher-end hardware, the Apex 27 also costs slightly more with a RM1,199 retail price.

Aside from that, the Apex 27 has one more advantage over the Pixel 24: its “screwless stand” is much more versatile. According to Illegear, you can tilt, rotate, swivel, and adjust the height of the Apex 27, so needless to say, you can easily get a comfortable viewing angle with this gaming monitor.

The Illegear Apex 24 is now
available for purchase on Illegear’s online store
. As for the Illegear Apex 27, is it currently
on pre-order until 30 September
 with a RM100 discount, bringing down the price to only RM1,099. It’s set to start shipping in early October 2021.


Sony to Offer Free PS5 Upgrade for Horizon Forbidden West After All

When pre-order details of Horizon Forbidden West
were announced last week
, many gamers (especially those on the PS4) weren’t thrilled that there’s no free PS4 to PS5 version upgrade as promised by Sony in the past. Thankfully, this is no longer the case: those who purchase the game on the PS4 can upgrade to the PS5 version for free now.

“It’s abundantly clear that the offerings we confirmed in our pre-order kickoff (for Forbidden West) missed the mark,” said Jim Ryan, the President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). “While the pandemic’s profound impact pushed Forbidden West out of the launch window we initially envisioned, we will stand by our offer: Players who purchase Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4 will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version for free,” he added.

Previously, players will only have access to both the PS4 and PS5 versions of Forbidden West if they purchase the Deluxe, Collector’s Edition, or Regalla Edition of the game, which cost quite a bit more than the Standard copy of the game. With this announcement, you won’t be limited to these three editions anymore.

Anyway, for the Malaysian market, only pre-orders for the digital versions of Horizon Forbidden West are confirmed so far. There’s the Standard Edition for the
PS4 (RM249)
 and
PS5 (RM299)
, and also the Digital Deluxe Edition,
which costs RM339
. Forbidden West launches on the PS4 and PS5 next year on 18 February 2022.


No Free PS5 Upgrade for Next God of War – $10 Charge for Cross-Gen Access

When Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) confirmed that
Horizon Forbidden West
 will be getting a free upgrade from the PS4 to the PS5 version, the company also revealed that the next God of War will not receive the same treatment. Instead, players will need to pay a fee to access the game on both the PS4 and PS5.

This was confirmed by the President and CEO of SIE, Jim Ryan. “PlayStation first party exclusive cross-gen titles (newly releasing on PS4 and PS5) – both digital and physical – will offer a $10 digital upgrade option from PS4 to PS5. This will apply to the next God of War and Gran Turismo 7, and any other exclusive cross-gen PS4 and PS5 title published by SIE,” he said.

Of course, it remains to be seen exactly how much the $10 (about RM40) cost will translate to the Malaysian market for those who are planning to upgrade to the PS5 version of any first party PlayStation game from the PS4. Chances are, it should be below the RM50 mark, though this is only our own educated guess.

Anyway, speaking of God of War, we may be getting our first look at the new PlayStation exclusive game during the
PlayStation Showcase
 event this Friday on 10 September. You can watch the livestream of the event at 4AM Malaysian time on that day.


Deal: Grab the Redmi 9C From Only RM299 on 9 September

If you’re looking to get a budget-friendly phone, this deal may pique your interest. On 9 September this Thursday, the
Redmi 9C
 will go for as low as RM299, making it one of the most affordable Android phones in the market now.

This is an
official deal by Xiaomi Malaysia itself
. On 9 September, the 32GB + 2GB variant of the Redmi 9C will go for only RM299 (RM100 discount), while the 64GB + 3GB configuration will retail at RM399 (RM80 off). This deal will be available on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.

For that kind of money, the Redmi 9C offers a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz. Fabricated on a 12nm process, it should be power-efficient enough to allow the 9C to return respectable battery life. After all, it’s packing a very generous 5,000mAh battery.

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

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

To recap, you can grab the Redmi 9C from only RM299 this Thursday on 9 September from
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Unboxing & Hands-On – More Practical Than Ever

The
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
 is currently still
available for pre-order in Malaysia
 – with some
neat freebies too
 – and if you’re not sure if the foldable phone is for you, then this hands-on (and unboxing) may help you decide. Compared to
its predecessor
, the Z Flip 3 brings a few upgrades that make it a more practical foldable phone.

So then, without further ado, let’s see what this RM3,999 “modern flip phone” has to offer, along with what you get in the box.

Just like the Galaxy S21 series, the Z Flip 3 comes in a very slim box. Yes, just as you’ve suspected, there is no charger bundled with this foldable phone. There is, however, a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, along with (naturally) a rather nice-looking SIM card ejector pin.

As for the Z Flip 3 itself, it is covered in a plastic wrapping unfolded in the box. Remove the plastic cover from the device and…that’s basically the unboxing experience. Next, let’s start setting up this foldable phone.

As you start setting up the Galaxy Z Flip 3, you’ll see the disclaimer above. Basically, it’s about taking care of the foldable display. Even though the protective layer on top of the foldable glass screen is said to be up to 80% more durable now – not to mention the fact that it’s also IPX8 water-resistant – Samsung clearly wants consumers to still be careful with it.

Speaking of which, I absolutely love how the Z Flip 3’s foldable screen
feels
 to the touch. Compared to the original Z Flip, this new, more durable protective layer on top of the glass display does not feel “rubbery” at all. In fact, it feels quite nice and smooth, almost like a proper glass screen – almost.

The hinge of the Z Flip 3 is improved too. It still feels very secure and robust, and when I fully unfold the phone, I can feel the display “locking” into place now. There’s no audible click or anything, but it does feel as if the screen is fully unfolded, which I really like. This is in stark contrast to the first Z Flip; that one did not have any feedback whatsoever.

What about the display quality of the Galaxy Z Flip 3? Well, as expected from a Samsung-made panel, it’s great. The 6.7-inch 1080p Dynamic AMOLED 2X display looks stunning with bright, vibrant colours, and the fast 120Hz adaptive refresh rate makes every single motion on the screen look extra smooth.

I’m quite a fan of the 22:9 aspect ratio of this display too. Thanks to the tall, narrow nature of this panel, I can comfortably navigate through the phone with only one hand. Even if the unusually tall screen makes it difficult to reach for the top of the display, I’d say it’s worth the trade-off for easier one-handed use.

There’s also the larger, more practical cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Now that the 1.9-inch 512 x 260 Super AMOLED panel can show more detailed notifications and widgets, I can sift through my messages first before deciding to unfold the phone.

Honestly, however, I’m not entirely sold on the practicality of the cover screen yet. I’ll have to spend more time with the phone first to see if I’ll find it useful or not, but I do have to admit: it’s a nice design element.

When it comes to performance, there’s no denying that the Z Flip 3 is a fast high-end device. After all, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, which is found in the majority of other 2021 flagship smartphones. It feels fast and zippy, there’s no noticeable slowdown at all, and I can multitask seamlessly with this phone.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Even though the dual camera system (12MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide angle) is not a super sophisticated setup, it does feel very capable. Judge for yourself with these sample shots:

12MP primary
12MP primary
12MP ultra-wide angle
12MP ultra-wide angle

Regardless of the lighting situation, the Z Flip 3 can take some great shots. It does have a tendency to oversaturate colours – as with all Samsung phones – but this does result in a more flattering-looking image. Plus, the camera interface does not feel sluggish at all, which makes for a pleasant shooting experience.

Of course, it would’ve been great if the Z Flip 3 had a telephoto sensor too, but at least there’s an ultra-wide angle shooter. I’d argue most folks will find more use out of this particular camera than a zoom lens. I mean, it’s cool that a phone can do up to 100x zoom now, but in terms of sheer practicality, I’d still take an ultra-wide angle sensor.

As far as initial impressions go, I am very impressed with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. It feels great – especially the new protective layer on top of the screen – it is eye-catching, and most of all, it sports a unique form factor that will grab attention. It’s a modern take on a flip phone; what’s not to love?

On top of that, with a RM3,999 starting price, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 really is
the most accessible foldable phone yet
. I’ll be putting it through its paces in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for our full review of the Z Flip 3!


PS+ Members Can Now Get Overcooked! All You Can Eat & Hitman 2 For Free

If you’re a PlayStation Plus member, you can now claim this month’s free games. These include
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
,
Hitman 2
, and
Predator: Hunting Grounds
. Once you’ve claimed these titles, they are yours to keep as long as your subscription remains active.

Out of the three games, Overcooked is arguably the most interesting title this month. Not only does it include both the original Overcooked and Overcooked 2, every DLC released for the two games are available too.

More importantly, Overcooked! All You Can Eat is also a remaster of the two games, running at 60fps in 4K resolution, along with faster loading times. Unfortunately, PlayStation is only offering this game on the PS5 – the PS4 version is not included in PlayStation Plus’ September 2021 games.

Anyway,
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
,
Hitman 2
, and
Predator: Hunting Grounds
 will be available for download until 4 October 2021 – remember to claim them in time!


Check the Vaccination Status of Eateries With Vaxxed Shops

As dining in (for fully vaccinated individuals) are now allowed in more states across Malaysia, folks may wonder if store employees of eateries that they plan to visit are also fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It can be hard to look for this information, and that’s where Vaxxed Shops comes into the picture.

Developed by software engineer KH Lim, Vaxxed Shops shows the vaccination status of employees in eateries. So far, these stores are either classified as “fully vaccinated” or “partially vaccinated.”

As the site explains, stores that are fully vaccinated are defined as “each working staff has received two doses with an additional 14 days after the second dose” of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Sinovac. Interestingly, partially vaccinated stores, on the other hand, only requires more than 50% of the total working staff to be fully vaccinated to get this status on the site.

Vaxxed Shops sourced the vaccination status of eateries from their Twitter or Instagram account, or as claimed by the respective stores. Users can also add a shop
through a form
, which will be added to the list within 24 hours after it’s been reviewed.

At the time of writing, only about 66 eateries are listed on Vaxxed Shops, and most of them are establishments in the Klang Valley area. While we wouldn’t consider the site a definitive source of vaccination information for eateries, we imagine it can still come in handy.


Driving Schools Allowed to Operate From 9 September – Only for Fully Vaccinated Folks

More sectors will be allowed to operate in the first phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) from 9 September onwards, including driving schools. Of course, there are a number of SOPs that have to be followed, and only fully vaccinated candidates are allowed to take their examinations.

This was revealed by the Minister of Transport, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong. While driving schools will be allowed to operate from 9 September onwards, the examination to obtain a driving license will only commence on 17 September. This is done to ensure that driving institutes and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) have enough time to manage any possible issues that candidates may face.

Aside from candidates, employees and teaching staff of driving schools are also required to be fully vaccinated. Naturally, candidates that show symptoms of COVID-19 infection are not allowed into driving schools either; same goes for those who are located in Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) areas.

Driving schools are only allowed to operate at 60% capacity if 40% of its employees are fully vaccinated; the capacity goes up to 80% if 60% of staff received complete vaccinations. If 80% of their staff have been vaccinated, these driving institutes are allowed to operate at full capacity.


Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE Gaming Laptop Now in Malaysia for RM7,999

The unique
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition
 gaming laptop is now available in Malaysia. As expected, this special, premium laptop carries an equally premium price tag, though those who are looking for an eye-catching gaming machine – or a fan of Alan Walker – may be willing to drop the cash for it.

Only one variant of the Zephyrus G14 AW SE is offered, which retails at a cool RM7,999 here in Malaysia. For that kind of money, you’re getting a 14-inch QHD IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of PCIe SSD storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU.

But the highlight of the G14 AW SE aren’t its hardware. Rather, it’s the exterior styling of the gaming laptop. Its lid, for one, features a reflective belt made of actual fabric with Alan Walker’s and ROG’s brandings. Aside from that, the AniMe Matrix LED array on the lid has a unique “Spectre Blue” shade too, which is exclusive to this machine.

What’s even more interesting is the acrylic packaging of the special edition Zephyrus G14: it doubles as a DJ deck. As Asus puts it, there are “conductive pads on the surface that allow users to trigger 18 of Walker’s own sound effects” through the ROG Remix software. You can even import your own effects to the software.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM7,999. If you’d like to learn more about this sleek gaming laptop, check out
our hands-on
 – our full review will also be posted very soon!


iPhone 13 Series Coming on 15 September

Apple just sent out invitations to its next big fall event. Chances are, we will see the debut of the Cupertino company’s
latest iPhone 13 series
 at the event, which (naturally) promises quite a number of upgrades.

The teaser for the event, as is the case with Apple’s previous teasers, is a simple one with just the tagline “California streaming” highlighted. The AR Easter egg for the event is quite cool too: you can “walk into” the Apple logo to reveal a nighttime landscape. This could be a reference to the improved low light performance of the new iPhones’ cameras.

We’re California Streaming on September 14th. See you real soon. 🏞
#AppleEvent

pic.twitter.com/OjOvJFXlHd
— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz)
September 7, 2021

Speaking of which, if previous rumours are to be believed, the Pro models of the 2021 iPhones are expected to be equipped with an
ultra-wide angle camera with autofocus capability
. Usually, ultra-wide angle sensors have a fixed focus, so this is quite a good upgrade, even if Apple is
not the first phone maker to do so
.

Aside from that, the iPhone 13 series is said to be similar to the iPhone 12 models, though there will be some design changes. Not only will the
display notch be slightly smaller
, the lens arrangement of the rear camera module is said to be revised too.

Apple’s “California streaming” fall event will be taking place on 15 September next week at 1AM for us here in Malaysia. Aside from the iPhone 13, it’s possible the company will reveal a number of other surprises too – maybe even a couple of
new MacBook laptops
.


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Sold Out in Malaysia – RM1,649 Freebies Still Available

Previously, the waiting list for the
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
 in Malaysia was as long as
two months
. Fast forward to today, the foldable phone is
sold out
 locally. Evidently, quite a number of Malaysians are eager to get their hands on Samsung’s latest flagship.

Even though the Z Fold 3 is now sold out in Malaysia, those who are interested can still register their interest to get RM1,649 worth of freebies – which include a RM850 e-voucher and Samsung Care+ worth RM799 –
right here
. This offer is valid until 21 September 2021.

Due to overwhelming demand, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is sold out. Register your interest to enjoy pre-order offers of RM850 e-voucher and Samsung Care+ (worth RM799)*. We will reach out to you again once Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is available.
Learn more:
https://t.co/hvAcjRNqfF

pic.twitter.com/w3suUl0ZON
— Samsung Malaysia (@SamsungMalaysia)
September 8, 2021

Compared to its predecessor
, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has gotten quite a bit more affordable with its RM6,699 starting price. On top of that, it offers a number of notable improvements too. These include a 4MP under display camera, a 120Hz 7.6-inch 2208 x 1768 Dynamic AMOLED 2X primary screen, and a 120Hz 6.2-inch 2268 x 832 cover screen.

Other specifications of the Z Fold 3 include Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 flagship chipset, a triple camera system (12MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide angle + 12MP telephoto), a 10MP cover camera, a 4,400mAh battery, S Pen support, and of course, IPX8 water resistance rating.

To recap, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 starts at RM6,699 in Malaysia for the 256GB variant with 12GB of RAM. The 512GB model with the same amount of RAM, on the other hand, goes for RM7,099. If you want to get the Z Fold 3 and enjoy RM1,649 worth of rewards, you can
register your interest
 until 21 September 2021.


Proton Sold 5,354 Units in June to August 2021 – Sales Still Ahead of 2020

Proton just revealed its sales figures from June to August 2021. Due to the extended COVID-19 lockdown, the national carmaker only managed to sell 5,354 units in these three months, which consist of online registrations and exports. That being said, Proton total sales for 2021 is still ahead of last year’s performance.

According to Proton, up to the end of August 2021, the carmaker sold 62,637 units. This is an increase of 1.6% over the same period in 2020. “Our total sales volume up to August reflects Proton’s strong performance over the first five months of the year,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah.

“2021 has been challenging for the automotive industry as lockdowns, chip shortages, and a number of other issues have stunted sales growth. But we are confident of an industry-wide surge in numbers over the final four months of the year,” he added.

The national carmaker also said that over 93% of its staff have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On top of that, over 75% employees of its vendors and dealers are vaccinated too.

“Therefore, the entire Proton ecosystem is close to being allowed to operate at 100% capacity based on the current SOPs for reopening of plants and business premises,” the carmaker said in a press release.

If you’re eagerly waiting to receive your Proton car – especially the immensely popular
Proton X50
 – you may not have to wait much longer now. The company is expecting its sales volume to increase from this month onwards.


No More Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination in Klang Valley From 16 September

If you’re in the Klang Valley area, take note: walk-in COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be offered here from 16 September onwards. This is done as the most residents in Klang Valley have been vaccinated already.

This was confirmed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba. Although walk-in vaccination in PPVs will be phased out come 16 September, certain health clinics in Klang Valley will still offer it. The full list of clinics involved will be revealed at a later date.

Of course, walk-in COVID-19 vaccination will still be offered in other states.

Senarai klinik kesihatan akan diumumkan kelak.
Pemberhentian sesi 'walk-in' hanya membabitkan Lembah Klang & masih diteruskan di negeri lain.
Kami memohon agar orang ramai mengikuti pengumuman serta maklumat terkini dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Kesihatan negeri masing²
2/2
— Dr Adham Baba (@DrAdhamBaba)
September 8, 2021

As of 7 September, over 97.8% of adults in the Klang Valley area have been fully vaccinated. As for the whole of Malaysia, 69.6% of the adult population have received their second doses. Those who have received at least one dose, on the other hand, currently stands at 88.9%.

If you reside in the Klang Valley area, and you haven’t gotten your COVID-19 vaccination yet, you can still walk-in to selected PPVs to get vaccinated. The full list can be
found here
.


9 – 15 September Fuel Price: RON 97 up 1 Sen

RON 97 is going up by 1 sen per litre folks. Given that the price ceilings of RON 95 and diesel have been reached, their prices remain the same.

To recap, the price of RON 97 for the coming week is set at RM2.73 per litre (up from RM2.72). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 9 to 15 September. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Selangor, KL, Putrajaya Entering Phase 2 of NRP on 10 September (Updated)

Good news for those residing in the Klang Valley area. Come this Friday on 10 September, Selangor, KL, and Putrajaya will transition to phase two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), which will further ease restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals.

This was confirmed by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob himself. Once Selangor, KL, and Putrajaya transition to phase two of the NRP this Friday, only Johor and Kedah will remain in the first phase.

Saya pasti ini adalah satu berita yang dinantikan terutamanya seluruh warga Lembah Klang yang telah memberi kerjasama dengan amat baik sekali.
Dengan ini, kerajaan bersetuju memberi kebenaran kepada kawasan Lembah Klang untuk beralih ke Fasa 2.
Teruskan
#KeluargaMalaysia
 💪🏻
pic.twitter.com/PcOcmzDyDE
— Ismail Sabri (@IsmailSabri60)
September 8, 2021

One of the biggest changes in the second phase of NRP compared to the first is the freedom to cross districts without restriction
for fully vaccinated individuals
. According to the Prime Minister, no roadblocks will be implemented in the Klang Valley either.

As of 7 September, over 97.8% of adults in the Klang Valley area have been fully vaccinated. As for the whole of Malaysia, 69.6% of the adult population have received their second doses. Those who have received at least one dose, on the other hand, currently stands at 88.9% nationwide.

Update 8 September, 7:50PM:
 It’s now confirmed that the whole Klang Valley, which include Selangor, KL, and Putrajaya, will transition to phase two of the NRP. The article has been updated to reflect this.


New PS4 Mega Pack Includes Ghost of Tsushima for RM1,349

If you haven’t gotten a PlayStation 4 yet, you may be interested to pick up the new “Mega Pack” for the console. Aside from the PS4 itself, this RM1,349 bundle also offers three fantastic games for the system.

These three games include
Ghost of Tsushima
 – albeit not the
newer Director’s Cut version
 – Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition, as well as God of War. A three-month subscription to PlayStation Plus (redeemable until 15 July 2023) is also included in the PS4 Mega Pack.

It’s worth noting that these three games are physical copies, and you’re also getting a single DualShock 4 controller in the Mega Pack. As for the PS4 itself, it’s the standard model with a 1TB HDD.

The new PS4 Mega Pack will be sold in Malaysia from 14 September onwards for RM1,349; you can check with
these retailers
 for stock availability. While the PS4 is not quite as attractive as the
brand new PS5
, it’s still worth getting. After all, many upcoming PS5 titles – including
Horizon Forbidden West
 – will also be available on the PS4.


Honda Malaysia Launches “I’m Vaccinated” Campaign – 80% of Dealerships Fully Vaccinated

Now that car showrooms are
allowed to operate nationwide
, Honda Malaysia is launching a rather interesting campaign dubbed “I’m Vaccinated.” Basically, the campaign is meant to give Honda customers (and dealer associates) assurance that its staff in showrooms are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to Honda Malaysia, only fully vaccinated staff are allowed to be on duty at its showrooms nationwide. These staff are also provided with a badge and mask that have a custom “I Am Fully Vaccinated” logo for patrons to easily identify their vaccination status.

“We believe this initiative can help to boost customer confidence during interactions with Honda dealer associates by showing that we are ready to meet and serve the customers in a safe environment as well as providing them peace of mind while being present at the dealerships,” said the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Madoka Chujo.

Honda Malaysia also revealed that over 80% of its dealer associates are fully vaccinated. The carmaker is aiming for 100% vaccination rate for its associates by October 2021.

“We are thankful that our car production has resumed operations and Honda dealerships can carry out sales and after-sales services to serve our customers,” Chuko added. With that in mind, it’s worth noting that Honda Malaysia is currently
offering up to RM6,000 discount
 for its range of models until the end of this month.


Acer Enduro Urban N3 Review: Slim, Lightweight Rugged Laptop From Only RM2,799

If you think of durable, rugged laptops, there’s a good chance a big, bulky machine comes to mind. But that doesn’t apply to the new Acer Enduro Urban N3. Sporting a 21.95mm chassis that tips the scales at only 1.85kg, it’s quite a lightweight laptop in this particular segment.

While it does have a number of shortcomings in a couple of areas, the Enduro Urban N3 is a great option for those who want a rugged laptop that can take a beating or two. On top of that, it’s quite an affordable machine too.

What It Is

Display
14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
Processor
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4C/8T, 2.8GHz with boost up to 4.7GHz)
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM
8GB DDR4
Storage
512GB SSD
Camera
720p
Battery
48Wh
Dimensions
351 x 245 x 21.95 mm
Weight
1.85kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
1x HDMI
1x SD card slot
Price
RM3,699

We received the range-topping Enduro Urban N3 for this review, which features a Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM for RM3,699. There are also two other more affordable models: the Core i3 variant with a Core i3-1115G4 processor and 4GB of RAM costs RM2,799, while the Core i5-1135G7 configuration (also with 4GB of RAM) retails at RM2,999.

With a RM2,799 starting price, the Urban N3 is really quite an affordable laptop with a reasonably good list of hardware, though we’d definitely recommend upgrading the RAM to 8GB if you want to get the more budget-friendly models.

The Good Stuff

The main highlight of the Enduro Urban N3 is its rugged nature. Thanks to a MIL-STD-810H certification and an IP53 rating, it can survive some water splashes and the occasional dings. In the event that you do drop it, the four corners of the laptop are reinforced with rubber bits to minimise damage.

Aside from that, the Urban N3 itself feels solid. Granted, most of its chassis is made out of plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap. Besides, by using this lightweight material, the weight of the laptop is reduced accordingly. Sure, 1.85kg doesn’t make it the lightest laptop in the market, but it’s certainly lightweight for a rugged laptop.

The ports are protected with sealed flaps to prevent water damage

Not only is it relatively lightweight, the Enduro Urban N3 is not ridiculously thick either with a 21.95mm chassis. Again, not the thinnest laptop in the market, but you’d be hard-pressed to look for another rugged laptop with a thinner profile.

In the performance department, it goes without saying that the Core i7-1165G7 processor is able to keep up with my productivity needs. The 512GB SSD storage – available on all variants of the Urban N3 – ensures that applications and files load up very quickly too.

Speaking of productivity, I’m quite impressed with the battery life of the Enduro Urban N3. Even though its 48Wh battery isn’t particularly sizeable, I can consistently get about eight hours of use on a single charge. I got this level of battery life by setting the power plan to battery saver, with the screen dimmed to a comfortable level.

While eight hours of use falls short of Acer’s lofty quoted battery life of up to 13 hours, this is still respectable battery life for a productivity-focused laptop.

The Bad Stuff

My main qualm with the Acer Enduro Urban N3 are its input devices; more specifically, the finicky touchpad. For some reason, the trackpad doesn’t feel very responsive at times. Not only does it have trouble registering double clicks, it has issues with two-finger scrolling as well.

As for the keyboard, it doesn’t have much key travel, so it provides a shallow typing experience. If you plan to do a lot of typing on this laptop, you may want to try out the keyboard for yourself first to see if you’ll be comfortable with it.

Now, it’s safe to assume that a rugged laptop like the Urban N3 is meant to be used outdoor, so I don’t understand why it has such a glossy 14-inch 1080p IPS display. because of this, glare from the sun can be quite an issue with this panel. It would’ve been better if the screen had a matte finish instead.

Is It Worth It?

Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a durable, rugged laptop, the Acer Enduro Urban N3 is still a great option. While its input devices aren’t particularly good, it’s a reasonably slim and lightweight rugged laptop – the same can’t be said of many other laptops in this segment.

Plus, one of the best selling points of the Enduro Urban N3 is the fact that it’s a budget-friendly laptop. Depending on how much processing power you need, the most affordable Core i3 configuration for RM2,799 can be good enough for some folks too.

On top of that, even this base model is packed with a generous 512GB SSD, though you may want to consider upgrading the RAM to 8GB. The default 4GB RAM is really the bare minimum here.


Deal: Sony WH-1000XM4 Going for Only RM974 Now

The
Sony WH-1000XM4
, one of the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones in the market now, is more affordable than ever. Originally retailing at RM1,599, you can now get the XM4
for only RM974
.

This deal is offered by renowned retailer Jaben on Shopee. It is listing the WH-1000XM4 for RM989, and you can collect a 4% discount voucher (capped at RM15) from the retailer to bring down the price
to only RM974
. Compared to the launch price of the headphones, you’re saving a whopping RM625 with this deal.

Without a doubt RM974 for a pair of noise-cancelling wireless headphones of this calibre is a very,
very
 good deal. Not quite convinced? Then check out our
review of the Sony WH-1000XM4
.


Deal: Grab the Sony WF-1000XM4 for Only RM984

Sony’s brand new wireless earbuds, the
Sony WF-1000XM4
, is arguably one of the best earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) right now. On top of that, a couple of retailers are offering a pretty good discount on it too: you can get the WF-1000XM4
for only RM984 now
.

Mono Digital
, a Shopee Mall retailer, is currently offering the WF-1000XM4 for RM999. With a RM15 discount voucher from the store, you can get these wireless earbuds
for merely RM984
. This is a respectable
RM115 discount
 from the original retail price.

What makes the WF-1000XM4 particularly interesting is its ANC performance, which is said to be best in class by Sony itself. On top of that, even with ANC activated, the XM4 can last up to eight hours on a single charge – that’s two more hours than its predecessor’s quoted battery life.

In terms of sound quality, the WF-1000XM4 now supports high-resolution audio courtesy of LDAC, so it should be able to deliver better audio quality. On top of that, the
WH-1000XM4
‘s “Speak-to-Chat” feature has been implemented into these wireless earbuds too. Basically, when you start speaking, it will automatically let in ambient sound.

Other noteworthy features of the WF-1000XM4 include IPX4 water resistance – you can use it for your workouts or in the rain without issue – as well as a 40% smaller charging case. The case supports wireless charging, and it can fully charge the earbuds twice, giving you effectively 24 hours of battery life in total.

If you want to get the Sony WF-1000XM4 for only RM984, you can do so from
Mono Digital
. We’ve received a review unit of these earbuds too, so stay tuned for our full review of the WF-1000XM4!


Video: Akko CS V2 Switches Review – Perfect for Newcomers!

Figuring out your switch preference is one of the most important first steps as a newcomer in the custom mechanical keyboard hobby. That’s where these Akko CS V2 switches come into the picture: thanks to their very affordable nature, they are perfect for beginners to try out.

There are three switches in Akko’s CS V2 series: Radiant Red (62g linear), Vintage White (45g linear), and Lavender Purple (50g tactile). As mentioned, these are budget-friendly offerings; a box of 45 switches for the Radiant Red and Lavender Purple cost RM38, while the Vintage White (oddly enough) is priced at RM39.56 for the same amount of switches.

Anyway, if you’re here in Malaysia, you can get the Akko CS V2 switches
from Shopee
. Alternatively, you can also get it directly from Akko
right here
. Curious to see (and hear) how these switches perform? Then watch our video review above!


God of War Ragnarok Confirmed for 2022 Release on PS5 & PS4 – New Trailer Revealed

Here it is: God of War Ragnarok finally gets a launch date. Set to be released on PS5 and PS4 sometime next year in 2022, Santa Monica Studio also showed off a brand new trailer of the upcoming game, and it looks fantastic.

Ragnarok takes place a few years after the events of the 2018 God of War. Kratos’ son, Atreus, is now a teenager, and he “wants to understand who he is more than anything,” as the developer puts it. After all, the big revelation of the previous game is the fact that he is – spoiler alert – the infamous Loki in Norse mythology.

Speaking of which, Kratos and Atreus will also face off against the legendary Aesir god Thor in Ragnarok, along with Freya from the previous game. We can see a glimpse of these two characters in the trailer above, and it looks like we’re in for quite the ride. Oh, Odin himself will be making an appearance too.

Naturally, Ragnarok will introduce a number of new enemies and abilities as well. Kratos will have new attacks and weapons, while Atreus seems to have gained a new Runic Summon. All nine realms will also be accessible in Ragnarok, including Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, and Asgard itself.

God of War Ragnarok will be released sometime in 2022 next year for the PS5 and PS4. As previous revealed, there will be no free upgrade from PS4 to the PS5 version of Ragnarok. Instead, a
$10 upgrade option
 will be offered.


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Coming (Only) to PS5 in 2023 – Marvel’s Wolverine Also Announced

Insomniac Games got two big announcements this morning. Not only is the studio releasing a sequel to the original Spider-Man on the PS4 – aptly dubbed Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Insomniac is even working on a brand new Marvel game starring one of the most iconic characters in the franchise: Wolverine.

Let’s start with Spider-Man 2 first. Set to be released exclusively on the PS5 in 2023 (sorry PS4 owners), both Peter Parker and
Miles Morales
 will be featured in the game. Yes, there will be two Spider-Mans in the sequel, so it’ll be interesting to see how Insomniac will incorporate both of them into the story as they face off against Venom.

And…that’s about it. Not much was revealed beyond the fact that Venom will be one of the villains in Spider-Man 2. It remains to be seen what other villains will make an appearance in the upcoming game, though it seems like Venom will be a big part of the narrative.

As for Marvel’s Wolverine, not much was revealed either. The announcement teaser is very brief, and it only confirms that the game is currently in development for the PS5. That’s right, both of these upcoming Insomniac titles will only be playable on the next-gen console.

Anyway, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is set to be released exclusively on the PS5 sometime in 2023. No release date was given for Marvel’s Wolverine, though we reckon it will only be released after Spider-Man 2.


Uncharted 4 Is Remastered for the PS5 & PC in Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Now this is interesting: Naughty Dog just revealed that Uncharted 4 – along with the Lost Legacy spin-off – will be coming to PS5
and
 PC in early 2022. Both of these games will be remastered for the two platforms in Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.

This is quite a big deal, given that this is the first time the Uncharted franchise is releasing on the PC. However, the Legacy of Thieves Collection will be released on the PS5 first. “The PC version is in development by our partners at Iron Galaxy and will release shortly after the PS5 version,” as Naughty Dog puts it.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is easily the best entry in the Uncharted franchise starring Nathan Drake, but it will be quite odd for PC gamers to jump into the series with the fourth instalment. After all, the first three Uncharted titles are not featured in the Legacy of Thieves Collection.

The same applies to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which follows Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross after the events of Uncharted 4. While Nadine is a new character introduced in the aforementioned game, Chloe made her debut in the series back in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. In fact, she did not make an appearance at all in Uncharted 4.

Nonetheless, it’s still great that PC players will finally be able to experience one of Naughty Dog’s best franchises with the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. But if you really want to get the full effect of the narrative, we’d recommend playing through the first three Uncharted titles first.

Or at the very least, get familiarised with the story that leads up to the events of Uncharted 4.


Grab: Only Low-Risk MySejahtera Users & Drivers Are Allowed

Grab just introduced a new policy for both passengers and drivers of the e-hailing platform. From 14 September onwards, only low-risk and casual contact (no symptoms) MySejahtera users are allowed to use its e-hailing services.

If a passenger’s MySejahtera status is not one of these two, they will not be able to book or take a ride on any of Grab’s e-hailing services. As for drivers, they will not be allowed to do any e-hailing jobs on Grab’s platform.

Once the new policy is in effect, both passengers and drivers can request to check the MySejahtera status of each other. If either parties do not have the proper MySejahtera status, the other party has the right to cancel the ride. Similarly, those who are not registered with MySejahtera cannot use Grab’s e-hailing services either.

According to Grab, it is implementing this new policy to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure for both its passengers and drivers. “Both driver-partners and passengers should not be put in situations in which they are in close contact with these higher risk individuals, nor should they be required to,” the company said.

It’s worth noting that Grab said this is its own policy; not an SOP introduced by the National Security Council (MKN). The full policy can be found
right here
.


Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE Review: Style & Substance With a Matching Price

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is one of the best gaming laptops in the market now. It is compact, it looks sleek, and it offers really good performance,
especially
for a machine this size. Naturally, all of these apply to the unique (and even more eye-catching) Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition – G14 AW SE, for short.

That being said, you do have to pay a premium for this special edition G14, which affects the value proposition of the gaming laptop. But if you’re willing to drop the cash for it, you will get a very unique gaming laptop – with an equally unique packaging that transforms into a DJ deck.

What It Is

Display
14-inch QHD IPS (2560  x 1440), 120Hz
Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS (8C/16T, 3.1GHz with boost up to 4.5GHz)
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 (60W TGP + 15W dynamic boost)
RAM
16GB DDR4 3200MHz
Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
Camera
None
Battery
76Wh
Dimensions
324 x 222 x 19.9 mm
Weight
1.7kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers with two tweeters
Ports
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort, G-Sync, Power Delivery)
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
1x HDMI 2.0b
Price
RM7,999

As mentioned, the G14 AW SE doesn’t offer the best value for money. After all, for RM7,999, you’re only getting an RTX 3050 Ti GPU. The standard G14, on the other hand, offers a
more powerful RTX 3060 GPU for RM7,699
. That’s effectively RM300 less for
better
graphics performance, though it doesn’t have the G14 AW SE’s unique stylings.

You’re basically paying a premium for the aesthetics of this gaming laptop, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Plus, even though its value proposition isn’t particularly appealing, this machine still offers reasonably good performance – let’s get to that in the next section.

The Good Stuff

So how effectively can you game on the Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE? Well, pretty darn well. Though its RTX 3050 Ti isn’t the most impressive GPU in the market, it’s paired with a fast Ryzen 9 5900HS processor and 16GB of RAM. This hardware configuration lets the laptop run AAA games without much trouble. Take a look at the benchmarks below.

Games (max settings @ 1920 x 1080)
Average FPS
Borderlands 3 (DX11)
50.02
Control (DX11)
45.804
Witcher 3 (HairWorks disabled)
62.768

Although only Witcher 3 went above 60fps at maxed out graphics settings in 1080p, the G14 AW SE can still run graphically demanding games like Borderlands 3 and Control relatively well. With some tweaks to the graphics settings, you can definitely run these games at over 60fps, though not at the screen’s native 1440p resolution.

Naturally, I put the G14 AW SE’s Ryzen 9 5900HS processor through its paces too with Cinebench R20. As the table below shows, its performance is quite comparable to other Ryzen 5000 series chips in the market now in both single-core and multi-core tests. In fact, compared to its direct predecessor, it’s noticeably faster.

Processor
Single-core test
Multi-core test
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS (Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE)
561
5185
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (Alienware m15 R5)
563
4891
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (Acer Nitro 5)
561
5042
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (Lenovo Legion 5 Pro)
554
5116
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE)
566
5461
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS (Asus ROG Flow X13)
572
4922
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS (2020 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14)
481
4173
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (Asus TUF Gaming A15)
481
4106
Intel Core i7-11370H (Asus TUF Dash F15)
581
2749
Intel Core i7-10875H (Acer Predator Triton 500)
483
3773

Not only does the G14 AW SE have a fast processor, its 14-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS screen is fast too with a 120Hz refresh rate. The 1440p panel looks sharp with vibrant colours as well, and the high refresh rate provides good motion clarity in fast-paced games.

Granted, this screen’s 120Hz refresh rate isn’t as fast as 144Hz or 165Hz panels found on other gaming laptops, but beyond 120Hz, it’s really not that easy to tell the difference between these refresh rates.

Another aspect of the G14 AW SE that’s worth highlighting is its
incredibly long
 battery life. While its 76Wh battery isn’t particularly big, I managed to squeeze out between
10 to 11 hours of use
 on a single charge outside of gaming. To get this level of battery life, I set the power plan to battery saver with the screen dimmed to a comfortable level.

It’s because of this impressive battery life that I reckon the G14 AW SE can serve as an excellent productivity laptop. On top of that, it has an accurate glass trackpad and a comfortable keyboard to type on too. The latter is especially good with long key travel and reasonably tactile keys.

Last but definitely not least are the unique looks and packaging of the G14 AW SE. I really dig the reflective belt made of actual fabric with Alan Walker’s and ROG’s brandings on the lid of this laptop, not to mention the exclusive “Spectre Blue” lighting for the AniMe Matrix LED array.

There are also some some pretty nice accents on the mod keys of the keyboard, especially the light blue shade on the enter, right shift, and escape keys. This design choice gives the keyboard a good contrast with the alpha keys, and Alan Walker’s logo are also on the A and W keys – it’s a nice, subtle branding, in my opinion.

But what makes the G14 AW SE especially unique is its acrylic packaging, which doubles as a DJ deck. Dubbed ROG Remix, the DJ deck features “conductive pads on the surface that allow users to trigger 18 of Walker’s own sound effects.” This DJ deck even has LED lighting surrounding it.

If you’re curious, we took a closer look at the ROG Remix DJ deck in our hands-on
right here
.

The Bad Stuff

Without a doubt the ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE has plenty of positives, but its few shortcomings can be a dealbreaker to some folks. The biggest one? Its value proposition.

In reality, you’re really paying quite a bit more for the unique stylings and packaging/DJ deck of the G14 AW SE; nothing more. For RM300 less, you can opt for the standard G14 to get better value for money. It is practically the same machine
with an even faster
 RTX 3060 GPU for RM7,699.

Aside from that, the G14 AW SE runs quite hot too. In extended gaming sessions, the CPU and GPU got up to 95°C and 83°C respectively. Do note that I was gaming in an air-conditioned room as well, so you can expect the temperatures to be higher in a warmer environment.

While we’re still on the topic of cooling, the G14 AW SE’s system noise can also get quite loud. While gaming in Turbo mode to get the best level of performance, the fans are
very
 audible. Thankfully, outside of gaming, the fans rarely kick up a fuss.

My last qualm with the G14 AW SE is the fact that it doesn’t have a webcam. For a gaming laptop that can easily serve as an excellent productivity laptop, not having a webcam can really be a dealbreaker to some folks. This is especially the case in this COVID-19 pandemic, where a lot of us are working from home.

Is It Worth It?

It really depends on how much you value the unique stylings of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition. Personally, I think it looks fantastic, and although the novelty of the packaging doubling as a DJ deck wears off after the initial unboxing, it’s still a very smart and interesting idea.

In short, if you’re a fan of Alan Walker, or you just like how the G14 AW SE looks, then yes, it’s absolutely worth picking up even with its premium RM7,999 price tag. But if you can do without the fancy aesthetics, but still want a capable gaming laptop in a compact form factor – and very long battery life – get the
standard G14 instead
.