Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5) Quick Review: Excellent Platformer You Can Physically Feel

The PlayStation 5, while very impressive, still don’t have games that
really
take advantage of the next generation console’s range of new features. But Sackboy: A Big Adventure, despite the fact that it’s available on both the PS5 and PS4,
feels
like it was made for the PS5 – quite literally, actually.

Of course, I’m talking about Sackboy’s clever use of the PS5’s DualSense controller, which offers incredibly refined haptic feedback to further enhance the gaming experience. This, coupled with great level design and music, make Sackboy an absolutely fun platformer.

What It Is

Sackboy is a platformer with some clever twists here and there. Almost every stage has its own unique mechanic, and with five different worlds to explore – with a few hidden areas – you’ve got
a lot
 of stages to play through. The game also has a story campaign of sorts, though it’s not a particularly compelling one.

But the main appeal of Sackboy isn’t the story. Rather, it’s the clever level design and catchy tunes of the game that really elevate this platformer. Let’s get to the good stuff now, shall we?

The Good Stuff

What stood out to me the most throughout my time with Sackboy is its tight controls; a very important feature for any platformer. I can navigate the titular Sackboy around the different stages very efficiently, and if I do fall down a pit or get damaged, it is entirely on me. Never did I feel like I was being held back by the game’s controls, which is (again) great for a platform game.

Speaking of controls, I
absolutely love
 how Sackboy make use of the DualSense’s haptic feedback. Unlike, say,
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
, this game takes full advantage of the controller’s much more refined haptic feedback than its predecessor. I can
physically feel
 the static of an electrified floor, or even the beats of the background music – no other game has ever given me
this
 level of immersion before.

Naturally, Sackboy also uses the adaptive triggers of the DualSense controller. I can feel the resistance change as I’m pulling on a mechanism, or when I lift up a bomb to be thrown at certain enemies. While the adaptive triggers are not used quite as extensively as the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller, they still positively impact the gaming experience.

I’ve been saying a number of times about how clever Sackboy’s level design is, but that’s how much I like it. Sure, not every single level is fun to play through, but most of them are really quite enjoyable with a fair bit of exploration. In fact, I find myself nodding my head to the music of certain stages. In the interest of preserving the experience for you guys, I won’t go too much into detail, but suffice to say that they’re
very
 good. Heck, I even revisit some of these stages
just
 for the tunes.

Graphically, Sackboy offers a beautifully rendered, charming little world. Every element looks as if it was hand-stitched – especially the texture of Sackboy itself – and it’s just incredibly soothing to look at the overall aesthetics of the game. Well, except for the more eerie stages, of course – those stages make my skin crawl quite a bit, as it should be.

Last but certainly not least is the difficulty of Sackboy, which is quite forgiving. You’re given four lives at the start of every stage, and if you’re damaged twice, you will lose a live and be transported back to the previous checkpoint. If you’re only hit once, your damage threshold will actually be reset when you reach a new checkpoint.

Even if you do lose a live, the game is very generous to give you even more lives from defeating enemies or destroying boxes. Basically, it’s almost as if you have unlimited lives in this game. The game gets even easier (and more fun, of course) in co-op mode: as long as one player is alive, you can proceed through the stage. Reaching a checkpoint will respawn your teammate.

The Bad Stuff

Even though most of the stages in Sackboy are fun, some stages are…well, a chore to get through. Some stage elements are a bit too punishing, and getting through them feel more frustrating than challenging. Thankfully, as I’ve mentioned above, the game gives you a lot of lives, so you can eventually clear the stage, albeit after much frustration.

And then there’s the uninspiring story of Sackboy. Granted, this is not the main focus of the game, but it would’ve been great if it had a more compelling story as an incentive to progress through the game. Sure, the story has its own charms, but I never felt invested in it at all.

Last but certainly not least is the price of Sackboy. Retailing at RM249, it’s quite an expensive game, though this is really the new price standard for PS5 games moving forward.

Is It Worth It?

While Sackboy: A Big Adventure is not a cheap game, it’s an excellent platformer with clever level design and fantastic music; it also showcases new possibilities afforded by the PS5’s DualSense controller. The fact that I can
physically feel
 the different elements of the game with such refined haptic feedback adds another layer of immersion that was never possible until now.

Really, this is something that you absolutely have to feel for yourself. If you own a PS5, and you want a platformer that will entertain you for hours on end, it’s definitely worth it to drop down RM249 for Sackboy. It’s the perfect game to unwind at the end of a busy day – well, unless you don’t fancy platformers.


Genshin Impact 1.4 Arrives 17 March – Venti, Rosaria & Tartaglia Banners Confirmed

Mihoyo just revealed a number of interesting details on
Genshin Impact
‘s Version 1.4 livestream. Not only did the developer reveal Rosaria, a brand new 4-star Cryo character, it also confirmed that the 5-star characters Venti and Tartaglia will be featured in their respective event banners again.

Out of the two 5-star characters, Venti is arguably the character many Genshin Impact players have wanted to grab. After all, he has one of the best Elemental Bursts in the game, which does a lot of damage and provides incredible crowd control. He is especially potent in the Spiral Abyss.

Unfortunately, it remains to be seen if Venti or Tartaglia’s banner will go live first, though Mihoyo did reveal that Rosaria will be featured on Tartaglia’s banner.

Aside from that, Version 1.4 of Genshin Impact will also introduce a number of quality of life improvements. As we reported in our
previous article
, the cap for Condensed Resin will be increased to five from three, and you can lower your world level. However, do note that you can only do this once you’ve reached world level 5, and it can only be done once every 24 hours.

Of course, a number of in-game events will also be happening in Version 1.4 of Genshin Impact, which will give players quite a number of rewards, including – you guessed it – Primogems. Speaking of which, the version 1.4 livestream also gave us three codes to redeem in Genshin Impact, which reward players with a total of 300 Primogems. Claim the codes below before they expire:

KTNSCQWW922M
ET7ADQFF8KJR
PSNTC8FEQK4D

Genshin Impact Version 1.4 will go live on 17 March 2021. Are you more excited for the return of Venti and Tartaglia’s banners, or the introduction of Rosaria? Let us know in the comments section below!


More NovelKeys NK87 Details Revealed – Pre-Orders Until 2 April

NovelKeys has finally revealed more information on its first TKL keyboard, the
NovelKeys NK87 Aluminium Edition
. Available for pre-order right now until 2 April, the NK87 sports a number of improvements over NovelKeys’ previous custom mechanical keyboards, such as the
NK65 Aluminium
 and
NK65 Entry
.

Unlike NovelKeys’ previous keyboards, the NK87 actually supports screw-in stabilisers, although it will come with NovelKeys-branded plate-mounted stabilisers out of the box. The vendor also clarified that while the NK87 can use screw-in stabilisers, some of them may be very tight in the plate, depending on the brand of the stabilisers.

Aside from that, the NK87 also uses a modified top-mount system with quite a number of silicones to enhance the sound profile of the keyboard. There are eight “thock absorber” silicone strips between the plate and top case, as well as two silicone dampening pads; one on the bottom, and another one between the plate and PCB. It’ll be interesting to see how these silicones will affect the sound profile of the NK87.

Other specifications of the NK87 include a hotswap PCB, a CNC aluminium case, an aluminium plate, as well as five different colours: Cosmic Purple, Solar Yellow, Universal Beige, Black Anodised, and E-White. It’s worth noting that the first three colours have a “NovelKote” texture, which is a spray coating with a light texture to it that is “reminiscent of the coatings on vintage cameras,” as NovelKeys puts it.

A close-up of the NovelKote texture

The NovelKeys NK87 Aluminium Edition is now
available for pre-order on NovelKeys’ website
 for $265 (about RM1,090) until 2 April, and it will start shipping sometime in Q4 2021. Once pre-orders have ended, the NK87 will retail at $285 (approximately RM1,175) instead, so make sure you place your order before 2 April if you want to enjoy the $20 discount.


Honda City RS e:HEV Deliveries Begin This Month – First Model to Feature Honda Connect

Honda Malaysia just unveiled its new Honda Connect telematics system smartphone app, which offers a range of useful features for Honda models that support it. At the moment, Honda Connect will only be available in the all-new
Honda City RS e:HEV
, which will begin delivering to customers this month.

There are three main components of Honda Connect: safety, security, and convenience. Within the safety and security categories, the app offers Automatic Collision Detection System, Security Alarm Detection, Speed Alert, Find My Car, and Geo-Fencing Alert; the latter will send a push notification to the owner if the car is driven out of a set radius.

In the event of a collision or airbag deployment, the Automatic Collision Detection System will send a notification to Honda’s 24-hour roadside assist call centre; emergency support will also be dispatched. Security Alarm Detection, on the other hand, will also notify the call centre – as well as the the owner via a push notification – if the car’s door, trunk, or bonnet is forcibly opened.

As for the convenience category within the Honda Connect app, there’s Remote Vehicle Control. As its name suggests, this lets owners control certain aspects of the car, such as unlocking the doors, start the engine, control the air-conditioning, and even switching on the headlights; it’s quite a nifty feature.

Evidently, Honda Connect is quite a powerful app, though as we’ve mentioned before, only the Honda City RS e:HEV supports it currently. Nonetheless, this is certainly a good selling point for the range-topping City model, and given that deliveries of the RS trim will begin sometime this month, we imagine Honda Malaysia will reveal the price of the variant soon.


Honda City RS e:HEV Costs RM106k in Malaysia

The retail price of the range-topping
Honda City RS e:HEV
 has just been revealed. Retailing at exactly RM105,950.45, this variant of the B-segment sedan is markedly more expensive than the petrol models, which tops out at only RM86,561.45.

Do note that this price for the City RS is with the sales tax exemption applied, given the odd-looking figure. Come July 2021 – that’s when the exemption will end – the price will be increased even further, though Honda Malaysia has not revealed exactly how much the City RS will cost then.

What makes the City RS particularly unique is its Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain that delivers 109PS and 253Nm of torque out of an electric motor; this is what powers the car most of the time. The City also comes with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that does 98PS and 127Nm of torque, but it mainly acts as a generator for the electric motor. The 1.5L mill is only used at higher speeds.

Aside from that, the City RS is also the only variant of the sedan to get Honda Sensing, a suite of driver assistance safety systems. These include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Other specifications of the City RS include 16-inch alloy wheels, Honda LaneWatch, rear air-conditioning vents, an 8-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and of course, support for the
Honda Connect telematics system app
.

To recap, the Honda City RS e:HEV costs RM105,950.45 until the end of June 2021. Deliveries of the City RS, on the other hand, will begin this month.


Honda City Received Over 20,000 Bookings; 13,100 Units Delivered

Aside from revealing the price of the
Honda City RS e:HEV
, Honda Malaysia also detailed total bookings of the B-segment sedan. With over 20,000 bookings placed for the City, it’s evidently very popular among Malaysians, and this figure is enough to make it the best-selling (non-national) sedan in its segment.

What’s even more impressive is the total units delivered by Honda Malaysia. According to the carmaker, 13,100 bookings of the City have been fulfilled, though the company did not give us a breakdown of variant sold. Chances are, most of the remaining bookings are of the RS e:HEV trim, which will begin delivery this month.

Speaking of the City RS, it is the only model of the sedan to get Honda Sensing, a suite of driver assistance safety systems. These include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

The City RS also features a Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain that delivers 109PS and 253Nm of torque out of an electric motor; this is what powers the car most of the time. The City comes with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine too that does 98PS and 127Nm of torque, but it mainly acts as a generator for the electric motor. The 1.5L mill is only used at higher speeds.

Under the hood of the S, E, and V variants of the City, on the other hand, is a 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque. It is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent to the front wheels. The V (and RS) model gets 16-inch alloy wheels, while the more affordable S and E trims get 15-inch alloys.

Currently, the all-new Honda City retails from RM74,191.27 for the base S model to RM105,950.45 for the range-topping RS e:HEV variant. Do note that these prices are with sales tax exemption applied, which will only be valid until June 2021.


KBD67 Lite Second Pre-Orders Live – $135 for Bluetooth Version

The second round of pre-orders for KBDfans’ budget-friendly custom keyboard, the
KBD67 Lite
, is now live. Compared to the first version of the keyboard, there are a number of changes, including the introduction of a Bluetooth model.

Of course, you do have to pay more to get Bluetooth support with the KBD67 Lite. The regular model still retails at $109 (about RM450), while the Bluetooth version costs $135 (approximately RM555). Do note that you will need to purchase a battery separately to get Bluetooth working; KBDfans recommends
this particular battery
.

Aside from Bluetooth support with the new KBD67 Lite, it is also offered in three new colours: Transparent Tiffany (green, basically), a grey and white colour combo, as well as pink. The former is translucent, while the latter two are solid colours. Naturally, the original three colours (transparent, black, and white) are still available too.

Other changes to the updated KBD67 Lite include an injection-molded polycarbonate plate – the previous version uses a CNC polycarbonate plate – and instead of Cherry-branded stabilisers, the keyboard now comes with KBDfans’ own screw-in stabilisers. On top of that, the KBD67 Lite is no longer pre-assembled either for faster shipping times.

The first KBD67 Lite

According to KBDfans, the KBD67 Lite will be available for pre-order until 10 April; it is expected to ship on 30 May 2021, which is really quite fast for a custom mechanical keyboard. You can place your pre-order
here
 if you’re keen to grab this budget keyboard. Not sure it’s the right keyboard for you? Then check out our
review of the KBD67 Lite
.


Asus ROG Phone 5 Series Official – Snapdragon 888 Gaming Phone From RM2,999

The Asus ROG Phone 5 is here, and the gaming phone is more elaborate than ever. While
its predecessor
 was only offered in one model, the ROG Phone 5 is now a series of three smartphones: there’s the standard ROG Phone 5, the ROG Phone 5 Pro, and the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate. Retailing from only RM2,999 for the Malaysian market, it also offers pretty good value for money.

Of course, the RM2,999 starting price is for the regular ROG Phone 5 with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM; opting for the 256GB model with 16GB of RAM will set you back RM3,799 instead. The ROG Phone 5 Pro, on the other hand, costs RM4,499 for 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.

What about the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate? Well, this model retails at RM4,999, and you get 512GB of storage and 18GB (!) of RAM for that kind of money.

The standard Asus ROG Phone 5
The Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro
The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate

What differentiates the three versions of the ROG Phone 5 are a number of features. The Pro and Ultimate models, for one, come with a “ROG Vision” back panel, which is basically a small PMOLED screen that shows charging information or an incoming call.

Curiously, the ROG Phone 5 Pro model gets a colour PMOLED screen, while the Ultimate variant has a monochrome panel instead; possibly to match the black and white colour scheme of the phone. As for the regular ROG Phone 5, it has a dot-matrix ROG logo on the back – quite similar to the lid design of the
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
.

Beyond that, the ROG Phone 5 Pro and Ultimate also feature two extra capacitive buttons on the rear panel, which work in tandem with the ultrasonic shoulder buttons on the left side of the phone. Beyond these differences, all variants of the ROG Phone 5 have the same hardware. Not surprisingly, they are all powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset clocked at 2.84GHz.

Other specifications of the three ROG Phone 5 devices include a 6.78-inch 2448 x 1080 AMOLED screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate, a triple camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.0 macro), a 24MP f/2.45 selfie camera, a large 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging, and ROG UI based on Android 11 out of the box.

The Asus ROG Phone 5 series will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from tomorrow onwards until 25 March. The standard ROG Phone 5 will arrive here sometime next month in April, while the Pro and Ultimate models will only be available locally in May 2021.


11 – 17 March Fuel Price: RON 97 up 5 Sen

The price of RON 97 is going up 5 sen per litre for the next seven days. Thankfully enough, as the price ceiling of RON 95 and diesel have been reached, there are no changes to the price of the two.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains the same at RM2.05 per litre, while RON 97 costs RM2.40 per litre (up from RM2.35). As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre until 17 March next week.

These prices will be in effect from 11 to 17 March next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Video: Proton X50 Review – Worth Waiting 6 Months?

The
Proton X50
 is easily one of the most anticipated new cars in recent times, and with over 30,000 bookings placed for the B-segment SUV, the waiting time for the X50 is (unsurprisingly) very long. I myself have waited over six months for the Flagship model now, so after putting the SUV through its paces for a few days, is it
really
 worth the wait?

Absolutely. If anything, I’m even more excited to take delivery of my X50 when – or if, at this point – it finally comes. Really, it’s simply a fantastic SUV for the money. Watch our review below if you’re not quite convinced!

In this video review, I take a look at the X50’s overall design, interior, and of course, driving experience. In these three regards, the X50 easily surpasses the standard set by other B-segment SUVs. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that the X50 can even rival C-segment cars in terms of refinement, ride quality, and even NVH.

That being said, the X50 does have its fair share of shortcomings. While its NVH is impressive, there’s a very noticeable wind noise coming from the A-pillars once I hit around 80kmph. The faster I go from this point onwards – especially at the national speed limit – it’s very hard to ignore the wind noise; you can hear for yourself in the video review.

Beyond that, there’s no denying that the X50 is a very fast SUV. This flagship unit is equipped with a 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder engine that outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque. These are impressive figures, especially for a car at this price point (RM103,300 for the Flagship trim). Even when I’m going at about 90kmph, the X50 can still surge forward with quite a bit of pull if I floor the accelerator pedal.

Another feature of the X50 that I absolutely love is Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), which is a part of the SUV’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). With the feature activated, the X50 can steer itself, accelerate, and even apply the brakes as and when necessary. In fact, when I first got the SUV, I intentionally took a road with heavy traffic to see how the ICC would fare – suffice to say I was very impressed.

These are just some aspects of the Proton X50 that I discuss at length in the video review. I’ll be honest: it’s frustrating to wait so long for the SUV, but only because I cannot wait to get back in the driver’s seat of the X50. Hopefully, Proton will be able to deliver even more units of the highly anticipated SUV to eager customers soon, including myself.


Asus ZenBook Duo 14 Offers 2 Screens & 11th Gen Intel CPU From RM5,499

Asus just unveiled a slew of new laptops powered by Intel’s latest 11th generation processors, and one of them is the Asus ZenBook Duo 14. As its name suggests, this laptop has two screens, much like the
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE
. But unlike that gaming machine, the ZenBook is a far more affordable productivity laptop.

Two variants of the ZenBook Duo 14 are offered in Malaysia. The base model with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and 8GB RAM retails at RM5,499, while the higher-end Core i7-1165G7 configuration with 16GB RAM costs RM6,499. Beyond the different processor and RAM capacity, other specifications of the two models are the same.

As mentioned, the ZenBook Duo 14 features two screens. The primary display is a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS panel, and right below it is a secondary 12.6-inch Full HD screen. Naturally, both of these displays are also touch-enabled, and depending on your usage scenario, you may find this dual screen setup appealing.

Other specifications of the ZenBook Duo 14 include an Nvidia GeForce MX450 GPU, 512GB of SSD storage, a 16.9mm thin chassis, as well as a 70Wh battery. According to Asus ,this battery capacity can return a whopping 17 hours of use on a single charge. If the laptop can really deliver this level of battery life, it would be really impressive.

The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the Core i5-1135G7 model retails at RM5,499, while the Core i7-1165G7 variant costs RM6,499.


Asus Unveils 2 Convertible Laptops in Malaysia With OLED Screens – Starts at RM4,699

Aside from the unique
Asus ZenBook Duo 14
, Asus Malaysia also introduced two other productivity-focused convertible laptops: the Asus ZenBook Flip S, and the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 OLED. The best selling point of these two machines have to be their OLED screens, which isn’t a hardware you typically find on a mainstream laptop.

Let’s start with the more affordable laptop of the two, the ZenBook Flip 13 OLED. Two models of the laptop are available here in Malaysia: the Intel Core i5-1135G7 variant costs RM4,699, while the Core i7-1165G7 configuration goes for RM5,199. Basically, only the choice of processor differentiates the two models.

The ZenBook Flip 13 OLED

The fact that the ZenBook Flip 13 OLED comes with a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 OLED screen at this price point really is the main appeal of the laptop, and its other specifications are reasonably good too for a productivity machine. These include integrated Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 67Wh battery that promises up to 11 hours of battery life.

As for the ZenBook Flip S, it looks similar to the Flip 13 OLED, though it is positioned as a more premium product with a different colour scheme. The sole RM6,799 variant features a much sharper 13.3-inch 4K OLED screen, a Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, Iris Xe integrated graphics, and the same 67Wh battery as the Flip 13 OLED, but it has a longer quoted battery life of 15 hours instead.

The ZenBook Flip S

Both the Asus ZenBook Flip S and ZenBook Flip 13 OLED are now available for purchase in Malaysia. If you want a convertible laptop with an OLED screen, consider either one of these two products.


Perodua: Only Deal With Authorised Sales Advisors for the Ativa

With over 6,000 bookings placed for the
Perodua Ativa
 already in only three weeks, it’s definitely a hot-selling compact SUV. But as with all sought-after products, people are already taking advantage of the situation, which is enough for Perodua to warn potential customers to only deal with authorised sales advisors for the Ativa.

“We (Perodua) have discovered at least two fraudulent rebate offers online for the newly-launched Perodua Ativa, which is not our practice,” said the CEO of Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. He further added that such promotions do not come from Perodua or any of its outlets nationwide.

This is a
similar situation faced by Proton
 when the
Proton X50
 was opened for booking, and the national carmaker issued a similar warning. Perodua also said that scammers are even posing as Perodua sales advisors to lure potential customers into transferring a deposit for a new car – the Ativa is likely a popular target now – into their own personal bank accounts, which is definitely not recommended.

Regardless of the situation, it’s best to perform any kind of financial transactions with official parties. Make sure that you are only making payments to
company
 accounts; never transfer money to personal accounts no matter what you are told.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying the popularity of the Perodua Ativa, thanks to its range of attractive features. If you’d like to learn more about the compact SUV, check out our
other coverage of the Ativa
.


The Premium Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite With 5,260mAh Battery Now Retails at RM1,399 in Malaysia

Launched here in Malaysia last year in May 2020, a new variant of the
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
 is now available locally. Previously offered with 128GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM, this new configuration comes with half the storage at 64GB and slightly less RAM capacity with a more affordable price tag.

We spotted this new variant of the Mi Note 10 Lite on
Xiaomi’s official Shopee store
. Originally retailing at RM1,599 for the 128GB model, this 64GB variant with 6GB of RAM
retails at RM1,399
. Of course, as this listing is from Xiaomi’s official Shopee store, the phone comes with local warranty support as well.

Although it’s been almost a year since the Mi Note 10 Lite hit the market, it’s still a reasonably good mid-range smartphone with premium build quality. Not only does it feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset, it’s also packed with a large 5,260mAh battery that can return “more than two days of battery life,” as Xiaomi puts it.

Other specifications of the Mi Note 10 Lite include a 6.47-inch 1080p AMOLED dual curved screen with a notch at the top, a quad camera configuration (64MP f/1.89 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.4 depth + 2MP f/2.4 macro), a 16MP selfie camera, as well as an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

If you’re keen to grab the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite for RM1,399, you can do so over at
Xiaomi’s official Shopee store
.


Why the Dell XPS 13 Is Still My Favourite Premium Productivity Laptop in 2021

Quite a number of premium productivity laptops have been released this year, and while some of them are pretty intriguing, the
Dell XPS 13
 is still my favourite laptop in this segment. Not only is it one of the sleekest-looking laptops in the market now, it offers excellent user experience as well.

The XPS 13 has been my daily driver for quite some time now, and really, it’s definitely worth a gander if you’re shopping for a premium productivity laptop. As a disclaimer, I received this unit of the XPS 13 from Dell itself, but rest assured, this is my honest opinion of the laptop.

Sleek, Minimalist Design

This is one of the best selling points of the XPS 13. The InfinityEdge screen of the laptop has very, very minimal bezels, which makes for a sleek, modern-looking laptop. The slim bezels also reduce the overall footprint of the XPS 13, so it is notably more portable than its competition.

I’m also quite a fan of the XPS 13’s minimalist design. The top lid is only taken up by Dell’s logo, and I really dig the woven glass fibre palm rest area of this Arctic White colourway. Not only does it look unique – it is also soft to the touch – Dell also said that the palm rest has a “stain-resistant coating to prevent yellowing and staining.”

Solid Build Quality

Not only does it look premium, the XPS 13 has solid build quality as well. The chassis has absolutely no creaking at all, it has tight tolerances with no irregular gaps, and even the hinge feels sturdy. Basically, the XPS 13 feels like a premium laptop through and through.

Sharp and Vibrant 4K Screen

And then there’s the screen quality of the XPS 13. Featuring a 13.4-inch 3840 x 2400 touch-enabled display, it’s a very sharp, very vibrant panel that’s
absolutely stunning
 to look at. However, more affordable variants of the XPS 13 has a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 non-touch screen instead, and while it won’t look quite as impressive, the tradeoff is better battery life.

Aside from that, the 16:10 aspect ratio of the XPS 13’s display also makes it ideal for productivity work. Compared to more conventional 16:9 panels, you get more vertical screen real estate with the 16:10 screen of the XPS 13. Thanks to this, the display won’t feel quite as cramped, which is a godsend on a compact productivity-focused laptop.

Good Battery Life

Throughout my time with the XPS 13, it proved to be quite long-lasting as well. On average, I can get about six to seven hours of use on a single charge. Keeping in mind that this is a compact laptop with a sharp 4K screen, this is respectable battery life. If you want even better battery life, opt for the Full HD display option – I reckon that configuration will be able to outlast this 4K model quite a bit.

Strong Performance

Just like the majority of other premium productivity laptops in the market now, the XPS 13 comes with Intel’s latest 11th generation Tiger Lake chips. When it comes to productivity tasks, this processor – whether it’s the Core i5-1135G7 or faster Core i7-1185G7 – will be able to keep up.

Paired with the 11th generation Tiger Lake chip is an Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, which lets you do some gaming on the side with the XPS 13. More importantly – to me, at least – this integrated GPU can even run
Genshin Impact
 quite well at Full HD resolution. Of course, you will have to tweak the graphics settings quite a bit, but it’s definitely playable.

It’s Much More Affordable Now

Last but definitely not least is the value proposition of the XPS 13. When it was first made available here in Malaysia last year in October 2020, it retailed
from RM6,399
, which is quite a bit of money. But fast forward to February last month, the XPS 13 now
starts at only RM5,399
 – that’s a whopping RM1,000 price difference.

Naturally, the RM5,399 starting price is for the base model of the XPS 13. This configuration of the laptop comes with a Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, and a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 non-touch display – reasonably good hardware for a premium laptop at this price point.

If you want the higher-end XPS 13 with a sharper 13.4-inch 3840 x 2400 touch-enabled screen and a faster Core i7-1185G7 processor, it will set you back RM6,999; you also get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. For the sake of comparison, a similar configuration of the XPS 13 used to retail at RM7,899 when the laptop was first launched here.

With all of these in mind, the Dell XPS 13 is easily my favourite premium productivity laptop that is still very relevant in 2021. Plus, the fact that it is more affordable now makes it that much more compelling, even if it’s not exactly “affordable” with a RM5,399 starting price.

Then again, that really is how much you have to pay for a premium laptop like the XPS 13. After all, you
are
 getting a sleek machine with solid build quality, good battery life, and most importantly, a stunning display. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this article, if you’re looking to get a high-end productivity laptop, consider the XPS 13.


Alienware Aurora R12 & Dell XPS Desktop With New 11th Gen Intel Desktop Chips Coming to Malaysia – Starts at RM3,699

Intel’s latest 11th generation Rocket Lake desktop processors have just been announced, and Dell is quick to update two of its desktops with the new chips. These include the Dell XPS Desktop and Alienware Aurora R12 gaming rig, and both of them will be arriving in Malaysia very soon.

Let’s start with the Alienware Aurora R12. According to Dell, this gaming desktop will retail from RM6,699 in Malaysia. For that kind of money, you’re getting an 11th generation Core i5 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, 512GB + 1TB of storage, as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU. All in all, a decent gaming rig.

As for the more affordable XPS Desktop, it starts at RM3,699 for the local market. The base model features a Rocket Lake Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, as well as a GTX 1650 Super GPU. While that’s not quite as powerful as the RTX 3060 Ti of the Alienware machine, you should still be able to game relatively well with the GTX 1650 Super of the XPS Desktop.

Of course, these are just the hardware for the base models of both desktops. Once the respective product listings of the XPS Desktop and Aurora R12 are up on
Dell’s Malaysian online store
 by the end of this month, you will be able to configure the two desktops with more powerful hardware.

To recap, the Alienware Aurora R12 and Dell XPS Desktop will be available for purchase in Malaysia by the end of this month. For the Malaysian market, the Aurora R12 starts at RM6,699, while the XPS Desktop retails from RM3,699.


Get RM500 Discount on the Acer Nitro 5 With RTX 3060 Today Only

The
Acer Nitro 5
 gaming laptop has always offered really good value for money, and it has just been refreshed with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU for the Malaysian market. On top of that, those who pre-order the laptop today will receive a whopping RM500 discount as well.

Only one variant of the new Nitro 5 is available for the Malaysian market. Retailing at RM5,499, you can get a RM500 discount if you place your pre-order today on
Shopee
 or
Lazada
, bringing down the price to only RM4,999. According to the listings, the Nitro 5 will start shipping by the end of this month.

For that kind of money, you’re getting a reasonably powerful gaming laptop. As mentioned, the Nitro 5 now comes with Nvidia’s relatively new RTX 3060 GPU. Paired with an Intel Core i7-10750H, this laptop should be able to run most – if not all – AAA games quite well.

Other specifications of the Nitro 5 include a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, as well as a four-zone RGB keyboard. Decent hardware for the money here, though we would definitely recommend upgrading the RAM to 16GB.

The Acer Nitro 5 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia today
for RM4,999
; those who purchase the gaming laptop after today will have to pay the full RM5,499 price instead. The Nitro 5 will also start shipping by the end of this month.


Samsung Galaxy A72, A52 & A32 Official – Affordable Mid-Rangers With 90Hz AMOLED Screen

Samsung just unveiled a slew of new Galaxy A smartphones, including the Galaxy A72, the Galaxy A52, as well as the most affordable device in the series, the Galaxy A32. Unlike the Korean company’s previous mid-rangers, these new Galaxy A smartphones have a pretty interesting feature set, including AMOLED displays with a fast 90Hz refresh rate.

Let’s start with the most interesting device of the bunch, the Galaxy A72. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset, the A72 naturally sports the most sophisticated camera system. Its quad camera setup is made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro sensor.

Other specifications of the Galaxy A72 include a 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 32MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage, a generous 5,000mAh battery, and an IP67 rating.

And then there’s the Galaxy A52. It shares many of the A72’s hardware, including the same processor, RAM and storage capacities, as well as camera configuration, though it swaps out the 8MP telephoto lens for a 5MP f/2.4 depth sensor. Aside from that, the A52 also has a slightly smaller 90Hz 6.5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED and 4,500mAh battery.

Last but not least is the Galaxy A32. Unlike its higher-end siblings, it does not have an IP67 rating, though it does still feature a 6.4-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. It also comes with a MediaTek Helio G80 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, a quad camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.4 depth + 5MP f/2.4 macro), a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery.

No word yet on the Malaysian availability of the Samsung Galaxy A72, Galaxy A52, and Galaxy A32, but we expect to hear more from Samsung Malaysia very, very soon.


18 – 24 March Fuel Price: RON 97 up 7 Sen

The price of RON 97 is going up yet again in the next seven days. Set to go up by 7 sen per litre this midnight, the price of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains the same at RM2.05 per litre, while RON 97 costs RM2.47 per litre (up from RM2.40). As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre until 24 March next week.

These prices will be in effect from 18 to 24 March next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Samsung Galaxy A72 Hands-On: A Surprisingly Good Mid-Ranger

Samsung just revealed its
new range of Galaxy A smartphones
 yesterday, and the range-topping model of the series, the Samsung Galaxy A72, is quite an interesting mid-ranger. Not only does it have a 90Hz Super AMOLED display, it also has an IP67 rating and a pretty sophisticated camera system – hardware you don’t typically find on a mid-range Samsung phone.

I’ve used the Galaxy A72 for a few days now, and I’m actually quite surprised by how good it is. If Samsung Malaysia prices the A72 right, it could be a winner for the Korean phone maker.

One of the main highlights of the Galaxy A72 is definitely its 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Granted, many other mid-range smartphones have shipped with even faster displays – such as the
Redmi Note 10 Pro
‘s 120Hz AMOLED panel – but refresh rate isn’t everything; screen quality matters too.

In the case of the Galaxy A72, its Super AMOLED screen has a peak brightness of 800 nits; not a lot of mid-range smartphones can achieve this level of brightness. The A72’s panel itself also offers punchy, vibrant colours, as well as wide viewing angles. In short, you’re getting a high quality screen with this smartphone, and even though the 90Hz refresh rate isn’t awfully high, it’s fast enough to provide a smooth user experience.

Aside from that, there’s also the quad camera system of the Galaxy A72. It is made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro camera. Collectively, these sensors allow the A72 to capture some pretty good-looking shots.

While I have only captured a few shots with the Galaxy A72, the end results do look quite promising. Even in low light conditions, it still has good detail preservation and dynamic range. I’ll still need to put the camera through its paces to really get a feel for the actual camera performance, but as far as I can tell right now, it feels very competent.

Another unique feature of the Galaxy A72 is its IP67 rating; a feature you don’t see too often on mid-range smartphones. This allows the A72 to be submerged up to 1m underwater for 30 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about water damage with this phone.

However, while it’s great that the Galaxy A72 has an IP67-rated chassis, its build quality leaves much to be desired. I do like the matte finish on the plastic back, but the plasticky frame of the phone doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, and it’s not particularly nice to the touch either. Of course, this
is
 a mid-range smartphone, so there’s only so much we can expect out of a phone at this price point.

In the performance department, the Galaxy A72 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset. In my brief time with the phone so far, this chip seems to be able to provide a reasonably good level of performance. The phone feels fast and responsive, though it does struggle to run Genshin Impact at a consistent frame rate. But given that even flagship phones can’t run the game particularly well, the fact that it’s playable on the A72 is good enough.

Last but definitely not least is the battery life of the Galaxy A72. In my few days using the phone as my daily driver, I can comfortably get through a typical work day with the A72. This comes as no surprise, of course: it’s packed with a very generous 5,000mAh battery after all.

All in all, the Samsung Galaxy A72 looks to be a promising mid-range smartphone with a pretty attractive feature set, including a relatively fast 90Hz Super AMOLED display, a competent quad camera system, and even an IP67 rating. The only thing is, Samsung Malaysia has not detailed the local pricing of the A72 yet, so it’s hard to say if it is worth picking up or not.

If the Galaxy A72 is priced close to its predecessor, the
Galaxy A71
 – which retailed at RM1,799 – it would be a good option for those who are looking to get a competent mid-ranger below RM2,000. However, if the A72 is priced above that price point, it would be tough to consider this phone over other devices in the same price range.

The thing is, there are many flagship smartphones above the RM2,000 price point that offer better value for money than the Galaxy A72. In order for this mid-range phone to be compelling enough, it has to be priced competitively. Hopefully, Samsung Malaysia will reveal the local availability (and price) of the Galaxy A72 very soon – it’s really the Korean company’s most interesting mid-ranger yet.


PlayStation 5 VR Controller Revealed – Adaptive Triggers, Haptic Feedback, Unique “Orb” Design

This is our very first look at the next generation VR controller for the
PlayStation 5
 system. Sporting a unique “orb” design, the new VR controller is also equipped with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback – two key hardware found in the PS5’s
DualSense
 controller.

The design of the PS5’s VR controller is really one of its most eye-catching features. According to PlayStation, the unique orb-like shape of the controller allows gamers to hold it naturally. On top of that, it’s also said to be well-balanced and comfortable to hold. It is “an iconic design that will change how VR games are played,” as PlayStation puts it.

Aside from that, the new VR controller also features the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback for an even more immersive gameplay experience. Interestingly, the next gen VR controller also has finger touch detection; it can “detect your fingers (without pressing any button) in the areas where you place your thumb, index, or middle fingers.”

In retrospect, this new VR controller for the PS5 is the first “proper” controller made for PlayStation’s VR system, which is really quite exciting. After all, the original PlayStation VR system for the PS4 (released in 2016) used the company’s Move controller, which was released way back in 2010.

There’s no release date yet for the Playstation 5’s VR system, though Sony did say that it will not be launched in 2021. Nonetheless, it’s shaping up to be quite a promising next generation VR system.


Spy Shot: 2021 Proton Iriz Crossover Spotted With Orange Paint Job & Dual Tone Interior

The
2021 Proton Iriz facelift
 has been spotted in the wild yet again. This time around, it’s the crossover version of the B-segment model, and it’s the first time we’ve seen one with an orange paint job. On top of that, we also get some shots of the interior, revealing a dual tone design.

These close-up images of the crossover-styled Iriz – evident by the roof rails – were taken by a reader of
Funtasticko
in Rompin, Pahang. Looking at the orange colourway of the car, it looks very similar to the Citric Orange paint of the
Proton X50
, which was previously rumoured (alongside the Passion Red colour option) to be available on the 2021 Iriz.

Aside from that, the grille of the Iriz facelift has been reworked as well. In fact, it now looks very similar to the Infinite Weave grille of the Proton X50 and
Proton X70
. With this in mind, there’s a very good chance the new, circular Proton logo will be used on the 2021 Iriz too.

Beyond the exterior, we also get some images of the facelifted Iriz’s interior. Although the shots are not particularly clear, we can see that the car’s interior is now sporting a dual tone black and red colour scheme. The rear passenger seat gets a bright red seat belt as well.

According to Funtasticko, mass production of the 2021 Proton Iriz facelift – as well as the Persona facelift – is set to begin very, very soon. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the development of the new Iriz and Persona.


Video: Samsung Galaxy A72 Hands-On

The
Samsung Galaxy A72
 is one of the more exciting mid-range smartphones to be released by the Korean company in recent times. If you’re looking to get a new phone in this segment, you should really consider the A72. Not quite convinced? Then watch our video hands-on below!

What makes the Galaxy A72 a rather unique mid-ranger is a number of features. Not only does it have a 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, it also has water and dust resistance thanks to its IP67 rating. Besides that, it has quite a sophisticated quad camera system as well.

Unfortunately, Samsung Malaysia has not revealed the local availability of the Galaxy A72 yet. Hopefully, the company will launch the device here soon – it’ll be interesting to see how much the A72 will cost locally.


Deal: Grab the Sony WF-1000XM3 for Only RM649

Launched back in 2019, it’s definitely been some time since the
Sony WF-1000XM3
 hit the market. That being said, it’s still a very good pair of wireless earbuds with excellent active noise cancellation, and you can now get it
for only RM649
.

Compared to the launch price of the WF-1000XM3, you’re
saving RM300 with this deal
 offered by Otakuya on Shopee. While this isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen the earbuds go for – it retailed
as low as RM559.90
 at one point – this is the best price we’ve seen in quite some time.

Of course, given that the Sony WF-1000XM3 has been in the market for quite some time already, its successor (which has already been leaked) will be released in the near future. That being said, as mentioned, the WF-1000XM3 is still an excellent pair of wireless earbuds, especially
for only RM649
. Check out
our review
 if you’d like to learn more about it.


Asus ROG Flow X13 Quick Review: Fantastic Productivity & Gaming Laptop

The Asus ROG Flow X13 is quite a peculiar product. Although it’s marketed as a gaming laptop, its feature set is more akin to that of a premium productivity laptop; a very good one, at that. Not only does the Flow X13 have a 16:10 display – typically only found on productivity-focused laptops – it also has a convertible form factor with very respectable battery life.

Of course, once connected to the ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure, the ROG Flow X13 shows its true potential as a gaming machine. But on its own, it’s really quite an accomplished productivity laptop that can also do some gaming on the side. If you’re looking to get a premium productivity laptop, consider the Flow X13. You’ll be surprised by how good it is.

What It Is

Display
13.4-inch WUXGA IPS (1920 x 1200), 120Hz
Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS (8C/16T, 3.1GHz with boost up to 4.5GHz)
GPU
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6
RAM
16GB LPDDR4X
Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
Camera
720p
Battery
62Wh
Dimensions
299 x 222 x 15.8 mm
Weight
1.3kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort)
1x HDMI 2.0b
1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2
Price
RM6,499

Three distinct variants
 of the ROG Flow X13 are offered in Malaysia, and the one we got for this review is the Ryzen 9 5900HS model without the XG Mobile for RM6,499. The external GPU enclosure is bundled exclusively with the RM13,499 Flow X13 with an even faster Ryzen 9 5980HS processor paired with the XG Mobile’s RTX 3080 GPU.

That’s right, the only way to get the XG Mobile – which is really one of the biggest appeals of this gaming laptop – is to fork out RM13,499 for the range-topping Flow X13. The external GPU enclosure is not sold separately at the moment either; quite an odd decision by Asus.

It’s for this very reason why I think the Flow X13 (without the XG Mobile enclosure) is meant to appeal to folks who want a good productivity laptop – let me explain why in the following section.

The Good Stuff

One of the best qualities of the ROG Flow X13 has to be its excellent battery life. On average, I can get between seven to eight hours of use on a single charge, which is
incredibly good
 for a laptop with such a powerful octa-core processor (Ryzen 9 5900HS) under the hood. This level of battery life certainly shows the power efficiency of AMD’s chip despite its beefy performance.

To show just how powerful the Flow X13’s Ryzen 9 5900HS processor really is, I put it through its paces in CineBench R20. Surprisingly enough, it can even keep up with the Ryzen 9 5900HX chip in the bigger
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE
; that’s quite impressive. If you need a lot of processing power, you’ll get exactly that with the Flow X13 and more.

Processor
Single-core test
Multi-core test
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS (Asus ROG Flow X13)
572
4922
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE)
566
5461
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS (Asus ROG Zephyrus G14)
481
4173
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (Asus TUF Gaming A15)
481
4106
Intel Core i7-10875H (Acer Predator Triton 500)
483
3773

And then there’s the screen of the ROG Flow X13, which is very pleasant to look at. The 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display can get reasonably bright with punchy, vibrant colours, and it has good viewing angles as well. The fact that it also has a 16:10 aspect ratio – which won’t feel quite as cramped as more mainstream 16:9 displays – makes it ideal for productivity tasks too.

I really appreciate the convertible nature of the Flow X13 as well. I can put it in tent mode when I don’t need the physical keyboard to bring the screen closer to me – Asus said this will also improve the cooling performance of the laptop – and I can even push the display all the way back to turn it into a tablet. However, tipping the scales at 1.3kg, it’s not exactly a very comfortable “tablet” to lug around.

Another reason why the ROG Flow X13 would serve as a fantastic productivity laptop are its input devices. The keyboard, for one, is quite comfortable to type on with just enough key travel to not feel shallow; the very pronounced tactile bump makes for a pleasant typing experience as well. As for the trackpad, it can track my fingers accurately too, much like how the trackpad of a good productivity laptop behaves.

Last but certainly not least is the minimalist design of the Flow X13. Unlike other gaming laptops with an aggressive, “loud” design, the Flow X13 is the complete opposite. It doesn’t call attention to itself, and it can easily pass off as a productivity laptop. In my book, that’s a good thing.

The Bad Stuff

Even though the ROG Flow X13 has a lot of good things going for it, it still has a number of shortcomings. Because it is only powered by a GTX 1650 GPU, its gaming performance…isn’t particularly great when it’s not connected to the ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure.

While the GTX 1650 can easily run more casual games at maxed out settings (such as
Genshin Impact
), it struggles to keep up with more demanding AAA titles like, say, Borderlands 3. In order for me to get playable frame rate in this game – that is, above 30fps – I need to lower down the graphics settings quite a bit.

Aside from that, the system noise of the Flow X13 could be better too. Outside of gaming, the laptop is basically whisper quiet, but once I get into a game, the fans definitely make themselves heard. The palm rest area gets warm to the touch as well, but at least it’s not to the point where it feels uncomfortable.

There’s also one other small niggle of the Flow X13 that I don’t quite like: the keyboard gets scuffed quite easily. After just a few days of use, the keys are visibly scuffed by my fingernails. Thankfully, it can be wiped away without much trouble, but it does mar the premium appeal of the laptop a little bit.

Is It Worth It?

Retailing from RM5,999, the Asus ROG Flow X13 is not an affordable laptop, but that’s really the going price of premium-class laptops. On top of that, the Flow X13 actually offers better value for money than a typical productivity laptop in the same price range.

After all, you’re getting a
powerful
 processor with this laptop, not to mention respectable battery life, good build quality, and a fast 120Hz screen. Although the Flow X13’s GTX 1650 GPU isn’t the most capable graphics card, it’s still miles better than the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics found in other productivity laptops at this price point.

If you want an excellent productivity laptop with a reasonably good dedicated GPU to do some gaming, then I wholeheartedly recommend the ROG Flow X13. But if you expect it to be able to run AAA games effortlessly, then this is not the gaming laptop for you…unless you plan to fork out RM13,499 for the ROG XG Mobile bundle, which would definitely offer high-end gaming performance.

Hopefully, Asus would sell the XG Mobile as a separate add-on in the near future. Even though the Flow X13 is an accomplished laptop on its own, the ability to easily give it more graphics power would make it that much more appealing.


Samsung Galaxy A72, A52 & A32 Malaysian Pricing Revealed – Starts at RM1,099

Samsung Malaysia just revealed the local pricing of its
new Galaxy A smartphones
. These include the Galaxy A32, Galaxy A32 5G, Galaxy A52, as well as the range-topping Galaxy A72. Retailing from RM1,099, the latest Galaxy A smartphones are relatively affordable.

Of course, the RM1,099 starting price is for the Galaxy A32 with 128GB of storage and 8GB RAM. A tier up is the Galaxy A32 5G with the same storage and RAM capacities for RM1,199. Another tier up the price bracket is the Galaxy A52 with 256GB of storage and 8GB RAM, which retails at RM1,499. Finally, there’s the highest-end Galaxy A72 (256GB/8GB) for RM1,899.

Out of the four devices, the Galaxy A72 is naturally the most exciting one. For RM1,899, it offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset, a rather sophisticated quad camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 8MP f/2.4 telephoto + 5MP f/2.4 macro), as well as an IP67 rating – not a feature you typically find on a mid-range smartphone.

Other specifications of the Galaxy A72 include a 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 32MP selfie camera, a microSD card slot, as well as a generous 5,000mAh battery, which is able to return very good battery life in our testing so far.

To recap, the 2021 Samsung Galaxy A series retails from RM1,099 to RM1,899 in Malaysia, and they will be available for purchase from 26 March onwards. If you’re not sure if the Galaxy A72 is for you, then check out
our hands-on of the phone
.


Poco F3 & Poco X3 Pro With New Snapdragon 870 & Snapdragon 860 Chips Official – Starts at RM999 in Malaysia

Poco just unveiled two very interesting (and affordable) flagship smartphones: the Poco F3 and Poco X3 Pro. What makes these two devices particularly interesting is the new Qualcomm chipsets powering them. Under the hood of the Poco F3 is the Snapdragon 870 processor, while the Poco X3 Pro gets a Snapdragon 860 chip.

Out of the two smartphones, the Poco F3 is the higher-end offering. The Snapdragon 870 powering the phone is basically a faster version of the Snapdragon 865; both chipsets share the same CPU and GPU. Aside from that, it also has a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

Other specifications of the Poco F3 include a triple camera system (48MP f/1.79 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle +  5MP f/2.4 telemacro), a 20MP selfie camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 4,520mAh battery.

The Poco F3
The Poco X3 Pro

If you want something more affordable, there’s the Poco X3 Pro. As mentioned, it’s powered by the equally new Snapdragon 860 chipset, which is an improved version of the Snapdragon 855. Yes, you’ve guessed it: both of these chips share the same CPU and GPU, much like how the Snapdragon 870 and Snapdragon 865 are similar to each other.

Rounding out the hardware of the Poco X3 Pro are a 6.67-inch 1080p LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a quad camera system (48MP f/1.79 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 2MP f/2.4 macro + 2MP f/2.4 depth), a 20MP selfie camera, a side fingerprint sensor, and a large 5,160mAh battery.

The Poco X3 Pro will be available in Malaysia first
on 24 March
; the 128GB + 6GB model retails at RM999, while the 256GB + 8GB configuration costs RM1,299. As for the Poco F3, it will be
available from 27 March
 onwards for RM1,399 (128GB + 6GB) and RM1,699 (256GB + 8GB). If you purchase either one of these two phones on their respective first day of sale, you can get a pretty good discount as well.


Vivo X60 Series Lands in Malaysia – Snapdragon 870 Smartphones With Zeiss Optics From RM2,699

Vivo just launched its latest Vivo X60 series of flagship smartphones in Malaysia. The series is made up of the standard Vivo X60, as well as the more premium Vivo X60 Pro. The standout feature of these two devices – aside from the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset powering them – is their camera systems, which is co-engineered with Zeiss.

For the Malaysian market, only a single variant of the X60 and X60 Pro are available in Malaysia. The X60 with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM retails at RM2,699, while the X60 Pro with the same storage and RAM capacities goes for RM3,299. While these are pretty steep price tags for Snapdragon 870 smartphones, they
are
 pretty capable high-end devices.

Both the X60 and X60 Pro have very similar hardware. These include a triple camera system (48MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 13MP telephoto portrait) with Zeiss optics – though only the Pro model’s primary sensor has a gimbal stabilisation system – a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a Snapdragon 870 chipset, which is essentially an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 865.

Of course, there are still a number of notable differences between the X60 and X60 Pro. Although both of them have a 6.56-inch 2376 x 1080 AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, the Pro model has a dual curved screen; the standard X60 features a flat display instead. Aside from that, the X60 Pro comes with a 4,200mAh battery, while the regular model has a slightly bigger 4,300mAh cell.

The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro are now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM2,699 and RM3,299 respectively. You can place your pre-order on Vivo’s official
Shopee
 or
Lazada
 store.


2021 OLED Nintendo Switch to Feature New Nvidia Chip With DLSS Support

We’re getting more details on the upcoming
2021 Nintendo Switch
 with (supposedly) an OLED display. According to a new report from
Bloomberg
, the updated Switch will reportedly come with a new chip from Nvidia, complete with Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) support for improved graphics performance.

Given that the 2021 Switch is said to be able to output 4K content when it’s connected to a TV, DLSS – which essentially renders a game at a lower resolution but with improved quality – is a good method to achieve that. DLSS is currently only offered on Nvidia’s RTX GPUs, so it’ll be interesting to see exactly how a portable console like the Switch will support this feature.

Aside from that, the Bloomberg report also revealed that the new Switch will allegedly be released by the end of the year. On top of that, a price increase is believed to be happening too, though it remains to be seen by exactly how much. To provide context, the Switch currently retails at $299 (about RM1,230) in the US.

So far, rumours are suggesting that the new Switch will come with a number of neat upgrades. Aside from the new Nvidia chip with support for DLSS, it is believed to feature a larger 7-inch OLED screen than the current model’s smaller 6.2-inch LCD panel. The resolution of the OLED display, on the other hand, will remain at 720p.

The 2021 OLED Nintendo Switch is definitely shaping up to be quite the upgrade over the current model. We expect to hear more about the new version as we approach its tentative release date towards the end of the year.


Apps Crashing on Your Android Phone? Update the WebView App & Chrome Now

Having issues with app crashing on your Android phone recently? Then you’ll need to update the Android System WebView app and Google Chrome. The issue is caused by the WebView app, which allows Android apps to display web content.

We personally had this issue with our Android device. We couldn’t access
Genshin Impact
, and certain apps such as Gmail and Foodpanda crashed upon startup. But once we’ve updated the Android System WebView app and Google Chrome to the latest version, we no longer have these issues.

You can update the
Android System WebView
 app and
Google Chrome
 to the latest version on the Google Play Store right now. It can be frustrating to have your apps not work as intended out of the blue, but at least Google is quick to solve the issue.


You Can Now Recycle Your Electronics With Volvo’s E-waste Green Box

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) just announced a new effort with E-waste Recycling Through Heroes (ERTH) to properly dispose off electronic waste. If you have smartphones, laptops, monitors, or even PC peripherals that are no longer functional, you can now just recycle them at any authorised Volvo dealership with the E-waste Green Box program.

Basically, you’ll just need to bring electronic items that you want to dispose off to a Volvo dealership and drop them off in the E-waste Green Box; e-waste that are accepted include any device or component that run on electricity or battery. Of course, they have to be small enough to fit into the box, though you can book for a pickup for bulky items with
ERTH itself
.

However, do note that light bulbs or neon lights are not accepted, as there’s a risk of them breaking in the box or while being transported. E-waste that are collected in the box are also properly recycled, repurposed, or disposed off. “ERTH are locally processing 100% of the e-waste and not exporting any of it to developing countries,” as the company puts it.

This initiative is in line with Volvo’s Green Planet program, which focuses on the carmaker becoming a greener and more sustainable brand, including reducing its carbon footprint. “Our hope is to create a greener future for the generation to come by efficiently removing e-waste from landfill,” said VCM.

You can head on to
VCM’s official website
 to find out more about the E-waste Green Box program. You can also look for the nearest authorised Volvo dealership
right here
.


2021 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 With RTX 3060 Coming to Malaysia in April – Priced at RM7,699

Asus Malaysia just revealed the local availability of one of our favourite gaming laptops, the
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
. Updated with Nvidia’s RTX 3060 GPU and AMD’s latest Ryzen 9 5900HS processor, the compact 14-inch gaming laptop is even better now. The best part is, there’s no price increase either.

However, unlike the many different configurations available
for its predecessor
, only one variant of the 2021 Zephyrus G14 is offered in Malaysia. Thankfully, it’s the range-topping RM7,699 model of the gaming laptop that is available here, which comes with the aforementioned RTX 3060 GPU and Ryzen 9 5900HS processor. This price tag is unchanged from last year’s top-of-the-line variant.

Aside from the reasonably powerful GPU and CPU combo, the new Zephyrus G14 also features a fast and sharp 14-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Previously, the range-topping model last year only had a 60Hz display, so this is certainly a nice upgrade. Of course, the panel is still Pantone Validated panel for colour accuracy.

Other specifications of the updated Zephyrus G14 include 16GB of RAM, a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD, as well as a 76Wh battery. Basically, the same hardware you get with the 2020 model, which is no surprise. After all, even the design is unchanged, so you still get the unique (and customisable) AniMe Matrix LED lighting on the top lid.

The 2021 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 will be available for purchase in Malaysia next month in April 2021. Retailing at RM7,699, it’s unmistakably positioned as a premium gaming laptop, which it certainly is. If you want to learn more about the laptop, check out our review of the 2020 model
right here
.


25 – 31 March Fuel Price: RON 97 Goes up Again

The price of RON 97 is going up yet again in the next seven days. Set to go up by 3 sen per litre this midnight, the price of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains the same at RM2.05 per litre, while RON 97 costs RM2.50 per litre (up from RM2.47). As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre until 31 March next week.

These prices will be in effect from 25 to 31 March next week. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


This RTX 3060 Gaming Laptop Costs Only RM4,699 in Malaysia

Aside from the
2021 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
, Asus Malaysia also detailed the local availability of another RTX 3060 gaming laptop: it’s a new variant of the
Asus TUF Dash F15
. But unlike the G14, the Dash F15 is far more affordable with potentially better gaming performance as well.

Two new variants of the Dash F15 are available in Malaysia. The RM4,699 base model features an Intel Core i5-11300H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with an 85W TGP. It’s worth noting that this is higher than the Zephyrus G14’s 80W TGP, so the F15 (theoretically) offers slightly better gaming performance.

If you want a faster processor and more RAM, you can opt for the RM5,499 configuration of the Dash F15. Basically, you’ll be paying RM800 more to upgrade the processor to a Core i7-11370H chip. You also get double the RAM at 16GB, but other specifications of this variant remain the same as the aforementioned base model.

Those who want the absolute best value for your money should really consider the Core i5 variant of the Dash F15. After all, it is an RTX 3060 gaming laptop with a reasonably high 85W TGP, and the Core i5-11300H processor should be able to keep up with the GPU. However, considering upgrading the RAM to 16GB; 8GB is really the bare minimum here.

Both variants of the Asus TUF Dash F15 will be landing in Malaysia next month in April 2021, just like the 2021 ROG Zephyrus G14. To recap, the base Core i5 model of the Dash F15 retails at RM4,699, while the faster Core i7 configuration costs RM5,499.


Genshin Impact Hit $1 Billion Revenue (on Mobile) in Less Than 6 Months

Genshin Impact
 is proving to be a real success for Mihoyo. According to analyst
Sensor Tower
, the hit game has achieved an impressive $1 billion revenue in less than six months…on mobile alone. In fact, this is the fastest game to generate this amount of revenue on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store combined.

To put this into context, the extremely popular Pokemon Go mobile game only got to the $1 billion mark in nine months. Sensor Tower further added that the average daily revenue of Genshin Impact stands at around $5.8 million right now, and it spikes considerably when new characters are released.

As per the image above, the introduction of Zhongli sees Genshin Impact’s revenue spike up to a whopping $15.5 million on the
first day
 of the character’s release. This is followed closely by Xiao at $15.1 million, while Ganyu and Hu Tao aren’t that far behind at $14.8 million and $12.9 million respectively.

Again, keep in mind that this $1 billion mark is just Genshin Impact’s revenue on mobile alone. Player spending in Genshin Impact on other platforms, including PC and PlayStation, are not taken into account in Sensor Tower’s report. With this in mind, there’s a good chance the total revenue of the game is quite a bit higher than $1 billion now.

Without a doubt Genshin Impact is an immensely successful game, and this can be attributed to the fact that Mihoyo is continuously updating the game with new characters, events, and features to keep the experience fresh. Check out our
other coverage of Genshin Impact
 to learn more about it, including our
long-term review
.


Samsung Galaxy A72 Quick Review: Unique Enough to Stand Out

The mid-range smartphone market is a hotly contested segment with many, many devices that stand out by offering fast performance or a high refresh rate screen at an affordable price point. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy A72, however, this isn’t the case. Retailing at RM1,899, it’s not the most affordable device in the segment, and it doesn’t offer class-leading performance either.

But the Galaxy A72 does have other unique features that let it stand out in this crowded segment, including a sophisticated camera system, a vibrant Super AMOLED screen, and of course, an IP67 rating. I’ve been using the phone for a couple of weeks now, and while the A72 doesn’t offer particularly good value for money, it definitely has its own charms to justify the higher than usual price tag.

What It Is

Display
6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED (2400 x 1080), 90Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G 2.3GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 618
RAM
8GB
Storage
256GB, expandable
Camera (rear)
64MP f/1.8, PDAF, OIS
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide angle)
8MP f/2.4 (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
5MP f/2.4 (macro)
Camera (front)
32MP f/2.2
Battery
5,000mAh
Dimensions
165.0 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm
Weight
203g
OS
One UI 3.1 based on Android 11
Connectivity
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
USB Type-C
Price
RM1,899

Only one variant of the Galaxy A72 is offered in Malaysia, which offers 256GB of expandable storage and 8GB of RAM for RM1,899. It’s quite a generous amount of storage, which justifies the price tag of the phone to an extent. Of course, as mentioned, you’re also getting a water-resistant phone for that kind of money – a feature you don’t typically find on devices at this price point.

The Good Stuff

Since we’re on the topic already, let’s talk about the IP67 rating of the Galaxy A72. While it’s not the most exciting feature, it’s definitely a unique selling point for this mid-range smartphone. After all, even most flagship-class phones are not water-resistant. The fact that the A72 can be submerged up to 1m underwater for 30 minutes can be a huge selling point to certain folks.

Aside from that, there’s also the 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen of the Galaxy A72. Thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate, every animation on the screen looks smooth, even though it’s not quite as fast as a 120Hz panel. Really, the 90Hz refresh rate is more than good enough to provide a smooth, responsive user experience.

But more importantly, the screen quality of the Galaxy A72 is markedly better than its competition at this price point. Its display is much more vibrant, brighter, and it has better viewing angles too. Samsung makes some of the best panels in the business, and the A72’s screen quality is a testament of this.

Battery life of the Galaxy A72 is quite respectable as well. On average, I can get between six to seven hours of screen on time out of the 5,000mAh battery. Bear in mind that I’m quite a heavy smartphone user – with a few rounds of
Genshin Impact
 here and there – so if you’re a lighter user, I imagine you can get up to two days of use on a single charge.

And then there’s the camera performance of the Galaxy A72’s quad camera system. It is made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro camera. Overall, this camera configuration performs relatively well.

12MP ultra-wide angle
64MP primary
8MP telephoto (3x zoom)
64MP primary
64MP primary

While the camera interface does feel more sluggish in low light conditions, the Galaxy A72 can still snap good-looking shots in less than ideal lighting. It has decent detail preservation, dynamic range, and sharpness. The different focal lengths of the camera system also make it a versatile shooter, which is (again) not offered by many other phones in this price range.

Of course, the Galaxy A72 doesn’t have the best camera performance in the segment, but it is good enough for all intents and purposes. Plus, its versatility really is one of the main highlights here; all four sensors of the quad camera setup are actually functional. Unlike other phones with multiple camera lenses, these sensors are no mere gimmicks.

The Bad Stuff

With the Galaxy A72 being a mid-range device, it’s not held to the same high standards of Samsung’s more premium flagship smartphones. This is evident from the lacklustre build quality of the phone. While I quite like the matte finish on the plastic back of the A72, its plastic frame doesn’t feel particularly nice to the touch. Some parts of the frame even creak with applied pressure; this doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

The performance level of the Galaxy A72 is another shortcoming as well. While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset can deliver adequate performance, it still pales in comparison to, say, the Snapdragon 870 processor that’s found in the
Poco F3
. This is an important comparison, given that the F3 sits at a lower price point – it retails from only RM1,399 – than the A72.

Last but certainly not least is the price tag of the Galaxy A72. Retailing at RM1,899, its value proposition isn’t quite as good as the aforementioned Poco F3; even the 256GB + 8GB configuration of Poco’s offering costs only RM1,699. For RM200 less, you’re getting much better performance, not to mention a faster 120Hz AMOLED screen.

Granted, the Galaxy A72 still has a more versatile camera performance and an IP67 rating. The Poco F3, despite its faster chipset, screen, and more affordable price tag, doesn’t compare to the A72 in these two regards.

Is it Worth It?

If you want a mid-range smartphone with water resistance, a reasonably good, versatile camera performance, long battery life, as well as a vibrant, relatively fast 90Hz Super AMOLED display, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a great option. There aren’t many smartphones that combine this feature set with a water-resistant chassis, which is what makes the A72 a unique mid-ranger.

Yes, there are other smartphones that offer better performance for the money, but processing power is just one aspect of what makes a smartphone…well, good. Even though it’s not the fastest phone, the Galaxy A72 aces it in other regards. In my opinion, it’s certainly a mid-ranger worth considering, especially for its water-resistant chassis and vibrant Super AMOLED display.


Honda Presents Special Edition Models to 4 Lucky Winners at 1 Million Dreams Grand Finale Event

At its 1 Million Dreams grand finale event, Honda Malaysia presented four of its “1 Million Dreams” special edition models to their lucky new owners. These include the Civic, Accord, CR-V, and Jazz; the latter being reserved for frontliners to win.

The winners of the new special edition models are Chuah Sze Yong (Civic), Lim Lye-Gaik (CR-V), Abdul Hakim Bin Mohd Radz (Accord), and of course, Shaiful Rezza Bin Abdul Razak (Jazz), who is a police officer. Over the course of the 1 Million Dreams campaign, over 155,600 entries were received in just one month.

Now, there are actually three other models that have not been given to winners yet, including the HR-V (Shopee), City (Cuckoo), and BR-V (Watsons). The winners for these special edition models will only be selected sometime in April by the respective brands, so you still stand a chance to win these models by joining the contests organised by them.

Aside from giving away these special edition Honda models, the carmaker is also organising a funfair-like event in Bukit Jalil right now to celebrate achieving 1 million sales here in Malaysia. The activities available there include a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, bumper cars, and even the opportunity to test drive Honda cars. Naturally, strict SOPs are enforced at the event to keep visitors safe.

The 1 Million Dreams Grand Finale funfair is happening today and tomorrow (28 March) from 10AM to 10PM at Stadium Bukit Jalil Car Park C. Admissions are free, so if you’re interested to check out any Honda model – and have some family fun – head on to the funfair this weekend!


EV Innovations’ MyKar Project Wants to Bring EV to the Masses in Malaysia

EV Innovations, an electric vehicle startup based here in Malaysia, wants to bring EV to the masses both locally and in the ASEAN market with its MyKar project. The company just signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) as well as Ingress Corporation Berhad to further develop the project into a roadworthy vehicle.

The MOA between EV Innovations and MARii is for the homologation process of the former’s prototype EV, which is actually based on the Honda Jazz (to an extent). The doors and suspension of the MyKar prototype are taken from the Jazz, but the chassis and mechanical parts of the EV are designed and fabricated by DNT Auto.

Aside from that, the outer layer and body of the vehicle are fabricated by DK Composites, while the electronics control, instrumentation, and integration are based on the technology developed by System Consultancy Services (SCS). It’s worth noting that EV Innovations is actually a subsidiary of SCS.

As for the MOA between EV Innovations and Ingress Corporation Berhad, it’s for the manufacturing of parts for MyKar. With MARii and Ingress Corporation on board, EV Innovations’ goal of building an EV that is “affordable, practical, and easily integrated into the current Malaysian automotive ecosystem” is closer to becoming a reality.

“While we have come a long way from our first proof of concept prototype, there is still quite a journey to go through in order to achieve our vision.” With this in mind, EV Innovations is “open for partners who would want to make this dream a reality, be it an institutional strategy partner, or an individual retail investor that wants a piece of the Malaysian dream,” as the company puts it.


Video: Vivo X60 Pro Unboxing

The Vivo X60 series was launched here in Malaysia just last week, and it’s quite an interesting lineup of premium, high-end smartphones. If you’re interested in the X60 Pro, the range-topping device in the series, here’s our unboxing (and quick hands-on) of the phone!

On paper, the X60 Pro is quite an impressive flagship-class smartphone. It features Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 870 chipset – which seems to be quite capable – a triple camera system (48MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 13MP telephoto portrait) with Zeiss optics, a 6.56-inch 2376 x 1080 AMOLED dual curved screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, as well as a 4,200mAh battery.

Retailing at RM3,299, the Vivo X60 Pro is unmistakably a costly smartphone, but it could justify this steep asking price once we put it through its paces in a full review. Stay tuned to Nextrift for that!


PRISM+ X300 Review: Excellent 200Hz Curved Ultrawide Gaming Monitor for RM1,299

Update 25 May:
 The price of the PRISM+ X300 has been increased to RM1,299 (from RM1,199) due to the global shortage of electronic components. But at this price point, the X300 still provides good value for money. This review has been updated to reflect this price change.

Budget-friendly gaming monitors are aplenty in the market, but you don’t often see an affordable gaming monitor like the PRISM+ X300. Not only does it have a blazing fast 200Hz refresh rate, it also has a 30-inch 2560 x 1080 curved ultrawide panel – all for only RM1,299.

At this price point, you’d be hard-pressed to look for another monitor with a similar feature set. Of course, the X300 does have a number of shortcomings, and we’ll cover that – along with why it’s still a very attractive gaming monitor – in this review.

What It Is

The PRISM+ X300 is a 30-inch 2560 x 1080 curved (1800R) ultrawide gaming monitor with a fast 200Hz VA panel. If you’re into fast-paced, competitive games like Valorant or Apex Legends, this high refresh rate will ensure that you get good motion clarity to get the competitive edge.

Aside from that, the X300 also supports adaptive sync to eliminate screen tearing, which works with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs. As for connectivity, it has a DisplayPort 1.2 connection, an HDMI 2.0 input, as well as two HDMI 1.4 ports – a generous selection of connectivity options.

At the time this review is published, the X300 retails at only RM1,299 here in Malaysia. That being said, we were told this is a limited time offer, and the price of this monitor could change in the future.

The Good Stuff

Without a doubt the best selling point of the X300 is its high 200Hz native refresh rate. Basically, this monitor can churn out 200 frames per second, so whether I’m playing a fast-paced game or just browsing the web, every single motion on this monitor looks
extra
 smooth. The panel’s 2560 x 1080 resolution also means that modern graphics card can push out enough frames to take advantage of the 200Hz refresh rate.

What about the adaptive sync feature of the X300? To put this to the test, I connected the
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
 with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU to this gaming monitor, and as far as I can tell, there’s no noticeable screen tearing. Of course, it’s entirely possible the high 200Hz refresh rate of the panel is masking any screen tearing.

In terms of the X300’s display quality, it’s really quite decent with a good amount of contrast. Now, keep in mind that this is first and foremost a gaming monitor with a VA panel, so it doesn’t offer the most vibrant colours or widest viewing angles – especially in comparison to an IPS screen. But for the most part, it has a decent quality display that will satisfy the average consumer.

Because this is an ultrawide monitor, the X300 has a (surprise surprise) very wide 21:9 aspect ratio as well. This gives you
a lot
 of screen real estate to work with, so not only does games feel more immersive – which is further amplified by the curved nature of the screen – it’s even ideal for productivity tasks. You can have multiple windows displayed at the same time without feeling cramped, for example.

With all of these positives in mind, it’s quite a surprise that the X300 only costs RM1,299 now; you’re really getting your money’s worth. On top of that, this monitor has a three-year warranty with one-to-one exchange too – that’s really good warranty coverage.

The Bad Stuff

Now, even though I said the PRISM+ X300’s screen quality is good enough for the average consumer, there’s obviously still room for improvement. Although a VA panel offers good contrast ratio, it still looks a little washed out, and colours do shift slightly when looking at the screen from an angle. Aside from that, I wish the screen was a tad brighter as well.

Colours shift a little when viewed at an angle
No height adjustment here

Another aspect of the X300 that I don’t quite like is the lack of adjustability. The monitor cannot be swiveled, and there’s no height adjustment either, so it can be a little tricky to get the best viewing angle. That being said, the same can be said of other monitors at this price point. Height adjustment, in particular, is a feature usually reserved for more premium (and costly) gaming monitors.

Is It Worth It?

Despite its shortcomings, the sheer value for money the PRISM+ X300 offers easily make up for them. Not only does it offer a very fast 200Hz refresh rate, its curved, ultrawide panel is also ideal for gaming and work. The wide 21:9 aspect ratio makes for an immersive gaming experience, and I have a lot of screen real estate for productivity tasks as well.

Again, for only RM1,299 – even though this price may change in the future – the X300 is a really,
really
 good buy. If you want a curved ultrawide gaming monitor with a fast refresh rate that gives you plenty value for your money, the X300 is easily one of the best options in the market now.

Keen to get the X300? Then head on to
PRISM+’s Malaysian website
 or its
official Lazada store
.


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

Another week, another price increase. The price of RON 97 is set to go up by 2 sen per litre this midnight, while the price of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains the same at RM2.05 per litre, while RON 97 costs RM2.52 per litre (up from RM2.50). As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre until 7 April next week.

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


Genshin Impact Arriving on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2021 With 4K & DualSense Support

Mihoyo just announced that the PlayStation 5 version of its hit game
Genshin Impact
 will be released soon. At the moment, the game is available on the next generation console via backward compatibility with the PS4 version, so once the proper PS5 version is released, it will come with a number of improvements.

The biggest improvement with the PS5 version of Genshin Impact is definitely support for 4K resolution. Of course, given that the PS5 has a very fast SSD, players can expect faster loading times as well. Long loading times is one of the biggest issues with the current PS4 version, so this is a welcomed improvement.

Genshin Impact comes to PlayStation 5 with enhanced visuals, fast loading, and DualSense controller support.
Face (and wield) the elements of Teyvat this Spring.
pic.twitter.com/y9QQGID8Js
— PlayStation (@PlayStation)
March 31, 2021

According to PlayStation, DualSense support will (naturally) be added too, though it remains to be seen how extensively Mihoyo will implement the controller’s various features. It’ll be great if the PS5 version of Genshin Impact will make use of the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and refined haptic feedback.

Although Mihoyo only mentioned that Genshin Impact will arrive on the PS5 soon, PlayStation gave a more specific spring 2021 release timeframe. That’s still quite vague, of course, though it’s safe to assume it will be released – at the latest – sometime in June 2021.

Genshin Impact is currently available on various platforms, including PC, iOS, Android, and of course, the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 (through backward compatibility). If you’d like to learn more about the game, check out our
other coverage of Genshin Impact
, including a
long-term review
.


Perodua Ativa Received Almost 15,000 Bookings – 4,345 Units Delivered, Best-Selling SUV in March 2021

Perodua just released its sales figures for March 2021, and it was an exciting month for the carmaker. Not only has the
Perodua Ativa
 received 14,574 bookings to date, over 4,345 units of the new model were delivered last month, making it Malaysia’s best-selling SUV in March 2021.

In fact, it’s worth noting that this figure actually surpassed Perodua’s delivery target of 3,000 units every month for the Ativa. Without a doubt Perodua is fulfilling consumer demand for the SUV in a very quick manner, and at this rate, we wouldn’t be surprised if the carmaker can fulfill the 10,000 outstanding bookings in only a couple of months.

According to Perodua, the range-topping AV trim of the Ativa is the most popular choice, making up 67% of total bookings. It’s no surprise the AV is the model Malaysians are going for, given that it is the only variant to get level 2 autonomous driving. It’s equipped with Lane Keep Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

But regardless of which model you go for, all three variants of the Ativa (AV, H, and X) are equipped with the same 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder engine that outputs 98PS and 140Nm of torque. Paired with a CVT gearbox, the Ativa has an impressive rated fuel efficiency of 18.9km/l.

Priced from RM61,500 to RM72,000, the Perodua Ativa is really quite an affordable SUV packed with attractive features. Hopefully, the carmaker will be able to fulfill outstanding Ativa bookings before the sales tax exemption expires at the
end of June 2021
 – come July 2021, the Ativa will cost more.


Days Gone & Oddworld: Soulstorm Are PlayStation Plus’ April 2021 Free Games

It’s another exciting month for PlayStation Plus members this April 2021. Not only do you get Days Gone this month, Oddworld: Soulstorm (a
brand new game
) will also be offered for free to PlayStation Plus members from 6 April onwards. These two games alone – if you fancy them, of course – are definitely worth subscribing to PlayStation Plus.

Those with an active PlayStation Plus membership can claim Days Gone and Oddworld: Soulstorm from 6 April until 5 May. Just like any other free games offered to PlayStation Plus members, as long as you have an active subscription, these two games will be yours to keep.

That being said, keep in mind that this version of Oddworld: Soulstorm is only offered to PS5 owners. If you’re on the PS4, you won’t be able to play the game, though you can still claim it. Other games offered for free this month – for us here in Malaysia and Indonesia – include Lego Worlds and X-Morph: Defense.

To recap, PlayStation Plus members can download these games for free from 6 April onwards. In the meantime, don’t forget to claim
March 2021’s free games
, which include the excellent
Final Fantasy VII Remake
, Knack 2, Farpoint (VR), as well as the PS5 version of Maquette.


Proton X50 – 3,513 Units Delivered in March 2021, 11,654 Bookings Fulfilled

Proton is slowly (but steadily) fulfilling more bookings of its very popular B-segment SUV, the
Proton X50
. Last month, the national carmaker delivered as many as 3,513 units of the X50, making it the second best-selling SUV in March 2021. It’s positioned right behind the
Perodua Ativa
 in sales, which were delivered to
4,345 customers last month
.

As many as 11,654 bookings of the X50 have been fulfilled to date. Given that over 30,000 bookings were made for the SUV, Proton still has some ways to go to fulfill all outstanding orders. The sales tax exemption given by the government is set to expire in three months as well, so chances are, not everyone will be able to enjoy the current tax-free prices for the X50.

Nonetheless, March 2021 was a good month for Proton. Aside from the X50, the carmaker also delivered 2,337 units of the Proton X70 in the same month. In total, over 5,850 SUVs were sold by Proton in March 2021, beating its previous record of 4,820 SUVs delivered in February 2021.

Of course, Proton’s best-selling car is still the Proton Saga; 5,589 units of the A-segment sedan were sold last month. The Proton Persona (2,151), Iriz (810), and Exora (584) also posted their best figures for the year, with the Exora maintaining its lead in the C-segment MPV market.

“March was a very good sales month as we achieved our highest figure in 90 months but our sense of achievement is tempered by the fact that it could have been even better if we were able to produce more units,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah.

“As things stand, we still have a large order bank to fulfill, so over the next few months, Proton will strive to increase production while maintaining our focus on delivering high quality products,” he added.


Kia Now Under Bermaz Auto in Malaysia; Existing Kia Owners Required to Update Information

It’s official: Kia Motors and Bermaz Auto (BAuto) have formed a partnership in Malaysia. As a result of this partnership, Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMSB) will be formed for the local assembly (CKD) of Kia cars here in Malaysia, which include three models at the moment.

Out of the three models, only the
Kia Seltos
 and Kia Carnival have been confirmed for local assembly on our shores. The third model, on the other hand, will only be determined at a later stage. Interestingly, KMSB is set to be the manufacturing hub for Kia models in ASEAN countries and other potential markets.

Aside from that, BAuto’s subsidiary, Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd (DJMSB), will be the new distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia. Dinamikjaya Motors will be responsible for the distribution and sale of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, whether it’s CKD or fully imported (CBU) models. On top of that, aftersales service will be handled by the company as well.

Now that Dinamikjaya Motors is the new distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, it is requesting existing owners to update their information with the company. By doing so, Dinamikjaya will be able to check a customer’s warranty status, recall notification, and improve the ownership experience. If you’re a Kia owner, you can update your information
right here
.

With the new partnership between Kia and BAuto, the local brand presence of the Korean carmaker should be even better now. Personally, we’re looking forward to the CKD version of the Seltos – lowering the price of the B-segment SUV could make it more appealing to Malaysians.


Honda Malaysia Offering up to RM5,000 Discount in Sama-Sama Rewards Campaign

Now that Ramadan is near, Honda Malaysia is running the Sama-Sama Rewards campaign, offering pretty good discounts for its entire model lineup. With up to RM5,000 discount up for grabs – on top of the sales tax exemption – it’s a good time to place a booking for a Honda car.

Naturally, the biggest discount is reserved for the most expensive model in the Japanese carmaker’s current lineup, the
Honda Accord
. The range-topping 1.5L TC-P trim of the D-segment sedan receives a RM4,000 discount, while the more affordable 1.5L TC model actually gets a bigger RM5,000 rebate.

If you’re looking to get a seven-seater instead, good news. The
Honda BR-V
 gets a sizeable discount as well; both the 1.5L E and 1.5L V trims get a RM3,000 discount. Next is the
all-new Honda City
: the 1.5L E variant receives a RM2,000 discount, while the 1.5L S and 1.5L V models get a RM1,000 discount. Unfortunately, the top-of-the-line
RS e:HEV trim
 doesn’t get any discount.

Other notable discounts given by Honda Malaysia include RM1,000 savings for all variants of the Honda Civic, as well as RM1,500 discounts for all models of the CR-V, HR-V, and Jazz. Do note that these discounts are only applicable for vehicles registered until 30 April 2021.

To enjoy these discounts, just head to your nearest Honda authorised dealer to place a booking. More information can be found on
Honda Malaysia’s website
.


Video: Prism+ X300 Gaming Monitor Review

We posted our
written review
 of the Prism+ X300 gaming monitor earlier this week, but if you prefer a video review instead, here you go! If you want an affordable ultrawide gaming monitor with a fast 200Hz refresh rate, you should really consider the X300.

Despite its budget-friendly nature, the X300 is a competent gaming monitor. Its high 200Hz refresh rate provides excellent motion clarity in fast-paced, competitive games; it comes with adaptive sync support; and the wide, 21:9 aspect ratio is ideal for both gaming and productivity tasks. Watch our video review below to learn more!

The Prism+ X300 is currently available for purchase in Malaysia for only RM1,199. We were told that this is a limited time offer, and the price of the gaming monitor may change in the future. So if you’re keen to get it, head on to
Prism+’s Malaysian website
 or its
official Lazada store
.