Oppo Reno Ace Supports 65W Fast Charging; Fully Charge 4,000mAh Battery in 30 Minutes

Oppo just added yet another device to its Reno series of smartphones. The new Oppo Reno Ace is arguably the most interesting device in the lineup, thanks to its ridiculously fast 65W fast charging. According to Oppo, the Ace can be fully charged in only 30 minutes.

Given that the Reno Ace comes with a generous 4,000mAh battery, this charging rate is very,
very
 impressive. Of course, to achieve that level of fast charging, you’ll need to use Oppo’s proprietary SuperVOOC 2.0 charger and cable. Otherwise, the phone would default to Qualcomm’s 18W Quick Charge for chargers that support that.

Besides its impressive charging rate, the Reno Ace also comes with a 6.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a fast 90Hz refresh rate. This makes it the only device in the Reno series to sport that fast display, though there is a waterdrop notch at the top of the screen that houses the 16MP selfie camera.

That’s right: unlike the other Reno smartphones, the Reno Ace doesn’t feature the unique motorised “shark fin” pop-up camera. As a result, space had to be made for the selfie shooter on the front of the phone, so it doesn’t have the all-screen design of its peers.

On the flip side, since there are no moving parts for the pop-up camera mechanism, you won’t have to worry about the camera module breaking over time.

Powering the Reno Ace is a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, making it the fastest device in the Reno series. Paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the Ace is definitely a well-equipped flagship smartphone.

In the camera department, the Reno Ace features a quad camera system made up of a 48MP primary shooter, a 13MP telephoto lens with 5x hybrid zoom, an 8MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 2MP monochrome shooter. On top of that, it also has an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

At the moment, the Oppo Reno Ace is only available in China. There are three different variants of the Ace: the base model with 128GB of storage and 8GB RAM goes for 2,999 Chinese yuan (about RM1,765), while the 256GB + 8GB and 256GB + 12GB variants retail at 3,199 yuan (approximately RM1,880) and 3,799 yuan (around RM2,235) respectively.

Interestingly, there is also a Mobile Suit Gundam special edition of the Reno Ace with 256GB of storage and 8GB RAM. This particular model, which even comes with matching accessories, is priced at 3,599 yuan (about RM2,120).


Redmi 8 with 5,000mAh Battery Launches in Malaysia from RM499; Redmi 8A Coming Soon?

The affordable Redmi 8 was officially unveiled in India only a couple of days ago. If you’re interested to get the new device, good news: the device has just been launched in Malaysia. On top of that, there’s a good chance the even more affordable Redmi 8A will be coming to our market too.

We got confirmation that the Redmi 8 series will be made available in Malaysia back at the local launch of the
Redmi Note 8 smartphones
. However, only the arrival of the Redmi 8 have been announced today; there’s still no word yet on the local availability of the Redmi 8A.

Then again, given that both the Redmi 8 and Redmi 8A
have been registered
 with our local certification body, SIRIM, it may only be a matter of time before the latter comes to Malaysia.

Out of the two smartphones, the Redmi 8 is the higher-end offering. One of its best selling points is the large 5,000mAh battery, which should be able to offer very, very good battery life. If you’re not a heavy smartphone user, it would be possible to get up to two days of use with this phone.

Even though it’s an affordable smartphone, it’s great to see that the Redmi 8 comes with a USB-C port. In comparison, its predecessor only had a microUSB connection. The phone supports 18W fast charging too, but the phone is only bundled with a 10W charger.

Powering the Redmi 8 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 2.0GHz octa-core chipset paired with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM. It’s not an awfully powerful SoC, but it should be fast enough for everyday use. Just don’t expect the same level of performance as a Snapdragon 6 series chipset.

It is an affordable smartphone, so the Redmi 8’s display….isn’t particularly impressive. It’s a 6.22-inch 1520 x 720 IPS panel with a Dot Drop notch at the top of the screen. With a maximum brightness of 400 nits, the screen is also protected by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Rounding out the specifications of the Redmi 8 are 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot that can accommodate cards up to 512GB, a dual camera system (12MP primary + 2MP depth), an 8MP front-facing shooter, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Although its Malaysian availability have not been confirmed yet, it’s worth talking about the Redmi 8A as well. Surprisingly enough, despite being positioned below the Redmi 8, both devices have a lot in common. The Redmi 8A has the same Snapdragon 439 chipset, 6.22-inch 720p IPS display, 12MP rear camera, and 8MP selfie shooter.

More importantly, the Redmi 8A also features a 5,000mAh battery, so its battery life should match that of the Redmi 8.

So what are the differences between the Redmi 8 and Redmi 8A? Well, for starters, the Redmi 8A’s rear camera system does not have a 2MP depth sensor. It also lacks a fingerprint reader, while the RAM and storage capacities max out at 3GB and 32GB respectively.

At the moment, only the Redmi 8 is available in Malaysia. Two variants of the device are offered here: the 64GB model with 4GB of RAM retails at RM599, while the more affordable 32GB variant with 3GB of RAM goes for only RM499. All three colours of the device are launched in our market: Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red, and Onyx Black.

You can place your order for the 64GB variant of the Redmi 8 tomorrow on 12 October at all Authorised Mi Stores, Shopee, as well as Lazada. Those who purchase the phone on 12 October itself will also receive a Mi Compact Bluetooth Speaker 2 worth RM49.

If you want the more affordable Redmi 8 with 32GB of storage, this particular model will only arrive here on 18 October. It is also sold exclusively online from Shopee and Lazada.


OnePlus 7T Pro Unveiled with Incremental Upgrades & McLaren Edition

Many were anticipating the launch of the OnePlus 7T Pro since the
OnePlus 7T
 was introduced, and here it is. Not surprisingly, the 7T Pro is an incremental upgrade
over its predecessor
, so to spice things up, the phone maker also introduced a McLaren Edition of the phone.

A couple of changes differentiate the OnePlus 7T Pro from its direct predecessor. Just like the OnePlus 7T, this new Pro model comes with a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
 chipset too, which promises up to 15% better performance. This is accomplished by overclocking the CPU and GPU of the processor.

Besides that, the OnePlus 7T Pro has a slightly bigger battery as well. Instead of the previous model’s 4,000mAh battery, the 7T Pro features a 4,085mAh cell. It’s hard to say just how much the extra 85mAh will impact battery life, but hey, it’s still a bigger capacity.

Of course, the 90Hz display is also kept on the OnePlus 7T Pro, so everything will look extra smooth on this phone. On top of that, the 6.67-inch 3120 x 1440 AMOLED display is retained too, along with the all-screen design. That’s right, this phone is still using the 16MP f/2.0 motorised pop-up camera.

Speaking of which, the triple camera system on the back of the OnePlus 7T Pro is unchanged as well. It is still made up of a 48MP f/1.6 main shooter, a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. Basically, it’s a versatile shooter with its three different focal lengths.

Other specifications of the OnePlus 7T Pro include 8GB or 12GB of RAM, 256GB of fast UFS 3.0 storage, OxygenOS based on Android 10, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor, which should still be very quick and accurate. Unfortunately enough, there is still no headphone jack or water resistance.

And then there’s the McLaren Edition of the OnePlus 7T Pro. Beyond the aesthetic changes, which paints the phone in McLaren’s signature black and orange colour scheme, this special edition model also features 256GB of storage and 12GB RAM. Other hardware are the same as the standard phone.

As for pricing, the OnePlus 7T Pro will retail at £699 in the UK, which comes up to about RM3,700. The McLaren Edition, on the other hand, goes for £799 (approximately RM4,230). The regular model will be available in the same market on 17 October, while the McLaren Edition will hit store shelves on 5 November.


These 3 Smartphones Are Launching in Malaysia This Week, Including a 5G Phone

We’re looking at a pretty busy launch schedule in the smartphone industry this week. As many as three devices will make their Malaysian debut in the next few days, including the
Asus ROG Phone II
, the
Oppo Reno 2 series
, as well as the Vivo Nex 3. The last one is particularly interesting: it’s a 5G smartphone.

Unlike most phone makers, which chose not to launch 5G versions of their smartphones on our shores – such as Samsung with the
Galaxy S10 5G
 – Vivo is set to introduce the 5G variant of the Nex 3 here on 17 October. It’s an interesting decision, given that 5G network in our country is not fully established yet.

Nonetheless, 5G connectivity isn’t even the most interesting feature of the Nex 3: it’s the Waterfall FullView display of the phone. The waterfall moniker is a reference to the extreme curvature of the large 6.89-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen. In fact, it’s akin to the
Huawei Mate 30 Pro
‘s ultra curved display, although it’s worth noting that the Nex 3 debut first.

Given the dual curved nature of the display, the Nex 3 doesn’t have traditional buttons. Instead, it has a static power button on the right side of the phone, which uses haptic feedback to simulate a button press. I managed to try it out in person, and it is surprisingly easy to activate.

For volume adjustment, all I had to do was to press on the top or bottom area of the power button to increase and decrease the volume respectively.

Vivo also claims that the Nex 3 has an impressive 99.6% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to the tiny bezels surrounding the display. On top of that, it has a 16MP f/2.1 pop-up camera too that is hidden behind the screen; there’s no need for any cutout on the display itself to make space for the selfie shooter.

Other specifications of the Vivo Nex 3 for the Malaysian market include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of fast UFS 3.0 storage, a triple camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.2 wide angle + 13MP f/2.5 telephoto), and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

It’s worth noting that the Nex 3 also features a generous 4,500mAh battery with support for Vivo’s Super FlashCharge 44W fast charging tech.

Next, we have the Asus ROG Phone II, which is launching in Malaysia a day before the Vivo Nex 3 on 16 October. The ROG Phone II is easily one of the most anticipated gaming smartphones this year, and for good reasons too: it has a number of gaming-centric features that will surely appease the most demanding of mobile gamers.

One of these features are the AirTriggers of the ROG Phone II. These are two ultrasonic buttons on the right side of the phone that act as shoulder buttons when the phone is in landscape orientation, and they can be customised to “simulate screen touch in games.”

Basically, I can set these buttons to simulate screen touch anywhere on the display. In PUBG Mobile, for example, I can customise the left AirTrigger to zoom in on my weapon, and the right button to fire. With this setup, I can shoot my weapon while
still
 controlling my movement and camera with my thumbs. This makes shooters far more enjoyable to play.

To top it off, the AirTriggers themselves are also very easy to activate. A quick tap is enough for the ultrasonic buttons to recognise my input, and never did they feel cumbersome to use. In fact, if I want to, I can make these buttons even more sensitive to my inputs in the settings menu.

Naturally, other hardware of the ROG Phone II are suited for a high-end gaming smartphone. It comes with a 6.59-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with 12GB of RAM, 512GB or 1TB of internal storage – the Malaysian market will only receive these two capacities – and a very large 6,000mAh battery.

Surprisingly enough, the in-screen fingerprint sensor of the ROG Phone II is also very fast, and its dual camera system (48MP f/1.8 main + 13MP f/2.4 wide angle) seems to be quite capable too. The front-facing shooter, on the other hand, has a 24MP f/2.2 sensor.

Last but certainly not least is the Oppo Reno 2 series. Set to be launched in Malaysia on 15 October – making it the first phone in this list to debut on our shores – there are three different devices in the series. While we don’t know yet if Oppo Malaysia is bringing in the full lineup, we do know the Reno 2 itself is making its way here.

Just like its
direct predecessor
, the Reno 2 features a unique motorised “shark fin” 16MP f/2.0 selfie camera, so it retains the sleek, all-screen design of the phone. It also has a slightly larger 6.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display than its predecessor’s 6.4-inch screen, along with a more powerful Snapdragon 730G chipset paired with 8GB of RAM.

Rounding out the specifications of the Reno 2 include 256GB of internal storage, a generous 4,000mAh battery, and a new quad camera system. It’s made up of a 48MP f/1.7 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 wide angle shooter, a 16MP f/2.4 telephoto lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome sensor. Oppo says that this combination of sensors allow the Reno 2 to do 5x hybrid zoom.

It’s not often we see so many smartphones debut in the same week in Malaysia, and it will surely be an exciting time for those who are looking to get either a mid-ranger, a high-end gaming device, or a sleek-looking 5G smartphone. To recap, the Oppo Reno 2 series will be the first to be launched here on 15 October, followed by the ROG Phone II and Vivo Nex 3 on 16 and 17 October respectively.


Asus ROG Phone II Pre-Orders Live on Shopee; Offers ROG Kunai Gamepad & RM200 Cashback

Ahead of its official debut this coming Wednesday on 16 October, pre-orders for the
Asus ROG Phone II
 (512GB model) gaming smartphone
are now open on Shopee
. If you place your pre-order with the e-commerce platform, you’ll get a number of freebies too, including a ROG Kunai Gamepad and RM200 cashback.

Of course, there are a couple of caveats here. For one, the RM200 cashback – you have to use the code ROG2COIN at checkout – is offered in the form of 20,000 Shopee Coins, which can only be redeemed from Preferred or Shopee Mall retailers. Sure, 20,000 Shopee Coins still translate to RM200, but you’ll have to figure out how to spend them all.

As for the ROG Kunai Gamepad itself, that accessory will only be delivered to pre-order customers from 11 November onwards.

In order to secure your pre-order, you’ll need to fork out a RM999 non-refundable deposit. Once the ROG Phone II is officially unveiled locally on 16 October at 4PM, those who have placed their pre-order will receive a RM999 discount code to offset the phone’s full price.
According to the listing
, full payment must be done by 20 October.

Once you’ve done all of that, you will receive your ROG Phone II from 17 October onwards. In fact, if you’re in the Klang Valley area – and you’ve completed payment for the gaming smartphone – Shopee says you can expect to get the device on 17 October itself.

If you do plan to get the ROG Phone II, this pre-order deal is pretty good, even if the cashback is only offered in Shopee Coins. However, you’ll have to wait until 15 October at 12AM to place your order; the first batch of stocks are already sold out for today.

As for the ROG Phone II itself, it’s a high-end gaming smartphone. It features a 6.59-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with 12GB of RAM, 512GB or 1TB of internal storage, and a very generous 6,000mAh battery.

Rounding out the specifications of the ROG Phone II include an in-screen fingerprint sensor, a dual camera system (48MP f/1.8 primary sensor + 13MP f/2.4 wide angle shooter), a 24MP f/2.2 front-facing camera, and of course, a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Asus ROG Phone II will be launched here in Malaysia on 16 October this Wednesday; our full review of the gaming smartphone will be published then. More information on the phone’s pre-order on Shopee can be found
here
.


TCL Plex Quick Review: A Good Starting Point

TCL is not a brand name most of us are familiar with, but chances are, you’ve heard of BlackBerry and Alcatel; two brand names that are owned by TCL. Now, the Chinese company is releasing smartphones with its own branding, starting with this one right here, the TCL Plex.

After using the Plex as my daily driver for quite some time, there’s definitely plenty of room for improvement. However, given that this is TCL’s “first” smartphone, it’s really a reasonably good device.

What It Is

Display
6.53-inch FHD+ IPS (2340 x 1080)
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 2.0GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 612
RAM
6GB
Storage
128GB, expandable
Camera (rear)
48MP f/1.8 (primary), PDAF
16MP f/2.4 (ultra-wide angle)
2MP f/1.8 (low light video)
Camera (front)
24MP f/2.0
Battery
3,820mAh
Dimensions
162.2 x 76.6 x 8 mm
Weight
192g
OS
TCL UI based on Android 9 Pie
Connectivity
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone jack
Price
RM1,199

For a mid-range smartphone, the Plex is relatively well-equipped, even if it doesn’t offer particularly great value for money. After all, at this price point, you can get the
Xiaomi Mi 9T
, which has a faster Snapdragon 730 chipset, a more vibrant AMOLED display, as well as a sleeker-looking design.

That being said, the 128GB variant of the Mi 9T (the same storage capacity as the Plex) also costs slightly more at RM1,399. The RM1,199 variant, on the other hand, only comes with 64GB of storage. While you’re still getting a better package with the Mi 9T, the Plex does have its own strong points – let’s get to it.

The Good Stuff

What really caught me off guard as I started using the Plex as my daily driver is its sheer battery life. Even though the phone’s 3,820mAh battery isn’t particularly large, I was consistently getting between seven to eight hours of screen on time with this phone. That is
ridiculously
 good battery life.

On top of that, the charging rate isn’t too bad either. Within 30 minutes of charging, the phone got up to 47% from empty. Not the fastest charging rate I’ve seen, but still respectable.

When it comes to performance, the Plex is no slouch either. Sure, the Snapdragon 675 may only be a mid-range chipset, but it can offer reasonably good level of performance. I can play Call of Duty: Mobile on it without issue, and I can multitask with this phone relatively well too.

Sure, compared to, again, the Mi 9T with its faster Snapdragon 730 SoC, the Plex doesn’t feel quite as zippy or responsive. However, never did the phone feel cumbersome to use, and that is important for a pleasant user experience.

Speaking of user experience, TCL UI on the Plex is
surprisingly
 good. It’s close to stock Android, so it is intuitive to use, it feels polished, and it’s a lightweight version of Android too. Given that this is TCL’s first take on Android, I’m really quite impressed with the software’s level of polish.

Another software feature I like is the dedicated Smart Key on the left side of the Plex, and it is completely programmable. There are three customisable actions: single, double, or long press of the button. I can set either one of these actions to summon Google Assistant, open an app, or even activate the flashlight. It’s a neat little feature, and I imagine most folks will get some use out of it.

One of the most highlighted features of the Plex is its 6.53-inch FHD+ IPS hole-punch display with TCL’s “NXTVISION visual technology.” In a nutshell, this tech allows the phone to upscale SDR content to HDR, and it certainly delivers. Whether I’m on Netflix or YouTube, enabling NXTVISION does make colours look more vibrant and bring out the details in darker areas.

So much so, in fact, that I’d argue the IPS display’s colour reproduction rivals that of an AMOLED panel, and that is high praise. Of course, it doesn’t offer the deep blacks of AMOLED screens, but it’s still a very visually pleasing display to look at. Evidently, TCL’s expertise in the TV business helps it to deliver a great-looking screen on the Plex.

Build quality of the Plex is pretty good too, thanks to the glass back of the phone. It gives the phone a premium touch, and I’m quite a fan of the glass back’s iridescent effect. The painted frame also does a good job of hiding the fact that it is made out of plastic.

The Bad Stuff

This is TCL’s first-ever smartphone to be released under its own branding, so there’s bound to be a number of shortcomings. For example, the Plex has one too many bloatware, though they can be easily disabled or uninstalled. Even so, it is still troublesome (and confusing) for a regular user to comb through some of these duplicate apps.

Camera performance of the Plex could use some work too. Don’t get me wrong, the 48MP f/1.8 primary shooter is actually quite good, but the 16MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle sensor struggles quite a bit in darker environments. It feels sluggish in low light conditions, detail preservation isn’t great, and noise level is very noticeable as well.

Fortunately, the same doesn’t apply to the 48MP main camera, which takes advantage of pixel binning to improve low light performance and reduce the file size to the equivalent of a 12MP image. With some patience and effort, it can really capture good-looking shots that are properly exposed with flattering (albeit saturated) colours.

48MP primary
16MP ultra-wide angle
48MP primary
16MP ultra-wide angle
48MP primary
16MP ultra-wide angle

Besides that, my other qualms with the Plex are relatively minor. The auto brightness could’ve been much better – it has difficulty adjusting to the right level of brightness occasionally – it has tinny-sounding speakers, the chassis is a bit too slippery, and there is no in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Given that a number of smartphones in this price range (like the Xiaomi Mi 9T) has in-screen sensors, it would’ve been great if the Plex had one too. Granted, some folks may prefer the quicker and more accurate capacitive fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone.

Is It Worth It?

Retailing at RM1,199, the TCL Plex has to compete with a number of more established players like Xiaomi, Samsung, and even Realme. In order for a newcomer like TCL to stand out from its competition with the Plex, it has to offer a device of the same calibre (or even exceed them) to gain consumer confidence in the brand.

Based on my time with the Plex, I’d say this mid-range smartphone has what it takes to stand toe to toe with other phone makers in this price range. The Plex has incredible battery life, a good quality display, decent camera system (bar the ultra-wide angle sensor in low light conditions), and reasonably pleasant software experience, even if there are a number of bloatware.

But, again, TCL has to build consumer trust as a
smartphone
 brand now, and the Plex is a good starting point. If the company can show that it will continue to support the Plex in the form of software updates, bug fixes, and so on, I’m sure TCL will be a phone maker to watch out for in the foreseeable future.

After all, the Plex is only the beginning for TCL’s smartphone journey. At least, that was what conveyed to me when I spoke with the company.


Oppo Reno 2 & Reno 2 F Launched in Malaysia; Starts from RM1,599

Oppo just introduced two new mid-range smartphones for the Malaysian market: the Oppo Reno 2, as well as the Oppo Reno 2 F. Interestingly, the third member of the series, the
Reno 2 Z
, doesn’t appear to be making its way onto our shores.

Nonetheless, it’s the Reno 2 itself that is the star of the show. Just like its
direct predecessor
, the Reno 2 features a motorised 16MP f/2.0 pop-up camera module in the shape of a “shark fin.” Since this selfie camera is hidden behind the display, it’s possible for the Reno 2 to retain its all-screen design.

Speaking of which, the Reno 2 comes with a 6.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, which looks great. After all, AMOLED panels usually have very deep blacks along with vibrant colours; the same characteristics are present on this phone’s screen. Oh, it’s also worth noting that there is a fingerprint sensor underneath the display.

Unlike the first Oppo Reno, which had a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset, the Reno 2 is powered by a faster and newer Snapdragon 730G SoC. Paired with 8GB of RAM, you’ll be getting a good level of performance out of this phone, whether you’re gaming or just multitasking.

In the camera department, the Reno 2 now sports a quad camera system. It’s made up of a 48MP f/1.7 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 wide angle shooter, a 16MP f/2.4 telephoto lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome sensor. According to Oppo, this camera configuration allows the Reno 2 to do 5x hybrid zoom, and up to 20x digital zoom.

Other specifications of the Reno 2 include 256GB of internal storage, a generous 4,000mAh battery, as well as two colour options: Luminous Black and Sunset Pink.

And then there’s the more affordable Reno 2 F. One of the biggest differences between this phone and the Reno 2 is the selfie camera, which has been replaced with a more conventional-looking 16MP pop-up camera module. On top of that, it also comes with a MediaTek Helio P70 chipset instead of a Qualcomm SoC.

While the Reno 2 F comes with a quad camera system as well, it’s not quite as sophisticated as the Reno 2’s camera setup. The former has a different 48MP main sensor with f/1.79 aperture, and the telephoto shooter is replaced with a 2MP depth sensor. The other two cameras, on the other hand, are the same 8MP f/2.2 wide angle and 2MP f/2.4 monochrome sensors.

Rounding out the hardware of the Reno 2 F are 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. It is available in Sky White and Lake Green.

The Oppo Reno 2 and Reno 2 F are now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 25 October; both devices will officially go on sale on 26 October. The Reno 2 retails at RM2,299, while the Reno 2 F goes for RM1,599.


Google Pixel 4 & Pixel 4 XL Finally Official with Radar Chip, 90Hz Display, Face Unlock

The Pixel 4 XL is easily one of the most leaked smartphones in recent memory, and Google has (finally) officially unveiled the phone along with the Pixel 4 today. Much of the
phone’s new features
 have been tested by us
in various articles
, but there are still a number of new details shared by Google at the launch event, including pricing information.

First up, let’s talk about the differences between the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. There are just two things that separate these two phones apart: display and battery capacity. The Pixel 4 comes with a 5.7-inch FHD+ OLED display, while the XL model features a bigger and sharper 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED screen. Both are, of course, “Smooth Displays” with a fast 90Hz refresh rate.

As for battery capacity, the Pixel 4 only has a 2,800mAh battery; a far cry from the Pixel 4 XL’s much more practical 3,700mAh cell. Then again, the XL does need to power a larger and sharper display.

Beyond these two differences, both Pixel smartphones are identical to each other. They are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset (not the
faster 855+
, unfortunately) paired with 6GB of RAM, they come with either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, and they are IP68-certified too. These phones also has a Pixel Neural Core coprocessor, which allows them to do some pretty cool stuff.

For example, the Neural Core makes it possible for the Pixel 4 smartphones to understand spoken English without communicating with Google’s server. This, in turn, makes the new Google Assistant work
a lot
 faster. Besides that, it also allows a new app, Recorder, to do real-time transcribing of audio recordings
completely
 offline.

Now, we don’t imagine this is a feature a lot of consumers would take advantage of, but it is impressive nonetheless.

Another big addition to the Pixel 4 smartphones is Face Unlock, which isn’t unlike Apple’s Face ID security system. As we’ve confirmed in our
early hands-on
, it works incredibly quickly, and it is the only biometric security available on the Pixel 4, for better or worse.

And then there’s Motion Sense, a feature enabled by Google’s Project Soli that’s been in development for years. Basically, Motion Sense uses radar to detect your presence. If you’re reaching out for the Pixel 4, it will activate the screen and Face Unlock. When you walk away from the phone, Motion Sense will switch off the always on display.

Beyond these two use case scenarios, other features offered by Motion Sense include waving your hand over the Pixel 4 to dismiss calls or snooze your alarm, or even using hand gestures to control music playback. Unfortunately, Motion Sense is only available in selected regions, and Malaysia doesn’t seem to be a part of it.

What about the camera system? Well, Google finally added a secondary camera to the Pixel 4 smartphones, so it now has a dual camera system. The primary shooter is a 12.2MP f/1.7 unit, while the other one is a 16MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. Nope, there is no ultra-wide angle shooter here.

In fact, Google even mentioned on stage that a telephoto sensor is more important than an ultra-wide angle camera.

Be that as it may, Google is implementing a number of cool software tricks to the Pixel 4’s camera. The camera app, for example, now allows you to adjust two sets of exposure: one for brightness, and another one just for shadows. This, in turn, opens up quite a number of shooting possibilities. It’s a tool photographers will especially appreciate.

Aside from that, Google also added a big quality of life improvement to the camera app: the viewfinder will now show real-time preview of what your final shot will look like. It’s called Live HDR+, and it is accomplished through the use of machine learning to “approximate HDR+” in the viewfinder. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

All in all, the new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are shaping up to be very, very interesting flagship smartphones. They have fast, vibrant 90Hz OLED displays, a sophisticated Face Unlock system, a faster and more seamless Google Assistant – thanks to the new Pixel Neural Core coprocessor – as well as a unique Motion Sense radar system.

There are, of course, a number of things that could have been improved on the Pixel 4. One of the biggest complaints against the new phone is the sheer size of the top bezel, which looks at odds with the much smaller bottom bezel. Granted, the top of the phone has to house the Motion Sense radar chip, but there has to be a more…elegant solution.

On top of that, battery life may be an issue with these two phones, especially the smaller Pixel 4 with its below average 2,800mAh battery.

Regardless, only a full review of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will reveal any possible weaknesses. Both phones are available for pre-order in the US right now, and they will ship on 24 October. The Pixel 4 starts from $799 (about RM3,350), while the Pixel 4 XL retails from $899 (approximately RM3,765). These are the prices for the 64GB models; you’ll have to add $100 (around RM420) to double the storage to 128GB.

Three colour options are available for the Pixel 4 in very Google-like names: Clearly White (pictured in this article), Just Black, and the limited edition Oh So Orange. If you’d like to learn more about the Pixel 4 XL, check out our early hands-on
right here
.


Asus ROG Phone II Unleashed in Malaysia; Retails from RM3,499

Mobile gamers, rejoice: the
Asus ROG Phone II
 gaming smartphone has just been launched in Malaysia. Sporting a slew of gaming-centric features and fast performance, this is easily one of the most complete gaming smartphones in the market.

Two variants of the ROG Phone II are available in Malaysia: the 512GB model retails at RM3,499, while the higher-end 1TB variant goes for RM4,499. That’s a lot of money for the latter, but hey, you’re getting a whopping 1TB storage.

Alternatively, there’s also a “Super Pack” of the ROG Phone II, which offers a number of accessories along with the 512GB variant of the phone. These include the ROG Kunai Gamepad, Asus TwinView Dock II, two different casings, and even a ROG-branded luggage bag. This bundle pack will be available sometime next month in November (exclusively on Lazada) for a cool RM6,999.

If you want the best value for your money, you should really look at the standalone 512GB model. Given the ROG Phone II’s list of specifications and feature set, RM3,499 is actually a rather competitive price tag. For that kind of money, you’re getting a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset
, which promises up to 15% better gaming performance compared to its predecessor.

Aside from that, there’s also the ROG Phone II’s AirTriggers: two ultrasonic buttons on the right side of the phone that act as shoulder buttons in landscape orientation. If you’re into shooters like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile, these AirTriggers will definitely give you an edge.

Of course, there’s also the ROG Phone II’s 6.59-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Thanks to the high refresh rate, the screen can effectively show up to 120 frames per second, though not every mobile game can support this kind of frame rate.

Gaming smartphones have to be able to offer good battery life to last through long gaming sessions, and the ROG Phone II does not disappoint in this regard. After all, it comes with a huge 6,000mAh cell, which will surely deliver above average battery life.

Rounding out the specifications of the ROG Phone II include 12GB of RAM, a quick in-screen fingerprint sensor, a dual camera system (48MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle sensors), as well as a 24MP f/2.0 front-facing shooter.

The Asus ROG Phone II is now available for purchase in Malaysia, but this is only for the 512GB model. Much like the Super Pack bundle, the 1TB variant will only reach our shores in November next month. Same thing for the accessories, including the ROG Kunai Gamepad (RM499), Mobile Desktop Dock (RM599), TwinView Dock II (RM899), and Lightning Armor Case (RM199).


Vivo Nex 3 with 5G Connectivity & Waterfall Display Now in Malaysia for RM3,899

Vivo has just launched its first 5G smartphone for the Malaysian market, the Vivo Nex 3. It’s a rather interesting move to launch the 5G variant of the device here, given that 5G network is not fully established yet on our shores. Regardless, there are a number of other features that make the Nex 3 an attractive flagship smartphone.

Not only does it come with 5G connectivity, the Nex 3 also features an unconventional display dubbed Waterfall FullView, which curves at a steep angle at either sides of the phone. In a way, the Waterfall display is similar to the
Huawei Mate 30 Pro
‘s ultra curved screen, though the Nex 3 is a much bigger smartphone.

After all, it has a large 6.89-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display. Thanks to the use of a 16MP f/2.1 pop-up selfie camera, the Nex 3 sports a sleek all-screen design too. According to Vivo, this gives the phone an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 99.6%. Of course, the small bezels definitely play a part as well.

Because the curvature of the Nex 3’s display is so extreme, Vivo decided to ditch physical buttons altogether. Instead, there’s a static power “button” on the right side of the phone, which uses haptic feedback to simulate a button press. To adjust the volume, I only need to press on the top and bottom areas of the power button.

When it comes to performance, the Nex 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s best chipset yet, the
Snapdragon 855+
. Compared to the standard Snapdragon 855, this new SoC has its CPU and GPU overclocked, which promises up to 15% better performance. Paired with 8GB of RAM, performance should not be an issue with the Nex 3.

Other specifications of the Nex 3 include 256GB of fast UFS 3.0 storage, a triple camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.2 wide angle + 13MP f/2.5 telephoto), an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a generous 4,500mAh battery with support for Vivo’s 44W Super FlashCharge technology.

The Vivo Nex 3 is now available for purchase in Malaysia, and only the Glowing Night colourway is brought into our market. On top of that, it’s only offered in a single variant, which comes with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. If you’re keen to get this 5G smartphone, it will set you back RM3,899.

It’s a steep asking price, to be sure, but hey, the Nex 3 has 5G connectivity – it’s not a feature typically offered by other phone makers in Malaysia. At least, not at the moment anyway.


Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Now Available in Malaysia from RM1,099

Initially unveiled to the world
back in August this year
, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is now available in Malaysia. There are quite a number of variants offered on our shores, which include both sizes (40mm and 44mm) and even the Under Armour edition.

Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 brings back one vital feature: bezel control. However, it’s not a physically rotating bezel anymore. Instead, the whole bezel is now touch-sensitive, allowing you to use it as an input device by running your finger around it.

Tizen OS on Samsung’s smartwatches were designed with the bezel control in mind, so it should be more intuitive to navigate the user interface of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 with the touch bezel. Then again, it’ll be interesting to see just how natural it would feel, given that the bezel itself doesn’t rotate anymore.

Other than that, the Galaxy Watch Active 2’s heart rate sensor and accelerometer are improved accordingly too, giving it better workout tracking accuracy. On top of that, it also has support for ECG, which allows it to track your heart rate and rhythm more accurately than a regular heart rate sensor.

However, the ECG feature is not enabled yet on the smartwatch; it will only be added sometime in the near future.

Rounding out the specifications of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 include a 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch 360 x 360 Super AMOLED display for the 40mm and 44mm models respectively, GPS support, a 5 ATM rating (it can be submerged up to 50m underwater for 10 minutes), and NFC.

You can choose from three different versions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 in Malaysia: Stainless Steel, Aluminium, and the Under Armour edition. The full price breakdown of all variants (and sizes) of the smartwatch is as follow:

Stainless Steel – RM1,299 (40mm), RM1,399 (44mm)
Under Armour – RM1,099 (40mm), RM1,199 (44mm)
Aluminium – RM1,099 (44mm)

Retailing from RM1,099, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is without a doubt more costly than its predecessor, which retails for only RM799 at launch. Regardless of which size you want, you’ll still have to fork out RM1,099, given that the most affordable Aluminium model only comes in 44mm.

But if you want something more affordable – and you don’t really care for the new model’s added features – the first Galaxy Watch Active
is still worth a consideration
.


Apple Watch Series 5 Costs up to RM4,849 in Malaysia; Available 1 November

Apple’s latest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 5, is finally coming to Malaysia on 1 November. On top of that, we now know the full pricing details of the smartwatch too. The most affordable model goes for RM1,749, but if you’re feeling…fancy, you can customise it to cost a whopping RM4,849.

That’s right, Apple Watch Studio, which allows you to customise your Apple Watch, is available in Malaysia. You can change the case material, size, and even the band of the Apple Watch Series 5. Anyway, the variant that costs a cool RM4,849 is the 44mm Stainless Steel model (cellular support included) paired with a Space Black Link Bracelet.

Oh, right: Apple is finally bringing in the cellular version of smartwatch with the Apple Watch Series 5 on our shores. Compared to the standard GPS-only model, cellular supports costs extra RM450.

Compared to the Series 4, the Apple Watch Series 5 isn’t remarkably different. The biggest addition is the always-on display, a feature that many users have been asking for. Thanks to the use of a low-temperature polysilicone and oxide (LTPO) display, a low-power display driver, and a more efficient power management, the Series 5 can still offer the same 18-hour battery life of its predecessor.

Aside from that, the Series 5 now comes with a built-in compass too. This gives you details on heading, incline, latitude, longitude, and current elevation. We don’t imagine it’s a feature many folks will use, but it will certainly come in handy for those with an active lifestyle.

Other specifications of the Series 5 are similar to the Series 4. The new Series 5 still has the same design, case sizes (40mm or 44mm), as well as the ability to provide EKG readings, though it’s not a feature enabled in all countries. If you’re wondering, no, the Apple Watch’s EKG sensor is not activated in Malaysia.

There are also a number of options for the Series 5 that are not offered in our local market. For starters, only the Stainless Steel and Aluminium models of the smartwatch are sold here; the higher-end Titanium and Ceramic finishes are nowhere to be found.

Thankfully, the band options are more elaborate. You can select from a wide variety of Sport Bands, Sport Loops, Leather straps, and of course, a number of Stainless Steel options too.

The Apple Watch Series 5 will be available in Malaysia from 1 November onwards. Although you can’t purchase the new smartwatch just set, you can start customising the Series 5 with
Apple Watch Studio
 on Apple’s local website.


Which Gaming Smartphone Should You Buy Now?

Gaming smartphones have really taken off this year. What began as a niche segment has slowly become more mainstream, especially with the rise of more affordable options. Now that we’re almost at the end of the year, there are quite a number of choices for those who are looking for a gaming smartphone in Malaysia.

It can be a little overwhelming to go through each one of them, so we’re highlighting some of the most noteworthy smartphones for gaming in the market right now. Whether you want the absolute best gaming device or one that offers the most value for money, this list should help you find the best fit for you.

Asus ROG Phone II

Out of all the smartphones in this list, the
ROG Phone II
 is really the most complete gaming device here. It has a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with 12GB of RAM, a 6.59-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a high 120Hz refresh rate, as well as the very useful AirTriggers ultrasonic buttons, which will give you an edge in shooters like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone II include 512GB or 1TB of internal storage, a huge 6,000mAh battery, a dual camera system (48MP f/1.8 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle), a 24MP f/2.2 front-facing shooter, and a quick in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Without a doubt the ROG Phone II is a premium, high-end gaming smartphone through and through, so it’s no surprise that it is also the most costly option in this list. For the Malaysian market, the 512GB variant retails at RM3,499, while the 1TB model goes for a whopping RM4,499.

It is not an affordable device, but for those who want a no compromise gaming smartphone, the Asus ROG Phone II fits the bill.

Black Shark 2 Pro

If the ROG Phone II’s asking price is a bit too steep for you, there’s the
Black Shark 2 Pro
. just like Asus’ offering, this gaming smartphone is also powered by a Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM; it should be able to match the ROG Phone II in the performance department.

But that’s where the similarity ends, unfortunately. See, the Black Shark 2 Pro only comes with a conventional 6.39-inch 1080p AMOLED display locked at 60Hz. Sure, a 60Hz refresh rate is still good enough to provide an enjoyable gaming experience, but it’s not quite as impressive as a much faster 120Hz, or even 90Hz screen.

Nonetheless, the Black Shark 2 Pro does make up for this with its more affordable pricing. The 128GB + 8GB model retails at RM2,499, while the 256GB + 12GB option costs RM2,999. For that kind of money, you’re also getting a 4,000mAh battery, two rear cameras (48MP f/1.75 primary + 8MP f/2.2 telephoto), a 12MP selfie shooter, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Nubia Red Magic 3

Want something even more affordable? Then the
Nubia Red Magic 3
 is the perfect option. Unlike the other two aforementioned devices, the Red Magic 3 has a slightly older Snapdragon 855 SoC paired with up to 12GB of RAM. While this means it is not quite a powerful, it has a fast 90Hz 6.65-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display, giving it the edge over the more expensive Black Shark 2.

Rounding out the specifications of the Red Magic 3 are two touch-sensitive shoulder buttons (just like the ROG Phone II’s AirTriggers), 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, a single 48MP f/1.7 rear camera, a 16MP f/2.0 selfie shooter, and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

So much how does the Nubia Red Magic 3 cost? Currently, the more affordable 128GB model with 8GB of RAM goes
for only RM1,999
, and the 256GB variant with 12GB of RAM is
priced at RM2,699
. Given its feature set, the Red Magic 3 definitely offers great value for money.

Razer Phone 2

Even though the
Razer Phone 2
 is the oldest device in this list, it is still worth a mention. After all, its asking price has dropped drastically since it was introduced in Malaysia earlier this year. Originally going for RM3,449, you can now get it
for only RM1,899
.

Of course, it’s also the least powerful gaming smartphone here, given that it comes with last year’s Snapdragon 845 chipset. But on a brighter note, it’s also the only other device in this list with a fast 120Hz 5.72-inch UltraMotion IGZO 1440p display, so that’s a plus point.

Other specifications of the Razer Phone 2 include 8GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a dual camera configuration (12MP f/1.75 main + 12MP f/2.6 telephoto), an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing shooter, IP67 rating (other devices here don’t have this feature), and a 4,000mAh battery.

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro

Now, even though the
Mi 9T Pro
 is not marketed as a gaming smartphone, it’s a great option for those who are tight on budget. After all, it offers similar hardware as the rest of the smartphones in this list for a lot less money. Retailing from only RM1,599, it undercuts the ROG Phone II’s asking price by
more than half
.

Then again, it’s also not quite as powerful as the Asus device. The Mi 9T Pro features a Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, a 6.39-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED all-screen display – thanks to the use of a 20MP f/2.2 pop-up camera – an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a 4,000mAh battery.

In the camera department, the Mi 9T Pro also has the most versatile camera system. It has three shooters on the back: a 48MP f/1.75 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens, and a 13MP f/2.4 wide angle camera. As for pricing, the Mi 9T retails at RM1,599 and RM1,799 for the 64GB and 128GB variants respectively.

All in all, any of the smartphones in this list will serve you well as a gaming device. The Asus ROG Phone II and Black Shark 2 Pro are made for those who want the best gaming performance, while the Nubia Red Magic 3 and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro are meant to appeal to those who want the most bang for their buck.

As for the Razer Phone 2, it’s a great option if you want a 120Hz display at a lower price point, not to mention the IP67 rating of the phone. Compare the feature set of these phones against your budget, and go from there to choose the best device for you.


OnePlus 7T Hands-On: Now With Pro Features

When the OnePlus 7 was launched alongside the
OnePlus 7 Pro
, it wasn’t particularly impressive, given its incremental upgrades over the
OnePlus 6T
. But that changes with the
OnePlus 7T
, thanks to a couple of new additions. Not only is it faster now, it also comes with the Pro’s Fluid AMOLED display.

That’s right, the OnePlus 7T features a 90Hz screen, making it a far more exciting device than its predecessor. Of course, other aspects of the phone have been improved accordingly too, including the camera system. We got our hands on the OnePlus 7T ahead of its Malaysian launch, and here’s our hands-on of OnePlus’ latest flagship smartphone.

First off, let’s talk about the OnePlus 7T’s 6.55-inch 2400 x 1080 Fluid AMOLED display, which is very pleasant to look at. This is thanks to the high 90Hz refresh rate, so everything looks extra smooth on this screen. Whether it’s scrolling through the settings page or navigating the use interface, you’ll definitely appreciate the extra frames the 90Hz display offers.

Screen quality of the OnePlus 7T is great as well. It is an AMOLED panel, so you get deep blacks, vibrant colours, and excellent viewing angles with this display. It can get really bright too, so outdoor visibility should not be an issue at all with this smartphone.

Sure, the notch at the top of the display (which houses a 16MP f/2.0 selfie camera) doesn’t look fantastic, but at least it doesn’t take up too much screen real estate.

In the performance department, the OnePlus 7T is powered by a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM. Compared to the standard Snapdragon 855 SoC, the former promises up to 15% better performance, thanks to the overclocked CPU and GPU. Paired with the fast 90Hz display, gaming should be very enjoyable on this phone.

That being said, I didn’t manage to play any graphically demanding mobile games on the OnePlus 7T, but I reckon it will be able to offer very, very good gaming performance. After all, it has the same Snapdragon 855+ chipset found in other high-end smartphones like the
Asus ROG Phone II
 and
Black Shark 2 Pro
. For what it’s worth, the 7T feels very zippy and responsive in my brief time with the phone.

Build quality of the OnePlus 7T is, without a doubt, excellent. The glossy metal frame gives the phone a premium touch, and I love the glass back finished in matte; it feels fantastic to the touch. While it does make the phone more slippery, it can hide fingerprints quite well.

Speaking of which, the in-screen fingerprint sensor of the OnePlus 7T is just as quick as the one found underneath the OnePlus 7 Pro’s display. Even though it’s only an optical sensor – unlike, say, the
Samsung Galaxy S10+
 and
Note 10+
‘s fancy ultrasonic unit – it’s easily one of the fastest in-screen sensors in the market now.

In fact, I’d say the 7T’s fingerprint sensor rivals the speed and accuracy of conventional capacitive sensors; that’s a big praise.

If there’s anything to be concerned about when it comes to the OnePlus 7T’s hardware, it would be the 3,800mAh battery. While this isn’t an awfully small battery capacity, it’s not particularly generous either. Given that it has to power a 6.55-inch 1080p display with a high 90Hz refresh rate, it’ll be interesting to see if it can deliver reasonably good battery life.

And then there’s the camera performance of the OnePlus 7T. Unlike the OnePlus 7’s dual camera system, the 7T features a much more sophisticated triple camera configuration. It’s made up of a 48MP f/1.6 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 telephoto lens, and a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter. With three different focal lengths to choose from, this is a very versatile setup.

However, my initial impression of the 7T’s camera performance isn’t great, especially with the 16MP ultra-wide angle shooter. Its detail preservation leaves much to be desired, and the camera interface feels sluggish in low light conditions. As for the 48MP main sensor and 12MP telephoto lens, they seem to be quite competent.

Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to give any verdict on the OnePlus 7T’s camera performance so quickly; I’ll need to spend more time photographing with the phone to really get a feel for the camera performance. Chances are, this triple camera system should perform
similarly as the OnePlus 7 Pro
.

The OnePlus 7T is a far more attractive phone than the OnePlus 7. It has a more sophisticated, versatile camera system, a fast 90Hz display, and equally fast performance too, courtesy of the Snapdragon 855+ chipset. If priced right, this phone could give the OnePlus 7 Pro a run for its money.

Unfortunately, we still don’t know exactly how much the OnePlus 7T would cost in Malaysia; the only information that’s confirmed is the fact that the flagship will be arriving here sometime next month in November. Only one variant of the 7T will be made available locally, which is the 128GB model with 8GB of RAM.

For the sake of comparison, the OnePlus 7T retails from $599 in the US; that comes up to about RM2,505. If the 7T is priced in the same neighbourhood on our shores, it will almost certainly be well-received.


Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite Lands in Malaysia 1 November; Starts at RM1,199

Remember the China-only Xiaomi Mi CC9? Well, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite is the global variant of the device, and it is coming to Malaysia on 1 November. Starting from RM1,199, the Mi 9 Lite is a reasonably good option for those looking to get a mid-range smartphone.

Design wise, the Mi 9 Lite looks very similar to the
flagship Mi 9
, right down to the notched display and camera arrangement on the back of the phone. In fact, the Mi 9 Lite also has a triple camera system, but it’s not quite as sophisticated; it loses the telephoto lens.

Instead, the Mi 9 Lite’s triple camera setup is made up of a 48MP f/1.79 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 2MP depth sensor. Not having a telephoto lens does limit the camera’s utility, but we imagine most folks will get more use out of the ultra-wide angle sensor anyway.

Besides that, the Mi 9 Lite is also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM. While it’s not quite as capable as, say, the similarly priced
Xiaomi Mi 9T
‘s Snapdragon 730 SoC, the Snapdragon 710 should still be able to offer relatively good level of performance, especially for everyday use.

Just like the rest of Xiaomi’s Mi 9 smartphones, the Mi 9 Lite also features a 6.39-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display. You can expect to get deep blacks and vibrant colours with this screen, and under the panel is an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Other specifications of the Mi 9 Lite include 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a 32MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, as well as a generous 4,030mAh battery,

The Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite will be available in two variants for the Malaysian market: the 64GB model retails at RM1,199, while the 128GB variant goes for RM1,299. Interestingly, the 64GB model will only be available online on Shopee and Lazada; physical Authorised Mi Stores will only carry the 128GB variant.

At these price points, the Mi 9 Lite sits in the same price range as another Xiaomi smartphone: the Mi 9T. In fact, the 64GB variant of the latter costs
exactly
 the same at RM1,199. For the same asking price, the Mi 9T offers a lot more value for your money, including better performance, sleeker design, and a more versatile camera system, thanks to the telephoto lens.

The Xiaomi Mi 9T

Granted, the Mi 9T does not have a microSD card slot, and the Mi 9 Lite sports a 32MP selfie camera rather than the Mi 9T’s 20MP motorised front-facing shooter. On top of that, if you want 128GB of storage, you’ll have to pay RM100 more for the Mi 9T (RM1,399) over the Mi 9 Lite (RM1,299).

Nonetheless, the Mi 9 Lite will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 1 November onwards. Three colours of the device are available: Aurora Blue, Pearl White, and Onyx Grey.


Micron Introduces Rugged Crucial X8, Its First Consumer Portable SSD

Micron, one of the biggest manufacturers of storage and memory solutions, just unveiled its very first consumer-oriented portable SSD here in San Francisco at Micron Insight 2019. The Crucial X8 Portable SSD is encased in a rugged chassis, which allows it to survive drops up to 7.5 feet – that’s quite an impressive feat.

Yes, the rugged nature of the Crucial X8 is one of its biggest selling points. Besides being drop-resistant, this portable SSD’s unibody core made from anodised aluminium also allows it to withstand “extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration,” as Micron puts it. The aluminium chassis lets it dissipate heat efficiently too in order to maximise performance.

It’s also worth noting the sheer portability of the X8; you can see how it compares to the Apple Magic Mouse below.

Of course, the Crucial X8 itself is also a fast portable SSD with sequential read speeds of up to 1,050MBps. According to Micron, this makes the X8 up to 1.8 times faster than other portable SSDs in the same price range. Naturally, when compared to portable hard drives, it’s immensely faster by up to 7.5 times.

This being a Crucial product – a global brand of Micron – reliability should not be an issue with the X8. After all, Crucial is one of the leading flash storage manufacturers in the world. If anything were to go wrong, however, the X8 is backed by a three-year limited warranty worldwide.

Not surprisingly, the Crucial X8 also works with a wide range of devices. These include PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Chromebook, Android, and even the iPad Pro. However, only the 2018 iPad Pro with a USB-C port is compatible with the X8.

Speaking of which, the Crucial X8 can connect to these devices via USB-C or USB-A; a Type-C to USB-A adapter is provided with the portable SSD. Of course, if you want the best performance, connect via USB-C to get up to 10Gbps transfer speed. If you use the USB-A adapter instead, you’ll only get half of that speed at up to 5Gbps.

The Crucial X8 Portable SSD is offered in two capacities: 500GB and a whopping 1TB. It is also available right now in selected markets, though the Malaysian availability and pricing of the portable drive have not been announced yet.


Micron X100 Touted as World’s Fastest SSD; Made with 3D XPoint Memory

This is arguably one of the most interesting products unveiled at Micron Insight 2019 happening right now in San Francisco. Enter the Micron X100, which is touted as the world’s fastest SSD. It offers more than 9GBps bandwidth in read, write, and mixed workloads, so without a doubt the X100 is an extremely fast SSD.

In order to achieve this level of performance, Micron takes advantage of 3D XPoint memory, making the X100 the company’s very first product to use the technology. 3D XPoint was co-developed by Micron and Intel, and prior to the announcement of the X100, Intel was the only company that offered 3D XPoint products under its Optane branding.

Now then, besides its impressive 9GBps bandwidth – Micron claims this is up to three times faster than other NAND products – the X100 also features up to 2.5 million input/output operations per second (IOPS). Again, this is said to be more than “three times faster than today’s competitive SSD offerings.”

Low latency is also one of the X100’s biggest features. With a latency of only 8 microseconds, this SSD is faster than Intel’s Optane SSDs, which has a latency of 10 microseconds. Given that the X100 uses the standard NVMe interface too, there will not be any compatibility issue.

Unfortunately, as impressive as the Micron X100 is, this SSD is not meant for regular consumers; not yet, anyway. At the moment, the X100 is made only for enterprise use like data centres, and it is available in limited sampling with selected customers this quarter. Not surprisingly, capacity options and pricing of this SSD have not been announced either.

That being said, we spoke with a Micron representative on the prospect of 3D XPoint memory – which is what makes the X100 such a fast SSD – trickling down to consumer-oriented products in the future. While the technology will be limited to enterprise use for now, we were told that there’s a chance 3D XPoint memory will be implemented in consumer products somewhere down the line.

But for the foreseeable future, 3D XPoint products from Micron will be focused on enterprise applications. Then again, as with all memory technologies, we reckon 3D XPoint will eventually trickle down to consumer products – it’s just a matter of time.


Getting a Portable Storage Drive? Consider the Crucial X8 SSD

When it comes to portable storage drives, most of us will probably think of portable hard disk drives (HDD). After all, they are inexpensive, and they offer a lot of storage capacity for the money. But if you want something that is far more durable and compact, consider the new
Crucial X8 Portable SSD
.

I’ve spent a brief time with a retail unit of the Crucial X8 at Micron Insight 2019, and it’s really quite an impressive portable drive. The best part is, it’s not as costly as you might have thought either.

What surprised me the most about the Crucial X8 when I first held it in hands is its sheer portability; official images of the drive really don’t do it justice. In fact, it’s compact enough to slip into my jeans pocket with absolutely no trouble. Try doing that with a portable HDD.

On top of that, the Crucial X8 has solid build quality as well. The unibody core itself is made out of anodised aluminium, which feels robust and really nice to the touch. It’s worth noting that the aluminium chassis also lets this portable SSD dissipate heat more efficiently in order to maximise performance.

Aside from that, either ends of the X8 have rubberised textures in order to improve grip. Did we mention that it can also survive drops up to 7.5 feet? Granted, that’s only on carpeted floors. Drops onto hard surfaces, on the other hand, is limited to 3 feet.

This being an SSD, the Crucial X8 has blazing fast sequential read speeds of up to 1,050MBps. This level of performance should be more than good enough for consumers, especially for those who plan to use it with gaming consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to store their games.

That’s right, the X8 is compatible with a wide range of devices. Besides the aforementioned gaming consoles, this portable SSD also works with a Windows PC, macOS, Chromebook, Android, and even the 2018 iPad Pro with USB-C. The X8 can be connected to these devices either via USB-C or USB-A; an adapter is provided with the portable drive.

Of course, the Crucial X8 does have some shortcomings. For one, it uses QLC NAND with a dynamic SLC cache, so the transfer speed will drop dramatically once the cache is filled up. While this isn’t great, it will only happen if you’re transferring bigger file sizes. The threshold is about 90GB for the 500GB model, or 180GB for the 1TB drive.

The Crucial X8 Portable SSD is available in two capacities: 500GB and 1TB. The former retails at $120 (about RM500) while the much more generous 1TB variant goes for $190 (approximately RM795). Not surprisingly, the 1TB model offers much better value for money, and the X8 comes with a three-year limited warranty to boot.

These prices are definitely a lot steeper than what you’d have to pay for a portable HDD, but to certain consumers, it’s worth the extra penny. Not only does the X8 offer much faster transfer speeds, it’s also a lot more durable than spinning drives, given that it doesn’t have any moving parts. Plus, it’s packaged in a sleek, compact form factor too.

Unfortunately, Malaysian availability of the Crucial X8 still remains to be seen. But given that some Micron products are available in our market – which include Crucial SSD storage and Ballistix RAM sticks – it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that the X8 will eventually arrive here. Hopefully, it will still carry a competitive price tag on our shores.


Apple Releases AirPods Pro with Noise Cancellation; Available in Malaysia for RM1,099

Apple finally took the wraps off the AirPods Pro. Just like rumours have suggested, the new pair of wireless earbuds come with active noise cancellation; a feature that’s becoming increasingly common on truly wireless earbuds.

Noise cancellation isn’t the only feature that differentiates the AirPods Pro from the regular AirPods. For starters, the premium earbuds sport a new design with a shorter stem, along with flexible ear tips for better fit. Three different sizes of silicone tips are provided with the wireless earbuds, so you should be able to find one that fits you just right.

If you’re not quite sure you’ve chosen the right tip size, the AirPods Pro offer an “ear tip fit test.” According to Apple, the earbuds would “measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what is coming from the speaker driver” to determine if you’ve got a good fit. It remains to be seen just how well this would work, but it will certainly make it easier for users to find the right tip size.

Like other wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro also has an ambient mode, which allows you to hear your surrounding. Apple calls it Transparency Mode, and it can be activated by pressing and holding on the new Force Sensor located on the stem of the earbuds.

Of course, the Force Sensor can also be used to control music playback. Press on it once to play or pause – you can also answer a phone call this way – press twice to skip forward, or press the sensor three times to go back a track.

Naturally, Apple promises superior audio quality with the AirPods Pro. One way it does this is with Adaptive EQ; it supposedly “tunes the low- and mid-frequencies of music to the shape of an individual’s ear,” as Apple puts it. The Cupertino company elaborated that this would offer a rich, immersive listening experience.

Active noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro, on the other hand, detects external sound with an outward-facing mic, which are then canceled out by the earbuds. There’s also a second inward-facing mic that listens toward the ear, allowing the AirPods Pro to cancel any remaining noise detected. Apple says this is done continuously 200 times per second.

Other specifications of the AirPods Pro include sweat and water resistance (IPX4), up to five hours of battery life – switching on active noise cancellation and Transparency Mode bring it down to 4.5 hours – a charging case that can provide up to 24 hours of listening time, as well as support for wireless charging.

While the exact availability of the new AirPods Pro in Malaysia has not been revealed yet, we do know how much it will cost here. Retailing at RM1,099, the AirPods Pro are not particularly affordable. As a point of comparison, Sony’s own
WF-1000XM3
 offers similar feature set for only RM949.

Then again, the audio quality of the AirPods Pro could justify the asking price. We’ll just have to wait for the earbuds to start shipping to consumers to find out.


OnePlus 7T Pro Now in Malaysia for RM3,399

The OnePlus 7T Pro was officially unveiled
just a few weeks back
, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see that the flagship smartphone is now available in Malaysia. Unlike the
OnePlus 7 Pro
 – which was offered in a number of options – only a single variant of the 7T Pro is brought into our market.

That’s right, you can only get the 256GB model of the OnePlus 7T Pro with 8GB of RAM here, and it’s priced at RM3,399. Compared to its direct predecessor, this is actually a pretty good price tag: the 7 Pro with the same storage and RAM capacities retailed at RM3,699 when it was first launched in Malaysia. Needless to say, the 7T Pro offers better value for money.

So how does the OnePlus 7T Pro differ from its predecessor? For starters, it now sports a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, which promises up to 15% better performance. This is thanks to the overclocked GPU and CPU of the SoC.

Besides that, the battery capacity of the 7T Pro has been slightly improved too. Instead of the 7 Pro’s 4,000mAh cell, the successor features a 4,085mAh cell. It’s hard to say just how much of an impact the extra 85mAh would bring, but it
is
 a bigger capacity.

Other aspects of the OnePlus 7T Pro remain unchanged from its predecessor. Naturally, it still has a 6.67-inch 3120 x 1440 AMOLED display with a fast 90Hz refresh rate. The all-screen design is retained too, given that the 16MP f/2.0 motorised pop-up camera is also present.

On the back of the 7T Pro, there’s the familiar triple camera system. It’s made up of a 48MP f/1.6 main shooter, a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. Given that this is the same camera configuration as the 7 Pro, you should get
similar camera performance too
.

Of course, the 7T Pro has an in-screen fingerprint sensor as well, along with OxygenOS based on Android 10 out of the box.

The OnePlus 7T Pro is now available for purchase in Malaysia
for RM3,399
. Just like other markets, this flagship smartphone is only offered in Haze Blue. If you want the McLaren Edition instead, it is set to arrive in Malaysia sometime in November next month – expect to pay a small premium for that particular model.


Acer Launches Slew of ConceptD Products in Malaysia, Including RM18,999 ConceptD 9 Pro

Acer just unveiled a number of ConceptD products in Malaysia, which include workstation laptops, a desktop, and even monitors. As these products are launched under the ConceptD branding, they are meant to appeal to creative professionals.

Let’s start with the ConceptD laptops. As many as five different workstation machines are available here: there’s the premium ConceptD 9 Pro, the ConceptD 7 Pro, the regular ConceptD 7, the ConceptD 5 Pro, and the most affordable of the lot, the ConceptD 3 Pro.

ConceptD 9 Pro

Naturally, the ConceptD 9 Pro is the highest-end offering. It comes with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor paired with 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz RAM, an Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 GPU, a whopping 1TB of fast PCIe NVMe SSD, and of course, a Panton Validated 17.3-inch 4K IPS touch display.

That display is one of the best features of the ConceptD 9 Pro. Not only does it cover 100% of the Adobe RGB and sRGB colour spaces, it also has a colour accuracy of Delta E <1. Besides that, this workstation also features Acer’s unique Ezel Aero Hinges; the same one found on the
Acer Predator Triton 900
.

All of these hardware comes at a price: the ConceptD 9 Pro retails at a cool RM18,999. Interestingly, this laptop’s specifications can be customised to your liking.

ConceptD 7 & ConceptD 7 Pro

Next are the standard ConceptD 7 and ConceptD 7 Pro. Basically, these two laptops are identical to each other except for the graphics card option: the ConceptD 7 comes with a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, while the Pro model can be configured with a Quadro RTX 5000 or RTX 3000 GPU.

Other specifications of these two workstation laptops include a 15.6-inch 4K IPS display – Pantone Validated with a Delta E <2 colour accuracy – a Core i7-9750H processor paired with 16GB of DDR4 2666MHz RAM, as well as a 512GB PCIe SSD. The ConceptD 7 laptops are also slim and light machines: they tip the scales at only 2.1kg with a 17.9mm thin chassis.

Given their beefy hardware, these two laptops do not come cheap. The ConceptD 7 Pro retails at RM12,999 and RM8,699 for the Quadro RTX 5000 and RTX 3000 options respectively. The ConceptD 7 with an RTX 2060 GPU, on the other hand, goes for RM9,999.

Just like the ConceptD 9 Pro, the ConceptD 7 Pro is a customisable order, but this does not apply to the regular ConceptD 7.

ConceptD 5 Pro

If you want a more affordable option, there’s the
ConceptD 5 Pro
. It comes with a 17.3-inch or 15.6-inch 4K IPS display (Pantone Validated, Delta E <2), a Core i7-9750H processor paired with 16GB of DDR4 2666MHz RAM, a 512GB PCIe SSD, and two GPU options: Quadro RTX 3000 or T1000.

Pricing wise, the 17.3-inch ConceptD 5 Pro with a Quadro RTX 3000 GPU retails at RM8,699, while the 15.6-inch variant is priced at RM7,999 and RM6,999 for the Quadro RTX 3000 and T1000 options respectively. As per the other Pro workstations, the ConceptD 5 Pro is a customisable order.

ConceptD 3 Pro

And then we’ve got the most affordable option, the
ConceptD 3 Pro
. Only a single variant of the laptop is available here, which comes with a Core i7-9750H processor, a Quadro T1000 GPU, 16GB of DDR4 2666MHz RAM, a 512GB PCIe SSD, and a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display. Yes, it’s Pantone Validated with a Delta E <3 colour accuracy.

Even though the ConceptD 3 Pro is the most affordable workstation laptop launched today, it still demands quite a hefty price tag, retailing at RM5,999. Is it a customisable order? Certainly.

If you want to purchase any of these ConceptD laptops, you’ll have to send an email to Acer at
[email protected]
. But if you want the standard ConceptD 7 instead, you can purchase it at selected retail stores, as well as online on Shopee and Lazada.

ConceptD 500 Desktop

Workstation laptops not quite your thing? Then you may be interested with the ConceptD 500 desktop. It’s a rather sleek-looking, minimalist machine with some wood effect at the top of the desktop. In fact, there’s even a Qi wireless charger beside the ports here.

Inside the ConceptD 500 you’ll find a Core i7-9700K processor paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a Quadro P2000 GPU, a 256GB SSD, and a 1TB 7200rpm HDD. Reasonably good hardware for a workstation desktop.

However, you’ll have to pay quite a bit for the ConceptD 500: it retails at RM7,999. Those who are keen to get it can now purchase this desktop at selected Acer Concept Stores or online via Shopee and Lazada.

ConceptD CP7 & CP3 Monitors

Launched alongside the products above are the ConceptD CP7271K P and CP3271K P monitors. Given that these are made for creative professionals, the 27-inch 3840 x 2160 IPS displays (with a fast 144Hz refresh rate) of both monitors are Pantone Validated with a Delta E <1 colour accuracy.

So what differentiates the two monitors? For starters, the CP7 supports Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate with a 99% Adobe RGB colour gamut; the CP3 is only G-Sync Compatible with a 90% DCi-P3 colour gamut. Beyond that, both monitors have the same design.

The ConceptD CP7 and CP3 monitors will be available in Malaysia sometime next month in November 2019. The CP7 retails at RM6,999, while the CP3 goes for RM3,399.


OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition & Standard OnePlus 7T Malaysian Pricing Revealed; Starts at RM2,599

The Malaysian pricing of the
OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition
 and standard
OnePlus 7T
 have just been announced. Surprisingly enough, these two smartphones offer reasonably good value for money, especially the OnePlus 7T, which is set to go for only RM2,599.

For that kind of money, you’re getting the 128GB variant of the OnePlus 7T with 8GB of RAM, which is…reasonably good value for money, given the feature set of the smartphone. The McLaren Edition of the OnePlus 7T Pro, on the other hand, is priced at RM3,899 for the 256GB model with 12GB of RAM.

While RM3,899 doesn’t make the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition particularly affordable, it’s not an exorbitant asking price, which is usually the case for limited edition smartphones. Plus, the McLaren Edition is actually priced lower than the previous
OnePlus 7 Pro
: the 256GB variant (also with 12GB of RAM) retailed at RM4,199 when it was launched here.

Anyway, if you want the best value for money, the OnePlus 7T is definitely the better option. For RM2,599, the 7T features a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset. Compared to the regular Snapdragon 855 SoC, the 855+’s overclocked CPU and GPU promises up to 15% better performance.

Besides that, the OnePlus 7T also has a 6.55-inch 2400 x 1080 Fluid AMOLED display with a high 90Hz refresh rate, though it has a notch at the top of the screen. Other specifications of the flagship include a triple camera system (48MP f/1.6 primary + 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 12MP f/2.2 telephoto), a 16MP f/2.0 selfie camera, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a 3,800mAh battery.

As for the McLaren Edition, it has the same hardware as the regular OnePlus 7T Pro. These include a 90Hz 6.67-inch 3120 x 1440 Fluid AMOLED display with an all-screen design – thanks to the use of a 16MP f/2.0 motorised pop-up camera – a Snapdragon 855+ chipset, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a 4,085mAh battery.

On the back, this limited edition device features a triple camera system made up of a 48MP f/1.6 primary shooter, a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens.

The OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition and OnePlus 7T are now available for pre-order in Malaysia. The latter will ship from 4 November onwards, while the McLaren Edition will be delivered the next day on 5 November.


Micron Unveils 7300 & 5300 SSDs for Enterprise Use

Aside from the
Micron X100
 and
Crucial X8
, Micron also introduced the 7300 and 5300 series SSDs for enterprise use at Micron Insight 2019. Compared to their respective predecessors, they bring quite a number of notable improvements.

Let’s start with the Micron 7300 series of SSDs. Curiously enough, it is a direct successor to the Micron 7100 series; there was no 7200 family. Nonetheless, the 7300 SSDs are low-power NVMe drives that use Micron’s latest 96-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory, which lets the company to increase the maximum capacity of the drives while retaining the same size.

There are two models in the Micron 7300 series: the 7300 Max and 7300 Pro. The 7300 Max is the higher endurance option – with endurance rating between 3.0 to 4.2 DWPD – and it is available in capacities ranging from 800GB to 6.4TB for the U.2 (7mm) form factor. The M.2 format is limited to 400GB and 800GB.

As for the Micron 7300 Pro, it is available in U.2 (7mm) standard with capacities ranging from 960GB to 7.68TB; the M.2 (80mm, 110mm) option, on the other hand, is available in 480GB to 3.84TB. Endurance rating of the 7300 Pro is between 1.1 to 1.6 DWPD.

And then we have the Micron 5300 series, which are made up of the 5300 Max, 5300 Pro, and 5300 Boot. According to Micro, these successors to the 5200 family are the first enterprise SATA SSDs to be built on 96-layer 3D TLC NAND; the 5200 series only used 64-layer 3D TLC.

Out of the three options, the 5300 Max has the best endurance rating between 3.5 to 5.0 DWPD, with capacities ranging from 240GB to 3.84TB. This particular drive is only available in 2.5-inch form factor, while the 5300 Pro is offered in both 2.5-inch and M.2 options.

However, not all capacities of the 5300 Pro are available in both form factors. The 3.84TB and 7.68TB variants, for example, is only offered in 2.5-inch. Other capacities of the drive, which range from 240GB to 1.92TB, can be purchased in M.2 and 2.5-inch options. As for the endurance rating of the 5300 Pro, it is rated from 0.6 to 1.5 DWPD.

And then there’s the 5300 Boot; this particular SSD is offered with only 240GB of storage in M.2 format. As its name suggests, it’s meant to be used as a boot drive. The 5300 Boot also has a 1.0 DWPD endurance rating.

The Micron 7300 series SSDs will be available for order from December 2019 onwards, while there’s no official release date for the Micron 5300.


Touch ‘n Go eWallet Now on ShopBack; New Users Get RM10 Cashback

ShopBack just introduced its first ewallet partner, which is none other than Touch ‘n Go eWallet. Thanks to this collaboration, you can now receive cashback by simply reloading your TNG eWallet account. In fact, you can get up to RM10 in cashback.

Of course, there are some caveats here. For one, the RM10 cashback is limited to new users only, and they would have to top-up at least RM10 – that’s the minimum reload amount for TNG eWallet – to be eligible for the cashback. On top of that, the RM10 cashback is only valid until 11 November; it will be reverted to RM9 after that.

Existing users, on the other hand, can get a decent amount of cashback too. Each month, you can get RM3 cashback by simply reloading your TNG eWallet. If you, say, top-up RM10, you’re effectively getting 30% back in cashback. That being said, you can only receive the RM3 cashback once a month, and there’s a 60-day waiting period before you can redeem the cashback.

Besides announcing its collaboration with Touch ‘n Go eWallet, ShopBack also shared with us a number of other announcements. For the upcoming 11.11 sale, the platform will offer up to 30% upsized cashback on various sites, including Lazada, Taobao, Lenovo, Zalora, and even Nike. Here are some of the deals outlined by ShopBack:

Taobao – up to 30%, 1 – 11 November
Lazada – double cashback, up to 20% from 6PM to 8PM on 11 November
Zalora – up to 15%, 8 – 12 November
Nike – 15% on 11 November
Lenovo – 14%, 10 – 11 November
Booking.com – 9%, 8 – 11 November
Klook – up to 7.5% on 11 November

Interestingly, a new in-app game called “Cashback Troopers” will also be available in the ShopBack app from 4 November onwards. All you have to do is just connect three or more icons in the game to earn diamonds, which can then be used to redeem rewards like discounts and free shipping vouchers to be used on Shopee, Lazada, Lenovo, Senheng, and many more.

You will also be in the running to win a number of big-ticket items like a RM5,000 Senheng voucher, RM8,000 worth of Dyson products, a RM2,500 Sephora voucher, and a grand prize of RM12,000 Agoda travel voucher.

If you’d like to learn more about these upcoming offers, check out ShopBack’s
official site
. More information on the Touch ‘n Go eWallet cashback can be found
here
.


Google Acquires Fitbit for RM8.7 Billion; Made by Google Wearables in the Horizon

This was only a rumour earlier this week, but lo and behold, it is
now official
: Google is buying Fitbit for a whopping $2.1 billion, which comes up to about RM8.7 billion. With this acquisition, Google will have the resources it needs to enter the wearable market.

Previously, Google’s role in the wearable market was limited to the software side of things with its Wear OS platform. But now that it owns Fitbit, the search giant can now release its own wearable hardware too. It may not be that long before we start seeing smartwatches and fitness bands with Google’s very own branding.

According to the Google’s Senior Vice President of devices and services, Rick Osterloh, the Fitbit acquisition will allow the company to “invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market.”

But what about existing Fitbit users? How will this affect them? Well, both Google and Fitbit assure these users that their health and wellness data obtained by Fitbit will not be used for Google ads. Google also elaborated that existing Fitbit users “will be given the choice to review, move, or delete their data.”

Given Google’s continued push to move beyond providing software for smartphones and wearables, its acquisition of Fitbit isn’t all that surprising. After all, it took over a part of HTC’s smartphone team just two years ago to further bolster the development of its Pixel phones. That particular deal seems to be going relatively well for the company, especially with the release of the
Pixel 3A
 and
Pixel 4
.

Then again, it remains to be seen just how Google’s purchase of Fitbit will benefit Wear OS in the long run; a smartwatch platform that has been largely ignored for the past couple of years. While there’s still a lack of new Wear OS devices in the market, Apple is making strides with its
Apple Watches
, Samsung has its own
Tizen-based smartwatches
, and heck, even Fitbit itself doesn’t use Wear OS.

Hopefully, Google’s acquisition of Fitbit will see even better Wear OS offerings in the near future. If that’s the case, Android – and even iOS – users will have even more options when it comes to smartwatches, which should make the wearable market that much more competitive.


Illegear Laguna SE Hands-On: A Powerful, Value for Money RTX 2070 Gaming Laptop

If you’re a PC gamer, you would’ve probably heard of Illegear, which is quite well-known for offering gaming laptops with a lot of customisation options. One such laptop is this one right here: the Illegear Laguna SE. Sporting a sleek chassis and a powerful RTX 2070 GPU, this is one capable gaming laptop.

After spending a brief time with the Laguna SE, I’m impressed with its feature set. If you want a light, portable gaming machine with fast performance, you really should consider this laptop.

One of the biggest selling points of the Laguna SE is its slim profile and lightweight chassis. Measuring only 21mm thin, this is a reasonably slim gaming laptop,
especially
 for an RTX 2070 machine. On top of that, it weighs only 1.9kg too, so lugging around this laptop in your backpack shouldn’t be too cumbersome.

Build quality of the Laguna SE is great as well. It feels solid, there’s not much keyboard flex, and the mostly metal construction feels great to the touch. However, I’m not too crazy about the bottom chassis of the laptop, which is made out of plastic. It doesn’t quite live up to the premium positioning of the Laguna SE.

That being said, I do like the top lid’s design, especially the gold accent. Did I mention the accent is also illuminated?

Like most gaming laptops in the market now, the Laguna SE has a fast 144Hz 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display. According to Illegear, this panel is capable of showing 100% of the sRGB colour space. While I don’t have the tools to verify this, it does look very impressive with a good level of brightness, vibrant colours, as well as great viewing angles.

And thanks to the high 144Hz refresh rate, everything – and I mean
everything
 – looks incredibly smooth on this display. Whether you are just moving the mouse cursor or gaming, you will definitely notice the higher frame rate.

Considering the fact that the Laguna SE can be configured with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 GPU, you will be able to make full use of the 144Hz display. While I wasn’t able to thoroughly test out the gaming performance of this laptop, I’m positive the RTX 2070 can return high and consistent frame rate in many – if not all – AAA titles.

It is also worth mentioning that the Laguna SE comes with an RTX 2070 “Max-Performance” GPU, which is quite a bit faster than an equivalent RTX 2070 with Max-Q design. Compared to the latter, the RTX 2070 Max-P should offer about 20% better performance – that’s a noticeable difference.

Next are the input devices of the Laguna SE, starting with the three-zone RGB keyboard. For the most part, it’s a decent keyboard with just enough travel for a comfortable typing experience. I also love just how “light” the keys are: it doesn’t take too much force to actuate the keys, allowing me to type quite fast on this keyboard.

That being said, I do have one major qualm with the Laguna SE’s keyboard, and it has to do with the layout. Now, the keyboard itself is fine when I’m typing, but it can get really frustrating when I need to access the right side. See, in order to fit a full-size number pad to the right of the keyboard, the backspace and enter keys are shortened.

Whenever I wanted to press the enter key, I ended up hitting the number 4 on the numpad. When you need to type quickly and accurately, this can get frustrating real fast. Can I get used to this odd keyboard layout in the long run? Maybe. But should this have been an issue in the first place? Absolutely not.

As for the Laguna SE’s trackpad, it’s reasonably good. My fingers can glide easily on the smooth surface, and it’s pretty darn accurate too. However, I’m not thrilled with the build quality of the trackpad. It’s not as well-assembled as it should be, with a bit of play when I press down on it slightly.

The Illegear Laguna SE may have some shortcomings (especially the input devices), but as a whole, it’s really quite an attractive gaming laptop. On top of that, it offers relatively good value for money too. Right now, you can get this RTX 2070 model with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of fast PCIe NVMe SSD, and Windows 10 installed
for only RM7,047
 – RM6,695 if you pay in cash instead.

At that price point, not many of its competition can offer the same value for money as the Laguna SE, let alone a different gaming laptop that is packaged in a slim and light package like it. If you’re keen to get this machine, you can do so on Illegear’s
official site
.


Asus ZenBook Pro Duo Hands-On: Do You Need Two Screens on a Laptop?

Surprisingly enough, quite a number of PC makers have experimented with two screens on a laptop; even Apple did the same (to an extent) with the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. But Asus takes things even further with this laptop right here: the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo.

Not only does it have an absolutely gorgeous 4K OLED main display, this laptop also comes with a wide 14-inch 3840 x 1100 ScreenPad Plus secondary display right above the keyboard. This may seem like a gimmick, but it could be very functional – here’s our hands-on of the ZenBook Pro Duo.

So what’s the deal with the ScreenPad Plus? Well, it’s basically an extension of the primary display. To move things to the secondary screen, all you need to do is drag it down from the main display; Windows treat it as an extended screen.

Given the wide aspect ratio of the ScreenPad Plus, you’d really want to open at least two windows on it. Just like the main OLED panel, this secondary screen is also touch-enabled, which makes it a lot more intuitive to use. The matte finish of the screen is also a nice touch, allowing my fingers to glide effortlessly on the ScreenPad Plus.

I’ve got to be honest though: I don’t really see the utility of the secondary display. At least, not after spending only a brief time with the ZenBook Pro Duo. But I do see how it can be useful to place “distractions” like Twitter and Facebook on the ScreenPad Plus, and leave the primary OLED display for whatever task at hand.

Speaking of which, the main 15.6-inch 4K OLED display is simply
stunning
. Thanks to the inherent characteristic of OLED panels, you get deep, true blacks, bright vibrant colours, as well as great viewing angles. Coupled with the high 4K resolution, this is a sharp, crisp, and very,
very
 pleasant display to look at.

Plus, you don’t often see OLED screens on laptops, making the ZenBook Pro Duo rather unique in this aspect. If you want the best display quality on a laptop, this machine easily fits that description. Even the best IPS LCD screen is simply not in the same league as this incredible OLED panel.

If I have any qualm with the OLED display, it would be the refresh rate, which is only set to 60Hz. Granted, this isn’t a gaming laptop, so a high refresh rate isn’t exactly a priority.

Under the hood of the ZenBook Pro Duo is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. For the target audience of this laptop (creative professionals), this GPU is reasonably suited for the task. Of course, an Nvidia Quadro GPU would be the better option, but the RTX 2060 gives you more versatility if you want to do some gaming on the side.

Now, just because the ZenBook Pro Duo has a 4K display doesn’t mean you can game at that resolution. As capable as the RTX 2060 is, it will struggle to deliver good frame rate in 4K, especially with more demanding games. 1080p is the sweet spot for this GPU, or even 1440p in some titles.

Despite the sheer size of the ZenBook Pro Duo, its port selection is surprisingly limited. It only comes with two USB-A ports, a USB-C connection, an HDMI output, and…that’s it. It doesn’t even have an SD or microSD card slot, which is an odd omission for a laptop that’s meant to appeal to creative professionals.

Regardless, let’s move on to the keyboard of the ZenBook Pro Duo. I’m not a fan of front-loaded keyboards on laptops, and the same still applies here. Not only is it uncomfortable to type on the keyboard with the laptop on my lap, it still doesn’t feel particularly comfortable even on a desk without the included palm rest.

But as for the keyboard itself, it’s decent. There’s enough key travel for a comfortable typing experience, the keys are very tactile, and the standard layout takes little to no adjustment for me to start typing as quickly as I do on a standard full-size keyboard.

And then there’s the unconventional trackpad to the right of the keyboard, which also doubles as the numpad. For the most part, it’s an accurate trackpad with a smooth surface, though I do wish it was slightly wider for a more comfortable experience.

The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is an intriguing laptop. I’m not entirely sold on the utility of the ScreenPad Plus secondary display, but I absolutely
love
 the main OLED screen. The whole laptop also feels very well-built and robust, though I do wish it had more ports for a laptop this size.

As interesting as the ZenBook Pro Duo is, exactly how attractive of a laptop it would be will depend on how much Asus Malaysia will price this machine for our market in relation to the hardware offered. After all, the exact specifications of the Pro Duo for the Malaysian market have not been revealed yet.

We’ll find out exactly how much the ZenBook Pro Duo will cost along with its full list of specifications once the laptop is launched locally on 14 November next week. If priced right, the Pro Duo may attract more than just creative professionals.


Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Unveiled with 108MP Penta-Camera; On Par with Mate 30 Pro

Xiaomi just introduced a new smartphone in China with an impressive camera system. It is the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro, which features a penta-camera system (that’s five lenses) with a 108MP primary sensor. The kicker? It’s said to be on par with the camera system of the
Huawei Mate 30 Pro
.

This is based on DxOMark’s rating of the Mi CC9 Pro’s camera system, which gave it a total score of 121 – the same score the Mate 30 Pro received. According to the
full analysis
, the CC9 Pro offers great zoom performance, fast autofocus, and good detail preservation for the wide angle sensor.

Thanks to the combination of a 12MP f/2.0 telephoto lens (50mm) and an 8MP f/2.0 longer telephoto sensor (94mm), the Mi CC9 Pro can do either 10x hybrid zoom or 50x digital zoom; that’s pretty darn impressive. DxOMark says that the 12MP shooter provides 2x optical zoom, while the 8MP camera does around 4x optical zoom.

As mentioned, the primary sensor in the penta-camera configuration is an 108MP f/1.69 shooter with a 7P (or 8P for the Premium Edition) lens. As it uses pixel binning for improved camera performance, this sensor outputs 27MP images instead. The other two cameras, on the other hand, are a 20MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor and a f/2.4 macro shooter.

Beyond its camera system, other specifications of the Mi CC9 Pro put it comfortably in the upper mid-range segment. For one, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM. This is no flagship smartphone, even if it has an impressive camera system.

Like most Xiaomi smartphones in this segment, the Mi CC9 Pro features a 6.47-inch 2340 x 1080 dual curved AMOLED (notched) display along with an optical in-screen fingerprint sensor underneath it. Given the 1080p resolution and the CC9 Pro’s very generous 5,260mAh battery, this phone should be able to offer excellent battery life.

Other specifications of the Mi CC9 Pro include a 32MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, NFC, and an infrared sensor.

The Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro is currently only available in the Chinese market. Three variants of the phone are offered: the 128GB + 6GB and 256GB + 8GB models are priced at 2,799 Chinese yuan (about RM1,650) and 3,099 yuan (approximately RM1,830) respectively, while the 256GB + 8GB Premium Edition with an 8P lens for the 102MP camera goes for 3,499 yuan (around RM2,065).


The Xiaomi Mi Watch Looks Like an Apple Watch Running on Wear OS

There are quite a number of smartwatches released under the Xiaomi ecosystem, but this is the Chinese company’s first smartwatch to bear the Mi branding. This is the Xiaomi Mi Watch, and it seems to take design cues from the Apple Watch quite a bit.

Aesthetic similarities aside, the Mi Watch is actually quite an interesting smartwatch. It comes with a bright and vibrant 1.78-inch 448 x 368 AMOLED display, so you’ll get deep blacks, punchy colours, and great viewing angles with this screen.

Build quality is also one of the Mi Watch’s strong suits. The back of the case is ceramic, and the casing itself is made out of aluminium alloy – stainless steel for the pricier Premium Edition. The glass protecting the display is also very interesting: the Standard Edition uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3, while the Premium Edition is equipped with more scratch-resistant sapphire glass.

Interestingly, the Mi Watch runs on Google’s Wear OS platform, but Xiaomi added its own customisation to the software. The result is a custom user interface dubbed MIUI For Watch, and right off the bat, it is pre-loaded with 40 popular apps for the Chinese market. These include TikTok, QQ Messenger, and QQ Music, to name a few.

Powering the Mi Watch is a Snapdragon Wear 3100 4G chipset, which uses four Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.2GHz. Thanks to this SoC, the Mi Watch comes with eSIM support, so it doesn’t need to be paired to a smartphone to access all of its functionalities.

Battery life should be great on the Mi Watch as well. It is packed with a 570mAh battery that promises up to 36 hours of use with 4G connectivity switched on. Chances are, you can extend the battery life even further if the watch is connected to a smartphone.

Rounding out the specifications of the Mi Watch include water resistance – you can use it while swimming – GPS support, NFC, a dedicated speaker, and a heart rate sensor.

Not surprisingly, the Xiaomi Mi Watch is priced very competitively. The Standard Edition goes for only 1,299 Chinese yuan (about RM765), while the Premium Edition with a stainless steel bracelet retails at 1,999 yuan (approximately RM1,180). At the moment, the Mi Watch is only available in China; it will go on sale in the country on 11 November.