PRISM+ Q65-QE Review: Huge 4K Android TV, Small Price Tag

PRISM+’s range of products have always offered very good value for money, which is exactly why the PRISM+ Q65-QE is such a compelling Android TV. After all, it’s a huge 65-inch 4K smart TV…for just RM2,999.

Not only does this make it a very affordable 65-inch 4K TV, it also offers great image quality for the money. If you want a large 4K TV for the least amount of money, look no further than the PRISM+ Q65-QE.

What It Is

The Q65-QE is part of the
PRISM+ Q series 4K TVs
, which also include the Q55-QE; that particular model is a 55-inch TV for only RM2,299. Beyond the different screen sizes, both of these TVs share the same specifications, including a sharp 3840 x 2160 Quantum IPS panel.

That’s right, the Q65-QE uses quantum dot technology for even brighter, more saturated colours. This also translates to a wider colour gamut; perfect for HDR content. Speaking of which, this 4K TV supports HDR10 as well, not to mention wide viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel.

Of course, the Q65-QE runs on Android TV too, so you have access to over 500 apps on the Google Play Store. You can also cast content to the TV from your mobile device, along with the ability to use voice commands via Google Assistant with the provided remote.

With all of these features in mind, it’s pretty crazy how the Q65-QE retails at only RM2,999. Not too long ago, you can’t even get a 55-inch 4K TV at this price point, let alone a smart TV this large with quantum dot technology. Anyway, let’s move on to the good qualities of the Q65-QE.

It has two HDMI 2.0 ports and one HDMI 1.4 input

The Good Stuff

Image quality of the Q65-QE is definitely one of the main highlights of this 4K TV. As mentioned, its use of quantum dot technology allows the TV to produce brighter, more vibrant colours, which lends to a very, very pleasant viewing experience compared to a conventional LED TV.

Whether I’m streaming HDR content on Netflix or gaming on the PlayStation 5, I’m impressed with the wide colour gamut of the Q65-QE. Just look at the screenshot of
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
 on the PS5 below: how bright the sun shines on the left side of the screen, and how details in the shaded area to the right are still visible.

It looks absolutely stunning in the dark

In fact, HDR content look
even
better in the dark on the Q65-QE, just like how it is in the cinema. After all, HDR content shines the most in the dark – we can really see (and appreciate) the wider dynamic range between the brightest and darkest parts of a movie scene or game without ambient lighting.

Now, that’s not to say the Q65-QE is not bright enough for comfortable viewing in a well-lit room, because it is. On top of that, because it uses an IPS panel, you get wide viewing angles as well. While it does get a little dark when viewed at an angle, it doesn’t negatively impact the viewing experience too much.

The overall responsiveness of the Q65-QE is also worth a mention, an area where most TV manufacturers don’t give enough attention to. The user interface does not feel sluggish at all, and I can seamlessly switch between different apps with no noticeable slowdown. I like the dedicated Netflix and YouTube buttons on the remote too.

Last but certainly not least is the design of the Q65-QE. Thanks to the slim bezels surrounding the 4K panel, it looks sleek and modern in any room. It’s also relatively easy to assemble, though you definitely need someone else to help you lift it up – it’s a huge 65-inch TV, after all.

The Bad Stuff

Though the PRISM+ Q65-QE has a lot of good things going for it, it does have a couple of shortcomings. Its black levels, for one, could be better. When viewing the TV in a dark room, blacks are not dark enough, so it looks almost grey.

However, this is an inherent characteristic of an IPS panel. Its level of contrast is not quite as good as, say, a VA screen. That being said, while a VA panel would produce darker blacks, it will also have worse viewing angles. At the end of the day, it depends on what you value more.

Aside from that, more and more TV manufacturers are releasing 4K TVs with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, so we imagine some folks won’t be thrilled that the Q65-QE is “just” a 60Hz 4K TV. But it’s important to keep things in perspective here: these 120Hz 4K TVs also cost
substantially
more.

The Q65-QE, on the other hand, is a very affordable 65-inch 4K smart TV with
quantum dot technology
 to boot. Really, you’re already getting a lot of value for your money with these features for only RM2,999.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. Without a shadow of a doubt. There aren’t many 65-inch 4K smart TVs that can match the feature set of the PRISM+ Q65-QE at this price point, and though it does have a number of shortcomings, its very affordable RM2,999 price tag – for a TV this big – more than makes up for them.

If you’re in the market for a large 65-inch 4K Android TV that doesn’t break the bank, the Q65-QE fits the bill. It’s available for purchase right now on PRISM+’s
online store
 and
Lazada
. If you want something smaller, there’s the Q55-QE – it’s essentially a 55-inch version of the Q65-QE
for only RM2,299
.


Genshin Impact Ayaka Banner Coming on 21 July With Yanfei, Ningguang, Chongyun

Kamisato Ayaka’s banner is finally confirmed! Set to go live in
Genshin Impact
 on 21 July right after the
Version 2.0 update
, the event wish of the brand new 5-star Cryo character will be accompanied by Yanfei, Ningguang, as well as Chongyun.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event banners
, the “drop rate” of Ayaka, Yanfei, Ningguang, and Chongyun will be increased. In the case of Ayaka, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be her. If you didn’t get her in this instance, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Ayaka.

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

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

Ayaka’s “The Heron’s Court” event wish will go live in Genshin Impact on 21 July this Wednesday for us here in Malaysia; right after the Version 2.0 update. Her banner will be available until 10 August, and Yoimiya’s event wish (as well as Sayu) will be offered after that.


Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination for Under 60 Only After 1 August in KL & Selangor for Those Without Appointments

If you’re a resident in KL or Selangor who haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccination appointment after 1 August, you will be able to walk-in to selected PPVs to get your vaccination. This is confirmed by the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) itself on Twitter.

But if you have already received an appointment through the
MySejahtera app

before
1 August, you will not be eligible for the walk-in COVID-19 vaccination. According to CITF, this initiative is only for those who have not registered for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).

Inisiatif walk-in di Selangor dan KL adalah untuk yang BELUM mendapat janji temu selepas 1 Ogos & BUKAN untuk yang sudah terima janji temu.
𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗶 𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗶 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘂, 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗵𝗶 𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗶 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘂 𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗸𝗮𝗻.
pic.twitter.com/LMSMAxk2wd
— Vaksin COVID-19 🇲🇾 (@JKJAVMY)
July 19, 2021

CITF further elaborated that registered individuals in KL and Selangor will receive their appointments in the very near future. After all,
Operation Surge Capacity
 – which begins from 26 July onwards – aims to vaccinate all adult residents in the Klang Valley area with their first doses by 1 August.

To reiterate, if you’re a KL or Selangor resident who haven’t received an appointment after 1 August on the MySejahtera app, you can walk into selected PPVs to get your COVID-19 vaccination. Do note that not all PPVs will offer walk-in vaccination – CITF will announce PPVs that do soon.


Poco X3 GT Arrives in Malaysia 28 July

After
appearing in SIRIM’s database
 last month, the Poco X3 GT finally receives an official launch date here in Malaysia. Set to be unveiled next week on 28 July, expect it to be another affordable Poco-branded mid-range smartphone.

Unfortunately, beyond the launch date, no specifications of the Poco X3 GT were revealed. However, based on previous leaks and rumours, it’s believed to be the global variant of the China-only Redmi Note 10 Pro.

The China-only Redmi Note 10 Pro

Now, despite sporting the exact same name, it’s worth noting that this is a different device from the
Redmi Note 10 Pro
 that was launched in Malaysia
back in March
. Anyway, if the Poco X3 GT is in fact the global variant of the China Redmi Note 10 Pro, it should be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chipset paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM.

Other probable specifications of the Poco X3 GT include a 6.6-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 16MP selfie camera, up to 256GB of internal storage, and a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

We’ll find out exactly what the Poco X3 GT has to offer once it is launched here in Malaysia next week on 28 July. The online launch event will begin at 8PM that day on
Poco Malaysia’s Facebook page
.


Malaysia to Achieve COVID-19 Herd Immunity as Early as September 2021 Now

Malaysia was initially set to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by the end of 2021, but this is now expedited to as early as September 2021. This was recently announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

According to MOH, herd immunity against COVID-19 is currently aimed to be achieved by the end of September or early October 2021 in Malaysia. At the moment, 9.8 million (or 30%) of the Malaysian population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

✅ 9.8 juta populasi di Malaysia atau 30% telah menerima satu dos vaksin dan daripada jumlah itu, 4.5 juta atau 13.9% populasi telah lengkap dua dos.
✅ Sasaran imuniti berkelompok dijangka dicapai pada akhir September atau awal Oktober.
#LindungDiriLindungSemua

pic.twitter.com/UUDeoF7cAk
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya)
July 19, 2021

Those who have received two doses, on the other hand, currently sits at 4.5 million (13.9% of the population). To date, over 14 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered locally.

If the current vaccination rate is maintained, there’s a good chance the current National Recovery Plan (NRP) will proceed to the next phases earlier than expected. Currently, most states are still in the first phase of the NRP, including Selangor and KL – two states that have reported high daily COVID-19 cases.

Needless to say, it’s vital to get your COVID-19 vaccination as early as possible. To check if you’ve received an appointment, check your
vaccination page in the MySejahtera app
 regularly.

Read more:

Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination for Under 60 Only After 1 August in KL & Selangor for Those Without Appointments

Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination Starts on 17 July – For Those Over 60 in Klang Valley

Malaysia Will Stop Using Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine After Supplies Run Out


Anubis Review: Incredibly Thocky Switch With a Strong Tactile Bump

Let’s get this straight out of the gate: if you want one of the “thockiest” tactile switches in the market now, the Anubis easily fits the bill. It even has a deeper sound profile than the
Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky
, which is considered to be one of the thockiest tactile switches.

Aside from its sound signature, the Anubis has a lot of the winning qualities too, including a strong tactile bump, excellent tolerances, and a unique, “soft” typing experience. Of course, it has some shortcomings too – keep on reading this review to find out more.

What It Is

Designed by Chewwy and 0sirisTV from Mechs on Deck, the Anubis is manufactured by Durock, one of the most recognisable switch manufacturers. The colourway of the Anubis is also based on Mechs on Deck’s logo, with a light green top housing, black bottom housing, and light grey stem.

Speaking of which, both the top and bottom housings of the Anubis is made out of nylon, which gives the switch its deep, thocky sound profile. The POM stem of the Anubis has an extended pole too, so when you bottom out with this switch, you get the “poppy” sound popularised by the original Holy Panda tactile switch.

Like most switches manufactured by Durock, the Anubis has a five-pin design. It also has a 65g gold plated spring with a light factory lube, so it is smooth out of the box. There are some downsides to the factory lube, but I’ll get back to this further down the review.

Last but certainly not least is the pricing of the Anubis. I got it from
iLumkb at S$9.50
 for 10 switches, so that comes up to about RM3 per switch. This makes it slightly more expensive than the Boba U4T, which goes
for S$8.50
 (about RM26) for 10 switches from Pantheon.

However, the Anubis does have a number of advantages over the Boba U4T – I’ll discuss this in the next section.

The Good Stuff

The sound profile of the Anubis is arguably its best quality. Thanks to its full nylon housing and extended stem pole, it has a very deep, poppy sound signature. The all-nylon housing also makes it a pretty muted switch, which I’m quite fond of – it’s definitely quieter than the Boba U4T and
Glorious Panda
.

Because the Anubis is factory lubed, it is also relatively smooth out of the box. While there’s a hint of audible scratch, it doesn’t feel scratchy at all. After all, the factory lube is just a thin oil-based lubricant that covers the stem and spring.

And then there’s the typing experience of the Anubis. Just like the Boba U4T and Glorious Panda, the tactile bump of the Anubis starts at the very top with a bit of post-travel after the bump. As for the tactile bump itself, it’s a tad sharper than the U4T and Glorious Panda, but it’s not quite as sharp as the Moyu Black or Zilent V2.

But what really surprised me is the “soft” typing feel of the Anubis. Compared to the Glorious Panda, for example, the bottom out of the Anubis is not quite as harsh; I would even say it feels “cushioned.” So even though it has a sharper tactile bump than the Glorious Panda, it doesn’t feel quite as fatiguing to type on.

Another winning quality of the Anubis is its excellent tolerance. There’s very, very minimal horizontal and vertical stem wobble, and it’s even comparable to the Boba U4T in this regard – that’s a high praise.

I quite like the colourway of the Anubis as well. To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled by the colour of the switch when I first saw it online, but after seeing it in person, I’m a fan. The light green hue of this switch even matches GMK Botanical – the second group buy for this keycap set is
live right now
, by the way.

The Bad Stuff

Remember when I said the factory lube of the Anubis has some downsides? Well, some switches were not lubed particularly well. Out of the 90 switches I got, two were overlubed to the point that they felt “sticky.” There’s also more resistance throughout the downstroke, and the tactility is reduced as well.

And then there’s the leaf and spring noises of the Anubis. Out of the box, there’s some spring crunch (even though it’s lubed), but it’s the leaf ticking that is especially noticeable. To solve these two issues, relubing the switch is definitely necessary.

Besides that, the Anubis doesn’t feel quite as snappy as its competition either. In fact, when I first installed these switches, the spacebar and enter keys refuse to return. After repeatedly actuating the switches on these two keys, they eventually work as intended.

But even then, the Anubis still feels more…”sluggish” than the Boba U4T or Glorious Panda. I imagine swapping the 65g springs with heavier, longer springs could make the switch feel more responsive, but some folks may not want to go through the trouble.

Is It Worth It?

Despite its shortcomings, the Anubis is easily my favourite tactile switches to date. I love its thocky, deep sound profile, strong tactile bump, and very minimal stem wobble – winning qualities of any mechanical keyboard switch. I would’ve loved it if the Anubis was a tad snappier, but I reckon this can be solved by swapping the springs.

If you’re in the SEA region, you can get the Anubis from
iLumkb
. For those in the US, you can grab this excellent tactile switch from
Cannon Keys
 itself.


Proton X70 SE Launching on 22 July – 2,000 Units Only

Here it is: despite the ongoing lockdown in most states here in Malaysia, the
Proton X70 SE
 (that stands for Special Edition) will finally be unveiled this Thursday on 22 July. Given that this is a limited edition model, only 2,000 units of the C-segment SUV are available.

Based on the Premium 2WD version of the X70 – so there’s no sunroof – the X70 SE is identical to the “
Exclusive Edition
” of the SUV for the Brunei market pictured below. Well, there is one difference: the Malaysian-bound SE model will feature an SE badge on the rear end.

Aside from that, the X70 SE also features new 19-inch alloy wheels with the very same design found on the Geely Boyue Pro, the facelifted model of the Boyue – the X70 is based on the latter. It also has a blacked-out roof and side mirrors with two colour options: Ocean Blue (the same shade offered for the
X50
 and
Iriz
) and Ruby Red.

Other specifications of the X70 SE include black nappa leather seats, the same 1.8L turbocharged direct injection engine with 181hp and 300Nm of torque, as well as a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PROTON (@protoncars)

The Proton X70 SE will be making its debut this Thursday on 22 July; the virtual launch event will be livestreamed on the national carmaker’s
Facebook page at 11AM
. If you’re keen to get the SUV, you can register your interest
right here
.


Rama Works’ Kara SEQ2 Now Live – New Colours, Same $160 Price Tag

Rama Works, which produces some of the most premium custom keyboards, is back with the second round of its affordable keyboard. Dubbed
Kara SEQ2
, it’s largely similar to the
first iteration of the budget-friendly board
.

Well, granted, retailing at $160 (about RM675), the Kara SEQ2 is not exactly a strictly affordable custom keyboard. But this
is
 a Rama Works product, which is renowned for its high quality products. Even though the Kara is much more affordable than its other custom keyboards, you can expect the same level of refinement here.

Anyway, the major difference between the original Kara and the SEQ2 version are the colour options. It is now available in seven new shades: Byte, Milk, Mint, Musk, Momo, Puff, and Tang – you can take a closer look at these colours
over here
. Aside from that, the original Noct and Iced colourways are retained too.

What makes the Kara unique is its MUTE mounting system, which is “engineered for a responsive typing feedback experience and dampened sound signature.” It also has an ABS case with a PC plate to complement the MUTE mounting system with its rigidity by offering a “dynamic yet stable typing experience.”

Other specifications of the Kara include a hotswap PCB – so you can easily swap out switches without soldering – per-switch RGB lighting, as well as a 60% layout.

The Rama Works Kara SEQ2 will be
available for pre-order until 31 August 2021
. No word on exactly when it will start shipping, but it did take about seven months for the original Kara to ship to all customers – that’s not a bad turnaround time for a custom keyboard.


Huawei MatePad 11 With Snapdragon 865 & 120Hz Screen Lands in Malaysia 27 July

Huawei is set to launch another Android tablet in Malaysia soon. Set to arrive here on 27 July, the MatePad 11 is quite an intriguing tablet with a reasonably fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset and an equally fast 120Hz screen.

In fact, Huawei said that the MatePad 11 is the company’s first tablet to ship with a 120Hz screen. The 10.95-inch display itself is quite sharp too with a 2560 x 1600 WQXGA resolution IPS panel, so you’re getting a good quality screen with this tablet.

Aside from that, the MatePad 11 is also powered by the aforementioned Snapdragon 865 chipset. Granted, it’s not the newest or fastest SoC in the market now, but it’s still a very capable processor. After all, it was Qualcomm’s 2020 flagship chipset.

Rounding out the specifications of the MatePad 11 include three choices of expandable storage (64GB, 128GB, 256GB), a 13MP rear camera, an 8MP selfie shooter, a sizeable 7,250mAh battery, and it runs on HarmonyOS 2 – still based on Android – out of the box.

No word yet on exactly how much the Huawei MatePad 11 will retail at once it is launched in Malaysia on 27 July. We’ll just have to wait until then to find out.


Unreleased Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Appears in SIRIM – Malaysian Launch Soon?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is rumoured to be unveiled sometime next month alongside a slew of other products – including several foldable smartphones – and surprisingly enough, the wireless earbuds have been registered with SIRIM. This suggests that Malaysia could be one of the first markets to receive the Buds 2.

In our routine search through SIRIM’s database, we noticed that Samsung Malaysia registered the Galaxy Buds 2 with the model number SM-R177 just yesterday on 19 July. Every electronic product has to be registered with SIRIM first before it can be officially sold in Malaysia, so there’s a good chance the earbuds will be available here soon.

Leaked render of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

Based on leaks and rumours, the Galaxy Buds 2 looks to be a reasonably appealing pair of wireless earbuds. Some of its key features were
leaked from an early beta
 of Samsung’s very own Galaxy Wearable app for the earbuds, including support for active noise cancellation (ANC).

In fact, the Galaxy Buds 2 allows ANC to be activated even when just one earbud is used. It’s even possible to customise the touch controls of the earbuds, or just outright disable them. The battery capacities of the Buds 2 were shown in the app too: each earbud supposedly has a 61mAh battery, while the charging case features a 472mAh cell.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is expected to be unveiled sometime next month at the South Korean company’s upcoming Unpacked event, which is rumoured to be taking place on 11 August 2021.


Genshin Impact 2.0 – Biggest, Most Exciting Update Yet With Inazuma

Genshin Impact
 2.0 is finally live today, and it is arguably the most exciting update to date. Touted by Mihoyo to be the biggest expansion yet, the
Version 2.0 update
 is packed to the brim with content – there’s so much to do in the newly introduced Inazuma region.

This is the first time a major city (Inazuma) is introduced in Genshin Impact post-launch, and it revitalises the live service game, especially for long-time players. Version 2.0 awards both endgame and new players alike with a ton of new content, and if you haven’t played Genshin Impact yet, you should – it really does get better with every update.

I have been playing Genshin Impact since it was launched backed in September 2020, and I’ve logged into the game every day since then. But to be honest, I was feeling a little…well, bored with the game for quite some time now.

It’s the same cycle every day: login, do some daily tasks, clear some domains to finish up my resin, and get to floor 12 of the Spiral Abyss – the hardest content in the game. It does get exciting when new character event wishes are released, but after
spending over 20,000 Primogems to get one character
, the excitement doesn’t last very long.

This is the typical experience of an “endgame player” in Genshin Impact. Personally, the best time I had in the game was when I was still new to it. Exploring new areas, engrossing myself in the compelling storyline, and reading up on the rich lore of the game.

As I finish up every content Genshin Impact had to offer with every new update, these moments are few and far between. That’s exactly why the Version 2.0 update is so interesting: I can finally relive the experiences that made the game so, so good.

More specifically, I’m looking forward to the story that revolves around Inazuma. The Version 2.0 trailer gives us a glimpse of this and characters that will be making an appearance in the story, and suffice to say I cannot wait to be caught up in the narrative again.

After all, Genshin Impact tells
some of the most engrossing storylines
 I’ve ever come across. Not even by the standards of a gacha/live service game; it is easily on par with the majority of other proper AAA titles on PC or console.
That’s
 how engaging the story of Genshin Impact is.

Speaking of which, there’s no doubt that the gacha aspect of Genshin Impact is one of the biggest draws of the game, but that’s because the characterisation of these characters are done so well. In fact, assuming they will be playable in the future, I look forward to pulling for the
Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko
.

Anyway, I’ve spent some time in Genshin Impact 2.0 exploring Inazuma, and I am absolutely loving it. The city itself – which is based on Japan – looks fantastic, the new enemies can prove to be quite challenging, and I’m a fan of the new traversal mechanic in the game.

This revolves back to why Genshin Impact is such a good game in my book: it’s been so long since I’ve explored a brand new area. Granted,
Version 1.6
 introduced a new area as well (Golden Apple Archipelago), but that doesn’t really compare to the sheer size of Inazuma and its unique landscapes.

That reminds me: only half of Inazuma is actually accessible in Genshin Impact 2.0. Inazuma is made up of six main islands, but at the moment, only three islands are available. Of course, there’s still a pretty big area to explore, as you can see in the map below.

Yes, I haven’t unlocked all available areas yet – I’m taking it slow so I wouldn’t run out of things to do so quickly!

While I’m loving Version 2.0 of Genshin Impact, it is by no means perfect. The NPCs in the current Inazuma storyline, for one, are recycled assets with small changes here and there. Only their clothes and facial hair were changed. It’s evident that these are the same character models, which detracts a little bit from the overall polish of the narrative.

Nonetheless, I’m still thoroughly enjoying the Version 2.0 update, and I cannot wait to go through the new story quests and meet all of the new characters. So far, it’s confirmed that Kamisato Ayaka and Yoimiya will make an appearance in the current arc, and each of them will get their own story quests as well.

Mihoyo continues to improve Genshin Impact with every new update, and this Version 2.0 update is by far the most significant one to date. The fact that I can also continue my progress on the PS5 now (and vice versa) makes it even better, even if there are
some limitations
 in place.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to Inazuma – I’m hoping to meet the Raiden Shogun soon.


Samsung Teases Galaxy Z Flip 3 & Z Fold 3 For 11 August Unpacked Event

It’s finally official: Samsung will be holding its next Unpacked event next month on 11 August. Based on the teaser image of the launch event, we can expect the South Korean company to unveil two foldable smartphones: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3.

While the teaser image looks quite simple, it’s definitely a reference to Samsung’s two foldable smartphones. The outline of the Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are clearly shown in the image, not to mention the “get ready to unfold” tagline.

Many details of the two foldable smartphones have been leaked. The Z Fold 3, for one, is said to be compatible with Samsung’s S Pen stylus. Beyond that, its design is mostly the same as its predecessor, the Z Fold 2.

As for the Z Flip 3, the exterior design of the phone will supposedly sport a dual tone design now for certain colourways. The secondary display on the outside of the foldable phone will also be slightly bigger for better usability.

pic.twitter.com/8A4jTffvFJ
— Evan Blass (@evleaks)
July 10, 2021

pic.twitter.com/xzMz26zY06
— Evan Blass (@evleaks)
July 10, 2021

Aside from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, the Korean company is expected to unveil new smartwatches and
wireless earbuds
 as well. Anyway, you can register your interest for the two foldable phones
right here
 – you’ll even get a RM300 Samsung e-voucher “which you can use after you pre-order the next Galaxy.”

The Galaxy Unpacked livestream on 11 August will be livestreamed on Samsung’s various platforms, including its
YouTube
 channel,
Facebook
 page, and even
its website
. The virtual event will start at 10PM Malaysian time on that day.


Proton X70 SE Official – New 19″ Wheels, 2,000 Units, RM123,800

Leaked back in May
, the Proton X70 SE is now official. Limited to only 2,000 units, the special edition C-segment SUV is based on the Premium trim of the regular model, and it comes with several cosmetic changes for a slight premium – it is priced at RM123,800.

Compared to the regular Premium X70 (RM113,100), the X70 SE costs RM10,700 more, though you do get several upgrades for the money. Among them are new 19-inch alloy wheels with the very same design found on the Geely Boyue Pro, the facelifted model of the Boyue – the X70 is based on the latter.

Aside from that, the X70 SE also has a blacked-out roof and side mirrors with two colour options: Ocean Blue (the same shade offered for the
X50
 and
Iriz
) and Ruby Red. Of course, there’s also an SE badge on the rear end.

Other specifications of the X70 SE include black nappa leather seats, a slightly different interior finishing compared to the regular model, the same 1.8L turbocharged direct injection engine with 181hp and 300Nm of torque, as well as a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Proton X70 SE is now available for booking online
through here
; you only need to pay a RM99 booking fee. Given that there are only 2,000 units offered, you may want to act fast to secure the special edition SUV.


Keychron Q1 Pre-Production Model Shown – Pre-Orders Delayed to August 2021

Originally set to be available for pre-order this month, the release of the
Keychron Q1
 has been pushed back due to some issues. Now, pre-orders for the 75% mechanical keyboard will start in late August next month.

According to Keychron
, there was an issue with the plate and PCB of the Q1 separating due to “too much flex” and room for the two parts to move around. To rectify these issues, pre-order of the keyboard is moved to late August, with deliveries happening the following month in late September.

Nonetheless, at least we have some pictures of the pre-production model shared by
Nick Xu of Keychron on Facebook
. We get a look the finished product, including the double shot ABS keycaps and factory lubed Gateron switches. There are also gold plated screws on the bottom of the keyboard.

Other noteworthy features of the Q1 include a gasket-mount design, a full CNC aluminium body, a hotswap PCB with south-facing LEDs, screw-in stabilisers, and VIA support out of the box to easily customise the mapping of the keyboard. Three plate options will also be offered: aluminium, FR4, and polycarbonate.

To recap, the Keychron Q1 will now be available for pre-order in Late August next month for $139 (about RM585) and $169 (approximately RM675) for the barebone kit and fully assembled model respectively. Before pre-orders are open, the company said that reviews and sound tests of the keyboard will be released.

You can head on to Keychron’s website to
register your interest for the Q1
.


Astro Introduces Ultra Plug & Play Box – No Surcharge, No Satellite Required

Astro just introduced the new Ultra Plug & Play Box. Just as its name suggests, it gives you access to Astro’s services without the need for satellite installation – it has all of the features you’ve come to expect from Astro too.

Instead of relying on a satellite dish, the new Ultra Plug & Play Box is an IPTV service; you’re basically streaming your shows through the internet. That’s right, you won’t have to worry about interruption to your Astro service when it rains now, though you do need an internet connection that’s fast enough.

In terms of pricing, the Ultra Plug & Play Box costs the same as other Astro packages. In fact, it’s actually cheaper as there’s no installation fee, but there
is
 an activation fee, which ranges from RM39 to RM59 for new customers.

If you’re an existing customer, the activation fee for the Ultra Plug & Play Box is waived if your current package is above RM100. If it’s below that, the activation fee is RM49. Either way, these costs are still lower than actually having to install the satellite dish.

More information on the Astro Ultra Plug & Play Box can be found
over here
. There’s even an
ongoing campaign
 until 22 September for those who sign up for the new box, which offers a 70-inch Samsung smart TV and 20% off your subscription. However, do note that the new IPTV box is only available in Peninsular Malaysia at the moment.


Protect Your Precious Keyboard With the Monokei Kaban Carrying Case

One accessory that not many people would think of getting is a carrying case for your keyboard. It’s an especially handy product if you carry your keyboard around, so if you’re looking to get a case, consider the Monokei Kaban.

There aren’t a lot of good quality keyboard carrying cases in the market, which is exactly why the Kaban is an interesting product. Not only does it look legitimately high quality – it’s a Monokei-branded product, after all – it’s also an in stock item, a rarity in the custom keyboard scene.

Anyway, two sizes of the Kaban are available: Small and Medium for S$35 (about RM110) and S$40 (approximately RM125) respectively. The Small one is suitable for 60% and 65% keyboards, while the Medium size is for 75% and 80%/TKL keyboards. You can refer to the dimensions of the two cases
here
.

It’s worth noting that Monokei is based in Singapore, so if you’re in Southeast Asia, you’ll definitely get better shipping rates than folks who are located outside of the region. Carrying cases take up a lot of volumetric weight, so expect to pay quite a bit for shipping.

Even though the Kaban is an in stock item, Monokei mentioned that the carrying case will only start shipping next week on 26 July. If you’re keen to get it, you can do so
on Monokei’s online store
.


Mihoyo Teases Raiden Shogun, Kokomi, Sara in Genshin Impact – Next Character Banners?

Mihoyo just posted very, very interesting
Genshin Impact
 teasers of three characters: the
Raiden Shogun
,
Sangonomiya Kokomi
, and
Kujou Sara
. Chances are, all three of these characters will be featured in the next event wishes.

After all, Mihoyo did the same teasers for
Kamisato Ayaka, Yoimiya, and Sayu
; all three of these characters are featured in the event wishes for
Version 2.0 of Genshin Impact
. With this in mind, there is a very good chance the Raiden Shogun, Kokomi, and Sara will be playable in the next update.

From left: Kujou Sara, the Raiden Shogun, Sangonomiya Kokomi

Of course, this is only an educated guess on our part right now, but we’re pretty confident this will be the case. Anyway, Mihoyo also revealed that both the Raiden Shogun and Sara are Electro characters, while Kokomi is a Hydro character.

Unfortunately, the rarity of these characters were not detailed by Mihoyo; the weapons that they wield were not confirmed either. If we were to guess, we’d say both the Raiden Shogun and Kokomi are 5-star characters based on their importance in the lore of Genshin Impact.

Based on the teaser image of the Shogun, she could be a sword user too, while Kokomi looks to be wielding a catalyst. As for Sara, she may be a 4-star bow character – she was seen using a bow in the
Version 2.0 trailer
.

These are definitely exciting teasers for Genshin Impact. Many players have been waiting for the Raiden Shogun to be playable in the game, and now, there’s a good chance she – along with Kokomi and Sara – will be playable in the next version of Genshin Impact.


Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 Now in Malaysia – Affordable Gaming Laptop From RM3,299

Lenovo quietly launched a new gaming laptop in Malaysia, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3. Retailing from only RM3,299, it’s certainly a pretty affordable gaming machine, though you do want to upgrade some of the hardware to game more effectively.

For RM3,299, the base model of the IdeaPad Gaming 3 features an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, a decidedly entry-level GPU. Aside from that, it is also powered by a relatively new AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, which should be able to provide reasonably good processing power.

Other specifications of this base model include a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, a 256GB SSD, as well as Windows 10 Home out of the box.

Of course, like other Lenovo laptops, you can customise the hardware of the IdeaPad Gaming 3. The GTX 1650, for one, can be upgraded to a much more modern RTX 3050 GPU for RM230. The 60Hz screen can also be swapped out for a much faster 120Hz…for only RM20 – a no-brainer upgrade.

You can see all customisation options for the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 on
Lenovo Malaysia’s online store
. Do note that the shipping time for the laptop is listed to be between 8 to 10 weeks at the time of writing.


Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy Is Coming to Genshin Impact as a Free 5-Star Character

Now this is a surprise collaboration between Mihoyo and Guerrilla Games: Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn is coming to Genshin Impact. Dubbed “Savior From Another World,” Aloy will be a 5-star Cryo character in the game, and she will also be free to everyone.

That’s right, Aloy will be free to every player on Genshin Impact! However, there are a number of caveats. She will first be available to PlayStation players – who have reached Adventure Rank 20 or above – once the Version 2.1 update is live. After you’ve acquired her through the in-game mail, she will be available to play on other platforms as well.

Of course, Aloy won’t just be available to PlayStation players. Once Version 2.2 of Genshin Impact is live on 13 October, everyone who hasn’t received the character will receive her through the in-game mail. The same rule still applies: you need to be at Adventure Rank 20 or above to get her.

Aside from Aloy herself, a free
4-star bow
, Predator, will also be offered for free. However, this weapon is exclusive to PlayStation players. When alloy equips Predator, it will give her a special buff as well.

How to Obtain the Weapon Predator (Bow)
pic.twitter.com/xaYbvFtAz7
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact)
July 22, 2021

To recap, Aloy will be available in Genshin Impact once the Version 2.1 update is live to PlayStation players first for free. As for players on other platforms, they will receive the 5-star Cryo archer in Version 2.2 of the game from 13 October to 24 November 2021.


OnePlus Nord 2 5G Unveiled – Coming to Malaysia Soon

The true successor to the original
OnePlus Nord
 is here. The aptly named OnePlus Nord 2 5G naturally features a number of upgrades, including a larger battery and a much faster chipset, courtesy of the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI.

Although MediaTek chipsets aren’t as popular as Qualcomm’s offerings, the new Dimensity 1200-AI is a very, very promising SoC. In fact,
a previous benchmark
 shows that it can actually keep up with the Snapdragon 870 chipset, which is essentially
a faster version
 of the Snapdragon 865, Qualcomm’s flagship chip last year.

Anyway, aside from its processor, the Nord 2 now features a triple camera system instead of a quad camera setup, though it does seem to be more capable. It is made up of a 50MP primary sensor with optical image stabilisation, an 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 2MP monochrome lens.

Other specifications of the Nord 2 include a 6.43-inch 2400 x 1080 Fluid AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 32MP selfie camera, up to 12GB of RAM, two storage options (128GB or 256GB), a generous 4,500mAh battery, as well as OxygenOS 11.3 based on Android 11 out of the box.

No word yet on exactly when the OnePlus Nord 2 5G will be available here in Malaysia, but we did spot it in SIRIM’s database. Chances are, the Malaysian launch of the mid-range smartphone will happen very soon – we’ll know the local pricing of the Nord 2 then.


Can’t Access PSN or Steam? You’re Not Alone

If you’re having trouble getting into PlayStation Network, Steam, or certain services, you’re not alone. The issue is caused by Akamai Edge DNS, which is down right now.

If you try to access certain services that use Akamai Edge DNS – which include PSN and Steam – you’ll run into the “DNS failure” error. According to Akamai, it is “aware of an emerging issue with the Edge DNS service,” and it’s actively investigating the issue.

Akamai is experiencing a service disruption. We are actively investigating the issue and will provide an update in 30 minutes.
— Akamai Technologies (@Akamai)
July 22, 2021

So rest assured, there is nothing wrong with your internet connection, console, or computer. Until Akamai figures out the issue, you won’t be able to access PSN or Steam, or any services that use Akamai Edge DNS.

Update 23 July, 12:50AM:
 It appears Akamai has managed to solve the issue! From what we can tell, Akamai Edge DNS was down for about two hours before it’s back up again. You should have no issue logging into PSN or Steam now.

We have implemented a fix for this issue, and based on current observations, the service is resuming normal operations. We will continue to monitor to ensure that the impact has been fully mitigated.
— Akamai Technologies (@Akamai)
July 22, 2021


Poco F3 GT Announced With Shoulder Buttons & MediaTek Dimensity 1200

The Poco F3 GT has just been launched in India, and it’s quite an intriguing smartphone with some gaming-centric features. Not only does it have a reasonably powerful chipset, it also features a fast screen with a high touch response rate and shoulder buttons.

Just like the recently unveiled OnePlus Nord 2 5G, the Poco F3 GT is powered by MediaTek’s fast Dimensity 1200 chipset, which is said to be comparable to the
Qualcomm Snapdragon 870
.

Given that the Snapdragon 870 is a faster version of the Snapdragon 865 – Qualcomm’s 2020 flagship SoC – you can expect to get a very good level of performance with the Dimensity 1200.

Aside from that, the F3 GT also features a 6.67-inch Turbo AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a high 480Hz touch response rate to minimise input lag. Paired with the two “Maglev” shoulder buttons on the right side of the phone, mobile gamers will appreciate these gaming-centric features.

Other specifications of the F3 GT include 6GB or 8GB of RAM, two storage options (128GB or 256GB), a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 16MP selfie camera, and a generous 5,065mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

The Poco F3 GT is currently only available in India with a 26,999 Indian rupee (about RM1,530) starting price. No word yet on the Malaysian availability of the phone, but we reckon Poco will bring in F3 GT in due time.


PS5 Pre-Orders Happening in Malaysia Again Today (23 July)

Another round of pre-orders for the
PlayStation 5
 is happening in Malaysia. Set to begin from
today onwards (23 July)
, only the standard model is available in this round of pre-order.

Curiously, aside from the standard PS5 – which retails at RM2,299 – there is also a separate bundle of the next generation console with another DualSense controller included. This particular bundle retails at RM2,648, so that’s a RM349 price difference – the same cost as a DualSense controller, basically.

As usual, the PS5 is limited to only one unit per customer, and the pre-order is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. While it wasn’t mentioned by Sony Malaysia, we reckon stocks are very limited.

If you’re keen to get in on this round of pre-orders for the PlayStation 5, we recommend checking with your favourite retailer. Better yet, get into the waiting list if the store has one – you’ll have a higher chance of securing a PS5 that way.


Mode Eighty Premium Custom TKL Keyboard Back in Stock Tonight From $480

The popular Mode Eighty custom TKL keyboard kit will go on sale again tonight. What makes the sale for this premium keyboard particularly interesting is the fact that it’s an in-stock sale – you won’t have to wait months for the keyboard to be delivered to you.

Available in five distinct colours – Daemon, Iris, Lotus, Dart, and Charge – only around 440 units (approximately 90 units per colour) of the Mode Eighty are up for grabs. The solderable version retails at $480 (about RM2,030), while the hotswap configuration costs slightly more at $490 (around RM2,070).

What makes the Mode Eighty particularly unique is its “stack mount” design, which uses a foam in the bottom case to fill the space beneath the PCB of the keyboard. Not only does the foam act as a sound dampener, it also provides a firm typing experience – you can listen to the sound signature of the Eighty in Taeha Types’ sound test below.

Aside from that, the Mode Eighty has all the features you’d come to expect from a premium custom TKL keyboard kit. It has a
TKL (or 80%) layout
, an all-aluminium case, an aluminium plate, as well as support for screw-in stabilisers.

The Mode Eighty will be available for purchase tonight at 1AM Malaysian time (or 10AM PT)
over here
. Given that there are limited units, you do have to be quick to secure a unit. Good luck!


PS5 Owners Can Enjoy Apple TV+ for 6 Months Free of Charge

If you’re lucky enough to own a
PlayStation 5
, great news: you can get access to Apple TV+ for six months completely free of charge. This offer is even applicable to those with an existing subscription to the streaming service.

However, there is a caveat for existing subscribers. If you’re currently on a free trial or a regular subscription to Apple TV+, you can redeem the offer. But if you’re subscribed to the service through a bundle offer like Apple One, you won’t be eligible, so take note.

Anyway, in order to redeem the six months subscription to Apple TV+, you just need to download the app to your PS5. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to login to the service with your Apple ID (or create one if you don’t have an ID) – pretty straightforward.

After the complimentary six months subscription to Apple TV+ is up, your subscription will be automatically renewed for RM19.90 per month. You have until 22 July 2022 next year to redeem this offer on your PS5, so you have plenty of time to claim it.

More details on this offer – along with participating countries – can be found
over here
.


MacBook Air May Receive Mini-LED Screen Upgrade in 2022

Previously, it was rumoured that the
MacBook Pro laptops with mini-LED displays
 will be introduced sometime in September this year. But what about the more affordable MacBook Air? Well, it may receive the screen upgrade in 2022 instead.

This was revealed through a new investor note from renowed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo obtained by
9to5Mac
 and
MacRumors
. According to Kuo, the MacBook Air will debut with a mini-LED display sometime in the middle of 2022.

But unlike the mini-LED panel upgrade for the smaller MacBook Pro – which supposedly increases the screen size from 13.3-inch to 14.1-inch – the MacBook Air is said to retain the same 13.3-inch display. Chances are, this is done to differentiate the hardware of the two laptops.

Compared to a regular LCD screen, a mini-LED display offers better contrast ratio and wider dynamic range, making for a better viewing experience. So far, only the new
M1-powered iPad Pro
 features a mini-LED screen, and we reckon Apple will use the display in more of its products moving forward.


This RM2,450 Malaysian-Designed Custom Keyboard Sold Out in Minutes

The raffle for Singa’s latest custom keyboard,
the Kohaku
, went live earlier today at 10AM. Within minutes, all 1,000 raffle spots were taken up – the Malaysian-designed keyboard certainly sold like hot cakes.

To recap, 1,000 raffle spots for the Kohaku were offered, but only 300 of the entries were selected to purchase the keyboard. The fact that the custom keyboard sold out so quickly is really quite impressive, especially with its RM2,450 price tag.

Granted, many folks in the custom keyboard scene would gladly pay that amount of money for a premium Singa keyboard. Anyway, the Kohaku itself is quite a sleek-looking 65% keyboard, thanks to the copper weight bottom with a Kōhaku Koi motif; that’s the inspiration for the name of the keyboard.

Aside from that, the Kohaku also uses a gasket mounting system with an aluminium case. There are two plate options too: a leaf spring aluminium plate, or a regular polycarbonate plate. For RM2,450, you’re getting the Kohaku case itself, a hotswap or solderable PCB, a plate of your choice, as well as a hard carrying case.

If you missed out on the raffle, there’s a chance you can still get the Singa Kohaku. According to Elaine, the owner of Singa, limited extra units of the Kohaku will be available for purchase once it starts shipping sometime in Q1 2022.


Make Any Surface Capable of Wireless Charging With the Ikea Sjömärke – Coming to Malaysia Soon

Ikea has launched a number of products with integrated wireless charging, but the new Ikea Sjömärke puts a little twist to it. Essentially, it is a wireless charger, but it can be used to (effectively) make any surface capable of wireless charging – it is also coming to Malaysia soon.

As usual, we were going through SIRIM’s database when we came across the Sjömärke; it was registered under Ikea Malaysia with the model number E2018. Electronics that are officially sold in Malaysia have to be registered with SIRIM first, so chances are, the Sjömärke will be available here soon.

That being said, it’s worth noting that the Sjömärke’s
product listing
 on Ikea Netherlands shows that it will only be available in the middle of October. With that in mind, it remains to be seen if the Sjömärke will be sold here in Malaysia earlier than that.

Anyway, as mentioned, the Sjömärke can be attached to the bottom of a surface – such as a table – to make it capable of wireless charging. But as the video above demonstrates, the thickness of the surface has to be between 8mm to 22mm in order for the wireless charging to work.

Now that the Ikea Sjömärke has been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it’s only a matter of time before the wireless charger is officially available through Ikea Malaysia.


Entry-Level vs. High-End Custom Keyboards – Worth the Premium?

Over the past year or so, we’ve seen quite a number of affordable,
entry-level custom keyboards
. On top of that, these keyboards are really,
really
 good too
 – even the most expensive pre-built keyboard can’t compare to them in terms of typing experience and overall refinement.

So that brings up the question: are higher-end custom keyboards worth considering then? Absolutely. Obviously, the value proposition of a premium keyboard isn’t quite as good, but you
do
 get your money’s worth – I’ll explain why in this article.

What Separates a High-End and Entry-Level Keyboard?

Pricing is the easiest indicator. The general rule of thumb for how much a high-end custom keyboard would go for – in my opinion, anyway – is above the $400 price point, which comes up to about RM1,700. As for an entry-level keyboards, they should be half of that, so that’s below the $200 mark (approximately RM845).

Of course, there are some exceptions here and there, but this is the general idea.

What’s So Great About a “High-End” Keyboard?

Well, for one, a proper high-end custom keyboard is generally more refined and polished than entry-level offerings, whether it’s in terms of design, finishing, or choice of material. After all, more expensive keyboards are held to a higher standard; with a higher price tag, higher expectations have to be met as well.

The Jelly Epoch

Aside from that, some of the
best-sounding
 keyboards are also more premium offerings. The
Jelly Epoch by OwLab
, for example, has one of the deepest sound signatures, and it started at $389 (around RM1,645) when it went up for sale.

Granted, sound is subjective, and there
are
entry-level keyboards that sound great, such as the
KBDfans KBD67 Lite
 and
CannonKeys’ Bakeneko60
. However, it’s not inaccurate to say that higher-end keyboards have more “character” in their sound profile, which give them their own unique sound signature.

The KBD67 Lite

Branding Plays a Big Part Too

As with any premium products, branding is important for high-end custom keyboards. Some of the most recognisable names in the custom keyboard scene include Keycult, Rama Works, as well as
Singa
, which is based right here in Malaysia. If you own any keyboards from these big brand names, you’re definitely in “endgame” territory.

Naturally, companies with good branding can also charge a premium on entry-level keyboards; Rama Works is a great example of this with the
Kara
. Even though the keyboard’s $160 price tag (about RM675) puts it in the entry-level segment, folks will argue that it shouldn’t cost that much.

The Rama Works Kara

That being said, in this particular example, you’re not paying more just for Rama’s branding on the Kara. Rather, you’re paying for the keyboard’s overall polish and quality. Even though it’s an entry-level keyboard, the Kara is still a Rama Works product, a company renowned for its high quality custom keyboards.

Surely Entry-Level Keyboards Can Also Be Good?

Definitely! Even though more affordable custom keyboards have to sacrifice on a number of features to bring down the price – such as choice of material – they can still be really good. They won’t look or feel quite as impressive or premium, but hey, you’re still getting the full “custom keyboard experience.”

The Bakeneko60

After all, the biggest draw of the custom keyboard hobby is the customisation options and getting a superior typing experience, and an entry-level keyboard is an excellent way to start off. While a more premium board does offer better typing experience (generally), an entry-level keyboard is still miles better to type on than a pre-built one.

The Best of Both Worlds? Mid-Range Keyboards

However, if you want a good compromise between a high-end keyboard and an entry-level one, opt for a mid-range keyboard instead. These keyboards don’t quite have the “accolades” of a premium keyboard, but they don’t feel as “cheap” as an entry-level keyboard either.

Some good examples of mid-range keyboards are the
ai03 Vega
 and
Wilba.tech Salvation
, which cost $329 (about RM1,390) and $295 (approximately RM1,250) respectively. It’s worth noting that ai03 and Wilba – who is working with Salvun for the Salvation – are also well-known in the custom keyboard scene.

These two keyboards in particular, despite not being
particularly
 expensive, can easily be endgame keyboards for some folks. They sound fantastic, they look great, and in the case of the Salvation, it has a unique leaf spring mounting system as well.

Plus, the Salvation is machined by Salvun too, another big name in the custom keyboard scene.

The Wilba.tech Salvation

So there you have it. Whether you’re new to the hobby or not, going with an entry-level, mid-range, or high-end custom mechanical keyboard are all good choices. At the end of the day, it really depends on your personal preference.

To some folks, spending upwards of $400 on a keyboard doesn’t make sense, even if you do get a more refined product – it’s all, as mentioned, preference.


Custom Keyboard – Why You Should Get a Deskmat

Ever since I got into the
custom keyboard hobby
, one particular accessory that I got one too many of are…deskmats. I initially started off with more affordable deskmats off of Taobao, and while they are decent for the money, they don’t compare to higher quality ones from bigger brand names.

By “bigger brand names,” I’m talking about deskmats that complement keycap sets, such as ones from GMK and the likes. While I mainly purchase deskmats to complement my desk setup, they’re much more than just for looks, and I’ll tell you why in this article.

Deskmats Protect Your Keyboard

This is really the biggest reason I got a deskmat in the beginning of the hobby. By having my keyboard on top of the deskmat at all times, I reduce the likelihood of scratching or dinging it. A deskmat will prevent the keyboard from bumping directly against the table when I move it around, for instance.

I mean, when you spent in excess of
RM3,000 on a keyboard
, you would absolutely want to protect your investment, right?

A deskmat helps immensely when you’re building a keyboard too. After all, you’ve got a nice, soft surface to work on as you assemble each part of the keyboard. A deskmat would reduce the risk of these parts getting scuffed in the building process.

Really, I don’t think I can build a keyboard without the “security” of a deskmat anymore. I baby my products, and when I’m building a keyboard on a deskmat, I can flip it around without worrying I would ding it. This is especially helpful if I already have keycaps installed on the keyboard – imagine scratching a
RM500 keycap set
.

Your Keyboard Will Sound Better

Depending on what surface your keyboard is resting on, it may not sound as good as you thought it would be. Well, that’s where a deskmat will come in handy. It helps remove resonance from the table, so you can hear the “true” sound profile of your keyboard.

In fact, I actually…stack a few deskmats on top of each other to really isolate my keyboard from the table. Depending on how hollow the surface you’re typing on, you may need the extra dampening of more than one deskmat to completely remove table resonance.

Another benefit of having more than one deskmat is the fact that I can switch them out every now and then to freshen up my desk setup. Am I just trying to justify my deskmat purchases? Maybe. But I do enjoy the flexibility of changing to deskmats whenever I want to.

You Won’t Need a Mousepad Anymore

A typical deskmat measures 900mm x 400mm, which is more than large enough to accommodate
keyboards of various sizes
. On top of that, you’ve also got
a lot
 of space to move your mouse around. Since I got into this hobby, I never needed to purchase a mousepad anymore.

You know how annoying it is to have your mousepad move around when you’re in the middle of an intense game session? Well, that won’t happen with a deskmat. The rubber bottom ensures that the deskmat doesn’t move around on the table.

Granted, some folks may not be thrilled by the cloth surface of a deskmat for gaming, but I reckon it’s just fine for the majority of gamers. I certainly don’t mind it.

Get a Good, High-Quality Deskmat

Of course, you do have to get a proper, high-quality deskmat to really enjoy these benefits. You can’t go wrong by getting deskmats that were made to match specific GMK keycap sets, such as the ones you can find on
keyboard vendors like iLumkb
. They do cost quite a bit of money (around RM100), but you
are
 getting a high-quality product.

Okay, if you prefer getting a deskmat from Taobao or other e-commerce sites instead, here are a couple of things to look out for. Make sure it is a thick enough to serve its purpose; a typical deskmat is 4mm thick. Aside from that, it has to have stitched edges as well to ensure that the edges won’t fray over time.

Deskmats Look Great!

To an extent, I look at the custom keyboard hobby as a…form of expression. Having a deskmat with a design that is to your liking really does transform your desk setup. If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer typing away – like I do – you will really appreciate this.

That’s part of the reason why I absolutely love discovering this hobby. It can get tiring spending countless hours every day processing stories, and making that experience better with a proper custom keyboard – and a sleek deskmat – improves my productivity in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

But I digress. At the end of the day, it is up to you whether or not you need a deskmat, though I will highly, highly recommend getting at least one proper deskmat to see what the fuss is all about for yourself!


Virtual CACs Activated – Mildly Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients Now Required to Stay Home

Following reports that COVID-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) are overwhelmed within the Greater Klang Valley area due to the surge of COVID-19 positive cases, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has decided to activate Virtual CACs. Basically, COVID-19 patients in Selangor, KL, and Putrajaya with no or mild symptoms are now required to stay at home.

This extends to those who had close contacts with COVID-19 patients; they are advised to “self-isolate at home with no need for testing unless symptomatic.” As for those who tested positive for COVID-19, they are required to report the result through MySejahtera to receive a Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).

Following reports that CACs in the Greater Klang Valley are overwhelmed due to the current surge of COVID-19 positive cases:
✅ The Greater Klang Valley Special Task Force (GKV STF) has activated Virtual CACs to ensure an efficient management response.
pic.twitter.com/y9ru1oa4dk
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya)
July 26, 2021

Aside from that, they are also required to complete the Home Assessment Tool (HAT) on a daily basis in the MySejahtera app. Patients’ self-assessments will be monitored through the Virtual CAC Management Module within the eCOVID19 system, and they will be contacted by the CAC Call Centre if needed.

However, if symptoms worsen, COVID-19 patients in Virtual CACs “should seek immediate care at the nearest hospital instead of waiting for a call from Virtual CAC.”


Death Stranding Sold 5 Million Copies on PS4 & PC

Death Stranding, Kojima Productions’ first title after Hideo Kojima himself left Konami, has sold over five million copies on the PlayStation 4 and PC as of March 2021. This was revealed by the studio’s head of publishing, Jay Boor, in an interview with
GamesIndustry.biz
.

Given that Death Stranding was launched back in late 2019 on the PS4 – followed by the
PC version
 on 2 June 2020 – this is quite an impressive figure. “With Death Stranding being the first title developed out of Kojima Productions, from a sales perspective, it has performed quite well,” Boor elaborated.

It’s safe to assume the sales of Death Stranding will pick up again come 24 September when the
Director’s Cut version of the game
 is released on the PlayStation 5. Fully remastered and expanded for the next-gen console, Director’s Cut offers new weapons, monsters, equipment, and even new storylines.

There are a number of PS5-only enhancements as well. Death Stranding Director’s Cut will take advantage of the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and refined haptic feedback to deliver a more immersive experience, not to mention two graphics options: Performance Mode (upscaled 4K resolution at 60fps) and Fidelity Mode (native 4K).

Of course, Director’s Cut will also support HDR and ultrawide aspect ratio.

If you’re lucky enough to secure a unit of the PS5, you really should consider picking up Death Stranding Director’s Cut. It may have a bizarre storyline and gameplay, but it’s a
really, really captivating game
.


A Bunch of Limited Deskmats Just Restocked for SEA Market

If you’re looking for a new deskmat to change up your desk setup, great news: a bunch of limited deskmats have just been restocked for the SEA market through iLumkb, which is based in Singapore.

According to iLumkb, most of these deskmats are extras from completed keycap sets. These include the popular
SA Mizu “Moon” deskmat,

Red Devils
,
Modern Dolch
, as well as the rather unique
Taegeukgi deskmats
.

Red Devils
SA Mizu “Moon”

Of course, iLumkb also has a wide variety of other in-stock deskmats, including the
“Brown Paper” Cherry deskmat
 and
Taeha Types’ very own deskmat
 in black or white. Naturally, these are high quality, thick fabric deskmats – most of them measure 4mm thick – with a rubber bottom and stitched edges; we cannot recommend them enough.

You can browse through iLumkb’s list of in-stock deskmats
right here
. Do note that deskmats are heavy, so you may need to pay slightly more for shipping.


Huawei MatePad 11 With HarmonyOS 2 Now in Malaysia From RM1,999

Huawei just launched its latest tablet in Malaysia, the Huawei MatePad 11. Running on HarmonyOS 2 with a reasonably fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset and an equally fast 120Hz screen, the MatePad 11 is a relatively affordable tablet too.

For the Malaysian market, two variants of the MatePad 11 are offered. The base model with 128GB of storage retails at RM1,999, while the 256GB configuration costs RM2,399. Those who pre-order the tablet by 5 August will also receive RM1,207 worth of freebies, including the second generation Huawei M-Pencil and a magnetic keyboard case.

According to Huawei, the MatePad 11 is the company’s first tablet to ship with a 120Hz screen. The 10.95-inch display itself is quite sharp too with a 2560 x 1600 WQXGA resolution IPS panel, so you’re getting a good quality screen with this tablet.

Aside from that, the MatePad 11 is also powered by the aforementioned Snapdragon 865 chipset. Granted, it’s not the newest or fastest SoC in the market now, but it’s still a very capable processor. After all, it was Qualcomm’s 2020 flagship chipset.

Rounding out the specifications of the MatePad 11 include a 13MP rear camera, an 8MP selfie shooter, a sizeable 7,250mAh battery, and it runs on HarmonyOS 2 – still based on Android – out of the box.

The Huawei MatePad 11 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 5 August 2021. To recap, the 128GB model costs RM1,999, while the 256GB variant retails at RM2,399.


Deal: Asus ROG Phone 5 Now Bundled With RM499 ROG Cetra II Earbuds for Free

Looking to get a flagship gaming smartphone? Then you might want to consider the
Asus ROG Phone 5
. From now until 15 August, every purchase of the gaming device is bundled with an ROG Cetra II earbuds (worth RM499) for free.

Aside from that, you can also get a RM100 discount on the ROG Kunai 3 gamepad with the ROG Phone 5. This essentially drops the price of the gamepad to RM399 from RM499; a decent deal if you need the dedicated buttons of the Kunai 3.

However, this offer for the ROG Phone 5 only seems to be applicable to the 128GB variant (RM2,999) of the gaming phone with 8GB of RAM. Nonetheless, it’s still a good deal, especially for a high-end phone of this calibre. After all, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset with a fast 144Hz 6.78-inch 1080p AMOLED screen.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 5 include a triple camera system (64MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 5MP macro), a 24MP selfie camera, a generous 6,000mAh battery, as well as ROG UI based on Android 11 out of the box.

If you want to get the Asus ROG Phone 5 with the free ROG Cetra II earbuds, you can do so on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 until 15 August. Not sure if this phone is for you? Then check out our review of the gaming-centric device
right here
.


Mode SixtyFive Pre-Orders Open Until 2022 – 3-Month Lead Time

Mode just made a pretty interesting announcement for its latest custom keyboard, the
Mode SixtyFive
. The pre-orders for the 65% keyboard was initially said to be open for at least a month, but Mode just revealed that it will actually be extended until 2022. On top of that, the lead time for the keyboard will be pretty short too.

“We are pleased to announce that we will be keeping SixtyFive pre-orders open into 2022,” Mode said on its
Discord server
. “Long before our pre-order even opens, we put in a significant amount of time and resources to prepare for manufacturing.”

“This greatly minimises wait times for you, our community, to receive your keyboards,” the company elaborated.

On top of that, Mode also added that pre-orders of the SixtyFive made by 9 August will be fulfilled in December 2021. For pre-orders placed beyond that date, Mode aims to ship the keyboard within three months.

Given that the SixtyFive is quite configurable – you can change the finish and material for almost every part of the keyboard – Mode’s quick fulfilment (by the standards of a custom keyboard) is really quite impressive. As far as we can tell, no other keyboard companies have offered this level of customisability with such a short turnaround time.

Anyway, the SixtyFive itself, as mentioned, is customisable. With Mode’s
configurator for the keyboard
, you can change the top case, bottom case, plate, and even the (magnetic) backpiece of the SixtyFive. Your customised keyboard will be rendered in the configurator too.

If you’re keen to get the Mode SixtyFive, you can start customising the keyboard over at
Mode’s online store
. To recap, the 65% custom keyboard starts at $299 (about RM1,265), and pre-orders made by 9 August will be shipped sometime in December 2021. You can learn more about the SixtyFive
over here
.


Samsung’s Unreleased S Pen Pro Now in SIRIM – Likely for Galaxy Z Fold 3

As we approach Samsung’s
next Unpacked event
 on 11 August, more interesting details are coming up. Take the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, which will likely debut at the event next month – the accompanying stylus for the flagship foldable phone, the S Pen Pro, has just been registered with SIRIM.

Just yesterday, Samsung Malaysia registered the S Pen Pro (EJ-P5450) with SIRIM. Before electronics can be officially sold here in Malaysia, they have to be registered with the certification body first, so there’s a good chance Malaysia will be one of the first markets to get the new Z Fold 3.

This wouldn’t really be a surprise: Samsung Malaysia has always brought in its latest smartphones in a very timely manner. Of course, it’s still great to see that the S Pen Pro for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has been registered with SIRIM already. It’s good to have a confirmation of sorts.

Anyway, based on leaks and rumours, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is shaping up to be Samsung’s most refined foldable phone to date. While its design is mostly the same as its predecessor, the
Z Fold 2
, it’s said to be sporting an IPX8 water resistance rating now. This makes it the first foldable with such a rating, alongside the Z Flip 3.

Image source:
Evan Blass (Twitter)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be making its debut on 11 August next month at the South Korean company’s next Unpacked event. It is believed to be accompanied by the Z Flip 3 as well, not to mention new smartwatches and a pair of
wireless earbuds
.


Poco X3 GT With 120Hz Screen & 5,000mAh Battery Arrives in Malaysia From RM1,299

The new Poco X3 GT has just been launched in Malaysia. As expected, it is basically the global version of the China-only Redmi Note 10 Pro. Like other Poco-branded smartphones, the new mid-ranger offers good value for money too.

For the Malaysian market, two variants of the X3 GT are offered. The base model with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM retails at RM1,299, while the 256GB configuration with the same amount of RAM costs RM1,599. Reasonably good price tags for a mid-range phone of this calibre.

For that kind of money, the Poco X3 Pro is quite well-equipped. Not only does it feature a fast 6.6-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, it is also powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 SoC. This chip is one of the chipmaker’s higher-end offerings, so it should be able to offer a good level of performance.

Other specifications of the X3 GT include a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 16MP selfie camera, a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, as well as MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 out of the box.

The Poco X3 GT will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 3 August onwards. To reward early birds, those who get the phone on 3 or 4 August will receive a pretty noteworthy discount. The 128GB will go for only RM1,199 (instead of RM1,299) on these two days, while the 256GB model will retail at only RM1,399 – a total of RM200 discount.


29 July – 4 August Fuel Price: RON 97 Goes up Again

The price of RON 97 continues its upward trend this coming week. RON 97 is set to go up by 1 sen per litre this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel remain the same, given that the price ceilings of the two have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is now set at RM2.74 per litre (up from RM2.73). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, remains the same at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 29 July to 4 August. New fuel prices will now be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Trying Out the TNG RFID Fuelling System – Room for Improvement, But Still Exciting

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) launched the pilot programme for its
RFID Fuelling system
 with Shell a couple of weeks ago, and I was lucky enough to be selected to test it out. Naturally, I was quite excited to try out the new fuelling method – it offers a level of convenience that other payment methods do not.

I’ve refuelled twice with the RFID Fuelling system, and while it’s amazing when it works, it’s pretty annoying when the RFID reader refuses to detect my car. But despite my less than ideal experience with the system, it’s definitely promising, and I really wouldn’t mind using it again.

Before we get to my experience with the RFID Fuelling system, let’s talk about how to activate the feature itself. It’s quite simple: just click on the Shell icon in the TNG eWallet app, tap on “activate fuelling,” set a preset amount to be deducted when you’re refuelling, and you’re done.

What happens if you refuelled less than the amount you’ve set? No problem: any unused amount will be refunded back to your TNG eWallet. With that in mind, you should set the amount higher than how much you usually pay at the fuelling station. That way, you’ll get a full tank of fuel.

Okay, once the initial setup is done, I can go to one of five different Shell stations to try out the beta version of the RFID Fuelling system as listed below:

Shell Bandar Sri Menjalara
Shell Mint Hotel
Shell NKVE Damansara
Shell Taman Connaught
Shell Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Shell NKVE Damansara was the nearest to my location, so I headed there. It was quite easy to spot the fuelling bays with the RFID system installed; there are rather sizeable LED display mounted at the two adjacent bays.

Depending on where your fuel cap is located, you’ll have to make sure your car is facing
towards
 the RFID reader as you drive up to the fuelling bay. The first time I drove up to the proper bay, it detected my car without issue. I was really quite surprised by how seamless it was.

All I had to do then was to wait for the LED screen to display the nozzle icon. Once it does, I have 80 seconds to start fuelling up. When I’m done, I can just return the nozzle, and drive off; that’s it. I can check my transaction through the TNG eWallet app if I need to.

Of course, after I was done with my first refuelling, I drove around back to the same bay to see if the reader can detect my RFID tag seamlessly again. Unfortunately, it did not. In fact, I drove back and forth several times to see if it will eventually detect my car – it did not.

That was when I was approached by a representative of Wei Long Electronics, which develops the hardware and software of the RFID Fuelling system. Turns out, he saw that I was having trouble getting the RFID reader to detect my car, and he suggested that I tried driving to the adjacent bay instead.

Surprise surprise, the moment I drove in, the reader picked up my RFID tag quickly. But as my fuel cap is located on the right side of my Proton Iriz…this is the result.

The representative explained that as my RFID tag is on the left side of my car’s headlights – the recommended location to install the tag – the reader of the first fuelling bay I tried (which is to the right of my car) may had difficulty detecting the tag. I guess I was just lucky that the reader managed to detect my car the first time around.

He then told me that there are certain Shell stations that actually have the RFID reader installed overhead instead of to the side, which should allow it to detect RFID tags of different car sizes more effectively. Unfortunately, since the Klang Valley area is still in lockdown, I can’t travel too far to try this out for myself.

There’s a chance the overhead RFID reader will perform better for the new fuelling system, but this is just my own educated guess. At the end of the day, that’s the whole point of this pilot programme: to pinpoint any possible issue actual users will face with the system’s current implementation.

As mentioned, even though my experience with the TNG RFID Fuelling system was not as seamless as it should be, I’m eager to give it another try. I’m particularly keen to try out fuelling bays that have the RFID reader installed overhead instead.

Hopefully, TNG and Shell will roll out the RFID fuelling system to the general public soon – it’s certainly a convenient way to fuel up your vehicles.


Asus ExpertBook B9 (B9400) Arrives in Malaysia – 880g Lightweight Laptop for RM7,989

Asus just introduced the latest Asus ExpertBook B9 (B9400) laptop in Malaysia. Sporting a chassis that weighs merely 880g, it is touted as the world’s lightest 14-inch business laptop.

Only one variant of the ExpertBook B9 is available in Malaysia. Retailing at RM7,989, the sole configuration features Intel’s latest 11th generation Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a generous 1TB SSD, integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, as well as Windows 10 Pro out of the box.

Aside from that, the ExpertBook B9 also has a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 “NanoEdge” anti-glare display with very minimal bezels, giving the business-centric laptop a pretty sleek, modern-looking design. After all, it has an impressive 94% screen-to-body ratio.

As mentioned, one of the best selling points of the ExpertBook B9 has to be its very lightweight chassis. Tipping the scales at only 880g with a 14.9mm thin chassis, this is undoubtedly a very portable laptop – perfect for those who are always on the go.

The Asus ExpertBook B9 (B9400) will be available for purchase in Malaysia from the middle of August 2021 onwards. To recap, the thin and light business laptop retails at RM7,989 locally.


10 Million PS5 Consoles Have Been Sold – Fastest-Selling PlayStation Yet

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) just revealed that over
10 million units
 of the
PlayStation 5
 have been sold. According to the Japanese company, this makes it the fastest-selling PlayStation console to date.

The next generation console passed the 10 million sales mark as of 18 July 2021. It’s worth noting that back in 31 March 2021, over 7.8 million units of the PS5 were sold, so essentially, over 2.2 million units of the console were shipped between 1 April to 18 July.

If not for the global chip shortage, we reckon even more units of the PS5 could have been sold. After all, every time the next-gen console is
restocked here

in Malaysia
, it sells out almost instantly. Evidently, everyone wants to get their hands on the PS5.

Aside from that, SIE also detailed some other milestones. Insomniac Games’
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
, which is available on both the PS5 and PS4, has sold more than 6.5 million copies.

 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Returnal
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The very punishing rougelite game
Returnal
 from Housemarque, on the other hand, shipped over 560,000 copies. As for the more recent
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
 (also from Insomniac Games), it has sold more than 1.1 million copies since its release.


Asus ExpertBook B5 & B5 Flip Coming to Malaysia August 2021 – Starts at RM4,299

Aside from the range-topping
ExpertBook B9
, Asus Malaysia also introduced the Asus ExpertBook B5 (B5302C) and B5 Flip (B5302F) locally. Retailing from RM4,299, these two business-centric laptops are more affordable options than the B9.

Both the ExpertBook B5 and B5 Flip have two variants each for a total of four different models. Let’s start with the standard B5: the base model with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and 256GB of SSD storage retails at RM4,299, while the higher-end Core i7-1165G7 configuration with a 512GB SSD costs RM5,199.

As for the ExpertBook B5 Flip, the Core i5-1135G7 variant costs RM4,999, while the Core i7-1165G7 model is priced at RM5,599; both of them feature a 512GB SSD.

Beyond the different processor – and SSD capacity for the base model of the regular B5 – these two ExpertBook laptops share very similar hardware. These include 8GB of RAM, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, a 42Wh battery, as well as a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 screen.

Of course, as its name suggests, the display of the ExpertBook B5 Flip is a little bit different. Not only is it touch-enabled, the B5 Flip itself is also a convertible laptop. Because of this, it does have a slightly different design than the regular B5.

The ExpertBook B5 and B5 Flip will arrive in Malaysia in the middle of August 2021 next month. The ExpertBook B5 retails from RM4,299, while the B5 Flip convertible business laptop starts at RM4,999.


Asus ExpertBook B1 Now Available in Malaysia From RM3,599

Asus launched
 a slew of laptops from the

ExpertBook series in Malaysia
, including this one right here, the Asus ExpertBook B1. Available in two sizes, the B1 is the most affordable laptop in the ExpertBook lineup.

There are a total of four different configurations of the ExpertBook B1. The 14-inch model, for one, is available in three variants. The base model features an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and a 256GB SSD for RM3,599, while the mid-tier model swaps out the SSD to a 512GB unit for RM3,759.

If you want better performance, there’s the B1 with a faster Core i7-1165G7 processor for RM4,399.

Aside from that, there’s also the 15.6-inch variant of the ExpertBook B1, though it is only available in one configuration. This particular model is packed with a Core i5-1135G7 processor and 512GB of SSD storage for RM3,759.

Beyond the different processors, SSD capacities, and screen sizes, all variants of the ExpertBook B1 share the same hardware. These include a Full HD display, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, and Windows 10 Pro out of the box.

Both the 14-inch and 15.6-inch versions of the Asus ExpertBook B1 are now available for purchase in Malaysia. If you want a business-centric laptop that doesn’t break the bank, consider the B1.


PS5’s First Beta Software Update Adds Support for External M.2 SSD

If you’ve been waiting for the
PlayStation 5
 to support external M.2 SSD, you’ll be happy to know that the
beta update for the next-gen console
 is adding that capability. Unfortunately, the beta update is only available to selected users.

On top of that, it will be tricky to find for M.2 SSDs that will be compatible with the PS5. Not only do you need an M.2 SSD that can do 5,500MB/s or faster sequential read speed, it’s still not guaranteed that “all M.2 SSD devices meeting the described specifications will work with your console.”

Given the level of performance you need for the M.2 SSD, it needs to be adequately cooled too. According to PlayStation, you need to use a cooling structure of sorts with the SSD, such as a heatsink. Both single-sided or double-sided heatsinks will work too, as long as it meets the dimensions outlined in
this support page
.

The PS5’s M.2 SSD support will be available to everyone through a future software update, though it remains to be seen exactly when this will happen. Nonetheless, it’s still great that the feature can be tested by beta users now.


Huawei P50 Pro Official – 100x Zoom, 120Hz OLED Screen, No 5G Support

Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone, the Huawei P50 Pro, has just been launched in China. Sporting a quad camera system that can do 100x zoom along with a fast 120Hz OLED screen, it’s quite a sleek-looking device too, though it doesn’t come with 5G connectivity.

That’s right, despite sporting either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Kirin 9000 chipset, the P50 Pro does not support 5G networks. Of course, for markets where 5G connectivity is not widespread yet – such as Malaysia – it’s not a big deal, though it’s definitely an omission worth pointing out.

Aside from that, the P50 Pro also features a rather sophisticated quad camera system. It’s made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 40MP monochrome sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens, and of course, a 64MP telephoto camera that can do up to 100x digital zoom.

Other specifications of the P50 Pro include a 6.6-inch Full HD+ OLED dual-curve screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a 13MP selfie camera, 8GB or 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of internal storage, a 4,360mAh battery, an IP68 rating, and HarmonyOS 2 (still based on Android) out of the box.

In China, the Huawei P50 Pro retails from 5,988 Chinese yuan (about RM3,930) to 8,488 yuan (approximately RM5,570). It remains to be seen if the flagship phone will be available in other markets.


Huawei P50 Unveiled With Snapdragon 888 Only Without 5G Support

Launched alongside the
P50 Pro
 is the more affordable Huawei P50. Unlike the Pro model, which is offered with two SoC options, the regular P50 is only available with a Snapdragon 888 chipset, though there’s still no support for 5G networks.

Aside from that, the P50 does have the same design language as its Pro sibling, though its list of hardware isn’t quite as high-end. The P50’s display, for one, is just a regular 6.5-inch Full HD+ OLED flat panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. In comparison, the P50 Pro features a 120Hz dual-curve screen.

In the camera department, the P50 has a triple camera system. It consists of a 50MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 12MP telephoto lens that can do up to 50x digital zoom. A reasonably good array of camera sensors.

Other specifications of the P50 include a 13MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, two storage options (128GB or 256GB), a 4,100mAh battery, an IP68 rating, and HarmonyOS 2 based on Android out of the box.

Available only in China at the moment, the Huawei P50 retails at 4,488 Chinese yuan (about RM2,945) and 4,988 yuan (approximately RM3,275) for the 128GB and 256GB models respectively. No word yet on whether or not the P50 will be sold in markets outside of China.


PlayStation Plus August 2021 Games Revealed – Hunter’s Arena: Legends, Plants vs. Zombies Shooter

The free PlayStation Plus games for the month of August 2021 have been revealed, and if you’ve seen the leak, it’s the same exact games. These include Hunter’s Arena: Legends, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, as well as Tennis World Tour 2.

Out of the three games, we’d argue the most interesting is Hunter’s Arena. After all, the game will be making its debut on the PS5 and PS4 once the PlayStation Plus August games are live; it’s currently only available on PC.

Basically, Hunter’s Arena is a 30-player battle royale game that offers 17 different hunters to choose from. Taking place in an “ancient age in which humanity battles each other as well as a growing legion of demons,” you may be interested in this game if you’re into the battle royale genre.

Aside from that, there’s also Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, which is a shooter with some free-roam elements. As for Tennis World Tour 2, it’s…well, a professional tennis simulator.

If you’re a PlayStation Plus member, you can claim these three games from 3 August until 6 September 2021. As long as your subscription is active, you will be able to play these games whenever you want after you’ve claimed them.


MySejahtera Now Lets You Purchase COVID-19 Self-Test Kits

A new MySejahtera update has been rolled out, which lets you purchase COVID-19 self-test kits from the app itself. On top of that, you can update your self-test result through the app now too.

So far, three COVID-19 self-test kits are available for purchase on the MySejahtera app. These include Salixium, Gmate, and JusChek. There’s even an option to bulk purchase the test kit from Pharma2u.

Of course, you can also update your self-test result through Mysejahtera, though you will be redirected to the browser once you’ve clicked on it. Nonetheless, it will make it easier for users to report their test results by having the option in the app itself.

Do note that the COVID-19 self test kits shown here are not the full list of kits that have been approved by the Ministry of Health (MOH). You can refer to the full list
over here
.

The new MySejahtera update is now available on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. If you’re not on the latest version already, don’t worry: the app will notify you to download the update.


Redmi Note 10S in Starlight Purple Coming to Malaysia Soon for RM899

Initially launched in Malaysia a couple of months ago, the
Redmi Note 10S
 is now available in a new colour. Dubbed Starlight Purple, it’s quite a unique shade of purple – Xiaomi said it is “suitable for users who are looking for a unique and outstanding smartphone design.”

Beyond the new colour, the Redmi Note 10S in Starlight Purple is no different from the standard model. It still offers 128GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM for RM899; a decent price tag for a mid-range smartphone.

Aside from that, the Redmi Note 10S is also packed with a vibrant 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, though the refresh rate is only locked at 60Hz. This mid-ranger is powered by a MediaTek Helio G95 processor too, which should offer a reasonably good level of performance.

Rounding out the specifications of the Redmi Note 10S are a quad camera setup (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), a 13MP selfie camera, as well as a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.

The Redmi Note 10S in Starlight Purple will be available in Malaysia from 3 August onwards. To recap, it retails at the same price point as other colourways of the mid-range phone at RM899.


Affordable Redmi 9C Now Comes With 128GB Storage for RM499 in Malaysia

Other than the new
Starlight Purple colourway
 of the
Redmi Note 10S
, Xiaomi is also launching a new variant of the
Redmi 9C
 in Malaysia. Previously only available with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, the new Redmi 9C model is packed with a much more practical 128GB of storage.

Aside from that, the new Redmi 9C variant also features 4GB of RAM instead of 3GB. Despite sporting more RAM and storage capacity, it doesn’t cost all that much more either. Retailing at RM499, this configuration only costs RM20 more than the previous 64GB + 3GB model, which went for RM479.

Anyway, given its affordable price tag, the Redmi 9C is a decent entry-level phone. It’s powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, and fabricated on a 12nm process, it’s a relatively power-efficient chip. Packed with a very generous 5,000mAh battery, you can expect to get good battery life.

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

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

The new Redmi 9C variant with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM will be available in Malaysia from 3 August onwards.


2021 Hyundai Kona N Line & 1.6 Turbo Land in Malaysia – Starts at RM146,888

After teasing the
2021 Hyundai Kona N Line
 back in May, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) just launched the sporty B-segment SUV today. On top of that, HSDM also introduced the Kona 1.6 Turbo – both new models feature the same Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi four-cylinder engine.

Let’s get to the pricing of the two new Kona models first. The 1.6 Turbo variant is priced at RM146,888 – RM10,000 more than the
2.0 Active trim
 – while the sportier-looking N Line costs RM156,888; also a RM10,000 price difference compared to the 1.6 Turbo.

Since these are CBU units from South Korea, these prices are with the
50% sales tax exemption
 applied.

The biggest draw of the Kona N Line and 1.6 Turbo models is obviously the 1.6L turbocharged engine under the hood. This engine outputs a whopping 198PS and 265Nm of torque, and drive is sent to the front wheels via a Smartsteam seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Aesthetically, the Kona N Line sports a more aggressive-looking exterior than the 1.6 Turbo. It has a different grille design, sportier LED headlamps, a revised rear bumper with two exhaust pipes, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels with a new, busier-looking design.

Inside the cabin, the Kona N Line gets some neat changes here and there to complete the sporty look of the B-segment SUV. You get N Line-branded bucket seats with red stitching, a gear knob with the N Line branding, and of course, a leather wrapped steering wheel with – you guessed it – the N Line logo.

Safety wise, both the Kona N Line and 1.6 Turbo feature Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of active safety features. It offers Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), and Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line and 1.6 Turbo models are now available for booking online here in Malaysia through Hyundai’s new online shopping platform, “
Cl!ck to Buy
.” To recap, the N Line is priced at RM156,888, while the 1.6 Turbo model costs RM146,888.


Acer Swift 3 With Bigger 16-inch Display Arrives in Malaysia – From RM3,699

Acer just launched a new variant of the Acer Swift 3 in Malaysia.
Previously available with a 14-inch display
, you can now get the productivity laptop with a much more sizeable 16.1-inch screen – it looks quite sleek too with minimal screen bezels.

Two variants of the Swift 3 are available in Malaysia. The base model with an 11th generation Intel Core i5-11300H processor paired with 8GB of RAM retails at RM3,699, while the faster Core i7-11370H configuration with 16GB RAM costs RM4,599.

Beyond the different processor and RAM capacity, both variants of the Swift 3 share the same hardware. The display, for one, is a large 16.1-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen; it also covers 100% of the sRGB colour space. Weighing 1.7kg with a 15.9mm thin chassis, it’s quite a portable laptop too despite its large display.

Other specifications of the Swift 3 include integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, up to 11.5 hours of battery life, and Windows 10 Home out of the box. This productivity laptop comes with the full version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 as well.

The new Acer Swift 3 will be available for purchase in Malaysia next week on 3 August
from Shopee
. Those who purchase the laptop on 3 or 4 August will also receive a complimentary Gateway Pro Wireless Headset worth RM239.


Acer Swift 1 – RM2,099 Thin & Light Laptop Comes to Malaysia 3 August

If you’re looking to get an affordable productivity laptop that won’t break the bank, consider the new Acer Swift 1. Retailing at only RM2,099 here in Malaysia, this is a pretty thin and light laptop as well.

Only one variant of the Swift 1 is offered in Malaysia. As mentioned, it retails at RM2,099, and for that kind of money, you’re getting a 14.95mm thin laptop that weighs only 1.3kg – it’s really quite a portable machine.

Given its affordable price tag, it’s no surprise that the Swift 1 is powered by an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor instead of Intel’s Core chips. Although the N6000 isn’t comparable to the Core series processors, it should still be fast enough for basic tasks such as web browsing.

Rounding out the specifications of the Swift 1 are a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage ,and up to 16 hours of battery life. Just like the new Swift 3, the Swift 1 comes with the full version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 as well.

To recap, the Acer Swift 1 retails at RM2,099 in Malaysia, and it will be available for purchase on 3 August next week
from Shopee
. From 3 to 4 August, the affordable laptop will be offered with a RM100 discount and a free Acer E300 TrueHarmony earphones worth RM199.


Samsung Galaxy A22 With 90Hz AMOLED Screen & 5,000mAh Battery Now in Malaysia for RM899

Samsung’s budget-friendly Galaxy A22 smartphone is even more affordable now. Previously, only the 5G version of the device was available
for RM999
, but this LTE-only model retails at only RM899, saving you RM100.

Aside from the omission of 5G connectivity, this new Galaxy A22 variant has a number of other hardware differences as well. Instead of a 5G-capable MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, for one, this LTE-only model features a Helio G80 SoC instead.

The camera system of the LTE Galaxy A22 is quite different too. Unlike the 5G model’s triple camera system, this LTE variant has a quad camera system made up of a 48MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide angle sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and 2MP depth camera.

Other specifications of the Galaxy A22 include a 6.4-inch 1600 x 720 Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a generous 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging.

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is now
available for purchase in Malaysia
. To recap, it retails at RM899, and those who get the phone by 31 August will also receive a free clear cover casing worth RM39.


Video: Keychron Q1 – Most Exciting Keychron Keyboard Yet?

Keychron has made quite a number of affordable mechanical keyboards over the years, but the upcoming
Keychron Q1
 is arguably the company’s most exciting board to date. While it’s not quite as budget-friendly as Keychron’s previous products, the Q1 has a number of very compelling features.

Not only does the Q1 uses a gasket mounting system – a mounting style that is rarely used by mass-produced keyboards – it also has a full CNC aluminium body for a more premium look and feel. It also features a hotswap PCB with south-facing LEDs, screw-in stabilisers, and VIA support out of the box for easy keyboard mapping.

What makes the Q1 particularly interesting is the fact these features are typically only found on enthusiast-level keyboards. So if you’re looking to get into the custom keyboard hobby without breaking the bank, consider the Q1. Retailing from $139 – that’s about RM585 – it really does offer plenty value for money.

The Keychron Q1 will be available for pre-order sometime in August next month. Shipping will commence the following month in September 2021.