Toyota Corolla Cross Price Revised in Malaysia – RM123k to RM129k, CKD

At the launch of the
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) also revealed the revised pricing for the regular petrol models. Now locally assembled (CKD), the 1.8G and the higher-end 1.8V variants of the C-segment SUV are slightly more affordable; the former gets a neat upgrade too.

Previously priced at RM124,000, the Corolla Cross 1.8G now goes for RM123,000. Not only is it slightly more affordable, the halogen headlights have also been replaced with LED units. As for the 1.8V, it now costs RM129,000 – a price reduction of RM266. These prices are with 100% sales tax exemption applied (as they are now CKD) until 30 June 2022.

Both variants of the petrol Corolla Cross feature a 1.8L Dual VVT-i engine that outputs 139PS and 172Nm of torque; drive is sent to the front wheels via a CVT with seven virtual speeds. Aside from that, the two models also have leather seats, seven airbags, a 360-degree camera system, a dashcam, and a 9-inch infotainment screen with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Of course, the higher-end Corolla Cross 1.8V has a couple of features that differentiate it from the 1.8G. These include larger 18-inch alloy wheels – the 1.8G gets 17-inch wheels instead – as well as the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance systems. It offers Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Pre-Collision System (PCS), and Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with steering assist.

The Corolla Cross is now available for booking in Malaysia at all Toyota showrooms nationwide. The C-segment SUV is offered in five different shades: Platinum White Pearl – an RM800 option – Red Mica Metallic, Nebula Blue Metallic, Metalstream Metallic, and Graphite Metallic.


Black Shark 4 Pro Malaysian Pre-Orders Open 25 January From RM2,599

The Black Shark 4 Pro was introduced back in March 2021, but due to chip shortages, the gaming phone is only available in Malaysia today. Sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset with physical shoulder buttons that pop-up when needed, it’s quite a respectable gaming-centric phone.

Two variants of the Black Shark 4 Pro are offered in Malaysia. The base model with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM costs RM2,599, while the 256GB configuration with 12GB RAM goes for RM2,999. The first 100 customers to pre-order the phone will also get RM500 worth of freebies.

Just like
Black Shark’s previous gaming phone
, the Black Shark 4 Pro features physical shoulder buttons that pop-up when activated. Physical buttons are often preferred over capacitive ones for their superior tactile response, and this hardware remains one of the best selling points of the gaming phone.

Other specifications of the Black Shark 4 Pro include a Snapdragon 888 chipset, a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate and 720Hz touch response rate, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 5MP macro), a 20MP selfie camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging.

The Black Shark 4 Pro will be available for pre-order in Malaysia through Shopee from 25 January onwards. To recap, the 128GB model
costs RM2,599
, while the 256GB variant
retails at RM2,999
.


Shopee CNY Sale Offers 88% Discount Vouchers & RM8,888 Ang Pow

The Shopee CNY Sale, just like the
e-commerce platform’s

previous sales
, offers quite a number of notable discounts and rewards. Throughout the campaign period, you can get up to 88% discount and RM8,888 ang pow.

Happening until 2 February, Shopee is offering free shipping with a minimum spend of RM8; you can also get 88% discount vouchers on CNY products. To sweeten the deal, you even stand a chance to win RM8,888 ang pow by participating in the Shopee Fortune Quiz during the Shopee Live session at 8PM daily.

If you’re planning to travel, good news: you can win a three days and two nights stay at Camar Langkawi Resort by just booking for a bus, flight, or hotel with Shopee. Of course, you can also get a 10% discount (capped at RM20) if you place your booking through the Tickets, Top-Ups & Bills section in the Shopee app.

More information on the Shopee CNY Sale can be found
here
, while details on the CNY Travel Campaign are available
here
. You can also download the Shopee app from the
Apple App Store
,
Google Play Store
, and
Huawei AppGallery
.


Walk-in COVID-19 Booster Starts 19 January – For Those Over 60 in Klang Valley

If you’re over the age of 60 and you haven’t gotten your COVID-19 booster yet, good news: you can walk-in to get your vaccination from 19 January onwards at four selected PPVs in Klang Valley.

These PPVs include World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur; Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil; Ideal Convention Centre, Shah Alam; and Soka Gakkai, Klang. However, do note that you can only walk-in from 2PM to 8PM daily (except on public holiday), with the exception of Soka Gakkai (between 12PM to 4PM).

Kenyataan Media Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
Pelaksanaan Vaksinasi Secara Walk-In Bagi Warga Emas dan Bekalan Vaksin Pfizer di PPV Integrasi Lembah Klang
pic.twitter.com/6Os9o6UMa5
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya)
January 17, 2022

Those over the age of 60 in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Penang, and Sarawak can also walk-in at selected offsite PPVs to get their boosters, but only from 24 January onwards. ProtectHealth Corporation will announce the PPVs that offer walk-in vaccination at a later date.

The Ministry of Health also announced that from 19 January onwards, PPVs in Klang Valley will also offer Pfizer as a booster for AstraZeneca and Sinovac recipients. This is to accommodate folks that cannot receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster, which is currently the only booster offered.


Microsoft Acquiring Activision Blizzard for a Whopping RM287 Billion

Now this is quite a surprise: Microsoft just announced it is acquiring Activision Blizzard. Once the acquisition is complete, Microsoft will be the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, right behind Tencent and Sony.

The acquisition will value Activision Blizzard at a whopping $68.7 billion, which comes up to about RM287 billion. But until the transaction is done, Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as the CEO of Activision Blizzard.

“Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming,” said the company in a press release.

Needless to say, almost every gamer knows Activision Blizzard. Or at least, they know the games the publisher releases. These include Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Starcraft, and
Hearthstone
.

“Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms,” said the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella.

“We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community, and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all,” he added.


Hibi Teases New Custom Keyboard With Wilba.tech – In-Stock Sale in 2022

Two big names in the custom keyboard scene – Hibi (founded by Kate, formerly a designer at Rama Works) and Wilba.tech – are teasing a rather interesting new keyboard. Not only is this Hibi’s first keyboard release, it will also be sold as an in-stock product sometime this year; a rarity in this hobby.

Unfortunately, we only have several images of the mysterious new custom keyboard. There’s no indication on its price or exact availability, though two colours have been teased so far: green and pink. It will likely be a 65% or 60% keyboard too, but we’ll only know for sure once the full layout has been revealed.

Aesthetically, the upcoming Hibi keyboard does look quite a bit like the Rama M65 with its “chunky” case and angular design. This doesn’t come as a surprise, given that the founder, Kate, was a designer at Rama Works. As for Wilba.tech’s involvement in the new keyboard, he is likely providing the PCB.

Hibi is continuously teasing the new keyboard on its social media pages, including
Twitter
 and
Instagram
. Hopefully, more details on the mysterious keyboard will be revealed soon.


Wilba.tech Salvation Will Miss Q1 2022 Shipment – Free Hard Case Upgrade

Wilba.tech just posted an update on the production status of the
Salvation custom keyboard
. Previously estimated to start shipping sometime in Q1 2022 – which was already delayed from Q4 2021 – the keyboard will unfortunately miss this timeframe. The good news? All orders of the Salvation will now come with a free (custom made) hard case.

Currently, 2,500 Salvation cases have been machined by Salvun, which is the amount of pre-orders that were placed; a respectable figure for a custom keyboard. However, these cases still need to be anodised, which is one of the reasons for the delay.

The Salvation in Business Grey

“However, due to the delays getting the anodising process to consistently produce finishes to the level that Salvun (and more importantly, the customers) expect, the plan to have the majority of the cases anodised already has not been achieved,” said Wilba on
his Discord channel
 and
Salvun’s
.

Aside from that, there is a slight redesign of the Salvation’s internal as well. This involves the silicon rubber standoffs, which have a tendency to slide off the leaf spring over time. To address this, mount pins will be used to keep these standoffs in place.

While it’s unfortunate that the Salvation is further delayed, it’s great that Wilba and Salvun are prioritising the quality of the custom keyboard; it’s also a tall task to produce so many keyboards during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At the moment, anodisation of the Salvation is expected to be completed in March or April 2022.


Realme 9i With Snapdragon 680 Lands in Malaysia From RM799

Realme just launched yet another affordable phone in Malaysia, the Realme 9i. Featuring the new Snapdragon 680 chipset, this budget-friendly device also has a reasonably fast 90Hz display.

Two variants of the Realme 9i are offered in Malaysia. The base model with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM costs RM799, while the 6GB RAM model (with the same 128GB internal storage) costs RM869. The former will only be available at a later date, while the 128GB + 6GB configuration will go on sale
later today at 5PM on Shopee
.

To sweeten the deal, the first 500 customers to purchase the phone will get a free Realme Buds Air 2 Neo wireless earbuds worth RM169 as well.

Powered by a Snapdragon 680 chipset, the Realme 9i should be able to offer a good level of performance for everyday use. On top of that, it’s also built on a 6nm process, which promises better power efficiency. Paired with the phone’s generous 5,000mAh with support for 33W fast charging, expect the phone to return above average battery life.

Other specifications of the Realme 9i include a 6.6-inch 1080p LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 4MP macro + 2MP black and white portrait), a 16MP selfie camera, and a microSD card slot.

To recap, the Realme 9i (128GB + 6GB) will go on sale in Malaysia later today at 5PM on Shopee for RM869. The more affordable 128GB + 4GB variant, on the other hand, will be introduced here at a later date for RM799.


Spy Shot: Proton X90 Heading up Genting Highlands!

The last time we spotted the Geely Haoyue – or Okavango, as marketed in The Philippines – was
just last month
, and it appears Proton is hard at work testing the D-segment seven-seater SUV on Malaysian roads. This Geely model is suspected to be the
Proton X90
, and the SUV is caught on camera again, this time heading up to Genting Highlands!

Caught by
Paultan.org
 reader Akid Basarom, this Haoyue test mule has some distinct differences compared to earlier spy shots. The position of the number plate, for one, has been moved up from the rear bumper to the tailgate; the taillights look a little different too. Chances are, Proton could be (finally) adding its own styling to Geely-based models.

Previous spy shot of the Haoyue in Malaysia
One of the first spy shots of the Haoyue on local roads
Notice the different number plate position on this earlier test mule of the Haoyue

So what is the Haoyue? As mentioned, it’s a large D-segment SUV that can be configured with five or seven seats; it measures 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,785 tall. Compared to the
Proton X70
, the Haoyue is 316mm longer, 69mm wider, and 91mm taller.

Powering the Haoyue, on the other hand, is a 1.8L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 181PS and 300Nm of torque. This engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive sent either to the front wheels or all four of them for the AWD model.

However, it’s worth noting that in The Philippines, the Okavango is actually available with a 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine and a mild hybrid system that put out a combined figure of 190hp and 300Nm of torque. This setup is also paired with a 7DCT, though there is no AWD variant.

Of course, given its positioning as a premium SUV, the Haoyue is equipped with Geely’s level 2 autonomous driving system too. It is made up of 24 different sensors to allow for as many as 17 “intelligent drive features.” According to Geely, this lets the SUV automatically follow, stop, as well as turn at speeds of up to 150km/h.

Oh, just like the
Proton X50
, the Haoyue is also capable of parking itself. It features a 360-degree camera as well, and given the large size of the SUV, we imagine this will come in handy for most drivers.

The Geely Haoyue

Even though the Geely Haoyue is already being tested on Malaysian roads, it’s still too early to tell if it will eventually materialise to be the “Proton X90,” even if
some rumours are suggesting a 2022 release
. Nonetheless, we will keep a close eye for any further development of this premium SUV!


20 – 26 January Fuel Price: All Prices Unchanged, RON 97 Still at RM3.07

After consistently going up in price for the past few weeks, the price of RON 97 finally sees no change this week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are also maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 remains at RM3.07 per litre. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 20 to 26 January 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for fuel price update!


Video: Mode SixtyFive Sound Test With SP-Star Meteor White

The
Mode SixtyFive
 is easily one of the most customisable…custom keyboards in the market now, and it even offers three different mounting styles. Here’s our sound test of the keyboard in stack mount configuration!

That’s right, the SixtyFive can be mounted in three different ways. There’s this stack mount system – which provides “maximum acoustic dampening and a firm but not unforgiving typing feel,” as Mode puts it – conventional top-mount, as well as isolated top-mount for a cleaner sound profile. Well, in theory, at least.

We will be posting our review of the Mode SixtyFive very soon, so stay tuned for that! In the meantime, check out our review of the
SP-Star Meteor White
 – it’s an excellent linear switch, and we really like how it sounds on this custom keyboard.


Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Pre-Orders Open in Malaysia – Starts at RM4,950

As promised
, Microsoft Malaysia just opened pre-orders for its latest Windows tablet, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. Retailing from RM4,950, five different configurations of the tablet are available in Malaysia.

Let’s start with the RM4,950 base model of the Surface Pro 8. For that kind of money, you’re getting a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. A tier up is the RM5,250 model, which swaps out the 128GB SSD for a 256GB drive instead.

There’s a similar configuration with 16GB of RAM too instead of 8GB for RM6,490, though this model is exclusive to Harvey Norman.

And then we have the Core i7-1185G7 version of the Surface Pro 8 for RM7,350; it is also packed with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. If you want even more storage capacity, there’s the RM8,750 model with double the SSD storage (512GB).

Compared to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 8 sees a much more significant design revision. Not only does it sport a larger 13-inch PixelSense Flow Display now with smaller bezels, it also has a higher 120Hz refresh rate for a more responsive user experience.

The Surface Pro 8 can also be paired with the new Surface Pro Signature Keyboard that houses the equally new Surface Slim Pen 2 stylus too. More importantly, this Windows tablet
finally
gets two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support as well.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia from
these retailers
. Every purchase of the tablet during the pre-order period will also get a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard worth RM699 for free. To sweeten the deal, some retailers will even throw in freebies worth up to RM1,499 while stocks last.


Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ Lands in Malaysia 8 February From RM3,599

Previously offered only to businesses and schools, regular consumers will now be able to purchase the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ in Malaysia from 8 February onwards. Essentially, it’s an upgraded version of the
Surface Pro 7
 with Intel’s 11th gen processors, a bigger battery, and removable SSD.

Two configurations of the Surface Pro 7+ are offered to consumers in Malaysia. The base model with a Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage costs RM3,599, while the higher-end model with a faster Core i5-1135G7 processor (same RAM and SSD capacities) is priced at RM4,299.

The Surface Pro 7+ largely retains the same hardware as the standard Pro 7, but as mentioned, it features a larger battery (50.4Wh instead of 46.5Wh). It also has a removable SSD, giving consumers the flexibility to easily upgrade for more storage if they want to.

Other specifications of the Surface Pro 7+ include a 12.3-inch 2736 x 1824 PixelSense display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, Intel Iris Xe Graphics (UHD Graphics for the Core i3 version), up to 15 hours of battery life, and Windows 10 Pro out of the box.

To recap, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 8 February next month. The Core i3 model is priced at RM3,599, while the Core i5 configuration goes for RM4,299.


Temperature Checks No Longer Part of COVID-19 SOP

The Ministry of Health (MOH) just announced that temperature checks are no longer a part of COVID-19 SOP. Moving forward, it’s only mandatory to check in to a particular premise with the MySejahtera app.

This decision to remove temperature checks from the COVID-19 SOP will be brought forward by MOH to the National Security Council (MKN). Of course, the official SOP will be updated to reflect this change in the near future.

Previously, temperature checks were mandatory to check if an individual has a fever – one of the symptoms of COVID-19. Folks who don’t pass the temperature check won’t be allowed to enter a particular premise. But given the high vaccination rate in Malaysia now (there’s less chance of transmission), it’s likely the SOP is revised to reflect this.


COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Under 12 Begins February 2022 in Klang Valley

If you have children between the age of 11 to 5, you can book an appointment for them to get their COVID-19 vaccination from 31 January onwards. However, this is open to those who are residing in the Klang Valley area first.

Only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to children between the age of 11 to 5. Based on clinical trials, the vaccine has an efficacy of up to 90.7%. Of course, this Pfizer vaccine is specially formulated for children: it contains 10mcg of the mRNA vaccine, which is 1/3 of the dose given to adults.

Just like the Pfizer vaccine for adults, two doses are required for a child to be considered fully vaccinated. The second dose will be given eight weeks after the first one – data shows that the vaccine provides the best immunity response with this dosing interval.

Naturally, children with comorbidities (respiratory disease, diabetes) will be prioritised first to get vaccinated as they are more vulnerable to COVID-19. To recap, you can book for an appointment to get your children vaccinated on MySejahtera from 31 January; the vaccination will begin in February 2022.


SP-Star Meteor White Back in Stock on Shopee for RM2.30 Per Switch

The
SP-Star Meteor White
, one of our favourite linear switches, is
back in stock on Shopee
. Offered by NullKeyboards, the Meteor White is listed at RM23 for a pack of 10 switches – that’s RM2.30 per unit, a decent price for a switch of this calibre.

What makes the Meteor White an excellent linear switch (in our opinion) is its soft, “cushioned” bottom out. Not only does the soft bottom out make for a comfortable typing experience, it has a nice, dampened sound signature too. For the lack of a better word, it has a “poppy” sound signature, especially after it is lubed and filmed.

Plus,
for only RM2.30 per switch
, it’s not as expensive as, say, the
Cobalt POM
. Despite its more budget-friendly price tag, it easily performs just as well as any high-end linear switch.

If you’d like to know more about the SP-Star Meteor White, check out our full review of the linear switch
right here
. You can also listen to a
sound test of the switch
 in the video above on the
Mode SixtyFive
!


2022 Peugeot 2008 Lands in Malaysia – Locally Assembled (CKD) for RM127k

The 2022 Peugeot 2008 has just been launched in Malaysia. Locally assembled (CKD) at the Stellantis plant in Gurun, Kedah, the B-segment SUV enjoys 100% sales tax exemption until 30 June 2022, so it’s slightly more affordable than its imported (CBU) competition.

Only the sole Allure variant of the 2008 is offered in Malaysia for RM126,753 on-the-road without insurance. It comes with a five-year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first), alongside a three-year or 60,000km free service maintenance.

For that kind of money, the 2008 features a 1.2L three-cylinder turbo engine – the same one used in the previous 2008 – that’s been retuned to deliver 130hp and 230Nm of torque; an improvement of 20hp and 25Nm respectively. It is paired with the same six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

Other specifications of the new 2008 include 17-inch alloy wheels, a suite of driver assistance systems (cruise control, lane keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking), leather seats, six airbags, and even a drive mode selector that allows you to switch between Normal, Eco, and Sport mode.

The 2022 Peugeot 2008 is now available for booking in Malaysia at Peugeot dealerships nationwide. It is offered in four colours: Amazonite Grey, Pearl White, Nera Black, and Orange Fusion.


Samsung Schedules Unpacked Event for February 2022 – “Noteworthy” S Series Expected

Samsung just confirmed an Unpacked event – where the Korean company usually unveils its latest flagship smartphones – for February 2022 next month. Chances are, it’s a launch event for the Galaxy S22 series, which will incorporate some features from the beloved (and likely discontinued) Galaxy Note phones.

In fact, the president and head of MX business at Samsung, TM Roh, said that Samsung will introduce “the most noteworthy S series device we’ve ever created.” Needless to say, this is clearly referencing the incorporation of the Galaxy Note’s features to the Galaxy S series, such as the beloved S Pen.

The teaser for the Unpacked event above is also foreshadowing the same thing. The two phones shown in the video are likely the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S phones; the former is easily recognisable by its angular-looking design. Plus, plenty of leaks have revealed that the S22 Ultra will feature an S Pen.

Nonetheless, these are all leaks and rumours until Samsung itself officially unveils the next Galaxy S series next month in February 2022. If you’ve missed the signature S Pen from the Galaxy Note, you may want to catch this Unpacked event.


Keychron Q9 Product Page Live – Split Keyboard From $149

Yes, Keychron is releasing yet another keyboard in the Q series. This time, it’s the Keychron Q9 with an unconventional (but more ergonomic) split layout, and it may be available as early as next month.

According to the
product page of the Q9
, it will be available between February to May 2022, which is…an oddly long timeframe. Just like other keyboards in the Q series, the barebone kit will be priced at $149 (about RM625), while the fully assembled version will go for $169 (approximately RM705).

Beyond its unique split layout, other specifications of the Q9 should be similar to other keyboards in the Q series. These include a gasket mounting system, full aluminium body, VIA-compatible hotswap PCB, support for screw-in stabilisers, and even a knob at the top right corner.

A split keyboard is not a particularly popular layout, so it’s great to see that Keychron will use the unconventional layout with the Keychron Q9. Hopefully, the keyboard will be released sooner rather than later.


2022 Peugeot 2008 Test Drive: Another B-Segment SUV Contender for RM127k

The B-segment SUV market is a crowded one filled with strong contenders. There’s the hugely popular
Honda HR-V
,
Hyundai Kona
, and of course, the
Proton X50
 segment leader. Now, there’s the 2022 Peugeot 2008, which was launched in Malaysia just last week by official distributor Bermaz Auto Alliance (BAASB).

Locally assembled (CKD) at the Stellantis plant in Gurun, Kedah, the B-segment SUV enjoys 100% sales tax exemption, so it’s slightly more affordable than its imported (CBU) competition, such as the aforementioned Kona. However, the 2008 still sits at the higher end of the price range, so is it worth checking out? Read on to find out.

Only the sole Allure variant of the 2008 is offered in Malaysia for RM126,753 on-the-road without insurance. This price is valid
until 30 June 2022
, as that’s when the sales tax exemption is set to end. Aside from that, it also comes with a five-year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first), alongside a three-year or 60,000km free service maintenance.

For that kind of money, the 2008 features a 1.2L three-cylinder turbo engine – the same one used in the previous 2008 – that’s been retuned to deliver 130hp and 230Nm of torque; an improvement of 20hp and 25Nm respectively. It is paired with the same six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

While the output of the 2008’s 1.2L turbo engine doesn’t sound particularly impressive, it is by no means underpowered. The SUV still feels plenty peppy, thanks to the generous 230Nm of torque. Despite this being a three-cylinder mill – which has a tendency to sound rough – I actually quite dig the engine note at higher RPM too.

What about the vibration of the 2008’s three-cylinder engine? Well, in the cabin (even at idle), I don’t notice the vibration of the three-pot unit at all. However, as I’m pulling to a stop, the vibration of the engine does transfer into the cabin.

Anyway, the 2008’s six-speed automatic transmission is quite a smooth operator as well. It downshifts relatively quickly when I put my foot down, and gear shifts are smooth too. If you want a more responsive driving experience, you can use the drive mode selector and switch to Sport mode.

The ride and handling of the 2008 are also worth a mention. This SUV can soak up road bumps quite well, which makes for a comfortable ride. Thanks to the compact nature of this B-segment car, it feels quick and nimble too with a light steering wheel; perfect for city driving when you’re navigating through tight corners.

Other specifications of the new 2008 include 17-inch alloy wheels, a suite of driver assistance systems (cruise control, lane keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking), leather seats, six airbags, and the aforementioned drive mode selector that allows you to switch between Normal, Eco, and Sport mode.

As for the interior of the updated 2008, it’s quite well put together. There are plenty of soft touch points, the toggle switches feel and look great, and I especially like the 10-inch 3D digital instrument cluster; it’s a unique feature that’s not found on other SUVs in this segment.

Of course, as with any other modern cars in the market now, the 2008’s 7-inch infotainment screen supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system itself also feels responsive, so you won’t have to deal with a sluggish system.

So far, I mostly have positive things to say about the new 2008; surely it has some shortcomings too? Well, for me, it would be the driver assistance system of the SUV. While it’s great that it has autonomous emergency braking (branded as Active Safety Brake) and lane keeping assist, it only has passive cruise control.

Compared to adaptive cruise control, this passive version does not match the speed of the SUV to the vehicle in front, so you’ll still have to brake manually. With the lack of this feature, the 2008 does not meet the requirement for level 2 semi-autonomous driving, which would’ve really made this a more enticing SUV.

Granted, the popular Honda HR-V doesn’t have level 2 semi-autonomous driving either, but it is also a more affordable option compared to the 2008.

So should you get the 2022 Peugeot 2008? Well, until I’ve actually driven the B-segment SUV longer than a brief test drive, I can’t really give a definitive answer. But for what it’s worth, I do enjoy my short time with it; I’m quite a fan of its unique, sleek exterior as well.

If you like the looks of the 2008 – and you don’t mind the omission of adaptive cruise control – give it a test drive. You may be surprised by this French, locally-assembled SUV.


Gallery: 2022 Peugeot 2008 – RM127k Locally Assembled French SUV

The
2022 Peugeot 2008
 has just been launched in Malaysia yesterday. If you’re wondering how the French B-segment SUV looks like in person – it’s also locally assembled at the Stellantis plant in Gurun, Kedah – here’s our gallery of the new model!

Only the sole Allure variant of the 2008 is offered in Malaysia for RM126,753 on-the-road without insurance. It comes with a five-year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first), alongside a three-year or 60,000km free service maintenance.

For that kind of money, the 2008 features a 1.2L three-cylinder turbo engine – the same one used in the previous 2008 – that’s been retuned to deliver 130hp and 230Nm of torque; an improvement of 20hp and 25Nm respectively. It is paired with the same six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

Other specifications of the new 2008 include 17-inch alloy wheels, a suite of driver assistance systems (cruise control, lane keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking), leather seats, six airbags, and even a drive mode selector that allows you to switch between Normal, Eco, and Sport mode.

The 2022 Peugeot 2008 is now available for booking – and test drive, though you may want to check with the dealership first – in Malaysia at Peugeot dealerships nationwide. It is offered in four colours: Amazonite Grey, Pearl White, Nera Black, and Orange Fusion, which is the colour you see in this gallery.


Spy Shot: 2022 Proton Saga Facelift Spotted Again – Getting Keyless Entry?

The
2022 Proton Saga facelift
 has been spotted yet again on the road. This time around, we get a closer look at the A-segment sedan’s side profile, which reveals a nice upgrade: keyless entry.

These images were taken by
Paultan.org
 reader Putra Kamrin Azran at Genting Highlands. If you look closely at the door handle on the driver’s side, there appears to be a button for keyless entry. This suggests that the affordable sedan will finally get the feature.

According to Paultan, which quoted a source familiar with the matter, the upcoming Saga facelift will also get a push start button.

Previous spy shots of the 2022 Saga has its grille covered up; even the front lip and side skirts of the sedan are blacked out. With this in mind, there’s a good chance it will sport Proton’s updated circular logo and a new body kit.

Beyond aesthetic changes, the facelifted Saga should soldier on with the same 1.3L four-cylinder engine that outputs 95hp and 120Nm of torque. The mill is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission that’s sourced from Hyundai. In fact, this is the same transmission used in the Kia Picanto.

Previous spy shots of the 2022 Saga

Rumours suggest that the 2022 Proton Saga facelift will be introduced sometime in the first half of 2022. There’s a chance the
Proton X70
 will be updated too, and some even believe that the
much-rumoured Proton X90
 will debut before the year ends.


Katapat – Wordle in Bahasa Malaysia!

Chances are, you’ve heard of Wordle, a simple web-based puzzle word game that got extremely popular in recent times. If you want more Wordle-inspired games, check out
Katapat
: it’s essentially Wordle in Bahasa Malaysia.

Katapat is a portmanteau of the Bahasa Malaysia words
kata
(word)

and
tepat
 (accurate). Built by
Eugene Low
, he describes Katapat as a copy of Wordle, though the words are taken from the
DBP’s online dictionary
.

Just like the original Wordle game, you have six tries to guess a five-letter word in Katapat; a new word is generated every day at 12AM. Every guess must be a valid Bahasa Malaysia word, and if a letter you used is not in the word at all, it will be greyed out.

What if the letter is highlighted in yellow? Well, that means it is in the word, but it’s at the wrong spot. Ideally, what you want is to get a letter highlighted in green: this signifies the correct letter at the right spot. You can give Katapat a try for yourself
here
. Want the original English version instead? Then
Wordle
 is for you.


Touch ‘n Go Card & SmartTag to Be Phased Out in 2025

The use of RFID for toll payments is slowly being adopted by more users, though Touch ‘n Go and SmartTAG seem to still be the preferred payment method at the moment. Well, come 2025, these two options will be phased out, so you won’t be able to use them anymore for toll payments.

This was confirmed through an exclusive
Free Malaysia Today interview
 with works minister Fadillah Yusof. According to him, the Touch ‘n Go card will be retired come 2025 – which is already delayed from 2023 – and given that SmartTAG works in tandem with the card, it will also be phased out.

This is done in preparation for the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) barrier-free tolling system, which should speed up traffic. After all, there would be no toll booths anymore to slow down traffic, and Fadillah mentioned that highway concessionaires had been instructed to be ready to implement MLFF by 2025.

It’s also worth noting that once RFID adoption rate has reached a certain point, road users will be able to use other forms of digital payment. “Soon, it will be up to the public to use any digital mode of payment – whether you want to use TNG eWallet, debit or credit card, as long as there’s a link available on a (particular) highway,” Fadillah said.


Meletrix Zoom65 In-Stock Sale Happening in Malaysia Tonight for RM789

The
Meletrix Zoom65
 is a 65% custom keyboard with a knob that provides
excellent
 value for money, and it will go on sale (in-stock!) in Malaysia tonight at 8PM. Of course, the sale is hosted by local vendor
Rebult Keyboards
.

Priced at RM789, the Zoom65 is priced slightly higher than its $179 (about RM750) price tag for the international market to make up for the extra cost of expedited shipping. Only 20 black units are up for grabs, and you won’t have to pay for shipping – provided you’re getting it shipped within Malaysia, presumably.

for that kind of money, the Zoom65 offers a gasket mounting system with full aluminium body, rotary encoder, polycarbonate plate, and of course, a hotswap PCB. On top of that, it also comes with JWK linear switches, double shot PBT keycaps in the popular Olivia colourway (officially authorised, as Meletrix puts it), Wuque Studio’s stabilisers, a carrying case,
and
 a coiled USB-C cable.

If you’re keen to get the Meletrix Zoom65 from Rebult Keyboards, you can do so
over here
 at 8PM tonight. To recap, only 20 units are available, so you do have to act fast if you want to grab one. Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to get it: 40 units will be up for pre-order an hour later at 9PM from Rebult for RM759. It’s expected to be fulfilled sometime in late March or early April 2022.


Asus VivoBook 13 Slate OLED Tablet Now in Malaysia for RM3,499

Asus just launched a new Windows tablet in Malaysia, the Asus VivoBook 13 Slate OLED. As its name suggests, this tablet has an OLED panel, which is one of its main highlights.

Only one variant of the VivoBook 13 Slate OLED is available in Malaysia. Retailing at RM3,499, you get 256GB of PCIe Gen3 SSD storage, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 quad-core processor.

Of course, the VivoBook 13 Slate also features the aforementioned 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 OLED display with 550 nits of peak brightness. It also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, along with support for Dolby Vision. Basically, you’re getting a good-looking OLED display with this Windows tablet.

Also bundled with the VivoBook 13 Slate are a number of accessories. These include a keyboard case, a stylus (along with a holder for it), a stand that attaches magnetically to the tablet, and a sleeve. Naturally, it comes with Windows 11 out of the box as well.

The Asus VivoBook 13 Slate OLED is now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, only one variant of the Windows tablet is offered in Malaysia for RM3,499, which features a Pentium Silver N6000 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.


Keychron Q9 Is Now Keychron Q8 – Price Increased, Shipping in April or May 2022

Keychron just made some changes to its upcoming split keyboard, the
Keychron Q9
. Well, it’s now called the Keychron Q8, and beyond the name change, it is also quite a bit more expensive now with a later shipping timeframe.

Originally retailing from $149 (about RM625), the Q8
now starts at $199
 (approximately RM835) for the barebone kit. The fully assembled version with keycaps and switches, on the other hand, is priced at $229 (around RM960). Compared to other keyboards in the Q series, the Q8 is certainly more costly.

Aside from that, it will now start shipping sometime in April or May 2022; it was previously set between February to May 2022.

Nick Xu of Keychron
 also revealed a prototype of the Q8 with what appears to be the company’s OSA keycaps. Beyond its unique split layout, the Q8 should be similar to other keyboards in the Q series. These include a gasket mounting system, full aluminium body, VIA-compatible hotswap PCB, support for screw-in stabilisers, and even a knob at the top right corner.

Although it’s now priced higher than expected, it’s great to see Keychron using an unconventional split layout with the Keychron Q8. After all, it’s not a particularly popular layout. Hopefully, the Q8’s launch won’t be delayed beyond the April or May 2022 estimate.


Samsung Galaxy S22 Launch Set for 9 February – Register Interest for RM200 Voucher

It’s official! Samsung just revealed the launch date for the Galaxy S22 series. On top of that, you can also get a RM200 voucher by registering your interest for the upcoming flagship phones.

Looking at the teaser for the Unpacked event, it’s almost confirmed that the Galaxy S22 series will get one of the signature features of the (likely discontinued) Galaxy Note: the S Pen. Another video teaser also suggests better low light camera performance.

Based on previous leaks and rumours, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will allegedly get the S Pen, complete with a slot to keep the much loved stylus. It’ll be interesting to see if the other phones in the series will also support the S Pen.

Samsung’s next Unpacked event will be taking place on 9 February 2022 – you can
catch the livestream here
 at 11PM Malaysian time on that day. You can also
register your interest for the Galaxy S22 series
 to get a RM200 voucher to purchase the phone once it’s released.


Touch ‘n Go Launching New Card With NFC – Reloadable With TNG eWallet App

One of the most requested features for the Touch ‘n Go card is finally coming in the next few weeks. According to the company, a new TNG card with NFC capability will be introduced soon, which will allow users to reload the card directly with the TNG eWallet app.

This was revealed by the CEO of TNG Digital, Ignatius Ong. According to him, the new TNG card can be reloaded using an “NFC-enabled port” through the TNG eWallet app. Of course, you’ll need a phone with NFC capability in order to take advantage of this feature.

It’s worth noting that this feature was supposed to be introduced last year, and it seems like it is finally ready to be launched. Once the new TNG card with NFC is here, we imagine most folks will migrate to it for the added convenience of not having to go to kiosks or retail outlets for reloading purposes.

No word yet on when exactly the new NFC-enabled Touch ‘n Go card will be available for purchase; the retail price has not been announced yet either. Nonetheless, more details should be revealed in the next few weeks.


Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection Review: The Best PS5 Remaster Yet

Not surprisingly, more and more PS4 games are being remastered for the PlayStation 5. From
Ghost of Tsushima
 to
Death Stranding
 with their respective Director’s Cuts, these games were still very entertaining on the next-gen console with some added content here and there.

But in my opinion, the best PS5 remaster yet is Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. Despite the fact that there are not as many new content to explore for players that have played through Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy, there are a number of improvements that really make this remaster shine, such as support for
120fps
 framerate.

Plus, you’re also getting two
excellent
 games in the Uncharted franchise for the price of one. If you’re a fan of Uncharted, Legacy of Thieves is well worth picking up. But if you’re new to the series…it’s a bit more complicated.

What It Is

Two games are bundled in Legacy of Thieves. There’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End starring Nathan Drake – he’s essentially the face of the franchise – and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which follows Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross after the events of Uncharted 4.

Priced at only RM209
, Legacy of Thieves doesn’t cost quite as much as other PS5 titles; take Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, which costs a steep RM299 on the PS5. It’s great that you don’t have to pay as much for this game, or rather, games, given that there are two titles bundled in this collection.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Oh, it’s worth noting that Legacy of Thieves will also be available on PC, marking the first time any of the Uncharted franchise is available on the platform. Unfortunately, there’s no release date yet for the PC version.

The Good Stuff

Let’s start with my favourite aspect of Legacy of Thieves: Performance+ mode. In this graphics setting, the framerate is set at a
buttery smooth
 120fps, though the resolution is limited to 1080p. Nonetheless, this is easily my go-to graphics option; everything just looks
extremely fluid and responsive
.

Of course, if you want the game to run at a higher resolution, there’s the standard Performance mode. Running at 60fps, it will set the resolution to 4K (upscaled from 1440p) or 1080p (supersampled from 1440p with improved anti-aliasing), depending on the resolution of your display.

Want true 4K resolution instead? Then Fidelity mode is for you, though the framerate is limited to only 30fps in this graphics option.

After playing Legacy of Thieves in the Performance+ 120fps mode, I find it hard to go back to Fidelity mode: the game just feels too…well, choppy in this graphics setting. My inputs don’t feel as responsive as I would’ve liked either. Needless to say, I was spoiled by the extra frames afforded in Performance+ mode.

Beyond framerate, both Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy load
extremely quickly
 in Legacy of Thieves, thanks to the PS5’s fast SSD. Naturally, the games look great too: the environment are stunning, character models are very detailed, and facial expressions are rendered incredibly well – one area Naughty Dog absolutely excels in, among other things.

As with all games made for the PS5, Naughty Dog also took advantage of the DualSense controller’s more refined haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in Legacy of Thieves. Action sequences feel more immersive with the controller’s superior vibration, and the adaptive triggers offer a good level of resistance and “clicks” with every gun shot.

Gameplay of the two Uncharted games in Legacy of Thieves remains as fun as I remember it to be. It’s been a while since I’ve played either games, so solving the various puzzles in the games and engaging in stealthy combat (or with all guns blazing) still feel fresh with the right amount of challenge.

That being said, the most compelling part of any Uncharted game isn’t the gameplay; in my opinion, that is. Rather, it’s the storytelling that’s further elevated by the amazing voice acting, and both Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy have some of the best plots in the franchise.

This is
especially
 the case with the former, given that it is Nathan Drake’s last adventure.

Despite the fact that Lost Legacy has a shorter playtime than a typical Uncharted game, it still has a very engrossing narrative that explores the background of Chloe and Nadine, two side characters that made their debuts in Uncharted 2 and Uncharted 4 respectively.

Speaking of which, that brings us to the next section..

The Bad Stuff

Part of the charm of Uncharted is the continuity between the games in the franchise, so if you’re new to the series, the Legacy of Thieves Collection is not the best starting point. Without getting familiarised with these characters in previous Uncharted games, you won’t get the “intended” emotional impact from the story of Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy.

Aside from that, Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy begin to show their age in Legacy of Thieves. After all, these games were released in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Even though both games still look beautiful, their gameplay mechanics didn’t age very well. The in-game physics can get whacky sometimes, and the enemy AI isn’t…well, particularly smart.

Is It Worth It?

If you’ve played through Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy on PS4, then yes, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is definitely worth picking up. The 120fps performance mode alone really transforms the two games, and graphically, they still look stunning on the PS5. Personally, I would say this is the best PS5 remaster yet.

But if you’re just about to get into the Uncharted franchise, consider playing through the first three Uncharted titles first – you can do just that with
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
 for the PS4. At the very least, get familiarised with the story that leads up to the events of Uncharted 4.

Otherwise, it would be like jumping straight to Spider-Man: No Way Home – starring Tom Holland, who is also playing Nathan Drake in the upcoming
Uncharted movie
 – without watching Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy (Tobey Maguire) and Marc Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man films (Andrew Garfield).

You just…don’t do something like that.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection launches on the PS5 on 28 January.


27 January – 2 February Fuel Price: RON 97 up 5 Sen, Others Unchanged

Well, it appears the price of RON 97 is set to increase again this week: it will go up by 5 sen per litre for the next seven days. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.12 per litre (up from RM3.07). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 27 January to 2 February 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for fuel price update!


Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G & 11 Pro Official – Snapdragon 695, 120Hz AMOLED, From $299

Xiaomi just launched a slew of smartphones under the Redmi Note 11 series. The lineup is headlined by the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, followed by the standard Pro model. Naturally, both phones are priced quite competitively.

Let’s start with the more budget-friendly phone of the two, the Redmi Note 11 Pro. Starting at only $299 (about RM1,255), it features a MediaTek Helio G96 processor. The higher-end Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, on the other hand, retails from $329 (approximately RM1,380) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset instead.

Beyond the different chipset, both phones are quite similar to each other. They are packed with a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast wired charging.

Curiously, in the camera department, the standard Redmi Note 11 Pro features a quad camera system (108MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), but the 5G model omits the depth sensor. Aside from that, both phones also have a 16MP selfie camera.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G and the regular Pro model will be available globally sometime in February 2022. No word yet on exactly when (or if) these two phones will be sold in Malaysia, though we reckon they will eventually make it here, given Xiaomi’s large presence here.


Redmi Note 11 & Note 11S Also Unveiled – 90Hz AMOLED, 5,000mAh Battery, Starts at $179

Aside from the Pro models, the Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S are also introduced. Naturally, these two phones are more affordable than their Pro counterparts, while still offering reasonably good hardware.

The more affordable device of the two is the Redmi Note 11, which starts at just $179 (about RM750) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. The Note 11S, on the other hand, is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 processor from $249 (approximately RM1,045).

The price difference between the two phones (aside from the different processor) lies in the camera. While both phones feature a quad camera system with the same 8MP ultra-wide shooter, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP depth sensor, the Note 11S has a 108MP primary camera, while the regular Note 11 features a 50MP main shooter.

Other specifications of the Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S include a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 16MP selfie camera (13MP for the standard Note 11), and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast wired charging.

The Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S will be available globally sometime this month. As for us here in Malaysia, the Redmi Note 11 series will be launched here on
10 February 2022 next month
, though the company did not mention if the launch includes the Note 11 and Note 11S.


Redmi Note 11 Series Coming to Malaysia 10 February

Announced globally

just last night
, Xiaomi Malaysia just confirmed the local availability of the Redmi Note 11 series. The phones will be launched here next month on 10 February at 12PM through a livestream on
Xiaomi Malaysia’s Facebook page
.

Unfortunately, the company did not specify if all four devices in the Redmi Note 11 series will be launched in Malaysia. These include the standard Redmi Note 11, Note 11S, Note 11 Pro, and the range-topping Note 11 Pro 5G.

That being said, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is prominently featured in the announcement post above, so at the very least, we can expect that model to be available here. Naturally, it is the only phone in the lineup to feature 5G connectivity, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset.

Other specifications of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G include a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast wired charging, a triple camera system (108MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro), and a 16MP selfie camera.

To recap, the Redmi Note 11 Pro series will be launched in Malaysia next month on 10 February. You can catch a livestream of the launch event on
Xiaomi Malaysia’s Facebook page
 at 12PM on that day.


PlayStation Plus February 2022 Free Games Include Dragon’s Crown Pro & UFC 4

PlayStation Plus’ February 2022 free games have just been announced. The lineup includes EA Sports UFC 4, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, Planet Coaster: Console Edition, and for players in certain regions (such as Asia), we’re also getting Dragon’s Crown Pro.

Out of the four games, Dragon’s Crown Pro is the most exciting game in our opinion. Originally released for the PS3 and PS Vita – that’s right, Sony’s long-forgotten handheld console – back in 2013, the side-scrolling action game was ported to the PS4 in 2018.

Interestingly, unlike
previous PS Plus

free games
, not all of the games this month are available on the PS4; Planet Coaster is only offered for the PS5. Nonetheless, at least certain regions (like Malaysia) are getting Dragon’s Crown Pro.

These four games can be claimed by PS Plus members from 1 to 28 February 2022. That means you have until this coming Monday (31 January) to get your hands on January 2022’s free games, including
Persona 5 Strikers and Dirt 5
.


2022 Perodua Myvi – Over 31,154 Bookings Made, 7,055 Units Delivered

Launched last year on 18 November 2021, the
2022 Perodua Myvi
 is proving to be very popular among Malaysians. So far, a whopping 31,154 bookings have been placed for the B-segment hatchback – that’s a very impressive figure in only two months’ time.

Out of those bookings, Perodua managed to deliver 7,055 units of the new Myvi to date. If you’re still waiting to take delivery of your car, worry not: the CEO and president of Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, assures customers that production of the hatchback will not be interrupted.

“Our order book for new vehicles is still quite healthy with the guarantee that the production will go uninterrupted will mean that we could fulfil the outstanding orders in a timely manner,” he said.

Looking forward, Perodua aims to register as many as 247,800 vehicles this year. That’s against an estimated total industry volume (TIV) of 610,000 – an internal projection on Perodua’s part – so if the national carmaker manages to achieve this target, it would capture 40.6% market share.


Perodua Aims to Sell 247,800 Vehicles in 2022 – 37.5% Improvement From 2021

Perodua is setting a lofty sales target for the year. The national carmaker just revealed that it is aiming to sell as many as 247,800 vehicles in 2022, an improvement of 37.5% compared to 2021, where it managed to register 193,400 units.

According to the CEO and president of Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, this increase in production would also increase the carmaker’s expenditure. “The increase in production would result in the increase in locally-sourced automotive parts by 41.5% to RM7.5 billion as compared with the RM5.3 billion purchased in 2021,” he said.

Given that the
sales tax exemption
 for cars sold in Malaysia has been extended to 30 June 2022, it’s entirely possible Perodua can hit this sales target. On top of that, over 31,154 bookings have been made for the 2022 Myvi, so it’s looking very good for the national carmaker.

It’s also worth noting that Perodua is aiming to release one new model and two minor changes this year, which will further bolster its sales. It remains to be seen which new model will be introduced, though many suspect that it would be an all-new Perodua Alza.


Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Review: The Middling Option

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was launched at an odd timing; almost a year after the debut of its higher-end siblings, in fact. This puts the device at a disadvantage: not only is the newer, shinier Galaxy S22 series just beyond the horizon, the S21 FE isn’t particularly budget-friendly either.

That is not to say the Galaxy S21 FE is a bad phone. It’s still a good flagship device, but for the same amount of money, you can get a better-equipped phone, such as the
regular Galaxy S21 itself
. However, depending on what you want out of a phone, the S21 FE could still be a good fit for you.

What It Is

Display
6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2400 x 1080), 120Hz
Chipset
Samsung Exynos 2100 2.9GHz octa-core
GPU
Mali-G78 MP14
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB/256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
12MP f/1.8
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide angle)
8MP f/2.4 (telephoto)
Camera (front)
32MP f/2.2
Battery
4,500mAh with 25W fast charging
Dimensions
155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm
Weight
177g
OS
One UI 4.0 based on Android 12
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
USB Type-C
Price
RM2,899 (128GB + 8GB), RM3,099 (256GB + 8GB)

On paper, the Galaxy S21 FE looks like a reasonably well-equipped flagship smartphone. Not only does it have the same Exynos 2100 chipset as the more premium Galaxy S21 series, it also features a fast, gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Of course, the S21 FE does make some sacrifices to bring down its price. It has a less premium plastic back panel – though this does make it more lightweight – and its telephoto sensor isn’t quite as sophisticated.

The Good Stuff

Samsung makes some of the best displays in the market, so it’s no surprise that the Galaxy S21 FE has a high quality panel. It is pleasant to look at with bright, vibrant colours, and even though it’s “only” a 1080p panel, it still looks sharp enough.

Aside from that, screen transitions and animations on the S21 FE look extra smooth, thanks to the display’s 120Hz refresh rate. If you’re an avid gamer – and your favourite mobile game supports 120Hz mode – it’s really quite enjoyable to game on such a fast panel.

Speaking of which, the performance level of the Galaxy S21 FE is also comparable to other flagship phones in the market now. Throughout the review period, the phone felt very zippy and responsive…for the most part. More on this further down the review.

Another aspect of the Galaxy S21 FE that I really quite like is its lightweight nature. Thanks to its reasonably compact form factor and plastic back, it tips the scales at only 177g; that’s quite light for a phone this size.

Prior to using the S21 FE as my daily driver, the
S21 Ultra
 was my main device, which is noticeably heftier at 229g. Needless to say, it’s a breath of fresh air to use a lighter phone for a change.

Battery life of the Galaxy S21 FE is also quite good. On average, I can get about five hours of screen on time with the phone 4,500mAh battery. That’s more than long enough to get through a typical workday, even with some light gaming thrown into the mix.

Last but definitely not least is the camera performance of the S21 FE. For the most part, it can capture some good-looking shots, especially with the 12MP primary sensor. The 12MP ultra-wide angle camera and 8MP telephoto lens does struggle in low light conditions, but they’re certainly serviceable. Judge for yourself with these sample shots.

12MP ultra-wide angle

12MP primary

8MP telephoto

12MP ultra-wide angle

12MP primary

8MP telephoto

The Bad Stuff

While the Galaxy S21 FE feels fast and responsive most of the time, it also has an odd tendency to feel sluggish when I wake the phone from sleep; it’s as if the screen’s refresh rate is set below 60Hz. This issue isn’t unique to my unit either, as other users
have reported the same issue
.

Granted, this sluggishness is easily rectified by just locking and unlocking the phone, so I suspect this is a software issue. It’s a little annoying to run into this issue several times a day, so hopefully, Samsung will issue a fix to this soon – its software support is easily among the best, after all.

Last but not least is the value proposition of the S21 FE. Retailing at RM2,899 and RM3,099 for the 128GB and 256GB models respectively, it’s priced quite close to the current asking price of the standard Galaxy S21.

In fact, you can get the Galaxy S21
for only RM3,088 now
 for the 256GB model; slightly more affordable than the S21 FE, which costs RM3,099 for the same storage capacity. On top of that, the regular S21 offers a more sophisticated 64MP telephoto lens too over the 8MP zoom camera of the S21 FE.

Is It Worth It?

With that in mind, is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE worth it then? Well, if the S21’s slightly smaller 6.2-inch screen isn’t for you, then the S21 FE is a good option. But if you’re thinking of getting this phone, keep in mind that the S22 series is also coming
in the next two weeks
 – if you can wait, you may want to do so to see what the upcoming phones have to offer.

If the Galaxy S21 FE was slightly more budget-friendly, or if it offered a little bit more for the money – it would’ve helped if it was launched
much, much earlier
 too – then perhaps it would’ve been more appealing. As it is, it’s the middling option. Not quite affordable enough, and not quite capable enough.


Walk-in COVID-19 Booster Starts 29 January Nationwide – Open to Everyone Above 18

If you still haven’t gotten your COVID-19 booster yet, great news: you can walk-in to any PPV throughout Malaysia to get the booster shot from tomorrow onwards (29 January). This is open to anyone above the age of 18.

This was announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) through a press statement. Of course, in order to be eligible for a COVID-19 booster, it has to be three months since you’ve received your second dosage of the vaccine. These include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac; the three main vaccines administered in Malaysia.

Kenyataan Media Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
Pelaksanaan Vaksinasi Dos Penggalak Secara Walk-In di Semua PPV Seluruh Negara
pic.twitter.com/eY4XD1XpzK
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya)
January 28, 2022

To ensure a smooth vaccination process, make sure that your MySejahtera app shows your complete vaccination certificate. As for those that don’t have a smartphone, bring along your physical vaccination card instead.

Want to find the nearest PPV that offers a COVID-19 booster shot? You can do so over
here
. If you want to get a booster shot at a clinic instead, MOH advises to give the clinic a call first to get an appointment to avoid overcrowding.


Exclusive MTG Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Card Preview – Guardians of Oboro

We got an exclusive card preview for Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming set, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty from Wizards of the Coast! Enter Guardians of Oboro, a common rarity blue-aligned Samurai creature with the Defender keyword…and a twist.

As its name suggests, a creature with Defender can only solely defend, so you cannot use it to attack. However, thanks to Guardians of Oboro’s card effect,
any
 modified creatures you control can attack, even if they have the Defender keyword.

Artist:
Anna Steinbauer

Artist:
Domco.

Of course, this effect is only applied when Guardians of Oboro is on the battlefield. It is also offered in both regular frame and Samurai frame; the latter features a new art as well. As usual, both versions of the card can be found in both Draft and Set Boosters.

MTG’s Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty will be released on 18 February 2022. If you want to pre-order the new set, check with your favourite local game store!


Genshin Impact 2.5 Arrives 16 February – Yae Miko Finally Playable, Raiden Shogun Now Weekly Boss

Genshin Impact Version 2.5 looks to be jam-packed with new content. Not only are we (finally) getting Yae Miko as a playable 5-star Electro character, Raiden Shogun will also be a weekly boss now – she looks to be wielding some terrifying new abilities too.

First up, Yae Miko. Her event wish will be featured first in Version 2.5 of Genshin Impact, which will go live on 16 February alongside the new update. Phase two of the event wish, on the other hand, is a rerun of Sangonomiya Kokomi and the Raiden Shogun herself.

Speaking of which, the Raiden Shogun will be featured in a Trounce Domain in Genshin Impact 2.5 as a new weekly boss. Looking at the trailer above, she has a different appearance and some powerful attacks too; Mihoyo even said the Raiden Shogun will “challenge players with intimidating combat mechanics.”

Beyond these additions, Genshin Impact 2.5 will also introduce a new story quest for both the Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko; the former will likely explain why she is now a (terrifying) weekly boss. As usual, a number of events will also run in the new update, which will reward players with Primogems and a new 4-star catalyst, Oathsworn Eye.

Genshin Impact’s Version 2.5 update will be released on 16 February next week. Once the update is live, Yae Miko’s event wish will also be available, followed by the Raiden Shogun’s and Sangonomiya Kokomi’s rerun banners in the second phase.


Mihoyo Teases Kamisato Ayato – Playable in Genshin Impact 2.6?

Mihoyo is teasing a new character for Genshin Impact ahead of schedule! The new character is none other than the highly anticipated Kamisato Ayato, which should be playable in the Version 2.6 update.

As his name suggests, Kamisato Ayato is related to
Kamisato Ayaka
. As the head of the Kamisato Clan, he is said to be a “low-profile and graceful” individual, and that he is “not a fan of public appearances and does not seek to show his skills overtly,” as Mihoyo describes him. You can even catch a glimpse of him in the video below.

"The game of politics is fraught with peril. My Lord does not take any joy in these 'battles.' For him, it's just… a matter of duty" — Thoma
◆ Kamisato Ayato ‧ Pillar of Fortitude
◆ Head of the Kamisato Clan
◆ Hydro
◆ Cypressus Custos
#GenshinImpact

pic.twitter.com/IFLNmM7PHl
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact)
February 4, 2022

Like Mihoyo’s previous character teasers, only some details of Ayato have been revealed. He is confirmed to be a Hydro character, and chances are, he will be a 5-star unit. Although he is wielding a sword in the teaser image, it’s entirely possible he uses a different weapon.
Tartaglia
, for example, also wields a sword and polearm in his melee form, but he’s actually a bow user.

We’ll find out for sure if Kamisato Ayato will be a playable character in Genshin Impact 2.6 as we approach closer to the release of the new update. The Version 2.5 update
goes live on 16 February
, so it’s possible Version 2.6 will be released sometime in late March 2022.


Ghostwire: Tokyo Arrives 25 March – PS Plus Members Get 10% Discount on Pre-Order

Tango Gameworks and Bethesda have revealed the launch date of Ghostwire: Tokyo. Set to arrive on 25 March 2022, you can get a 10% discount if you pre-order the game on the PlayStation Store – provided you’re a PlayStation Plus member.

Two versions of Ghostwire are available for pre-order on the PS Store right now. The
Standard Edition costs RM249
, while the
Deluxe Edition is priced at RM339
 – you can even play the game three days early with this edition. If you’re a PS Plus member, you can get them at RM224.10 and RM305.10 respectively.

If you want to get Ghostwire on PC instead, you can get it at a lower price: it goes for RM179.99 and RM239.99 for the Standard and Deluxe Editions respectively. Of course, you can pre-order the PC version on both
Steam
 and the
Epic Games Store
.

At the moment, pre-orders are only open for the digital version of Ghostwire: Tokyo. The physical copy of the game will be available for pre-order from 15 February onward, though only the Standard Edition is offered. The good news is, you can select from two different designs for the SteelBook case.

Ghostwire: Tokyo will be launched on PS5 and PC on 25 March 2022. Wondering how the gameplay is like? Then watch the video above for an extended look at the game.


Honda Malaysia Continues to Offer up to RM12,000 Discount for CNY 2022 (February)

Last month, Honda Malaysia
offered up to RM12,000 discounts
 for its range of models. For this month – still in conjunction with Chinese New Year – the same deal has been extended (though with a couple of changes) for the whole of February 2022.

Naturally,
the Honda Accord
 gets the best discount. Both the range-topping TC-P and more affordable TC variants of the D-segment sedan receive a generous RM12,000 rebate, though this is only for models manufactured in 2021. If you want a 2022 model instead, you’ll only get a RM3,000 rebate.

The next best deal is for the seven-seater
Honda BR-V
. Both the E and V trims get a RM7,000 discount for the 2021 model; RM1,000 savings if you opt for the 2022 model instead. All variants of the 2021
Honda HR-V
, on the other hand, receive a RM5,500 rebate. As for 2022 models of the SUV, you’ll only get a RM1,000 discount.

Next is the
Honda City
, which is offered with a RM4,000 rebate for all 2021 variants, while the 2022 models get a RM1,000 discount. Last but certainly not least is the CR-V: you can get a RM4,000 rebate for all 2021 models, while the 2022 ones are offered with a RM1,000 discount.

Do note that these discounts are only applicable for vehicles registered between 1 to 28 February 2022. More information on these discounts can be found
here
.

If you’re interested to get any of these Honda models with the aforementioned rebates, you can place your booking online
here
. Alternatively, bookings can be done through the HondaTouch app as well – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


PRISM+ Q86 PRO QE Now in Malaysia – 86″ 4K Smart TV for Only RM8,999

PRISM+ is known for its range of
monitors
 and
smart TVs
 with excellent value for money, and its latest product, the PRISM+ Q86 PRO QE, is no different. Featuring a massive 86-inch 4K Quantum IPS display, this large Android TV has a surprisingly small price tag – for a TV this size.

Right now, the Q86 PRO QE retails at RM8,999; you’d be hard pressed to find a different Android TV this large at the same price point. On top of that, the TV’s 4K Quantum IPS panel also promises bright, vibrant colours with support for Dolby Vision.

As the Q86 PRO QE is an Android TV, you also have access to over 500 apps on the Google Play Store. You can cast content to the TV too from your mobile device, along with the ability to use voice commands via Google Assistant with the provided remote.

“The launch of our massive PRISM+ Q86 PRO Quantum Edition continues to build on PRISM+’s legacy of making quality home entertainment accessible,” said the country director of PRISM+ Malaysia, Eric Kam.

“Our largest screen launched in Malaysia to date reflects the progress we have made as a company; featuring technologies born out of exciting partnerships with market leaders such as Dolby and our continued product development,” he added.

At the moment, every purchase of the Q86 PRO QE comes with number of benefits. These include a three-year subscription to Viu (worth RM264), free delivery and assembly (worth RM349), and two years of onsite warranty worth RM399.

The PRISM+ Q86 PRO QE is now available for purchase in Malaysia on
PRISM+’s online store
 for RM8,999. Alternatively, you can also get it on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 at the same price.


Proton’s January 2022 Sales Impacted by Floods – Only 4,453 Units Sold

It seems Proton’s sales were affected quite a bit by the floods that hit the Klang Valley area a couple of months ago. Compared to its sales in December 2021 (14,147), the national carmaker only managed to register 4,453 units in January 2022 – that’s quite a big difference.

According to Proton, this drop in sales is due to its vendors in Shah Alam that were impacted by the floods, disrupting the production of various models,
including the Proton X50
. But production of the B-segment SUV was resumed quite quickly, with over 2,601 units delivered last month.

This is followed by the Proton X70 with 799 units registered, Persona (694 units), Iriz (229 units), Saga (76 units), and the Exora (54 units). Evidently, the disruption to the production of the Saga – which is one of Proton’s best-selling models – contributed the most to the carmaker’s drop in sales for January 2022.

“After a successful end to 2021, January was a very tough month for Proton. Our short supply situation became magnified by the lack of units being produced, creating a severe shortage for our dealers,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah.

“Thankfully, production for all our models resumed in January, though some required more time than others. We are, however, confident of meeting our targets for 2022 based on market projections as well as our sales and marketing plans for the rest of the year,” he added.

It’s worth noting that Proton CEO Li Chunrong (in a
Facebook post
) is setting a 150,000 sales target for the national carmaker in 2022. For the sake of context, Proton
sold 114,708 vehicles
 in 2021 despite the extended COVID-19 lockdowns throughout the year. If things go well, it’s certainly an achievable figure. After all, demands for the
Proton X50
 remains strong.


Get This Durian Artisan Keycap From Royal Selangor for RM359

Royal Selangor, known for its range of pewter-based products, is releasing an artisan keycap shaped after one of Malaysia’s most iconic fruits: the durian. Done in collaboration with local keyboard vendor Rebult Keyboards, this is the first-ever artisan keycap (made of pewter, of course) Royal Selangor is releasing.

So how much does this Durian artisan keycap from Royal Selangor costs?
A cool RM359
. Artisan keycaps, believe it or not, can demand
a lot
 of money; sometimes more than the cost of a complete custom keyboard. With that in mind, this pewter durian keycap is not priced (too) exorbitantly.

Of course, the Royal Selangor Durian keycap is a limited edition product: only 200 units are available for sale. Each one of them will also come with its own numbered authentication card (and special packaging) from Royal Selangor.

However, as mentioned, this is the first time Royal Selangor is making such a keycap, so there are some imperfections that are considered acceptable. Due to how the mold to produce the keycap is constructed, the base is slightly off-centre, resulting in a larger gap between the Durian keycap and the key to the right when it’s installed on a keyboard.

There’s also a slight “spillover” appearance between the base of the keycap and the durian sculpture itself, which is attributed to its shape and casting process.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying that this Royal Selangor Durian artisan keycap is a unique offering, even with its RM359 price tag. There’s also the fact that it is completely made in Malaysia, so if you’re interested to grab it, you can do so on 19 February at 10PM on
Rebult Keyboards’ online store
.


Asus ROG Strix Flare II Animate Hands-On: Hotswap Support, Intriguing ROG NX Switch

We’re seeing more and more pre-built mechanical keyboards from bigger brands with hotswap support, which lets users easily swap out the keyboard’s switches to their liking. The latest brand to release such a product is none other than Asus with the Asus ROG Strix Flare II Animate – yes, it’s a mouthful.

Not only does it feature a hotswap PCB, it also comes with a unique AniMe Matrix LED display on the top right corner of the keyboard; not unlike the one found on the
Zephyrus G14
 gaming laptop. Aside from that, the ROG NX Brown switch on the Flare II is…surprisingly good too!

If you want a fuss-free pre-built keyboard with hotswap support, a unique LED display, and bright RGB lighting, the Flare II is worth a look – read on to find out why.

Just like Asus’ other mechanical keyboards, the ROG Strix Flare II Animate is a full-size keyboard, complete with a function row and numpad. As mentioned, it features a hotswap PCB as well, but unfortunately, it only supports three-pin switches.

Of course, it’s still possible to use five-pin switches with the Flare II; you just have to snip off the extra two plastic pins on the bottom of the switch. It’s a little bit annoying, but hey, if you’re fond of a particular five-pin switch, it’s worth the effort.

Speaking of which, the Flare II review unit we received is fitted with Asus’ ROG NX Brown switch – made by Kailh, as evident by the Kailh logo on the bottom of the switch – with a 58g peak actuation force. Usually, “brown switches” have very light tactility, but that is not the case at all with the ROG NX Brown, much to my surprise.

Rather, the NX Brown switch has a pronounced, rounded tactile event that starts at the very top of the downstroke. While it’s not as tactile as, say, the
Gazzew Boba U4T
 or
Anubis
, it’s comfortably a medium tactile switch.

On top of that, it has reasonably minimal stem wobble as well, though it also has a slight scratchiness throughout the downstroke.

The keycap set of the Flare II is worth a mention as well. Asus said these are double shot PBT keycaps with “shortened stems and mid-height profiles” to reduce key wobble and improve ergonomics. Compared to OEM keycaps, this keycap set definitely has a lower profile; almost like a Cherry profile, in fact.

It’s comfortable to type on this lower profile keycap for long periods of time, but I’m not a big fan of the keycaps’ rough texture. Although PBT keycaps are usually rougher than their ABS equivalents, the Flare II’s PBT keycaps are
especially
 rough. It would’ve been nice if the keycaps were a tad smoother for a more pleasant typing experience.

Since we’re on the topic, how is it like typing on the Flare II? Well, it feels like any other Asus mechanical keyboards. It’s a stiff keyboard with no flex at all, so if you want a firm typing experience, you’ll get just that with the Flare II. This is really a typical trait of most pre-built keyboards.

As for the sound profile of the Flare II, it has a relatively loud, plasticky sound signature – again, a typical trait of a pre-built mechanical keyboard. The stabilisers, on the other hand, have a little bit of ticking and rattling, especially on the spacebar.

While the Flare II’s stabilisers have some factory lube out of the box, adding more lube should be able to eliminate these undesirable issues quite a bit.

Anyway, let’s move on to more positive aspects of the Flare II, such as its media control keys. The metal scroll wheel – which controls the volume – feels
very
satisfying to use with subtle clicks as you scroll. You can even use the toggle to reverse or skip track, or use the circular button on the side to pause playback.

There’s also the AniMe Matrix LED display of the Flare II. Not only can you customise it to show your own animations, it’s also used to show some useful information. As you adjust the volume with the scroll wheel, for example, the LED display will show the volume level.

Naturally, the Flare II has some bright RGB lighting too. The legends are also translucent, so you get the full per-key RGB effect on every key.

All in all, the Asus ROG Strix Flare II Animate is really quite a decent pre-built keyboard. It has a unique LED display, very useful media keys made of metal, and of course, hotswap support for more customisation options.

Unfortunately, the Malaysian pricing of the Flare II has not been revealed yet, so it’s a little hard to judge whether it’s worth it or not. But for the sake of comparison, it retails at $220 in the US, which comes up to about RM920.

That’s a steep price tag, to be sure, but the Flare II does offer a number of unique features; some of which are not even found on a custom keyboard. We were told that the keyboard will be coming to Malaysia sometime in March 2022 next month, so we’ll find out then how much the Flare 2 will cost locally.


Video: Akko ACR67 Review – Very Pink, Very Budget-Friendly Acrylic Keyboard

The
Akko ACR67
 is the perfect entry-point to the custom mechanical keyboard hobby. Not only is it affordable, it also has a number of attractive features, including an acrylic case, a gasket mount design, and even a hotswap PCB.

How much do you have to pay for these features?
Only RM289.99 on Shopee Malaysia
. If you’re not in Malaysia, you can get it for $85.99 (about RM360)
directly from Akko’s online store
. Really, there’s no denying the sheer value for money the ACR67 offers.

If you’re not sure the Akko ACR67 is for you, watch our full review of the affordable keyboard in the video above. Of course, as with all of our keyboard reviews, there’s also a sound test at the end of the video!


Temperature Checks & Log Books No Longer Part of COVID-19 SOP From 11 February 2022

Late last month
, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that temperature checks will no longer be a part of COVID-19 SOP, though the decision has to be brought forward to the National Security Council (MKN) first. Well, it’s now official: temperature checks are not necessary anymore from 11 February 2022.

This was confirmed by defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein on a Twitter post. According to him, log books for visitors to register themselves will no longer be required either. This will go into effect on the same day (11 February).

Taking into account
@Khairykj
 &
@KKMPutrajaya
's briefing in today's COVID-19 Quartet Ministerial, temperature checks & log books are no longer needed at premises from Friday, 11 Feb
However, checking in with the MySejahtera application is still mandatory & required as per normal
— Hishammuddin Hussein 🇲🇾 (@HishammuddinH2O)
February 8, 2022

Of course, it’s still mandatory to check in to premises with the MySejahtera app. Previously, folks who don’t pass the temperature check won’t be allowed to enter the premise. But given the high vaccination rate in Malaysia now – so there’s less chance of transmission – it’s likely the SOP is revised to reflect this.


Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Unleashed With S Pen – Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 For Malaysian Market

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is finally official, and just as the leaks suggest, it now comes with a built-in S Pen – the signature feature of the much beloved Galaxy Note lineup. Aside from the S Pen, the S22 Ultra even has the familiar angular design of the Note series.

Without a doubt the Galaxy S22 Ultra is made for fans of the Galaxy Note. In fact, it’s really a Note device in all but name; after all, it carries over the same design language and S Pen. Well, not exactly: the S Pen has been improved with less latency, which makes for a more fluid writing experience.

On top of that, unlike previous Galaxy S devices, the S22 Ultra for the Malaysian market is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset instead of Samsung’s own Exynos 2200. If you’ve always wanted the Qualcomm variant of a Galaxy S phone, you can get just that with the new S22 series.

Other specifications of the Galaxy S22 Ultra include a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, a quad camera system (108MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide + 10MP 3x telephoto + 10MP 10x telephoto), a 40MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging.

The Malaysian availability and pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra have not been revealed yet, though we reckon Samsung Malaysia will make an announcement very soon. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye for any relevant details.

Read more:

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Starts at RM5,099 in Malaysia


The Samsung Galaxy S22 & S22+ Feature New, Flatter Design & Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

Launched alongside the Galaxy S22 Ultra are the smaller (and more affordable) Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+. Unlike the S22 Ultra’s curved display and rounded sides, the standard S22 and S22+ sport a flatter, more ergonomically-friendly frame in a smaller form factor.

This is really one of the biggest changes to the Galaxy S22 and S22+. Thanks to the flat sides of the two phones, they are much easier to hold, making them more ergonomically-friendly. The glass back panel of both phones also have a slight bevel near the frame; a nice, small touch for that extra bit of refinement.

Samsung Galaxy S22

Samsung Galaxy S22+

Just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the standard S22 and S22+ are also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset for the Malaysian market. This is quite a surprise, given that the Malaysian market usually gets the Exynos variant.

Other specifications of the Galaxy S22 and S22+ include a FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate at 6.1-inch and 6.6-inch respectively, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide angle + 10MP telephoto), a 10MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.

As for battery capacity, the S22 has a 3,700mAh battery (25W fast charging), while the S22+ features a larger 4,500mAh cell with faster 45W fast charging.

The Malaysian pricing and availability of the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ have not been detailed yet. But if previous launches are any indication, we reckon Samsung Malaysia will reveal these information (and pre-order details) very soon.

Read more:

Samsung Galaxy S22 & S22+ Malaysian Pricing Revealed – From RM3,499


Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Hands On: The Galaxy Note in All But Name

The Galaxy Note is back. Well, sort of. Enter the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which is
essentially
 a Note device in all but name. It has the same design language, it has a large display, and most importantly, it has a built-in S Pen – new and improved with lower latency, to boot.

Without a doubt the Galaxy S22 Ultra is made for fans of the Galaxy Note series, even if it’s marketed under a different name. Beyond its Note-esque features, the S22 Ultra is also easily one of Samsung’s most interesting flagships yet.

First, let’s talk about the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s S Pen. Thanks to its lower latency, the writing experience is more fluid than ever. In short, it feels very, very natural to write using the S Pen; almost like I’m physically scribbling on a piece of paper. Almost.

The S Pen itself sees a slight revision as well. Previously, it was just a simple plastic stylus, but the S22 Ultra’s S Pen has a slightly rubberised texture for a more comfortable grip. I also like the fact that it’s finished in black now – it contrasts very well with the Phantom White colourway.

Speaking of which, I’m quite a fan of the Burgundy colour option. Depending on the lighting, it can appear as a shade of dark red, brown, or even purple. The Green model looks quite good too; it’s similar to turquoise, in my opinion.

Aesthetically, the Galaxy S22 Ultra can easily pass off as a Note device with its flat top and bottom, giving it an angular appearance. The sides of the phone, however, are rounded; it’s almost like the display and glass back panel of the S22 Ultra are wrapping around the frame. All in all, this makes for a premium phone in looks and feel.

What about the display quality of the S22 Ultra? Not surprisingly, it’s a stunning 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. According to Samsung, this is the brightest screen ever on a Galaxy S device with a peak brightness of
1,750 nits
. Naturally, it also supports HDR10+ with 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut.

Of course, the S22 Ultra’s display has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate too, and it can go as low as 1Hz, depending on the content shown on the screen.

In the performance department, the Malaysian market is getting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 version of the Galaxy S22 Ultra instead of the Exynos 2200 variant. This is quite a surprise, given that our market usually gets the Exynos version of the Galaxy S series.

Nonetheless, in my brief time with the S22 Ultra, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 feels very fast and zippy; as expected of a 2022 flagship chipset. I didn’t manage to run any demanding mobile games on the phone, but I reckon it will be able to handle them without any performance hiccup.

Despite having to make space for a slot to keep the S Pen, the battery capacity of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is still the same as its predecessor’s at 5,000mAh. The fast charging has also been upgraded to 45W from 25W. While this is a good change, it’s still not quite as fast as its competition, some of which already support
120W charging
.

Last but not least is the quad camera system of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It’s made up of a 108MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and another 10MP lens with 10x optical zoom instead. Collectively, these telephoto sensors allow the phone to do 100x Space Zoom.

While the S22 Ultra’s camera configuration is similar to the S21 Ultra, the sensors are now bigger with improved low light performance. After all, bigger sensors can absorb more light. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test the new camera thoroughly – we weren’t allowed to share any sample shots taken with the S22 Ultra at the media briefing either.

But for what it’s worth, the quad camera system does feel very capable. All four shooters can lock in focus quickly, images look very flattering with good details and dynamic range, and of course, the camera interface feels responsive with no hint of sluggishness.

Samsung has consistently delivered excellent camera performance with its flagship phones, so needless to say, I’m quite excited to put the S22 Ultra’s camera system through its paces in a full review.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a very promising flagship smartphone. Not only is it the first device in the S series to get a built-in S Pen, it also offers fast performance, a bright, stunning display, and an even more capable camera system.

But all of these impressive features also demand for a matching price tag:
starting at RM5,099
 for the base 128GB model – up to RM5,899 for the range-topping 512GB variant – there’s no denying that the Galaxy S22 Ultra carries a premium price tag.

Now, whether or not this asking price is justified…we can only fairly assess in a full review of the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Note.


10 – 16 February Fuel Price: RON 97 up 9 Sen, Others Unchanged

The price of RON 97 is set to increase by quite a big margin this week. From 10 to 16 February, RON 97 will go up by
9 sen per litre
 for the next seven days. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.21 per litre (up from RM3.12). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 10 to 16 February 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for fuel price update!


Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Starts at RM5,099 in Malaysia

Samsung Malaysia just revealed the local pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Retailing from RM5,099, its starting price is slightly higher compared to the previous model, the
Galaxy S21 Ultra
.

Three different variants of the S22 Ultra are offered in Malaysia. The base model with 128GB of storage and 8GB RAM costs RM5,099, while the mid-tier 256GB configuration with 12GB of RAM goes for RM5,499. The range-topping 512GB variant (also with 12GB of RAM), on the other hand, is priced at RM5,899.

This flagship phone will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 10 February onwards.

Compared to its predecessor, the S22 Ultra is priced slightly higher. The 128GB variant of the S21 Ultra, for one, was priced at RM4,999 – that’s RM100 less. The 256GB and 512GB models, on the other hand, went for RM5,299 (RM200 less) and RM5,899 (the exact same price).

Of course, given all the upgrades you’re getting with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – including the much loved S Pen and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset – this price difference makes sense. If you’d like to learn more about the S22 Ultra, check out our
hands-on of the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Note
.


Samsung Galaxy S22 & S22+ Malaysian Pricing Revealed – From RM3,499

If the RM5,099 starting price of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is out of your budget, consider the more affordable Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+. Retailing from RM3,499, the standard S22 is priced quite a bit lower.

Both the Galaxy S22 and S22+ are offered in two variants for our market. The regular S22 retails at RM3,499 and RM3,699 for the 128GB and 256GB models respectively. As for the bigger S22+, it costs RM4,099 and RM4,299 for the 128GB and 256GB configurations respectively.

If you’re wondering, all variants of the S22 and S22+ feature 8GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy S22

Samsung Galaxy S22+

For that kind of money, both the Galaxy S22 and S22+ are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset for the Malaysian market. This is quite a surprise, given that the Malaysian market usually gets the Exynos variant.

Other specifications of the Galaxy S22 and S22+ include a FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate at 6.1-inch and 6.6-inch respectively, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide angle + 10MP telephoto), a 10MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.

As for battery capacity, the S22 has a 3,700mAh battery (25W fast charging), while the S22+ features a larger 4,500mAh cell with faster 45W fast charging.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 10 February onwards. To recap, the standard S22 starts at RM3,499, while the S22+ is priced from RM4,099.


Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G & 11 Pro Land in Malaysia – Starts at RM999

The Redmi Note 11 series has just been launched in Malaysia. The lineup is headlined by the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, followed by the standard Pro model. Naturally, both phones are priced quite competitively.

Let’s start with the more budget-friendly phone of the two, the Redmi Note 11 Pro. Retailing at RM999 (128GB + 6GB) and RM1,099 (128GB + 8GB), it features a MediaTek Helio G96 processor. The higher-end Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, on the other hand, goes for RM1,199 (128GB + 6GB) and RM1,299 (128GB + 8GB) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset instead.

There are also a number of pre-order deals for the two phones. The base model of the Note 11 Pro 5G can be purchased for only RM1,099 with a free Redmi Buds 3, while the standard Pro variant (128GB + 6GB) gets a RM50 discount with a Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 thrown in for free.

As for the higher-end 128GB + 8GB variants of the two phones, every online pre-order is bundled with a Mi Smart Band 6. Now, beyond the different chipset, both phones are quite similar to each other. They are packed with a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast wired charging.

Curiously, in the camera department, the standard Redmi Note 11 Pro features a quad camera system (108MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), but the 5G model omits the depth sensor. Aside from that, both phones also have a 16MP selfie camera.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G and the
regular

Pro model
 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 11 to 18 February. You can place your order through
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.


Redmi Note 11 & Note 11S Now in Malaysia From RM749

Aside from the
Pro models
, the Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S are also introduced in Malaysia today. Naturally, these two phones are more affordable than their Pro counterparts, while still offering reasonably good hardware.

The more affordable device of the two is the Redmi Note 11, which costs RM749 (128GB + 4GB) and RM799 (128GB + 6GB) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. The Note 11S, on the other hand, is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 processor for RM899 (128GB + 6GB) and RM999 (128GB + 8GB).

Of course, early birds who pre-order the two phones online tomorrow will get freebies. You can get a RM100 discount on the base model of the Note 11S (RM50 for the Note 11), while the higher-end models are bundled with a Redmi Buds 3.

The Redmi Note 11S

The price difference between the two phones (aside from the different processor) lies in the camera. While both phones feature a quad camera system with the same 8MP ultra-wide shooter, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP depth sensor, the Note 11S has a 108MP primary camera, while the regular Note 11 features a 50MP main shooter.

Other specifications of the Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S include a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 16MP selfie camera (13MP for the standard Note 11), and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast wired charging.

The Redmi Note 11

The
Redmi Note 11
 and Note 11S will be available for purchase in Malaysia from tomorrow onwards (11 February). You can get them at authorised Xiaomi stores or online from
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.


MTG Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Releases 18 February – Features Artwork by Metal Gear Solid Artist

Magic: The Gathering’s latest set,
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
, will be released next week for tabletop on 18 February. Based on the original Kamigawa block that was released back in 2004, Neon Dynasty features new and returning mechanics, along with an artwork done by Yoji Shinkawa of Metal Gear Solid fame.

Shinkawa did the artwork for the full-art version of Satoru Umezawa, a human ninja legendary creature. The card can only be gotten through the Buy-a-Box Promo for Neon Dynasty. That is, you can only get this version of the card if you buy a Set, Draft, or Collector Booster box.

Alternatively, purchasing six pre-release packs will get you the card too.

Aside from that, there are some interesting mechanics in Neon Dynasty. Cards with Ninjutsu (a returning mechanic), for one, can be put into play already attacking by swapping with an unblocked creature on the battlefield. There’s also Reconfigure, a new mechanic that “imbues creatures with the ability to equip themselves to other creatures and confer new bonuses.”

Wizards of the Coast will be releasing Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty on 18 February next week. If you want to purchase this latest Magic: The Gathering set, check with your favourite local game store!


Pre-Order the Samsung Galaxy S22 Series & Get RM800 Voucher

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S22 series are now open in Malaysia. As with Samsung Malaysia’s previous pre-orders, you’ll get some sweet incentives by getting the latest flagship phones early, including a generous RM800 voucher.

As long as you place your pre-order for any devices in the S22 series by 3 March, you’ll get a RM800 e-voucher; it can be used to purchase items on
Samsung Malaysia’s online store
. On top of that, you’ll also receive a silicone cover with strap, and a “lucky box” that includes a wide strap with a random design to be used with the silicone cover.

There is also one other freebie for early pre-orders, depending on which device you get. Those who purchase the S22 Ultra will get the Galaxy X LAMY Safari Twin Pen, while every pre-order of the S22 and S22+ will be bundled with a camera filter mount.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series is now available for pre-order on
Samsung Malaysia’s online store
. Want to learn more about the S22 Ultra? Then read our hands-on of the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Note
right here
.