Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Launches 20 October 2023 on PS5 – Pre-Orders Open 16 June From RM299

Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 finally gets a launch date! The third instalment of the series after the original game and the Miles Morales spin-off is set to be available on 20 October 2023, and pre-orders will be open from 16 June next week.

Three different versions of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are offered. The Standard Edition is priced at RM299, and every pre-order of the game – regardless of which version – will come with an early unlock of the Arachknight Suit for Peter, the Shadow Spider Suit for Miles, the Web Grabber gadget, and three skill points.

For those who want to get extra goodies with the game, there’s the Collector’s Edition for a cool RM969. For that kind of money, you’re getting “an extraordinary, high-quality 19-inch statue” of Peter and Miles battling Venom, a sleek SteelBook case, and a voucher to download the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game.

The Digital Deluxe Edition of Spider-Man 2, priced at RM339, adds on 10 unique suits – both Peter and Miles get five suits each – additional Photo Mode frames and stickers, as well as two additional skill points. Not bad for only RM40 more over the Standard Edition, though you don’t get a physical copy of the game.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be available exclusively on the PS5 on 20 October 2023. You can start
pre-ordering the game
 from your favourite game store from 16 June next week.


PRISM+ Opening New Outlet in Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru – First Outside of Klang Valley

PRISM+ is opening yet another retail store in Malaysia. This time around, the brand is launching a new outlet in Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru. This is PRISM+’s first retail presence outside of the Klang Valley area.

To celebrate the launch of the new store tomorrow on 10 June, PRISM+ will be running a number of promotions outlined below. A 15% discount on all Logitech G products will also be offered, though this is limited to only one unit of keyboard, mouse, and headset per customer.

1x free F240n 24-inch 165Hz gaming monitor (worth RM629) with any purchase of a PRISM+ Q55-QE 55-inch 4K Android TV at RM1,699

1x free Elevate stand (worth RM299) with any purchase of an X340 PRO 165Hz 34-inch ultrawide monitor at RM1,599

1x free Arc Lite monitor arm (worth RM229) with any purchase of an X240 144Hz gaming monitor at RM599

W220v 22-inch monitor at RM299

Logitech G502 Hero at RM 129

In the same press release, PRISM+ added that it will be launching its range of smart home appliances in Malaysia sometime this year. “With plans to expand into the smart home appliance market, as well as with consumers coming out to shop more post-pandemic – physical touch points have become a key part of our growth strategy,” said the country director of PRISM+ Malaysia, Eric Kam.

“The launch of our latest store in Johor Bahru is yet another important milestone as we work towards nationwide coverage,” he added.

To recap, the grand launch of the new PRISM+ store in Paradigm Mall (2F-63 & 63A) at Johor Bahru is set for tomorrow on 10 June 2023. You can check out
PRISM+’s website
 for its full list of products too.


Nvidia’s GeForce Now Officially Launches in Malaysia With Yes 5G

Nvidia’s GeForce Now is officially available in Malaysia with Yes 5G. Although the cloud gaming service has been offered here through the telco since April 2023, today’s event marks the official launch of the service on our shores, as we were told by a Yes 5G representative.

Anyway, GeForce Now for the Malaysian market has two distinct plans: the monthly subscription costs RM50/month, while the annual plan is RM500/year. However, if you’re a Yes user, you can get the monthly and annual plans for only RM30/month and RM300/year respectively; pretty hefty discounts.

We tried out GeForce Now for ourselves at the launch roadshow in The Starhill Bukit Bintang with the Yes Wireless Fibre 5G, and it works quite well. Latency is one of the main concerns with cloud gaming services like GeForce Now, and we’re happy to report that this was not an issue while we were streaming Ghostrunner.

If you want to sign up for GeForce Now, you can do so
over here
. You can also give the cloud gaming service a try for yourself at the aforementioned roadshow in The Starhill Bukit Bintang. It’s taking place right now from 10AM to 10PM until 11 June 2023 this Sunday.


Honda Gen H Roadshow Moves to Penang This Weekend (10 – 11 June 2023)

If you’ve been wanting to test drive any e:HEV Honda models – and you happen to be in Penang – check out the Japanese carmaker’s
Gen H roadshow
 on the island this weekend. Set to take place at Juru Auto City, Penang this on 10 and 11 June from 11AM to 11PM, various activities will be held there.

Some of the activities the Gen H roadshow offers include fun fair rides, arcade, workshop, food and beverage bazaar, and even graffiti art collaboration with local artists. Of course, visitors can test drive Honda’s hybrid vehicles at the event too, and admission is (naturally) free.

Currently, Honda Malaysia has four e:HEV models in its lineup, including the City, City Hatchback, HR-V, and Civic. Out of the four models, the City sees the highest sales at 2,800 units, followed by the HR-V at 2,600 units. As for the City Hatchback, 1,600 units have been sold, while the Civic registered almost 600 sales. It makes sense, given that the Civic e:HEV RS is the most recent model to be introduced.

If you’re not in Penang this weekend, worry not. Honda Malaysia’s Gen H roadshow will move to Stadium Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur next week (17 and 18 June 2023) for the grand finale, so you can still catch the roadshow then.


Honda WR-V Open for Booking in Malaysia – Public Previews Start 16 June

Honda just opened bookings for its first small SUV here in Malaysia, the Honda WR-V.
Just as promised
, the Japanese carmaker will be launching the new model sometime in Q3 2023, and public previews of the SUV will start from 16 June this Friday at selected dealerships.

The first preview of the WR-V is between 16 to 18 June in the southern region; more specifically, Seremban, Johor Bahru, and Pontian. This is followed by the northern region (23 – 25 June), central region (30 June – 2 July), and finally, the east coast (7 – 9 July).

Once the public previews have concluded, there’s a good chance the compact SUV will be officially launched in July 2023 itself.

Aside from the WR-V’s public preview, several key specifications of the SUV have been revealed too. It’s said to come with a 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque paired to a CVT, support for the Honda Connect telematics system, 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels (for the RS model), Honda LaneWatch, and even Honda Sensing.

It’s worth noting that the WR-V will be getting a rather complete Honda Sensing advanced driver assistance systems. These include Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

The Honda WR-V is now available for booking in Malaysia at all 101 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking of the SUV online
here
, or through the HondaTouch app as well – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Xiaomi 13 Ultra Coming to Malaysia 20 June – Quad Leica Camera System

Unveiled back in April 2023, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is finally coming to Malaysia. As the range-topping device in the Xiaomi 13 series, the Ultra features some impressive camera hardware. Leica branding aside, the flagship phone’s quad camera system is also made up of four 50MP lenses.

In fact, the primary camera of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra even features a 1-inch type sensor and a variable aperture system from f/1.9 to f/4.0. The other three 50MP sensors are a 3.2x telephoto shooter, a 5x telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide angle camera with macro support. Certainly a versatile camera setup.

Other specifications of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra include a 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate – it has a
bright
 peak brightness of 2,600 nits – a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, a 32MP selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

More details on the Malaysian availability of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be revealed come 20 June next week. Of course, local pricing of the flagship phone has not been detailed yet, though in China, the 13 Ultra starts from 5,999 Chinese yuan, which comes up to about RM3,880. We’ll find out next week if the Malaysian pricing will be similar to this price tag.


TTRacing Titus Smart Desk Unboxing & Assembly – Affordable Standing Desk!

There are quite a number of standing desks in the market now, but most of them also cost quite a bit of money. If you want a more budget-friendly offering, then consider the TTRacing Titus Smart Desk. Retailing from only RM999, it’s one of the more affordable standing desks currently sold in Malaysia.

TTRacing sent over the Titus for review not too long ago, and after assembling it together, I think it’s a good height-adjustable standing desk for the money. It’s not too tricky to assemble either, though it may be a challenge if you plan to do it alone. Nonetheless, here’s the unboxing and assembly of the Titus!

The Titus Smart Desk comes in two packages that are delivered separately: one for the desk frame, and another for the table top. I received the large variant of the Titus with a 1.6m table top for RM1,149, and paired with the RM99 cable organiser – which was also sent separately – this particular configuration costs RM1,248.

In my opinion, this is still good value for money. If you want the absolute cheapest Titus, you can opt for the small version of the desk with a 1.2m table top for RM999. Beyond the smaller top, other specifications of this model are exactly the same as the larger ones. Do note that this is the Titus in Onyx; there’s a white version of the desk dubbed Howlite if you want a different colour instead.

Anyway, to start putting together the Titus, the desk frame has to be set up. First, the left and right frame supports have to be secured to their respective frame bases with four screws on each side.

Once that’s done, we move on to the extendable bars that will connect the two frame supports. This step is relatively easy: just slide in the two short extendable bars to the long piece, and put the four screws (for each bar) into place, but don’t tighten them yet. Now, these bars can be secured to the frame supports.

And then we have the side brackets, which will secure the table top to the desk frame later. The side brackets are installed on either sides of the frame supports, and once they are in place, the extendable coupling rod can then be inserted in between the two extendable bars. This rod has to be aligned to the motor on the right frame support, and do not tighten the rod just yet at this point of assembly.

Now this is where it gets tricky, depending on the size of the table top you purchased. The top has to be placed on top of the desk frame now, and the distance between the two frame supports has to be adjusted accordingly to fit the width of the top. Needless to say, this step of the assembly is much easier with the help of another person.

When the four openings on the side brackets are aligned to the screw holes on the bottom of the table top, secure them accordingly. The screws on the extendable bars (along with the extendable coupling rod) can also be tightened now, since the table top is installed already.

Almost done! It’s time to install the controller for the height adjustment, which is secured to the underside of the desk on the right. The control box can then be placed behind the controller, which supplies power to it.

To finish things off, install the mug holder and headphones hanger – both of which are retractable – on the right and left sides of the desk respectively. If you got the cable organiser add-on, assemble the C-shape brackets to the organiser first before installing it to the underside of the desk on the back.

And that is it! The Titus Smart Desk is now fully assembled.

I’ve used the Titus for a bit since assembling it, and I do quite like the standing desk. The powder coated table top feels good to the touch with a matte finish – though it has a tendency to pick up stains quite easily – and I appreciate the ergonomic contour design with cut-in edges for improved comfort.

If I were to nitpick, I’d say the motor can be a tad quieter. Don’t get me wrong, it is not obnoxiously loud by any means, but it does sound noticeably louder than, say, the motor on the
EVIS Intelligent Desk
. But to be fair, that is a RM4,099 desk, while the Titus is a much, much more affordable option.

All in all, I am happy with the overall quality and assembly process of the TTRacing Titus Smart Desk. With a RM999 starting price, its value proposition is good, though I’ll reserve judgment until the full review. Nevertheless, if you want to purchase this standing desk, you can do so over at
TTRacing’s official website
.

You can also use code NEXTRIFT10 to get a 10% discount on the Titus – as well as other products from the company – with no minimum spend.


Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Costs RM3,299 in Malaysia – Coming 19 June 2023

Asus just confirmed the Malaysian launch
and
 pricing of its handheld gaming PC, the
Asus ROG Ally
. The Taiwanese company revealed this through a Facebook post, and we have to solve a number of rather cheeky math equations to get the local pricing of the Ally.

Let’s take a look at the equations below. The ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM is shown in the first equation with the ROG Strix Scar 18 laptop, which costs RM31,998 together. Given that the Flow Z13-ACRNM retails at RM12,999, we now know that the Scar 18 is RM18,999.

Next, the Strix Scar 18 is shown with the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16. Since the Strix costs RM18,999, we can just add RM4,000 to get the retail price of the Zephyrus Duo 16, which is RM22,999. Finally, for the last equation, we just have to deduct RM22,999 (the Zephyrus Duo 16’s price) from RM19,700, and we come to the final price: RM3,299.

And there you have it folks. The Asus ROG Ally – the Z1 Extreme model, to boot – will retail at RM3,299 here in Malaysia. The handheld gaming console will be launched on our shores come 19 June next week, so in the meantime, check out our
hands-on of the Ally
.


Vivo Y36 Now in Malaysia for RM1,099 – Dimensity 6020, 44W Fast Charging

Vivo just launched another affordable phone in Malaysia, the Vivo Y36. Packed with a MediaTek Dimensity 6020 and support for 44W fast charging – and a rather sleek-looking design – the Y36 is a reasonably intriguing mid-ranger.

For the Malaysian market, the Y36 is offered in a sole 8GB + 256GB configuration for RM1,099. Offered in two colour options (Semporna Green and Mystic Black) early birds can get
freebies worth RM298
, including an extra year of extended warranty and a pair of Vivo wireless earbuds.

As mentioned, the Y36 is powered by a Dimensity 6020 chipset. It also has a 5,000mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging, which allows the phone to be charged up to 50% in 30 minutes. Other specifications of the Y36 include a a 6.64-inch 1080p display, a dual camera system (50MP primary + 2MP bokeh), a 16MP selfie camera, and Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13 out of the box.

The Vivo Y36 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM1,099. As mentioned, early birds can get freebies worth RM298, and some retailers –
such as DirectD
 – is even offering a hotel voucher worth up to RM500.


Servicing (Or Repairing) A Mercedes-Benz at Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves

When you purchase a car from a premium brand like Mercedes-Benz, there’s a certain level of expectation that comes with it, especially in regard to aftersales service. With this in mind, we visited Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves to see for ourselves what the service outlet has to offer.

Whether you’re sending your Mercedes-Benz for servicing or a major repair here, Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves is well-equipped for both. Here’s a look at what the outlet features, including its facilities and accreditations.

Firstly, Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves is the first outlet to receive Mercedes-Benz’s highest accredited Centre of Competence status, so it meets the standards for car restoration services. The company added that the other outlet to receive this accreditation is Cycle & Carriage Glenmarie.

Aside from that, Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves also has the Mercedes-Benz Level 4 certification – following strict audits by Mercedes-Benz AG itself – allowing it to handle minor car repairs to severe damages that require aluminium structure repairs. Here are some key requirements that have to be met to get this certification:

Equipped with special and standard tools for car restoration

Equipped with a spray booth

Has Cellete bench and jigs to carry out structure repairs

Has an aluminium bay with welding machine

Has a dry sanding area with proper ventilation

Equipped with paint preparation bays, spray booths, an oven booth, and polishing bays

And that is a good segue to the facilities found at Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves. Beyond the ones mentioned above, the outlet also has a service and repair workshop, body and paint centre, as well as an office, all within a built-up area of 117,720 sqft.

It’s worth noting that the workshop area of Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves is equipped with a five-tonne hoist as well. Not many outlets have this hoist, which is used to repair heavier vehicles like the Mercedes-Ben G-Class and armoured vehicles.

Occasionally, Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves also runs a Mercedes-Benz Service Clinic, which offers customers a comprehensive (and complimentary) health check of their vehicles. This clinic usually involves a Mercedes-Benz “Flying Doctor,” an expert technician that are flown throughout the region. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

And that is Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves. Rest assured, your Mercedes-Benz will be well taken care of at the service outlet. If you’re keen to send your car here, it is located at
Lot 5, Jalan Perusahaan 1, Kawasan Perindustrian PKNS, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor
.


15 – 21 June Fuel Price: No Changes, RON 97 Stays at RM3.37 Per Litre

Another week, another fuel price update. As usual, there’s no price change to RON 97 this week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.37 per litre for the next seven days. RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 15 to 21 June next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Huawei Mate X3 Review: Incredible Hardware Held Back By Software (And Price)

Huawei was one of the first to release a foldable smartphone – the original Mate X – back in 2019, so needless to say, the Chinese company has quite a bit of experience in this segment. Fast forward to 2023, we have the Huawei Mate X3, and one of the highlights of the premium phone is its thin nature: it measures only 5.3mm thin when it’s unfolded.

However, even though the Mate X3 has great hardware, the foldable phone’s software isn’t up to par. There’s also the fact that it carries a rather exorbitant asking price of RM8,888, which is quite a bit more than its competition. These, in turn, make the Mate X3 a tough device to recommend despite its impressive hardware. Nonetheless, here is my review of Huawei’s best foldable phone yet.

What It Is

Display
Main: 7.85-inch OLED (2496 x 2224), adaptive 120Hz
Cover: 6.4-inch OLED (2504 x 1080), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G 3.2GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 730
RAM
12GB
Storage
512GB, expandable with Huawei NM SD card
Camera (rear)
50MP f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
13MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
12MP f/3.4 (periscope telephoto), 5x optical zoom
Camera (front)
8MP f/2.4 (cover), 8MP f/2.4 (inner screen)
Battery
4,800mAh with 66W fast charging
Dimensions
Unfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mm
Folded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.08 mm
Weight
239g (PU version), 241g (glass version)
OS
EMUI 13.1.0 based on Android (no Google Play services)
Connectivity
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
USB Type-C
Price
RM8,888

Hardware wise, the Mate X3 is quite a well-equipped phone, even if its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is only the 4G version. In my opinion, this limitation doesn’t matter as much in Malaysia, given that 5G isn’t widely available here yet. It also has a reasonably generous 4,800mAh battery with 66W fast charging, not to mention an IPX8 water resistance rating.

Unfortunately, new Huawei phones, including the Mate X3, do not come with Google Play services. This limits the usability of the foldable phone, though there
are
 workarounds for folks who are willing to go the extra mile…with some caveats. More on this further down the review.

The Good Stuff

The slim nature of the Mate X3 is really one of its best features. Whether it’s folded or unfolded, the thin chassis feels great in my hands. In fact, its closest rival, Samsung’s
Galaxy Z Fold 4
, feels much too bulky in comparison. Even though it’s quite a tall phone, I still find the Mate X3 to be quite pocketable too.

Besides that, the hinge mechanism of the Mate X3 feels very, very robust. The pressure is consistent throughout the folding and unfolding process, and it closes with a reassuring (and very satisfying) thud. The fact that the phone leaves no visible gap when it’s folded is also a quality I absolutely love. Again, Huawei absolutely nailed the hardware of the Mate X3 here.

I continue to be impressed with the foldable phone as I use it for content consumption. The large, 7.85-inch 2496 x 2224 foldable OLED display looks great with vibrant colours and deep, true blacks. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate lends to smooth-looking animations too.

Using the Mate X3 in its folded state with the 6.4-inch 1080p OLED display (also with a 120Hz refresh rate) presents no usability issues either. It’s large and wide enough for a comfortable viewing experience, and when I don’t need the extra screen real estate afforded by the primary inner display, I find myself completely content with using just the cover screen.

When it comes to performance, the Mate X3 feels just as fast as you’d expect a flagship phone to be, thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset. Granted, the SoC can’t quite run
Genshin Impact
 or
Honkai: Star Rail
 smoothly at 60fps, but both games are still very playable on the foldable phone.

As for battery life, the Mate X3’s 4,800mAh battery can last quite long. On average, I can get about six hours of screen on time on a single charge. I use the cover screen and the primary display about equally to get this level of battery life.

Lastly, we have the camera performance of the Mate X3. Its triple camera system is made up of a 50MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens that can do 5x optical zoom. Overall, all three sensors can take good-looking shots regardless of lighting condition.

Shooting experience of the Mate X3 is great too. It feels responsive even in low light conditions, and it can lock in focus relatively fast too. Huawei’s mobile photography know-how is already well-known in the industry, and this is exemplified with the Mate X3.

13MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

12MP periscope telephoto (5x zoom)

12MP periscope telephoto (10x zoom)

13MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

12MP periscope telephoto (5x zoom)

12MP periscope telephoto (10x zoom)

50MP primary

50MP primary

But as much as I enjoy using the Mate X3, its software experience also leaves much to be desired – let’s move on to the next section.

The Bad Stuff

Software is really the only downside with the Mate X3 due to the absence of Google Play services. This limits the app compatibility of the phone quite a bit, especially if you rely on Google’s range of services, which most Android users do. Whether it’s YouTube, Gmail, or Google Maps, these apps do not work natively on the Mate X3.

As mentioned, there are workarounds to this. Can’t use the YouTube app? Just use Google Chrome. (Yes, the browser somehow works on the Mate X3.) Gmail? There are alternative email clients, such as Spark. No Google Maps? Well, Waze is a great replacement, even though I can’t log into my account on this phone.

But in order to install these apps in the first place, I have to rely on third-party services, which…can actually be found within the Huawei AppGallery. As you search for a specific app in Huawei’s app store, third-party search results are also displayed if the app isn’t available on AppGallery, which look to be third-party APK sites.

Essentially, you are side-loading these apps to the Mate X3, and unless you really know what you’re doing, this
can
 present a security risk. After all, third-party APK sites are not upheld to the same security standards as apps found on the Google Play Store.

And that is the main software issue with the Mate X3 here: the average consumer shouldn’t have to worry about something as simple as downloading apps that they want to use.

Is It Worth It?

Unless you’re willing to jump through hoops to work around the Huawei Mate X3’s software limitations, the foldable phone is, again, a tough device for me to recommend. Yes, it has incredibly refined hardware with a thin chassis, solid hinge, and great displays, but if the software isn’t up to par, the whole user experience is still negatively affected.

Plus, the RM8,888 price tag of the Mate X3 is steep, especially when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 with the same 512GB of storage can be bought
for only RM6,499 now
. While the hardware of Samsung’s offering aren’t quite as refined as the Mate X3’s, the former’s fuss-free software experience more than makes up for it, in my opinion.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying that the Mate X3 is an excellent foldable phone if you can look past its less than ideal software. Those who I have shown the foldable phone to are impressed with its hardware, even if the conversation almost always moves to the limitations of its software.


Sony WF-C700N Review: Boomy Wireless Earbuds With ANC for Only RM549

While Sony’s more affordable wireless earbuds are not as well-known as the Japanese company’s premium options – such as the
WF-1000XM4
 – there are some genuine gems in this segment. Take the Sony WF-C700N: not only does it have active noise cancellation (ANC) now, it has Sony’s signature sound quality too.

Of course, given its affordable nature, the WF-C700N does have some drawbacks here and there. But for only RM549, the value proposition of the earbuds is very good. I would happily recommend it to folks who are looking for a pair of budget-friendly wireless earbuds without much compromise.

What It Is

ANC is really one of the main highlights of the WF-C700N. This feature is not typically found on Sony’s budget earbuds, which is a good selling point for the WF-C700N…even if the ANC performance isn’t particularly great. More on this further down the review.

Aside from that, the WF-C700N also features up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge – down to 7.5 hours with ANC activated – a charging case that holds one additional charge, Bluetooth 5.2, as well as an IPX4 water resistance rating.

Retailing at RM549 in Malaysia, the WF-C700N is offered in four distinct colours here: Black (the model pictured in this review), White, Sage Green, and Lavender. Quite a colourful lineup.

The Good Stuff

The sound quality of the Sony WF-C700N surprised me quite a bit when I first listened to it. It can produce nice, punchy bass without bleeding into the mids, and vocals have a good amount of body too, though female vocals do have a tendency to sound a tad too thin for my liking. I would’ve preferred more sparkle in the treble region as well.

Nonetheless, the WF-C700N’s winning quality is the fact that it has Sony’s warm, “fun” sound signature that I really like. Not only does it complement catchy tunes like pop music very well, it also makes for a more…engaging listening experience, if you will.

Beyond that, the WF-C700N is quite long-lasting too. With ANC activated, I can comfortably get about seven hours of use on a single charge, which is close to Sony’s quoted battery life. This is quite a bit better than most wireless earbuds in the market now that typically offer between five to six hours of use (at most).

I’m also quite a fan of the WF-C700N’s lightweight design and comfort. Each bud weighs only 4.6g, and wearing these earbuds for long periods of time proved to be quite comfortable. Its IPX4 water resistance allows me to wear it while working out without worries too.

Last but not least is the value proposition of the WF-C700N. Priced at RM549, the sound quality, battery life, and comfort that the wireless earbuds offer are great. Much better than other earbuds at this price point, I’d say.

That being said, it does have some notable shortcomings, which I’ll get to in the next section.

The Bad Stuff

While most wireless earbuds use touch controls, the WF-C700N uses physical buttons instead, and they are…not great. Not only does the buttons feel cheap to click on, I find myself accidentally triggering them when I just wanted to adjust the earbud’s fit in my ear. The plastic shell of the earbuds don’t feel as solid as it should be either.

And then there’s the ANC performance of the WF-C700N, which is decidedly middling. While it can cancel out lower frequencies adequately well, it doesn’t provide much noise cancellation as a whole. This doesn’t come as a surprise, of course, given the budget-friendly nature of the earbuds.

Is It Worth It?

For RM549, the Sony WF-C700N is a great pair of affordable wireless earbuds. While you won’t get the best ANC performance or build quality, you can do a lot worse at this price point. Plus, you’d be hard-pressed to find an alternative that sounds as good as these earbuds, especially when it comes to bass quality.

Pleasant sound quality, good comfort, long battery life, and great value for money are the WF-C700N’s winning qualities. If these are what you look for in a pair of affordable wireless earbuds, the WF-C700N is certainly worth considering.


Acerpure Aqua WP1 Water Purifier Now in Malaysia for RM3,599 – Early Birds Get RM1,388 Freebies

Just as promised, the Acerpure Aqua WP1 has just been launched in Malaysia. The 3-in-1 water purifier not only looks good, it is also very functional. It can even dispense (filtered) hydrogen water, which the Taiwanese company says can “enhance nutrient absorption for better health.”

For the Malaysian market, the Acerpure Aqua retails at RM3,599
as per our previous report
. Those who purchase the water purifier by 14 August will also receive freebies worth RM1,388, which includes a five-year extended warranty (upgraded from two years), an Acerpure Cool C1, and an Acerpure pillow.

One of the advantages of the Acerpure Aqua – though it also depends on the user – is the fact that no piping is required to install it. The water purifier draws water from an 8.7L two-sided water tank, which is then filtered with a four-step filtration system.

To show just how effective the Aqua’s filtration system is at its local, Acer actually used various tea (and even flavoured soft drinks!) as the water source. The purified tea looks just like water, which is pretty darn impressive.

Of course, the Acerpure Aqua’s filters can be easily replaced by users too. What we also like about the water purifier – aside from the fact that we can see the filtered water through the see-through window – is the fact that we can set the water to a specific temperature. This ranges from as low as 10°C to 95°C.

To recap, the Acerpure Aqua WP1 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM3,599. Early birds who purchase the water purifier by 14 August will also get free gifts worth a total of RM1,388.


Acerpure Pro P2 Classic Launched in Malaysia for RM899 – RM300 Discount Until 14 August 2023

Also launched alongside the
Acerpure Aqua
 water purifier is the Acerpure Pro P2 Classic air purifier. It’s similar to the
Pro P2
 launched last year, but it has a slightly different design and (more importantly) a lower price tag.

Here in Malaysia, the Acerpure Pro P2 Classic retails at only RM899; quite a bit more affordable than the Pro P2. To sweeten the deal, those who purchase the air purifier by 14 August can get a generous RM300 discount, lowering the price of the Pro P2 Classic to only RM599.

According to Acer, the Pro P2 Classic’s filtration system – which uses a 3-in-1 HEPA filter – can “eliminate 99% formaldehyde and trap 99.9% of PM2.5 particles.” It also has touch controls, real-time air quality monitor, and a smart mode that adjusts the purifier speed based on air quality.

The Acerpure Pro P2 Classic can now be purchased in Malaysia for RM899. To recap, you can enjoy a RM300 discount – bringing down the price to only RM599-  if you get the air purifier by 14 August 2023.


Only RM22,000 for the Perodua Axia E – Cheapest Car in Malaysia!

The Perodua Axia E is back, and it is more affordable than ever. Priced at only RM22,000 for both West and East Malaysia, the A-segment hatchback is the cheapest car in Malaysia, and it’s actually priced over RM2,000 lower now – it was previously going for RM24,090.

Based on the first generation Axia, the Axia E features the same 1KR-VE 1.0L three-cylinder VVT-i engine found in the
newer Axia
, which outputs 67hp and 91Nm of torque. This is paired to a five-speed manual transmission, and it’s the only Axia you can get with a manual. It also has a quoted fuel efficiency of 22.5km/l (ECE mode).

Given the affordable nature of the Axia E, it does omit some creature comforts. It doesn’t have a head unit, speakers, remote locking, or safety features like Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), ABS, EBD, BA, and Traction Control (TRC). It does, however, feature two airbags, and it has a four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

To recap, the Perodua Axia E is priced at only RM22,000, and Perodua expects to sell about 1,500 units of the A-segment hatchback every month. Three colour options are available: Ivory White, Glittering Silver, and Granite Grey, a new colour option for the variant.


Lenovo Yoga Book 9i Dual-Screen OLED Laptop Now in Malaysia From RM9,499

The unique Lenovo Yoga Book 9i has just been launched in Malaysia. First unveiled at CES 2023 earlier this year, the laptop has a dual-screen setup with bright and vibrant OLED panels. On top of that, it’s quite a lightweight, thin machine too.

For the Malaysian market, the Yoga Book 9i
starts at a cool RM9,499
. For that kind of money, it features a 13th gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a generous 1TB SSD storage, integrated graphics, a 5MP camera, as well as an 80Wh battery that promises up to 15.5 hours of battery life.

Of course, there are also the two OLED displays of the Yoga Book 9i. Both of them are 13.3-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED panels with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. It also has a convertible form factor, along with a 15.95mm thin chassis that tips the scales at only 1.34kg.

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is now available for purchase in Malaysia
from RM9,499
. As its listing on Lenovo Malaysia’s online store shows, the laptop will start shipping within two to three weeks from the time of purchase.


Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptops Finally Land in Malaysia From RM3,699

Initially unveiled back in March this year, the Lenovo LOQ (pronounced lock) gaming laptops have finally been launched in Malaysia. The LOQ series is targeted at budget-conscious gamers while still retaining some features of Lenovo’s higher-end Legion laptops.

As many as four different models of the Lenovo LOQ are offered in Malaysia. The LOQ 15IRH8 and LOQ 15APH8 are 15-inch Intel and AMD laptops respectively, while the LOQ 16IRH8 and LOQ 16APH8 are 16-inch Intel and AMD machines respectively. According to Lenovo, the LOQ series starts at RM3,699 for the 15-inch model.

The Intel models of the LOQ laptops feature Intel’s 13th generation Core i7-13700H processor, while the 15-inch AMD machine feature a Ryzen 7 7840HS chip. The 16-inch AMD model, on the other hand, comes with a Ryzen 7 7849H. As for GPU options, most of the LOQ base models are packed with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, though the 16-inch Intel version starts with an RTX 4050 instead.

All four variants of the Lenovo LOQ gaming laptops are now available for purchase in Malaysia. More details on the LOQ machines – and their specific configurations – can be found on
Lenovo Malaysia’s official website
.


Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (Gen 8) Unleashed in Malaysia From RM7,299

Other than the impressive Yoga Book 9i and Lenovo LOQ series, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has also landed in Malaysia. Now in its 8th generation, the gaming laptop features (up to) a fast 240Hz display and beefy Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU.

According to Lenovo, the Legion Pro 5i starts at RM7,299 from physical retailers in Malaysia, while on Lenovo Malaysia’s online store, the gaming machine
starts at exactly RM7,518.74
. This particular model features a 13th gen Intel Core i7-13700HX processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an RTX 4060 GPU, a 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate, as well as a 512GB SSD.

Of course, these hardware are customisable on the online store. If you want to upgrade the GPU to an RTX 4070, for example, it will cost RM890. Want a faster Core i9-13900HX chip? Well, that’s only a RM300 upgrade.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i can now be purchased in Malaysia from RM7,299. At this price point, it’s positioned as a more premium gaming laptop. If you want a more affordable option, there’s there Lenovo LOQ series, which has just been launched in Malaysia too.


Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i Also Launched in Malaysia – Windows 11 Tablet From RM3,369

Lenovo launched a slew of new products in Malaysia today, including the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i. It’s a compact, lightweight Windows 11 tablet with four different usage modes, and it even comes bundled with a Bluetooth keyboard cover.

For the Malaysian market, the IdeaPad Duet 5i is offered in a number of different variants, with the base model
retailing at RM3,369
 on Lenovo Malaysia’s online store. For that kind of money, it features a 12th generation Intel Core i3-1215U processor paired with 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD storage, 5MP front and rear cameras, as well as a 12.4-inch 2560 x 1600 LTPS touch-enabled display.

One of the advantages of the IdeaPad Duet 5i is its sheer portability. After all, it’s a tablet, and with a 9.45mm thin chassis that weighs only 809g, it’s certainly the ideal Windows 11 tablet for folks who want a lightweight productivity machine.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i is now available for purchase in Malaysia with a RM3,369 starting price. All variants of the Windows 11 tablet can be found over at
Lenovo Malaysia’s online store
.


Businesses Can No Longer Send URL Links Over SMS From 2 July 2023

Back in 2 May earlier this year
, URL links sent over SMS from personal numbers have been blocked as per the directive issued by the Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Soon, even businesses will be blocked from doing so.

Currently, SMS sent by businesses via short codes can still contain URL links. But as per an SMS sent to us from Maxis, this will be blocked from 2 July next month. Even Digi has shared this
through a notice on its website
.

The main objective of this initiative is to prevent consumers from becoming victims of online scams through the use of phishing websites. Interestingly, this block is applicable to SMS (sent and received) from both local and international mobile numbers.

Since businesses cannot send URL links over SMS from 2 July next month, many are moving to in-app authentications for verification purposes. This is especially true for banking apps, so make sure you enable it to perform your regular transactions.


Proton DX Finally Open – First Automotive Digital Experience Centre in Malaysia

Remember the
Proton Digital Xperience
 (Proton DX) store we spotted back in March this year? Well, the automotive digital experience centre has finally opened its doors to the public today, and it’s said to be the first store of its kind in Malaysia.

Developed by ACO Tech in collaboration with Proton and China Construction Bank (CCB), Proton DX occupies a 5,275 square feet space with six main areas; the highlight being the Virtual Cockpit. As its name suggests, it offers a virtual drive in an enclosed theatre-like dome; visitors can even use voice commands to select different options throughout the experience.

Next, there’s the Activity Zone in Proton DX. It’s basically an interactive game featuring the
Proton X50
, X70, and Iriz. Up to three players can participate in the racing game, where they are required to run in place and perform certain actions to race to the finish line.

And then we have the ATLAS Mall showcase area, which allows visitors to see various products found on the ATLAS Auto app. Curiously, official merchandise from other brands under the Geely Group – such as Lynk & Co and Zeekr – are also shown here, though they’re not available for purchase.

Also featured at Proton DX is a Lifestyle Zone, which consists of active wear and lifestyle merchandise from an ongoing collaboration between Joma and the centre. These products can actually be purchased at Proton DX itself, and in the future, official Proton merchandise will also be available here.

If you want to take a break, there’s the cafe component of Proton DX dubbed Aico Cafe. Whether you want to grab a quick bite, coffee, or tea, you can get them here. According to the company, social gatherings for Proton owners or communities can also be hosted at Aico Cafe.

Finally, there’s the Delivery Bay. While Proton DX itself is not a dealership, “special Proton customers” – as the company puts it – can take delivery of their new ride here.

Proton DX is certainly a unique centre that showcases both Proton’s and ACO Tech’s offerings. If you’d like to give it a visit, you can do so at Quill City Mall, Kuala Lumpur. The centre is open daily from 10AM to 10PM.


Asus ROG Ally Review: Powerful (And Power Hungry) Handheld Gaming PC for RM3,299

The handheld gaming PC market has seen some interesting additions in the past couple of years, with Valve’s Steam Deck being one of the highest profile releases in recent times. That is, until the Asus ROG Ally was unveiled – or rather,
teased as an April Fools’ Day joke
.

For the most part, the ROG Ally lives up to expectations. It is undeniably a powerful handheld gaming machine, and it offers quite a number of advantages over the Steam Deck. However, the Ally also has some shortcomings that hold it back from being the “ideal” handheld, though I still think it’s a fantastic device for gaming on the go.

What It Is

Display
7-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080), 120Hz
Processor
AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (8C/16T, up to 5.1GHz)
GPU
AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3, up to 8.6 teraflops)
RAM
16GB LPDDR5
Storage
512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD
Battery
40Wh
Dimensions
280 x 111 x 21.2~32.4 mm
Weight
608g
Audio
Front-facing stereo speakers
Ports
1x ROG XG Mobile interface + USB-C combo port
1x microSD card slot
1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Price
RM3,299

For the Malaysian market, the ROG Ally is available in the sole AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model, which is the model featured in this review. According to Asus Malaysia, the more affordable Ryzen Z1 configuration won’t be offered here. I personally think this isn’t a big lost, given the performance gains offered by the Z1 Extreme chip for only $100 (about RM460) more in the US.

Speaking of which, the Ally is actually priced quite well in Malaysia. For RM3,299, the Z1 Extreme chip offers excellent gaming performance – especially for a handheld – the RAM and SSD capacities are reasonably good at 16GB and 512GB respectively, and the 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate looks great too.

On paper, the Ally looks great, but there’s more to a device than just its spec sheet.

The Good Stuff

Without a doubt the ROG Ally is a capable handheld gaming PC. The Z1 Extreme APU, which is exclusive to Asus for the time being, is quite the chip. I played a ton of
Honkai: Star Rail
 at maxed out graphics settings on the handheld, and it can deliver a consistent 60fps frame rate (with some frame dips in busier environments) on its 25W Turbo Mode.

Of course, on more graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, I do have to lower the graphics settings accordingly to achieve 30fps frame rate. But despite the reduced image fidelity, the game still looks great on the 7-inch 1080p IPS display, even if most games can’t quite take advantage of the panel’s fast 120Hz refresh rate.

While we’re on the topic, I find the ROG Ally’s display to be completely fine. While I’m not thrilled by the size of the screen bezels, and the viewing angles are not as wide as I would’ve hoped, it’s still a relatively bright panel with a 500 nits peak brightness and quite vibrant colours.

I’m impressed with the system noise of the ROG Ally too. Even in extended gaming sessions, it runs
very
quiet. Naturally, the handheld does get noticeably warmer after some heavy gaming, but important touch points never get uncomfortably warm, which is great.

Controls of the ROG Ally feel great as well. The analog sticks are nice and smooth (albeit a tad too loose for my liking), the shoulder buttons feel substantial and satisfying to use, and the face buttons provide a good amount of tactile feedback. While there were reports of the face buttons getting stuck in heated gaming sessions, I did not encounter this issue at all on my early review unit.

Build quality of the ROG Ally is also good despite its mostly plastic construction to reduce weight. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the textured plastic chassis feels premium, it certainly does not feel cheap. Weighing 608g, it’s reasonably lightweight too, though I do need to rest my hands on a surface to game comfortably with the handheld.

The Bad Stuff

With so much power under the hood, battery life of the ROG Ally also suffers. As mentioned, I played Honkai: Star Rail a fair bit on the handheld, and with the power plan set to 25W Turbo Mode on a relatively high brightness level, the Ally lasted for…only an hour on a full charge.

If I’m playing less demanding games with the screen brightness lowered – while also setting the power plan to the most efficient 10W Silent Mode – I can stretch the battery life to about two to three hours. Much better playtime, of course, but you do have to find games that can still run smoothly on this power plan (or lower the graphics settings accordingly) to get this level of battery life.

It’s worth noting that I am using BIOS 317 on the ROG Ally throughout this review period and not the latest BIOS 319. While the new BIOS improves battery life, this comes at the expense of lower performance, which is definitely not ideal.

Last but not least is the overall user experience of the ROG Ally. As it’s running on Windows 11, navigating through the operating system with the handheld’s buttons and touch screen doesn’t feel particularly intuitive; I can’t even quickly close a game through Asus’ own Armoury Crate SE software. The bottom line is, Windows 11 in handheld mode still needs some work.

Is It Worth It?

Despite its shortcomings, I still think the Asus ROG Ally is a fantastic handheld gaming PC, especially in comparison to the Steam Deck here in Malaysia. Not only is it a much more powerful machine, it also comes with official warranty support. The same cannot be said of the Steam Deck, which is brought onto our shores through parallel importers.

While the ROG Ally’s battery life and user experience are not great, there’s a good chance that these two aspects of the handheld can be improved over time. Given that Asus is one of the most renowned brands in the market, I’m quite optimistic the Ally will only get better with every software update.


Asus ROG Ally Unleashed in Malaysia for RM3,299 – Only Z1 Extreme Model

After much teasing, the Asus ROG Ally has finally been launched in Malaysia. Curiously, only the higher-end AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model of the handheld gaming PC will be officially available here; the more affordable Ryzen Z1 configuration will not be offered.

As previously revealed, the ROG Ally with a Z1 Extreme chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage retails at RM3,299. It is
now available for purchase online
, and early birds can get RM1,299 worth of freebies, which include a pair of
ROG Cetra
 wireless earbuds, a travel case, a screen protector, a charger dock, and even a nine-month subscription to Microsoft’s PC Game Pass.

If you’re keen to pair the ROG Ally with the ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure, you can get a whopping RM2,000 discount on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT models, bringing down the prices to RM5,999 and RM4,999 respectively.

Compared to its main competition, the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally’s value proposition is good at this price point. Not only is it a more powerful handheld machine, it also has a number of advantages, including a higher resolution 7-inch 1920 x 1080 display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, has lower resolution 60Hz panel, though it has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio.

Aside from that, the ROG Ally can also be connected to the aforementioned (and proprietary) ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure for higher fidelity gaming. It runs on Windows 11 as well, so it’ll be interesting to see how this would impact the battery life of the handheld gaming console.

Other specifications of the Ally include up to 16GB of LPDDR5 dual-channel RAM and 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD – this is said to be upgradable – a microSD card slot for further storage expansion, as well as a lightweight chassis that tips the scales at 608g.

To recap, the Asus ROG Ally is
now available for purchase online in Malaysia
 for RM3,299. Retail sales of the handheld gaming PC, on the other hand, will start from 1 July through a roadshow in Low Yat Plaza.


Asus ROG Ally First Sale in Malaysia – Sold Out in 7 Minutes!

The Asus ROG Ally went up for sale in Malaysia earlier today for RM3,299 for the sole AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model, and it only took seven whole minutes for the device to be
sold out
! Evidently, many are eager to get their hands on the handheld gaming PC.

To give more context to the first Malaysian sale of the ROG Ally, only 100 units were up for grabs. On top of that, every purchase also comes with RM1,299 worth of goodies, which include a pair of
ROG Cetra
 wireless earbuds, a travel case, a screen protector, a charger dock, and even a nine-month subscription to Microsoft’s PC Game Pass.

On top of the freebies mentioned above, every purchase of the Ally also comes with a whopping RM2,000 discount on the ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure. This brings down the price of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT models to RM5,999 and RM4,999 respectively.

If you missed the first sale of the ROG Ally, you can still enjoy the same RM1,299 freebies once the handheld gaming console is available for offline purchase come 1 July at the ROG Roadshow in Low Yat Plaza. While the RM2,000 discount on the XG Mobile wasn’t mentioned, you can enter a lucky draw to walk away with prizes worth up to RM6,999.

The Asus ROG Ally, despite its drawbacks, looks to be quite popular among Malaysians. If you’d like to learn more about the handheld gaming PC, check out our
full review of the Ally
.


Xiaomi 13 Ultra in Malaysia – Leica Quad Camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chip, RM5,199

Just as promised, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has been launched in Malaysia today. The range-topping device in the Xiaomi 13 series is a premium phone through and through with a Leica-branded quad camera system, so not surprisingly, it comes with a matching price tag.

For the Malaysian market, only one variant of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is available in Malaysia. Packed with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the high-end flagship phone retails at a cool RM5,199. Two colour options are offered: there’s Olive Green, and a more minimalist Black.

As mentioned, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra features a Leica quad camera system. All four sensors are 50MP shooters, and the primary camera even features a 1-inch type sensor and a variable aperture system from f/1.9 to f/4.0. The other three 50MP sensors are a 3.2x telephoto shooter, a 5x telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide angle camera with macro support. Certainly a versatile camera setup.

Other specifications of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra include a 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate – it has a
bright
 peak brightness of 2,600 nits – a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 32MP selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be available for pre-order in Malaysia on 23 June this Friday until 29 June. Early birds who purchase the phone in this pre-order period will get a number of freebies, including a Xiaomi Instant Photo Printer 1S Set (worth RM619), 100GB cloud storage on Google One for six months, along with a 1+1 year extended warranty.


Video: Xiaomi 13 Ultra Hands-on – The Leica Appeal

The
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
 – alongside the
Xiaomi 13 Pro
 – is one of the Chinese company’s most premium phones yet…with a matching price tag. Retailing at RM5,199, the 13 Ultra is a properly high-end phone with some impressive hardware, especially the Leica-branded quad camera system.

All four sensors of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s Leica camera system are 50MP shooters, and the primary camera even features a 1-inch type sensor and a variable aperture system from f/1.9 to f/4.0. The other three 50MP sensors are a 3.2x telephoto shooter, a 5x telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide angle camera with macro support. Certainly a versatile camera setup.

Other specifications of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra include a 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate – it has a
bright
 peak brightness of 2,600 nits – a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 32MP selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be available for pre-order in Malaysia on 23 June this Friday until 29 June. Early birds who purchase the phone in this pre-order period will get a number of freebies, including a Xiaomi Instant Photo Printer 1S Set (worth RM619), 100GB cloud storage on Google One for six months, along with a 1+1 year extended warranty.


Proton X90 Receives 5,000 Bookings – 500 Units Delivered, Less Than 6 Months Waiting Time

The
Proton X90
 was launched here just last month, and it looks like the premium D-segment SUV is pretty well-received by Malaysians. Over 5,000 bookings have been placed for the new model, and 500 units have already been delivered to customers.

These details
 were revealed by the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah, at the launch of the
Proton DX
 centre. He also added that the waiting period of the SUV is now less than six months, and more units are expected to be delivered next month in July 2023.

To recap, the X90 starts RM123,800 for the base Standard variant, while the Executive model goes for RM130,800. Another tier up is the Premium trim for RM144,800, while the range-topping Flagship variant carries a RM152,800 price tag.

At these price points, the Proton X90 undercuts its competition by quite a bit as a premium D-segment SUV, which explains the popularity of the new model. Hopefully, waiting period for the X90 will be further improved in the coming months.


Eco-Friendly Acer Aspire Vero 14 Now in Malaysia From RM2,599

Acer just launched its latest eco-friendly laptop in Malaysia, the refreshed Acer Aspire Vero 14. With a chassis that’s made out of 40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic – that’s 10% more than its predecessor – it sees a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions during the chassis production of the laptop.

Three different variants of the Aspire Vero 14 are available in Malaysia. The base model with an Intel Core i3-1315U processor paired with 8GB of RAM
retails at RM2,599
, while the Core i5-1335U configuration with the same amount of RAM is
priced at RM3,099
.

As for the range-topping Core i7-1335U model with 16GB of RAM, it
goes for RM3,899
.

Beyond the different CPU and RAM configuration, all variants of the Aspire Vero 14 feature similar hardware. These include a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display, a 512GB SSD, a 720p webcam, and a 50Wh battery that promises up to 10 hours of use on a single charge. With a 17.9mm thin chassis that weighs 1.5kg, it’s quite a portable laptop too, and it even comes bundled with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021.

All three variants of the Acer Aspire Vero 14 are now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM2,599. In line with the eco-friendly ethos of the laptop, customers can trade-in their old devices (working or non-functional) to get up to RM500 discount on the Vero 14. This promo is valid until 30 September 2023.


2023 Acer TravelMate Laptops (P2, P4, P6) Land in Malaysia From RM3,249

Aside from the eco-friendly
Aspire Vero 14
, Acer Malaysia also launched a number of commercial laptops under the TravelMate series on our shores. These include the TravelMate P2, TravelMate P4, and the range-topping TravelMate P6.

Out of the three lineups, the TravelMate P2 is the most affordable one with a RM3,249 starting price. It features Intel’s 13th gen Core i3 to Core i7 processors, 8GB of RAM, either 256GB or 512GB of storage, and a 14-inch or 16-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display.

Next, we have the TravelMate P4, which is actually offered in two form factors: a traditional clamshell design and a convertible. Retailing from RM4,559, the base TravelMate P4 comes with a Core i5-1335U processor paired with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, as well as a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display.

As for the TravelMate Spin P4 convertible laptop, it has a faster Core i7-1355U chip with 16GB RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS touch-enabled display. All of these for a cool RM5,699.

Finally, there’s the highest-end TravelMate P6. There are two variants of this laptop, which is separated by just the display. The more affordable option is the 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS panel for RM6,799, while the 14-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED display costs just RM100 more at RM6,899.

Other specifications of the TravelMate P6 include an Intel Core i7-1355U processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a generous 1TB SSD storage, and Windows 11 Pro out of the box, just like the rest of the TravelMate laptops.

The 2023 Acer TravelMate laptops are now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM3,249. Although these are commercial laptops that are catered to businesses, regular consumers can still purchase them, of course.


Students & Youths Can Claim RM200 eWallet Credit on 26 June – Setel, TNG eWallet, Boost

The
Ministry of Finance (MOF)
 has revealed the start date for the eBelia Rahmah initiative, which offers RM200 ewallet credit to eligible students and youths. Registration for the initiative will begin on 26 June this coming Monday, and over two million folks will benefit from this.

Three ewallet services are chosen for the eBelia Rahmah initiative, which includes Setel, TNG eWallet, and Boost. On top of the RM200 ewallet credit provided by the government, additional incentives – including cashback and various rewards – will be given by these ewallet services too.

In order to be eligible for the eBelia Rahmah RM200 ewallet credit, you have to either be between the age of 18 to 20, or a full-time student in an institution of higher learning. RM400 million is allocated for this initiative, which was first tabled at Budget 2023.

The registration period for the eBelia Rahmah initiative will begin from 26 June to 22 August 2023. As for the RM200 ewallet credit itself, it has to be spent by 31 August 2023 through “offline” purchases, meaning it can only be spent at physical retailers.


22 – 28 June Fuel Price: RON 97 Stays at RM3.37 Per Litre

Another week, another fuel price update. As usual, there’s no price change to RON 97 this week, and the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.37 per litre for the next seven days. RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 22 to 28 June next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Apple Vision Pro Developer Kit Now Available – Developer Lab Coming to Singapore

If you’ve been waiting to create apps for the new Apple Vision Pro headset, good news. The visionOS software development kit (SDK) is now
available for download
, and developer labs – which allows folks to try out their apps on the Vision Pro hardware – will also be opened sometime next month.

These developer labs will be available in selected locations, including Cupertino (of course), London, Munich, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the one closest to us, Singapore. Apple added that developer teams can apply for developer kits of Vision Pro too; great for folks who can’t access the aforementioned developer labs.

“Apple Vision Pro redefines what’s possible on a computing platform. Developers can get started building visionOS apps using the powerful frameworks they already know, and take their development even further with new innovative tools and technologies like Reality Composer Pro, to design all-new experiences for their users,” said the vice president of Apple’s Worldwide Developer Relations, Susan Prescott.

You can download the visionOS SDK
right here
, though you need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program to access it. Vision Pro developer kits can also be applied from next month onwards
through this page
.


Final Fantasy XVI Pop-up Now in Sunway Pyramid Until 2 July – Win PS5 & Merch!

Final Fantasy XVI is now available exclusively (until the end of 2023) on the PlayStation 5 today. To celebrate the launch of the game, PlayStation is holding a Final Fantasy XVI pop-up here in Malaysia at Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya until 2 July next month.

Naturally, there are quite a number of activities at the event. Visitors can try out a demo of Final Fantasy XVI there, take pictures of an imposing 4.8m tall installation of Ifrit – or pose with Clive’s sword, Invictus at the photo booth – and win exciting prizes.

To win the prizes, visitors simply have to take part in the Final Fantasy XVI pop-up’s activities. The grand prize is none other than a PlayStation 5 Final Fantasy XVI Bundle – which includes the console itself and a digital copy of the game – a Collector’s Edition copy of the game, and even some sleek-looking coasters.

The Final Fantasy XVI pop-up at Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya is currently ongoing until 2 July next month. The finale of the event is on 1 July for a meet and greet with the producer of Final Fantasy XVI, Yoshida Naoki, which will start from 3PM on that day.

@nextrift

Catch the
#FinalFantasyXVI
 pop-up at
#SunwayPyramid
 until 2 July!
#Gaming

#PS5

#PlayStation

#SquareEnix

♬ Enya-style romantic fantasy waltz original – Yukari Okano


Magic: The Gathering Welcome Party Happening 1 – 2 July in Malaysia – Win MTG LOTR Merch!

To celebrate the launch of Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth – which is available for tabletop today – Wizards of the Coast is holding an
MTG Welcome Party
 next weekend here in Malaysia.

Naturally, visitors can try out MTG for themselves at the event. Those who are new to the popular card game can get acquainted with it through a taster session with a LOTR Starter Kit that can be purchased at the event itself. If you’re already familiar with the game, you can duke it out with other players in a Commander game with the four new LOTR Commander Decks.

Participating at the MTG Welcome Party can win you some exclusive MTG LOTR merchandise as well. These include MTG pins, a tote bag, and even a rather nice wooden tray for the new The Ring Tempts You mechanic in the LOTR set.

The MTG Welcome Party will take place from 1 to 2 July next weekend at Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya, and you can register
right here
. It will start from 10AM to 9PM, so there’s plenty of time to play to your heart’s content at the event.

@nextrift

We had a blast at the
#MTGxLOTR
 event! Are you joining the prerelease today?

♬ Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89


U Mobile’s U Home 5G Offers 5G Broadband From RM68/Month – Unlimited Speeds, Contract-Free

U Mobile got a new 5G wireless home broadband plan dubbed U Home 5G. According to the telco, it is the first to offer a 5G broadband solution without any contract, and there’s even a promotional price for the plan right now.

Normally offered at RM78/month, those who sign-up for the U Home 5G now can get the promotional rate of RM68/month
for life
. This offer is valid until further notice, and besides the discounted price, you also get unlimited quota with a minimum speed of 100Mbps (when 5G network is available) or 23Mbps average speed on 4G connectivity.

However, as with most unlimited plans, U Home 5G does have a fair usage policy (FUP). Once users hit the 1,000GB quota, speeds will be reduced to 512Kbps. Of course, you can purchase another 1,000GB quota as an add-on for RM30; quite a good deal, in our opinion.

You can sign up for U Mobile’s U Home 5G home broadband plan
right here
. Do note that this is a SIM-only data plan, so you’ll need either a dedicated 5G WiFi router or a smartphone – yes, the plan supports hotspot usage – to start using it.


Video: 2023 Proton Saga Review – How Good Is Proton’s Best-Selling Model?

Launched just last year, the Proton Saga MC2 facelift is currently the national carmaker’s best-selling model. As of May 2023, over 27,214 units of the A-segment sedan have been registered. Starting at RM34,800, it is also Proton’s most affordable model.

With these two factors in mind, I wanted to find out for myself just how good is the latest Saga. And after spending a good amount of time with the affordable sedan, I can definitely see how it has become Proton’s best-selling model.

The review unit I tested is the range-topping Premium S model, which retails at RM44,800. For that kind of money, it has some nice creature comforts, including keyless entry, push start button, semi-leather seats, red accents on the air-cond vents, a new 7-inch infotainment screen with iOS and Android mirroring, front bumper skirts, side skirts, as well as 15-inch alloy wheels.

Standard equipment across the range of the new Saga include two airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), hill hold assist, and the familiar 1.3L four-cylinder engine that outputs 95PS and 120Nm of torque. It’s worth noting that the Saga I’m testing here comes with a Hyundai-sourced four-speed automatic, and not the (
reportedly
) new four-speed automatic gearbox provided by Aisin.


Genshin Impact 3.8 Arrives 5 July – New Outfits For Klee & Kaeya, Fontaine Previewed

Genshin Impact 3.8 is set to arrive in the next couple of weeks on 5 July. Not only will Klee and Kaeya get new outfits in the version update, Eula is
finally
 getting a rerun banner too. The last time her event wish was available was
back in November 2021
.

Besides that, Hoyoverse also gave us a sneak peek at the next nation coming to Genshin Impact, Fontaine. It’s called the Nation of Justice, and it even has underwater areas that can be explored by players. If you haven’t guessed it already, Fontaine is the Hydro nation, so expect to meet the Hydro Archon once the region is available in the game.

Okay, let’s get back to the new outfits that Klee and Kaeya are set to receive in the Version 3.8 update of Genshin Impact. Klee’s outfit would have to be purchased from the in-game store, while Kaeya’s outfit can be unlocked by exploring the new Veluriyam Mirage area.

Speaking of which, four summer special events and attractions can be found at Veluriyam Mirage. Aside from the aforementioned Kaeya outfit, players can get Layla for free as well by completing these events and attractions. Oh, it’s worth noting that Kaeya will finally get his Hangout Event in Version 3.8 too.

Genshin Impact 3.8 will go live on 5 July. Eula and Klee’s event wishes will be offered first once the update is available, followed by Sangonomiya Kokomi’s and Wanderer’s rerun banners in the second phase at a later date.


Genshin Impact x Pizza Hut Collab Comes to Malaysia 5 July With Yelan, Ningguang, Xiangling

It appears the
Genshin Impact
 x Pizza Hut collaboration is also coming to Malaysia! Initially announced for China and Japan, the event will take place from 5 July to 15 August locally, offering various merchandise of three Genshin Impact characters: Yelan, Ningguang, and Xiangling.

The collaboration sees the introduction of Pizza Hut’s new Melts meal set, which will be bundled with the aforementioned Genshin Impact merchandise. Between 5 to 18 July, Ningguang’s merchandise will be offered first, followed by Yelan’s from 19 July to 1 August.

As for Xiangling, her merchandise will be up for grabs between 2 to 15 August.

Two different Pizza Hut MyBox Melts combo sets will be offered to get these Genshin Impact merchandise. The RM27.90 Standard Meal offers a photocard and sticker pack, while the Premium Meal set adds on a notebook for RM47.90.

Of course, three Pizza Hut flagship outlets will be adorned with Genshin Impact decorations too as part of this collaboration. Fan events will also be held at these locations, starting with the Sunway Pyramid branch (8 July), Queensbay Mall in Penang (15 July), and Midvalley Southkey in Johor Bahru (22 July).

There is a RM60 entrance fee to the Genshin Impact fan events, which includes a RM47.90 MyBox Melts Premium Meal, a limited edition merchandise, as well as an in-game inspired beverage. Attendees can also meet and greet cosplayers at the events, not to mention the chance to win exclusive prizes by participating in activities.

If you’re keen to attend the Genshin Impact x Pizza Hut fan event, you can purchase an entrance ticket from 30 June onwards through the Pizza Hut WhatsApp number at 0167552525.


The Password Game Is Incredibly Frustrating (And Addictive)

I haven’t played a browser game quite as frustrating (and addictive) as
The Password Game
. As its name suggests, the objective is to create a password that adheres to certain “rules” that will appear as you progress through the surprisingly interactive game.

Developed by one
Neal Agarwal
, The Password Game starts off with relatively simple rules, such as creating a password with a minimum of five characters with a number included. Once you got far enough, you’re even required to include today’s Wordle answer in the password!

No two “playthroughs” are the same either: some questions change every time you attempt the game. It’s also worth noting that you can actually lose in The Password Game, believe it or not. Without spoiling the surprise, let’s just say there are some…unique mechanisms that will end the game.

If you want to try out The Password Game for yourself, you can do so
here
. The furthest I got to is Rule 32, and at this point, the game gets quite a bit more complicated. All in all, I highly recommend the game for those who want a brain teaser that gets increasingly more challenging.


Oppo Reno 10 Series Launching in Malaysia 6 July – Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Telephoto Cameras

Oppo is gearing up to unveil its latest premium mid-range phones under the Reno series in Malaysia very soon. The local launch of the Oppo Reno 10 series is set for 6 July next week, and it looks like the new lineup will be made up of three different devices.

The availability of the devices are
confirmed by Oppo Malaysia itself
. The
official product page
 of the Reno 10 series has all three devices outlined too, which includes the Reno 10, Reno 10 Pro, and the range-topping Reno 10 Pro+.

Unfortunately, the specifications of the three devices have not been revealed yet, though some key hardware are detailed. The Reno 10 Pro+, for example, features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and a 64MP telephoto camera. Even the standard Reno 10 and Reno 10 Pro are packed with a 32MP telephoto shooter.

The Oppo Reno 10 series will be launched in Malaysia next week on 6 July; we’ll find out then the full specifications of the three phones along with their retail prices. Given that the Reno series are touted as premium offerings, expect them to be priced as such.


29 June – 5 July Fuel Price: RON 97 Remains at RM3.37 Per Litre

Another week, another fuel price update. As usual, there’s no price change to RON 97 this week, and the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.37 per litre for the next seven days. RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 29 June to 5 July next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Honor 90 With 200MP Camera Coming to Malaysia Soon

A new Honor phone is coming to Malaysia, and it’s a premium mid-range offering. Enter the Honor 90, which features a triple camera system headlined by a 200MP sensor, not to mention a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition chipset which features higher clock speeds.

For the Malaysian market, we were told that only one variant of the Honor 90 will be available here. It’s packed with a generous 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage, and three colours options are set to be offered locally: Peacock Blue, Emerald Green, and Diamond Silver.

One of the best features of the Honor 90 has to be its triple camera system. The primary shooter is a 200MP unit, and it’s complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP depth sensor. While the phone doesn’t offer a telephoto camera, you don’t often see a 200MP primary camera in this segment.

Other specifications of the Honor 90 include the aforementioned Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition – it has peak CPU speeds of up to 2.5GHz – a 6.7-inch 2664 x 1200 dual-curve OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging.

Although we have confirmation that the Honor 90 will be coming to Malaysia, it remains to be seen exactly when it will debut here. Nonetheless, we’ll be sure to keep a close eye on the local availability of the phone, along with the Malaysian pricing of the premium mid-ranger.


Honda WR-V Launching in Malaysia 13 July – Public Previews in Klang Valley This Weekend

As expected
, the Honda WR-V is launching in Malaysia next month! The Japanese carmaker’s first small SUV will make its debut here on 13 July, and public previews of the WR-V will take place in Klang Valley from today (30 June) to 2 July.

The first preview of the WR-V took place between 16 to 18 June in the southern region; more specifically, Seremban, Johor Bahru, and Pontian. This is followed by the northern region (23 – 25 June), the central region this weekend (30 June – 2 July), and finally, the east coast from 7 to 9 July next week.

Once the public previews have concluded, the compact SUV will be officially launched here the following week on 13 July.

Aside from the WR-V’s public preview, several key specifications of the SUV have been revealed too. It’s said to come with a 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque paired to a CVT, support for the Honda Connect telematics system, 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels (for the RS model), Honda LaneWatch, and even Honda Sensing.

It’s worth noting that the WR-V will be getting a rather complete Honda Sensing advanced driver assistance systems. These include Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

The Honda WR-V is now available for booking in Malaysia at all 101 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking of the SUV online
here
, or through the HondaTouch app as well – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.

Of course, Malaysian pricing and variants of the WR-V will be revealed come 13 July at the SUV’s local launch.


Final Fantasy XVI Reportedly Overheating PS5 (Including Mine)

Final Fantasy XVI is now available (exclusively) on the PS5, and since the game’s launch
last week
, plenty of players have gotten their hands on it. And with that, some players are also reporting that the game is overheating their consoles – I myself have encountered this issue with my PS5.

I was in a boss fight against Morbol – as shown below – when a prompt for a quick time event popped up. As I was reading the on-screen instructions, an overheat warning came up that ended up shutting down my PS5 abruptly. I have never seen the warning screen up until then, so needless to say, I was quite shocked.

Quite a number of other players have
reported similar issues
, with some getting the overheat warning
in the same Morbol boss fight
 as I did. My PS5 did not have any major dust build-up either – I quickly disassembled it to make sure of this – and it’s placed vertically with plenty of space around it for optimal air flow.

Granted, I did
purchase my PS5 on launch day
 back in December 2020, though a player reported that a brand new unit
got the same overheat warning too
 while playing Final Fantasy XVI. It’s worth noting that the producer of FFXVI, Yoshida Naoki, is
aware of this issue
 too, and he said that both Square Enix and SIE are “working hard to discover the cause.”

While this issue doesn’t seem to be particularly widespread – my colleague did not get this warning at all throughout his review process – it still looks to affect a fair number of players. Hopefully, this issue will be addressed in the near future.


Spy Shot: Proton S50 Spotted in Subang Jaya – Q4 2023 Launch Rumoured

Proton’s upcoming sedan, the Proton S50, has been spotted on Malaysian roads yet again. Based on the Geely Emgrand, the test mule is a right-hand drive unit complete with a camera on the windscreen. This suggests that the upcoming sedan could feature ADAS capable of level 2 autonomous driving.

These images
 were taken by one Putra Azran around Subang Jaya. Aside from the camera that’s visible at the top of the S50’s windscreen, we can see a glimpse of the Infinite Weave grille as well, suggesting that local development of the sedan has progressed quite a bit. We also get a pretty good look at the design of the alloy wheels.

The S50 is widely speculated to be a replacement of the Proton Preve. If it follows the same dimensions as the model it’s based on (the Emgrand), it will measure 4,638mm long, 1,820mm wide, and 1,460mm tall. That makes it 95mm longer and 34mm wider than the Preve, assuming Proton retains the same dimensions for the localised model.

Under the hood, the Emgrand is powered by a 1.5L NA engine (114PS/147 Nm) in China, though it’s possible the S50, once localised for the Malaysian market, will feature a 1.5L TGDi engine instead. After all,
Proton foreshadowed that two of its new models
 will feature the 1.5L turbocharged engine that offers up to 177PS and 255Nm of torque.

Given that the 1.5L TGDi engine is used for the X90 – though it’s also paired to a mild hybrid system for higher output – the S50 is a good candidate for the turbo mill. It’s worth noting that the sedan shares the same B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) as the
Proton X50
 too, so it could use the engine without issue.

The Geely Emgrand

Rumours are still pointing to a Q4 2023 introduction for the Proton S50. Once the sedan makes its debut here, it will be the first Geely-based model from the national carmaker that is not an SUV. This is certainly an exciting proposition, in our opinion, as we haven’t seen a properly premium sedan from Proton for quite some time now.


Unboxing MTG The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Set Booster (And Merch!)

Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, made its tabletop debut just last week. As its name suggests, the set features iconic characters and items from the LOTR franchise, including a serialised one of one copy of The One Ring that is going for upwards of
2 million euro
, though this card can only be opened in Collector Boosters.

Anyway, in conjunction with the release of MTG LOTR, Wizards of the Coast sent us a few products from the set, including a box of Set Boosters and several merchandise that can be obtained at the
MTG Welcome Party
 this weekend. If you’re interested to get these products, here’s our unboxing!

Let’s start with the Set Boosters. Unlike Draft Boosters, Set Boosters are meant to be more “exciting” to crack open. This is probably why it is popular among folks who just enjoy opening booster packs instead of using them for Limited play, such as Draft or Sealed.

What makes an MTG Set Booster more exciting to open is the structure of the 14-card pack for this LOTR set. 12 of them are guaranteed Magic cards, while the other two are an art card and a token/ad card; the latter has a chance to be replaced with a card from “The List.”

Typically, when you crack open a Set Booster, the first card you’ll see is an art card followed by a land card. But this have changed since the introduction of
Phyrexia: All Will Be One
. Depending on how you open a pack of Set Booster now, you may see the art card first, but the cards now face the
other
 side with some changes to the order. Technically, the art card is now the “last” card in the pack.

So the order of a LOTR Set Booster looks like this: a token/ad card; a guaranteed foil card; the set’s rare or mythic rare card; two wildcards; a common or uncommon borderless scene or showcase Ring card; three uncommon and three common cards; a basic or full-art Middle-earth map land card; and an art card.

There are a few interesting things to take note of. The guaranteed foil card, for example, can be of any rarity, including mythic rare. On top of that, the two wildcard slots can be of any rarity as well, so it’s possible you can get as many as
four
 rare or mythic rare cards in an MTG LOTR Set Booster.

It’s worth noting that for The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, a Realms and Relics Box Topper card is bundled with a box of Set, Draft, and Collector Boosters. 30 different cards can be opened from this Box Topper, and this is the only place where “traditional foil versions of Realms and Relics cards can be found,” as Wizards puts it.

Also unique to the MTG LOTR set is the aforementioned showcase Ring treatment and full-art Middle-earth map land card. The former is a Booster Fun treatment applied to 30 legendary LOTR characters who were influenced by the power of the Ring throughout the lore of the franchise.

As for the full-art Middle-earth map land card – which looks fantastic, in our opinion – it takes inspiration from the maps of LOTR. There are a total of 10 different arts (two for each mana colour in MTG) featuring the lands of Middle-earth.

As mentioned, we also received some MTG LOTR merchandise. These include MTG pins, a tote bag, and even a rather nice wooden tray for the new The Ring Tempts You mechanic in the LOTR set. All of these items can be obtained by participating at the MTG Welcome Party happening this weekend from 1 to 2 July at Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya

If you’re keen to check out Magic: The Gathering’s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, give your
nearest game store
 a visit. Alternatively, you can join the MTG Welcome Party this weekend at Paradigm Mall.


MTG LOTR 1/1 The One Ring Card Has Been Found – Offer Starts at $1 Million

Magic: The Gathering’s rarest card yet, The One Ring, has been found by a lucky individual in Canada. The highly sought-after card is from MTG’s latest The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, and only one copy of the serialised card has been printed, which is why it is such a coveted card.

Grading company PSA posted an image of
The One Ring card
 just a couple of days ago with its second highest grading of “Mint 9.” The owner of the card prefers to remain anonymous (understandably), though the individual is currently accepting offers in excess of $1 million (about RM4.6 million)
as per Polygon
 through an attorney at
[email protected]
.

Previously, a game store in Spain was offering a
whopping 2 million euro
 for The One Ring card, which comes up to approximately RM10.2 million. Now that the card has been pulled, it remains to be seen if the store will make good on its offer to the owner of the elusive card.

Once The One Ring has been sold, it is set to be Magic: The Gathering’s most expensive card yet. It makes sense, given the sheer rarity of the card: it has an astonishing low pull rate of less than 0.00003% from the English version of the MTG LOTR Collector Boosters.


Signify Launches Philips Ultra Efficient LED Lights in Malaysia

Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, just launched a range of products under the Philips Ultra Efficient LED series here in Malaysia. As its name suggests, these lighting products promise lower power consumption and longer lifespan.

Three different LED lighting products are sold under the Philips Ultra Efficient LED range: bulbs, tubes, and downlights. These LED lights are said to consume 60% less energy while also offering up to 50,000 hours of use, which is said to be 3.5x the lifespan of standard LED lightings.

Power consumption of the Philips Ultra Efficient LED light

Compared to a conventional lighting

Also launched alongside these LED lightings are a number of other products, including the Philips Solar Lighting and WiZ Smart Lighting series. The former doesn’t require any electricity to operate (of course), while the WiZ lights can be controlled through WiFi.

According to Signify, all of the products launched today are now available in Malaysia from Philips authorised retailers. Alternatively, they can also be purchased online through Shopee and Lazada.


Compact Acer Predator Triton 14 Now in Malaysia From RM7,599 – Up to RTX 4070

Acer’s compact gaming laptop, the Acer Predator Triton 14, has just been launched in Malaysia. Sporting a 18.9mm slim chassis (at its thinnest point) in a 14-inch form factor, it’s quite a portable gaming machine with respectable performance under the hood.

Two variants of the Predator Triton 14 are offered in Malaysia. The base model with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and 16GB of RAM retails at RM7,599, while the higher-end RTX 4070 configuration with 32GB of RAM goes for a cool RM8,999.

Beyond the different GPU and RAM configuration, both variants of the Triton 14 share the same hardware. These include an Intel Core i7-13700H processor, a 14-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate, a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, and Windows 11 Home out of the box.

The Acer Predator Triton 14 is now available in Malaysia from RM7,599. Those who purchase the gaming laptop by 16 July from selected retailers (listed below) will even get a Nitro VG270 E gaming monitor worth RM549 for free, alongside a one-year subscription to Trend Micro Antivirus worth RM150.


Tesla Comes to Malaysia 20 July – Local Sales Happening Soon?

Tesla Malaysia’s Instagram account
just went live
, and we have learnt that the carmaker is set to enter our local market later this month on 20 July. It was confirmed
just four months ago
 that Tesla will be coming to Malaysia, so it looks like the brand is establishing its presence here quite rapidly.

The carmaker
started recruiting in Malaysia
 not too long ago, and it even had a walk-in recruitment day last month. It was previously revealed that Tesla will be opening a head office in Malaysia too, along with Tesla experience and service centres. Naturally, the company will develop a Supercharger network locally as well, which will bolster the availability of EV chargers throughout the country.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tesla Malaysia Official Account (@teslamotorsmys)

If Tesla continues at this pace, it’s entirely possible the carmaker will start offering its cars here by the end of the year. It remains to be seen which of its models will be sold here, but given that the Model 3 and Model Y are offered in other ASEAN markets (including Singapore and Thailand), it’s likely we’ll get these two models too.

Of course, this is just an educated guess on our part. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye for any relevant development on Tesla’s activities in Malaysia, and expect more details to be revealed come 20 July in the next couple of weeks.


Genshin Impact Teases Freminet, Lynette, Lyney, And Other Fontaine Characters in New Overture Teaser

Hoyoverse is certainly building up excitement for
Genshin Impact
‘s new Fontaine area, which is expected to be released after the
Version 3.8 update
. Not only did it drop a new teaser video dubbed Overture, the developer is also teasing new characters coming to the game, including Freminent, Lynette, and Lyney.

Chances are, these characters will be playable in the next update for Genshin Impact, which is likely to be Version 4.0. After all, every character teased by Hoyoverse are usually playable in the next version update of the game, so there’s no reason the same wouldn’t apply to Freminet, Lynette, and Lyney.

From left: Lynette, Freminet, Lyney

Beyond the three characters, the Overture teaser video also shows off a slew of new characters that are set to be introduced in Genshin Impact. There’s Furina, Neuvillette, Wriothesley, and even “The Knave” Arlecchino, a Fatui Harbinger. It’s likely she will be an antagonist in the Fontaine storyline.

At the moment, expect Freminet, Lynette, and Lyney to be playable once Genshin Impact 4.0 is here, which should be released after the Version 3.8 update. It is dropping
this Wednesday on 5 July
 alongside Klee’s and Kaeya’s new outfits.


Proton Receives RM140 Million Investment From Thai-Based AAPICO

Proton’s subsidiary, Advance Vehicle Engineering Global Sdn Bhd, is entering a joint venture (JV) with AAPICO Hitech PCL based in Thailand. AAPICO is set to receive a 60% stake in the former, which will see an investment of RM140 million.

The JV was formalised just last week on 26 June, and Advance Vehicle will change its name to Aapico Avee Sdn Bhd as part of the agreement. AAPICO will also make an initial investment of RM40 million into the facility to produce dies, jigs, hot-stamping parts, body assembled parts, and chassis components with Proton.

This will be followed by an additional investment of RM100 million sometime in 2024 for plant extensions and acquisition of new machinery. “Bringing its vast experience and expertise, AAPICO will be managing operations and introducing new technology applications to produce better quality parts, improve production and cost efficiency,” according to a joint statement by both parties.

“The joint venture with AAPICO will benefit Proton by helping to provide the company better cost optimisation, efficiency, and quality in the production of our cars,” said the CEO of Proton, Li Chunrong. “As our volume increases in tandem with our model introduction plans, we will continue to work to ensure our products are on par with the competition in terms of features and quality while continuing to offer outstanding safety from the use of technologies such as hot press forming,” he added.


Honkai: Star Rail Teases Imbibitor Lunae – Playable in Version 1.3 Update?

A new character is set to arrive in
Honkai: Star Rail
 very soon. Hoyoverse just dropped a teaser for Imbibitor Lunae, and it’s likely that the character will be playable in Version 1.3 of the game. After all, this is the same strategy Hoyoverse uses for
Genshin Impact
.

Not much has been revealed for Imbibitor Lunae yet, aside from the fact that he is a 5-star Imaginary character that walks the Path of the Destruction. Like other Destruction characters, there’s a good chance he will be able to deal a high amount of damage with good survivability.

It’s also worth noting that Imbibitor Lunae bears a striking resemblance to Dan Heng, who is a 4-star Wind character under the Path of The Hunt. It will be interesting to see how the two characters are linked to each other, or if Imbibitor Lunae is Dan Heng’s alternate form.

Nonetheless, we might learn more about Imbibitor Lunae on 8 July this Saturday on the
Honkai: Star Rail livestream
 for the Version 1.2 update, which looks to feature both
Kafka and Blade
. We reckon the two characters – including Luka – will be playable in Star Rail 1.2.