RM1,500 Mechanical Keyboard Assembly – NovelKeys NK65 & C3 Tangerine V2

There are plenty of mechanical keyboards in the market now, but to some folks, these pre-built keyboards leave much to be desired. To achieve the best typing experience, many turn to building a custom mechanical keyboard to suit their needs. This piqued my interest: how much better can these “bespoke” keyboards be?

To find out just what the fuss is all about, I decided to get the parts necessary to build my own custom mechanical keyboard. Before I know it, I already spent (approximately) RM1,500 in this endeavour. Is it worth spending that much money on “just” a keyboard? After putting together my own board, it’s a resounding yes.

First, let’s break down the parts that I purchased. The first thing I got is the
NovelKeys NK65 v2 Aluminium Edition
, a 65% keyboard with a hotswap PCB. It retails for $185, which comes up to about RM765. However, to get it shipped to me here in Malaysia, I paid an additional RM150. Why did it cost so much? Well, it’s a
heavy
 keyboard (it weighs around 1.2kg) made out of solid aluminium.

Anyway, that brings the cost to around RM900. Since the NK65 comes with an aluminium case, plate, and a hotswap PCB, all I need are switches and a keycap set to complete my build. For the switch, I got the C3 Tangerine V2 linear switches from a local retailer,
Keys
. Even though I only need exactly 68 switches to populate the NK65, I got 80 of them…just to be safe. Combined with shipping cost, I paid a total of RM250 for the Tangerine V2.

Next, I needed to get a keycap set. I actually joined the group buy for the
GMK MiTo Laser set on Drop
, but that will only be shipped later this year in December. Of course, being the impatient person that I am, I got the
Drop Skylight keycap set
 in the meantime, which retails at $45 (approximately RM185). To get it shipped to Malaysia, it cost me a total of about RM250.

So that brings up my total expenditure to RM1,400; where’s the other RM100? Enter the Deskeys switch films and Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 lube. The switch films are to be installed in the Tangerine V2 switches to make them quieter and reduce stem wobble for a more “stable” typing experience, while the lube – also for the switches – will make them even quieter and smoother.

Besides that, I can also use the lube to tune the stabilisers found in longer keys like the shift, enter, and spacebar. By lubing them (properly), any wire rattle can be eliminated, further improving the typing experience.

It took me almost a month to secure all of these parts, which is actually quite normal in this hobby. Certain items, such as the NK65 and Tangerine V2 switch, sell out
very fast
the moment they are in stock. Basically, I needed some careful planning, a bit of luck, and a lot of patience to grab them. Now then, let’s get to the assembly.

Thanks to the hotswap PCB of the NK65, all I needed to do was to insert the Tangerine V2 switches into the appropriate slot, and…that’s it. Absolutely no soldering is required to make the switch work, which is the beauty of hotswap boards. Once I’ve completed this, all that’s left is to install the keycaps.

And that’s it. I’ve got a working keyboard. Doesn’t sound very hard, does it?

But assembling the parts was really only half of the work. Completely stock, I thought my custom keyboard was already good enough, but there’s actually still a lot of room for improvement. In the video of my build above, I haven’t lubed or filmed the switches yet, and the stabilisers were not tuned at all.

Fast forward to today, I’ve done all of that, and I’m
amazed
how much better the keyboard is now. In fact, it feels and sounds like a completely different keyboard from the video above; we’ll do another sound test in a separate video soon to show just how much of a difference it is.

To bring up the question again: is it worth it to spend so much money on a custom mechanical keyboard, and
then
 go through the trouble of assembling, lubing, and tuning it? To me, it absolutely is. In my line of work, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer typing away, and doing that with a personalised, refined keyboard that I spent so much effort on feels…very rewarding.

Plus, no pre-built keyboard offers the level of customisability I got with this keyboard. I can choose the exact design I want, the keycap set I like, and perhaps most importantly,
a ton
 of switch options to choose from; switches that are not offered on off-the-shelf keyboards. This reason alone makes it worthwhile to build a custom mechanical keyboard.

Plus, it doesn’t have to cost as much as it did for me to start getting into this hobby.
NovelKeys’ NK65 Milkshake Edition
, for one, offers exactly what you need to get started. A hotswap PCB, one of the best linear switches in the market, and a set of dye-sublimated PBT keycaps
for only $230
 (around RM945) – shipping cost to Malaysia included.

If you want the best typing experience, customisability, and access to a slew of switch options, consider getting into the custom mechanical keyboard scene. It takes quite a bit of work and research, but once you start typing on the finished product, it’ll be well worth it.


NovelKeys NK65 Milkshake Edition Now Available for Pre-Order

If you’re thinking of
getting into the custom mechanical keyboard scene
 – and you’re not quite sure where to start – consider this one right here: the NovelKeys NK65 Milkshake Edition. It’s the perfect board for those who are new to the hobby, and it’s
finally available for pre-order now
.

You can pre-order the NK65 from four different proxies, and it’s best to get the keyboard from the proxy closest to your location even if they’re priced differently on each site. These proxies are
zFrontier
(Asia),
Oblotzky Industries
 (Europe),
DailyClack
(Australia), and
NovelKeys
itself for the US market.

If you’re here in Malaysia, pre-ordering the NK65 from zFrontier is the best option. Sure, it costs $230 (about RM945) to get it from there – which is $40 more than getting it directly from NovelKeys – but keep in mind that zFrontier is including shipping cost in the price. Plus, zFrontier is the Asian proxy, so shipping time to Malaysia will be better than getting it from the other three proxies.

What makes the NK65 such an attractive keyboard, especially for those who are new to the hobby, is the fact that it’s a completely assembled keyboard with neat features. It has a hotswap PCB with per key RGB lighting, NovelKeys’ own Silk Yellow linear switches (factory lubed with the popular Krytox 205g0), and dye-sublimated PBT keycaps in Cherry profile.

If you’d like to learn more about the NovelKeys NK65 Milkshake Edition,
click here
. Pre-order for the keyboard will run until 3 October, and do note that it will only start shipping sometime in February or March 2021. It’s a bit of a long wait, but the NK65 is easily one of the best keyboards for beginners.


Xiaomi Mi 10T & Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition Appear in SIRIM

This is a bit of a surprise: two intriguing smartphones have just appeared in SIRIM. Based on the model number of the two devices, we believe they are the Xiaomi Mi 10T and
Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition
 – two smartphones that have not been announced yet.

Let’s start with the unannounced Xiaomi device. Registered just today under Xiaomi Malaysia with the model number M2007J3SY, this smartphone is said to belong to the new Mi 10T series. It’s expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, and to top it off, it is widely believed to be
sporting a fast 144Hz screen
.

As for the Samsung device, it’s also registered under Samsung Malaysia just today with the model number SM-G781B. A quick Google search shows that this is very likely the upcoming Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, which is set to be introduced
later this week on 23 September
.

Based on the SIRIM listing, the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition comes with 5G connectivity, which lines up with leaked specifications of the more budget-friendly flagship smartphone. Other rumoured specifications of this device include a 120Hz screen, a triple camera system, and four distinct colours: dark blue, mint green, red, and pink.

Now that the Xiaomi Mi 10T and Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition have appeared in SIRIM, it’s only a matter of time before we hear more about the local availability of these two smartphones. This is especially true of the S20 Fan Edition, which is expected to be be unveiled
this Wednesday at 10PM
.


Honda Civic & BR-V Now Available in Platinum White Pearl; RM273 Surcharge

Honda just announced a new colour option for two of its models: the popular
Honda Civic
 C-segment sedan and the
Honda BR-V
 seven-seater MPV. This new paint job is Platinum White Pearl, which is actually replacing the White Orchid Pearl colour.

First introduced on the Honda Odyssey and
10th generation Honda Accord
, the Platinum White Pearl colour is said to be well-received by Honda customers. In fact, 33% of Accord buyers went with this colour option, which does show the popularity of the paint job.

“The glossy finish of the new Platinum White Pearl not only highlights the elegant look of the cars, it also accentuates the bodyline for a sleek and smooth exterior,” said the managing director and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Toichi Ishiyama.

Honda also took the opportunity to highlight that both the Civic and BR-V are leading their respective segments “with substantial contribution to the total Honda Malaysia’s overall sales.” According to Honda Malaysia’s last report, as many as
2,900 units of the C-segment sedan have been delivered
 as of June 2020.

As usual, opting for the new Platinum White Pearl colour for the Civic or BR-V entails a RM272.73 surcharge. The new colour option is now available for the Civic, while the BR-V will be offered in this shade sometime in November.


Realme Narzo 20 Series Official With Helio G95 & 6,000mAh Battery

The Realme Narzo series made its debut in India, and it is made up of three different models. There’s the entry-level Narzo 20A, the standard Narzo 20, as well as the range-topping Narzo 20 Pro. These devices sit at different price points to meet the budget of different consumers.

Out of the three phones, the Realme Narzo 20 Pro is naturally the most exciting one in terms of hardware. This smartphone is powered

by a MediaTek Helio G95 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM. It also comes with a 6.5-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 90Hz refresh rate.

Besides that, the Narzo 20 Pro also comes with a 4,500mAh battery, up to 128GB of storage, and a quad camera system made up of a 48MP f/1.8 primary shooter, an 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide lens, a 2MP f/2.4 macro shooter, as well as a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor.

And then there’s the Narzo 20, a slightly scaled-down version of the Pro. Even though it comes with a similar 6.5-inch screen, the resolution is lowered to 720p; it’s also a more conventional 60Hz panel. Powering this phone, on the other hand, is a Helio G85 SoC with up to 4GB of RAM.

Other specifications of the Narzo 20 include a generous 6000mAh battery and a triple camera system, which consists of a 48MP f/1.8 primary shooter, an 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 macro shooter.

Last but definitely not least is the Narzo 20A. This is the only model from the series to feature a Qualcomm chipset, the Snapdragon 665. If you’re not a fan of the MediaTek chipsets powering the other two devices, this is the one to go for. It may be an older SoC, but it should be able to offer a relatively good level of performance.

Rounding out the specifications of the Narzo 20A include a 5,000mAh battery, up to 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, an 8MP selfie camera, as well as a triple camera configuration (12MP f/1.8 primary + 2MP f/2.4 monochrome + 2MP f/2.4  “retro lens”).

The Realme Narzo 20 series will hit store shelves in India on 30 September. The entry-level Narzo 20A is priced from 8,499 Indian rupee (about RM480), while the standard Narzo 20 starts at 10,499 rupee (about RM595). The range-topping Narzo 20 Pro, on the other hand, retails from 14,999 rupee (about RM850).


Proton X50 “Tuned for Malaysian Roads,” But Without Proton Ride & Handling

Even though the Proton X50 is already available for booking now, there are still quite a number of details regarding the B-segment SUV that have not been revealed yet –
including its pricing
. Nonetheless, in a closed-door preview event for the X50, the national carmaker did share more details: the new model is supposedly “tuned for Malaysian roads.”

According to Proton, over 75,000 man hours of testing were poured into the X50, with over 1.9 million km of local road testing conducted to tune the SUV for our roads. Evidently, a lot of work went into the local development of the X50, which is actually still ongoing,
according to Paul Tan
.

On top of that, Proton also confirmed with Paul Tan that the X50 – even though it’s tuned for our roads – doesn’t exactly come with the carmaker’s famed ride and handling. Instead, the tuning involves minor adjustments, just like how it was with the
CKD version of the Proton X70
.

Of course, it would’ve been great if the X50 came with Proton’s ride and handling, but it’s still undeniably a very complete B-segment SUV, especially the
range-topping Flagship model
. It’s the only variant to get the 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder engine, which outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque, along with an Advanced Driver Assistance System that includes parking assist and adaptive cruise control.

The Proton X50 is available for booking right now for only RM500. It remains to be seen exactly when the official launch for the highly anticipated B-segment SUV will take place, though there’s a good chance it will happen next month in October.


Tesla Model S Plaid Revealed: 0-96 km/h in Under 2 Seconds, 1,100+ hp, $139,990 Price Tag

Tesla just unveiled the “Plaid” version of the Model S, the fastest model of the electric sedan yet. Thanks to its three electric motors, the Plaid has a combined horsepower of over 1,100, allowing the car to sprint from zero to 96km/h in under two seconds. In comparison, the Ludicrous variant of the Model S can “only” do the same sprint in 2.3 seconds.

Besides that, the Plaid Model S also has a top speed of 200mph, which is about 322km/h. Needless to say, it’s a very fast car with equally fast acceleration. That’s not the only impressive thing about the Plaid; according to Tesla, this model has a range of up to a whopping 520 miles (around 835km).

To show just how fast the Plaid Model S is, Tesla put it through the Laguna Sega raceway, where it managed to complete a lap in only 1 minute and 30.3 seconds. Compared to the original run of the prototype Plaid – seen in the video above – it’s a six-second improvement.

Of course, all of these do not come cheap: the Plaid Model S retails from $139,990 in the US, which comes up to about RM580,000. Deliveries for the car, on the other hand, will only take place in late 2021 next year; quite some time away.

The only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid
— Tesla (@Tesla)
September 23, 2020

The Tesla Model S Plaid is without a doubt a very impressive electric car. It’ll be interesting to see if the company will offer the Plaid powertrain in its other models.


Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Official; Malaysian Market Getting Snapdragon 865 Version for RM3,399

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is official, and as expected, this “Fan Edition” is a (slightly) more affordable take on the Korean company’s flagship S20 series. Even though it sits at a lower price point, the S20 FE actually retains quite a bit of its higher-end siblings’ hardware, including a fast 120Hz screen and 5G connectivity.

Speaking of 5G support, only the 5G version of the Galaxy S20 FE will be offered in Malaysia. This means that we are getting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 version of the flagship smartphone; great news for those who aren’t fans of the Exynos 990. If you’re wondering, yes, there is still an Exynos 990 variant of the new device, but it only supports 4G networks.

Its processor aside, the Galaxy S20 FE also features a 6.5-inch 2400 x 1080 Super AMOLED display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Although it is now sporting only a Full HD screen with a conventional flat screen instead of a curved panel, at least the high refresh rate is retained. It’s a far more important feature for a more pleasant user experience.

In the camera department, the Galaxy S20 FE comes with a triple camera system. It’s made up of a 12MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. Naturally, this camera configuration isn’t quite as sophisticated as the other S20 smartphones, but given Samsung’s track record when it comes to photography, we’re confident the S20 FE will still be able to capture great-looking shots.

Another area where this phone sacrifices to lower its asking price is the build material. Just like the
Galaxy Note 20
, the S20 FE has a polycarbonate (read: plastic) back panel. Obviously, this means it wouldn’t feel quite as premium, but if you plan to slap a case on the phone anyway, this is a non-issue.

Other specifications of the Galaxy S20 FE include a 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage – it supports microSD cards up to 1TB – a generous 4,500mAh battery, an optical fingerprint sensor under the screen, as well as an IP68 rating.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will be available for pre-order in Malaysia tomorrow (24 September) at 10AM for RM3,399
here
 until 8 October. It’s worth noting that this is actually RM100 more than the
launch price of the standard S20
, though you do get a Snapdragon 865 chip and 5G support with the S20 FE – features not found on the S20.


Realme 7 & Realme 7 Pro Land in Malaysia; Starts at RM1,299

The Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro have just been launched in Malaysia. If you’re in the market for a mid-range smartphone with support for very fast charging, consider these two new offerings, though it’s worth noting that they don’t offer the best value for money in this segment.

Of course, the Realme 7 Pro – as its name suggests – is the higher-end phone of the two. Only a single variant of the device is available in Malaysia, which comes with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for RM1,499. As for the more affordable Realme 7, it comes with the same storage and RAM capacities for RM1,299.

Compared to other mid-range smartphones – especially the
Poco X3 NFC
 – the Realme 7 Pro and the standard Realme 7 don’t offer particularly good value for money at this price range. That being said, these two phones do have their own unique selling points, especially with the Pro model’s fast 65W charging rate.

According to Realme, this charging rate allows the Realme 7 Pro’s generous 4,500mAh battery to be fully charged from completely empty in only 34 minutes. Not many smartphones – especially in this segment – can do the same, which gives the phone a unique edge.

Other specifications of the Realme 7 Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset, a 6.4-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, a quad camera system (64MP f/1.8 primary + 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide angle + 2MP f/2.4 macro + 2MP f/2.4 monochrome portrait), and a 32MP f/2.5 selfie camera.

As for the more affordable Realme 7, it’s touted by the company to be the first phone to ship with MediaTek’s Helio G95 processor. Realme added that the chip will be able to run games well, thanks to the ARM Mali-G76 GPU under the hood. Complementing the gaming performance of this phone is a 6.5-inch 2400 x 1800 IPS display with a 90Hz refresh rate.

Rounding out the hardware of the Realme 7 include the same quad camera system as the Pro model, a 16MP f/2.1 front-facing camera, a larger 5,000mAh battery – but with a more modest 35W charging rate – and a microSD card slot (just like the Pro version) for those who need even more storage space.

The Realme 7 will be available for pre-order from tomorrow onwards on 25 and 26 September; early birds will get a complimentary neck massager. Pre-orders for the Realme 7 Pro, on the other hand, is open from today until 2 October. A Realme Buds Q White Edition will be thrown in for free for those who pre-order the phone in this period.

Alternatively, you can also purchase the Realme 7 Pro
on 29 September at 12AM from Shopee
 to get a Realme Watch (worth RM299) for free.


Vivo V20 SE Costs RM1,199 in Malaysia – Snapdragon 665, AMOLED Screen, 4,100mAh Battery

Yet another mid-range smartphone has been launched today, the Vivo V20 SE. Sporting a modest set of hardware, the phone retails at RM1,199 here in Malaysia. Given what’s under the hood of the V20 SE, this is actually quite a steep price tag.

For that kind of money, the V20 SE features 128GB of storage with 8GB of RAM; this is the sole variant available locally. While that’s a decent amount of storage and RAM, this mid-ranger is only powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset; not a lot of value for the money there.

The Snapdragon 665 isn’t a bad processor per se, but at this price point, you can easily get a different phone with a newer, faster chip – the
Poco X3 NFC
 is a prime example.

Anyway, the V20 SE does have a number of interesting features. One of them is the 6.44-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED screen, which should offer vibrant colours, deep blacks, and good viewing angles. Aside from that, it also has a reasonably big 4,100mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging; it allows the phone to be charged up to 62% in 30 minutes.

Other specifications of the V20 SE include a triple camera system (48MP f/1.8 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 2MP f/2.4 depth), a 32MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, as well as two colour options: Gravity Black and Oxygen Blue.

The Vivo V20 SE is now available in Malaysia for RM1,199. Those who purchase the phone from today until 2 October will receive a complimentary mini speaker and car phone holder worth RM199.


Xiaomi Mi 10T Series Launching in Malaysia 6 October

The Xiaomi Mi 10T series is launching globally next week on 30 September. Set to be another range of premium smartphones, we just got confirmation that the new devices will be arriving here in Malaysia the following week on 6 October. This comes after we spotted the phone in SIRIM’s database
earlier this week
.

Not much has been revealed about the Mi 10T series, but according to leaks and rumours, it will be made up of at least two phones: the regular Mi 10T and the (logically) higher-end Mi 10T Pro. Both phones will supposedly support 5G networks as well, and one of them will ship with a new 5G-enabled Qualcomm chipset, which is likely the Snapdragon 750G SoC.

We're going to launch a new 5G smartphone this September and it will start from €2XX!
As a new member of our
#Mi10
 Series, it will be the first to feature an upcoming brand-new
@Qualcomm
 Snapdragon 7-Series 5G Mobile Platform. Amazing value for money to allow
#5GForEveryone
!
pic.twitter.com/yR3r0cEOmZ
— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi)
September 1, 2020

Aside from that, the Mi 10T Pro is said come with a fast 144Hz AMOLED screen too. If it does, it will be Xiaomi’s first smartphone to sport such a high refresh rate display. Granted, it’s not the first phone to feature a 144Hz panel – it’s been done by
Nubia
 and
Asus
 – but it will give the phone a nice hardware advantage over other flagship smartphones.

Other rumoured specifications of the Mi 10T Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, a quad camera system headlined by a 108MP sensor, as well as a very generous 5,000mAh battery. Basically, it’s set to be a flagship smartphone through and through.

The global launch for the Xiaomi Mi 10T series will be taking place next week on 30 September. It will then make its Malaysian debut the following week on 6 October.


Hyundai Kona to Cost RM115k to RM140k in Malaysia: 3 Variants, 1.6 T-GDI, October Launch

The B-segment SUV market in Malaysia is heating up quite a bit. Hot on the heels of the
Proton X50
 is the Hyundai Kona, which is currently available for public preview at Sunway Pyramid. We went there to check out the SUV for ourselves, and we got some interesting details.

For one, we got the Malaysian price range for the Kona. At the public preview, we were told that the B-segment SUV – CBU from South Korea – will retail from RM115k to RM140k locally. Three variants will be offered: 2.0 Standard, 2.0 Mid, and the range-topping 1.6 T-GDI High.

The Standard and Mid variants of the Kona are powered by a 2.0L naturally aspirated Nu MPI engine that outputs 149PS and 179Nm of torque, which is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. The highest-end T-GDI High trim, on the other hand, is equipped with a more powerful 1.6L direct-injected turbocharged engine that puts out 177PS and 265Nm of torque.

Unlike the first two models, the T-GDI High Kona features a more responsive seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Together with the 1.6L turbo engine, this model can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in only 7.7 seconds. In fact, this makes the Kona
even faster
 than the
Flagship Proton X50
, which takes 7.9 seconds to get to the same speed.

Speed isn’t the only thing that’s impressive about the range-topping Kona. Safety wise, the T-GDI model is packed with Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of active safety features. These include automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane keeping assist (LKA), adaptive cruise control, and even high beam assist. Naturally, the Standard and Mid models are not equipped with SmartSense.

Aside from that, the Standard Kona gets 17-inch wheels, six airbags, manual air-conditioning, and halogen lights. As for the Mid and High models, they come with 18-inch wheels, LED lights, automatic climate control, driver power seat, and a head-up display.

Standard equipment across all variants of the Kona include a seven-inch touchscreen head unit, six speakers, and support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

As for when the Malaysian launch of the Hyundai Kona is happening, we were told it’s likely to take place towards the end of next month in October. If you’d like to see the B-segment SUV for yourself, you can do so until this weekend (27 September) at Sunway Pyramid. You can also place a booking for the Kona
right here
.


2020 Honda City Features Honda Sensing Safety Suite; CKD Production Ongoing

As we approach the local launch of the 2020 Honda City, Honda Malaysia is sharing more details on the new B-segment sedan. Not only is CKD production of the City already happening, the Japanese carmaker also confirmed that the range-topping City RS i-MMD will feature the Honda Sensing safety suite.

Thanks to the addition of Honda Sensing, the City RS will be one of the safest sedans in its segment. The safety suite includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and even Auto High-Beam (AHB).

Yes, it’s quite an exhaustive list of safety features.

Aside from that, CKD production of the fifth generation City is currently ongoing as well, so there’s a good chance customers will be able to get the car as soon as it is officially launched. That means the City will be able to enjoy the
100% sales tax exemption
 introduced by the government for locally assembled CKD models.

To recap, four variants of the City will be offered in Malaysia, including the range-topping RS i-MMD hybrid variant. Unlike the other three models – which will be powered by a 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that churns out 121PS and 145Nm of torque – the RS’ powertrain can deliver 253Nm of torque, thanks to the hybrid’s electric motor.

The all-new fifth generation Honda City is set to be launched locally in Q4 2020, so we can expect the B-segment sedan to be officially introduced as early as next month in October. Booking for the City is now open as well – customers who have placed a booking will receive a RM1,000 service voucher with a one-year validity.


Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Quick Review: Worth RM5,199?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra brings some much needed upgrades to the Note series. Not only does it have an improved S Pen with added functionalities, it also comes with a more sophisticated camera system and a fast 120Hz screen. Basically, it’s an improvement in almost every way, just like how it was with the
Galaxy S20 Ultra
 and its respective predecessor.

But those improvements also entail a premium price tag – RM5,199, to be exact. For that kind of money, you are getting an excellent flagship smartphone, but whether or not it’s worth spending so much will depend on how indispensable the S Pen is to you.

What It Is

Display
6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (3088 x 1440), 120Hz
Chipset
Samsung Exynos 990 2.73GHz octa-core
GPU
Mali-G77 MP11
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB, expandable
Camera (rear)
108MP f/1.8, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
12MP f/3.0 (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, Optical Zoom (5x), Digital Zoom (50x)
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide angle)
Camera (front)
10MP f/2.2, Dual Pixel AF
Battery
4,500mAh
Dimensions
164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm
Weight
208g
OS
One UI based on Android 10
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
Price
RM5,199

If we’re talking about the hardware of a typical Android flagship smartphone, the Note 20 Ultra fits the bill. But it’s worth noting that the Malaysian market is only getting the Exynos 990 model. The more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ variant of the phone is only offered in certain markets, unfortunately enough.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the Exynos 990 is a “bad” chipset; it’s just not quite as fast as the Snapdragon 865+. This is really the main issue with the Note 20 Ultra for our market: if you’re going to pay RM5,199 for a smartphone, you would want to get the best level of performance.

Anyway, aside from the SoC, other hardware of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are really on par with the best flagship smartphones. Let’s move on to the good stuff now.

The Good Stuff

Just like the
more affordable Note 20
, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also gets the new and improved S Pen. The design remains largely the same, but the reduced latency make for a more responsive and fluid writing experience. This is made even better with the high 120Hz refresh rate of the screen.

Besides that, the S Pen’s Air Actions is more comprehensive as well. There are now gestures to access the recent apps page, go to the home screen, and even to go back to the previous page. While this is not a feature I personally use extensively, I do see how it can be useful to certain folks.

Moving on, there’s the stunning 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display of the Note 20 Ultra. Samsung makes some of the best screens in the market, and the image quality of this display is a testament to that. It has deep, true blacks, vivid colours, and extremely high peak brightness. Trust me: it can get
searingly
 bright.

Coupled with support for HDR10+, the Note 20 Ultra’s screen is perfect for any kind of content consumption.

When it comes to performance, the Exynos 990 under the hood of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra can keep up with my demands. Granted, it’s not quite as fast as the Snapdragon 865+ model found in other markets, but it’s still a very capable flagship-tier chipset. Throughout my time with the phone, I didn’t encounter any performance issue.

Design wise, the Note 20 Ultra looks and feels like a high-end, premium smartphone. The glass back with a matte finish feels great to the touch, the dual curved screen makes the phone feel thinner than it actually is – not to mention the fact that it looks sleek – and I like the heft of the phone. However, I’m not crazy about the
huge
 camera bump, though it won’t be quite as noticeable with a casing on.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Its triple camera system is made up of a 108MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 12MP f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens., Suffice to say it’s a sophisticated camera array that can take great-looking shots in any lighting situation.

What really impressed me was the zooming performance of the Note 20 Ultra’s camera. Even though the Space Zoom is only limited to 50x – instead of 100x on the S20 Ultra – the image quality is noticeably better. Of course, it still doesn’t look particularly great at 50x zoom, but at 10x and 20x zoom, the image quality is more than acceptable. Judge for yourself with these shots.

12MP telephoto (5x)
12MP telephoto (10x)
12MP telephoto (20x)
12MP telephoto (50x)

On top of that, thanks to the new laser autofocus system, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra can lock in focus
much
 faster than the S20 Ultra. This was one of my biggest gripes with the latter, so it’s great to see that the autofocus performance is addressed with the Note 20 Ultra. All in all, this phone is very enjoyable to photograph with.

The Bad Stuff

Even though the camera performance of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is impressive, there are some shortcomings here and there. As is the case with camera systems that offer multiple sensors, the low light performance of the ultra-wide angle shooter and telephoto lens leave much to be desired.

108MP primary
12MP ultra-wide angle
12MP telephoto

Looking at the image samples above, the 108MP primary sensor takes the best-looking shot, while the other two sensors struggle quite a bit. Noise is very apparent, detail preservation is lacking, and they can’t quite get the right level of exposure.

It’s also worth noting that the 108MP main camera also has its own weaknesses. It’s a large sensor, so it has a shallow depth of field. This is especially noticeable in close-up shots, where only a small area is in focus. Of course, you can get some dramatic-looking shots with the shallow depth of field, but it can also be cumbersome to use in certain situations.

Notice how shallow the depth of field is

Just like how it was with the Galaxy Note 20, the Note 20 Ultra’s battery life could be better too. On average, I was only getting between four to five hours of screen on time with the 4,500mAh battery. Granted, I set the screen to 120Hz throughout the review period; lowering it to 60Hz should improve the battery life a little bit.

But the biggest issue with the Note 20 Ultra has to be its steep asking price. Retailing at RM5,199, it’s an expensive product, even for a flagship device. Yes, you’re getting an excellent smartphone for that kind of money, but unless you absolutely want the S Pen, there are better options in the market for less.

Is It Worth It?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the best Note device money can buy right now, but it is also the most expensive one yet. If you’ve always been a fan of the Note series, and you want a no compromise Note device no matter the cost – RM5,199 in this case – the Note 20 Ultra will be worth it. After all, there are no smartphones from other brands that offer the same utility as the Note device, especially the signature S Pen.

But if you don’t need the Note 20 Ultra’s 120Hz screen, 108MP triple camera system, and premium build quality, consider the standard Note 20 instead. Starting at RM3,899 – that’s a whopping RM1,300 price difference – it’s a far more affordable smartphone. Plus, you’re still getting the same S Pen – the core feature of a Note device.


Lenovo Legion Phone Duel Appears in SIRIM – Malaysian Launch Soon?

Lenovo’s first-ever gaming smartphone, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel, was introduced globally two months ago. Now, it seems like the phone is launching here in Malaysia very soon – we just spotted the device in SIRIM’s database.

Registered under Lenovo Technology with the model number Lenovo L79031, a quick Google search shows that this is indeed the Legion Phone Duel. Plus, there’s only a handful of Lenovo phones with 5G connectivity, as detailed in the SIRIM listing.

Hardware wise, there’s no denying that the Legion Phone Duel is a high-end gaming smartphone. Not only does it feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865+ chipset, it also comes with a 6.65-inch 2340 x 1080 AMOLED display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, just like the
Asus ROG Phone 3
.

Other specifications of the Legion Phone Duel include 12GB or 16GB of RAM, two UFS 3.1 storage options (256GB or 512GB), two rear cameras (64MP f/1.89 primary + 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle), a 20MP front-facing camera – located on the right side of the phone under a pop-up mechanism – as well as a generous 5,000mAh battery.

It’s worth noting that the range-topping 512GB variant of the gaming phone also supports a whopping 90W fast charging. This allows the large 5,000mAh battery to be fully charged in only 30 minutes, which is really quite impressive.

We haven’t heard from Lenovo Malaysia yet on the local launch of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel, but now that the phone has been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it’s happening very soon. After all, we were told the gaming phone will be launched here
before the end of the year
.


Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Unveiled: Less Than 1kg, 17-Hour Battery Life, Intel Tiger Lake

Lenovo just introduced one of its most exciting ThinkPad laptops in quite some time; enter the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano. Weighing less than 1kg with up to 17.3 hours of battery life, the X1 Nano also features Intel’s latest Tiger Lake chips.

Tipping the scales at 962g, the ThinkPad X1 Nano is the lightest laptop to be released under the ThinkPad series of business-class notebooks. On top of that, it’s quite thin as well, measuring just 13.87mm thin. If you’re always on the go, you’d want a thin and light machine like this laptop.

Besides that, the X1 Nano also comes with Intel’s latest Tiger Lake chips. The highest-end configuration is equipped with the Core i7 processor from the series, and it can be paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of fast PCIe SSD; good storage capacities for most folks.

Other specifications of the X1 Nano include Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, a 13-inch 2160 x 1350 screen with 100% sRGB colour coverage – there are touch and non-touch options – a 48WHr battery that promises up to 17.3 hours of battery life, and an IR camera with a physical ThinkShutter.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is set to be available sometime in the fourth quarter of 2020 with a starting price of $1,399 – that comes up to about RM5,815. No word yet on the Malaysian availability of the X1 Nano.


Dell XPS 13 With Intel Tiger Lake Chips Arriving in Malaysia Next Month; Starts at RM6,399

Dell just announced the refreshed Dell XPS 13. Now sporting Intel’s latest Tiger Lake chips, this update is largely a spec bump with no changes to the design of the premium laptop. Surprisingly enough, Dell Malaysia also revealed the local availability of the new XPS 13.

Set to arrive here in Malaysia in October next month, the updated XPS 13 will retail from RM6,399 on our shores. We still don’t know which configuration of the laptop we’re getting, but at least one variant will feature a Core i5-1135G7 processor, Intel’s new Iris Xe integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, as well as a 512GB SSD.

Beyond the processor – and integrated GPU – upgrade, the new XPS 13 also comes with faster RAM now; more specifically, 4267MHz LPDDR4x RAM instead of 3733MHz. Of course, thanks to the Tiger Lake chip, the refreshed XPS 13 supports Thunderbolt 4 too.

Naturally, the XPS 13’s signature 13.4-inch InfinityEdge screen with tiny bezels and a taller than usual 16:10 aspect ratio are still retained. This aspect ratio is ideal for productivity tasks, thanks to more vertical screen real estate. Two screen resolutions (touch or non-touched) should be offered for the Malaysian market as well: a 1920 x 1200 panel or a sharper 3840 x 2400 display.

The new Dell XPS 13 with Intel’s new Tiger Lake chips will be arriving in Malaysia next month in October. To recap, the premium productivity laptop will retail from RM6,399 here.


New Tiger Lake Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Also Coming to Malaysia in October; From RM5,999

Aside from the new
XPS 13
, Dell also refreshed the convertible XPS 13 2-in-1. Just like the former, there are no drastic changes to the design of the laptop; the biggest change lies under the hood in the form of Intel’s new Tiger Lake chips and better graphics performance. Of course, we’ve also got word on the Malaysian availability of the XPS 13 2-in-1.

Set to arrive here in October next month – much like the regular XPS 13 – the updated XPS 13 2-in-1 will retail from RM5,999. No word yet on which variant the Malaysian market is getting, but Dell confirmed that one of them will be packing a Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a 256GB SSD.

Another neat upgrade the new XPS 13 2-in-1 received is a new IR camera for Windows Hello authentication. Previously, the convertible laptop only had a regular webcam. Despite the new camera sensor, Dell still manages to retain the minimal bezels surrounding the screen.

Speaking of which, the XPS 13 2-in-1 continues using the 13.4-inch InfinityEdge touch-enabled screen as its predecessor, complete with the 16:10 aspect ratio. This hasn’t been confirmed by Dell Malaysia yet, but we reckon both the Full HD+ and UHD+ screen options will be offered locally.

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 will be available in Malaysia sometime in October next month. Starting at RM5,999, it’s definitely positioned as a premium convertible laptop – just like other XPS products from Dell.


Proton X50 Test Drive: Disrupting the Market

There is probably no SUV that generated quite as much hype in Malaysia as this one right here, the Proton X50. Set to shake up the B-segment SUV market very soon, I had the opportunity to take the X50 out for a spin through a series of tests. Overall, I am absolutely thrilled by the power, driving dynamics, and intelligent features of the SUV.

After I was done, I had a sense of relief as well, given that I have already placed a booking for the X50 on
16 September itself
. Did the SUV meet my expectations? No – it exceeded them all.

First, let’s talk about the engine of the X50. Two options are available: a 1.5L turbocharged port-injected engine that outputs 150PS and 226Nm of torque, and a more powerful 1.5L turbocharged direct-injected mill with 177PS and 255Nm of torque. The former is found under the hood of the Standard, Executive, and Premium models, while the 1.5L TGDi engine is only offered in the range-topping Flagship variant.

Without a doubt these two engines are powerful – especially for a B-segment SUV – but here’s the kicker: they are both three-cylinder engines. This doesn’t sit well with a number of potential buyers who had bad experiences with three-cylinder mills, which inherently vibrate more than four-cylinder engines.

But is this really a problem? While the X50’s engine doesn’t sound particularly pleasant when I’m right beside the car, this is almost completely muted the moment I enter the cabin with the doors shut. In fact, in my brief time driving the X50, I barely felt any harsh vibration or unpleasant engine note. Really, the three-cylinder engine is not an issue at all: gone are the days when it is considered “inferior” to a four-cylinder engine.

Okay, so how about the performance of the X50’s turbocharged engine? Unfortunately, only the top-of-the-line Flagship model is available for the media to try out, so I can’t say if the 1.5L port-injected engine is any good. But what I
can
 say is how impressed I am with the 1.5L TGDi engine – it’s one powerful unit.

The Proton X50 can actually outpace the BMW X1 and Honda HR-V

While it’s a little bit slow off the line (likely caused by turbo lag) the X50 just
pulls
 the moment the turbocharger kicks in. The engine does make itself heard under hard acceleration – it sounds good to my ears though – but it can effortlessly and quickly get to highway cruising speeds. It’s a

fast
, fast
 SUV, and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission shifts gears very seamlessly too.

Handling wise, there are some body rolls when I put the X50 through its paces in a brief slalom test, but it still feels planted when taking sharp turns. Feedback from the steering wheel, on the other hand, could be better, though it’s not exactly “numb” either. In short, the X50 handles just fine, but I’ll definitely need to spend more time with it to get a more definitive answer.

After all, there’s only so much a slalom test can reveal.

Now, let’s talk about the intelligent features of the car; more specifically, the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). This feature is only offered on the range-topping Flagship X50, and it includes a slew of active safety systems. These include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and even Auto Park Assist (APA).

Simply put, AEB allows the X50 to automatically apply the brakes to avoid front collisions, and it works surprisingly well when this was demonstrated to us. While it is a very neat feature, it’s the latter two that are particularly interesting, especially at this price point.

ACC, for one, lets the SUV automatically adjust the speed to the vehicle in front of you, and this works even in stop-and-go traffic; perfect for rush hour in KL. As for APA, this feature lets the X50
park itself
. It can perform three maneuvers: reverse parking, parallel parking, and getting out of a parallel parking.

Out of the three situations, only the latter two were demonstrated to us. It takes the X50 quite some time to get itself in and out of the parking space, but the fact that the car can basically do these automatically – you still have to hold a button for the car to start moving on its own – is already very impressive.

The Proton X50 is arguably the national carmaker’s most important, most anticipated model yet. Not only will it (likely) be an affordable B-segment SUV, it even offers features that were never available in this price range. Granted, Proton has not revealed the pricing of the X50 yet, though there is a chance it will go
below the RM90,000 price point
.

When exactly is the local launch of the Proton X50 happening? No word yet on that either, though I was told it will be taking place very, very soon. Going by
AmInvest’s original estimate
, the SUV will be making its debut sometime this month in October. Once that happens, the X50 will most definitely disrupt the market – maybe even outside of the SUV segment.


Google Pixel 5 Official: Snapdragon 765G, 90Hz OLED Screen, From $699

The Google Pixel 5 is here, and just as rumours have suggested, it’s not quite the flagship smartphone
like its predecessor
. There is only one new Pixel phone now – there’s no XL variant – and it is only powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. While this isn’t exactly a flagship-tier processor, at least the Pixel 5 still retains its excellent camera performance.

Compared to the
Pixel 4
, the Pixel 5 no longer has a telephoto lens. Instead, its primary 12.2MP f/1.7 sensor is now paired with a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, which should prove to be a more practical setup than the zoom lens previously offered. Now, even though this is not a super sophisticated camera array, we have no doubt it can capture amazing-looking shots; this is essentially the Pixel lineup’s forte.

Besides that, the large forehead of its predecessor is no more, now that the Motion Sense feature has been cut from the Pixel 5. Instead, this latest Pixel phone has a sleeker-looking hole-punch cutout for the 8MP f/2.0 selfie camera. The screen, on the other hand, is a 6-inch 1080p OLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate; pretty standard affair.

Other specifications of the Pixel 5 include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a rather generous 4,080mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging, an IP68 rating, a rear fingerprint sensor, and of course, 5G connectivity. Judging by these hardware, the Pixel 5 is definitely more of an upper mid-range smartphone than a flagship.

But that also allows Google to price the Pixel 5 more competitively: it is set to retail from $699, which comes up to about RM2,900. Yes, that’s still quite a steep price tag for a device of this calibre, but this has always been the case with Pixel smartphones. As usual, it’s unlikely the Pixel 5 will be officially offered here in Malaysia – Google doesn’t offer its range of smartphones on our shores.


Video: Proton X50 Test Drive! Drag Race, Handling, ADAS

After much anticipation, we finally
got to drive the Proton X50
! We headed to Sepang International Circuit to put the national carmaker’s new B-segment SUV through its paces in several tests, including a drag race, slalom test, and a number of demonstrations showcasing the X50’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

In the video below, you can see the X50 go against the Honda HR-V and BMW X1 in a drag race. Not surprisingly, the X50 is the quickest of the lot, and it handles quite well in the slalom test too. Completing the whole package is the SUV’s ADAS, a suite of intelligent features meant to make the driving experience that much more pleasant.

We expect the Proton X50 to be launched here very, very soon; perhaps sometime in the middle of this month. How much will it cost? Well, there’s a chance the X50 will
retail below the RM90,000 price point
.


Garmin Venu Sq Lands in Malaysia From RM999; Fitness-Centric Smartwatch With GPS

Garmin just launched its latest smartwatch in Malaysia, the Venu Sq. As its name suggests, it retains many of the features found on the
more expensive Venu smartwatch
 at a more affordable price point. The design has been tweaked too: the Venu Sq has a square screen instead of the Venu’s circular display.

Two variants of the Venu Sq are offered in Malaysia. The standard model retails at RM999, while the Venu Sq Music Edition costs RM1,250. The only difference between the two models is built-in storage; the latter can store music for offline listening with Bluetooth headphones.

Just like the regular Venu, the Venu Sq can detect up to 20 different workouts. These include running, yoga, swimming, cycling, aerobics, golf, and even weight training. Together with the built-in GPS, the Sq will be able to even more accurately track your activities, especially when it comes to running and cycling.

Other specifications of the Venu Sq include a 1.3-inch 240 x 240 touch-enabled LCD screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a fibre-reinforced polymer case, anodised aluminum bezels, a heart rate sensor, as well as the ability to measure blood oxygen level. Overall, features fit for a fitness-centric smartwatch.

The Garmin Venu Sq is now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the standard model
costs RM999
, while the Venu Sq Music Edition goes for slightly more
at RM1,250
.


3 – 9 October Fuel Price: RON 95 & RON 97 Up 3 Sen, Diesel Down 1 Sen

Petrol prices are going up again this weekend, except for diesel. Both RON 95 and RON 97 will go up by 3 sen per litre this midnight, while the price of diesel is going down slightly by 1 sen per litre.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.71 per litre (up from RM1.68) and RON 97 to RM2.01 per litre (RM1.98 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM1.70 per litre, down from RM1.71.

These prices will be in effect from 3 to 9 October next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates.


Sony PlayStation 5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset Passes Through SIRIM

Yet another PlayStation 5 accessory just passed through SIRIM. This time around, it’s the Pulse 3D wireless headset for the next generation console. This suggests that Sony Malaysia could be gearing up to launch the PS5 on our shores once it is
available globally on 19 October
.

The Pulse 3D wireless headset was registered with SIRIM under Sony Malaysia with the model number CFI-ZWH1 earlier this week on 30 September. This makes it the third PS5 accessory to appear in SIRIM’s database, right after the
media remote for the console
 and the
DualSense controller
.

Unfortunately, the PS5 itself has not been registered with SIRIM yet, but given that its other accessories have already gone through the certification body, we reckon it’s only a matter of time before it makes an appearance. After all, Sony Malaysia
already ran a survey for the PS5
 in late August.

However, whether or not the PS5 will be available in Malaysia on 19 November itself – that’s the global release date for the console – is an entirely different question. Pre-orders for the console already ran in other markets (including Singapore), but Sony Malaysia is still relatively quiet about any form of pre-order for the console.

Regardless, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of the PlayStation 5. Hopefully, we will also be getting the next generation console on 19 November; the fact that the Pulse 3D wireless headset has appeared in SIRIM is certainly a promising sign.


Proton X50 Soars Past 20,000 Bookings in 2 Weeks

Proton just confirmed that bookings for its highly anticipated B-segment SUV, the
Proton X50
, has went past the 20,000 mark. That’s right, in only two weeks, over 20,000 bookings were placed for the X50; that’s a very,
very
 impressive figure.

“Proton would like to thank all its customers for the tremendous interest shown in the Proton X50. We are pushing to ensure fulfilment over the last three months of 2020, while continuing to emphasise product quality,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah.

Besides that, Proton also shared its sales figure for the month of September 2020. The national carmaker managed to move 11,935 units in that month, which is Proton’s second highest monthly sales. Overall, the company already sold 73,607 models this year, placing it second in Malaysia’s automotive sales.

Three of Proton models also continue to lead their respective segments. These include the Proton X70 (2,849 units), Proton Persona (2606 units), and the Proton Exora (748 units). Proton added that the latter two are expected to end the year as cumulative sales leaders.

Evidently, many Malaysians are interested to get their hands on the Proton X50. Here’s hoping the national carmaker can really fulfill these orders in the last three months of 2020 to enjoy the
100% sales tax exemption
. If you’d like to learn more about this B-segment SUV, check out our first impressions of the X50
right here
.


Proton X50 Pricing “Leaks” Again; Likely Fake

There’s no doubt the
Proton X50
 is garnering a lot of interest. After all,
over 20,000 bookings
 for the B-segment SUV have already been placed, even though its full price list has not been revealed yet. Naturally, many are anxious to find out how much the X50 would cost, and some have taken it upon themselves to “leak” the pricing of the new model.

We stumbled upon this alleged pricing of the X50 on
Lowyat.NET’s forum
. According to the price list, the SUV will retail from around RM75,000 (1.5T Standard) to RM103,000 for the range-topping 1.5 TGDi Flagship trim. These are supposedly on-the-road prices with insurance included.

We’re not convinced these prices are legitimate for a couple of reasons. One, this price list is too close to the previous alleged pricing of the X50 that Proton already said was fake. Surely it’s no coincidence that both of these price lists are almost the same, even if this new pricing took into account the cost of insurance.

Second of all – and this is a big one – it doesn’t make sense for the price difference between the Standard, Executive, and Premium trims to be more than RM10,000 for each variant. After all, all of these models are powered by the same engine, and the difference in equipment don’t exactly command that kind of price premium either.

Take the Standard and Executive models of the X50. According to the alleged pricing, you’d be paying RM10,000 more for the Executive variant
just
 for the addition of leatherette seats, two extra airbags, auto headlamps, front fog lamps, and a leather wrapped steering wheel. It’s a little bit much to pay five figures for these upgrades, isn’t it?

To further drive this point home, look at the claimed price difference between the 1.5T Premium and 1.5 TGDi Flagship. For only about RM7,000 extra (!), you’re getting a more powerful engine, a panoramic sunroof, and even the
impressive Advanced Driver Assistance System
 (ADAS).

Taking all of these into account, this supposed price list of the X50 makes very little sense. If anything, the price difference between the Premium and Flagship models should be the most drastic, given all of the extra features you’re getting with the latter.

If you’re worried this latest “leaked” pricing of the Proton X50 is legitimate, you can rest easy now. If you really want to know exactly how much the B-segment SUV will cost, we have a good idea
here
. The official launch of the highly anticipated B-segment SUV is happening very soon, and until then, check out our
first impressions of the X50
.


Exclusive: This Is the Proton X50 in Citric Orange

We’ve seen the Proton X50 in all shades of colour in the
previous media preview
, but we have yet to see the B-segment SUV in one particular paint job: Citric Orange. Well, we were lucky enough to get a glance at this colour recently on the road.

We spotted the X50 in Citric Orange earlier today along the AKLEH highway. Interestingly, it was accompanied by two other colours, Passion Red and Ocean Blue. All three of them had a police escort, so chances are, the national carmaker is shooting an advertisement for the new SUV on the highway.

At a glance, the X50 in Citric Orange actually looks like a shade of red. Of course, once you compare it to the Passion Red model – it’s right behind the Citric Orange in the image above – you can see how different the two colours are. If you don’t quite like how bright the Passion Red model looks, the Citric Orange colour option is certainly a good alternative.

According to Proton,
over 20,000 bookings for the X50
 have been made in just two weeks. The carmaker mentioned that it will do its best to fulfill these orders in the last three months of 2020 – like to take advantage of the
100% sales tax exemption
 – and that it will do so without sacrificing the product quality of the SUV.

As for how much the Proton X50 will cost, a number of
shady price lists
 have circulated online. We don’t know exactly how much the highly anticipated B-segment SUV will go for, but there is a good chance it will retail
below the RM90,000 price point
. If you’d like to learn more about Proton’s latest model, check out our
first impressions of the X50
.


Honda CR-V Facelift Open for Booking in Malaysia; LaneWatch Standard, Powered Tailgate, Q4 Launch

Aside from the
all-new Honda City
, it appears Honda Malaysia is set to launch yet another new model by the end of the year: the facelifted fifth generation Honda CR-V. For the most part, it’s a minor exterior revision, with most of the changes happening under the hood.

Compared to the pre-facelift model, the new CR-V is now sporting a black grille instead of chrome, much like the
facelifted Honda Civic
. The rear gets some revisions too, along with redesigned dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels. All in all, pretty subtle changes to the exterior of the C-segment SUV.

What’s more exciting is the addition of Honda LaneWatch on all variants of the facelifted CR-V. This safety feature relies on a camera mounted on the left side mirror; once you signal to the left, the infotainment screen will display what’s on the left side of the SUV to allow for safer lane changes.

Aside from that, the updated CR-V will also come with a powered tailgate, though it remains to be seen exactly which variant will get this feature. As usual, Honda Sensing will continue to be offered, and it will even be extended to the 4WD model. The engine, on the other hand, is still a 1.5L VTEC turbocharged engine that churns out 193PS and 243Nm of torque.

The facelifted Honda CR-V is now
available for booking in Malaysia
 at all authorised Honda dealers nationwide. It’s expected to be launched before the end of 2020, so there’s a chance the new model will be able to enjoy the
100% sales tax exemption
.


Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro Lands in Malaysia; Snapdragon 865 & 144Hz Screen for RM1,999

Xiaomi just launched its latest high-end smartphone in Malaysia, the Mi 10T Pro. Sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, a fast 144Hz screen,
and
 a competitive price tag, the Mi 10T Pro is a very attractive flagship smartphone with excellent value for money.

For the Malaysian market, only one configuration of the Mi 10T Pro is offered. Packed with 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM, this sole variant of the phone retails at RM1,999. Needless to say, this is a very competitive price tag, especially when you take into account what the Mi 10T Pro offers.

One of the most attractive features of the Mi 10T Pro has to be its 6.67-inch 1080p IPS screen with a high 144Hz refresh rate. Not many smartphones feature such a fast screen, and given that this is a feature
only typically found

on gaming smartphones
, it’s great that Xiaomi is bringing this feature to a more mainstream smartphone.

Other specifications of the Mi 10T Pro include a Snapdragon 865 chipset, a triple camera system (108MP f/1.7 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.4 macro), a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera, a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. All in all, it’s a pretty complete high-end smartphone, though it would’ve been great if it also came with a telephoto camera.

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 9 October onwards on Lazada. Again,
retailing at RM1,999
, it offers very good value for money. To sweeten the deal, the first 300 customers who purchase this phone will also get a complimentary Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic. More information on this promo can be found on the
Mi 10T Pro’s product page on Lazada
.


Xiaomi Mi 10T Also Arrives in Malaysia: 144Hz Screen, Snapdragon 865, RM1,699 Price Tag

Aside from the range-topping
Mi 10T Pro
, Xiaomi also brought in this equally high-end phone at an
even
 lower price point, the Xiaomi Mi 10T. Just like the Pro variant, this device comes with a fast 144Hz screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, and a very, very competitive price tag.

At the moment, only one variant of the Mi 10T is confirmed for the Malaysian market: it comes with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for only RM1,699. That’s right, only RM1,699 for a Snapdragon 865 phone with a 6.67-inch 1080p 144Hz display – not many phones can offer this level of hardware at this price point.

In fact, the Mi 10T shares a lot of the Pro’s hardware, though it does feature a less sophisticated triple camera system. Instead of a 108MP primary sensor, it comes with a more pedestrian 64MP f/1.89 main shooter with a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle lens and a 5MP f/2.4 macro sensor.

Other specifications of the Mi 10T include a 20MP f/2.2 front-facing camera, a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Basically, the exact same hardware as its Pro counterpart.

If you don’t need the Mi 10T Pro’s more sophisticated camera system and 256GB storage, the regular Xiaomi Mi 10T will serve as a very good alternative. It will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 23 October onwards
on Lazada for RM1,699
.


Apple’s iPhone 12 Series Coming on 14 October

It’s a little bit later than usual, but here it is: Apple just set an event for 14 October (Malaysian time) next week. Chances are, the Cupertino company will be introducing its latest iPhone at the event; a month later than it usually does.

In typical Apple fashion, the invite for the event is a very simple one. The teaser image shows the Apple logo surrounded by four circles – perhaps a hint at the four possible variants of the iPhone 12 – with the phrase “Hi, Speed.” This is likely a nod at the improved performance of the new iPhone, courtesy of the A14 Bionic chip.

There are plenty of rumours surrounding the upcoming iPhone 12 series, and one of the most prevalent leaks is the fact that there could be four different iPhones. These four models will supposedly range from a compact 5.4-inch variant to a much bigger 6.7-inch option; the latter would be the largest iPhone yet if this leak turns out to be accurate.

Another interesting rumour also suggests that all of the iPhones set to be introduced this year will be sporting OLED screens, which is great. Compared to LCD panels, OLED displays have deeper blacks, more vibrant colours, and generally more pleasant to look at. This is a good upgrade, but unfortunately enough, the refresh rate of the screen will supposedly be kept at 60Hz.

We’ll hear more on the new iPhone 12 from Apple itself next week on 14 October. The live stream will start at 1AM Malaysian time.


We Hope Sales Tax Exemption on Cars Will Be Extended – Proton Edar CEO

In line with the government’s Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA), locally assembled (CKD) cars
will receive 100% sales tax exemption
. But this initiative is only effective until 31 December; in order to keep driving car sales, Proton Edar hopes that the tax exemption period will be extended.

The CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah, expressed this in an interview with
Berita Harian
. “We’re hoping the government will consider extending the tax exemption period another six month until June 2021, or at least until March next year,” he was quoted as saying.

The CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah

Based on the
sales performance of Proton
 over the past few months, it’s evident that the tax exemption period helped the national carmaker recover lost sales during the Movement Control Order (MCO). “Extending the tax exemption period will also support the entire automotive and industrial supply chain,” Roslan added.

If the government does extend the tax exemption period, carmakers and consumers will benefit greatly from it. Proton, for one, will be able to offer its upcoming B-segment SUV, the
Proton X50
, at a more competitive price point for a longer period of time. After all, the new model hasn’t even been officially launched yet.

Hopefully, the government will consider to extend the sales tax exemption on cars. Given the current COVID-19 situation in our country, we may need it beyond 2020.


Deal: Get the Sony WH-1000XM4 With Over RM300 Discount

The
Sony WH-1000XM4
 was launched here in Malaysia two months ago, and you can now get the excellent wireless headphones with active noise cancellation with a pretty big discount. Originally retailing at RM1,599, it’s now going
for only RM1,269
 – that’s exactly RM330 worth of savings.

This deal is offered by Preferred Shopee retailer Otakuya. The WH-1000XM4 offered in the listing comes with warranty support from Sony Malaysia, and both the Black and Silver models are in stock. However, it’s worth noting that there are only three units left for the latter colour option.

While the WH-1000XM4 isn’t drastically different than its predecessor, it does feature a number of improvements. Not only does it have better active noise cancellation, the voice call quality is improved accordingly as well. More importantly, the XM4 can now pair with two devices at the same time with Bluetooth multipoint.

For RM1,269
, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a very good buy, especially if you want a pair of wireless headphones with one of the best active noise cancellation.


Proton Warns Against Third-Party Bookings of X50

The
Proton X50
 is easily the national carmaker’s most anticipated models yet, and with so much hype surrounding the B-segment SUV, people tend to take advantage of it. So much so, in fact, that Proton released a statement regarding “third-party” bookings of the X50.

“It has been brought to our (Proton) attention that some irresponsible parties are seeking to profit from this situation by misrepresenting themselves,” the statement read. “Proton would like to unequivocally state that only bookings made via authorised Proton dealers and outlets are legitimate,” the carmaker added.

Of course,
with over 20,000 bookings
 already made for the X50, there will be anxious buyers that want to “jump the queue” in a bid to be one of the first to get the SUV. This makes it easy for certain parties to target these individuals and make promises they simply cannot fulfill, such as guaranteeing early delivery of the car if bookings are made through them instead of an authorised Proton dealer or outlet.

Regardless of the situation, it’s best to perform any kind of financial transactions with official parties; the RM500 booking fee is not exactly a small amount. Don’t fall victim to third-parties that make promises which are too good to be true. This is especially true of “online bookings” – there’s no such thing for the X50.

The Proton X50 is expected to be officially launched sometime this month in October. Until then, check out our
coverage of the B-segment SUV
, including its
possible pricing
.


PlayStation 5 Teardown Shows Huge Cooling Fan & Easy Storage Upgrade

The
PlayStation 5
 is only about a month away before it hits the market globally, and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) just released a teardown video of the next generation console. Not only do we have a good idea of how big the PS5 is – it’s quite a unit – SIE also detailed the impressive cooling system and easy upgradability of the console.

Let’s start with the cooling system of the PS5. The console is equipped with a huge 120mm diameter, 45mm thick double-sided air intake fan. The sheer size of the fan itself will ensure that the console will remain as quiet as possible, and there are even two dust catchers to keep the system clean. Dust collected in the two holes can then be vacuumed out.

Further enhancing the cooling performance of the PS5 is a sizeable heatsink. According to SIE, the design of the heatsink is able to achieve the same level of performance as a vapour chamber. Liquid metal is also used as the Thermal Interface Material (TIM) for the PS5 to more effectively cool the console’s SoC.

Throughout the teardown video, it’s clear that the PS5 is designed to be easily serviceable. Almost all of the components – including the disc drive, cooling fan, and PSU – can be accessed with relative ease. End users can even add more storage through the M.2 slot, which is compatible with PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.

It’s great that we get to see the inner workings of the PlayStation 5 before it’s officially available on 19 November globally. Hopefully, Malaysian pre-orders for the PS5 will begin soon. After all, a number of its accessories
have already been

certified with SIRIM
, including the
DualSense controller
.


Dell XPS 13 (2020) With Tiger Lake Chips Full Malaysian Pricing Revealed; From RM6,399 to RM8,199

As promised
, the new Dell XPS 13 with Intel’s latest Tiger Lake chips are now available in Malaysia. All variants of the premium productivity laptop are now listed on Dell Malaysia’s online store, and with that, we have the full price list of the XPS 13 for the local market.

The base model of the updated XPS 13, as mentioned in our previous report, retails at RM6,399. For that kind of money, you’re getting a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 Full HD+ InfinityEdge non-touch screen, a Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 512GB of SSD storage.

A tier up is the RM7,399 variant of the XPS 13, which comes with a faster Core i7-1165G7 processor and twice the amount of RAM at 16GB. Other specifications of this configuration remain the same, but you can add RM300 to upgrade the 512GB SSD to a whopping 1TB drive.

Last but definitely not least is the range-topping XPS 13 with a much sharper 13.4-inch 3840 x 2400 UHD+ touch-enabled screen. This model retails at RM7,899, and it retains the Core i7 chip, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD of the previous configuration. Want a 1TB SSD instead? An additional RM300 gets you just that.

The new Dell XPS 13 with Tiger Lake chips are now
available for purchase on Dell Malaysia’s online store
. Of course, retailing from RM6,399, it’s not an affordable productivity laptop, but that’s how much you have to pay for a premium machine like the XPS 13.


Tiger Lake Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Malaysian Variants Detailed; RM5,999 to RM7,999

Aside from the
regular XPS 13
, the full Malaysian pricing of the convertible
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
 with Intel’s latest Tiger Lake chips has been revealed as well. Retailing from RM5,999, it is ever so slightly more affordable than the XPS 13, though it’s still very much priced like a premium laptop.

For RM5,999, the base model of the XPS 13 2-in-1 offers a Core i5-1135G7 processor, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 touch-enabled InfinityEdge screen. Of course, the convertible laptop now comes with an IR camera too for Windows Hello authentication.

A tier up is the RM6,699 variant of the XPS 13 2-in-1. It retains the base model’s Full HD+ screen, but its other hardware are upgraded quite a bit. Not only does it come with a faster Core i7-1165G7 processor, it also features double the RAM and SSD storage at 16GB and 512GB respectively. Quite a number of upgrades for RM700 more.

Last but definitely not least is the top-of-the-line XPS 13 2-in-1. It has the exact same hardware as the previous configuration, but the range-topping variant comes with a sharper 13.4-inch 3840 x 2400 UHD+ touch-enabled screen. How much do you have to pay for the display upgrade? A cool RM7,999, which is a whopping RM1,300 more than the aforementioned model.

The new Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is now available for purchase on
Dell Malaysia’s online store
. Every purchase of the convertible laptop will come with a sleeve as well.


10 – 16 October Fuel Price: RON 95 & RON 97 Down 4 Sen, Diesel By 1 Sen

Unlike last week, petrol prices are going down this weekend. Both RON 95 and RON 97 will go down by 4 sen per litre this midnight, while the price of diesel continues going down by 1 sen per litre.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.67 per litre (down from RM1.71) and RON 97 to RM1.97 per litre (RM2.01 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM1.69 per litre, down from RM1.70.

These prices will be in effect from 10 to 16 October next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


You May Not Be Able to Buy Older PlayStation Games on PC & Mobile Soon

The PlayStation Store is reportedly getting a revamp soon. In a leaked email addressed to developers from Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a “brand new PlayStation Store” will be rolled out on 19 October, which will remove a number of features. Most notably is the ability to purchase older games through web browsers and mobile.

This news come from
Planète Vita
, which managed to get its hands on the email. If the content of the email is to be believed, games and DLC initially released on the PS3, PSP, and Vita will no longer be accessible through a web browser from 19 October onwards. On mobile, the change will take effect on 28 October instead.

Of course, you can still search for these content, but only on each respective system. PS3 games and DLC can only be accessed directly with a PS3 console, and the same apply to the PSP and Vita for their content. Basically, it just won’t be quite as convenient anymore to look for games for these older consoles.

On top of that, apps, themes, and avatars for the PS4 will no longer be accessible on web browsers and mobile as well. The Wishlist feature on the PlayStation Store will supposedly be removed too, so if you use the feature quite a bit, you may want to take note of what’s in the list while you still can.

Chances are, these changes are meant to streamline and simplify the PlayStation Store before the PS5 arrives. After all, by (essentially) removing PS3, PSP, and Vita content from the store on web browsers and mobile, it’ll be easier to find more relevant content for the next generation console. We’ll find out soon enough if these changes to the PlayStation Store are legitimate.


See How the Proton X50 Fares in a Crash Test: 5-Star ASEAN NCAP Rating

Proton confirmed last week that the
Proton X50
 got a five-star rating in the  New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asia (ASEAN NCAP), but we didn’t get any specific details of the test then. Well, ASEAN NCAP has just released the full report of the X50’s crash test, and we have some interesting details to glean through.

First, let’s talk about the crash test itself. For the most part, the X50 aced all aspects of the test; we’re especially impressed by the rigidity of the A-pillars in the frontal crash test. On top of that, it’s worth noting that ASEAN NCAP tested the Standard variant of the B-segment SUV.

That’s right, even the base model of the X50 – with only four airbags – managed to get a five-star rating. Also tested by ASEAN NCAP is the blindspot monitoring system of the B-segment SUV. As expected, it functioned to the requirements of the independent body on both the left and right sides of the SUV.

Beyond the X50’s crash test and other parameters tested by ASEAN NCAP, this assessment also gives us the best look yet at the Standard variant of the SUV. After all, Proton has only shown off the Flagship model of the X50, so it’s great to finally see how the base model looks like.

Despite not sporting the blacked-out roof, red brake callipers, and large 18-inch alloy wheels of the Flagship configuration, the Standard X50 is still quite the looker. It doesn’t look cheap at all, it still comes with a spoiler, and the design of the 17-inch alloys is pretty darn eye-catching as well.

If you watched the video above, you can actually see the X50 in Citric Orange at around the one minute mark. The lighting isn’t great – it even looks like a shade of red – but it’s unmistakably the orange model, given that the Passion Red colourway is exclusive to the Premium and Flagship models.

Want to see how the Citric Orange paint job looks like on the Flagship X50 outdoors? We’ve got an
exclusive on that
.

The Citric Orange under direct sunlight

Without a doubt the Proton X50 did very well in ASEAN NCAP’s assessment; if you want to read the full report for yourself, you can do so
right here
. The official launch of the highly anticipated B-segment SUV is expected to happen sometime this month, so until then, check out our
other coverage of the X50
.


Sony Xperia 5 II Retails at RM4,099 in Malaysia; Arriving in December

It was previously confirmed that the Sony Xperia 5 II is
arriving in Malaysia sometime in December
, but its local retail price was not revealed yet. Well, we now know exactly how much it will cost here in Malaysia, and as expected, it’s not a cheap flagship smartphone.

First spotted by Amanz
, the Xperia 5 II is only offered in a single variant for our market. Retailing at RM4,099, you’re getting 8GB of RAM and 256GB of fast UFS storage. Not a particularly big capacity, but at least there’s a microSD card slot (it supports cards up to 1TB) for further expansion if you need more storage space.

What makes the Xperia 5 II particularly unique is its compact form factor. It features a 6.1-inch 2520 x 1080 OLED screen with a tall 21:9 aspect ratio, so it’s actually very similar in size to the slightly smaller
Xperia 10 II
. On top of that, the Xperia 5 II’s OLED display also has a fast 120Hz refresh rate; a feature mobile gamers will definitely appreciate.

Rounding out the specifications of the Xperia 5 II include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, a triple camera system with three different focal lengths (12MP f/1.7 primary + 12MP f/2.4 telephoto + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle), an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, a 4,000mAh battery, IP65/68 water resistance, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Sony Xperia 5 II is expected to arrive in Malaysia sometime in December. Although its RM4,099 price tag is quite steep, you are getting a flagship smartphone in a compact form factor – a category of device phone makers often disregard.


Sony Xperia 1 II Costs RM4,999 in Malaysia; Available in November

Aside from the
Xperia 5 II
, Sony Malaysia also revealed the local pricing of its other flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia 1 II. Given that it is a bigger smartphone with a much sharper 4K OLED screen, the Xperia 1 II is naturally costlier than the more compact RM4,099 Xperia 5 II.

Just like the Xperia 5 II, only one variant of the Xperia 1 II is offered for the Malaysian market.
As reported by Amanz
, the flagship retails at RM4,999, and it comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. That’s not a lot of storage – especially for a phone at this price point – but at least there’s a microSD card slot that can accommodate cards up to 1TB.

Even though the Xperia 1 II doesn’t feature the Xperia 5 II’s fast 120Hz screen (it only has a conventional 60Hz panel), the former does have a much sharper 6.5-inch 3840 x 1644 OLED panel with HDR support. Of course, as is the case with Sony’s recent smartphones, the screen sports a tall 21:9 aspect ratio as well.

Other specifications of the Xperia 1 II include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, a triple camera system (12MP f/1.7 primary + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 12MP f/2.4 telephoto), an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, IP65/68 rating, and a 4,000mAh battery.

The Sony Xperia 1 II is expected to arrive here in Malaysia sometime next month in November. Without a doubt it’s a costly flagship smartphone for RM4,999, though you are paying for the impressive 4K OLED screen.


Lenovo Unveils Yoga Slim 7i Carbon; Weighs Just 966g With RM4,399 Starting Price

Lenovo just introduced a new productivity laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon. As its name suggests, this is a slim, lightweight laptop. Not only does it measure 14.25mm thin, it also weighs merely 966g. Needless to say, it’s a very lightweight laptop that’s ideal for those who are always on the go.

Despite its lightweight chassis, Lenovo says that the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is still a durable machine. The laptop’s cover is constructed with “layers of carbon fibre and second generation ‘Web-Core 2.0 Carbon Fibre’ that reduces material weight by up to 40% while increasing durability,” as the company puts it.

Besides that, the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon also features a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 QHD screen with very slim bezels, giving the laptop a sleek, modern-looking aesthetic. On top of that, it also covers 100% of the sRGB colour space, and the 16:10 aspect ratio makes it ideal for productivity tasks.

Other specifications of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon include Intel’s latest 11th generation Core i7-1165G7 or Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, three SSD storage options (256GB, 512GB, or 1TB), and Windows 10 Home out of the box.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon will retail from RM4,399 in Malaysia, though the company mentioned that the productivity laptop will only be arriving here “at a later date.” Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon.


The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Belongs in a Class of Its Own

When the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 made its
first appearance at CES 2020
, it was easily one of the most exciting gaming laptops to be unveiled at the trade show. Not only does it sport a unique dot-matrix top lid, it is also a modern 14-inch gaming laptop. You don’t often see a gaming machine in such a portable form factor.

To top it off, the Zephyrus G14 is a
powerful
gaming laptop as well, thanks to the combination of AMD’s excellent Ryzen 9 4900HS processor and Nvidia’s RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU in the range-topping configuration. It’s not quite the end of the year yet, but this is easily the most exciting gaming laptop of 2020 – the G14’s feature set simply puts it in a class of its own.

What’s So Good About It?

First and foremost, the Zephyrus G14 is a 14-inch gaming laptop. This alone gives it a unique, appealing factor compared to other modern gaming laptops in the market now, which usually comes with (at the very least) a 15.6-inch screen. Thanks to the G14’s much more compact form factor, I can comfortably carry it around in my backpack.

In fact, the G14 is actually my daily driver right now; it serves double duty as my work laptop and gaming machine. Not many gaming laptops can strike such a good balance in these two regards, and let me tell you: the G14 can serve as a
surprisingly
 good productivity laptop
.

Now, one of the most important aspects of a good productivity-focused laptop has to be battery life, and the Zephyrus G14 simply excels in this area. On average, I can easily get between nine to 10 hours of use on a single charge. Granted, I got this level of battery life with the power plan set to battery saver, and the screen was dimmed to a comfortable level.

Still, it’s amazing how the G14 can deliver over 10 hours of use despite packing some beefy hardware under the hood. The configuration I tested is powered by the excellent Ryzen 9 4900HS; a 35W TDP octa-core processor. Compared to the more power-hungry Intel Core i7-10875H chip, the Ryzen 9 offers notably better multi-core performance in CineBench R20.

Surprisingly enough, even in the single-core test, both processors return very similar results. Just look at how these two chips compare to each other in the table below. We also include the Ryzen 7 4800H to show just how capable
AMD’s Ryzen 4000
 processors are.

Processor
Single-core test
Multi-core test
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS (Asus ROG Zephyrus G14)
481
4173
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (Asus TUF Gaming A15)
481
4106
Intel Core i7-10875H (Acer Predator Triton 500)
483
3773

Games (max settings @ 1080p)
Average FPS
Witcher 3 (HairWorks disabled)
65.38
Borderlands 3 (DX11)
47.91
Apex Legends
102.05

Not only does the Zephyrus G14 offer incredibly good CPU performance, the RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU in this range-topping model can provide high enough frame rates in AAA titles too. Of course, this being the Max-Q design, it is ever so slightly slower than the
regular RTX 2060
. Nonetheless, it can still offer a respectable level of performance, as you can see above.

Further enhancing the gaming experience of the G14 is the 14-inch display. Two screen options are available: a 1920 x 1080 IPS display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, or a higher resolution 2560 x 1440 IPS panel with a more conventional 60Hz refresh rate. Regardless of which option you go for, both screens are Pantone Validated with 100% sRGB colour coverage.

Unfortunately, I only managed to test the 1440p panel of the Zephyrus G14. While it’s a sharp, high quality screen with good colour reproduction, the 60Hz refresh rate isn’t exactly ideal for a gaming laptop of this calibre. Plus, the RTX 2060 Max-Q wouldn’t be able to deliver particularly high frame rates in 1440p either.

Unless you absolutely need the higher resolution screen, I highly recommend the 1080p screen option with a 120Hz refresh rate if you want the best gaming experience on the G14. The 1080p resolution is a much more ideal pairing with the RTX 2060 Max-Q, and the 120Hz refresh rate will provide a smoother gaming experience with superior motion clarity.

However, I was told by Asus Malaysia that the 1080p screen option for the range-topping Ryzen 9 Zephyrus G14 will only be arriving here sometime next month in December 2020. Just hold out a bit longer if you can afford to wait.

Beyond the screen, the Zephyrus G14 has a pretty darn good keyboard as well. It offers plenty of key travel with pronounced tactile feedback, both of which lend to a “cushiony,” comfortable typing experience. That being said, the white backlighting doesn’t look particularly good with the white keys, but it will do in a pinch.

As for the trackpad, it works as intended. Every click feels solid, the trackpad’s smooth glass surface allows my fingers to glide effortlessly on it, and it’s accurate too. While I am a little annoyed that I can’t disable the trackpad’s mouse acceleration – disabling it from the Windows settings did nothing – it is ultimately a small issue.

Last but certainly not least is the flashy AniMe Matrix LED lighting on the top lid of the Zephyrus G14. Sure, it may seem gimmicky to some folks, but I had a ball playing around with the feature. The extra layer of personalisation afforded by the AniME Matrix display gives the laptop a truly unique aesthetic that is not offered by any of its competition.

Any Shortcomings?

Like with any laptop, there are some aspects of the Zephyrus G14 that could be further improved. Besides the fact that it doesn’t even have a webcam, the laptop’s system noise is a tad too loud in heated gaming sessions. Thankfully, it’s relatively quiet when I’m doing productivity tasks.

Aside from that, the G14 can get quite toasty as well. While the palm rest area doesn’t get uncomfortably warm when I’m gaming, the CPU does get alarmingly hot. In my testing, the Ryzen 9 4900HS heated up to a whopping 95°C, though the RTX 2060 Max-Q is kept in check much better, only hitting up to 77°C.

And then there’s the asking price of the Zephyrus G14: this range-topping configuration of the gaming laptop costs a steep RM7,699. Of course, you do get 16GB of RAM and a generous 1TB SSD for that kind of money, but there’s no denying that it is a costly gaming laptop.

Conclusion

Despite its high asking price, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a premium gaming laptop in a 14-inch form factor; a combination that is simply not offered by any other brands. As I’ve said before in the beginning of this article, this puts the G14 in a class of its own. Coupled with its powerful performance and incredibly long battery life, you’ve got the perfect compact gaming machine that also serves as an excellent productivity laptop.

Yes, the Zephyrus G14’s system noise and thermals could be better, but that’s the trade-off we have to make to get such powerful hardware in a compact form factor; Asus only has so much space to work with. Hopefully, the next iteration of the gaming laptop would address these issues – I’m absolutely thrilled by the prospect of an even more refined Zephyrus G14 next year.


2020 Honda City Launched in Malaysia From RM74,000; RS e:HEV Model Arriving January 2021

Honda Malaysia just launched its latest B-segment sedan on our shores, the 2020 Honda City. Four different variants of the sedan are offered in Malaysia, including the range-topping RS e:HEV variant. In fact, this is the global debut of the hybrid model, and Malaysia is the first market to receive it.

At least, that will be the case once the RS variant of the City is actually available in Malaysia. Unfortunately, this hybrid model will only arrive here sometime in January 2021. Honda Malaysia has not revealed the price of the RS model either, and given that it will only be delivered next year, it will not enjoy the
100% sales tax exemption
.

Of course, Honda did reveal the local pricing of the other three variants of the fifth generation City. The base S trim costs RM74,191.27, while the E and V models go for RM81,664.82 and RM86,561.45 respectively. These prices are with sales tax exemption applied, which is why the figures look a little odd.

As per the government’s original announcement, the 100% sales tax exemption will only be valid until 31 December 2020. Once this is over, here’s how much you would have to pay for the new City – Honda Malaysia was kind enough to provide us the prices of the City with and without tax exemption in the table below.

Honda City Variant
Price with sales tax exemption
Price without sales tax exemption
Price difference
S
RM74,191.27
RM76,800
RM
2,608.73
E
RM81,664.82
RM84,800
RM3,135.18
V
RM86,561.45
RM89,800
RM3,238.55

These three variants of the City are powered by the same 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque, and it is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent to the front wheels. As for the RS e:HEV model, it features a Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain that delivers 109PS and 253Nm of torque.

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

While the other three models of the City don’t get Honda Sensing, their safety equipment are still quite good. Standard safety equipment across the range include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), ISOFIX anchor points, and rear seatbelt reminder.

However, in terms of airbag count, only the RS and V trims get six airbags; the E and S models get four airbags instead. Aside from that, the former two are also the only variants to get Honda LaneWatch, which uses a camera mounted on the left side mirror to show what’s on the left side of the car (through the infotainment screen) whenever the driver signals to the left.

Other noteworthy equipment of the new City include keyless entry with push start button, rear air-conditioning vents, and 15-inch wheels, though the higher-end RS and V trims get larger 16-inch wheels with different designs. The City comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support as well, but this is not offered on the base S model.

To recap, the fifth generation Honda City starts from RM74,191.27 to RM86,561.45. After the tax exemption period is over, it will go from RM76,800 to RM89,800 instead. The range-topping RS e:HEV model, on the other hand, will only be available in Malaysia sometime in January 2021.


These Are the iPhone 12 & iPhone 12 mini: OLED Notched Screens, A14 Bionic, From RM3,399

Today’s the day: Apple just unveiled its new iPhone models for 2020. For starters, the Cupertino company introduced the standard iPhone 12 and the very compact iPhone 12 mini. Not only are both of these iPhones equipped with 5G connectivity, they are using OLED screens as well.

That’s right, it seems like Apple is moving away from LCD panels with its latest iPhones. The standard iPhone 12 sports a 6.1-inch 2532 x 1170 Super Retina XDR OLED display, while the iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED panel. On top of that, the screen of both phones are protected by a new “Ceramic Shield” glass, which is said to be four times more resistant to breaking.

These are all great upgrades, but the wide notch at the top of the screen is still retained, unfortunately enough.

Anyway, let’s move on to performance. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are powered by the new A14 Bionic chip, which is touted to be the “fastest chip on a smartphone.” That’s quite a lofty claim, but given that past Apple chips have always proved to be extremely capable, we’re inclined to take the company’s word for it.

In the camera department, both of these iPhones have a dual camera system made up of a 12MP f/1.6 primary sensor and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle camera. Thanks to Apple’s computational photography, the company promises that these two phones – despite the rather pedestrian hardware – can capture great-looking shots.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are meant to be affordable alternatives to the more premium iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, so naturally, they don’t cost quite as much. For the Malaysian market, the iPhone 12 mini retails from RM3,399, while the iPhone 12 starts at RM3,899.

As usual, even though the Malaysian pricing of the two new iPhones have been revealed, it remains to be seen exactly when they will be available locally.


iPhone 12 Pro & iPhone 12 Pro Max Bring LIDAR Scanner & Bigger Screens From RM4,899

The
regular iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini
 not quite up your alley? Then the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max could be for you. Compared to the standard iPhone 12, the Pro and Pro Max models feature a LIDAR scanner, more premium build quality, and in the case of the Pro Max, an even bigger screen.

Packed with a 6.7-inch 2778 x 1284 Super Retina XDR OLED screen, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest iPhone yet. The Pro model, on the other hand, comes with a smaller 6.1-inch 2532 x 1170 OLED screen. The display of these two phones are also protected by Apple’s new Ceramic Shield glass, which is said to be four times more resistant to breaking when dropped.

Unfortunately enough, just as rumours have suggested, Apple isn’t going with a high refresh rate screen with this year’s iPhones. The large notch at the top of the display is still retained as well, though the screen now extends further to the edges of the phone. This gives it more of an all-screen design, even though the notch is still up there.

Under the hood of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max is none other than the new A14 Bionic chip that made its debut on the new
iPad Air
. It’s an impressive processor that promises the best performance you can get on a smartphone, and built on a 5nm process, it’s also a very power-efficient chip.

Given the more premium positioning of iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, they are built as such. Instead of an aluminium chassis – like the standard iPhone 12 – these two models feature a stainless steel frame. Based on product images of the two phones, the chassis seems to have a glossy finish too, which should feel great to the touch.

Of course, there’s also the LIDAR scanner; a feature that’s not offered on the more affordable iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. Basically, it allows for more sophisticated AR features. It works in tandem with the triple camera system of the iPhone 12 Pro as well (12MP f/1.6 primary + 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle + 12MP f/2.0 telephoto) for six times faster autofocus performance in low light conditions.

It’s worth noting that the iPhone 12 Pro Max actually comes with a different 12MP f/2.2 telephoto sensor. While the Pro can do 2x optical zoom, the Pro Max model can go slightly further at 2.5x optical zoom.

Malaysian availability of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max has not been detailed yet, but we do have the local pricing of both phones. The iPhone 12 Pro starts at RM4,899, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max retails from RM5,299.