Realme 11 Pro+ Hands-on: Does It Perform as Good as It Looks?

What immediately caught my eye when the Realme 11 Pro+ was introduced is the design of its rear panel. While Realme isn’t the first to use vegan leather on the back of a phone, the “handmade-like 3D stitching design” of the panel – as the Chinese company puts it – is certainly an eye-catching design element.

However, as good as it looks, how does the 11 Pro+ perform in other regards? How competent is its 200MP main camera? Can the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset deliver sufficient performance for a pleasant user experience? And can this RM1,999 phone compete with other devices at this price point?

Well, I will try to answer these questions in this hands-on of the Realme 11 Pro+.

First, specifications. The 11 Pro+ has all the features of a standard premium mid-range phone. These include the aforementioned Dimensity 7050 chipset, a 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 32MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with pretty darn fast 100W charging that is said to be able to provide a full charge in only 26 minutes.

The triple camera system of the 11 Pro+ is quite interesting as well. It is made up of an impressive 200MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 2MP macro lens. It would’ve been great if there’s a telephoto camera too, though the 200MP primary sensor can actually do up to 4x lossless zoom, which uses in-sensor zooming – more on this later.

My favourite feature of the Realme 11 Pro+ has to be its design; I can’t get enough of the back panel’s aesthetics. Realme Design Studio collaborated with Matteo Menotto – former print and textile designer from Gucci – to work on the Sunrise Beige and Oasis Green colourways of the phones, and in my opinion, it’s one of the more tasteful designs I’ve seen in a while.

Not only does it look great, the 11 Pro+’s vegan leather back feels great to the touch too. It really does feel like leather, giving the device both a premium feel and look. Realme makes some of the most well-designed phones in recent times (remember the
Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola Edition
?), and this is evident with the 11 Pro+.

Next, there’s the 11 Pro+’s 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display, which looks great. It has punchy colours with deep blacks – typical traits of an AMOLED panel – and the 120Hz refresh rate lends to great motion clarity as well. That being said, I’m not too fond of the dual-curve screen, as it makes it a bit harder to get a good grip on the phone due to the slimmer sides.

In the performance department, the Dimensity 7050 under the hood of the 11 Pro+ feels adequately fast. While I haven’t had the chance to put the chip through its paces yet, it does feel fast enough for everyday use (at the very least). It doesn’t feel sluggish by any means in my short time testing the phone.

Given that this is only a hands-on, I don’t have a feel of the 11 Pro+’s battery life yet. But for what it’s worth, its 5,000mAh battery should be able to return above average battery life. The 100W fast charging would come in useful to quickly top up the phone as and when necessary too.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the 11 Pro+, which feels…capable? Again, I only had the phone for a brief period of time, so I was only able to snap some quick shots with the phone in broad daylight. Needless to say, it performs well in this kind of lighting environment; any phone worth its salt will be able to take good-looking images under ideal lighting.

However, I do have one qualm with the colour reproduction of the 11 Pro+’s camera. Shots taken with the phone have
very
 vibrant and saturated colours, to the point that they can look unnatural. On the other hand, at least the 4x lossless zoom capability of the 200MP primary camera feels quite competent.

Of course, the 4x in-sensor zoom, lossless or not, won’t be able to deliver the sharpness of a telephoto lens at the same focal length. But it is certainly better than just digital zoom, which is a good middle ground to be in.

All in all, the Realme 11 Pro+ is a sleek-looking premium mid-range phone with fast charging rate, a good level of performance, and reasonably capable camera performance. But priced at RM1,999, it has to contend with very competent devices that sits in the same price range, such as the
OnePlus Nord 3
 and the
Honor 90
.

Now, only a full review can determine where the 11 Pro+ sits when compared against these devices. Personally, I’d rank the 11 Pro+ quite high when it comes to design, but there’s more to a phone than just looks.


Honor 90 Now in Malaysia From RM1,799 – 200MP Camera, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1

Honor’s latest premium mid-range smartphone, the Honor 90, has been launched in Malaysia. Packed with a triple camera system headlined by a 200MP sensor, the mid-ranger is also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition chipset, which features higher clock speeds than the regular version of the SoC.

For the Malaysian market, the Honor 90 is offered in two variants. The 12GB + 256GB base model retails at RM1,799, while the more generous 12GB + 512GB configuration goes for RM2,099. Three colours options are offered locally: Peacock Blue, Emerald Green, and Diamond Silver.

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

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

The Honor 90 will be available for purchase in Malaysia tomorrow on 22 July from RM1,799. Those who get the phone on tomorrow itself will receive free gifts worth RM647, which include a Honor Earbuds X5, a 1 + 1 year extended warranty, and a 180-day screen crack protection.


Honor 90 Lite & Honor Pad X9 Make Malaysian Debut for RM1,099

Launched alongside the
Honor 90
 in Malaysia are two other products: the Honor 90 Lite and Honor Pad X9. Both of them are touted as mid-range offerings, and they are also priced the same at RM1,099.

Let’s start with the Honor 90 Lite. As its name suggests, it has more modest hardware over the
Honor 90
, though it still comes with a triple camera system headlined by a 100MP primary shooter. That sensor is complemented by a 5MP ultra-wide angle camera and a 2MP macro lens.

Other specifications of the Honor 90 Lite include a 6.7-inch 1080p IPS display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 6020 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage, a 16MP selfie camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with support for 35W fast charging.

As for the Honor Pad X9, it features a 11.5-inch 2000 x 1200 TFT LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chip paired with 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 5MP cameras for the rear and front, along with a 7,250mAh battery. All in all, pretty modest hardware.

The Honor 90 Lite can be purchased in Malaysia tomorrow on 22 July, while the Honor Pad X9 will arrive here quite a bit later on 25 August next month. To recap, both devices are priced at RM1,099 on our shores.


BYD Dolphin Now Available for Booking in Malaysia for RM1,500 – 28 July Launch

The BYD Dolphin is now available for booking in Malaysia! This is ahead of the much anticipated electric hatchback’s local debut on 28 July next week, and what makes the Dolphin particularly enticing is its value proposition.

We learnt of the Dolphin’s start of order taking in Malaysia at the ongoing EVx Malaysia 2023 event in Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam. Compared to its SUV sibling, the BYD Atto 3, the Dolphin is expected to be priced lower. For added context, the Atto 3 currently starts at RM149,800.

The BYD Dolphin at EVx Malaysia 2023

Of course, it remains to be seen just which variant of the Dolphin the Malaysian market is set to get, though there’s a good chance it will mirror the Atto 3’s offering here. If this is the case, it will be available in both Standard Range and Extended Range configurations.

The Standard Range Dolphin features a single electric motor driving the front wheels that produces 94PS and 180Nm of torque, which allows it to go from 0-100kmph in 12.3 seconds. Packed with a 44.9kW battery, this variant has a range of up to 410km on the NEDC standard.

As for the Extended Range Dolphin, it has a more powerful motor (also driving the front wheels) that outputs 204PS and 310Nm of torque with a 0-100kmph time of only 7 seconds. It has a larger 60.48kW battery too with a maximum range of 490km (NEDC) on a single charge.

The BYD Dolphin will make its debut in Malaysia on 28 July, and it is now available for booking with a RM1,500 fee (refundable). If you want to take a look at the electric hatchback in person – though only the exterior is shown – you can do so at EVx Malaysia 2023 in Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam until tomorrow on 23 July.


Smart #1 Makes Public Debut in Malaysia – Registration of Interest Now Open, Q4 2023 Launch

The
Smart #1
 EV just made its first public appearance in Malaysia at the ongoing EVx Malaysia 2023 event in Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam. Registration of interest for the electric SUV is now open on our shores too, with the local launch set for sometime in Q4 2023.

While the Smart #1 is showcased at the Hap Seng Smart booth near Mercedes-Benz’s show stand at EVx 2023, visitors can only take a look at the exterior of the EV. Unfortunately, the car is locked at the event, so the interior of the SUV can only be peeked through the heavily tinted windows.

Nonetheless, for the Malaysian market, the Smart #1 is said to be offered in both standard and Brabus variants. The regular model is believed to be powered by a single 200kW motor driving the rear wheels that outputs 272PS and 343Nm of torque. This allows the EV to go from 0-100kmph in only 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 180kmph.

As for the more powerful Smart #1 Brabus, it comes with another electric motor at the front – making it all-wheel drive – for a very respectable total output of 428PS and 543Nm of torque. How fast can it complete the century sprint with this kind of setup? A mere 3.9 seconds; very impressive.

Both models of the Smart #1 are said to be packed with a 66kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery that offers up to 440km range on the WLTP cycle for the standard variant. This figure goes down to 400km for the higher-powered Brabus model, understandably.

To recap, the Smart #1 is set to be introduced in Malaysia sometime in Q4 2023. You can register your interest for the EV
right here
, and if you want to see the electric SUV for yourself, you can do so at EVx Malaysia 2023 in Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam until tomorrow on 23 July.


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Gets Limited Edition PS5 Model – First Custom PS5 in Malaysia

Now this is interesting: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is getting a limited edition PS5 model. While it’s not the first special edition PS5, it is the first one to be available right here in Malaysia, and it will be available for pre-order on our shores this Friday on 28 July.

The symbiote – and in turn, Venom – is set to be one of the biggest threats in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which is why the limited edition PS5 model takes that as a design inspiration. This extends to the DualSense controller as well with a rather sleek red and black colour scheme, representing Spider-Man and the symbiote respectively. Naturally, a digital download of the game is packaged with the bundle.

If you already own a PS5, you’ll be happy to know that the Spider-Man 2 cover will be available for purchase separately for both the standard model and Digital Edition of the console. Same goes for the DualSense controller, though the retail prices of these products have not been revealed yet.

Nonetheless, Malaysian pre-orders of the limited edition PS5, PS5 cover, and DualSense controller of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will start this Friday on 28 July. The PS5 cover and DualSense controller are set to arrive here on 1 September, while the special edition PS5 will be available on 15 September – quite a bit earlier than the launch of the game on 20 October.


Honor 90 Review: Reasonably Good RM1,799 Mid-Range Phone

Quite a number of upper mid-range phones have been launched in recent times, and the Honor 90 is the latest addition to the segment. Sporting a 200MP primary camera, long battery life, along with a reasonably capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset – the Accelerated Edition, to boot – it’s quite an interesting phone.

Retailing from RM1,799, the value proposition of the Honor 90 is decent too, though it does fall short in a number of areas. This is especially true in the software department, which is my main qualm with the phone. Beyond that, it’s quite an easy phone to recommend, provided you can look past its unrefined software experience.

What It Is

Display
6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED Quad Curved (2664 x 1200), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition 2.5GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 644
RAM
12GB
Storage
256/512GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
200MP f/1.9, PDAF
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
2MP f/2.4 (depth)
Camera (front)
50MP f/2.4
Battery
5,000mAh with 66W fast charging
Dimensions
161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm
Weight
183g
OS
MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
USB Type-C
Price
RM1,799 (256GB), RM2,099 (512GB)

Two variants of the Honor 90 are available in Malaysia. The 256GB model retails at RM1,799, while the more generous 512GB configuration goes for RM2,099. Given the feature set of the phone, it’s priced relatively well for the Malaysian market.

One of the headline features of the Honor 90 is certainly its 200MP primary camera. While it sounds impressive on paper, the actual performance of the camera tells a different story – more on this further down the review.

The Good Stuff

I really like the overall design and build quality of the Honor 90. Despite sporting a mostly plastic build material – the frame and back panel are made of plastic, as far as I can tell – the phone still looks and feels great. This Emerald Green colourway, for one, has a sleek matte finish on the back, which can hide fingerprints quite well.

Aside from that, the performance of the Honor 90 is good too. Though the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition can’t quite run
Honkai: Star Rail
 at a stable 60fps with maxed out graphics settings, it can still provide a pleasant gaming experience. Of course, in everyday use, the phone performs just as well as any other upper mid-range phones I tested recently.

The display of the Honor 90 is also worth commending. The 6.7-inch 2664 x 1200 AMOLED display can get bright enough for comfortable viewing even under harsh sunlight, and it has the typical traits of an AMOLED panel, including vibrant colours and deep, true blacks. The 120Hz refresh rate lends to very smooth-looking animations too.

However, I’m personally not a fan of the display’s “Quad Curved” nature. While I understand it can give the impression of a more premium phone to some folks, I much prefer a flat display with equally flat sides for better ergonomics.

Nonetheless, let’s move on to the battery life of the Honor 90 now, which is
excellent
. On average, I can easily get over six hours of screen on time out of the phone’s 5,000mAh battery. This is even with a few sessions of heavy gaming thrown in throughout the day; very impressive.

Now, let’s move on to the not so great aspects of the Honor 90.

The Bad Stuff

Despite so much marketing around the Honor 90’s 200MP camera, the overall performance of the phone’s camera can be described as…mediocre. At a glance, images taken with the phone’s triple camera system (200MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 2MP depth) look good, but upon closer inspection, it leaves much to be desired.

200MP primary

200MP primary

200MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

200MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

200MP primary

200MP primary (2x zoom)

12MP ultra-wide

200MP primary

200MP primary (2x zoom)

Detail preservation is not great (especially in low light conditions), noise is apparent in nighttime shooting, and because there’s no dedicated telephoto lens, images at 2x zoom don’t look particularly flattering. The overall colour reproduction is a touch too saturated for my liking too.

Granted, the Honor 90 can still take good-looking shots under the right conditions, and it is by no means the worst camera I’ve tried in this segment. Still, I had higher hopes for the 200MP camera.

And then there’s the unrefined software experience of MagicOS 7.1 on the Honor 90. It’s mostly the same issues I had when I was reviewing the
Honor Magic 5 Pro
: I can’t swipe down on the home screen to pull down the notification shade, and there’s no key shortcut to quickly launch the camera either.

MagicOS 7.1 as a whole doesn’t feel particularly polished either. Some apps, such as Discord, was not able to send me any notifications
until
 I opened the app. Thankfully, I didn’t face this issue with more important apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Gmail, though this is still an issue worth highlighting.

Is It Worth It?

Even though the camera and software of the Honor 90 could use some work, I do think it is still a phone worth considering. Its battery life is very, very good, it has a pleasant screen to look at, and it can provide a good level of performance for the money.

Hopefully, Honor will continue to improve its software experience moving forward, as the Honor 90 fares quite well in other aspects, especially when it comes to power consumption.


Sony WF-1000XM5 With “Best Noise Cancelling” Coming to Malaysia August 2023 for RM1,399

Leaked back in March
, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is finally official. Naturally, Sony’s new wireless earbuds sport a slew of improvements over the
very popular predecessor
, including “the best noise cancelling,” as the Japanese company puts it.

For the Malaysian market, the WF-1000XM5 retails at RM1,399; exactly RM300 more than the WF-1000XM4 when it was first launched on our shores. It is now available for pre-order locally, and it’s set to hit store shelves sometime in August next month in two distinct colours: Black and Platinum Silver.

The highlight feature of the new WF-1000XM5 is certainly the improved noise cancelling. Using a total of six microphones and two separate processors, the XM5 can capture ambient sound more accurately while also delivering “unprecedented noise cancelling quality” – certainly a lofty promise.

Other specifications of the WF-1000XM5 include a new 8.4mm dynamic driver dubbed Dynamic Driver X – it’s said to provide deeper bass, richer vocals, and clear highs – up to 12 hours of battery life (down to eight hours with noise cancellation enabled), noise isolation foam tips, and IPX4 water resistance.

To recap, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia, and it should start shipping next month in August 2023. Priced at RM1,399, it’s certainly positioned as a premium pair of wireless earbuds.


HP Omen Transcend 16 & Omen 16 Gaming Laptops Land in Malaysia From RM6,899

HP just launched a slew of new gaming laptops in Malaysia, including the HP Omen 16 and HP Omen Transcend 16. The latter is touted as the company’s slimmest and lightest gaming laptop yet, so naturally, it comes with a matching price tag.

Here in Malaysia, the Omen Transcend 16 retails from a cool RM10,999, and it will be available locally sometime in August next month. As for the Omen 16, it’s priced quite a bit lower with a RM6,899 starting price. Unfortunately, the base model of the two laptops for the Malaysian market were not detailed.

Nonetheless, we do have some key hardware of both laptops. The Omen Transcend 16, for one, can be configured with a
fast
 240Hz mini-LED screen along with a 13th gen Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 9 processor, though the GPU was not mentioned. It’s also a relatively thin and light laptop with a 19.9mm chassis that tips the scales at 2.09kg.

As for the Omen 16, it’s offered with either a 13th gen Intel Core i9 or an AMD Ryzen 9 7000 series processor. As for the GPU, HP mentioned that the laptop can be gotten with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070; quite a capable GPU that should be able to run most AAA games effectively.

To recap, the HP Omen 16 is now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM6,899. As for the thinner and lighter HP Omen Transcend 16, it will arrive here slightly later in August next month with a RM10,999 starting price.


Affordable HP Victus 16 Gaming Laptop Now in Malaysia From RM4,149

Launched alongside the
Omen 16 and Omen Transcend 16
 is the HP Victus 16 gaming laptop. Compared to the former two, the Victus 16 is much more affordable while still offering a good level of performance.

For the Malaysian market, the Victus 16 starts from RM4,149. The gaming laptop can be configured with a 13th gen Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 7000 series processor, while the range-topping GPU option is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, which is a reasonably capable graphics card for AAA gaming.

In the display department, the Victus 16 features a 16.1-inch 1080p display with a 144hz refresh rate; fast enough for a pleasant gaming experience. HP also said that the Victus 16 uses the same Tempest Cooling system found in the higher-end Omen laptops.

The HP Victus 16 is now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM4,149. You can check out the full list of available configurations on
HP Malaysia’s online store
, and early birds who get the Victus 16 can even receive RM80 worth of Steam, TNG, or Grab credit.


Vivo Y78 Coming to Malaysia 1 August – 120Hz Dual Curved Screen, 64MP OIS Camera

Vivo is set to launch a new mid-range phone in Malaysia, the Vivo Y78. Sporting a 120Hz dual curved screen with a 64MP camera – complete with optical image stabilisation – the Y78 looks to be a rather interesting mid-ranger.

As shown on the
product page of the Y78
, the phone features a 6.78-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a triple camera system made up of the aforementioned 64MP main sensor with OIS, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth lens.

Other specifications of the Y78 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, a 16MP selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging, and Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13 out of the box.

The Vivo Y78 will be launched in Malaysia next week on 1 August. The local pricing of the phone, along with its availability on our shores, should be unveiled then.


DJI Air 3 Drone Official – Dual Camera, 46 Minutes Flight, in Malaysia From RM4,799

The DJI Air 3 has just been announced, and it comes with a number of intriguing features. Not only does it have a dual camera system, it also has a longer flight time of up to 46 minutes on a single charge – quite a bit longer than the Air 2S’ flight time of 31 minutes.

DJI has been trickling features from its higher-end drones to its more affordable ones, and this is exemplified with the Air 3’s dual camera system. It is made up of a 48MP 1/1.3-inch wide angle shooter and a 48MP 1/1.3-inch 3x medium tele lens, so it’s somewhat similar to the camera configuration of the
Mavic 3
, minus the Hasselblad branding.

Rounding out the specifications of the Air 3 include the aforementioned 46-minute maximum flight time, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, O4 HD Video Transmission System, and 2.7K vertical shooting. Weighing only 720g, it’s quite a lightweight drone too.

The DJI Air 3 is priced at RM4,799 in Malaysia for the drone itself. If you want the Fly More Combo with the DJI RC-N2 controller, it will set you back RM5,799. You can also get the same combo with the DJI RC 2 controller instead (complete with a display) for RM6,589.


SINGAKBD Kohaku Polycarbonate In-Stock Sale Happening Q3 2023 – 100 Units Only

It’s been a while since we’ve seen an in-stock sale from SINGAKBD. This time around, it is the polycarbonate version of the SINGAKBD Kohaku; it will go on sale towards the end of Q3 2023 in late August or early September.

As usual, the in-stock sale of the polycarbonate Kohaku will be done through a raffle, and only 100 units will be up for grabs. The colour combination is limited to a brass weight with a black aluminium plate as well, which does look quite good, in our opinion.

Based on the Kohaku R2, the polycarbonate Kohaku has a different weight design from the
original keyboard
 for easier assembly. This, along with the polycarbonate material, also change the sound profile of the keyboard. The polycarbonate Kohaku is still using a gasket mount design too, and it’s worth noting that brass weight with the Koi motif is now protected by a tempered glass cover.

More details on the in-stock raffle sale of the SINGAKBD Kohaku will be revealed as we approach the late August/early September sale estimate. Given that only 100 units are up for grabs, odds of winning the raffle will be quite low, as is the case with SINGAKBD’s previous sales.


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Unleashed – Bigger Cover Screen, Gapless Design, From RM4,499

Samsung’s latest range of foldable smartphones are finally official! Compared to the new Z Fold 5, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is certainly the more exciting device. Not only does it have a bigger cover screen now – dubbed Flex Window – it is also sporting a gapless design.

For the Malaysian market, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is offered in two variants. The base 8GB + 256GB model is priced at RM4,499, while the more generous 8GB + 512GB configuration costs RM4,999. Compared to last year’s Z Flip 4 with the same storage options, this is (only) a RM100 price hike. It’s quite reasonable, given the upgrades the new foldable brings.

Speaking of which, the biggest change to the Z Flip 5 is the much larger 3.4-inch 748 x 720 Super AMOLED display on the cover of the phone. Though the refresh rate is only limited to 60Hz, the bigger screen does make it far more functional. A full-size keyboard can even be used on this display to reply to messages.

And then there’s the new gapless design of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, a design change that it shares with the larger Z Fold 5. Not only does this look aesthetically better, it should be able to minimise dust that gets in between the two halves of the screen when the phone is kept in the pocket.

Other specifications of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 are still largely similar to its predecessor, though it is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip now. It also features a 6.7-inch 2640 x 1080 Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (12MP main + 12MP ultra-wide), a 10MP selfie shooter, a 3,700mAh battery with 25W charging, and an IPX8 rating.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is
now available for pre-order in Malaysia
 until 17 August from RM4,499 for the 8GB + 256GB model, while the 8GB + 512GB variant goes for RM4,999. You can also use our code AZGALAXY to get a RM200 discount on either variants of the foldable phone, while stocks last.


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Is Here – Gapless Design, Similar Looks, Same RM6,799 Starting Price

After numerous leaks, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is here. Not surprisingly, the new foldable phone isn’t remarkably different from the
Z Fold 4
, though it does have some upgrades here and there, including a gapless design and faster chipset.

Three distinct variants of the Z Fold 5 are offered in Malaysia. The base 12GB + 256GB model costs RM6,799, while the 12GB + 512GB variant retails at RM7,299. As for the range-topping 12GB + 1TB configuration, it goes for RM8,299. Basically, the exact same prices as last year’s Z Fold 4 at launch.

So what’s new with the Galaxy Z Fold 5? Well, as mentioned, it now features a gapless design; there’s no longer any gap when the device is folded. Unfortunately, the S Pen still isn’t built into the phone itself, though the S Pen case does have the stylus placed in a more flushed position now, reducing the overall thickness.

Rounding out the specifications of the Z Fold 5 are a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 7.6-inch 2176 x 1812 Dynamic AMOLED 2X primary display, a 6.2-inch 2316 x 904 Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover screen – both are 120Hz panels – a triple camera system (50MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 10MP telephoto), a 10MP selfie camera on the cover, and a 4MP under display camera on the primary display.

Of course, the Z Fold 5 continues to carry an IPX8 rating, and it retains the 4,400mAh battery with 25W charging.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
can now be pre-ordered in Malaysia
 until 17 August. To recap, it starts at RM6,799 for the 256GB model, while the 512GB variant costs RM7,299. If you want even more storage, there’s the 1TB configuration for RM8,299. You can also use our code AZGALAXY to get a RM400 discount on the foldable phone – while stocks last, of course.


Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 & Watch 6 Classic Unveiled – Rotating Bezel Returns, From RM1,099

Also unveiled alongside Samsung’s new foldable phones today is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic. In the case of the latter, the rotating bezel makes a return, and both watches are available in two different sizes with slimmer bezels and larger displays now.

First, prices. The Watch 6 is the more affordable option with a RM1,099 starting price for the 40mm Bluetooth model, while the larger 44mm (also Bluetooth version) retails from RM1,199. If you want LTE support, you’ll have to fork out an additional RM300.

As for the Watch 6 Classic, it starts at RM1,399 for the 43mm Bluetooth variant, going up to RM1,499 for the 47mm Bluetooth model. Again, the LTE versions of both sizes are available for RM300 extra.

Beyond size and the physical rotating bezel – the Watch 6 uses a touch-sensitive bezel instead – both smartwatches are quite similar to each other. They both feature an Exnos W930 chip, a circular Super AMOLED display protected by sapphire crystal, 5ATM and IP68 ratings, as well as up to 40 hours of battery life with the always-on display (AOD) disabled. This goes down to 30 hours with AOD switched on.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic will be available in Malaysia from 18 August onwards. The Watch 6 starts at RM1,099, while the Watch 6 Classic retails from RM1,399. You can also our code AZGALAXY to get a RM100 discount on either smartwatches by
pre-ordering them on Samsung Malaysia’s online store
 – valid while stocks last.


Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series – Premium Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Tablets From RM3,699

If you’re in the market for a high-end, premium Android tablet, you’d want to check out the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series. It is made up of the Tab S9, Tab S9+, and the range-topping (and largest) Tab S9 Ultra; all of them are powered by the flagship-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

Let’s get to the Malaysian pricing of the new tablets first. The Tab S9 is naturally the most affordable model with a RM3,699 starting price for the 128GB variant, followed by the Tab S9+ (256GB) from RM4,599. As for the range-topping Tab S9 Ultra (256GB), it starts at RM5,999.

Yes, the S Pen magnetically attaches to the back of the tablet

Beyond the size and some hardware differences, the three tablets have relatively similar specifications. All of them feature a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 13MP rear camera – though the S9+ and S9 Ultra feature an extra 8MP ultra-wide sensor – 12MP ultra-wide selfie camera (12MP ultra-wide + 12MP for the S9 Ultra), and of course, the much-loved S Pen.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series is
now available for pre-order in Malaysia
. The S9 retails from RM3,699, while the S9+ starts at RM4,599. As for the range-topping S9 Ultra, it is priced from RM5,999. If you’re keen to pre-order any of the S9 tablets, use our code AZGALAXY to get a RM100, RM200, or RM400 discount for the S9, S9+, and S9 Ultra respectively.


Video: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 & Z Fold 5 Hands-on – Half Boring, Half Exciting?

Samsung’s range of foldable phones for 2023 have just been introduced. Made up of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the former is a much more exciting device, while the Fold 5 is…well, more of an incremental upgrade.

Nonetheless, Samsung’s 2023 foldable phones are still unmistakably high-end, premium devices. Both are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and the two of them now feature a gapless design too – there’s no more gap between the two halves of the flexible screen when they are folded.

As for pricing, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 starts at RM4,499 – that’s a RM100 increase over its predecessor – while the larger Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 retails from RM6,799; the exact same price tag as last year’s
Z Fold 4
, which is great. Watch our hands-on video above to learn more about the two foldable phones!


27 July – 2 August Fuel Price: No Changes, RON 97 Remains at RM3.37 Per Litre

Another week, another fuel price update. Not surprisingly, there’s no price change to RON 97 this week, and the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

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

These prices will be in effect from 27 July to 2 August next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


PM Anwar: RM100 eWallet Credit to Be Given to Malaysians Earning Below RM100k Annually

If you’re a Malaysian earning below RM100,000 annually – and above the age of 21 – you will be eligible to receive RM100 ewallet credit from the government. This was announced by the Prime Minister (and Finance Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier today.

Approximately 10 million Malaysians from the B40 and M40 groups will receive the RM100 ewallet credit. According to Anwar, RM1 billion has been allocated for this initiative, though no timeline has been announced yet for the rollout.

Previously, the government gave out RM200 ewallet credit to eligible students and youths under the eBelia Rahmah programme. “Seeing the success of that ewallet credit programme, the government agrees to offer a RM100 ewallet credit to adults,” said Anwar.


No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for Proton S50

It looks like the upcoming
Proton S50
 will not feature Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This confirmation came directly from the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah, at a media drive for the
Proton X90
 as shared by
Paultan.org
.

With this in mind, it’s likely that the S50 will continue to use Aco Tech’s ATLAS infotainment system. While the OS doesn’t support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, there should be a mirroring capability of sorts. Not exactly an ideal solution, but still a feature worth mentioning.

Previous spy shots of the S50 on Malaysian roads

The Proton S50 is believed to be the national carmaker’s upcoming sedan based on the Geely Emgrand, and it is rumoured to be launching in Malaysia as early as November 2023. On top of that, four different variants are said to be offered, and all of them will be powered by the familiar 1.5L TGDi engine that outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque – the same one found under the hood of the
X50
 and X70.

Nonetheless, until confirmed by Proton itself, take these rumoured details on the Proton S50 with a grain of salt – except for the unavailability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, of course. We should learn more about the S50 as we approach closer to the rumoured November 2023 launch of the sedan.


BYD Dolphin EV Lands in Malaysia From RM99,900 – 2 Variants, Up to 490km Range

The much anticipated BYD Dolphin electric hatchback just made its debut in Malaysia. As expected, it is offered in two variants, and starting from only RM99,900, it is one of the most affordable EVs in Malaysia now. Right behind the
Neta V
, which retails from RM99,800 – yes, just a RM100 difference.

Anyway, two variants of the Dolphin are offered in Malaysia. The Dynamic Standard Range model is priced at RM99,900, while the more powerful Premium Extended Range trim goes for RM124,900. Do note that these prices do not include on-the-road costs, so the “real” pricing of the Dynamic and Premium models are RM100,530 and RM125,530 respectively.

For that kind of money, the Dolphin is quite a well-equipped EV. Regardless of which model you go for, both variants of the electric hatchback feature a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping support, and even a 360-degree camera. It also comes with six airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Performance wise, the base Dynamic variant of the Dolphin features a single electric motor driving the front wheels that produces 94PS and 180Nm of torque, which allows it to go from 0-100kmph in 12.3 seconds. Packed with a 44.9kW battery, this variant has a range of up to 410km (NEDC) or 340km (WLTP).

As for the Premium Dolphin, it has a more powerful motor (also driving the front wheels) that outputs 204PS and 310Nm of torque with a 0-100kmph time of only 7 seconds. It has a larger 60.48kW battery too with a maximum range of 490km (NEDC) or 427km (WLTP) on a single charge.

The BYD Dolphin is now available for booking in Malaysia from RM99,900 for the base Dynamic model, going up to RM124,900 for the higher-end Premium variant. Those who are interested can also test drive the Dolphin at the EV’s roadshow in 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya until 30 July; you can register for it
right here
.


MTG Commander Masters Arrives 4 August for Tabletop – First Masters Set for Commander

The Commander format is one of the most popular ways to play Magic: The Gathering, and the card game’s newest set, Commander Masters, is meant to complement that format. As the set’s name suggests, it is the first Masters set made exclusively for Commander.

Consisting of 40 new cards and “beloved reprints,” as Wizards puts it, Commander Masters features collectable versions of fan-favourite cards. They feature the new Borderless Frame Break treatment where the artwork “explodes” out of the card, which does look quite good.

Naturally, it only makes sense for Commander Masters to feature Commander Decks of its own too. Four 100-card Commander Decks are offered as part of the set, and each of them is built around a popular and powerful archetype “not seen in preconstructed Commander decks to date.” According to Wizards, the cards featured in the decks are of a much higher power level than what players are used to as well.

Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Masters set will be released for tabletop on 4 August. Ahead of the set’s launch, you can pre-order it from your
favourite game store
. Commander Masters is offered in Draft Boosters, Set Boosters, Collector Boosters, and of course, the aforementioned Commander Decks.


Sony PlayStation Earbuds Coming to Malaysia Soon?

Back in May this year
, Sony teased a PlayStation-branded pair of wireless earbuds. While no release date has been announced yet, we have good reason to believe that it will be introduced very soon, and Malaysia could be one of the first markets to get it.

In our usual search through SIRIM’s database, we notice two peculiar products registered under Sony Malaysia. The YY2977 is said to be a wireless noise cancelling gaming headset, while the YY2980 is a USB transceiver.
Based on what

we gathered
, there’s a good chance this is the PlayStation wireless earbuds with its USB dongle.

Even though it’s described as a gaming headset,
FCC documents of the YY2977
 confirm that it is actually a pair of earbuds with a “round shape.” This does describe the PlayStation earbuds quite accurately, and it’s good to know that it has noise cancellation as well.

Of course, there’s a chance that the YY2977 isn’t actually the PlayStation earbuds; we’ll just have to wait until Sony reveals more information. So far, it’s only been confirmed that the earbuds will feature a new wireless technology that allows for “lossless audio” and low latency.


Switch Opens Its First Apple Premium Partner Store in Sunway Pyramid – 2 More Stores Coming

Switch, a brand under CG Computers, just launched its first-ever Apple Premium Partner (APP) store in Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya. Similar to other APP stores found on our shores, the new outlet has staff trained by Apple itself, along with workshops that visitors can attend from time to time.

To celebrate the launch of its new APP store, Switch is offering a number of attractive promotions. The
iPhone 14 Pro
 and iPhone 14 Pro Max, for example, are offered with a generous RM988 discount. Selected MacBook Pro models can even be purchased with up to RM4,000 (!) discounts.

Naturally, these promotions are valid while stocks last until 30 July.

This is where the workshops will be conducted

At the launch of its APP store in Sunway Pyramid, Switch also revealed that it will be opening more APP outlets in the near future. Two have been confirmed so far: one will be located in Imago Mall, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, while the other one will be opened somewhere within the Klang Valley area.

If you want to get some good savings on a range of Apple products, give the Switch Apple Premium Partner store a visit by 30 July. Judging by the crowd at the opening of the new outlet, you may want to stop by there sooner rather than later.


40 Million PS5 Consoles Sold Worldwide

For the longest time since its launch in late 2020, it was difficult for gamers to get their hands on the PS5. Supply of the highly popular console is finally “well-stocked” now – as the Japanese company puts it – and Sony also shared that a whopping 40 million units of the PS5 have been sold worldwide.

This figure is accurate as of the week ending 16 July, 2023. “With the support of PlayStation fans, we have reached a milestone of 40 million PS5 consoles sold through to gamers since launch. Thank you so much to our community of gamers – without you this would have been an impossible task,” said the president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan.

“A great addition to the PS5 generation has been our array of accessories,” he added. With products such as Project Q – which allows PS5 games to be streamed to the device – and
PlayStation-branded wireless earbuds
 in the horizon, it’s evident that the company is aiming to expand this further.

It’s also worth noting that it has been almost three years since the initial release of the PS5, so it’s no surprise that rumours of a PS5 Pro have started surfacing. A November 2024 launch date has been thrown around, but as is the case with rumours, take this with a pinch of salt.


SIMGOT EW200 Review: Bright, Energetic IEM on a Budget

Though SIMGOT has been in the ChiFi scene for quite some time now, the brand isn’t exactly the first name most would think of when it comes to…well, ChiFi. To date, SIMGOT hasn’t released any particularly standout product in the very competitive space, with only a handful number of IEMs under its belt.

That being said, SIMGOT is stepping back into the spotlight this year with the EA500, which was released earlier this year. That IEM looks to be quite well-received, and in this review, we’ll find out if the newer (and more affordable) SIMGOT EW200 is worth considering too.

What It Is

The SIMGOT EW200 uses a 10mm dual-magnetic, dual-cavity dynamic driver with a SCP diaphragm; the latter supposedly provides better high-frequency control and smoother layering. This single dynamic driver IEM is going for
$39.99 (about RM180) on Linsoul
; the store graciously sent over this review unit.

Inside the box of the EW200, you get just about what you might expect from an IEM at this price point. You get the IEM itself, a 2-pin silver-plated OFC cable, a drawstring pouch, and three pairs of ear tips – no sight of any wide-bore or foam tips here though.

As for the shell of the EW200, it sports an all-metal body with a shiny mirror finish, supposedly machined from high-density alloy. The shell’s small profile makes it easy to get a comfortable fit with the EW200, though it doesn’t sit still in my ears. I often lose the seal after a while, requiring me to readjust the fit.

The included silver-plated OFC cable is free from microphonics and doesn’t tangle easily, which is good. I also like how the transparent white appearance of the cable goes well with the silver shells of the IEM.

How Does It Sound?

As a whole, the sonic character of the SIMGOT EW200 centres around a neutral foundation with a lively and crispy treble presentation. The mid-range and bass exhibit a slight lightness in note weight, providing a sense of airiness to the overall sound signature. This emphasis on the upper frequencies makes the EW200 great for those who appreciate a bright and energetic sound.

While the EW200 presents a decently wide soundstage, it still retains an “in-your-head” experience. However, the instrument separation remains commendable, allowing individual elements to occupy distinct spaces within the soundstage. This aspect contributes to an immersive listening experience with good depth and layering.

Another plus point for the EW200 is the fact that it is pretty easy to drive, making it a versatile option for various devices. Whether it’s connected to a smartphone, portable music player, or just your laptop, the IEM delivers satisfactory volume levels without requiring additional amplification. Also, since the EW200 has a brighter sound signature, a warmer source might work quite well in balancing the highs.

Bass

There’s more emphasis on mid-bass than sub-bass, which gives the EW200 a bit more weight, though not by much. While the bass impact is not the most pronounced, it retains ample speed and agility, making it well-suited for genres like jazz and acoustic music. Based on my testing, tip rolling to a different pair of ear tips can help boost the bass a little, while also taming the bright treble a tad.

Mids

The humble bass presentation means the EW200 doesn’t suffer from bass bleed, but that doesn’t help much when it comes to male vocals. Presentation here is light and lacking some warmth in order to approach what I personally deem natural.

It’s a similar story with female vocals; there’s a “floatiness” that makes it lack structure and body. That being said, the relatively forward mids of the EW200 bring vocals and instruments to the forefront, adding a sense of intimacy and presence to the soundstage. The sparkle present in the upper mids is also quite pleasant and well-controlled enough to not be considered shouty.

Highs

The treble energy of the EW200 is undoubtedly one of its best qualities. There are copious amounts of treble energy present with plenty of air and sparkle. With this bright presentation comes good clarity and resolution as well.

However, if you’re treble-sensitive, you might find this set borderline sibilant, though I would say it’s actually quite well-controlled…with some caveats. My personal recommendation is to not raise the volume too high as to not be bombarded by overwhelmingly sharp highs.

But as mentioned before, tip rolling is an option with the EW200, and the right ear tips could help tame the treble a bit and make the listening experience less fatiguing while still keeping most of the EW200’s good traits.

Is It Worth It?

As a product for SIMGOT to make a comeback of sorts in the hugely competitive ChiFi market, the SIMGOT EW200 is…really quite a compelling choice for those seeking a treble-focused sound signature on a budget. Its crisp and energetic presentation complements various music genres, particularly those that benefit from intricate detailing and vibrant upper frequencies.

While the EW200 offers an attractive proposition with its affordable $39.99 price point, it’s essential to consider its caveats. There’s the slight lightness in note weight, along with a bright presentation that might be too much for some listeners.

As an alternative, the
QKZ x HBB Khan
 goes for the same price and has dual dynamic drivers instead to provide a more impactful bass response in comparison to the EW200. Basically, it comes down to whether you prefer a warmer and bassier presentation (the Khan) or a brighter and lighter one (the EW200).

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


Honkai Impact 3rd Forest Capriccio Online Concert Happening Tonight

Hoyoverse holds concerts for its various games every now and then, including
Genshin Impact
 and Honkai Impact 3rd. This time around, it’s for the latter, and for the first time ever, the Honkai Impact 3rd Forest Capriccio concert will be held both offline and online.

The Honkai Impact 3rd offline concert will be held in several cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur right here in Malaysia. Of course, if you didn’t manage to secure an invite to the offline concert, you can still catch it online on various platforms, including YouTube.

According to Hoyoverse, the Honkai Impact 3rd concert will take advantage of virtual production and extended reality (xR) technologies. “When the boundary between real and virtual world blurs, the dimensional wall shall break, expanding the world of Honkai Impact 3rd to an infinite reality,” as the company puts it.

Honkai Impact 3rd Forest Capriccio online concert will go live later tonight (29 July) at 8PM Malaysian time. Again, if you weren’t able to get an invite to the offline concert, you can still catch it online through the YouTube video linked below.


Proton Saga Hot Wheels’ Packaging Designed by 9-Year-Old – Available in Malaysia 2024

The limited edition Proton Saga Hot Wheels is set to be available in Malaysia sometime in 2024. Ahead of its launch, Mattel and Proton held a kids design competition for the packaging of the diecast, and it was won by 9-year-old Saw Jane Harn from Penang.

The design competition kicked off earlier this year, and Harn’s artwork was selected from over 386 participants between the ages of 4 to 12 years old. Keeping in line with the theme of “A Malaysian National Car,” her design includes the rhinoceros hornbill, the hibiscus, and of course, the Petronas Twin Towers.

“The Malaysian elements Jane Harn chose for her design are a quintessential summation of our beautiful country,” said the chief designer of Proton (and one of the judges for the competition), Azlan Othman. “We thought that her artful execution of these undeniably Malaysian icons would set a wonderful backdrop for the Hot Wheels Proton Saga,” he added.

However, the press release mentioned that Harn’s artwork will undergo a pre-production review to identify any regulatory or other approvals that may be required. Of course, the original design elements will be retained as much as possible.

The Hot Wheels Proton Saga Special Edition diecast will first be available in over 150 countries from December 2023. For the Malaysian market, it will be offered here sometime in 2024 at “leading toy specialty stores, departmental stores, hypermarkets, petrol kiosks, online, and in convenience stores nationwide.”


2023 Honda City Facelift Launching in Malaysia 10 August

The 2023 Honda City facelift is launching in Malaysia next week on 10 August! Set to be introduced not long after the
WR-V’s debut a few weeks ago
, the facelifted B-segment sedan is getting a number of notable upgrades, including a more sophisticated ADAS.

Not only does the City facelift come with a new front grille and updated bumper design – as shown here for the range-topping e:HEV RS model – its Honda Sensing ADAS capability is getting two new features too. These include Low Speed Follow (LSF) and Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN).

Beyond that, the City e:HEV RS soldiers on with the same Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid powertrain that delivers 109PS and 253Nm of torque. The sedan also comes with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that does 98PS and 127Nm of torque, but it mainly acts as a generator for the electric motor. The 1.5L mill is only used at higher speeds.

While only the City e:HEV RS has been confirmed so far, it’s safe to assume Honda Malaysia will continue to offer petrol variants of the City. Currently, these include the S, E, V, and V Sensing models, which are all powered by the same 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque. It is paired to a CVT with drive sent to the front wheels.

We’ll find out more about the new Honda City facelift, including its local pricing, once it is launched in Malaysia next week on 10 August. The sedan is also available for booking now at all 101 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide. Alternatively, pre-booking can be done online
here
, or through the HondaTouch app – it can be downloaded from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Realme Opens 4 New “Brand Store 3.0” in Malaysia – KL, Selangor, Perak, N. Sembilan

Realme recently opened four new stores throughout Malaysia. Dubbed Brand Store 3.0, these outlets features a “modern design concept and enhanced retail services and experience,” as the Chinese company puts it.

Out of the four new stores, two of them are located here in Klang Valley. These include Pavilion Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, and Sunway Pyramid in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. As for the other two, they are found in Palm Mall in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, as well as Ipoh Parade in Ipoh, Perak.

These four outlets are the first to feature Realme’s Brand Store 3.0 philosophy, so to speak. The company added that existing Realme outlets will be upgraded to match the aesthetics and retail experience of these new stores to better serve its customers.

The four new Realme Brand Store 3.0 outlets are now open to the public. To recap, they can be found in Pavilion Bukit Jalil (Kuala Lumpur); Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya (Selangor); Palm Mall, Seremban (Negeri Sembilan); and Ipoh Parade, Ipoh (Perak).


Realme 11 Pro Roadshow in Pavilion Bukit Jalil 4 – 6 August 2023 Offers RM15,000 Worth of Prizes

Initially launched in Malaysia about a couple of weeks ago, Realme is running a roadshow for its latest premium mid-range phones, the Realme 11 Pro series, from today onwards. Taking place in Pavilion Bukit Jalil, lucky draw prizes worth a total of RM15,000 are up for grabs.

In order to be eligible for the lucky draw, you just have to purchase a smartphone or tablet – all of which have their own promotions – at the roadshow in Pavilion Bukit Jalil between 4 to 6 August. Some of the prizes that are offered include a Realme 43-inch TV, Realme Buds Air 3, Realme Buds T100, and a Realme Watch 2 Pro.

One of the highlights of the 11 Pro series is certainly the vegan leather back panel. Realme Design Studio collaborated with Matteo Menotto – former print and textile designer from Gucci – to work on the Sunrise Beige and Oasis Green colourways of the phones. While Realme isn’t the first brand to make use of vegan leather, the back panel design is really quite eye-catching, in our opinion.

Beyond that, the 11 Pro+ gets a pretty sophisticated triple camera system made up of a 200MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 2MP macro lens; it also has a 32MP selfie camera. As for the 11 Pro, it has a more modest dual camera setup (100MP main + 2MP depth) and a 16MP front-facing shooter.

Other specifications of the 11 Pro series include a 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, and a 5,000mAh battery. It’s worth noting that the 11 Pro+ features faster 100W charging over the standard 11 Pro’s 67W rate.

To recap, the Realme 11 Pro series roadshow will take place from today (4 August) to 6 August 2023 in the Centre Court (level 2) of Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. If you want to grab the latest Realme 11 Pro phones – or any other products from Realme – you can drop by the roadshow.


Realme 11 & Realme 11x Appear in SIRIM – Malaysian Launch Soon?

The
Realme 11 Pro series
 was launched in Malaysia just last month, and it appears the Chinese company is already gearing up to launch two new phones on our shores. Based on what we gathered, we believe both the Realme 11 and Realme 11x will debut here very soon.

After all, the two phones have already been registered with SIRIM. The Realme 11x appeared in SIRIM’s database yesterday on 15 August, while the standard Realme 11 was registered quite a while back on 27 July. It’s worth noting that these two phones will be launched in India
next week on 23 August
.

Chances are, Malaysia will mirror the specifications of the Realme 11 and Realme 11x for the Indian market, though only certain specifications have been detailed by Realme India. The Realme 11 is said to feature a 108MP primary camera with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging, while no specific details regarding the Realme 11x have been revealed.

Nonetheless, we’ll find out more about the Realme 11 and Realme 11x once they are launched in India on 23 August next week. At the moment, no word yet on the Malaysian availability of the two phones, but as they have been registered with SIRIM already, we expect to hear more about both devices from Realme Malaysia very soon.


Vivo Y78 Lands in Malaysia for RM1,399 – 120Hz Dual Curved Screen, 64MP OIS Camera

Vivo just launched a new mid-range smartphone in Malaysia, the Vivo Y78. Sporting a 120Hz dual curved screen with a 64MP camera – complete with optical image stabilisation – the Y78 looks to be a rather interesting mid-ranger that doesn’t cost a lot of money either.

For the Malaysian market, only one variant of the Y78 is offered. Packed with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the phone retails at RM1,399 on our shores. Two colour options are available: Dreamy Gold and Flare Black.

For that kind of money, the Y78 features a 6.78-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a triple camera system made up of the aforementioned 64MP main sensor with OIS, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth lens.

Other specifications of the Y78 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, a 16MP selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging, and Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13 out of the box.

The Vivo Y78 is
now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM1,399
. Early birds can also get RM599 worth of freebies, including a pair of wireless earbuds, a 180-day extended warranty, and a 180-day screen protection.


Photo Essay: Hoyo Fest 2023 in Malaysia – Tropicana Gardens Mall Until 7 August

Hoyo Fest is back in Malaysia, and it is bigger than ever! This time around, Hoyo Fest 2023 has a booth of its own in Tropicana Gardens Mall, Petaling Jaya. All five games from the company are featured here too, including
Honkai: Star Rail
,
Genshin Impact
, Honkai Impact 3rd, Tears of Themis, and even the unreleased Zenless Zone Zero.

If you want to check out either one of these games – you can even play a beta version of Zenless Zone Zero at the event – Hoyo Fest 2023 is certainly worth a visit. After all, you can get a number of neat merchandise for free; more exclusive merchandise are available for purchase as well.

Each Hoyoverse title at Hoyo Fest 2023 has its own booth with activities unique to the specific game. By completing these activities, players can get various merchandise. Not surprisingly, Genshin Impact has the most number of activities, where visitors can walk away with stickers, posters, postcards, and even a Primogem-themed hair accessory.

Out of all the booths at this year’s Hoyo Fest, Genshin Impact has (arguably) the most eye-catching one. The design of the booth itself is quite elaborate, and there’s even a Katheryne to greet visitors and assist with the activities; very neat.

Honkai: Star Rail has quite an intriguing set up at Hoyo Fest too, and it proved to be quite popular among visitors when we were there. Besides the usual merchandise such as fans and bookmarks – a large Pom-Pom can be found here too! – you can even try out various Star Rail characters on a couple of smartphones provided at the booth. What we found particularly interesting is the fact that the Blade on trial has
all six Eidolons
. Needless to say, he’s very strong.

Another booth we’re particularly fond of is Zenless Zone Zero’s. After all, visitors can try out the game for themselves here. Given that the only time the game can be played was during its first (and only) closed beta test last year, it’s quite the opportunity to be able to test out the game before its release.

Speaking of which, Zenless Zone Zero doesn’t have a release date yet either. Based on our brief time playing through the beta, it does seem like a very promising action RPG from Hoyoverse with a rather interesting storyline.

Beyond that, the Honkai Impact 3rd and Tears of Themis booths have their own unique aesthetics too at Hoyo Fest. A booth for Lumi – Hoyoverse’s main character for its Nova Desktop live wallpaper app – is also present at the event ground for visitors to take pictures at for their social media.

Once visitors have visited all the booths at Hoyo Fest, they can proceed to the merchandise area to buy…well, merchandise from Hoyoverse’s games. Given that it hasn’t been released yet, no Zenless Zone Zero merchandise is offered, though Genshin Impact has the widest range of merchandise on sale. there’s even a neat 1/7 scale figure of Ningguang that costs a cool RM1,014.

Hoyo Fest 2023 is definitely shaping up to be the most exciting event yet for fans of Hoyoverse’s various titles here in Malaysia. To recap, the event will be at Tropicana Gardens Mall, Petaling Jaya until 7 August next week. More details on this year’s Hoyo Fest can be found
here
.


Nothing Phone 2 Review: Looking Beyond the Hype

Nothing’s marketing has always relied on building hype for its range of products, though for the Nothing Phone 2, it is a bit more subdued – just a bit. But looking beyond the hype, the Phone 2 is a really solid premium mid-range phone with a number of cool tricks under its sleeves, including the eye-catching Glyph Interface.

However, retailing from RM2,999, it is also quite a bit more expensive than last year’s
Phone 1
; it went for RM2,699 at launch for the same RAM and storage configuration. At this price point, the Phone 2 has to compete with a number of very competent smartphones, some of which are faster, more upmarket flagship-class devices.

So is the Nothing Phone 2 worth it then? Well, in my opinion, yes, especially if you like the aesthetics of the phone and appreciate good software experience.

What It Is

Display
6.7-inch LTPO OLED (2412 x 1080), adaptive 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 3.0GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 730
RAM
12GB
Storage
256/512GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
50MP f/1.88, OIS
50MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
Camera (front)
32MP f/2.45
Battery
4,700mAh with 45W fast charging
Dimensions
162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm
Weight
201.2g
OS
Nothing OS 2.0 based on Android 13
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
USB Type-C
Price
RM2,999 (256GB), RM3,499 (512GB)

If the Nothing Phone 2 was launched last year, it could’ve easily pass off as a flagship phone. After all, it’s powered by a (still very capable) Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which can provide a good level of performance. It also has a bright and vibrant OLED panel with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.

While the Phone 2’s dual camera system doesn’t sound particularly impressive, it’s worth noting that its 50MP primary camera features a Sony IMX890 sensor; the very same one found in the flagship
OnePlus 11
. Not surprisingly, this translates to very respectable camera performance, as you can see for yourself further down the review.

The Good Stuff

Let’s get to the most eye-catching aspect of the Phone 2 first: its Glyph Interface lighting on the back panel. Compared to its predecessor, the lighting in the main glyph area is now broken up to several parts, with some of them – such as the top right corner – doubling as a progress tracker for delivery services or even a countdown timer.

Ultimately, this is no more than just a novel feature, though I have to admit it is still quite a cool feature. Beyond that, the Glyph Interface will also light up when I receive notifications or a phone call. Obviously, this requires me to put the phone face down on a surface to really make use of the lighting system, which I’m something I’m not particularly comfortable doing. I’ll get back to this further down the review.

In the performance department, the Phone 2’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is more than powerful enough to provide fast, zippy performance. Granted, it’s still not quite as fast as the latest flagship phones powered by the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and it does struggle (a tad) to run more graphically demanding games such as
Genshin Impact
 and
Honkai: Star Rail
 at 60fps consistently.

That being said, as a whole, I do think the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can still provide a pleasant gaming experience.

Next, we have the Phone 2’s 6.7-inch 1080p LTPO OLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. Naturally, this being an OLED panel, it has vibrant, punchy colours with deep blacks and wide viewing angles. Rest assured, the screen quality of the Phone 2 is comparable to other phones at this price point.

Battery life of the Phone 2 is worth a mention here too. On average, I can easily get over six hours of screen on time out of the 4,700mAh battery, and this is with a few gaming sessions thrown in throughout the day. Suffice to say I can easily get all-day battery life out of this phone.

Another aspect of the Phone 2 that I’m really fond of is Nothing OS 2.0. Compared to many other versions of Android, Nothing OS feels notably more polished and intuitive to use. Not only does it feel lightweight and responsive, its always-on display (AOD) is very functional too. I can even add widgets to the lock screen that will remain visible on the AOD; how cool is that?

Last but not least is the camera performance of the Phone 2. Sporting a dual camera system made up of a 50MP main shooter and a 50MP ultra-wide angle lens, the former is definitely the highlight. As mentioned, it features the Sony IMX890 sensor, which proved to be quite capable in my testing. Judge for yourself with these sample images:

50MP primary

50MP primary

50MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

50MP primary (2x zoom)

50MP primary

50MP primary

50MP primary

50MP primary

Whether it’s daytime or nighttime, the Phone 2 can still take great-looking shots with good detail preservation and colour reproduction. While the camera does have a tendency to oversaturate colours, it doesn’t get to the point where images look unnatural.

While I’m quite happy with the image quality of the Phone 2’s camera, I do have one issue with the configuration of the camera – let’s talk about that in the next section.

The Bad Stuff

For a phone that starts from RM2,999, the Phone 2 still lacks several key features, one of which is a dedicated telephoto camera. This, in turn, limits the versatility of the device’s camera system. Given that a number of other phones at this price point feature a more sophisticated camera setup, the Phone 2 doesn’t compare favourably in this regard.

And then there’s the Phone 2’s lack of meaningful water resistance. Sure, it comes with an IP54 splash resistance, but similarly priced phones easily have a superior IP68 water resistance rating for better protection against accidental water damage.

My last qualm with the Phone 2 is also one of its most highlighted features: the Glyph Interface lighting system. Yes, it’s a cool party trick that I played around quite a bit when I first got the phone. But once the novelty wears off, it feels more like a gimmick, a sentiment that I believe will be true for most users.

Plus, I really don’t recommend putting down the Phone 2 – or any phone for that matter – face down on a surface, especially without a dedicated case or screen protector to prevent scratching the display.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking for good value for money, the Nothing Phone 2 is not the best option in this regard. But if you want a reasonably fast phone with good battery life – and one of the most polished software experiences around – I highly, highly recommend the Phone 2.

In a market where software experience isn’t prioritised by many phone brands, Nothing OS on the Phone 2 is a breath of fresh air. For a young brand, Nothing is certainly on the right track, and I’m looking forward to future products from the growing company.


Post Malone Buys €2 Million MTG LOTR 1/1 The One Ring Card

The highly sought-after The One Ring card from Magic: The Gathering’s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set has found a buyer, and it’s a very prominent figure. Rapper Post Malone is the proud owner of MTG’s rarest card yet, though it wasn’t revealed how much he bought the card for.

But looking back, the previous (public) offer for The One Ring was at a whopping
€2 million
, which comes up to about RM9.9 million (!). The original owner of the card, Brook Trafton, posted several TikTok videos of The One Ring, including him meeting with Post Malone himself to sell the card.

@brooktrafton

When I found the One Ring, the first person who came to mind was @Post Malone. I have played MTG since I was a kid and obviously it would be amazing to keep this card. But for a guy like me, being able to sell it is life changing. I just really hoped it would go to someone who would appreciate it as much as I do. This is my dream come true, meeting Post Malone and him buying the One Ring card from me is literally a moment straight out of a fairytale. Post Malone @Magic: The Gathering you have changed my life. Things like this don’t happen to people like me, I guess it’s magic. I am forever grateful 🙏 ✨
#postmalone

#onering

#oneofone

#mtg

#magic

#mint

#psa

#card

#magicthegathering

#lordoftherings

#trading

#tradingcards

#theonering

#sauron

#collector

#edition

#one

#gandalf

#tradingcardgame

♬ original sound – Brook Trafton

Post Malone is known to be an avid MTG player, so it’s no surprise that he’s interested to get the incredibly rare one of a kind card. “Meeting Post Malone and him buying the One Ring card from me is literally a moment straight out of a fairytale,” said Brook.

Evidently, Wizards of the Coast’s decision to release a one of one card like The One Ring brought quite a bit of attention to both Magic: The Gathering and The Lord of the Rings franchise. It remains to be seen if Wizards will release more cards of such rarity in the future.


3 – 9 August Fuel Price: No Changes, RON 97 Stays at RM3.37 Per Litre

Another week, another fuel price update. Not surprisingly, there’s no price movement for RON 97 this week, and the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

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

These prices will be in effect from 3 to 9 August next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Honda Malaysia Offers up to RM9,000 Discount for Merdeka 2023

Honda Malaysia’s discount for the month of August 2023 looks to be quite attractive. In conjunction with our upcoming 66th Merdeka celebration, a number of Honda models are discounted pretty heavily this month. These include the
City Hatchback
, CR-V, and Accord.

Naturally, the
Honda Accord
 gets the best discount. Both the range-topping TC-P and more affordable TC models of the D-segment sedan receive a total of RM9,000 rebate, while all variants of the CR-V get a RM8,000 total discount.

As for the City Hatchback, all five models of the B-segment hatchback are discounted by RM2,500.

As usual, these discounts are only applicable to vehicles that are registered between 1 to 31 August 2023, meaning you have to take delivery of the car within this month. More details on Honda Malaysia’s Merdeka promotion can be found on
its official website
.

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


Proton Sold 13,326 Cars in July 2023 – Four Models Are Segment Leaders

Proton continues to record respectable sales figures last month. With 13,326 units sold in July 2023 – domestic and export sales included – the national carmaker sees a 16.1% year-on-year improvement. On top of that, four Proton models also lead their respective segments.

Despite only being in the market for about three months now, the
Proton X90
 is already leading the D-segment SUV market. In July 2023 itself, 886 units were delivered, bringing the total number of X90 sold so far to 2,225 units.

Not surprisingly, the
X50
 continues to be the best-selling B-segment SUV in Malaysia. 2,630 units of the highly popular SUV were sold last month with a total of 20,192 units delivered in 2023. As for the Persona, it leads the B-segment sedan market with 1,953 units sold in July 2023 – 14,533 units in total for the year.

Lastly, the Exora is the C-segment MPV leader with 374 units sold last month for a total of 2,741 units sold in the first seven months of 2023. While the
Saga
 isn’t leading the A-segment sedan market last month, it is still the carmaker’s best-selling model with 5,926 units delivered in July 2023; a total of 39,251 units have been sold throughout this year.

“In terms of percentages, our growth in sales is more than double of the industry thus far and this can be attributed to car buyers being attracted to the technology, quality, safety, and value offered by our model range,” said the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah.

“With the Proton X90 already leading its class after just three months,
new model launches

on the horizon
 and the company’s
impending entry into the EV market
 in 2023 via smart Malaysia, we are confident of hitting our year-end targets,” he added.


Sennheiser EW-DX Digital Wireless Microphone System Now in Malaysia From RM12,999

Professionals who are looking to get a new microphone system now have a new option to consider in Malaysia. The Sennheiser EW-DX digital wireless microphone series has just landed on our shores, and it’s said to feature the lowest latency (1.9 milliseconds) in the market.

Two sets of the EW-DX are currently available in Malaysia. The EW-DX 835-S handheld set is priced at RM12,999, while the EW-DX MKE 2 lavalier set goes for RM13,999. Either sets will come with a handheld, bodypack, and table stand transmitters; two 2-channel receiver versions in a half 19-inch rack space (one with Dante and another without); and a 4-channel Dante-enabled receiver in a full 19-inch format.

One of the key selling points of the EW-DX – aside from its low latency – is the fact that it can simplify workflows to deliver a digital UHF system that can be scaled easily. “This awesome system combines pro features and ease of use in well-designed, rugged housings. We’re happy to see it hitting the market,” said the product manager of Sennheiser, Benny Franke.

The Sennheiser EW-DX is now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM12,999. Those who are interested to get the wireless microphone system can get in touch with Sennheiser’s Malaysian distributor,
Acoustic & Lighting System
.


Acer Day 2023 Starts Today – Up to RM600,000 Worth of Prizes, New Acer Swift Go 14 Laptop

Acer Day is back for 2023, and there are quite a number of attractive prizes, discounts, and products up for grabs from today until 30 September. Not only are
RM600,000 worth of prizes
 are offered throughout Acer Day 2023, the Taiwanese company is also bringing in a special edition of the Acer Swift Go 14 for the celebration.

Let’s talk about the RM600,000 prize pool first. Of course, the prizes are divided to several categories ranging from monthly giveaways – open to customers who purchase selected Acer products – to cash rebates offered through a spin the wheel mechanic at Acer Day Carnivals that are held at selected Acer Concept stores over four weekends.

As mentioned, Acer Malaysia is also bringing in the Acer Swift Go 14 Special Edition to the local market in conjunction with Acer Day. Two variants are offered: the Intel Core i5-13500H model with a 512GB SSD is priced at RM3,899, while the Core i7-13700H variant with a more generous 1TB SSD goes for RM4,599.

Beyond the different processor and SSD capacity, other specifications of the Swift Go 14 are the same for both models. These include a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED display, 16GB of RAM, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, as well as up to eight hours of battery life. The full version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 is also bundled with the laptop.

To recap, Acer Day 2023 will be held from today until 30 September 2023. More details on the prizes and promotions offered throughout the celebration can be found on
Acer Malaysia’s Facebook page
.


Redmi 12C Receives Further Price Cut in Malaysia – Now From RM409

The budget-friendly
Redmi 12C
 was launched in Malaysia back in March this year, and it received a price cut the following month in April 2023. Today, it got yet another price revision, making the affordable phone – which is packed with a reasonably large display and battery capacity – an even better option now for those on a tight budget.

Two variants of the Redmi 12C are offered in Malaysia, and both of them receive the same price cut. The base model with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage now retails at RM409 (from RM499), while the 6GB + 128GB configuration goes for RM509 (previously RM599).

At the time of writing, three different colour options are available: Mint Green, Lavender Purple, and Graphite Grey. Do note that some colourways are only available for specific variants.

Given the affordable nature of the Redmi 12C, it has a modest spec sheet. It features a 6.71-inch 720p display, a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, a 50MP primary camera paired with an auxiliary lens for capturing depth information, a 5MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging via a microUSB port.

The Redmi 12C is now available for purchase in Malaysia at these new prices through
Shopee
. To recap, the Redmi 12C now goes for RM409 and RM509 for the 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB configurations respectively.


Unboxing RM1,099 MTG Commander Masters Collector Boosters Box!

@nextrift

#MTG
 Commander Masters Collector Boosters unboxing!
#mtgtiktok

#cardgame

#gaming

#tcg

#mtgcommander

#wizardsofthecoast

♬ Aesthetic – Gaspar

As the first Masters set made exclusively for the Commander format, Magic: The Gathering’s newest Commander Masters expansion is quite an intriguing one. After all, the Commander format is one of the most popular ways to play the card game.

Consisting of 40 new cards and “beloved reprints,” as Wizards puts it, Commander Masters features collectable versions of fan-favourite cards. They feature the new borderless frame break treatment where the artwork “explodes” out of the card, which does look quite good.

In conjunction with the launch of the new set today on 4 August, Wizards sent us a box of Collector Boosters from the Commander Masters set to check out. Without further ado, let’s get to the unboxing!

For the Malaysian market, a box of Collector Boosters from the Commander Masters set (which includes four boosters)
costs a cool RM1,099.99
, with individual boosters
priced at RM249.99
. So yes, oddly enough, purchasing four boosters separately will actually save you RM100. Well, RM100.03, if you want to be specific.

Collector Boosters command a premium as they contain cards with exclusive treatments. In the case of Commander Masters, textured foil, foil-etched, and extended-art cards from the set can only be found in Collector Boosters. You’ll also get 15 MTG cards and one token card in a pack of Collector Booster.

Here’s the breakdown of cards that you can get in a Commander Masters Collector Booster: four foil commons; two foil uncommons; one foil basic land in the retro frame; two non-foil borderless commons or uncommons; one foil borderless common or uncommon; one foil rare or mythic rare; one foil-etched rare or mythic rare; one non-foil (80% chance) or foil (20% chance) extended-art rare or mythic rare from Commander Masters Commander decks; one non-foil borderless rare or mythic rare; a foil or textured foil (4% chance) rare or mythic rare; and finally, a foil double-face token.

The contents of a Commander Masters Collector Booster

Although every rare slot in a Commander Masters Collector Booster can also be a mythic rare, we only managed to pull one mythic rare card from the four boosters we opened. On the bright side, we got a Demonic Tutor with the borderless frame break treatment, which is
currently going for $59.99
 (about RM270) on Card Kingdom.

Besides that, we also opened several cards with the borderless profile treatment. These include a non-foil Azusa, Lost but Seeking, as well as a foil Maelstrom Wanderer. Both of these cards are currently priced at $9.99 (about RM45) on Card Kingdom; not too bad.

As mentioned, every Collector Booster will come with a foil basic land in the retro frame, which looks quite good, in our opinion.

And that is our unboxing of MTG Commander Masters’ Collector Boosters. There’s no denying that Collector Boosters are quite costly, though the prospect of cracking open valuable cards with the exclusive textured foil, foil-etched, or extended-art treatment is certainly exciting.


Genshin Impact 4.0 Update Brings Fontaine Region & Underwater Gameplay 16 August

Genshin Impact
‘s much anticipated Fontaine region is finally going live next week on 16 August with the Version 4.0 update. Not only will underwater gameplay be introduced in the update, three new characters from Fontaine will be playable too, including Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet.

Lyney is the only 5-star character of the bunch, while Lynette and Freminet are 4-star units. Lyney and Lynette will be featured in phase one of Genshin Impact 4.0’s event wish alongside Yelan, while Freminet will be available in the second phase in Tartaglia’s and Zhongli’s rerun banners.

Lynette

Freminet

Lyney

Icewind Suite, a new boss in the Fontaine region

This being a major update, Version 4.0 of Genshin Impact will kickstart the new Fontaine storyline as well as the addition of underwater gameplay; a first for the game. This makes sense, given that the “Nation of Justice” is surrounded by water and ruled by the current Hydro Archon, Focalors.

A slew of quality of life improvements are also coming to Genshin Impact 4.0. On PlayStation consoles, global illumination and motion sensor support (along with faster loading times) will be added. Hoyoverse will also introduce multi-layered map and new backgrounds in the party setup page.

The Version 4.0 of Genshin Impact will go live on 16 August next week. To recap, Lyney’s and Lynette’s banners will be offered first with Yelan’s rerun once the update drops, followed by Freminet’s debut alongside Tartaglia’s and Zhongli’s event wishes in the second phase at a later date.


Spy Shot: Proton S50 Local Testing Continues! New Rear Bumper Design?

Proton’s much anticipated sedan, the
Proton S50
, has been spotted on Malaysian roads yet again. This time around, it was seen on MRR2 here in Kuala Lumpur, and it is covered with a new camouflage. On top of that, it looks to be sporting a different rear bumper than its donor car too, the Geely Emgrand.

These images of the S50 were taken by Muhamad Azmeer and subsequently shared by
The Ajerul on Facebook
. Though most of the car’s exterior is covered in camouflage, some parts of the rear bumper are exposed, and it looks a tad different than the Emgrand’s design.

Of course, given that this is just a test mule of the S50, it may not reflect the design of the finished product when it is officially launched.

Anyway, the S50 is is rumoured to be launched in Malaysia as early as November 2023. On top of that, four different variants are said to be offered, and all of them will be powered by the familiar 1.5L TGDi engine that outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque – the same one found under the hood of the
X50
 and X70.

Nonetheless, until confirmed by Proton itself, take these rumoured details on the Proton S50 with a grain of salt – except for the
unavailability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
. We should learn more about the S50 as we approach closer to the rumoured November 2023 launch of the sedan.


TTRacing Airflex Is the Brand’s First Ergonomic Chair for RM599

TTRacing is known for its range of gaming chairs, so it’s quite interesting when the brand recently unveiled the TTRacing Airflex. It’s an ergonomic chair with a number of intriguing features, and true to TTRacing’s pricing strategy, it’s quite affordable too.

Retailing at RM599, the Airflex is available in two colours: Graphite Black and Ashy Grey. One of the headline features of the ergonomic chair is the shape of its mesh back, which is said to offer “integrated lumbar support that extends up to your neck, all without the need for a detachable headrest,” as the company puts it.

Beyond that, the Airflex’s armrests can also be flipped up, and the seat base looks to be thick enough to provide optimal support. The chair itself can be tilted back 121-degree too, and the nylon wheelbase is said to be able to offer good stability as well.

The TTRacing Airflex is now available for pre-order on
TTRacing’s online store for RM599
. Shipping is expected to start from 4 September next month, though there’s a chance deliveries could begin earlier. If you’re keen to get the Airflex, use our code NEXTRIFT10 to get a 10% discount with no minimum spend – it can be used for other TTRacing products too.


Anker Mach V1 Ultra Now in Malaysia for RM4,399 – 1st Cordless Vacuum With Steam Mop

Anker is well-known for its range of chargers and power banks, but today, the company is launching something a little different: a vacuum cleaner. Not just any vacuum cleaner either – the Anker Mach V1 Ultra is said to be the first cordless stick vacuum cleaner with steam mopping capability.

For the Malaysian market, the Mach V1 Ultra retails at a cool RM4,399. For that kind of money, it does have some interesting features, including the aforementioned steam mop that allows it to clean stubborn stains easier while also disinfecting surfaces. After all, it can produce steams that reach temperatures of 110°C.

Aside from that, the V1 Ultra also has a sterilisation technology dubbed Eco-Clean Ozone. It does so by “breaking down ozone molecules into oxygen molecules,” as the company puts it, so the vacuum can clean and disinfect surfaces more effectively.

As for battery life, the V1 Ultra can last up to 82 minutes on a single charge, thanks to Anker’s battery management system that leverages on its expertise in, well, charging technology. The vacuum can also be connected to the Eufy Clean app to monitor its state or charge, performance figures, and even maintenance reminders.

The Anker Mach V1 Ultra is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM4,399 from various retailers. It also comes with a 24-month warranty with one-to-one exchange, which is quite neat.


Video: TTRacing Titus Review – Worth RM999?

TTRacing has consistently released one affordable product after another, and the
TTRacing Titus
 is no exception. After all, it’s a smart desk that retails from only RM999, and for that kind of money, it’s quite a complete height-adjustable desk.

Naturally, the Titus features an electric motor that can adjust the height of the desk from as low as 760mm to 1,210mm. It also has a curved cutout with retractable headphone and cup holders. If you’re concerned about reliability, the desk’s electric motor is covered by a two-year warranty.

If you’d like to learn more about the TTRacing Titus, watch our full video review above! You can purchase the desk over at
TTRacing’s official website
, and if you plan on doing that, use our code NEXTRIFT10 to get a 10% discount with no minimum spend – it can be used on other TTRacing products too.


Acer Nitro 16 Launched in Malaysia From RM5,799 – Up to RTX 4070 GPU

Initially unveiled at CES 2023, the Acer Nitro 16 – with a new design language to boot – is finally available in Malaysia today. Configurable with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, this gaming laptop looks to offer a good level of performance for the money, which has always been a winning trait for Acer’s range of Nitro laptops.

For the Malaysian market, there are three different variants of the Nitro 16, and all of them feature AMD’s processors. The base model with a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, an RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD retails at RM5,799. If you want to upgrade the GPU to an RTX 4060, it will set you back RM6,399.

As for the range-topping RTX 4070 model – which also features a faster Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD – it is priced at RM7,999.

Beyond these hardware differences, all configurations of the Nitro 16 feature the same 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate. It also has a 720p webcam, a 25.9mm thick chassis that tips the scales at 2.7kg, as well as up to 10 hours of battery life. It is also covered under a two-year warranty with the first year being international warranty.

The Acer Nitro 16 is now available for purchase in Malaysia. In conjunction with the ongoing
Acer Day
, every purchase of the gaming laptop by 17 August will come with freebies worth RM828, including a Predator Cestus 335 mouse, a Predator-branded backpack, as well as TNG ewallet credit worth up to RM250.


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Unboxing & Hands-on: Samsung’s Most Exciting Foldable Yet?

Samsung’s 2023 foldable devices are a bit of a mixed bag, in my opinion. Take the
Galaxy Z Fold 5
: beyond a performance upgrade and a new gapless design, the foldable phone is largely similar
to its predecessor
. But the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5? Now,
this
 is a much more exciting update.

Just like the Z Fold 5, the Z Flip 5 also features a new gapless design with a nice performance upgrade courtesy of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. But the headline feature of the foldable flip phone has to be the larger, much more functional cover screen now dubbed Flex Window.

This new feature alone makes the Z Flip 5 a compelling flip phone, especially here in Malaysia where options are more limited. Nonetheless, here’s our unboxing and hands-on of (arguably) Samsung’s most exciting foldable phone yet.

Packaging of the Z Flip 5 is, unsurprisingly, very minimalist. No charging brick is bundled with the phone, so the box is nice and slim. The first thing you’ll see when you open the box is the phone itself wrapped in a sheet of paper. It’s good to see Samsung moving away from plastic packaging for the phone itself.

Of course, a USB-C to USB-C cable is also provided with the Z Flip 5 for charging and data transfer purposes. There’s also a SIM pin – Samsung’s pin design is still my favourite one to date – and the usual paper manuals are bundled with the phone too. And…that’s basically the unboxing experience of the Z Flip 5.

Yes, the display crease is still about the same

The first thing you’ll see once you’ve set up the Galaxy Z Flip 5 are a number of disclaimers. These include not pressing on the screen with a hard or sharp object, making sure nothing is inside the screen when it is folded, and most importantly, not to remove the protective film to avoid damaging the screen.

Speaking of which, the primary screen of the Z Flip 5 still feels nice and slick even with the protective film on. While I wouldn’t say it feels as smooth as glass, it certainly doesn’t feel like a cheap screen protector. Based on what I can tell (so far), the display itself feels quite robust too.

More importantly, the Z Flip 5 doesn’t have any gap now when the device is folded. Not only does this look aesthetically better, it should be able to minimise dust that gets in between the two halves of the screen when the phone is kept in my pocket; an issue that I faced with the
Z Flip 4
. Unfortunately, the display crease is still quite visible.

While we’re on the topic of display, I absolutely love the new cover screen of the Flip 5. Not only does the 3.4-inch 748 x 720 Super AMOLED display look great – even if the refresh rate is only limited to 60Hz – the sheer size of the panel also allows for a full-size keyboard to be used on this display to reply to messages.

Granted, Samsung is not the first brand to offer this on a foldable flip phone, but the Z Flip 5
is
 the first device to offer such capability (officially) in Malaysia, so there’s that.

As for the primary screen of the Z Flip 5, it’s great! For the most part, this 6.7-inch 2640 x 1080 Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate is very similar to the panel found on last year’s Z Flip 4, though this is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s still a bright, vibrant screen with wide viewing angles and deep, true blacks. The image quality it offers is certainly befitting of a flagship device.

And because this is a flagship smartphone, the Z Flip 5 naturally has the performance to match its status as a high-end, premium device. In my testing so far, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 under the hood of this phone feels very capable. Given that this is the same chip that powers the majority of flagship devices in the market now, there’s no denying that it is a powerhouse.

When it comes to battery life, the Z Flip 5 retains the previous model’s 3,700mAh battery with 25W charging, which is quite slow by today’s standard. While it would’ve been great to see an improvement in the battery capacity (and charging speed) of the foldable phone, the switch to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset could translate to better battery life – I’ll keep an eye on this for the full review.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the Z Flip 5, which is…good? After all, there’s no meaningful changes to the camera hardware of the phone. It still has a dual camera system made up of a 12MP f/1.8 main shooter and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens. It also has a 10MP selfie camera.

Based on some quick shots I took with the phone, it does feel quite capable with good dynamic range and detail preservation. The camera system can lock in focus quite quickly too, though this is expected when shooting under ideal lighting.

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

All in all, I’m excited to put the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 through its paces in the coming weeks. Although some of its hardware are still similar to last year’s model, the improvements it does bring do make for a more compelling device, such as the larger cover screen, gapless design, and improved performance.

For the Malaysian market, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is offered in two variants. The base 8GB + 256GB model is priced at RM4,499, while the more generous 8GB + 512GB configuration costs RM4,999. Compared to last year’s Z Flip 4 with the same storage options, this is (only) a RM100 price hike. Quite reasonable, given the upgrades the new foldable received.


10 – 16 August Fuel Price: No Changes, RON 97 Price Maintained at RM3.37 Per Litre

Another week, another fuel price update. Not surprisingly, there’s no price movement for RON 97 this week, and the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

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

These prices will be in effect from 10 to 16 August next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


2023 Honda City Facelift Debuts in Malaysia – Price Increase Across the Board, From RM85k

As promised
, the 2023 Honda City facelift has just been launched in Malaysia! The updated B-segment sedan is introduced not long after the
WR-V’s debut last month
, and the facelifted City features a number of notable upgrades, including a more sophisticated Honda Sensing ADAS…and a price increase across the board.

But there is good reason for the price hike: Honda Sensing is now standard across the range. Just like the previous model, the new City is offered in five variants: S (RM84,900), E (RM89,900), V (RM94,900), RS (RM99,900, new to the range, replacing the V Sensing trim), and the range-topping e:HEV RS (RM111,900) hybrid model.

As mentioned, all variants of the City facelift now feature Honda Sensing ADAS capability, including the addition of Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN). In the case of the e:HEV RS model, it even gets Low Speed Follow (LSF), making for a pretty darn complete ADAS.

Of course, the facelifted City has a number of design changes. For the petrol and e:HEV RS models, the two trims come with a new honeycomb front grille, rear diffuser, side skirting, as well as updated 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels that look quite a bit sleeker than the previous design, in our opinion.

Oh, it’s worth noting that the RS models also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now.

Under the hood, the new City soldiers on with the same powertrain options. In case of the e:HEV RS, it retains the Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid powertrain that delivers 109PS and 253Nm of torque. This variant also comes with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that does 98PS and 127Nm of torque, but it mainly acts as a generator for the electric motor. The 1.5L mill is only used at higher speeds.

As for the four other petrol variants of the updated City – namely the S, E, V, and RS models – they are all powered by the same 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 121PS and 145Nm of torque. It is paired to a CVT with drive sent to the front wheels.

The 2023 Honda City facelift is now available for booking at all 101 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide from RM84,900. Alternatively, pre-booking can be done online
here
, or through the HondaTouch app – it can be downloaded from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.