Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Review: Unlike Other Streaming Boxes

A streaming box, as its name suggests, is usually used primarily for streaming purposes. But the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K takes it up a notch. Not only does it provide a polished, refined streaming experience, it can even double as a gaming machine of sorts, thanks to its powerful Apple A15 Bionic chip.

Paired with a Siri Remote that feels and looks great – it also charges via USB-C now – the Apple TV 4K is much more than just a streaming box. Even though it’s costlier than other alternatives, you’re getting your money’s worth, especially if you take full advantage of its feature set.

What It Is

Two models of the new Apple TV 4K
 are offered. The WiFi-only base model with 64GB of storage is priced at RM699, while the 128GB variant with the addition of an ethernet port goes for RM799. It’s also worth noting that the 128GB model features Thread mesh networking protocol to connect to other smart home accessories.

Thanks to its faster Apple A15 Bionic chip – the same chip that powers the
non-Pro iPhone 14
 – the next-gen Apple TV 4K offers up to 50% faster CPU performance, while GPU performance sees a notable 30% improvement. With support for HDR10+ (and Dolby Vision), you can enjoy HDR on a wider amount of content too.

Of course, there’s also the aforementioned Siri Remote for the new Apple TV 4K, which now charges via USB-C instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector. This should make it easier to charge up the remote, especially if you’ve got a lot of USB-C cables lying around.

The Good Stuff

Given that the main use case of a streaming box like the Apple TV 4K is to stream content, let’s talk about that first. In this regard, it performs extremely well. The user interface is nice and clean, it’s easy to navigate through the menu, and most of all, it feels
fast
 and very responsive.

Evidently, the A15 Bionic chip powering the latest Apple TV 4K is no slouch. This, in turn, makes it a pretty darn good gaming system as well. If you’re subscribed to Apple Arcade, you’ll have access to a wide selection of games, though popular games like
Genshin Impact
 and PUBG Mobile are not available on the streaming box.

Nonetheless, I’m impressed with the gaming performance of the Apple TV 4K. Every game I tested on the device runs great with high, consistent frame rate and good graphics fidelity. The fact that the streaming box also supports a wide variety of gamepads – Sony’s DualSense, Nintendo’s Joy-Con, Xbox controllers – is an added bonus.

Speaking of controllers, the Apple TV 4K’s Siri Remote is by far the best remote I’ve ever used with a streaming box. Its aluminium body feels pleasant to the touch, the buttons have a satisfying tactile feedback, and I’m especially fond of the touch-enabled clickpad, which feels very intuitive to use.

Of course, the Siri Remote can also be used as a gamepad, even if it doesn’t offer the best ergonomics or gaming experience. It’ll work in a pitch though! Especially if you don’t have enough gamepads for a multiplayer game.

And then there’s the integration of other Apple products with the Apple TV 4K, and it’s amazing. The best example is with an iPhone: it can double as a remote for the streaming device. On occasions where the Siri Remote is just out of my reach, it’s great that I can just use my iPhone to control the Apple TV 4K.

Oh, there’s also Audio Sharing, which allows up to two pairs of AirPods to be connected to the Apple TV 4K at the same time. Needless to say, this is very handy when I want to watch something without bothering other people in the household.

The Bad Stuff

As much as I enjoy using the Apple TV 4K, it does have some drawbacks. The streaming box itself, for one, doesn’t feel particularly premium with its plastic build quality, especially in comparison to the Siri Remote. Granted, you won’t actually be touching the device in normal use.

There’s also the fact that you need other Apple products to unlock the Apple TV 4K’s full potential. While you
can
 use it as a standalone streaming box, you may
run into certain scenarios
 that require the use of other Apple products. In this instance, the tight integration of Apple’s ecosystem with the streaming box isn’t always a positive thing.

Lastly, there’s the asking price of the Apple TV 4K. With a RM699 starting price, it’s not exactly an affordable device, even if it’s also a more complete and capable streaming box than cheaper alternatives.

Is It Worth It?

If you want a streaming box for more than just streaming with a very refined user experience and gaming performance, the Apple TV 4K is one of the best – if not
the best
 – options in the market now. It may not be the most affordable choice, but that’s how much you have to pay for a streaming box of this calibre.

I used to think a streaming box isn’t necessary if you already have a smart TV. But after using the Apple TV 4K for quite some time, it really depends. If you’re unsatisfied with your smart TV’s operating system, consider grabbing the Apple TV 4K. It will transform your streaming – and maybe even gaming – experience.


Apple Unveils MacBook Pros With M2 Pro & M2 Max Chips – From RM8,799 in Malaysia

Apple’s premium MacBook Pro lineup has just been updated with the Cupertino company’s brand new M2 Pro and M2 Max silicones. Naturally, the new chips promise faster performance, and in the case of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the “longest battery life ever in a Mac.”

First, prices. For the Malaysian market, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the more affordable model of the two with a
RM8,799 starting price
. As for the larger, more powerful 16-inch MacBook Pro, it
retails from RM10,799
. Unfortunately, the availability of the two laptops has not been revealed yet.

Thanks to the power efficiency of the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, the 16-inch MacBook Pro can last up to a whopping
22 hours
 on a single charge. In the performance side of things, the M2 Pro (with a 10- or 12-core CPU) offers up to 20% faster performance over the M1 Pro. As for the M2 Max, it promises 30% improvement in graphics performance compared to the M1 Max.

Beyond the new chips, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models feature some hardware revisions as well, including WiFi 6E for twice as fast connectivity compared to the previous generation. Aside from that, both laptops also get “advanced HDMI” now, which allows support for 8K displays for the first time.

To recap, the 14-inch MacBook Pro retails from RM8,799 in Malaysia, while the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at RM10,799. No word yet on the local availability of the two MacBooks, but we’ll be sure to keep a close eye on them.


Mac mini Updated With M2 & M2 Pro Chips – Starts at RM2,499 in Malaysia

Aside from the revised
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros
, Apple also updated the Mac mini with new chip options. Not only is it available with Apple’s M2 silicone now, the compact desktop can be configured with a Pro-tier chip in the form of the M2 Pro chip for the first time as well.

Here in Malaysia, the new Mac mini
retails from RM2,499
 for the base model with an M2 chip paired with 8GB unified memory and a 256GB SSD. If you want the more powerful M2 Pro configuration instead, it will set you back RM5,599, which gets you 16GB unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage.

Performance gain is expected with every new revision, and in the case of the Mac mini, it can now deliver up to 50% faster performance than the previous model in image editing via Adobe Photoshop. As for the M2 Pro model – compared to the M1 Mac mini – it offers up to 4.2x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro, and up to 2.8x improved performance in Resident Evil Village.

While the Malaysian pricing of the new Mac mini has been revealed, there’s no word yet on exactly when we can purchase the compact desktop on our shores. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of the updated Mac mini.


Watch Apple’s 19-Minute Video on M2 Pro, M2 Max, New MacBook Pros & Mac mini

There may not be a big launch event for Apple’s brand new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, but the Cupertino company did release a 19-minute video – well, 18 minutes and 54 seconds to be specific – that gives us our first look at the new SoCs, along with the
updated MacBook Pros
 and
Mac mini
.

Just like Apple’s other videos and infomercials, the 19-minute video goes above and beyond to explain the company’s new offerings. Speaking of which, the Malaysian pricing of the new products have been revealed as well. Take the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which
retail from RM8,799 and RM10,799 respectively
.

As for the Mac mini, it starts
at a cool RM2,499
 here in Malaysia. No word yet on the local availability of the new Apple products unveiled today, but we’ll definitely keep a close eye on them.


Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (16″, Gen 7) Review: Upmarket Budget Gaming Laptop!

Gaming laptops that offer good performance for the money have to strike a delicate balance. Not only do they have to be powerful enough to provide good gaming performance, build quality is equally important too; who would want to get a laptop that doesn’t feel…well, solid enough to be brought around?

And that is why the 7th gen Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is an interesting budget-centric gaming laptop. It features good enough hardware for a pleasant gaming experience, it has solid build quality, and with a RM4,525 starting price, it has good value proposition as well.

In short, the IdeaPad Gaming 3i is great for those who want a value for money gaming laptop that doesn’t sacrifice on build quality, though you’ll have to pay a small premium for it.

What It Is

Display
16-inch WQXGA IPS (2560 x 1600), 165Hz
Processor
Intel Core i7-12700H (14C/20T, up to 4.7GHz)
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
RAM
16GB DDR4 3200MHz
Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD
Camera
1080p with privacy shutter
Battery
71Wh
Dimensions
359.6 x 277.8 x 20.9 mm
Weight
2.6kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 1.4, PD 3.0)
2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
1x HDMI 2.0
1x RJ45
Price
Unavailable; RM5,634 for equivalent Core i7-12700H model

Unfortunately, this particular model of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i is not offered in Malaysia at the time of writing. The closest variant to this configuration is the
RM5,634 model
, which has the same RTX 3060 GPU, but with a Core i7-12650H processor, a lower resolution 1920 x 1200 display, and half the SSD storage.

With that in mind, this review should still be (largely) relevant to current models of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i available in Malaysia now. Well, with the exception of the display quality and some performance differences, which I’ll elaborate further in the following section.

The Good Stuff

Gaming performance is definitely one of the most important aspects of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i, so let’s talk about that first. Powered by an RTX 3060 paired with a Core i7-12700H processor, this is undoubtedly a capable gaming machine.

While it’s not quite as powerful as another laptop with, say, an RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 GPU, this configuration of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i can still offer respectable gaming performance. Judge for yourself with the benchmarks below:

Games (max settings @ 1920 x 1080)
Average FPS
Borderlands 3 (DX11)
68.88
Control (DX11)
59.75
Witcher 3 Patch 4.0 (DLSS, HairWorks disabled)
63.23

Even though Control runs just below the 60fps point with maxed out settings at 1080p, there’s no denying that the RTX 3060 GPU and 12th gen Core i7 processor under the hood of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i is quite capable. Needless to say, it should be able to run most (if not all) AAA games very well.

Yes, this applies to even the Core i7-12650H configuration of the gaming laptop available here, though the different processor will result in slightly lower CPU performance.

Despite outputting respectable performance figures, I’m impressed that the IdeaPad Gaming 3i doesn’t run particularly hot. The palm rest area remains cool even in heated gaming sessions, though the bottom case does feel quite warm. Not that this is an issue, given that it’s not a touch point per se.

System noise of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i is also quite good. Yes, the fans are definitely audible when I’m gaming for an extended period of time, but never does it negatively hinder my gameplay experience. It sounds…just like how a fan should sound, and not like a mini vacuum cleaner, which other gaming laptops are guilty of.

And then we have the display of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i, which is great! The 16-inch WQXGA 2560 x 1600 IPS panel is bright with vibrant colours and wide viewing angles. On top of that, the 165Hz refresh rate of the screen is noticeably faster than its competition.

With that in mind, it’s unfortunate that this WQXGA display is not an available option for the IdeaPad Gaming 3i on our shores. On the bright side, at least the WUXGA 1920 x 1200 panel offered for the Malaysian market has the same, fast 165Hz refresh rate.

Last but certainly not least is the design (I love the webcam’s privacy shutter) and build quality of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i. For a value-oriented laptop, it really does feel and look upmarket. In fact, its build quality is almost on par with a Legion gaming laptop, which is Lenovo’s higher-end gaming machines.

The Bad Stuff

Alas, the budget nature of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i does have some notable shortcomings, including its…build quality. Don’t get me wrong, it still feels like a robust, well-built product, but the plastic bottom casing that extends to the sides of the laptop doesn’t exactly exude a premium feel.

The keyboard of the IdeaPad Gaming 3i could be better too. The key travel, for one, is not particularly long, lending to a shallow typing experience. The layout isn’t great either, as the (squeezed) numpad shifts the main keyboard to the left, making it feel a tad awkward to use for typing and gaming.

Thankfully, the keyboard does have pretty pronounced tactile feedback. This, paired with the cushioned bottom out, does make for a reasonably comfortable typing experience. The trackpad is relatively good as well with accurate tracking capabilities and smooth surface.

Is It Worth It?

Even though the 7th gen Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i model I test here isn’t available in Malaysia, the equivalent variant offered here with an RTX 3060 GPU and Core i7-12650H processor will offer largely similar gaming performance, even if it has a slower processor and lower resolution display.

Priced at RM5,634, it does cost more than other gaming laptops with a similar GPU and CPU combo, but the IdeaPad Gaming 3i does have the edge when it comes to build quality and panel refresh rate, among other things. Plus, if you don’t need the extra processing power, you can always opt for the Core i5-12500H model that just swaps out the processor, saving you RM400.

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with good value for money, the IdeaPad Gaming 3i is an “okay” choice in this regard. But what really sets it apart from its competition is the fast display, solid build quality, and good thermals management. If these sound compelling to you, give the IdeaPad Gaming 3i a consideration.


Astro Fibre App Lets Users Easily Manage Their WiFi Network & Limit Internet Use

Astro just announced a new app that allows Astro Fibre customers to easily manage their WiFi networks. Aptly dubbed Astro Fibre App, it’s quite a useful app with some interesting features, including the ability to limit internet use for certain users.

That’s right, the Astro Fibre app can be used to schedule (or even terminate) internet access for each device or family member. Sharing your WiFi connectivity is also easier with the app; it is able to generate an in-app QR code that will grant internet access once it’s scanned. On top of that, the QR code can be shared to other apps as well, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger.

Of course, the Astro Fibre app lets users figure out any issues with their network connection too. Connection speeds, network strength on connected devices, and WiFi network setup can all be found within the app, which should prove to be useful for troubleshooting network issues.

The Astro Fibre app is now available for download on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. More details on the app can also be found on
Astro’s official website
.


19 – 25 January Fuel Price: RON 97 Still Remains at RM3.35 Per Litre

RON 97 sees no price change yet again this week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.35 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 19 to 25 January next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Video: Meletrix Zoom65 Essential Edition V2 Sound Test – New Design, Still Thocky

Meletrix is back with the Zoom65 Essential Edition V2! Sporting some exterior changes (including a seamless top case), the new keyboard retains its signature soft typing feel and thocky sound profile, as you can hear for yourself in the video above.

Aside from the seamless top case, the new Zoom65 can also be configured with a
glass
 backplate now, among other options that include stainless steel and carbon fibre. For our particular review unit, we opted for a glass backplate, and it does give the affordable keyboard a sleek, unique aesthetic.

The Zoom65 Essential Edition V2 will enter groupbuy on 26 January next week. Starting at only $175 (about RM755), it’s certainly a budget-friendly offering. Stay tuned for our full review of the new Zoom65 on our
YouTube channel
!


Apple Launches New HomePod (2nd Gen) – Smarter, Sleeker, Lower $299 Price Tag

The 2nd generation HomePod is here, and naturally, it offers a number of improvements. Not only does it support the smart home standard Matter now, allowing it to control compatible accessories, it also has a slightly different design and lower launch price.

When the original HomePod was first launched in 2018, it went for $349 (about RM1,505), though it eventually got a $50 price cut the following year, bringing it down to $299 (around RM1,290). That’s the same asking price as the new – and more feature-packed – 2nd gen HomePod.

Though the silhouette of the new HomePod is similar to its predecessor, the glowing Siri animations on the top of the smart speaker has been expanded. It also comes with the Apple S7 chip now, which improves the HomePod’s “advanced computational audio” to improve audio quality by taking into accounts its placement in a room.

Speaking of which, the updated HomePod features a custom-engineered high-excursion woofer and five tweeters around the base. According to Apple, the smart speaker is able to deliver “rich, deep bass, natural mid-range, and clear, detailed highs.”

As for availability, the 2nd generation HomePod is offered in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and 11 other countries and regions. Unfortunately, Malaysia isn’t a part of the markets listed.


Returnal Arrives on PC 15 February 2023 for RM249

One of the first exclusive PS5 titles is coming to PC next month. While it was previously revealed that
Returnal
 will be available on PC
last month
, we didn’t get a specific release date until today – PC gamers can play the brutally difficult bullet-hell shooter from 15 February 2023.

Naturally, the PC version of Returnal has some PC-specific enhancements. These include Nvidia DLSS and NIS, AMD FSR, ray-tracing reflections – on top of the existing ray-traced shadows – as well as support for two ultrawide resolutions: 21:9 and 32:9.

Just like previous PS5 exclusives offered on PC, the PC version of Returnal can still support the DualSense’s full suite of features, including the refined haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. However, these features will only work via a wired connection. Of course, mouse and keyboard support is available for players who don’t want to use a gamepad.

Returnal is now available for pre-order on
Steam
 and the
Epic Games Store
 for RM249. More details on the PC version of the game – along with system requirements – can be found on
PlayStation Blog
.


Pico 4 Review: Great RM1,699 VR Headset For New Adopters

VR headsets have come a long way. What was once an expensive gadget with limited availability is now much more accessible with a more feasible price tag. This is exemplified by ByteDance’s Pico 4: not only is it affordable, it’s also a pretty darn complete VR headset.

While the Pico 4 does still have its fair share of shortcomings, it’s a great VR headset for folks who are just getting into the VR world. If you want a sub-RM2,000 VR headset, the Pico 4 is (effectively) your only option in Malaysia.

What It Is

The Pico 4 is a standalone VR headset, and its main competitor is Meta’s Quest 2, which is…well, not officially available in Malaysia. Yes, parallel importers do offer the VR headset here, but the lack of official support – especially in regards to aftersales service – makes the Pico 4 a much more compelling choice.

Aside from that, the Pico 4 also has a high resolution 4320 x 2160 display (2160 x 2160 for each eye), which is more than sharp enough to offer an immersive VR experience. On top of that, the panel has a refresh rate of up to 90Hz as well.

Other specifications of the Pico 4 include a Qualcomm XR2 chipset, 8GB of RAM, a 105-degree field of view, motorised inter-pupillary distance adjustment – so that different users can get the best viewing experience – built-in speakers, and a 5,300mAh battery that promises up to three hours of use; decent enough.

Two variants of the Pico 4 are offered in Malaysia. The base model with 128GB of storage is
priced at RM1,699
, while the 256GB version
costs RM1,999
. At the time of writing, the VR headset is bundled with six different VR games, including All-in-One Sports VR, Down The Rabbit Hole, OhShape, After The Fall, Cities VR, and Arizona Sunshine.

The Good Stuff

So how is it like playing VR content on the Pico 4? Very entertaining! The Snapdragon XR2 chipset is more than fast enough to provide a zippy, responsive experience. Whether I’m using the web browser or playing VR games, the headset performs admirably.

The bundled VR games that come with the Pico 4 are quite enjoyable too. I thoroughly enjoy All-in-One Sports VR, which features a collection of sports games. My personal favourite is the boxing games, which feels almost like playing Beat Saber, a game that’s (unfortunately) not offered on the Pico 4’s app store.

But if you have a PC powerful enough to run VR games, you won’t have to worry about a limited library of games. The Pico 4 works with SteamVR for a higher-fidelity VR experience.

The USB-C port on the left of the headset

Speaking of which, the Pico 4 remains a competent VR headset when it’s hooked to a PC, thanks to the high resolution 4320 x 2160 screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. It’s sharp enough that individual pixels are not easily noticeable, and the image quality is perfectly adequate too with vibrant colours and good clarity.

Another positive of the Pico 4 is its comfortable nature. This is thanks to the generous amount of paddings on the headset and its lightweight nature. Even under prolonged use, I never felt uncomfortable with it on. It’s also easy to get a good fit with the adjustment dial.

Build quality of the Pico 4 is quite impressive as well. The headset itself feels solid and robust, and the same goes for the two controllers, which are powered by two AA batteries each. The controllers also have nice, tactile buttons; smooth, precise analog sticks; and good tracking capabilities.

Last but not least is the Pico 4’s colour passthrough. A quick double-tap on the right side of the VR headset enables this, allowing me to quickly see my surroundings without taking off the headset. But as this uses the camera on the front of the headset, the image quality does suffer in low light conditions.

And that is a good segue to the next section of the review.

The Bad Stuff

While it’s convenient that the Pico 4 features built-in stereo speakers, they are…mediocre. They don’t get particularly loud, and the audio quality is decided average. On top of that, there’s no headphone jack either, though the VR headset does support Bluetooth audio.

The volume adjustment buttons

The Pico 4’s selection of games on the Pico Store is quite limited too, as you can see
here
. As mentioned, this won’t be an issue if you already have a PC that can run games through SteamVR, but if you want to use the Pico 4 as a standalone VR, this will prove to be an issue.

Hopefully, the Pico Store will see a wider selection of games in the near future. With a larger library of games, the headset will definitely be more appealing.

Is It Worth It?

Starting at only RM1,699, the Pico 4 is a great option for folks who are just dipping their toes in the VR world. It’s an affordable VR headset that’s only rivalled by the Meta Quest 2, which isn’t even available here in Malaysia officially.

Its limited selection of games is the Pico 4’s biggest shortcoming at the moment, and depending on your use case scenario, this may or may not be an issue to you. Here’s hoping Pico will continue to expand its game library to improve the appeal of the budget-friendly VR headset.


Video: Meletrix Zoom65 Essential Edition V2 Review – Creamy, Thocky, Budget Keyboard

Here’s our review of the Meletrix Zoom65 Essential Edition V2! Meletrix changed up some design elements of the new Zoom65, and while it’s not remarkably different from the previous model, it’s still quite a compelling custom keyboard with great value for money.

Some of the changes introduced with the V2 version of the Zoom65 include a seamless top case, a nice, glass backplate with a gradient finish, a new sleeve gasket design – simplifying the build process, to an extent – along with support for per-key RGB for those who like their custom keyboards with a bit of bling.

The Zoom65 Essential Edition V2 will enter groupbuy on 26 January next week with a $175 (about RM750) starting price. Fulfilment of the custom keyboard is expected to start from April 2023 onwards, which is really quite fast. More details on the Zoom65 V2 can be found
here
.


OnePlus 11 & OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Unboxing – Premium Looks, Promising Hardware

The OnePlus 11 and the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are set to be unveiled globally on 7 February next month. Ahead of their global launch, Nextrift received these two new products, and we’re allowed to share some of our thoughts on them, albeit with some restrictions.

Nonetheless, the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus Buds Pro 2 look and feel great, which makes sense, given their premium positioning. At a glance, these are quite compelling products, especially if OnePlus Malaysia can offer them at competitive price points – like how it is in China.

The OnePlus 11 and OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are packaged in a rather interesting gift box. Inside this (quite sizeable) box are the two products placed side-by-side, and there’s a tray underneath them as well that houses a “special phone case.” Unfortunately, the case did not arrive in time for this unboxing.

Let’s start by unboxing the OnePlus 11. Unlike most phones in the market now – especially flagship-class devices – OnePlus actually includes a charger (a fast one too) with the phone. I also love the signature red USB-C to USB-A cable provided in the box; very nice.

This is the only screen of the phone that we’re allowed to share

A sticker pack is also included with the phone

One of the restrictions of this unboxing is that no images of the OnePlus 11 being switched on are permitted, though the OnePlus logo can be shown in the boot up screen. Rest assured, this is an actual working unit of the phone, and it feels like a properly premium one too.

There are two different colourways of the OnePlus 11. There’s this green model with a smooth, glossy finish on the rear panel, while the black variant features a matte surface that’s reminiscent of OnePlus’ famous sandstone finish. Personally, I prefer the black model for its more unique aesthetic and feel in my hands.

Since the OnePlus 11 has been launched in China already, we know what’s under its hood. These include the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with up to 16GB of RAM, two storage options (256GB or 512GB), a 6.7-inch 3216 x 1440 AMOLED display with a 1Hz – 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, as well as a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 100W fast charging.

Of course, the camera system of the OnePlus 11 is quite intriguing as well. It’s a Hasselblad-branded triple camera system made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 48MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 32MP telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom. All of them support autofocus, and in the case of the ultra-wide camera, it can also do 3.5cm macro shooting.

For those who are wondering how the Hasselblad camera performs, I can only elaborate on them in the full review. Yes, this is one of the aforementioned restrictions in this unboxing.

Anyway, let’s move on to the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. What stood out to me the most is the sleek charging case, which is noticeably slimmer than its competition. On top of that, it’s quite lightweight as well, so you can probably keep in in your pockets without much issue.

Naturally, additional ear tips are provided with the Buds Pro 2. The medium one is installed on the earbuds out of the box, while the small and large ear tips are stored in the box. A USB-C to USB-A cable is also bundled to charge up the…charging case.

Hardware wise, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is quite well-equipped. It has a dual-driver design – the 11mm unit handles bass while the other 6mm driver focuses on mids and highs – active noise cancellation, spatial audio support, as well as up to 9 hours of battery life on a single charge.

After unboxing the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus Buds Pro 2, I can say with confidence that they look and feel like premium products; their hardware (on paper, at least) are promising as well. Rest assured, I will be putting both of them through their paces in the coming weeks for the full review – stay tuned for that.


Oppo Reno 8 T Lands in Malaysia – 108MP Camera, Dual-Curve Display, From RM1,399

Oppo launched another mid-range phone in Malaysia, the Oppo Reno 8 T. Sporting a sleek-looking design with two distinct variants to choose from, the affordable mid-ranger is meant to appeal to folks who are on a tight budget.

Of the two versions of the Reno 8 T offered in Malaysia, the 4G model with a MediaTek Helio G99 processor is the more budget-friendly option with a RM1,399 price tag. The higher-end 5G variant, on the other hand, features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset for RM1,799. Both models come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

The Oppo Reno 8 T 5G

Aside from a different chipset, the 5G variant of the Reno 8 T has a slew of other upgrades too. These include a faster 6.7-inch 1080p dual-curve AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a more sophisticated triple camera system (108MP primary + 2MP depth + 2MP microlens), a 32MP selfie camera, and a 4,800mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

Positioned at a lower price point, the Reno 8 T 4G has a more modest set of hardware. It sports a 6.43-inch 1080p flat AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a slightly different triple camera setup (100MP primary + 2MP depth + 2MP microlens), also a 32MP selfie camera, and curiously, a larger 5,000mAh battery, though it doesn’t come with 67W fast charging.

The Oppo Reno 8 T 4G

The Oppo Reno 8 T 5G is now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM1,799 until 10 February 2023; early birds who purchase the phone can get freebies worth RM377, including Oppo Enco Buds 2 wireless earbuds, a one-year screen protection, and a one-year extended warranty. As for the 4G variant, it will hit store shelves on 11 February 2023 for RM1,399.


PRISM+ Opens 2nd Retail Outlet in Malaysia at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya – Largest Store Yet

PRISM+ is expanding its presence in Malaysia quite a bit with the opening of its second retail outlet in the Klang Valley area. Located at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya, it is the company’s largest store yet, especially in comparison to its
first outlet in Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya
.

Thanks to the spacious nature of the 1,193 square feet PRISM+ outlet in the Putrajaya mall, most products offered by the company are showcased at the store. These include its range of monitors, smart TVs, and even gaming gears by Logitech.

At the launch of its IOI City Mall outlet, PRISM+ added that it is planning to introduce its smart home appliances in Malaysia later this year. It is also looking to expand its presence throughout Malaysia by the end of 2023.

“We are currently exploring launching up to 10 stores in various states across the country to future-proof ourselves as we look to move into the IoT space,” said the country director of PRISM+ Malaysia, Eric Kam. “With a lot of these smart home appliances, we see the need for our audience to physically experience the products before making big-ticket purchases,” he added.

If you’re keen to give PRISM+’s new outlet a visit, you can do so at the East Wing of IOI City Mall, Putrajaya. You can also browse through its latest products on its
official website
.


OnePlus 11 Review: Return to Form

The OnePlus 11 made its global debut yesterday, and it looks to be the company’s most exciting flagship phone yet. Not only does it continue to offer high-end features – along with the return of the alert slider – it is also priced competitively with a $699 starting price. That’s only about RM3,000 if we do a direct conversion to our currency.

After spending a few weeks with the OnePlus 11 as my daily driver, I do think it is the brand’s best flagship to date. It is a return to the company’s original philosophy as a phone maker that offers flagship hardware at a lower price point, though the OnePlus 11 isn’t without faults.

But if it is priced right for the Malaysian market, this phone could just be a winner for OnePlus.

What It Is

Display
6.7-inch QHD+ Super Fluid AMOLED (3216 x 1440), 120Hz adaptive
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 3.2GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 740
RAM
16GB
Storage
256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
50MP f/1.8, OIS
48MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
32MP f/2.0 (telephoto), 2x optical zoom
Camera (front)
16MP f/2.45
Battery
5,000mAh with 100W SUPERVOOC charging
Dimensions
163.1 x 74.1 x 8.53 mm
Weight
205g
OS
OxygenOS 13.0 based on Android 13
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
Price
From $699 (about RM3,000)

On paper, the OnePlus 11 is a high-end flagship phone through and through. It’s powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, it has a sharp, fast 120Hz QHD+ display with adaptive refresh rate, and it has a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for speedy 100W fast charging too.

To top it off, the OnePlus 11 also features a sophisticated Hasselblad-branded triple camera system that can take some great-looking shots, albeit with some shortcomings. I’ll elaborate further down this review.

The Good Stuff

Since the OnePlus 11’s Hasselblad camera system is one of its most highlighted features, let’s talk about that first. Made up of a 50MP primary sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 32MP telephoto lens, it’s a versatile camera array that can deliver good shots regardless of lighting condition.

I’m especially fond of portrait shots taken with the OnePlus 11 you see above. The bokeh effect looks great with (reasonably) good edge detection, and subjects don’t look like a “cardboard cutout,” thanks to the more subtle and gradual background blur. All in all, it’s easily one of my favourite implementations of portrait mode.

Throughout the review period, I had a ton of fun shooting with the OnePlus 11, and the camera interface is quite responsive too, even if it does stutter a little in portrait mode. Nonetheless, judge for yourself the camera performance of the phone with these sample shots:

50MP primary

50MP primary

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

32MP telephoto

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

50MP primary

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

32MP telephoto

Beyond its camera, the OnePlus 11 is also a fast, zippy smartphone, thanks to the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset under its hood. Regardless of what I throw at the phone, it continues to run smoothly without missing a beat. It can even run graphically demanding mobile games like
Genshin Impact
 at a stable 60 frames per second. All in all, I’m very impressed with the performance level of the phone.

Further elevating the user experience of the phone is its fast 6.7-inch 1440p AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Animations on the screen look very smooth thanks to the extra frames, and the image quality of the AMOLED panel is, without a doubt, good as well.

Colours are vibrant and punchy, viewing angles are wide, and most importantly, the panel can produce true, deep blacks too; inherent advantages of an AMOLED screen, basically. That being said, I do wish the edge detection of the dual-curve display could be better, though I’m not too bothered by it.

And then there’s the battery life of the OnePlus 11, which is…reasonably good. On average, I can get between five to six hours of screen on time out of the 5,000mAh battery, and I do quite a bit of gaming, web browsing, and navigating with the phone. While this isn’t class-leading battery life, it’s definitely above average.

Last but not least is the value proposition of the OnePlus 11. As mentioned, the flagship starts at just $699 in the US, making it one of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones in the market now. If the OnePlus 11 is priced close to this figure locally, it’d be a very easy phone to recommend.

The Bad Stuff

As much as I love photographing with the OnePlus 11, I’m not particularly impressed with the phone’s 32MP telephoto lens. Yes, it can take good-looking shots, but its colour profile is also quite a bit different than the primary and ultra-wide sensors.

Compared to the other two sensors, the OnePlus 11’s telephoto lens has a warmer white balance, which doesn’t look quite as appealing to my eyes.

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

32MP telephoto

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

32MP telephoto

OxygenOS 13.0 on the OnePlus 11 has its quirks too. While it does offer a lightweight, intuitive user experience, it’s also not as responsive as it should be. It’s not “laggy” by any means, but when I’m opening the recent apps page, for example, I have to wait a split second before I can interact with the screen; not a very pleasant experience.

Build quality of the OnePlus 11 isn’t to my liking either. Don’t get me wrong, the phone feels like a proper high-end flagship phone, but the glossy back panel of this Eternal Green model also feels very,
very
 slippery. In fact, the phone actually slipped out of my jeans pocket while I was driving.

The Titan Black colourway of the OnePlus 11

Now, there’s a chance the Titan Black model won’t suffer from this issue, given that its back panel has a matte finish instead. But if you’re planning to get this Eternal Green model, keep in mind that it is slippery. I would even consider putting on a case to make it easier to grip.

Is It Worth It?

There is no denying that the OnePlus 11 is a capable flagship smartphone with an equally capable camera system – albeit with some drawbacks – and fast performance. But until we know exactly how much it costs here in Malaysia, it’s a little tough to deliberate on whether or not it is worth it.

Thankfully, the OnePlus 11 is set to be launched in Malaysia as early as next week on 14 February. Hopefully, it will be priced close to its $699 starting price in the US; even better if it’s priced below the RM3,000 price point locally.

Good value proposition was one of the reasons that contributed to OnePlus’ success in the smartphone market. If the OnePlus 11 can bring that back, it’d be an easy recommendation for those who want a premium phone without the premium price tag.


Hu Tao OnePlus Ace Pro Genshin Impact Limited Edition Unboxing – Incredible Collaboration!

First released in October last year, the OnePlus Ace Pro Genshin Impact Limited Edition is a collaboration between the phone maker and Hoyoverse. Essentially, it’s a special edition OnePlus Ace Pro – marketed as the
OnePlus 10T here in Malaysia
 – featuring design elements from Genshin Impact.

Well, more specifically, one character in Genshin Impact: Hu Tao. If you’re a fan of the 5-star Pyro character, you’ll definitely find this limited edition OnePlus phone appealing. Without further ado, let’s get to the unboxing of the Hu Tao OnePlus phone!

The packaging of the special edition Ace Pro is covered with a red sleeve, which reveals a black box with a sleek-looking design once it’s removed. Open up the box, and you’ll be greeted by the acrylic display box you see above featuring none other than Hu Tao herself. It’s a very, very nice display piece, in my opinion.

Aside from that, there are also a number of other cool accessories that are bundled with the limited edition Ace Pro. These include a very unique-looking phone case, a special SIM eject tool designed after the Staff of Homa – Hu Tao’s signature weapon in Genshin Impact – and even a figurine of Hu Tao’s…pet ghost?

Anyway, let’s get to the special case that comes with the Genshin Impact-themed Ace Pro. It has a polycarbonate shell with a red material of sorts that seems to act like a cooling pad to improve the thermal performance of the phone. I’m not quite sure how effective it is, but it sure gives the case a nice aesthetic.

As for the limited edition Ace Pro itself, Hu Tao is displayed quite prominently on the bottom half of the rear panel. It also has a flame-like design around the edges with some butterflies scattered across. There’s even one butterfly right above the OnePlus logo.

Naturally, this special version of the Ace Pro features a special theme based on Hu Tao as well. The lock screen has an animated wallpaper of the character (as shown above), and the interface of the phone even has icons designed after Hu Tao and Genshin Impact.

As a cherry on top, even the ringtone, notification sound, and message tone has Hu Tao voiceovers based on her Chinese voice actress! It makes sense, given that this is a China-exclusive OnePlus model. If you want to hear how the voiceovers sound like, watch the unboxing video above or on our
YouTube channel
.

Beyond the extra accessories and unique design of the Genshin Impact-inspired Ace Pro, the phone has the exact same specifications as the standard model. These include a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a 4,800mAh battery with support for 150W SUPERVOOC fast charging, and even the same price tag in China.

Other specifications of this Ace Pro include a 6.7-inch 2412 x 1080 Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system – 50MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro – a 16MP selfie camera, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage.

As mentioned, the OnePlus Ace Pro Genshin Impact Limited Edition is only available in China for 4,299 Chinese yuan, which comes up to about RM2,735. Yes, despite this being a special edition phone, it doesn’t cost a premium – in China, at least.

Of course, given that it’s been quite some time since the Genshin Impact Ace Pro was released, there are plenty of resellers that are listing the phone much higher than its original retail price now. It’s unfortunate, but looking at what you get with the phone – and the limited availability – it’s not exactly surprising.

Hopefully, if OnePlus does release another phone based on Genshin Impact in the future, it will be more widely available. Judging by the attention to detail and refinement of this Hu Tao-themed Ace Pro, I’m certainly excited for the company to release similar products in the future.


HeavyArm Store Opens PS5 Pre-Orders in Malaysia

As promised by Sony, it looks like it will be easier to get your hands on the PlayStation 5 now. HeavyArm Store, one of the most prominent game stores in Malaysia, just opened pre-orders for the highly sought-after console.

Three different variants of the PS5 are offered by HeavyArm Store. These include the God of War Ragnarok bundles for the PS5 Digital Edition (RM2,339) and standard model with a Blu-ray disc drive (RM2,769), as well as a PS5 Digital Edition bundled with two DualSense controllers (RM2,399).

According to the
product listing on HeavyArm Store’s official website
, this latest batch of PS5 is expected to be available on 21 February 2023. It’s quite a bit of wait, but for those who have been waiting for months – or even years – to get their hands on the console, it may be worth placing a pre-order with the retailer.

After all, it’s rare for any retailer to open pre-orders of the PS5. If you’re keen to get the console from HeavyArm Store, you can do so through its official website, WhatsApp, or at its physical outlet itself in SS15, Subang Jaya.


Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 Now in Malaysia From RM7,299 – Early Birds Get Up to RM3,315 Freebies

Lenovo just launched the refreshed Lenovo yoga 9i – now in its 8th generation – here in Malaysia. The premium 14-inch convertible laptop is now powered by Intel’s latest 13th gen processors, and early birds who purchase the phone can even walk away with freebies worth up to a whopping RM3,315.

Given its premium positioning, it’s no surprise that the Yoga 9i starts at a cool RM7,299. For that kind of money, it features an Intel Core i7-1360P processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a generous 1TB SSD storage, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, a vibrant 14-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, as well as Windows 11 Home out of the box.

In conjunction with the Malaysian availability of the Yoga 9i, those who purchase the convertible laptop from any
Lenovo Exclusive Stores (LES)
 from 11 to 26 February can get the aforementioned freebies worth up to RM3,315.

These include a Lenovo 27-inch QHD gaming monitor (LG27q-30), a Yoga-branded mouse with a laser pointer, Grab gift vouchers, and even an offer to purchase a one-year accidental damage protection worth RM299 for only RM1. Of course, this promotion is only valid while stocks last.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM7,299. If you want to get it online instead, you can do so through
Lenovo’s official online store
.


Honkai: Star Rail Pre-Registration Now Live – 20 Free Pulls If Milestone Reached

Hoyoverse just opened pre-registration for Honkai: Star Rail, suggesting that the RPG game could be released to the public soon. After all, the final closed beta of the game is running right now.

Currently, over 1.7 million players have pre-registered for Honkai: Star Rail. If the game manages to reach 5 million pre-registrations, 20 free pulls will be given to all players, along with the 4-star character Serval. Given the popularity of the game and Hoyoverse itself, we reckon it will have no problems reaching that milestone.

Unlike
Genshin Impact
 or Honkai Impact 3rd, Star Rail is a turn-based RPG game where players fight in a party of four. The game also have dungeon exploration, puzzle-solving, and even flashy animations as characters unleash their respective skills. Based on
our review of the game’s

second closed beta
, Star Rail has an intriguing, engrossing storyline too.

If you’re keen to pre-register for Honkai: Star Rail, you can do so
right here
. Once the game is officially released, it will be available on iOS, Android, as well as PC via Hoyoverse’s own launcher and the
Epic Games Store
. Naturally, cross-platform progression is offered for Star Rail.


Unboxing MTG Phyrexia: All Will Be One Set Booster & Collector Booster – Japanese Body Horror Artworks!

Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, Phyrexia: All Will Be One (or ONE, for short), is released for tabletop today. It is the third instalment in MTG’s four-part Phyrexian storyline, and it features artwork inspired by Japanese body horror, including 40 hand-selected cards with “ichor” showcase art.

To celebrate the launch of the new set, Wizards of the Coast sent us Set Booster and Collector Booster boxes of ONE to check out. If you’re interested to pick up the new set, here’s our unboxing of the Set Booster and Collector Booster. It’s a very eye-catching set, and if you’re lucky enough, you can even pull cards with artwork done by the legendary Junji Ito.

Before we get to the good stuff, we have to open this little puzzle piece Wizards sent over! It’s wrapped in a neat paper packaging complete with a wax seal, and after unwrapping it, we find a rather interesting wooden box.

At a glance, it looks simple enough to open, but that’s not the case at all. After thoroughly inspecting the box – and carefully pulling on the different pieces – we finally managed to slide the box open. Inside is a piece of paper with a stained glass artwork that writes…”we shall cleanse their impurity.”

That’s the Phyrexian for you.

Anyway, let’s start with the Set Booster now; we’ll save the (much more expensive) Collector Booster unboxing for later. Unlike a Draft Booster, a Set Booster is meant to be more “exciting” to crack open. This is probably why it is popular among folks who just enjoy opening booster packs instead of using them for Limited play, such as Draft or Sealed.

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

Typically, when you crack open a Set Booster, the first card you’ll see is an art card followed by a land card, but this appears to have changed with ONE. Depending on how you open the pack, you may see the art card first, but the cards now face the
other
 side with some changes to the order. Technically, the art card is now the “last” card in the pack.

So the order of a ONE Set Booster now looks like this: a token/ad card; a guaranteed foil card; the main set’s rare or mythic rare card; two wildcards; a common or uncommon card with the ichor showcase treatment; six uncommon and common cards with some connection to each other; a panorama or Phyrexianised full-art basic land; and an art card.

There are a few interesting things to take note of. The guaranteed foil card, for example, can be of any rarity with either a borderless or ichor showcase treatment. The same goes for the two wildcard slots, so in essence, you’ve got four chances of getting a rare or mythic rare card in every ONE Set Booster.

The basic land slot in a pack of ONE Set Booster is also guaranteed to be a full-art card, and there’s a 20% chance of it receiving the foil treatment. We managed to crack open a couple of foil (Phyrexianised!) basic land cards from the Set Booster, and it looks really, really good.

Speaking of Phyrexianised cards, we were also lucky enough to pull a Phyrexianised Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, which is quite a valuable card with a powerful effect. The card alone costs
more than half
 of a single ONE Set Booster box at the time of writing, so if we had bought this box ourselves – thanks again Wizards for sending this to us – we would’ve recouped the cost easily.

Next, we have the ONE Collector Booster, which contains 16 cards a pack; up to six of them can be rares and mythic rares. The first slot is a foil rare or mythic rare, followed by a non-foil borderless rare or mythic rare, a “Step-and-Compleat” foil of any rarity, a common or uncommon foil showcase ichor card, a rare non-foil extended-art Jumpstart or Commander rare/mythic, and a rare non-foil extended-art card.

Other cards in a ONE Collector Booster pack include a traditional foil rare/mythic, two uncommon traditional foil, four common traditional foil, a traditional foil panorama or Phyrexianised basic land, and finally, a foil double-sided token.

And that’s our unboxing of the Set and Collector Boosters of Magic: The Gathering’s new Phyrexia: All Will Be One set. If you’re keen to check out this new set, give your
nearest hobby shop
 a visit tonight. After all, it’s Friday Night Magic!


2023 MacBook Pro 14″ & 16″ Set to Be Available in Malaysia Soon – Certified With SIRIM

Apple’s premium
MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″
 laptops are set to be available in Malaysia very, very soon. Now sporting the Cupertino company’s brand new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, the new machines promise faster performance, and in the case of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the “longest battery life ever in a Mac.”

As usual, we were going through SIRIM’s database when we spotted the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with the model numbers
A2779 and A2780
 respectively. Both of them were registered with the certification body just yesterday on 10 February, so chances are, they will be available on our shores very soon.

Previously, Apple has revealed the retail prices of the two MacBooks for the Malaysian market. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is the more affordable model of the two with a
RM8,799 starting price
, while the larger, more powerful 16-inch MacBook Pro
retails from RM10,799
.

Thanks to the power efficiency of the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, the 16-inch MacBook Pro can last up to a whopping
22 hours
 on a single charge. In the performance side of things, the M2 Pro (with a 10- or 12-core CPU) offers up to 20% faster performance over the M1 Pro. As for the M2 Max, it promises 30% improvement in graphics performance compared to the M1 Max.

Beyond the new chips, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models feature some hardware revisions as well, including WiFi 6E for twice as fast connectivity compared to the previous generation. Aside from that, both laptops also get “advanced HDMI” now, which allows support for 8K displays for the first time.

To recap, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is set to retail from RM8,799 in Malaysia, while the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at RM10,799. No word yet on the exact local availability of the two MacBooks, but now that they have been registered with SIRIM already, we reckon it will be available for purchase here very soon.


2023 Mac mini With M2 & M2 Pro Chips Also Coming to Malaysia Soon

Aside from the revised
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros
, Apple looks to be bringing in the Mac mini to Malaysia very soon as well. Not only is it available with Apple’s M2 silicone now, the compact desktop can be configured with a Pro-tier chip in the form of the M2 Pro chip for the first time too.

Electronics have to be registered with SIRIM before they can be officially sold in Malaysia, and in the case of the Mac mini, it appeared in the certification body’s database a couple of days ago on 9 February. We spotted two models bearing the model numbers A2686 and A2816, which are the M2 and M2 Pro models respectively.

Here in Malaysia, the new Mac mini
retails from RM2,499
 for the base model with an M2 chip paired with 8GB unified memory and a 256GB SSD. If you want the more powerful M2 Pro configuration instead, it will
set you back RM5,599
, which gets you 16GB unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage.

Performance gain is expected with every new revision, and for the updated Mac mini, it can now deliver up to 50% faster performance than the previous model in image editing via Adobe Photoshop. As for the M2 Pro model – compared to the M1 Mac mini – it offers up to 4.2x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro, and up to 2.8x improved performance in Resident Evil Village.

While the Malaysian pricing of the new Mac mini has been revealed, there’s no word yet on exactly when we can purchase the compact desktop on our shores. But now that it has been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it will hit local store shelves very soon.


Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Unboxing & Hands-on: Improving a Winning Formula

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, on the surface, doesn’t seem all that different from the
S22 Ultra
. But under the hood, there are some notable upgrades that make it a better flagship smartphone overall, including an improved camera system, longer battery life, and of course, faster performance.

Of course, these improvements do not come cheap. Starting at RM5,699, even the most affordable Galaxy S23 Ultra costs RM200 more than its predecessor, though early birds can enjoy a rather sizeable discount until 23 February 2023. Nonetheless, let’s get to the unboxing (and hands-on) of the S23 Ultra!

As is the case with Samsung’s flagship phones in recent times, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s packaging is nice and slim. That’s mainly because no charging brick is provided with the phone, though a USB-C to USB-C charging cable is still found in the box.

Curiously, Samsung slightly changed up the unboxing experience of the S23 Ultra. The first thing you see when you open up the box is the back of the phone instead of the front, and it’s protected by a sheet of paper. The display is also covered with a black plastic sheet, which is actually quite satisfying to peel off.

And that’s the Galaxy S23 Ultra in all its glory. Compared to the S22 Ultra, the new flagship has flatter sides, giving it more of the signature “squared-off” design aesthetic found in previous Galaxy Note phones. Personally, I like this change: it makes the phone easier to grip, improving its ergonomics.

Speaking of design, The S23 Ultra you see here is the Green colourway. It’s a nice, muted shade of green that can even look grey in certain lightings. There are also three other main colours: Phantom Black, Lavender, and Cream. If you want something more unique, there are online exclusive colours only available at Samsung.com, including Sky Blue, Lime, and a striking Red.

One of the biggest improvements to the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its camera system. It’s now sporting a quad camera system made up of a whopping 200MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and another 10MP telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom.

Yes, it is largely the same camera system except for the new 200MP main camera that delivers better detail preservation and improved low light capability by binning 16 pixels into one to output 12MP images. Based on some quick shots I took with the phone, it does feel very capable.

After all, its predecessor had one of the best camera systems with a far-reaching zoom, so it’s no surprise that the S23 Ultra continues to deliver the same (and potentially even better) camera performance.

12MP ultra-wide

200MP primary (12MP output)

10MP telephoto (3x optical)

10MP telephoto (10x optical)

Next, there’s the improved performance of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Now powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset – no more Exynos variant folks – the phone feels very fast and zippy. I fired up
Genshin Impact
 to see how it would fare, and not surprisingly, it can run the game at a consistent 60 frames per second in my brief testing.

Another benefit of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is better power efficiency, which translates to longer battery life. While the S23 Ultra continues to feature the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor (the fast charging also remains at only 45W, unfortunately), the battery does seem to last quite a bit longer now. I’ll be sure to test this thoroughly in the full review.

In the display department, the S23 Ultra has a stunning 6.8-inch QHD+ 3088 x 1440 Dynamic AMOLED 2X dual-curve display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The high refresh rate lends to very smooth, fluid animations, and the image quality is undeniably one of the best (if not
the best
) in the business with high brightness and vibrant colours.

Last but not least is the signature hardware of the Galaxy S23 Ultra: the S Pen. As far as I can tell, there are no major changes here. The writing experience remains as fluid than ever, so it feels pretty natural to write using the S Pen. The slightly rubberised finish on the stylus is still present as well.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is not remarkably different than its predecessor, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Last year’s S22 Ultra was considered by many to be one of the best phones released then, so Samsung is improving upon a winning formula here – that’s just sound business decision.

Naturally, I’ll be putting the Galaxy S23 Ultra through its paces leading up to the full review. I’m certainly excited to use it as my daily driver, and I’m curious to see if it can justify the RM5,699 starting price for the base 256GB model with 12GB of RAM.

That being said, those who
pre-order the S23 Ultra by 23 February
 can get a storage upgrade to 512GB for the same price as the 256GB model, which normally goes for RM6,199. If you want even
more
 storage, you can opt for the 1TB configuration for RM6,699 (discounted from RM7,199).

There’s no denying that the Galaxy S23 Ultra carries a steep price tag, but it also offers a feature set that other high-end flagship phones do not have, including the much loved S Pen. Nonetheless, stay tuned for our full review of the S23 Ultra!


Realme 10 Lands in Malaysia for RM999 – 5,000mAh Battery, 90Hz AMOLED Display

Another affordable phone from Realme has just been launched in Malaysia. Sporting a generous 5,000mAh battery with a reasonably fast 90Hz AMOLED display, the Realme 10 may appeal to folks who want a long-lasting phone on a budget.

Only one variant of the Realme 10 is offered in Malaysia. Featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage – that’s quite generous – the mid-ranger is priced at RM999. Two colour options are available: Clash White (the model you see here) and Rush Black.

For that kind of money, the Realme 10 features the aforementioned 5,000mAh battery – with support for 33W fast charging – and a 6.4-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It’s also powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 chip, which is said to be powerful enough to run PUBG Mobile at 40fps.

Other specifications of the Realme 10 include a dual camera system (50MP primary + 2MP depth), a 16MP selfie camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as Android 12 out of the box.

The Realme 10 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 14 to 16 February 2023 for RM999. Every pre-order will come with freebies worth up to RM268, including a Realme Band 2 and a one-year screen crack protection.


2023 Perodua Axia Official – 27.4km/l, 1.0L D-CVT, ASA 3.0, From RM38.6k

After much teasing, the 2023 Perodua Axia is finally official. Not only is it a bigger, sleeker-looking A-segment hatchback now, it also gains some nice creature comforts, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and six airbags – the previous model maxes out at two airbags.

Of course, given the upgrades, the asking prices of the new Axia are also higher now. There are a total of four variants: the base G model is priced at RM38,600, while the X goes for RM40,000. Next is the SE at RM44,000, followed by the range-topping AV variant for RM49,500. These are on-the-road prices without insurance.

Naturally, the highest-end Axia AV gets all the bells and whistles. These include the aforementioned six airbags, ASA 3.0 – consisting of AEB along with lane departure warning and prevention – a reverse camera, as well as LED headlights with auto high beam.

Beyond these differences, all variants of the 2023 Axia are powered by the familiar 1.0L three-cylinder engine (67hp/91Nm), but it is now paired to a D-CVT. This improves the performance and fuel efficiency of the hatchback to an impressive (up to) 27.4km/l. According to Perodua, you can get from KL to Penang with less than RM28 of fuel. Very impressive, especially for a non-hybrid.

Curiously, every trim of the updated Axia features 14-inch alloy wheels shod with 175/65 Toyo Proxes CR1 tyres – yes, even the base G variant gets the same set of wheels.

The 2023 Perodua Axia is now available for booking in Malaysia, and deliveries are set to start today. Retailing from RM36,800, it’s certainly priced higher than its predecessor, but it is also a more complete, larger hatchback now.


OnePlus 11 Lands in Malaysia From RM3,299 – Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Hasselblad Camera

Just a week after its global debut, the OnePlus 11 has just been launched right here in Malaysia. Sporting the latest Qualcom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with a Hasselblad-branded camera system, the flagship phone is priced quite competitively locally too.

For the Malaysian market, the OnePlus 11 is offered in two variants. The base 8GB + 128GB model in Titan Black is priced at RM3,299, while the higher-end 16GB + 256GB configuration in Eternal Green goes for RM3,599. Decent price tags for a flagship phone of this calibre.

For that kind of money, the OnePlus 11 features the aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It also has a 6.7-inch 3216 x 1440 AMOLED display with a 1Hz – 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, as well as a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 100W fast charging.

As for the Hasselblad-branded triple camera system of the OnePlus 11, it’s made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 48MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 32MP telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom. All of them support autofocus, and in the case of the ultra-wide camera, it can also do 3.5cm macro shooting.

The OnePlus 11 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 16 to 24 February; early birds will even get a complimentary OnePlus Buds Pro 2 worth RM869. If you’d like to learn more about the flagship phone, check out our
full review of the phone
.


OnePlus Buds Pro 2 With Dual-Driver Design & ANC Now in Malaysia for RM869

Launched alongside the
OnePlus 11
 in Malaysia is the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, the Chinese company’s new wireless earbuds. Featuring active noise cancellation and up to nine hours of battery life, the Buds Pro 2 also has a rather intriguing dual-driver design.

Available in two colours (Arbor Green and Obsidian Black), the Buds Pro 2 is priced at RM869 in Malaysia. It is without a doubt a premium pair of wireless earbuds, though for that kind of money, you’re also getting a number of interesting features, such as the aforementioned dual-driver design.

The dual-driver design of the Buds Pro 2 is made up of a 11mm unit that handles bass, while the other 6mm driver focuses on mids and highs. It also has the aforementioned active noise cancellation, spatial audio support, as well as up to nine hours of battery life on a single charge.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM869 between 16 to 24 February; the
same exact pre-order window as the OnePlus 11
. With that in mind, it will hit store shelves from 25 February onwards.


Asus ROG Azoth Pre-Orders Live in Malaysia for RM1,070 – Gasket-Mount Keyboard With OLED Display

Asus’ latest 75% wireless mechanical keyboard, the Asus ROG Azoth, is now available for pre-order in Malaysia. It’s said to have “features typically only found on premium DIY keyboards,” and this is…actually true, to a certain extent.

Take the mounting system of the ROG Azoth: instead of a tray-mount system typically found on pre-built keyboards, it has a more sophisticated gasket-mount design instead. However, it still offers a relatively stiff typing experience, which can be attributed to the use of silicone gaskets instead of a softer material.

Aside from that, the Azoth also has an OLED display on the top right corner. It can show various information, including system information, audio visualisation, or just a nice animation. There’s also a three-way toggle and a side button to the right of the OLED screen to control volume, lighting, and even media playback.

Other features of the ROG Azoth include wireless support via a 2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth, a hotswap PCB with three choices of ROG NX switches (linear, tactile, clicky), three layers of dampening foam to reduce case ping, and double shot PBT keycaps.

Oh, the keyboard is bundled with a lube kit too, which includes a bottle of Krytox 205g0 – a popular lube in the custom keyboard hobby.

The Asus ROG Azoth is
now available for pre-order in Malaysia
 through
Brightstar’s online store for RM1,070
 until 23 February, though only the ROG NX Brown switch option is offered now. Alternatively, it can also be purchased at the ROG Exclusive Store in Plaza Low Yat, Kuala Lumpur.

Not sure if the Azoth is worth the purchase? Then
check out our full review
 (and
sound test
) of Asus’ most custom pre-built keyboard yet.


Genshin Impact 3.5 Livestream Set for 17 February With Dehya & Albedo

Hoyoverse just revealed the livestream date for
Genshin Impact
‘s Version 3.5 update. Scheduled for this Friday on 17 February, the version update looks to feature both Dehya – who should be playable in the version update – and Albedo.

Genshin Impact’s Version 3.5 update is dubbed
Windblume’s Breath
, which looks to be a reference to the annual Windblume Festival in-game event that takes place in Mondstadt. With that in mind, it makes sense for Albedo to be featured in the livestream; his event wish is likely coming back in Version 3.5.

Of course, we can expect Mika (who also hails from Mondstadt) to be playable in the new update. After all, Hoyoverse already teased him alongside Dehya.

As with previous Genshin Impact version update livestreams, redemption codes offering Primogems will be given during the stream as well. You can catch the livestream of Genshin Impact Version 3.5 through
Twitch
 this Friday on 17 February at 8PM for us here in Malaysia.

If you can’t watch the stream, don’t worry: the special program
will be on YouTube
 shortly after at 9PM on the same day. Looking at the end date for Hu Tao’s and Yelan’s banners in Genshin Impact now (28 February), the Version 3.5 update should drop in early March 2023.


16 – 22 February Fuel Price: RON 97 Stays at RM3.35 Per Litre

RON 97 sees no price change yet again this week. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged as well, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 continues to be set at RM3.35 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 16 to 22 February next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Oppo Find N2 Flip Hits International Market – Malaysia to Follow?

As promised, Oppo has launched its latest foldable smartphone, the
Oppo Find N2 Flip
, for the international market. That being said, the phone has only been confirmed for European markets at the moment, though it’s likely that the phone will also be available here in Malaysia very soon.

After all, the Find N2 Flip has already been
registered with our local certification body, SIRIM
. All electronics sold here in official capacity have to be certified by SIRIM first, so now that the foldable phone is in SIRIM’s database already, we can expect it to be sold here in the near future.

Anyway, the Find N2 Flip is Oppo’s answer to the
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
. Compared to the latter, the Find N2 Flip sports a more sizeable 3.26-inch 720 x 382 AMOLED cover screen, while the primary display is a 6.8-inch 2520 x 1080 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Just like the larger
Oppo

Find N2
, the Find N2 Flip features a Hasselblad-branded camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens. Naturally, it features Oppo’s very own MariSilicon X NPU as well for improved camera performance.

Rounding out the specifications of the Find N2 Flip include a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset paired with 8GB of RAM for international markets, 256GB of internal storage, a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a rather generous 4,300mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging.

The Oppo Find N2 Flip will go on sale in the UK on 2 March for £849; that comes up to about RM4,480. No official word on the availability of the phone in other markets outside of Europe at the time of writing, but given that the Find N2 Flip has been certified by SIRIM already, we reckon it will arrive in Malaysia very soon.


Samsung Launches Galaxy S23 Series in Malaysia – Pre-Order Collection Starts 17 February

Samsung just launched the latest Samsung Galaxy S23 series in Malaysia. Consisting of the Galaxy S23, S23+, and of course, the range-topping
S23 Ultra
, pre-order collection for all three phones is set to begin tomorrow on 17 February.

To celebrate the arrival of the Galaxy S23 series in Malaysia, Samsung is offering a pretty attractive launch promotion. Every purchase of any S23 device between 24 February to 31 March 2023 will be bundled with a Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm) worth RM1,099 for free.

On top of that, those who purchase any S23 phone can also get up to 30% discount on selected Samsung accessories, tablets, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, and Samsung Care+.

To recap, the Galaxy S23 is the most affordable device in the series with a RM3,899 starting price for the 128GB model; the 256GB variant costs RM4,199. A tier up is the Galaxy S23+, which goes for RM4,699 and RM5,199 for the 256GB and 512GB models respectively.

Finally, there’s the highest-end Galaxy S23 Ultra. The 256GB configuration costs RM5,699, while the 512GB variant carries a RM6,199 price tag. There’s also a whopping 1TB model for a cool RM7,199, though this particular configuration is not eligible for the free Galaxy Watch 5 launch promotion.

It’s worth noting that you can still
pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S23 series by 23 February
 in Malaysia to get a storage upgrade – saving you up to RM500 – and a RM400 e-voucher. We’ve also got an
unboxing and hands-on of the S23 Ultra
!


2023 Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404) Hands-on: Premium Productivity Laptop With RTX 3050

Announced back at CES 2023, the new Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404) brings quite a number of upgrades over its predecessor. Not only does it come with a more capable Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU now, it also has a ceramic-like finish for a unique, premium appeal.

Set to be available in Malaysia very soon – before the end of February 2023 this month – the Zenbook 14X OLED is quite an intriguing productivity-focused laptop that can do some gaming on the side as well. If priced right, it could be a winner for Asus.

Off the bat, one of the most appealing features of the Zenbook 14X OLED has to be its ceramic-like finish on the lid. The unique coating is done through a process dubbed plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), and the result is…very interesting.

This finish is reserved for the Sandstone Beige colourway of the Zenbook 14X OLED you see here, and I love it. As the name suggests, it does feel like ceramic with a smooth feel that’s cool to the touch. It almost feels like a ceramic tile, basically, and it doesn’t seem to catch any fingerprint either.

If there’s any downside to this, it would be the fact that the ceramic-like finish is only done on the lid of the Zenbook 14X OLED. Other parts of the laptop, including the palm rest area, still has a regular aluminium finish.

Anyway, beyond the unique finish of the Zenbook 14X OLED, it brings notable performance gains too. Now powered by Intel’s latest 13th gen processors – maxing out at a Core i9-13900H – it can also be configured with up to 32GB of RAM and an RTX 3050 GPU.

While the RTX 3050 isn’t an awfully powerful GPU, it should still be fast enough to run most AAA games at acceptable frame rates with some tweaks to the graphics settings. The fact that the Zenbook 14X OLED is marketed as a productivity laptop while still sporting a gaming-grade RTX 3050 GPU is really quite impressive.

Next, we have the OLED display of the Zenbook 14X OLED. It is now a 14.5-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED display – upsized from 14-inch – with a 120Hz refresh rate and 16:10 aspect ratio. The tall aspect ratio makes it great for productivity tasks, as you get more vertical screen real estate to work with.

Of course, the extra frame rates afforded by the OLED panel’s 120Hz refresh rate also ensures that animations look smooth and fluid, especially in games that can hit the 120fps mark. Even the general user experience of the laptop is improved with the high refresh rate. Everything from moving the mouse cursor or scrolling through a web page will look extra smooth.

As for the screen quality of the Zenbook 14X OLED itself, it seems quite promising. This is, after all, an OLED display, which typically features vibrant, punchy colours with deep blacks and wide viewing angles. It’s worth noting that this panel is also Pantone Validated, so it should have good colour accuracy – something creative professionals will appreciate.

A good selection of ports

Now, onto some of the most important hardware for a productivity laptop: input devices. In this regard, the Zenbook 14X OLED’s keyboard is a bit of a mixed bag. While it does offer a good amount of key travel, the low actuation force of the keys make for a “soft” typing experience, which isn’t quite to my liking.

That being said, the keyboard does offer a good amount of tactile feedback, and the Zenbook 14X OLED I tested is still just an engineering sample. It’s entirely possible the consumer-ready unit will feature a more refined keyboard, and hopefully, more consistent backlight as well.

As for the laptop’s trackpad, it’s largely accurate with a smooth surface for my fingers to glide on. It also doubles as a numpad with a long press on the top right corner of the trackpad, which works in a pinch.

The keyboard’s backlight could be better

Overall, the 2023 Asus Zenbook 14X OLED looks to be a refined productivity laptop with a bright, vibrant OLED display; promising performance from the 13th gen Intel processor and RTX 3050 GPU; as well as a unique ceramic-like finish, even if it’s only limited to the top lid.

However, until Asus Malaysia reveals the Malaysian pricing of the Zenbook 14X OLED, it’s tough to gauge the value proposition of the laptop. If it’s priced anything like last year’s
Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition
 – which starts from RM5,599 at launch – it could be a compelling productivity laptop, especially for folks who also want to do some gaming.

Nonetheless, we will find out soon enough once Asus Malaysia launches the new Zenbook 14X OLED on our shores. I was told it will be available here in the next couple of weeks, so we won’t have to wait much longer now.


Joyodio Shine Review: Shine (Overly) Bright Like a Diamond

IEMs with built-in switches that grant you the ability to alter the tuning aren’t particularly new or groundbreaking, though the feature usually doesn’t come cheap. “Switchable” IEMs like the QDC Anole VX, for example, retails at
over RM9,000
. On the other end of that scale, there’s the far more affordable Thieaudio Legacy 3 for about RM500.

Joyodio, a newcomer to the ChiFi space, is making its debut with the Joyodio Shine; an IEM with tunable switches that retails
for just $79.99 (about RM355) on Linsoul
, which sent us this review unit. The entry of yet another brand in the ChiFi market is not uncommon, but making your debut IEM a tunable one is a quite the bold move.

Even if it’s not executed quite right.

What It Is

The Joyodio Shine is an IEM with a single dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers. As mentioned, the Shine is a tunable IEM with four tiny switches on each of the shells that allow users to swap between five main profiles with
16 possible configurations
.

Looking at the handy pamphlet that comes with the Shine – you probably shouldn’t lose it – the four switches let you tweak the “low, high, ultra-high, and full-frequency overall regulation” respectively. In simpler terms, you’re able to adjust the bass, upper-mids, treble, and a…somewhat global frequency boost.

At least, that’s what it says on (literal) paper. I’ll elaborate more on the tuning of the Shine further down the review.

The Joyodio Shine comes in a rather sizeable box, the inside of which houses the IEM itself, six pairs of ear tips, and a carrying case that holds the cable. There’s also a pin included that’s thin enough to adjust the individual tuning switches on the IEM’s shell. This pin is practically no different to a SIM eject tool that you get with your smartphone.

One set of ear tips is your standard translucent silicone tip, while the other has a spiral pattern on the inside. Despite the different deign, they sound pretty similar to each other, which can be attributed to the fact that both of them are wide bore tips.

With that in mind, I would’ve appreciated the inclusion of narrow bore tips as well, especially due to the bright tuning of the Shine.

The included hard shell, faux leather case is actually quite nice. In fact, it’s one of the nicer elements of the Shine. The cable is a silver-plated four-core braided cable, and this review unit includes an optional built-in microphone. The cable is soft, but still prone to tangling, not to mention the fact that it also has a…peculiar odour.

As for the Shine itself, the faceplate is made of metal, while the inner shell is 3D-printed resin. Fit and comfort are decent, though the longer nozzle makes it a tad troublesome for me to find the sweet spot to get a proper seal in my ears. I actually find it better to tip roll and use the large sized tips from the
QKZ x HBB
K
han
 instead.

How Does It Sound?

Given that the Joyodio Shine’s tuning can be switched up with the switches on its shell – excuse the pun – the following sound impressions are based on the IEM’s Standard tuning, where all of the switches are turned down. In my opinion, even with the different settings, the inherent tonality of the Shine still remains essentially the same, aside from some dips and peaks in certain areas.

Tonality of the Shine is bright and treble-centric. The 1DD and 2BA IEM has a predominantly BA timbre, and the soundstage is airy and horizontally wide, but it’s not extended extensively vertically. Clarity and imaging is quite good, though instruments tend to mush together and congest the stage on busier tracks.

Bass

Sub-bass of the Shine is starkly rolled-off and virtually absent. There is no notable rumble, and the texture of the bass is also rather thin. Mid-bass is present but bashful, barely making itself known within the frequency range.

There isn’t, to my ears, sufficient impact in the Shine’s bass production, especially for genres like pop and rock. Vocal-centric or classical tracks might fare better in this regard, though bassheads should probably steer clear of the Shine.

Mids

Male vocals are clear, but almost unnaturally so; breathiness is in abundance, but this makes the note weight far too thin; female vocals sound very forward and airy, but borderline shouty to my ears. Basically, a substantial amount of extra low-end would help add warmth and body to vocals, and bring it closer to what’s more natural to my preferences.

The same can be said for instruments like keys and strings, where there is clarity, but lack of structure and integrity.

Treble

This region is where the Shine truly…shines, albeit overly so. The treble region of this IEM is just
too bright
 to my ears, to the point where it gets a bit fatiguing in long listening sessions. In the Shine’s defense, the treble isn’t sharp or shrill, but it is on the cusp of sounding as such, especially for a treble-sensitive listener like myself.

This emphasis in the highs does mean that the Shine has ample amount of air and clarity, though I still wish the energy of the treble is a bit more tame.

Differences Between Different Tuning Settings

So does the Shine’s tuning switches actually work? Of course. But are they really effective as an alternative to EQ or switching to different IEMs depending on the song and mood?
Other reviews of the Shine
 have graciously measured and graphed each of the five default tunings, so you can refer to those for a more visual idea of the differences. The following is what each of the profile sounds like to my ears:

The Standard profile aside, all four switches pushed up will give you the Pop profile. This profile sounds sharper with crispier treble, and vocals are also more forward. However, the obvious pinna gain rise makes this already bright IEM even brighter. Ouch.

Classical, which is just the third and fourth switches up, gives you a similarly bright experience sans the low end and upper mid-range.

Having only the first and fourth switches up will yield the R&B/Rock tuning, a profile that doesn’t accentuate the upper mids as much as the Pop profile while still sounding mildly exciting.

Finally, there’s the “HiFi” tuning, which is just lifting up the fourth switch, producing the most detailed and revealing sound profile. That being said, it’s also the profile which sounds like it has the least amount of bass. If you like a bright sound signature but don’t want to be overwhelmed by too much bass, this profile is decent for a more clinical listening experience.

Personally, I like Standard for most things and R&B/Rock for others. The latter has more presence and energy, while Standard is just more laid back and doesn’t sound as artificially boosted as the others. Personally, none of the profiles have strong enough bass presence to my ears, and it is an IEM that is a bit too bright for my liking.

Is It Worth It?

One of the most highlighted selling points of the Joyodio Shine is its flexibility to get different tunings by tweaking the switches on the IEM, but the differences aren’t incredibly drastic. You’re still limited by the hardware that is the 1DD and 2BA driver configuration.

It’s a neat novelty, to be sure, but if you’re already not a fan of the Shine’s inherent sound signature (bright and treble-centric), flipping several switches on the IEM won’t change that. Of course, if you
do
 like such tonality, the Shine is certainly worth checking out.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review: Great Sound, Not So Great User Experience

OnePlus’ recent wireless earbuds surprised me quite a bit, especially when it comes to audio quality. This trait is carried over to the latest OnePlus Buds Pro 2, with a dual-driver design that elevates the sound quality even further.

But as much as I enjoy listening to my favourite tunes with the Buds Pro 2, it still falls short of expectations, especially for a premium pair of true wireless earbuds. That being said, it doesn’t take away from the fact that these are
great
-sounding earbuds.

If you can live with its shortcomings, the Buds Pro 2 is well worth considering.

What It Is

Available in two colours (Arbor Green and Obsidian Black), the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is priced at RM869 in Malaysia. At this price point, it is without a doubt a premium pair of wireless earbuds, though you’re also getting a number of interesting features, such as the aforementioned dual-driver design.

The dual-driver design of the Buds Pro 2 is made up of a 11mm unit that handles bass, while the other 6mm driver focuses on mids and highs. This is a similar driver configuration as several popular IEMs lately, including the
Truthear x Crinacle Zero
 and
QKZ x HBB Khan
.

Rounding out the feature set of the Buds Pro 2 are active noise cancellation (ANC), spatial audio support, as well as up to nine hours of battery life on a single charge, though it goes down to six hours with ANC activated and the volume set to 50%.

The Good Stuff

Let’s start with my favourite feature of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2: its audio quality. As a whole, it is quite similar to its predecessor with a V-shaped sound signature that emphasis on the bass, along with better detail and control for a more refined sound quality.

If you love bass, you’ll definitely love the Buds Pro 2. Unlike the previous model that offered too much bass, this new model produces more controlled (and layered) bass, which can be attributed to the dual-driver design. It’s very impactful with a good amount of rumble, though it’s also still just a tad too loose.

Mids of the Buds Pro 2 are also pleasant with male vocals sounding thick and warm, though female vocals are a bit thin and distant. In the treble region, highs are rolled off with not enough crispiness in snaps or high hats, but there’s still a surprising amount of detail and clarity. All in all, I thoroughly enjoy listening to these earbuds.

ANC performance of the Buds Pro 2 is reasonably good too. It’s not quite on the same level as
Apple’s 2nd gen AirPods Pro
 or the
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
, but overall, it can still cancel out low frequency sounds well enough. With some tunes playing, it can drown out most ambient noise.

Battery life of the Buds Pro 2 is above average as well. While OnePlus quotes up to six hours of battery life with ANC activated (50% volume), I can only get about five hours of use before it’s out of juice, given that I listen to the earbuds at a higher volume output.

Granted, five hours of use on a single charge is still decent, and it’s more than good enough for my particular use. The charging case can recharge the Buds Pro 2 quite quickly too for a combined battery life of 39 hours (ANC disabled) or 25 hours (ANC enabled).

The Bad Stuff

Oddly enough, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2…has no volume controls. I initially thought the squeeze controls – which are quite intuitive to use – can be customised to adjust the volume, but there’s no such option in the app, much to my chagrin. Not the most pleasant user experience.

Speaking of which, the proprietary ear tips of the Buds Pro 2 are not great either. Even if three different ear tip sizes are provided with the earbuds, there’s a chance some folks won’t get the best fit with any of them. Looking for replacement ear tips will be quite a challenge too.

Is It Worth It?

It really depends on what you look for in a pair of wireless earbuds. The best winning quality of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is its sound signature with strong, controlled bass, and it has reasonably good ANC performance and battery life as well. Based on its audio quality alone, I can see myself paying its RM869 price tag.

But if the lack of volume adjustment on the earbuds and proprietary ear tips put you off, then maybe the Buds Pro 2 isn’t for you. For what it’s worth, I absolutely love the sound signature of these earbuds, and if OnePlus can somehow introduce volume controls to the squeeze controls, I’d happily use it as my daily driver.


Genshin Impact 3.5 Arrives 1 March Alongside Dehya, Mika, New Archon Quest With Dainsleif

Genshin Impact 3.5 sees the return of the Windblume Festival event in Mondstadt, where several Sumeru characters – Collei, Cyno, and Tighnari – will also be visiting the city. On top of that, two new characters – the
previously teased Dehya and Mika
 – will be playable in the version update too, alongside a new Archon quest featuring Dainsleif and Kaeya.

Dehya is a 5-star Pyro character wielding a claymore, while Mika is a 4-star Cryo unit that uses both a polearm and a crossbow, though the latter is only used for his Elemental Skill. Dehya’s event wish will run simultaneously with Cyno’s rerun banner, while Mika will be featured in Kamisato Ayaka’s and Shenhe’s reruns in the second phase.

It’s worth noting that Dehya is not an event-exclusive character; she will be added to the Standard Wish banner after the Version 3.6 update.

Aside from the new characters, a new Archon quest will also be available in the Version 3.5 update of Genshin Impact. We will see the return of Dainsleif in that particular storyline, and both Kaeya and the Traveler’s twin will be making an appearance too.

Interestingly, players can get extra Intertwined Fates – used for limited-time event wish banners – for
each
 Archon Quest completed once Genshin Impact 3.5 is live. Three new cards are set to be added to the game’s Genius Invokation TCG as well, including Eula, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Kujou Sara.

The Version 3.5 update of Genshin Impact will drop on 1 March in the next couple of weeks. To recap, Dehya’s and Cyno’s event wishes will be available first, followed by Ayaka’s and Shenhe’s rerun banners (alongside Mika) in the second phase.


Oppo Find N2 Flip Confirmed for Malaysian Market – Launch Set for 2 March 2023

It’s been expected for quite some time now, and here it is: Oppo finally confirmed the Malaysian availability of its latest foldable phone, the Oppo Find N2 Flip. It’s quite exciting, given that this is the Chinese company’s first-ever foldable phone to be offered outside of China.

Oppo Malaysia confirmed the local availability of the Find N2 Flip on its Twitter account, which also mentions a 2 March 2023 launch date for the clamshell foldable phone. A
registration of interest
 for the Find N2 Flip has been opened too.

The Flip is coming to Malaysia! 🌏
Watch the
#OPPOFindN2Flip
 launch event unfold on 2 March 2023. ⏳
#SeeMoreInASnap

#FlipRefined
— OPPO Malaysia (@OPPOMalaysia)
February 20, 2023

The Find N2 Flip is essentially Oppo’s answer to the
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
. Compared to the latter, the Find N2 Flip sports a more sizeable 3.26-inch 720 x 382 AMOLED cover screen, while the primary display is a 6.8-inch 2520 x 1080 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Just like the larger
Oppo

Find N2
, the Find N2 Flip features a Hasselblad-branded camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens. Naturally, it features Oppo’s very own MariSilicon X NPU as well for improved camera performance.

Rounding out the specifications of the Find N2 Flip include a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset paired with 8GB of RAM for international markets, 256GB of internal storage, a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a rather generous 4,300mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging.

Expect to learn more about the Malaysian availability of the Oppo Find N2 Flip come 2 March next week. Naturally, no word yet on the local pricing of the foldable phone, though it does retail from £849 (about RM4,525) in the UK. It’ll be interesting to see if it will be priced similarly here in Malaysia.


Photo Essay: Click & Brew in George Town, Penang – Combining Keyboard & Coffee

Click & Brew was one of the first custom keyboard retail stores to be opened in Malaysia. It started operating in the middle of 2022 last year, and at a glance, it looks like your typical cafe. But the moment you walk through the door, you know you’re in a special space.

As its name suggests, Click & Brew combines two things the owners (husband and wife Joey and Erica) are passionate about: keyboard and coffee. While I was around George Town, Penang earlier this month, I managed to drop by the cafe, and it was certainly worth the trip.

If you’re planning to visit the cafe, here’s what to expect at Click & Brew!

Right off the bat, you’ll see a plethora of keyboards neatly lined up at Click & Brew. It’s a nice juxtaposition of sorts: custom keyboards are on the right, while the left side of the retail space looks more like a cafe – a very nice one, at that.

Whether you want a cup of coffee or a slice of cake, Click & Brew got you covered. While you’re waiting for your order to be prepared, you can browse through the cafe’s respectable collection of keyboards. If you’re up for it, you can even start building your very own keyboard right then and there.

Naturally, space is provided to start building your keyboard. Just choose the parts that you want, and you can start assembling. If you did order a coffee though, I’d be careful about putting it too close to the keyboard while I’m building it – you wouldn’t want to literally mix the two elements together.

Keyboard building workshops are also provided for folks who are not quite ready to jump straight into the custom keyboard hobby. At the moment, a workshop for beginners is offered every Saturday from 10:30AM to 12:30PM. A minimum of two attendees are required, and it costs
RM55 per person
.

How about a deskmat to go along with your new keyboard?

If you do decide to build a keyboard, you can test it out once it’s completed at the provided workstation. It is quite a sleek-looking setup with an open-air build, and Monkeytype – my go-to typing test website – is conveniently opened up already for you to type away.

As for the cafe itself, Click & Brew offers a nice and cosy ambiance. While it’s not a particularly big cafe, it does feel comfortable and welcoming. Of course, Joey and Erica are very friendly and easy to talk too as well, especially when we were talking about the various keyboards on display.

This Enter stool is easily one my favourite furnishings in the cafe

It’s worth noting that Click & Brew will be moving to a larger retail space sometime this year, so I’m glad I managed to visit the current cafe before the move. Don’t worry, the new space will still be located in George Town, Penang. It won’t be shifting to the Klang Valley area; not yet, maybe?

Nonetheless, do give Click & Brew a visit if you happen to be in Penang. It’s a pleasant – and dare I say “Instagrammable” – cafe for both keyboard and coffee enthusiasts. It’s definitely a unique cafe concept that will surely introduce more people to the custom keyboard hobby.

Click & Brew is open from 12:30PM to 8PM, though it closes at 6PM on weekends. It is also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so keep that in mind if you’re
planning to drop by the cafe
.


Vivo V27e With “Aura Light” Flash Launching in Malaysia 1 March

Vivo is set to launch an “instagrammable” phone in Malaysia, as the company puts it. One of the most highlighted features of the Vivo V27e is its Aura Light flash that’s placed right beside the triple camera array, which is said to allow for “studio-like images in low light environments.”

That’s certainly a lofty claim, but beyond its aura light flash system, the V27e also has a rather unique back design with a “brush stroke” finish. Only the Lavender Purple model looks to feature this unconventional finish; the Glory Black colour option has a more minimalist-looking design instead.

Other specifications of the V27e include the aforementioned triple camera system (64MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP bokeh), a 32MP selfie camera, a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, a 6.62-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 4,600mAh battery with 66W fast charging.

The Vivo V27e is set to be launched in Malaysia next week on 1 March 2023. We’ll find out then just how much the phone will be priced at for our local market.