Video: Owlab Link 65 Sound Test – Thocky, Marbly, Creamy

Boy, do we have a good keyboard in for review! This is the Owlab Link 65 (thanks for sending it over Rebult Keyboards!), a 65% custom keyboard with quite an innovative build process and PCB design. It’s also been a while since we’ve seen a 65% keyboard from Owlab, which makes the Link 65 that much more compelling.

One of the most unique features of the Link 65 is its “Slip PCB,” which has
a lot
 of flex cuts and can be rolled up. This custom keyboard also uses a screwless design (sort of), so you don’t even need a screwdriver to assemble it. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

Of course, this being an Owlab keyboard, it has the brand’s signature “thocky,” low-pitched sound profile. Just take a listen for yourself in the sound test below.

The Owlab Link 65 will cost between $380 to $400 (about RM1,700 to RM1,790), depending on the configuration. If you’re here in Malaysia, good news: Rebult Keyboards is the Malaysian proxy for the keyboard! We were told it will be available for purchase by the end of the month, so stay tuned for our full review of the Link 65 on our
YouTube channel
!


HBO Shows Off First Footage of The Last of Us TV Series – Coming in 2023

We finally got a first look at the upcoming live-action adaption of The Last of Us. Set to release sometime in 2023, the short trailer shows off several characters from the game, including Joel, Ellie, Bill, and even Joel’s daughter, Sarah.

Joel is played by Pedro Pascal, who is well-known for his roles in The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, and even Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Ellie, on the other hand, is played by Bella Ramsey of Game of Thrones fame. Looking at the trailer below, the two characters seem to be represented quite well in HBO’s series.

Created by Craig Mazin, who is also the creator and writer of HBO’s Chernobyl, The Last of Us series looks to be a faithful adaption of the first game. It’s also worth noting that both Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson – the voices of Joel and Ellie respectively in the game – will be featured in the series as well.

It remains to be seen what characters the two of them will play in The Last of Us TV series, though they are confirmed to be carrying “major roles.” The series is expected to debut sometime in 2023 next year, and it’s worth noting that
The Last of Us Part I
 (a remake of the first game) will be released on 2 September next month for the PS5.


Genshin Impact’s Nilou, Cyno, Candace Teased – Playable in Version 3.1?

Just a few days before the
Version 3.0 update
 goes live, Hoyoverse is teasing three new characters coming to
Genshin Impact
. These characters are Nilou, Cyno, and Candace, and all three of them should be playable in the Version 3.1 update.

Typically, characters that are teased by Hoyoverse are playable in the next version update of Genshin Impact, so there’s no reason the same wouldn’t apply to these three Sumeru characters. Unfortunately, the rarity of the new characters has not been revealed yet.

That being said, Hoyoverse did show the elements that the characters wield. Both Nilou and Candace are Hydro characters, while Cyno possesses an Electro vision. Based on her teaser image, there’s a chance Nilou is a catalyst user too. As for Candace and Cyno, they look to be wielding spears.

Expect Nilou, Cyno, and Candace to be playable characters in Genshin Impact 3.1, which is set to be released on 28 September. This is only about a month away, and compared to previous updates, this is a shorter time period.

According to Hoyoverse, this timing will be applicable until the Version 3.3 update of Genshin Impact.


Genshin Impact Tighnari & Zhongli Banners Arrive 24 August With Collei, Fischl, Diona

Tighnari’s and Zhongli’s banners have been revealed for
Genshin Impact
. Set to arrive this Wednesday on 24 August, the event wish for these two 5-star characters will be accompanied by Collei, Fischl, and Diona.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact

double banners
, Tighnari and Zhongli both share the same roster of 4-star characters despite the fact that they’re featured in separate event wishes. Of course, pity is also shared between the two banners, and the wish guarantee count
will
 carry over to future character banners too.

Similar to Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event wishes
, the “drop rate” of Tighnari, Zhongli, Collei, Fischl, and Diona will be increased. In the case of Tighnari and Zhongli, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be either of them, depending on which banner you’re wishing. If you got a different character, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be them.

Since Genshin Impact’s pity system for character banners ensures that you will get at least one 5-star character every 90 wishes, you will have to do 180 rolls for a guaranteed Tighnari or Zhongli. The same rule applies to 4-star characters (guaranteed every 10-roll instead), but given that there are three of them featured in the banner, it’s a little bit more random.

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Collei, Fischl, or Diona. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters, you will likely have to roll a good number of times, depending on your luck.

Tighnari’s “Viridescent Vigil” and Zhongli’s “Gentry of Hermitage” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 24 August 2022, right after the
Version 3.0 update
 goes live. Their banners will be offered until 9 September; Ganyu and Sangonomiya Kokomi’s rerun banners – which will be joined by Dori – will follow suit then.


Owlab Link 65 Pre-Orders in Malaysia Open 27 August – 30 Minutes Sale, From RM1,779

We got the details for the Malaysian pre-orders of the
Owlab Link 65
! Rebult Keyboards, the Malaysian proxy for the 65% custom keyboard, will hold the sale this Saturday on 27 August, and the pre-orders will be opened for only 30 minutes.

That’s right, you have 30 minutes to place your pre-order of the Link 65 between 8PM to 8.30PM this Saturday. If the format is anything like the international sale, it should be an unlimited group buy, so you won’t have to worry about stocks running out.

As for pricing, the Link 65 will cost between RM1,779 to RM1,869 for the Malaysian pre-orders through
Rebult Keyboards
, depending on the configuration you chose. No mention of fulfilment time, but (again) if it follows the international sale, it should start shipping in six to 10 weeks’ time; that’s quite fast for a custom keyboard.

If you’re not sure the Owlab Link 65 is for you, stay tuned for our full review of the custom keyboard on our
YouTube channel
! Rest assured, we will have the review ready before the Malaysian pre-orders are open on 27 August this Saturday.


Disney+ Hotstar Now Available on Astro Ulti Box

Back in April this year,
Astro added Disney+ Hotstar
 to its 4K-enabled Ultra Box, but the more affordable HD Ulti Box did not have the service…until now. Beginning today, you can start streaming Disney+ Hotstar on the Astro Ulti Box.

This makes it more compelling to purchase
Astro TV packs
 that have Disney+ Hotstar bundled together; the most affordable one right now is the Movies Pack for RM59.99/month (only for six months). If you want both Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix in the same TV pack, there’s Premium Pack 3 for RM99.99/month (also only for six months).

It’s worth noting that access to HBO GO is also offered in the Premium Pack 3 bundle.

Of course, you don’t have to purchase these TV packs to access Disney+ Hotstar on Astro’s Ulti Box. As long as you have an active subscription to the streaming service, you can log on to it without any issue. It’s just a little bit more convenient to include the subscription cost into a single bill, especially if you fancy other content in the TV pack.

To access Disney+ Hotstar on the Astro Ulti Box, just find for the streaming service on the home screen. If you’re already subscribed to a TV pack that includes the streaming service, follow the instructions below to get your login ID.


Asus ROG Phone 6 Review: Much More Refined (And Still Very Fast) Gaming Phone

Asus’ range of gaming phones had always offered excellent gaming performance, but the “smartphone” aspect of these devices had always been somewhat…overlooked. More often than not, they are gaming phones first, smartphone second.

While this still applies to the Asus ROG Phone 6 to an extent, it is by far the most refined
smartphone
 yet under Asus’ ROG Phone lineup. It addressed quite a bit of its predecessor’s shortcomings, and of course, it continues to be a fast, powerful smartphone for mobile gaming.

Yes, it’s also slightly more expensive than last year’s
ROG Phone 5
. But given the upgrades you’re getting, the extra cost is justifiable, in my opinion.

What It Is

Display
6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2448 x 1080), 165Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 3.19GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 730
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
50MP f/1.9, PDAF
13MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
5MP (macro)
Camera (front)
12MP
Battery
6,000mAh with 65W fast charging
Dimensions
173 x 77 x 10.4 mm
Weight
239g
OS
Android 12
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5/6GHz)
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone jack
Price
RM3,599

Our review unit of the ROG Phone 6 is the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for RM3,599. The higher-end 16GB + 512GB configuration, on the other hand, goes for RM4,399. Beyond the larger RAM and storage capacities, both variants are practically identical to each other.

Compared to its predecessor, the ROG Phone 6 features a faster 165Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. These two hardware make for a very,
very
 enjoyable gaming experience, which I’ll get to in the next section.

The Good Stuff

I’ll cut to the chase: the Asus ROG Phone 6 is by far the best (Android) gaming phone I’ve ever tested. My go-to game to test the performance level of a smartphone is
Genshin Impact
, and the ROG Phone 6 can run the demanding mobile game at 60fps
consistently
.

This is really quite an achievement, given that most flagship smartphones – despite sporting the same Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset – still cannot run Genshin Impact as well as the ROG Phone 6. Evidently, Asus did a good job optimising the chip for its gaming phone, though it does have some thermal issues – more on this further down the review.

Aside from that, I really like the capacitive shoulder buttons of the ROG Phone 6. Though I would’ve preferred actual buttons for a more tactile feel, the touch buttons are sensitive enough to not feel…troublesome to use.

Further enhancing the gaming experience of the ROG Phone 6 is its fast 165Hz 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display. This very high refresh rate makes for a fluid, very responsive gaming and user experience; every single animation on this screen looks extra smooth.

Not surprisingly, the AMOLED panel of the ROG Phone 6 looks great as well. It is by no means in the same league as, say, Samsung’s Dynamic 2X AMOLED display, but it’s still a bright and vibrant AMOLED screen. It also has wide viewing angles and deep, true blacks – inherent advantages of an AMOLED panel.

Battery life of the ROG Phone 6 remains as excellent as ever. With last year’s model, I can consistently get over seven hours of battery life, and I can still replicate this with the new gaming phone. If you’re not a heavy smartphone user, I reckon you can comfortably get two days of use out of the ROG Phone 6 as well.

I’m also happy to report that the ROG Phone 6 doesn’t have its predecessor’s software quirk. The user interface continues to be very close to stock Android, and push notifications from apps are no longer delayed; I don’t have to manually launch apps to get notifications from said apps anymore!

Also addressed is the in-screen fingerprint sensor of the ROG Phone 6. It is much more responsive than the sensor used in the ROG Phone 5, and it’s just as fast as every other optical-based fingerprint sensor in the market now.

The Bad Stuff

Although the ROG Phone 6 doesn’t seem to suffer from any major thermal throttling, the phone does get noticeably hot in prolonged gaming sessions. This heat buildup is especially evident on the top portion of the phone; it can actually get uncomfortably hot.

In the camera department, the ROG Phone 6 remains decidedly average. In certain scenarios (especially in low light conditions), the 13MP ultra-wide angle shooter can actually take better-looking shots than the 50MP primary sensor. This is because the former has a tendency to switch to long exposure mode.

50MP primary

50MP primary

50MP primary

50MP primary

13MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

13MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

13MP ultra-wide

Given enough lighting, the ROG Phone 6 will be able to take decent-looking (albeit saturated) shots; just don’t expect flagship-level camera quality. For what it’s worth, at least the camera interface is quite responsive, which improves the phone’s shooting experience.

Is It Worth It?

Retailing from RM3,599, the Asus ROG Phone 6’s value proposition isn’t quite as good as the previous model. But it is also a faster, much more refined gaming phone without sacrificing (too much) on its smartphone functionalities. Its software is more polished, it’s still a long-lasting phone, and the in-screen fingerprint sensor is no longer finicky.

If you want one of the best gaming smartphones money can buy now, the ROG Phone 6 is an easy recommendation. While you do have to contend with the phone’s average camera system and some thermal issues, there’s no denying that it is a blazing fast gaming phone.

And more importantly, not many Android phones can match the performance level of the ROG Phone 6.


Sony Unveils DualSense Edge, “Ultra-Customisable” Controller for PS5

Sony just introduced a new controller for the PS5. Dubbed DualSense Edge, it looks similar to the current DualSense controller, but it features a number of customisation options for a “completely personalised controller experience,” as Sony puts it.

Basically, the DualSense Edge is a more premium version of the existing DualSense controller. Not only can you adjust the sensitivity and dead zones of the analog sticks, you can also swap it out for different stick caps. These include the standard design, high dome, and low dome.

Oh, the stick module itself can also be completely swapped out to essentially prolong the controller’s lifespan, though the module is (naturally) sold separately.

Besides the analog sticks, the adaptive triggers of the DualSense Edge can also be customised. You can adjust the travel distance and dead zones of the triggers to suit different games, and the L2/R2 buttons are textured now too for better grip.

Of course, there are also a slew of extra buttons on the DualSense Edge. There are two back buttons now – which can be swapped to a half-dome or lever design – that can be configured to any other button input. The fn buttons below the analog sticks can be used to adjust your setup as well, either to swap between pre-set control profiles, adjust game volume, or even access the controller profile settings menu.

No word yet on the availability or pricing of the new DualSense Edge controller, but given its more elaborate feature set, expect it to cost more than the current DualSense controller. For the sake of context, the DualSense now retails between RM349 to RM369 in Malaysia, depending on the colourway.


PlayStation VR2 Coming in Early 2023

Sony finally revealed the launch timing of its next-generation VR headset for the PS5. The PlayStation VR2 is set to hit the market sometime in early 2023 next year, though no other details (including pricing) were announced.

Compared to the first generation PS VR, the PS VR2 features a number of improvements. The headset, for one, has a built-in motor with vibrations that is meant to amplify “the sensations of in-game actions from the player.” For example, you can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, or even the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, as Sony puts it.

Other specifications of the PS VR2 include support for 4K HDR, a display resolution of 2040 x 2000 per eye, an OLED panel with a 90/120Hz refresh rate, 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering.

And then there’s the PS VR2 Sense controller, which naturally sports the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback for an immersive gameplay experience. Interestingly, the next-gen VR controller also has finger touch detection; it can “detect your fingers (without pressing any button) in the areas where you place your thumb, index, or middle fingers.”

Hopefully, Sony will reveal more details on the PlayStation VR2 system in the near future, including a more elaborate list of games for the VR system and (more importantly) pricing details.


Malaysia Keyboard Meetup – Free Entry, RM60 for Keypass to Enter Lucky Draws

More details have been revealed for the upcoming
Malaysia keyboard meetup
 on 1 October 2022. Entry to the meetup will be free, though visitors can purchase a “keypass” ticket for RM60 to get goodie bags and access to exclusive lucky draws.

Several sponsors of the local keyboard meetup have also been confirmed, which include big names such as
Axiom Studios
, SINGAKBD, and even Monokei. Chances are, these brands will play a part in the lucky draws at the keyboard meetup.

As previously revealed, the keyboard meetup will be held at the Grey Box in GMBB Kuala Lumpur. It will run from 10AM to 6PM, so expect a number of activities to be held throughout the day. It’s possible we’ll see some vendors – such as Rebult Keyboards and
Mecha Store
 – at the meetup too.

If you haven’t filled up the
interest check
 for the Malaysia keyboard meetup yet, you can still do so; the IC form will close on 27 August this Saturday. No word yet on when the keypass ticket sale will be held, but rest assured, we’ll keep a close eye on it.


Catch the Genshin Impact Teleport Waypoint at Bukit Bintang, KL Until 6 September

Now this is quite interesting! Hoyoverse has put up a real-life teleport waypoint from Genshin Impact right here in Malaysia. Well, more specifically, at the Bukit Bintang Crossing at the heart of Kuala Lumpur, directly in front of Lot 10.

Those who visit the teleport waypoint can also walk away with some neat Genshin Impact freebies, including a hilichurl mask, postcard, and one of three bookmark designs. However, to get the latter two items, you’ll have to post a TikTok video of the waypoint.

Several character standees – with a link to download the game – are also placed around the teleport waypoint. These include the male (Aether) and female (Lumine) Travelers, and the three new Sumeru characters – Tighnari, Collei, and Dori – who are playable in the just-released
Version 3.0 update
.

It’s certainly neat to see a landmark from Genshin Impact brought to life, especially right here in Malaysia. The teleport waypoint will be there until 6 September 2022, and
several other countries
 have the landmark too, including Singapore, the Phillipines, UK (London), and US (New York).


25 – 31 August Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 5 Sen Again, Now RM4.30 Per Litre

The price of RON 97 continues to go down! At the stroke of midnight, the fuel will go down by 5 sen per litre. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 is set at RM4.30 per litre (down from RM4.35). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 25 to 31 August 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Apple Sets iPhone 14 Series Launch for 8 September

The time of the year is here: Apple just sent out an invitation to a new launch event happening on 8 September at 1AM for us here in Malaysia. More likely than not, we will see the debut of the Cupertino company’s brand new iPhone 14 series at the event.

As usual, four different iPhone 14 models are expected, but there is a distinct change here. While the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are retained for the new series, rumours are suggesting the absence of an iPhone 14 mini.

Instead, it’s said to be replaced by another iPhone 14 model with the Pro Max’s size.

Another notable (rumoured) change is the fact that only the iPhone 14 Pro models will get Apple’s new A series chip; the regular iPhone 14 variants will supposedly soldier on with the same – but still very,
very capable
 – A15 Bionic chip. Oh, the Pro models could finally get rid of the notched display too in favour of a hole-punch cutout.

If these rumours prove to be legitimate, we’re looking at one of the most drastic changes to the design and overall lineup of the iPhone 14 series. We’ll find out for sure come 8 September at 1AM; that’s exactly two weeks away.


The Premium Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 With ANC Costs RM899 in Malaysia

The
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2
 has finally been launched in Malaysia. Co-engineered with Devialet, the premium wireless earbuds feature active noise cancellation (ANC) along with a relatively neutral tuning; ideal for those who want a more “accurate” listening experience.

For the Malaysian market, the FreeBuds Pro 2 retails at RM899, putting it in direct competition to the similarly priced
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
. It is also offered in three different colours: Silver Blue (the model you see here), Ceramic White, and Carbon Black.

Pricing aside, let’s talk about the FreeBuds Pro 2 itself. Two drivers are found in each buds: a standard 11mm dynamic driver, and a “planar diaphragm driver” – it’s said to be the first wireless earbuds with such a driver setup. According to Huawei, the ANC of these earbuds is also able to cancel out sounds between the 50Hz to 3000Hz frequency range.

As for battery life, the Freebuds Pro 2 can last up to 6.5 hours on a single charge with 30 hours of total playback with the charging case. But with ANC activated, the battery life is limited to 4 hours and 18 hours respectively. It comes with IP54 dust and water resistance rating as well.

We’ve
tested the audio quality
 of the FreeBuds Pro 2 for a bit, and it’s quite good. It has a relatively neutral tuning, though to some folks, it can also be described as a “boring” sound signature. Yes, these wireless earbuds may sound flat to some folks, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The Huawei Freebuds Pro 2 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM899. If you’re looking for a sleek pair of wireless earbuds with ANC and tonality that isn’t focused solely on delivering boomy (read: muddy) bass, consider the FreeBuds Pro 2.


Oppo Reno 8 Z With Snapdragon 695 Lands in Malaysia for RM1,799

Oppo just launched a new phone under its Reno series in Malaysia. Sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset with an AMOLED display, the Oppo Reno 8 Z is also quite a sleek-looking device.

Only one variant of the Reno 8 Z is offered in Malaysia. The sole 8GB + 256GB model is priced at RM1,799, and it is available in two distinct colours: Dawnlight Gold – which is the model pictured here – and Starlight Black for those who want a more subdued look.

For that kind of money, the Reno 8 Z has a modest set of hardware. These include the aforementioned Snapdragon 695 chipset with 5G connectivity, a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 2MP depth + 2MP macro), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with 33W fast charging.

The Oppo Reno 8 Z will be available for purchase in Malaysia tomorrow on 26 August for RM1,799. Oppo Malaysia is also holding a Portrait Carnival event until 31 August at Sunway Velocity (ground floor) to celebrate the launch of the phone; customers can get freebies worth up to RM438 with every purchase of the Reno 8 Z at the event.


PS5 Sees Price Hike in Selected Markets – Malaysia May Be Affected

Sony is increasing the recommended retail price of the PlayStation 5
in selected markets
 due to the “global economic environment.” These include Europe, Canada, Middle East, Africa, and even here in Asia-Pacific (APAC). Curiously, there is no price increase for the console in the US.

The percentage of the price hike is dependent on the market. In Europe, for example, it’s about a 10% increase, while the UK sees a slightly less 6% price hike. For those who are curious, here are the new prices of the PS5 in selected markets:

Europe
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – €549.99
PS5 Digital Edition – €449.99
UK
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – £479.99
PS5 Digital Edition – £389.99
Japan (effective Sept. 15, 2022)
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – ¥60,478 yen (including tax)
PS5 Digital Edition – ¥49,478 yen (including tax)
China
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – ¥4,299 yuan
PS5 Digital Edition – ¥3,499 yuan
Australia
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – AUD $799.95
PS5 Digital Edition – AUD $649.95
Mexico
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – MXN $14,999
PS5 Digital Edition – MXN $12,499
Canada
PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – CAD $649.99
PS5 Digital Edition – CAD $519.99

While Malaysia is not listed, Sony mentioned that selected markets in APAC not mentioned may also receive price increases. Nonetheless, we’ve reached out to the company to find out if our local market is affected by the price hike or not – we’ll update this article accordingly once we’ve received a response.

Update 25 August, 5:50PM:
 It’s now confirmed that Malaysia is affected by the PS5’s price hike. The next-gen console now starts at RM2,069, which is a RM200 price increase.
Click here
 to read more about it.


Nespresso Masterclass at The Gardens Mall Boutique – Quite the Experience!

If you love your morning coffee, but don’t quite have the time to brew one during the morning rush, then consider getting a Nespresso machine. Not only can you get a nice cup of coffee quickly, it also takes very little effort to prepare.

Nextrift was invited to a Nespresso Masterclass at its Boutique outlet in The Gardens Mall recently, and it was quite an enlightening session. The Masterclass wasn’t solely focused on the capabilities of the Nespresso machine either; I also learnt quite a bit about the work that goes into Nespresso’s different coffee flavours.

If you’re intrigued, keep on reading this…hands-on of sorts with Nespresso’s range of coffee capsules and machine.

We started off the Nespresso Masterclass with three cups of espresso (!) prepared using the Nespresso machine. We tried out beans from Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and Indonesia, and each of them have their own unique tasting notes. I’m no coffee aficionado, but I did enjoy all three flavours; Nicaragua was my personal favourite for its slightly sweeter note.

Anyway, it’s very easy to prepare the coffee with the Nespresso machine. All I needed to do was switch on the machine, let it heat up for 30 seconds, pop the coffee capsule into the machine, check that there’s enough water in the water tank, and select my choice of coffee – espresso on the left, lungo on the right.

And that’s it; I’ve got myself a nice cup of coffee to start the day. Well, three cups, to be precise.

As we were going from one espresso to another, our coffee expert explained the origin of the beans that we were drinking. It’s quite interesting to know of the different processes that went into the production of the beans, depending on the region where they’re grown.

After we’re done with our espresso shots, it’s time for some milk coffee! We got two coffee capsules (Colombia and India) and a jug of milk for this. The process is the same as before, just with the extra step of preparing the milk with the Aeroccino milk frother.

It’s an equally simple process: pour the milk inside the frother, switch it on, let it do its thing for a while, and I’ve got a nice, creamy (hot) milk for my coffee.

Now, these two cups of milk coffee suit my palate quite a bit more than the espresso shots. The creamy milk adds another layer of complexity to the flavour, but not so much as to completely overpower the taste of the coffee itself. All in all, I wouldn’t mind having a cup of coffee like this to start off my day, even if it takes a tad more work.

And that concludes the Nespresso Masterclass. If you’re keen to attend one yourself, we were told that the Masterclass is held regularly at Nespresso’s Boutique outlet in The Gardens Mall. You can either keep an eye for a sign up call on its
Facebook page
, or enquire about it at the Boutique itself.

Speaking of which, you can actually give the Nespresso Boutique a visit to try out its range of coffee flavours. There are even limited edition flavours if you want something a little bit different, such as the “
Liminha Over Ice
” capsule.

If you’re interested to get your own Nespresso machine, you can also grab one over at the Nespresso Boutique outlet. Every Nespresso machine features a 19 bar pressure pump to extract the flavour of the coffee capsule, so you can just pick whichever machine that you like; they mostly differ in terms of design and used capsule/water tank capacity.

Of course, some machines are also quite a bit more sophisticated, where it will include a milk frother, among other things. To check out Nespresso’s full range of products, head on over to its
official website
.


PS5 Price Increase in Malaysia – RM200 Price Hike, Now Starts at RM2,069

Well, it’s confirmed: Malaysia is affected by the PS5’s global price increase. Previously retailing from RM1,869, the next-gen console
now starts at RM2,069
 on our shores – that’s a RM200 price hike.

That price tag is for the PS5 Digital Edition. If you want the standard PS5 with a Blu-ray disc drive, that will now set you back RM2,499 (up from RM2,299). Yes, just like the Digital Edition, the regular PS5 also receives a RM200 price increase.

Sony’s decision to increase the price of the PS5 is due to the “global economic environment.” Besides Malaysia, other markets in Asia-Pacific are also affected by the PS5’s price hike, including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Curiously, the US is not affected by this price revision.

Price increase or not, it’s still difficult to actually purchase the PS5 globally, and Malaysia is no exception. What do you think? Will you still get the next-gen console without hesitation despite the price hike? Let us know in the comments section below!


Damiensaber Xenopixel Lightsaber Review: Closest Thing to an Actual Lightsaber

Growing up, Star Wars’ iconic lightsaber had always been something I’ve always wanted. There’s so much to like about the fictional weapon: from the bright, pulsating plasma blade, to the way it hums and crackles as it’s being swung around in combat.

And those descriptions perfectly fit the Xenopixel lightsabers from Damiensaber. In this review, we take a look at two lightsabers from the company at different price points. Despite the price difference, these two lightsabers are actually quite similar to each other, bar some distinct design elements.

What It Is

Before we get to the meat of the review, let’s talk about the Xenopixel lightsabers that we got from Damiensaber first. The silver hilt model costs $169 (about RM755), while the other one with an exposed kyber crystal chamber – inspired by Galen Marek/Starkiller’s lightsaber from the first Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game –
goes for a cool $379
 (approximately RM1,695).

Yes, there’s no doubt that these two lightsabers are not exactly…affordable, and this especially the case with the Starkiller-inspired model. But the sheer
quality
 of these two sabers is evident the moment you pick them up, not to mention their vast feature set and refinement.

Both lightsabers in this review feature a Xenopixel soundboard, so they’re functionally identical. Then…why the huge price difference? Well, it’s all down to the hilt design (for the most part). Yes, I paid twice as much just to get a Starkiller-inspired hilt, though it’s worth noting that this particular model also comes with a sweet carrying case and acrylic stand.

The Good Stuff

The big price difference is obvious from the detail and refinement of the Starkiller hilt; its build quality is a step above the more affordable, more minimalist silver hilt. I love the fact that the exposed kyber crystal chamber also matches the colour of the blade I set, not to mention the fact that there’s no visible charging port, so it looks more like an “authentic” lightsaber.

That being said, the elaborate design elements of this hilt also make it a harder lightsaber to spin and perform tricks with. I’ll get back to this further down this review.

Aside from that, the neopixel blade that comes with the two lightsabers also look
great
. While the blade doesn’t look particularly impressive in a brightly lit room, it looks
absolutely incredible
 in slightly dimmer lighting conditions. Needless to say, it’s even more impressive in a darker environment.

These being Damiensaber’s Xenopixel lightsabers, the colour of the blade can be changed to whichever shade that catches my fancy. Whether I want the menacing red glow of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber or Luke Skywalker’s calm, steady green gleam, I can get that with these two sabers.

Speaking of which, every Xenopixel lightsaber has 34 different “sound fonts,” which affect the swing sound, blade colour, and ignition effect – the latter is dependent on the font itself. Some of the sound fonts that are pre-installed include Starkiller, Darth Vader (naturally), Kylo Ren, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Cal Kestis, and of course, Rey herself.

Beyond the default sound fonts, you can also change the lightsaber’s different effects to your liking, including the aforementioned blade colour, blade effect, and ignition style. There are many different combinations for you to explore, and we’ll show them in our upcoming video review – stay tuned for that.

Motion controls of these Xenopixel lightsabers are also worth a mention. I can twist the hilt counter-clockwise with my right hand to switch the blade on and off – I can even do a “stab” motion to ignite the saber – and I can change the sound font quickly too with the same counter-clockwise motion…but with the blade facing down.

Last but not least is my absolute favourite feature of Damiensaber’s Xenopixel lightsaber: its
fantastic
 swinging sound. Not only do swinging motions sound extremely smooth with every spin of the blade, the lightsaber even hums and crackles – yes, some sound fonts do have a neat crackling sound effect – with the smallest of wrist movements.

It really,
really
 does feel like I’m swinging an actual lightsaber with the smooth swing of these Xenopixel lightsabers.

The Bad Stuff

As impressive as the Damiensaber Xenopixel lightsaber is, it does have a few shortcomings. If you want to get it for spinning, for example, keep in mind that it is a
heavy
 lightsaber. This makes it quite a bit more challenging to spin the saber effectively, especially if you want to do fancier tricks with it.

I had to remove the knob to make this hilt easier to spin

The difficulty to perform tricks with this Xenopixel lightsaber is compounded if you get “fancier” hilts…like I did. The design elements of the Starkiller-inspired hilt, for one, can get in the way as you’re spinning the saber. Some sharp edges on the hilt even cut my thumb as I was practicing my spins; not fun.

Last but not least is the single button input of the Xenopixel lightsaber. Whether I want to change the blade effects, sound fonts, or just switch off the saber, it’s all done with this one button. To access the different settings of the blade, I have to hold the button down, wait for the button to blink a certain amount of times, and release it.

Notice the illuminated button on this model

This Starkiller-inspired hilt does not have an illuminated button

But this is assuming I have a model with an illuminated button, such as the silver hilt lightsaber you see above. For my Starkiller-inspired model, well…the button does not illuminate, so I have to rely on timing instead. Needless to say, it will take some practice to get accustomed to the single button input method.

Is It Worth It?

If you want one of the best lightsabers in the market now, Damiensaber’s Xenopixel lightsaber is absolutely worth it. You don’t
really
 have to spend as much as I did to get the same feature set either: some Xenopixel lightsabers from the brand can be purchased for
as low as $130
 (about RM580).

Yes, the hilts of the more affordable models do not look all that fancy, but you will get the same bright neopixel blade, lighting effects, sound fonts, and most importantly,
extremely smooth
 swinging sounds. Whether you want an eye-catching lightsaber to perform tricks with or for cosplay purposes, I cannot recommend Damiensaber’s Xenopixel lightsabers enough.

If you’re keen to purchase these Xenopixel lightsabers from Damiensaber, you can do so on its
official online store
. You can also join its
Discord server
 to get some valuable resources (and updates) on its products.


Owlab Link 65 Pre-Orders Open in Malaysia Tonight on Rebult Keyboards – 30 Minutes Sale

Pre-orders of the
Owlab Link 65
 will open in Malaysia tonight! The sale will be done by Rebult Keyboards, and if you want to get your hands on this unique custom keyboard, do note that the pre-orders will only be opened for 30 minutes.

That’s right, you have only 30 minutes to place your pre-order of the Link 65 between 8PM to 8:30PM tonight on
Rebult Keyboards
. If the format is anything like the international sale, it should be an unlimited group buy, so you won’t have to worry about stocks running out.

As for pricing, the Link 65 will cost between RM1,779 to RM1,869 for the Malaysian pre-orders, depending on the configuration you chose. According to Rebult Keyboards, the estimated fulfilment time is between three to four months; relatively fast for a custom keyboard.

To recap, the Owlab Link 65 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia tonight between 8PM to 8:30PM on
Rebult Keyboards
. If you’re not sure the custom keyboard is for you, then check out our
full review
 of the Link 65 in the video above!


ColorOS 13 – Bringing Along Improvements & Some Baggage

Oppo has come a long way when it comes to the refinement of its software experience, and the latest ColorOS 13 is a testament of this. It brings some notable improvements to enhance the user experience, which is often overlooked by other smartphone brands.

However, ColorOS 13 also brings some “baggage” from the previous version, so it is still plagued by the same issues. Granted, I only tested the beta version of the new software, so hopefully, Oppo will address these shortcomings in the official release.

First, let’s talk about the improvements that ColorOS 13 brings. One of the most highlighted changes is a new design language, which Oppo dubs “Aquamorphic Design.” The visual changes are subtle, and they are applied throughout the user interface.

Take the new system font used by ColorOS 13, which improves readability for a more pleasant user experience. Certain visual elements have also been revamped with a “card-styled” layout, such as the notification shade. Personally, I quite like this design overhaul, even if it looks a little jarring at first.

Also a part of ColorOS 13’s Aquamorphic Design is the new always on display. More specifically, the Homeland series of images that “depict powerful scenes of wild animals in nature,” as Oppo puts it. As the daily temperature changes, so does the animation of the always on display to show the effects of climate change. It’s quite a neat feature, in my opinion.

Aside from that, ColorOS 13’s always on display introduces “gaze control” as well for music playback. Basically, you can just glance at the always on display during music playback to bring up the music controls. In my testing, this works with both Spotify and YouTube Music.

One other feature that I’m
thrilled
 Oppo has addressed is the ability to finally dismiss notifications with a left or right swipe. Previously, only a right swipe is supported, much like how it is on iOS. This is a small change, yes, but to me, it’s a big improvement to the overall user experience.

Unfortunately, ColorOS 13 also brought over its predecessor’s issues, including the ridiculous amount of pre-installed bloatware. While they’re not too difficult to uninstall, it would’ve been great if I didn’t have to do it in the first place. At the very least, Oppo should’ve made it an option to not install these apps during the setup process.

Refinement is also one area ColorOS 13 could work on. The music player in the lock screen, for one, has a visual bug. It’s a minor one, to be sure, but it does give the impression of an unpolished software experience.

Just look at the sheer amount of bloatware

But as I’ve mentioned, I only tested the beta version of ColorOS 13, so it’s entirely possible the final software will not suffer from these issues. That being said, I doubt Oppo will address the bloatware problem, though there’s still a (slim) chance of it happening.

ColorOS 13 will be rolled out to over 35 smartphones before the end of the year, and it is touted as Oppo’s biggest update plan yet for ColorOS. Naturally, the
Find X5 Pro
 and standard Find X5 will get the update first from this month onwards. The full update plan for ColorOS 13 can be found
right here
.


Vivo V25 With Colour-Changing Design & MediaTek Dimensity 900 Now in Malaysia for RM1,799

Vivo just launched a new mid-range smartphone in Malaysia, the Vivo V25. One of the phone’s most unique features is back panel, which changes colour accordingly when exposed to UV light. While it’s not the first phone to implement this design, it’s certainly a unique feature.

For the Malaysian market, only one variant of the V25 is offered. Sporting 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage, the mid-ranger is priced at RM1,799. Three colour options are available: Aquamarine Blue (exclusive to Malaysia), Sunrise Gold, and Diamond Black.

For that kind of money, the V25 has a modest set of hardware. These include a MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset, a 6.44-inch 1080p 90Hz OLED display, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro), a 50MP selfie camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with 44W fast charging.

The Vivo V25 can now be purchased in Malaysia for RM1,799. If you want a phone with a unique colour-changing design, the V25 is worth a consideration.


Vivo V25e Also Launched in Malaysia – Colour-Changing Design & MediaTek Helio G99 for RM1,399

Aside from the Vivo V25, the Chinese company also unveiled the more affordable Vivo V25e in Malaysia. While it looks identical to the V25 – complete with the colour-changing back panel – the V25e uses a different chipset and camera configuration.

Just like the V25, only one variant of the V25e is available in Malaysia. Also packed with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage, the V25e retails at RM1,399; that’s RM400 less than the V25’s RM1,799 price tag.

As mentioned, the V25e is similar to the V25: it has the same design, a 6.44-inch 1080p 90Hz OLED display, and a 4500mAh battery. But instead of a Dimensity 900 chipset, the V25e is powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC. It also has a different triple camera system (64MP primary + 2MP depth + 2MP macro) and a 32MP selfie camera.

The Vivo V25e is now available for purchase in Malaysia. Priced at RM1,399, it is offered in two distinct colourways: Sunrise Gold and Diamond Black.


Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate Launch Set for 19 September – Highest-end Model?

It looks like Asus will be introducing a new variant of its latest gaming phone, which was launched just last month. Dubbed Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, it could possibly be the highest-end model in the series, given its “ultimate” moniker.

Rumours are suggesting that the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate will be powered by MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9000+ chipset. While a MediaTek chip may not be as popular as Qualcomm’s offerings, it’ll be interesting to see if it can match (or outperform) the performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC found in the current
ROG Phone 6
.

The ROG Phone 6 is entering its ULTIMATE form!
Powered by MediaTek's latest Dimensity 9000+ CPU for peak performance 💪
ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, coming September 19.
Save the date 👉
https://t.co/a6j55Te4Kq
#ROG

#ROGPhone6DUltimate

pic.twitter.com/gDJcdBoya6
— ROG Global (@ASUS_ROG)
August 29, 2022

The Asus ROG Phone 6

Beyond the different chipset, there’s a good chance the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate will feature similar hardware as the ROG Phone 6. If that’s the case, it’ll come with a 6.78-inch 1080p 165Hz AMOLED display, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide + macro), a 12MP selfie camera, and a generous 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

We’ll find out exactly what the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate brings to the table once it is unveiled come 19 September next month. Given Asus’ commitment to the Malaysian market with its range of gaming phones, there’s a good chance the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate will also debut here.


Malaysia Keyboard Meetup – Ticketing Opens 1 September, Limited Keypass for Lucky Draws

Ticketing details for the
Malaysia keyboard meetup
 have been revealed! Set to open on 1 September, tickets will be sold through
Ticket2u
. While entry to the meetup is free, visitors are still required to get themselves a free entry ticket through the portal.

Of course, a RM60 “keypass” (in limited quantities) will also be sold, which includes an exclusive goodie bag, giveaway entries, and more benefits. While the organiser, Keebmunity, has not revealed the giveaway items yet, they should come from
Axiom Studios
, SINGAKBD, and Monokei. After all, they are the sponsors of the meetup.

As previously revealed, the keyboard meetup will be held at the Grey Box in GMBB Kuala Lumpur on 1 October 2022. It will run from 10AM to 6PM, so expect a number of activities to be held throughout the day. Several vendors at the meetup have been confirmed too, including Rebult Keyboards and
Mecha Store
.

Aside from that, Sun Cycle – one of the most recognisable distributors – will also be at the keyboard meetup. The company will be bringing as many as
six
notable brands to the event: Keychron, Akko, Glorious, Ducky, Tecware, and Shurikey.

Given the sizeable list of vendors attending the Malaysia keyboard meetup, it looks to be quite a big affair. If you’re interested to check out just
what a custom keyboard is all about
 – or if you’ve been in the hobby for a while now – get your tickets to the meetup
on Ticket2u this Thursday
 on 1 September.


BLON Z200 Review: “Mid”

Yes, we are reviewing yet another single dynamic driver IEM, and it’s from BLON, no less. It’s been a while since the brand had a hit like the esteemed BLON BL-03, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Z200 can reignite that spark, so to speak. Well, even if our expectations are not particularly high, given the rather disappointing showing of the
BLON Fat Girl
.

But there are a couple of factors that make BLON’s new Z200 IEM quite…compelling. For one, it’s priced at
only $20 (about RM90) from Linsoul
, putting it in direct competition to the similarly-priced Moondrop Chu and
7Hz Salnotes Zero
 – highly regarded IEMs at this price point.

Aside from that, the Z200 also uses an improved version of the carbon diaphragm driver found in the BL-03, so it’s not far-fetched to assume that this could
finally
be a spiritual successor to the beloved IEM everyone has been asking for. But…is this really the case? Let’s find out.

What It Is

As mentioned, the BLON Z200 uses a single 10mm carbon diaphragm dynamic driver. BLON claims that this improved, third generation driver brings about “faster transient response and more accurate total frequencies,” which sounds…promising.

The packaging of the Z200 is similar to that of other IEMs from BLON. Inside the vertically extended box are the earphones themselves already connected to the cable (you’ll see why later), a small carrying pouch, and a set of small, medium, and large ear tips. We received the black model for this review – there’s also a purple colourway – and you can add a microphone for a cool $1.

The crescent moon design on the faceplate of the Z200 is also quite nice, if not a bit random. BLON, however, said it has something to do with how “the moon is always considered as the reflection of our heart, and at BLON we are true to our original aspiration and our loyal supporters from the beginning to the end.”

Yes, that whole statement is quite peculiar (to say the least), though I expected no less from a company with “belief, letmusicburn, opportunity, and nevergiveup” printed on the IEM’s box. Oh, the first letter of those random words spell out BLON, in case you were wondering what that’s all about.

Remember when I said the Z200’s cable is already connected to the IEM out of the box? While this is normal for some ChiFi earphones, this is only the case for the Z200 because the cable is actually non-detachable.

This is despite the fact that the cable looks removable, so you definitely do not want to make the mistake of tugging on it and expecting to find a 2-pin connector at the other end. The cable is also basic and thin, but at the very least, it is (surprisingly) resistant to microphonics.

It’s worth noting that the shells of the Z200 are smaller than usual. This means they can fit deeper into your ear canal and provide better isolation, but it also results in more contact with your ears, which can get uncomfortable. As always, your mileage may vary when it comes to the fit of this IEM.

How Does It Sound?

Not surprisingly, the BLON Z200 has the typical dynamic driver V-shaped sound signature, and it’s
quite
a significant V-shape. Right off the bat, you’ll hear the emphasised low-end, recessed mid-range, and
wince
at the treble. Tonality leans towards a warm sound signature, but it’s not exactly smooth or laid back. In fact, the Z200 provides quite a fun listening experience, reminiscent of the BL-03…but not quite.

Bass

This is one area the Z200 particularly shines. The sub-bass is tight, and it slams with authority, even if it lacks a bit in extension. The mid-bass isn’t as confident, though it still has enough impact for pop and rock tracks. However, the Z200’s emphasised low-end can also be a tad overwhelming, and it can make for a fatiguing listening experience in the long run.

Mids

Having a V-shape sound signature naturally means that the mids of the Z200 are recessed, which is unfortunate for a “mids-enthusiast” such as myself. The note weight of both male and female vocals are thin and lacking in proper structure, though male vocals don’t suffer from this as much thanks to the thick low-end creeping in.

That being said, the Z200 would still benefit from a bit more body. There is, at least, a decent amount of air and breathiness from the vocals, courtesy of the peak in the treble region.

Highs

The highs of the Z200 are sparkly and provide ample amount of air to the mids. But depending on the song, this sparkle can quickly sound sharp and borderline sibilant. An emphasised treble usually make for a more energetic listening experience, but that is not the case here as the Z200’s bright treble is slow in speed; it almost sounds “lazy.”

At least, this is in comparison to the punchy bass of the Z200. This IEM can definitely benefit from ear tips that tame the highs, and maybe even the bass too, but I didn’t try this for myself as I wanted to judge the Z200 in its stock form.

Soundstage

As you might expect from a dynamic driver, the soundstage of the Z200 isn’t anything to write home about. It’s a mostly in-your-head listening experience with somewhat above average width in the left and right of the stage. This intimacy, accompanied by the already fatiguing bass, makes me feel inclined to take breaks in between listening sessions.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re expecting an in depth-comparison of the BLON Z200 to the popular BL-03, I apologise. While I did own a pair of the latter during its glory days, I’ve since sold it off in favour of newer (and arguably better) offerings in the ChiFi space.

To the best of my memory, the BL-03’s V-shaped tuning is more tasteful than the Z200’s, and it is not quite as aggressive either. Even though the BL-03 is still a bassy IEM, it is more coherent than the Z200 in how music flows from its bass, to the mids, and to the highs.

Simply put, the Z200 is a more V-shaped, not as well-tuned version of the BL-03, which kind of makes it…well, trivial. On top of that, the Z200 doesn’t have a detachable cable either, while the older BL-03 does. I’m still trying to wrap my head around this odd decision on BLON’s part.

But at the very least, the Z200 is a much better offering than BLON’s questionably-named Fat Girl IEM, even if it’s far from the BL-03 sequel that fans were hoping for.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


The Last of Us Part I Review: Modernising 2013’s Game of the Year

The Last of Us was first released on the PS3 back in 2013, and it was one of Naughty Dog’s best – if not
the best
 – games at the time. This is followed by a remastered version for the PS4 in 2014 with improved graphics and support for 60fps frame rate. Fast forward to 2022, we now have The Last of Us Part I for the PS5.

Rebuilt from the ground up for the PS5, The Last of Us Part I is easily (and naturally) the best version of the game. Not only is it the most visually appealing version, it is also a faithful remake of the critically acclaimed game that takes advantage of the PS5’s best features. It’s modernised for 2022, basically.

But The Last of Us Part I is also not cheap, especially for a remake. It’s priced at RM299, which is usually reserved for brand new AAA titles on the PS5. That is not to say this game is not worth the price of entry, but for those who have already played through the original version, that may very well be the case.

What It Is

The Last of Us Part I is really the definitive version of the game. Beyond the overhauled graphics and integration of the PS5’s excellent DualSense features, it also improved upon its gameplay mechanics for a more immersive gaming experience. Of course, it includes the Left Behind DLC too, a prequel to the main story.

As for the narrative itself, The Last of Us Part I focuses on Joel, a smuggler in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a mysterious infection. He is tasked with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie out of a quarantine zone, which sees the duo travelling halfway across the country.

One of Naughty Dog’s greatest strengths is its amazing storytelling, and it’s my favourite aspect of The Last of Us Part I. I’ll elaborate more on this in the following section.

Two versions of The Last of Us Part I are offered. The Standard Edition
goes for RM299
, while the Digital Deluxe Edition is
priced at RM339
. The latter includes early unlock of several in-game items and mods, including six weapon skins, a “Dither Punk” filter, and the speedrun mode.

Personally, I’d go for the Standard Edition. Early unlock of the in-game features are not worth the extra RM40, in my opinion. There’s also a PC version of The Last of Us Part I, though no release date has been given yet.

The Good Stuff

Whenever I think of The Last of Us – or the franchise as a whole – its engrossing narrative immediately comes to mind. The same goes for The Last of Us Part I, which remains faithful to the original game. Even though I’ve played through the game countless times, watching the story play out again is still very…riveting.

If anything, the story is
that
 much more engaging now with the PS5’s improved graphics. The raw emotions shown by the different characters in The Last of Us Part I come across extremely well with the higher fidelity character models. Whether it’s anger, anguish, or the occasional happiness, all of these emotions are rendered in incredible detail.

Speaking of which, I’m very impressed with the revamped character models in The Last of Us Part I. Joel, Ellie, Tess, and even side characters like Henry and Sam look (almost) completely different from the original game. In a good way, of course.

These improved character models, paired with the strong voice acting of the cast, make it easy to be immersed in the narrative of the game.

Not surprisingly, graphics performance of The Last of Us Part I does not disappoint. I run the game in Performance mode to get the sweet 60fps frame rate, though there is noticeably reduction in visual fidelity (but not too much). Naturally, Fidelity mode will offer the best visuals, though the reduced frame rate doesn’t feel particularly great to play, especially in fast-paced action sequences.

Ah, action sequences. Thanks to the improved enemy AI, encounters in The Last of Us Part I feel more dynamic now; closer to The Last of Us Part II, in fact. Human enemies, for one,
feel
smarter, and they will actively try to flank me. There were more than a couple of times where I was caught by surprise – I don’t think I’ve experienced this as much in the original game.

Last but not least are the DualSense integrations of The Last of Us Part I. Take the refined haptics of the controller: I can “feel” raindrops when it rains, the galloping of a horse when I’m riding, and the recoil of shooting a gun. The adaptive triggers also add a sense of realism when I’m firing a weapon.

Of course, with the PS5’s fast SSD, loading times are much shorter as well. I don’t have to wait quite as long to restart encounters now.

The Bad Stuff

Despite the graphics improvement of The Last of Us Part I, it’s still not quite on the same level as, say, The Last of Us Part II. After I finished the game, I fired up Part II on the PS5 to see how the two games compare to each other. It’s not a huge difference, but I’d say Part II still looks like the newer, more graphically accomplished game.

It’s not like Part I is not a good looking game, because it is! The graphics overhaul make the 2013 game look properly modern by today’s standard. It’s just that Part II is…well, a much more modern game released in 2020.

Next, we have the AI system in The Last of Us Part I. Yes, it’s more refined now, but there were still a couple of instances where my allies did some actions that break the immersion of a tense encounter. It’s not quite as blatant as running across the enemies’ line of sight, but they do, for example, get out of cover when an enemy is nearby.

And then there’s the high price of entry. RM299 for (essentially) a game that was released back in 2013, remake or not, can be hard to justify. The fact that there’s no upgrade path for those who bought the original or remastered version of the game doesn’t feel entirely fair to existing fans either.

Is It Worth It?

If you’ve never played through the Last of Us franchise before, then The Last of Us Part I is absolutely worth it. And if you do fall under this category, I am very envious: I can only imagine how amazing it would be to experience the game for the first time ever with such high fidelity graphics and improved gameplay.

But for folks who have played through the original game, it will depend on whether or not they can accept the RM299 asking price. Yes, The Last of Us Part I is without a doubt the
definitive
 edition of the game, but depending on who you ask, RM299 for a game they’ve played before may not be worth it.

For what it’s worth, I did thoroughly enjoy The Last of Us Part I despite my familiarity with the original games, and I’m looking forward to get back into Part II to continue the narrative. However, if you’re in no rush to experience the game again, perhaps it’s best to wait for it to drop in price.

Or maybe even wait for the PC release – I might even replay the game yet again once The Last of Us Part I is available on PC.

The Last of Us Part I launches 2 September on PS5. The PC release is coming soon.


Last Chance to Get Owlab Link 65 in Malaysia – Pre-Orders Reopened Until 8:31PM Tonight

If you’ve missed the
Owlab Link 65
 sale last weekend, here’s another chance to get the unique custom keyboard. Rebult Keyboards just reopened pre-orders of the Link 65, and you’ve got until tonight at 8:31PM to
place your order
.

Previously, pre-orders of the Link 65 were only open for 30 minutes on our shores. As sales are in-line with Owlab’s expectations – and there are enough units allocated to our market – Rebult Keyboards is opening a final sale session for the custom keyboard.

Pricing wise, the Link 65 costs between RM1,779 to RM1,869 for the Malaysian pre-orders, depending on the configuration you choose. According to Rebult Keyboards, the estimated fulfilment time is between three to four months; relatively fast for a custom keyboard.

To recap, the Owlab Link 65 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 8:31PM tonight on
Rebult Keyboards
. Those who pre-order the custom keyboard can also get a RM65 discount on the
Royal Selangor Durian
 artisan pewter keycap.

If you’re not sure the Link 65 is for you, then check out our
full review
 of the keyboard in the video above!


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Review: A Step in the Right Direction

The latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, at a glance, isn’t remarkably different from its predecessor. It still retains the same look and design, with some slight changes to the finish of the foldable phone. All in all, not a very…exciting successor.

But under the hood, the Z Flip 4 got a slew of upgrades, making it a more complete smartphone. While this iteration of the foldable phone is more of a refinement exercise, that’s not necessarily a bad thing; consumers are still getting a more polished device.

If you’re looking to get your very first foldable phone, the Z Flip 4 should certainly be in your shortlist.

What It Is

Display
Main: 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2640 x 1080), 120Hz
Cover: 1.9-inch Super AMOLED (512 x 260), 60Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 3.18GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 730
RAM
8GB
Storage
128/256/512GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
12MP f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
Camera (front)
10MP f/2.4
Battery
3,700mAh with 25W fast charging
Dimensions
Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm
Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9~17.1 mm
Weight
187g
OS
One UI 4.1.1 based on Android 12
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
USB Type-C
Price
RM4,099 (128GB), RM4,399 (256GB), RM4,899 (512GB)

For the Malaysian market, the Z Flip 4 is offered in three different storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Technically, there’s also a fourth variant, the
Bespoke Edition
. It’s essentially the 256GB model, but the colour of the phone is customisable. Of course, this does come with a premium: it retails at RM4,599.

Compared to
last year’s Flip 3
, the Flip 4 features a number of upgrades, including a faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a larger 3,700mAh battery (finally), and an improved 12MP primary camera. These are meaningful changes to the phone, but not all of them perform as expected – more on these further down the review.

The Good Stuff

The moment you pick up the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you’ll immediately notice the flatter sides and matte finish on the front and back panels. These make for a more ergonomically-friendly foldable phone, and the matte panels feel much nicer to the touch than the glossy covers of the Flip 3.

Another noteworthy improvement is the hinge of the Z Flip 4. Compared to last year’s model, the Flip 4’s hinge feels much tighter and solid, whereas the Flip 3’s hinge feels “looser,” especially when it’s folded. With this in mind, I imagine the Flip 4’s hinge will hold itself well over the years.

Just like last year’s model, the Z Flip 4’s display crease – right where the panel folds – is still very much there. Yes, it’s quite visible, and yes, you’ll feel it when you run your finger over it. But in normal use, the crease is really not that visible. To me, this is a non-issue, though you may not share my sentiment.

And then we have the display quality of the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which is excellent (as always). The 6.7-inch 1080p Dynamic AMOLED 2X is bright, vibrant, and this being an AMOLED panel, it also features deep, true blacks. This makes it great for content consumption.

Naturally, the fast 120Hz refresh rate of the Flip 4’s screen lends to a responsive, fluid user experience as well.

Gaming on the Z Flip 4 is quite fun as well, thanks to the aforementioned 120Hz display. On top of that, the phone’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset can also run most mobile games well, though there are some noticeable frame rate drops in
Genshin Impact
. The graphically demanding game is still very playable on the phone, of course.

One other feature of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 that’s actually quite useful is Flex Mode. Depending on the app, using the phone in an L-shape can move the content to the top screen, with controls in the lower half. Apps that don’t support this feature natively can be forced to do so, where the bottom screen can even act as a touchpad.

While this feature may seem…well, gimmicky, it’s actually quite useful in certain scenarios. I find it quite convenient to watch YouTube videos in Flex Mode while I’m having lunch, for example. I don’t have to strain my neck as much looking down on the phone if it was placed flat on the table.

The Bad Stuff

Despite its slew of improvements, there are still a few aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 that could use some work, such as its camera performance. Even though its 12MP primary camera has been improved, its 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter is still largely similar to its predecessor’s. On top of that, there’s still no zoom lens either.

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

Now, without a doubt the Z Flip 4 can still take good-looking shots, but its camera performance is still a step below that of a proper flagship smartphone, especially it’s ultra-wide shooter. My daily driver is a
Galaxy S22 Ultra
, so I find myself missing a telephoto lens too when I switched to the Flip 4.

Aside from that, the battery life of the Z Flip 4 could still be better, even with the larger 3,700mAh cell; a 400mAh improvement over its predecessor. I did manage to get between four to five hours of screen on time with the phone now – versus only four hours with the Flip 3 – but I can just barely get through a typical work day if I also throw in a couple sessions of Genshin Impact into the mix.

My last qualm with the Z Flip 4 is its cover screen, which is still not as useful as it should be. There’s more than enough screen real estate to make it more functional, such as the ability to interact with notifications in a more meaningful way.

Instead, all I can do with notifications on the Flip 4’s cover screen is to pick from a list of pre-set texts to reply to a message. I mean, even
Samsung’s own range of smartwatches
 can do much more than just that.

Is It Worth It?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is by no means the “perfect” foldable phone, but if you can live with its shortcomings – and there aren’t too many of them – then the Flip 4 could just be your first foldable phone. Retailing from RM4,099, it’s not too expensive either, even if it costs RM100 more than last year’s Flip 3.

It would’ve been fantastic if the Z Flip 4 is a more revolutionary change over its predecessor, but refining an already practical foldable phone (that is also IPX8 water-resistant) is not a bad strategy either. Hopefully, we’ll see some real innovations from Samsung with the Z Flip 5 – I’m personally excited for the next big thing from the Korean company.

After all, Samsung is the leading player in the foldable smartphone market now.


1 – 7 September Fuel Price: RON 97 Price Remains at RM4.30 Per Litre

The downward trend on the price of RON 97 stops this week! The price of the premium fuel remains unchanged this week, and of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained too, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is still set at RM4.30 per litre for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 1 to 7 September 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Malaysia Keyboard Meetup – Keypass Ticket Sold Out in 7 Minutes

Ticketing to the Malaysia keyboard meetup was opened yesterday night, and all of the tickets – even the free entry one – were snatched up very quickly. In fact, the RM60 “keypass” ticket, which includes an exclusive goodie bag and giveaway entries, was sold out in only
seven minutes.

Evidently, a lot of people are interested to attend our first (large-scale) local keyboard meetup. Now, even though the free entry ticket is sold out, those who are interested to attend the event
can still do so on 1 October; you can get an entry pass at the event itself
.

Update 8 September, 4:40PM:
 Unfortunately, Keebmunity just announced that walk-ins will not be entertained. Read more about this change
here
.

As previously revealed, the keyboard meetup will be held at the Grey Box in GMBB Kuala Lumpur on 1 October 2022. It will run from 10AM to 6PM, so expect a number of activities to be held throughout the day. Several vendors at the meetup have been confirmed too, including Rebult Keyboards and
Mecha Store
.

Aside from that, Sun Cycle – one of the most recognisable distributors – will also be at the keyboard meetup. The company will be bringing as many as
six
notable brands to the event: Keychron, Akko, Glorious, Ducky, Tecware, and Shurikey.

The Malaysia keyboard meetup is shaping up to be quite a big affair. Of course, Nextrift will also be attending the event, and if you’re keen to do so as well, check out the
FAQ of the meetup
.


Compact Sony Xperia 5 IV Unveiled – Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 120Hz OLED, Coming to Malaysia Q4 2022

Sony introduced a successor to its compact flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia 5 IV. Not only is it a pocketable smartphone, it’s also quite a bit more affordable than its larger sibling (
Xperia 1 IV
) while improving upon
its predecessor
.

First, let’s talk about the Malaysian availability of the Xperia 5 IV. According to Sony Malaysia, the compact flagship phone will be landing on our shores sometime in Q4 2022. With that in mind, it’s possible the device will be available here as soon as October next month.

Hardware wise, the Xperia 5 IV got a number of upgrades over last year’s model, though it’s not powered by the latest chipset. Instead, it features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, along with a larger 5,000mAh battery; that’s a 500mAh improvement over the Xperia 5 III.

Other specifications of the Xperia 5 IV include a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (12MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide angle + 12MP telephoto), a 12MP selfie camera, IP65/IP68 dust and water resistance, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of expandable storage.

To recap, the Sony Xperia 5 IV will be coming to Malaysia sometime in Q4 2022. No word yet on how much it will cost on our shores, but for the sake of context, it goes for $999 (about RM4,480) in the US.


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 & Z Flip 4 Malaysian Roadshow Happening Now – Get Up to RM1,398 Freebies

Samsung Malaysia is running a series of roadshows nationwide for its latest foldable phones, the
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
 and
Galaxy Z Flip 4
. Not only can you check out the two new devices at selected locations, you can even get up to RM1,398 worth of freebies.

The “Galaxy Flextival” roadshow is currently taking place at two locations: Setia City Mall in Shah Alam and Mid Valley Southkey in Johor Bahru. The roadshow at these two locations will be there until 4 September this Sunday.

The next roadshow will take place next week between 9 to 11 September at Imago mall, Kota Kinabalu, and Plaza Gurney, Penang. As for the final roadshow, it will start from 29 September to 2 October at Sunway Pyramid, Selangor.

As mentioned, you can get up to RM1,398 worth of freebies by purchasing the Galaxy Fold 4 or Flip 4 until 30 September. These include a one-year extended warranty with three protective film replacements, and a 40mm
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
 (worth RM799).

Of course, this offer is valid at the roadshow itself and
Samsung.com
.

More details on Samsung Malaysia’s Galaxy Flextival roadshow can be found
here
. If you want to check out the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 for yourself before purchasing either of them, you can do just that at the roadshow – even the Bespoke Edition of the Flip 4 is showcased there.


Proton Sold 15,880 Cars in August 2022 – Highest Monthly Sales in 9 Years

Proton continues to record high sales volume in August 2022 last month. In fact, with over 15,880 units sold – which includes domestic and export sales – it was the national carmaker’s best monthly sales in nine years.

With the encouraging sales performance, Proton said it remains focused to achieve its fourth consecutive year of volume growth. This is very feasible, given that over the past eight months, the company already registered 87,481 units; an increase of 39.7% compared to the same period in 2021 (62,637 units sold).

Not surprisingly, Proton’s SUV duo continues to lead their respective segments. The X50 was delivered to 4,329 owners last month, while the X70 recorded 1,555 registrations. Proton’s best-selling model in August 2022, on the other hand, is the Saga with 6,156 orders fulfilled.

“With four months to go in 2022, Proton’s production operations have stabilised. Critically, our component supply is now more consistent and better managed to ensure we can produce as many cars as possible, said the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah.

“With that in mind, we have undertaken an initiative to increase the number of delivery trucks by over 100% by the end of the year. This makes it easier to ensure our dealers receive their stock as quickly as possible and in turn, this benefits our customers who have been patiently waiting for their vehicles,” he added.


Raptgo Hook-X Review: Hooked on a Feeling

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: planar magnetic driven IEMs are the future. Sure, this driver type had a rocky start with the iSine series from Audeze, as well as the P1 from Tin HiFi. But in recent times, planar IEMs have gotten
much
better, while also going down in price!

However, the Raptgo Hook-X we have here…isn’t particularly affordable.
Retailing at $239 (about RM1,075) on Linsoul
, this IEM is one of the more expensive planars released recently, especially if you compare it to the
$100 7Hz Salnotes Dioko
 we previously reviewed.

That being said, I do think the Hook-X is worth its asking price. Not only is there effort in the product’s packaging and overall presentation, the Hook-X also sounds
fantastic
 – to my ears, anyway.

What It Is

If you haven’t heard of Raptgo before….you’re not alone. Although the hard shell carrying case that comes with the Hook-X proudly states “since 2019,” the brand hasn’t exactly released any standout products. That is, until this particular IEM.

As
Linsoul’s catalogue of Raptgo products
 show, the brand previously released two balanced armature IEMs, as well as a set of TWS earphones. The Hook-X is not only the brand’s first planar IEM, it’s also the first of its kind to make use of a piezoelectric driver.

That’s right, the Hook-X’s 14.2mm planar magnetic driver is paired with a bone-conduction driver. The planar driver is said to provide a strong bass response, while the piezoelectric driver handles the highs.

Besides that, the Hook-X is an open-back IEM too, which (in theory) allows for a more airy sound signature with less pressure and congestion in the soundstage. You definitely don’t get as much isolation as fully-closed earphones because of this, but it’s still quite decent – similar to that of “semi-open” IEMs. Sound leakage is also a non-issue with the Hook-X: there’s only a faint leakage, and that’s only if you put your ear
right up
 to the perforated shell of the IEM.

The packaging of the Raptgo Hook-X is quite an elaborate one, though at this price point, you really shouldn’t expect any less. Aside from the earphones themselves, you get the aforementioned hard shell carrying case, three sets of tips in three different sizes, and a braided cable with a black and green colour scheme to match the colourway of the IEM itself.

It’s also worth noting that the cable features a hot-swappable jack that gives you the choice of terminating in the standard 3.5mm or balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm jacks. The cable is, however, rather prone to microphonics, not to mention the fact that it tangles incredibly easily too.

One other thing: the three sets of tips that come with the Hook-X? Well, they only give you the illusion of choice, as there doesn’t seem to be any sonic or physical difference between them. I just stuck with the light green ones as they match the aesthetics of the Hook-X.

How Does It Sound?

The combination of a planar and piezoelectric driver seems to work for the Hook-X, as it sounds
incredibly fun and energetic
. It has a warm-ish tonality with fast, impactful bass, a forward mid-range, and clear highs. There’s simply a lot to love with the Hook-X, though it isn’t without its pitfalls. The sound signature is quite U-shaped with an emphasis in the lows and highs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the mid-range is lacking.

Bass

Bass response of the Hook-X is, in my opinion, the standout quality of the IEM. While the sub-bass doesn’t reach all that low, the impact it provides is tight and incredibly controlled. The same can be said about the mid-bass, where you’ll also immediately notice the speed of the bass – fast and full of energy.

There’s also a “rawness” to the bass that gives the Hook-X an almost…analogue presentation. It’s definitely got to do with the warmer tonality and speed of the bass, though I suspect the open-back design of the IEM plays a role here as well, though I can’t say for certain.

Mids

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the mids of the Hook-X are disappointing, but it
feels
 that way as the other sections of its frequency range are
that
good. Note weight of both instruments and vocals, for example, can sound a bit thin on the Hook-X.

The forwardness of vocals makes up for this a tad bit, though I do wish there was a bit more body to what is the most prevalent part of a music track. There’s also a slight graininess to the mids of the Hook-X, which isn’t ideal, even if it does add to the analogue quality provided by the bass.

But it’s not all bad though, as vocals are still laid-back and sound pleasant with a hint of warmth from the bass. This especially benefits female vocals and keep them from sounding sharp, despite the thinner presentation.

Highs

Treble of the Hook-X is smooth and well-controlled, just like its bass response. The above average extension provides plenty of air and crisp to snares and cymbals. Clarity isn’t the best due to the presence of grain, but detail retrieval is still quite impressive.

Without a doubt the Hook-X’s bone-conducting piezoelectric driver provides good control and detail to the treble. However, on the flip side, it does make the treble sound a tad artificial as well.

Soundstage

The horizontal width of the Hook-X’s soundstage is quite expansive – the open-back design might be at play here – but vertical depth is limited. Interestingly, the soundstage does open up a fair bit when connected to more powerful sources.

Is It Worth It?

It’s often a gamble to mix different driver types and expect good sound quality in an IEM. But the combination of the planar and piezoelectric drivers of the Raptgo Hook-X just…works. The open-back design also alleviates listening fatigue, allowing me to enjoy this planar IEM for longer listening sessions at a time.

But the Hook-X is far from perfect with the presence of grain throughout the frequency range, along with mids that are a bit too thin for my liking. Granted, the
addictive
 bass and smooth treble more than make up for these shortcomings.

Moving forward, expect even more brands to release planar IEMs at various price points. If you want to hear for yourself just how good a planar IEM can be, the affordable
7Hz Salnotes Dioko
 is worth a gander. But if you have the budget and prefer something a bit more fun-sounding, the Hook-X will not disappoint.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


Xiaomi TV A2 Now in Malaysia – 58″ 4K Android TV for RM2,799

Xiaomi launched a slew of new products in Malaysia, including the Xiaomi TV A2. Available in three different sizes, the A2 series is meant to appeal to folks who want a smart TV with good value for money – the typical selling point of Xiaomi products, basically.

Right now, only the 58-inch and 43-inch models of the TV A2 are available in Malaysia for
RM2,799
 and
RM1,299
 respectively. As for the more affordable 32-inch model – which should feature different hardware as well – it will arrive here soon for RM999.

For that kind of money, the 58-inch and 43-inch variants of the TV A2 share the same hardware, though they have different stand designs. Both models are packed with a 4K 60Hz panel with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10, a bezel-less design, three HDMI ports, as well as Android TV 10 out of the box.

Both the 58-inch and 43-inch models of the Xiaomi TV A2 can now be purchased in Malaysia for RM2,799 and RM1,299 respectively. As for the most affordable 32-inch model, it will be available here soon for RM999.


Sony INZONE H9 Review: Fantastic Gaming Headset, Average Headphones

Sony has been in the headphones market for quite some time now, but it’s not until the INZONE series where we see the Japanese company’s commitment to release a premium line of gaming headsets for the PC and PS5. Sitting at the top of the series is the Sony INZONE H9, a pair of wireless gaming headsets with active noise cancellation (ANC).

Over the past few weeks, I’ve tested the INZONE H9 on both PC and PS5, and I thoroughly enjoyed using it for gaming. Not only does it have good imaging, it also has
ridiculously
 long battery life. However, while it’s an excellent gaming headset, it’s not the most ideal headphones for general use.

What It Is

As the highest-end model in the INZONE series, the H9 is a feature-packed headset. It comes with the aforementioned ANC, 360 Spatial Sound (only for PC), up to 32 hours of battery life, and of course, a boom microphone that can be flipped up to mute. The H9 also supports the PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech.

Of course, with all of these features, it’s no surprise that the H9 carries a RM1,299 price tag. Compared to the other headsets in the series, the INZONE H7 – also wireless, but without ANC – goes for RM1,099, while the wired INZONE H3 costs RM439.

The Good Stuff

One of the most important features of a gaming headset is how it handles “imaging” – that is, how well can the headset emulate the location of a gunshot in a game, for example. In this regard, the Sony INZONE H9 performs admirably; I definitely feel like I have an added advantage when gaming with this.

Aside from that, the noise cancelling performance of the INZONE H9 is also above average. Even though it has the “deafening effect” – and its ANC is still not quite as good as, say, the
Sony WH-1000XM5
 – it can still cancel out most ambient noise, especially the sound of an air-conditioner or a loud PC fan.

Another aspect of the H9 that I’m
very
 impressed with is its long battery life. Sony quoted up to 32 hours of use on a single charge (with ANC switched off), but in my testing, the headset was still going strong well past this estimate. If you want a long-lasting gaming headset, the H9 will not disappoint.

Comfort is one of the INZONE H9’s strong points as well. Even in longer gaming sessions – especially when I was sweating bullets playing
The Last of Us Part I
 – the headset remains comfortable, thanks to its soft ear pads. The pressure is also
just right
, where I don’t feel like it’s clamping too hard on my head.

As for the microphone of the H9, it’s quite good. My teammates had no issue listening to my voice in-game, and I love the fact that I can hear my own voice through the headset. The convenience of just flipping the microphone up to mute it is neat too.

Not surprisingly, the INZONE H9’s sound signature is tuned for gaming, which is to say it has
very emphasised
 bass. This (somewhat) makes sense for a gaming-centric headset, as a bass-heavy tuning will make explosions and gunshots sound extra exciting.

But this also comes at the expense of audio quality; I’ll elaborate in the next section.

The Bad Stuff

While the overemphasised bass of the INZONE H9 makes for a more exciting gaming experience, it doesn’t translate well to music listening. The boosted bass bleeds into the mids, so as a result, it sounds “muddy.” Bass guitars on certain tracks will sound overly loud as well because of this.

And then there’s the bulky design of the H9. Yes, it’s a comfortable pair of wireless headset, but it doesn’t look particularly sleek when worn. The non-removable microphone further contributes to the general bulkiness of the headset. Suffice to say it will look out of place to use the H9 in public, in my opinion.

Last but not least is the USB dongle of the INZONE H9. Most of the time, the wireless connection works just fine, but there at times where I get a weird static noise. I can’t quite replicate this issue often enough, so I won’t say this is a major problem – it’s still worth a mention, of course.

Is It Worth It?

If you want a pair of comfortable wireless gaming headset with good imaging,
extremely
long battery life, and active noise cancellation, then the Sony INZONE H9 is an easy recommendation, even with its RM1,299 price tag. I’m not a big fan of its bulky design, but you may not share my sentiment.

It would’ve been great if the INZONE H9’s tuning isn’t so bass-centric, but hey, it does make for a more exciting gaming experience, especially if you’re into action games. Nonetheless, I’m hoping Sony will change up the tuning of the next H9 to be a better-rounded pair of headset – the company has proven itself to be
more than capable of this
.


Face Mask No Longer Mandatory Indoors, But Exceptions Apply

Effective today on 7 September, wearing face mask will be optional when you’re indoors in Malaysia. However, there are a few exceptions to this ruling, and it is still highly encouraged to do so, especially in crowded areas.

This was announced by Khairy Jamaluddin, the Minister of Health. Face mask is now optional in an indoor setting, though it is still mandatory to wear one at all healthcare facilities, public transportation, and obviously, if you’re COVID-19 positive.

Today I announced face masks indoors will be optional effective immediately. However, it’s still mandatory in all health care facilities (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes etc) and in public transport. High-risks individuals encouraged to keep their masks on.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj)
September 7, 2022

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), this ruling is done in light of the improving COVID-19 situation in Malaysia. Of course, to be safe, it’s always best to keep wearing a face mask in any situation, especially in crowded areas. Stay safe everyone!


8 – 14 September Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 10 Sen, Now RM4.20 Per Litre

The downward trend on the price of RON 97 resumes this week! The price of the premium fuel is set to go down by 10 sen this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is now set at RM4.20 per litre (down from RM4.30) for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 8 to 14 September 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Apple Watch Series 8 Unveiled With Brighter Screen & Temperature Sensor From $399

Apple’s big September launch is here! The first product unveiled at the event is the brand new Apple Watch Series 8, which sports a brighter screen, a temperature sensor, and even the ability to detect a crash.

Thanks to the brighter display, the Series 8’s screen should be more visible under bright sunlight. There are also new watchfaces for users to choose from, not to mention a new temperature sensor that can help women track their ovulation cycle; very nice.

Also new to the Series 8 is the ability to detect a car crash, which will only be active when you’re…well, driving. This is done in order to conserve battery life. Speaking of which, the Series 8 offers up to 18 hours of battery life, and it can be further extended to 36 hours in low power mode.

Pricing wise, the Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399 (about RM1,795) for the GPS only model. The cellular version, on the other hand, goes for $499 (approximately RM2,245). No word yet on the Malaysian pricing of the new smartwatch, though we reckon it will be revealed very soon.


AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) Features Improved ANC & 6 Hours Battery Life for RM1,099

The first AirPods Pro was released back in 2019, and we now have the 2nd generation model with a slew of improvements. Not only does the new AirPods Pro come with improved active noise cancellation (ANC), it also has longer battery life and touch controls.

According to Apple, the 2nd gen AirPods Pro features “up to double the noise-cancelling power” of its predecessor, thanks to the new H2 chip. Battery life has also been improved by 1.5 hours for a total of up to six hours of use with ANC activated. With the charging case, users can get up to 30 hours of total listening time.

Aside from that, the new AirPods Pro finally adds volume and media controls to the stem. The wireless earbuds is now packed with a new “low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier” as well, which promises better bass and audio clarity. Oh, it comes with a new extra small ear tip too.

The 2nd generation AirPods Pro is
priced at RM1,099
 for the Malaysian market. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on exactly when it will be available for purchase on our shores; we’ll be sure to keep a close eye on its local availability.


iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Plus Official: Familiar Design, Same A15 Bionic Chip From $799

Here it is: the latest iPhone 14 series, starting with the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus – the latter is a new model in the lineup. Sporting a familiar-looking design, the iPhone 14 Plus offers the large screen of the Pro Max model, though it also retains last year’s Apple A15 Bionic chip.

Yes, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus soldiers on with the same A15 Bionic chip that made its debut on the iPhone 13 series. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course, given the
sheer processing power of the chip
 – not even the latest Android phones can match the performance level of the A15.

Beyond that, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus also feature a new 12MP primary sensor, which promises superior camera performance, especially in low light conditions. The ultra-wide angle lens offers better low light performance too, and the 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera is now packed with autofocus capability – say goodbye to blurry selfies.

Basically, the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are strikingly similar to last year’s iPhone 13 series, but with an upgraded camera array. All the new upgrades look to be reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which should be unveiled very soon.

Okay, prices. In the US, the iPhone 14 starts at $799 (about RM3,595), while the iPhone 14 Plus retails from $899 (approximately RM4,045). Expect Malaysian pricing to be revealed in the next couple of hours!


iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max Unleashed – “Moving” Notch, A16 Bionic, From $999

Here are the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and these two phones finally bid goodbye to the notch…for a pill-shaped cutout. But Apple does introduce a new UI design that cleverly takes advantage of the cutout dubbed “Dynamic Island,” which does make for a…unique user experience.

When you get a notification or playing music, the Dynamic Island will expand accordingly to show these elements. Honestly, it’s a smart, playful UI element to make the pill-shaped cutout feel more…purposeful. Of course, the cutout still looks quite odd when nothing is happening, but hey, props to Apple for the smart UI design.

Oh, there’s also an always on display now (finally).

As expected, the iPhone 14 Pro models feature Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chip; a hardware the more affordable iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus do not get. As usual, the new chip promises superior performance, along with better power efficiency to further improve battery life.

In the camera department, the iPhone 14 Pro phones naturally offer some notable upgrades, including a new 48MP primary camera with pixel binning for improved image quality. The telephoto and ultra-wide angle sensors also bring better low light performance.

No changes to the starting price of the iPhone 14 Pro series – in the US, at least. The iPhone 14 Pro retails from $999 (about RM4,495), while the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 (approximately RM4,945). We’re trying to secure the Malaysian pricing of the two phones right now, so stay tuned!


iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max Starts at RM5,299 in Malaysia – Up to RM500 Price Hike

We’ve got the Malaysian pricing of the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max! For our market, the latest and greatest iPhones
start at RM5,299
 – that’s a noticeable RM400 price hike from last year’s models.

Of course, the RM5,299 price tag is for the 128GB base model of the iPhone 14 Pro. As for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the most affordable 128GB variant goes for RM5,799. Compared to the same storage option of the iPhone 13 Pro Max at launch, that’s a RM500 price hike.

Anyway, for that kind of money, the iPhone 14 Pro phones do bring a number of upgrades, including a new pill-shaped display cutout with a “Dynamic Island” UI design. When you get a notification or playing music, the Dynamic Island will expand accordingly to show these elements, which does make for a unique user experience. The new iPhones finally get an always on display as well!

As expected, the iPhone 14 Pro models also feature Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chip; a hardware the
more affordable iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
 do not get. As usual, the new chip promises superior performance, along with better power efficiency to further improve battery life.

In the camera department, the iPhone 14 Pro phones naturally offer some notable upgrades, including a new 48MP primary camera with pixel binning for improved image quality. The telephoto and ultra-wide angle sensors also bring better low light performance.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available for pre-order in Malaysia on 16 September (Malaysia Day!), and they’re set to hit store shelves the following week on 23 September. Yes, the Malaysian market is getting the shiny new iPhones relatively quickly.


iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Plus Retail From RM4,199 in Malaysia – Pre-Orders Open 16 September

Well well, it looks like the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are coming to Malaysia very soon. Pre-orders of the two phones are set to open on Malaysia Day next week on 16 September, though there’s also a price hike for our market.

The more affordable phone of the two is the iPhone 14, which
starts at RM4,199
 for the 128GB model. Compared to the iPhone 13 at launch, this is a RM300 price hike, unfortunately enough. As for the iPhone 14 Plus – a completely new model in the lineup – it retails from RM4,699 on our shores for the same 128GB capacity.

On paper, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are very similar to the iPhone 13 series: they soldier on with the same A15 Bionic chip that made its debut last year. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course, given the
sheer processing power of the chip
 – not even the latest Android phones can match the performance level of the A15.

Beyond that, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus also feature a new 12MP primary sensor, which promises superior camera performance, especially in low light conditions. The ultra-wide angle lens offers better low light performance too, and the 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera is now packed with autofocus capability – say goodbye to blurry selfies.

You can pre-order the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus in Malaysia next week on 16 September. The former will be available here from 23 September onwards, while the iPhone 14 Plus is set to arrive on our shores slightly later on 7 October.


Malaysia Keyboard Meetup – Free Pass Holders Required to Register Again, No More Walk-ins

Response to the first large-scale Malaysia keyboard meetup has been quite overwhelming, to say the least. Not only did the RM60 “keypass” ticket
sold out in seven minutes
, the free entry tickets were also snatched up quickly. If you got the latter, take note: you are required to register again.

The re-registration will take place on 10 September at 6PM. Those with a free entry pass will need to choose a preferred time slot to attend the meetup (10AM – 1PM or 2PM – 5PM). According to the organiser, Keebmunity, this is done to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for those who are attending the event.

Unfortunately, this also means walk-ins to the meetup
will no longer be entertained
.

Anyway, as previously revealed, the keyboard meetup will be held at the Grey Box in GMBB Kuala Lumpur on 1 October 2022. It will run from 10AM to 6PM, so expect a number of activities to be held throughout the day. Several vendors at the meetup have been confirmed too, including Rebult Keyboards and
Mecha Store
.

Aside from that, Sun Cycle – one of the most recognisable distributors – will also be at the keyboard meetup. The company will be bringing as many as
six
notable brands to the event: Keychron, Akko, Glorious, Ducky, Tecware, and Shurikey.

To recap, those with a free entry pass to the keyboard meetup will be required to register again on 10 September at 6PM; those who purchased the keypass ticket are not affected by this. Of course, Nextrift will be there at the event; see you guys then!