Honor MagicBook 14 Coming to Malaysia 6 July; Sleeker Looks, Lighter Chassis

Honor launched its first-ever laptop – the
Honor MagicBook
 – for the Malaysian market back in April this year, and the Chinese company is set to introduce the successor here as early next week on 6 July. Sporting a sleeker design in a more lightweight chassis, the MagicBook 14 improves upon its predecessor quite a bit.

In fact, the MagicBook 14 was actually
shown of here back in November
 last year before it was even made official. Compared to the first MagicBook, this updated model is a more compact laptop, thanks to the small bezels surrounding the screen. The bottom bezel is still quite thick, but that’s the case with most laptops in the market now anyway.

Besides that, the MagicBook 14 is also a more lightweight machine than its predecessor. It tips the scales at 1.38kg, making it ever so slightly lighter than the original MagicBook, which weighs 1.45kg. Not a huge difference, yes, but it’s always good to have a lighter, more compact laptop when you need to lug it around.

Honor Malaysia has not told us the MagicBook 14’s hardware yet for our local market, but the
product page for the laptop
 is actually live on the company’s local website right now. According to the listing, it will be powered by the same AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor as the previous model. Graphics are still handled by the integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU as well.

Oddly enough, the product page also shows that the MagicBook 14 only features 256GB of SSD storage; that’s half of the first MagicBook’s much more generous 512GB SSD. Given the smaller drive capacity, it’ll be interesting to see exactly how much the laptop will be priced at, especially in comparison to the older model. Thankfully, it still ships with 8GB of RAM.

In the display department, the MagicBook 14 – as its name suggests – comes with a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen. As mentioned, this laptop has slim bezels, and there isn’t even any space for the webcam. Instead, the webcam is hidden underneath the keyboard in a pop-up mechanism; a clever piece of engineering

Battery life of the MagicBook 14 is decent too: Honor promises that the 56WHr battery of the laptop can return up to 10 hours of use on a single charge.

The Honor MagicBook 14 will be launched in Malaysia next week on 6 July. We’ll find out then exactly how much the productivity laptop will be priced at for the local market.


Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Launched in Malaysia; Starts at RM4,499

The highly anticipated Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has just been launched in Malaysia, and quite a number of configurations are offered here. In fact, the most affordable variant retails at only RM4,499 – that’s quite a good price tag for a premium gaming laptop.

Of course, the hardware offered at that price point aren’t particularly impressive, but it will be sufficient for more casual gamers. We’d argue it’s even ideal for those who want to use the Zephyrus G14 primarily for non-gaming tasks; it has all the qualities of a good productivity laptop, esepcially in terms of battery life.

For easy reference, here’s the full price breakdown of all Zephyrus G14 configurations available in Malaysia:

Ryzen 5 4600HS, GTX 1650, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD – RM4,499
Ryzen 5 4600HS, GTX 1650 Ti, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD – RM5,299
Ryzen 7 4800HS, GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD – RM6,199
Ryzen 9 4900HS, RTX 2060 Max-Q, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD – RM7,699

It’s worth noting that all variants of the Zephyrus G14 come with a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, but with one exception: the range-topping RTX 2060 Max-Q variant with a Ryzen 9 4900HS processor. This particular configuration is also available with a 2560 x 1440 screen, but the refresh rate is limited to only 60Hz.

If you want the best gaming experience, it’s best to go for the 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Sure, a higher resolution panel is nice to have, but a fast screen is especially important for a gaming laptop. Plus, regardless of which screen option you go for, both are Pantone Validated panels with 100% sRGB colour coverage, and there is no price difference either.

Besides that, all configurations of the Zephyrus G14 comes with the unique AniMe Matrix LED panel on the top lid…except for the most affordable GTX 1650 variant. This explains the rather big RM800 price difference between the base model and the GTX 1650 Ti option; it’s not just the GPU that’s different.

Those who want the best value for their money should opt for the GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q variant. This configuration of the Zephyrus G14 may not come with the most powerful GPU or CPU combination, but it will offer comparable gaming performance as the highest-end RTX 2060 Max-Q model.

See, in terms of raw power, the performance gap between the two GPUs are not very big. Of course, you won’t get RTX-specific features with the GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, but this may not matter to some folks.

While the full local pricing of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has been revealed, only the highest-end RTX 2060 Max-Q variant – with a QHD screen – and the GTX 1650 Ti model can be purchased right now in Malaysia. The GTX 1650 and GTX 1660 Ti configurations will land here sometime in August, while the range-topping RTX 2060 Max-Q variant with a 1080p 120Hz screen will be available in September 2020.


Maybank Shopee Visa Platinum Credit Card Unveiled; Early Birds Get RM500 Voucher

Shopee and Maybank just launched a new credit card. Aptly dubbed Maybank Shopee Visa Platinum credit card, it offers a number of benefits for those who do a lot of shopping on Shopee. On top of that, those who apply for the card can also get a RM500 discount voucher for use on Shopee; that’s a sweet sign-up gift.

Before we get to the sign-up gift, let’s talk about the Maybank Shopee credit card itself first. Basically, any spending made with the card will reward cardholders with Shopee Coins. Normal purchases are rewarded with 1x Coins, while purchases made on Shopee, dining, and entertainment – along with contactless payments – will get you 2x Coins.

These are decent rewards, but the amount of Shopee Coins you can get will be a lot more if you make your purchases every 28th of the month or on “Special Days” like Shopee’s upcoming 9.9, 11.11, and 12.12 sales. On these dates, contactless, dining, and entertainment purchases are upsized to 4x Coins. Purchases on Shopee, on the other hand, are rewarded with 5x Coins.

However, do note that the maximum amount of Shopee Coins you can get per statement cycle is capped at 5,000 Coins, which is worth RM50. Any other spending beyond this cap will be converted to Maybank’s TreatsPoints, so you’re still getting something out of your purchases.

Okay, so what about the RM500 Shopee discount voucher for early birds? Well, as expected, there are a couple of terms and conditions to be eligible for the sign-up gift. For one, it is only valid for new-to-bank customers who have signed up for the card on Maybank’s website and have their applications approved between 1 to 7 July.

Besides that, only the first 200 approved applicants will receive the RM500 voucher, provided they spend a minimum of RM300 in retail transactions within 45 days of the card’s approval date. If you’re not part of the first 200 approved applicants, you will get a pair of SoundPeats wireless earbuds instead.

Interestingly, applicants – new-to-bank, of course – who place their applications between 8 July to 31 August will get a RM200 Shopee discount voucher instead if they are the first 500 successful applicants. Naturally, the minimum RM300 retail spend within 45 days of the card’s approval date apply here as well to be eligible for the discount voucher.

It’s worth noting that regardless of the sign-up gifts above, every successful applicant of this credit card will get 5,000 Shopee Coins as a welcome gift. To be eligible for it, RM300 in spending have to be done within the first two months of the card’s approval date.

The Maybank Shopee Visa Platinum credit card will be
open for applications starting tomorrow (1 July) on Maybank’s website
. Do note that to be eligible for the card, you need an annual income of at least RM36,000, and it is free for life with no annual fee.


Could This Be the Proton X50’s Interior?

Proton is expected to introduce its second SUV in Malaysia sometime this year. Based on the Geely Binyue, the highly anticipated B-segment compact SUV is widely believed to be called the Proton X50, and a new image purporting to be the interior of the car has made it online.

This latest leak of the Proton X50 comes from
The Ajerul
, who claims that this is the interior of the upcoming SUV. Looking at the image, it does seem pretty legitimate. It doesn’t look like a mirrored image of the Binyue’s interior, and more importantly, the new Proton logo can be seen on the steering wheel.

Image source:
The Ajerul
The interior of the Geely Binyue

Given the two-tone design of the interior, there’s a good chance this is the higher-end Sport trim of the X50. If it is, it will be powered by a 1.5L three-cylinder turbocharged engine co-developed by both Geely and Volvo. It outputs 174hp and 255Nm of torque, which are very respectable figures.

It’s worth noting that this 1.5L engine is widely tipped to be powering the X50, so it wouldn’t be surprising if this really is the case once the SUV is launched here. That being said, there’s a new rumour suggesting that Proton is
considering to add a 1.4L four-cylinder

turbocharged engine
 – it puts out 141hp and 235Nm of torque – as an alternative.

The Geely Binyue

This came to light after several reports claiming that the units of the Binyue Pro – which is powered by the 1.4L engine – have arrived here in Malaysia. Obviously, there’s no official explanation for this, though one theory suggests that the national carmaker is testing out the 1.4L engine for the locally assembled X50.

If Proton does add a 1.4L engine option to the X50, there’s a good chance it will be used for the more affordable variants of the SUV; that’s the case with the Binyue Pro in the Chinese market. Of course, this is only an educated guess on our part, but using the 1.4L engine instead of the same 1.5L mill for all variants of the X50 will give the carmaker more room to price the car competitively.

No release date has been given yet for the imminent arrival of the Proton X50 in Malaysia, though rumours claim that the B-segment compact SUV will be open for booking as early as July next month. But until Proton itself confirms the existence of the X50, it’s best to hold off putting down any form of deposit with sales agents or dealers.


The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Is a Surprisingly Good Productivity Laptop

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is
finally available in Malaysia
, and I’ve been using it as my daily driver for a while now. I haven’t extensively tested the gaming performance of the G14 yet, but I have been putting it through its paces as a work laptop. Surprisingly enough, it’s really,
really
 good.

In fact, the Zephyrus G14 is easily one of the best laptops I’ve used for productivity work, which is not something typically said of a gaming machine. Not only is it a powerful laptop, it also has
incredibly long
 battery life. That, in itself, makes the G14 an excellent productivity laptop.

So exactly how good is the battery life of the Zephyrus G14? Well, Asus says that the 76WHr battery can return up to 10 hours of use on a single charge, which is definitely a lofty claim for a gaming laptop. But surprisingly enough, I can
actually
 get this level of battery life. On average, I was getting between nine to 10 hours of use; that’s crazy for a laptop as powerful as this.

Of course, to squeeze this much battery life out of the Zephyrus G14, I switched on battery saver mode with the display dimmed to a comfortable level. Nonetheless, this is a
very
 long-lasting gaming laptop, though it’s worth noting that I’ve only completely drained the battery of the Zephyrus G14 a couple of times at the moment. I’ll need to run the test a few more times to get more definitive results; stay tuned to the full review for that.

Besides battery life, other aspects of the Zephyrus G14 make it an ideal productivity laptop as well. For one, the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS under the hood of this review unit – the highest-end option available for this laptop – is a fast, power-efficient processor. This chip is the very reason why the G14 has such good battery life, thanks to the fact that it’s fabricated on a 7nm process.

This excellent power efficiency of the Ryzen 9 4900HS is paired with very,
very
 good performance level. It’s an octa-core processor with 16 threads, and in my initial testing, it’s noticeably faster than the Ryzen 7 4800H chip found in the
Asus TUF Gaming A15
. The latter is already a very capable chip to begin with, which really shows just how good the performance level of the Ryzen 9 4900HS is.

Beyond that, the Zephyrus G14 is also quite a compact machine, which is not something you can say for literally any other gaming laptop. After all, the G14 is the only 14-inch machine in its segment; this lets Asus call it “the world’s most powerful 14-inch gaming laptop.” It simply doesn’t have any direct competitor.

Aside from its compact form factor, it’s a rather minimalist-looking gaming laptop as well. There’s no RGB keyboard, the overall design is understated – provided you switch off the flashy AniMe Matrix LED lighting on the top lid – and it wouldn’t look out of place in a meeting room or professional setting. Basically, it can easily pass off as a productivity laptop.

However, there is one design element of the Zephyrus G14 that can be a dealbreaker to those who are looking to use it as a productivity laptop: it doesn’t have a webcam. That’s right, it has no camera at all, so if you need one for online meetings and teleconferences, you’ll have to get an external webcam.

But if you can look past the absence of a webcam, the Zephyrus G14 really is a competent productivity laptop. Take the keyboard: it’s comfortable to type on with more than enough key travel for a pleasant typing experience, the keys are tactile, and the keyboard layout has no big issues either. I especially like the dedicated volume buttons at the top left of the keyboard.

As for the trackpad, it’s equally good. Clicks feel surprisingly solid, the smooth, glass surface allows my fingers to glide effortlessly, and more importantly, it’s largely accurate as well. However, I do have one small issue with it: I can’t seem to disable the mouse acceleration. Changing the option from the Windows settings did nothing, which is a little annoying.

Anyway, let’s move on to the display. This review unit of the Zephyrus G14 comes with a 14-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, which looks pretty good. It has punchy colours, good viewing angles, and as far as I can tell, it’s properly calibrated as well. If you don’t fancy this 1440p display, there’s a 1080p panel option with a faster 120Hz refresh rate.

There are a lot of gaming latops in the market now with their own strengths and weaknesses, but I’d argue none of them are quite as compelling or as versatile as the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. It is compact, it has incredibly good battery life, and paired with equally good performance level, it’s the complete package. Whether you want a portable gaming laptop or a fast productivity machine, the G14 fits both criteria.

Of course, this comes at a price: this particular variant of the Zephyrus G14 is the range-topping model, which comes with a Ryzen 9 4900HS processor, an RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for a whopping RM7,699. It’s a steep price tag for an RTX 2060 gaming laptop, and even the most affordable configuration of the G14 costs RM4,499.

There’s no denying the fact that the Zephyrus G14 is a costly product, but it
is
 a premium gaming laptop with a lot going for it. I’ll be putting the G14 through its paces in a full review soon, and we’ll see then if it can really justify costing so much.

Personally, I’m pretty confident the Zephyrus G14 will exceed expectations.


Realme X50 Pro 5G Launching in Malaysia 6 July; Affordable Snapdragon 865 Phone

We spotted the Realme X50 Pro 5G in SIRIM’s database
two months ago
, which suggests that the Chinese company is gearing up to launch the flagship smartphone in Malaysia. Well, Realme just confirmed that the X50 Pro will be launched here next week on 6 July.

As is the case with many launch events now – because of the COVID-19 pandemic – the X50 Pro will be launched virtually via live stream on Realme’s Facebook page. It’s quite an exciting smartphone, given that it is the first 5G smartphone from Realme.

On top of that, the X50 Pro is a high-end device as well. Powering this device is none other than Qualcomm’s best chipset yet, the Snapdragon 865. Not only does it give the phone 5G connectivity, it also provides flagship-tier performance. Whether you’re multitasking or gaming on this phone, it will be able to deliver.

Speaking of gaming, the X50 Pro features a pretty fast display as well: it has a 6.44-inch 2400 x 1080 Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. While that’s not quite as impressive as other flagship smartphones with faster 120Hz panels, it will be good enough to provide smooth animations. Plus, it won’t be quite as power-hungry as 120Hz screens either.

In terms of battery life, the X50 Pro comes with a reasonably generous 4,200mAh dual-cell battery. This cell capacity should be able to provide a day’s worth of use, and when you need to charge it up, the phone supports Realme’s 65W “SuperDart” fast charging. According to the company, this allows the phone to be fully charged in only 35 minutes.

As a flagship smartphone, the X50 Pro is naturally equipped with a rather sophisticated quad camera system. It’s made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide angle shooter, a 12MP f/2.5 telephoto lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome portrait camera. Realme also highlights the fact that this camera configuration allows the phone to do “20x hybrid zoom.”

Rounding out the specifications of the X50 pro are two selfie cameras (32MP f/2.5 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle), up to 12GB of RAM, two storage options (128GB and 256GB), an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and Realme UI based on Android 10 out of the box.

The Realme X50 Pro 5G will be launched in Malaysia via an online live stream on
Realme’s Facebook page
; it’s set to take place at 11AM on 6 July next week. It’ll be quite exciting to see how much the phone will cost here. For the sake of comparison, the X50 Pro retails from 37,999 Indian rupee in India, which comes up to about RM2,155.


Asus ZenBook 13 & ZenBook 14 With 10th Gen Intel CPU Arriving in Malaysia This Month

Asus recently updated the Asus ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14, and the Taiwanese company just confirmed that these two productivity laptops will be landing in Malaysia sometime this month. What makes them particularly interesting is their thin and light chassis, and they’re also powered by Intel’s latest 10th generation Ice Lake processors.

Beyond the difference in screen size, the new ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are basically identical. Both have all-metal chassis that measure only 13.9mm, making them noticeably slimmer than other productivity laptops in the market now. They are lightweight machines as well: the ZenBook 13 tips the scales at only 1.07kg, while the ZenBook 14 weighs 1.13kg.

Despite the slim profile of these ZenBook laptops, their connectivity options are surprisingly complete. They have two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, a USB-A connection, an HDMI output, and even a microSD card reader. However, oddly enough, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, though a dongle for it is provided.

Port selection aside, the new ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are very sleek machines too, thanks to the small bezels surrounding their displays. In the case of the ZenBook 14, it has a screen-to-body ratio of 90%; very respectable. The ZenBook 13, on the other hand, is rated at 88%.

Interestingly, these two laptops can be configured with a power-efficient 1W display to further improve battery life. Despite the low-power nature of the panel, it can get quite bright: the screen can go up to 450 nits for the ZenBook 13, and 400 nits for the larger ZenBook 14.

Speaking of which, how good is the battery life of these new ZenBook laptops? Well, both of these machines are equipped with a 67WHr battery, which promises to 22 hours of use on a single charge. According to Asus, the charging rate of these two laptops are quite impressive too: they can supposedly charge up to 60% in 49 minutes.

Powering the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 are none other than the latest 10th generation Intel processors. These include the Core i7-1065G7 – the range-topping option – the Core i5-1035G1, and the Core i3-1005G1 chips. It’s worth noting that the ZenBook 14 can also be configured with AMD’s
excellent Ryzen 4000 mobile processors
, but we don’t know exactly when this variant will be introduced in Malaysia.

Nonetheless, we were told by Asus Malaysia that the AMD-powered ZenBook 14 will eventually make it here.

As for the Intel-powered Asus ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14, they will be launched in Malaysia sometime this month in July. We’ll find out then just how much these two productivity laptops will cost here.


Proton X70 Remains Best-Selling C-Segment SUV in Malaysia; 1,909 Units Sold in June 2020

Proton just released its sales report for the month of June 2020, and it’s looking pretty good for the national carmaker. With 9,623 units sold last month, it is Proton’s second best sales month in 2020. To top it off, this June sales figure is actually a 26.3% increase over the company’s sales performance in the same month last year.

Evidently, Proton’s sales are recovering quite well amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The carmaker attributes this encouraging sales number to the sales tax exemption and the Proton Saga: 4,447 units of the A-segment sedan were sold last month, which is the best sales performance for the car in 70 months. This eclipses the previous top sales figure of the Saga back in October 2019, where 4,275 units were sold.

Besides the Saga, the Proton X70 maintains its position as the best-selling C-segment SUV in June with 1,909 units sold. In fact, it’s the top selling SUV in its segment for the first half of 2020. In our opinion,
the X70 is by far the best SUV you can get
 while the 100% sales tax exemption is in effect in Malaysia; it’s discounted up to RM7,000 right now.

Anyway, while the company didn’t reveal the exact sales figure for the Proton Persona, it remains at the top of the B-segment sedan in the local market. Same goes for the Proton Exora in the C-segment MPV category, while the Proton Iriz sits at the third place in its segment last month.

With the 100% sales tax exemption on locally assembled cars in full effect here in Malaysia, we expect Proton’s sales – and other carmakers, really – to grow even further this month. With the imminent arrival of the
Proton X50
 later this year, things are looking up for the national carmaker.


Honda Civic Facelift Tops C-Segment Market; 6,500 Bookings, 2,900 Units Delivered

Launched back in February this year
, the facelifted Honda Civic continues to lead the C-segment market in Malaysia. As of June 2020, as many as 6,500 bookings were made for the car, with 2,900 units delivered thus far. These figures alone certainly show the popularity of the Civic.

According to Honda, the facelifted Civic makes up 70% of the market share for its segment, though this is based on data gathered in April 2020. On top of that, there’s even a one month waiting period to get the facelifted Civic now, though the Japanese company assures customers that stocks are available to meet demand.

In Honda’s lineup, the Civic is currently its third best-selling model. 44% of total sales come from the central region, while the southern and northern regions make up 17% and 15% of the Civic’s sales respectively. In terms of colour choice, White Orchid Pearl is the most popular option: over 42% units of Civic sold were delivered with this paint job.

“With Malaysia moving into Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period, most businesses are resuming operations in accordance to guidelines and standard operating procedure set by the government. All industries, including the automotive industry, are eager to recover from the pandemic and help the nation towards economic recovery,” said the CEO and Managing Director of Honda Malaysia, Toichi Ishiyama.

Now that the facelifted Honda Civic is discounted by almost RM5,000 – thanks to the 100% sales tax exemption on locally assembled cars – the C-segment sedan is more attractive than ever. With the tax exemption, the new Civic retails from RM109,326.51; this will be the case until 31 December 2020.


Vivo X50 Series With Gimbal-Style Camera Coming to Malaysia Soon

There seems to be a lot of products carrying the X50 moniker lately. There’s the
Realme X50 Pro 5G
 – which is launching locally next week on 6 July – the much rumoured
Proton X50
, and now, the Vivo X50 series of premium smartphones. The Chinese company just confirmed that the X50 lineup will be arriving here in Malaysia, though there’s no concrete release date yet.

Nonetheless, three devices make up the Vivo X50 series: the regular X50, the X50 Pro, and the range-topping X50 Pro+. However, we believe that only the former two are set to arrive here for now; they are
already listed on Vivo Malaysia’s website
. The X50 is said to be offered in Frost Blue and Glaze Black, while the X50 Pro is available in Alpha Grey.

Out of the two devices listed on Vivo Malaysia’s website, the X50 Pro is naturally the higher-end smartphone. What makes this phone particularly interesting is its quad camera system: the 48MP f/1.6 primary sensor uses a gimbal system for stabilisation, promising better stability over conventional optical image stabilisation.

The other three sensors of the X50 Pro’s camera configuration are quite good too. There’s an 8MP f/3.4 periscope telephoto lens, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 13MP f/2.5 portrait camera. According to Vivo, this combination of sensors allow the phone to do up to 60x “Hyper Zoom.”

Besides the camera system, the X50 Pro also has a 6.56-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Not the fastest panel we’ve seen, but certainly better than conventional 60Hz displays. The AMOLED panel itself should be good too, offering true, deep blacks and vibrant colours for a pleasant viewing experience.

Other specifications of the X50 Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset – giving the phone 5G connectivity – 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of non-expandable storage, a 32MP f/2.5 selfie camera, a 4,315mAh battery, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

As for the regular X50, it looks similar to the Pro model, but it sports a more pedestrian quad camera setup. It’s made up of a 48MP f/1.6 main sensor, a 13MP f/2.5 portrait shooter, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP f/2.5 macro camera. It also has a 32MP f/2.5 selfie camera.

Rounding out the hardware of the X50 are the same 6.56-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 765G chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, a 4,200mAh battery, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

It remains to be seen exactly when the Vivo X50 and X50 Pro will be introduced in Malaysia, though we reckon it will be happening very soon. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of these two smartphones.


Acer Predator Triton 500 (2020) Quick Review: A Slim, Incredibly Fast Gaming Laptop

The new Acer Predator Triton 500 isn’t remarkably different
from its predecessor
, but the hardware upgrades under the hood bring some notable performance gains. Not only does it ship with a beefier Nvidia RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU now, the display has also been swapped for a blazing fast 300Hz panel.

Of course, these upgrades come at a cost: the new Triton 500 now starts at RM7,999. This review unit is the range-topping configuration, which costs a whopping RM8,999. It’s a steep asking price, but I can definitely see why it costs so much after spending some time with this slim,
powerful
gaming laptop.

For some folks, the premium asking price for the equally premium Triton 500 is certainly worth it.

What It Is

Display
15.6-inch 300Hz FHD IPS (1920 x 1080), G-Sync
Processor
Intel Core i7-10875H (8C/16T, 2.3GHz with boost up to 5.1GHz)
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
RAM
16GB DDR4 2933MHz
Storage
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Camera
720p
Battery
82WHr
Dimensions
358.5 x 255 x 17.9 mm
Weight
2.1kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
1x USB 3.1 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort)
3x USB 3.2 Type-A
1x HDMI 2.0
1x mini DisplayPort 1.4
1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Price
RM8,999

For RM8,999, the Triton 500 naturally offers some powerful hardware. The Core i7-10875H octa-core processor is fast, the RTX 2070 Super (even in Max-Q form) can deliver high frame rates in AAA titles, and the 300Hz screen is absolutely fantastic. All of these hardware are packed inside a 17.9mm thin chassis, which is one of the reasons why this laptop costs as much as it is.

The Good Stuff

Let’s get to the most exciting aspect of the Triton 500 first: performance. As mentioned, the Core i7-10875H is a fast processor that can easily keep up with the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q. To see just how capable this chip is, I put it through its paces in CineBench R20. It returned 3,773 points in the multi-core test, and 483 points in single-core performance; good numbers that are similar to other high-end mobile processors in the market now.

What about gaming performance? Well, this is where the Triton 500 took me by surprise. The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is one serious powerhouse, and I ran the following games in Turbo mode, which automatically overclocks the GPU.

Games (max settings @ 1080p)
Average FPS
Witcher 3 (HairWorks disabled)
100.93
Borderlands 3 (DX11)
75.09
Call of Duty: Warzone (Ray tracing disabled)
118.70
Apex Legends
126.89

Impressive numbers, right? Sure, these games still don’t quite take advantage of the Triton 500’s 300Hz panel, but you can get even higher frame rates by tweaking the graphics settings. After all, I tested these games with maxed out settings.

Thermals of the Triton 500 are surprisingly good too, especially for a thin and light gaming machine. The palm rest area stays cool in heated gaming sessions, and while the CPU gets quite toasty, the GPU remains well below 80°C. Do note that I tested the temperatures of the laptop when it’s running on Turbo mode, which allows the fans to run at max speed. It gets quite loud, but the results are well worth it.

And that brings me to the noise level of the Triton 500 outside of gaming, which is basically whisper quiet. Whether I’m doing some light photo editing, browsing the web, or watching some shows on Netflix, the fans are barely audible.

Speaking of content consumption, the Triton 500’s 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen simply looks stunning. Without a doubt the 300Hz refresh rate itself makes gaming on it extremely enjoyable – not to mention the G-Sync support – but the quality of the panel itself is worth praising too. Colours pop, viewing angles are good, and it’s well-calibrated as well.

That being said, I do wish the display was ever so slightly brighter. It’s not dim by any means – it can get bright enough for comfortable use indoor – but it does wash out in much brighter conditions outdoor.

Last but definitely not least are the input devices of the Triton 500, which are great. The keyboard – now with per-key RGB lighting – is comfortable to type on with tactile keys and just enough key travel for a pleasant typing experience. I’m not a fan of the PredatorSense shortcut key right beside the backspace – it’s easy to launch the software by accident – but at least the keyboard as a whole is great.

As for the trackpad, I absolutely love it, which is a peculiar thing to say for a gaming laptop’s trackpad. See, even compared to the trackpad of premium productivity laptops, this is by far one of the most
accurate
trackpads I’ve used on a Windows machine. The smooth surface of the glass trackpad also allows my fingers to glide across it effortlessly.

The Bad Stuff

While the Core i7-10875H under the hood of the Triton 500 can return good numbers, it’s actually not quite as fast as AMD’s excellent Ryzen 4000 chip; more specifically, the Ryzen 7 4800H. In my review of the
Asus TUF Gaming A15
, the Ryzen 7 chip powering the laptop proved to be superior to Intel’s offering. Just look at the performance disparity below in CineBench R20:

Processor
Single-core test
Multi-core test
Intel Core i7-10875H
483
3773
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
481
4106

While both of them are basically comparable in the single-core test, the Ryzen 7 4800H has a noticeable lead over the Core i7-10875H in the multi-core test. Yes, this Core i7 chip is still a capable chip, but given the fact that the Ryzen 7 processor is found in even more affordable gaming laptops, Intel’s offering doesn’t look to offer very good value for money.

Another area where the Core i7-10875H fall short on is power consumption. It’s fabricated on a 14nm process, so its power efficiency isn’t quite as good as the 7nm Ryzen 7 4800H. As a result, the battery life of the Triton 500 suffers, especially in comparison to its predecessor. I managed to get six hours of use with the previous model, but with this new iteration, I only got about four hours of use.

Granted, the 300Hz panel takes up quite a bit of power too, but just imagine if Acer equipped the Triton 500 with the Ryzen 7 4800H processor instead. Not only will it be a
faster
 gaming laptop, it will offer much better battery life as well. Sure, the latter isn’t quite as important for a gaming laptop, but faster performance certainly is.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking for a thin and light gaming laptop that offers incredibly good gaming performance, then yes, the Acer Predator Triton 500 is worth it. This RM8,999 configuration is costly, but you do get a quick 300Hz screen, a powerful RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU, and although it’s not the best processor in the market now, the Core i7-10875H chip is still very capable.

Those who don’t need this level of performance, but are enticed by the sleek chassis of the Triton 500, can always opt for the RM7,999 model instead. This configuration comes with a 144Hz screen, an RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU, the same Core i7-10875H processor, and 8GB of RAM. It’s still reasonably powerful, though you should definitely upgrade the RAM to 16GB.

The Acer Predator Triton 500, with its slim chassis and powerful performance, is an accomplished gaming laptop. But personally, I wish there was an AMD option for the machine, which would’ve made it
that
 much more enticing by offering even better performance and battery life.

Hopefully, Acer will consider doing so with the next iteration of the Triton 500.


Realme X50 Pro 5G Lands in Malaysia for RM2,999

Realme just launched its first-ever 5G smartphone in Malaysia, the Realme X50 Pro 5G. What makes this device particularly interesting is the sheer value for money it offers, but for the Malaysian market, that’s not quite the case. On our shores, the X50 Pro goes for RM2,999.

While that doesn’t make the X50 Pro a particularly costly flagship smartphone, it’s certainly higher than expected. That’s because Realme isn’t introducing more affordable variants of the X50 Pro here: only the range-topping 256GB model with 12GB of RAM is offered locally. In other markets, the phone can be purchased with only 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, which is a lot more affordable.

Nonetheless, for RM2,999, the Realme X50 Pro does offer a number of neat hardware. Naturally, it’s powered by Qualcomm’s best chipset yet, the Snapdragon 865. Not only does it offer 5G connectivity, it also provides an excellent level of performance. Rest assured, this is a fast smartphone that will be able to meet any user’s demand.

Speaking of fast, the Realme X50 Pro features a 6.44-inch 2400 x 1080 Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Yes, not quite as impressive as other flagship smartphones’ faster 120Hz displays, but it’s still much better than a conventional 60Hz panel. Plus, the 90Hz refresh rate is good enough to provide smooth animations.

Under the screen of the phone, there’s also an optical fingerprint sensor.

Of course, as a flagship smartphone, the X50 Pro features a rather elaborate quad camera system. It’s made up of a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, an 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide angle shooter, a 12MP f/2.5 telephoto lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome portrait camera. Collectively, this allows the phone to do “20x hybrid zoom.” Besides that, this phone also has two selfie cameras: a 32MP f/2.5 primary sensor paired with an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter.

Another interesting feature of the X50 Pro is its reasonably big 4,200mAh dual-cell battery. But the capacity is not the highlight here: it’s the charging rate. According to Realme, the 4,200mAh cell can be fully charged in only 35 minutes, thanks to the company’s 65W “SuperDart” fast charging technology.

The Realme X50 Pro 5G will be available for purchase from tomorrow onwards (7 July)
for RM2,999 on Lazada
; retail stores will carry the flagship smartphone from 11 July onwards. Two colours are offered: Moss Green and Rust Red.


Honor MagicBook 14 Costs RM2,499 in Malaysia; Pre-Orders Get RM966 Worth of Freebies

Honor’s second laptop for the Malaysian market, the Honor MagicBook 14, will be available for pre-order locally from tomorrow onwards on 7 July. Retailing at RM2,499, it’s a reasonably inexpensive productivity laptop. On top of that, those who place their pre-orders early will also receive a number of freebies worth RM817.

Those who pre-order the MagicBook 14 between 7 to 13 July on
Shopee
or
Honor’s online store
 will get a complimentary laptop sleeve – it’s said to be limited edition Honor-branded sleeve – a Bluetooth mouse, a backpack, and an Honor Watch Magic. Collectively, these items are worth RM966; a pretty good deal.

If you don’t fancy pre-ordering the laptop online, you can place your pre-order with physical retailers instead from 7 to 16 July. You get about the same items as the online pre-order – except for the laptop sleeve, which seems to be online-exclusive – though the Watch Magic is interchangeable with an Honor Band 5i. These freebies are worth up to RM817, and naturally, they are only available while stocks last.

As for the MagicBook 14 itself, it’s a reasonably good productivity laptop. Granted, it actually costs RM200 more than the first MagicBook despite the fact that both laptops have identical hardware. In fact, the newer MagicBook 14 actually comes with
half
 the internal storage of its predecessor. That’s right, the former only has a 256GB SSD.

The MagicBook 14
The first MagicBook

So why does the new MagicBook 14 cost more despite offering less storage? Well, for one, it’s a much sleeker, modern-looking laptop. It has noticeably smaller bezels surrounding the screen, which also reduces the overall dimensions of the machine. So not only does it look better, it’s a more compact laptop as well.

Besides that, the MagicBook 14 weighs less than its predecessor as well. It tips the scales at 1.38kg, making it
ever so slightly
 lighter than the first MagicBook’s 1.45kg chassis. While this doesn’t sound like a huge difference, it does give the MagicBook 14 an edge when it comes to portability.

Other specifications of the MagicBook 14 include a 14-inch 1080p IPS screen, an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor paired with 8GB of RAM, an integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU, and a webcam hidden underneath the keyboard.

To recap, the Honor MagicBook 14 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from tomorrow onwards on
Shopee
and
Honor’s online store
. For RM2,499, its value for money isn’t quite as good as the first MagicBook, but you do get a sleeker-looking laptop.


Deal: Grab the Samsung Galaxy S20+ With Over RM800 Discount

It’s been a while since the
Samsung Galaxy S20+
 was introduced, so naturally, the market price for the flagship smartphone has dropped quite a bit since then. In fact, in conjunction with Lazada’s 7.7 mid-year sale, you can now grab the S20+
for only RM3,199
 – that’s RM800 worth of savings.

Needless to say, this is an incredibly good offer for a flagship smartphone like the Galaxy S20+. This deal is also listed by Senheng, so rest assured, this is a legitimate offer. On top of that, the retailer has both the Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black colours in stock.

If you’ve been eyeing to get the Samsung Galaxy S20+, this is as good a time as any to grab it. For a flagship smartphone of this calibre,
RM3,199 is a great deal
. Not quite convinced? Then check out our hands-on of the S20+
right here
.


Deal: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Now Going For RM4,155

Besides the Galaxy S20+
, the range-topping
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
 is also discounted heavily for Lazada’s 7.7 mid-year sale. Originally retailing at RM4,999, the premium flagship smartphone is now
going for only RM4,155
, saving you a whopping RM844.

This deal is offered by well-known retailer G Store, so without a doubt this is a legitimate promotion. Although the Galaxy S20 Ultra is listed for RM4,239, you can collect a RM84 discount voucher from G Store to
bring down the price to RM4,155
. Both the Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black models are available as well, with official warranty from Samsung Malaysia.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a very capable flagship smartphone, even if it has its own shortcomings. Nonetheless, RM4,155 is a very good price for a phone of this calibre; check out our
comprehensive review of the S20 Ultra
 to find out more.


MSI Modern 14 With AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Chip Now in Malaysia for RM2,999

There aren’t that many AMD Ryzen 4000 laptops in the Malaysian market now – especially in the productivity laptop segment – but we’re getting one new addition from MSI. Enter the MSI Modern 14, which was quietly launched here with a Ryzen 4000 processor earlier this month.

Retailing at RM2,999, the Modern 14 is a reasonably affordable productivity laptop. Only a single configuration of the machine is offered in Malaysia at the moment, which comes with a Ryzen 5 4500U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD. There is also a RM3,269 model, though it is virtually identical to the aforementioned configuration; only the RAM is upgraded to 16GB.

Anyway, one of the most appealing aspects of the Modern 14 has to be its design. Thanks to the slim bezels surrounding the 14-inch 1920 x 1080 screen, MSI says that this laptop has a “close to 90% screen-to-body ratio.” While the bottom bezel isn’t quite as small, it is minimal enough to give the Modern 14 a modern-looking (excuse the pun) aesthetic. There’s also a webcam located above the screen.

Besides that, the Ryzen 5 4500U hexa-core processor is one of the best reasons to get the Modern 14 as well. Not only does it offer very respectable performance for the money, it is also more power-efficient than its competition. After all, it’s fabricated on a 7nm process, while Intel’s chips in this segment are still built on a 10nm process.

Okay, so what kind of battery life can you expect out of the Modern 14? Well, according to MSI, this laptop’s 50WHr battery can return up to 10 hours of use on a single charge. Sure, it’s not the best battery life for a productivity laptop, but it’s certainly not the worst either.

Productivity laptops have to be compact and portable, and in the case of the Modern 14, it’s a pretty slim and lightweight machine. Its chassis measures 16.9mm thin, and tipping the scales at 1.3kg, you wouldn’t really feel the weight of this laptop in your backpack. This makes it an ideal notebook for those who are always on the go.

The MSI Modern 14 with AMD’s Ryzen 4000 chip is now available for purchase in Malaysia
for RM2,999
 on MSI’s local online store;
RM3,269
if you want to upgrade the RAM to 16GB. According to the listing, every purchase of the Modern 14 will come with a laptop sleeve as well.


Poco M2 Pro Launched in India; Closely Resembles Redmi Note 9 Pro

Poco just launched yet another smartphone for the Indian market, the Poco M2 Pro. At a glance, it looks like a reasonably good new mid-range smartphone, though upon closer inspection, it actually
closely resembles
 the
Redmi Note 9 Pro
. In fact, it even has some of the
Redmi Note 9S
‘ hardware.

Design wise, there’s no mistaking the similarities between the Poco M2 Pro and the Redmi Note 9 Pro. Both smartphones have the same display size with a hole-punch cutout, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and even the same dual-tone back design.

The Poco M2 Pro
The Redmi Note 9 Pro

There is, however, one difference: the primary camera sensor of the Poco M2 Pro’s quad camera system is a 48MP f/1.8 shooter – just like the Redmi Note 9S – while the Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 64MP f/1.89 lens. But beyond that, the other three sensors are the same, which include an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, a 5MP f/2.4 macro lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth camera.

Similarities aside, the Poco M2 Pro is really quite an attractive mid-range smartphone that offers good value for money. For one, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset. While it’s not the most exciting processor in the market now, it should be fast enough to provide a pleasant user experience.

In the display department, the M2 Pro sports a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 IPS display protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5; even the rear panel is covered with the same glass. As mentioned, there’s also a hole-punch cutout at the top of the display for the 16MP selfie camera.

When it comes to battery life, the M2 Pro should be a long-lasting smartphone. After all, it’s equipped with a very generous 5,000mAh battery. According to Poco, you can play PUBG Mobile continuously for up to 11 hours with this smartphone. It also supports 33W fast charging, which allows the battery to be charged from zero to 50% in less than 30 minutes.

Other specifications of the M2 Pro include up to 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Poco M2 Pro will be available for purchase in India from 14 July onwards with a starting price of 13,999 Indian rupee, which comes up to about RM800. It remains to be seen if the M2 Pro will be sold outside of India, though given its similarity to the Redmi Note 9 Pro, we reckon it’s unlikely to happen.


Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series Launching on 5 August; Galaxy Z Fold 2 Also Expected

Samsung just sent out the invitation for its next Galaxy Unpacked event. Set to take place on 5 August, this is likely the launch event for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series. In fact, we may even see the introduction of the
Galaxy Fold
‘s successor.

Looking at the teaser video for the Unpacked event, it clearly shows the signature S Pen of the Galaxy Note series in the beginning. It makes a droplet with a splash of colour, likely showcasing the new “Mystic Bronze” colourway of the Note 20. After all, images of the unreleased phone with the colour option have already circulated online since earlier this month.

Based on recent leaks of the Galaxy Note 20, we do have some idea of what the flagship smartphone could offer. For one, it seems to sport a smaller Infinity-O cutout at the top of the screen for the front-facing camera; the panel itself is also expected to feature a fast 120Hz refresh rate like the
Galaxy S20 smartphones
. The overall design of the phone, on the other hand, seems to remain largely the same with a squared-off body.

On the back of the Galaxy Note 20, there’s the new camera module. It looks pretty similar to the Galaxy S20’s equally large array of sensors – complete with the big camera bump – and the bottom lens appears to be a periscope-style telephoto shooter. Rumours claim that the Note 20 won’t feature the same 100x Space Zoom of the S20 Ultra, though we reckon it will still be quite far-reaching.

Just like last year’s
Galaxy Note 10 series
, there will supposedly be two different variants of the Galaxy Note 20.

Leaked image of the Galaxy Note 20

As for the successor to the eye-catching Galaxy Fold, it’s expected to be introduced as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 at the Unpacked event. This is likely done to streamline the branding for the Korean company’s foldable smartphones, which include the
Galaxy Z Flip
. Speaking of which, the 5G version of the Z Flip is also said to be unveiled at the same launch event.

Anyway, compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is believed to come with larger displays. The internal screen is said to be increased to 7.7-inch, while the secondary, outer display will be bigger too, though no exact figure has been leaked yet. Naturally, the Z Fold 2 is tipped to come with the latest high-end hardware as well.

The first Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event will be streamed online on 5 August; you can catch the live stream on Samsung’s official website at 10PM Malaysian time. You can also register your interest for “the next Galaxy”
right here
.


Get Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for Free With Selected Asus Gaming Laptops

If you’re looking to get a new gaming laptop, and you also happen to be a fan of Assassin’s Creed, good news: every purchase of selected Asus gaming laptops will come with a copy of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Laptops that are a part of this promotion include the
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
, the Zephyrus G15, and even the
TUF Gaming A15
 and A17 gaming laptops.

This promotion is offered by Asus in conjunction with AMD, which is why only Ryzen 4000 gaming laptops are qualified to get a free copy of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. But do note that only specific Ryzen processors are a part of this deal, including the Ryzen 7 4800H and Ryzen 9 4900H; their HS counterparts – like the chips powering the Zephyrus G14 – are eligible too.

With this in mind, the most affordable Asus gaming laptop you can purchase to redeem a free copy of Valhalla is the TUF Gaming A15; more specifically, the RM4,099 configuration. Naturally, this variant is powered by a Ryzen 7 4800H processor, which is paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. Besides that, it also comes with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD; plenty of storage space for the money.

As for the TUF Gaming A15 itself, we believe it’s the best value for money Ryzen 4000 gaming laptop in the market now. The TUF Gaming series has always focused on delivering the best performance for the money, and the TUF Gaming A15 offers just that. After all, regardless of which configuration you go for, all variants of the gaming laptop in our market come with a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate.

Besides that, it’s also worth highlighting just how powerful the Ryzen 4000 processors are.
We reviewed the TUF Gaming A15
 with the Ryzen 7 4800H chip, and it was
blazing fast
. In fact, compared to Intel’s much more power-hungry (and costly) Core i7-10875H processor, the Ryzen 7 chip offers
superior multi-core performance

while
consuming less power.

The fact that AMD’s Ryzen 4000 processors are fabricated on a 7nm process give them much better power efficiency. To put this into context, in our review of the TUF Gaming A15, we managed to consistently get five hours of use on a single charge. If that doesn’t sound particularly impressive, note that Malaysian units of the A15 only come with a 48WHr battery.

In other markets, this gaming laptop can be configured with a much larger 90WHr cell, which would’ve improved the battery life even more.

Anyway, the promotion period to get Assassin’s Creed Valhalla with selected Asus laptops will commence from 7 July to 3 October 2020. Not sure if the TUF Gaming A15 is the right one for you? Then check out our
comprehensive review of the gaming laptop
. If you want something more premium, consider the
Zephyrus G14
.


Proton Saga Anniversary Edition Launched: 1,100 Units, N95 Cabin Filter, RM39,300

In celebration of the Proton Saga’s 35th anniversary, the national carmaker is introducing a special edition of the model: enter the Proton Saga Anniversary Edition. Sporting some unique styling cues in a new shade of colour, an N95 cabin filter,
and
 the same price tag as the regular Premium AT trim – which this model is based on – only 1,100 units will be produced.

Unique to the Saga Anniversary Edition is the Quartz Black paint job; the same shade used for Proton models made for the government. This in itself makes the special edition Saga stand out, but to further set it apart from the regular models, yellow accents are added throughout the A-segment sedan.

For one, there’s a yellow streak across the front grille, and the side mirrors are finished in yellow as well. At the rear, the lower bumper also gets a yellow strip. But to really complete the look, you’ll have to go for the optional bodykit, which adds on side and front skirts; all with a black-yellow colour scheme, naturally.

Of course, the interior gets some yellow highlights here and there as well. The instrument panel has a splash of yellow now, and same goes for the centre console and air conditioning vents. If you’re wondering why Proton decided to go with a black and yellow colour scheme for this Saga, it’s actually a nod to the carmakers motorsports division, R3.

Beyond these cosmetic changes, the Saga Anniversary Edition is identical to the regular models. It’s still powered by a 1.3L four-cylinder engine that outputs 95hp and 120Nm of torque, which is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission sourced from Hyundai. The CVT option was phased out when the Saga was facelifted last year.

Other specifications of this special edition Saga include 15-inch alloy wheels (finished in matte grey for this particular model), LED daytime running lights, an Android-based infotainment system, a reverse camera, two airbags, electronic stability control, traction control system, as well as ABS with EBD. Oh, there’s also the addition of an N95 cabin filter, which is now offered across all Proton models.

The Proton Saga Anniversary Edition is now available for booking, and you can even do so
online on Proton’s website
. On top of that, it’s priced exactly the same as the regular Premium AT model at RM39,300, though only 1,100 units of the special edition will be produced.


The New Dell XPS Desktop & S Series Monitors Are Coming to Malaysia

Dell just unveiled the sexy new Dell XPS Desktop. Sporting a sleeker, much more modern aesthetic, the desktop system is touted as “the most powerful XPS system ever built.” Besides that, the company also introduced several new S series monitors, and these products will be coming to Malaysia soon.

Let’s start with the XPS Desktop. Redesigned from the ground up, it now sports a more eye-catching design in a more compact form factor; a big improvement over its predecessor’s more…traditional looks. Anyway, the XPS Desktop doesn’t just look good, it’s functional as well.

According to Dell, the tool-less chassis of the new desktop system allows for easy upgradability, almost like the
Alienware Aurora R9
 gaming powerhouse. It comes with a 500W PSU with room to accommodate four storage bays and three expansion slots. The airflow of the chassis is said to maximise performance too, with “strategic venting placement” and high RPM fans.

In terms of hardware, the XPS Desktop can be configured with Intel’s latest 10th generation processors; up to a fast Core i9 chip from the K series, which is overclockable for even higher performance. In the GPU side of things, this desktop system can be equipped with a beefy Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super. Whether you’re a creative professional or a gamer, the XPS desktop choice of hardware will be able to fulfill your needs.

And then we have the new Dell S series monitors. The lineup is made up of three products: the Dell 32-inch Curved 4K Monitor (S3221QS), the Dell 27-inch 4K Monitor (S2721QS), and the most affordable option of the lot, the Dell 27-inch QHD Monitor (S2721DS). Besides the difference in size and resolution, all three of the monitors here come with 99% sRGB colour coverage, integrated speakers, and AMD FreeSync support.

What makes these monitors particularly interesting is the fact that they are a part of the Dell Premium Panel Exchange program. Basically, if there is any defective pixel on the screen (even if it’s just a single one), the panel can be replaced for free. However, it remains to be seen if this program will be offered here in Malaysia as well.

The Dell XPS Desktop will be available in Malaysia by the end of this month with a RM3,499 starting price. For that kind of money, it comes with a Core i5-10400 processor, a GTX 1650 Super graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. As for the three Dell S series monitors, they are expected to be sold here sometime in late August 2020; local pricing for these monitors have not been revealed yet.


All Proton Models Now Come With N95 Cabin Filter; Retrofit Available for RM50

At the virtual launch of the
Proton Saga Anniversary Edition
, the national carmaker also made a pretty big announcement: all Proton models now come with an N95 cabin filter. This makes Proton the first carmaker to offer such a feature here in Malaysia; that’s quite an achievement.

Proton models purchased after 9 July will be fitted with the new N95 cabin filter at no additional cost. These include the Iriz, Persona, Exora, and of course, the Saga as well. This cabin filter was
first offered on the Proton X70
, and it promises to provide a cleaner environment in the cabin.

But what if you’re an existing owner of either one of these four Proton models? Well, you can have the N95 filter retrofitted to your car. From now until 9 October, the filter can be purchased for only RM50.15, excluding labour charges. After that period of time, it will cost RM59 instead.

As mentioned, the N95 cabin filter is meant to improve air quality in the car’s cabin. According to Proton, this filter is capable of removing 95% of particles larger than 0.3 microns and 98% of PM2.5 dust particulates. It’s an effective barrier against smoke particulates, dust, bacteria, and other pollutants, as the carmaker puts it.

If you’re keen to fit the N95 cabin filter to your Proton car – provided you’re an owner of the four models mentioned here – you can book for an appointment to get it done
over here
.


Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ Official; Will Debut With Asus ROG Phone 3 & Lenovo Legion on 22 July

Just like last year’s Snapdragon 855 chipset, Qualcomm is giving its 2020 flagship processor, the Snapdragon 865, a mid-cycle refresh. Aptly dubbed Snapdragon 865+, the updated chip naturally features faster performance, and it will debut with two gaming smartphones on 22 July: the Asus ROG Phone 3 and Lenovo Legion.

As expected, the Snapdragon 865+ is very similar to the regular Snapdragon 865; the updated chip features the same CPU and GPU. However, these two components are clocked at a higher frequency in the Snapdragon 865+ to return better performance.

The  Kryo 585 CPU cores of the processor, for one, now has a peak clock speed of 3.1GHz; its predecessor maxes out at 2.84GHz. According to Qualcomm, this translates to 10% better CPU performance. As for the chip’s Adreno 650 GPU, it’s said to be 10% faster as well, which suggests that it is also clocked at a higher frequency now.

Basically, the Snapdragon 865+ can be seen as an overclocked version of the regular Snapdragon 865, which is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, the latter is a very capable chipset, and the Snapdragon 865+ improves upon that with even faster performance. It’ll be interesting to see if it does bring noticeable performance gain in real life use.

The Asus ROG Phone II

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ will be powering the Asus ROG Phone 3 and Lenovo Legion gaming smartphones, which are (curiously) slated to be launched later this month on the same day on 22 July.


Xiaomi Mi Band 5 Spotted in SIRIM; Global Launch Happening on 15 July

It’s generally agreed that Xiaomi’s range of wearables are very popular, thanks to its affordable pricing and feature set. If you’re looking to pick one up, you’ll be happy to know that the Chinese company’s latest fitness band, the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, is set to be unveiled globally next week.

Xiaomi Malaysia sent out an invitation for its ecosystem product launch happening on 15 July. Looking at the teaser image, there’s a very good chance the company is set to introduce the new Mi Band 5 on our shores, alongside a number of other products.

Of course, just to be sure if Xiaomi really is introducing the Mi Band 5 in Malaysia, we looked through SIRIM’s database to see if the fitness band has been registered with the certification body. True enough, it’s registered under Rainbow Distribution with the model number XMSH10HM just yesterday, so we’re pretty confident the wearable will go on sale here very soon.

Compared to its predecessor, the Mi Band 5 isn’t remarkably different, but it does bring some neat improvements. Its AMOLED display, for one, now measures 1.1-inch with a 294 x 126 resolution. The
Mi Band 4
, on the other hand, had a smaller 0.95-inch 240 x 120 AMOLED screen.

Besides that, it is far easier to charge the Mi Band 5 now. Previously, users had to completely remove the device itself from the strap to place it into the charger, but that’s no longer necessary with the Mi Band 5. There are now two contact points beneath the heart rate sensor for a magnetic charger to connect to, which makes for a much more seamless charging experience.

Speaking of which, the Mi Band 5’s PPG heart rate sensor is said to be 50% more accurate now, and it can even warn users of any abnormality with their heart rate. The wearable’s sleep monitoring capability has been improved as well – by 40%, supposedly – with the added ability to measure REM sleep and even short naps.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 will be launched globally next week on 15 July. It remains to be seen exactly when it will arrive in Malaysia, or even how much it will cost locally, though we reckon it wouldn’t go past the RM200 mark. For the sake of comparison, the Mi Band 5 retails from only 189 Chinese yuan in China – that comes up to about RM115.


Dell Inspiron 14 With AMD Ryzen 4000 Chip Lands in Malaysia; Starts at RM2,899

Dell has quietly launched the new Dell Inspiron 14 5000 productivity laptop in Malaysia, and it’s equipped with AMD’s Ryzen 4000 series processors. Given that there aren’t that many laptops in this segment with the excellent Ryzen processors on our shores, the Inspiron 14 is quite an interesting product; it doesn’t cost all that much either with a sleek design.

Two variants of the AMD-powered Inspiron 14 are offered here. The base model, which retails at RM2,899, comes with a Ryzen 5 4500U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The higher-end RM3,399 configuration, on the other hand, upgrades the processor to a Ryzen 7 4700U chip with double the SSD storage at 512GB. If you want the best value for your money, the Ryzen 7 model is the one to go for.

Beyond these hardware differences, both variants of the Inspiron 14 are identical to each other. They feature a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with slim bezels surrounding it, giving the laptop a sleek, modern aesthetic. Dell doesn’t specify the exact screen-to-body ratio, but it does look good with a reasonably small bottom bezel. There’s also enough space for a webcam above the display.

Besides that, the Inspiron 14 is quite a thin and light laptop as well. It measures 18.4mm at its thickest point, and tipping the scales at 1.36kg, it’s an ideal machine for those who are always on the go. Sure, it’s not the lightest or thinnest productivity laptop in the market, but it doesn’t cost all that much money either.

The power button has an integrated fingerprint sensor

Of course, what makes the Inspiron 14 particularly interesting is the fact that it’s powered by the Ryzen 4000 series chip. It offers good performance for the money, and given that it’s fabricated on a 7nm process, it is also a very power-efficient processor. This is especially impressive for the Ryzen 7 4700U, which is an octa-core processor; the Ryzen 5 4500U is a hexa-core chip.

But while the Ryzen 4000 chip’s power efficiency is great, we’re not entirely sure the Inspiron 14 will be able to offer respectable battery life. For one, Dell doesn’t have any quoted battery life for the laptop, and to top it off, it’s only equipped with a 40WHr battery. Considering that the Intel counterpart of the Inspiron 14 features a larger 53WHr battery, this is an odd disparity.

Nonetheless, we can only get a good idea of the laptop’s battery life in a full review; it’ll be interesting to see if the 40WHr battery is good enough.

The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is now available for purchase in Malaysia on
Dell’s online store
. To recap, the Ryzen 5 4500U model retails at RM2,899, while the range-topping Ryzen 7 4700U configuration costs RM3,399.


Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 Appears on Local Website; Launching in Malaysia This August

The
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15
 is a unique gaming machine, to say the least. Launched back in April, this laptop features two displays – one at the top, and another at the bottom. If you’ve been waiting for the arrival of the Duo 15 in Malaysia, good news: it
just appeared on Asus Malaysia’s official website
.

Of course, we reached out to Asus Malaysia regarding the local availability of the Zephyrus Duo 15, and we were told that the gaming laptop will in fact be launching here sometime in August next month. It makes sense, given that the
ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14
 are already set to be introduced on our shores this month.

However, we don’t know which variant of the Zephyrus Duo 15 will be available in the Malaysian market, though there’s a good chance we’ll get (at the very least) the highest-end configuration. After all, the Zephyrus lineup is Asus’ premium offering; it only makes sense to bring in the range-topping model.

If Asus Malaysia does bring in the highest-end configuration of the Zephyrus Duo 15, it will be packing a fast Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Intel’s latest 10th generation Core i9-10980HK processor. Needless to say, these are two beefy hardware that will be able to deliver an excellent level of performance.

And then there are the two displays of the Zephyrus Duo 15. The 15.6-inch primary display – available in either 4K 60Hz or 1080p 300Hz – is Pantone Validated with Nvidia G-Sync support, while the secondary “ScreenPad Plus” panel above the keyboard is a 14.1-inch 3840 x 1100 touch-enabled display. It’s worth noting that the bottom screen also props up at an angle when the lid is opened, giving better visibility.

Despite sporting two displays – and some beefy hardware under the hood – the Zephyrus Duo 15 is still a surprisingly slim laptop. Its chassis measures only 20mm, which is really quite thin for a gaming machine as powerful as it is. That being said, tipping the scales at 2.4kg, this is not exactly a lightweight laptop.

Based on our conversation with Asus Malaysia, the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is set to be launched in Malaysia sometime in August next month. Chances are, the Taiwanese company could be launching a number of other refreshed gaming laptops at the same time, including the
Zephyrus M15
 and
Zephyrus S15
; all of these are Intel-powered machines.


Ghost of Tsushima Review: Living the Samurai Dream in Stunning Feudal Japan

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new game from Sucker Punch. In fact, the last game the studio released was back in 2014 with Infamous Second Son and Infamous First Light; they were some of the earliest PlayStation 4 exclusive games. Fast forward six years later, we’ve now got Ghost of Tsushima from the studio, which is the last exclusive title for the PS4.

Set in feudal Japan in an open-world setting, Ghost of Tsushima is a stunning samurai adventure with solid gameplay elements. While there are some aspects of the game that could be improved upon, Tsushima is easily one of the best open-world titles I’ve played. To top it off, it is jam-packed with content as well, which is sure to entertain you for hours on end.

Story

You play as Jin Sakai, one of the last surviving samurai on the island of Tsushima to defend against the Mongol invasion led by Khotun Khan. Jin starts off as an honourable samurai, but as the game progresses, he needs to devise new tactics to get the edge over the Mongols, setting him down the path of the Ghost.

If you’re familiar with Infamous games, you’d know of the Karma system. Well, Ghost of Tsushima doesn’t have it: there is only one storyline in this game. The decision to abandon your samurai ways to become the Ghost isn’t yours to make, though you are free to swap between the two playstyles throughout the game.

Anyway, I digress. As for the main story itself, it’s quite entertaining with a good plot and solid character development. My only issue with the story is the fact that it’s a little too short. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things to do in Ghost of Tsushima, but the main story itself isn’t awfully long.

But that’s where side-quests come into the picture. Thing is, I usually avoid side-quests in open-world games, but I don’t feel like that at all with Ghost of Tsushima. A surprising amount of work goes into the story development of these side-quests, and a number of them are divided into several parts as well.

In fact, I find myself completing quite a lot of side-quests before I decide to jump back into the main story. That’s not to say the main plot isn’t as exciting; side-quests are just a lot of fun in Tsushima. I’ll elaborate more on this further down this review.

Overall, Ghost of Tsushima tells quite a compelling story, even in the plethora of side-quests available. But this isn’t the game’s strong suit: it’s gameplay.

Gameplay

This is by far my favourite aspect of Ghost of Tsushima, especially the combat mechanics. There are plenty of tools at my disposal, but it’s the Stances that stood out to me the most. Each of the Stance changes my attacks, and it is meant to counter specific enemies. On top of that, you can even swap between the four Stances during combat in real-time.

These Stances add a layer of complexity to the combat system without feeling overly complicated, and it is very fun to switch between them when I’m facing different enemies. Once you upgrade each individual Stance, they feel even more engaging and fleshed out. Of course, beyond this, other combat elements are equally fun too.

Parrying and dodging, for example, are very satisfying to pull off. If you time them right, and you’ve got the skill upgraded, you can immediately perform a high damage counterattack. Granted, other games (such as Sekiro) have similar implementations, but the timing is far more forgiving here. The fact that it’s easier to perform counterattacks in this game doesn’t make them any less satisfying though, in my opinion.

Focused Hearing comes in handy to spot enemies behind obstacles

Okay, so just how difficult is combat in this game? I’d say it’s quite well-balanced. I played the game on normal difficulty, and it feels just right. If I rush into a crowd of enemies, I can get overwhelmed quite quickly, and each hit by them takes off quite a big chunk of my health. But if I’m smart about it, and pick off some of them from afar with a bow before engaging in close combat, it’s very manageable.

In short, I can’t just power through enemies without proper planning; the game is quite punishing in this aspect, which is fair. Plus, if you’re not keen to engage enemies head-on, you can always take the stealth approach with Ghost tactics. You can sneak around behind them for instant kills, eliminate a group of enemies with a bomb, or poison them with a blowgun.

However, the stealth gameplay isn’t particularly polished in Ghost of Tsushima. The enemy AI, for one, is…not very intelligent. There was one time where I failed to kill an enemy archer with one shot while I was on a roof, and I was sure the other enemies were alerted when the archer started shouting. But once I killed him off, the enemies – who are right below me – simply acted as if nothing happened.

Basically, Ghost of Tsushima gets much easier when you take the stealth approach; too easy, even. There’s no feeling of dread as I sneak around Mongol camps, enemies take much too long to detect my presence (even when I’m almost out in the open), and in short, the stealth gameplay just doesn’t match the difficulty curve of the “samurai gameplay,” if you will. It would’ve been great if playing as the Ghost was a bit more challenging.

That aside, let’s talk about the open-world nature of the Ghost of Tsushima, which is
vast
. Side-quests are littered across the map, along with a number of hidden landmarks to discover. It’s quite fun to just ride across the island on the horse without any destination in mind, though if I want to get to certain points quicker, I can simply fast travel to any location I’ve discovered. This makes it very easy to traverse across the map, and I love it.

I’ve mentioned how I’m often sidetracked by side-quests throughout the game, and I’m surprised by the sheer amount of them. Naturally, not all of them are particularly enjoyable – such as the dreaded trailing quests – but the ones I’ve completed are really quite fun. This is especially the case with Mythic Tales: their plots are very entertaining, and the quest rewards are worth the time as well.

All in all, Tsushima has excellent gameplay with plenty of content to offer. Sure, the stealth gameplay isn’t as polished as it should be, but I still thoroughly enjoyed assassinating enemies from the shadow.

Graphics

Sucker Punch promised that the Ghost of Tsushima will feature beautiful, awe-inspiring landscapes of feudal Japan, and I’m happy to report that this is really the case. I played this game on a PlayStation 4 Pro system, and the sprawling island looks stunning no matter where I travel to on the map. The dynamic weather as well as the day and night cycle further add to the realism of the game. Just look at the screenshots below:

But as impressive as the environment of the game is, there are a couple of graphical elements that I’m not fond off. Take the facial expressions of the characters in the game, or lack thereof. The characters don’t look very expressive, giving them a stiff appearance in cutscenes. Even the studio’s own Infamous Second Son – which was released back in 2014 – had better facial expressions, which really surprised me.

This is unfortunate, given just how good the voice acting is in Ghost of Tsushima. The emotions are all there, but the animations just don’t capture them very well. Fortunately, other graphical aspects of the game look fantastic, and I had a ball playing around with the photo mode to capture the stunning scenery.

Yes, you can pet the fox

Conclusion

As the last exclusive title for the PlayStation 4 system, many will have big expectations for Ghost of Tsushima; so did Sucker Punch deliver? Well, it definitely exceeded my expectations. While the stealth gameplay isn’t particularly refined, other positive aspects of the game more than make up for this, especially the combat system and
awe-inspiring
 landscapes.

On top of that, Tsushima will keep you entertained for many, many hours. I’ve easily spent over 50 hours in the game, and there are still a lot of side-quests that I have yet to complete. I rarely go for the platinum trophy – even more so in open-world titles – but I definitely feel motivated to do so with this game. I really want to complete Tsushima to its fullest extent, which really shows just how fun it is.

Plus, you get to play as a very skilled samurai in beautifully rendered feudal Japan. What’s not to love?

Ghost of Tsushima launches on the PS4 on 17 July.


DualSense Controller Appears in SIRIM; Malaysia One of the First Markets to Get PlayStation 5?

The
PlayStation 5
 is expected to be introduced globally by the end of the year, though it’s not certain if Malaysia will be one of the first markets to receive the next-generation console. Well, we now have an answer (sort of): the DualSense controller for the PS5 has just been spotted on SIRIM, suggesting that we could be getting the console at launch.

Of course, this is only an educated guess at this point in time, but it
is
 an encouraging sign that Malaysians will be able to get their hands on the PS5 the moment it hits the market. As for the DualSense controller itself, it was registered with the certification body just today under Sony Malaysia with the model number CFI-ZCT1G.

The SIRIM listing itself doesn’t outright confirm that the CFI-ZCT1G is the DualSense controller; it was simply described as a hybrid wireless game controller. But after a bit of digging online, we’re confident this is the DualSense controller. Ruliweb, a Korean site,
seems to think so as well
. Plus, the first DualShock 4 carried the model number CUH-ZCT1H – see the similarity?

Compared to the DualShock 4, the new DualSense controllers bring quite a number of upgrades. The two big features are adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, which is probably why the new controller is called DualSense. Anyway, the adaptive triggers are implemented in the L2 and R2 buttons, and the “tension” of the triggers – depending on what’s happening in-game – will change accordingly.

As for the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller, PlayStation says that it “adds a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud.” Beyond that, we don’t know too much about this new feature, though we reckon it will offer more refined vibrations than the current DualShock 4 controller.

Design wise, the ergonomics of the DualSense controller is said to be superior now. PlayStation mention that the angle of the hand triggers has been changed, and subtle updates have also been made to the overall grip. Hopefully, these changes will make the controller feel more comfortable in extended gaming sessions.

Other notable changes the DualSense controller brings include an integrated microphone, a USB-C port, and a new “Create” button in place of the Share button on the DualShock 4.

The DualSense controller is set to be launched alongside the PlayStation 5 system by the end of this year. Now that the controller has been registered with SIRIM, the PS5 itself may make an appearance there soon, and there’s a very good chance Malaysia will be one of the first markets to get the next-generation console.


Redmi Note 9 Pro Quick Review: The Mid-Range Benchmark

Redmi smartphones are known for offering excellent value for money, and naturally, the same goes for the Redmi Note 9 Pro. I’ve been using it as my daily driver for a few weeks now, and I’m really quite happy with this mid-range smartphone, especially with its RM999 starting price in mind.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the Redmi Note 9 Pro sets the bar on what to expect from a mid-range smartphone. If you want the most bang for your buck, consider this affordable gem, though do note that it has some shortcomings here and there.

What It Is

Display
6.67-inch FHD+ IPS (2400 x 1080)
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G 2.3GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 618
RAM
6GB
Storage
64/128GB, expandable
Camera (rear)
64MP f/1.89
8MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide angle)
5MP f/2.4 (macro)
2MP f/2.4 (depth)
Camera (front)
16MP f/2.48
Battery
5,020mAh
Dimensions
165.75 x 76.68 x 8.8 mm
Weight
209g
OS
MIUI 11 based on Android 10
Connectivity
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
USB Type-C
Price
RM999 (64GB), RM1,099 (128GB)

As far as mid-range smartphones go, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is reasonably well-equipped. The Snapdragon 720G is fast enough for most tasks, the quad camera system can capture good-looking shots, and the generous 5,020mAh battery can return
incredibly long
 battery life; more on that in the next section.

The Good Stuff

So exactly how good is the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s battery life? Well, on average, I was getting between eight to nine hours of screen on time; I can even – comfortably, if I might add – get two days of use out of this phone. This is
ridiculously
 good battery life, even compared to other smartphones with a similar battery capacity.

Charging rate of the Redmi Note 9 Pro is pretty darn good as well. Rated at 30W, the phone got up to about 65% from completely empty within 30 minutes of charging. Very respectable charging rate, given that it has a large 5,020mAh battery.

Besides that, the Snapdragon 720G is no slouch either. Sure, it doesn’t provide blazing fast performance, but it does offer good enough processing power regardless of the task at hand. Whether I’m multitasking or gaming, the chipset manages just fine.

Another aspect worth highlighting is the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s build quality. Even though it has a plastic frame, the curved glass back panel improves the perceived build quality of this affordable device. I wouldn’t say it feels like a premium smartphone, but it certainly doesn’t feel cheap.

As for the 6.67-inch 1080p IPS display, it’s decent with good peak brightness and vibrant colours. While it doesn’t look incredibly good – this is an affordable smartphone, after all – I do like the hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen. It gives the phone a symmetrical, modern aesthetic.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the Redmi Note 9 Pro. As expected, the primary 64MP f/1.89 sensor can capture very good-looking shots under ideal lighting. Detail preservation is good, the camera interface feels responsive, and it feels quite effortless to use as well.

However, in more challenging lighting conditions, the camera does show its weaknesses. It feels a lot more sluggish in low light environments with worse detail preservation, but with some effort and patience, I can still get good results. It’s not amazing by any means, but it is more than acceptable for a phone at this price point.

Overall, the Redmi Note 9 Pro has a lot of good qualities. But as I’ve said in the beginning of this review, it does have its fair share of shortcomings, such as…the camera performance.

The Bad Stuff

While the Redmi Note 9 Pro
can
 capture nice shots, that’s mostly applicable to the primary 64MP sensor; the same can’t be said of the 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter. It’s more than serviceable when there’s enough light, but in low light conditions, the results leave much to be desired. Just take a look at the comparison below of the same scene shot with the 64MP main sensor and 8MP ultra-wide angle camera.

64MP primary
8MP ultra-wide angle

A stark difference, isn’t it? Of course, this isn’t exactly an issue that’s exclusive to the Redmi Note 9 Pro. Other smartphones in this price range with multiple camera configurations suffer from this disparity in image quality between different sensors, unfortunately enough.

Besides that, MIUI 11 on the Redmi Note 9 Pro isn’t quite as polished as it should be either, with niggling issues here and there. Notifications (still) cannot be dismissed with a left swipe, and if there are any notifications on the lock screen, they will be gone after I’ve unlocked the phone – even if I didn’t interact with any of them.

But beyond these small issues, there are no major bugs with MIUI 11, though it would’ve been great if it handled notifications better.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking for a mid-range smartphone that gives you the best value for your money, the Redmi Note 9 Pro fits the bill. Retailing from only RM999, it offers incredibly long battery life, more than adequate processing power for a comfortable user experience, and its camera performance – even if the ultra-wide angle sensor isn’t quite up to snuff – is more than acceptable at this price point.

That being said, if you don’t mind a less sophisticated camera system, and you’re fine with a slower charging rate, consider the
Redmi Note 9S
 instead. It’s almost identical to the Pro model, with the only difference being two things: the primary camera sensor is a 48MP shooter instead of a 64MP unit, and it has a slower 18W charging rate.

If these two differences don’t sound like too much of a downgrade to you, then the Redmi Note 9S is a good alternative to the Pro model. On top of that, the former starts at only RM799, so you’ll be saving RM200. This may not seem like a big price difference, but in this segment, every penny counts.

Of course, that is not to say the Redmi Note 9 Pro doesn’t offer good value for money, because it certainly does. For RM200 more, you’re getting superior camera performance and a much faster 30W charging rate. To some folks, these two upgrades are worth the extra dough.


Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Official: Supports Android TV & Chromecast for Less Than RM200

Xiaomi just introduced a slew of new products, and one of the most exciting ones is the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick. As its name suggests, it connects to a regular TV to transform it into a smart TV. On top of that, the Mi TV Stick supports both Android TV and Chromecast, not to mention the fact that it’s quite affordable.

Just like Google’s own Chromecast dongle, the Mi TV Stick is plugged into a TV’s HDMI port. Once you’ve done that, just connect it to the internet to enjoy all the features of Android TV, including access to the Google Play Store to download streaming and gaming apps.

Also bundled with the Mi TV Stick is a dedicated Bluetooth remote, complete with a built-in microphone. This allows you to give voice commands to perform various tasks, thanks to the integration of Google Assistant. It’s also a rather simple remote, with dedicated buttons to access Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video.

Of course, the Mi TV Stick’s Chromecast support also allows you to cast content directly to the connected TV from your phone, laptop, or tablet. However, this is only limited to 1080p, but given the affordable pricing of the TV Stick, it’s not really a surprise.

Speaking of which, the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick retails at €40 globally, which comes up to about RM195. Unfortunately, the Malaysian availability and pricing of the media player have not been announced yet.


Perodua Myvi Updated With ASA 2.0 & New Electric Blue Paint

The popular Perodua Myvi has just been updated for 2020, and the B-segment hatchback is now safer than ever. Not only has it been added with Perodua’s latest Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 system, the Myvi is now offered with a new Electric Blue colour option too.

Previously, the original ASA – a suite of driver assistance safety systems – was available only in the range-topping 1.5 AV Myvi. But moving forward, the updated ASA 2.0 is offered as a standard feature on the 1.5 AV as well as the 1.5 H models. On top of that, it’s also now an optional add-on for the 1.3 X trim, leaving only the base 1.3 G without the safety feature.

ASA 2.0 is quite a significant update to the first version of the safety system. For one, it adds on Pedestrian Detection, which works at up to 50km/h. Besides that, the operational speeds of the Pre-Collision Warning and Pre-Collision Braking features have been increased to 100km/h and 80km/h respectively. Previously, they were only limited to 30km/h.

“With the inclusion of ASA 2.0, the Perodua Myvi takes advanced safety to a whole new level at this price point, and it’s now more widely available within the line-up,” said the CEO of Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. As for the new Electric Blue colour option, it is available on all variants of the Myvi.

The new Perodua Myvi retains its RM41,292 starting price – with the
100% sales tax exemption
 applied – for the base 1.3 G model with a manual transmission. Same goes for the RM44,959 1.3 X, though adding on ASA 2.0 will cost extra RM2,000. As for the 1.5 H, it costs RM50,530 now, which is a RM2,000 increase.

Last but certainly not least is the range-topping 1.5 AV trim of the Myvi. Retailing at RM52,697, it now costs RM500 more.


Vivo X50 Series With Gimbal Camera Lands in Malaysia 21 July; X50 Pro+ Excluded

Vivo will be launching its range of premium smartphones, the
X50 series
, here in Malaysia next week on 21 July. These include the standard X50 as well as the X50 Pro, but unfortunately, we were told the range-topping X50 Pro+ will not be offered in the Malaysian market.

It’s a little bit of a letdown, given that the X50 Pro+ is the true flagship smartphone in the series; it is the only device in the lineup with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. The other two devices, on the other hand, are powered by a more modest Snapdragon 765G SoC. It’s still quite a capable chip, of course, but it doesn’t exactly offer flagship-tier performance.

The Vivo X50 Pro
The standard Vivo X50

Nonetheless, the X50 and X50 Pro are still pretty interesting premium smartphones, especially the latter. What makes this phone particularly unique is its quad camera system; more specifically, the 48MP f/1.6 primary sensor, which features a gimbal system for stabilisation. This promises better stability over conventional optical image stabilisation, and based on my brief time with the phone, it certainly does.

As for the other three sensors in the X50 Pro’s quad camera system, they’re quite adequate. There’s an 8MP f/3.4 periscope telephoto sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 13MP f/2.5 portrait lens. According to Vivo, this combination of sensors allow the phone to do up to 60x “Hyper Zoom.”

Besides that, the X50 Pro also comes with a 6.56-inch 1080p AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Not only is it a reasonably fast display with bright, vibrant colours – it’s an AMOLED panel, after all – it curves on either sides of the phone as well. This definitely adds a premium touch to the X50 Pro, even though other phone makers have done it before.

Other specifications of the X50 Pro include 5G connectivity, 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of non-expandable storage, a 32MP f/2.5 selfie camera, a 4,315mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

As for the standard X50, it’s largely similar to the Pro model, but it doesn’t have the sophisticated gimbal-style camera or dual curved display. Instead, it sports a more conventional quad camera system made up of a 48MP f/1.6 main sensor, a 13MP f/2.5 portrait shooter, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP f/2.5 macro camera. It also features a slightly smaller 4,200mAh battery, but the 33W fast charging is retained.

The Vivo X50 Pro’s curved screen
…compared to the Vivo X50’s more flat panel

The Vivo X50 and X50 Pro will be introduced in a Malaysia next week on 21 July via an online live stream on
Vivo Malaysia’s Facebook page
. We’ll find out then exactly how much these two smartphones will cost locally.


Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Quietly Launched in Malaysia; AMD Ryzen 4000 Convertible Laptop From RM2,399

More and more laptops with
AMD’s excellent Ryzen 4000 processors
 are arriving in Malaysia, and the latest one is a convertible notebook from Lenovo. This is the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, and not only is it powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen 4000 chips, it is also pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019.

With the inclusion of the software, the IdeaPad Flex 5 will have lifetime access to the full version of Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This makes it ideal for folks that are planning to get Microsoft Office anyway, and it’s worth noting that not many laptops offer full access to the software for free.

As for the IdeaPad Flex 5 itself, we first spotted it on Shopee from renowned local retailer EIT Store. Looking at the shop’s listings, it is offering the laptop
from only RM2,259
 – the original retail price is RM2,399 – for the Ryzen 3 4300U model, which is also equipped with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.

If you want more processing power, you can opt for the higher-end IdeaPad Flex 5 with a faster Ryzen 5 4500U processor and a more generous 8GB RAM
for RM2,929
. Unfortunately, the SSD capacity remains the same at 256GB. Still, it’s decent list of hardware, though it would’ve been great if it offered more storage.

After all, its competition, such as the
Acer Swift 3
, offers similar hardware with a much more generous 512GB SSD. Granted, the Swift 3 is not a convertible laptop like the IdeaPad Flex 5.

Curiously, on Lenovo Malaysia’s online store, the IdeaPad Flex 5 is
listed with a different configuration
. Not only does it feature a faster Ryzen 7 4700U processor paired with 16GB of RAM, it also comes with a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display; the model offered by EIT Store – and other retail outlets as well – has a less desirable TN panel instead.

While the configuration of the IdeaPad Flex 5 on Lenovo’s online store looks more appealing, do note that it is equipped with a 1TB HDD instead of a faster SSD storage. Besides that, it doesn’t seem to be bundled with Microsoft Office Home & Student as well. And to top it off, with a RM3,949 price tag (before discounts, at the time of writing), it’s quite a bit more costly too.

The lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is now available in Malaysia. To recap, the Ryzen 3 4300U model
can be purchased for RM2,259
 from EIT, while the higher-end Ryzen 5 4500U option
costs RM2,929 from the same retailer
. Alternatively, you can also get it from
Lenovo’s online store
 for the faster Ryzen 7 4700U variant, though you’ll have to fork out RM3,949.

Update 27 July:
 Lenovo Malaysia amended the pricing of the IdeaPad Flex 5 on its online store. The article has been updated to reflect this.