Huawei Nova 5 Series Unveiled with New Kirin 810 Chip & Quad Camera System

Huawei just introduced three new smartphones under the Nova brand in China: the Huawei Nova 5, the Huawei Nova 5 Pro, and the Huawei Nova 5i. As usual, these Nova devices are mid-range smartphones, but in the case of the Pro model, it comes with Huawei’s fastest chipset yet, the Kirin 980.

Out of the three smartphones, however, the Nova 5 is arguably the most interesting one. Not only does it sit at a lower price point, it also debuts Huawei’s new Kirin 810 chipset.

With that in mind, let’s break down the Nova 5 first. Much like the higher-end Kirin 980, the Kirin 810 powering this phone is also built on a 7nm process. Basically, you will get better power efficiency with this smartphone, which translates to longer battery life.

Besides its 7nm size, the Kirin 810 comes with a Mali-G52 GPU, two 2.27Ghz Cortex-A76 cores, and six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.88GHz. We can’t say for sure exactly how this would translate to real world performance, but chances are, it should be more than capable to provide a good level of performance.

Interestingly, the Kirin 810 also comes with Huawei’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU), making it the first mid-range processor from Huawei to come with that feature.

Beyond the Kirin 810, other specifications of the Nova 5 include a 6.39-inch 1080p OLED display (with a notch, unfortunately), 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a 3,500mAh battery.

In the camera department, it has a quad camera configuration. The primary sensor is a 48MP f/1.8 shooter, and it’s paired with a 16MP f/2.2 wide angle camera, a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The selfie camera, on the other hand, is a 32MP shooter.

Moving up the range is the Nova 5 Pro, and…it’s not all that different from the standard Nova 5. The biggest difference here is the chipset under the hood of the Nova 5 Pro, which is a flagship-class Kirin 980 SoC. On top of that, it can also be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Last but definitely not least is the most affordable device in the series, the Nova 5i. Interestingly, it has a 6.4-inch 1080 IPS screen with a hole-punch cutout instead of the other phones’ notched displays, and it also comes with a larger 4,000mAh cell.

But the Nova 5i’s hardware are definitely more modest. It has a Kirin 710 chipset, either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. It also has a quad camera system, but it’s a simpler 24MP (primary) + 8MP (wide angle) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) configuration. As for the selfie shooter, it’s a 24MP camera.

For the Chinese market, the Huawei Nova 5 Pro retails from 2,999 Chinese yuan (about RM1,810), while the Nova 5 and Nova 5i start from 2,799 yuan (approximately RM1,690) and 1,999 yuan (around RM1,205) respectively. These prices are not particularly competitive, but they’re not too exorbitant either.

For the time being, the Huawei Nova 5 series is only available in China, and it remains to be seen when – or if – these smartphones will make it to other markets, including Malaysia.


Asus ROG Strix G Hands-On: A Promising, Affordable ROG Gaming Laptop

Asus’ range of
ROG gaming laptops
 are usually known for their high-end gaming performances in a premium package, so that make this particular product rather interesting. This is the Asus ROG Strix G, and it’s the most affordable gaming laptop in the current ROG lineup.

Retailing from only RM3,499 in Malaysia, the ROG Strix G is not a premium offering; rather, it aims to offer good value for money. I got my hands on the highest-end variant of the laptop with an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti GPU, and overall, it’s really quite a promising gaming machine.

Now, even though the ROG Strix G retails
from
 RM3,499, this top-of-the-line GTX 1660 Ti model costs quite a bit more: it goes for RM5,499. While that’s not exactly an affordable price tag, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck here.

For one, that’s really how much you’ll have to pay for the majority of GTX 1660 Ti gaming laptops in the market now. Well, except for the
Asus TUF Gaming FX505
, which retails at only RM4,399. But that laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor; the Strix G comes with a more powerful Intel Core i7-9750H chip paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

As far as gaming laptops are concerned, the Core i7-9750H is one of the most powerful mobile processors right now. It can definitely keep up with the GTX 1660 Ti, and if you’re a creative professional, this processor should be able to offer enough processing power too.

But how does that translate to actual gaming performance? Well, I’ve only managed to play a couple rounds of Apex Legends with the Strix G, so I can’t really judge exactly how capable it is. But I did thoroughly enjoy gaming on the Strix G, even if it was for only a while. Apex Legends ran extremely well with maxed out settings, I didn’t notice any stuttering, and I’m confident I was getting above 70 to 80 frames per second.

Part of what makes the gaming experience so enjoyable is the Strix G’s 15.6-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate allows the screen to show up to 120fps in games, and titles that can push that many frames will look very, very fluid. On top of that, motion blur will also be minimised with the 120Hz display.

While you will definitely appreciate the 120Hz display when gaming, doing other things on the Strix G will be a lot more pleasant too. The extra motion clarity makes everything look a lot more…smooth. You will notice this even when doing simple actions like moving your cursor around.

Quality of the display itself is quite good too. It’s an IPS display, so you get great viewing angles, punchy colours, and good dynamic range. Basically, it’s an above average screen, and it looks great.

To bring down the price of the ROG Strix G, the chassis of the laptop is made completely out of plastic, including the bottom cover, lid, as well as the palm rest area. It would’ve been great if the laptop had more premium build material, but some things have to be sacrificed to lower the cost of the laptop.

Thankfully, the Strix G has reassuring build quality. I love how the textured lid look and feel, it doesn’t creak with added pressure, and I can even lift the lid with only one finger. The latter is a small thing (almost inconsequential, even), but it does show the laptop’s level of refinement.

Oh, I also really like the RGB underglow of the Strix G. It may be gimmicky, but it completes the “gaming laptop look.” However, there is one thing that bothers me a bit: the Strix G doesn’t have
any webcam
. Yes, it has thin screen bezels, but there’s still plenty of space at the top of the display to fit in a camera module there.

Connectivity options of the Strix G, on the other hand, is relatively good. It comes with three USB-A ports, one USB-C connection, an HDMI 2.0 output, and an RJ45 port.

Like the keyboard of most gaming laptops, the Strix G has an RGB keyboard, and it’s quite pleasant to type on. The keys have just enough travel for a comfortable typing experience, they are very tactile, and the standard layout of the keyboard takes little to no adjustment to start typing effectively.

Surprisingly enough, the Strix G’s trackpad is really good too. Thanks to the use of Windows Precision drivers, it can track my fingers very well, and gestures work seamlessly too. However, I do wish I could click on the trackpad. It doesn’t feel natural to not be able to do that simple, intuitive gesture.

The Asus ROG Strix G is a capable gaming laptop that offers good value for money. The fast 120Hz display is a joy to use, you can game very well with the Core i7-9750H and GTX 1660 Ti combo, and the laptop has solid build quality despite its all-plastic construction.

Of course, retailing at RM5,499, that’s still quite a sum of money to put down for a gaming laptop. But taking into account the Strix G’s feature set and gaming performance, that price tag doesn’t seem all that bad. Nonetheless, only a full review can reveal any possible weaknesses of this gaming laptop.

For what it’s worth, I’m positive I will enjoy reviewing the ROG Strix G.


Samsung Galaxy Watch Active Quick Review: Stripped Down to the Essentials

Samsung’s range of smartwatches have steadily improved over the years, especially since the introduction of the much loved Gear S2. Today, we have the latest iteration of the company’s smartwatch: the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.

Retailing at only RM799, the Active is one of Samsung’s most affordable smartwatches. But with the lower price point, certain aspects of this wearable had to be removed. As a whole, however, the essential features are all still here, which make the Active quite an attractive smartwatch.

What It Is

Unlike most smartwatches in the market now, the Galaxy Watch Active runs on Samsung’s very own Tizen software. For the most part, it works really well, but it does have its fair share of weaknesses – I’ll elaborate more further down this review.

When it comes to hardware, the Active features a 1.1-inch 360 x 360 Super AMOLED display, a 1.15GHz dual-core processor paired with 0.75GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 230mAh cell, and a heart rate monitor. On top of that, this smartwatch also has built-in GPS, along with support for NFC.

The Good Stuff

One of the best qualities of the Galaxy Watch Active has to be its fantastic circular display. The Super AMOLED screen’s vibrant colours and deep blacks are very pleasing to look at, and even under bright sunlight, the display is still very legible.

The always on display looks very good

Thanks to the Super AMOLED screen, the Active’s always on display looks really good too. While this depends on the watchface that you’re using, most of Samsung’s pre-loaded watchfaces are well-designed.

Speaking of which, enabling the always on display would affect battery life quite a bit. On average, I was getting around one and a half day of usage with the feature enabled. If I disable it, I can get about two to three days of usage – that’s quite impressive.

Do note that I got this kind of battery life with the Active’s default settings. The screen’s brightness was set to seven (out of a maximum of ten), and the smartwatch was set to measure my heart rate continuously.

Performance of the Galaxy Watch Active is also surprisingly good. I can navigate seamlessly through the smartwatch’s interface, swiping through my various widgets didn’t show any sign of sluggishness, and overall, the Active never felt unresponsive or slow.

Of course, one of the most vital features of a smartwatch is getting notifications pushed to your wrist. In this regard, the Galaxy Watch Active does a very good job. Whatever notification my phone gets are pushed properly to the Active, and notifications I dismissed are also reflected on my phone.

It is possible to interact with notifications too, such as messages from WhatsApp and Telegram. I can either send a pre-written reply, use the T9 keypad, or literally “draw” my own message letter by letter.

Design wise, I really like the compact form factor of the Active. It is light, it feels robust, and swapping out the straps is a very easy procedure, thanks to the quick release pins. That being said, I do wish the bezel surrounding the display was more minimal – it’s a tad too thick for my liking.

All in all, the Galaxy Watch Active has a lot of good qualities, and I enjoyed using it. However, it does have a number of shortcomings too, such as..

The Bad Stuff

Since it’s running on Samsung’s own Tizen software, third-party apps are still limited, especially in comparison to the large selection of apps for Android Wear devices and Apple Watch. While Tizen still works very well on its own, limited third-party support does make it less attractive of a platform.

Workout detection of the Active is not particularly great either. I was pretty excited when I saw the sheer number of exercises it can detect, but that quickly changed when I tried them out. In exercises that don’t involve a lot of arm movement, the smartwatch has a hard time detecting the workout.

That’s not to say it doesn’t work at all. In certain exercises, the Active can actually track them very effectively. It’s just a finicky feature.

Part of what makes Samsung’s range of smartwatches so intuitive (and fun) to use is the rotating bezel, so not having that on the Active is a bit of a bummer. Tizen’s user interface was designed with the rotating bezel in mind, and navigating through the menu and widgets without that bezel feels a little bit jarring.

Granted, the Active still works just as fine. Plus, Samsung had to remove the rotating bezel to lower the price of the smartwatch, and that could work in favour of the Active for its intended audience.

Is It Worth It?

For only RM799, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is really quite a compelling smartwatch. It is sleek, it has a fantastic display, and Tizen, even with its limited selection of third-party apps, is very polished and intuitive to use.

Also, it’s been a while since the Active was introduced here, so certain retailers are already offering pretty good discounts for the smartwatch. In fact, you can get it
for only RM660 now
 – that’s RM139 worth of savings.

At this price point, the Galaxy Watch Active is that much more attractive. It’s already a very good smartwatch to begin with, and if you can live with its limitations, the Active will serve you very, very well.


Acer Launches Slew of Gaming Laptops in Malaysia, Including Predator Triton 900

Acer just launched a number of gaming laptops in Malaysia, and most of them are priced pretty competitively. These include the Acer Nitro 7, Predator Helios 300, and of course, even the
Predator Triton 900
 gaming powerhouse. If you’re looking for a new gaming machine, you really should look into either one of these.

Let’s start with the beefiest offering, the decadent Predator Triton 900. Under the hood of this convertible gaming behemoth are an Intel Core i7-9750H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a high-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, and two 512GB PCIe NVMe SSDs in Raid 0 configuration. The display, on the other hand, is a 17.3-inch 1080p IPS display with 144Hz refresh rate.

Available in Malaysia immediately, the Predator Triton 900 will set you back a cool RM15,999.

If you want something more…well, affordable, there’s the Predator Helios 300. It’s powered by an RTX 2060 GPU, so without a doubt it’s quite a capable gaming laptop. Other hardware of the Helios 300 include a 15.6-inch 1080p 144Hz IPS display, a Core i5-9300H or i7-9750H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

Two variants of the Helios 300 are now available for purchase here: the Core i5 model goes for RM5,399, while the Core i7 variant retails at RM6,199.

A tier down is the Nitro 7, and it is a relatively thin gaming laptop, measuring only 19.9mm thin. It’s also a pretty powerful machine thanks to the GTX 1660 Ti GPU under its hood, which is only
slightly slower
 than the higher-end RTX 2060 GPU.

Rounding out the specifications of the Nitro 7 include a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a Core i7-9750H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, and a reasonably sized 256GB SSD. Oh, there’s a more affordable model with a GTX 1650 GPU too.

Also available immediately on our shores, the GTX 1650 variant of the Nitro 7 is priced at RM4,899, while the more powerful GTX 1660 Ti model goes for RM5,199. Given the rather small price gap, it may be well worth it to go for the GTX 1660 Ti model instead.

For those who want discounts on these Acer gaming laptops, you can head on to Sunway Pyramid in Bandar Sunway for Acer’s roadshow. Purchasing the Triton 900 there will get you a free ED24QR 24-inch gaming monitor
and
a Predator gaming chair.

Opt for the Predator Helios 300 instead, and you will get a complimentary VG240Y 24-inch gaming monitor. As for the Nitro 7, it is offered with RM150 discount at the roadshow, which will end on 30 June 2019.


The Ridiculously Thin & Light Acer Swift 7 Lands in Malaysia; Retails from RM5,999

Initially unveiled at CES 2019
, the Acer Swift 7 is now available in Malaysia. Measuring only 9.95mm thin and tipping the scales at 890g, it’s a ridiculously thin and light productivity laptop.

However, given these two traits, the Swift 7 also carries a rather steep price tag. Regardless, it’s a really impressive laptop, especially when viewed up close.

What makes the Swift 7 such a stunning laptop isn’t just its lightweight and slim nature: the almost bezel-less display is arguably even more impressive. According to Acer, this laptop has a very high screen-to-body-ratio of 92%. In fact, the bezels are so small that there’s no space to put a webcam anywhere near the display.

To solve this issue, Acer placed a pop-up webcam right at the top left corner of the keyboard. It is by no means a perfect solution – especially with the awkward camera angle – but it is quite an ingenious solution. Personally, I quite like it.

Going back to the display, the Swift 7 comes with a 14-inch 1080p IPS display. Acer claims that the display covers 100% of the SRGB colour gamut (72% for NTSC), and as far as I can tell, the display does look really good. It can get reasonably bright too, and I love the fact that it’s a touch display.

Powering such a thin laptop is none other than Intel’s Core i5-8200Y or Core i7-8500Y processor. Yes, these are lower-powered Y-series chips from the Amber Lake generation, so you won’t be getting the same level of performance from the latest U-series processors.

It’s really unavoidable for the Swift 7 to use these Y-series processors, especially given its 9.95m thin chassis. Nonetheless, there is one benefit: this laptop has a completely fanless design. As the Y-series processor can be passively-cooled, there’s no need for Acer to use any cooling fan for the Swift 7.

The result? A dead silent productivity laptop. Sounds appealing, doesn’t it?

Rounding out the specifications of the Swift 7 are 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM, 256GB or 512GB of fast PCIe NVMe SSD storage, as well as Intel UHD Graphics 615. Naturally, the Swift 7 does not come with a dedicated GPU, and that’s totally fine – it’s meant to be a highly portable productivity laptop.

Speaking of which, a productivity laptop needs a really good set of keyboard, and I’m happy to report that the Swift 7’s keyboard is quite decent despite its slim chassis. As expected, key travel is very short, but it’s not quite a shallow as, say, the latest generation MacBook Pro’s butterfly keyboard – that’s a very good thing.

What makes up for the lack of key travel with the Swift 7’s keyboard is the excellent tactility. The keys are very clicky, and combined with the light actuation of these keys, you have yourself a pretty darn comfortable keyboard to type on. Even the trackpad is quite accurate, though I’m not quite sure if I like the sheer…length of it.

The Acer Swift 7 is now available for purchase in Malaysia. The Core i5 model retails at RM5,999, while the higher-end Core i7 variant goes for RM7,599. Without a doubt the Swift 7 is not affordable, but that’s the price you have to pay for a slim, light, and sleek laptop like it.

That being said, you can get the Swift 7 at a discount until 30 June at Acer’s roadshow in Sunway Pyramid. The Core i7 model can be purchased with RM500 discount, while the Core i5 Swift 7 can be yours for RM300 off.


The Asus ROG Mothership Gaming Tablet Arrives in Malaysia for RM26,999

It’s always great to see brands trying to push the envelope, and in the case of Asus, it’s hoping to “redefine how you play” with the Asus ROG Mothership…gaming tablet. Yes, it’s a gaming machine in a tablet form factor, and it’s touted by Asus to be the future of desktop replacement.

But retailing at a whopping RM26,999 in Malaysia, I’m inclined to think of the Mothership as a concept product more than anything else, even if you can
actually
 purchase it. If you really are considering to get it, here’s what you need to know about the ROG Mothership.

Under the hood of this gaming tablet is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU. According to Asus, the GPU is factory overclocked, so you should be getting better performance than your typical RTX 2080. Not surprisingly, even the tablet’s Intel Core i9-9980HK octa-core processor is factory overclocked.

In the display department, the ROG Mothership comes with a 17.3-inch 1080p IPS display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate. Of course, it even comes with support for Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, so you won’t have to deal with screen tearing when you’re gaming on this tablet.

Thanks to the high 144Hz refresh rate, everything on the Mothership’s display looks extremely fluid. The high refresh rate also lends to better motion clarity, which will prove to be helpful in fast-paced games.

As impressive as the display is, there is one thing I don’t quite get: it’s not a touch screen. Granted, it’s positioned as a gaming product, but it’s really quite weird for a
tablet
 to not come with a touch display – it’s arguably an inherent characteristic of tablets. Without a touch screen, it might as well be called an AIO PC.

Nonetheless, the Mothership does come with a kickstand design that’s not unlike the one found on
Microsoft’s Surface tablet
. That in itself makes it a tablet-like machine, and the detachable keyboard completes the look further.

But unlike the Surface’s keyboard, the Mothership’s keyboard can work wirelessly. Alternatively, you can even connect it to the tablet itself with a USB-C cable, especially if you’re concerned about input lag. Naturally, the keyboard comes with RGB lighting too.

Surprisingly enough, the Mothership’s keyboard is really,
really
 good. Even among laptops, it’s one of the best keyboards I’ve ever tried. Key travel is aplenty, the keys are very tactile, and the standard layout is very easy to get accustomed to.

Aside from that, much like other Asus laptops in recent times, the trackpad on the right of the keyboard also doubles as a numpad.

There is only a single variant of the Asus ROG Mothership in Malaysia, which – as mentioned – retails at RM26,999. For that kind of money, you will get a whopping 64GB of DDR4 RAM, as well as
three
512GB PCIe NVMe SSDs in Raid 0 configuration.

If you’re keen to get it, the ROG Mothership will be available for purchase on our shores sometime in July next month.


The Asus ROG Zephyrus M Is a Thin & Light GTX 1660 Ti Gaming Laptop for RM6,299

If you’re looking for a thin and light gaming laptop, your options are surprisingly little. At least, that’s the case for the Malaysian market. I personally love the
Acer Predator Triton 500
, and now, there’s a promising competition to it: enter the Asus ROG Zephyrus M.

Much like the Triton 500, the Zephyrus M is a slim and light gaming laptop, and it’s adequately powerful too with an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti under the hood. But how does it compare against Acer’s offering in other areas? Let’s find out.

In terms of dimension, the Zephyrus M is actually a tad thicker than the Triton 500. Where the latter measures only 17.9mm, the Zephyrus is 1mm thicker at 18.9mm. However, it’s a lighter laptop: the Triton 500 weighs 2.1kg, but Asus’ offering tips the scales at only 1.9kg. 200g may seem negligible, but you will notice the difference.

To make the Zephyrus M as light as possible, the laptop is constructed out of magnesium alloy. I quite like the material choice here, especially on the palm rest area – it doesn’t have a glossy finish like most laptops. Instead, it’s more of a rougher, matte finish, and it feels really good to the touch.

Powering the Zephyrus M is a GTX 1660 Ti GPU, and in my opinion, it offers the best price to performance ratio in the market now. In terms of performance, it’s only
slightly slower
 than the higher-end RTX 2060 GPU. Granted you won’t get RTX-exclusive features like Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), but in terms of raw gaming performance, you’re not missing out much.

In the CPU side of things, the Zephyrus M comes with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor – standard affair for today’s gaming laptops. On top of that, this laptop also has 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

What is becoming increasingly standard on higher-end gaming laptops is a fast display, and I’m happy to report that the Zephyrus M comes with a 144Hz, 15.6-inch 1080p IPS panel. It has great viewing angles, fantastic motion clarity, and it supposedly covers 100% of the SRGB colour gamut – very impressive.

Plus, the slim bezel surrounding the display is a nice bonus too. Not only does it make for a really sleek and modern-looking machine, it also reduces the overall dimensions of the laptop. But there is one caveat here: there’s no webcam anywhere around the display area.

Input devices of the Zephyrus M are also very good. The keyboard’s decent amount of travel and tactile feedback make for a comfortable typing experience, and as expected, you also get RGB lighting here. If I were to nitpick, I’d say the left Shift button could be longer, though I’m not entirely sure if the consumer version would have a different keyboard layout.

Trackpads on gaming laptops have also improved dramatically these days, and it’s no different with the Zephyrus M. It can track my fingers accurately, gestures work very well, and I reckon I won’t even need to plug in a mouse to the laptop to do anything outside of gaming. That’s high praise for a trackpad on a gaming laptop.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus M, at a glance, feels like a really refined gaming laptop with reasonably powerful gaming performance. On top of that, it’s not all that costly either, retailing at RM6,299 once it is available in Malaysia sometime in July next month.

Yes, that is not exactly an affordable price tag, but that’s how much you’ll have to pay for a thin and light gaming laptop in this segment. But until I’ve spent more time with it in a full review, it remains to be seen if the Zephyrus M can absolutely command that kind of asking price.


Lenovo Legion Y540 (15″) Hands-On: A Customisable Gaming Laptop

We’ve seen
quite a number
 of
gaming laptops
 coming into Malaysia this week, and Lenovo also introduced its latest gaming machine on our shores, the Lenovo Legion Y540. What makes the Y540 particularly unique is its level of customisability; something that is not typically offered by big brands.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time gaming with the Legion Y540, and while it’s not the most impressive gaming laptop I’ve come across, its customisability – and relatively competitive pricing – may appeal to certain folks.

Unlike gaming laptops from other established PC makers, Lenovo allows you to customise the Legion Y540 to your heart’s content
on its website
. In fact, it’s similar to Illegear and Level 51’s concept of offering a ton of customisation with their gaming laptops. The options are not quite as elaborate, of course, but the ability to customise certain parts of the laptop is still an attractive selling point.

Looking at the Y540’s official page on Lenovo’s website, the base model can be purchased for RM4,188.55 (after discount). For that kind of money, you’re getting a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display, an Intel Core i5-9300H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, and a 1TB 5400rpm HDD.

That’s quite a steep price tag for a GTX 1650 gaming laptop, but if you opt for the higher-end models, it makes a lot more sense. I’ve configured the Y540 on Lenovo’s website with a 144Hz Full HD IPS display, a Core i7-9750H processor paired with 8GB of RAM, an RTX 2060 GPU, and a 512GB SSD – how much does this cost? RM5,846.30. That’s really quite a good price to performance ratio.

Beyond its list of specifications, other aspects of the Legion Y540 aren’t so bad either. Design wise, the slim bezels of the display give it a modern look. Unfortunately, however, there’s no space for a webcam at the top of the display. Instead, it’s placed right at the bottom, making for an awkward camera angle.

Nonetheless, the Y540’s display itself is quite good. I’ve tried the 144Hz 1080p IPS display, and it looks great with vibrant colours and wide viewing angle. Motion clarity is, as expected, excellent for the 144Hz display. Even though I’ve only played a couple rounds of Dota 2 with this gaming laptop, the high refresh rate is very noticeable.

Same goes for the RTX 2060 GPU. Yes, Dota 2 is not a very demanding game at all, but you will be able to play most – if not all – modern games with high graphics settings with that GPU. If you’d like to know more about the RTX 2060’s gaming performance, check out
this review
.

Build quality of the Y540 is good too. The laptop as a whole feels robust, the palm rest area is nice to the touch, and I quite dig the metal lid. Even the hinge feels solid, which is always a good thing – it holds the screen securely enough for it to not wobble when I’m gaming with the laptop.

When it comes to connectivity, the Legion Y540 has a pretty complete selection of ports. Most of the ports are located at the back of the laptop, and only two USB-A slots and a 3.5mm headphone jack are located at the sides, for better or worse.

Anyway, on the back of the Y540 is where you’ll find a USB-C connection, a mini DisplayPort, an HDMI 2.0 output, another USB-A slot, as well as an RJ45 port. Unfortunately, there’s no card reader of any kind here.

Input devices of the Y540 are also reasonably good. Even though the keyboard only has white backlighting, it has more than enough key travel for a pleasant typing and gaming experience. I also appreciate the full size navigation keys, though I do think the numpad is placed in a rather awkward position.

As for the trackpad, it’s decent. I don’t quite like the fact that I can’t click on it, but it can track my fingers accurately. Gestures, unsurprisingly, also work well on this trackpad.

The Lenovo Legion Y540 is a good gaming laptop with a ton of customisability, and the higher-end model offers relatively good value for money too. Given the laptop’s good build quality, sleek design, and great gaming performance, you should definitely check it out if you’re looking to get a new gaming laptop.

You can start customising your own Legion Y540 over
here
. There aren’t that many RTX 2060 gaming laptops under the RM6,000 mark now, and that is one of the biggest selling points of the Y540.


Deal: OnePlus 7 Pro Price Drops to RM2,855

The
OnePlus 7 Pro
 is an excellent flagship smartphone with a fast 90Hz display and sleek design, among other things. However, retailing from RM2,999, it is also OnePlus’ most costly smartphone yet. If you’ve been waiting for it to be discounted, good news: you can now get the 128GB model
for only RM2,855
.

Compared to its original asking price, you will be saving exactly RM144. That may not seem like much, but it’s worth noting that it’s a very recent flagship smartphone. With that in mind, this amount of discount is reasonably good.

This deal is offered by Shopee retailer Smart World EP, and only the Mirror Grey OnePlus 7 Pro is available. Naturally, warranty is covered by Mobile Technic, which is OnePlus’ authorised service centre in Malaysia.

For RM2,855
, the OnePlus 7 Pro is quite a good buy, especially if you’re intrigued by its 90Hz display, all-screen design, and excellent camera performance. Check out our
comprehensive review of the phone
 if you’d like to learn more about it.


Huawei Can Now Resume Business with (Certain) US Companies

It’s been about six weeks since Huawei was put in the US government’s “Entity List,” which bars the Chinese company from buying technology from US companies. Well, in a recent turn of event, it appears the situation would improve for Huawei…ever so slightly.

At the G20 Summit in Japan, US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. After said meeting, Trump indicated that trade talks between the two countries will resume, and US companies would be permitted to do business with Huawei again. However, that’s not the whole story.

Following Trump’s statement at the G20 Summit, White House Economic Advisor, Larry Kudlow, elaborated that this does not put Huawei off of the Entity List. Instead, more licenses will be granted to Huawei to buy technology from US companies if the sales pose no threat to national security. “The national security concerns will remain paramount,” Kudlow said.

On top of that, these additional licenses will only be granted if “there is a general availability” on the parts Huawei are looking to get. Among these are chips that the company would need to manufacture its smartphones.

That is not the end of it, of course. Now that US is resuming trade talks with China, it was mentioned that Huawei will be a part of the ongoing discussion. Basically, Trump’s statement at the G20 summit “is not the last word,” Kudlow added.

Right now, Huawei is in a bit of a limbo. Until trade talks between US and China conclude, the fate of the Chinese company is still uncertain. As it is, Huawei will remain in the Entity List, so it still can’t conduct business with US companies effectively.

Being placed in the Entity List is already hitting Huawei hard. The company expects to take $30 billion in losses (that’s a whopping RM124 billion) over the next two years, it’s no longer allowed to use microSD cards in its smartphones, and even its rapidly growing laptop business is put on halt, to the point where it had to cancel an upcoming laptop.

More importantly, Google also pulled Huawei’s Android license because of the restriction, which is arguably one of the most important parts of the puzzle. Nonetheless, Huawei’s situation is slowly getting better, though it’s still far from a proper resolution. Hopefully, it won’t be long until Huawei can get back to the market in earnest.


Huawei Nova 5 Series Coming to Malaysia Soon

The
Huawei Nova 5 series
 was introduced in China recently, and despite the
ongoing restriction
 placed on the Chinese company, Huawei is set to bring in the Nova 5 smartphones to the Malaysian market. If you’re looking to get an upper mid-range device, you may be interested in this series.

However, no tentative release date was given, and it remains to be seen which of the three devices in the Nova 5 series that will be launched here. Nonetheless, it does show Huawei’s commitment to the Malaysian market, even if it’s
not in the best situation now
.

Out of the three devices in the series, the Nova 5 Pro is the highest-end offering. It comes with Huawei’s most powerful chipset yet, the Kirin 980, and it has four cameras on the back: a 48MP f/1.8 primary shooter, a 16MP f/2.2 wide angle camera, a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor.

Other specifications of the Nova 5 Pro include a 6.39-inch 1080p OLED display (there’s a notch at the top of the screen for the 32MP selfie camera), up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, as well as a 3,500mAh battery. That’s not the largest battery capacity, but it should be able to offer decent battery life.

A tier down is the standard Nova 5, and it is very similar to the Pro model. The major differences are the chipset powering the phone (Kirin 810 instead of Kirin 980) and the RAM and storage capacities, which are available only in 8GB and 128GB respectively.

Even though the Kirin 810 isn’t quite as powerful as the flagship-tier Kirin 980, it’s a very capable upper mid-range chipset. The Kirin 810 is built on a 7nm process, which should improve the chip’s power efficiency. On top of that, early benchmarks have also shown that the Kirin 810 is faster than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 – that’s very impressive.

And then we have the most affordable device in the series, the Nova 5i. Unlike its two higher-end siblings, the Nova 5i features a 6.4-inch 1080 IPS display with a
hole-punch cutout
 instead of a notch. It also has a Kirin 710 chipset paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and a generous 4,000mAh battery.

Much like the other two devices in the series, the Nova 5i has a quad camera system too. It’s made up of 24MP (primary) + 8MP (wide angle) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) sensors, while the selfie shooter is a 24MP camera.

As mentioned, it’s not known yet which of the three Nova 5 smartphones will be available in Malaysia, and it’s entirely possible for Huawei to introduce the entire lineup on shores. Until then, we’ll keep you posted on the local availability of the Huawei Nova 5 series.


Jony Ive’s Departure from Apple Was a Long Time Coming

By now, you’ve probably heard about Jony Ive’s departure from Apple. As the chief design officer of Apple since 1996, Ive was responsible for designing many Apple products you know today. To most people, his departure may seem very sudden.

However, several reports that surfaced not long after the news went public are suggesting that Ive has been slowly exiting Apple, citing tension between the designer and Apple’s current CEO, Tim Cook. Essentially, his departure from Apple “has been a long time in the making,” said a source to Bloomberg.

In fact,
Bloomberg’s report
 really goes into detail about Ive’s involvement in Apple over the years. According to Bloomberg, Ive became less involved with the design process after the original Apple Watch was launched back in 2015. In fact, he supposedly only came to Apple’s headquarters “as little as twice a week.”

Not surprisingly, Apple’s design team grew frustrated with Ive’s absence since then. In a
separate report by The Wall Street Journal
, Ive was said to be “dispirited” by Tim Cook’s lack of interest in the product development process.

On top of that, Ive also supposedly grew frustrated with Apple’s board of directors. It’s said to be filled with individuals from backgrounds not related to the company’s core business.

Exclusive: In scathing email, Apple CEO Tim Cook tells me the
@WSJ
 report about Jony Ive’s departure — and his frustration with Cook’s alleged lack of interest in design — is “absurd.” Says reporting and conclusions "don’t match with reality.”
Full story coming soon
@NBCNews
 …
pic.twitter.com/QX9L4MvjFs
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers)
July 1, 2019

Of course, Tim Cook himself responded to the WSJ report, saying that the story is “absurd,” and the conclusions “just don’t match with reality.” He further elaborated that Apple’s design team is stronger than ever, and that the projects the team are working on “will blow you away.”

For a company as secretive as Apple, we don’t often see such a response, especially not from the CEO himself in regards to supposed internal issues. Nonetheless, we probably won’t know the actual reason behind Ive’s departure from Apple.

Despite his exit, Ive will still work closely with Apple through his own design firm, LoveFrom. He will supposedly work on a range of exclusive projects with Apple, and chances are, this collaboration will continue long into the future.

Naturally, having Apple as a client will bring in a lot of revenue for LoveFrom. In WSJ’s report, it is said that Ive’s firm will be paid “millions of dollars a year to continue to work with Apple.” However, it remains to be seen exactly how involved LoveFrom would be with Apple’s product development in the future.

After all, it’s not specified just what kind of projects the two companies will work on together.

It will be interesting to see just how Apple will be affected by Jony Ive’s departure from the company. Even though Ive will still work closely with Apple through LoveFrom, it’s not quite the same as having him a part of the same organisation.


Samsung Onyx Officially Available in MBO Atria – Worth a Try?

Even though it’s been operational for quite some time now, MBO Cinemas officially launched its new outlet in Atria recently. One of the biggest attractions in this cinema is Samsung “Cinema LED Technology” dubbed Samsung Onyx. Compared to your conventional cinema screen that uses projection, the Samsung Onyx hall uses…well, a big LED display.

Of course, since it’s an actual display, Onyx has a number of distinct advantages over projected screens. On top of that, the hall itself is quite different too. Nextrift was invited to catch a screening of Spider-Man: Far From Home on Onyx, and here’s my impression of it.

When I first walked into the hall, what immediately caught my attention was the size of the Onyx screen. In comparison to a typical cinema screen, it appears to be…smaller. This is especially true if you’re used to IMAX halls, but that’s an entirely different category.

Looking beyond its size, the Onyx screen looks
fantastic
. After all, it’s a proper LED display instead of a projected one. And because this is an LED screen, you get very, very deep blacks. In fact, Samsung calls this technology “Onyx” for this very reason – it’s a nod to the black gemstone itself.

Colours also look great on the Onyx, thanks to the HDR-capable screen. Basically, projected screens pale in comparison to Onyx, especially when it comes to colour reproduction and black level.

Another advantage of Onyx is its 4096 x 2160 4K resolution. Everything looks sharp, crisp, and it’s very easy to read the movie’s subtitles. Again, this is one area projected screens cannot compete with Onyx. It’s almost like watching movies on a really big 4K TV.

Audio is also another strong suit of Onyx. Equipped with Harman Professional’s JBL Sculpted Surround technology, the aptly named Onyx Sound supposedly expand upon the “audio sweet spot.” With a bigger optimum listening area, more movie-goers will get to enjoy the best audio experience.

Personally, I can’t say with full confidence the Onyx hall provides superior audio quality, but it does sound slightly better to my ears.

As for the Onyx hall itself, I quite like the seats. It reclines slightly when you rest your back on it, and there is ample amount of legroom. The extra legroom is especially important when you have other viewers trying to get in and out of their seats.

Oh, another thing to note is the distance of the seats to the Onyx screen. Unlike a conventional hall layout, the front-row seats are placed further away from the screen. In fact, I would personally get those seats if I’m going for an Onyx hall just to get closer to the screen.

And to me, that really is the Onyx’s biggest shortcoming. The screen doesn’t
feel
 big enough for a cinema hall, though I do appreciate the seating arrangement and superior visual fidelity of the LED screen.

The Samsung Onyx hall is now available for screening at MBO Atria. If you want to experience a different movie viewing experience, Onyx is definitely worth a try. Plus, it’s not all that expensive either, costing only RM3 more than a standard hall.


Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Confirmed for 8 August Launch – What We Know So Far

Samsung just revealed that the next Galaxy device will be officially announced on 8 August 2019 (adjusted for local time in Malaysia). Chances are, it is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, and the teaser released by the Korean company is certainly pointing to that direction.

As expected, there are already quite a number of leaks and rumours surrounding the Galaxy Note 10; it’s shaping up to be quite the flagship smartphone. Here’s what we know so far about it.

Looking at leaked images of the supposed Galaxy Note 10, it’s possible Samsung will continue to use its Infinity-O display on the upcoming phone. In fact, even the teaser itself is putting emphasis on a single camera sensor, which will very likely be placed at the top of the display.

But unlike the
Galaxy S10
 smartphones’ hole-punch cutout, the Note 10 may have the selfie camera placed right in the middle of the screen like smartphones with a notch. This gives the phone a much more symmetrical look, in our opinion.

Interestingly, alleged images of the Note 10 also show a very small camera cutout on the front of the phone – even smaller than the Infinity-O cutouts on the Galaxy S10 devices. Hopefully, the minimal camera cutout will make it onto the production phone. It really gives the phone a clean, all-screen design.

Alleged images of the Galaxy Note 10

Much like the Galaxy S10 series, we expect Samsung to release several variants of the Note 10. The Galaxy Note 10+ is supposedly in the picture, along with a standard Note 10 model. Earlier rumours also pointed at a more affordable Galaxy Note 10 variant not unlike the
Galaxy S10e
, though we haven’t heard of any new rumour regarding that particular model.

Personally, we would love for there to be a compact, more affordable model of the Galaxy Note 10. After all, the
compact form factor
 of the Galaxy S10e is one of its biggest appeals. Even though the Galaxy Note series has always focused on offering big displays, we’re still holding out for a Note 10e variant.

Other alleged specifications of the Galaxy Note 10 include the same Exynos 9820 chipset found under the hood of the S10 series, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, either a triple or quad camera system (the latter could be similar to the
Galaxy S10 5G
‘s camera configuration), and of course, Samsung’s signature S Pen.

Speaking of which, the S Pen found on the Note 9 added Bluetooth support, which allows it to work like a remote to control the phone. As for the S Pen on the Note 10, many are expecting some form of new feature on top of this. Heck, some are even expecting a camera module to be integrated into the S Pen itself.

Bottom line is, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 shows a lot of promise, even though we’re only judging it based on leaks and rumours. The Note 10 will be unveiled in New York next month, and the launch event will be livestreamed on 8 August at 4AM Malaysia time.

If you’re keen, you can even register your interest for the phone over
here
 to receive regular updates ahead of the event.


You Really Should Get Your 2015 MacBook Pro Checked

If you’re currently using a 15-inch MacBook Pro (Mid-2015 model) with a Retina screen, you should check if it’s affected by Apple’s
battery recall program
. Announced only a couple of weeks ago, the recall concerns MacBook Pros with batteries that “may overheat and pose a fire safety risk.”

Needless to say, you should definitely check if you’re affected by the recall; it poses a serious safety issue. If you’re wondering what could potentially happen, well, one unfortunate MacBook Pro owner found out the hard way.

First spotted by
PetaPixel
, designer Steve Gagne accounts how his 15-inch MacBook Pro’s battery “blew”
in a Facebook post
. According to Gagne, it was enough to set a small fire, which filled his house with smoke. Looking at the images of the MacBook Pro after the incident, the damage is quite severe.

More importantly, it’s worth noting that the MacBook Pro wasn’t even actively used when it all happened. Gagne wrote that the laptop was unplugged, with the screen closed, and it was in sleep mode. However, it’ll be interesting to see if the same would’ve happened if it was shut down completely.

Then again, most folks would just put their laptops in sleep mode – it’s a lot more convenient than to shut it down.

Basically, if you’ve got a Mid-2015, 15-inch MacBook Pro, it’s best to check with Apple
here
 if your particular model is eligible for a free battery replacement. Apple said that affected units were sold “primarily between September 2015 and February 2017.”

Those that purchased a 15-inch MacBook Pro in that time period should definitely check if their particular unit is affected; it would take between one to two weeks to get the battery replaced. That’s quite a lengthy time frame, but safety is of utmost priority here.

The 2015 MacBook Pro was – well, still is – considered to be the “best” MacBook released by Apple. Unlike the latest crop of MacBook laptops, the 2015 model has a much better selection of ports (no dongle life!), superior keyboard, and it doesn’t cost quite as much as its successors.

Again, check
here
 with Apple to see if your 15-inch MacBook Pro is eligible for a free battery replacement. It may be a hassle to send it in for service, but hey, you’re getting a brand new battery here. Plus, you can’t
really
 put a price on safety.


Dell XPS 13 Hands-On: Of Refinement & Improved Webcam Placement

The Dell XPS 13 has consistently been one of the best productivity focused premium laptops in the market, and this latest iteration is the best one yet. However, other manufacturers are catching up really fast; competition has never been tougher for the XPS 13.

With that in mind, does the XPS 13 still have what it takes? Does it still stand out among its equally sleek and capable competition? Let’s find out.

Compared to its predecessor, the biggest difference the new XPS 13 brings is…the webcam positioning. Believe it or not, this has been the main issue with this laptop for the longest time. The webcam has always been positioned at the bottom of the display, but with this new model, it’s
finally
 at the top of the screen.

In order to fit a camera module into such a tiny bezel, Dell had to get creative: the PC maker made its own custom 2.25mm camera module for this one purpose. It’s crazy how much work goes into what seems like a small thing.

Webcam positioning aside, the XPS 13 looks as sleek as ever. It was one of the first laptops to eliminate the bezels surrounding the display, and it still looks really impressive now. That being said, I’m not entirely thrilled about the chin at the bottom of the display. After all, other laptops – such as the
Asus ZenBook 13
 – can eliminate it.

Nonetheless, I do like the palm rest area of the XPS 13. It consists of woven carbon fibre, and it looks and feels great. This really differentiates it from its competition: no other laptop offers such a unique build material.

Another one of the XPS 13’s strong suits is its sheer portability. Measuring only 11.6mm at its thickest point, it’s one of the thinnest laptops around. On top of that, it’s also a relatively light laptop, tipping the scales at 1.23kg. That being said, the thin profile of this laptop does not come without compromises.

Unfortunately, the new XPS 13 only comes with three USB-C ports; no full-size USB-A connections here. While USB-C accessories are easier to find now, you’ll likely have to use dongles with this laptop. Oh, there’s also a microSD card slot, which would come in handy for those who want to add additional storage space on the cheap.

In the performance department, the XPS 13 can be configured with an Intel Core i5-8265U or i7-8565U processor. The model I have here comes with the i7 chip, and it is blazing fast, as expected. If you’re using this laptop for general productivity, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

However, if you plan to do any sort of gaming on the XPS 13, you may want to look elsewhere. It only comes with a Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated GPU, which isn’t particularly powerful. It would be good enough for some casual games like Dota 2, but you can forget about playing more graphically demanding games like
Apex Legends
 and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.

While it may not be ideal for gaming, you’ll definitely enjoy the XPS 13’s beautiful display. The unit I have here is the top-of-the-line model with a fantastic 13.3-inch 4K InfinityEdge touch display. Everything looks razor sharp, it’s almost impossible to see individual pixels, colours look great, and viewing angles are good too.

Of course, some folks would question the practically of 4K resolution on a 13.3-inch display. While I do agree it’s a bit of an overkill, there’s no denying that it is one
stunning
panel. Besides, there is also a 1080p option for those who want better battery life, but that particular resolution does not come with a touchscreen.

And then we have two very important hardware for a productivity laptop: the keyboard and trackpad. Generally, typing on the XPS 13 is a pleasant affair with good key travel and tactility. However, on this particular unit I’m testing, some keys (like the spacebar and backspace) squeak, which can get annoying. This is especially the case for a premium laptop like the XPS 13.

As for the trackpad, it’s equally good too. It can track my fingers accurately, it’s large enough to not feel cumbersome to use, and I love just how smooth the surface is.

The Dell XPS 13 is a refined, handsome-looking premium productivity laptop…with a price to match. The base model, which comes with a 1080p display, a Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage, retails at RM5,709.

If you want the highest-end model here with a 4K touch display, a Core i7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, it will set you back a whopping RM8,369.

Without a doubt the XPS 13 is not an affordable laptop; you can easily get a different laptop with similar hardware configuration for less. But hey, it
is
 a premium product, and the XPS line has never been particularly affordable either.

For what it’s worth, I’m impressed with the XPS 13’s feature set, and I’m certain I’ll enjoy putting it through its paces in a full review. It may not have an attractive price tag, but it sure is an attractive-looking premium laptop.


Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Review: Not Just a Pokemon Go Reskin

Niantic, the developer behind the hugely popular Pokemon Go game, is back with a new location-based AR game. Initially announced back in 2017, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is finally here, and many are comparing the new game to Pokemon Go. Given the fact that both games share a number of similarities, it’s not all that surprising.

However, after spending some time with Wizards Unite, it’s more than just a “Harry Potter-themed” Pokemon Go. It has a number of unique differences here and there, and I can’t get enough of it.

On the surface, you’ll be familiar with Wizards Unite’s interface if you’ve played Pokemon Go. After all, they both share the same map data, though the PokeStops and gyms have been replaced with either one of three structures in Wizards Unite: inn, greenhouse, or fortress.

Inns function just like PokeStops, in the sense that they give you “energy” to cast spell. Energy, in this sense, is your “PokeBall” in Wizards Unite. In order to cast spells, you’ll need energy; by default, you can store up to 75 energy. Greenhouses, on the other hand, lets you collect ingredients to brew potions – they sometimes give you energy too.

By now, you would’ve probably guessed that fortresses are effectively gyms in Wizards Unite. But instead of going against different trainers’ Pokemons, you duel with a wide array of Harry Potter characters in “Wizarding Challenges.” You can take on werewolves, death eaters, dark wizards, and so on.

So how is Wizards Unite
different
 from Pokemon Go? Now, there’s no denying that the former shares a number of concepts with the popular Pokemon game, but beyond these similarities, they couldn’t be any more different.

Dueling enemies in Wizarding Challenges, for one, is unlike gym battles in Pokemon Go. In Pokemon, all you have to do is keep tapping for fast attacks, hold to use your charged attack, and dodge occasionally. But in Wizards Unite, you’re required to line up your wand to a certain spot on the enemy you’re facing, and then trace a glyph to cast an attack spell.

When the enemy is attacking, you can also trace a defense spell to lessen the damage. Basically, it requires more interaction than your typical gym battle in Pokemon Go, and I really like that.

So what are these Foundables? Well, they can be anything from well-known characters to magical creatures and objects from the Harry Potter universe. In fact, even “memories” are Foundables. You can save a young Ron Weasley from a Confoundable, or even cast a Patronus spell to rid a Dementor from Sirius Black.

Given this premise, the idea of Foundables certainly don’t seem quite as convincing as catching Pokemons. After all, encountering the same character several times doesn’t exactly sound very…well, logical.

Anyway, the Foundables you have recovered will be placed in the Registry; sort of like a sticker album of sorts. Some Foundables only need to be recovered once, but there are others that need to be collected multiple times. In fact, there are Foundables that require to be captured over 15 times for them to be completed.

If you’ve completed a page in the Registry, you can “prestige” it to reset your progress for that particular page. You’d want to do that to upgrade the frame of the page, and it would increase the experience gained from recapturing these Foundables too. This can get grindy, no doubt, but it does make the leveling process a tad easier.

What really sold me to Wizards Unite are the three Professions: Auror, Magizoologist, and Professor. These are effectively your “class” in the game, and each of them have a very elaborate skill tree that impacts your damage output, defense, and special buffs.

In fact, this gives the game a MMORPG-like feel. Not only do you have the freedom to customise your skill build to your liking, each Profession have their own strengths and weaknesses. Aurors, for example, are stronger against Dark Forces, but they take extra damage from Beasts. Professors, on the other hand, deal extra damage to Curiosities, but are weaker to Dark Forces.

These Professions add a layer of complexity to Wizards Unite without being overly complicated, and it really sets it apart from Pokemon Go. Plus, if you don’t quite like the Profession you chose, you can switch
any time
. You’re not stuck with only one Profession for the rest of the game.

It’s been about a week since I started playing Wizards Unite in earnest, but there are still more elements of the game that I have yet to really explore. I haven’t figured out how to plant seeds at greenhouses yet (the game didn’t really explain the mechanic very well), and I’m still wondering how to make the best of potion brewing.

On top of that, I don’t quite like how the game pushes you to spend in-game gold – which can be bought with cold hard cash – either to get more energy or storage space. In fact, every time you try to pick up something with a full inventory, a pop-up would ask if you’d like to
purchase
more storage instead of giving an option to clear some space.

Inventory management could definitely be improved too. If I want to throw away a certain item, I’ll need to click on it, select “manage,” and
then
set the quantity of item I’d like to delete. To make matters worse, the inventory system in Wizards Unite is not unified.

Instead, you have three distinct inventories to manage. One for potions, another for ingredients, and a third one to store your seeds for use in greenhouses. If you need more space in either one of the three inventories, you’ll have to expand it
individually
. You’ll have to use quite a bit of gold to upgrade all three inventories.

Granted, if you manage your items well, you may not need to upgrade at all. That doesn’t make it any less annoying, of course.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is not quite as big of a hit as Pokemon Go was when it was introduced three years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good game. It has its own charm, it integrates the Harry Potter universe well (Harry is voiced by Daniel Radcliffe himself in this game!), and I love the Profession system.

Now, excuse me while I visit a couple of inns to get more energy – I’ll need to take on my next Wizarding Challenge.


Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds Promise up to 32 Hours Play Time for RM949

Sony is back with a new wireless earbuds after the rather lacklustre WF-1000X, which was released back in 2017. The new and improved Sony WF-1000XM3 aims to improve on most of its predecessor’s weaknesses, including better battery life, more reliable connection, and sleeker design.

Retailing at RM949 in Malaysia, it’s not priced exorbitantly either. If you’re looking to get a new pair of wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM3 is one to consider.

One of the biggest improvements to the WF-1000XM3 is its battery life. On a single charge, the earbuds can provide up to eight hours of play time; six hours if you switch on the active noise cancellation. The carrying case also has enough juice to charge the earbuds three times, so you’re effectively getting up to 32 hours of play time.

Interestingly, the earbuds support quick charging too. Within only 10 minutes of charging, the earbuds can provide up to 90 minutes of play time – that’s really quite impressive. That being said, in order to store enough power to charge up the earbuds so many times, the carrying case is…quite bulky. Chances are, it would be troublesome to fit the case into your pants pocket.

Another aspect of the WF-1000XM3 that’s been further improved on is the connectivity. The original WF-1000X was plagued by connection dropouts and audio delay, but thanks to a new Bluetooth chip, the two earbuds connect independently to a paired device.

Basically, one earbud won’t have to rely on the other for audio syncing: each of them are paired to your phone with their own connection. In that sense, it’s possible to use only one earbud while the other one is charging in the case.

Design of the WF-1000XM3 has been reworked as well. It looks a lot more subtle now with a matte finish (instead of a glossy one), and there is also a touchpad on each earbud for touch controls. You can, for example, tap and hold on the touchpad to activate ambient sound mode.

Overall, the WF-1000XM3 is quite a promising pair of wireless earbuds, but it has one major shortcoming: there’s no water or dust resistance. If you’re planning to hit the gym with these earbuds, you may want to take extra precaution.

The Sony WF-1000XM3 will be coming to Malaysia sometime in August next month, and it will retail at RM949. It’s more costly than, say, the Samsung Galaxy Buds (RM499), but you’re really paying for the WF-1000XM3’s active noise cancellation and long battery life.


Redmi 7A Now Available in Malaysia for Only RM419

In the market for a new, affordable smartphone? Then the Redmi 7A should be in your list. Officially available in Malaysia not too long ago, you can now get Redmi’s latest smartphone
for only RM419
 – it was originally retailing at RM459.

On top of that, even though this Redmi 7A is a global unit (it’s offered by Xiaomi’s official global store on Shopee), it comes with after-sales support from Xiaomi’s service centres in Malaysia – not a bad deal, isn’t it?

However, do note that the Xiaomi global store only offers six-month warranty for the Redmi 7A. Despite that, this is without a doubt a legitimate store managed by the folks over at Xiaomi’s headquarters in Beijing. The Redmi 7A offered here is also the global version, so it should have Google’s services installed on the phone.

Alternatively, you
could
 wait for the Malaysian release of the Redmi 7A: the phone appeared in SIRIM’s database on 6 July with the model number M1903C3EG. Now that the Redmi 7A has been registered with the certification body, we imagine it won’t be long until it’s officially launched here.

In any case, the Redmi 7A is a decently equipped affordable smartphone. Packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 chipset, it should be able to offer enough processing power for a pleasant user experience. However, the 2GB RAM is a potential pain point. So is the 32GB of internal storage, but that is easily expandable with a microSD card.

 Design wise, the Redmi 7A won’t be turning heads. It has a decidedly conventional-looking screen (no fancy hole-punch or notched cutout here) surrounded by rather thick bezels, and it’s still using a microUSB port. That being said, the Gem Blue variant does have a rather sleek-looking gradient finish.

There is also one area where the Redmi 7A will excel: battery life. Featuring a generous 4,000mAh battery, we reckon this phone will be quite long-lasting. Also, it only needs to power a 5.45-inch 720p IPS display, which shouldn’t be all that power-hungry.

Rounding out the specifications of the Redmi 7A are a single 12MP f/2.2 rear camera, a 5MP f/2.2 front-facing shooter, and dual-SIM support.

The Redmi 7A can now be purchased on Xiaomi’s official global store on Shopee
for RM419
. It remains to be seen how long it will be listed at that price, so if you’re keen to get it for RM419, you may want to act fast. Not thrilled with the six-month warranty? Well, you can always wait for the Malaysian launch of the Redmi 7A.

Alternatively, you can consider getting the
Redmi 7
 instead  – it doesn’t cost all that much more for a sleeker, more capable smartphone.


Xiaomi Mi Band 4 Passes Through SIRIM; Malaysian Launch Imminent?

The
Xiaomi Mi Band 4
 was launched in China last month, and it seems like the company’s latest wearable will be coming to Malaysia very soon. Before electronics can be sold here officially, they have to be registered with SIRIM first, and the Mi Band 4 just appeared in the certification body’s database.

Registered under the model number XMSH07HM, this is the non-NFC variant of the Mi Band 4. Chances are, the Malaysian market won’t receive the NFC model. While some of you may be disappointed at this, don’t be: the non-NFC variant is more affordable.

In China, the Mi Band 4 without NFC functionality retails at 169 yuan (about RM100), while the NFC model is priced at 229 yuan (around RM135). With this in mind, there’s a good chance the wearable will be priced below RM150 in Malaysia.

After all, you can actually get your hands on a global version of the Mi Band 4 in our market right now. It’s offered by Xiaomi’s official global store on Shopee, and it is
listed at only RM129
. On top of that, it even comes with official after-sales service in Malaysia.

So why should you care if the Mi Band 4 is coming to Malaysia officially or not? Well, for one, you won’t have to wait for the wearable to be shipped to you from overseas, which will take some time. Plus, we still don’t know how much Xiaomi Malaysia will price the Mi Band 4 – it could cost lower than the price listed by Xiaomi’s global store.

Compared to its predecessor, the biggest difference the Mi Band 4 brings is a new colour display. It now comes with a 0.95-inch 240 x 120 AMOLED screen, which is bigger, sharper, and brighter than the OLED display of the Mi Band 3.

Despite the larger display, the Mi Band 4 can still return up to 20 days of battery life. On top of that, thanks to the new colour screen, it’s possible to change the Mi Band 4’s watchfaces now, making it that much more customisable.

Without a doubt the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is the best iteration of the wearable yet. Now that it’s been registered with SIRIM, there’s a good chance it will be made available here very soon – perhaps it will be launched alongside the
Redmi 7A
, or even with the
Avengers version of the Mi Band 4
.


Vaio SX12 – A Small, Compact Laptop with a Plethora of Ports

When you think of small, compact laptops, chances are you won’t expect these laptops to come with a lot of ports. Well, that doesn’t apply to the Vaio SX12, which has just been released in Japan. In fact, it has practically all the ports you need from of a laptop.

To top it off, the SX12 is a really compact and light productivity laptop. Not only is it smaller than an A4 paper, it tips the scales at only 897g. If your interest is piqued, here’s what you need to know about Vaio’s latest laptop.

First, let’s talk about the many,
many
ports of the SX12. It has three USB-A connections, one USB-C port, an HDMI output, a LAN connection, an SD card slot, and even a
VGA port
. Mind you, this is a 12.5-inch laptop – the amount of ports on a laptop this small is very impressive.

Speaking of which, the SX12 has a 12.5-inch 1920 x 1080 display with a matte finish surrounded by relatively thin bezels. Even though the top bezel is on the thicker side of things – that’s where the WiFi and LTE antenna are placed – there’s barely any chin at the bottom of the display, giving it a modern-looking design.

Powering the SX12 is Intel’s eight generation Core i5 or Core i7 processor, which is paired with up to 16GB of RAM. For its intended usage (productivity tasks), this choice of processor and RAM capacity should be more than enough.

Not surprisingly, the SX12 does not have any dedicated GPU, settling instead for Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620. Storage option for this laptop, on the other hand, is very generous. Depending on which model you get, you can get from 128GB of SSD storage up to 1TB of fast PCIe NVMe SSD solution.

Despite its compact form factor, the SX12 supposedly have a “full-size keyboard,” as Vaio puts it. The company further elaborated that you won’t feel cramped typing on this laptop, and that this is a “quiet keyboard.” Both of these are touted as unique features for Vaio laptops.

Considering just how important the keyboard is for productivity-focused laptops, this is certainly a good selling point for the SX12. As for the trackpad, it’s said to be a high-precision unit with smooth surface. There are also two dedicated buttons at the bottom of the trackpad.

The Vaio SX12 is currently only available in Japan, and it’s priced between 119,800 Japanese yen (about RM4,555) to 216,800 yen (approximately RM8,245). Needless to say, it’s a costly product, but it’s not far-off from the asking prices of other equally premium productivity laptops.

At the moment, it remains to be seen if the SX12 will be sold outside of Japan, but it’s worth noting that Vaio has a presence here in Malaysia. Hopefully, the SX12 will make its way onto our shores.


Deal: Razer Phone 2 Price Drops to RM1,899

The
Razer Phone 2
 may not be a particularly new gaming smartphone, but that also means it is a lot more affordable now. Originally retailing at RM3,449 when it was launched in Malaysia, you can now get Razer’s latest smartphone
for only RM1,899 on Shopee
.

That is a whopping RM1,550 discount, so without a doubt this is a
really
 good price tag for a device like the Razer Phone 2. It has a fast 120Hz display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (still a very capable chipset) paired with 8GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, as well as a 4,000mAh battery.

According to the listing by Smart World EP, it is offering original Malaysian units of the Razer Phone 2; local warranty support shouldn’t be an issue.
RM1,899
is a very good price for this device, and if you’d like to learn more about the Razer Phone 2, check out our hands-on
right here
.


Apple Updates MacBook Air & Entry-Level MacBook Pro; Now More Affordable

Apple just updated its MacBook lineup with a couple of neat upgrades. The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, for one, now comes with a Touch Bar and Touch ID; features that were previously only available on the higher-end MacBook Pro laptops.

As for the
MacBook Air
, it receives a minor upgrade in the form of a True Tone display. But the big news here is the fact that it is more affordable than before: it now retails from RM4,699 instead of RM5,249.

Aside from the lower price tag and True Tone display upgrade, the MacBook Air still has the same hardware under the hood. It still comes with a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina display, an eight generation Intel Core i5 1.6GHz dual-core processor paired with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, an Intel UHD Graphics 617 integrated GPU, Touch ID, as well as two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support.

Two storage options are available for the MacBook Air (128GB or 256GB), which retail at RM4,699 and RM5,499 respectively. If you want even more storage space, you can configure it accordingly. Of course, that will drive up the price considerably too.

Basically, even with the price cut, the MacBook Air is still quite a costly laptop. Especially if you want more than just 128GB of storage.

And then we have the new entry-level MacBook Pro, which hasn’t been updated since 2017; this refresh is much overdue. It now features an eight generation Core i5 1.4GHz quad-core processor (with Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz), the aforementioned Touch Bar, as well as Touch ID support.

With this refresh, all variants of the MacBook Pro now come with the Touch Bar, for better or worse. Unfortunately, this variant of the Pro still only has two USB-C ports. The higher-end models come with four ports instead.

Aside from that, other hardware of this base model remain largely unchanged. It still comes with a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina display with True Tone technology, an Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 integrated GPU, as well as up to 16GB of RAM.

Pricing wise, the new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro now begins from RM5,499 for the 128GB model. The more practical 256GB variant, on the other hand, retails at RM6,299.

If you’ve been waiting to get a brand new MacBook Air or Pro, now is as good a time as any to purchase one. On top of that, with the discontinuation of the 12-inch MacBook, the Air is now the most affordable MacBook in Apple’s lineup.


The 12-inch MacBook & Older MacBook Air Are No More

Besides updating the
MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Pro
, Apple is also discontinuing two other laptops: the 12-inch MacBook, as well as the previous generation MacBook Air – the one without the Retina display. This, in turn, makes the new Air the most affordable MacBook you can buy now.

Considering the fact that the new MacBook Air retails from RM4,699, you’ll have to pay quite a bit more than, say, for the previous generation model. Nonetheless, discontinuing the old MacBook Air and 12-inch MacBook does streamline Apple’s range of laptops, making it somewhat simpler for consumers to make their choices.

After the new MacBook Air was introduced
late last year
, the 12-inch MacBook felt somewhat…redundant. Granted, it’s a lighter, quieter, and thinner laptop, but it’s not like the new Air is a lot heavier or thicker. Plus, the MacBook Air is a more powerful machine, while the 12-inch MacBook hasn’t been updated in two years.

With the discontinuation of the 12-inch MacBook, your next best alternative is none other than the new MacBook Air. Now that its price has been cut down to RM4,699, it is priced relatively similar to the discontinued MacBook. The bad news? That’s how much you’ll have to pay to get into the MacBook ecosystem today.

The new MacBook Air

So what if you really want to get a MacBook below the RM4,000 mark? Well, you can still get the previous generation MacBook Air from Apple resellers like Machines. The retailer is still offering the MacBook Air with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for RM3,499.

However, now that it’s been discontinued, it remains to be seen just how long this particular MacBook would be in stock. The promotional price will be effective until the end of September 2019 though, so if you absolutely want a MacBook without paying for the new Air, this is your best option
right now
.

It has only been four years since the 12-inch MacBook was unveiled to the world, and at the time, it was touted to be the lightest and thinnest MacBook yet. In fact, it still holds that title today, but it wasn’t enough for folks to overlook the laptop’s shortcomings.

Regardless, we are now pretty much back to square one with Apple’s MacBook lineup. There are only the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro to choose from now, though Apple does mix it up a bit with the
entry-level model of the MacBook Pro
.


Deal: Grab the Pocophone F1 for Only RM1,059 Now

It has been almost a year since the Pocophone F1 was introduced, but even so, it is still
a very good buy right now
, especially if you can get it at a low price. Well, if you’re looking to buy it, good news: it can be yours
for only RM1,059
.

This deal is offered by Wow Phone on Lazada, one of the most reputable retailers on the e-commerce platform. Of course, the
RM1,059 price tag
 is for the 64GB variant, and only the Graphite Black model is offered in this deal.

Nonetheless, according to the listing, these are official Malaysian units of the Pocophone F1, so you shouldn’t have any issue with local warranty support if it becomes necessary. To learn more about this smartphone, check out our
comprehensive review of the Pocophone F1
.


This Is the Nintendo Switch Lite: Cheaper, Smaller, With Non-Removable Joy-Con

After much rumours and speculations, the Nintendo Switch Lite is finally official. As most have expected, this is basically a more budget-friendly version of the original Switch, and it may appeal to those who have always wanted a smaller, more portable Switch console.

However, given its more affordable price tag, one of the signature hardware of the Switch had to be omitted from the Lite version. That’s right, the Joy-Con controllers are no longer removable, being fixed instead to the console itself.

But does that make the Switch Lite an inferior product? Not at all, and here’s why.

For starters, there is no performance disparity between the Switch Lite and the Switch: you’re getting the same kind of performance level. On top of that, the Switch Lite actually has slightly better battery life, thanks to a more power-efficient chip layout, a smaller display, and not needing to charge the Joy-Con controllers anymore.

As expected, every accessory announced for the original Switch will also work with the Switch Lite. Either it’s the Switch Pro Controller, the Poke Ball Plus (for Pokemon Let’s Go), or heck, even an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers bought separately – all of them will be compatible.

Speaking of which, you will need a separate pair of Joy-Con controllers if you want to play certain titles on the Switch Lite. Games like 1-2 Switch requires the Joy-Con controllers to be separated from the console, so it wouldn’t be possible to play it with the controllers affixed to the Switch Lite. It’s a bit of a give and take to lower the price of the new console.

Other features omitted from the Switch Lite include the ability to adjust brightness automatically (you’ll have to do so manually now), there’s no more kickstand at the back of the console, and you cannot connect it to a TV at all. It’s a handheld-only console, basically.

But, again, that doesn’t make the Switch Lite inferior to the original Switch – it’s made for a different audience. It’s meant to appeal to gamers who want a more portable version of the Switch, which is why the screen has been downsized to 5.5 inches. Despite the smaller display, the resolution still remains the same at 720p.

The more compact form factor of the Switch Lite is certainly nice, but the best selling point of this console has to be its much lower asking price. In the US, it is set to retail at only $199, which comes up to about RM820. For the sake of comparison, the Switch costs $100 (approximately RM415) more in the US.

However, whether or not the Switch Lite will be priced below the RM1,000 mark once retailers start bringing it into Malaysia still remains to be seen. We’ll have to wait until the new console is officially released on 20 September to find out.

Oh, there’s also a special Pokemon Sword and Shield edition of the Switch Lite, which looks really, really good (in our opinion). Unlike the standard version, this Pokemon edition of the Switch Lite will only arrive on 8 November, which is slightly earlier than the release of the game itself on 15 November.


Gaming on a Samsung 8K QLED TV Is Decadent

Remember when Samsung launched its
range of QLED TVs back in May
? Well, the Korean company recently invited us over for a little gaming session with the range-topping QA900R 8K QLED TV, which is priced up to RM299,999. It’s a really costly TV, but at the same time, it is also very impressive.

If you want the
absolute
 best TV for gaming, the QA900R easily fits that description – here’s what it’s like to game on the 8K QLED TV.

We’ve played two games on the QA900R QLED TV: Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Xbox One X), as well as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. That’s right, we connected a Nintendo Switch – which can only render Breath of the Wild at 900p – to an 8K TV.

However, that’s where the QA900R’s Quantum Processor 8K comes into the picture; quite literally. That processor is capable of upscaling content to match the TV’s 7680 x 4320 resolution, so even though the Switch only outputs 900p for Breath of the Wild, the game still looks great on the QA900R.

Resolution isn’t the only thing that’s improved. According to Samsung, even the colours and audio quality are improved accordingly.

Okay, so how does Breath of the Wild look on the QA900R? Fantastic. The colours pop, there’s no apparent pixelation at all, and the motion clarity is very good too. After all, the QA900R has a native 120Hz refresh rate, including support for FreeSync.

While the FreeSync support doesn’t really matter for the Nintendo Switch, it’s certainly handy for those who are connecting the TV to a PC or an Xbox One X. With that
variable refresh rate technology
, you won’t have to deal with screen tearing anymore, so long as you have hardware that supports the feature.

How Shadow of the Tomb Raider looks like on the QA900R (right) next to a standard 4K TV

Speaking of which, playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the Xbox One X is amazing with the QA900R 8K QLED TV; pictures don’t even begin to do it justice. Lara Croft looks incredibly detailed in 8K (the upscaling is done very, very well here), colours look lifelike, and, again, motion clarity is extremely good. I did not notice any blurring or smudging throughout my time with the game.

Another plus point for the QA900R is the anti-glare “moth eye” coating. Basically, there are very tiny bumps on the surface of the TV, which make for an anti-reflective surface. That being said, some glare will still be visible on the TV, but it’s minimal enough to not be bothersome.

Glare isn’t too obvious here
The Samsung QA900R (right) compared to a standard 4K TV

Given its high asking price, it really comes at no surprise that the Samsung QA900R 8K QLED TV is so impressive. To recap, three sizes of this TV are offered in Malaysia: 75-inch, 82-inch, and 98-inch. The 75-inch variant goes for RM59,999, while the 82-inch and 98-inch models retail at a whopping RM99,999 and RM299,999 respectively.

Native 8K content are still limited right now, but that shouldn’t deter you from getting the QA900R. It can upscale content very well to match that very high resolution, it has great motion clarity, and it is absolute bliss to game on such a stunning TV.

But you’ll have to come to terms with the steep asking price first, of course.


Deal: Nvidia GTX 1660 Going for Only RM899 Now

Budget PC gamers, rejoice: the Nvidia GTX 1660 GPU just got even more affordable. Originally retailing just shy of the RM1,000 mark, one retailer is offering a Galax GTX 1660
for only RM899 now
.

This deal is offered by Dotatech on Shopee; most folks in the hardware scene would be familiar with this retailer. On top of that, Dotatech is also offering a three-year warranty for this particular graphics card, though you’ll have to claim for warranty (if it becomes necessary) from the retailer itself.

As far as performance goes, the GTX 1660 is an excellent graphics card for its asking price. In fact, you should be able to max out the graphics settings of most modern games at 1080p with it. If you’re keen to get this GPU, act fast: there are only
three units left
 at the time of writing.


Dell XPS 13 (2019) Review: Refining a Winning Formula

The new Dell XPS 13 is, without a doubt, the best iteration of the very popular premium laptop yet. Its webcam is finally at the right place, it looks as sleek as ever, and even though it’s not super practical, the 4K display looks fantastic too.

Without a doubt the 2019 XPS 13 is a premium, refined product, but that also demands an equally premium price tag. That, in turn, is the hurdle holding back the XPS 13 from being a laptop that I can easily recommend to anyone.

Specifications

Display
13.3-inch 1080p InfinityEdge Display (1920 x 1080)
13.3-inch 4K InfinityEdge Touch Display (3840 x 2160)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8265U / i7-8565U
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM
8/16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz
Storage
256/512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Camera
HD
Battery
52WHr
Dimensions
302 x 199 x 7.8 – 11.6 mm
Weight
1.23kg
Audio
Side-firing stereo speakers
Ports
1x USB 3.1 Type-C
2x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3
1x microSD card reader

Dell sent over the highest-end XPS 13 for this review, which comes with a Core i7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a sharp 4K display, as well as 512GB of SSD storage.

Design

This really is one of the XPS 13 strongest suits. Many would agree that this laptop pioneered the bezel-less display design, and this latest model still looks really, really sleek. This is especially the case with the Arctic White model here. Despite having the webcam at the top of the display now, the bezel size is still kept at a minimum too, thanks to the tiny 2.25mm camera module developed by Dell.

However, I do have one gripe with the XPS 13’s design: the size of the bottom bezel. Granted, many other laptops with a similar design still has this “chin,” but there are also those with very small bottom bezels. Just take a look at the
Asus ZenBook 13
. Thanks to the lack of a chin, the ZenBook is actually more portable than the XPS 13.

Nonetheless, I do like the XPS 13’s build quality. The whole laptop feels very solid, there’s minimal keyboard flex, and I especially love the carbon fibre texture on the palm rest area. It’s a unique look that no other laptop offers, and it is really nice to the touch, making for a pleasant typing experience.

Another design point worth highlighting is the thin chassis of the XPS 13. Measuring only 11.6mm at its thickest point, it’s one of the slimmest laptops in the market now. Tipping the scales at 1.23kg, it’s a relatively lightweight machine too – ideal for those who are always on the go.

Then again, the XPS 13’s thin profile has one major drawback: you only have three USB-C ports for your connectivity needs. On the flip side, there’s also a microSD card slot if you need more storage.

As far as design goes, the XPS 13 is one of the sleekest looking laptops in the market now. Even though I’m not particularly fond of the bottom bezel’s size, the great build quality of the laptop more than makes up for this – it really matches the XPS 13’s premium positioning.

User Experience

Battery life is very important for a productivity-focused laptop, but unfortunately, the XPS 13 didn’t fare as well as I would’ve expected. With the display dimmed down to a comfortable level and the power plan switched to battery saver, I only managed to get six to seven hours of usage.

That’s not exactly bad battery life, per se, but I was expecting more out of the XPS 13. Then again, it
does
 have to sustain a 4K display; I reckon the screen is drawing the most power here. If you want the best battery life, it’s best to go for the 1080p model instead.

In fact, Dell claims that the 1080p variant can get up to 21 hours of battery life. It’s a very optimistic estimate, to be sure, though I’m certain it will at least outlast the 4K model.

Even though it draws a lot of power, there’s no denying just how
stunning
 the 4K panel of the XPS 13 is. The colours pop, it’s almost impossible to discern individual pixels, and I truly enjoy working on this display. Needless to say, watching movies on the XPS 13 is simply a joy too.

Yes, a 13.3-inch display with a 4K resolution is not the most practical choice of hardware for a productivity laptop like the XPS 13, but it’s a
really impressive display.
 Pictures do not do this HDR-capable screen justice at all.

Beyond the 4K display, the keyboard of the XPS 13 is equally good too. I’ve
previously mentioned
 how certain keys “squeak,” but thankfully enough, it went away after prolonged typing sessions. Besides that, the keyboard is very pleasant to type on as well.

There’s more than enough key travel for the keyboard to not feel shallow, the standard layout takes little to no adjustment for me to start typing comfortably, and I really like the soft, dampened tactility of the keys. That makes for a silent keyboard to type on, which can be important to some folks.

As for the trackpad, it’s…a bit of a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a really good trackpad: it can track my fingers accurately, gestures work well, and I love the smooth surface. The thing is, I cannot seem to
customise
 the trackpad to my liking.

See, I like to disable mouse acceleration whenever I’m on a Windows machine, but doing so through the Windows settings has absolutely no effect on the trackpad. It’s not a huge issue by any means, but this
is
a bit of an annoyance.

Audio quality, on the other hand, is nothing to write home about. It’s much too soft for my liking at maximum volume, and the audio quality itself isn’t particularly amazing either.

All in all, I still thoroughly enjoyed using the XPS 13 as my daily driver over the past couple of weeks. The amazing 4K display is easily the highlight here.

Performance

Powered by an Intel Core i7-8565U processor paired with 16GB of RAM, the XPS 13 does not skip a beat. I can open multiple tabs on Google Chrome without any issue at all (we all know how heavy Chrome can get), light image editing is a fuss-free affair, and never did the XPS 13 show any sign of sluggishness throughout my time with it. Well, except when it’s in power saver mode, understandably.

But when it comes to gaming, don’t expect much. After all, the XPS 13 only has an Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated GPU under the hood. If you only plan to do some light gaming – such as Dota 2 – it should be more than capable. But you won’t have a very good time if you’re thinking of running Apex Legends or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds on the XPS 13.

Competition

This is where it gets a lot harder to consider getting the XPS 13 over its competition. For starters, this particular XPS 13 variant retails at a whopping RM8,369. Even the base model is priced at RM5,709, and you’re only getting a Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, a 1080p non-touch display, and a 256GB SSD storage.

With these price tags in mind, let’s look at the XPS 13’s closest competition.

Asus ZenBook 13

if you want a sleeker-looking laptop (though this is a subjective matter) that offers better value for money, the
Asus ZenBook 13
 is the one you’d want to get. Its bezel-less display looks a lot sleeker thanks to the lack of a chin at the bottom of the screen, it’s more portable than Dell’s offering, and the webcam even supports Windows Hello – you don’t get that on the XPS 13.

To top it off, the ZenBook 13 is
a lot
 more affordable: the Core i7-8565U model retails at only RM4,999, and it comes with 512GB of SSD storage, 8GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce MX150 dedicated GPU. So not only does it cost less, the ZenBook 13 can run more graphically demanding games too.

That being said, opting for the higher-end XPS 13 does get you a far more impressive 4K touch display; it’s a far cry from the ZenBook’s more conventional 1080p non-touch screen. On top of that, the XPS 13 is also slimmer, albeit at the expense of more limited connectivity options.

HP Envy 13

Another good alternative to the XPS 13 is the recently updated HP Envy 13. It comes with the same Core i7-8565U processor paired with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, a similar bezel-less touch display with a bit of a chin, as well as an MX250 discrete GPU. How much does all of these cost? Only RM5,299.

In comparison, the XPS 13 is definitely the sleeker-looking laptop with a thinner chassis and a far more impressive 4K display. Then again, you’ll be spending over RM3,000 more to get these.

Conclusion

The Dell XPS 13 is an attractive-looking laptop with a fantastic 4K display, a slim profile, and a premium build quality; Dell is refining what was already a winning formula. But compared to other laptops in this segment, the XPS 13 is simply far too costly – even the base model doesn’t offer particularly good value for money.

Personally, I would only recommend the XPS 13 if you
absolutely
want the 4K display. The base model, on the other hand, is an “okay” buy if you really dig the laptop’s design. Just know that other laptops at this price point offer significantly more storage space and RAM capacity, as well as better gaming performance.

In a vacuum, the XPS 13 is a
really good
 premium productivity laptop. But it also carries an equally premium price tag, which makes it a less compelling option. For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed using the XPS 13 as my daily driver, and I always look forward to working on that stunning 4K display.

But is it worth spending over RM8,000 just for that display? Well, that’s an entirely different question.


Xiaomi Mi A3 Coming on 17 July

Xiaomi will be unveiling its latest Android One device very soon. Chances are, it will be called the Xiaomi Mi A3, and this new smartphone will be officially announced on 17 July in Spain.

Compared to its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi A2, the Mi A3 will supposedly bring a couple of neat upgrades. Of course, these information are not official yet, so things may change come 17 July.

Based on leaks and rumours, many believe that the Mi A3 is essentially the global version of the Xiaomi Mi CC9e. In fact, alleged images of the Mi A3
sent to GSMArena
 certainly validate this claim. It has a notched display, a triple camera system, and similar colour choices too.

Looking at the leaked images, it appears there won’t be a fingerprint sensor on the back of the Mi A3 either. Instead, it will supposedly come with an in-screen fingerprint sensor, along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, as well as a 4,030mAh battery.

Basically, the exact same hardware under the hood of the Mi CC9e.

If the Mi A3 is indeed the global version of the Mi CC9e, we can expect the A3 to mirror the CC9e’s hardware. These include a 6.01-inch 720p AMOLED display, either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, up to 128GB of expandable storage, and a 32MP front-facing camera.

As for the triple camera system on the back of the Mi A3, it’s believed to be made up of a 48MP f/1.8 primary shooter, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra wide-angle sensor, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth camera. Unfortunately, there’s no telephoto sensor here, though we imagine most folks would get more use out of the wide angle sensor.

Our hit Mi A series is coming back with a serious bang!
#PhotosWithoutLimits

pic.twitter.com/ak2MycQN2m
— Xiaomi #PhotosWithoutLimits (@Xiaomi)
July 12, 2019

Looking back at the Mi CC9e, there is actually a higher-end variant of the device in the form of the Mi CC9. With that in mind, there is a chance the Mi A3 series will feature two smartphones. After all, even the Mi A2 lineup consisted of  two devices: the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite.

Then again, this is merely an educated guess at this moment in time; we’ll just have to wait and see exactly what Xiaomi will introduce come 17 July later this week. If you’re a fan of stock Android, the Mi A3 is one to look out for – there aren’t that many Android One devices in the market now.


Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ Official – Will Power Asus ROG Phone 2

Qualcomm just took the wraps off the Snapdragon 855+, which is basically a faster variant of the
original Snapdragon 855
. Both the CPU and GPU of the Snapdragon 855+ are overclocked, and in the case of the latter, Qualcomm claims that you can expect up to 15% increase in gaming performance.

On top of that, the new Snapdragon 855+ will be found in devices releasing later this year, which also include the much anticipated Asus ROG Phone 2 gaming smartphone.

Compared to the standard Snapdragon 855, the new Snapdragon 855+ still features the same Adreno 640 GPU; it has just been overclocked to return up to 15% better performance. It may not be a new GPU, but that is a pretty noticeable performance gain.

As for the CPU, the Kryo 485 “Prime” core in the Snapdragon 855+ is now clocked at up to 2.96GHz instead of 2.84GHz. That’s not a wildly different clock speed, but it should provide some increase in CPU performance.

It’s worth noting that Qualcomm did not specifically mention how much performance gain you can expect from the overclocked CPU. The company only say that you can expect “an uplift in CPU performance.”

Beyond these two differences, the Snapdragon 855+ is basically identical to the original chipset. It still comes with the same number of cores, it is still a 7nm chip, and it still has support for Quick Charge 4+. Given that the GPU performance gain is the most noticeable change, Qualcomm is marketing the 855+ as a chipset “built for gaming.”

And with that in mind, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that most gaming smartphones releasing later this year will come with the Snapdragon 855+. In fact, Asus itself has confirmed that the upcoming ROG Phone 2 will be powered by the new chipset.

Looking at supposed leaked images of the ROG Phone 2, it doesn’t seem to be drastically different from its predecessor in terms of design. Thankfully, there’s
no notch or hole-punch cutout
 on the display. Instead, the upcoming phone will be sticking with traditional bezels, though they do appear to be a little bit smaller than the
original ROG Phone
‘s bezels.

Even though its design doesn’t seem to be remarkably different, the ROG Phone 2’s display is a lot faster. Asus confirmed that the new device will be sporting a 120Hz display instead of a 90Hz one, which puts it in the same league as the
Razer Phone 2
.

Unfortunately, other specifications of the ROG Phone 2 are still relatively unknown.

The original Asus ROG Phone

Nonetheless, the Asus ROG Phone 2 will be officially unveiled next week on 23 July. If you’re wondering, we were also told that the gaming smartphone will be making its way into Malaysia. Rest assured, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the local availability of the ROG Phone 2.