ZTE Blade V40 Vita With Huge 6,000mAh Battery Launched in Malaysia for RM599

ZTE just launched a pretty interesting budget-friendly phone in Malaysia. Not only is the ZTE Blade V40 Vita affordable, it also sports a generous 6,000mAh battery – ideal for those who want a long-lasting smartphone.

Only one variant of the Blade V40 Vita is offered in Malaysia. Priced at RM599, the sole configuration comes with 128GB of expandable storage and 4GB of RAM. Two colour options are available: Zeus Black (the model you see here) and Pine Green.

For that kind of money, the Blade V40 Vita features a Unisoc T606 chipset, a 6.745-inch 1600 x 720 display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (48MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), an 8MP selfie camera , and of course, the aforementioned 6,000mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging.

To recap, the ZTE Blade V40 Vita retails at RM599 for the Malaysian market. The phone will be available for pre-order on
ZTE’s official Shopee store
 sometime in the middle of June next month; early birds will receive a ZTE Bluetooth speaker.


ZTE Axon 40 Ultra With Under-Display Camera Coming to Malaysia in September 2022

We were just told that the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra flagship phone will be coming to Malaysia in September 2022. Sporting a fast 144Hz AMOLED display with an under-display camera, it’s certainly a sleek-looking, high-end device with a “true” full-screen design.

Unfortunately, only the Axon 40 Ultra is coming here; we were told that the Pro model is only offered in China and selected markets. Nonetheless, the Ultra
is
 the higher-end device, thanks to its under-display camera and faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.

Other specifications of the Axon 40 Ultra include a 6.8-inch 2480 x 1116 AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate – as well as the aforementioned under-display camera – a triple camera system (64MP primary + 64MP periscope telephoto + 64MP ultra-wide angle), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging.

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra will be available in Malaysia sometime in September 2022. It remains to be seen how much it will be priced at here, though it starts at 4,998 Chinese yuan (about RM3,280) in China.


RedMagic 7 Series With 165Hz Display Launching in Malaysia Soon

The RedMagic 7 series of gaming smartphones are coming to Malaysia (officially) soon, which include the standard model, as well as the RedMagic 7 Pro. Sporting some powerful hardware under the hood – including a 165Hz display – these two phones may appease even the most demanding mobile gamer.

Curiously, only the regular RedMagic 7 has a 6.8-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. The Pro model, on the other hand, has a more modest 120Hz AMOLED panel of the same size and resolution, though it does have an under-display camera as well for a sleeker look.

The RedMagic 7

The RedMagic 7 Pro

Beyond that, both the RedMagic 7 and Pro models share similar hardware. These include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), capacitive shoulder buttons, and a built-in fan. It’s worth noting that the Pro variant has a 16MP selfie camera and a 5,000mAh battery, while the standard version has an 8MP shooter and 4,500mAh battery.

Although it’s now confirmed the RedMagic 7 and RedMagic 7 Pro will be coming to Malaysia officially in Malaysia – online listings of the phone do not come with local warranty – no specific launch date was given. That being said, we were told that they will arrive before the
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
, which is set to arrive sometime in September 2022.


Acer Swift 3 OLED Hands-On: More Powerful, More Vibrant, More Compelling

Announced back at Acer’s Next@Acer Global Press Conference 2022 a couple of weeks ago, the Acer Swift 3 OLED is the latest iteration of the Taiwanese company’s popular (and quite affordable) productivity laptop. As its name suggests, the Swift 3 OLED now sports a bright and vibrant OLED panel.

That alone is quite a big selling point for the productivity-focused laptop. But on top of the higher quality panel, the new Swift 3 is also packing Intel’s 12th generation H-series processors, which is usually reserved for gaming laptops.

Thanks to this, you’ve got ample processing power with the Swift 3 OLED. If you want to take it a step further, you can even pair it with an external GPU to turn the laptop into a capable gaming machine. If this piqued your interest, keep on reading this hands-on of the Swift 3.

The processor powering the Swift 3 OLED really is quite an interesting choice on Acer’s part. Instead of a 12th gen Intel P-series or U-series mobile chip, Acer’s decision to use the higher performance H-series processors for this laptop makes it
that
 much more compelling, in my opinion.

Granted, it’s also more power-hungry, which may affect the battery life of the Swift 3. But it’s worth noting that Acer promises up to 10 hours of “real-world battery life” with this laptop. The company added that a 30-minute charge can provide up to 4 hours of use as well.

Nonetheless, even if the Swift 3 OLED could return better battery life with a different processor, I think the Intel H-series processor is a worthy tradeoff for more performance, After all, it opens up the possibility of turning the productivity laptop into a…well, gaming laptop.

Now, while the Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics of the Swift 3 can do some casual gaming, pairing the laptop with the aforementioned external GPU via the laptop’s Thunderbolt 4 connection will
really
 improve its gaming performance. The 12th gen Intel H-series chip should be able to provide enough processing power to not be a bottleneck either.

Okay, beyond performance, the Swift 3 OLED has other winning qualities too, including a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. This refresh rate is high enough for a smooth, responsive user experience, and the 16:10 aspect ratio is also great for productivity tasks with the extra vertical screen real estate.

As for the screen quality itself, it’s great! Not only does it have a peak brightness of 500 nits – more than bright enough for comfortable use under sunlight – it also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Basically, this is a very pleasant screen to look at, and this being an OLED panel, it also has deep, true blacks.

And then there’s the portability of the Swift 3 OLED. Measuring 17.9mm thin with a 1.4kg chassis, it’s really quite a compact, lightweight productivity laptop. I definitely wouldn’t mind lugging around this laptop in my backpack.

Portability aside, one of the most important aspects of a productivity-focused laptop are the input devices. In this regard, the Swift 3 performs admirably. The keyboard, for one, is quite comfortable to type on.

Although the keys don’t have a lot of travel – which lends to a slightly shallow typing experience – the keyboard has a good amount of tactility for improved typing accuracy. Plus, the standard layout takes little to no time to get used to as well; I certainly wouldn’t mind doing a lot of typing with this keyboard.

I’m also impressed with the OceanGlass trackpad of the Swift 3. Naturally, it can track my fingers accurately, and despite the fact that it’s made out of recycled plastic, it still has a nice, smooth surface. I don’t feel the need to use a mouse with the laptop at all.

All things considered, the Acer Swift 3 OLED is a great improvement over its predecessor. Not only does it feature a more powerful processor, it also has a stunning OLED panel while retaining one of the Swift series’ best quality: portability.

Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on the Malaysian availability of the Swift 3 OLED. But if it does eventually arrive here – it should, given Acer’s notable presence in our market – it has the potential to be a real winner for the Taiwanese company,
especially
 if it’s priced right.

For the sake of context, the
previous Swift 3
 retailed from RM4,199 when it was first launched in Malaysia. If the new Swift 3 OLED is priced within this price range, I reckon it will be a compelling laptop.

Anyway, the Swift 3 OLED is currently on sale in China, while other regions (including the US and EMEA) will get it sometime in July 2022. In the US, the laptop starts at $900, which comes up to about RM3,940.

Here’s hoping the Swift 3 OLED will be priced similarly in the Malaysian market once it is officially launched here. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of this productivity laptop.


Honor Magic 4 Pro Unleashed in Malaysia – 100x Zoom, 100W Fast Charging, RM3,999

After many, many teasers, the
Honor Magic 4 Pro
 has finally been launched in Malaysia. As a flagship smartphone, the Magic 4 Pro naturally features some high-end hardware, including a triple camera system that can do 100x zoom, 100W fast charging, as well as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.

Only one variant of the Magic 4 Pro is offered in Malaysia. The sole 256GB configuration with 8GB of RAM retails at RM3,999, and it is available in three distinct colours: Cyan, Gold, and Black. Of course, early birds will also get some extra freebies.

One of the highlights of the Magic 4 Pro is its triple camera system. It’s made up of a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 64MP periscope telephoto lens that can do 3.5x optical zoom or up to 100x zoom. These sensors are housed in a unique circular camera module.

Other specifications of the Magic 4 Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a 6.81-inch 2848 x 1312 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 12MP selfie camera, an IP68 rating, and a 4,600mAh battery with support for 100W wired
and wireless
charging.

The Honor Magic 4 Pro will be available for pre-order in Malaysia later today at 5PM until 11 June 2022. Priced at RM3,999, early birds will get up to RM1,656 worth of freebies, including the new Honor Watch GS 3, a case, a 6-month screen crack protection, and a 1+1 year extended warranty.

Unfortunately, there’s no indication that the regular Magic 4 will also make its debut in Malaysia, so it remains to be seen if the more affordable variant will also be sold here.


2 – 8 June Fuel Price: All Prices Unchanged; RON 97 Still RM4.70 Per Litre

After last week’s
steep
 price hike for RON 97, there’s (thankfully) no change this week. Of course, no changes to the prices of RON 95 and diesel either, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 is still set at RM4.70 per litre. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 2 to 8 June 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Honor Magic 4 & Magic 4 Ultimate Not Coming to Malaysia (Yet)

The
Honor Magic 4 Pro
 was just launched in Malaysia today, but two other devices in the series were not present: the standard Magic 4 and the more decadent Magic 4 Ultimate. Well, we were told by Honor Malaysia itself that there are currently no plans to bring in the two phones.

At least, that’s the case at the moment. We were told by an Honor Malaysia representative that the Magic 4 Pro is the company’s first flagship phone to be launched here in quite some time, so it wants to gauge consumer interest in our market first before launching more high-end devices locally.

With that in mind, the same representative said that Honor Malaysia will not discount the possibility of bringing in the Magic 4 and Magic 4 Ultimate to our shores. At the moment, only the Pro model will be sold here.

Nonetheless, if you’re keen to get the Honor Magic 4 Pro, you can pre-order it right now in Malaysia until 11 June for RM3,999. Early birds will also receive freebies worth up to RM1,656, which include the new Honor Watch GS 3, a case, a 6-month screen crack protection, and a 1+1 year extended warranty.


PlayStation Plus June 2022 Free Games: God of War, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, Can’t Drive This

PlayStation Plus’ June 2022 free games have just been announced. The lineup includes God of War, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and for us here in Asia, Can’t Drive This. All of these games are available for the PS4, while the PS5 version of the latter two are also offered.

Out of the four games, God of War is definitely the most exciting title. While some players may have gotten the game already from the PlayStation Plus Collection on the PS5, those who haven’t received the game yet will definitely appreciate this month’s lineup.

With the
revamped PS Plus membership
, these four games can be claimed by subscribers of any tiers. Whether you’re on the Essential, Extra, or Deluxe plan, you will have access to these monthly PS Plus games.

All four games can be claimed by PS Plus members from 7 June to 4 July 2022. That means you have until this coming Monday (6 June) to get your hands on May 2022’s free games, including
FIFA 22, Tribes of Midgard, and Curse of the Dead Gods
.


RedmiBook 15 Lands in Malaysia 6 June for RM2,399 – Early Birds Get RM500 Discount

Xiaomi’s first-ever laptop for the Malaysian market is here. Enter the RedmiBook 15: starting at only RM2,399, early birds can get up to RM500 discount, lowering the price of entry for the productivity laptop to
merely RM1,899
.

For that kind of money, the RedmiBook 15 offers an 11th gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. If you want more processing power, you can opt for the RM2,799 (RM2,499 for early birds) Core i5-11300H configuration, which also doubles the SSD storage to 512GB.

Other specifications of the RedmiBook 15 include a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 display, a 19.9mm thin side profile – reasonably slim for a laptop this size – a 1.8kg chassis, a 46Wh battery that promises up to 10 hours of use, as well as Windows 11 Home out of the box.

You can get the RedmiBook 15 from only RM1,899 between 6 to 30 June in Malaysia through
Shopee
 and
Lazada
. As for those who purchase it through an Authorised Xiaomi store, they will get a Mi Casual Backpack worth RM69.


Hearthstone Throne of the Tides Mini-Set Now Available – Adds 35 New Cards

Blizzard’s latest Mini-Set for
Hearthstone
, Throne of the Tides, is available today. It’s a part of the current Voyage to the Sunken City expansion, and the Mini-Set introduces 35 new cards to the game. As per usual, it can be purchased with cash or in-game gold – there’s even an all-Golden set.

Throne of the Tides Mini-Set bundles 66 cards, which are multiple copies of the 35 new cards. These are made up of 4 Legendary cards (x1), 1 Epic card (x2), 14 Rare cards (x2), and 16 Common cards (x2). How much does the Mini-Set cost? $14.99 (about RM65) or 2,000 in-game gold.

As for the all-Golden set, it will set you back $69.99 (approximately RM305).

The first Mini-Set (Darkmoon Races) was introduced back in January 2021 as part of the Madness at the Darkmoon Faire expansion. Generally, Mini-Sets offer great value, especially for free-to-play players. If you’ve got 2,000 gold lying around, it’s definitely worth getting the new Mini-Set.

Throne of the Tides is now available in Hearthstone. With the addition of the 35 new cards, expect the meta to change accordingly – there may even be some nerfs in the future.


Asus ROG Phone 6 Launch Set for 5 July – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Confirmed

As gaming phones go, Asus’ range of devices in the segment are some of the most well-known. Come 5 July next month, the Taiwanese company will unveil the latest Asus ROG Phone 6. Naturally, the upcoming gaming phone will also be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset.

Asus shared the launch date of the ROG Phone 6 on its Twitter page. The post also mentioned that other products will be introduced alongside the gaming phone, including new accessories and gaming headphones.

Tune in to the ROG Phone 6: For Those Who Dare virtual launch event to discover everything about this new gaming marvel!
What else to watch out for in this event
✅New accessories
✅New gaming headphones
Save the date👉
https://t.co/VXqYzkLZX3
#ROGPHONE6

#ForThoseWhoDare

pic.twitter.com/i4Br2K5Edp
— ROG Global (@ASUS_ROG)
June 1, 2022

Compared to the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the new “Plus” version found in the ROG Phone 6 is said to offer up to 10% faster GPU speeds. The CPU sees a 10% improvement as well, and the chipset is also claimed to be up to 30% more power-efficient.

The Asus ROG Phone 6 will make its debut next month on 5 July; the launch event will
start at 8PM
 for us here in Malaysia. It’ll be interesting to see if it will bring any notable upgrades to the current
ROG Phone 5
.


Honda Malaysia Offers up to RM4,000 Discount for June 2022 – Last Month for Tax Exemption

This is the last month to enjoy sales tax exemption on car purchases, and to give customers further incentives, Honda Malaysia is offering up to RM4,000 discount on its range of models in June 2022. These including the
popular Honda City
, Accord, and HR-V.

Naturally, the
Honda Accord
 gets the best discount. Both the range-topping TC-P and more affordable TC variants of the D-segment sedan receive a RM4,000 rebate. A tier down is the Honda City, which gets a RM2,000 discount for all variants of the B-segment sedan, including the range-topping
RS e:HEV model
.

Next up is the
Honda BR-V
; this seven-seater gets a RM1,000 rebate. If you want an SUV instead, you can opt for the
Honda CR-V
 or
Honda HR-V
 – both of them also receive a RM1,000 discount.

If you’re wondering why Honda’s June 2022 discounts
aren’t quite as generous as a few months ago
, that’s because the 2021 models are no longer available. Also, do note that these discounts are only applicable for vehicles registered between 1 to 30 June 2022.

More information on these discounts can be found on
Honda Malaysia’s website
.

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


MTG’s Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate Coming 10 June

Wizards of the Coast is releasing a new set for Magic: The Gathering. Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate will be available next week on 10 June, and it’s a crossover between MTG and the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

Battle for Baldur’s Gate is a set specifically designed to be drafted, and true to the lore of Baldur’s Gate, the Rulebook frames make a return. Certain Mythic Rare Planeswalkers, artifacts, and creatures will also receive the Borderless frame treatment, as you can see below.

To celebrate the release of Battle for Baldur’s Gate, Wizards is offering a customised branded dice case, which is exclusive to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Philippines. To get the case, you’ll have to purchase a Battle for Baldur’s Gate Collector Booster Box from participating WPN (Wizards Play Network) stores.

MTG’s Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate will be released on 10 June 2022. It is available in Draft, Set, and Collector Boosters, along with Precon Commander Decks, Prerelease pack, and a special Commander Legends Bundle that contains an oversized D20.

If you want to pre-order the new set, check with your favourite local game store!


Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered Coming to PC on 12 August 2022 – Miles Morales Fall 2022

More PlayStation exclusive games are coming to PC later this year! Both Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and Miles Morales will be available on PC in the next few months, with the former arriving first on 12 August 2022.

Spider-Man Miles Morales, on the other hand, will be available later in fall 2022, so it could be launched between September to December this year. Of course, the PC versions of the two games will support mouse and keyboard inputs.

Aside from that, you’ll also get more graphics options, including the ability to adjust render settings and ray-traced reflections. Spider-Man Remastered on PC will also include the full main story and The City That Never Sleeps DLC.

To recap, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered will be coming to PC on 12 August 2022. Miles Morales will arrive later between September to December this year. It’s worth noting that these two games are actually optimised by Nixxes Software instead of Insomniac Games, which is a PlayStation Studios partner.


Horizon Forbidden West Gets New Game+ Mode & QoL Improvements

At PlayStation’s State of Play event, Guerrilla Games revealed a new update for
Horizon Forbidden West
. Not only is it getting a New Game+ mode, there are also a slew of quality of life improvements, not to mention a new Ultra Hard difficulty.

As with most New Game+ mode, it allows you to play through Horizon Forbidden West from the beginning again with your endgame gear. Of course, it also improves the game’s replay value, especially for those who have finished all the side quests.

On top of that, the new update also adds a number of quality of life improvements. The transmog feature, for one, allows players to customise the looks of their equipped outfit. You can also reset your skill points and redistribute them to try out a different playstyle.

The new Horizon Forbidden West update is now live on both the PS5 and PS4. Looking forward, Guerrilla Games is also working on a new patch that includes support for
variable refresh rate
 and a 40fps mode.


Marvel’s Spider-Man Series Sold 33 Million Copies Worldwide

The Marvel’s Spider-Man series is proving to be quite a success for Insomniac Games. According to the studio, more than 33 million copies of the series – which includes the original Spider-Man and Miles Morales – have been sold worldwide.

This figure is accurate as of 15 May 2022, and it’s quite impressive, given that Spider-Man and Miles Morales are only available on the PlayStation platform. That is, until the two games are also offered on PC later this year.

Chances are, sales of the Marvel’s Spider-Man series will increase accordingly once that happens. Despite the fact that the original Spider-Man was first released in 2018 – late 2020 for Miles Morales – the engrossing narrative and sheer content of the open world games still hold up well to today’s standards.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered will be heading to PC on 12 August 2022. As for Miles Morales, it will be released sometime in fall 2022, so that’s between September to December this year.


CCA CRA+ Review: Bassy, Ultra-Budget IEM

Competition within the budget-centric single dynamic IEM market has been fierce in recent years. Dynamic drivers are, after all, the default choice of driver in audio – it’s old but gold. Gold, like the faceplate of the CCA CRA+: a product of the single dynamic driver IEM boom.

Prior to the release of the CRA+, CCA – which is the sister brand of renowned “ChiFi” IEM manufacturer, KZ – has released a wide variety of budget IEMs. CCA’s products are often at the receiving end of praises for their
sheer
value for money.

In fact, the CRA+’s predecessor, the CRA, has been boldly claimed by many to be the “best budget IEM” in the market with its $15 (about RM65) price tag. CCA claims that this new plus model has stronger bass, a wider soundstage, as well as improved treble extension.

But at almost twice the price of the original, is the CRA+ a worthy successor? Read on to find out.

What It Is

In the box of the CRA+, you’ll find the IEM itself, a white “high purity” cable, as well as three pairs of different sized silicone ear tips. The build of the CRA+ is pretty standard affair with a transparent shell and a gold faceplate with the CCA branding.

While the shell design of the CRA+ doesn’t seem too different from some of KZ’s offerings, the task of having the IEM sit comfortably in my ears was…well, nearly impossible. The shell has a tendency to slowly lean outwards from my ear canal
no matter
 which tip size I use. I suspect this might be caused by the drag of the cable.

Speaking of which, the CRA+’s included cable is as uninspiring as the shell design, and it is also extremely prone to tangling up. Thankfully, you can switch it out for any 2-pin cable of your choice.

As for pricing, the CRA+ is currently listed at $27.88 (about RM120)
on Linsoul
, one of the most reputable online stores for ChiFi IEMs. Want a mic? Just add on $1. While this pricing puts the CRA+ comfortably in the budget segment, it also cost (almost) twice as much as the previous model.

So…can the CRA+ really command the extra cost? Well, let’s get to that in the next section.

How Does It Sound?

Simply put, the CRA+ has a V-shape sound signature that’s not as aggressive as some of KZ’s offerings. That being said, if you’re familiar with the house sound of KZ, you’ll feel right at home here. There’s an obvious boost in the low-end that warms up the frequency range of the IEM, but not overly so.

Bass

The bass response of the CRA+ is the star of the show here with a sub-bass that is “muscular” with a pleasant, lingering decay. The mid-bass is punchy and quick, though it could be a tad tighter. Suffice to say bassheads will be able get their fix with the CRA+.

However, do note that the boosted low-end might be too overwhelming for some folks.

Mids

As is the nature of a V-shape sound signature, the mids of the CRA+ are recessed, but subtly so. The punchy bass of the IEM doesn’t find its way into the mids either, but that also leaves the mid-range a bit lacking in weight and definition. Both male and female vocals, while clear, could do with a bit more body as well.

Highs

The treble of the CRA+ is extended, but unfortunately, there isn’t much detail or resolution here. In fact, cymbals and higher-pitched synths can even sound sibilant on certain tracks. While there are decent airiness and sparkle present in slower songs, heavy instrumental tracks present themselves as a bit of a mess.

Soundstage

The CRA+ offers some some depth in the soundstage, but not much in respect to width or instrument separation. Busier music tracks have a tendency to congest the soundstage too with an incoherent mix of the boosted low-end and relatively sharp highs.

Is It Worth It?

While the fit of the CCA CRA+ takes some fidgeting to get right, the IEM’s sound quality still punches above its weight class. In regards to the promise of stronger bass and extended treble, the CRA+ does deliver on both counts – but at a cost.

In essence, the CRA+ tries to wear too many hats. It struggles to fill the shoes of the original CRA, which is considered by many to be a jack-of-all-trades.

That being said, the CRA+ is still an energetic, bass-centric IEM that will make you light on your feet with how fun it is…while also being light on your wallet. Priced
from only $27.88
, you can do a lot worse.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


2022 Proton X70 Launching 9 June – To Get X50’s 1.5L TGDi Engine?

Here it is: Proton just posted a teaser of the 2022 Proton X70. Set to be launched this Thursday on 9 June, the C-segment SUV looks to be getting a facelift with a “bolder and sleeker” design.

The Proton X70 hasn’t received any major changes since the
CKD model
 was launched back in February 2020, so it’s high time the SUV gets facelifted. Based on the teaser posted by Proton, it’s confirmed to be getting the same 19-inch wheels as the
Proton X70 SE
.

Based on previous rumours, the X70’s 1.8L turbocharged engine is also said to be replaced with a 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder mill for the facelift model. Yes, it’s the very same one found under the hood of the
Proton X50
, which outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque.

Of course, it’s still too early to tell if the national carmaker will indeed give the Proton X70 the 1.5L engine of the X50. We’ll find out more as we approach the launch of the new C-segment SUV on 9 June this Thursday. You can catch the livestream at 11AM on
Proton’s Facebook page
.


iOS 16 Adds Multiple Lock Screens With Customisable Fonts & Colours

At Apple’s WWDC 2022 event, the Cupertino company revealed some details on the brand new iOS 16. One of the most significant changes lie in the lock screen: not only can you create multiple lock screens in the new update, it is also more customisable than ever.

These new customisation options in iOS 16 will really give users a lock screen that is unique to them. In order to change between different lock screens, for example, all you need to do is just swipe across the screen. You can also change the fonts and colours used.

Widgets can also be added to the lock screen in iOS 16, not to mention a slight revamp on how notifications are shown. Instead of piling up notifications from the same app – effectively blocking the details – iOS 16 will “roll in” said notifications from the bottom instead.

Not many smartphone makers focus too much on the lock screen of their operating systems, so Apple’s decision to revamp its lock screen is certainly an interesting one. iOS 16 should debut alongside the iPhone 14 series as early as September 2022.


MacBook Air 2022 Unleashed With Apple M2 Chip, Notched Screen & MagSafe

The MacBook Air 2022 has just been announced at Apple’s WWDC 2022 event. Sporting a new design and the equally new (and blazing fast) Apple M2 chip, it is the sleekest, fastest MacBook Air yet.

Naturally, the all-new MacBook Air retains its thin and light design. With a 11.3mm thin chassis, this is without a doubt a portable laptop. But how much does it weigh? Well, it tips the scales at only 1.2kg – this is a very much a lightweight laptop.

Aside from its portable nature, the new MacBook Air also gets a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display – complete with a notch – a very respectable battery life of up to 18 hours, as well as up to 24GB of memory and 2TB SSD storage. Oh, the MagSafe charger makes a return too.

The MacBook Air 2022 starts at $1,199 in the US; that comes up to about RM5,265. It will be available there sometime in July next month, and it will be sold alongside the current M1-based MacBook Air.


MacBook Air 2022 With M2 Chip Starts at RM5,499 in Malaysia

The just-announced MacBook Air 2022 just got its Malaysian pricing. Given that this is the sleekest, fastest MacBook Air yet – it’s powered by the new, blazing fast Apple M2 chip – it’s no surprise that it commands a premium price tag.

For the Malaysian market, the updated MacBook Air starts at RM5,499. For that kind of money, you’re getting the M2 chip with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 8GB unified memory, and 256GB SSD storage. A tier up is the RM6,699 model, which offers a faster 10-core GPU and a 512GB SSD.

Naturally, the all-new MacBook Air retains its thin and light design. With a 11.3mm thin chassis, this is without a doubt a portable laptop. But how much does it weigh? Well, it tips the scales at only 1.2kg – this is a very much a lightweight laptop.

Aside from its portable nature, the new MacBook Air also gets a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display – complete with a notch – a very respectable battery life of up to 18 hours, as well as up to 24GB of memory and 2TB SSD storage. Oh, the MagSafe charger makes a return too.

To recap, the MacBook Air 2022 starts at RM5,499 here in Malaysia, though it remains to be seen exactly when it will be available here. The M2 MacBook Air will continue to be sold alongside the (more affordable) M1-based version.


13-Inch MacBook Pro With M2 Chip Arrives in Malaysia July 2022 From RM5,699

Besides the brand new MacBook Air, Apple also updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with its brand new M2 chip. Beyond the new processor, other hardware of the MacBook remain the same, including the divisive Touch Bar.

Two main configurations of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro are offered in Malaysia. The more affordable RM5,699 model is powered by the M2 chip with an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, 8GB unified memory, and a 256GB SSD.

Those who want more storage space can opt for the RM6,499 variant instead, which comes with a more generous 512GB SSD.

Aside from the new M2 chip, the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro is similar to the previous model. It still comes with a 13.3‑inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display with True Tone technology, support for P3 wide colour gamut, and up to 500 nits of brightness. All in all, it’s the same screen people know and love, though it would’ve been great if the bezels surrounding the display were reduced too.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple M2 chip will be available in Malaysia sometime in July 2022 next month. To recap, it starts at RM5,699 on our shores – just
RM100 more than the M1-based model
.


2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K TVs Launched in Malaysia – From RM12,499 to RM49,999

Samsung just introduced its 2022 range of high-end Neo QLED 8K TVs in Malaysia. As the name suggests, these Tizen-powered smart TVs all feature an 8K resolution, along with a slew of enticing features.

Three distinct models of the Neo QLED 8K TVs are offered in Malaysia. There’s the most affordable QN700B, which is offered in a sole 55-inch size for RM12,499. A tier up is the QN800B; it’s available in 65-inch (RM18,999), 75-inch (RM24,999), and 85-inch (RM33,999) models.

Last but not least is the range-topping Neo QLED 8K QN900B, which is also offered in three sizes: 65-inch (RM23,999), 75-inch (RM34,999), and 85-inch (RM49,999). As the highest-end offering, the QN900B has a 90W 6.2.4 channel audio system for superior sound quality.

Standard features of the latest Neo QLED 8K TVs include a Neural Quantum Processor 8K – it promises improved image quality with “20 independent neural AI networks” – a 144Hz refresh rate with four HDMI 2.1 ports, and of course, a new Smart Hub user interface powered by Tizen.

The 2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K TVs are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, these high-end TVs retail from RM12,499 to RM49,999. More details on the 2022 QLED 8K TVs can be found on
Samsung Malaysia’s website
.


ACO Tech Launches ATLAS – Infotainment System Coming to Proton X50, X70, Iriz, Persona

ACO Tech officially launched the ATLAS today, which stands for ACO Tech Local Automotive Services. Touted as an infotainment system made by Malaysians for Malaysians, it will be available on a slew of Proton models, including the
X50
,
Iriz
,
Persona
, and the upcoming
2022 Proton X70
.

The ATLAS operating system will be delivered to these cars through an over-the-air (OTA) update in the near future. We were told that the upcoming X70 facelift will also get the ATLAS system, though the C-segment SUV will come with the GKUI software first at launch.

Based on Android 10, ATLAS has a distinctively different – and more practical – user interface than Proton’s GKUI system. It has customisable widgets on the home screen, there’s offline navigation, voice command features that can even differentiate between the driver’s and front passenger’s voices, and even ATLAS Pay, a car-based digital wallet system.

However, ATLAS Pay will only be available by Q4 2022, and it’s done in partnership with UOB Malaysia and Fasspay. ACO Tech is also working with FIVE Petroleum Malaysia for a “seamless refuelling experience” at FIVE petrol stations.

It’s also worth noting that ACO Tech signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Huawei Malaysia to develop cloud-based automotive solutions on Huawei Cloud.

No word yet on exactly when the ATLAS operating system will be available on the Proton X50, X70, Iriz, or the Persona, though ACO Tech mentioned that a global partnership with an audio streaming service is underway, which is likely foreshadowing the addition of Spotify to ATLAS. More details will be announced by the end of this month.

To learn more about ATLAS and other offerings by ACO Tech, you can head on to its website
right here.


9 – 15 June Fuel Price: RON 97 Up 2 Sen, Now RM4.72 Per Litre

There’s a slight price hike for RON 97 this week: it’s set to go up by 2 sen per litre. Of course, no changes to the prices of RON 95 and diesel, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 is set at RM4.72 per litre. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 9 to 15 June 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


2022 Proton X70 MC Official – X50’s 1.5L TGDi Engine, AWD, RM94k to RM122k

The 2022 Proton X70 is here! Now, this isn’t
technically
a facelift, as the exterior of the new C-segment SUV remains (largely) the same as the previous model. Rather, Proton calls this a Minor Change (MC), and the updated X70 has a number of additions, including the
X50
‘s 1.5L turbo engine and AWD option.

Before we get to that, let’s talk about the 2022 X70’s prices first. As many as five different variants of the SUV are offered: the base 1.5 Standard model costs RM93,900, while the 1.5 Executive goes for RM105,500 or RM111,300 for the AWD option.

And then we have the two range-topping models, the 1.5 Premium (RM117,900) and 1.8 Premium (RM121,800), which is essentially the previous
Premium X trim
 under a different name. These prices are with sales tax exemption applied until the end of the month, and the SUV comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

The biggest change to the 2022 X70 is definitely the 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine; the same one found under the hood of the X50. As before, it outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque paired with a (retuned) seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

As teased, the new X70 also gets new 19-inch alloy wheels, which were
first seen on the SE model
. However, this new alloy wheel design is only reserved for the Premium models. They are are also the only  trim levels to get the ADAS active safety suite, including autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.

Other standard equipment of the X70 MC remain the same, including automatic headlights, six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC, and an 8-inch infotainment screen with GKUI. It’s worth noting that the latter will be updated to
ACO Tech’s ATLAS system
 sometime in the future.

The 2022 Proton X70 MC is now available for booking in Malaysia. Given that the national carmaker is still listing the prices of the new C-segment SUV with sales tax exemption applied – which is
set to end on 30 June
 – there’s a chance you can get the car as soon as this month.


2022 Honda HR-V Open for Booking in Malaysia – Hybrid Option, Honda Sensing, Launching in Q3 2022

We’ve suspected the local debut of the 2022 Honda HR-V for quite some time now, and Honda Malaysia finally confirmed it today. The Japanese carmaker just opened bookings for the new B-segment SUV, and some key specifications of the new model were revealed as well.

According to the
teaser shared by Honda Malaysia
, the hybrid model of the 2022 HR-V with the 1.5L i-MMD e:HEV powertrain is confirmed; it’s touted as the “most advanced” in the B-segment market. On top of that, it will also get the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance safety systems and sequential turn signals.

Aside from that, there’s a good chance the all-new HR-V will also be offered with a 1.5L turbocharged VTEC engine; this will make it more appealing to customers that don’t fancy the hybrid powertrain. Of course, there’s also the much more modern styling of the SUV.

The 2022 Honda HR-V is now open for booking in Malaysia. Of course, the local pricing of the B-segment SUV has not been revealed yet – we’ll find out for ourselves once the new HR-V is launched here sometime in Q3 2022.


Black Shark 5 Series Lands in Malaysia – 144Hz AMOLED, Physical Shoulder Buttons, From RM2,299

Two new gaming smartphones are now available in Malaysia. Sporting 144Hz AMOLED displays and physical shoulder buttons, the Black Shark 5 and Black Shark 5 Pro are pretty interesting gaming phones. More importantly, the former is also affordable, starting at only RM2,299.

Naturally, the RM2,299 price tag is for the base model of the Black Shark 5, which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. If you want more RAM and storage, you can opt for the RM2,699 configuration with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

If you want a more powerful gaming phone, there’s the Black Shark 5 Pro. Not only is it powered by a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, it also has a more sophisticated triple camera setup (108MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 5MP telemacro). Of course, it’s also more costly at RM3,699 and RM3,999 for the 12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 256GB models respectively.

Beyond the different chipset and camera configuration, both the Black Shark 5 and Black Shark 5 Pro feature similar hardware. They look almost identical, both feature a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, they’re packed with a 4,650mAh battery that supports fast 120W charging, and of course, they both have physical shoulder buttons that pop-up when needed.

The Black Shark 5 and Black Shark 5 Pro are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the former starts at RM2,299, while the higher-end Pro model retails from RM3,699.


The Last of Us Part I Arrives on PS5 2 September 2022 From RM299 – Coming to PC Soon

Sony finally confirmed the The Last of Us Part 1. Touted as a remake of the original The Last of Us, it is coming to the PS5 on 2 September 2022 later this year. On top of that, the highly acclaimed game is also currently in development for the PC.

Naturally, The Last of Us remake will offer a number of upgrades, including modernised gameplay, improved controls, and more comprehensive accessibility options. It will also make use of the improved haptics and adaptive triggers of the PS5’s DualSense controller.

Of course, aside from the main storyline, The Last of Us Part I will also include the Left Behind DLC, a prequel to the main narrative. If you’re keen to get the game, you can actually pre-order it for the PS5 right now on the
PlayStation Store from RM299
 for the Standard Edition.

There’s also the
RM339 Digital Deluxe Edition
 of The Last of Us Part I, which offers early unlock of several in-game items. These include six weapon skins, a “Dither Punk” filter, and even a speedrun mode.

Regardless of which edition you get, every pre-order of the game will come with bonus supplements to upgrade your skillset, along with bonus weapon parts to upgrade your arsenal.

To recap, The Last of Us Part I will arrive on the PS5 on 2 September 2022. As for the PC release, no tentative launch date has been announced yet.


Pre-Order the PS5 From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 12 June 2022

It’s been quite some time since the PS5 was launched in Malaysia
, but it’s still a challenge to get a unit of the highly sought-after next-gen console. If you’re feeling lucky, good news: Sony Centre Mid Valley is accepting pre-orders of the PS5 yet again.

Well, sort of. In order to be in the running for a
chance
 to pre-order the PS5, you’ll have to
fill up this Google Form
. If you’re fortunate enough to be selected, you will be contacted on 13 May to finalise your pre-order of the next-gen console.

Do note that you only have until 12 June at 1PM this Sunday to register your interest for the PS5 pre-order. This isn’t a first-come, first-served sale either; filling up the form just means you’re in the running to be chosen to pre-order the PS5.

While it wasn’t mentioned, it’s likely that stocks are very limited, so don’t be disheartened if you’re not chosen to pre-order the PS5. If you want a better chance of securing a unit, we recommend checking in with your favourite game shop to get into the waiting list – if the store has one.


Sony Xperia 1 IV Costs RM6,099 in Malaysia – Pre-Orders Get Free WF-1000XM4

The Malaysian pricing of the Sony Xperia 1 IV has just been revealed! Not only is it slightly more affordable than the US pricing of the flagship phone, early birds will also get the
Sony WF-1000XM4
 wireless earbuds for free.

Only one variant of the Xperia 1 IV is offered in Malaysia. Packed with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the premium phone is priced at RM6,099. Certainly a steep asking price, though it’s worth noting that it costs more in the US with a $1,599 price tag – that comes up to about RM7,040.

One of the most unique selling points of the Xperia 1 IV is its telephoto lens with true optical zoom between 85mm to 125mm. This is quite the technical achievement, given that telephoto cameras on smartphones usually have a fixed focal length.

Granted, the 12MP telephoto lens’ 85-125mm focal length of the Xperia 1 IV isn’t particularly far-reaching, but it’s still a feature unique to this phone. Complementing the telephoto shooter is a 12MP primary sensor and another 12MP ultra-wide angle lens.

Other specifications of the Xperia 1 IV are decidedly high-end. These include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a sharp 6.5-inch 4K OLED panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and tall 21:9 aspect ratio, a 12MP selfie camera, an IP65/IP68 rating, and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM6,099 until 10 July 2022 on
Sony Malaysia’s online store
. Given that early birds will get a complimentary (and excellent) WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds, it’s really quite a compelling pre-order deal.


Unboxing MTG Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate Set Booster & Collector Booster

Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, is available today. This set is a crossover between MTG and the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), and it’s specifically designed to be drafted; more specifically, for the Commander format.

To celebrate the launch of the new set, Wizards of the Coast sent us a couple of Set Boosters of Battle for Baldur’s Gate to check out, along with some Draft and Collector Booster packs. If you’re interested to pick up the new set, here’s our unboxing of the Set Booster and Collector Booster of Battle for Baldur’s Gate!

Let’s start with the Set Booster. Unlike a normal Draft Booster, a Set Booster is meant to be more “exciting” to crack open, which is likely why it is popular among folks who just enjoy opening booster packs instead of using them for Limited play (Draft or Sealed).

So…what makes a Set Booster more exciting to open? Well, quite a number of things. There is a structure to this (technically) 15-card pack for Battle for Baldur’s Gate. 13 of them are guaranteed Magic cards, while the other two are an art card and a token/ad card; the latter has a chance to be replaced with a card from “The List.”

When you crack open a Set Booster, the first card you’ll see is an art card, followed by a basic land card for Battle for Baldur’s Gate. If you’re lucky enough, there is a 15% chance that this land card will be foil. If you do get a foil land, it doesn’t prevent you from getting another foil card in the pack.

After the basic land card, you’ll also get six regular commons and uncommons with some form of “connection” to each other. For Battle for Baldur’s Gate, these cards will be three commons and three uncommons; simple enough.

The contents of a Set Booster

Aside from these common and uncommon cards, the Battle for Baldur’s Gate’s Set Booster will also include a common or uncommon card with the sleek-looking Rulebook frame. You’ll also get two “wildcards” of any rarity, so you an get anything from a common to a
mythic rare
 card.

Next is a legendary background card, which can either be a common, uncommon, or rare card. There’s also another slot for a legendary creature, background, or Planeswalker; it can be a common, rare, or mythic rare card.

Of course, the Set Booster pack will also have a guaranteed rare or mythic rare card, which is no different than the same slot found in Draft Boosters. You also get a guaranteed foil card, and it can be of any rarity. Battle for Baldur’s Gate’s Set Booster pack also offers another foil-etched legendary creature or background of any rarity; this is unique to this set.

Last but certainly not least is a token/ad card. However, there is a 25% chance this will be replaced with a card from “The List” – a list of 300 interesting cards from Magic’s past. If a Set Booster pack has such a card, it can be of any rarity.

That is basically what a Set Booster is. Its unique structure certainly makes it interesting to crack open, especially with the increased chance of getting a rare or mythic rare card.

Next, we have Battle for Baldur’s Gate’s Collector Booster packs. We received four of these from Wizards, and they are made for the most avid of collectors. After all, it’s touted as the “best place to get rare and mythic rare Booster Fun cards.”

Anyway, every Collector Booster pack contains 16 cards; six of them can be rares and mythic rares. The first slot is a foil rare or mythic rare, two non-foil extended art rare or mythic rare, another non-foil rulebook or borderless rare or mythic rare, a foil Booster Fun or extended art rare or mythic rare, and a foil-etched rare or mythic rare legendary creature or background.

Other cards in a Battle for Baldur’s Gate’s Collector Booster pack include three foil commons, two foil uncommons, one foil basic land, one foil common or uncommon card with the rulebook frame, a foil or uncommon legendary creature or background (along with a foil-etched card), and a foil double sided token.

And that’s our unboxing of the Set and Collector Boosters of Magic: The Gathering’s new Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate set. If you’re keen to check out this new set, give your
nearest hobby shop
 a visit tonight – it’s Friday Night Magic!


MEASAT-3d Satellite Launching on 23 June – Brings High-Speed Broadband to 2 Million Malaysians

MEASAT Global Berhad will launch its MEASAT-3d satellite next week on 23 June. Thanks to the High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity of the MEASAT-3d, it will bring high-speed broadband internet via MEASAT’s CONNECTme NOW service to over two million Malaysians.

These folks are mostly located in hard-to-reach rural villages, where mobile internet coverage is limited, let alone copper-based or fibre internet. The company’s CONNECTme NOW internet service is mainly catered to individuals residing in these rural locations.

A 1:20 model of the MEASAT-3d

Once the MEASAT-3d satellite is launched, it will improve the capability of MEASAT’s services quite a bit. The connection speeds of CONNECTme NOW, for one, will increase from 30Mbps to 100Mbps. Telco providers can even tap into the new satellite to offer data, voice, and video services.

“MEASAT is proud to support the Malaysian government’s initiatives, including the Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) plan to close the digital connectivity gap and enable a better-connected future for all Malaysians, by expanding high-speed internet coverage in under-connected rural areas,” said the COO of MEASAT, Yau Chyong Lim.

“With MEASAT-3d and through CONNECTme NOW, we look forward to providing internet access for the unserved population,” he added.

MEASAT-3d is set to be launched on 23 June Malaysian time next week. With an estimated lifespan of 18 years, the RM1.2 billion satellite will remain in service for quite some time.


Tripowin Leá Review: Affordable IEM With Good Build Quality & “Laid-Back” Tuning

Hot on the heels of our
CCA CRA+ review
 comes yet another single dynamic driver IEM, the Tripowin Leá. Featuring a 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) driver with an affordable $26 (about RM115) price tag, the Leá is said to have a balanced tuning as well.

While this is…somewhat true, the tuning of the Leá can also be described as “boring.” Of course, whether or not that would be the case for you comes down to personal preference, though I do think the Leá has more of a “laid-back” tonality, making it easy to listen to for long periods of time.

What It Is

Bundled along with the Leá are three pairs of silicone ear tips, a silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable, and a pair of earhooks. The metal shells of the IEM also have a good heft to them, giving the impression of a higher quality, more expensive product.

Despite the heft of the metal shells, the Leá doesn’t feel too heavy at all in my ears. In fact, it’s actually quite comfortable. The ear tips, while pretty standard-looking, fit well in my ears with a good level of isolation for (essentially) improved audio quality.

The included 2-pin cable of the Leá, on the other hand, isn’t particularly great. Not only does it have an off-putting rubbery texture, it is also prone to microphonics, not to mention the fact that it does not hook over the ears nicely.

Even though the provided earhooks do mitigate this issue to an extent, it doesn’t help that the earhooks themselves sometimes slip off the cable. Basically, it can be a little tricky to get the Leá to comfortably sit on my ears. Of course, your mileage may vary.

How Does It Sound

As mentioned, the Leá is said to have a balanced tuning, though I don’t particularly agree with this. To me, it has more of a warm-neutral tonality with an emphasis in the upper mid-range, so vocals sounds more intimate. Essentially, this IEM has a laid-back tuning, and it’s just on the cusp of being a little…boring.

Anyway, let’s break down the sound characteristics of the Leá below for a better look at its tonality.

Bass

The mid-bass of the Leá is sufficient; it’s not too much or too little. There is, however, a notable lack in sub-bass extension and dynamics. The decay of some bass notes also tend to sound slow on some tracks, so this isn’t the most technically-accomplished IEM.

Then again, this is also a
very affordable
 IEM with a single dynamic driver, so it’s not surprising it doesn’t excel in the technicality department.

Mids

Vocals on the Leá are forward and engaging. This is especially evident with female vocals situated along the upper mid-range. Vocals also have a lean texture to them, possibly a result from the elevated mid-bass, but there isn’t nearly enough airiness, unfortunately enough.

Highs

The highs of the Leá suffer from early roll off, which is really a typical characteristic of dynamic drivers. This, in turn, results in a lack of both speed and sparkle. To better describe this, instruments like cymbals are crystal clear, but there is a longing for more details and treble extension.

Soundstage

In this regard, the Leá’s soundstage has decent width and instrument separation, even if it’s lacking in vertical depth. While this translates to a good sense of the left and right side of the stage, the same cannot be said for sounds and instruments in front of you.

Resolution and detail retrieval of the Leá is just average as well, with the aforementioned rolled-off treble of the IEM being the Achilles’ heel of the latter.

Is It Worth It?

Overall, the Tripowin Leá is a solid performer with above average build quality, especially at this price point. Retailing at only $26, you can actually get it
for only $20.79
 (about RM90) right now on Linsoul, one of the most reputable online stores for ChiFi IEMs.

On top of that, the mid-neutral tuning of the Leá is easy to get into, and it’s laid-back enough for longer listening sessions. Yes, it’s not the most resolving IEM, but the Leá is also very, very affordable; it’s unrealistic to expect so much from a technical standpoint in this price range.

All in all, whether you’re just dipping your toes into the world of ChiFi IEMs, or you’re an enthusiast of ultra-budget single dynamic driver IEMs, the Tripowin Leá is a
triple win
 in its build quality, tonality, and sheer value for money.

Excuse the pun.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


Keychron Q5 Review: Stepping Up

Keychron has released a slew of mechanical keyboards under its premium Q series, and the latest entry in the lineup is the Keychron Q5. Naturally, it offers the same feature set as the rest of the Q series keyboards in a 96% layout, or more popularly known as the 1800 layout.

But compared to earlier iterations of Keychron’s Q series keyboards, the Q5 has improved by leaps and bounds. For (essentially) a pre-built keyboard, the refinement of this keyboard is top-notch. Paired with its affordable pricing, the Q5 is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a 96% keyboard.

What It Is

As mentioned, the Q5 is a 96% pre-built keyboard, and just like Keychron’s other Q series products, it has features that are usually only found on enthusiast-level keyboards. These include a “double-gasket” design, a full CNC aluminium case, a hotswap PCB with QMK/VIA support, as well as screw-in stabilisers.

There are two variants of the Q5. The barebone kit retails at $165 (about RM730), while the fully assembled model, which includes Gateron G Pro switches of your choice and double shot PBT OSA keycaps, costs $185 (around RM820). Want a knob? Just add $10 (approximately RM45).

Looking at sheer value for money alone, the fully assembled Q5 is the better option. After all, you’re essentially only paying $20 more (about RM90) for the Gateron switches and PBT keycaps. On top of that, both of these parts are actually quite good too – I’ll discuss them at length in the next section of this review.

The Good Stuff

Let’s start with the double-gasket design of the Keychron Q5, which does bring some notable improvements. Aside from the gasket mounting system of the keyboard itself, there are also silicone pads in between the top and bottom case that act as gaskets to reduce case ping.

This, in turn, improves the sound profile of the Q5. Compared to the
very first iteration of the Q1
, this keyboard has significantly less case ping. It also has three layers of foams for further sound dampening: one in between the plate and PCB, and two more in the bottom case.

All of these result in a relatively quiet keyboard, and I would even go as far as to say that the Q5 has the potential to be a really “thocky” keyboard. I reckon the double shot PBT OSA keycaps also contribute quite a bit to this low-pitch sound signature.

This review unit of the Q5 comes with Gateron G Pro Brown switch, and I quite like it. Although the factory lubing isn’t able to mask the audible scratchiness of this light tactile switch, it’s still smooth enough for a pleasant typing experience. It has surprisingly minimal stem wobble as well for a more “stable” typing experience.

How about the double shot PBT OSA keycap of the Q5? Well, it’s quite good! Yes, it’s not exactly of the same quality and refinement as more premium keycaps – the legends have some inconsistencies – but I like that its texture is not overly rough like some PBT keycaps.

Again, it’s worth noting that this set of PBT keycaps and Gateron G Pro switches are only a
$20 add-on
 with the fully assembled Q5. You’re really getting your money’s worth here.

The screw-in stabiliser of the Q5 is quite good as well. The wires of the stabilisers are lubed out of the box, and it does a decent job of minimising ticking and rattling. That being said, there’s still a hint of rattle on certain mod keys, though it can easily be fixed by adding a bit more lube.

And then we have the typing feel of the Q5. Curiously, even though the keyboard offers quite a bit of flex from the gasket mounting system, it still feels relatively stiff to type on. This could be attributed to the steel plate of the Q5.

However, it still doesn’t feel as stiff as, say, a top-mounted or tray-mounted keyboard. The Q5’s gasket mount also provides an even typing feel across the keyboard.

Last but certainly not least is the QMK/VIA compatibility of the Q5, which gives users the freedom to easily change the mapping of the keyboard. Even though VIA doesn’t automatically detect the Q5 out of the box, it’s not too hard to grab the
JSON file
 from Keychron’s website to start configuring it.

The Bad Stuff

Despite having significantly less case ping than the first version of the Q1, the Keychron Q5 still has some audible pinging, especially on corners keys such as the backspace. While it’s not particularly audible in an environment with some ambient noise, you can certainly hear the pinging in a quiet room.

Granted, there are a couple of mods to address this, such as applying masking tape to the bottom of the PCB (the tape mod) or inserting a sheet of PE foam in between the switch and PCB. Of course, it would’ve been great if Keychron had used thicker foams in the first place to minimise case ping – the bottom case foams are
very
thin.

Another downside of the Q5 is its frankly iterative design. It essentially looks like a bigger Q1, and the same can be said of other keyboards in the Q series. Suffice to say the Q5 is not an “exciting” keyboard with no eye-catching design element to speak of.

But then again, the Q5 is an
affordable
 keyboard with a large 96% layout at that. You’d be hard-pressed to look for an alternative with a similar feature set and layout at this price point.

Is It Worth It?

If you want a relatively affordable 96% keyboard with a good sound profile, slightly stiffer (but even) typing feel, a hotswap PCB, and plenty of modding potential, the Keychron Q5 is worth it. Yes, it doesn’t have any unique design element, and the case ping (while solvable) isn’t great, but with a $165 starting price, these negatives can be overlooked.

The Keychron Q5 is now available for purchase on
Keychron’s online store
. To recap, the barebone version costs $165, while the fully assembled model – which bundles Gateron G Pro switches of your choice and double shot PBT OSA keycaps – goes for $185.


Honkai: Star Rail CBT Review: Another (Extremely) Promising Game From Hoyoverse

Honkai: Star Rail is the latest addition to Hoyoverse’s Honkai series, and it is the company’s next game after the huge success of
Genshin Impact
. Hoyoverse was kind enough to provide Nextrift access to the closed beta test of the turn-based RPG, and after spending some time with the game, I absolutely cannot wait for its release.

Not only does Star Rail offer a compelling, engrossing storyline with excellent worldbuilding – something Hoyoverse did very well in Genshin impact – it also offers a fun gameplay and amazing character development. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this new game can be
just as successful
 as Genshin Impact.

Suffice to say Star Rail is a very, very promising title, and you should definitely check it out once Hoyoverse is ready to release it to the public.

What It Is

Truth be told, I’m not familiar with the Honkai franchise, so Star Rail is my first foray into the world of Honkai. Despite that, I don’t feel lost at all in the game. Evidently, Hoyoverse is targeting both new and existing Honkai players with Star Rail.

Unlike Honkai Impact 3rd, Star Rail is a turn-based RPG where players fight in a party of four. The game also have dungeon exploration, puzzle-solving, and even flashy animations as characters unleash their respective ultimates.

Not surprisingly, many elements of Genshin Impact can be seen in Star Rail. Each character, for example, have their own level progression with Traces (Talents in Genshin) to develop. There are also different “weapons” for characters to wield, though they are dubbed Light Cones in Star Rail.

If you’re familiar with Genshin Impact, you can certainly grasp the different elements of Star Rail quite easily. Oh, there is at least one distinct difference though: elemental elements in this game don’t interact the same way in Genshin Impact.

The Good Stuff

I love playing a game with a good story to tell, and boy, does Honkai: Star Rail have a
fantastic
narrative. I’m drawn in to the worldbuilding of the game, the plot is engaging, all the different characters are fleshed out very well, and I’m excited to progress the story as much as I can throughout the closed beta test.

Storytelling really is one of Hoyoverse’s strong suits, and Star Rail is a perfect showcase of this. It’s unfortunate then that I can’t really experience the full story – more on this further down this review.

Let’s get back to Star Rail’s characters. Each one of them, as mentioned, have their own unique personalities and character development. Paired with the game’s great voice acting – yes, even the English option is good – you’ve got an excellent cast of characters to…well, try and get. After all, this is still a gacha game.

As for how generous the in-game currency of Star Rail is to obtain characters – dubbed Stellar Jade instead of Primogem – I don’t think the closed beta test is reflective of this. I did manage to accumulate a fair number of Stellar Jade in a relatively short period of time, but there’s a chance this will be tweaked in the final version of the game.

Gameplay wise, the turn-based system of Star Rail is quite easy to get into. Each character have three distinct moves: a basic attack, a skill, and an ultimate. While choosing to attack or using a skill takes up a turn, ultimate moves (once charged up) can be performed whenever the enemy isn’t attacking. Simple enough, right?

As with most turn-based combat systems, it can feel a little repetitive and grindy as you engage more and more enemies. Well, combat can actually be sped up in Star Rail; there’s even an auto-battle feature to simplify the process even more.

However, there are a few instances where the auto-battle feature cannot be used, such as boss fights, understandably.

Lastly, I’m happy to report that Star Rail is not too demanding to run. My
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
 with an RTX 2060 can run the game without issue at 1440p with the frame rate set to 60fps. I also played the game on a
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
 with maxed out graphics settings at 60fps. While there are some stuttering, the game still runs smoothly.

In comparison to, say, Genshin Impact, Star Rail doesn’t feel quite as graphically intensive – that’s a good thing, in my opinion.

The Bad Stuff

As much as I enjoyed playing Honkai: Star Rail, it does have some shortcomings here and there. The storyline, while engrossing, can feel a tad too tedious to get through sometimes. For example, I don’t like the fact that some dialogues cannot be skipped even though I’ve already finished reading them.

And then there are the
slew of terms
 that are thrown around throughout the story of Star Rail, which can feel quite overwhelming. While the worldbuilding in this game is impressive, it can also get a bit…confusing.

Aside from that, I have one more qualm with the story aspect of Star Rail: progression is unfortunately locked behind player level, just like how it is in Genshin Impact. I was really getting into the story of the game when I encountered this, much to my dismay.

I’m also not a fan of Star Rail’s map interface. Compared to Genshin Impact’s one large map for different regions, each area in this game is divided into different sections, which can get quite complicated to navigate.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely! Honkai: Star Rail has all the makings of a great game. It has an engrossing storyline, solid, fun gameplay, excellent character development, and a world that’s filled to the brim with lore – sometimes a bit
too much
 lore.

Even if turn-based RPGs are not your thing, I’d still recommend giving Star Rail a try once Hoyoverse releases the game. Hopefully, it won’t be long until that happens, given that the closed beta test is ending tomorrow on 15 June.


2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Now in Malaysia From RM8,499 – All-AMD Gaming Laptop

The 2022 revision of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has just been launched in Malaysia. Naturally, the new gaming laptop gets the usual hardware upgrades, and more importantly, it is also a more complete laptop now: it finally features a webcam and a taller display.

That’s right, the Zephyrus G14 has a webcam and 16:10 display now, making it that much better as a productivity machine, even if it’s marketed as a gaming laptop. Aside from that, it is also one of the first laptops to get Asus’ new Nebula display. It’s a 14-inch 2560 x 1600 panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits of peak brightness, and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space.

Of course, the 2022 Zephyrus G14 is also packed with AMD’s latest Ryzen chips. For the Malaysian market, only the Ryzen 7 6800HS processor is offered here for both the AMD Radeon RX 6800S and RX 6700S GPU configurations. That’s right, this is an all-AMD gaming laptop.

Rounding out the specifications of the G14 are the gaming laptop’s signature AniMe Matrix display on the lid – now with more LEDs than last year’s model – up to 32GB of RAM (16GB for the more affordable RX 6700S model), a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, a 76Wh battery, as well as Windows 11 out of the box.

Now, pricing. Two variants of the 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 are available in Malaysia: the Radeon RX 6700S base model goes for RM8,499, while the higher-end RX 6800S version costs RM9,999. The RX 6700S variant is bundled with an ROG Impact mouse, while the RX 6800S comes with an ROG Chakram Core mouse.

The new Zephyrus G14 can now be purchased in Malaysia. More details of the compact 14-inch gaming laptop can be found on
Asus Malaysia’s official website
.


2022 Asus ROG Flow X13 Convertible Gaming Laptop Lands in Malaysia From RM6,599 to RM13,999

Aside from the
2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
, the Taiwanese company also introduced the updated Asus ROG Flow X13 in Malaysia. While it looks similar to
its predecessor
, the new convertible gaming laptop does feature upgraded internals, including AMD’s latest Ryzen 6000 series processor.

Two variants of the Flow X13 are available in Malaysia. The RM6,599 base model packs a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Ryzen 7 6800HS processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, and 512GB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.

A tier up is the RTX 3050 Ti configuration of the Flow X13. Not only does it feature a faster GPU, it also has a sharper 4K panel, though the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. Aside from that, it also comes with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD storage, and of course, the XG Mobile external GPU enclosure (AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT); all for a cool RM13,999.

The Asus ROG Flow X13 is now available for purchase in Malaysia. More details on the convertible gaming laptop can be found on
Asus Malaysia’s official website
. You can also read up on our review of the previous model
right here
.


16 – 22 June Fuel Price: RON 97 Up 11 Sen, Now RM4.83 Per Litre

Yet another price hike for RON 97 this week: it’s set to go up by 11 sen per litre this midnight. Of course, no changes to the prices of RON 95 and diesel, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 is set at RM4.83 per litre (up from RM4.72). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 16 to 22 June 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Arrives in Malaysia – Dual Screen Laptop From RM15,999

Here’s another AMD-powered gaming laptop from Asus. Naturally, one of the main appeals of the 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 are its two displays, and one of the configurations even feature a mini-LED panel.

Two variants of the Zephyrus Duo 16 are offered in Malaysia. The more “affordable” RM15,99 base model comes with the aforementioned 16-inch 2560 x 1600 mini-LED display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate, an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor paired with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD storage, and a relatively beefy Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU.

And then there’s the range-topping RM22,999 Zephyrus Duo 16. For that kind of money, it swaps out the RTX 3070 Ti for a faster RTX 3080 Ti GPU, not to mention 64GB of RAM, 2TB + 2TB SSDs in RAID 0 configuration, and two IPS panel options: 4K 120Hz or 1080p 240Hz.

Regardless of which model you choose, the Zephyrus Duo 16 features the same secondary display. Dubbed ScreenPad Plus, it’s a 14-inch 3840 x 1100 IPS touch-enabled screen. This display even comes with stylus support, which should appeal to creative professionals.

The 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 are now available in Malaysia. More information on the unique dual screen gaming laptop can be found
right here
.


2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 With AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS Launched in Malaysia From RM7,999

If the
new Zephyrus G14
 is a bit too small for your liking, then consider the 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G15. Sporting a similar design language as the G14, the G15 is (almost) a bigger version of the former; it also has a slightly lower starting price.

As with Asus’ other gaming laptops launched today, two variants of the Zephyrus G15 are available in Malaysia. The RM7,999 base model features an AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch 1440p IPS display with a 165Hz refresh rate.

The range-topping RM9,999 Zephyrus G15, on the other hand, has a beefier RTX 3070 Ti GPU, more RAM at 32GB, along with a faster 240Hz QHD display. This particular model is also bundled with an ROG Chakram Core mouse.

Keen to get the 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G15? Well, it’s available for purchase in Malaysia right now. More details on the G15 can also be found on
Asus Malaysia’s official website
.


2022 Perodua Alza Teaser Released – Malaysian Launch Imminent?

Perodua’s first major launch of the year seems to be approaching. The national carmaker
just started teasing
 a brand new model, and based on the silhouette of the mysterious car, it looks to be the 2022 Perodua Alza.

Although the teaser video doesn’t show much of the new car, it does look strikingly similar to the Toyota Avanza and its twin, the Daihatsu Xenia. This leads us to believe that Perodua is teasing the all-new Alza, even though the carmaker didn’t outright confirm it.

If this really is the new Alza – which is very likely – it should feature similar equipment list as the Avanza/Xenia. These include a 1.5L engine that outputs 106PS and 138Nm of torque, as well as a D-CVT gearbox driving the front wheels; just like the transmission used in the
new Myvi
 and
Ativa
.

Rumours suggest that the 2022 Perodua Alza will be offered in three different variants: X, H, and AV. Now that the national carmaker is already teasing the MPV, we reckon the local launch of the new Alza is just around the corner.

Perodua Smart Build – Innovation for All
If innovation was made available to all, what would it be like? Have a look for yourself.
#PeroduaSmartBuild

pic.twitter.com/MSyvwtlhbW
— Perodua (@perodua)
June 15, 2022


Honda Malaysia Recalls City, City Hatchback, HR-V, BR-V – 1,527 Units Affected

If you own a 2021 Honda City, 2022 City Hatchback, 2020 HR-V, or a 2021 BR-V, it may be involved in Honda Malaysia’s recent product recall. This recall exercise involves over 1,527 units, and affected customers will be informed via notification letters.

There are actually two situations for this product recall. Situation A affects the 2021 City and 2022 City Hatchback, which involve inspection of the nut torque on the Alternating Current Generator (ACG). If it’s loose, it may cause poor contact terminal and battery malfunction.

As for Situation B – this one affects the 2020 HR-V and 2021 BR-V – it’s a recall to inspect “the tightening of bolt earth grounding that may lead to loose wire harness.” Similar to Situation A, this can result in poor contact terminal, which can cause the engine to halt while driving or unable to start the engine after the car stops.

Honda Malaysia apologises for the inconvenience caused, and the inspection, repair, and replacement of affected parts are (naturally) free of charge. The carmaker also assures customers that Honda models in production and on sale right now are not affected by this product recall.

Thankfully, no incidences of crashes or injuries caused by this issue have been reported in Malaysia.


Dell Precision 5470 Workstation Previewed in Malaysia – 12th Gen Intel, RTX A1000, From RM15,483

Dell just showed off a number of relatively new business-centric products in Malaysia, including the Dell Precision 5470 workstation. Given that this is a commercial product, it carries quite a hefty price tag, though it’s also an impressive (and compact) premium laptop.

Two variants of the Precision 5470 are offered in Malaysia. The more affordable Intel Core i7-12800H vPro configuration costs exactly RM15,483.23, while the Core i9-12900H vPro model goes for RM16,523.82. Beyond the different processors, both models share the same hardware.

These include an Nvidia RTX A1000 graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 5200MHz RAM, a 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD, and of course, a compact 14-inch 2560 x 1600 display with 100% coverage of the sRGB colour space. It also comes with Windows 11 Pro out of the box.

The Dell Precision 5470 is now available for purchase on
Dell’s Malaysian online store
. To recap, this compact workstation laptop retails from a cool RM15,483.23, and you can even configure different parts of the machine with the configurator on Dell’s website.


Dell Latitude 7330 Is a Lightweight 967g Business Laptop From RM5,644 in Malaysia

Aside from the Precision 5470, Dell also showed off another intriguing business laptop in Malaysia, the Dell Latitude 7330. Tipping the scales at merely 967g, this is a very, very lightweight laptop; it’s even offered in a convertible form factor.

The most affordable Latitude 7330 retails at RM5,644.20. For that kind of money, it comes with a 12th gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor paired with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU, and a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 display.

If you want the convertible version of the Latitude 7330 instead, it will set you back RM6,560.14. On top of its convertible form factor, this particular variant also features a Core i5-1245U processor, along with a more practical RAM capacity at 16GB.

All variants of the Dell Latitude 7330 can be found on
Dell’s Malaysian online store
. Every model can also be customised to your liking, though this is mostly on the software side of things; the hardware of the laptop don’t have as much customisation options.


Diablo Immortal Launch in Malaysia Delayed to 7 July for Optimisation

Originally set to be launched in the Asia-Pacific region (including Malaysia) this week on 23 June, Diablo Immortal will now only be available here on 7 July. According to Blizzard, the delay is necessary for optimisations to be done, which include bug fixes and performance improvements.

Of course, this Diablo Immortal delay doesn’t just affect Malaysia; other markets that will only get the mobile-first game on 7 July include Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong. Interestingly, Vietnam will also get the game at the same time, but only on PC; there’s no mobile version for the country.

Blizzard is also enabling cross-play and cross-progression between the PC and mobile versions of Diablo Immortal. It’s worth noting that the PC version will launch in open beta, which will see changes and fine-tuning to the game until it “delivers a finalised experience for all courageous adventurers,” as Blizzards puts it.

If you’re keen to check out Diablo Immortal when it releases on 7 July in Asia-Pacific, you can pre-register for the game
right here
. It will be available on iOS, Android, as well as PC through Battle.net, and with over 30 million pre-registrations already, it looks to be a highly anticipated game.


Sales Tax Exemption on CKD & CBU Cars Ending on 30 June, But Existing Orders Can Still Enjoy Savings

It’s confirmed: sales tax exemption on locally assembled (CKD) and fully imported (CBU) cars is set to end next week on 30 June 2022
as scheduled
. However, existing orders can still enjoy the tax savings beyond the deadline, provided the car is registered by 31 March 2023.

Existing order, in this case, is defined as booking that is placed by 30 June 2022. As long as you fulfill this criteria
and
 you receive the car by 31 March next year, you will get to enjoy the sales tax exemption. In our opinion, this is a fair compromise, rather than giving yet another extension.

According to finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the registration period is extended to 31 March 2023 due to chip shortage that affected the delivery of cars. This – combined with the floods in the Klang Valley area – impacted the delivery capacity of many carmakers, including
Proton
 and
Perodua
.

Given that only bookings placed by 30 June will get to enjoy the sales tax exemption, it’s highly likely car sales will spike before the end of the month. Hopefully, those who have been eagerly waiting to receive their cars will get them by 31 March 2023.


Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Subjectively Better

Sony makes some of the most popular wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC). So much so that the
WH-1000XM4
 is always in the conversation when one is looking for such headphones, for better or worse. However, as popular as it is, it also has some shortcomings, especially in its tuning.

And that’s one area the new Sony WH-1000XM5 improved upon, among other things. Not only does it offer a slightly more balanced tuning, it also has superior ANC and a more comfortable fit. Yes, it still has its fair share of disadvantages, but in my opinion, the XM5 is a better pair of headphones…though some may not agree.

What It Is

Design wise, the WH-1000XM5 is quite a departure from its predecessor. Now sporting a more modern-looking aesthetic, the stepped adjustments for the band have also been replaced with a “friction rod” design. Because of this, it can be a little annoying to find for the right fit every time I put on the headphones.

Aside from that, the XM5 also gets another processor (V1) that complements the QN1 noise cancellation processor. These two hardware control eight microphones, and a specially designed 30mm driver unit further enhances the noise-cancelling capability of the headphones.

Basically, the XM5 is said to have superior ANC over the XM4.

As for pricing, the XM5 costs RM1,799 in Malaysia, which is RM200 more than the launch price of the XM4. Given the dearer asking price, the XM5 does offer a more comprehensive feature set – more on this in the next section.

The Good Stuff

One of the biggest improvements to the WH-1000XM5 is its audio quality with a more balanced tuning. Compared to the XM4’s
very
 bass-heavy tuning, the XM5′ bass response isn’t as emphasised. Don’t get me wrong, it still has a lot of bass, albeit not quite as pronounced as the XM4.

Thanks to the more controlled bass response, the XM5 is more “resolving” over its predecessor. As the bass doesn’t bleed into the mids quite as much, the headphones can retrieve more details, and it doesn’t sound quite as muddy either. Basically, I can get better clarity out of the XM5.

But this is where I think the XM5 is subjectively better than the XM4. Because the former’s bass isn’t as pronounced as the XM4, some may describe this as a “flat and boring” sound signature; a step back from the bass-heavy nature of its predecessor. I’ll get back to this further down this review.

The WH-1000XM5 (left) and the WH-1000XM4

When it comes to ANC performance, the XM5 does not disappoint. It doesn’t have the deafening effect of the XM4 when ANC is activated, which makes for a more comfortable listening experience. On top of that, the XM5 can also cancel out higher frequency sounds, but the XM4 is better at eliminating low frequency rumbles.

If you want a comfortable pair of headphones, you’ll definitely be happy with the XM5. Even though its earpads are not as plush as the XM4’s, they are noticeably softer. It doesn’t put as much pressure on my head either, and paired with its more lightweight design, it’s comfortable to be worn for long periods of time.

Touch controls of the XM5 remain as intuitive as ever. I can easily play or pause music playback with a double tap on the right earcup’s touch sensor, and swiping forward allows me to skip to the next song. I can even swipe up and down to increase and lower the volume respectively.

Naturally, the XM5 still have the long battery life of its predecessor. Sony quotes a total usage of up to 30 hours with these headphones – yes, even with noise-cancelling enabled – which is easily achievable in my testing. The XM5 also supports fast charging; just three minutes of charging can give three hours of use.

The Bad Stuff

I personally think the WH-1000XM5 offers better audio quality over its predecessor with its less emphasised bass response, but as mentioned, this can also be described by some folks to be a more boring, flat sound signature. This is especially true if you’re coming from the XM4 or XM3, which are
very bassy
headphones.

Beyond audio quality, another downside of the XM5 is the fact that it’s not as portable as its predecessor. The XM4’s earcups can be folded, allowing it to be kept in a smaller, more compact storage case. The same cannot be done to the XM5’s new design, so the case (even if it’s collapsible when not in use) takes up more space.

My last qualm with the XM5 is the choice of material. Compared to the XM4, the XM5 doesn’t feel as “substantial.” While it’s great that the headphones are made from recycled plastic for sustainability reasons, the XM5 doesn’t feel as smooth or as premium to the touch as the previous model.

Is It Worth It?

In my opinion, yes! Although the Sony WH-1000XM5 doesn’t have the very emphasised bass of its predecessor, I still much prefer the more balanced (but still quite bassy) sound signature of these headphones. I love the fact that I can get more details and clarity with the XM5.

On top of that, the XM5 also has better overall noise-cancelling performance, even if the XM4 is better at eliminating low frequency rumbles. The XM5 is also more comfortable, and it can still return very long battery life.

Yes, it doesn’t feel as premium or as compact as the previous model, and some may find the WH-1000XM5 to have a flatter sound signature. But this is only because both the XM4 and XM3 have
too much
 bass, so if you’re upgrading from these two headphones, the XM5 may sound…well, subjectively worse.


23 – 29 June Fuel Price: RON 97 Up 1 Sen, Now RM4.84 Per Litre

Yet another price hike for RON 97 this week, though not by a particularly big margin. The fuel is set to go up by 1 sen per litre at midnight. Of course, no changes to the prices of RON 95 and diesel, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 is set at RM4.84 per litre (up from RM4.83). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 23 to 29 June 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Perodua Sold 106,179 Cars in Jan – May 2022, Myvi Sales Leader With 31,689 Units Sold

Perodua just breached the 100,000 sales mark in Malaysia, and it only took the national carmaker five months to do so. Between January to May 2022, Perodua managed to register as many as 106,179 cars – this is 10% more than the 96,281 units sold by the brand in the same period in 2021.

Not surprisingly, the Perodua Myvi is the most popular model with over 31,689 units registered. This is followed by the Perodua Axia at 24,024 units, with the Perodua Bezza following closely behind with 23,336 sales recorded.

To recap, Perodua aims to sell as many as
247,800 vehicles in 2022
, which would be a 37.5% improvement compared to 2021, where it managed to register 193,400 units. With seven months of sales left, there’s a good chance the carmaker can achieve this lofty sales target.

After all, the
Perodua Alza replacement
 is set to be launched soon, given that the national carmaker has already started teasing the upcoming model. We reckon the new MPV will further boost Perodua’s sales, even if the
sales tax exemption is ending this month
.


Proton Will Deliver All Outstanding Orders by 31 March 2023

Although sales tax exemption on locally assembled (CKD) and fully imported (CBU) cars are set to end next week on 30 June, existing orders
will still be eligible for the savings
 if the car is registered by 31 March 2023. With that in mind, Proton promises that its current outstanding orders will be delivered by then.

This was confirmed by the deputy CEO of Proton himself, Roslan Abdullah, in an interview with
Berita Harian
. He elaborated that if there are any models that cannot be delivered by 31 March next year – based on its production capacity – the carmaker will stop taking orders for the specific model.

Roslan also added that the general waiting period for the X70, Persona, iriz, Saga, and Exora is about two months. However, this is dependent on the choice of colour and variant chosen. As for the more popular
X50
, the expected waiting time is approximately six months.

If you’re still waiting to get your Proton model (especially the X50), it’s a nice reassurance from the national carmaker. If you want to take advantage of the sales tax exemption, make sure you place a booking for any car you’ve got your eyes on by 30 June next week.


2022 Perodua Alza Bookings Now Open – From RM62k to RM75k

Perodua just opened bookings for its brand new 2022 Perodua Alza! Seems like the carmaker is retaining the Alza name for the MPV, and it’s estimated to retail from only RM62,000.

Of course, that’s the price for the base X variant of the new Alza. The mid-tier H model, on the other hand, has a tentative pricing of RM68,000. As for the range-topping AV trim with all the bells and whistles, it’s estimated to go for RM75,000.

Aside from pricing, Perodua also revealed several key specifications of the 2022 Alza. These include a 1.5L engine paired with a D-CVT gearbox – likely the same powertrain found in the
latest Myvi
 – an impressive quoted fuel efficiency of 22km per litre, and even a 360-degree camera.

Of course, the latter is exclusive to the highest-end AV Alza. The range-topping model also gets six airbags, while the other two variants get four airbags. Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) are offered with the new MPV too, but only the AV model gets the full kit, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep control, blind spot monitor, and an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold.

THE ALL-NEW ALZA – COMING SOON!
Get ready for a ride that's reinvented to meet the needs and wants of everyone in the family. Book now:
https://t.co/7o1neC96ei
#Perodua

#Alza

#VersatilityReinvented

pic.twitter.com/ljZ57l1XZJ
— Perodua (@perodua)
June 23, 2022

The 2022 Perodua Alza is now available for booking in Malaysia. Given that the sales tax exemption will only be given to cars that
have been booked by 30 June
, you may want to place your order soon. You can book the new Alza at a Perodua dealership or online
right here
.


2022 Sony Bravia XR TVs Now in Malaysia From RM5,899 – 120Hz 4K Google TVs With VRR

Sony Malaysia just launched three TVs in its 2022 Sony Bravia XR lineup on our shores. These include the X90K LED TV, the higher-end A80K OLED TV, and the range-topping X95K mini-LED TV. Retailing from RM5,899 to an eye-watering RM28,999, these are premium offerings.

Naturally, the RM5,899 starting price is for the X90K LED TV. It’s offered in as many as four sizes: 55-inch (RM5,899), 65-inch (RM7,899), 75-inch (RM11,999), and 85-inch (RM19,999). A tier up is the A80K OLED TV for RM9,599 (55-inch), RM13,899 (65-inch), and RM24,999 (77-inch).

Last but not least is the X95, which is only offered in 85-inch for a cool RM28,999. Given that this is a mini-LED TV, this is a fair asking price.

Beyond the different panel technology, these Bravia XR TVs have a similar set of features. These include the Cognitive Processor XR, which promises a “lifelike” viewing experience, Sony’s very own Bravia Core movie service – this is the first time it’s available in Malaysia – variable refresh rate, and of course, Google TV.

All three 2022 Sony Bravia XR TVs are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the X90K LED TV
starts at RM5,899
, while the A80K OLED TV
retails from RM9,599
. As for the sole X95K in 85-inch size, it’s
priced at RM28,999
.


Sony Bravia Core Movie Service Lands in Malaysia – 4K Blu-ray Streaming Quality

At the Malaysian launch of the
2022 Sony Bravia XR TVs
, the Japanese company also revealed the availability of the Sony Bravia Core movie service on our shores. One of the best selling points of Bravia Core is the fact that it promises 4K Blu-ray streaming quality.

Unlike other streaming services – which recommend as low as a 15Mbps connection for 4K streaming – Bravia Core can stream HDR movies at up to
80Mbps
 through a feature dubbed Pure Stream. Sony said this is similar to 4K Blu-ray quality, and it promises “significantly more detail, colour, and contrast than conventional 15 – 25Mbps streaming content.”

Of course, given that Bravia Core is a Sony service, it only offer movies under Sony Pictures. On top of that, only the latest 2022 Bravia XR TVs have access to the service in Malaysia, though every purchase of said TVs also come with a complimentary one-year subscription to Core, along with five movie credits to redeem selected movies such as
Uncharted
.

Once the one-year subscription has lapsed, users can renew their Sony Bravia Core subscription, though the Malaysian pricing of the service has not been revealed yet by Sony Malaysia. Nonetheless, this is certainly a nice perk to have for anyone that’s looking to get a new Sony Bravia TV.


Poco F4 With Snapdragon 870 Debuts in Malaysia for RM1,599 – Early Birds Get RM100 Off

The Poco F4 has just been unveiled globally, and we already have details on the Malaysian availability of the new phone. Set to go on sale here as early as 27 June next week, it offers really good value for money; a typical trait of Poco phones.

Two variants of the Poco F4 are available in Malaysia. The base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage costs RM1,599, while the more practical 8GB + 256GB configuration goes for RM1,699. If you’re fast enough, you can get either variants with a RM100 discount on 27 June itself through
Shopee
.

One of the best selling points of the Poco F4 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset under its hood, which should provide a fast, zippy level of performance. Other specifications of the phone include a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (64MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 20MP selfie camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

The Poco F4 will be available for purchase
exclusively on Shopee
 on 27 June next week. To recap, you can get the new smartphone from only RM1,499 if you’re one of the early birds.


Poco X4 GT Launched in Malaysia From RM1,499 – Dimensity 8100, 5,080mAh Battery, 67W Charging

If the new Poco F4 isn’t for you, then consider the Poco X4 GT. Aside from the fact that it is slightly more affordable than the F4 in Malaysia, it’s also powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset with a faster 144Hz display.

There are two variants of the Poco X4 GT for our local market. The more affordable RM1,499 model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, while the RM1,599 variant comes with the same RAM capacity but with twice the internal storage at 256GB.

As mentioned, the Poco X4 GT is powered by a Dimensity 8100 chipset, which looks to be a pretty darn fast processor. Other hardware of the phone include a 6.6-inch 1080p LCD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (64MP + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro), a 20MP selfie camera, and a 5,080mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

The Poco X4 GT will be available for purchase in Malaysia next week on 30 June through
Lazada
. Early birds who get either variants of the phone on the first day of sale can also get a RM100 discount, bringing down the starting price of the X4 GT to only RM1,399.


Deal: Get 2 MT3 Keycap Base Kits for the Price of One Until 29 June

If you’ve always wanted a premium keycap set, but can’t quite justify paying full price for one, this deal is for you. For a limited time, Drop is offering
21 different MT3 keycap sets
 for
essentially
 half price through a buy one, get one free (BOGO) promo.

Among the MT3 keycaps on sale, the Marvel sets are the most affordable with an $89 (about RM390) price tag. If you purchase another Marvel set – it doesn’t have to be the same one – you can get two MT3 base kits for $89, so you’re basically paying only $44.50 (approximately RM195) for one set!

On top of that, you can purchase
multiple
 MT3 base kits in the same order to save on shipping, though the BOGO offer seems to be capped at six sets. Unfortunately, only base kits are eligible for the deal; smaller kits are not part of the promo.

Nonetheless, this is still a fantastic offer for Drop’s popular MT3 keycaps. This deal is valid until 28 June at 11:59PM PST (29 June at 2:59PM for us here in Malaysia) or while stocks last, so if you like any of these 21 MT3 sets,
make your purchase by then
.

Of course, make sure you also use the code MT3BOGOSUMMER at checkout to get the discount.


You Can Get the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 in Malaysia for Only RM169 Tomorrow (25 June)

Xiaomi’s latest fitness band, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7, is set to arrive in Malaysia tomorrow on 25 June. To celebrate the launch of the wearable, the Chinese company is offering the fitness band with a pretty compelling early bird price.

Usually retailing at RM199, the Smart Band 7 will go for only RM169 tomorrow. According to Xiaomi Malaysia, this offer is valid while stocks last, and you can get it through
Shopee
,
Lazada
, or Xiaomi Authorised Stores nationwide.

Compared to its predecessor, the Smart Band 7 has a wider 1.62-inch AMOLED screen, giving it a sleeker, more modern-looking design. On top of that, it also has a VO2 Max workout analysis to measure the “maximum amount of oxygen users can utilise during exercise,” as Xiaomi puts it.

Other specifications of the Smart Band 7 include sleep tracking, a PPG heart rate sensor, the ability to measure blood oxygen level, over 110 different sport modes, up to 14 days of battery life, and a 5 ATM water resistance rating.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 will be available for purchase in Malaysia tomorrow on 25 June. It will be offered at only RM169 to celebrate the local availability of the fitness band, which is a RM30 discount from its usual retail price of RM199.