Xiaomi 11T Pro Review: Fast Phone, Fast Charging, Low Price

The Xiaomi 11T Pro has a lot of winning qualities. It has a blazing fast 120W charging speed, it offers fast performance courtesy of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, it has a bright and vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display, and most of all, its sheer value for money is almost unbeatable.

That being said, given that this is a relatively affordable phone, the 11T Pro does have a number of shortcomings. But if all you care about is flagship-class performance at almost half the price, the 11T Pro is an excellent choice.

What It Is

Display
6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2400 x 1080), 120Hz
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 2.84GHz octa-core
GPU
Adreno 660
RAM
8GB/12GB
Storage
256GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
108MP f/1.75
8MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide angle)
5MP f/2.4 (telemacro)
Camera (front)
16MP f/2.45
Battery
5,000mAh with 120W fast charging
Dimensions
164.1 x 76.9 x 8.8 mm
Weight
204g
OS
MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
USB Type-C
Price
RM2,099 (256GB + 8GB), RM2,299 (256GB + 12GB)

There’s no doubt that the 11T Pro offers most hardware you’d typically find on a flagship smartphone, such as a Snapdragon 888 chipset and a 120Hz AMOLED screen. While its camera system isn’t quite as sophisticated as a high-end phone, it can still capture some good-looking shots – go further down this review for a more detailed look.

Of course, the fast 120W charging speed of the 11T Pro is worth a mention too. According to Xiaomi, this allows the 11T Pro to be fully charged in only
17 minutes
 – let’s talk about this in the next section.

The Good Stuff

So…can the Xiaomi 11T Pro really be fully charged in only 17 minutes? Well, not quite. In my testing, the phone “only” got up to 90% from completely empty within 17 minutes of charging; I repeated this test several times to make sure.

Still, this charging speed is
very impressive
. In fact, I don’t even have to remember to charge the 11T Pro before I go to bed. I just need to plug it to the 120W bundled charger in the morning – yes, the charger comes with the phone – go about my morning routine, and I’ll have a fully charged phone before I head out.

Speaking of which, the battery life of the 11T Pro is equally impressive. On average, I can effortlessly get between six to seven hours of screen on time out of the 5,000mAh battery. Throughout my time with this phone, I never had any issue getting through a typical work day with it. If you’re a lighter smartphone user, I reckon you can get up to two days of use.

Aside from that, the 11T Pro is also a fast,
fast
 phone. The Snapdragon 888 allows me to multitask effortlessly, and it’s an absolute joy to play Genshin Impact on this phone. This fast performance, paired with the equally fast 120Hz 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, really makes for an enjoyable the gaming experience.

The AMOLED display of the 11T Pro is quite pleasant to look at too. Though it’s not quite as stunning-looking as the AMOLED screens found on Samsung’s flagship phones, it still has all the winning qualities of an AMOLED panel. These include deep, true blacks, vibrant colours, and a good level of brightness.

I’m also happy to report that the software experience of the 11T Pro has improved immensely with MIUI 12.5. Xiaomi has always struggled with delivering a good software experience, but that’s no longer the case (for the most part) with this phone. It’s not mixing up notifications from different apps anymore, and apps are not randomly crashing either.

Now, let’s get to the triple camera system of the 11T Pro; more specifically, the 108MP primary shooter. Though it has a tendency to oversaturate images, you do get very pleasant-looking images in most shooting conditions. It struggles a little in low light conditions, but you can still get reasonably good results. Judge for yourself with these sample shots.

But that’s only for the 108MP main sensor of the 11T Pro; it’s a different case for the other two rear cameras. I’ll elaborate in the following section.

The Bad Stuff

Unfortunately enough, the Xiaomi 11T Pro’s 8MP ultra-wide angle camera and 5MP telemacro lens are not quite as good as the primary sensor. The ultra-wide shooter, for one, doesn’t have good detail preservation (especially in less than ideal lighting), and it has difficulty getting the right exposure too.

As for the 5MP telemacro sensor, it’s…decent. It can definitely get quite near to a subject without losing focus, but the image quality is just…well, not up to par. Of course, these two shooters can still take good-looking shots with some effort, but don’t expect it to perform on the same level as the primary 108MP camera.

108MP primary
8MP ultra-wide angle
108MP primary
8MP ultra-wide angle
108MP primary
5MP telemacro

Although the software experience of MIUI 12.5 on the 11T Pro has improved quite a bit, there are still some minor niggles. I don’t like the fact that it forces dark mode for apps that are not designed for it, and there were a couple of times where certain apps (such as YouTube) felt sluggish, though I haven’t been able to replicate this issue.

Is It Worth It?

Even though its camera performance and software experience need some work, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is still an easy phone to recommend. This is especially so if you don’t mind these shortcomings, and all you want is just a phone that offers flagship-class performance for half the price of a typical high-end phone.

Plus, there aren’t many devices – especially at this price point – that can match the blazing fast 120W charging speed of the 11T Pro. In my opinion, this is an absolutely huge selling point for this phone; you won’t have to use your phone while it’s connected to the charger anymore with the 11T Pro.


What Is a “Flagship” Smartphone?

The term “flagship” smartphone is thrown around quite a bit in the smartphone business, even if a device that is marketed as such isn’t necessarily flagship status. Not only can this be quite confusing to consumers, it may be misleading in some instances.

If you’re wondering exactly what criteria a phone has to meet in order for it to be considered a proper flagship smartphone, this article is for you – it will help you to evaluate whether or not a particular phone is really a flagship device. Without further ado, let’s get to it.

A Fast Enough Chipset

This is arguably the most important criterion for a flagship smartphone. After all, the chipset of a phone determines how fast it feels and how well it can run demanding games. A flagship phone is supposed to be the
best
 offering from a brand – it wouldn’t make sense for it to not offer a good level of performance.

So what chipset is considered fast enough then? Well, for 2021, any phone running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 – or the newer Snapdragon 888+ – chipset will be able to offer the performance level of a high-end, flagship phone.

However, just because a phone is equipped with such a chipset – such as the excellent
Xiaomi 11T Pro
 – doesn’t automatically make it a flagship device. It has to meet the other criteria listed in this article, such as..

Solid, Premium Build Quality

A flagship phone should feel like one, which is exactly why I wouldn’t consider the 11T Pro to be a flagship device. Yes, it may offer flagship-tier performance, but it doesn’t have particularly great build quality. After all, it has a mostly plastic construction, which doesn’t exactly scream premium.

The Xiaomi 11T Pro’s plastic back

Granted, some plastic phones can feel premium, but in most cases, the chassis of a flagship device should have minimal plastic. Take the
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
 or the latest
iPhone 13 Pro
 – all of them have glass panels on the front and back with a metal frame. Not only do they look great, they feel great to hold as well.

Do note that there are phones with premium build quality (and pricing) that are powered by, say, a Snapdragon 7 series chip; I wouldn’t consider these to be flagship devices. Don’t get me wrong, Snapdragon 7 series chips are quite fast, but they’re still one rung below a Snapdragon 8 series processor.

Capable, Versatile Camera System

Now, this is what sets a mediocre flagship smartphone from a truly class-leading flagship device. Almost any phone maker can slap on a fast processor to a device, but not all of them can deliver a camera system that fits a flagship smartphone.

Usually, a proper flagship phone has a versatile camera system with at least three different sensors: a primary shooter – higher pixel count isn’t necessarily better here – an ultra-wide angle lens, and finally, a telephoto zoom camera.

Another thing: just because a phone has a a ton of rear cameras doesn’t mean they have these three sensors. It’s important to take a look at each of the sensor to determine how versatile the camera system is. For example, a “depth” or “macro” lens doesn’t really meaningfully impact camera performance. You’re better off without them.

Bright, Vibrant, Fast Display

The display of a phone is the one hardware you constantly look at, so needless to say, it’s essential for a flagship phone to have a bright, vibrant panel. There are several things to consider when you’re assessing the display of a phone: resolution, display type, and refresh rate.

A Full HD screen – that is, a 1080p resolution – is the absolute bare minimum for a flagship phone. It’s even better if the panel has a higher resolution, but a sharper screen is not necessarily better. It’s important to consider the panel type too.

More often than not, the best flagship phones are equipped with OLED panels, such as the majority of Samsung’s high-end devices. Compared to an LCD display, an OLED screen has several advantages: not only do they have deeper, darker blacks, OLED panels can also produce much more vibrant colours with a wider dynamic range.

Granted, that doesn’t mean an LCD IPS screen doesn’t belong on a flagship smartphone. A high quality, properly calibrated IPS panel can easily outperform a lower quality OLED display. So don’t dismiss a flagship phone just because it has an IPS panel – calibration and panel quality matters too.

Last but certainly not least is the refresh rate of the display. A typical flagship phone in the market now has a 120Hz screen, which will look smoother than a standard 60Hz panel. This is because a 120Hz panel can churn out 120 frames per second; with more frames, you get a smoother viewing experience.

And there you have it: a proper flagship smartphone should meet all of the criteria mentioned above. As a side note, it is also important for a flagship phone to offer good battery life, but this is not easily measurable by battery capacity alone. After all, different phone makers have different power management settings.

Nonetheless, these are what you need to know about flagship smartphones. The next time you see a phone that’s marketed as a flagship device, you can now judge it based on these criteria.


Samsung’s 2021 Foldables Hit 1 Million Sales in Korea – 70% Were Galaxy Z Flip 3

It appears Samsung’s latest foldable phones, the
Galaxy Z Flip 3
 and Z Fold 3, are well-received by consumers. According to a report from
The Korea Herald
, over 1 million units of the two devices have been sold in South Korea alone.

Out of the two foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the more popular device in South Korea; it makes up about 70% of the total sales. This is likely due to its more affordable nature, and Samsung Korea also said that approximately 54% of Z Flip 3 buyers were millennial and Gen Z consumers.

Compared to Samsung’s previous releases, only the
Galaxy Note 10
 and Galaxy S8 reached the 1 million mark at a faster pace. Evidently, Samsung’s 2021 foldable phones really
have reached mainstream status
. It seems the South Korean company’s decision to forego the Note series for the Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 was the right call.

If you’d like to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, check out our
full review of the foldable phone
. You can also purchase it right now from RM3,999 and get
RM1,049 worth of rewards
.


I’ve Played Genshin Impact for Over a Year – Still Worth Playing?

Genshin Impact
 made its debut in late September last year, and I have logged into the game every day since then. After playing it for over a year, there were a few instances where Genshin Impact felt…well, boring. But once new updates are rolled out, they do
revitalise the live service game
.

Throughout the year, Mihoyo has refined many aspects of Genshin Impact. There are still some pain points here and there, but for what it’s worth, the thought of quitting the game never came to mind – even after so long, I still thoroughly,
thoroughly
 enjoy my time in Genshin Impact.

The Story Just Keeps Getting Better

One of my absolute favourite aspects of Genshin Impact is its
compelling narrative
, and I’m happy to report that it has only gotten better over the year. New storylines aren’t just limited to the main Archon quest either; even certain limited time events have some engrossing stories too.

Really, Mihoyo’s storytelling chops are not to be underestimated here. Just because Genshin Impact is a free game doesn’t mean it is inferior in any way to a paid title. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say that Genshin Impact has a more compelling storyline than many AAA games in the market now – it’s
that
 good.

Of course, the fascinating story of Genshin Impact can also be attributed to various new characters that are introduced in the game, which brings us to the next point..

New Playable Characters Are Fleshed Out Very Well

The typical pitfall of a gacha game is releasing new playable characters for the sake of raking in more revenue from their respective banners. While I wouldn’t say Genshin Impact is not guilty of this, it’s worth noting that every character that is introduced in the game is fleshed out very well with their own unique personalities and character development.

Take the new characters that were introduced in the Inazuma storyline itself. The Raiden Shogun is a far more complex character than meets the eye, and same goes for Sangonomiya Kokomi. Even if I don’t particularly like her gameplay, I was still tempted to get her as I’m fond of her personality and characterisation.

Unfortunately, I lost my 50/50 pity in her banner – I now have a C3 Jean, much to my chagrin.

Anyway, there are more characters that will be playable in the future too,
such as Thoma
. I absolutely cannot wait to see what other characters will be introduced in Genshin Impact – I’m personally hoping Yae Miko will be playable soon.

Complete Cross-Platform Progression Now

Previously, cross-platform progression for Genshin Impact was only limited to PC, iOS, and Android; PlayStation was not included. But this was changed once
Version 2.0
 went live on 21 July earlier this year, so PlayStation players can finally continue their progress on other platforms now and vice versa.

Of course, there are
some limitations in place
, but for the most part, you can seamlessly continue your progress on the PS5 or PS4 from other platforms. In fact, I used to prefer playing Genshin Impact on PC, but I find myself playing almost exclusively on the PS5 now, thanks to the blazing fast loading times and DualSense controller support.

However, it’s worth noting that even the PC version will get
DualSense support in Version 2.2 of Genshin Impact
, which is set to go live next week on 13 October.

Surely There Are Still Some Frustrating Elements?

Oh, definitely. Farming for artifacts is still a time-consuming process in Genshin Impact; I’m still grinding for the perfect artifact set for my Raiden Shogun. Aside from that, the 160 resin cap still limits what I can do in one sitting, unless I’m willing to spend actual money to get more resin.

Speaking of which, the gacha aspect of Genshin Impact can still get very expensive very quickly. I haven’t dropped a ton of money into the game yet – beyond the Battle Pass and monthly subscription for daily Primogems – but I was tempted to do so whenever I couldn’t get the character or weapon that I wanted from the event wishes.

Then again, this is an inherent danger of any gacha game. It’s important to have the discipline to only spend within your means, and you can definitely enjoy Genshin Impact without spending an obscene amount of money – even if you can’t get your favourite character all the time.

If you haven’t checked out Genshin Impact yet, I implore you to do so. Despite this being a free game, the storytelling, gameplay, and characterisation of its various characters are easily on par with the best AAA games.

Yes, there are some aspects of Genshin Impact that can be frustrating, but even after one whole year, these shortcomings are not enough to discourage me from logging into the game every day.


Asus ROG Phone 5s & 5s Pro With Snapdragon 888+ Priced From RM2,999 in Malaysia

Asus Malaysia just revealed the local pricing of its latest gaming smartphones, the Asus ROG Phone 5s and ROG Phone 5s Pro. Surprisingly enough, even though these two phones are packed with the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ chipset, they are still priced at the same exact price point
as their predecessors
.

The most affordable of the lot is the ROG Phone 5s with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for only RM2,999. If you want twice the amount of storage and RAM at 256GB and 16GB respectively, that will set you back RM3,799. As for the range-topping ROG Phone 5s Pro, it’s priced at RM4,999 with 512GB of storage and a whopping 18GB of RAM.

The Snapdragon 888+ chipset under the hood of the ROG Phone 5s series really is the biggest upgrade here. Compared to the Snapdragon 888 SoC that powered the previous models, the Snapdragon 888+ brings faster CPU and AI Engine performances, though there’s no GPU upgrade.

Aside from that, while the new ROG Phone 5s devices feature the same 6.78-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate as their predecessors, the touch response rate has been increased to 360Hz from 300Hz. Basically, this will minimise input lag even further, something mobile gamers will definitely appreciate.

Beyond these changes, other specifications of the ROG Phone 5s series are mostly the same, right down to the design. Both phones still have a triple camera system (64MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 5MP macro), a 24MP selfie camera, ultrasonic shoulder buttons on the right side, as well as a generous 6,000mAh battery.

It’s also worth noting that the ROG Phone 5s Pro, just like its direct predecessor, features an “ROG Vision” back panel, which is basically a small PMOLED screen that shows charging information or an incoming call. It also has two extra capacitive buttons on the rear panel, which work in tandem with the ultrasonic shoulder buttons.

The Asus ROG Phone 5s and ROG Phone 5s Pro will be available for pre-order in Malaysia until 24 October. Those who place their order in this period will also get an ROG Strix Go 2.4 wireless headset worth RM749 for free.


Apple Watch Series 7 Starts at RM1,749 in Malaysia

Not long after we first spotted the Apple Watch Series 7
in SIRIM’s database
, the Cupertino company finally revealed the Malaysian pricing of its latest smartwatch. Retailing from RM1,749, the Series 7 has the same starting price as the
Series 6
.

Compared to its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 7 has a larger screen with screen bezels measuring only 1.7mm thin. This allows the smartwatch to support a full-size keyboard now, and you can even use swipe typing for a more intuitive typing experience.

Aside from that, the updated Apple Watch is also said to be the most durable one yet. It features a stronger, more crack-resistant front crystal, along with an IP6X certification for dust resistance. Of course, the WR50 water resistance rating is retained too.

Charging speed of the Apple Watch Series 7 sees a nice upgrade as well. According to Apple, this smartwatch can now recharge up to 33% faster. As for battery life, the new Apple Watch can still provide the same all-day 18-hour battery life.

Even though the Malaysian pricing of the Apple Watch Series 7 has been revealed, it’s only set to be available later this year. In the meantime, you can take a look at the full lineup of the smartwatch
over at Apple’s Malaysian online store
.


Mode Eighty Custom Keyboard Updated With New Features – Pre-Orders Open 19 November

The popular
Mode Eighty
 custom keyboard has just been updated with new features and mounting styles. Just like the
Mode SixtyFive
, the new Eighty will be quite customisable too, and get this: pre-orders for the keyboard will be opened
indefinitely
.

It’s very rare for a custom keyboard to be available for pre-order without a closing date. Mode also mentioned that fulfilment for the Eighty will begin as early as March 2022. Given that pre-orders of the TKL keyboard will be open on 19 November, that’s merely a four-month lead time –
a very short waiting time in this hobby
.

Anyway, one of the most notable changes to the new Mode Eighty is two mounting options: stack mount or isolated top mount. Previously, only the former mounting style is offered for the Eighty, which offers a stiffer, more muted typing experience. If you want a more flexible typing feel, you can go with the isolated top mount option instead.

Aside from that, Mode also revealed that there will be more customisation options for the Eighty. Chances are, it will be as customisable as the SixtyFive. If this is the case, you will be able to change the material and colour for almost every single part of the Eighty.

No word yet on exactly how much the Mode Eighty will be priced at. For context, the
most recent Eighty restock
 saw the custom TKL keyboard go from $480 (about RM2,000). According to Mode, more details on the new custom TKL keyboard will be revealed in the coming weeks.


Honkai: Star Rail Is Mihoyo’s Latest Title – Turn-Based RPG Game for Mobile & PC

After its huge success with
Genshin Impact
, Mihoyo returns to the Honkai universe with a new game. Enter Honkai: Star Rail, a turn-based RPG game made for mobile and PC.

If Star Rail is anything like Honkai Impact 3 or Genshin Impact, there’s a good chance this is another gacha game, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. So far, eight characters have been revealed: Himeko, Welt, Danheng, Gepard, Seele, Clara, Asta, and…March 7th.

Based on the reveal trailer and in-game screenshots, Star Rail is a turn-based RPG game where players fight in a party of four; much like Genshin Impact, to an extent. There’s even dungeon exploration with flashy animations as characters unleash their respective skills.

Beyond these details, not much information on Honkai: Star Rail have been revealed. If you’re interested to check out the game though, you can sign-up for a chance to get into the closed beta
right here
. So far, the closed beta is
only offered for iOS and PC
.


Genshin Impact Tartaglia Banner Returns 13 October With Yanfei, Ningguang & Chongyun

Mihoyo just revealed Tartaglia’s third banner in
Genshin Impact
 2.2. Set to go live this Wednesday on 13 October, the 5-star Hydro character will be accompanied by Yanfei, Ningguang, as well as Chongyun.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event wishes
, the “drop rate” of Tartaglia, Yanfei, Ningguang, and Chongyun will be increased. In the case of Tartaglia, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be him. If it’s not him, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Tartaglia.

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

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

Tartaglia’s “Farewell of Snezhnaya” banner will go live on Genshin Impact this coming Wednesday on 13 October right after the
Version 2.2 update
. Tartaglia’s banner will be available until 2 November; it will then be replaced by Hu Tao’s event wish alongside Thoma, a new 4-star Pyro character.


I Play Genshin Impact Almost Exclusively on the PS5 Now

When
Genshin Impact
 first launched, I mainly played it on PC. If I just needed to clear my dailies quickly, I launch the game on my phone instead for the sake of convenience. But once Mihoyo
enabled cross-platform progression
 for Genshin Impact on the PS5 and PS4, I find myself spending a lot more time with the game on the PS5.

Of course, I do occasionally go back to the PC or mobile version, but most of the time, I much prefer playing Genshin Impact on the PS5 now – it’s really the superior version. Read on to find out why!

Blazing Fast Loading Times

I’ve tested Genshin Impact on many, many powerful gaming machines – including the
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE
 – but none of them can load the game as fast as the PS5 can. Whether I’m farming a particular domain or teleporting from one area to another, it only took
literal seconds
 for the game to load on the PS5.

Of course, this can be attributed to the fast SSD of the PS5, but it’s worth noting that Mihoyo also made a
custom file-loading system
 for the PS5 version of Genshin Impact. This gives the console an edge in loading times, even if you’re using an equally fast SSD in your PC.

Granted, a fast gaming PC can still load Genshin Impact relatively quickly, but when you’re on an artifact run, and you need to reload the same domain over and over again, the slightly faster loading times of the PS5 version makes quite a big difference. The fact that I’m looking at the loading screen less just lends to a more pleasant gaming experience.

Stunning Graphics in 4K at 60fps

Another feature that sets the PS5 version of Genshin Impact apart from PC – aside from the custom file-loading system – is an “all-new graphics library” that packs high-res textures to the environment of the game. Really, even at maxed out graphics settings on PC, the game still looks better on the PS5. Well, that’s the case to me, anyway.

It is for this very reason that I prefer to play Genshin Impact on the PS5 to enjoy new story content. Not only does the game look better, it’s just easier to get absorb in the narrative, thanks to the extra immersion provided by the DualSense controller. More on this in the following section.

Naturally, Genshin Impact also runs at 4K resolution on the PS5, and for the most part, the frame rate does stay consistent at 60fps. However, in more chaotic battle sequences (especially in the Spiral Abyss), the frame rate does noticeably drop. Thankfully, it doesn’t affect my ability to clear the challenges too much.

DualSense Controller Makes for a More Immersive Experience

I’ve said it
many times before
, and I’ll
say it again
: the PS5’s DualSense controller makes a game (literally) feel next-gen. Though Genshin Impact doesn’t use the DualSense’s Adaptive Triggers, it does implement the refined haptic feedback of the controller quite well.

Whether I’m unleashing a character’s Elemental Burst, accessing the quick select menu, or just walking through a bush, the DualSense’s haptic feedback captures these moments very well. It’s no wonder that the PC version will receive
DualSense support in Version 2.2
, which is set to go live this Wednesday on 13 October.

That being said, it remains to be seen if the DualSense’s haptic feedback can be emulated in the PC version.

Any Downsides to the PS5 Version?

Oh, definitely. The biggest one for me is the fact that the default controls…are not very intuitive. For some reason, the Elemental Burst is assigned to the Triangle button, while the Elemental Skill is mapped to the R2 button.

Given that these two skills are the main components of any given character, it’s much more intuitive to just assign them to buttons that are close to each other. After changing the mapping of the buttons to my liking, the controls do feel much intuitive.

But if I need more precise controls in harder content like the Spiral Abyss, I will still revert back to a mouse and keyboard on PC. As much as I enjoy playing Genshin Impact on the PS5, I still find it awkward to swap characters using the D-pad. No, I cannot change this to a different set of buttons, unfortunately enough.

But at the end of the day, I almost always go back to the PS5 version of Genshin Impact whenever I can. The faster loading times makes a huge difference in my overall gaming experience, and when I want to enjoy new storylines, the PS5 provides the best experience with its stunning graphics and DualSense implementations.

Out of all the new features introduced in Genshin Impact over the year since its launch, the integration of cross-platform progression with PlayStation really is my favourite one – it’s simply a joy to play the game on the PS5.


Mihoyo Teases Arataki Itto & Gorou – Likely Playable in Genshin Impact 2.3

Mihoyo dropped a rather big teaser: the developer just confirmed two characters coming to
Genshin Impact
. These include Gorou – who already appeared in the Inazuma storyline – and a brand new character, Arataki Itto.

Chances are, these two characters will be playable in Version 2.3 of Genshin Impact. After all, previous characters that were teased by Mihoyo were eventually playable in the next version update. These include
Thoma
, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Kujou Sara, and of course, the
Raiden Shogun herself
.

"Hello, I'm the deputy of the Arataki Gang. If you come across any inappropriate behavior on the part of our boss, Arataki Itto, please contact me immediately. " — Kuki Shinobu
◆ Arataki Itto
◆ The First and Greatest Head of the Arataki Gang
◆ Geo
◆ Taurus Iracundus
pic.twitter.com/c7Nb9LKDAL
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact)
October 11, 2021

"Kindness and loyalty are the representation of virtue. Without a doubt, my friend Gorou is a virtuous general." — Kaedehara Kazuha
◆ Gorou ‧ Canine Warrior
◆ General of the Watatsumi Army
◆ Geo
◆ Canis Bellatoris
#GenshinImpact

pic.twitter.com/YEDrXXikKS
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact)
October 12, 2021

As with Genshin Impact’s previous teasers, the rarity of Itto and Gorou have not been revealed yet. But the teasers did confirm that both of them are Geo characters – Gorou looks to be a bow user, while Itto seems to be a wielding a claymore.

This is our own educated guess at this point in time, but there is a very good chance that both Arataki Itto and Gorou will be playable in Version 2.3 of Genshin Impact. The new update should be released towards the end of November 2021, so expect these two characters to make their respective debuts then.


UMW Toyota Motor Sold 8,033 Units in September 2021 – 223% Increase

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) just released its monthly sales for the month of September 2021. Just like
other players

in the industry
, the company sees a steady rise in sales with over 8,033 units sold. This figure includes both Toyota and Lexus models sold in Malaysia.

Of the 8,033 units sold last month, Toyota models make up 7,931 of the figure. The remaining 102 units, on the other hand, are made up of the premium Lexus vehicles. Compared to August 2021 – where UMWT sold 2,524 units – September 2021’s sales is a whopping 223% increase.

The company added that compared to the same month in 2020, it managed to sell 43% more vehicles in September 2021. In total, UMWT has sold over 43,594 units so far this year; a huge increase over the 25,978 units the company sold in the same period in 2020.

“We are certainly pleased to see the market steadily moving towards normalcy as the past few months have been challenging for us,” said the President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran. K. “I would like to assure our customers that they will be safe and protected when they visit our showrooms or service centres, but at the same time, we remind them that they need to comply with the SOPs,” he added.


Get Your Mitsubishi Car Delivered to Your Doorstep – Only in Klang Valley

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) just introduced a pretty intriguing service. If you book a Mitsubishi model through
MMM’s online showroom
, you have the option to get your vehicle delivered to your doorstep on a single car carrier truck – how convenient is that?

Of course, there is one caveat: this service is only offered in the Klang Valley area right now. That being said, MMM did say that the service will be expanded to other regions in Malaysia, though it remains to be seen exactly when this will be implemented.

“As Malaysia prepares to transition from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic phase, Mitsubishi Motors is making an effort to ensure that our digital services are improved for customers’ safety and convenience. We want to provide an option for customers to shop online, offering something unorthodox to car ownership,” said the CEO of MMM, Tomoyuki Shinnishi.

If you got your eyes on any Mitsubishi model – such as the
Xpander seven-seater crossover
 – you can take a look at it and place a booking on MMM’s online showroom
right here
.


Honor 50 Lands in Malaysia 18 October – Will Feature Google Apps

Just last week,
we spotted the Honor 50 in SIRIM’s database
, and we just heard from Honor Malaysia that the phone will be arriving here next week on 18 October. This makes Malaysia the first market outside of China to get the Honor 50.

What’s particularly interesting about the Honor 50 – in comparison to previous smartphones from the Chinese company – is the fact that it comes with Google Mobile Services. This gives the device access to Google’s range of apps and services, which is really the defining trait of an Android smartphone.

Aside from that, Honor 50 is a reasonably well-equipped mid-range smartphone too with a premium-looking design. For one, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, which should be able to offer a good level of performance. It also comes with a 120Hz 6.57-inch 1080p OLED display.

Other specifications of the Honor 50 include a quad camera system (108MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), a 32MP selfie camera, a 4,300mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging, up to 12GB of RAM, as well as 128GB or 256GB of non-expandable storage.

The Honor 50 will be launched in Malaysia next week on 18 October at 8PM. We’ll find out then how much the phone will be priced at for the local market.


Staebies by AEBoards x Zambumon – The Best Keyboard Stabiliser Yet?

One of the most frustrating processes of building a custom keyboard – for me, anyway – is tuning stabilisers. Whether you’re using screw-in or plate-mounted stabilisers, lubing and modding them to eliminate ticking can be a taxing, annoying process.

Well, this is exactly what the Staebies aim to solve. Designed by Zambumon in collaboration with AEBoards – two well-known names in the custom keyboard scene – the Staebies use a new stabiliser design with tighter tolerances than other stabilisers in the market now.

In theory, the tighter tolerances of the Staebies eliminate extra room for the wires to rattle or tick, making these stabilisers much,
much
 easier to tune for a pleasant typing experience. If you’re interested to pick these up, then keep on reading this quick first impressions of the Staebies!

We just got the Staebies today from
Keyboard Treehouse for $22
 (about RM90) a set, which includes a 7U wire, a 6.25u wire, five 2u wire, six sets of stems and housings, screws, as well as rubber washers.

Aside from that, this first round of Staebies are also packed in a neat little carry pack. The 7u and 6.25u wires are protected by a foam inside the case too, ensuring that they don’t get bent during shipping. While the case itself doesn’t feel particularly premium, it’s still a nice, practical storage case.

Speaking of the Staebies’ wires, how straight are they? Well, they’re about as straight as the wires of Durock V2 and C3 stabilisers. They still sit flush on a flat surface, though they do tick a little when I tap on the ends of the wires. This isn’t exactly an issue, and I reckon they will still work fine when they’re mounted on a keyboard.

There are two distinct versions of the Staebies: the all-black variant features a nylon housing with a black POM stem, while the clear version has a polycarbonate housing with a white POM stem. Beyond the different aesthetics of these two variants, AEBoards didn’t mention if there will be any difference in smoothness or sound profile.

Of course, I’ll test this out for myself very, very soon – stay tuned for that on our
YouTube channel
.

While I haven’t mounted the Staebies on a keyboard yet, I did assemble them to see how tight the tolerances are. Well, I’m happy to report that these feel
very tight
 (in a good way). The wires, for one, snap on to the housing quite tightly – almost as tight as a C3 stabiliser. Chances are, the Staebies won’t suffer from any wire popping.

As for the housing tolerance of the Staebies, it is
excellent
. There’s very little wiggle room for the wire and stems to move around, so in theory, these stabilisers shouldn’t tick or rattle much when they’re mounted on a keyboard. I’m especially interested to try out the Staebies without lubing them to see how they would perform.

After all, one of the main reasons to lube stabilisers – aside from making them smoother – is to fill up the empty space between the wire and housing so that it wouldn’t rattle or tick. Given the tight tolerances of the Staebies, I’m curious to see if they need to be lubed at all – you can listen to how these stabilisers perform unlubed in the video above.

Naturally, I had to compare the Staebies to the Durock V2, which is considered to be the “gold standard” for keyboard stabilisers. As mentioned, I haven’t had the time to mount either one of them on a keyboard yet – I just received them in the mail! – but it’s evident that the Staebies have much better tolerances.

For starters, the Staebies’ stem doesn’t move as freely as the Durock V2’s stem on a wire, and when placed in the housings of the respective stabilisers, there’s a lot more wiggle room in the Durock V2 than the Staebies. Just look at the comparison shots below.

The Staebies
Notice how loose the stem sits in the housing of the Durock V2

Even without mounting these two stabilisers on a keyboard to compare them, it’s clear as day that the Durock V2 rattles
a lot more
 than the Staebies. Suffice to say I absolutely cannot wait to try out these stabilisers from AEBoards and Zambumon.

I will be testing different stabilisers against the Staebies in a video review very soon, so stay tuned to our
YouTube channel
 for that! If you want to pick up the Staebies, they are unfortunately out of stock at the time of writing, though you can place a pre-order with AEBoards through
this form
 –
Cannon Keys
 will also have them in stock soon.

Read more:

Staebies Review: The Keyboard Stabiliser to Beat

Staebies Lubing Guide – Easy to Tune?


Custom Keyboard – Always Get Extra PCB

Whenever you join a group buy for a
custom keyboard
, consider getting an extra PCB. Yes, it will increase the overall cost of the keyboard, but you never know when you might need one a couple of years down the road.

After all, there’s always a chance for electronics to break after years of use, and the PCBs of custom keyboards are no different. If you’re still in the fence about buying an extra PCB for your custom keyboard, keep on reading – you might change your mind.

For Peace of Mind

As mentioned, as you use your custom keyboard, there is always a chance of it breaking. Maybe the PCB is not as well-designed as it should be, or maybe you accidentally spilled your favourite beverage onto the keyboard.

Truth be told, the latter actually happened to me, but fortunately enough, it was just plain water. After drying it for a day or two, the PCB (thankfully) still works as intended. However, if you spilled a soda or coffee onto your keyboard, the PCB may not survive that mishap.

Basically, getting an extra PCB is a nice insurance in case anything happens – get it for peace of mind, or you’ll be left with an expensive paperweight if the original PCB stopped working.

It’s (Usually) Hard to Find Replacement PCBs for Custom Keyboards

More often than not, a custom keyboard uses a PCB that is designed specifically for it. If your original PCB breaks, it will not be easy to find for a replacement, especially if it’s been a while since the keyboard initially went up for sale.

Of course, there are a number of exceptions to this. Take the
Wilba.tech Salvation
 custom keyboard: it is designed to work with most PCBs made for a 60% keyboard, thanks to its different mounting points. That being said, not many custom keyboards feature this kind of flexibility.

The Wilba.tech Salvation

Unless you’re purchasing a custom keyboard like the Salvation, it’s highly recommended to get an extra PCB in the event of a mishap or breakage in the future. Otherwise, it may prove to be difficult (or almost impossible) to find for a replacement PCB for your custom keyboard.

Sure, you can always try your luck in the aftermarket scene, but be prepared to pay a premium; assuming you can even find one, that is.

Save on Shipping Cost & Time

Say your custom keyboard’s PCB suddenly stopped working, but fortunately enough, the vendor you got the keyboard from has extra PCBs for sale. But depending on where the vendor is located, you may have to pay quite a bit for shipping alone, incurring more cost than just getting an extra PCB in the initial order of your keyboard.

Yes, getting extra parts for a custom keyboard in a group buy may increase the shipping cost slightly, but it’s nowhere near as much as getting said parts in a separate order in the future. Plus, you’ll also have to wait for the order to be shipped to you, which could take several days or weeks, depending on the courier service.

Really, on the off chance you need to replace the PCB of your custom keyboard, you will be glad you bought an extra PCB from the very beginning. Not only will you be saving time, you won’t have to pay for shipping costs again either.

Can’t I Just Get One PCB?

Well, of course you can! If you’re careful with your custom keyboard – which you really should be – and the PCB is manufactured by a reputable party, you only need one PCB for the keyboard to continue functioning for many, many years.

It’s not necessarily the end of the world either if your PCB breaks; a responsible manufacturer should have replacement PCBs for sale. But as mentioned, if the group buy for the keyboard took place some time ago, there’s a possibility the manufacturer no longer sells the PCB for your particular keyboard.

Personally, whenever I join a group buy for a custom keyboard, I always,
always
 get an extra PCB. I even did so for the Salvation, even if it’s compatible with most PCBs made for a 60% keyboard. If the keyboard has a daughterboard – such as the
Mode SixtyFive
 – I’ll even get an extra unit of that just in case.

To me, it’s worth it to pay more for these extra parts outright, even if there’s only a small chance of the PCB breaking somewhere down the road. I’d rather do this than having to worry about finding for replacements parts in the future.


Apple Sets 19 October “Unleashed” Event – New MacBooks, Mac mini Expected

Apple just announced its next hardware event, which is taking place next week on 19 October for us here in Malaysia. Chances are, we will see the debut of two new MacBooks at the event, along with a redesigned, higher-end Mac mini, and even a pair of third-generation AirPods.

As with all of Apple’s invites for its events, the teaser is a simple one with just the word “Unleashed” being the centre theme. But as the video for the event below shows, the word itself appears to be made up of tiny dots, which could be a nod to the new MacBooks’ rumoured mini-LED displays.

Unleashed! These next six days are going to speed by.
#AppleEvent

pic.twitter.com/0ops2bVPvl
— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz)
October 12, 2021

If previous rumours are to be believed, Apple is expected to unveil
new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models
. Not only are they said to be sporting mini-LED displays, they may be powered by Apple’s latest ARM-based M1X chip too. This new processor should bring notable performance boost compared to the
current M1 chip
.

As for the redesigned Mac mini, it is rumoured to be packing the upcoming M1X chip too, along with better selection of ports to suit power users. The third-generation AirPods, on the other hand, are believed to be more similar in design to the current AirPods Pro with shorter stems and a new charging case.

We’ll find out for ourselves if these new products will really make an appearance at next week’s Apple event. You can catch the livestream on 19 October at 1AM (Malaysian time) on
Apple.com
.


14 – 20 October Fuel Price: RON 97 up by Whopping 10 Sen

The price of RON 97 is set to go up again this coming week by a pretty big margin. From tomorrow onwards, RON 97 will go up by a whopping 10 sen per litre, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 for the next seven days is set at RM2.87 per litre (up from RM2.77). 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 14 to 20 October. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Samsung Announces Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 Event for 20 October – Phone Customisation?

It’s going to get real busy for the tech industry next week. Samsung just announced a Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 event for 20 October, right after Apple and Google hold their own events to (possibly) launch
new MacBooks
 and the
Pixel 6
 respectively.

The video teaser for the event itself doesn’t really reveal any notable information. But according to a post on
Samsung’s newsroom
, the South Korean company hints at how its users are “multifaceted and live life in so many colorful, interesting and unique ways.”

“As such, the technology they use every day should reflect their individuality,” Samsung added.

These statements could be hinting at a phone customisation service of sorts from Samsung – or simply new colourways for its existing phones – though this is only an educated guess on our part at this point in time. It’s possible the Galaxy S21 FE will be unveiled at the event too, though this
unlikely in light of delays
.

We’ll find out exactly what Samsung has in store come 20 October next week. The Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 event will be livestreamed on
Samsung’s YouTube channel
 on that day at 10PM for us here in Malaysia.


Acer ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition Laptop Uses Eye-Tracking to Display 3D Images

Acer just announced a slew of new products today, including the Acer ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition. Its long name aside, this powerful mobile workstation is able to display 3D images without 3D glasses using eye-tracking – pretty impressive, right?

This is possible thanks to a set of stereo cameras that track the user’s eyes. The laptop then displays “two slightly different images through an optical lens that has been bonded to the screen’s panel, each refracted to a different eye,” as Acer describes it. This is done in real-time too, so you can move around and see a 3D image in…well, 3D.

Aside from this unique feature, the ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition also features a 15.6-inch 3840 x 2160 IPS display (in 2D mode). In 3D mode, the screen’s effective resolution in 1920 x 2160 instead. It is also Pantone Validated with 100% coverage of the Adobe RGB colour gamut.

Other specifications of this beefy mobile workstation include up to an Intel Core i7-11800H processor paired with 32GB of DDR4 RAM (upgradable to 64GB), an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, as well as 2TB of NVMe SSD storage. All in all, a very capable laptop.

Of course, that also means it commands a premium price tag: the Acer ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition will retail from a steep €3,599 (about RM17,330) in EMEA markets sometime in December 2021. No word yet on the Malaysian availability of this serious mobile workstation.


The Acer Predator GD711 Gaming-Centric Projector Offers 240Hz Refresh Rate

If you’ve always wanted to game on a large projector with high refresh rate, you can now do so with the brand new Acer Predator GD711. What makes this gaming-centric 4K LED projector particularly interesting is the fact that it can run at a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate.

However, the 240Hz refresh rate is only reserved for PCs, and the resolution is limited to 1080p, even though the Predator GD711 is capable of projecting 4K content. If you connect a gaming console to the projector, it will display content at 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate instead. It’s worth noting that this projector supports VRR too.

The Acer Predator GD711
The Acer Predator GM712

Other specifications of the Predator GD711 include 4,000 LED lumens of brightness, HDR10 support, a throw ratio of 1.22 – Acer recommends a 100-inch screen thrown from 2.7m – and even a 10W speaker. There’s also the Predator GM712, which is a lamp-based 4K projector, though not much details have been revealed.

The Acer Predator GD711 is set to be available in China first sometime in November with a 11,999 Chinese yuan starting price, which comes up to about RM7,765. It remains to be seen if the GD711 – or even the GM712 – will also be sold here in Malaysia.


Acer Aspire Vero Is a Laptop Made From Recycled Plastic

In line with Acer’s commitment to sustainable operations, the Taiwanese company introduced the Acer Aspire Vero, a laptop that is made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. Not only is it touted as a green product, it also looks to be a decent productivity-focused laptop.

According to Acer, the chassis of the Aspire Vero is composed of 30% PCR plastic, which cuts CO2 emissions by 21% for the production of this particular part. The laptop’s keycaps also contain 50% PCR plastic, and even the 100% recyclable packaging of the laptop can be repurposed as a laptop stand – talk about functionality.

Aside from that, the Aspire Vero features a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen – which is said to be 99% recyclable – along with three choices of 11th gen Intel processors: a Core i3-1115G4, Core i5-1155G7, or Core i7-1195G7 chip. These processors are paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.

The Acer Aspire Vero is set to be available in China and EMEA markets sometime this month; it starts at 4,999 Chinese yuan (about RM3,230) in the former region. At the time of writing, it’s not known yet if the Aspire Vero will also be available in Malaysia.


Video: Staebies Review – Endgame Keyboard Stabiliser!

Here it is: our video review of the Staebies. Designed by the renowned Zambumon in collaboration with AEBoards, the Staebies use a new stabiliser design with tighter tolerances than other stabilisers in the market now, eliminating extra room for the wires to rattle or tick. But is this really the case? Watch our review above to find out!

We compare both the nylon and polycarbonate versions of the Staebies in this review to two other popular stabilisers in the market: Durock V2 (in stock form) and C3 stabilisers. The latter is lubed and holee modded, which will give you an idea on how the Staebies compare to properly tuned stabilisers.

If you’re wondering how the Staebies would perform once they are lubed, we will be doing a separate video for that. In the meantime, enjoy our review of these brand new stabilisers!


Apple Watch Series 7 Now Available for Purchase in Malaysia From RM1,749

The
Apple Watch Series 7
 is now available for purchase in Malaysia! Retailing from RM1,749 locally, the Series 7 actually has the same starting price as the
Series 6
.

Compared to its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 7 has a larger screen with screen bezels measuring only 1.7mm thin. This allows the smartwatch to support a full-size keyboard now, and you can even use swipe typing for a more intuitive typing experience.

Aside from that, the updated Apple Watch is also said to be the most durable one yet. It features a stronger, more crack-resistant front crystal, along with an IP6X certification for dust resistance. Of course, the WR50 water resistance rating is retained too.

Charging speed of the Apple Watch Series 7 sees a nice upgrade as well. According to Apple, this smartwatch can now recharge up to 33% faster. As for battery life, the new Apple Watch can still provide the same all-day 18-hour battery life.

You can now purchase the Apple Watch Series 7 in Malaysia on
Apple’s Malaysian online store
. At the time of writing, it will take between four to eight weeks for the smartwatch to start shipping, depending on the configuration you chose.


HMD Global Launches 5 Nokia Phones in Malaysia, Including Nokia X20 for RM1,599

As promised
, HMD Global just unveiled a slew of Nokia phones for the Malaysian market. These include the Nokia X20, Nokia C20, Nokia C01 Plus, as well as two feature phones: Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 105 4G.

Out of the five devices, the Nokia X20 is the highest-end offering with a
RM1,599 price tag
. It features a 6.67-inch 1080p IPS screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and a generous 4,470mAh battery.

The Nokia X20

In the camera department, the X20 has a quad camera system. It is made up of a 64MP primary sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide angle shooter, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth camera. The selfie shooter, on the other hand, is a 32MP unit. It’s worth noting that the X20 also gets three years of software updates and warranty – that’s quite impressive.

As for the other Nokia devices launched today, they are decidedly much more affordable. The Nokia C20 (32GB + 2GB) retails at only
RM399
, while the Nokia C01 Plus (16GB + 2GB) goes for
RM359
. As for the Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 105 4G feature phones, they are priced at
RM159
 and
RM139
 respectively.


Honda HR-V 1.8L SE Quietly Launched – Adds BLIS, Lane Change Assist for RM105k

It seems Honda Malaysia quietly launched a new variant of the
Honda HR-V
. Dubbed HR-V 1.8L SE – that stands for Special Edition – this limited edition model sports a number of driver assistance systems not found on other trim levels of the B-segment SUV.

Based on the most affordable 1.8L E variant – this is evident from the halogen headlights – the HR-V 1.8L SE features four new features. These include Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and even Door Opening Warning.

Aside from these additions, this Special Edition HR-V also gets a dashcam, trunk tray, and trunk organiser.

So how much do you need to pay for these upgrades to the HR-V 1.8L SE? A cool RM105,363.85, which is exactly RM1,363.64 more over the 1.8L E trim it is based on. Given the amount of upgrades you’re getting with the SE model, this is actually pretty good value for money.

There are no other changes to the equipment of the HR-V 1.8L SE. It’s still powered by a 1.8L SOHC i-VTEC engine that outputs 142PS and 172Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

If you’re keen to get the new Honda HR-V 1.8L SE, you may want to act quickly; only limited units are available. You can place a booking online
over here
, or through the HondaTouch app – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Nokia G10 With 5,050mAh Battery Coming to Malaysia End-October 2021 for RM599

Aside from the
five Nokia devices
 already available for purchase in Malaysia now, HMD Global is also set to launch the Nokia G10 here by the end of the month. If you’re looking to get an affordable Android smartphone, the G10 could be for you.

For the Malaysian market, only one variant of the G10 is offered here. Packed with 64GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM, this budget-friendly phone retails at only RM599. It’s also worth noting that you’ll get three years of security updates with this phone.

Given its affordable price tag, the G10 has a modest set of hardware. Sporting a MediaTek Helio G25 chipset, it should be fast enough for everyday use. It also has a 6.5-inch HD+ 20:9 display with a notch at the top of the screen.

Other specifications of the G10 include a triple camera system (13MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), an 8MP selfie camera, a generous 5,050mAh battery – it has a quoted battery life of up to three days – and Android 11 out of the box with two years of software upgrades.

The Nokia G10 will be coming to Malaysia by the end of October 2021. Once it is available for purchase here, you can get this affordable phone for only RM599.


Staebies Review: The Keyboard Stabiliser to Beat

No matter how good a custom keyboard is, its typing experience wouldn’ be satisfactory if the stabilisers are bad. And here’s the thing: most keyboard stabilisers…are not great out of the box. They need to be tuned and modded accordingly – some more so than the others – to get a desirable sound and feel.

But the Staebies, designed by Zambumon in collaboration with AEBoards, are quite different. Even when they’re unlubed, they perform really,
really
 well, thanks to their tight tolerances. If you’re looking to get the absolute best screw-in stabiliser in the market now, look no further than the Staebies.

What It Is

There are two distinct versions of the Staebies: the all-black variant features a nylon housing with a black POM stem, while the clear version has a polycarbonate housing with a white POM stem. Beyond the different aesthetics of these two variants, they have different sound profiles and smoothness too – more on these further down this review.

We purchased the Staebies from
Keyboard Treehouse for $22
 (about RM90) a set, which includes a 7U wire, a 6.25u wire, five 2u wire, six sets of stems and housings, screws, as well as rubber washers. For this first round of Staebies, they are also packed in a neat little carry pack.

The 7u and 6.25u wires of these stabilisers are protected by a foam inside the case too, ensuring that they don’t get bent during shipping. While the case itself doesn’t feel particularly premium, it’s still a nice, practical storage case.

The Good Stuff

As mentioned, the Staebies have very tight tolerances, leaving little room for the wires to move around in the stems and housings of the stabilisers. In theory, this should keep any rattling and ticking to a minimum, and…well, this is certainly the case.

I was curious to see how the Staebies would perform straight out of the box without any tuning, and I’m happy to report that they sound and feel
great
. There are still some ticking and rattling, of course, but I have never seen stabilisers that sound
this good
 without lubing or modding – it’s incredible.

Of course, I will be lubing them to see if the wire rattle can be eliminated completely, and I’m optimistic the Staebies will perform incredibly well once I’ve done so. In fact, I don’t think I need to holee mod them either to get desirable results, unlike other options in the market, such as the Durock V2 and C3 stabilisers.

Look at how snug the wire clips onto the housing

Anyway, the excellent tolerances of the Staebies even extend to how tightly the wire clips onto the housing. It feels almost as tight as a C3 stabiliser, so chances are, the Staebies won’t suffer from any wire popping; a huge issue for certain stabilisers.

There are also some notable differences between the all-black nylon Staebies and the clear polycarbonate model. The nylon version feels more “firm” and tight, while the polycarbonate variant has a “looser-feeling,” but smoother downstroke – much like a Durock V2 stabiliser, actually.

The sound profiles of the two Staebies are quite different too. Not surprisingly, the black nylon version offers a deeper sound signature, while the polycarbonate, all-clear model has a higher-pitched sound signature. Keep this in mind if you want stabilisers with a particular sound profile.

The Staebies (top and bottom) and the Durock V2

The Bad Stuff

While I’m very happy with how the Staebies perform, it does have a couple of small niggles. Because of how tight the tolerances of these stabilisers are, the stem can actually get stuck in the housing during assembly – this actually happened to me while I was testing them out.

I didn’t notice that this one stabiliser was stuck when I was assembling it, so I had to take it apart and make sure that the stems are properly lined with the housing before mounting it onto the keyboard again. Once I’ve done that, the stabiliser works without issue, thankfully enough.

Aside from that, the Staebies’ stems are also quite tight. I tested a number of different keycaps to confirm this – including GMK – and I do need to push down on the keycaps quite a bit to make sure that they are seated properly on the stabilisers. Not a huge issue by any means, but definitely worth pointing out.

Last but certainly not least is the overall availability of the Staebies. At the moment, only Keyboard Treehouse – which is based in Australia – is
opening pre-orders
 for them, so depending on where you’re located, shipping can get quite expensive.

Granted, AEBoards did say that US vendor Cannon Keys will have the Staebies in stock soon, but if you’re in Asia (like us), it doesn’t make much of a difference. Hopefully, more vendors worldwide will carry the Staebies soon – it’ll be great if these stabilisers are more widely available to everyone.

Is It Worth It?

Without a shadow of a doubt! The Staebies may have their faults, but all things considered, they are easily the best screw-in stabilisers we have ever tried. Their tight tolerances are unlike anything I’ve ever seen, making them so much easier to tune for a desirable sound and feel – it will save folks a lot of time and frustration.

The only thing that really needs to be worked on right now is the overall availability of the Staebies. Once more vendors have them in stock, I’m confident they will sell out very quickly –
that’s
 how good the Staebies are.

Read more:

Staebies Lubing Guide – Easy to Tune?


The Excellent Staebies Are Back in Stock

If you’ve been waiting for the
Staebies
 to be back in stock, good news: Keyboard Treehouse just listed more units of the excellent screw-in stabilisers for sale. On top of that, you can still get them at a discounted price too.

According to the
listing on Keyboard Treehouse
, the Staebies usually go for $24, but it’s currently on sale for $22 (about RM90). While that’s not a huge discount, it does make the Staebies that much more appealing.

It’s worth noting that there are only 136 units of each model of the Staebies – that is, the all-black nylon version and the clear polycarbonate variant – are available right now, as shared on Keyboard Treehouse’s
Discord channel
. It’s a decent amount of units, but you may want to get them quickly to secure your order.

You can purchase the Staebies from Keyboard Treehouse
right here
. Not sure if these stabilisers are worth it? Then check out our
full review of the Staebies
.


Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Getting the Basics Right for RM499

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is the Korean company’s latest entry-level wireless earbuds. Retailing at RM499, it’s certainly not an expensive earbuds. However, is it any good?

Well, after spending a couple of weeks with the Buds 2, I’m really quite happy with it, especially in regard to audio quality. Even though it does have a couple of shortcomings, they can be easily overlooked, given its affordable nature. If you want a no-nonsense wireless earbuds, consider the Buds 2.

What It Is

Despite its entry-level positioning, the Galaxy Buds 2 still comes with active noise cancellation (ANC), which is one of the headline features of these earbuds. Aside from that, they are also very lightweight; each earbud weighs merely 5g. This, in turn, improves the comfort of these earbuds over long periods of use.

In terms of battery life, the Buds 2’s 61mAh battery has a claimed battery life of up to five hours with ANC switched on; 7.5 hours if ANC is disabled. With the included charging case, the battery life can be extended up to 20 hours or 29 hours with ANC off; respectable figures.

And then there’s the price tag of the Galaxy Buds 2. Retailing at RM499, it’s quite a bit more affordable than Samsung’s higher-end offerings, such as the
RM799 Buds Pro
. For that kind of money, you’re getting a lot of value for your money, especially in terms of audio quality – let’s get to that in the next section.

The Good Stuff

What really impressed me when I first started using the Galaxy Buds 2 is its audio quality; more specifically, the bass. These earbuds offer pleasantly strong bass, which is also layered, detailed, and (most importantly) fun to listen to. Basically, if you like earbuds that handle bass well, the Buds 2 will not disappoint.

Other than that, the Buds 2 also offers reasonably good mids. Female vocals, for one, are smooth, though it may come off as dull on some tracks. These earbuds also have clean and smooth highs, but there is a lack of sparkle with some sibilance. However, overall, the Buds 2 really does offer good audio quality, especially in terms of bass control.

Audio quality aside, the Buds 2 also has a nice, comfortable fit. It’s easy to get a nice, snug seal in my ear thanks to the “bean” shape of these earbuds, and it feels comfortable to wear even over long periods of use. As mentioned, the lightweight nature of the Buds 2 helps in this regard.

Battery life of the Buds 2 also lines up with Samsung’s estimates. It does last me about five hours of continuous use with ANC enabled, and I can stretch it up to seven hours or so with ANC switched off. While there are other earbuds that can last even longer, I do find this level of battery life acceptable for earbuds at this price point.

Anyway, I quite like the charging case of the Buds 2 as well, which has enough juice to charge up the earbuds about three times. It’s also neat that the charging case supports wireless charging now for added convenience.

The Bad Stuff

Of course, considering that the Galaxy Buds 2 is an entry-level offering, its ANC is not particularly great. While it does cancel out some noise, it’s quite mild; mid to high frequency hums are still prominent. On the flip side, at least the ANC doesn’t have a “deafening” effect.

If you plan to take the Buds 2 out for a workout, do note that it only has an IPX2 rating. This means it can withstand some water splashes, but anything more than that – like getting caught in a heavy downpour – may damage the earbuds.

My last qualm with the Buds 2 is a small one: it’s…a little too slippery. Because it has such a glossy surface, it can be tricky to get a good grip on the earbuds to put them on and off. It’s a small annoyance, but definitely something that is worth pointing out.

Is It Worth It?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, with its RM499 asking price, is a fantastic option for those who want a pair of wireless earbuds that got all of the basic features right. It has good audio quality, long enough battery life, and a snug, comfortable fit in an affordable package.

Sure, the Buds 2 doesn’t have the best ANC or water resistance rating, but this
is
 an entry-level pair of earbuds – there’s only so much you can ask for. In any case, if you’re shopping for earbuds below the RM500 price point, I reckon you will be very happy with the Buds 2.


Get RM400 Discount on the Sony Xperia 1 III Until 31 October 2021

Sony Malaysia is currently running a promotion for its latest flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia 1 III. Previously retailing at RM5,799, you can now get the high-end phone for RM5,399 – that’s RM400 worth of savings.

This discount for the Xperia 1 III is valid from today until 31 October 2021. Granted, RM5,399 is still a steep price tag – even for a flagship phone of this calibre with 256GB of expandable storage and 12GB of RAM – but you do get some interesting features with this device.

One of the main highlights of the Xperia 1 III is its “variable telephoto lens” system that allows the 12MP telephoto sensor of the to change its focal length between 70mm to 105mm. The system is also paired with a “Dual PD sensor,” which promises fast autofocus speeds, even when switching between different focal lengths.

Complementing the telephoto lens of the Xperia 1 III is a 12MP primary sensor, along with a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter. Other specifications of the flagship phone include a sharp and vibrant 120Hz 6.5-inch 4K OLED screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, an 8MP selfie camera, a 4,500mAh battery, and an IP65/IP68 rating.

You can get the Sony Xperia 1 III with RM400 discount on
Sony Malaysia’s online store
 right now. As mentioned, this promotion will run until 31 October 2021.


Genshin Impact Gets 120fps Support…on iOS

Well, this is interesting: it appears 120fps support is finally coming to
Genshin Impact
. Now, you might think this would be for the PC platform, but curiously enough, the 120fps support…is actually for iOS.

This was quietly revealed through an
update note
 for Version 2.2 of Genshin Impact on the Apple App Store. Aside from mentioning Thoma as a new playable character and the new Tsurumi Island, the note also describes a new function that adds “120fps option for some devices.”

Naturally, the 120fps mode is only for iOS devices with a matching screen refresh rate. These include the
iPhone 13 Pro
, the
iPhone 13 Pro Max
, as well as the
iPad Pro
. Given the beefy GPU under the hood of these devices, we reckon they can really run Genshin Impact – which is actually quite a demanding mobile game – at 120fps.

Hopefully, this means that 120fps support is also coming to the PC version of Genshin Impact soon, and maybe even for the
PlayStation 5
. It’ll be interesting to see if the Android version will get 120fps support for the game too, given that even flagship Android phones still struggle to run the game at a consistent 60fps.


Staebies Lubing Guide – Easy to Tune?

It’s been a few days since I’ve lubed the Staebies, and so far…they feel and sound great! While they’re impressive completely stock, they do have some wire ticking and rattling when they’re bone dry – lubing them have pretty much eliminated these undesirable qualities.

If you’ve got the Staebies – or you’re planning to get some, since it’s
still in stock
 at the time of writing – here’s what you need to know about lubing them. How much lube should you apply? How thick can the lube be? How do they compare to a properly tuned Durock V2, the “gold standard” for screw-in stabilisers? Read on to find out!

Okay, first up, what lube should you use for the Staebies? For the housing, I used Krytox 205g0, which works great with the Staebies. They don’t feel mushy at all after lubing, though I was careful to not use too much lube. I only applied lube to the inner housing of the Staebies too; the stems were not lubed at all as to not run the risk of overlubing.

Next, we have the wires. Usually, I use Krytox XHT-BDZ on stabiliser wires, which is quite a bit thicker than the “go-to choice,” 205g0. Given the tight tolerances of the Staebies, I was worried the BDZ lube would be too thick for the wires, so I contemplated using the latter instead.

Well, I ended up still using the BDZ lube; the thicker consistency of the lube is just so much easier to work with than the thinner, more watery 205g0.

Thankfully enough, the XHT-BDZ lube was not too thick for the Staebies’ wires. The stabilisers are not binding, they still feel very responsive, and most importantly, there’s virtually no more wire ticking or rattling. In fact, I would say they compare very favourably to properly tubed Durock V2 stabilisers.

When I say “properly tuned,” I’m not just talking about a lubed Durock V2; this has a tendency to tick after just a few days of extensive use (in my experience, anyway). Instead, I’m talking about a lubed, holee modded Durock V2, which takes much longer – and a lot more work – to apply effectively.

So yes, I would say that lubed Staebies are just as good as lubed, holee modded Durock V2 stabilisers – that really speaks volume to how good the Staebies are.

More importantly, it takes far less effort to tune the Staebies to sound and feel great. Not only does this save a lot of time (and frustration), I reckon even those who are new to the hobby can tune the Staebies well.

That’s not to say the holee mod is particularly difficult to do, but it does take some finesse to properly install the band-aid into the opening of the stems where the wires will sit. You also run the risk of the stabilisers getting mushier over time as the band-aid collects dirt and what not.

However, there is one area where I feel the Durock V2 is still superior: smoothness. Comparing the Staebies to the Durock V2 stabilisers side by side, the latter do feel a hair smoother. This can be attributed to the “looser” nature of the Durock V2, which does make for a smoother downstroke.

The Staebies (top and bottom) and the Durock V2

Because the Staebies have such tight tolerances, they do feel a little…well, “tighter” than the Durock V2. This tightness comes from the increased resistance in the downstroke of the Staebies, but don’t get me wrong, they don’t feel scratchy at all.

Also, do note that I’ve only lubed the all-clear version of the Staebies, which has polycarbonate housings. While I’m confident the black variant of the Staebies with nylon housings will perform similarly, the different material should offer a slightly tighter, “firmer” downstroke
with a deeper sound profile
.

You can apply a thicker layer of XHT-BDZ lube than this

Oh, one last thing: be a little bit more generous when you’re lubing the wires of the Staebies. Like I mentioned, I was a little worried the XHT-BDZ lube would be a bit too thick for the Staebies (it’s not), so I applied a lighter layer than I usually do.

For the first couple of days, the Staebies worked fine with this minimal amount of lube, but then my left shift started ticking
ever
 so slightly. Thankfully, adding a bit more BDZ lube to the wire with a syringe does remove the ticking, so I didn’t have to open up the whole keyboard again.

If you’ve always been frustrated tuning screw-in stabilisers (like I am), you will definitely appreciate how much easier it is to tune the Staebies. At the moment, only
Keyboard Treehouse
 based in Australia has these stabilisers in stock for $22 (about RM90) a set. If you’re in the US, you’ll be happy to know that
Cannon Keys
 will also be carrying them soon.


Simpler60 – Promising 60% Custom Keyboard for Under RM750

If you’re looking to get into the custom keyboard hobby on a budget, you may want to keep an eye on this: the
Simpler60
. Set to be sold by iLumkb, this is a relatively affordable 60% custom keyboard that doesn’t sacrifice much to bring down its price tag. How much does it cost? It’s estimated to go for S$239, which comes up to about RM735.

For that kind of money, the Simpler60 still has a CNC aluminium chassis instead of plastic – a typical choice for custom keyboards at this price point – along with a rather unique mounting system that offers flexibility for a softer typing experience. If it sounds like a keyboard you’d be interested in, keep on reading.

First, let’s talk about the mounting system of the Simpler60. While it’s said to be a tray-mounted keyboard, it’s not inaccurate to call it a gasket-mounted keyboard either. See, unlike standard tray mount keyboards, the Simpler60 does not have screw standoffs (making for an uneven typing feel) to secure the plate and PCB to the bottom case.

Instead, there’s a 3.7mm thick PORON dampener – which is placed between the PCB and plate – that is inserted into specific cutouts in the case to secure the keyboard in place. This is actually very similar to the mounting system of the
KDBfans KBD67 Lite
, but the silicone dampener is replaced with a PORON one for the Simpler60.

If you’re worried the plate and PCB aren’t particularly secure with this mounting method, you can actually use several optional screws to secure the keyboard assembly to the bottom case. According to iLumkb, this isn’t a traditional tray mount as the screws “will go through the PCB and plate, which will only touch the foam instead the PCB.”

Anyway, those who opt for the default mounting style without using the screws will get a soft, flexible typing experience with the Simpler60. You can look at
this gif
 to get an idea of how much flex you can get with this 60% custom keyboard.

Looking at the construction of the Simpler60, this level of flexibility is mostly thanks to the aforementioned PORON dampener that is secured to the case through what appears to be six cutouts. The flex cuts on the polycarbonate plate helps to add even more flexibility as well.

Unfortunately, there’s no sound test of the Simpler60 yet. But judging by the amount of foams that are bundled with the keyboard, there’s a good chance it will have a pretty muted sound profile, though this is only our educated guess at this point in time.

Another Interesting feature of the Simpler60 is its hotswap PCB; complete with south-facing RGB lighting for maximum compatibility with keycaps of various profiles. Instead of using Kailh or Gateron hotswap sockets, the PCB has all-metal hotswap sockets for better durability.

At a glance, the metal hotswap sockets do look more durable (and aesthetically pleasing) compared to Kailh or Gateron sockets, which are mostly made out of plastic. However, these unconventional hotswap sockets are not quite as tested and proven, so it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll perform once the Simpler60 is released.

All in all, the Simpler60 looks to be a really promising 60% keyboard, and the fact that its estimated asking price is S$239 (about RM735) makes it
that
 much more attractive. After all, not many custom keyboards can match the feature set of the Simpler60 at this price point.

Well, there’s the
Bakeneko60 by Cannon Keys
, which is priced at only $130 (around RM540). While it is quite a bit more affordable than the Simpler60, it’s worth noting that the latter sports a more premium CNC aluminium chassis. The case of the Bakeneko60, on the other hand, is made using aluminium alloy using a casting process.

The Bakeneko60

This is a more affordable process than CNC machining, which is the very reason why the Bakeneko60 can hit such a competitive price point. However, the casting process doesn’t allow for anodisation – a process that gives the keyboard its colour and finish – so the case of the Bakeneko60 is just painted. Basically, it won’t look as nice as the Simpler60.

On top of that, it’s worth noting that the Bakeneko60 uses clip-in stabilisers as well. While they are more stable than plate-mounted stabilisers, screw-in stabilisers are still more secure, which seems to be supported by the Simpler60 based on the stabiliser cutouts on the PCB.

If you’re interested to pick up the Simpler60, you can register your interest
through this Google form
; you can even specify which colour and layout you prefer for the 60% custom keyboard. We’ll keep an eye for any future updates on the Simpler60, especially regarding its availability and final retail price.


Xiaomi Aims to Open 300 Stores in Malaysia – Currently at 47

Xiaomi just revealed its intention to open as many as 300 stores in Malaysia, which should make it easier for Malaysians to get their hands on the latest Xiaomi products. At the moment, the Chinese company has 47 physical outlets on our shores – 10 of them just started operating today.

To celebrate the launch of these 10 outlets, Xiaomi will be running a number of promotions. The new
Xiaomi 11T series
, for one, will be offered with a RM200 discount at these outlets on 25 October from 12PM, though this is limited to the first 50 customers at each outlet. Here are the 10 new Xiaomi stores throughout Malaysia:

Sunway Velocity, Kuala Lumpur
KL East Mall, Kuala Lumpur
Giant Hypermarket Bandar Kinrara, Selangor
Alor Star Mall, Kedah
Kulim Central,  Kedah
Kompleks Bukit Jambul, Penang
Prangin Mall, Penang
Lotus Bertam Kepala Batas, Penang
AEON Tebrau City, Johor Bahru, Johor
Pusat Perdagangan Mega, Jalan Sakeh, Muar, Johor

“We are excited to be able to open more Xiaomi Stores in Malaysia for more Malaysian customers to truly experience and access Xiaomi’s wide range of quality and affordable products,” said the General Manager of Xiaomi Malaysia and Singapore, Nicolas Shi. “We look forward to providing an enhanced retail and shopping experience for our customers and Xiaomi Fans in our stores,” he added.

If you want to get the Xiaomi 11T or 11T Pro with a RM200 discount, give any of the outlets listed above a visit at 12PM on 25 October. Check out
our review of the 11T Pro
 too if you’d like to learn more about it.


Honor 50 With Google Apps Lands in Malaysia From RM1,699

Honor just launched its latest smartphone in Malaysia, the Honor 50; this marks the Chinese company’s return to the local smartphone market. Not only does it come with Google’s apps and services, the Honor 50 is also a relatively affordable phone with a premium-looking design.

Two variants of the Honor 50 are available in Malaysia. The base model with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM retails at RM1,699, while the 256GB configuration with 8GB of RAM costs RM1,999. Every pre-order of the 128GB variant will get a complimentary case and an extended warranty, while the 256GB model adds on an Honor Earbuds 2 Lite.

What’s particularly interesting about the Honor 50 – in comparison to previous smartphones from the Chinese company – is the fact that it comes with Google Mobile Services. This gives the device access to Google’s range of apps and services, which is really the defining trait of an Android smartphone.

Aside from that, Honor 50 is a reasonably well-equipped mid-range smartphone too. For one, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, which should be able to offer a good level of performance. It also comes with a 120Hz 6.57-inch 1080p OLED display.

Other specifications of the Honor 50 include a quad camera system (108MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), a 32MP selfie camera, and a 4,300mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging.

The Honor 50 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 24 October 2021. To recap, the base 128GB model retails at RM1,699, while the 256GB configuration costs RM1,999.


3rd-Gen AirPods Get New Design, Water Resistance & Spatial Audio for RM829

Apple just unveiled the third-generation AirPods with a brand new design that is very similar to the
AirPods Pro
. On top of that, the wireless earbuds also get spatial audio and a slew of other improvements, such as water resistance.

Design wise, the new AirPods look very much like the Pro model, thanks to the shorter stems. These wireless earbuds also get the same “force sensor” controls as the AirPods Pro for media control, along with an IPX4 water resistance rating for the earbuds themselves
and
 the charging case.

Speaking of which, the charging case now supports wireless charging as well, and it can stretch the 6 hours battery life of the updated AirPods to 30 hours. As for Spatial Audio, you can enjoy this feature – much like the AirPods Pro – in Apple Music and Apple TV (complete with dynamic head tracking) across Apple devices.

The third-generation AirPods are set to go for
RM829 in Malaysia
, though it remains to be seen exactly when these earbuds will be available for purchase here. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of the new AirPods.


M1 Pro & M1 Max Are Apple’s New Processors for Its MacBook Pro Laptops

Naturally,
Apple’s brand new
MacBook Pro models
 have to be powered by the Cupertino company’s equally new processors, and they’re very, very fast. Enter the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which are up to
four times faster
 than the M1 processor.

Of course, that claim is for the M1 Max; according to Apple, this chip’s 32-core GPU can deliver 4x faster graphics performance over the M1. As for the M1 Pro, it offers up to 2x faster GPU performance than the M1 – still very respectable, of course.

In the CPU department, both the M1 Pro and M1 Max share the same 10-core CPU: eight of them are high-performance cores, while the other two are high-efficiency cores. Anyway, compared to the M1, this 10-core CPU is up to 70% faster. Basically, you’re getting much improved performance with the M1 Pro and M1 Max.

Even with these impressive performance upgrades, the M1 Pro and M1 Max continues to offer excellent power efficiency. After all, the
14-inch
 and
16-inch MacBook Pro
 models – which are powered by these two new chips – offer up to 17 hours and 21 hours of battery life respectively.


The New 14-inch MacBook Pro Features a Mini-LED Notched Display & MagSafe Charger From RM8,799

Apple has just unveiled the brand new 14-inch MacBook Pro. Powered by the brand new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors, this updated MacBook Pro also has a new design…along with a notched display.

That’s right, even the MacBook Pro gets a display notch now, though the overall bezels of the display are 24% smaller, making for a more modern, sleeker-looking laptop. The 14.2-inch panel itself is also a bright and vibrant Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display now, complete with ProMotion, offering adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz.

Oh, port selection of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is much better now too. Not only do we see the return of the MagSafe 3 connector, it also gets back the HDMI port and SD card reader.

Thanks to the new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors, the 14-inch MacBook Pro gets some
serious
 performance upgrades too. In comparison to the previous, high-end 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i7 processor, Apple said that the new MacBook Pro offers
13.4x faster
 4K rendering in Final Cut Pro with the M1 Max chip; 9.2x faster with the M1 Pro.

This performance gain is achieved while still ensuring that the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors are as power-efficient as ever. According to Apple, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro can return up to 17 hours of video playback. It even supports fast charging: within 30 minutes of charging, the battery can get up to 50%.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at
a cool RM8,799
 for the Malaysian market, which features an M1 Pro chip, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of SSD storage. No word yet on exactly when it will be available for purchase in Malaysia.


Apple Unleashes 16-inch MacBook Pro With M1 Pro & M1 Max Chips From RM10,799

Enter Apple’s most powerful MacBook yet, the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Just like the 14-inch model, the new laptop is configurable with the Cupertino company’s brand new (and very powerful) M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, along with an equally new design that replaces the Touch Bar with physical keys.

So how much does the new 16-inch MacBook Pro costs? Well, the base model
starts at RM10,799
, and that’s for the M1 Pro configuration with 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD. If you want the range-topping M1 Max chip with 64GB of unified memory and a generous 8TB SSD instead, you’ll have to fork out an eye-watering RM25,199.

For that kind of money, you
are
 getting a very impressive laptop. It has a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, smaller screen bezels – though with a notch for the 1080p camera – and a more practical selection of ports, including MagSafe 3, HDMI, and an SD card reader.

It’s also worth noting that the 16-inch MacBook Pro is also touted to be the longest-lasting MacBook ever: it offers up to 21 hours of video playback. Much like the 14-inch MacBook Pro, this 16-inch model also offers fast charging, getting up to 50% in only 30 minutes of charging.

Although the Malaysian pricing of the 16-inch MacBook Pro has been revealed, it remains to be seen exactly when it will be available for purchase here. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of this powerful new MacBook Pro.


The Pixel 6, Google’s Properly High-End Phone, Starts at Just $599

Google just unveiled its latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Out of the two devices, the standard Pixel 6 is (naturally) the more affordable phone. In fact, it retails from just $599 – that’s only about RM2,500.

Needless to say, this is a fantastic starting price for a high-end flagship phone like the Pixel 6. Of course, the $599 price tag is for the base model with 128GB of storage. If you want double the storage (256GB), it will set you back $699 (about RM2,915).

One of the major highlights of the Pixel 6 has to be the chip powering this phone, which is Google’s very own Tensor SoC. In terms of raw processing power, it’s said to be competitive with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. On top of that, it also comes with a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) for AI tasks, enabling faster speech recognition.

In the camera department, the Pixel 6 doesn’t get the telephoto lens of the Pro model, though it still has the same 50MP primary sensor – which outputs 12.5MP images – as well as a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens. On the front, it features an 8MP selfie camera.

Other specifications of the Pixel 6 include a 6.4-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, IP68 water and dust resistance, a sizeable 4,614mAh battery, and obviously, Android 12 out of the box.

The Pixel 6 is now available for pre-order in the US; it is set to start shipping from 28 October onwards. As usual, it’s unlikely the Pixel 6 will be officially available in Malaysia, though we reckon it’s only a matter of time before local retailers import the device here.


Pixel 6 Pro With Google Tensor Chip, 20x Zoom & 120Hz OLED Screen Starts at $899

Aside from the
standard Pixel 6
, Google also introduced the higher-end Pixel 6 Pro today. Though both phones share quite a bit of hardware – including the same Google Tensor chip – this Pro model does have a number of notable upgrades, including a more sophisticated camera system and a better, faster display.

First, let’s talk about the pricing of the Pixel 6 Pro, which is really one of its main selling points. The base model with 128GB of storage goes for $899 (about RM3,750), while the 256GB variant is priced at $999 (around RM4,165). There’s also a 512GB configuration of the phone, though it’s not available for pre-order yet at the moment.

For that kind of money, the Pixel 6 Pro is powered by the aforementioned Google Tensor chip, which is said to be competitive with the popular Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. It is also packed with a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) for AI tasks, enabling faster speech recognition, among other things.

Compared to the Pixel 6, the Pixel 6 Pro features a more sophisticated triple camera system too. It’s made up of a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 48MP periscope telephoto lens that can do 4x optical zoom or up to 20x zoom with the Super Res Zoom feature.

Rounding out the specifications of the Pixel 6 Pro include a 6.7-inch 3120 x 1440 LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 12GB of RAM, an 11.1MP selfie camera, IP68 water and dust resistance, a generous 5,003mAh battery, and the latest Android 12 out of the box.

The Pixel 6 Pro is currently on pre-order in the US with shipping to begin on 28 October. While there’s very little chance for Google’s latest flagship phone to be officially sold here in Malaysia, we reckon import units of the Pixel 6 Pro will be available locally in due time.


Pixel 6 Only Gets 3 Years of Android Updates – 5 Years Security Updates

One of the highlighted features of Google’s latest flagship smartphones – the
Pixel 6
 and
Pixel 6 Pro
 – is five years of security upgrades. While this is good, many were more interested on how long the two phones will receive the latest Android updates, which has just been revealed to be only three years.

This is detailed in
Google’s support page
, which shows that the Pixel 6 series will only get guaranteed Android version updates until October 2024. Basically, this is no different from
previous Pixel phones
, which will also receive three years of Android (and security) updates from their respective debuts.

The only thing that’s different is the fact that the Pixel 6 phones will receive five years of security updates instead of only three. This is great, of course, but it pales in comparison to Apple’s level of support for older iPhones. Take the iPhone 6s; even after
six years since its release
, it’s
still
getting the latest iOS 15 update this year.

Granted, in a
statement to The Verge
, Google did say it is committed to ensure that the Pixel 6 phones “will stay up-to-date and secure” after the three years of guaranteed Android updates. But it remains to be seen if this is only limited to security updates.


Pixel 6’s Competitive Pricing May Win Over Consumers – Maybe

The much anticipated
Pixel 6

smartphones
are here. As expected, these are properly high-end smartphones from Google, and powered by the company’s own Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro truly are “Google Phones.”

But that’s not the most attractive aspect of the Pixel 6 series. In my opinion, it’s the competitive pricing of the two phones that will really win consumers over. With a $599 starting price – that comes up to only about RM2,490 – the value proposition of the Pixel 6 is compelling for a high-end flagship smartphone.

The Pixel 6 Pro (left) and Pixel 6

Of course, the $599 starting price is for the base model of the Pixel 6 with 128GB of storage. If you want double the storage (256GB), it will set you back $699 (about RM2,910). Regardless of which variant you go for, you’re getting 8GB of RAM.

As for the higher-end Pixel 6 Pro – it features 12GB of RAM for all configurations of the phone – it retails at $899 (approximately RM3,740) for the 128GB model. The 256GB variant, on the other hand, is priced at $999 (around RM4,155), while the 512GB model costs $1,099 (about RM4,575).

Out of the two phones, the Pixel 6 naturally offers the best value for money. In fact, there aren’t many (proper) flagship smartphones that sit at this price point. Anyway, for $599, the Pixel 6 is powered by the aforementioned Tensor SoC – Google’s very own chip.

Unfortunately, it remains to be seen how the Tensor chip compares to its competition, though Google did say that it is comparable to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip. The latter is found in the majority of flagship phones in the market now.

If Tensor can really go toe-to-toe with the Snapdragon 888, great! Though we’ll have to put the Tensor chip through its paces for ourselves to know for sure.

Aside from that, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are equipped with a new camera system; quite a departure from the recycled camera setup of the
Pixel 5
 and its predecessors. The standard Pixel 6, for one, is packed with a 50MP primary sensor – which outputs 12.5MP images – as well as a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens.

The Pixel 6 Pro sports the same two camera sensors, but it adds on a 48MP periscope telephoto lens that can do 4x optical zoom or up to 20x zoom with the Super Res Zoom feature. If you don’t need the zooming capability of the Pixel 6 Pro, you’ll be just fine with the regular Pixel 6.

Another area where the Pixel 6 phones improved quite a bit is battery life; well, the battery capacity, at least. The Pixel 6 now comes with a sizeable 4,614mAh battery, while the Pro model has an even bigger 5,003mAh cell. According to Google, both phones “can last beyond 24 hours” with these battery capacities.

Last but certainly not least are the displays of the Pixel 6 phones. The standard Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 6 Pro has a slightly larger (and sharper) 6.7-inch 3120 x 1440 LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

It’s also worth noting that the Pixel 6 Pro has a dual curved screen, giving it a more premium look and feel. The Pixel 6, in comparison, has a flat display with more prominent side bezels. While it doesn’t look quite as upmarket, the flat nature of the panel may be preferred by certain folks for ergonomic reasons.

Without a doubt the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have hardware befitting of flagship smartphones. This, paired with their competitive price tags, may just be a winning formula for Google’s renewed focus on its smartphone business. So…what could work against them?

Well, a few things, actually. For example, we
still
 don’t know how capable the Google Tensor chip is. Reviewers are still under embargo right now, so they cannot reveal just how powerful (or not) the Pixel 6 phones are. If their performance levels are not up to snuff, they won’t really be
proper flagship phones
 anymore.

And then there’s the fact that the Pixel 6 series will not be officially sold here in Malaysia, so we’ll have to turn to imported units if we want to get either one of the two phones. Not only do we have to pay marked up prices for these imported Pixel 6 phones, we won’t even get official warranty support.

Of course, some folks may not mind this at all, but if I were to spend this amount of money for a phone – regardless of the value proposition – I
would
 want proper aftersales service at the very least. In my opinion, this is what would work against the Pixel 6 phones. At least, in markets where Google’s flagship devices are not officially available.


GSC Berjaya Times Square Reopens Tomorrow (21 October)

Back in January this year, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) announced the
permanent closure of its outlet

in Berjaya Times Square
, but the situation seems to have changed. The company just revealed that the branch will be reopening tomorrow on 21 October.

This was announced on GSC’s social media accounts. According to the post, ticketing for the Berjaya Times Square outlet is also open now. You can check out the showtimes available for the branch
right here
 or through GSC’s app on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.

GSC Berjaya Times Square kembali mulai esok! Get your tickets now! 🍿✨
#BacktoGSC

pic.twitter.com/6BFUXs4hqs
— GSC | Try Our New Popcorn 🍿 (@GSCinemas)
October 20, 2021

Do note that only fully vaccinated moviegoers are allowed entry at all cinemas nationwide as per guidelines set out by the government. Aside from that, hall capacities are also limited to 50% to ensure that physical distancing can be observed.

If you’re under the age of 18 – and fully vaccinated, of course – you will only be allowed to enter if you’re in states that are under the fourth phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP). These include Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Malacca, and Sarawak.