Get up to 80% Discount on PDRM & JPJ Summonses Tomorrow (9 December)

Previously, it was announced that both PDRM and JPJ
will offer discounts on issued summonses
 from the two entities. Well, more information have been revealed: not only is the discount applicable to online payments now, you can also get up to a whopping 80% savings too.

Of course, there are some caveats for this discount. For one, it is only valid between 9 to 12 December, and only compoundable summonses from PDRM and JPJ are eligible for the discount. If the summon requires you to go to a court hearing, for example, you will not get to enjoy the savings.

As mentioned, online payments are also eligible for the discount now. For PDRM summons, you can get the discount through the
MyBayar portal
 or app on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. As for JPJ summons, you can pay for the summons on the mySIKAP portal.

Alternatively, you can also make your summons payments over the counter at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) between 9 to 12 December to enjoy up to 80% discount. Both PDRM and JPJ will have their own respective payment counters for this at KLCC.


9 – 15 December Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 3 Sen (Again), Others Remain

Now this is a pleasant surprise! For the coming week, RON 97 is going down by 3 sen yet again. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM2.99 per litre (down from RM3.02). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 9 to 15 December. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Keychron Q4 – 60% Keyboard Coming Q1 2022 From $149

Even though Keychron has only released
one keyboard in the Q series
, the company just shared more details on the
fourth
upcoming keyboard in the lineup, the Keychron Q4. Essentially, it’s a 60% version of the Q1 with some distinct differences here and there.

Just like the rest of the Q series keyboards, the Q4 will retail at $149 (about RM630) for the barebone kit, or $169 (approximately RM715) for the fully assembled version. Aside from that, it also has a gasket mounting system, full aluminium body, VIA-compatible hotswap PCB, and support for screw-in stabilisers.

Of course, the Q4 does have a couple of unique features, including a more compact 60% layout (naturally) and silicone pads between the top and bottom cases. In theory, this should reduce case ping, improving the keyboard’s sound profile.

As the Geekhack interest check shows, the Keychron Q4 is expected to be available sometime in Q1 2022, which lines up with the
previous estimate of a March 2022 launch
. If you’re looking to get a reasonably affordable 60% keyboard with some features only typically found on a custom board, the Q4 may be worth waiting for.


Returning to Hearthstone After 1 Year – I’m Staying! (For Now)

Last week, Hearthstone’s latest expansion, Fractured in Alterac Valley, went live. I was a long-time Hearthstone player, but shortly after the new
Demon Hunter
 class was introduced, I completely stopped playing the game – the meta at the time (and other factors) just didn’t feel fun to me anymore.

But after being away from Hearthstone for over a year, I’m happy to be back! While there are some aspects of the digital card game that still need some work, I’m really liking the revamped reward system and other changes. If you’ve been away from the game for a while now, I highly recommending jumping back in to experience the new mechanics.

Free Decks for New & Returning Players Are Strong (Most of Them)

This is an
amazing
new change to Hearthstone. Whether you’re a new or returning player – those who have not logged into the game for 120 days/four months – you can claim a free deck that is quite competitive, especially after some tweaks here and there.

On top of that, these free decks
are also updated
 whenever an expansion is released, so they won’t be outdated once the meta shifts with every new update (to an extent). When I got back to Hearthstone, I claimed the “Complete the Ritual” Warlock deck, which takes advantage of the powerful The Demon Seed Questline card.

Now, it’s no exaggeration to say that this
free
 Warlock deck is quite close to the “true” meta deck (Hand Warlock) it is based on. While it’s missing the Tamsin Roame Legendary card, it’s still a potent deck that can easily help you climb up the ranking system. In fact, I’ve gotten to the
Platinum league
 (two leagues before Legend) with this deck alone.

However, do note that not all of the free decks are made equal. The “Sorcerer’s Gambit” Mage deck, for example, isn’t exactly a leading meta deck right now after the Questline card was nerfed. Granted, its playstyle may still be very fun to some folks, but don’t expect it to perform remarkably well once you’ve climbed the rank ladder high enough.

But if you don’t like the free deck anymore, you can just disenchant the cards in the deck for dust. You can then use said dust to craft another deck that’s to your liking. Really, I absolutely love this free deck system for new and returning players.

Much Better Reward System

Introduced in November 2020 alongside the Madness at the Darkmoon Faire expansion, the new Rewards Track system replaces the old daily quest mechanism. With the new system, daily (and weekly) quests now reward XP to level up the…well, Rewards Track.

Basically, it’s a battle pass system of sorts. The more you progress through the Rewards Track, the more rewards you get, and they’re
generous
. After playing a few games every other day, I already got a couple of packs, gold, and even a free random Legendary from the latest expansion – all without grinding for hours on end or purchasing the Tavern Pass.

It’s also neat that I can get a free hero skin if I manage to hit level 100; I’m confident I can reach this without committing too much time. After all, the Rewards Track only resets when the next expansion is released – that’s about four months’ time.

More Content to Experience

I was pleasantly surprised by the new modes that were introduced in Hearthstone – Mercenaries and Duels – since I stopped playing the digital card game, which can serve as a nice break in-between ladder climbs. Out of the two new additions, I played quite a bit of Mercenaries: a turn-based RPG-like game mode.

While I’m not too keen with the gameplay of Mercenaries, it does provide more content for players beyond the “regular” Hearthstone experience of going against other players with a constructed deck in ranked or casual mode. There’s also a new Solo Adventures mission (Book of Mercenaries) that I have yet to play through.

But It Needs a Visual Upgrade & Faster Animations

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a long-time Hearthstone player since the game was released, and yet, the interface and visuals of the game still remain largely the same. Compared to other digital card games like Legends of Runeterra, Hearthstone looks decidedly…well, archaic.

Beyond its ageing interface, one of the reasons I stopped playing Hearthstone was due to long animation times. Waiting for effects to resolve, for one, can take much too long. As a result, games feel unnecessarily lengthy, not to mention having less time to make decisions.

This is especially an issue on mobile, which is where I spent the most time on for the sake of convenience.

Nonetheless, I’m having an absolute ball in Hearthstone after being away from the game for so long. The best part is, I haven’t spent any of my accumulated dust or gold yet to craft a proper meta deck to climb the ladder, thanks to the free Warlock deck I claimed as a returning player.

Sure, I’m not a fan of Hearthstone’s archaic user interface, and it still feels a little frustrating waiting for lengthy animations to finish, but I
am
 having fun in the game right now, which is all that matters…for now.


Lenovo Tab P11 Pro & P11 Plus Now in Malaysia – Android Tablets From RM1,399

Lenovo just launched two new Android tablets for the Malaysian market: the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro and Tab P11 Plus. Retailing from RM1,399, these are pretty slim tablets, and you can even connect a keyboard to them.

The RM1,399 starting price is for the Tab P11 Plus with 64GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM. The higher-end Tab P11 Pro, on the other hand, costs quite a bit more at RM2,499. For that kind of money, you’re getting 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM.

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro

One of the highlight features of the Tab P11 Pro is definitely its bright and vibrant 11.5-inch 2560 x 1600 OLED display. Aside from that, it also has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset, a dual camera system (13MP primary + 5MP ultra-wide angle), an 8MP selfie camera, and an 8,600mAh battery.

As for the Tab P11 Plus, it has a more modest set of hardware. These include an 11-inch 2000 x 1200 IPS screen, a MediaTek Helio G90T processor, a single 13MP rear camera, an 8MP front-facing shooter, and a 7,700mAh battery.

The Lenovo Tab P11 Plus

Both the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro and Tab P11 Plus are now available for purchase in Malaysia. To recap, the P11 Pro costs RM2,499, while the Tab P11 Plus goes for RM1,399.


Boost to Release a Prepaid Card With Mastercard Soon

To encourage more of its users to go cashless, Boost and Mastercard are partnering to release a prepaid card. This should allow for users to still utilise their e-wallet balance in Boost at retail stores that don’t support payment through the Boost app.

“One of the principle aims of the Boost Mastercard prepaid card will be to allow Boost consumers to make seamless, safe and convenient payments in Malaysia, Indonesia, and globally where Mastercard is accepted,” said the company in a press release.

Unfortunately, it’s not revealed exactly when Boost will release the Mastercard prepaid card. Nonetheless, it will certainly boost (sorry for the pun) the e-wallet’s use once the prepaid card is available to consumers.


Vivo V23e Series Lands in Malaysia From RM1,399

Vivo just launched two new smartphones in Malaysia, the Vivo V23e and Vivo V23e 5G. If you’re looking for a thin, budget-friendly (and selfie-centric) device, these two smartphones are worth considering.

Out of the two phones, the V23e (128GB + 8GB) is naturally the more affordable option with a RM1,399 price tag. As for the V23e 5G, it retails at RM1,599 with the same storage and RAM capacities.

Given its slightly higher price, the V23e 5G is naturally better-equipped. It features a 5G-capable MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor, a 6.44-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED display, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro), a 44MP selfie camera, and a 4,050mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging.

As for the regular V23e, it has almost the same hardware, though it comes with a MediaTek G96 processor instead with 4G connectivity. It also has a different 64MP primary camera, as well as a 50MP selfie shooter.

The Vivo V23e and Vivo V23e 5G are now available for pre-order in Malaysia until 17 December 2021. Those who purchase either phones in this time period will get RM559 (V23e 5G) or RM459 (V23e) worth of free gifts.


Illegear Onyx M Now in Malaysia From RM7,599 – Lightweight Intel Tiger Lake-H Gaming Laptop

Illegear just added a new product to its lineup of customisable gaming laptops. Enter the Illegear Onyx M, a premium, lightweight gaming laptop with Intel’s latest Tiger Lake-H chip.

Given its premium positioning, the Onyx M does cost quite a bit of money. Retailing from RM7,599, this gaming laptop offers a sole Core i7-11800H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU (115W TGP), 16GB of RAM, 500GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate.

If you need a more powerful GPU, you can fork out RM1,499 extra to get the faster RTX 3070 configuration with a 125W TGP. There’s also a pre-order special for the gaming laptop right now until 15 December, which upgrades the SSD and RAM to 1TB and 32GB respectively, along with a Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut thermal paste for the CPU
and
 GPU. These upgrades are worth RM1,157.

As mentioned, the Onyx M is quite a lightweight gaming machine, tipping the scales at only 1.94kg thanks to its magnesium alloy chassis. Considering the fact that this laptop also features a generous 94Wh battery – it should be quite long-lasting – this is really quite impressive.

The Illegear Onyx M is now available for pre-order in Malaysia on the
company’s online store
. The RTX 3060 model is expected to start shipping from 31 December, while the RTX 3070 configuration is arriving here slightly earlier on 20 December 2021.


Redmi Watch 2 Lite Coming to Malaysia 12 December for RM249 – Early Birds Get RM50 Discount

The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has just been confirmed for the Malaysian market. Retailing at only RM249, it’s certainly an affordable smartwatch. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, it still has some neat features too.

To celebrate the arrival of the Redmi Watch 2 Lite in Malaysia this Sunday on 12 December, it will be offered with a RM50 discount on that day. That brings down the price of the already affordable smartwatch
to only RM199
, making it
that
 much more attractive.

Naturally, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite can track quite a number of workouts: it has 17 “professional modes” – including HIIT and yoga – along with a whopping 100 extended workout modes. It even has a GPS chip for more precise position tracking.

Other specifications of the Redmi Watch 2 Lite include a 1.55-inch 360 x 320 square display, a heart rate sensor, the ability to monitor blood oxygen level, a 5 ATM water resistance rating, as well as a 262mAh battery that can offer up to 10 days of standby time.

To recap, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite will go on sale in Malaysia this Sunday on 12 December. Retailing at RM249, you can get it
for only RM199
 on that day through Lazada.


Shopee 12.12 Shopping Guide – How to Get the Best Deals Tomorrow Night

The Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale is happening tomorrow night, which will offer a number of good deals. Not only can you get free shipping with no minimum spend, there are also
12 million vouchers
 up for grabs. Needless to say, it’s a great time to purchase anything you might need at 12AM on 12 December.

Of course, if you want to get the best deals, there are a number of things to pay attention to. From claiming bank vouchers to checking out as quickly as you can (before the vouchers run out), here are some tips for Shopee’s 12.12 Birthday Sale tomorrow night!

Claim Bank Vouchers

This is arguably the best (and easiest) way to get a sizeable discount on your purchases. All you have to do is claim for bank vouchers from Shopee
here
, and pay with a credit card from selected banks. While the majority of these bank vouchers are for credit cards, there are occasionally vouchers for debit and prepaid cards too, such as BigPay (RM15 off).

Naturally, there’s a minimum spend requirement for the discount vouchers. The BigPay voucher, for example, has a RM120 minimum spend to get RM15 off. Each bank voucher has different minimum spend requirements, so it’s important to use ones that offer the best discount for your particular order.

On top of that, it’s worth noting that these vouchers can only be used with specific retailers, which brings us to the next point..

Look for Mall and Preferred Retailers

Most Shopee vouchers – including the aforementioned bank vouchers – are only applicable to Mall and Preferred retailers, so it’s best to do your purchases with these retailers. It’s a little inconvenient, yes, but retailers with either one of the two statuses are (usually) more reputable, so that’s good.

If you have trouble looking for specific products that are sold by Mall or Preferred retailers, you can use the filter feature in the search tool to only show listings from these retailers. You can even sort the filtered listings by price, ensuring that you can get the best deal.

Checkout Through the Shopee App

Another thing about Shopee vouchers: most of them can only be used if you checkout through the Shopee app. If you make your purchase through the Shopee website instead, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on the opportunity to use the best voucher available for your particular order.

Personally, I find it best to make my Shopee purchases through the app anyway, so this isn’t exactly a big issue (to me). You can download the Shopee app through the
Apple App Store
 or the
Google Play Store
.

Combine Your Orders to Meet Minimum Spend

What if the items you want don’t meet the minimum spend for vouchers? Well, you can combine your orders from other sellers; not every item in an order has to be from the same retailer. Sure, you won’t have to pay multiple shipping fees, but if combining orders allow you to use certain discount vouchers, you’ll be saving more.

Don’t Forget to Claim Shop Vouchers

Aside from Shopee vouchers, there are also shop-specific vouchers that can be used in tandem with the former, so you can get even more discounts on your purchases. You can easily see the vouchers that are available from a specific shop through the product listing itself or from your shopping cart page in the Shopee app.

Here’s a neat trick to get the best deal on any product: if a retailer is listing an item at a higher price than another store, check if there’s any shop voucher that you can use to lower the price. I kid you not, there were a few instances where I got a better deal by doing so.

Get Your Items Ready in the Shopping Cart

The best time to make your purchases on big sales like 12.12 is to checkout at 12AM itself, so it’s imperative that you have your items ready in the shopping cart
before
 midnight. Browse through the items that you want to purchase several days before the sale itself, claim every voucher you can find, and checkout the moment the clock strikes 12AM.

Here’s the thing: Shopee vouchers are limited, and they can run out within
minutes
 after 12AM. This is especially true for discount vouchers that are really good – such as bank vouchers – so you’ll have to be quick to be able to use these vouchers.

Keep an Eye Out for Voucher Drops Throughout the Day

If you missed out on the crucial 12AM shopping window, don’t worry: Shopee will release quite a number of vouchers throughout the sale day. It can be a little overwhelming to keep track of this, but if you’ve got the Shopee app installed, there will usually be push notifications to notify users of any voucher drops.

So there you have it. With these tips, you’ll definitely get some good savings on Shopee’s 12.12 Birthday Sale happening this midnight. For more information on the sale – and to claim for various vouchers – visit
this page
.

This article is based on our previous
Shopee 11.11 Shopping Guide
. It has been updated with details on Shopee’s 12.12 Birthday Sale.


Affordable Nokia T20 Tablet Malaysian Launch Set for 12 December

We just got confirmation that the affordable
Nokia T20
 tablet is arriving here in Malaysia on 12 December. Not only is it budget-friendly, the T20 is also the first tablet to carry the Nokia branding since HMD Global took over the iconic brand.

Naturally, the affordable nature of the T20 is its best selling point: it retails from only $250 in the US, which comes up to about RM1,055. For that kind of money, you’re getting a modest Android tablet powered by a Unisoc Tiger T610 processor, which should be fast enough for everyday tasks.

Other specifications of the T20 include a 10.4-inch 2000 x 1200 IPS display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie shooter, as well as a 8,200mAh battery with support for 15W charging.

The Nokia T20 will be launched in Malaysia through a live show on
Nokia’s Shopee store
 on 12 December at 9PM. It will also go on sale at the same time, and each purchase of the T20 is bundled with a rugged flip case worth RM229.


Genshin Impact Wins “Best Mobile Game” at The Game Awards 2021 – Free Primogems for Players

If you’re a gamer, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of The Game Awards hosted by Geoff Keighley. Well, at the event, Genshin Impact won the Best Mobile Game category for 2021. To celebrate this, Mihoyo is giving out free Primogems to players – it’s quite a generous amount too.

From 11 to 14 December, Mihoyo will give out 400 Primogems to players who have reached Adventure Rank 7. That comes up to 1,600 Primogems, which is just enough to do a 10-roll on any given banner. This reward can be claimed until the end of Version 2.3.

It’s worth noting that Genshin Impact is not just a mobile game; it is also available on PC and PlayStation (PS5 and PS4). On top of that, cross-platform progression is enabled too, so you can easily continue your progress in the game on any of these platforms.

If you haven’t played Genshin Impact yet, we
highly recommend
 this cross-platform title. Not only does it offer beautiful graphics and fun gameplay, Genshin Impact also has
some of the best storylines
 we’ve come across for any given game, even when compared to higher-profile titles.


Genshin Impact Arataki Itto & Gorou Banner Drops on 14 December With Xiangling & Barbara

Arataki Itto and Gorou’s banner has been revealed! Set to go live in
Genshin Impact
 on 14 December, the two brand new Geo characters will be accompanied by Xiangling and Barbara in the upcoming character event wish.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event wishes
, the “drop rate” of Itto, Gorou, Xiangling, and Barbara will be increased. In the case of Itto, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be him. If you got a different character, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Itto.

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

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Gorou, Xiangling, or Barbara. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters – especially Gorou, since he’s new – you will likely have to roll a good number of times, depending on your luck.

Arataki Itto’s “Oni’s Royale” event wish will go live on Genshin Impact on 14 December at 6PM for us here in Malaysia. His banner will be available until 4 January 2022, and we expect
Shenhe and Yun Jin
 to be added to the game then. After all, Mihoyo already dropped a
video teaser of Yun Jin
 above.


80% Discount on PDRM Summons Extended to 31 December; 15 December for JPJ

Previously, it was announced that both PDRM and JPJ
will offer discounts on issued summonses
 from the two entities. Initially set to end yesterday on
12 December
, the discount has now been extended to 31 December for PDRM summons. JPJ, on the other hand, is extending the discount to 15 December.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, it’s best to pay for the summonses online. For PDRM summons, you can get the discount through the
MyBayar portal
 or app on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. As for JPJ summons, you can pay for the summons on the mySIKAP portal.

However, do note that only compoundable summonses from PDRM and JPJ are eligible for the 80% discount. If the summon requires you to go to a court hearing, for example, you will not get to enjoy the savings.


Nokia T20 Costs RM1,099 in Malaysia

The affordable
Nokia T20
 tablet has just been launched in Malaysia. Not only is it a budget-friendly product, the T20 is also the first tablet to carry the Nokia branding since HMD Global took over the iconic brand.

For the Malaysian market, the T20 retails at only RM1,099. For that kind of money, you’re getting a modest Android tablet powered by a Unisoc Tiger T610 processor, which should be fast enough for everyday tasks.

Other specifications of the T20 include a 10.4-inch 2000 x 1200 IPS display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie shooter, as well as a 8,200mAh battery with support for 15W charging.

The Nokia T20 is now available for purchase in Malaysia on
Nokia’s Shopee store for RM1,099
. Each purchase of the T20 is also bundled with a rugged flip case worth RM229, though this is only while stocks last.


Horizon Forbidden West Physical Editions Revealed for Malaysia – RM249 to RM1,099

While pre-orders for the digital editions of Horizon Forbidden West were opened in Malaysia
back in September
, we’ve just got details on the physical editions of the PlayStation exclusive for the Malaysian market today. Set to go on sale tomorrow (14 December), the physical variants of the game retail from RM249 to RM1,099.

Four different versions of the game are available: Standard, Special, Collector’s, and Regalla. For the PS4, the Standard and Special Editions retail at RM249 and RM299 respectively. For RM50 more, the Special Edition comes with a rather sleek-looking Steelbook case and a mini art book.

As for the PS5, the Standard copy of Horizon Forbidden West for the next-gen console costs RM299, while the Special Edition retails at RM339. If you want something fancier, you can opt for the RM839 Collector’s Edition, which is bundled with a number of in-game bonuses, along with a statue of Aloy and Tremortusk.

Last but certainly not least is the Regalla Edition for an eye-watering RM1,099. For that kind of money, this bundle comes with a more imposing Regalla-themed Tremortusk, a replica of the Focus, Machine Strike pieces, a canvas map, and two art cards.

Curiously, both the Collector’s and Regalla Editions of the game don’t come with a physical disc; a digital download code for the PS5 and PS4 will be given instead.

These physical editions of Horizon Forbidden West will be available for pre-order in Malaysia tomorrow on 14 December. Every pre-order will also “stand a chance” to come with one of three physical items: a Focus keychain, a cap themed after the game, or a 3D puzzle of the Tremortusk.

As for Horizon Forbidden West itself, it will be released for the PS5 and PS4 on 18 February 2022.


2022 Honda Civic Now Open for Booking in Malaysia – Launching in Q1 2022

Here it is: the all-new 11th generation Honda Civic is now open for booking in Malaysia. The updated C-segment sedan is touted as “the most fun to drive Civic every made,” and it will be launched here sometime in Q1 2022.

So far, only the range-topping Civic RS has been confirmed for the Malaysian market. One of the biggest upgrades to the new 2022 Civic is a retuned 1.5L VTEC turbo engine that now delivers 182PS and 240Nm of torque – that’s 9PS and 20Nm more than the current 10th gen Civic.

Naturally, it is still paired with a CVT gearbox, but it has three drive modes now: ECON, Normal, and Sport.

Aside from that, the new Civic RS also features an enhanced Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance safety systems. What’s new is the Lead Car Departure Notification System, which notifies the driver when the lead car (the car in front) starts moving forward.

Of course, other features in Honda Sensing are still retained in the Civic RS. These include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Other confirmed specifications of the 2022 Civic RS include 18-inch alloy wheels with a black matte finish, Honda LaneWatch, six airbags, and a new safety feature dubbed Driver Attention Monitor.

Design wise, the exterior of the new Civic is quite a departure from the 10th gen model. The A-pillars have been pushed back 1.96 inches to elongate the hood for a “premium silhouette,” as Honda puts it. Pushing back the A-pillars – and mounting the side mirrors to the door – improve the visibility of the C-segment sedan as well.

At the back of the 2022 Civic, gone are the “ketam” C-shaped taillights of the current Civic FC for a more mature-looking L-shaped LED lighting; the front DRLs has the same L-shaped lighting too. As for the overall silhouette of the new Civic, it’s very reminiscent of its D-segment sibling, the
Honda Accord
.

The all-new 11th generation Honda Civic is now open for booking in Malaysia; you can head to your nearest Honda dealership to do so. Alternatively, you can also book it online
here
, or even through the HondaTouch app – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.

To recap, the new 2022 Civic will be launched in Malaysia sometime in Q1 2022 next year.


2022 Honda Civic – 3 Variants Confirmed for Malaysia, No 1.8L Model

Bookings for the all-new
11th generation Honda Civic
 is now open in Malaysia. While the Japanese carmaker did not reveal the variants that will be offered here, we managed to confirm that three trims are available. As we’ve
previously reported
, the 1.8L model is no more either.

We caught wind of this through the
online booking system
 of Honda Malaysia. If you opt to book the new Civic, six variants are shown in the booking page. The S, TC, and TC-P trims fall under the 10th gen lineup, leaving the other three models (RS, V, and E) reserved for the new 11th gen Civic.

Looking at the model names, it pretty much confirms the discontinuation of the 1.8L engine; all variants of the 2022 Civic seem to feature the updated 1.5L turbo mill. It now outputs 182PS and 240Nm of torque, which is 9PS and 20Nm more than the current 10th gen Civic.

Colour options for the new Civic were detailed too. Just like the Civic FC, the 11th gen model can be purchased in five different shades: Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Meteoroid Grey Metallic, and Ignite Red Metallic. The latter two are new paints for the Civic, which are also offered for the
City Hatchback
.

The 2022 Civic RS

Of course, prices of the new 2022 Honda Civic were not revealed in the booking form. We’ll just have to wait until Q1 2022 when the C-segment sedan is launched here in Malaysia.


More 2022 Honda Civic Details Leak – Honda Sensing Across the Board

We’re getting quite a number of news regarding the 2022 Honda Civic today. Not only are bookings for the updated C-segment sedan
are open in Malaysia now
, we also got more leaks on the 11th gen Civic. The biggest takeaway? Honda Sensing is now offered across the board.

As per our
previous report
, three different variants of the Civic are available in Malaysia: the base E, mid-tier V, and range-topping RS. Looking at the leaked presentation slides below – which we found on
Lowyat.NET’s forum courtesy of chnwng
 – even the most affordable E model gets Honda Sensing.

With that in mind, it only makes sense for the V and RS models to be equipped with Sensing too.

Aside from that, the leaked images also show that the new Civic for the Malaysian market gets rear air-conditioning vents with two USB ports. The higher-end V model also features a drive mode selector, 8-way power seat for the driver, and even Honda Connect, which is currently only offered on the
range-topping Honda City RS e:HEV
.

Now, given that these details on the 2022 Honda Civic did not come from Honda Malaysia itself, there is a chance they are not accurate, so take them with a grain of salt. If you’re keen to book the new C-segment sedan, you can head to your nearest Honda dealership to do so.

Alternatively, can also book it online
here
, or through the HondaTouch app – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. The new Civic will be launched in Malaysia sometime in Q1 2022 next year.


Over 66k 10th Gen Civic Sold in Malaysia – Captures 71% Market Share

It’s well-known that the
10th generation Honda Civic FC
 – despite its aggressive styling – is one of the most popular C-segment sedans in Malaysia and the global stage. In fact, Honda Malaysia just shared that over 66,600 units of the Civic FC have been sold locally since its introduction in 2016.

Ever since the Civic was introduced in Malaysia back in 2001, Honda Malaysia has sold close to 148,000 units of the C-segment sedan. The fact that the 10th gen Civic alone contributes 45% of this figure really shows just how popular the model is here in Malaysia.

Speaking of which, as of October 2021, the Civic actually makes up 71% of the C-segment sedan market share, making it the leader of the segment. “The Civic has a strong identity and is one of the favourite Honda model for Malaysians who loves a car with exceptional styling and powerful performance,” said the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Madoka Chujo.

With the 11th generation Civic just around the corner with its more mature styling and improved equipment – including a slightly more powerful turbo engine – there’s a good chance the C-segment sedan will continue to lead the market.

The upcoming 11th generation Honda Civic RS

If you’re keen to get the all-new 2022 Honda Civic, it is now open for booking in Malaysia; you can head to your nearest Honda dealership to do so. Alternatively, you can also book it online
here
, or even through the HondaTouch app – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.

To recap, the new Civic will be launched in Malaysia sometime in Q1 2022 next year.


Oppo Air Glass Official – Smart AR Glasses Launching in Q1 2022

Oppo just unveiled quite an interesting new wearable, the Oppo Air Glass. Essentially, it is a smart AR glass that’s touted as a “assisted reality” device with a projection system to display information on the glasses – or in this case, glass. It also looks pretty similar to a Scouter from Dragon Ball.

Of course, you won’t actually be wearing it like a Scouter. Instead, the lens of the Air Glass is secured to a light and slim frame, which looks quite sleek. The frame is said to be manufactured with CNC technique, “imparting the design with a touch of exquisiteness and precision,” as Oppo puts it.

The main functionality of the Air Glass is to show relevant information to the user by projecting them to the glass itself. This is achieved with the Chinese company’s self-developed Spark Micro Projector. Weighing only 30g, the Air Glass is quite lightweight too, though the thick “stalk” of the wearable does look a little jarring when worn.

You can also four different methods to navigate through the user interface of the Air Glass. These include touch, voice, hand motion, and get this, even head movement. The lens itself is made from sapphire glass as well, so it should be quite scratch-resistant.

The Oppo Air Glass will be available sometime in Q1 2022 next year, though this is only limited to China at the moment. It remains to be seen if the wearable will be available in other markets, including Malaysia.


PS5 Finally Gets Console Covers – 5 Colours, RM259 in Malaysia

Sony has done it: you can now customise the colour of your PS5…if you’re lucky enough to have one. These are console covers for the next-gen console, which are offered in Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Galactic Purple, Starlight Blue, and Nova Pink.

If you’ve been following PS5 news closely, you may notice that the first two colours were already offered for the DualSense controller. Well, with the release of these console covers, Sony is also offering the DualSense in the three new colours (Galactic Purple, Starlight Blue, Nova Pink).

These new DualSense colours will be available in Malaysia on 14 January 2022 next month for RM369. Curiously, the console covers for the PS5 will only be available from 21 January 2022 onwards in Malaysia, and this is only limited to the Midnight Black and Cosmic Red colourways.

If you want the Galactic Purple, Starlight Blue or Nova Pink console covers for the PS5 instead, you’ll have to wait for them to be released sometime in the first half of 2022. Rest assured, we’ll keep a close eye on the local availability of these products.


This Is Oppo’s First Foldable Phone, the Oppo Find N

Oppo just launched its first-ever foldable smartphone, the Oppo Find N. Though it looks like the
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
 at a glance, it actually has a number of unique features, including a more compact (and usable) cover screen in a premium package.

Unlike the Z Fold 3’s tall cover screen, the exterior display of the Find N is a wider, shorter 5.49-inch 1972 x 988 AMOLED screen. Thanks to its compact form factor, it’s much, much easier to navigate the phone with only one hand. It gives the phone a rather “cute” appeal too, in my opinion.

As you unfold the phone, you’ll be greeted by the Find N’s 7.1-inch 1920 x 1792 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, which looks great with vibrant colours and deep blacks. It is also made out of Ultra Thin Glass with a “12-layer” display structure; the phone can supposedly be folded 200,000 times without issues.

Other specifications of the Find N include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, two storage options (256GB or 512GB), a triple camera system (50MP main + 16MP ultra-wide angle + 13MP telephoto), 32MP selfie shooters on the inner and outer displays, as well as a 4,500mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.

At the moment, the Oppo Find N is only confirmed to be launched in China. No word yet on exactly how much the foldable phone will cost, though we were told it will be “more affordable than its competition.”


16 – 22 December Fuel Price: RON 97 up 1 Sen, Others Remain

After going down in price two weeks in a row, RON 97 is going back up again this coming week by 1 sen. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.00 per litre (up from RM2.99). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 16 to 22 December. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Oppo Find N – Finally a Foldable Phone With a Practical Form Factor

If you’re shopping for a tablet-like foldable phone, there’s a good chance you’re looking at the
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
. There’s no denying that it is the leading product of its kind in the market now, but the Z Fold 3 does have a number of shortcomings, such as its tall and narrow cover screen.

And that is where the new Oppo Find N shines. Not only does it have a more practical, ergonomic form factor when it is folded, the Find N is also a really good foldable phone in its own right. The best part is, Oppo’s first foldable phone is quite a bit more affordable too.

So how much does the Find N retail at? Well, in China, it starts at only 7,699 Chinese yuan; that comes up to about RM5,100. Compared to the Z Fold 3’s RM6,699 starting price, the Find N is quite a bit more affordable, though it remains to be seen if it will be sold outside of China.

Anyway, as mentioned, the Find N has a more practical form factor, thanks to its compact 5.49-inch 1972 x 988 display with a wider 18:9 aspect ratio. Even though this doesn’t sound particularly big, it does offer more than enough screen real estate for a comfortable user experience.

More importantly, this wider, shorter display also makes it easier to use the Find N with only one hand; it’s more ergonomically-friendly than the awkwardly tall cover screen of the Z Fold 3. It’s a smart approach on Oppo’s part, in my opinion, by offering a “smaller,” but more practical external display.

Of course, when you do need a bigger display, you can just unfold the Find N to make use of the 7.1-inch 1920 x 1792 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. This being an AMOLED panel, it offers vibrant colours, true, deep blacks, and wide viewing angles.

Speaking of which, the main foldable display of the Find N has a number of differences over the Z Fold 3. For one, the “crease” in the middle of the screen is not quite as visible. Now, you’ll definitely see if you look for it, but in regular use, it’s easy to not pay attention to it. Aside from that, the phone itself also folds and unfolds in a solid, satisfying manner.

Oh, there’s also very little to no gap in the foldable screen when the Find N is closed up! This is accomplished with the robust Flexion Hinge of the phone, which utilises Oppo’s “unique water-drop hinge design that widens the angle of the fold in the display and offering a buffer when the display folds,” as the company puts it.

Needless to say, the fact that there’s no noticeable gap at all when the Find N is folded does give it an edge over Samsung’s Z Fold 3.

That being said, there is one area where the Z Fold 3 performs better than the Find N: screen durability. Even though the latter’s foldable panel is also made out of Ultra Thin Glass with a “12-layer” display structure, the demo units that I tested already had noticeable markings on the screen after the media folks tried them out.

In contrast, the Z Fold 3’s foldable screen feels a tad more durable in this respect, though I wouldn’t say there is a huge difference. Thankfully, the Find N’s display itself does feel quite smooth to the touch. Of course, it still doesn’t feel like glass – a screen protector is installed – but at least it doesn’t have the dreaded “rubbery” texture.

The Find N’s packaging is quite premium

In the performance department, the Find N is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM. Though it’s not the latest
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
 processor, this is still a capable SoC that can deliver flagship-class performance. The phone certainly feels fast and responsive in my brief time with it.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the Find N. Featuring a triple camera system made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 16MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 13MP telephoto lens, it does feel quite capable. Judge for yourself with these sample shots:

16MP ultra-wide angle
50MP primary
13MP telephoto

However, I only managed to try out the Find N’s camera under ideal lighting, where a flagship-class device will naturally excel in. It’ll be interesting to see how the camera would perform in low light conditions – I’ll be sure to get to this in the full review.

All in all, the Find N is a premium, high-end foldable phone through and through. It has solid build quality, the foldable screen looks great with a 120Hz refresh rate, and most importantly, it offers a practical form factor when it is folded; something that its main competition (Samsung’s Z Fold 3) does not offer.

Curiously, despite its smaller dimensions, the Find N actually has a slightly larger 4,500mAh battery too. The Z Fold 3 features a 4,400mAh cell instead.

If there’s any hardware of the Find N that I would nitpick, it would be the fact that it doesn’t have any water or dust resistance like the Z Fold 3. The addition of this feature would’ve made for a more complete foldable phone, but it’s worth noting that it also doesn’t cost quite as much as Samsung’s offering.

Even though the Oppo Find N is the Chinese company’s first-ever foldable phone, it already feels like an accomplished product that is easily comparable to the highly polished Z Fold 3; that’s a high praise for Oppo. Hopefully, the Find N will be sold outside of China in the near future – it may give Samsung a run for its money.


Over 100,999 Units of the Proton Saga Sold in Malaysia

Since the Proton Saga facelift was launched in Malaysia back in 2019, it managed to be the
best-selling car
 locally for a number of months. Needless to say, it’s a popular A-segment sedan, and Proton just revealed that over 100,999 units of the facelifted Saga have been sold locally.

According to the national carmaker, this makes the Saga facelift Malaysia’s number one A-segment sedan. Given its value proposition with a RM32,800 starting price, it’s little surprise that Proton managed to move so many units of the Saga.

It’s also worth noting that the Saga can still be purchased with a manual transmission; an increasingly rare option in today’s market. All variants of the sedan are also powered by a 1.3L four-cylinder engine that outputs 95hp and 120Nm of torque.

Prior to this facelifted model, the Saga was equipped with a CVT gearbox for those who want an automatic option. Now, the sedan features a four-speed automatic transmission instead that’s sourced from Hyundai. In fact, this is the same transmission used in the Kia Picanto.

If you’re keen to get the Proton Saga, you can head to your nearest Proton showroom to place a booking. Alternatively, you can also place a
booking online for only RM9.99
.


The Acer Swift 3 in Gradient Blue Looks Great – Now in Malaysia From RM3,419

If you’re looking for a thin and light laptop with a unique aesthetic, consider the new Acer Swift 3 in Gradient Blue. Sporting a rather sleek-looking gradient colourway in blue, it’s a reasonably well-equipped productivity-focused laptop too.

Only one variant of the Swift 3 is offered in this unique Gradient Blue shade.
Retailing at RM3,419
, this laptop features an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.

Other specifications of this Swift 3 model include a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display with 100% sRGB colour gamut, a thin 15.9mm chassis that tips the scales at only 1.2kg, and a two-year warranty. This laptop is also pre-installed with the full version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 worth RM529.

If you’re keen to purchase the Acer Swift 3 in Gradient Blue, you can do so
over here for RM3,419
. At the time of writing, only 15 units are left, so be quick if you want to secure your order.


Closer Look at Oppo’s Retractable Camera System – Goodbye Camera Bump?

As smartphones feature more sophisticated camera systems, the camera bump gets bigger too. Well, with Oppo’s new retractable camera system, we could get rid of the unsightly bump once and for all – or at least make it less noticeable.

We had the pleasure of trying out Oppo’s new retractable camera system, and we’re quite impressed with it. Compared to the conventional telephoto lens of the prototype phone we tested, the retractable camera offers the same 2x optical zoom, but with better detail preservation and exposure control.

Unfortunately, we were not able to transfer out the sample images we took; the prototype phone had some software issue that prevented us from doing so. Anyway, it does seem to offer promising camera performance, and it’s worth noting that it has manual controls too.

To launch the retractable camera, we have to tap on the “R-Cam” button in the camera interface. The camera does take about half a second to launch, but once it does, we can adjust the ISO, shutter speed, autofocus, and even the white balance. We imagine aspiring photographers will appreciate these manual controls.

While Oppo’s retractable camera system is promising, it also introduces extra moving parts on a phone, which can be an extra point of failure. Then again, it could be a risk most folks are willing to take if it gets rid of the camera bump.


The Oppo Air Glass Feels Like Something Out of Science Fiction

Augmented reality glasses haven’t really taken off despite being in the market for so long, but the Oppo Air Glass could change things up. Not only does it feel surreal to use, it will also be sold as a consumer-ready product – something that cannot be said of the popular Google Glass, which is an enterprise-only product today.

After trying out the Air Glass for myself, I’m actually quite excited to get it. Its use case scenarios are quite limited at the moment, but the whole user experience – based on my brief time with the AR glass – feels very polished, and…well, straight out of science fiction.

It’s worth noting that the Air Glass is described by Oppo as an “assisted reality” device, so it doesn’t overlay 3D objects onto the real world. Instead, it projects information into your field of view through the glass; just like the Google Glass, basically.

So what kind of information can be displayed on the Air Glass? Well, I like to think of it as a smartwatch; whatever information that a smartwatch can show, so can this AR glass. These include notifications, directions, the weather, and you can even check on your upcoming events with the calendar.

But to me, the coolest feature of the Air Glass has to be its ability to do real-time translation. Unfortunately, the unit I tested was only able to support English to Mandarin translation; it wasn’t able to do the reverse, much to my chagrin.

For what it’s worth, the on-screen translation that was displayed on the Air Glass
seemed
 to be quite fast and responsive. But since I don’t speak or read Chinese, I…wasn’t able to verify the accuracy of the translation.

Anyway, in order to project these information to the Air Glass, Oppo uses its “self-developed Spark Micro Projector.” Powered by a Micro LED, the projector has a brightness of up to 3 million nits, though this translates to 1,400 nits in actual use, which is still plenty bright for everyday use. As you can see in the image above, the projections look sharp and bright.

Navigating through the interface of the Air Glass is quite intuitive too. There are four different methods to control the Air Glass: touch, voice, hand motion (when paired to an Oppo Watch 2), and get this, even head movement. I only managed to try out the touch controls, which feels quite responsive.

You can control the Air Glass with the touch-sensitive strip on the “stalk” that’s connected to the lens. Swiping on this strip allows me to cycle through the different pages of the Glass. Tapping on it, on the other hand, confirms my selection.

Speaking of which, I’m really not a fan of the Air Glass’ bulky stalk, especially in this white colourway. I imagine the black one wouldn’t look quite as jarring when worn, but the sheer size of the module still doesn’t look particularly pleasing to the eyes – in my opinion, anyway.

Bundled with the Air Glass are two choices of frames: a silver half-frame, or a black full-frame. Both frame styles can be fitted with prescription lenses, and they are also available in two sizes. The AR glass itself attaches magnetically to the frame in a secure manner, and weighing only 30g, the Air Glass doesn’t feel awkward at all when worn.

Oh, the Air Glass’ lens is also made of sapphire glass, which is quite scratch-resistant. Basically, you won’t have to worry (too much) about scratching it, but given the more brittle nature of sapphire glass, there is a chance is it more prone to cracking if you ever drop it.

All things considered, I really like the Oppo Air Glass. Sure, it doesn’t offer any groundbreaking new feature, but the novelty of it is quite compelling to me. Plus, as someone who needs glasses, I like the fact that I can just wear the frame on a daily basis, and only attach the Glass when I need it for specific purposes.

That being said, the Air Glass does have some notable shortcomings. For one, it only works with Oppo phones running on ColorOS 11 or above at the moment. This is because the Glass relies on Oppo-specific software for the majority of its features.

Aside from that, the Air Glass will only see a “limited release” in China sometime in Q1 2022. It remains to be seen if it will ever be sold in other markets, much like the
Oppo Find N foldable phone
. Granted, parallel importers will likely bring in the AR glass anyway, but given that it’s not designed for use outside of China, its features may be limited.

More importantly, we still don’t know how much the Air Glass retails at. As compelling as it is, if it’s priced too exorbitantly, consumers may not be as keen to pick it up.


Keychron Q1 With Knob Goes on Sale 28 December From $159 – Improvements Added

Keychron will be releasing a newer and improved version of its popular
Keychron Q1
 keyboard soon. Not only does the updated Q1 offer a slew of improvements, it also comes with a knob now.

Naturally, these upgrades do increase the asking price of the Q1 by $10. This puts the barebone version at $159 (about RM670), while the fully assembled model – which is bundled with double shot ABS keycaps and Gateron G Pro switches – goes for $179 (around RM755).

For that kind of money, the new Q1 does offer better sound profile, thanks to its slightly thicker aluminium bottom casing. There are also silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to further reduce case ping. Curiously, Keychron also swapped out the aluminium plate for a steel one, making the board “heavier and sturdier,” as the company puts it.

Aside from that, the updated Q1 features new screw-in stabilisers as well, though it wasn’t mentioned if these are also made by Gateron. Of course, you get the knob on the top right corner of the Q1 too, though the coiled aviator cable is no longer bundled with the keyboard.

The Keychron Q1 with a knob will go on sale
as an in-stock product
 on 28 December next week at 10PM Malaysian time. We were also told that Keybot – the official Keychron partner here in Malaysia – will also be bringing in this new Q1, though there’s no tentative timeline yet.


23 – 29 December Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 1 Sen, Others Unchanged

After going up by 1 sen per litre last week, the price of RON 97 is going down this coming week by the same amount. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM2.99 per litre (down from RM3.00). The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 23 to 29 December. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Keychron Q1 Now Available in Malaysia From Keybot – Starts at RM595

After a number of delays, the Keychron Q1 is
finally available in Malaysia from Keybot
, the official Keychron partner in Malaysia. Not only can you get the 75% gasket-mounted keyboard much quicker now, Keybot is pricing the Q1 quite competitively too.

The barebone version of the Q1, for one, is listed
at only RM595
 by Keybot. On Keychron’s own online store, the same configuration goes for $149 (about RM630) instead. The fully assembled model, on the other hand, is
priced at RM685
; Keychron itself is selling this variant for $169 (around RM710).

What makes the Q1 particularly interesting is its feature set. Not only does the Q1 use a gasket mounting system, which is typically only offered on custom keyboards, it also has a full CNC aluminium case, along with a hotswap PCB that supports VIA out of the box for easy key mapping.

Keychron also worked with Gateron quite a bit for the Q1. Not only can it be purchased with three new factory lubed Gateron Phantom switches – Phantom Brown (tactile), Phantom Red (linear), or Phantom Blue (clicky) – it features screw-in stabilisers made by Gateron too.

Usually, the stock stabilisers of pre-built keyboards are not of particularly good quality, but that’s surprisingly not the case with the Q1. These Gateron-made stabilisers are lubed quite well at the factory to minimise rattling, and they feel nice and secure too.

The Keychron Q1 is now available for purchase in Malaysia from Keybot on
Shopee
 or its
own online store
. Do note that this is not the
new version of the Q1
 with a knob and other improvements – that revised model will only be brought in at a later date by Keybot.


Keychron Q2 Delayed to 12 January 2022

It appears the Keychron Q2 has been delayed yet again. Previously said to be released sometime this month, the 65% gasket-mounted keyboard will now be available
on 12 January 2022
.

Unlike the
Keychron Q1
, there will be no pre-order of the Q2. Instead, the 65% keyboard will be sold as an in-stock product, so you won’t have to wait for months on end to receive the keyboard. However, it remains to be seen if the knob version of the Q2 will also be sold at the same time.

As you can see in the product shot above, the Q2 will come with double shot PBT keycaps in OSA profile too; quite a change over the OEM profile of the Q1’s stock keycaps. It’s worth noting that Keychron’s OSA keycaps look to be different from
existing OSA keycaps
 – these keycaps seem to have more rounded corners.

Just like the Q1, the Q2 is a gasket-mounted keyboard with a hotswap PCB. It also features a CNC aluminium case, a steel plate, silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to reduce case ping (which should improve sound profile), and support for screw-in stabilisers.

So how much will the Keychron Q2 cost? According to Keychron, it will be priced similarly to the Q1 – which starts at $149 (about RM630) – despite the fact that it’s a smaller keyboard. Anyway, you can register your interest for the Q2
right here
 ahead of its launch on 12 January 2022 at 10PM Malaysian time.


Samsung Flood Relief Programme Offers Free Cleaning, Inspection, Labour

If you have any Samsung products that were damaged in the recent floods, Samsung Malaysia’s flood relief programme is here to help you get your appliances up and running again. Through this programme, you can get free on-time cleaning and inspection for your Samsung products.

Of course, if the affected products can be repaired, labour costs to perform the repair will be waived by Samsung Malaysia, though this is subject to the availability of spare parts. On top of that, this offer is only valid for products with water damage caused by the floods.

To arrange for an appointment to get your Samsung products sent in for repair, you can contact 1800-88-9999. Alternatively, you can even use the live chat function in the
Samsung Members
 app. In order to be eligible for the Samsung flood relief programme, you have to send in your affected products by 31 January 2022.


Proton Offers 20% Discount on Parts & Labour for Those Affected by Floods

Proton is the latest carmaker to offer assistance to those affected by the recent floods. If your Proton was damaged by the floods, you can get discounts on parts, labour, towing, and even cleaning charges.

The 20% discount will be given for selected parts and labour charges, though Proton customers that want to enjoy this savings are required to make a police report regarding the flooding incident. On top of that, towing charges up to RM200 and cleaning charges (exterior and engine bay) up to RM100 will also be borne by the national carmaker.

“Many of our customers have seen their homes and businesses damaged by flood waters and this extends to their cars as well. Therefore, Proton would like to offer a helping hand to get them back on the road and show our customers they are our main priority,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah.

“Exceptional circumstances require an exceptional response. Proton will be working hard to ensure we can repair cars as quickly as possible and advise all affected customers to visit our authorised service centers to enjoy these benefits,” he added.

If you want more information on Proton’s flood relief campaign, you can give the national carmaker’s customer care line a call at 1-800-88-8398.


Honda Malaysia Flood Relief – 25% Discount on Parts Until 31 January 2022

Honda Malaysia just announced its flood relief programme. If your Honda car was affected by the recent floods, you can get a 25% discount on genuine parts to get your car up and running again.

This offer is valid until 31 January 2022 next year, though do note that this flood relief programme is only extended to cars purchased from Honda authorised dealerships. If you’re subscribed to Honda Insurance Plus (HiP), you can also enjoy free towing service and inspection.

On top of that, HiP customers can receive flood allowance of up to RM1,500 as well. Honda Malaysia is also working closely with insurance companies to expedite the claim process for affected customers.

“We are deeply saddened by the floods that have inundated several states in Malaysia, which resulted in the evacuation of many people from their homes and caused significant damage to their properties and motor vehicles,” said the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Madoka Chujo.

“Striving to be a company society wants to exist, we continue to look for ways to help the communities around us who are in need. We hope that with the rolling out of this Flood Relief Programme, we can help to relieve the burden of our valued customers,” she added.

If you want more information on Honda Malaysia’s flood relief programme and HiP, you can give the carmaker’s toll-free number a call at 1-800-88-2020.


Acer Malaysia Flood Relief – Free Repair up to RM1,000 for Affected Acer Products

Got an Acer product damaged by the floods? Then here’s a bit of good news: Acer Malaysia is offering
free repair
 for any Acer products that were damaged in the recent floods. That’s right, you won’t even need to fork out a single sen…to an extent.

This free repair for affected Acer products is capped at RM1,000 per customer. If the cost of repair is below this threshold, you won’t have to pay for it at all. The cherry on top? Out-of-warranty devices are also eligible for this offer, though you do have to show proof – such as your home address – that you were affected by the floods.

Even if you don’t own an Acer product, you can still send it to the company to get it repaired, though there will be applicable charges.

Interestingly, if the device is damaged beyond repair, Acer Malaysia will offer a 20% discount on any of its new laptop or desktop on its
official e-store
. This offer will be valid until 31 March 2022, so there’s plenty of time to take advantage of the discount if you’re eligible.

If you need more information on Acer Malaysia’s flood relief programme, you can give the company a call at 1800-88-1918. Alternatively, you can also send Acer an email at
[email protected]
.


Huawei P50 Pocket Official – Foldable Flip Phone With Circular Cover Screen

Huawei just unveiled the Huawei P50 Pocket, the Chinese company’s first-ever foldable flip phone to rival the
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
. Compared to the latter, the P50 Pocket has a more unique circular cover screen, though it also has a higher asking price.

For the Chinese market, the P50 Pocket retails from 8,988 Chinese yuan for the 256GB variant with 8GB of RAM; that comes up to about RM5,930. The Premium Edition (512GB + 12GB) with a unique textured design, on the other hand, costs 10,988 yuan (around RM7,250).

For the sake of comparison, the Z Flip 3
starts at only RM3,999
 for the Malaysian market.

Of course, the P50 Pocket does have a number of advantages over the Z Flip 3. When the device is folded, for example, there’s barely any gap, thanks to the “multi-dimensional” hinge design. According to Huawei, the display won’t have any noticeable crease either when it is unfolded.

Other specifications of the P50 Pocket include a 6.9-inch Full HD+ OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 1.04-inch 340 x 340 circular OLED cover screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G chipset, a triple camera system (40MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 32MP “ultra spectrum”), a 10.7MP selfie camera, and a 4,000mAh battery.

At the moment, the Huawei P50 Pocket is only available in China; it remains to be seen if the foldable flip phone will be offered in other markets. If it does, expect Malaysia to be one of the first markets to get the P50 Pocket.


Mitsubishi Flood Relief – 30% Off Parts, 50% Off Labour, Free Towing

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is joining the flood relief effort. Just like other carmakers, the company is offering discount on parts and labour, along with free towing service.

A 30% discount on Mitsubishi genuine spare parts are offered to those affected by the floods; a 50% discount will also be given for labour costs. These savings will be applicable until 20 January 2022 next month, so get your cars in for repair before that date.

Mitsubishi owners are also eligible for free towing service. All you need to do is to give the Mitsubishi Assist 24HRS (MA24) a call at 1-800-88-2166 to request for the service. If you already towed your car without MA24 or insurance coverage, you’re still eligible for up to RM300 rebate, though you will need to lodge a police report.

“Our thoughts are with Malaysians impacted by the aftermath of the flash floods tragedy. All of our service staff and authorised dealers are ready to assist our Mitsubishi owners with their affected vehicles,” said the CEO of MMM,  Shinya Ikeda.

“We hope that this flood relief program will help ease the burden of our customers going through this difficult time,” he added.

Do note that the Mitsubishi flood relief programme is only applicable to vehicles purchased from MMM’s authorised dealers. If you need more information, you can give the carmaker’s customer careline a call at 1-800-18-8161.


Nissan Flood Relief – 20% Discount on Parts & Labour, Free Towing

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) and Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis (TCEAS) just announced the Nissan flood relief assistance programme. If your Nissan car was affected by the floods, you can get discount on parts, labour, along with free towing service.

ETCM is offering a 20% discount on parts and labour charges to “help alleviate financial burden for Nissan owners whose vehicles are affected,” as the company puts it. You can also get free door-to-door towing to get your car to the nearest service centre.

Interestingly, you can also get a upholstery restoration service at a special rate from ETCM; this isn’t something offered by other carmakers yet in their respective flood relief efforts. Anyway, the service starts at RM1,655 nett for sedans and RM1,988 nett for SUVs, MPVs, vans, and pick-up trucks.

If you can’t quite foot the bill in one payment, you can opt for an Easy Payment Plan up to 12 months on the total bill; a 6-month or 10,000km mileage warranty is also given for genuine replacement parts. You can get in touch with Nissan’s customer care centre at 1800-88-3838 for more information on its flood relief assistance programme.


Dell’s Concept Luna Envisions an Easily Repairable, Sustainable Laptop

More companies are focusing on sustainability, and Dell’s Concept Luna looks to be quite promising in this regard. It’s a proof-of-concept developed in collaboration with Intel, and it envisions a laptop that is easily repairable by giving users easy access to the different components of the machine, among other things.

This, in turns, makes for a laptop that is…well, sustainable to a certain extent. The motherboard of Concept Luna, for one, has been shrunk by approximately 75%. The company said that motherboards “can be one of the most energy intense components to manufacture,” so reducing its size should reduce carbon footprint quite a bit.

The aluminium chassis of Concept Luna, on the other hand, is manufactured with hydro power and a stamped aluminium construction; these require less energy and produce minimal scrap. There are also 10x less screws used in Luna, making it easier to access the different parts of the laptop.

As for the prototype laptop itself, it does look quite sleek and modern – just like any other high-end Dell product, really. It’s great to see that the design of the laptop doesn’t have to be compromised in order for it to be easily upgradable and repaired.

According to Dell, if the design ideas of Concept Luna were implemented, we can expect to see an estimated 50% reduction in overall product carbon footprint; that’s quite a big deal. Of course, it remains to be seen if any of these design philosophies will be implemented in a consumer product.

But if a large company like Dell can do it, we imagine other companies will follow suit.


Genshin Impact 2.4 Lands 5 January 2022 – Shenhe & Yun Jin Confirmed, New Area

Genshin Impact 2.4 will be arriving next week, and as expected, both
Shenhe and Yun Jin
 are confirmed to be playable characters. On top of that, the Version 2.4 update will also add a new area dubbed Enkanomiya, an underwater nation beneath Inazuma.

Let’s start with the two new characters. Shenhe is a 5-star Cryo character wielding a polearm, while Yun Jin – also a polearm user – is a 4-star Geo character. Both of them will be featured in the same event wish as the first banner of Version 2.4, alongside Xiao’s own rerun banner.

As for phase two of the event wish, it will be a rerun of Ganyu and Zhongli simultaneously.

Enkanomiya, on the other hand, is described as a “huge floating island located beneath the ocean, constantly eroded by the Abyss.” Naturally, there are new enemies in Enkanomiya too, including the Bathysmal Vishaps and Abyss Lector: Fathomless Flames.

A number of in-game events will be held in Genshin Impact 2.4 as well in celebration of the Lantern Rite festival. Not only can you claim a free 4-star Liyue character (including Yun Jin!), 10 Intertwined Fates are also up for grabs. If you’ve got Keqing or Ningguang, good news: both of them are getting new outfits in Version 2.4.

Genshin Impact’s Version 2.4 update will go live on 5 January 2022. Once the update is live, Shenhe, Yunjin, and Xiao’s banners will be available.


NovelKeys NK87 Entry Edition Now Available for $135 – Custom TKL Keyboard

The affordable NovelKeys NK87 Entry Edition custom keyboard is now available for purchase! Not only is it a budget-friendly TKL keyboard with great value for money, it looks to be quite a compelling keyboard too.

So how much does the NK87 Entry cost? Well, it retails at only $135, which comes up to about RM565. Given the features of this TKL keyboard, you’re really getting your money’s worth here – even a
carrying case
 and a coiled USB-C cable are included in that price.

For that kind of money, the NK87 Entry uses a modified top-mount system with a number of silicones to enhance the sound profile of the keyboard. There are eight “thock absorber” silicone strips between the plate and top case, as well as two silicone dampening pads; one on the bottom, and another one between the plate and PCB.

Other specifications of the NK87 Entry include a polycarbonate case, a polycarbonate plate, a VIA-compatible hotswap PCB, as well as NovelKeys’ own screw-in stabilisers. As with most keyboard kits, you’ll need to get switches and keycaps to complete the build.

The NovelKeys NK87 Entry Edition is now available for purchase on the vendor’s
online store
. At the time of writing, four colours are in stock: Black, Beige, Atomic Purple, and Blumen. The Smoke and Frost colourways, on the other hand, will only be restocked sometime in Q1 2022.


You Won’t Have to Check Out With MySejahtera Anymore (On Android)

If you’ve recently updated your MySejahtera app on Android, you may have noticed a new feature dubbed MySJ Trace. Basically, it’s an improved contact tracing feature utilising Bluetooth. The introduction of MySJ Trace also sees the removal of the check out button in the app.

In order to use MySJ Trace, you’ll have to activate the feature first in MySejahtera. You’ll just have to click on the MySJ Trace box, follow the on-screen instructions, and that’s it. The feature is activated when you see the green Bluetooth icon with the amount of “interactions” detected.

The check out button is no longer there

So how does MySJ Trace work? Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), it can detect other users that have also activated MySJ Trace. If a user is COVID-19 positive, interactions of said user gathered over the past 14 days will be shared with the Ministry of Health (MOH) for contact tracing.

Those who are confirmed to be in close proximity with a COVID-19 positive user from MySJ Trace will receive a push notification from MySejahtera. Thanks to this new feature, the check out button is no longer needed; you won’t have to manually check out every time you leave a premise now.

Unfortunately, MySJ Trace is
only offered on Android
 at the moment; the new update is not available on iOS yet. The update is said to be
awaiting approval from Apple
, so once it’s been approved, you can download the new MySejahtera app over at the
Apple App Store
.


GAC Motor Enters Malaysian Market With GS3 – B-Segment SUV From Only RM89k

One year ago, it was reported that
GAC Motor will be entering the Malaysian market
 through Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH). Well, this is now a reality, and the GAC GS3 is the first model from the Chinese carmaker to be available locally.

Retailing from only RM88,800, this B-segment SUV is priced quite competitively, especially for a fully imported (CBU) model. This starting price is for the Standard trim; the Premium variant, on the other hand, goes for RM96,800. Of course, these prices include the
50% sale tax exemption for CBU cars
 until 30 June 2022.

Regardless of which trim you go for, all variants of the GS3 are powered by a 1.5L naturally-aspirated engine that outputs 114PS and 150Nm of torque. It is paired to an Aisin-sourced six-speed automatic transmission, giving the GS3 a rated fuel consumption of 14.5km/l, which is quite decent for an SUV this size.

Standard equipment of the GS3 include 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and phone mirroring, four airbags, and fabric/leatherette seats. If you opt for the Premium trim, you get two more airbags (for a total of six), leatherette seats, keyless entry with push start button, and a 3.5-inch LCD instrument panel.

The GAC GS3 is now available for booking in Malaysia. More details on the new B-segment SUV can be found
right here
, and you can even
request for a test drive through this form
.


COVID-19 Booster Interval for AstraZeneca & Pfizer Recipients Shortened to 3 Months

Khairy Jamaluddin, the Minister of Health, just announced a shorter interval for AstraZeneca and Pfizer recipients to receive their respective COVID-19 booster shots. Previously set at six months, it is now reduced by half to only three months.

Naturally, those above 60 and individuals with comorbidities will be prioritised first, followed by those above 50, 40, and finally, 18 years of age. The recommended booster shot for most vaccine recipients will be Pfizer, but alternatives will be given if necessary.

Curiously, if you’ve received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine instead, the dosing interval is set even shorter at only two months. Anyway, according to Khairy, the administration of COVID-19 booster shots will begin sometime in January or February 2022 onwards.

As previously revealed
, you won’t need to apply to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you’re eligible; you will be notified of any appointment through the
MySejahtera app
. Depending on where you’re located, the booster will be given at a clinic or hospital.


Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Appears in SIRIM – Launching in Malaysia 5 January 2022?

The much-rumoured
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
 could be launched in Malaysia very soon – as early as next week, in fact. After all, the upcoming phone has already been registered with SIRIM, suggesting that it will be made available here in the near future.

Curiously, the Galaxy S21 FE was registered with SIRIM under Samsung Malaysia on 22 December last week. Just today, we also received an invite to the local launch of “our new Galaxy” from the Korean company. Chances are, this is a launch event for the S21 FE.

The main Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup

Based on numerous leaks, the Galaxy S21 FE looks to be a reasonably well-equipped flagship phone that should be more affordable than the
main S21 series
. It’s said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset – though other markets, such as ours, may get the Exynos 2100 instead – a 120Hz display, and a similar design language as the S21 phones.

Nonetheless, we’ll find out for ourselves whether or not the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will be launched in Malaysia next week on 5 January 2022.


Meletrix Zoom65 – Aluminium Gasket-Mount 65% Keyboard (With Knob) for Only $179

If you’re looking for a 65% custom keyboard with a knob and
really good
 value for money, the Meletrix Zoom65 fits the bill. Meletrix is a sub-brand of Wuque Studio – which is known for its popular
Ikki68 Aurora keyboard
 – and the Zoom65 will be its first flagship product. The best part is, it be sold as an
in-stock
 product tomorrow on 29 December.

Priced at only $179 (about RM750), the Zoom65 offers excellent value. After all, for that kind of money, you’re getting a gasket-mounted keyboard with a full aluminium body, a rotary encoder, a polycarbonate plate, and of course, a hotswap PCB.

On top of that, the Zoom65 also comes with JWK linear switches, double shot PBT keycaps in the popular Olivia colourway (officially authorised, as Meletrix puts it), Wuque Studio’s stabilisers, a carrying case,
and
 a coiled USB-C cable. Needless to say, you’re getting
a ton of value
 out of the Zoom65.

If you’re keen to get the Meletrix Zoom65, you can do so
over here
 at 8.30AM tomorrow on 29 December. Do note that only 100 units are available, so you do have to act fast if you want to grab a unit.


Xiaomi 12 Official – Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Compact Design, 3,699 Yuan Price Tag

While it’s still 2021, Xiaomi already unveiled its 2022 flagship phone, the Xiaomi 12. Naturally, it sports Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip packed in a compact, ergonomically-friendly chassis, with a budget-friendly price tag to boot.

Retailing from only 3,699 Chinese yuan – that comes up to about RM2,435 – the Xiaomi 12 is a relatively affordable flagship smartphone. As mentioned, it’s powered by the fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, which promises 30% faster GPU with 25% better power efficiency.

Aside from that, the Xiaomi 12 also sports a compact design, thanks to its 69.9mm width and compact 6.28-inch 2400 x 1080 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is also a dual curved screen, giving the phone a sleeker, more modern-looking aesthetic.

Other specifications of the Xiaomi 12 include 8GB or 12GB of RAM, two UFS 3.1 storage options (128GB or 256GB), a triple camera system (50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 5MP telephoto macro), a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a 4,500mAh battery with support for 67W wired charging; it can also do 50W wireless charging.

As usual, the Xiaomi 12 is only offered in China at the moment, though we reckon the compact flagship phone will eventually make it to other markets, including Malaysia.


The Xiaomi 12X Is a More Affordable Xiaomi 12 With Snapdragon 870 Instead

Completing the
Xiaomi 12

series
 is the most affordable device of the lot, the Xiaomi 12X. Essentially, it is a more affordable version of the standard Xiaomi 12; the only difference lies in the chip powering the phone.

Instead of Qualcomm’s latest and greatest
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
, the Xiaomi 12X is packed with a Snapdragon 870 SoC instead. This chip is essentially a faster version of the Snapdragon 865, Qualcomm’s 2020 flagship processor.

Beyond the different chipset, the Xiaomi 12X is almost a carbon copy of the Xiaomi 12. It still has a compact design, thanks to its 69.9mm width and compact 6.28-inch 2400 x 1080 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is also a dual curved screen, giving the phone a sleeker, more modern-looking aesthetic.

Other specifications of the Xiaomi 12X include 8GB or 12GB of RAM, two UFS 3.1 storage options (128GB or 256GB), a triple camera system (50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide angle + 5MP telephoto macro), a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a 4,500mAh battery with support for 67W wired charging.

The Xiaomi 12X is only available in China at the moment with a 3,199 Chinese yuan starting price – that comes up to about RM2,100. No word yet on the availability of the 12X in other markets.


Xiaomi 12 Pro Unleashed – Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 120W Charging, From 4,699 Yuan

Aside from the
Xiaomi 12
, the Chinese company also introduced the larger Xiaomi 12 Pro. Not only does it feature a bigger, sharper OLED screen, the Pro model also offers much faster charging rate and a more sophisticated camera system.

First, let’s talk about price. Compared to the Xiaomi 12 (3,699 Yuan), the Xiaomi 12 Pro is priced higher at 4,699 yuan – that’s about RM3,095. Of course, for 1,000 yuan more (approximately RM655), the Pro does offer a number of neat upgrades, such as 120W fast wired charging. Wirelessly, it can do 50W charging, just like the standard model.

Aside from that, the Xiaomi 12 Pro features a more capable triple camera setup too. It is made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 50MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 50MP telephoto camera. It’s worth noting that the regular model doesn’t even have a zoom lens, opting for a macro shooter instead.

Rounding out the specifications of the Xiaomi 12 Pro include the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a 4,600mAh battery.

Just like the Xiaomi 12, the Xiaomi 12 Pro has only been announced for China. No word yet on its availability outside of the region, though we’re confident it’s only a matter of time before the Xiaomi 12 Pro is also launched in other markets, including Malaysia.


Spy Shot: Proton X70 Facelift Spotted – Receiving X50’s 1.5L TGDi Engine?

The Proton X70 hasn’t received any major changes since the
CKD model
 was launched back in February 2020. Well, come next year, the C-segment SUV may be getting a facelift, thanks to this spy shot of an X70 with some light camouflage.

This one shot of the (possibly) facelifted X70 was taken by
yaaaboiii_7
 around Tanjung Malim, Perak, and subsequently shared by
Careta
 on Instagram. Only the lower bumper and tailgate were covered, and it’s said that the front end of the SUV had some camouflage too.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by careta (@careta_malaysia)

Based on previous rumours, the X70’s 1.8L turbocharged engine will be replaced with a 1.5L TGDi three-cylinder mill for the facelift model. Yes, it’s the very same one found under the hood of the
Proton X50
, which outputs 177PS and 255Nm of torque. Based on this spy shot, we can expect some exterior changes too.

Of course, it’s still too early to tell if the national carmaker will indeed give the Proton X70 a facelift next year. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on any further development regarding the C-segment SUV.


30 December – 5 January Fuel Price: RON 97 up 1 Sen, Others Unchanged

It’s a slight price hike for RON 97 this coming week: the fuel is set to go up by 1 sen per litre for the next seven days. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are maintained, given that their price ceilings have been reached.

From tomorrow onwards until Wednesday next week, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.00 per litre (up from RM2.99). 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 30 December to 5 January 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Get Primogems in Genshin Impact’s Dragonspine Web Event

Mihoyo just revealed a new web event for
Genshin Impact
 to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Dragonspine map. Dubbed “Enchanting Journey of Snow and Stars,” it offers a number of rewards for players, including Primogems.

In order to get the Primogems, one million players have to “light up” (virtually) a special Teleport Waypoint Mihoyo has placed in the Alps. Once one million players have done so – an easily achievable figure, given the huge player base of Genshin Impact – every player who participated in the web event will get 30 Primogems.

Of course, Mihoyo will also actually light up the Teleport Waypoint in the Alps once the milestone is reached. The lighting ceremony will be broadcasted online through YouTube, Twitch, and even VK. The Val Thorens resort at the same location is themed after Genshin Impact too for this occasion.

If you want to participate in Genshin Impact’s Enchanting Journey of Snow and Stars web event, you can do so
over here
. Mihoyo said that its social media channels have prepared “even more surprises” for participants, so keep your eyes peeled.


MySejahtera’s MySJ Trace Feature Now Available on iOS – No More Checking Out

Previously only available on
Android and Huawei devices
, Apple finally approved the new MySejahtera update, which introduces the MySJ Trace feature. Basically, it’s an improved contact tracing feature utilising Bluetooth, and the new MySejahtera update also sees the removal of the check out button in the app.

In order to use MySJ Trace, you’ll have to activate the feature first in MySejahtera. You’ll just have to click on the MySJ Trace box, follow the on-screen instructions, and that’s it. The feature is activated when you see the green Bluetooth icon with the amount of “interactions” detected.

Preview of the Android version
The check out button is no longer there

So how does MySJ Trace work? Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), it can detect other users that have also activated MySJ Trace. If a user is COVID-19 positive, interactions of said user gathered over the past 14 days will be shared with the Ministry of Health (MOH) for contact tracing.

Those who are confirmed to be in close proximity with a COVID-19 positive user from MySJ Trace will receive a push notification from MySejahtera. Thanks to this new feature, the check out button is no longer needed; you won’t have to manually check out every time you leave a premise now.

The new MySejahtera update is now available for download from the
Apple App Store
. If you have an Android phone, you can get the new update from the
Google Play Store
 or the
Huawei AppGallery
 for Huawei devices.


PlayStation Plus January 2022 Free Games Include Persona 5 Strikers & Dirt 5

PlayStation Plus’ January 2022 free games have just been announced. Three different games can be claimed by members next week on 4 January, which include Persona 5 Strikers, Dirt 5, and Deep Rock Galactic.

Out of the three games, Persona 5 Strikers is arguably the most interesting title. Set after the events of Persona 5, Strikers doesn’t use a turn-based combat system. Rather, it’s a “musou-style” hack and slash game featuring the Phantom Thieves.

Unlike
previous PS Plus

free games
, all of these games are available on the PS4 too instead of being limited to the PS5. Of course, you do get the PS5 version of Dirt 5 and Deep Rock Galactic, which should feature better graphics and faster loading times.

These three games can be claimed by PS Plus members from 4 January to 1 February 2022. That means you have until this coming Monday (3 January) to get your hands on December 2021’s free games, including
Godfall and Judgment
.


Iqunix F96 KAT Hands-On – Nice Keycaps, So-So Keyboard

Pre-built keyboards, while lacking the
customisation and refined typing experience
 of a custom keyboard, can still be a good buy for certain folks. The Iqunix F96 KAT is one such pre-built…to an extent.

What makes the F96 KAT particularly interesting is the KAT keycap set that comes with the keyboard. This keycap profile is typically only available in the aftermarket scene; rarely is it offered on a pre-built keyboard like this.

But beyond the KAT keycap set, the F96 KAT falls short in other areas. Can it still be a good buy? Of course, but for the same amount of money, other options – such as the
Keychron Q1
 – may serve you better.

So how much does the F96 KAT costs? For the Malaysian market, this pre-built keyboard is brought in by Keybot, which is listing it for
exactly RM679.20 now
. Yes, that’s quite a steep price tag, but the KAT keycap set and aluminium chassis of this full-size keyboard are not exactly cheap.

Since the KAT keycap of the F96 KAT is one of its best qualities, let’s talk about that first. Compared to, say, GMK keycaps, KAT has a taller profile. It is also slightly sculpted, so it doesn’t feel as “flat” to type on. This, in turn, makes for quite a comfortable typing experience.

The sound profile of the KAT keycap is also quite pleasant. Thanks to its
thick
 nature, PBT plastic material, and reasonably tall profile, KAT keycaps are known to produce a deep, thocky sound signature. While this quality isn’t particularly obvious on the F96 KAT – more on this later – you can still hear a semblance of it.

Oh, the texture of the KAT keycap is worth a mention too. Despite the fact that it is made from PBT plastic, which usually feels rough, that’s not the case at all with this keycap. In fact, it feels relatively smooth, almost as smooth as a well-worn GMK keycap made from ABS plastic – almost.

Okay, now let’s talk about the F96 KAT itself, starting with its sound profile. The particular unit I tried was fitted with Gateron Red switches, and…well, even with the KAT keycaps, the keyboard still sounds quite hollow with a clacky sound signature.

Granted, it’s not the worst-sounding pre-built keyboard I’ve tried, but it doesn’t exactly sound pleasant either. Then again, a pre-built keyboard rarely sounds great, so it’s not like the F96 KAT is an outlier here.

On the bright side, the F96 KAT does have good build quality. The aluminium chassis gives it a nice amount of heft, and it feels solid. I also love the fact that the screws are positioned on the sides of the keyboard, so there’s no exposed screw holes on the bottom case.

And then there’s the “compact” nature of the F96 KAT. Even though it has a full-size layout, the keys are all compressed together instead of a more traditional exploded layout. Personally, I find this quite jarring and too easy to mistakenly hit the wrong key, but if you want a compact full-size keyboard, I reckon you’ll appreciate this layout.

What I
do
 appreciate is the wireless nature of the F96 KAT. It can be connected to three different devices via Bluetooth, and if your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth support, no worries – Iqunix bundled a Bluetooth dongle for such a scenario. It’s quite a neat touch, in my opinion.

Okay, how is it like to type on the F96 KAT? It’s…decent. It offers a stiff typing experience, so if that’s what you want, great. What’s
not
 great are the keyboard’s costar stabilisers. Not only is it tricky to swap keycaps with this type of stabiliser, it’s even trickier to tune well.

Out of the box, the stabilisers seem to be lubed with some form of grease (likely dielectric grease), which works well enough to minimise rattling and ticking on the backspace and enter keys. But that’s not the case with the spacebar: it’s so rattly and noisy, it almost feels like the spacebar is installed with a clicky switch – it’s not.

Yes, it’s possible to make the stabiliser sound and feel better, but it’s not an easy task due to the design of the costar stabiliser. Plus, if you’re willing to put in the effort to tune this keyboard, you’re better off doing the same with a proper custom keyboard instead.

In my opinion, the Iqunix F96 KAT is not meant for keyboard enthusiasts. Rather, it’s made for folks that want a full-size keyboard with wireless support and an aluminium chassis that works right out of the box. As an added bonus, it also comes with a nice KAT keycap set.

If that’s exactly what you want, then the F96 KAT is a good buy. But if you’re thinking of getting it in hopes of tuning it to offer an even better typing experience (you certainly can), consider spending the same amount of money on a custom keyboard instead – your effort is better spent that way.


Genshin Impact Shenhe & Xiao Banners Unveiled for 5 January – Yun Jin, Ningguang, Chongyun

Genshin Impact’s new
double banner
 is back for the Version 2.4 update. The first phase will feature Shenhe, a brand new 5-star Cryo character, as well as Xiao – this is his first rerun banner. Set to go live next week on 5 January, these two characters will be accompanied by Yun Jin (also a new character), Ningguang, and Chongyun.

That’s right, even though Shenhe and Xiao will be featured in separate event wishes, they both share the same roster of 4-star characters. Of course, pity is also shared between the two banners, and the wish guarantee count
will
 carry over to future character banners too.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

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

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

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

Shenhe’s “The Transcendent One Returns” and Xiao’s “Invitation to Mundane Life” event wishes will go live on Genshin Impact this coming Wednesday on 5 January 2022 right after the
Version 2.4 update
. Their banners will be available until 25 January; the same day Ganyu’s and Zhongli’s rerun banners drop.


Genshin Impact Ganyu & Zhongli Banners Coming 25 January – Yanfei, Beidou, Xingqiu

Now this is a surprise: Mihoyo announced the second phase event wishes in
Genshin Impact 2.4
 much earlier than usual. This second phase will feature Ganyu and Zhongli, and they will be available on 25 January alongside Yanfei, Beidou, and Xingqiu.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact

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

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

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

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

Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Yanfei, Beidou, or Xingqiu. 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.

Ganyu’s “Adrift in the Harbor” and Zhongli’s “Gentry of Hermitage” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 25 January 2022, right after Shenhe’s and Xiao’s banners. The former’s banners will be available until 15 February.


Proton Flood Relief – Now 50% Discount on Parts, 25% Off Labour

Proton initially announced its
flood relief programme last week
, and interestingly enough, the national carmaker just made some changes to it. Previously, a 20% discount is given for selected parts, but it is now increased to a whopping 50% – that’s quite a big difference.

However, the 50% discount is not offered for the
Proton X50
 and
X70
. For these two SUVs, a 25% discount is given instead for selected parts; a 5% increase over the original offer. Labour charges are also discounted by 25% now instead of 20%.

“Proton is deeply sympathetic to the plight of the victims of the recent floods as many of them consist of B40 households. To date, our service centres have received approximately 600 cars and we estimate there to be many more that will arrive in the coming days and weeks,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah.

“Aside from the assistance package, Proton is also negotiating with the banks to allow customers to pay for their repairs via instalment using their credit cards. This will further assist their cash flow as they will neither be charged interest fees nor have to come up with a lump sum payment,” he added.

If you want more information on Proton’s flood relief campaign, you can give the national carmaker’s customer care line a call at 1-800-88-8398.


Huawei P50 Pro With 100x Zoom Coming to Malaysia Soon

Launched in China back in July this year, the Huawei P50 Pro is finally coming to Malaysia. Sporting a quad camera system that can do 100x zoom along with a fast 120Hz OLED screen, it’s quite a sleek-looking device too.

Just today, the P50 Pro was registered with SIRIM under Huawei Malaysia. All electronics have to be certified by SIRIM first before they can be officially sold here, so there’s a good chance the P50 Pro will be launched locally very soon. On top of that, the flagship phone’s product page is
already up on Huawei Malaysia’s website
.

One of the highlights of the P50 Pro is its sophisticated quad camera system. It’s made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 40MP monochrome sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens, and of course, a 64MP telephoto camera that can do up to 100x digital zoom.

Other specifications of the P50 Pro include a 6.6-inch Full HD+ OLED dual curved screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G chipset, a 13MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, a 4,360mAh battery, an IP68 rating, and HarmonyOS 2 (still based on Android) out of the box.

In China, the Huawei P50 Pro with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM – which seems to be the only variant available in Malaysia, based on the
local product page
 – retails at 6,488 Chinese yuan (about RM4,250). It’ll be interesting to see if it will be priced similarly in Malaysia once it is officially available here.