The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s Flex Mode Is Surprisingly Useful

Beyond the impressive technological feat of a foldable phone’s flexible display, the foldable nature of these devices actually have a few practical uses. This is especially so for the
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
 with its clamshell design and software features.

Take the Z Flip 4’s Flex Mode. Depending on the app I’m using, folding the phone in an L-shape can move the content to the top screen, with controls in the lower half. Apps that don’t support this feature natively can be forced to do so, where the bottom screen can even act as a touchpad.

While this feature may seem…well, gimmicky, it’s actually quite useful in certain scenarios. I find it quite convenient to watch YouTube videos in Flex Mode while I’m having lunch, for example. I don’t have to strain my neck as much looking down on the phone if it was placed flat on the table instead.

Aside from that, the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s ability to (essentially) stay upright on its own also makes it great for shooting hands-free videos. I’ve been bouldering quite a bit lately, and it’s convenient that I can just put the phone on a surface to shoot a video of my climbing attempts instead of lugging around a tripod.

The flexibility – excuse the pun – of the Z Flip 4’s foldable nature opens up more creative ways to capture shots from different angles as well. Whether you want to take those tricky low or high angle photos, the Z Flip 4’s foldable display will come in handy to frame your shots.

A shot taken with the Z Flip 4’s 12MP primary camera

A night shot taken with the phone’s 12MP primary lens

Beyond the practicality of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s Flex Mode, there’s also the fact that it is an eye-catching device. After all, it’s a phone that folds in half, and even today, there are still no real mainstream alternatives to the Z Flip 4, especially here in Malaysia.

Samsung is easily the leading player in the foldable smartphone market now with the Galaxy Z Flip 4, along with the
Galaxy Z Fold 4
 for those who need a bigger display. If you want a refined, sleek-looking foldable phone, you can’t really go wrong with Samsung’s offerings.


Perodua Surpassed 2022 Annual Sales Target – Sold Over 250k Cars This Year

As expected
, Perodua has surpassed its 2022 annual sales target, which was set at 247,800 units. Between January to November 2022, the national carmaker has sold a whopping 250,795 units – this is the highest sales figure the company has achieved, and it has another month of sales to go.

“This sales achievement is on the back of our production achievement so far this year, which numbered 258,960 units. We also achieved our highest monthly production ever since inception at 29,149 units,” said the president and CEO of Perodua, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

In November 2022 itself, Perodua registered 28,592 units, a new monthly sales record for the carmaker. The company’s best-selling cars last month were the Bezza with 8,089 units, followed by the Myvi (6,624 units) and Axia (5,812 units).

Perodua said that it will do its best to ensure that customers who have placed their bookings by 30 June 2022 will receive their cars by 31 March 2023 next year. After all, that is the deadline given by the government to be eligible for sales tax exemption.


TTRacing Titus Smart Desk – Height-Adjustable Standing Desk From RM999

TTRacing is entering the smart desk market! The first model in the company’s new product lineup is the TTRacing Titus Smart Desk, an affordable height-adjustable desk with some interesting features, including a replaceable table top.

The Titus is available in two sizes: medium and large. The medium model comes with a 1.2m long table top – made from MDF with a powder-coated surface – for RM999, while the large variant is priced at RM1,149 with a longer 1.6m table top. As mentioned, the table top is replaceable.

Aside from that, you can also add on a
cable organiser for RM99
.

For that kind of money, the Titus features an electric motor that can adjust the height of the desk from as low as 760mm to 1,210mm. It also has a curved cutout with retractable headphone and cup holders. If you’re concerned about reliability, you’ll be happy to know that the table’s electric motor is covered by a two-year warranty.

The TTRacing Titus Smart Desk can now be purchased on the
company’s official website
 from RM999. You can also use code NEXTRIFT10 to get a 10% discount on the smart desk – as well as other products from the company – with no minimum spend.


Video: TTRacing Duo V4 Pro Review – Worth RM499?

Here’s our video review of the affordable TTRacing Duo V4 Pro gaming chair! Retailing at RM499, it will certainly appeal to folks who are on a budget. For that kind of money, the gaming chair offers a number of interesting features.

These include an adjustable headrest, a large lumbar pillow, a pretty wide seat base to accommodate users of different body types, and even smooth hydraulics and castors. If you don’t need the adjustable headrest or lumbar pillow, you can opt for the
standard Duo V4 instead for RM429
 – that’s RM70 less.

If you’d like a written review of the TTRacing Duo V4 Pro instead, we have that
right here
. You can get the gaming chair – or any other products from the brand, including the new
Titus Smart Desk
 – on
TTRacing’s official store
. You can also use the code NEXTRIFT10 to get a 10% discount with no minimum spend.


Tears of Themis Themed Cafe in Malaysia Happening Until 7 December

Tears of Themis, a romance detective game from the renowed
Hoyoverse
, will have a themed cafe right here in Malaysia. Set to run until 7 December this Wednesday, the cafe will be themed after a birthday party for Luke Pearce, the protagonist of the game.

The cafe selected for the Tears of Themis collaboration is The Lemon Tree. Located at Menara Lien Hoe in Petaling Jaya, it will accept patrons from as early as 8AM to 6PM. The cafe is decorated in the theme of a “nice and warm birthday party for Luke,” as Hoyoverse puts it.

Of course, there will be special set meals for RM23 – lemon drizzle loaf or lemon mousse cake – and gifts based on Tears of Themis at the cafe. There is even a special photo corner for fans of the game to, well, take photographs of to liven up the atmosphere.

To recap, the Tears of Themis themed cafe is happening until 7 December at The Lemon Tree in Petaling Jaya. There doesn’t seem to be an online registration of any kind, so interested folks should be able to just walk into the cafe, though the set meals and gifts are limited.


Genshin Impact Wanderer & Itto Event Wishes Land 7 December With Faruzan, Gorou, Yanfei

The Wanderer’s highly anticipated event wish has just been revealed! Set to go live in
Genshin Impact
 this Wednesday on 7 December alongside Arataki Itto’s rerun banner, the two 5-star characters’ event wishes will be accompanied by Faruzan – a new 4-star character – Gorou, and Yanfei.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact

double banners
, Wanderer and Itto both have 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.

The same rule applies to the increased “drop rate” of Wanderer, Itto, Faruzan, Gorou, and Yanfei. In the case of Wanderer and Itto, 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 Wanderer or 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 Faruzan, Gorou, or Yanfei. 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.

Wanderer’s “From Ashes Reborn” and Arataki Itto’s “Oni’s Royale” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 7 December 2022 this Wednesday right after the Version 3.3 update. Their banners will be offered until 27 December, which is when the
Raiden Shogun’s and Kamisato Ayato’s reruns
 will go live.


Pico Flagship Store Opening in Sunway Pyramid 10 December – Special Promo for First 30 Customers

Pico looks to be expanding its presence in Malaysia quite a bit. Together with its authorised distributor, Rainbow Distribution, the VR company is opening a flagship store in Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya, and it will hold a special promotion for the first 30 customers who visit the store on 10 December.

The best deal is reserved for the first 10 customers who purchase a Pico 4 VR headset, who will also get a unit of the Pico Neo 3 Link (256GB) for free. As for the 11th to 30th buyers of the Pico 4 on that day, they can purchase a second unit of the headset at half price – RM849.50 or RM999.50 for the 128GB and 256GB models respectively.

Aside from that, every purchase of the Pico 4 or Pico Neo 3 Link will come with several freebies too. These include eight free VR games, a casing for the headset, lens protector, and a sweat proof silicone cover. Do note that each customer can only purchase one unit at a time.

The Pico flagship store will open its doors on 10 December this Saturday. The queue number starts at 9:30AM, while sales will start from 11AM. As for pricing, the Pico 4 retails at RM1,699 or RM1,999 for the 128GB and 256GB models respectively.


Spy Shot: Proton X90 Spotted on Malaysian Roads Again!

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Geely Haoyue on Malaysian roads, though it appears Proton is still hard at work testing the D-segment seven-seater SUV on Malaysian roads. This Geely model is suspected to be the
Proton X90
, and this time around, the SUV is spotted at Simpang Pulai, Perak.

These images of the Haoyue were taken by Azaharol Mohamed and subsequently shared by
The Ajerul on Facebook
. Two units of the SUV were caught on camera, and while both of them are still heavily camouflaged, their silhouettes are akin to that of the Haoyue.

Previous spy shots of the Haoyue

To recap, the Haoyue is a large D-segment SUV that can be configured with five or seven seats; it measures 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,785 tall. Compared to the
Proton X70
, the Haoyue is 316mm longer, 69mm wider, and 91mm taller.

Powering the Haoyue, on the other hand, is a 1.8L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 181PS and 300Nm of torque. This engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive sent either to the front wheels or all four of them for the AWD model.

However, it’s worth noting that in The Philippines, the Okavango (as it’s called there) is actually available with a 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine and a mild hybrid system that put out a combined figure of 190hp and 300Nm of torque. This setup is also paired with a 7DCT, though there is no AWD variant.

Of course, given its positioning as a premium SUV, the Haoyue is equipped with Geely’s level 2 autonomous driving system too. It is made up of 24 different sensors to allow for as many as 17 “intelligent drive features.” According to Geely, this lets the SUV automatically follow, stop, as well as turn at speeds of up to 150km/h.

Just like the
Proton X50
, the Haoyue is also capable of parking itself. It features a 360-degree camera as well, and given the large size of the SUV, we imagine this will come in handy for most drivers.

The Geely Haoyue

Even though the Geely Haoyue is already being tested on Malaysian roads, it’s still too early to tell if it will eventually materialise to be the “Proton X90,” even if rumours are suggesting a 2023 release. Nonetheless, we will keep a close eye for any further development of this premium SUV.


Deal: Nintendo Switch OLED Price Drops to RM1,299

It’s been quite some time since the
Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)
 was launched, so not surprisingly, the portable console is quite a bit more affordable now. Previously going for
as low as RM1,349
, you can now get the latest and greatest Switch
at only RM1,299
.

This deal is offered by Shopee Mall retailer Impulse Gaming; one of the most renowned game stores in Malaysia. Both the
White and Neon colour options
 are in stock now, and they are official Maxsoft units with a one-year warranty.

Compared to its predecessor, the new OLED Switch features a larger 7-inch OLED panel with thinner bezels. It also has double the internal storage at 64GB, and the stand sees a design revision as well. Instead of the original Switch’s fragile-looking stand, this new Switch uses a much sturdier, wider stand that is also adjustable.

Other changes introduced in the new OLED Switch include a new dock with a wired LAN port, “enhanced audio” from the system’s onboard speakers, and between 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life – the same quoted battery life as its predecessor.

If you want to get the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)
for only RM1,299
, you can do so from Impulse Gaming on Shopee. Not sure if it’s worth upgrading from an older model? Then check out our comparison
between the new OLED Switch and the original one
.


Genshin Impact Teases Alhaitham & Yaoyao – Likely Playable in Version 3.4

Hoyoverse just dropped a teaser for two new characters coming to
Genshin Impact
! They are Alhaitham and Yaoyao, and chances are, both of them will be playable in the Version 3.4 of the live service game.

Typically, characters that are teased by Hoyoverse are playable in the next version update of Genshin Impact, so there’s no reason the same wouldn’t apply to Alhaitham and Yaoyao. Unfortunately, the rarity of the new characters has not been revealed yet, though we reckon Alhaitham is a 5-star character, given how prominent he is in the main Sumeru storyline.

Unfortunately, there’s no mention of the weapons that Alhaitham and Yaoyao use, though the former does wield a sword in-game. Hoyoverse confirmed that these are Dendro characters as well, and it’ll be interesting to see the roles they will play in a team.

Expect Alhaitham and Yaoyao to be playable characters in Genshin Impact 3.4, which should be released sometime in January 2023 next month. Yaoyao also has a small teaser in the video below in conjunction with The Game Awards 2022. Enjoy!


Proton Sold 11,316 Cars in November 2022 – Total Annual Sales Now at 126,682

Proton just released its latest sales report, and the national carmaker is on track to achieve its best annual annual sales since 2013. With over 11,316 cars registered in November last month, Proton’s total sales for 2022 now stands at 126,682 units.

As usual, the popular
Proton X50
 remains the best-selling B-segment SUV in Malaysia with 3,724 units registered last month alone. Between January to November 2022, a total of 36,917 units of the SUV were delivered to customers.

But Proton’s best-selling model last month remains the Saga with 4,100 units sold, placing it as the second most popular A-segment sedan in Malaysia in November 2022. This is followed by the Persona (1,551), X70 (1,210), Iriz (402), and of course, the Exora (329), which remains the local C-segment MPV leader.

Aside from that, Proton also revealed that it has manufactured 10,000 units of the 1.5L TGDi engine at its new assembly line at Tanjung Malim, Perak. The carmaker achieved this feat in only seven months, and it plans to produce as many as 60,000 engines in 2023 next year.

Curiously, Proton added that the 1.5L TGDi engine will be “used across several Proton models.” Currently, the engine is only found under the hood of the X50 and X70 – perhaps the
X90
 will feature the mill as well.

“Proton will end 2022 with a fourth consecutive year of sales growth,” said the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah. “With new model introductions in the pipeline for 2023, we hope to be able to increase our contribution to the Malaysia economy by making more local investments, selling more vehicles, and further growing our export markets,” he added.


Spy Shot: Proton X90 Seen Testing in Malaysia Once More

Well, it looks like the Geely Haoyue – which is suspected to be the
Proton X90
 – has been spotted testing in Malaysia yet again.
Yesterday’s test mules were found in Perak
, and today’s unit was spotted on the PLUS highway in a tight convoy with a Mazda CX-8.

Spotted by
Paultan.org
 reader Azfar Hashim, the still heavily camouflaged Haoyue is tailed by a CX-8. Chances are, Proton is benchmarking its D-segment seven-seater SUV against the Mazda model. After all, both SUVs belong in the same segment.

Previous spy shots of the Haoyue

To recap, the Haoyue is a large D-segment SUV that can be configured with five or seven seats; it measures 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,785 tall. Compared to the
Proton X70
, the Haoyue is 316mm longer, 69mm wider, and 91mm taller.

Powering the Haoyue, on the other hand, is a 1.8L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 181PS and 300Nm of torque. This engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive sent either to the front wheels or all four of them for the AWD model.

However, it’s worth noting that in The Philippines, the Okavango (as it’s called there) is actually available with a 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine – similar to the one
manufactured at Proton’s assembly line at Tanjung Malim, Perak
. It’s paired to a mild hybrid system that put out a combined figure of 190hp and 300Nm of torque, and it features a 7DCT, though there is no AWD variant.

Of course, given its positioning as a premium SUV, the Haoyue is equipped with Geely’s level 2 autonomous driving system too. It is made up of 24 different sensors to allow for as many as 17 “intelligent drive features.” According to Geely, this lets the SUV automatically follow, stop, as well as turn at speeds of up to 150km/h.

Just like the
Proton X50
, the Haoyue is also capable of parking itself. It features a 360-degree camera as well, and given the large size of the SUV, we imagine this will come in handy for most drivers.

The Geely Haoyue

Even though the Geely Haoyue is already being tested on Malaysian roads, it’s still too early to tell if it will eventually materialise to be the “Proton X90,” even if rumours are suggesting a 2023 release. Nonetheless, we will keep a close eye for any further development of this premium SUV.


Best Wireless Earbuds 2022: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) & Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

As we get to the end of the year, it’s a good time to look back at the products that we have reviewed throughout 2022, and which of them were our favourites. With that in mind, we will be doing a “best-of” for every major category of products we tested, including smartphones, games, and of course, wireless earbuds.

In this article, we’ll look at the best wireless earbuds 2022 has to offer. Two particular products stood out to us: the
2nd generation Apple AirPods Pro
 and
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
. In fact, we consider both of them to be the best wireless earbuds this year…depending on the device you use.

If you’re an iPhone user, we highly recommend the AirPods Pro, thanks to its slew of features that only work with Apple’s own phone. These include spatial audio, control customisations, seamless pairing, and of course, the Find My feature if you ever misplace the earbuds.

But beyond these exclusive iPhone features, the 2nd gen AirPods Pro is also a very refined pair of wireless earbuds with a pleasant, “warm” tuning. It has strong,
punchy
 bass; forward, full-sounding vocals with the elevated mids; and subdued highs to avoid sibilance, though this also comes at the cost of reduced airiness and sparkle in the treble region.

Another feature of the updated AirPods Pro that we are fond of is its transparency mode.
Everything
sounds so natural and lifelike with the mode enabled; it feels almost like we’re not wearing the earbuds at all. It’s also worth noting that the transparency mode can automatically reduce the volume of loud sounds like sirens and power tools.

Naturally, the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the AirPods Pro is good too. It can cancel out ambient noise competently – the sound of an air-conditioner or a rumbling engine, for example, is barely audible – and even human voices are drowned out quite well.

In comparison, the ANC performance of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is very similar to the AirPods Pro. But in our testing, we get better results from the latter as its ear tips offer a better seal in our ears. With the Buds 2 Pro, it’s a little tricky to get a good fit, though your mileage may vary.

Despite that, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro does have its own winning qualities. You don’t need to rely on an iPhone to get the most out of the earbuds, and it also offers good audio quality, even though the tuning is quite a bit different.

Just like the AirPods Pro, the Buds 2 Pro offers strong, controlled bass, but it has relatively neutral mids instead. This results in a “cleaner” sound profile, though this comes at the cost of vocals not sounding quite as forward as some folks (including us) would’ve liked.

Nonetheless, in the treble region, the Buds 2 Pro is quite pleasant without any hint of sibilance.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro actually has one feature the new AirPods Pro doesn’t have: voice detect. When I start speaking, the earbuds will automatically let in ambient noise so that I can have a conversation, which is quite convenient. It’s similar to the “Speak-to-Chat” feature on the older
Sony WF-1000XM4
, basically.

Now, pricing. The Buds 2 Pro is the more affordable wireless earbuds of the two with a RM899 price tag, though you can now get it for
as low as RM759
. As for the 2nd gen AirPods Pro, it retails at RM1,099, and unfortunately enough, there doesn’t seem to be any discount for the earbuds at the time of writing.

Evidently, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is the more budget-friendly option, but the AirPods Pro, in our opinion, is the more refined option. Its transparency mode is simply unbeatable, and in terms of technical performance, the AirPods Pro is more resolving than the Buds 2 Pro as well with superior detail retrieval.

But regardless of which option you go with, both the 2nd gen Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are our best wireless earbuds for 2022. Simply put, if you’re an iPhone user, consider the AirPods Pro; go with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro instead if you have an Android phone.

If you’d like to learn more about these two wireless earbuds, check out our full reviews of the
AirPods Pro
 and
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
. With the holiday season approaching, perhaps these two earbuds would make for a good gift.


Wuque Studio WS Silent Linear & Silent Tactile Review: Whisper Quiet Without the Mush

With so many different keyboard switches in the market now, it can be tough to decide on which switch is right for you. But if you’re looking for a silent linear or tactile switch, consider Wuque Studio’s WS Silent Linear and WS Silent Tactile.

As far as silent switches go, both of them are
very
 quiet, as you can hear – or not, given how silent they are – in our sound test video above. On top of that, the WS Silent switches don’t have (too much) of the “mushy” typing feel either, not to mention the fact that they are quite affordable.

Of course, they do have some shortcomings. But for the most part, the WS Silent switches are definitely worth shortlisting.

From left: WS Silent Tactile and WS Silent Linear

What It Is

Besides their linear or tactile nature, the WS Silent Linear and Silent Tactile share the exact same materials and specifications. These include nylon top and bottom housings, a POM stem, and 15mm singe-stage spring with a bottom out force of 63.5g.

Like most offerings in the market now, the WS Silent series are also 5-pin switches with factory lubing out of the box. Priced at $14.70 (about RM65) for a pack of 35 switches, they are really quite affordable – you’re basically paying RM1.80 per switch.

For that kind of money, the WS Silent switches are really quite impressive; let’s get to their positive qualities in the next section.

The Good Stuff

One aspect of silent switches that I don’t quite like is the fact that they have a mushy typing feel, but this isn’t particularly noticeable on the WS Silent Linear and WS Silent Tactile switches. The soft, “cushioned” bottom out is still very much present, but it doesn’t feel particularly mushy, in my opinion.

Another quality of silent switches that I’m not fond of is the reduced travel, lending to a shallow typing experience. But surprisingly enough, the WS Silent switches still offer a decent amount of travel at 3.5mm. Not quite as long as non-silent switches (around 4mm), but still good enough for a natural typing feel.

Factory lube of the WS Silent switches is good too. There’s still a bit of audible scratch if I listen to the switch closely, but at head level, this is very hard to pick up. In normal typing, I don’t feel the scratch at all either. All in all, I am impressed with the smoothness of the two switches.

I’m quite a fan of the WS Silent Tactile’s…tactile bump too. It has a pronounced, rounded tactile event that starts at the very top of the downstroke, and there is no audible leaf tick as well; a common issue with highly tactile switches like this.

Thanks to the dustproof stem design, the WS Silent switches also have
very
minimal wobble. There’s almost no vertical or horizontal wobble, and they can certainly provide a “stable” typing experience, if you’re concerned about that.

As mentioned, the WS Silent switches are also very silent. The soft bottom out is completely muted with minimal spring noise, which can be attributed to the factory lube of these switches. However, the same cannot be said for the upstroke.

The Bad Stuff

While the downstroke of the WS Silent Linear and WS Silent Tactile is dampened very well, the upstroke yields quite a bit of sound from the rebound of the keycaps. This is even more obvious on the tactile version, especially on the spacebar. But to Wuque Studio’s credit, the upstroke sound of the WS Silent Tactile is quieter (and more pleasant) compared to the
Gazzew U4Tx
.

Aside from that, the spring weight of the WS Silent switches is a little too light for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, the 63.5g bottom out does lend to a pleasant typing feel, but I wish it had a more substantial downstroke and upstroke sensation.

Granted, using a heavier spring (or even two-stage spring) on the WS Silent switches is counterintuitive to the silent nature of the switch. After all, if it had a more aggressive upstroke, it may make these silent switches…not-so-silent switches.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking to get a silent switch without the typical mushy downstroke or reduced travel, Wuque Studio’s WS Silent Linear and WS Silent Tactile switches are great options. On top of that, its value proposition is great as well, even if it has some shortcomings.

Keen to pick up the WS Silent switches? You can do so from
Wuque Studio’s very own online store
. The other switches in the series are also quite interesting, such as the WS Brown switch featured in our
QwertyKeys QK75 sound test
.


Hearthstone March of the Lich King Expansion Now Live – New Death Knight Class Debuts

Hearthstone’s latest expansion, March of the Lich King, is now live! The set adds 203 new cards
and
 a new class to the game, the Death Knight. Naturally, the debut hero for the new class is none other than Arthas himself as the Lich King.

With the addition of Death Knight, there are now a whopping 11 different classes in Hearthstone. Given that it’s a brand new class, it also gets 68 new cards, and 32 of them are free Core cards to get players started. Looking at the current meta, the Blood build of Death Knight looks quite strong.

As with every new Hearthstone expansion, March of the Lich King introduces a new keyword: Manathirst. Once you’ve acquired a set amount of mana crystals, certain cards will have additional effects. Besides that, the Reborn keyword – the first time a minion dies, it will be resummoned with one health – is making a return as well.

Hearthstone’s March of the Lich King expansion is now available in the card game. Just like previous expansions, there’s a launch event that runs for two weeks – players can complete daily event quests to get experience for a special event reward track.


Vivo X90 Launching in Malaysia Soon – Zeiss Camera, Dimensity 9200, 120Hz OLED

It looks like Vivo is gearing up to launch its latest flagship smartphone in Malaysia, the Vivo X90. Sporting a Zeiss-branded camera system with a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chipset, it’s quite an interesting high-end smartphone.

As usual, we spotted the Vivo X90 in SIRIM’s database; it was registered with the model number V2218 just today on 7 December under Vtalent Business. Electronic devices in Malaysia have to be certified by SIRIM first before they can be officially sold on our shores, so the X90 should be launched locally very soon.

As mentioned, the Vivo X90 features a Zeiss-branded triple camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 12MP portrait lens. It also features a 6.78-inch 2800 x 1260 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 32MP selfie camera, up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB storage, as well as a 4,810mAh battery.

Now that the Vivo X90 has been certified by SIRIM, we reckon it will be launched in Malaysia very soon. For the sake of comparison, the X90 is priced from 3,699 Chinese yuan in China, which comes up to about RM2,335. It remains to be seen if the other two devices in the series (X90 Pro and X90 Pro+) will also make it here.


8 – 14 December Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 10 Sen Again – Now RM3.75 Per Litre

Another price drop for RON 97 this week: the premium fuel will go down by 10 sen again at the stroke of midnight. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 will be set at RM3.75 per litre (down from RM3.85). RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 8 to 14 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Huawei Mate 50 Pro Kunlun Glass Edition Launched in Malaysia for RM4,899

Just last month
, Huawei launched its latest flagship smartphone on our shores, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro. Today, the company is introducing a new Kunlun Glass Edition of the premium phone, which features a very durable Kunlun glass that’s “resistant to any scratches and drops,” as Huawei puts it.

Only one variant of the Mate 50 Pro Kunlun Glass Edition is available in Malaysia. Priced at RM4,899, it features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Two colours are available: Carbon Black Vegan Leather and…Silver.

For that kind of money, the Mate 50 Pro features a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, though it doesn’t feature 5G capability. It also has a triple camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor with variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4.0), a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and a 64MP telephoto camera.

Other specifications of the Mate 50 Pro include a 6.74-inch 2616 x 1212 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 13MP selfie camera, a 4,700mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging, an IP68 water and dust resistance, and EMUI 13 out of the box.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro Kunlun Glass Edition will be available for purchase in Malaysia from 10 December onwards for RM4,899. Early birds can also get free gifts worth up to RM300, along with a one-year extended warranty and an additional three-month warranty for the glass itself.


Video: Qwertykeys QK75 Review – Unbeatable Budget 75% Keyboard

If you want the absolute best budget-friendly 75% keyboard, the value proposition of the Qwertykeys QK75 is very hard to beat. It’s no exaggeration to say that it redefines the budget custom keyboard scene with its refined typing feel, sound profile, and design, as you can see in our video review above.

Unlike previous Qwertykeys keyboards (QK65 and
QK60
), the QK75 is a PCB-mounted keyboard, allowing for a plateless build with a soldered PCB. It also uses a different gasket system than the previous models, which lends to a soft, comfortable typing feel, not to mention a pleasant sound profile.

The group buy for the Qwertykeys QK75 is now live in Malaysia until this Saturday on 10 December from
Rebult Keyboards
. It is an unlimited group buy, and fulfilment is expected to start from March 2023 next year – quite a short waiting time in the custom keyboard hobby.


Realme 10 Pro Lands in Malaysia – Snapdragon 695, 120Hz Display, RM1,299

Realme just launched a new mid-range phone in Malaysia, the Realme 10 Pro. Sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset with a fast 120Hz display, the 10 Pro is – not surprisingly – also a relatively affordable smartphone.

Only one variant of the Realme 10 Pro is offered in Malaysia. Featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, it is priced at RM1,299 on our shores. It is also available in two colours: Nebula Blue and Hyperspace Gold.

For that kind of money, the Realme 10 Pro features the aforementioned Snapdragon 695 chipset. It also has a 6.72-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual camera system (108MP primary + 2MP portrait), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.

The Realme 10 Pro is now available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM1,299. Of course, early birds will get several freebies, and the mid-range phone will hit store shelves on 16 December.


Realme 10 Pro+ Arrives in Malaysia With 120Hz Curved AMOLED Display & RM1,599 Price Tag

Aside from the
Realme 10 Pro
, the Chinese company also introduced the higher-end Realme 10 Pro+ in Malaysia. Compared to the former, the 10 Pro+ model features a more premium-looking design, thanks to its curved AMOLED display.

Two variants of the Realme 10 Pro+ are available in Malaysia. The 8GB + 128GB base model is priced at RM1,599, while the 12GB + 256GB configuration goes for RM1,799. Two different colour options are offered: Dark Matter and Hyperspace Gold.

One of the most eye-catching hardware of the Realme 10 Pro+ has to be its 6.7-inch 1080p dual-curve AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also features a MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, a triple camera system (108MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro), a 16MP selfie camera, and a 5,00mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

The Realme 10 Pro+ can now be pre-ordered in Malaysia from RM1,599. Curiously, a special sale will be held on 12 December through Lazada, which sees the price of the 8GB + 128GB base model reduced to only RM1,399.


iQOO 11 Launched in Malaysia – First Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Phone Locally for RM3,499

iQOO, a sub-brand of Vivo, just made its debut in Malaysia with the impressive iQOO 11. After all, it is the first flagship smartphone in Malaysia powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

For the Malaysian market, the iQOO 11 is offered in only one configuration. Packed with a whopping 16GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, the flagship phone is
priced at RM3,499
. But those who purchase the phone by 15 December can get a RM200 discount,
bringing down the price to RM3,299
.

Aside from its impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, other specifications of the iQOO 11 are equally high-end too. These include a 6.78-inch 3200 x 1440 AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system – 50MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide + 13MP telephoto – a 16MP selfie camera, and a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging.

The iQOO 11 is now
available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM3,299
. To reiterate, this is early bird pricing for the phone; after 15 December, it will retail at RM3,499.


PS5 & God of War Ragnarok Bundle Pre-Orders Open From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 11 December 2022

Another month, another round of pre-orders of the PS5 from Sony Centre Mid Valley. This is actually the fifth sale of the next-gen console after the
price hike
 that was announced back in August 2022, and the
God of War Ragnarok bundle
 is also included in this round of sale.

Just like previous pre-orders of the PS5 from Sony Centre Mid Valley, you’ll have to fill up
this Google Form
 to be in the running for a
chance
 to pre-order the console. If you’re fortunate enough to be selected, you will be contacted from 8 December (yesterday) onwards to finalise your pre-order of the PS5.

Do note that you only have until 11 December at 5PM this Sunday to register your interest for the PS5 pre-order. This isn’t a first-come, first-served sale either; filling up the form just means you’re in the running to be chosen to pre-order the PS5.

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


The Last of Us Part I Arrives on PC 4 March 2023 for RM249 – Returnal Also Coming to PC

Two big new PlayStation exclusives are coming to PC next year! Both the Last of Us Part I and Returnal will be available on PC early 2023, with the former arriving on 4 March 2023.

In fact, The Last of Us Part I can be pre-ordered right now on
Steam
 and the
Epic Games Store
 for RM249. Returnal, on the other hand, does not have a specific launch date yet, though there will be Southeast Asia language localisations for the PC release, including Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Of course, the PC versions of these two games will have some PC-specific tweaks and upgrades as well, though Sony has not detailed these improvements yet. Nonetheless, they should look just as good on PC as they are right now on the PS5.

To recap, The Last of Us Part I will be coming to PC next year on
4 March 2023

for RM249
. Returnal has no specific launch date yet beyond the early 2023 launch window, so in the meantime, check out our full review of
Returnal
 and
The Last of Us Part I
.


Death Stranding Gets a Sequel for PS5 – Norman Reedus, Troy Baker, Léa Seydoux Return

Hideo Kojima has revealed his next game, and it’s a sequel to the original
Death Stranding
. Tentatively dubbed Death Stranding 2, the sequel – confirmed for the PS5 – will see the return of several cast members, including Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, and even Troy Baker.

The upcoming game was revealed with a four-minute long teaser video, but in typical Hideo Kojima fashion, it’s a bizarre trailer that presents more questions than answers. It does seem to explore more of Léa Seydoux’s character, Fragile, with narration by the renowned Troy Baker.

Two new cast members have also been confirmed for the sequel: Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna. It remains to be seen what parts they will play in Death Stranding 2, or if other cast members from the first game will reprise their roles.

No word yet on the release date of Death Stranding 2, though it’s confirmed to be coming to the PS5 so far. It will also be produced, written, directed, and designed by Hideo Kojima himself, so we can be sure it will be a surreal game.


Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC Arrives 19 April 2023 Exclusively on PS5

There’s a slew of announcements today at The Game Awards 2022, and one of them is Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores. Set to arrive next year on 19 April 2023 only for the PS5 – sorry PS4 owners – the new DLC will see Aloy travel to…Hollywood.

The trailer below gives us a glimpse of the Burning Shores DLC, though no specific story details were revealed. There is, however, a giant machine awakening towards the end of the video, which looks to be the main threat in the new DLC.

Unfortunately, the Burning Shores DLC will only be available on the PS5. “To achieve this grand vision technically and creatively, we’ve made the difficult decision to focus all our efforts on making an incredible experience exclusively for the PlayStation 5 console,” said the game director of Guerrilla, Mathijs de Jonge.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores will arrive on PS5 next year on 19 April 2023. Beyond a new area for players to explore, the DLC also continues the main storyline of the game, along with the addition of new characters.


Diablo IV Lands 6 June 2023 – Pre-Orders Open From RM320

We finally get a release date for Diablo IV. Launching on 6 June 2023 next year, the highly anticipated game is available for pre-order now too, which grants players early access to Diablo IV’s open beta and other cosmetics for different Diablo games.

Three different versions of the game are available: Standard Edition (RM320), Deluxe Edition (RM410), and Ultimate Edition (RM455). Each version of the game comes with early access to the open beta, but only the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions give players “up to four days” early access to Diablo IV’s launch.

Taking place decades after the events of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, five classes are available for players to choose in Diablo IV. These include Rogue, Druid, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Necromancer. Of course, each class will have a customisable skill tree for different builds.

You can now pre-order Diablo IV through
Battle.net from $70
. Alternatively, you can pre-purchase the game from the
PlayStation Store from RM320
 ahead of its launch on 6 June 2023.


Entry-level DJI Mini 3 Now in Malaysia From RM1,999

DJI just introduced a new entry-level mini drone, and it comes with an equally mini price tag. Priced from only RM1,999 in Malaysia, the DJI Mini 3 is essentially a more affordable version of the
Mini 3 Pro
.

That means the Mini 3 is a lightweight drone like its Pro sibling, tipping the scales at only 249g. Given that it weighs below 250g, you won’t have to register the drone in most regions. Of course, the Mini 3 is also portable, so you can easily keep it in your bag, or even pocket.

Besides that, the Mini 3 features a 1/1.3-inch camera sensor too that can capture 4K/30fps videos in HDR and shoot photographs from 12MP to 48MP. As for battery life, it can deliver up to 38 minutes of flight time with the standard Intelligent Flight Battery; 51 minutes if the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus is used.

The DJI Mini 3 is now available for purchase in Malaysia from RM1,999 for the drone itself. There are also several bundles of the drone offered, including a Fly More Combo Plus that includes the DJI RC-N1 remote controller, a shoulder bag, a two-way charging hub, and two Intelligent Flight Batteries Plus – this bundle will
set you back RM3,299
.


iBasso DC03PRO DAC/AMP + CB18 OTG Cable Review: Bump up Audio Quality Without the Bulk

As more people are going out and about again as the pandemic is steadily blowing over, portable music setups are once again relevant. With smartphone manufacturers now omitting the 3.5mm headphone jack, TWS earphones and dongle-type mobile DAC/AMPs have begun to soar in popularity.

We previously reviewed the
iBasso DX170
, a mid-range digital player with solid, high quality playback for its price. The company has since released a new portable DAC/AMP and a USB OTG Type-C to Type-C connector cable to go along with it: the iBasso DC03Pro and iBasso CB18 respectively.

iBasso was kind enough to send us these two products for review, so if you’re in the market for a mobile DAC/AMP and OTG cable, keep on reading!

What It Is

The new DC03PRO DAC/AMP is the successor to the standard DC03 released about two years ago. The DC03Pro uses dual CS43131 DAC chips from Cirrus Logics, the same set of DACs found in the DX170 player. The 32-bit CS43131 is a flagship chip that has support for 32-bit high-res signal decoding, so it’s still a capable DAC despite not being an AKM or ESS chip.

The DC03Pro also features a Japanese KDS femtosecond crystal oscillator, which iBasso says will reduce phase jitter as well as improve digital clock accuracy.

The DC03Pro comes in three colour options: silver, black, and blue. The unit in this review is the silver model, and its chassis is made from CNC machined aluminium alloy paired with tempered glass panels on its front and back for a rather premium appeal. As for pricing,
it retails at $69
 (about RM305).

Interestingly, the DC03Pro’s settings can also be tweaked with the
iBasso UAC app
. It gives you options for five digital filters, three levels of gain modes, 100-level volume adjustment, as well as different EQ adjustments to suit your individual preference.

As for the iBasso CB18 OTG cable, it is…well, a USB-C to USB-C connector cable for $40 (approximately RM175), and it’s quite sleek-looking. It’s made with high-purity 6N single-crystal copper silver-plated braided wires and terminates in stainless steel USB-C connectors.

How Does It Sound?

First, it’s important to manage expectations when it comes to portable DACs and AMPs, especially one that is of this size and calibre. There
should
be an audible difference listening to music through these devices, but don’t expect it to be immediately noticeable to the average listener. Swapping your headphones or earphones will, no doubt, produce a much more significant sonic difference in comparison.

Anyway, listening to music with the DC03PRO, you get a sense that everything sounds a tad cleaner and clearer; the soundstage opens up a bit and instruments are better separated. Bass and treble are tighter with the latter sounding noticeably more textured.

Mid-range clarity is also improved, but it does have a certain artificial quality to it, almost like it’s overly polished. Vocals are also pushed further away in the soundstage with more of a dry tonality to them. The smoother high- and low-end also make songs sound less energetic and a bit too clinical to my ears.

The DC03Pro outputs more than enough power for IEMs and mid-range headphones too, though you might find yourself cranking the volume up a little higher on more demanding cans. Speaking of volume, the physicals buttons controlling the volume is a tad cumbersome to use.

After all, you’re required to tap on two tiny buttons repeatedly to adjust the volume by single increments. It’s much easier to just adjust the volume from the mobile app.

Aside from volume controls, the iBasso UAC app also gives you left/right balancing, digital filters, and gain controls. The filters give you options like “slow roll off” and “short delay fast roll off,” and adjusting gain via the app is definitely easier than tapping away at the tiny physical buttons of the DC03PRO.

There’s actually a Type-C to Type-C cable already included in the box of the DC03PRO, so you’re probably wondering if the upgraded CB18 cable sounds any different – and if it’s worth the $40 asking price. Well, pairing it with the DC03PRO does produce clearer, snappier snares, tighter bass, and slightly expanded soundstage.

Of course, it’s debatable on whether or not you’re getting your money’s worth for the slight boost in audio quality, but there’s no denying that pairing the CB18 with the silver DC03PRO does make for an eye-catching combination.

Is It Worth It?

The iBasso DC03PRO isn’t going to instantly make your IEMs or headphones sound like a different one entirely. But what it does is bump up your audio quality without being too much of a bump in your pocket, given its portable nature.

If you often listen to music on the go and want improved sound quality, the DC03PRO is a solid companion. But if a normal dongle is already one item too many for you to lug around, you probably won’t find the thought of carrying another device with you particularly appealing – even if the DC03Pro is very pocketable.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.


Game of the Year 2022: God of War Ragnarok

The Game Awards 2022 took place just a few days ago, and Elden Ring received the Game of the Year award at the show. There’s no denying that FromSoftware’s latest title deserves the award, but in my opinion,
God of War Ragnarok
 is 2022’s game of the year.

Of course, Ragnarok is quite a bit different from Elden Ring, but it is also a polished and very entertaining AAA game. Paired with its gorgeous graphics and extremely engrossing storyline, God of War Ragnarok is more appealing to me than any other games released this year, including
Horizon Forbidden West
 – let me explain why.

I love a game with a good story to tell, and God of War Ragnarok hit all the right notes with its incredible plot. I find the narrative of the 2018 game to be quite good, but Ragnarok
elevated
it to another level. Not in my wildest dream would I have thought God of War – especially in the context of the original trilogy – could tell such a compelling story.

There’s a lot to unpack throughout the main story of Ragnarok, but never did it feel overwhelming. The lore is explained well enough for me to understand what’s going on, though it is important to finish the previous game first to really grasp it. Besides that, character developments are excellent too.

Even after I’ve finished the main story, there are still other things to discover in Ragnarok that further expands the lore and overarching plot of the game. This level of details goes above and beyond the typical standards of AAA games.

Further enhancing the narrative of God of War Ragnarok is the fantastic voice acting. Whether it’s Kratos – voiced by Christopher Judge, who won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2022 – Atreus (Sunny Suljic), or Thor (Ryan Hurst), every voice line is delivered with the right emotions. It’s also nice to see Suljic reprising his role as Atreus in Ragnarok; I find his character to be much more likeable in this game, but I digress.

Complementing the strong voice acting are the realistic facial expressions of character models in Ragnarok. When a character is angry or happy, these emotions are rendered almost flawlessly on their faces, though this is mostly true for cutscenes.

In contrast, when conversing with characters in Ragnarok’s open world, their expressions are hit-and-miss. Eye contact is not quite right, expressions are not…well, expressive, and it feels like they’re just talking to an open space instead of having a conversation with another character.

Anyway, God of War Ragnarok also looks fantastic on the PS5. The environment is lush and expansive, character models are extremely detailed, and in my eyes, lighting looks realistic as well. Paired with the 60fps frame rate offered by the Performance graphics option, the smooth gameplay lends to an enjoyable, fluid combat experience.

And that brings us to the combat system of Ragnarok. I selected the Balance difficulty, and it offers just the right amount of challenge. I can’t just mash buttons and hope for the best; if I’m reckless and don’t utilise my different weapon skills effectively, enemies can quickly overwhelm me.

As I upgrade my weapon tree and unlock more skills, the combat gets more entertaining as well, and I find boss fights to be particularly satisfying to beat without feeling (too) frustrating. That being said, it does still get annoying at times; there’s a steep learning curve to Ragnarok’s combat system, especially in the beginning.

All in all, God of War Ragnarok’s captivating storyline, excellent voice acting, stunning graphics, and robust combat system easily make it my 2022 game of the year. Granted, I’ve been a long-time fan of the series since the very first God of War in 2005, so my fondness for the franchise played a role in it becoming my favourite game this year.

To follow Kratos’ story from the first game to where he is right now in Ragnarok is definitely an emotional journey. After experiencing one emotional cutscene to the next – Christopher Judge’s performance as Kratos is well-deserving of his Best Performance accolade – God of War Ragnarok gets the Nextrift Recommends badge. It’s our way of endorsing a particular game or product for its entertainment value, refinement, unique appeal, or even just sheer value for money.

Yes, retailing at RM249 and RM299 for the PS4 and PS5 copies respectively (though prices have dropped since its 9 November release), God of War Ragnarok is not exactly a value buy, but you will certainly get your money’s worth out of it.

From its replay value to uncovering how the Ragnarok apocalypse plays out in this latest entry to the franchise, countless hours of entertainment awaits you in Midgard – and the other eight realms accessible in the game.

God of War Ragnarok is now available on PS5 and PS4.


SINGAKBD Jaguar V2 Group Buy Goes Live on Monokei 16 December From S$720

A popular SINGAKBD keyboard is going on sale through Monokei this Friday on 16 December! The SINGAKBD Jaguar V2 is one of the most recognisable TKL keyboards in the custom keyboard hobby, and now, anyone who wants the keyboard can get their hands on it.

The release of the Jaguar V2 is a partnership between SINGAKBD and Monokei. The group buy will run from 16 to 31 December
from S$720 (about RM2,355)
 for the solderable PCB. If you want a hotswap PCB instead, it’s an additional S$10 (approximately RM30).

For that kind of money, the Jaguar V2 features either a winkeyless or winkey TKL layout; there’s no price difference for the two options. It also has different mounting styles – top mount or O-ring/X-ring mount – a sandblasted stainless steel grill weight, a stainless steel internal weight, along with an aluminium or polycarbonate plate.

To recap,
group buy of the SINGAKBD Jaguar V2
 will start from 16 to 31 December 2022 with a S$720 starting price, and fulfilment is estimated to begin sometime in Q3 2023. While that’s quite a bit of wait, it could be worth it for folks who have been eagerly waiting for the return of the Jaguar.


Acer Launches Acerpure Clean V1 & V1 Lite Cordless Vacuums in Malaysia From RM599

Acer is expanding its acerpure product offerings in Malaysia with two new cordless vacuum cleaners, the Acerpure Clean V1 and Acerpure Clean V1 Lite. Whether you want the convenience of a cordless vacuum (with several attachments) or a portable one, these two products can do just that.

Naturally, the more affordable vacuum of the two is the Acerpure Clean V1 Lite. Weighing just 550g with an equally lightweight RM599 price tag – for a vacuum cleaner – the V1 Lite is said to be ideal for cleaning small spaces. It also has a 13,000Pa suction power with a USB-C port for charging.

The Acerpure Clean V1 Lite

The bigger, more powerful Acerpure Clean V1

As for the larger, more powerful Clean V1, it has a 23,000Pa suction power with a five-stage filtration system that can trap dirt and dust as small as 0.3 microns. The added power does come with added weight (1.5kg), along with a dearer RM1,299 price tag. But for that kind of money, you do get a more powerful cordless vacuum,

Both the Acerpure Clean V1 and Acerpure Clean V1 Lite are now available for purchase in Malaysia. You can get them either through
Acer’s official online store
 or
Shopee
;
iBeli’s Shopee store
 also carries the two cordless vacuum cleaners.


Mobile Game of the Year 2022: Marvel Snap

We’ve talked about our
2022 game of the year
 – it’s
God of War Ragnarok
, if you’re wondering – and now, we have our mobile game of the year! Our pick is none other than Marvel Snap, which was officially released about two months ago on 18 October 2022.

Since its release, I haven’t been able to put down Marvel Snap. On the surface, it’s a quick, simple card game, but its underlying mechanics make for a very engaging,
very
 entertaining mobile game. It does have its shortcomings, but for the most part, it’s definitely one of the best mobile games I’ve come across in recent times.

It’s no surprise that Marvel Snap is such a delightful card game. After all, it’s developed by Second Dinner, an indie studio co-founded by none other than Ben Brode, the former director of Hearthstone. Obviously, he knows a thing or two about good card game design.

Unlike the majority of other card games, a deck in Marvel Snap consists of 12 cards; that’s right, twelve! On top of that, a match only lasts six turns, so you can complete a typical game of Snap in about five minutes or so.

Marvel Snap’s low time commitment is a stark contrast to other digital card games like Hearthstone, and it is one of my favourite aspects of the game.

The match structure of Marvel Snap is quite simple too: players have to win two out of three “locations” that are randomly generated to secure a victory. Winning a match rewards players with two “cubes,” and these cubes are what determine a player’s rank.

You need 10 cubes to go up a level, so winning only two cubes a match can make for a…well, slow progression. But that’s where the “snap” mechanic of Marvel Snap comes into the picture, which adds another dimension to the game. If you’re confident you can win a match, you can snap your opponent to double the cube count.

If only one player snaps, the final cube winnings is four; it’s doubled to
eight
 (the maximum amount) if both players snapped. Needless to say, an adept player can climb up the ranks fast with strategic snaps. There’s an element of deception to this mechanic too, and I absolutely love it.

There’s also a retreat feature in Marvel Snap if you want to avoid losing (too much) of your precious cubes. You can retreat at any point in the game before the final turn, but not immediately after you snap, of course. Knowing when to retreat is just as important as knowing when to snap to climb up the ranks.

I’m quite a fan of Marvel Snap’s card acquisition too, which is quite fair, in my opinion. In order to unlock new cards, you’ll need to “upgrade” your existing cards with boosters that can be obtained by just playing matches. Credits are also required to upgrade cards, and they can be obtained from completing daily missions.

Upgrading cards will add additional effects to them, but more importantly, they also increase your Collection Level, which gives you various rewards.

As you progress through the Collection Level, you’ll get additional credits, boosters, and more importantly, new cards. This is the primary method to unlock cards in Marvel Snap, though the token shop does offer new cards too. However, you’ll need tokens – obtained from Collection Level 506 onwards from Collector’s Cache and Reserve – to unlock them.

I feel like this is a fair system as Marvel Snap’s matchmaking will match players with similar Collection Level and ranking. This way, both players will have access to (largely) the same collection of cards, though each player will unlock the cards in a random order.

That being said, the randomness does feel quite frustrating at higher Collection Levels. Sometimes I’m just missing a couple of cards to complete a particular deck, and waiting to reach the next Collector’s Reserve for a
chance
 to unlock a new card isn’t the most pleasant gaming experience.

Nonetheless, Marvel Snap is still a ton of fun. I can enjoy the game in short bursts throughout the day, the gameplay mechanics are simple (but surprisingly complex at times), and the card designs are also very interesting with a ton of different deck archetypes to explore.

All in all, Marvel Snap is easily one of the most entertaining mobile games released this year, and it’s an easy winner for our 2022 mobile game of the year award and the Nextrift Recommends badge. The game is now available on both the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
, though it’s also offered on
Steam
 if you prefer playing it on PC instead.


Supposed Image of First Apple Store in Malaysia Leaks – Could Be at The Exchange TRX

A physical Apple Store was said to be coming to Malaysia for quite some time now, and
previous rumour
 pointed to The Exchange TRX as a possible location for the store. Well, a new leaked image seems to corroborate this rumour now.

The picture below
started making its rounds on the internet
, and it’s said to be a glimpse of a future Apple Store in Malaysia at The Exchange TRX. If the image was indeed taken at the upcoming mall, it’s a very good sign that Malaysia will get its very first Apple Store.

Image source:
Ikhmal (SkyscrapperCity Forum)

While the glowing Apple logo pictured above does look quite legitimate, the authenticity of the image can’t be verified, so take it with a grain of salt. However, it’s worth noting that
The Edge previously reported in 2021
 that The Exchange TRX was in talks with Apple to open its first retail store at the mall.

Granted, there has been no further update since then, so it remains to be seen if the plan is still in the pipeline. Nonetheless, the prospect of Malaysia getting its own Apple Store is exciting.


Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Controller Coming to Malaysia Soon

The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro controller for the PS5 and PC looks to be coming to Malaysia soon. As its name suggests, it’s a high-end controller with a matching price tag: it retails
at a cool RM1,249
 on our shores.

Even though the pricing of the Wolverine V2 Pro has been revealed for the Malaysian market, its availability here was not detailed. But in our routine search through SIRIM’s database, we saw that the controller was registered under Ban Leong Technologies just today on 13 December.

Designed to work with both PS5 and PC, the Wolverine V2 Pro has a number of “pro” features. These include “mecha-tactile” buttons that offer shorter actuation for quicker inputs, customisable Razer HyperTrigger shoulder buttons, and six remappable buttons with interchangeable thumbsticks. The controller can even be configured with the Razer Controller mobile app.

No word yet on the Malaysian availability of the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, but given that it’s been registered with SIRIM already, we reckon it will be launched here very soon. Perhaps it will be launched closer to the
local availability of Sony’s own DualSense Edge
.


15 – 21 December Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 20 Sen – Now RM3.55 Per Litre

Another price drop for RON 97 this week, and it’s quite a drastic one: the premium fuel will go down by 20 sen at the stroke of midnight. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 will be set at RM3.55 per litre (down from RM3.75). RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 15 to 21 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric Launched in Malaysia From RM288,888 – Up to 450km Range

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) just unveiled its latest electric SUV on our shores, the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric. Unlike other Volvo models sold locally, the C40 is only offered with an electric powertrain, and it is also locally assembled (CKD) right here in Malaysia.

This is a luxury EV, so it’s no surprise that the C40 Recharge carries a premium price tag. It’s priced at RM288,888 on-the-road without insurance, and it comes with a five-year vehicle warranty as well as an eight-year battery warranty or 160,000km – whichever comes first.

For that kind of money, the C40 Recharge offers up to 450km of range on a single charge from its 78kWh battery. It also has a dual-motor setup that offers 408PS and 660Nm of torque. With a 0-100kmph time of only 4.7 seconds, this is without a doubt a fast EV.

Speaking of fast, the C40 Recharge can be charged from 10% to 80% in only 28 minutes via a 150kW DC fast charger; 68 minutes with a 50kW DC charger. As for an AC home charger, it will take between 8 to 12 hours to get from 0% to 100% with a 11kW or 7.4kW charger respectively.

The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric will be available for booking online
right here
 later tonight at 8PM. Five colour options are offered: Fjord Blue, Crystal White, Black Stone, Silver Dawn, and Sage Green.


Oppo Introduces 3 New Products: MariSilicon Y, OHealth H1, Oppo Air Glass 2

Oppo just introduced three new products at its annual Inno Day event. These include the MariSilicon Y Bluetooth audio chip, the OHealth H1 health monitoring device, and the Oppo Air Glass 2 AR glasses.

Let’s start with the MariSilicon Y chip. One of the biggest features of this SoC is its use of N6RF process technology that increases Bluetooth bandwidth by 50%. This allows the chip to do 24-bit/192kHz lossless audio over Bluetooth, which Oppo says is an industry first.

As for the OHealth H1 – it’s the first product under Oppo’s new OHealth brand – it is quite an interesting health monitoring device. It can measure blood oxygen, ECG, heart and lung auscultation, heart rate, body temperature, as well as sleep tracking.

Last but not least is the new Air Glass 2, which sports a more conventional-looking design
than its predecessor
. Tipping the scales at only 38g, it’s a lightweight eyewear, and it even sports the world’s first (according to Oppo) resin SRG-diffractive waveguide lens developed by the company itself, which support vision correction.

Of course, the Air Glass 2 continues to offer a slew of AR features, including the ability to conduct real-time translation, navigation, convert voice into text for folks with hearing impairments, and even the ability to make phone calls.

As usual, it remains to be seen if any of these Oppo products will make it into Malaysia. Oppo will hold an experiential event for the local media tomorrow, so we’ll be sure to check with the company then.


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Coming to PS5 by December 2023

We finally have a more specific launch window for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Set to arrive sometime in fall 2023 – so that’s between September to December 2023 – the next Spider-Man game is exclusively available on the PS5.

This launch window was confirmed by the creative director of Insomniac Games, Bryan Intihar, in a post on
PlayStation Blog
. “Here’s to next year being just as exciting as we continue to get Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 ready for release next fall,” he said.

Both Peter Parker and
Miles Morales
 will be featured in Spider-Man 2. Yes, there will be two Spider-Mans in the sequel, so it’ll be interesting to see how Insomniac will incorporate both of them into the story as they face off against Venom.

To recap, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be released by December 2023 next year on the PS5. It’s worth noting that Insomniac has
Marvel’s Wolverine
 in the pipeline as well – we reckon that game will be released after Spider-Man 2.


The Oppo Find N2 Is the “Lightest Horizontally Folding Phone” With Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

Oppo recently unveiled a successor to its
compact foldable phone
, the Oppo Find N2. One of the biggest selling points of the device is the fact that it is the “lightest horizontally folding phone.” That is, it’s lighter than other foldable devices with a tablet-like form factor, such as
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4
.

Just like its predecessor, the Find N2 – tipping the scales at 233g – has a compact form factor, so it’s still an ergonomically-friendly phone. It has a slightly larger 5.54-inch 2120 x 1080 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate now, while the internal display is a familiar 7.1-inch 1920 x 1792 AMOLED panel; also clocked at 120Hz.

According to Oppo, the width of the crease on the primary display of the Find N2 has been reduced by 67%, lending to a sleeker-looking design. Of course, looking at the actual phone in person, the crease is definitely still there, but it’s not particularly prominent, which is good.

Other specifications of the Find N2 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a Hasselblad-branded triple camera system (50MP primary + 48MP ultra-wide + 32MP telephoto) with Oppo’s MariSilicon X NPU for improved performance, a 32MP selfie camera, up to 16GB of RAM, two storage options (256GB or 512GB), and a 4520mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

At the moment, the Oppo Find N2 is exclusively available in China. In its home market, the device retails from 8,000 Chinese yuan, which comes up to about RM5,080 – not a bad price at all for a foldable phone of this calibre.


Oppo Find N2 Flip Official – Oppo’s First Foldable Phone to Enter International Markets

The Oppo Find N2 may not make it to international markets, but that’s not the case for this other new foldable phone from the Chinese company. Enter the Oppo Find N2 Flip, which sports a clamshell-like design instead of a tablet form factor with a rather large cover screen.

Basically, the Find N2 Flip is Oppo’s answer to the
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
. Compared to the latter, the Find N2 Flip sports a more sizeable 3.26-inch 720 x 382 AMOLED cover screen, while the primary display is a 6.8-inch 2520 x 1080 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Just like the larger Find N2, the Find N2 Flip features a Hasselblad-branded camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens. Naturally, it features Oppo’s very own MariSilicon X NPU as well for improved camera performance.

Rounding out the specifications of the Find N2 Flip include a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset paired with up to 16GB of RAM, two storage options (256GB or 512GB), a 32MP selfie camera, as well as a generous 4,300mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging.

The Oppo Find N2 Flip is expected to hit European markets sometime in Q1 2023 next year, so there’s a chance it could be sold here in Malaysia as well, though this is merely an educated guess on our part. Nonetheless, in China, the foldable phone retails from 6,000 Chinese yuan – that comes up to about RM3,805.


Oppo Find N2 Unboxing & Hands-on: Still a Fantastic (And Now Lightweight) Foldable Phone

It’s been a year since Oppo released the
Oppo Find N
, a foldable phone that I find to be competitive even against the leading player back then; more specifically,
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3
. Today, we have the Oppo Find N2, a more refined (and lighter) successor to the Find N.

Tipping the scales at only 233g, the Find N2 is touted by Oppo to be the “lightest horizontally folding phone” – that is, foldable phones with a tablet-style form factor like the
Z Fold 4
. But beyond its lightweight nature (which is actually a good selling point, in my opinion), the Find N2 has other commendable qualities too.

First, let’s get to the unboxing experience of the Find N2, and it is quite intricate; as expected for a foldable phone of this calibre. Once I lift up the cover of the box, the foldable phone is presented front and centre, protected by a plastic covering.

Underneath the cover are a number of accessories, including a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a power adapter, and a simple polycarbonate case. With more phone brands opting for a
minimalist packaging now
, Oppo’s elaborate packaging for the Find N2 is intriguing, to say the least.

As for the Find N2 itself, it really does feel lightweight! While 233g doesn’t sound all that light on paper, the large dimensions of the phone distributes the weight nicely. Compared to, say, Samsung’s Z Fold 4, the Find N2 is noticeably lighter, so it should be less fatiguing to use for long periods of time.

Aside from its lightweight nature, the hinge of the Find N2 feels very robust as well. Not only does it feel very smooth to fold and unfold the phone, it also closes the phone with a reassuring thud. The best part is, there’s no noticeable gap at all when the phone is folded close – very impressive.

And then we have the two displays of the Find N2. The cover screen is a nice and compact 5.54-inch 2120 x 1080 AMOLED panel, while the primary inner display is a 7.1-inch 1920 x 1792 AMOLED screen; both of them feature a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

Not surprisingly, both panels of the Find N2 look great with vibrant, punchy colours, wide viewing angles, and most importantly, deep, true blacks – winning qualities of AMOLED screens. Both the cover and inner screens can get quite bright as well, so visibility outdoors should be a non-issue.

It’s worth noting that ergonomically, I absolutely love the wide, short cover screen of the Find N2. One-handed use is a breeze thanks to this, and the display is more than big enough for a comfortable viewing experience. No other foldable phone with a similar form factor offers this level of utility.

The display crease is also barely visible in normal use

Anyway, in the performance department, the Find N2 feels fast and zippy with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. Yes, it’s not the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, but there’s no denying that this is still a very capable chip that can offer flagship-tier performance.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the Find N2, and it feels pretty darn capable. After all, the triple camera system carries the Hasselblad branding, and it’s made up of a 50MP primary shooter, a 48MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 32MP telephoto lens.

I took several shots with the three camera sensors, and the results look quite promising. Judge for yourself:

48MP ultra-wide

50MP primary

32MP telephoto

50MP primary

50MP primary

Granted, these images were taken under ideal lighting, and any phone worth its salt – especially for a high-end foldable like the Find N2 – will be able to take great-looking shots. The true test lies in low light photography, and I’ll be sure to put the Hasselblad camera through its paces in the full review.

Without a doubt the Oppo Find N2 is an intriguing, polished, and most of all, compelling foldable smartphone. It’s lightweight, it has a nice and compact form factor – I cannot stress how much I love the ergonomics of the cover screen – and most of all, it doesn’t cost all that much money either.

At least, that’s the case in China, which is the only market the Find N2 will be officially sold. Retailing from 8,000 Chinese yuan there – which comes up to about RM5,080 – its value proposition is good. With that in mind, it’s really a shame the phone won’t be sold outside of China.

Nonetheless, I’ll give the Find N2 a thorough review in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that. Even though it’s unlikely this phone will be officially available in Malaysia, Oppo’s other foldable phone, the Find N2 Flip,
may find its way here
 in the near future.


Best Smartphone 2022: Apple iPhone 14 Pro

We’ve written about the
best wireless earbuds
 and
games
of 2022
, so it’s about time for a big one: the best smartphone of 2022. There were
many excellent phones
 released throughout the year, but one device stood out – the
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
.

In my opinion, the iPhone 14 Pro ticks all the right boxes for a high-end, premium smartphone in a (relatively) compact form factor. It offers blazing fast performance; it has a capable, versatile camera system; and most of all, it’s a compact flagship smartphone without compromise.

These are just some of the reasons why the iPhone 14 Pro is my pick for the best smartphone of 2022. Yes, it’s a costly device with a RM5,299 starting price, but you’re definitely getting your money’s worth with the latest iPhone.

A flagship smartphone should have fast, uncompromising performance, and in this regard – much like every new iPhone Pro released annually – it doesn’t get any better than the iPhone 14 Pro’s Apple A16 Bionic chip. After all, it brings superior CPU and GPU performance over the A15, which was (and still is)
a very fast processor
 to begin with.

It really is no exaggeration to say that the A16 chip is the fastest mobile chip in the market now, even in comparison to the best Qualcomm or MediaTek SoC found on flagship Android devices. Whether it’s to provide a smooth gaming performance or user experience, the A16 can do it all extremely well.

Processing power aside, the camera performance of the iPhone 14 Pro is excellent as well. Sure, it doesn’t get the far-reaching 10x optical zoom of the
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
, for example, but what it does offer is a more responsive camera interface, lending to a pleasant shooting experience.

On top of that, the iPhone 14 Pro’s new and improved triple camera system (48MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto lens) can take great-looking shots regardless of lighting situation too. This is especially true for the 48MP main camera, which now uses pixel binning to further improve image quality; it also reduces the image to 12MP to save space.

Judge for yourself with these sample shots:

But I do have one qualm with the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera: the minimum focus distance of the 48MP primary sensor is noticeably further away from last year’s iPhone. As a result, I can’t get tighter close-up shots with the 14 Pro. The macro mode and 2x zoom options do alleviate this issue, but the image quality does suffer a tad.

Nonetheless, I do still thoroughly enjoy shooting with the iPhone 14 Pro. It has by far the most responsive camera interface out of all flagship smartphones I’ve reviewed this year. This is one of the reasons for my fondness with iOS – being able to capture the shots I want without missing a beat is incredibly handy.

Another strong point for iOS is its power efficiency. Even though the iPhone 14 Pro doesn’t have a particularly big battery – it’s rated at 3,200mAh as revealed by teardowns – it can still deliver all-day battery life easily.
In my review of the phone
, I mentioned that I can get about five hours of screen on time with it, even with the always-on display enabled.

Speaking of display, there’s also the iPhone 14 Pro’s much talked about Dynamic Island notch. Compared to the standard notch found on previous iPhones, the new pill-shaped notch is certainly a meaningful upgrade. Not only does it look better, it is also quite functional.

When I’m playing music on YouTube Music or Spotify, for example, the Dynamic Island will actually expand to show the album art and waveform when I minimise the app. While this is by no means a groundbreaking feature, it
is
 a smart use of the notch.

Instead of pulling focus away from the notch – like every other phone maker, basically – Apple decided to make the notch a part of the user experience. Given that the Dynamic Island is
already being copied
, it’s clearly a feature other brands will replicate.

That being said, there is still room for improvement. As much as I like the Dynamic Island notch, I don’t love how it gets in the way of certain content. It’s fine when I’m watching a regular 16:9 video, but for content that are in a different aspect ratio (such as
Nextrift’s videos
), the notch will block off a part of it.

All in all, the iPhone 14 Pro is still my pick for best smartphone of 2022. It has all the features you’d expect from a flagship smartphone…and then some. The fact that it is also a compact phone that doesn’t compromise on any key features – this is typically the case with smaller-sized phones – is an added bonus.

Retailing from RM5,299, the iPhone 14 Pro is not an affordable phone by any means, but you’re paying for a premium, high-end compact smartphone with a complete feature set. In my opinion, that is worth every penny.


You Can Battle Your Friends in Marvel Snap Soon – Unranked Mode Also Coming

Marvel Snap will finally let you play against your friends soon. Second Dinner revealed this through a development roadmap for the digital card game, and more exciting features are coming too, including Unranked Mode.

Players will be able to play against their friends in Marvel Snap through Battle Mode. Instead of fighting for “cubes” to rank up, each player will start with 10 health. Snapping your opponent (friend) will reduce his or her health by four, though that’s assuming you win the match.

This continues until one player has no health left; simple enough.

Besides that, Marvel Snap also revealed Unranked Mode. You won’t have to worry about losing your rank or cubes in this mode, so it’s perfect for players to try out new decks and strategies. However, there’s no timeline yet as to when Unranked Mode will be released.

As for Battle Mode, it will be coming to Marvel Snap in the next month or two. You can check out the full development roadmap
right here
, which has some other exciting updates, including the ability to change your username.


Dell Concept Luna Modular Laptop Can Be Disassembled in Minutes

It’s been a year since Dell revealed its
Concept Luna
 sustainable laptop design. Though the product still remains a concept today, the company did share some updates; more specifically, a refinement on the modular design of Concept Luna.

Some of these refinements to Concept Luna include “eliminating the need for adhesives and cables, and minimising the use of screws.” According to Dell, it would be easier to repair and dismantle the laptop when it becomes necessary.

In fact, Dell said that the Concept Luna design can be disassembled “in mere minutes,” which is a lofty claim. After all, even the Framework Laptop – a modular laptop that you can actually buy today in certain markets – takes longer than that to be diassembled.

But as mentioned, there’s no mention of Dell’s Concept Luna being a consumer-ready product in the company’s press release, so it remains a proof-of-concept until further notice. Nonetheless, it does show Dell’s commitment to being more sustainable. Hopefully, this philosophy will translate to its future product releases.


PRISM+ Symphony Review: All About That Bass

The
PRISM+ Symphony
 is one of two soundbars introduced by the company a couple of months ago. As the more premium offering, the Symphony offers a number of intriguing features, including HDMI eARC support, a larger 8-inch wireless subwoofer, and even Dolby Atmos.

I’ve been using the Symphony for quite a bit over the past couple of weeks, and it’s…well, an interesting RM1,999 soundbar with decent value proposition. Its audio quality is not the best at this price point – though it does have very
rumbly
 bass – but it’s still worth considering, especially if you’re a basshead.

What It Is

Priced at RM1,999, the PRISM+ Symphony is a 5.1.2 soundbar with four upward-firing speakers, four front drivers, two surround speakers, and an 8-inch wireless subwoofer. It also has HDMI eARC for higher quality audio, along with support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Bluetooth 5.1.

There’s no doubt the Symphony is a feature-packed soundbar, and the fact that it supports a wide range of audio format is appealing. However, the audio quality of the Symphony is a different matter altogether – I’ll elaborate more further down the review.

The Good Stuff

When I first fired up the PRISM+ Symphony, one thing immediately stood out: the bass. The 8-inch wireless subwoofer can output a
ton
 of bass. It even feels a tad too much at times, so thankfully, I can easily lower the bass output with the provided remote control.

Thanks to the boomy bass, action movies sound especially great with the Symphony. Gunshots and explosions, for example, sound lifelike, and it almost feels like I’m watching the movie in cinema with a more elaborate sound system – almost.

Aside from that, the Symphony can also get loud; like really loud. With a peak power output of 760W, it can definitely fill up a typical apartment living room with ease. If you’re concerned the Symphony won’t be loud enough, don’t be. Even with the volume set at 20, it’s more than loud enough already for my use.

All in all, the Symphony does make my content consumption much more enjoyable. Whether I’m watching a movie or playing my favourite game on the PS5, the soundbar’s powerful, rumbly bass and high volume are much appreciated.

Connectivity options of the Symphony are also quite complete. These include HDMI eARC, two HDMI video in, optical input, coaxial connectivity, AUX in, and even a USB port for USB playback. The Symphony has the aforementioned Bluetooth 5.1 as well, so you can just stream your favourite music to the soundbar effortlessly.

I also love how easy it is to set up the Symphony. I connected it to the
PRISM+ Q65-QE
, and all I had to do was connect the HDMI cable from the soundbar to the TV, plug in the wireless subwoofer to a power output, and I’m done. I can even control the soundbar’s volume with the TV remote itself; very convenient.

The Bad Stuff

While I love the PRISM+ Symphony’s bass output and loud nature, I’m not a fan of its general audio quality. Instrument separation, for one, isn’t great on the soundbar. In busier tracks, the different instruments sound muddled and not detailed, unfortunately enough.

Soundstage wise, the Symphony isn’t the best either. Vertical soundstage isn’t very noticeable, and horizontal soundstage is only…decent. While there’s only so much a soundbar can achieve, I’ve heard better soundstage from other soundbars at this price point.

To the Symphony’s credit, its Dolby Atmos support is not something similarly priced soundbars offer, so there’s that.

Is It Worth It?

If you love your bass, then you’ll definitely appreciate the PRISM+ Symphony’s strong bass output. It’s my favourite feature of the soundbar, which really does elevate my content consumption. I now look forward to streaming movies at home – not to mention adding more gaming time to my schedule – with the added immersion.

Yes, the audio quality of the Symphony has room for improvement, but given that this is one of PRISM+’s first soundbars, it’s a commendable effort. Hopefully, the company’s upcoming soundbars will improve upon the current offerings while still offering good value proposition.

After all, that’s the main draw of PRISM+’s range of products. If you’re interested to pick up the Symphony, you can do so through
PRISM+’s official online store
.


Deal: Get the Sony WH-1000XM5 With RM600 Discount Now

It looks like the
Sony WH-1000XM5
 just got more affordable. If you haven’t gotten the wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) yet, good news: you can now get the WH-100XM5
for only RM1,199
 – that’s
RM600 worth of savings
.

This deal is offered by Sony Centre Mid Valley on Shopee, so you know it’s a legitimate deal. At the time of writing, as many as
79 units of the WH-1000XM5
 are available from the retailer in either the Black or Silver colourway.

Curiously, the previous generation
WH-1000XM4
 is also offered by the retailer at the same price point.

RM1,199
 for a wireless headphones with ANC of this calibre is really quite a good deal. If you’d like to learn more about the Sony WH-1000XM5, read our full review of the headphones
right here
.


Messi’s World Cup Photo Is the Most-Liked Instagram Post With Over 57 Million Likes

Lionel Messi is probably the most talked-about athlete on the internet now after leading Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup a couple of days ago. So perhaps it’s no surprise that Messi’s post on Instagram has garnered over
57 million likes
 and counting.

With that many likes, Messi’s posting is now the most-liked Instagram post. It surpassed the
photo of a humble egg
 that has garnered over 56 million likes at the time of writing, which was posted back in 2019.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Of course, Messi’s World Cup victory photo has also gotten more likes than
Cristiano Ronaldo’s post
 of Messi and himself playing chess for an advertising campaign with Louis Vuitton. That post – with 42 million likes now – was shared right before the 2022 World Cup kicked off on 20 November.


Exclusive: Proton X90 Spotted in Kuala Lumpur With Infinite Weave Grille!

It looks like Proton is still hard at work testing the Geely Haoyue on Malaysian roads: we just spotted two test units of the SUV right here in Kuala Lumpur! The Haoyue is widely believed to be the
Proton X90
 once it’s launched on our shores, and the test units seen here are sporting Proton’s signature Infinite Weave grille design.

Previous test mules of the Haoyue spotted in Malaysia were not seen with the Infinite Weave grille, so it’s possible that local development of the SUV is at the later stages already. With that in mind, it’s entirely possible the X90 will be launched sometime in 2023 as rumours suggest.

To recap, the Haoyue is a large D-segment SUV that can be configured with five or seven seats; it measures 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,785 tall. Compared to the
Proton X70
, the Haoyue is 316mm longer, 69mm wider, and 91mm taller.

Powering the Haoyue, on the other hand, is a 1.8L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 181PS and 300Nm of torque. This engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive sent either to the front wheels or all four of them for the AWD model.

However, it’s worth noting that in The Philippines, the Okavango (as it’s called there) is actually available with a 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine – similar to the one
manufactured at Proton’s assembly line at Tanjung Malim, Perak
. It’s paired to a mild hybrid system that put out a combined figure of 190hp and 300Nm of torque, and it features a 7DCT, though there is no AWD variant.

Of course, given its positioning as a premium SUV, the Haoyue is equipped with Geely’s level 2 autonomous driving system too. It is made up of 24 different sensors to allow for as many as 17 “intelligent drive features.” According to Geely, this lets the SUV automatically follow, stop, as well as turn at speeds of up to 150km/h.

Just like the
Proton X50
, the Haoyue is also capable of parking itself. It features a 360-degree camera as well, and given the large size of the SUV, we imagine this will come in handy for most drivers.

The Geely Haoyue

Even though the Geely Haoyue has been spotted on Malaysian roads quite a bit, it’s still too early to tell if it will eventually materialise to be the “Proton X90,” even if it’s allegedly launching in 2023 next year. Nonetheless, we will keep a close eye for any further development of this premium SUV.


Marvel Snap Winterverse Event Now Live – 14-Day Login Reward, Winterverse Bundle & More

Marvel Snap is running its first-ever limited time holiday celebration event. Dubbed Winterverse, there’s a pretty darn generous 14-day login reward, which is made up of gold, credits, boosters, and even a Nick Fury card signed by Samuel L. Jackson himself.

That’s right, every player who logged into Marvel Snap on Christmas Day (25 December) will receive the autographed Nick Fury card. Given the special treatment on the card, we assume it is considered as a different variant of the standard version.

Besides that, opening a Collector’s Reserve throughout Winterverse – 20 December 2022 to 2 January 2023 – may reward players with a special Winterverse variant of five different cards. These include Abomination, Ebony Maw, Patriot, Rockslide, and Rogue. These Winterverse variants can only be received during the event.

Last but not least is the Winterverse Bundle, which offers pretty good value. Priced at 6,000 gold, it includes a Winterverse Sunspot variant, 100 Sunspot boosters, a Sunspot avatar, a title (Tacos After This?), 2,000 Collector’s Tokens, and a whopping 8,000 credits.

If you’ve been collecting your gold, it’s worth getting the Winterverse bundle, especially if you want to accelerate your Collection Level.

The Marvel Snap Winterverse event starts today until 2 January 2023. Not sure if the digital card game is worth playing? Then check out why it’s
our 2022 mobile game of the year
.


22 – 28 December Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 20 Sen Again – Now RM3.35 Per Litre

Another price drop for RON 97 this week, and it’s quite a drastic one: the premium fuel will go down by 20 sen at the stroke of midnight. Of course, the prices of RON 95 and diesel are unchanged, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

For the next seven days, the price of RON 97 will be set at RM3.35 per litre (down from RM3.55). RON 95, on the other hand, remains at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 22 to 28 December next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


PS5 & God of War Ragnarok Bundle Pre-Orders Open From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 9 January 2023

Another month, another round of pre-orders of the PS5 from Sony Centre Mid Valley. This is actually the sixth sale of the next-gen console after the
price hike
 that was announced back in August 2022, and the
God of War Ragnarok bundle
 is also included in this round of sale.

Just like previous pre-orders of the PS5 from Sony Centre Mid Valley, you’ll have to fill up
this Google Form
 to be in the running for a
chance
 to pre-order the console. If you’re fortunate enough to be selected, you will be contacted by the store to finalise your pre-order of the PS5.

Do note that you have until 9 January 2023 at 10PM to register your interest for the PS5 pre-order. This isn’t a first-come, first-served sale either; filling up the form just means you’re in the running to be chosen to pre-order the PS5.

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


Apple Watch Series 8 Review: Still the iPhone’s Best Companion

New iterations of the Apple Watch over the past few years have only brought incremental updates. There’s no major design overhaul or display upgrade, but the addition of new features do make for a better smartwatch with every series, and the Apple Watch Series 8 is no different.

It may look similar to its predecessor, but the Series 8 does have some notable improvements under the hood, including the ability to track menstrual cycle and Crash Detection. Yes, it also costs slightly more (from RM1,899) than the previous model, but if you want the utility of a smartwatch with your iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 8 is a great option.

What It Is

As mentioned, the Apple Watch Series 8 gets two new features: Cycle Tracking and Crash Detection. The former, through the use of the smartwatch’s temperature sensors to detect small changes in wrist temperature, allows women to track their menstrual cycle. For obvious reasons, I couldn’t put this feature to the test, but it’s certainly a convenient one.

Of course, I can’t test out Crash Detection either, as it…well, detects if I was caught in a “severe car crash,” as Apple puts it. The feature does work as intended,
as tested by some folks
, so while it’s a feature that we hope we’ll never need to use, it could be a literal lifesaver when it’s needed.

Beyond that, other hardware of the Series 8 are the same as its predecessor. These include 41mm or 45mm cases – the review unit you see here is the larger model – an always-on Retina LTPO OLED display with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, water resistance up to 50m, IP6X rating, and GPS with optional cellular support.

The Good Stuff

Let’s get this out of the way: the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch to complement an iPhone, period. The seamless integration of the two devices is simply unbeatable. My phone notifications, for example, are pushed to the watch the moment I receive them without delay.

On top of that, I can interact with said notifications on the Apple Watch Series 8 without needing to take my phone out of the pocket. Not only can images be displayed on the watch, I can even quickly reply to messages with a
full-size
 keyboard, which works surprisingly well.

Besides that, the display of the Series 8 is bright and vibrant as well. This comes as no surprise, given that it is an OLED panel. Visibility is a non-issue indoors or outdoors, and this applies to even the always-on display, which is slightly dimmer than the standard watch face.

Speaking of which, I really like the always-on screen of the Series 8. Not only does it look great, there are also a
wide
 variety of watch face designs to choose from. Some watch faces even allow me to access certain features quickly, such as a stopwatch to time my workout routines.

The always-on display

The regular watch face

And that is a good segue to the workout tracking capability of the Apple Watch Series 8, which is surprisingly fun, thanks to Apple’s ring system. There are three different rings to “close” every day: Exercise, Move, and Stand, and closing all three rings have a certain…satisfaction to it.

Unlike similar features offered by other brands, Apple’s implementation feels more refined and encouraging. Depending on my activity level on a certain day, the Activity app will let me know exactly what I can do to close my rings, such as going on a brief 15-minute brisk walk to close my Move ring.

These small, meaningful reminders do add up at the end of the day, and I find myself actually moving (and standing) more to close my rings with the Apple Watch.

The insights are quite interesting too

Performance is also one area the Series 8 excels in. No matter what I throw at the smartwatch, the interface remains smooth and responsive. Throughout my time with it, I didn’t notice any major stuttering or lag – as expected of Apple’s software refinement.

Beyond that, I’ve also grown fond of the Series 8’s aesthetics. Personally, I prefer a smartwatch with a round watch face, but I find myself actually liking the square design of the Apple Watch. I also appreciate the fact that the 45mm model fits quite well on my wrist.

The Bad Stuff

There is one area where I wish the Apple Watch Series 8 could do better: battery life. Now, it’s not terrible by any means. With the always-on display switched on and sleep tracking enabled, I can easily get through a typical day with the smartwatch. I can even stretch it to one and a half day of use on certain days.

But compared to its competition – most notably, the
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
, which can last between three to four days – the Apple Watch doesn’t compare very favourably. Granted, it’s not like Samsung’s smartwatch can be paired to an iPhone, but it’s still worth a mention.

That brings me to my next qualm with the Apple Watch: it doesn’t work with Android devices. In my line of work, I need to review different phones from different brands, so the fact that the watch doesn’t work with my daily driver at the time is a tad bothersome.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re an iPhone user, the only choice you really have to make is to pick which Apple Watch is right for you. The Series 8 (from RM1,899) sits in between the high-end Apple Watch Ultra (RM3,799) and the more affordable Apple Watch SE (from RM1,199). If the Series 8’s feature set fits your needs, it’s the smartwatch for you.

I do wish the Apple Watch Series 8 had better battery life – and it would be great if it works with Android phones too – but its tight integration with iOS makes it the best (general) smartwatch for most folks. Unless your requirements are more niche where you’ll need a specialised smartwatch of sorts, the Apple Watch is your best bet.