2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 vs. Zephyrus G15 – Which One Should You Get?

The 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G series are some of the sleekest gaming laptops in the market now, and this applies to both the G14 and G15. The former is especially interesting, given that it is one of very, very few gaming laptops in a 14-inch form factor, especially here in Malaysia.

But if you’re considering to get either one of these two gaming laptops, here’s a comparison between the Zephyrus G14 and Zephyrus G15. Basically, it’s a fight between a compact,
all-AMD
 gaming laptop against a larger AMD + Nvidia machine. Without further ado, let’s get to it.

First, let’s talk about the performance of the two gaming laptops. For this writeup, we got the range-topping RM9,999 Zephyrus G14 with an AMD Radeon RX 6800S GPU and 32GB RAM, while the G15 we received is packed with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card and 16GB RAM for a cool RM7,999.

Do note that the Zephyrus G15 is actually offered with a beefier RTX 3070 Ti GPU + 32GB RAM as well (also for RM9,999), though we didn’t get that model for this comparison. Nonetheless, even though this is not an apples to apples comparison – the RX 6800S is considered a more capable GPU – this comparison is still relevant (to an extent).

In these gaming benchmarks, we set the power mode of the two laptops to Turbo with the GPU set to the Ultimate setting to squeeze every ounce of performance out of them.

Games (Zephyrus G14, max settings @ 1920 x 1080, ray-tracing disabled)
Average FPS
Hitman 3
104.97
Forza Horizon 5
61
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
116
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (1920 x 1200)
105

Games (Zephyrus G15, max settings @ 1920 x 1080, ray-tracing disabled)
Average FPS
Hitman 3
98.89
Forza Horizon 5
41
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
115
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
113

In general, the Zephyrus G14’s RX 6800S proves itself to be the more capable GPU, though it doesn’t differ all that much compared to the G15’s RTX 3060 in Guardians of the Galaxy and Shadow of Mordor. However, the latter was running at a slightly higher resolution – there was no option to run the game at 1080p on the G14.

If we were to repeat the same benchmark on the higher-end Zephyrus G15 with an RTX 3070 Ti and 32GB RAM, it is very likely that model will offer better performance than the Zephyrus G14. But to be fair, the G14 is also a smaller, more compact machine – it belongs in a different class altogether, and we’ll get back to this later on.

Of course, we also tested the performance of the Ryzen 7 6800HS processor powering the two gaming laptops with Cinebench R23. Yes, both the Zephyrus G14 and Zephyrus G15 feature the same processor, and for the most, they perform similarly – the score difference is not wide enough.

Processor (Cinebench R23)
Single-core test
Multi-core test
AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (Zephyrus G14)
1,512
13,504
AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (Zephyrus G15)
1,489
13,963

Beyond raw performance, there are also a number of differences between the two gaming laptops that are worth highlighting. System noise, for one, is noticeably louder on the Zephyrus G15. You’ll definitely hear the fans spinning in prolonged gaming sessions.

While the same still applies to the Zephyrus G14, it is definitely quieter than the larger G15. However, the fans are only very audible when the power plan is set to Turbo. In other power plans (especially Silent), both laptops are far quieter, though you’ll also limit their performance levels.

Display quality is also important for a pleasant gaming experience. In this regard, both the Zephyrus G15 and G14 have their own appeals. Take the G15, which features a 15.6-inch 1440p IPS display with a blazing fast 165Hz refresh rate; the higher-end model has an even faster 240Hz panel! Needless to say, games that can hit this high refresh rate will look extremely smooth.

As for the Zephyrus G14, it comes with a 14-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS panel with a lower 120Hz refresh rate. Even though its refresh rate isn’t quite as high as the G15’s, this
is
 a taller 16:10 display, making it ideal not just for gaming, but for productivity tasks as well. After all, you’ve got more vertical screen real estate.

Speaking of screens, we
have
 to mention the AniMe Matrix display on the lid of the Zephyrus G14; it’s a feature unique to this compact gaming laptop. Although the Zephyrus G15 has a similar-looking design, it doesn’t have the LED matrix, though it does look cleaner and more minimalist as a result.

Portability is also one area where the Zephyrus G14 is superior to the G15, thanks to the fact that it has a more compact 14-inch display. Even though its smaller chassis does make it feel slightly hotter than the G15 in heated gaming sessions, it is definitely easier to lug around in a backpack.

When it comes to the input devices of the two gaming laptops, both are excellent in this regard. Their keyboards are comfortable to type on, thanks to the long key travel, good tactile feedback, and cushioned bottom out. The trackpads of the two laptops can also track my fingers accurately, and it’s just the right size for a comfortable user experience.

Aside from that, bundled alongside the Zephyrus G14 and G15 is a 100W USB-C power adapter worth about RM400. This allows you to charge up the laptops when you’re out and about with a more compact adapter, rather than the much larger (and heavier) 240W or 200W power adapters for the G14 and G15 respectively.

All in all, if you want a compact gaming laptop with very respectable gaming performance, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the one to go for. But if you want a larger, faster screen with a beefier GPU option, opt for the Zephyrus G15 instead. It’s worth mentioning again that the range-topping models of both laptops cost the same at RM9,999.

Regardless of which laptop you go for, you will be very happy with either the Zephyrus G14 or Zephyrus G15 – they are both excellent gaming laptops in their own right. You can get the laptops from
Asus’ online store
, as well as
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.

Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Asus Malaysia.


29 September – 5 October Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 5 Sen, Now RM4.00 Per Litre

The price of RON 97 continues to go down this week. The price of the premium fuel is set to be cheaper by 5 sen this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is now set at RM4.00 per litre (down from RM4.05) for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 29 September to 5 October 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


iPhone 14 Pro Waiting List Now at Over a Month

It seems like the iPhone 14 Pro series is selling like hot cakes in Malaysia. If you’re just about to place your order for either the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, you’re looking at up to
a month
 of wait.

First spotted by
Amanz
, new orders of the iPhone 14 Pro on
Apple’s Malaysian online store
 are said to be shipping between three to four weeks. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, on the other hand, will take slightly longer with a four to five weeks of lead time.

A quick check on popular e-commerce sites such as Shopee and Lazada shows the same waiting period…to an extent. While some iPhone 14 Pro listings are estimated to start shipping
as early as 7 October
, other retailers are not as optimistic, quoting delivery dates as late as
31 October
.

Evidently, there aren’t enough iPhone 14 Pro models to go around in Malaysia right now. If you’re still not sure the new iPhone is for you, check out or
hands-on of the iPhone 14 Pro
 – we will publish our full review of the phone very, very soon.


Genshin Impact 120fps Support Arrives on iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max

More devices can now run
Genshin Impact
 at 120fps! Unfortunately, not for PC or other platforms, but on the latest
iPhone 14 Pro
 and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple devices with 120Hz ProMotion displays, basically.

In our
hands-on of the iPhone 14 Pro
 earlier this week, we noted that Genshin Impact couldn’t be set to run at 120fps yet; the max setting was only at 60fps. It appears with the
Version 3.1 update
 of the hugely popular game yesterday, the 120fps setting is enabled on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Aside from the two new iPhones, other Apple devices that can run Genshin Impact at 120fps include the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPad Pro models. As mentioned, only Apple devices with ProMotion displays can run the game at this frame rate. Not even the PC version has this frame rate enabled, how ever odd that is.

Nonetheless, if you’ve got an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max, know that you can now run Genshin Impact at 120fps, which really enhances the gaming experience. You can download the game from the
Apple App Store
.


PlayStation Plus October 2022 Free Games: Superhot, Injustice 2, Hot Wheels Unleashed & More

PlayStation Plus’ October 2022 free games have just been announced. The lineup includes Superhot, Injustice 2, Hot Wheels Unleashed, and for us here in Asia, Rogue Explorer and Crisis Wing. That’s right, we’re getting a total of five games next month!

Most of these games are available in both PS5 and PS4 versions, except for Superhot and Injustice 2. After all, these two games are only offered on the PS4, though you can still play them on the PS5. They just won’t benefit from faster loading times or the DualSense’s features.

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

All five games can be claimed by PS Plus members from 4 to 31 October 2022. That means you have until this coming Monday (3 October) to get your hands on September 2022’s free games, including Need for Speed Heat, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and Toem.


PlayStation Stars Loyalty Program Live in Malaysia – Claim Free Games & Funds With Points

The PlayStation Stars loyalty program has just been launched, and Malaysia is one of the first markets to get it! Through this program, players can earn points and rewards by completing certain campaigns and activities.

Of course, those points can then be used to get various items. These include digital collectibles, certain PlayStation Store products, and even PSN wallet funds! Digital collectibles, as described by Sony, “are beautifully rendered, digital representations of things that PlayStation fans enjoy.”

Oh, you can also show off these digital collectibles on a display case through the PlayStation App.

So how do you earn points? The simplest way is to make purchases on PlayStation Store, though this perk is only applicable to PlayStation Plus members. Players can also complete campaigns to accumulate points, such as earning specific trophies.

You can take a look at these campaigns – which are said to be updated regularly – on the PlayStation App; you can downloaded it through the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
. You can also sign up for PlayStation Stars through the app or the
official website
.


Apple Pay Now Supports Maybank American Express Cards in Malaysia

If you’ve been waiting for Maybank to add support for its American Express cards to Apple Pay, wait no more. From today onwards, you can now link your Maybank American Express cards to the payment service.

This was confirmed by Maybank itself on its social media pages. Of course, the process to add an American Express card from the bank to Apple Pay is the same. You can refer to our step-by-step guide to add supported cards to an iPhone
right here
.

Wait no more because Apple Pay is now ready for Maybank American Express Cardmembers! Enjoy a safe, easy, contactless way to pay in stores while still getting all your cards’ rewards and benefits. Set it up now via the Apple Wallet app. Info:
https://t.co/akye9gsDQL

#MaybankCards

pic.twitter.com/e6Aef9gJRS
— Maybank (@MyMaybank)
September 29, 2022

To recap, Apple Pay makes it easier to make payments with a compatible Apple product, as it allows you to add your credit card or debit card to the service. Once you’ve set up Apple Pay on, say, your iPhone, you can use your phone to make payments at retailers that support the service.

If you’ve got a card issued by Maybank – now including its American Express cards – AmBank, or Standard Chartered, you can now add it to Apple Pay to start making payments with the service. Again, if you’re not sure how to do that, here’s our guide on how to
activate Apple Pay on an iPhone
.


Affordable Oppo A17 With 50MP Camera & 5,000mAh Battery Now in Malaysia for RM599

Oppo recently launched another affordable phone for the Malaysian market. Despite being a budget-friendly offering, the Oppo A17 does look quite sleek with its unique “leather-feel design,” even if the back panel is actually made from plastic.

Only one variant of the A17 is offered for the Malaysian market. Packed with a 50MP primary camera, a generous 5,000mAh battery, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage, the affordable phone is priced at only RM599 on our shores. Two colours are available: Lake Blue and Midnight Black.

Other specifications of the A17 include a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, a 6.56-inch 720p IPS display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, a 2MP depth camera to complement the 50MP main shooter, a 5MP selfie camera, and ColorOS 12.1.1 based on Android 12 out of the box.

You can now purchase the Oppo A17 in Malaysia for RM599. It is available at all Oppo physical outlets,
its official online store
,
Shopee
, as well as
Lazada
.


Moondrop Stellaris Price Revealed – $109.99 for Its First Planar IEM

The Moondrop Stellaris is one of the brand’s most anticipated releases this year, given that it is Moondrop’s first-ever planar IEM. Well, the Stellaris is now available for purchase, and it’s priced quite competitively.

Currently listed for sale on
renowned online store HiFiGo
, the Stellaris is priced at only $109.99 – that comes up to about RM510. For that kind of money, it is packed with a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver that’s said to be tuned to the VDSF target response for a “powerful sound performance,” as the brand puts it.

Other specifications of the Stellaris include a shell with an iridescent finish, a removable cable (naturally), two different kinds of ear tips (Softears ultra-clear tips and MIS-tip foam tips), as well as a rather nice-looking storage pouch.

You can now purchase the Moondrop Stellaris
on HiFiGo for $109.99
. Local retailers
Red Ape
 and
Stars Picker
 are also currently taking pre-orders of the new IEM for RM509, though you do have to wait a while longer for the Stellaris to start shipping from them.


Watch Your Genshin Impact 2022 Recap & Get 180 Primogems

It’s been two years now since Genshin Impact was released, and Hoyoverse is doing another yearly recap for players. In the Canvas of Starlight Memories web event, you can take a look at what you’ve achieved in the game so far
and
be rewarded with 180 Primogems.

That’s right, 180 Primogems by just looking through your achievements in Genshin Impact! You can access the web event
right here
, and you’ll just need to watch five “chapters” of your journey so far, share your memories, and look at a friend’s memories to get a total of 180 Primogems.

It’s worth noting that only players who have reached Adventure Rank 10 or above in Genshin Impact can participate in this web event. You also have until 12 October to claim your rewards from the event, and while that’s quite a long time, it’s best to do it as soon as you can.

Again, you can take a look at your Genshin Impact 2022 recap
over here
. While 180 Primogems aren’t exactly a lot, it’s a nice bonus to watch a recap of your journey in the game. There are even interesting trivia of your time in Genshin Impact so far, including the number of characters you’ve obtained and how many days you’ve been active in the game.


Genshin Impact Taking up Too Much Space? You Can Now Delete Resources From Past Quests

As more content are added to
Genshin Impact
, the size of the game also gets bigger, which can be an issue. This is especially so on mobile, but the good news is, you can now reduce the file size of the game quite a bit with a new feature.

This feature was added to Genshin Impact in the Version 3.1 update. As outlined by Hoyoverse in the
patch note
, the “past quest resource management” function allows players to “delete the audio and video resources corresponding to completed Archon quests and Story quests on mobile.”

It’s only offered on mobile at the moment, and it is said to be a test of the feature. For our particular Genshin Impact account, we can remove a whopping 4.71GB of data; that’s quite a lot of space freed up. Of course, you can always download the resources again if you need them.

You can access Genshin Impact’s new quest resource management feature from the settings menu by accessing the resources tab. If you’re running out of space already on your mobile device, we imagine this feature will be especially useful.


Acer Predator GD711 Review: Is This 240Hz VRR Gaming Projector Worth RM4,999?

While a high resolution, fast gaming monitor or TV is nice to have, they are also bulky and hard to move around. If you want a more portable display, then the Acer Predator GD711 gaming projector could just be for you. Not only does it offer up to 240Hz refresh rate, it’s also a pretty darn capable projector.

Of course, that also means the GD711 carries a premium price tag. It’s a costly product, but for folks that need the portability of a fast, 4K projector for gaming, it could just be worth the money.

What It Is

The Acer Predator GD711 is a 4K-capable LED projector that offers up to 4,000 LED lumens. It can also hit a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate, though the resolution would be dropped down to 1080p. The projector can only be set to this refresh rate when it’s connected to a PC too; consoles are limited to 120Hz.

It’s also worth noting that the GD711 supports variable refresh rate, which is not a feature that’s typically found on a projector. Basically, you won’t have to worry about screen tearing with variable refresh rate, which will definitely improve the gaming experience.

Oh, the GD711 can project a 200-inch display as well, though Acer recommends a 74-inch projection from 2m away.

How much does all of these features cost? A cool RM4,999, but it’s worth noting that you can get the GD711 from certain retailers for
only RM4,699
 right now – that’s a respectable RM300 discount.

The Good Stuff

Without a doubt the Predator GD711 is
very
 enjoyable to game on. The fact that it can offer a 240Hz refresh rate makes for an incredibly smooth gaming experience. This extends to consoles too, even though it can “only” deliver a 120Hz refresh rate – still impressive, in my opinion.

Thanks to the variable refresh rate support, I didn’t notice any screen tearing at all while gaming with the GD711. The bright and vibrant image quality further enhances the gaming experience. It’s really quite surreal how good the image quality is, despite this being a projection.

In my usage, the brightness level of the GD711 is more than serviceable. The brightness does noticeably go down the further away I place the projector – when I’m trying to increase the projection size, basically – so I stuck with Acer’s recommended projection of 74-inch (2m from a wall) as you see in these images.

The remote that comes with the GD711 is quite pleasant to use as well. Navigating through the on-screen display (OSD) is quite easy with the remote, and it definitely came in handy when I needed to change the settings of the projector.

When comparing a projector to a monitor or TV, longevity comes to mind. Well, Acer promises up to 30,000-hour lifetime with the GD711, so it should last considerably long. Perhaps even longer than a typical gaming monitor or TV.

And then there’s the portability of the GD711. After all, I can just carry it to wherever I want it to and project it to an empty wall. Compared to a TV that offers a similar display size, the GD711 is far more portable.

The Bad Stuff

But as portable as it is, setting up the Predator GD711 can be tricky at times. I have to fiddle with the keystone setting quite a bit to get the display…well, properly squared off. Yes, there is an auto keystone feature, and it does work fine on most occasions. But there were also a couple of times where I had to manually adjust it.

The built-in 10W speaker of the GD711 is not great either. It does work in a pinch, but it also sounds tinny and soft. If you’re planning to get this projector, definitely consider getting a proper sound system as well. it’s just not good enough.

Last but not least is the GD711’s asking price. Retailing at RM4,999, it is a costly projector. You do get a lot of features for that kind of money, of course, but a comparable TV or gaming monitor – even if they can’t match the projection size of the GD711 – will be able to offer even more features.

Is It Worth It?

As I mentioned in the beginning of this review, the Acer Predator GD711 can still be worth it to folks who need the portability of a projector without sacrificing on image quality and high refresh rate. Yes, RM4,999 (
or RM4,699 if you’re fast
) is a lot of money, but you
are
 getting a capable projector for that kind of money.

The Predator GD711 does have its fair share of shortcomings, but it comes with the territory of a projector. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed gaming with the GD711, even if the setup process isn’t particularly seamless.


Photo Essay: 2022 Malaysia Keyboard Meetup – SINGAKBD, Axiom, Rebult Keyboards & More!

The 2022 Malaysia keyboard meetup has concluded, and it was very well-received by the local keyboard community! It was certainly an eventful gathering, but if you didn’t make it to the event, here’s a photo essay of what went down at Malaysia’s very first large-scale keyboard meetup.

Held at the Grey Box in GMBB Kuala Lumpur, folks started coming in from 10AM onwards. If they brought any keyboards to be displayed at the meetup, they can put it on tables placed around the venue. They’ll need to fill up a card with details of the keyboard too, and whether or not it can be touched and picked up.

The absolutely
beautiful
 Keycult No. 2/65 Purple Unfinish Edition

Needless to say, there were
plenty
 of custom keyboards on display, including a stunning Keycult No. 2/65 Purple Unfinish Edition you see above. Understandably, the owner specified the keyboard to not be touched or picked up. It was shown on the table for only a short period of time too, unfortunately enough.

Now let’s talk about the vendors and brands that were present at the keyboard meetup. These include the likes of SINGAKBD, Axiom Studios, Rebult Keyboards, and many more!

SINGAKBD

Almost everyone in the custom keyboard hobby is familiar with
SINGAKBD
. Based right here in Malaysia, the renowned keyboard designer’s booth at the keyboard meetup was almost always filled with visitors. Not only were there several SINGAKBD keyboards at the booth – including some special Unikorn models – the brand had some merchandise for sale as well.

Speaking of which, the Unikorn’s in-stock sale is
happening very soon
, and those with a sharp eye may notice a special Hex 4B collaboration between SINGAKBD and Hex Keyboards in the picture below!

Axiom Studios

Next up is another local keyboard brand, Axiom Studios. Naturally, the new Typ 60 was shown off at the booth, along with several units of the
Typ 65+ we previous reviewed
. It’s worth noting that 15 units of the keyboard were actually on sale at the meetup for the same price as the group buy period – that’s quite a good deal.

Of course, Axiom Studios had several keyboard parts for sale too, including stabilisers and various switches. It joined up with NullKeyboards not too long ago, so yes, Axiom also sells keyboard accessories now through its
Shopee store
.

Rebult Keyboards

Speaking of which, another Malaysian vendor at the meetup is none other than
Rebult Keyboards
. Aside from selling various keyboard parts and accessories, Rebult is also the Malaysian proxy for many well-known keyboard brands, such as Owlab, Qwertykeys, and Wuque Studio.

Rebult Keyboards shown off several keyboards at its booth too. These include the QK65, QK60,
Owlab Link65
, and even the
Ion Zenith
! As far as we can tell, it was the only Zenith present at the keyboard meetup.

Sun Cycle

If you’re a PC builder, you’ll definitely know of Sun Cycle. Aside from various PC hardware, the company is also the distributor of many familiar keyboard brands. There’s Ducky – my personal favourite brand as far as pre-built keyboards go – Keychron, Akko, Glorious, Tecware, and Shurikey.

At the keyboard meetup, Sun Cycle also ran a typing test competition. The fastest typist of either two sessions – one of the winners scored an impressive 147 words per minute – walked away with a brand new Varmilo keyboard.

Click & Brew

Also at the keyboard meetup was
Click & Brew
! Though no keyboards were showcased at its booth – you can still find some keyboards built by the local cafe/vendor around the venue – it did sell some
amazing
 coffee and muffins. Perfect for visitors to grab a quick bite after walking around the meetup.

If you’re in Penang – more specifically, at George Town – do give the keyboard cafe a visit. Sipping a nice, hot (or cold) cup of coffee while trying out custom keyboards do sound like a heavenly combination, in our opinion.

Mecha Store

Next is our good friend from Singapore,
Mecha Store
. While the vendor only has a keyboard store in our neighbouring country at the moment, this will change sometime this quarter. Yes, Mecha Store is expanding to Malaysia in Q4 2022 at Bandar Sunway.

Chances are, we can expect the vendor to offer the same services here as it does in Singapore right now, including build services and the sale of multiple keyboard parts. Once Mecha Store opens its Malaysian outlet, it will be one of very few physical stores specialising in custom keyboards on our shores. Alongside Click & Brew in Penang, of course.

Monokei

Also based in Singapore,
Monokei
 makes some of the most premium custom keyboards in this hobby. Some of the keyboards it showed off at its booth include the very,
very
 sought-after TGR Jane, the adorable
Neko
 – a collaboration with SINGAKBD – and even the new
Monokei Standard
.

The Standard is actually one of Monokei’s most affordable keyboards to date. Unfortunately, the pre-order of the keyboard has already ended; fulfilment of the Standard is expected to start sometime in November next month. Expect extras to be sold then.

Hex Keyboards

Another Singaporean vendor at the Malaysia keyboard meetup was
Hex Keyboards
. Just like Monokei, Hex designed a number of custom keyboards, and the brand even displayed two keyboards it has yet to release there: the Hex 3C v2 and Hex 50 FE.

It’s not often folks get the chance to try out custom keyboards before they even enter the group buy phase, so it’s quite a big deal that Hex had these two keyboards at its booth. If you’re keen to get the Hex 3C v2 or Hex 50 FE, stay tuned to the group buy!

KLC Hobbyists’ Playground

All the way from South Korea is
KLC
! The brand showed off a very interesting new keyboard at its booth, the Nori. On the surface, it looks like your standard TKL custom keyboard, but it does have a number of neat features, including a unique mounting style that uses seven coil springs.

Yes, coil springs! As a result, the Nori literally offers a bouncy, flexible typing experience. It is also a wireless keyboard with support for Bluetooth 5.1, along with a hotswap PCB and double shot ABS keycaps. It will go on sale very soon, and rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the Nori.

Silkey

We’re back in Malaysia with
Silkey
, a local cable maker. If you’re in Malaysia, and you’ve always wanted a fancy coiled cable with an aviator or YC8 connector without paying an exorbitant amount for international shipping, look no further than Silkey.

Keyboard cables from Silkey start from only RM70, which is quite a good starting price for a product of this quality. You can also customise the colour combination and connectors to your liking, though depending on your configuration, the price will change accordingly.

ThreadyKeycaps

Last but not least is
ThreadyKeycaps
! The Malaysian brand makes some cute artisans of various characters. These include anime characters – such as this
Anya keycap
 – and even certain villagers from Animal Crossing.

Beyond artisan keycaps, ThreadKeycaps also started making artisan holders and magnetic trays. The colourway of the trays can even be customised to your liking, and you can have a logo or a picture on the tray as well.

Lucky Draw Winners

Towards the end of the event, a
huge
 lucky draw was held for those who got the RM60 keypass. Some of the items included in the giveaway are Axiom Studios’ Typ 60 Lite prototype with patina treatment by KneeDeep, Angry Miao’s Cyberboard, and an absolutely sexy SINGAKBD Unikorn R2.2 Berlin Blue prototype.

Of course, not every keypass holder won these incredible prizes, though none of them walked away empty handed. After all, keypass holders received a goodie bag filled with various items, along with an entry to a smaller (guaranteed) lucky draw that had various prizes, including switches and deskmats.

There’s no denying that the 2022 Malaysia keyboard meetup was a resounding success. Not only did the max occupancy of the venue was reached – so no walk-ins were allowed, unfortunately – there were many,
many
 custom keyboards on display too. The generous lucky draw prizes certainly drew attention from the local keyboard community as well.

Hopefully, there will be another large-scale Malaysia keyboard meetup like this in 2023 next year. Evidently, we’ve got a lot of keyboard enthusiasts on our shores with amazing local designers like SINGAKBD and Axiom Studios. Until the next one!


Honda Malaysia Offers up to RM6,000 Discount for October 2022 – Win Signed Messi Jersey

As usual, Honda Malaysia is offering a number of attractive discounts for its range of models in October 2022 this month, including the
popular Honda City
, Accord, and
CR-V
. On top of that, those who register a Honda model until 31 December also stand a chance to win an Argentina jersey signed by Messi!

Naturally, the
Honda Accord
 gets the best discount. Both the range-topping TC-P and more affordable TC variants of the D-segment sedan receive a RM6,000 rebate. A tier down is the Honda City, which gets a RM3,000 discount for all variants of the B-segment sedan, including the range-topping
RS e:HEV model
.

If you want the
Honda City Hatchback
 instead, all variants of the model receive a RM1,500 discount. Next up is the
Honda BR-V
; this seven-seater gets a rather generous RM4,000 rebate. If you want an SUV instead, you can opt for the
Honda CR-V
, which is offered with a RM1,000 discount.

Do note that these discounts are only applicable for vehicles registered between 1 to 31 October 2022. More information on the deal can be found on
Honda Malaysia’s website
. If you’re interested to get any of these Honda models with the rebates, you can place a pre-booking online
here
.

Alternatively, bookings can be done through the HondaTouch app as well – you can download it from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Apple iPhone 14 Pro Review: A Compact Phone Without Compromise

I’ve always been a fan of compact flagship smartphones. But more often than not, these pocket-friendly devices are filled with compromises. Whether it’s in the camera department, processing power, or battery life, a compact flagship phone simply isn’t as good as the “main” device in a particular series.

But that is not the case with the iPhone 14 Pro. Not only is it a high-end compact phone, it also has similar hardware as the larger iPhone 14 Pro Max. That means it offers the same camera experience, performance level, and even display quality – yes, it has the new Dynamic Island notch as well.

Of course, the iPhone 14 Pro carries a premium price tag too, but you
are
getting your money’s worth, in my opinion. I’ve been using the 14 Pro for a while now as my daily driver, and I’m really impressed with it – it’s certainly a worth successor to last year’s iPhone.

What It Is

Display
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (2556 x 1179), adaptive 120Hz
Chipset
Apple A16 Bionic (6-core CPU; 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores)
GPU
Apple A16 Bionic 5-core GPU
RAM
6GB
Storage
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
48MP f/1.78, 100% Focus Pixels, second-gen sensor-shift OIS
12MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide), 100% Focus Pixels
12MP f/2.2 (telephoto), 3x optical zoom, OIS
Camera (front)
12MP f/1.9, autofocus with Focus Pixels
Battery
3,200mAh
Dimensions
147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85 mm
Weight
206g
OS
iOS 16
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 802.11ax
Lightning port
Price
RM5,299 (128GB), RM5,799 (256GB), RM6,799 (512GB), RM7,799 (1TB)

Compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro features a number of improvements. These include a faster Apple A16 Bionic chip, a more sophisticated triple camera system, along with a brighter Super Retina XDR OLED display – these are some noteworthy upgrades.

Though Apple did not reveal the RAM and battery capacity of the iPhone 14 Pro, teardowns by other parties have verified these details. While 6GB of RAM and a 3,200mAh battery don’t sound particularly impressive, they are more than enough to provide a pleasant user experience – I’ll get back to them further down the review.

The Good Stuff

One of the most highlighted new features of the iPhone 14 Pro is the Dynamic Island notch, so let’s talk about that first. Compared to the standard notch found on previous iPhones, the new pill-shaped notch is certainly a meaningful upgrade. It looks better, and 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. It’s a bold move, to be sure, but it’s one direction I’m glad Apple took. Given that the Dynamic Island is
already being copied
, it’s clearly a feature others will replicate.

And then we have a feature that’s finally available on an iPhone: an always-on display. But Apple’s implementation is quite different than other phone maker’s – when the always-on display is activated on the iPhone 14 Pro, it’s essentially a dimmed lock screen.

That’s not all, of course. To further conserve battery life, the display’s refresh rate in always-on mode is also reduced to only 1Hz. But because the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display looks a little too…on, I thought I forgot to lock the phone in the first few days of use.

Yes, that’s the always-on display

But I did get accustomed to the always-on display of the iPhone 14 Pro quite quickly, and I love how functional it is; I can see all of my notifications at a glance instead of just icons. While the always-on display does impact battery life, it’s a worth trade-off for the sheer utility of the feature.

So how is the battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro? Pretty darn good! This is especially the case for a phone as compact as this. On average, I can get about five hours of screen on time with the 14 Pro out of the 3,200mAh battery, and this is with the always-on display enabled to boot.

Throughout the review period, I had no issue at all getting through a typical workday with the iPhone 14 Pro. It can certainly deliver the “all-day battery life” promised by Apple.

Display quality of the iPhone 14 Pro is noticeably better than last year’s iPhone too. Thanks to its higher (and very impressive) 2,000 nits outdoor peak brightness, the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel is clearly more legible under bright sunlight.

This being an OLED screen, it’s a joy to stream my favourite TV series with the iPhone 14 Pro; the panel’s bright, vibrant colours with deep, true blacks make for a very enjoyable viewing experience. Even though the 6.1-inch display may be a tad too small for some folks, I find it to be perfectly adequate.

Oh, the iPhone 14 Pro’s display has ProMotion technology too, which offers up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Needless to say, every animation on the screen looks extra smooth with the high refresh rate.

That brings us to gaming on the iPhone 14 Pro, and playing mobile games like
Genshin Impact
 on the iPhone 14 Pro’s 120Hz display is
incredibly
 fun. It’s worth noting that only Apple devices with ProMotion technology can play Genshin Impact at 120fps; even a powerful gaming PC don’t have the option to run the game at this frame rate.

However, can the iPhone 14 Pro sustain the 120fps frame rate in Genshin Impact? Even with only 6GB of RAM? Absolutely. After all, the Apple A16 Bionic chip brings superior CPU and GPU performance over the A15, which was (and still is) a very fast processor to begin with. I’d even go as far to say that the A16 chip is the fastest mobile chip in the market now, especially against the best of Qualcomm or MediaTek.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the iPhone 14 Pro. I’ll say this out of the gate: the 14 Pro has a better camera system than its predecessor. The new and improved triple camera system (48MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto lens) can take great-looking shots regardless of lighting situation.

This is especially true for the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48MP primary camera, which now uses pixel binning to further improve image quality; it also reduces the image to 12MP. There’s even an option for 2x zoom now that crops a 12MP image from the main 48MP sensor. This (essentially) adds another dedicated focal length to the phone’s camera.

Anyway, judge for yourself the camera performance of the iPhone 14 Pro with the sample images below:

12MP ultra-wide

48MP primary

48MP primary (2x zoom)

12MP telephoto (3x zoom)

12MP ultra-wide

48MP primary

48MP primary (2x zoom)

12MP telephoto (3x zoom)

48MP primary

12MP telephoto (3x zoom)

48MP primary

48MP primary

12MP ultra-wide (macro mode)

48MP primary

There’s no doubt I have a lot of positive things to say about the iPhone 14 Pro, but it does have its fair share of shortcomings, which I’ll get to in the following section.

The Bad Stuff

I love how refined and functional the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island is, but 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.

There’s also the minimum focus distance of the iPhone 14 Pro’s new 48MP primary camera, which 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 would not be as good as the main 48MP primary camera.

But the main shortcoming of the iPhone 14 Pro is…well, its asking price. Retailing from RM5,299, it is a costly phone, and that kind of money only gets you the 128GB model. If you want the more practical 256GB or 512GB variants, it’ll set you back RM5,799 and RM6,799 respectively.

Is It Worth It?

In my opinion, yes! There’s no denying that the iPhone 14 Pro costs a pretty penny, but there’s also no denying that this is a refined, high-end (and compact) smartphone through and through. It has a sophisticated, capable camera system, blazing fast performance, and the unique Dynamic Island notch.

Plus, there are methods to offset the high asking price of the iPhone 14 Pro, such as getting it from your favourite telco. It’s worth noting that iPhones hold their values very well over the years too, and that is a plus point in my book.

The iPhone 14 Pro is also a compact flagship smartphone without compromise – this alone makes it a phone worth getting, and why it gets the
Nextrift Recommends
 badge. We award this to products that are, well, worth recommending.

Nextrift Recommends is our way of endorsing products for their unique appeal and refinement. In the case of the iPhone 14 Pro, it gets this badge for its complete feature set as a premium, high-end compact smartphone that’s worth every penny.


Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8 & SE Registered With SIRIM – Arriving in Malaysia Soon?

It appears Apple is working to launch its latest smartwatches in Malaysia very soon. The
 Apple Watch Ultra
,
Series 8
, and the new SE have just been registered with local certification body SIRIM, which suggests that the three smartwatches will be available on our shores in the near future.

The Apple Watch Ultra was actually registered with SIRIM last week on 30 September. The Series 8 and SE, on the other hand, just appeared in the certification body’s database today on 4 October. Aside from that, the Apple Watch dock and charger have also been registered with SIRIM.

All electronics officially sold in Malaysia have to go through SIRIM first, so chances are, Apple’s latest smartwatches will be available for purchase on our shores very soon. Right now, only the retail prices of the three products have been unveiled for the Malaysian market.

Speaking of which, the new Apple Watch SE is the most affordable model with a RM1,199 starting price in Malaysia. The Apple Watch Series 8, on the other hand, retails from RM1,899. As for the range-topping Apple Watch Ultra, it goes for RM3,799.


Apple App Store Price Increase Effective Today in Malaysia – Genshin Impact Affected

The Apple App Store
will see a price increase
 in several markets from today onwards. These include territories that use the euro currency, Japan, South Korea, and even here in Malaysia – the price increase will affect both apps and in-app purchases on the App Store.

According to Apple, the App Store price increase will go into effect as early as today, so it may take some time for developers to implement the change. Hoyoverse, for one,
already confirmed the price increase
 for
Genshin Impact
, though the developer mentioned that the in-game store may not reflect the new prices yet.

With that in mind, the new prices for Genshin Impact’s in-app purchases on the App Store for the Malaysian market have not been revealed yet. We checked the price of the Blessing of the Welkin Moon, for example, which is still RM19.90 at the moment. We even purchased it to make sure we’re paying the price displayed.

While it is unfortunate the Apple App Store sees a price increase in Malaysia, it’s likely caused by the weakening Ringgit. Nonetheless, in the case of Genshin Impact, at least other platforms do not see a price hike – not yet, at least.


Proton Sold 14,872 Cars in September 2022 – Over 4,517 Proton X50 Delivered

Proton’s sales performance in September 2022 continues to record high numbers. The national carmaker registered over 14,872 units last month, which is just 1,008 units less than its
impressive August 2022 sale
.

Of that amount, 4,517 units were the
extremely popular X50
, though it is not Proton’s best-selling model in September 2022. As usual, that honour goes to the Saga with over 6,442 units delivered. It’s worth noting that this is the A-segment sedan’s highest monthly sales since October 2013.

Naturally, the X70 continues to lead the C-segment SUV market with 1,730 units sold. This is followed by the Persona (1,159), Iriz (606), and of course, the Exora with 418 units sold, retaining its position as the C-segment MPV leader.

“Proton’s Q3 performance was our best quarter of the year, coming in with 42,229 units for the previous three months. This was made possible by a combination of stability in our production numbers as well as the continued strong appeal of our models, especially for the 2022 Saga and X50, said the deputy CEO of Proton, Roslan Abdullah.

“Therefore, despite the poor start to the year, we are confident of achieving a fourth consecutive year of double-digit sales growth,” he added.

It’s worth noting that Proton has crossed the 100,000 units sales mark in the first three quarters of 2022, which is two months earlier than 2021. With over 102,353 units sold so far, it’s possible the national carmaker can reach its 150,000 sales target for the year.


AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) Available in Malaysia Soon – Appears in SIRIM Database

Yesterday, we spotted the
Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8, and SE
 in SIRIM’s database. This time around, we got yet Another Apple product: the
2nd generation AirPods Pro
 has just been registered with SIRIM, so there’s a good chance the wireless earbuds will be sold here very soon.

There are actually three different model numbers for the new AirPods Pro in SIRIM’s database. The charging case itself carries the model number A2700, while the left and right buds of the AirPods Pro are labelled A2699 and A2698 respectively, as shown in the SIRIM certifications below.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2nd gen AirPods Pro comes with a slew of improvements. For one, it’s said to have better active noise cancellation with “up to double the noise-cancelling power” of the original AirPods Pro, thanks to the new H2 chip.

Battery life of the new AirPods Pro has also been improved by 1.5 hours for a total of up to six hours of use with ANC activated. With the charging case, users can get up to 30 hours of total listening time. Aside from that, the wireless earbuds finally add volume and media controls to the stem.

The 2nd generation AirPods Pro is
priced at RM1,099
 for the Malaysian market, though there’s no word yet on exactly when it will be available for purchase on our shores. But now that it has been registered with SIRIM already, we reckon the new AirPods Pro will be sold here very soon.


6 – 12 October Fuel Price: RON 97 Down 5 Sen, Now RM3.95 Per Litre

The price of RON 97 continues to go down this week! The price of the premium fuel is set to be cheaper by 5 sen this midnight, while the prices of RON 95 and diesel are all maintained, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is now set at RM3.95 per litre (down from RM4.00) for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 6 to 12 October 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Xiaomi 12T & 12T Pro With 200MP Camera Lands in Malaysia From RM1,999

Xiaomi just launched its latest smartphones in Malaysia, the Xiaomi 12T and Xiaomi 12T Pro. Naturally, the latter is the more exciting device; after all, it’s touted by Xiaomi to be the first smartphone on our shores with a 200MP camera.

Before we get to the 12T Pro’s camera’s specifications, let’s talk prices first. The standard 12T (8GB + 256GB) is the more affordable device of the two with a RM1,999 price tag, while the higher-end 12T Pro costs RM2,699 and RM2,999 for the 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB models respectively.

Now let’s talk about the 12T Pro’s camera. The primary sensor is a 200MP shooter, which is touted as an industry-leading smartphone camera resolution that allows users to “capture crystal-clear photos with fine details at any moment.” Complementing that camera is an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens and a 2MP macro shooter.

Other specifications of the 12T Pro include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a 6.67-inch 2712 x 1220 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 20MP selfie camera, a generous 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging, and MIUI 13 based on Android 12.

As for the regular 12T, it shares largely the same hardware as the Pro model, though it does have some distinct differences. Instead of a Qualcomm chip, the 12T is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra chipset. It doesn’t have the 12T Pro’s 200MP camera either – it features a more modest 108MP main shooter instead.

Both the Xiaomi 12T and Xiaomi 12T Pro are available for pre-order in Malaysia right now through
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 from RM1,999 and RM2,699 respectively. Those who place their pre-orders by 12 October will also get freebies worth up to RM1,236, including a Mi Watch (worth RM469).


Apple iPhone 14 Plus Hands-on: The Pro Max on a Budget

While the
iPhone 14 Pro
 was the highlight of Apple’s September launch event with its neat new features – the shape-shifting Dynamic Island notch and revamped camera system, for example – the iPhone 14 Plus is quite interesting in its own right too. In a way, it is basically an iPhone Pro Max on a budget.

Yes, it doesn’t get the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s smooth 120Hz display or the new Apple A16 Bionic chip, but what the iPhone 14 Plus does get is the same 6.7-inch display and
even better
 battery life…for less money. If you’ve been waiting for an iPhone with a large screen and excellent battery life without spending top dollar, the 14 Plus could just be for you.

First, let’s talk about the chip powering the iPhone 14 Plus. Unlike the iPhone 14 Pro, the 14 Plus features last year’s Apple A15 Bionic chip, but this is the actually the same one found in the
iPhone 13 Pro models
 with a 5-core GPU. In comparison, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini’s A15 Bionic had a 4-core GPU instead.

With that in mind, this
is
 technically an upgrade for the more affordable iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. If you do a lot of mobile gaming, you’ll definitely appreciate the faster GPU. Naturally, it can run
Genshin Impact
 very well at 60fps with maxed out graphics settings – something that many flagship Android devices struggle to replicate.

Why only 60fps? Well, the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t have the Pro’s ProMotion technology, so the refresh rate of its 6.7-inch 2778 x 1284 Super Retina XDR OLED display is limited to 60Hz. Of course, this refresh rate can still provide a smooth gaming experience.

However, if you’re coming from a phone with a higher refresh rate than 60Hz, you will notice that animations are not as smooth while navigating through the phone’s user interface. There is one benefit to this though: lower power consumption.

After all, the iPhone 14 Plus is said to offer “the best battery life ever” on an iPhone. Thanks to the 60Hz OLED panel and large 4,325mAh battery – as reported by
MacRumors
 – I’m inclined to take Apple’s word for it. I’ve been using the 14 Plus for a few days now, and it
does
 feel like a very long-lasting phone.

Coming back to the display, there’s no denying that the iPhone 14 Plus’ 6.7-inch OLED panel is one of its best qualities, especially for folks who have waited for the Pro Max’s large screen to trickle down to the more affordable standard iPhone. Not only does the expansive display make for a more enjoyable gaming experience, it can also show more content of an email or webpage.

Despite its large dimensions, the iPhone 14 Plus is surprisingly lightweight! It tips the scales at only 203g, making it 3g lighter than even the smaller
iPhone 14 Pro
. Though one-handed use with this big phone can be quite challenging, it does not feel unwieldy at all.

And then we have the camera performance of the iPhone 14 Plus. Though it’s still a dual camera setup – no telephoto lens here – the 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide angle shooters have been improved to deliver better results in low light conditions.

I took some nighttime shots with the 14 Plus to see how it would fare, and the results do look promising. I’ll definitely put the new dual camera system through its paces in the full review.

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

All things considered, the iPhone 14 Plus is quite an exciting entry to the 2022 iPhone lineup. It has the large display of the Pro Max iPhones,
excellent
 battery life (so far), a new and improved camera array, and of course, fast performance out of the A15 Bionic chip. Even if this is last year’s processor, it is still a very, very capable chip that is
still
 unmatched by the Android competition.

However, retailing from RM4,699, the iPhone 14 Plus is not affordable either. Besides that, you’re only getting the 128GB variant of the phone for that kind of money; the 256GB and 512GB models are priced at RM5,199 and RM6,199 respectively.

Nonetheless, as far as first impression go, I definitely see the appeal of the iPhone 14 Plus. It is costly, yes, but you’re also getting a complete phone with a large display for that kind of money. I won’t quite say it is worth the money just yet – that’s best left for the full review – but I will say it I’m enjoying using the phone as my daily driver so far.

The iPhone 14 Plus will hit store shelves in Malaysia tomorrow on 7 October. If you’re keen to get it, you can check out the 14 Plus in person at your favourite retailer then.


Video: MYMK Keebmunity Meetup 2022 – SINGAKBD, Monokei, Axiom & More!

The MYMK Keebmunity Meetup 2022 last weekend was
filled
 with a ton of custom keyboards and the local keyboard community alike. If you didn’t manage to come to the gathering – or you want to see if your keyboard was featured – here’s what went down at Malaysia’s first major keyboard meetup!

In the video above, we checked out the booth of well-known vendors and keyboard designers, including SINGAKBD, Axiom Studios, Monokei, Rebult Keyboards, and even our good friends from Singapore, Mecha Store. Get this: Mecha is actually coming to Malaysia by the end of the year.

Hopefully, there will be another major keyboard meetup like this in 2023. Evidently, our local keyboard community is quite big, to the point that the max occupancy of the venue was actually reached. Don’t forget to check our
photo essay of the keyboard meetup
 as well!


Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro Official: Google Tensor G2, Brighter OLED Display, Same Prices

Google finally unveiled its latest smartphones, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The biggest change with these two phones is the new Google Tensor G2 processor, which (naturally) offers faster performance and a slew of new software features. On top of that, both phones see no price change either.

That’s right, the Pixel 7 retains its $599 (about RM2,775) starting price, while the higher-end Pixel 7 Pro still retails from $899 (approximately RM4,165). However, given the weakening Ringgit – especially against the US dollar – expect to pay more for these two phones once importers bring them into Malaysia.

Anyway, for the (technically) same amount of money, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are now powered by the new Tensor G2 processor. Though Google did not explicitly reveal key details of the chip,
XDA Developers’ report
 shows that the Tensor G2 does feature faster CPU and GPU, which should translate to better performance.

Beyond raw performance improvement, the Tensor G2 also enables a couple of new features on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, including Photo Unblur. Using machine learning, the two phones can sharpen blurry images through Google Photos. Of course, this feature is exclusive to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Being the more premium offering, the Pixel 7 Pro does come with higher-end hardware. These include a 6.7-inch 1440p LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, 12GB of RAM, three storage options (128GB, 256GB, 512GB), a triple camera system (50MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide + 48MP telephoto), a 10.8MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

As for the more affordable Pixel 7, it has a more modest 6.3-inch 1080p OLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1,400 nits peak brightness, 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, a dual camera system (50MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide), a 10.8MP selfie camera, and a 4,355mAh battery.

The Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are now available for pre-order in selected markets, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Singapore. As per usual, it’s unlikely these new Pixel phones will be available in Malaysia officially, though you can be sure parallel importers will offer the devices here one way or another.


iPhone 14 Plus Now Available in Malaysia From RM4,699

The last of the iPhone 14 series is now available for purchase in Malaysia! Unlike the other three iPhones in the series, the
iPhone 14 Plus
 is released slightly later, and it brings with it a large display and “the best battery life ever” on an iPhone, as touted by the Cupertino company itself.

To recap, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at RM4,699 for the base 128GB model, going up to RM5,199 for the 256GB version. If you want the 512GB variant instead, it will set you back a cool RM6,199. Five colour options are available: Blue, Purple (the model you see here), Midnight, Starlight, and of course, Product Red.

You can purchase the iPhone 14 Plus on
Apple’s Malaysian

online store
 right now. Of course, you can also get the shiny new iPhone from other outlets, including
Shopee
,
Lazada
, and Apple Premium Resellers nationwide.

Want to learn more about the iPhone 14 Plus? Then check out our hands-on of the phone
right here
. If you’ve always wanted an iPhone with a large display and excellent battery life without spending top dollar, the 14 Plus could just be the right option for you.


AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) Now in Malaysia For RM1,099

We spotted the 2nd generation AirPods Pro
in SIRIM’s database
 just a couple of days ago, suggesting that the wireless earbuds will be available in Malaysia soon. Well, you can now purchase the new AirPods Pro on our shores!

As previously revealed, the upgraded AirPods Pro retails at RM1,099 for the Malaysian market. Compared to its predecessor, the new earbuds come with a slew of improvements. For one, it’s said to have better active noise cancellation with “up to double the noise-cancelling power” of the original AirPods Pro, thanks to the new H2 chip.

Battery life of the new AirPods Pro has also been improved by 1.5 hours for a total of up to six hours of use with ANC activated. With the charging case, users can get up to 30 hours of total listening time. Aside from that, the wireless earbuds finally add volume and media controls to the stem.

The 2nd generation AirPods Pro is now available for purchase on
Apple’s Malaysian online store
. It will ship as early as next week, though it will take longer if you want to add an engraving.


You Can Now Order the Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8 & SE in Malaysia – Ultra Shipping Later

Apple just opened orders for a slew of its products in Malaysia today! Aside from the iPhone 14 Plus and 2nd generation AirPods Pro, the Cupertino company is now taking orders of its latest smartwatches too, including the Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8, and SE.

Pricing wise, the new Apple Watch SE is the most affordable model with a RM1,199 starting price in Malaysia. The Apple Watch Series 8, on the other hand, retails from RM1,899. As for the range-topping Apple Watch Ultra, it goes for RM3,799.

Both the Apple Watch SE and Series 8 will ship within one business day, so you won’t have to wait particularly long to get either smartwatches. As for the range-topping Watch Ultra, it will be delivered within two to three weeks; quite a bit later than the more affordable models.

Nonetheless, you can now place your order of the Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8, and SE from
Apple’s Malaysian online store
. Given that the latter two are shipping quite fast, there’s a good chance physical retail stores will have the Series 8 and SE watches on display as well.


2022 Ford Ranger Raptor Now in Malaysia – 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Engine, 397PS/583Nm, RM260k

Ford’s Malaysian distributor, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), launched the 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor in Malaysia. Touted as the most advanced Ranger ever, the Raptor for our market features a 3.0L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 petrol engine that outputs a whopping 397PS and 583Nm of torque.

Only one variant of the Ranger Raptor is offered in Malaysia, and it starts at a cool RM259,888. This price is on-the-road without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia; it’s priced from RM263,388 in East Malaysia. Five colours are available: Code Orange, Absolute Black, Arctic White, Blue Lightning, and Conquer Grey.

For that kind of money, the new Ranger Raptor’s powerful engine is paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. There’s also a “Baja” mode that keeps the engine’s turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after backing off the throttle for faster resumption of acceleration.

Of course, the next-gen Ranger Raptor has a 4×4 electronic shift-on-the-fly (ESOF) system too. Drivers can switch between four settings: 2WD, 4WD Auto, 4WD HIGH and 4WD LOW. Aside from that. there are seven drive modes as well, including the aforementioned Baja, Normal, Sport, Slippery, Rock Crawl, Sand, and Mud/Ruts.

Oh, switching to these different drive modes will also adjust multiple elements of the Raptor. These include engine, transmission, ABS sensitivity and calibration, traction and stability controls, exhaust valve actuation, steering, throttle response, as well as the instrument cluster and centre touchscreen.

The 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor is now available for booking in Malaysia from RM259,888. It comes with a five-year or 160,000km warranty, whichever comes first. Customers can also opt for a two-year extended warranty with PremiumCare for a wider range of coverages.


Budget 2023: ePemula 2023 Returns – RM100 for M40, RM200 for Students & Youths

The government’s ePemula cashless transaction scheme is returning in 2023! This was revealed in the tabling of Budget 2023: those in the M40 income group will receive RM100, while students and youths will get RM200.

Previously, only students and youths were eligible for the ePemula programme, so it’s quite neat that those in the M40 income group can also benefit from the scheme. It’s worth noting that for ePemula 2022, youths and students were given RM150, so it’s a RM50 increase for next year’s initiative.

It remains to be seen when the ePemula 2023 programme will begin, though we reckon more details will be revealed in the near future. It’ll be interesting to see if the government will engage with the same ewallet services, which included ShopeePay, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, BigPay, and GrabPay.


Budget 2023: Import & Excise Duties Exemption on EVs in Malaysia Extended to 31 December 2024

Great news for folks who are planning to get an electric vehicle (EV) in the near future. As announced by the government at Budget 2023, the import and excise duties exemption on fully imported (CBU) EVs in Malaysia are extended to 31 December 2024.

When the initiative was first announced, the exemption was only valid until 31 December 2023, so this is a year’s worth of extension. Thanks to this, EVs in Malaysia should remain affordable until the end of 2024, which should bolster EV adoption on our shores.

That also means the highly anticipated
Smart #1
 electric SUV that will be brought into Malaysia by Proton Edar can enjoy over a year of tax-free prices; the EV is set to arrive here in early Q4 2023 next year. Approved Permit (AP) fees for importing EVs to our shores will be waived until the end of 2023 as well, so there’s a chance we’ll see even more EVs locally next year.


Budget 2023: DNB Expanding 5G Coverage to 70% of “Highly Populated Areas” in Malaysia for RM1.3 Billion

5G rollout in Malaysia could certainly be better, but things could change come 2023 next year. At Malaysia’s Budget 2023 announcement, the government revealed that it is planning to achieve 70% 5G coverage in “highly populated areas.”

The 5G expansion in Malaysia, of course, will be handled by DNB. The initiative will take up RM1.3 billion, and the 70% coverage looks to be achieved in 2023 itself. No specifics as to what the “highly populated areas” entail, unfortunately enough.

Nonetheless, here’s hoping 5G networks will be more widely available in Malaysia next year with this initiative. Maybe we can finally make use of our phones’ 5G capability then.


Budget 2023: GENTARI to Add 500 EV Chargers in Malaysia by 2024; TNB Also Investing RM165 Million

The government’s push for electric vehicle (EV) adoption can clearly be seen at the tabling of Budget 2023. Not only are import and excise duties exemption on EVs
extended until the end of 2024
, more EV charging stations will be added nationwide in the coming years.

GENTARI, a subsidiary of Petronas that focuses on clean energy, will be adding as many as 500 EV chargers throughout Malaysia by 2024. Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) also announced a similar initiative: the company will invest RM165 million to develop the local EV charging infrastructure until 2025.

With more EV charging stations throughout Malaysia, we reckon consumers will be more willing to purchase EVs instead of more “traditional” ICE cars. On top of that, EVs in Malaysia will be
tax-free until the end of 2024
.


Compact Sony Xperia 5 IV Pre-orders Open in Malaysia for RM4,899 – Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 120Hz OLED

Sony’s latest compact flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia 5 IV, is
now available for pre-order in Malaysia
. Not only is it a pocketable smartphone, it’s also quite a bit more affordable than its larger sibling (
Xperia 1 IV
) while improving upon
its predecessor
.

Only one variant of the Xperia 5 IV is offered in Malaysia. Sporting 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the premium phone is priced at RM4,899. To sweeten the deal, those who pre-order the device by 24 October will receive a
Sony LinkBuds S
 (worth RM929) and a RM50 TNG credit.

Hardware wise, the Xperia 5 IV got a number of upgrades over last year’s model, though it’s not powered by the latest chipset. Instead, it features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, along with a larger 5,000mAh battery; that’s a 500mAh improvement over the Xperia 5 III.

Other specifications of the Xperia 5 IV include a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (12MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide angle + 12MP telephoto), a 12MP selfie camera, IP65/IP68 dust and water resistance, as well as Android 12 out of the box.

The Sony Xperia 5 IV is
now available for pre-order in Malaysia
 until 24 October for RM4,899. To recap, every pre-order of the compact flagship phone will be bundled with a
Sony LinkBuds S
 (worth RM929) and a RM50 TNG credit.


Genshin Impact Nilou & Albedo Banners Arrive 14 October With Beidou, Xiangliang, Barbara

Nilou’s and Albedo’s banners will be available in
Genshin Impact
 this Friday! Set to arrive on 14 October, the event wish for these two 5-star characters will be accompanied by Beidou, Xiangling, and Barbara.

In line with
previous Genshin Impact

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

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character

event wishes
, the “drop rate” of Nilou, Albedo, Beidou, Xiangling, and Barbara will be increased. In the case of Nilou and Albedo, 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 Nilou or Albedo. 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 Beidou, Xiangling, or Barbara. 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.

Nilou’s “Twirling Lotus” and Albedo’s “Secretum Secretorum” event wishes will be available in Genshin Impact on 14 October 2022. Their banners will be offered until 1 November, and we can expect
Nahida’s and Layla’s event wishes
 to be available once the Version 3.2 update is released on 2 November.


Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate Arriving in Malaysia Soon – Registered With SIRIM

Just last month, Asus unveiled two new gaming smartphones, the
Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate
. These two phones are essentially the MediaTek version of the previously released
ROG Phone 6
 series, and the Ultimate model should be arriving in Malaysia very soon.

In our routine search through SIRIM’s database, we spotted the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate; it was registered under Dynamics Distribution on 6 October last week. All electronics have to be certified by SIRIM first before they can be officially sold in Malaysia, so chances are, Asus Malaysia will sell the new gaming phone here soon.

While the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is similar to the
ROG Phone 6 Pro
 with an ROG Vision coloured PMOLED display on the back panel, it also has an AeroActive Portal. This “door” opens up when the phone is connected to the AeroActive Cooler 6, improving thermal efficiency by up to 20%. This should translate to better sustained performance.

One other new hardware of the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate is the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, which is said to deliver 10% faster performance compared to the standard Dimensity 9000. It’ll be interesting to see how this chip compares to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip found in the regular ROG Phone 6.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate include a 6.78-inch 1080p 165Hz AMOLED display, a triple camera system (50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro), a 12MP selfie camera, and a generous 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

It remains to be seen exactly when the Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate will arrive in Malaysia, but given that the latter has already been registered with SIRIM, we reckon Asus Malaysia will reveal the local pricing and availability of the two phones very soon.


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 – How Much Better Is the Battery Life?

One of the biggest upgrades the
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
 received is…well, a bigger battery capacity. Thanks to its more generous 3,700mAh battery, the battery life of the foldable flip phone sees a notable improvement compared to its predecessor.

There’s no denying that battery life plays a big part in the overall user experience of any given smartphone; it doesn’t matter how fast or sleek a phone is if it can’t provide good enough battery life. So with that in mind, how much better is the battery life of the Z Flip 4 now? Let’s find out.

Last year’s
Galaxy Z Flip 3
 had a 3,300mAh battery, and in our review, we managed to get about four hours of screen on time with it. While this is just enough to get a day’s worth of use, it does struggle to last through the day if we throw in a couple sessions of gaming.

In contrast, the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s 3,700mAh battery – a 400mAh improvement over its predecessor – did manage to us get between four to five hours of screen on time. That extra hour may not sound like much, but it does go a long way in improving the overall user experience of the Flip 4.

It’s also impressive that the Z Flip 4 can deliver this level of battery life in a compact chassis and unique foldable form factor.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3’s battery life

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s battery life; much improved

Previously, if we were to, say, play
Genshin Impact
 on the Z Flip 3 an hour or so over the course of a typical day, it’s quite a challenge to get through the end of the day with enough battery left. But if we were to repeat the same usage pattern with the Z Flip 4, it’s definitely not as difficult to get a day of use out of it.

Beyond battery life, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 also delivers a slew of upgrades across the board. These include a faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, an improved 12MP primary camera, and a slightly reworked design that is more ergonomically-friendly (flatter sides) with an improved hinge.

If you’d like to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, check out
our full review of the foldable flip phone
. Even though its RM4,099 starting price is slightly higher than last year’s Flip 3 at launch, the upgrades you’re getting do justify the price difference, in our opinion.


ByteDance’s Pico 4 VR Headset Now in Malaysia for RM1,699 – Early Birds Get RM100 Discount

You may have not heard of Pico before, but there’s a good chance you’re familiar with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. ByteDance acquired Pico last year, and the Pico 4 is the brand’s newest virtual reality headset – it’s quite affordable too.

Two variants of the Pico 4 are offered in Malaysia. The base model with 128GB of storage is priced at RM1,699, while the 256GB version costs RM1,999. Those who purchase either variants by 16 October can enjoy a RM100 discount, bringing down the starting price of the VR headset to RM1,599.

Oh, those who purchase the Pico 4 by 31 January 2023 will also get four VR games for free, including All-in-One Sports VR, Down The Rabbit Hole, OhShape, and After The Fall.

Given its (reasonably) affordable price tag, the Pico 4 is ideal for those who are new to standalone VR headsets. Sporting a sharp 4320 x 2160 display – 2160 x 2160 for each eye – it should be able to offer an immersive VR experience. On top of that, the panel has a refresh rate of up to 90Hz as well.

Other specifications of the Pico 4 include a Qualcomm XR2 chipset, 8GB of RAM, a 105-degree field of view, motorised inter-pupillary distance adjustment – so that different users can get the best viewing experience – built-in speakers, and a 5,300mAh battery that promises up to three hours of use.

The Pico 4 is now available for purchase in Malaysia through
Shopee
,
Lazada
, and even
TikTok Shop
. The standalone VR headset will start shipping to buyers this Friday on 14 October. If you want to give the Pico 4 a try, you can do so in Sunway Pyramid at the Orange Concourse from 13 to 16 October.


Video: QwertyKeys QK60 Super Quick Review – Group Buy Now Live in Malaysia!

QwertyKeys is back with another custom keyboard, the QK60. Not only does it sound and feel premium, its value proposition is absolutely insane: the QK60 retails from only RM719, and its group buy is now live in Malaysia!

The Malaysian sale of the QK60 is run by none other than Rebult Keyboards. It’s available in winkey, winkeyless, and HHKB layouts. It can also be configured with an acrylic or aluminium top; while the acrylic option doesn’t sound particularly premium, it does feel look and feel very nice.

Group buy of the QwertyKeys QK60 is
open until 25 October
, and it is an unlimited group buy. It’s estimated to start shipping sometime in February 2023, which is quite fast for a custom keyboard. If you’re keen to get the QK60, watch our super quick review of the custom keyboard in the video above!


13 – 19 October Fuel Price: RON 97 Remains at RM3.95 Per Litre

After steadily going down in price over the past five weeks, the price of RON 97 sees no change this week. Of course, the same applies to RON 95 and diesel, given that their ceiling prices have been reached.

To recap, the price of RON 97 is set at RM3.95 per litre for the next seven days. The price of RON 95, on the other hand, stays at RM2.05 per litre. As for diesel, it still costs RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect from 13 to 19 October 2022. New fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week for fuel price update.


Deal: Get the Sony WH-1000XM5 With RM500 Discount Now

A couple of months ago, the
Sony WH-1000XM5
 was offered with a respectable RM400 discount. 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 RM1,299
 – that’s
RM500 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
94 units of the WH-1000XM5
 are available from the retailer, though only the Black model is available from the listing.

RM1,299
 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
.


2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS Open for Booking in Malaysia – 2.0L Engine, 184PS/315Nm, Key Card!

Now this is a pleasant surprise: Honda Malaysia just opened bookings for a new Civic variant, and it’s a hybrid! The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS the first Honda model in Malaysia to feature the 2.0L e:HEV powertrain, making it the most powerful Civic FE yet in our local market.

Similar to Honda Malaysia’s previous e:HEV models – the
City RS
 and its
hatchback sibling
 – the Civic e:HEV RS’ 2.0L direct-injection engine (143PS/189Nm) mainly acts as a generator for the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system. It is made up of the engine and an electric motor.

It is the electric motor that largely drives the Civic e:HEV RS, which offers a very respectable 184PS and 315Nm of torque, so it is (again) the most powerful Civic FE in Malaysia yet. Of course, at higher speeds – such as highway cruising – the petrol engine will be used instead through a lock-up clutch for better efficiency.

Beyond a different powertrain, the hybrid Civic FE also has a neat key card system; it is the first Honda model on our shores to feature this. For the most part, the Civic e:HEV mirrors the equipment of the petrol RS model too, though it does have some unique elements.

These include new 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, blue accents on the Honda logos, as well as chrome finishes on the front grille and window line.

The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS is now available for booking in Malaysia at Honda showrooms nationwide. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking online
here
 or through the HondaTouch app – you can download the latter from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.

Naturally, the pricing of the Civic e:HEV RS has not been revealed yet, but expect it to cost more than the petrol RS model, which is currently going for RM150,700.


2022 Honda Civic – Over 6,000 Units Delivered in Malaysia So Far

Besides opening bookings for the
2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS
, Honda Malaysia also revealed the latest sales performance of the C-segment sedan on our shores. Between January to September 2022, over 6,000 units of the 11th gen Civic have been delivered to customers.

“The 11th generation Civic, which was launched early this year, has been very well-received by Malaysians, having sold more than 6,000 units from January to September 2022,” said the managing director and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Hironobu Yoshimura.

Evidently, the Civic FE continues to be a popular choice for those who are looking to get a C-segment sedan. With the introduction of the Civic e:HEV RS model, we reckon it will further bolster the sales of the sedan with its unique (and powerful) hybrid powertrain.

Speaking of which, the 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS is now available for booking in Malaysia at Honda showrooms nationwide. Alternatively, you can also place a pre-booking online
here
 or through the HondaTouch app – you can download the latter from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Arrives on PC 19 November for RM209

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PC is set to arrive next month on 19 November in Malaysia. Just like
Spider-Man Remastered for PC
 – which was released on 12 August – the PC version of Miles Morales features a wide range of graphical settings and support for the PS5’s DualSense controller.

That’s right, PC gamers can enjoy the refined haptics and adaptive triggers of the DualSense controller in Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Given that this was previously only available on the PS5, it’s quite a big deal. However, the DualSense controller has to be in wired mode for the features to work.

Aside from that, there are also a wide variety of graphical settings for the PC version of Spider-Man: Miles Morales. These include ray-traced reflections, Nvidia DLSS 3 and DLAA, as well as support for a wide variety of display ratios, including 21:9 ultrawide and 32:9 panoramic.

Pre-orders for Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales are now open on
Steam
 and the
Epic Games Store
 for RM209. Every purchase of the game ahead of its launch on 19 November will come with a number of freebies, including early unlock of two suits (T.R.A.C.K and Into the Spider-Verse), the Gravity Well gadget, and three skill points.


Apple iPhone 14 Plus Review: The New Default iPhone

Over the past couple of years, those who are looking to get a non-Pro iPhone were limited to the standard sized iPhone or the smaller iPhone mini. But this year, Apple decided to replace the mini model with the iPhone 14 Plus, which is…well, essentially an iPhone Pro Max on a budget.

Granted, it doesn’t have the smooth 120Hz screen or the latest Apple A16 Bionic chip of the 14 Pro Max, but what the iPhone 14 Plus
does
 offer is the big 6.7-inch screen of the former…for less money. There’s also the fact that the 14 Plus offers
incredibly
 long battery life.

This excellent battery life, combined with its expansive display, make the iPhone 14 Plus the new default iPhone – in my opinion, anyway.

What It Is

Display
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (2778 x 1284)
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic (6-core CPU; 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores)
GPU
Apple A15 Bionic 5-core GPU
RAM
6GB
Storage
128GB/256GB/512GB, non-expandable
Camera (rear)
12MP f/1.5, 100% Focus Pixels, sensor-shift OIS
12MP f/2.4 (ultra-wide)
Camera (front)
12MP f/1.9, autofocus with Focus Pixels
Battery
4,325mAh
Dimensions
160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mm
Weight
203g
OS
iOS 16
Connectivity
5G
LTE
NFC
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 802.11ax
Lightning port
Price
RM4,699 (128GB), RM5,199 (256GB), RM6,199 (512GB)

At a glance, the iPhone 14 Plus seems quite similar to last year’s iPhone 13, but there are some distinct differences here. Its familiar Apple A15 Bionic chip, for example, is actually the same one found in the
iPhone 13 Pro models
 with a 5-core GPU instead of the standard iPhone 13’s 4-core GPU.

With that in mind, this is
technically
a chipset upgrade for the iPhone 14 Plus. If you do a lot of mobile gaming, you’ll definitely appreciate the faster GPU. Beyond that, there are also the two main appeals of the 14 Plus: its large 6.7-inch display and
generous 4,325mAh battery
.

The Good Stuff

If you want an iPhone with the absolute best battery life, look no further than the iPhone 14 Plus. Throughout the review period, the 14 Plus consistently delivered all-day battery life, no matter what I throw at it. Under heavy use with lots of gaming, navigation, and online meetings, I can easily get between seven to
eight hours of screen on time
 on a single charge.

Apple said that the iPhone 14 Plus offers “the best battery life ever” on an iPhone, and I wholeheartedly agree with this. Even when I was using the iPhone 13 Pro Max as my daily driver, I couldn’t quite get this level of battery life, though the 13 Pro Max does have a faster, more power-intensive 120Hz display.

iPhone 14 Plus (left) and iPhone 13 Pro Max

both phones are almost indistinguishable from each other

Although the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t have the 13 Pro Max’s 120Hz display, it does feature the latter’s large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display. This is quite a compelling selling point, given that if you wanted a screen this big on an iPhone previously, your only option is to get the more expensive Pro Max iPhone.

As for display quality, the iPhone 14 Plus naturally has a pleasant screen to look at. As it is an OLED panel, it offers vibrant colours, deep, true blacks, and wide viewing angles. These qualities, combined with the large size of the display, make it great for both content consumption and gaming.

Speaking of which, it’s no surprise that the iPhone 14 Plus provides a very pleasant gaming experience. I always fire up
Genshin Impact
 to gauge the performance level of any given smartphone, and I’m happy to report that the 14 Plus can run the game very well at 60fps with maxed out graphics settings.

It’s worth noting that many,
many
 flagship Android devices struggle to replicate this level of performance. Even if the iPhone 14 Plus’ A15 Bionic isn’t the latest chip from Apple, there’s no denying that it is still a very capable processor that competing chips from both Qualcomm and MediaTek can’t quite match now.

And then there’s the camera performance of the iPhone 14 Plus. Sporting a dual camera system made up of a 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide angle shooters – still no telephoto lens, unfortunately – both sensors have been improved to deliver better results in low light conditions.

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP ultra-wide

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

12MP primary

Though the low light performance of the 12MP ultra-wide could use some work, the 12MP primary sensor can take great-looking shots no matter the lighting condition. Of course, the camera performance of the 14 Plus isn’t quite in the same league as the
iPhone 14 Pro
, but it’s still very much a flagship-tier camera system with a very responsive interface.

Beyond camera performance, it’s also worth mentioning that the iPhone 14 Plus is a (surprisingly) lightweight phone despite its large dimensions. It tips the scales at only 203g, making it 3g lighter than even the smaller iPhone 14 Pro. Though one-handed use with this big phone can be quite challenging, it does not feel unwieldy at all.

The Bad Stuff

As much as I love the long battery life and large display of the iPhone 14 Plus, it does have a number of shortcomings, such as its lack of ProMotion technology. This limits the display’s refresh rate to only 60Hz, so the 14 Plus doesn’t feel as “smooth” as other phones with a faster display, such as the aforementioned 14 Pro.

Aside from that, there’s also the lack of a telephoto lens on the iPhone 14 Plus. With only two focal lengths to choose from – the 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide shooters – the versatility of the camera system is quite limited, especially if you want to zoom in on a subject that’s farther away.

Last but not least is the steep asking price of the iPhone 14 Plus. The base 128GB model retails at RM4,699, while the more practical 256GB and 512GB variants are priced at RM5,199 and RM6,199 respectively. At these price points, the 14 Plus has to contend with other highly refined phones too, including the iPhone 14 Pro lineup itself.

Is It Worth It?

It depends on what you want out of an iPhone. If you don’t fancy the latest iPhone features – such as the Dynamic Island notch, an always-on display, or the new 48MP main camera – and all you want is a big iPhone with incredibly long battery life, the iPhone 14 Plus fits the bill.

Yes, the iPhone 14 Plus is not exactly affordable with a RM4,699 starting price, but you
are
 getting a long-lasting, big iPhone with one of the fastest performances in the market now. This is despite the fact that it’s powered by last year’s A15 Bionic chip, which can still rival (and even surpass) the performance level of today’s best flagship devices.

It would’ve been great if the iPhone 14 Plus also had the 14 Pro’s 120Hz display and more sophisticated camera array, but some folks may not mind the absence of these features at all. For that reason, the 14 Plus is, in my opinion, the new default iPhone.


PS5 Pre-Orders Open Again From Sony Centre Mid Valley Until 16 October 2022

Another month, another round of pre-orders of the PS5 from Sony Centre Mid Valley. This is actually the third sale of the next-gen console after the
price hike
 that was announced back in August 2022.

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 14 October onwards to finalise your pre-order of the PS5.

Do note that you only have until 16 October 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.


Deal: Grab the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro With RM140 Discount

The
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
 is one of the most well-tuned wireless earbuds in the market now, and it also offers pretty good active noise cancellation (ANC). If you’ve been looking to get the Buds 2 Pro, now’s your chance: it’s currently listed
with a RM140 discount
.

This deal is offered by Preferred+ Shopee retailer Mobile Gadgets. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is
listed at only RM759
 from Mobile Gadgets, and two colours are in stock: Bora Purple and Graphite. Unfortunately, the White model is not available from the retailer.

Even at its original RM899 price tag, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is an attractive pair of wireless earbuds with a complete feature set. Now that it’s going for
as low as RM759
 from Mobile Gadgets, it’s an even easier product to recommend.

If you’d like to learn more about the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, check out our
full review
.


Monokei to Hold TGR 910 v2 ME In-Stock Sale on 25 October – Raffle for 200 Units

Monokei’s partnership with TGR continues with yet another (highly sought-after) custom keyboard, the TGR 910 v2 ME. Just like how it was with the TGR Jane v2 ME, the sale of the TGR 910 will be done as an
in-stock
 raffle, though units are limited.

The raffle for the TGR 910 v2 ME will take place on 25 October from 11AM to 1PM (Malaysian time), and only 200 units are up for grabs. It’s also offered with either a solder or hotswap PCB for S$690 and S$700 respectively; that comes up to about RM2,270 and RM2,305.

Compared to the original version, the TGR 910 v2 ME has been updated with some modern features, including a USB-C port and magnetic backplate courtesy of Monokei. It features a polycarbonate plate and two mounting styles (top mount or O-ring) as well, and winners of the keyboard’s raffle will get a complimentary set of Monokei’s Series 1 White on Black keycaps too.

To recap, Monokei will hold the in-stock raffle of the TGR 910 v2 ME on 25 October; more details on the 65% custom keyboard and the sale can be found
here
. With a S$690 starting price, the TGR 910 is certainly not affordable. But it’s also a
very sought-after
 “grail” for many keyboard enthusiasts, so it won’t be easy to win the raffle. All the best!


Highway Toll Evader Caught With 59 Unpaid Toll Fares – Honda City Driver Charged RM256.20

It looks like another highway toll evader got caught. This time around, it’s a Honda City driver, who has managed to evade a grand total of
59 toll charges
 before getting caught – that’s a lot of evasions.

The City driver was caught on the Kajang SILK highway by Prolintas; there’s a chance the driver did not manage to tailgate another car to get through the toll’s boom gate. The offender paid RM256.20 (including administrative fees) on the spot to settle the unpaid toll charges.

Kali ini, pemandu kereta Honda pula kantoi selepas 59 kali terlepas bayar tol, dgn tunggakan bayaran sejumlah RM256.20 termasuk caj pentadbiran.
Kejadian berlaku mlm tadi di Lebuhraya Kajang SILK. Amaun kerugian telah dikembalikan pada masa & lokasi sama oleh si pelaku.
#Kantoi

pic.twitter.com/5ttTffmELR
— PROLINTAS Kajang SILK (@SILKHighway)
October 15, 2022

Evidently, the driver is lucky to only have to pay that amount of money – even if it’s quite a big sum – without getting any form of summon for the offense. A fine can be issued to toll evaders, though legal actions have to be pursued.

Beyond getting fined, the act of toll evasion is also dangerous as it requires the offender to closely tailgate another car in order to pass through the boom gate. Of course, dangerous driving in itself is a punishable offense, so be warned!


Redmi A1 Now in Malaysia – Entry-Level Phone With 5,000mAh Battery for RM359

Xiaomi Malaysia just launched another affordable phone on our shores, the Redmi A1. Touted as an entry-level device, the A1 retails at merely RM359 locally; perfect for those who are on a tight budget.

For that kind of money, the Redmi A1 features a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W fast charging, so it should be able to offer above average battery life. Aside from that, it’s also powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage.

Other specifications of the A1 include a 6.52-inch 1600 x 720 HD+ display, an 8MP rear camera with an “auxiliary lens” to enable portrait shots, a 5MP selfie camera, and three colour options: Light Blue, Light Green, and Black.

The Redmi A1 is now available for purchase in Malaysia for RM359. Though it only features a modest set of hardware – it’s an entry-level phone, after all – the A1’s generous 5,000mAh battery may just appeal to folks who want an affordable phone with long battery life.


RedMagic 7S Pro Lands in Malaysia – 18GB RAM, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, From RM3,999

If you’re looking to get a gaming phone, you have another option in Malaysia now. The RedMagic 7S Pro has just been launched on our shores, and not only does it feature a built-in
RGB
 fan for improved cooling performance, it also has an under display camera (UDC) for a “true” full screen design.

Two variants of the RedMagic 7S Pro are offered in Malaysia. The base model (in the Obsidian colour only) features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage for RM3,999, while the higher-end 18GB + 512GB configuration – available in Supernova and Mercury colourways – goes for a cool RM4,999.

Early birds can also get freebies worth up to RM489, including a Hey Plus 1S smart band and a one-year extended warranty.

The 16MP UDC looks to be hidden quite well

For that kind of money, the RedMagic 7S Pro is undoubtedly a capable gaming smartphone. It’s powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, and further enhancing the gameplay experience of the phone is a speedy 120Hz 6.8-inch 1080p AMOLED display with no screen cutout at all, given that it features a 16MP UDC.

In the camera department, the 7S Pro features a triple camera system made up of a 64MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. Other specifications of the gaming phone include an “ICE 10.0” cooling system with a built-in RGB fan, capacitive shoulder buttons, a 5,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging, and RedMagic OS 5.5 based on Android 12 out of the box.

The RedMagic 7S Pro will be available for purchase in Malaysia towards the end of the month on 29 October. Those who order the phone by 13 November will get the aforementioned freebies worth up to RM489, which includes a one-year extended warranty and a Hey Plus 1S smart band.


Astro Go Shop 8th Birthday Sale Offers RM8 Million Vouchers & Deals Until 8 November

Astro Go Shop is celebrating its 8th birthday with a three-week sale! Starting from today onwards until 8 November, the 8th Birthday Sale offers a number of interesting deals, including RM8 million vouchers up for grabs, RM88,000 worth of prizes to be won, and even special live shows with local celebrities.

Some of the celebrities that will be hosting Go Shop’s Live Party Shows include none other than Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Datin Hajjah Fouziah Gous, Chef Izyan Hani, and Wong Chui Ling. The “8mazing Live Party” is set to take place on 29 October from 9AM to 12:30PM on Astro CH303, as well as 30 October from 9:30AM to 1PM on Astro CH118.

Of course, the live shows will also be streamed through Astro GO and the Go Shop’s website, mobile app, YouTube, as well as Facebook page.

Beyond that, you can also win the aforementioned RM88,000 worth of prizes by just shopping on Go Shop. You’ll have to spend a minimum of RM288 on a purchase to be in the running to win the prizes, which include a
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
, a Samsung Tab S7 FE, and even a family vacation to Cameron Highlands.

More details on the Astro Go Shop 8th Birthday Sale can be found
here
. You can also download the Go Shop app on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
.


Asus ROG Phone 6D Appears in SIRIM’s Database – Malaysian Launch Soon?

Exactly a week ago, the
Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
 was registered with SIRIM, and today, the standard (and more affordable) ROG Phone 6D has also appeared in the certification body’s database. Essentially the MediaTek version of the previously released
ROG Phone 6
 series, these two phones should be coming to Malaysia soon.

In our usual search through SIRIM’s database, we spotted the ROG Phone 6D registered under Dynamics Distribution just today on 18 October. All electronics have to be certified by SIRIM first before they can be officially sold in Malaysia, so chances are, Asus Malaysia is gearing up to launch the new gaming phones on our shores.

While the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is similar to the
ROG Phone 6 Pro
 with an ROG Vision coloured PMOLED display on the back panel, it also has an AeroActive Portal. This “door” opens up when the phone is connected to the AeroActive Cooler 6, improving thermal efficiency by up to 20%. This should translate to better sustained performance.

One other new hardware of the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate is the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, which is said to deliver 10% faster performance compared to the standard Dimensity 9000. It’ll be interesting to see how this chip compares to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip found in the regular ROG Phone 6.

Other specifications of the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate include a 6.78-inch 1080p 165Hz AMOLED display, a triple camera system – 50MP primary + 13MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro – a 12MP selfie camera, and a generous 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

It remains to be seen exactly when the Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate will arrive in Malaysia, but given that both of them have already been registered with SIRIM, we reckon Asus Malaysia will reveal the local pricing and availability of the two phones very soon.