Video: Paying RM500 for a (GMK) Keyboard Keycap Set

Ask any keyboard enthusiast which part of the keyboard that they purchased the most, and they will (very) likely say keycap sets. More specifically, GMK keycap sets that can cost up to $120, which comes up to about RM500 with shipping included…give and take.

Yes, that is
a lot
 of money to fork out for keycaps, but there are a number of reasons why it’s worth the investment. Not only will you get a superior typing experience – after all, it’s the part of the keyboard that you touch the most – GMK keycaps also hold their value quite well.

Not quite convinced? Then watch our video above! We also compare the sound profile of GMK and MT3 keycap sets in the video.


Xiaomi Mi 11 With Snapdragon 888 Arriving in Malaysia Soon

Unveiled to the world just last week, there’s a very good chance the
Xiaomi Mi 11
 is arriving here in Malaysia very soon. If it does land on our shores soon, the Mi 11 will be the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 flagship smartphone to be sold here.

In our routine search through SIRIM’s database, we noticed that Xiaomi Malaysia registered a new phone with the model number M2011K2G two days ago on 5 January. After some digging around, we’re confident that this is in fact the Mi 11.

One of the major highlights of the Mi 11 is definitely the Snapdragon 888 chipset powering the phone. Fabricated on a more power-efficient 5nm process – in comparison to the 7nm Snapdragon 865 – Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor promises up to 25% and 35% better CPU and GPU performance respectively.

Other specifications of the Mi 11 include a 6.81-inch 1440p curved AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system (108MP f/1.85 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.4 telemacro), a 20MP f/2.4 front-facing camera, a 4,600mAh battery, up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage, as well as an in-screen fingerprint sensor that can even measure heart rate.

Now that the Xiaomi Mi 11 has been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it’s only a matter of time before Xiaomi Malaysia officially launch the device on our shores. Of course, we will keep a close eye on the local availability of the Mi 11.


Kia Seltos SUV Finally Launched in Malaysia – RM116k to RM134k

After many months of waiting, the
Kia Seltos
 has finally been launched here in Malaysia. The B-segment SUV is fully imported (CBU) from India, so compared to its locally assembled (CKD) competition, the Seltos – as expected – costs quite a bit more.

Two variants of the Seltos are offered on our shores. The base EX model is priced at RM115,888, while the better equipped GT-Line trim goes for RM133,888. These are on-the-road prices without insurance, along with 50% sales tax exemption applied until 30 June 2021. This SUV also has a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

Regardless of which variant you get, both models of the Seltos are powered by the same 1.6L Gamma MPI engine that outputs 123PS and 151Nm of torque; our market is not getting the turbocharged engine. Aside from that, drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

What differentiates the EX and GT-Line trims of the Seltos are a number of creature comforts and design elements. Exclusive to the GT-Line variant are ventilated front seats, full LED headlights, a head-up display, a Qi wireless charging pad, automatic air-conditioning, and a 7-inch multi-info display – the EX gets a smaller 3.5-inch screen instead.

Standard equipment offered on both the EX and GT-Line models, on the other hand, are quite neat. These include six airbags, leather seats – though the design is different between the two – Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, passive cruise control, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels.

To recap, the Kia Seltos retails at RM115,888 and RM133,888 for the EX and GT-Line models respectively. Do note that these prices are only valid
until 30 June 2021
; that’s when the government’s sales tax exemption for CBU and CKD cars is set to end.


Second PS5 Pre-Orders in Malaysia Happening Tomorrow on 8 January

Great news! Sony Malaysia just announced on its
Facebook page
 that the second batch of pre-orders for the highly sought-after
PlayStation 5
 console is happening tomorrow on 8 January. However, as expected, stocks will be limited.

According to Sony Malaysia, this second pre-order for the PS5 will only be done at Sony Stores in KLCC and The Curve. Yes, you are required to visit either one of these two physical stores to place your pre-order of the console. At the time of writing, it remains to be seen if other retailers will also open pre-orders for the PS5.

To recap, there are two versions of the PS5. The PS5 Digital Edition retails at only RM1,869 here in Malaysia, while the standard PS5 with a Blu-ray disc drive costs slightly more at RM2,299. If you prefer to buy your games digitally, the more affordable Digital Edition is certainly a good option.

If you’re considering to get other PS5 accessories with this pre-order, do note that you are limited to only one item per console. If you need a refresher, the DualSense controller costs RM349, while the charging station for the DualSense (which can charge two of them at the same time) retails at RM149. There’s also the Pulse 3D wireless headset (RM469), HD Camera (RM279), and Media Remote (RM149).

In the event that you are still unable to get the PlayStation 5 from this pre-order, we don’t recommend
purchasing the system above retail price from scalpers
. More stocks
will
 be made available eventually. Plus, if you’re an existing PS4 owner, you
don’t have to upgrade just yet
.


Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro Comes With Next Gen AMD Ryzen Chips & RTX GPUs

More CES 2021 news are coming from various brands, including the new Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro. Touted as the most powerful IdeaPad laptop yet, the IdeaPad 5 Pro features next generation AMD Ryzen chips and Nvidia RTX GPUs – it’s really quite an exciting laptop that should be able to serve as a good productivity and gaming machine.

Of course, Lenovo did not disclose exactly what new Ryzen CPUs and RTX GPUs will be found under the hood of the IdeaPad 5 Pro. Chances are, these should be the upcoming mobile versions of the Ryzen 5000 CPU and RTX 3000 series GPU. We’ll have to wait for official announcements from AMD and Nvidia to be sure, which should be happening very soon.

Aside from that, there are also two variants of the IdeaPad 5 Pro. The 14-inch model with a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 IPS screen (90Hz) can be configured with an Nvidia MX450 GPU, while the bigger 16-inch version with a 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display (120Hz) is the one packing next generation RTX GPUs. That’s right, both variants of the IdeaPad 5 Pro feature relatively fast screens with a productivity-focused 16:10 aspect ratio.

Naturally, the IdeaPad 5 Pro can be equipped with up to 16GB of RAM (32GB for the 16-inch model) and 1TB of SSD storage as well; large enough capacities for most users. Lenovo will also release an Intel version of this laptop, dubbed IdeaPad 5i Pro. Just like the AMD model, this Intel variant is offered with similar hardware in two sizes (14-inch and 16-inch), but with 11th generation Intel CPUs instead.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and IdeaPad 5i Pro will be available in EMEA markets sometime in March 2021, though the 16-inch model of the former will only be arriving in May 2021. The AMD models will start at €799 (approximately RM3,960), while the Intel machines retail from €699 (about RM3,465).


Sony’s 2021 Bravia XR TVs Support 120Hz at 4K & Google TV; Coming to Malaysia Soon

Sony just introduced its range of 2021 Bravia XR TVs, and they are quite a bit better than their predecessors. Not only do these TVs support 120Hz at 4K resolution with variable refresh rate – making it ideal for those that are looking for a new TV to complement the
PlayStation 5
 – it runs on Google TV as well.

The 2021 Bravia XR TV offerings include four distinct lineups: there’s the range-topping Master Series Z9J 8K LED TV, Master Series A90J 4K OLED TV, A80J 4K OLED TV, and the most affordable of the lot, the X90J 4K LED TV. Naturally, these TVs feature HDMI 2.1, allowing them to run 4K content at 120Hz.

Aside from that, Sony also highlighted the fact that these Bravia XR TVs come with a Cognitive Processor XR chip, which goes beyond “conventional AI.” By dividing the screen into hundreds of zones, this chip can “cross-analyse around a few hundred thousand different elements that make up a picture in a second” to produce more lifelike image quality.

And then there’s the underlying operating system of the Bravia XR TVs, Google TV. Basically, the user interface of these TVs will be very similar to that of Google’s latest Chromecast. There will be personalised recommendations, the ability to bookmark shows and movies to the Watchlist – you can even do so with your phone or laptop – and of course, voice control with the “Hey Google” command.

Price and availability of the 2021 Sony Bravia XR TVs have not been revealed yet, though Sony Malaysia confirmed that these TVs will be making their way here. In the meantime, you can check out Sony’s current TV lineup
on its website
.


9 – 15 January Fuel Price: RON 95, RON 97 Remain, Diesel Up 1 Sen

The prices of RON 95 and RON 97 are not going up this coming week for a change! That being said, diesel still sees a small price increase of 1 sen per litre this midnight. Consider fueling up tonight if you need to.

To recap, the price of RON 95 remains at RM1.84 per litre; same goes to RON 97, where it stays at RM2.14 per litre at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM2.02 per litre this coming week compared to RM2.01 previously.

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


Redmi 9T With 6,000mAh Battery & Snapdragon 662 Lands in Malaysia From RM599

The just-announced Redmi 9T will be coming to Malaysia next week on 15 January. Sporting a very generous 6,000mAh battery and a reasonably good Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset, you may want to consider this phone if you’re looking for a budget-friendly device.

Two variants of the Redmi 9T are offered in Malaysia. The base model with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM retails at RM599, while the more practical 128GB variant with 6GB of RAM costs RM699. If you need more storage space, you’ll be happy to know that this phone has a microSD card slot.

Given its affordable price tag, the Redmi 9T’s hardware are decidedly mid-range. The main highlight is definitely its generous 6,000mAh battery, which should be able to deliver excellent battery life. If you’re a light smartphone user, it’s very possible to get up to two day of use on a single charge.

Other specifications of the Redmi 9T include a 6.53-inch 1080p notched display, an 11nm Snapdragon 662 octa-core chipset, a quad camera system (48MP f/1.79 primary + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 2MP f/2.4 macro + 2MP f/2.4 depth), an 8MP f/2.05 selfie camera, and MIUI 12 based on Android 10 out of the box.

The Redmi 9T will be
available for purchase on Lazada
 next week on 15 January. To recap, the 64GB + 4GB model costs RM599, while the 128GB + 6GB variant retails at RM699. Four colour options are available: Carbon Grey, Twilight Blue, Sunrise Orange, and Ocean Green.


Genshin Impact Ganyu Banner Arrives 12 January With Xingqiu, Xiangling & Noelle

Mihoyo just confirmed the arrival of Ganyu in
Genshin Impact
. The 5-star character is set to be available in the game this Tuesday on 12 January. The three other 4-star characters joining her banner have been confirmed as well, which include Xingqiu, Xiangling, and Noelle.

Just like Genshin Impact’s
previous character event banners
, the “drop rate” of Ganyu, Xingqiu, Xiangling, and Noelle will be increased. In the case of Ganyu, the first 5-star character you get will have a 50% chance to be her. If it’s not her, the
next
 5-star character you roll is guaranteed to be Ganyu.

Since Genshin Impact’s pity system ensures that you will get at least one 5-star character or weapon every 90 wishes, you will have to do 180 rolls for a guaranteed chance to get Ganyu.

Same goes for the 4-star characters, but given that there are three of them featured in the event banner, it’s a little bit more random. Basically, when you’re guaranteed a 4-star character from the banner, you will get either Xingqiu, Xiangling, or Noelle. If you’re aiming to get either one of these three characters, you will likely have to roll a few times.

Besides the new banner, the story quest for Ganyu, Sinae Unicornis Chapter, will also be added to Genshin Impact on 12 January. Completing the story quest will reward players with Primogems, adventure experience, and a number of other rewards. However, to unlock the story quest, you’d have to be at least Adventure Rank 40; you’re also required to complete the Archon Quest “A New Star Approaches.”

To recap, Ganyu’s Adrift in the Harbor banner will be released this Tuesday on 12 January. For us here in Malaysia, the banner will go live at 6PM alongside Ganyu’s Sinae Unicornis Chapter story quest.


Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro With Next Gen AMD Ryzen CPU Coming to Malaysia

The
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
, which is touted as the most powerful IdeaPad laptop to date, is arriving here in Malaysia very soon. Sporting next generation AMD Ryzen processors and Nvidia RTX GPUs – both of which have not been officially announced yet – it’s certainly an interesting laptop.

Lenovo Malaysia just registered the IdeaPad 5 Pro 14ITL6 with SIRIM today on 11 January. Curiously, the company also submitted another model (IdeaPad 5 Pro 14ACN6) with the certification body last month on 22 December 2020. Based on their model numbers, we reckon these two are the Intel and AMD configurations of the 14-inch IdeaPad 5 Pro.

If one of the two models really is the AMD version of the IdeaPad 5 Pro, it will be one of the first productivity laptops with a (unconfirmed, but very likely) Ryzen 5000 chip to be made available in Malaysia. The Intel version, on the other hand, is said to be packing 11th generation Intel processors instead, though it remains to be seen if these belong to the U or H series. If it’s the latter, it would be a new offering from Intel.

Other specifications of the IdeaPad 5 Pro include a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 IPS screen with a relatively fast 90Hz refresh rate, an Nvidia MX450 GPU, as well as up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. What about the next generation RTX GPU? Well, that’s reserved for the higher-end 16-inch model.

Now that the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has been registered with SIRIM, it’s almost a certainty the laptop will be sold in Malaysia. That being said, the IdeaPad 5 Pro is only set to be available in selected markets sometime in March 2021, so we’ll have to wait until then for the laptop to be launched locally.


Xiaomi Mi Watch Finally Arriving in Malaysia Soon

Previously, Xiaomi Malaysia teased that the Xiaomi Mi Watch was set to arrive in Malaysia sometime in December last month. Evidently, this didn’t pan out, but we have good reason to believe that the wearable will be arriving on our shores very soon.

As usual, we were scouring SIRIM’s database when we noticed that Era International Network and Rainbow Distribution registered a smartwatch with the model number XMWTCL02. We’re confident this is the Mi Watch, given that the same model number is listed on the
official product page of the wearable
.

Compared to the budget-friendly Mi Watch Lite, the Mi Watch is a more premium offering. Its circular display, for one, is a sharper, vibrant 1.39-inch 454 x 454 AMOLED screen. It also has a much larger 420mAh battery that promises up to 16 days of use on a single charge.

Other specifications of the Mi Watch include 117 workout modes, over 100 watchfaces, a heart rate sensor, the ability to measure blood oxygen level, a 5 ATM water resistance rating, as well as a “high-end” 12nm GPS chip. It’s said to take advantage of customised mileage optimisation algorithms to improve movements and mileage accuracy for more precise fitness data.

At the moment, we haven’t heard from Xiaomi Malaysia on the local availability of the Xiaomi Mi Watch. Given that the smartwatch has already been registered with SIRIM, we reckon it will be launched here very soon.


Genshin Impact Ganyu Gameplay Trailer Released; Showcases Her Abilities

Mihoyo just released the gameplay trailer for Genshin Impact’s next 5-star character,
Ganyu
. Not only do we get a better look at her in-game appearance in this video, we also get to see some of her unique Cryo skills in action.

Ganyu is a bow user with a Cryo Vision, but unlike other characters that wield the same weapon, her Charged Attack has two levels. A level one Charged Attack fires an arrow that deals Cryo damage, while charging it to level two fires a “Frostflake Arrow” that deals Cryo damage
and
 a second instance of AoE Cryo damage.

Given that no other bow user in Genshin Impact has two levels of Charged Attack, this makes Ganyu a particularly unique bow-wielding character. Her Elemental Skill (Trail of the Qilin), on the other hand, leaves an Ice Lotus that deals AoE Cryo damage. The Ice Lotus will taunt enemies, and once it is destroyed by enemies (or its duration ends), it will deal AoE Cryo damage again.

As for Ganyu’s Elemental Burst, Celestial Shower, a “Sacred Cryo Pearl” is summoned in a pretty big AoE. While the skill is active, shards of ice will continuously rain down on enemies in the AoE that will deal Cryo damage. If the Elemental Burst is activated on water, it seems to freeze the surface of the water (in the affected area) as well.

Ganyu will be available in Genshin Impact
tomorrow on 12 January
; for those who are here in Malaysia, Ganyu’s Adrift in the Harbor banner will go live at 6PM. Accompanying her are three other 4-star characters, including Xingqiu, Xiangling, and Noelle.


Lenovo’s New ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga Is Only 11.5mm Thin; Slimmest ThinkPad Yet

Lenovo just unveiled a number of new ThinkPad notebooks today, including the impressively thin ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga convertible laptop. Measuring only 11.5mm thin, this is the slimmest ThinkPad to date. On top of that, it also has a number of other interesting features.

As its name suggests, the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is said to be “covered in titanium material,” which suggests that it is not entirely made out of titanium. Nonetheless, its 11.5mm chassis is definitely one of the laptop’s best features, but since it is so thin, the X1 Titanium only features two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Aside from that, the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga also has a 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 touch-enabled screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio; ideal for productivity-focused tasks. This being a business-class laptop, it is powered by Intel’s latest 11th generation vPro chips too; the options top out at a Core i7 processor.

Other specifications of the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga include Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, a 44.5WHr battery that promises up to 10.9 hours of use on a single charge – that’s pretty respectable – a 1.15kg chassis, up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, as well as optional 5G connectivity.

According to Lenovo, the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga will be available for purchase sometime this month with a $1,899 starting price, which comes up to about RM7,700. At the moment, it remains to be seen exactly when the premium business-class laptop will arrive in Malaysia.


The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE Is a 14″ Gaming Laptop With RTX 3060 GPU & 11th Gen Intel H-Series Chip

Acer just took the wraps off arguably its most exciting gaming laptop to date. Enter the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE: a compact, premium gaming laptop in a 14-inch form factor. This is one of its best selling points, given that its only other competition is the similarly sized
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
 gaming laptop.

Compared to 2020 gaming laptops, the Predator Triton 300 SE is seemingly a more powerful gaming machine, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU under the hood. That’s right, it is packing Nvidia’s brand new Ampere graphics cards for laptops. In the case of the RTX 3060, it promises up to 1.3x better performance than the
PlayStation 5
.

Aside from that, the Triton 300 SE also features Intel’s just-announced 11th generation H-series chip; the highest-end configuration is powered by a Core i7-11375H processor that offers a whopping 5GHz peak clock speed. While this sounds impressive, it’ll be interesting to see how it would compare to AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 mobile CPU once we have them in for review.

Other hardware of the Predator Triton 300 SE include a fast 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, a 1.7kg chassis that measures only 17.9mm thin – it’s definitely a thin and light gaming laptop – and up to 10 hours of battery life. As for RAM and storage capacities, Acer will reveal these specifications in the near future.

The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE will start shipping sometime in February next month with a $1,400 starting price (about RM5,675). Malaysian availability of this compact gaming laptop has not been revealed yet, but we did manage to spend a brief time with the Triton 300 SE. Our hands-on is coming very soon!


Asus ROG Flow X13: A 13″ Convertible Gaming Laptop With AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS

Asus released some very interesting gaming laptops recently. Last year, it was the first brand to release a modern, very capable 14-inch gaming laptop (the
ROG Zephyrus G14
), and now, we’ve got the Asus ROG Flow X13. Not only does it come with AMD’s new Ryzen 9 5980HS processor, it is also a
convertible
 gaming laptop in an
even more compact
 13-inch form factor.

In fact, the ROG Flow X13 can actually be configured with three different processors: the aforementioned Ryzen 9 5980HS, Ryzen 9 5900HS, and Ryzen 7 5800HS. According to Asus, the Ryzen 9 5980HS processor – which can go up to 4.8GHz on a single core – is reserved for the “Flow X13 Supernova Edition.”

While the CPU options for the ROG Flow X13 are very powerful, the GPU under the hood of this laptop…isn’t quite on the same level. It’s only packing an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, which is a decidedly entry-level graphics card. For a gaming laptop of this calibre, you’d expect it to be equipped with a far more powerful GPU.

Well, that’s where the ROG XG Mobile comes into the picture. It is an external GPU enclosure that only works with the ROG Flow X13 at the moment, since it has a proprietary connection that can deliver 63Gbps of bandwidth. This allows you to take full advantage of the performance offered by the GPU in this enclosure; it can be configured with an RTX 3080 or RTX 3070 laptop graphics card.

On top of that, the XG Mobile is also very, very compact. It is only “6% the size of typical eGPUs” – as Asus puts it – and the enclosure also takes advantage of vapour chamber cooling to enhance thermal performance.

Now, let’s get back to the ROG Flow X13, which is actually closer to a productivity-focused laptop rather than a gaming machine. We say this because it has a 13.4-inch 3840 x 2400 touch-enabled IPS screen (60Hz) with a 16:10 aspect ratio; a display you’d usually find on a premium productivity laptop. Of course, if you want a panel that’s more suited for gaming, there’s a 1920 x 1200 screen option with a faster 120Hz refresh rate.

Other specifications of the ROG Flow X13 include up to 32B of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, a 1.3kg chassis that measures only 15.8mm thin, as well as a 62WHr battery that promises up to 10 hours of video playback. All in all, it’s an interesting gaming laptop that should be able to serve as a very good productivity machine as well.

The Asus ROG Flow X13 convertible gaming laptop is now available for pre-order in the US for a cool $3,000 (about RM12,115), which also includes the ROG XG Mobile eGPU with an RTX 3080. Malaysian price and availability have not been announced yet, but we reckon it will arrive on our shores in the near future, as with most of Asus’ gaming laptops.


Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Hands-On: Sleeker, Faster, But at What Cost?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones are here, and while they don’t look radically different
from their

predecessors
, there are noteworthy upgrades under the hood. Not only are they faster now thanks to the new Exynos 2100 processor, there are also other incremental upgrades that make them more polished, complete flagship smartphones.

However, there are some odd hardware changes here and there that won’t sit quite well with folks who have certain expectations of the new phones, especially with the Galaxy S21 and S21+. Anyway, without further ado, let’s get to the hands-on.

From left: Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, Galaxy S21 Ultra
Galaxy S21
Galaxy S21+

First, let’s talk about one of the biggest hardware revisions: both the Galaxy S21 and S21+ feature 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch screens respectively with only a 1080p resolution. That’s right, they no longer have the 1440p screens of their predecessors, which is quite odd for high-end, flagship smartphones at this price point. Did I mention that the S21 also has a polycarbonate back?

Granted, the Galaxy S21 and S21+ still have 120Hz screens with support for adaptive refresh rate now. This allows the two phones to dynamically switch between 48Hz to 120Hz refresh rate depending on what’s shown on the screen, which should meaningfully improve battery life. The Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, is even better in this regard: its 6.8-inch 1440p screen can adjust between 10Hz to 120Hz.

Beyond the refresh rate of these screens, all three Galaxy S21 smartphones have Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels, which look
fantastic
. Even though the S21 and S21+ only have 1080p displays now, they still look great with bright, vibrant colours and excellent viewing angles. It’s worth noting that these two devices have flat screens, while the S21 Ultra has subtle curves on either sides of its display.

Galaxy S21 Ultra

Another feature that’s exclusive to the Galaxy S21 Ultra is S Pen compatibility, though the stylus is not built into the phone itself like the Galaxy Note series. Instead, you’d have to get the S Pen from either the
Galaxy Tab S7
 or the dedicated case for the phone that comes with the stylus as well. Basically, if you want a built-in S Pen, you still need to get the
Galaxy Note

20
or
Note 10
 series.

As mentioned, the Galaxy S21 series is powered by Samsung’s brand new Exynos 2100 chipset fabricated on a power-efficient 5nm process. According to Samsung, this processor offers 20% faster CPU and 35% better GPU performance compared to its direct predecessor. These are pretty big numbers, though we’d have to put it through real life use first to see if there are any tangible improvements.

For what it’s worth, these phones certainly feel very fast in my brief time with them.

Speaking of fast, I am absolutely
amazed
 by the new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the screens of the Galaxy S21 smartphones. Not only is it 1.7 times bigger now, the sensor can accurately recognise my fingerprint almost
instantaneously
 – a quick tap is all it takes for me to unlock the phone. It’s great that Samsung finally improved its finicky ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

When it comes to battery life, I’m confident the Galaxy S21 smartphones will be able to deliver better longevity than their respective predecessors. After all, they are powered by a more power-efficient 5nm chipset now, not to mention the fact that both the S21 and S21+ have lower resolution – but not quite as power hungry – screens now.

As for battery capacity, the S21 retains the 4,000mAh battery of the S20, while the S21+ gets a larger 4,800mAh cell (compared to the S20+’s 4,500mAh battery). The S21 Ultra, on the other hand, sports a 5,000mAh battery.

Galaxy S21 in Phantom Violet

Last but definitely not least is the camera system of the Galaxy S21 smartphones, which is now housed in a “Contour Cut” camera design that gives the phones a unique aesthetic that I personally quite like. This is especially the case with the Phantom Violet colourway of the S21 and S21+, which draws attention to the phones’ dual tone design.

Both the standard Galaxy S21 and S21+ have the same triple camera system. It is made up of a 12MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto lens that can do 3x optical zoom or 30x Space Zoom, which is really digital zoom. These two phones also have a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera on the front.

Naturally, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is equipped with a more sophisticated quad camera system headlined by a 108MP f/1.8 primary shooter. There’s also a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto sensor (3x optical zoom), and get this:
another
 10MP f/4.9 telephoto camera that can do 10x optical zoom. Collectively, this allows the S21 Ultra to do 100x Space Zoom. It also has a laser autofocus system and a 40MP f/2.2 selfie camera.

In my short time photographing with the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra, they certainly feel more capable than their predecessors. This is especially true with the S21 Ultra – the laser autofocus system can lock in focus quickly, and the two telephoto sensors noticeably improve the camera’s zoom performance.

But it’s worth noting that I only managed to test out the camera performance of these phones in a well-lit environment. For a fairer assessment, I’d need to put the camera systems through their paces in more challenging lighting situations in a full review.

All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S21 series is definitely more polished than its predecessor with some meaningful (albeit incremental) upgrades. Based on my brief time with the three smartphones, they seem to improve on many aspects that matter to end users, including better performance, improved camera systems, fast screens with adaptive refresh rate, and of course, sleeker-looking designs.

That being said, we’re still missing a vital piece of information that will set expectations for the Galaxy S21 lineup: pricing. It’s a given that the retail prices of these new phones will be higher than before, and it’s really a matter of
how much
 Samsung will increase them. For context, the Galaxy S20 series retailed from RM3,599 to RM4,999 at launch last year
here in Malaysia
.

While I’m quite impressed with the refinement of the Galaxy S21 smartphones – and I can see the justification for a price increase – pricing the phones too high from their predecessors may drive potential customers away, especially in a price sensitive market like Malaysia. We expect Samsung Malaysia to reveal the local pricing of the Galaxy S21 series soon, and we’ll update this hands-on once we have the relevant information.

Update:
 Samsung just revealed the Malaysian pricing of the Galaxy S21 series; it retails from RM3,699 to RM5,899. Click
here
 to learn more!


Acer Predator Triton 300 SE Hands-On: A Minimalist, Powerful Compact Gaming Laptop

If you’re looking to get a compact gaming laptop, you don’t have a lot of choices. Last year, only the
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
 fits the bill, so thankfully enough, you have another option now. This is the
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
, which is basically Acer’s answer to the Zephyrus G14.

Packed with Nvidia’s brand new RTX 3060 GPU for laptops and Intel’s latest 11th generation H-series chips, the Triton 300 SE packs quite a punch for a compact gaming laptop. On top of that, it also sports a very understated design that wouldn’t look out of place in a professional setting.

After spending a brief time with the Triton 300 SE, I am definitely impressed with what it has to offer. Consider this gaming laptop if you want a capable gaming machine in a compact form factor.

As mentioned, the Predator Triton 300 SE is powered by Intel’s new 11th gen H-series processors. The highest-end configuration of this gaming laptop is equipped with a Core i7-11375H processor that offers a whopping 5GHz peak clock speed. It offers promising CPU performance, and it’ll be interesting to see how it would compare to AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 mobile CPUs once we have them in for review.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to run any games on the Triton 300 SE to see just how capable it is; I was told that the driver for the RTX 3060 GPU is not ready yet. Nonetheless, Nvidia promises up to 1.3 times better performance than the
PlayStation 5
 with this graphics card, so it’s very likely that this gaming laptop will be able to run most (if not all) AAA titles with little difficulty.

Further complementing the gaming experience of the Predator Triton 300 SE is the 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate – perfectly suited for a gaming laptop of this calibre. If you’re into fast-paced games, you would definitely appreciate the high refresh rate. The quality of the panel itself is also quite good with vibrant colours and wide viewing angles.

And then there’s the understated design of the Triton 300 SE, which I really, really like. Despite its positioning as a gaming laptop, I love the fact that it has such a subtle, almost professional-looking design that’s usually only reserved for productivity-focused laptops. It’s a breath of fresh air when compared to loud, aggressively-styled gaming laptops.

Speaking of which, I reckon the Predator Triton 300 SE can serve double duty as a productivity laptop and portable gaming machine. After all, it’s said to offer up to 10 hours of battery life. Not the best battery life for a laptop, of course, but this
is
 a gaming-oriented notebook with some beefy hardware under the hood.

Besides that, with a 1.7kg chassis that measures only 17.9mm thin, the Triton 300 SE is also a very portable gaming laptop that you can easily lug around in your backpack. As for connectivity, this laptop has two full-size USB-A ports, a USB-C connection, an HDMI output, and of course, a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Last but definitely not least are the input devices of the Predator Triton 300 SE. The keyboard, for one, is…alright. While it has decent key travel, the keyboard itself doesn’t offer very pronounced tactile feedback, so I can’t type quite as accurately as I usually do. Granted, I’m sure I can get used to it over time, but it’s certainly not the best laptop keyboard I’ve come across.

The trackpad of the Triton 300 SE, on the other hand, works as intended. It is largely accurately, it can recognise gestures reasonably well, and there’s even a fingerprint sensor on the top left of the trackpad for quick authentication. Basically, I wouldn’t mind using the trackpad exclusively for productivity tasks.

Overall, as a fan of compact gaming laptops, I’m really intrigued by the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE. More brands are finally focusing on this particular segment, which was previously (solely) occupied by Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14. It’ll be interesting to see if other laptop makers will also follow suit.

Of course, the only thing that remains now is for Acer Malaysia to reveal the local availability and pricing of the Triton 300 SE. For the US market, it retails from $1,400, which comes up to about RM5,660. Yes, it is not an affordable gaming laptop, but it is a premium product with some beefy hardware under the hood.

I absolutely cannot wait to put the Predator Triton 300 SE through its paces in a full review to see just how powerful the RTX 3060 GPU and Intel’s 11th gen H-series chips really are. I’m curious to see if the Triton 300 SE can serve as a good productivity laptop as well, given its compact form factor and quoted battery life of up to 10 hours.


Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Malaysian Pricing Revealed; From RM3,699 to RM5,899

Samsung
just revealed
 the Malaysian pricing of the
Samsung Galaxy S21 series
. As expected, the new flagship smartphones cost quite a bit more than their respective predecessors, with prices ranging from RM3,699 to a whopping RM5,899.

Of course, the RM3,699 price tag is for the most affordable device in the series – the standard Galaxy S21 – which comes with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S21+, on the other hand, costs RM4,299 for the same storage and RAM capacities. As for the range-topping Galaxy S21 Ultra, it costs RM5,299 for the 256GB + 12GB model, and an eye-watering RM5,899 for the 512GB + 16GB variant.

Galaxy S21 Ultra
Galaxy S21+
Galaxy S21

These are steeper price tags compared to the previous
Galaxy S20

series
, but for that kind of money, you do get some high-end hardware. The S21 Ultra, for one, features a 6.8-inch 1440p Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, a 5nm Exynos 2100 processor, a quad camera system (108MP f/1.8 primary + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 10MP f/2.4 telephoto sensor [3x zoom] + 10MP f/4.9 telephoto [10x zoom]), a 40MP f/2.2 selfie camera, and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

As for the Galaxy S21 and S21+, both devices have similar hardware. These include 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch 1080p Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays respectively – complete with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate – the same Exynos 2100 processor as the Ultra, a triple camera system (12MP f/1.8 primary + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 64MP f/2.0 telephoto [3x zoom]), a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera, and a 4,000mAh (4,800mAh for the S21+) battery.

To recap, the Samsung Galaxy S21 retails at RM3,699, while the Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra go for RM4,299 and RM5,299 (RM5,899 for the 512GB model) respectively. These phones are available for pre-order in Malaysia
right now
, and early birds will also get the Galaxy Buds Live – the new Buds Pro for those who pre-order the S21 Ultra – and Galaxy SmartTag for free.

If you’d like to learn more about the Galaxy S21 series, check out our hands-on of
these flagship smartphones
.


Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Too Expensive?

The
Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones
 were unveiled much earlier than anticipated last week, and we’ve got the
Malaysian pricing of the new devices too
. But unlike other markets, where the starting price of the S21 series is actually
lower
than the
S20 lineup
, we see the opposite here in Malaysia. In fact, local prices of the S21 smartphones are up across the board.

So that brings us to the question: is the Galaxy S21 series
too expensive
 in our market? Well, the answer to that question is actually not very straightforward. While they are priced higher than their predecessors, the S21 phones are
not exactly
 more expensive now – we’ll break it down below.

First, let’s take the
standard Galaxy S20
 as a point of comparison. When it was launched in Malaysia last year, it retailed at RM3,599. The Galaxy S21, on the other hand, costs RM3,699 – that’s a RM100 price difference. However, keep in mind that the S20 only had 128GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM; the S21 features
twice
the amount of storage at 256GB with the same amount of RAM.

Essentially, you’re paying RM100 to get more storage space – and a slew of other upgrades – with the Galaxy S21; not a bad deal at all. It’s a similar scenario with the Galaxy S21+, though there’s a bigger price gap. It offers 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for RM4,299, while its predecessor, the Galaxy S20+, came with 128GB of storage and 8GB RAM for RM3,999 – a RM300 price difference.

As for the range-topping Galaxy S21 Ultra, same story here. The S20 Ultra only had 128GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for RM4,999 at launch, but the S21 Ultra has 256GB of storage with the same RAM capacity for RM5,299. You’re paying the extra RM300 not just for the larger storage capacity, but also for a more polished and capable flagship smartphone.

If you need even more storage space, there’s the S21 Ultra with 512GB of storage and a whopping 16GB RAM for RM5,899. Without a doubt this is a steep price tag, but compared to, say, the iPhone 12 Pro Max with 512GB storage – which costs an eye-watering RM6,699 – the S21 Ultra does offer better value for money.

So then, is the Samsung Galaxy S21 series more expensive in Malaysia compared to other markets? Well, yes and no. The thing is, Samsung Malaysia is not bringing in more affordable variants of the S21 smartphones with less storage capacities, which in turn drives up the prices of the devices. If the Korean company had brought in the base 128GB models, it’s entirely possible the prices of the Galaxy S21 phones could be lower like other markets.

Will more Galaxy S21 variants be introduced in the near future? Perhaps, though we do expect the retail prices of these phones to steadily drop in the coming months. This was the case with Samsung’s previous flagship smartphones, and in the current economic uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, it’s not far-fetched to assume the same will happen to the Galaxy S21 series.


16 – 22 January Fuel Price: Petrol up 5 Sen, Diesel up 3 Sen

Fuel prices are going up this coming week folks. Both RON 95 and RON 97 will go up by 5 sen per litre this midnight, while diesel sees a slightly smaller price hike of 3 sen per litre. If you need to be out and about during MCO, consider fueling up tonight.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.89 per litre (up from RM1.84) and RON 97 to RM2.19 per litre (RM2.14 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM2.05 per litre this coming week compared to RM2.02 previously.

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


Asus ROG Flow X13 Coming to Malaysia Soon; 13″ Convertible Gaming Laptop

One of the most interesting gaming laptops unveiled by Asus at CES 2021 was the
Asus ROG Flow X13
, a 13-inch convertible gaming laptop that can be connected to an eGPU for even better gaming performance. Well, if you’re eyeing to get this compact gaming machine, you’ll be happy to know that it is coming to Malaysia very soon.

In fact, the ROG Flow X13 was actually registered with SIRIM last week on 8 January by three companies under the GV301Q model number. This is the very same model number reflected in the gaming laptop’s
official product page on Asus Malaysia’s website
, which suggests that the gaming laptop will be arriving here in the near future.

Based on the spec sheet of the ROG Flow X13 on Asus Malaysia’s website, the gaming laptop will feature AMD’s brand new Ryzen 9 5900HS processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB GDDR6 memory, a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 touch-enabled IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD.

If you’re wondering why a gaming laptop of this calibre only features an entry-level GTX 1650 GPU, that’s because the Flow X13 is meant to be paired with the ROG XG Mobile external GPU enclosure. The product page for the eGPU is already up on
Asus Malaysia’s website
, though it did not detail the exact GPU the Malaysian market will receive. If you’re wondering, this eGPU enclosure can be configured with an RTX 3080 or RTX 3070 laptop GPU.

We’ve contacted Asus Malaysia regarding the local availability of the Asus ROG Flow X13, and we were told that the more details will be revealed sometime next month in February 2021. On top of that, the Taiwanese company will also announce the availability of other ROG products for the Malaysian market then.


Logitech G Pro X Superlight Now Available in Malaysia for RM649

Previously, we reported on the
Malaysian pricing
 of the
Logitech G Pro X Superlight
 gaming mouse, but its local availability was not revealed then. Well, if you’ve got your eyes on this extremely lightweight mouse since its official launch two months ago, you’ll be happy to know that it’s now available for purchase in Malaysia.

We first spotted the local availability of the G Pro X Superlight on Logitech’s official
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 stores. According to the listing, every purchase of the RM649 gaming mouse will be bundled with a Valorant-branded mousepad, as well as a pouch for the mouse. Both the
White
 and
Black
 colourways are offered too.

Curiously, if you get the Superlight on Shopee, you can get an additional 8% discount voucher from the shop, bringing down the price
to exactly RM597.08
.

One of the best features of the G Pro X Superlight has to be its lightweight nature. Tipping the scales at only 63g, you can even remove the magnetic plate on the bottom of the mouse to reduce the weight to
only 60g
. It also has much larger “zero-additive” PTFE feet (in comparison to the G Pro Wireless) for a smoother glide, along with up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Besides that, the G Pro X Superlight also uses the same sensor as the G Pro Wireless, which is still considered one of the best wireless gaming mice in the market now. However, compared to the latter, the Superlight does exclude a number of features. It doesn’t have as much LED lighting, the DPI button on the bottom of the mouse has been removed, and it no longer has the modular, removable buttons on the right side of the mouse for left-handed gamers.

Nonetheless, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight still looks to be a very competent gaming mouse, especially if you want a very lightweight mouse. You can now purchase the Superlight here in Malaysia on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 for RM649.


Asus TUF Dash F15 With RTX 3070 & 240Hz Screen Arriving in Malaysia This Month for RM6,999

Asus Malaysia just revealed the local availability of its latest slim gaming laptop, the Asus TUF Dash F15. With a 19.9mm thin chassis, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070, as well as a very fast 240Hz screen, this is a very compelling gaming laptop in a slim package.

At the moment, only one variant of the TUF Dash F15 is set to arrive here in Malaysia. This model will feature the aforementioned RTX 3070 GPU, a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 screen with a fast 240Hz refresh rate, an Intel Core i7-11370H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, as well as a 1TB SSD. How much does this laptop cost? RM6,999 – a decent price tag for a gaming laptop of this calibre.

Compared to other TUF-branded gaming laptops released previously, the TUF Dash F15 is a much slimmer and lighter gaming machine. After all, it measures only 19.9mm thin, which is really quite thin for a laptop with a beefy RTX 3070 GPU. Tipping the scales at 2kg, it’s not a very heavy gaming machine either.

Despite its thin chassis, the TUF Dash F15 actually has a pretty complete connectivity option. These include three full-size USB-A ports, a single USB-C connection with support for Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort, an HDMI 2.0b output, an RJ45 port, and of course, a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Asus TUF Dash F15 will be arriving here in Malaysia by the end of January 2021 this month for RM6,999. At the moment, only the Eclipse Grey model is offered; the Moonlight White colour option will be introduced locally sometime in the second quarter of 2021.


2021 Asus TUF Gaming A15 Coming to Malaysia Soon From RM5,299 – Offers up to RTX 3070 & Ryzen 7 5800H

Aside from the slim
TUF Dash F15
, Asus also revealed the local availability of its more affordable – but still very capable – gaming laptop, the 2021 Asus TUF Gaming A15. Retailing from only RM5,299, it’s the ideal gaming machine for those who want the best value for money.

So far, two variants of the TUF Gaming A15 are set to be available in Malaysia. The RM5,299 base model, for one, features an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with 6GB GDDR6 memory, a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 screen with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, as well as 512GB of SSD storage.

And then there’s the higher-end TUF Gaming A15 with the same processor and RAM capacities, but with some noteworthy upgrades. The GPU, for one, is a more powerful RTX 3070 GPU with 8GB GDDR6 memory; it also has a faster and higher quality 240Hz 15.6-inch Full HD display with 100% sRGB colour coverage and a 1TB SSD. All of these upgrades bring up the price to a cool RM6,699.

We’ve
reviewed quite a number of gaming laptops
 powered by AMD’s Ryzen chips – even the previous
TUF Gaming A15 with a Ryzen 7 4800H
 – and what impressed us the most is the power efficiency of the processors. The new TUF Gaming A15 seems to continue this trend, with a quoted battery life of up to 14.5 hours on a single charge – that’s very impressive for a gaming laptop with such beefy hardware under the hood.

To recap, the Asus TUF Gaming A15 with an RTX 3070 retails at RM6,699, while the more affordable model with an RTX 3060 goes for RM5,299. The former will be available in Malaysia by the end of January this month, while the RTX 3060 variant will arrive here in the middle of February 2021.

Interestingly, we were also told by Asus Malaysia that even more affordable TUF Gaming models will be arriving here sometime in the second quarter of 2021.


Xiaomi Mi Watch Retails at RM469 in Malaysia – Available Tomorrow

Xiaomi just revealed the Malaysian pricing of its latest smartwatch, the
Xiaomi Mi Watch
. Set to go on sale tomorrow on 20 January, the Mi Watch retails at RM469 for our local market – a decent price tag for a smartwatch of this calibre.

Of course, at this price point, the Mi Watch
is
 quite a bit more costly than the far more affordable
Mi Watch Lite
, which retails at only RM249. But you do get a number of notable upgrades with the former, including a circular display with a higher quality panel.

Instead of the Mi Watch Lite’s LCD screen, the Mi Watch is equipped with a sharper, more vibrant 1.39-inch 454 x 454 AMOLED display. It also has a much larger 420mAh battery that promises up to 16 days of use on a single charge. In comparison, the Mi Watch Lite only has a quoted battery life of up to nine days.

Other specifications of the Mi Watch include 117 workout modes, over 100 watchfaces, a heart rate sensor, the ability to measure blood oxygen level, a 5 ATM water resistance rating, as well as a “high-end” 12nm GPS chip. It’s said to take advantage of customised mileage optimisation algorithms to improve movements and mileage accuracy for more precise fitness data.

The Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite will be available for purchase in Malaysia tomorrow on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 for RM469. Three colour options are offered: Black, Navy Blue, and Beige.


Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Appears in SIRIM – 16″ Gaming Laptop With RTX 3070 & Ryzen 7 5800H

More and more gaming laptops powered by the latest hardware from Nvidia and AMD are making their way into Malaysia. This time around, it’s the big and powerful Lenovo Legion 5 Pro – a 16-inch gaming laptop that can be configured with a GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and a Ryzen 7 5800H processor.

We spotted the Legion 5 Pro in our routine search through SIRIM’s database; it was registered with the certification body just today on 19 January with the model numbers 16ACH6H and 16ACH6. Since the gaming laptop is in SIRIM’s database now, we reckon it’s only a matter of time before the Legion 5 Pro is officially launched on our shores.

As mentioned, the highest-end configuration of the Legion 5 Pro is equipped with the new RTX 3070 GPU and Ryzen 7 5800H processor. These are pretty darn beefy hardware, so without a doubt this gaming laptop will be able to run most (if not all) AAA games with high graphics settings quite effortlessly.

Further enhancing the gaming experience of the Legion 5 Pro is its large 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS screen with a fast 165Hz refresh rate. Yes, not only is this a high refresh rate display, it also has a 16:10 aspect ratio; quite an unconventional aspect ratio for a gaming laptop. Aside from that, it can also be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.

At the moment, we haven’t heard from Lenovo yet on the Malaysian availability of the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro. But given that the gaming laptop is only set to be launched in selected markets sometime in March 2021, it’s safe to assume we’ll have to wait until then for the local launch to happen.


New Xiaomi Mi 10T Variant Now in Malaysia – Snapdragon 865 for RM1,599

It appears Xiaomi quietly introduced a new variant of the
Xiaomi Mi 10T
 here in Malaysia. Previously offered with 8GB of RAM, this Snapdragon 865 smartphone now comes with 6GB of RAM instead for only RM1,599 – a RM100 price cut compared to the former model.

We spotted this new variant of the Mi 10T on Xiaomi’s official
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 stores. Although the RAM capacity of this RM1,599 model has been reduced to 6GB from 8GB, the internal storage (thankfully) remains the same at 128GB. At the time of writing, only the Cosmic Black colour is available on Shopee, while the Lazada listing still has the aforementioned colour option and Lunar Silver in stock.

Beyond the slightly lower RAM capacity, other hardware of this Mi 10T variant remain the same as the previous model. It’s still powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, and it even retains the 6.67-inch 1080p IPS hole-punch display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate.

Other specifications of the Mi 10T include a triple camera system (64MP f/1.89 primary + 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle + 5MP f/2.4 macro) a 20MP f/2.2 front-facing camera, a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

This new Xiaomi Mi 10T model with 6GB of RAM is now available for purchase in Malaysia on
Shopee
 as well as
Lazada
 for RM1,599. Given the sheer value for money this phone offers, you may want to grab it before stocks run out.


Genshin Impact 1.3 Update Will Add More Resin, iOS Controller Support & More

Mihoyo just revealed new features that will be coming to
Genshin Impact
 in the Version 1.3 update. Set to be rolled out early next month in February, the update will offer players more resin, support for controllers on iOS devices, and a number of other quality-of-life improvements.

One of the biggest changes that will be added with the Genshin Impact 1.3 update is definitely the opportunity for players to get more resin. According to Mihoyo, the Battle Pass will now reward players with one Fragile Resin every 10 levels from Level 5 onwards. This applies to both the free and paid battle passes, so those who purchased the battle pass will get two Fragile Resins instead of only one when they reach the required levels.

Aside from that, controller support for iOS devices is also coming with the Version 1.3 update. Supported controllers include the PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 controller, Bluetooth version of the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, and certain Bluetooth controllers made for iOS devices. Of course, in order to enjoy this feature, your Apple device has to be updated to iOS 14.

Other changes that will be added to Genshin Impact 1.3 include support for pre-loading future updates of the game prior to release on mobile devices – this was previously available on the PC version only – a material conversion mechanic of sorts (more details will be revealed soon), as well as the ability to hold down a button over weapon enhancement materials to add or remove them.

These changes will be added to Genshin Impact once Version 1.3 of the game is live. Mihoyo did not reveal exactly when the new update is set to drop, though it is very likely to go live right after
Ganyu’s Adrift in the Harbor banner
 ends on 2 February next month.


Deal: Grab the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite for Only RM229

The
Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite
 was launched here in Malaysia just last month, and if the new
Mi Watch
 with a circular display doesn’t quite catch your fancy, consider this one instead. Right now, you can get the Mi Watch Lite
for only RM229
.

Compared to the original RM249 asking price of the Mi Watch Lite, you are saving RM20 with this deal by
Xiaomi’s official store on Shopee
. Sure, that’s not a particularly big discount, but the smartwatch was already competitively priced to begin with.

At the time of writing, all three colours of the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite (Navy Blue, Black, Ivory) are still in stock. There’s no telling exactly how long this deal would last, so you may want to place your order soon if you’re keen to get this smartwatch
for only RM229
!


Acer AOpen 32HC5QR – 31.5″ 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor for RM759

Acer just announced the Malaysian availability of two budget-friendly gaming monitors: the Acer AOpen 24MV1YP and AOpen 32HC5QR. Both of these monitors are equipped with fast 165Hz panels, and on top of that, they are priced very competitively as well.

Let’s start with the more interesting gaming monitor (in our opinion) of the two, the AOpen 32HC5QR. Not only does it sport a fast 165Hz refresh rate, this monitor also comes with a sizeable 31.5-inch 1920 x 1080 VA panel with a 1800R curvature for a more immersive gaming experience. How much does the AOpen 32HC5QR cost? Only RM839.

The AOpen 32HC5QR
The AOpen 24MV1YP

As for the more affordable AOpen 24MV1YP, it has a smaller 23.8-inch 1920 x 1080 VA screen with the same 165Hz refresh rate for merely RM599. Now, despite their affordable price tags, both of these AOpen monitors come with a number of attractive features, including support for AMD FreeSync Premium and almost bezel-less designs.

To celebrate the Malaysian launch of the AOpen 24MV1YP and AOpen 32HC5QR, Acer will be running a special sale for these two monitors this midnight at 12AM on
Lazada
. During this promotion, the AOpen 24MV1YP will be listed
at only RM569
, while the AOpen 32HC5QR will go
for only RM759
. According to Acer Malaysia, this sale will also be extended to
Shopee
 on 22 January from 12AM to 9AM.

If you’re looking for a fast gaming monitor that won’t break the bank, these two Acer AOpen monitors certainly fit the bill. Head on to Acer Malaysia’s official
Shopee
 and
Lazada
 listings for the two monitors to grab them at these promotional prices from 21 to 22 January 2021.


Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon Quick Review: Lightweight, Sleek Productivity Laptop

For those who are always on the go, a thin and light productivity laptop would help greatly, and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is just that. With a 15mm chassis, this laptop tips the scales at only 966g. That’s right, it weighs
less than 1kg
, making it one of the lightest and most portable laptops in the market now.

Of course, that also means the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon demands a premium price tag. Retailing from RM4,399, it’s not exactly the most budget-friendly option. But for those who are willing to fork out that kind of money, you will get a very competent productivity laptop.

What It Is

Display
13.3-inch QHD IPS (2560 x 1600)
Processor
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4C/8T, 2.8GHz with boost up to 4.7GHz)
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM
16GB LPDDR4X 4266MHz
Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Camera
720p (Windows Hello support)
Battery
50Wh
Dimensions
295.9 x 208.85 x 14.25-15 mm
Weight
966g
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery)
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery)
Price
RM5,399

For this review, we received the
RM5,399 Core i7 variant
 of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon. If you want the more affordable Core i5 model – this is the one
that costs RM4,399
 – it still has similar hardware, with the exception of the RAM and SSD capacities, which are reduced to 8GB and 512GB respectively.

The Good Stuff

Naturally, the lightweight nature of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is one of its best selling points. Lenovo managed to reduce the weight of this laptop to merely 966g thanks to the use of carbon fibre and magnesium alloy. Really, it’s
surreal
 how light this laptop is. I can just slip it into my backpack and forget it’s even there.

Aside from that, the 13.3-inch QHD display of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is quite good as well; it can get quite bright with vibrant colours and wide viewing angles. The fact that it also has a 16:10 aspect ratio – along with slim bezels surrounding the screen – makes it ideal for any sort of productivity tasks. Compared to more conventional 16:9 panels, this aspect ratio offers more vertical screen real estate.

Throughout my time with the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, never did I come across any performance issue either. The Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and fast 1TB SSD ensures that everything runs smoothly. Applications open in an instant, light photo editing is no issue at all, and I can even play
Genshin Impact
 with the integrated Iris Xe graphics. The game does stutter occasionally, but it’s definitely playable at Full HD resolution.

And then we have one of the most important features of any productivity laptop: battery life. In this regard, the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon fares quite well. On average, I can get between six to seven hours of use before it runs out of juice. Reasonably good battery life for a laptop with a QHD screen and 50Wh battery.

As for the keyboard of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, it is…alright, though I imagine it won’t be to everyone’s liking. The thing is, the keyboard doesn’t offer much key travel, so you get a shallow typing experience. That being said, I absolutely love the very pronounced tactile feedback of the keys. The keyboard may feel shallow, but I can still type rather comfortably on it.

The trackpad, on the other hand, works as intended. It can track my fingers accurately, it can recognise gestures well, and I like the matte, almost rough-like surface of the trackpad. It’s not overly rough by any means, of course – my fingers can still glide effortlessly on the trackpad.

Another aspect of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon that’s worth highlighting is its noise level. When I’m using it as my work laptop, the fans are rarely audible; they only ramp up when I start gaming on the laptop. Basically, it is whisper quiet outside of gaming.

The Bad Stuff

While the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon has quite a number of positives, there are some aspects of the laptop that could be better, like its selection of ports. Given the slim chassis, the Yoga only has three USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are no full-size USB-A ports at all, so you have to rely on dongles if you need to connect any USB-A device.

Build quality of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is not its strong suit either. Although its lightweight nature is very impressive, the chassis also creaks with applied pressure. This gives the impression that this is not a particularly solid laptop, even though Lenovo says that it has been “rigorously tested for durability.”

Last but definitely not least is the asking price of the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, especially for this range-topping RM5,399 model. Sure, the RM4,399 starting price is a little easier to swallow, but that’s still quite a lot of money. Granted, slim, lightweight productivity laptops like this don’t usually come cheap – you have to pay a premium for an equally premium product.

Is It Worth It?

Despite its rather steep asking price and limited connectivity options, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is a very easy productivity laptop to recommend. Even more so if you want an
absurdly
 lightweight laptop in a slim form factor with a sleek, minimalist design.

Beyond its lightweight nature, the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon also offers good performance, battery life, as well as a bright and vibrant QHD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. If all of these tick your boxes, this lightweight laptop will serve you very well.


Video: Samsung Galaxy S21 Review

Our review of the
Samsung Galaxy S21
 is here! As the most affordable device in the series, it is in no way inferior to the rest of its bigger,
more expensive siblings
. The S21 is still a compelling device meant for folks who want a powerful (but still very compact) flagship smartphone.

After all, all Galaxy S21 devices are powered by the same Exynos 2100 chipset, which offers an excellent level of performance. On top of that, since it is fabricated on a 5nm process, it is more power-efficient than its predecessor as well. As a result, the Galaxy S21 can deliver very good battery life.

Aside from that, the Samsung Galaxy S21 also offers a fast 120Hz screen – that still looks very pleasant even though it’s only a 1080p panel now – and a reasonably competent camera system. Watch our review of the Galaxy S21 in the video above to learn more!


Win a PlayStation 5 Every Week From Burger King Malaysia

Burger King Malaysia is organising a rather interesting contest. From 22 January onwards, the fast food franchise will be giving away one unit of the
PlayStation 5
 to a lucky winner every week. If you didn’t manage to get your hands on the next generation console, perhaps you can try your luck with this contest.

To be in the running to win the PS5, you’ll need to purchase a large “Pepper King” set from Burger King. You will then need to take a upload a picture of yourself with the meal on Facebook or Instagram and mention which PS5 game you’re looking forward to play in the caption. You’re also required to add the #BurgerKingPepperKing hashtag to the post.

Once you’ve done all of that, you’ll need to write your full name and contact number on your receipt and snap a photo of it; you have to then fill up a Google form
right here
 to submit your entry and upload your receipt. You’ll have to jump through hoops to be eligible for this contest, but hey, it is a free console if you’re lucky enough to be chosen.

As mentioned, one unit of the PS5 will be given out to a winner every week from 22 January onwards. A total of five units are available, so the contest will end on 25 February 2021. According to the
terms and conditions of the contest
, the winners will be chosen at random.

More details on this contest can be found on
Burger King Malaysia’s Facebook post
. If you’re planning to enter this contest, good luck!


Get More Primogems in Genshin Impact’s Charming Slime Paradise Web Event

Mihoyo just released a new web event for
Genshin Impact
. Dubbed Slime Paradise, this browser-based game will rewards players with Primogems, Mora, experience books, and other rewards. On top of that, it’s quite a simple, but very charming game as well.

Basically, all you need to do is adorn the park with a number of decorations to attract certain monsters. These decorations can be purchased with “Paradise Coins,” which can be obtained by completing simple daily tasks, such as logging into Genshin Impact or visiting the Slime Paradise itself.

But what you really want are Paradise Tickets; these are required to purchase items from the Rewards Shop. The shop offers Primogems – you can get up to 120 Primogem from this event – Mora, Hero’s Wits, and Fine Enhancements Ores.

In order to obtain Paradise Tickets, just keep purchasing decorations, which will generate Paradise Tickets at 12AM every day. You can complete certain event tasks as well to get more Paradise Tickets, and even monsters that visit the Slime Paradise (for the first time) will reward players with more tickets.

Genshin Impact’s Slime Paradise web event is happening right now until 31 January; you can get to the browser game
right here
. More information on the event can be found on the
official website
.


23 – 29 January Fuel Price: Prices Are up Again

Fuel prices are going up yet again this coming week folks. Both RON 95 and RON 97 will go up by 1 sen per litre this midnight, while diesel sees a higher price hike of 4 sen per litre. If you need to be out and about during MCO, consider fueling up tonight.

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.90 per litre (up from RM1.89) and RON 97 to RM2.20 per litre (RM2.19 previously) at the stroke of midnight. As for diesel, it will cost RM2.09 per litre this coming week compared to RM2.05 previously.

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


Genshin Impact 1.3 Arrives 3 February – Xiao & Keqing Banners Confirmed

Mihoyo just revealed some very interesting new details for
Genshin Impact 1.3
. Not only is the Version 1.3 update confirmed for 3 February, both Xiao – a new 5-star character – and Keqing will be featured in their respective character banners. That’s right, an existing 5-star character will be in the character banner for the very first time.

According to Mihoyo, Xiao will be available in Genshin Impact on 3 February right after the Version 1.3 update is released. Keqing, on the other hand, will be featured in her own character banner on 17 February. As usual, the 4-star characters that will be accompanying Xiao and Keqing in their respective banners have not been revealed yet.

Aside from that, Genshin Impact 1.3 will also have a number of new content, including the Lantern Rite festival. Throughout the event period, players can claim 10 free Intertwined Fates through a daily login event, over 1,600 Primogems, and a number of other rewards.

Also coming to Genshin Impact 1.3 is a tower defense strategy game dubbed Theater Mechanicus, a new Geovishap world boss, and get this: you can even pick one of six 4-star Liyue characters to be added to your roster. These include Ningguang, Beidou, Xingqiu, Xinyan, Xiangling, and Chongyun.

To recap, Genshin Impact 1.3 will go live on 3 February alongside Xiao. If you’d like to know about other changes coming to Version 1.3 of the game, check out our
previous article
.


Gazzew Bobagum Quick Review: Whisper Quiet Silent Linear Switch

If you think about mechanical keyboards, there’s a good chance you would imagine a board with switches that click or clack with every key press. Well, there’s actually a lesser-known switch variant that eliminates all of that noise, which is exactly what the Gazzew Bobagum is: a silent linear switch.

Not only does it have excellent housing tolerance, it is also one of the
quietest
 silent linear switches in the market now…out of the box. If you want a silent switch that performs great without the need for lubing or filming, I wholeheartedly recommend the Bobagum.

What It Is

Like with other switches from Gazzew – one of the most reputable switch makers in the mechanical keyboard scene – the Bobagum is a silent linear switch manufactured by Outemu. Even though the company is not quite as well-known as JWK or Gateron, it is steadily delivering some very impressive switches that offer excellent housing tolerance with Gazzew – more on that later.

Anyway, I got the Bobagum with 68g springs from Taobao. Alternatively, you can also get it from
Pantheon
 if you’re here in Malaysia or Singapore, where the vendor is based in. Priced at S$9.50 for 10 switches – that comes up to about RM3 per switch – the Bobagum is honestly reasonably priced for a switch of this quality.

The Good Stuff

As mentioned, one of the best qualities of the Bobagum has to be its
tight
 tolerance to eliminate any form of stem wobble. Out of all the switches I’ve reviewed so far, the Bobagum
easily
 sits at the top in this regard. There’s hardly any horizontal stem wobble, and although the vertical wobble is a bit more pronounced, it is still barely noticeable with keycaps on.

Aside from that, the Bobagum absolutely nails the “silent” part of a silent linear switch. According to Gazzew, the spring and leaf of the switch are lubed, eliminating any form of pinging or ticking for a
whisper quiet
 typing experience. The downstroke and upstroke are also completely muted with the dampeners on the stem.

Speaking of which, I absolutely love the bottom out feeling of the Bobagum. The dampened (but not overly mushy) downstroke is a refreshing change over the harsher, more solid bottom out of non-silent switches. The softer bottom out of the Bobagum actually reminds me of membrane keyboards quite a bit, which is not necessarily a bad thing, in my opinion.

Also worth noting is the smoothness of the Bobagum. Despite the fact that the slide rail and rail slot are completely dry, it doesn’t feel scratchy at all, which surprised me quite a bit. Of course, with a bit of lube, I’m sure these switches can be even smoother, but I’m not really in a rush to lube them – they already feel great out of the box.

Last but definitely not least is the bright pink colourway of the Bobagum switch. The dark pink stem and light pink housing lend to a unique, eye-catching design that sets it apart from other switches in the market now. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the colour pink, but I do quite like the aesthetic of the Bobagum.

The Bad Stuff

In order to silent the downstroke and upstroke of a key press, the stems of silent switches have dampeners to absorb the impact. But the thing is, this (usually) reduces the travel distance of the switch. In the case of the Bobagum, it definitely has reduced travel compared to, say, a regular linear switch like the C3 Tangerine V2. Basically, the Bobagum will provide a more shallow typing experience – this can be a dealbreaker to some.

Notice the height difference between the Bobagum (left) and the C3 Tangerine V2

But besides that…there’s really no big major negative with the Bobagum. If I were to nitpick, perhaps the price of the switch could be lower, though at around RM3 per piece, it sits in the same price range as other high-end switches. On top of that, the Bobagum performs just as well as other similarly priced switches in the market now.

In fact, it’s even superior to other switches in certain aspects – not many of them can match the Bobagum’s excellent stem wobble and quiet, dampened typing experience.

Is It Worth It?

If you want one of the quietest silent linear switches in the market now, right out of the box, the Gazzew Bobagum is definitely one of the best options. It is whisper quiet, it has excellent housing tolerance, and of course, it is very eye-catching (but not to the point where it’s obnoxious) in pink.

If there’s any room for improvement, it would be great if the Bobagum’s slide rail and rail slot are also lubed for an even smoother typing experience. That being said, as I’ve mentioned many times throughout this review, the Bobagum still performs great as a stock switch.

I would even go as far as to say that it is the best switch for folks who want an excellent silent linear switch without the need to put any effort into lubing or filming – the Bobagum is
that good
 out of the box.


HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop With 11th Gen Intel CPU Now in Malaysia From RM5,699

HP just launched the new HP Spectre x360 convertible laptop with Intel’s latest 11th generation processors here in Malaysia. Both the Spectre x360 13 and Spectre x360 14 are available locally, and given that these are premium products, they have equally premium price tags too.

Two variants of the Spectre x360 13 are offered here. The base model – which retails at RM5,699 – comes with a Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The higher-end RM6,899 variant, on the other hand, features a faster Core i7-1165G7 processor with twice the amount of RAM and SSD capacities at 16GB and 1TB respectively.

Regardless of which variant you get, both models feature a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 touch-enabled screen that covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.

And then there’s the slightly bigger Spectre x360 14. Just like the previous model, two variants are available for our local market. The RM6,099 base model features a Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and a generous 1TB SSD. The more powerful Core i7-1165G7 model, on the other hand, costs RM7,099 with 16GB of RAM and the same 1TB SSD.

Naturally, the Spectre x360 14 has a bigger screen than the Spectre x360 14. It comes with a 13.5-inch 1920 x 1080 touch-enabled screen with HP’s Sure View technology. Basically, it’s an integrated screen privacy feature; when the screen is viewed at an angle, the content will not be visible. Of course, this laptop also runs on an Iris Xe integrated GPU.

Both the HP Spectre x360 13 and Spectre x360 14 are now available for purchase in Malaysia. More information can be found on
HP’s Malaysian online store
.

Update 29 January, 5PM:
 This article previous states that the Spectre x360 13 has an OLED screen, but we were just told that the Malaysian market will not receive this display option. However, it’s worth noting that HP’s Malaysian online store is still listing the OLED screen in the product page of the Spectre x360 13.


The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE Is a Fast RTX 3080 Laptop for RM19,999

The embargo for the Nvidia RTX 3000 series GPUs for laptops has finally been lifted, so here’s our hands-on of the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE. Powered by the beefiest GPU in the lineup, the RTX 3080, this is one
serious gaming powerhouse
.

If you want one of the most powerful gaming laptops in the market now, the Zephyrus Duo is a great option. Of course, given that this is a high-end, premium gaming machine, you do have to fork out a large sum of money for it – more on that further down this hands-on.

Since performance is the highlight of the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE, let’s get to that first. This laptop can be configured with an RTX 3070 or a more powerful RTX 3080 GPU, but in this hands-on, we’re testing the latter. As the most powerful GPU option for laptops right now, the RTX 3080 can keep up with
any game
 that I throw at it.

Since this variant of the Zephyrus Duo is equipped with a 4K screen, I ran the games below with maxed out graphics settings at 4K resolution. Granted, this laptop GPU can’t quite match the performance of the desktop-class RTX 3080 graphics card, but hey, these
are
 impressive figures nonetheless.

Games (max settings @ 4K)
Average FPS
Genshin Impact (1.5 render resolution, locked at 60fps)
60.358
Borderlands 3 (DX11)
38.01
Witcher 3 (HairWorks disabled)
55.948

Processor
Single-core test
Multi-core test
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE)
566
5461
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS (Asus ROG Zephyrus G14)
481
4173
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (Asus TUF Gaming A15)
481
4106
Intel Core i7-10875H (Acer Predator Triton 500)
483
3773

Aside from its GPU performance, I ran CineBench R20 on the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE as well to see just how the brand new AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor compares to the Ryzen 4000 series. Judging by the figures above, it
definitely
brings notable performance gains.

Thermals of the Zephyrus Duo, on the other hand, are reasonably good too considering the beefy hardware under the hood of this laptop. In heated gaming sessions, the RTX 3080 got up to 78°C, while the Ryzen 9 5900HX hit a peak temperature of 90°C – quite a bit more toasty than the GPU. Keep in mind that I got these figures with the laptop set to Turbo mode, where the fans are spinning a lot more frequently (and louder).

Now that we’ve got performance out of the way, let’s talk about other aspects of the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE, such as its sharp 15.6-inch 4K IPS screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Granted, most games can’t take advantage of this refresh rate at 4K resolution, but it is still an
absolutely
 stunning display for both gaming and content consumption.

Now, who can ignore the secondary display underneath the primary one? Just like last time, the ScreenPad Plus is a 14.1-inch 3840 x 1100 touch-enabled screen with a matte finish that props up at an angle when the lid is opened. Truth be told, I wasn’t convinced this secondary display will offer much utility, but after spending some time with the laptop, there were a few times where it came in handy.

Whether it’s to monitor the system’s temperatures or to look at an interactive map of Genshin Impact while I’m farming for certain materials in the game, the ScreenPad Plus is…surprisingly useful.

And then the have the keyboard of the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a lot of key travel, which makes for a shallow typing experience. Thankfully enough, the keys do have a pretty pronounced tactile feedback, so I can still type rather comfortably on this keyboard.

As for the trackpad positioned to the right of the keyboard, it’s surprisingly natural to use. I do wish it was a tad larger for a more comfortable browsing experience, but all in all, it’s quite an accurate trackpad with a smooth surface. Oh, just like its predecessor, the trackpad also doubles as a numpad.

All in all, the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE looks to be a pretty complete gaming laptop with some powerful hardware under the hood. Naturally, this also means it does not come cheap: this particular configuration of the laptop costs a cool RM19,999 in Malaysia, and it’s set to be available here by the end of this month in January 2021. For that kind of money, you do get 2TB of SSD storage and 32GB of RAM.

Alternatively, there’s also the RTX 3070 variant of the Zephyrus Duo, which is more “affordable” at RM12,999. For the most part, it has similar hardware as the RTX 3080 model, though it does come with a lower resolution 15.6-inch 1080p screen – but with a faster 300Hz refresh rate – as well as a 1TB SSD. This model, unlike the higher-end RTX 3080 configuration, will only arrive in Malaysia in the middle of February 2021 next month.

Without a doubt the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE is not an affordable gaming laptop, but this has always been the case for the Taiwanese company’s line of premium Zephyrus gaming machines. If you can look past the high asking price of the Zephyrus Duo – and you like the fact that it has two screens – I reckon you will be very happy with this gaming powerhouse.


Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky Quick Review: Potentially Better Than Holy Panda

There are a lot of tactile switches in the custom mechanical keyboard scene now, so it can be tough to decide exactly which one of them is right for you. Well, if you want a highly tactile switch with a deep, “thocky” sound profile, then the Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky is one of the best – if not
the best
 – options.

Really, I was downright impressed with the Boba U4T, which will certainly give other popular tactile switches in the market a run for their money. It has a deep sound profile, extremely good housing tolerance, and a prominent tactile bump – what more can you ask for?

What Is It

Just like Gazzew’s other new switch, the
Bobagum
, the Boba U4T is also manufactured by Outemu. Available with either 62g or 68g springs – I got the latter for this review – it is a tactile switch with lightly lubed spring and leaf out of the box. The slide rail and rail slot are completely dry, so it does have room for improvement – more on this further down the review.

As for pricing, the Boba U4T (in my research) is only available from two vendors so far:
MKZealots on AliExpress
 and
GKESports on Taobao
. I got the U4T from the latter for about RM3 per switch (with shipping to Malaysia included), but if you’re not comfortable shopping on Taobao, you can get it from AliExpress instead for $11 (around RM45) for a pack of 10 switches, which brings up the price to about RM4.5 per switch…not including shipping.

Hopefully, more vendors – such as the Singapore-based
Pantheon
, which has the Bobagum in stock – will carry the Boba U4T. By right, it should cost about the same as the Bobagum at approximately RM3 per switch.

The Good Stuff

Like its namesake, the Boba U4T Thocky does actually offer a deep, low pitch “thock” sound upon actuation free of any spring or leaf noise right out of the box. Now, even though the slide rail and rail slot of the switch are not lubed, Gazzew himself still recommend using the U4T in its stock form.

But if you
do
decide to lube and film the Boba U4T – which I did – you will get an
even deeper
 sound profile. While it already performs great out of the box with relatively smooth downstroke, it does sound a tad too high-pitched for my liking at faster actuations. There’s also an ever so slight scratch that is easily eliminated with some lube.

Of course, just like Gazzew’s Bobagum switch, the Boba U4T has excellent housing tolerance as well to minimise stem wobble. While the stem does have a hair more vertical wobble than horizontal wobble, it’s almost indistinguishable with keycaps on. Gazzew’s collaboration with Outemu is definitely producing some insanely good results in this regard.

The tactile event of the Boba U4T, on the other hand, has a very slight pre-travel right before the tactile bump, but it still starts quite early on in the downstroke. It’s also a strong (but rounded) tactile bump, which is actually quite similar to the
Glorious Panda
. In my book, that’s a very good thing.

The Bad Stuff

As I’ve mentioned earlier on, while the Boba U4T has a full-bodied, deep sound signature out of the box, there is still a noticeable high-pitched “clack” in the switch’s upstroke. Typing quickly only further magnify this, especially if you’re using low profile, ABS keycaps like GMK. This is the very reason why I recommend lubing and filming the U4T for a more refined, deeper sound profile.

Beyond that, the strong tactile bump of the Boba U4T may not be for everyone either. Sure, some folks may find the pronounced tactile bump very satisfying, but it can also be quite fatiguing in longer typing sessions. If you’re coming from, say, a linear switch, you might find yourself hankering to jump back. Granted, this may not be much of a problem with the lighter 62g version.

The Glorious Panda (left) and Boba U4T

Last but not least is the design of the Boba U4T. This is by no means a major downside, but the design of this switch is really nothing to write home about; some might even pass it off as just another Holy Panda clone. In fact, I would best describe the colour scheme of the U4T as…a “dirtier” version of the Glorious Panda.

Is It Worth It?

In my opinion, the Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky is what the Glorious Panda strives to be. It feels and sounds good in stock form, and it is even free of any leaf ticking and spring noise. While “the best switch” still comes down to personal preference, I do think the U4T has the potential to stand above every other tactile switch in the market now – yes, even against the iconic Holy Panda.

Given that the custom mechanical keyboard scene is basically flooded with a bunch of JWK and Gateron switches – with many more being merely recolours of the same ones – it’s great to see Gazzew putting the Outemu name back on the map with the Boba U4T and Bobagum. I absolutely cannot wait to see more offerings from him – I’m personally looking forward to a Gazzew-branded non-silent linear switch.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this article.


Video: Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky Review & Sound Test

The
Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky
 is one of the best tactile switches we’ve reviewed, and we’re confident it has the potential to be the absolute best choice for folks that want a switch with a very pronounced tactile bump and a deep, low pitch “thocky” sound signature. Not quite convinced? Then check out our video review below with a sound test of the switch on the ai03 Vega!

Manufactured by Outemu, the Boba U4T is available in either 62g or 68g springs; we got the latter for this review. As mentioned, the U4T has a deep sound signature and strong tactile bump. Thanks to its
tight
 housing tolerance, it also has (practically) no stem wobble at all.

If there’s any downside to the Gazzew Boba U4T, it would be the relatively limited availability of this switch. As far as we can tell, only
MKZealots on AliExpress
 and
GKESports on Taobao
 have the switch in stock right now. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that the Boba U4T is a fantastic tactile switch that can even take on the iconic Holy Panda.


Acer TravelMate P4 Business Laptop With Intel 11th Gen CPU Now in Malaysia From RM4,099

Acer just introduced its latest business-centric laptop here in Malaysia, the Acer TravelMate P4. Sporting Intel’s latest 11th generation processors, the P4 is a relatively thin and light laptop made for business professionals who are always on the go.

Two variants of the TravelMate P4 are available in Malaysia. The base model features a Core i5-1135G7 processor for RM4,099, while the higher-end RM4,899 configuration comes with a faster Core i7-1165G7 chip. Beyond the different processor, both variants share the same hardware.

These include a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS screen, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and up to 14.5 hours of battery life. The TravelMate P4 also has a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, along with a webcam that supports Windows Hello for faster authentication.

Portability is one of the TravelMate P4’s most highlighted features too. Measuring 17.9mm thin with a 1.42kg semi-metal chassis, it is slim and light enough to be lugged around without much trouble. The P4 also has a MIL-STD-810G certification, so you know it’s a durable business laptop.

The Acer TravelMate P4 is now available for purchase in Malaysia on Acer’s official online stores and selected Acer authorised resellers. Those who purchase the P4 – and other selected Acer models – by 31 March 2021 can also claim for a RM80 Touch ‘n Go or Boost credit
right here
.


Video: Gazzew Bobagum Review & Sound Test

Here it is! Our video review of the Gazzew Bobagum. If you’ve already
read our review
 and can’t quite imagine just how
quiet
 this silent linear switch is, we’ve got you covered. Trust us: the Bobagum is easily one of the quietest (and eye-catching) silent linear switches in the market now.

For this review, we got the 68g version of the Bobagum; the heaviest spring available for the switch. As you’ll see in the video review below, the Bobagum is free of any spring ping or leaf ticking right out of the box. Just like Gazzew’s other switches, the Bobagum also has
very tight
 housing tolerance, reducing any form of stem wobble to a minimum.

If you’re here in Malaysia or Singapore, you can get the Gazzew Bobagum from
Pantheon
, a vendor based in Singapore. Priced at S$9.50 for 10 switches, you’re paying only about RM3 per switch – that’s quite a good price tag for a switch of this quality.


Deal: Get the Logitech G Pro X Superlight Gaming Mouse For Less Than RM600

Launched here in Malaysia
just last week
, the
extremely
 lightweight Logitech G Pro X Superlight is now more affordable than ever. Originally retailing at RM649, you can now get the gaming mouse for
less than RM600
 – that’s quite a bit of savings for a recently released product.

On top of that, this deal is offered by
Logitech’s official store on Shopee
. Although the G Pro X Superlight is still listed at RM649, you can grab an 8% discount voucher from the store to bring down the price of the gaming mouse
to RM597.08
 – you’re saving exactly RM51.92 with this deal.

Now, do note that this 8% discount voucher from Logitech is expiring in two days. If you want to grab the Logitech G Pro X Superlight
for only RM597.08
, you may want to act fast. At the time of writing, both the
White
 and
Black
 models are still in stock.


30 January – 5 February Fuel Price: Diesel Down by 2 Sen

Fuel prices are going down this coming week! Well, sort of. Diesel will go down by 2 sen this midnight, while the prices of both RON 95 and RON 97 will maintain. Great news for diesel users!

This brings the price of RON 95 to RM1.90 per litre and RON 97 to RM2.20 per litre at the stroke of midnight; the same prices last week, basically. As for diesel, it will cost RM2.07 per litre this coming week compared to RM2.09 previously.

These prices will be in effect from 30 January to 5 February next week. New fuel prices will be announced every Friday, so stay tuned to Nextrift next week on the same day for future updates!


Spy Shot: 2021 Proton Persona & Iriz Facelift Seen With LED Headlights

Another day, another set of spy shots of the
2021 Proton Persona and Iriz facelift
 have made it onto the internet. This time around, it reveals a new feature for the upcoming B-segment cars: LED headlights. This will be a departure from the current models’ halogen lights.

These spy shots were captured by a reader of
Funtasticko
. The new Persona and Iriz pictured in the images below were captured in Kuantan, and looking at the headlights of the two models, they do appear to be LED lights instead of halogen. This is evident from the bright, white beam of the headlights.

Image source:
Funtasticko

Aside from that, an anonymous source also told Funtasticko that the 2021 facelifted Persona and Iriz will in fact be upgraded with LED headlights. Unfortunately enough, this feature will supposedly be limited to the range-topping Premium variants of the respective models.

Another noteworthy upgrade that is rumoured to be coming to the new Persona and Iriz is a different transmission. Instead of a CVT gearbox, the facelifted models are said to be equipped with the same four-speed automatic transmission – which is sourced from Hyundai – that’s currently found in the
Proton Saga
.

Image source:
The Ajerul

At the moment, it remains to be seen exactly when the 2021 Proton Persona and Iriz facelift will be released, though rumours are suggesting that these two new models will be unveiled as early as April 2021. It’s also worth noting that Proton is currently working on the
R3-branded Proton Iriz and Proton Saga
 as well – plenty of new Proton models to look forward to this year!


Genshin Impact Xiao & Keqing Banners Revealed – Diona & Xinyan Return

The featured 4-star characters for the upcoming Xiao and Keqing banners in
Genshin Impact
 have been revealed. These include Diona, Xinyan, Beidou, Ningguang, Bennett, and Barbara. That’s right, Diona and Xinyan are back on the character banner after initially appearing in Tartaglia’s and
Zhongli’s banners
 respectively.

If you’ve been hoping to get these two characters in the same banner, you’re in luck. Both Diona and Xinyan will be featured in Xiao’s banner, which is set to go live
this Wednesday on 3 February
. Beidou will also be available in the same banner, and given that she is also featured in the store now – not to mention the fact that she
can be claimed for free soon
 – it’s a good time to collect her constellations.

That means Keqing’s banner will be accompanied by Ningguang, Bennett, and Barbara; a reasonably good roster of 4-star characters. After all, Bennett is considered to be one of the best support in the game, thanks to his ability to buff the active character’s attack while healing them at the same time.

Ningguang, on the other hand, can be a deadly DPS character with the potential to output some serious damage, especially with maxed constellations. Just like Beidou, Ningguang can also be claimed for free from 10 February to 7 March during the
Lantern Rite festival
. The other 4-star Liyue characters that you can choose from include Xingqiu, Xinyan, Xiangling, and Chongyun.

Xiao’s banner will be added to Genshin Impact first on 3 February right after the
Version 1.3 update
 is live. Keqing, on the other hand, will be featured in the character banner on 17 February.


Acer Swift 3 Quick Review: Relatively Affordable Thin & Light Laptop

More often than not, thin and light productivity laptops cost quite a bit of money. After all, a laptop with a slim profile and lightweight chassis usually sits in the higher-end, more premium price range. But that’s not entirely true of this laptop: the new Acer Swift 3.

Measuring only 15.95mm thin with a 1.2kg chassis, the Swift 3 is quite a portable productivity laptop with a price tag that’s not too exorbitant. If you want a thin and light laptop that is relatively affordable, the Swift 3 is a good option, even if there are certain aspects of the laptop that could be better.

What It Is

Display
14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
Processor
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4C/8T, 2.8GHz with boost up to 4.7GHz)
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM
16GB LPDDR4X
Storage
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Camera
720p
Battery
47Wh
Dimensions
323.4 x 218.9 x 15.95 mm
Weight
1.2kg
Audio
Bottom-firing stereo speakers
Ports
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort)
1x HDMI 2.0
2x USB-A 3.2
Price
RM4,199

For this review, we received the range-topping Swift 3 with Intel’s latest 11th generation Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM. The more affordable Core i5-1135G7 model with 8GB of RAM, on the other hand, carries a lower RM3,299 price tag. Beyond the different RAM capacity and processor, both variants share the same hardware.

The Good Stuff

Acer’s line of Swift laptops are usually slim and light, so it goes without saying that the same applies to the Swift 3. Granted, tipping the scales at 1.2kg with a 15.95mm thin chassis, it’s not the slimmest or lightest productivity laptop in the market now. But given its relatively affordable price point, we can’t exactly expect too much here.

Powered by an 11th generation Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, the Swift 3 can easily meet the needs of a regular consumer looking to get a productivity laptop for college or office work. Throughout my time with the laptop as my daily driver, it feels very fast and responsive with no noticeable slowdown.

Light photo editing proved to be a non-issue with the Swift 3, and I’m also happy to report that this laptop can do some gaming on the side. I’ve tested
Genshin Impact
 on this machine, and although I can’t quite max out the graphics settings at 1080p, the Iris Xe integrated GPU can certainly run the game quite well.

And then there’s the battery life of the Swift 3. Acer claims that this laptop can return up to 11 hours of battery life on a single charge, but for my use case, it “only” lasted me about seven to eight hours of use before needing to be charged. Still, this is
very respectable
 battery life.

Last but definitely not least is the Swift 3’s connectivity options. It has two full-size USB-A ports, a USB-C connection with DisplayPort support, and also an HDMI 2.0 output. Given that most thin and light laptops in the market now are removing the USB-A port, it’s great to see that Acer is retaining this connectivity option on the Swift 3.

The Bad Stuff

Considering the fact that the Swift 3 is quite a budget-friendly productivity laptop, there are some key areas where it proved to be a little lacklustre. Its 14-inch 1080p IPS screen, for one, looks more muted than its competition with dull-looking colours. Thankfully, this being an IPS panel, its viewing angles are still quite good, and it can get reasonably bright too.

Aside from that, there’s the keyboard of the Swift 3. As is the case with most thin and light laptops, the keyboard doesn’t offer a lot of key travel, lending to a shallow typing experience that isn’t very pleasant. While the tactility of the keys somewhat improve the typing experience, the harsh bottom out negates this.

Beyond these two shortcomings, however, other aspects of the Swift 3 are really up to par for a laptop in this price range. But if you’re particular about a laptop’s keyboard or screen quality, you may want to check out the Swift 3 in person first before considering to purchase it.

Is It Worth It?

Even though the Acer Swift 3’s display and keyboard aren’t particularly great, it’s still a competent productivity laptop with a thin and light chassis. Plus, retailing from RM3,299, it offers reasonably good value for money too, though the range-topping RM4,199 model doesn’t quite offer the same value proposition.

With its slim, lightweight chassis, long battery life, good performance, and adequate connectivity options, the Swift 3 is a compelling productivity laptop for college or office work. Not many of its competition can match the feature set of this laptop for the same amount of money.