realme X2 Pro Review — nailing it on the first try!

realme has finally given us a true flagship with flagship specifications across the board. The realme X2 Pro packs everything from the fastest charging we have ever encountered, to the latest and greatest components you can get in the Android smartphone market. The best part? They managed to price it so attractively you might think we did a typo.
Unboxing

The packaging of the realme X2 Pro is decidedly less premium than some of its peers. But honestly who cares about the box? Not us. Still I do wish realme will revert to their minimalist designs used with prior smartphones.

In the box are the usual suspects, but the standout feature is that unlike most recent “flagship killers”, the 50W SuperVOOC power adapter comes in the box. You can watch the following video for a full unboxing experience:

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Stunningly sleek
realme’s smartphones often tout designs that are rather flashy, and the realme X2 Pro is no different. But unlike the overtly tacky realme 5 series, the realme X2 Pro is far more elegant.

The back here sports beautiful curved Gorilla Glass 5 which seamless flows into the aluminium frame. realme once again created a subtle gradient, with the blue taking on a greenish hue nearer the bottom of the phone. A unique design element has to be the horizontal placement of the realme logo, perpendicular to the camera hump. No idea why realme did it, but it seems to be rather polarizing in the communities. Some find it unique, some find it weird. Personally, I don’t mind it.

Gorilla Glass 5 is also what you will find over on the front. Unlike the fancy back, the front here is a lot less outstanding. At least from an aesthetic standpoint, with that waterdrop notch still there. Hardware wise its actually quite interesting with a 90 Hz refresh rate and also DC dimming, but more on that later.

On the bottom and top ends, realme flattened out the curves as you can see here. Another thing to note here is the headphone jack on the realme X2 Pro. realme has yet to drop it from any of their devices, and hopefully that they won’t do it anytime soon. The top end is bare except for microphone hole.

The final touch is the highlighted power button. The realme XT was the first to show it, and the realme X2 Pro shares a similar design. On the right you get the power button and SIM tray, while the other side you get the volume buttons.
Specifications
CPU:Snapdragon 855 Plus (1 x Kryo 485 Gold @ 2.96 GHz + 3 x Kryo 485 Gold @ 2.42 GHz + 4 x Kryo 485 Silver @ 1.8 GHz), 7nm FinFETGPU: Adreno 640 @ 672 MHz RAM: 12GB LPDDR4xDisplay: 6.5″ FHD+ (2340 x 1080), Super AMOLED, 90 Hz refresh rate, 1000-nit max brightness, 100% DCI-P3 91.7% screen-to-body ratioStorage:256GB UFS 3.0Camera: Main Camera(s)64MP f/1.8 (Samsung GW1, 1/1.72″) + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera + 13MP f/2.5 2x telephoto + 2MP f/2.4 depth sensorSuper Nightscape, Expert mode, Chroma Boost, Ultra 64MP, Ultra macro, 4K60 video, 720p960/1080p120 slow mo, AI beauty, AI HDR, AI scene recognition, Ultra Image StabilizationFront Camera16MP f/2.0AI Beauty, AI HDR, 1080p30 video, 4-in-1 pixel binning, Selfie NightscapeOS: ColorOS 6.1 based on Android 9 Pie  Connectivity:  LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/26/28/34/38/39/40/41Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)Bluetooth 5.0Dual-frequency GPSNFCSIM:Dual SIMBattery:4000 mAh (2 x 2000 mAh) (non-removable)50W SuperVOOCDimensions: 161 x 75.7 x 8.7 mm Weight:199gIngress protection:N/A
Performance

Antutu sees the realme X2 Pro trounce everything else we have tested, including the two other Snapdragon 855+ devices we have previously tested. Finally we see something beat the Mi 9, which has been pretty comfortable at the top of the benchmark charts, until today.

CPU performance sees the Black Shark 2 Pro leapfrog over it. The differences are really miniscule in the single-core run, but multi-core does reveal a 10% difference which is rather startling.

The realme X2 Pro seems to be tuned a bit lower when it comes to GPU performance too, which is somewhat disappointing to see considering how the Snapdragon 855+’s main advantage is GPU performance.

It does surprisingly well in PCMark though, probably because of the sheer amount of RAM and high-speed storage here on tap. But it’s also worth noting that ColorOS devices do extremely well in PCMark, so it could just be the optimizations under the hood here.

It does relatively well according to PCMark’s estimates, with nearly 30 minutes longer battery life than the Black Shark 2 Pro despite a similar battery size. Running the test in 60 Hz and 90 Hz didn’t yield a difference though, so we will resort to our normal usage scenario to reflect that.
I managed to clock 6 hours and 40 minutes of on-screen time even with the screen running at 90 Hz over 26 hours away from the plug before the realme X2 Pro hitting 15%. While the battery life is very respectable, the most impressive thing about the realme X2 Pro’s battery is its charging speed. I ran down the battery to 20%, and plugged it in. In just 20 minutes, I got back 95%. My usual tests of 30-minute charges are rendered just too long for this phone.
COD Mobile – Max SettingsPUBG Mobile – Max Settings
Of course, with all the performance on hand, you would be enjoying gaming at the maximum settings. The realme X2 Pro does seem to have some issue with thermals though, with some noticeable frame rate dips after about 20 minutes. Surface temperatures are still very reasonable though, which was somewhat odd.
User Experience

Let’s touch a bit more about the gaming experience. realme included Game Space, which is realme’s rendition of a gaming mode. The realme X2 Pro is definitely ready with a lot of features like 4D vibration and photorealistic enhancement, but unfortunately both PUBG Mobile and COD Mobile aren’t supported yet. Which is rather disappointing given that both of them are two of the most popular titles in recent times. Speaking of the 4D vibration, I do expect it to be pretty awesome though as the realme X2 Pro had the best haptic feedback I have experienced thus far.
Now let’s talk about how it feels using it as a regular smartphone.

For starters we get the huge 6.5″ AMOLED display here. But size isn’t the only thing that matters, as the realme X2 Pro also has a 90 Hz refresh rate. It’s really as fluid as the name Ultra Smooth Display suggests, and scrolling through anything was definitely a great experience. Everything that moves looks smoother because there are now 50% more frames per second, filling in the gaps between the frames. The fluidity combined with the precision of the haptic feedback is really amazing and is surely an experience you need to try out.
It’s unfortunate that my current favorite mobile game doesn’t support it, but it’s only a matter of time with more and more high refresh rate smartphones coming.

Above the screen is a waterdrop notch which houses the 16MP notch. The best part is the wide speaker grille which is more than just an aesthetic touch. The speaker behind it doubles as a secondary loudspeaker to support the main one at the bottom. This is realme’s first smartphone with a stereo setup, or at least it is the first we got to review, and they have definitely nailed it.
In practice, it works pretty well with the sound coming through loud and clear. Definitely usable for gaming or the occasional episode of your favorite K-drama. There’s also Dolby Atmos enhancement for both the built-in stereo speakers and also headphones, so that probably explains the good sound.

realme dubbed the software running on the realme X2 Pro ColorOS 6.1, but there are actually few, if any, changes from ColorOS 6. It still runs Android 9 Pie, with realme promising an update to ColorOS 7 and Android 10 in Q1 2020. In the meantime, ColorOS 6.1 is a pretty solid skin. In fact, it has a rather extensive Dark mode which can override third-part apps’ themes as well. It’s a hit or miss, but if you like a dark screen in apps like Facebook which has yet to receive a proper dark mode, it works.
realme’s most advanced cameras yet

For the realme X2 Pro, realme threw in their first telephoto camera ever. It’s not the best we have seen, but I would say it’s a step in the right direction. You get a 64MP f/1.8 primary camera, a secondary 13MP f/2.5 telephoto camera, and an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera which also doubles as a macro camera. There’s a depth sensor too, just to make the total number come to four cameras. Can’t release a whole series of mid-range quad-camera smartphones and then try to pass off a flagship with one less camera, amirite? But hey, it’s fine. They got the necessities down right.

The software front is very familiar to anyone who has used a recent OPPO/realme smartphone. It’s a simple design with a hamburger button hiding away the fancy features. While I lauded this UI back on the realme 3 series, starting from the realme 5 series I do find that the hamburger menu a bit too cluttered now as realme adds more and more features to their smartphones.

Results are good, both in good lighting and bad. realme nailed it on the software front. Nightscape performed well, and it also takes a lot less time for it complete processing of an image, something you might expect when comparing a Snapdragon 855+ device versus one powered by the Snapdragon 712. The outcome from the realme X2 Pro is great as well, and images do turn out a bit more natural than on realme’s previous devices, i.e. less oversharpened. The telephoto camera peculiarly takes 12MP shots with a 13MP sensor, so I guess the pixels around the edges are used for stabilization. Meanwhile, the Ultra 64MP mode delivers on high-res images but you will only benefit from it in good lighting, as it’s a sensor limitation anyways. You can view the full-sized images here.
Conclusion
Is the realme X2 Pro a good buy? For RM2399, it serve up an amazingly compelling package. You get a flagship packing all the latest goodies like the Snapdragon 855+, 12GB of RAM, a whopping 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage and also a 90 Hz display. The latter is something few even much pricier flagships offer, and you will definitely enjoy a much better user experience than the 60 Hz plebs.

With that said, the realme X2 Pro is still far from the “perfect” flagship. It lacks wireless charging for one, although the 50W SuperVOOC charging more than makes up for it. There’s also no ingress protection, but of course its worth mentioning that no Snapdragon 855+ to date offers an IP-rated resistance against water and dust entry. And at this price point, there really is no smartphone with an IP rating.
Overall, I would say the realme X2 Pro is a device with very calculated compromises, ones I would happily live with. The timing of its launch is perfect as well, capping off 2019 for realme in a big way.

Our thanks to realme Malaysia for sending us the realme X2 Pro for review.
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The HONOR 20 triple camera may be even better than the HUAWEI P30’s

HONOR may be pushing themselves really hard this time to release a mid-range device people would really love. HUAWEI’s focus on their camera prowess may be emulated by HONOR for their upcoming flagship, the HONOR 20.
The HONOR 20 should further improve on the HONOR View20’s camera chops!
The HONOR 20’s design has previously been leaked, with a 48MP standard angle, 20MP ultra-wide angle and 8MP telephoto zoom camera. This latest leak reaffirms the rumor, and even hints at a DxOMark score of 108. To put that into perspective, last year’s HUAWEI P20 Pro scored 109, and we must add that it is still a very formidable camera phone till today.
The newest leak also reveals more about the HONOR 20’s specifications, including its 6.1″ OLED display and a 6th generation under-display fingerprint scanner. There will be a 32MP selfie camera and a 3650 mAh battery supporting HUAWEI’s 22.5W Super Charge. Interestingly, HONOR is expected to place to 32MP selfie camera in a waterdrop notch, instead of a punch hole like the one the HONOR View20 has.

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To satisfy gamers, it will come with Gaming+, GPU Turbo and Link Turbo. It will also tout a 3.5mm jack with a dedicated HiFi audio chip, so you won’t have to worry about bringing dongles with you.
Rumored HONOR 20 Specifications

Kirin 980, octa core @ up to 2.6 GHz, 7nm FinFET
Up to 8GB RAM
Up to 256GB storage
6.1″ OLED display, waterdrop notch, 6th-gen under-display fingerprint scanner
48MP + 20MP ultra-wide angle + 8MP 3x telephoto cameras
32MP selfie camera
3650 mAh battery, 22.5W HUAWEI Super Charge
6 + 128GB: RMB 2999 (~RM1829)
8 + 128GB: RMB 3399 (~RM2073)
8 + 256GB: RMB 3799 (~RM2317)

Looking at the rumored pricing, the HONOR 20 is well set to be the best camera phone below RM2000! What do you think?
Pokdepinion: I wonder why does it revert back to a waterdrop notch. Why not an AllView punch hole?
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Numerous Genshin Impact Leakers Have Quit Twitter – Website Shut Down?

We have covered a good number of Genshin Impact leaks in the past, and miHoYo is attempting to crackdown on the leakers of their popular MMORPG, such as suing Bilibili to obtain more information. It appears that their methods may have worked as numerous leakers have quit Twitter.
Numerous Genshin Impact Leakers Have Quit Twitter

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A good number of Genshin Impact leakers have reportedly quit Twitter. The more notable ones are abc64 and Sukuna, whose Twitter page can no longer be accessed. This is highly likely done to avoid getting caught by miHoYo and potentially prevent a lawsuit. Sukuna did leave behind a parting gift in the form of big chunks of information on the popular MMORPG.
Arguably the biggest one is Honey Impact, who has since shut down their Genshin Impact database website. The reason stated for the shut down is because miHoYo has been attempting to take it down. This could either be part of a settlement or simply a needed action to avoid further complications.
It seems like we may be getting a lot less leaks on the game in the near future. However, things can always change so for now, we will just keep our eyes and ears peeled out for new information.

Genshin Impact is currently available for free on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, and PC. A Nintendo Switch port of the game coming in the near future.

Source
Pokdepinion: I’m fairly certain we will continue to learn about more leaks on the game anyway. The biggest change here is that it may be harder to verify, or just lesser leaks overall.
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Waze Now Lets You Know Toll Prices Before You Start Your Journey

The folks at Waze has today launch their Toll Prices feature, which well, tells you the prices of tolls in Malaysia even before you start your travels.
Being one of the most requested feature for Waze, Toll Prices will allow users to view and compare toll prices when they are driving along tolled routes.

This was all possible due to the help of six volunteers from the Malaysia Waze community where they helped to collect and input toll price information.

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The Toll Prices feature is automatically enabled and Waze users will see a Toll tag on the route if it does indeed has a toll road. For those with a toll pass can also select this in the app, which will then be taken into account when the routes are being generated.
Pokdepinion: I’ve always been more of a Waze guy than Maps. Now I like it even further!
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Statistically, Malaysia is One of the Worst for Video Streaming and 4G Speeds

The world has becoming increasingly reliant on the internet. Anything from communication, work, entertainment, you name it. It no longer became something that we only needed at home as we also need to have it on-the-go. Sometimes you wonder, How does Malaysia compared to other countries, especially in terms of 4G speeds and video streaming.
The short answer here is that it’s not good.

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In fact, Malaysia is ranked pretty low and is one of the worst ones around. Of course, there are worse but that doesn’t make it good either. Based on data collected from over 8 million users in all these countries, Malaysia has an average speed of 10.21Mbps for 4G speeds. South Korea has the highest at 45.58Mbps, and even our closest neighbour, Singapore, is at number 3 with 38.11Mbps.

As for the video streaming portion which is scored out of a maximum of 100 points, Malaysia has a measly score of 46.76. On this scale, we are in the top 10 lowest scoring countries. Surprisingly, the United States is just one step above us with a score 46.84. It is worth noting that we are lower than Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Singapore when it comes to Southeast Asian countries.
Keep in mind, this on a global scale, not just limited to Asian countries or even just Southeast Asia for that matter. We still have some ways ahead to catch up with the rest of the world. With the initiatives that is being put forward by Minister Gobind Singh Deo and MCMC, perhaps we will see some improvements sooner or later.
Source: OpenSignal
Pokdepinion: To be honest, I can’t say that I am surprised by this. On the bright side, there’s plenty of room to grow and, hopefully, the only way to move forward here is to move up.
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Check out these NVIDIA GeForce-powered laptops with big discounts and free Razer peripherals!

NVIDIA®  has previously shared their data on how a higher refresh rate improves your performance in games, and that’s exactly why you should upgrade your laptop to one of these laptops with high refresh rate panels featuring the latest NVIDIA®  Turing-based graphics. With prices ranging from as low as RM2869, there are plenty of options for every price range to up your game.
The promo will run from 15th July until the 26th of July, so you better act quick if you want to score a new gaming laptop with discounts of up to a whopping RM1300. All of the laptops involved in this promotion will come with a free Razer Kraken X and a Razer Viper Mini, worth a total of RM428. But aside from that, upgrading to these new laptops will also be worth your while, if you are serious about gaming.

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With the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 20-series and GTX 16-series graphics, NVIDIA® is using the latest Turing architecture which brings with it a huge range of benefits. The main new additions include adaptive shading along with concurrent float and integer executions, which will deliver significant performance gains when it comes to modern games that can take advantage of Turing’s features.
The performance improvements will let you fully take advantage of the high refresh rate displays that are going to be in the gaming laptops we will be looking at here today. After all, there’s no point having a 120 Hz display if your GPU isn’t capable of outputting more than 120 FPS. On top of the increased performance in today’s hottest titles, Turing also comes with an enhanced NVENC encoder that allows for improved quality and performance when streaming. If you are planning on sharing your gameplay, Turing is the way to go.
And with that, let’s check out the promos that GLOO and Notebook Plaza is offering on some of the latest NVIDIA® Turing powered laptops.
NVIDIA® Online Campaign Laptops Specs and Prices
JOI

Processor
RAM
Graphics
Display
Promo Price
Where to buy

JOI Amazer GL7927BK/GM
Intel® Core™ i7-9750H
16GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM5399
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO
GLOO (Lazada)
GLOO
(Shopee)

JOI Amazer GL7916BK/GM
Intel® Core™ i7-9750H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM3999
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO
GLOO (Lazada)
GLOO (Shopee)

ASUS

Processor
RAM
Graphics
Display
Promo Price
Regular Price
Where to buy

ASUS TUF Gaming A17 (FA706I-IH7079T)
AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
17.3″ FHD 120 Hz
RM4159
RM4299
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (FA506I-IHN241T)
AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 120 Hz
RM3959
RM4099
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (FA506I-IHN240T)
AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM3659
RM3799
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

ASUS ROG Strix G (G531G-TAL236T)
Intel® Core™ i5-9300H
4GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
15.6″ FHD 120 Hz
RM3469
RM3599
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee

Acer

Processor
RAM
Graphics
Display
Promo Price
Regular Price
Where to buy

Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-55-79CU)
Intel® Core™ i7-10750H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
15.6″ 144 Hz
RM4699
RM4899
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-55-52Z1)
Intel® Core™ i5-10300H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM3659
RM3799
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO (Lazada)

Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-43-R3B4)
AMD Ryzen™ 7 3750H
4GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
15.6″ FHD 120 Hz
RM2869
RM2999
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

Lenovo

Processor
RAM
Graphics
Display
Promo Price
Regular Price
Where to buy

Lenovo Legion Y545-2PMJ
Intel® Core™ i7-9750H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060 6GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM5299
RM6599
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

Lenovo Legion Y545-3QMJ
Intel® Core™ i5-9300H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060 6GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM4599
RM5599
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

Lenovo Legion 5 6NMJ
Intel® Core™ i5-10300H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060
15.6 FHD 120 Hz
RM4099
RM4199
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
GLOO

Lenovo Legion 5 8QMJ
AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
15.6″ FHD 120 Hz
RM3859
RM3999
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO (Lazada)

Lenovo Legion 5 8RMJ
AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
15.6″ FHD 120 Hz
RM3489
RM3599
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

HP

Processor
RAM
Graphics
Display
Promo Price
Regular Price
Where to buy

HP Omen 15-Dh0039TX
Intel® Core™ i7-9750H
8GB DDR4
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2070 8GB GDDR6
15.6″ FHD 144 Hz
RM6099
RM7399
Notebook Plaza
Lazada
Shopee
GLOO

Don’t miss out on these promos as you will most probably not be able to score a better deal after this promo ends this 26th July!
Pokdepinion: RM1300 off the last-gen gaming laptops does seem like a pretty good deal since you will be getting a much better GPU for the price. Upgrading to 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors in the laptop space won’t net you that much more FPS anyway…
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Previously, we reported about the Samsung Galaxy Note series being discontinued. The Korean giant is making the S Pen usable on the upcoming Galaxy S21 series and some foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Now, it appears that the Galaxy Note series may have one final launch before it’s finally laid to rest in 2021.
Samsung Galaxy Note Series May Have One Final Launch in 2021

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As opposed to outright killing off the Samsung Galaxy Note series, it appears that the Korean giant is opting to wind it down first instead. According to ETnews, Samsung has placed orders for the digitizer needed for S Pen support, which is expected for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. This seems too early for a new entry in the Samsung Galaxy Note series or even for the Z Fold 3.
While this serve as the major piece of information pointing at the end of the Samsung Galaxy Note series, the same source indicates that there will still be a new model coming for the series. The only difference this time around is that there will only be one model as opposed to two like we’ve seen with the Galaxy Note20.
This would allow Samsung more time to prepare its spiritual successor, the Galaxy Z Fold. After all, they still need to figure out how to make a stylus usable on the more fragile, flexible screen for their foldable smartphone. Moreover, they need to figure out how to make it more appealing to people from a price perspective as well, as foldable smartphones are now priced way higher than any flagship smartphone you see today.
If true, this would most likely be the last entry in the beloved smartphone series. The Korean giant is then expected to put more focus on foldables afterwards, with 2021 being the beginning of a larger focus being placed on it.
Source
Pokdepinion: If there truly is going to be one last launch for the series, then I’m sure they’re gonna be putting their all into it. Can’t wait to see the device.
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This Could Be The 2018 Apple iPhone; More Than 6 Inch Screens?

KGI Securities released their 2018 iPhone product mix forecast. In it, reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted 2 new form factors coming.

This Could Be The 2018 Apple iPhone

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The folks over at KGI Securities recently released their 2018 iPhone product mix forecast. In said forecast, reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted 2 new form factors to come next year. Interestingly, KGI Securities is predicting that Apple will be introducing 2 new display sizes for their smartphones next year in OLED and LCD.
With the 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X that we have now, KGI is predicting that Apple will be bringing a 6.5-inch OLED iPhone, which is most likely the Plus variant for a similar type of offering as the iPhone X, along with a 6.1-inch LCD variant. All 3 models are expected to have the current full-screen design that we’ve seen in the iPhone X, and also include the TrueDepth Camera system.
With upwards of 120 million units expected to ship in the second half of next year, KGI describes next year’s lineup as the real super-cycle for iPhone sales. Compare that to the 80 million units shipped in the second half of this year, according to the forecast. It is said that this is mostly due to the increased inventory availability after production issues are sorted out this year. Additionally, it will also be because the new mid-sized model will offer newer features at a more affordable price.

At the moment, the iPhone X is retailing for USD $999 / RM5,149 for the entry level 64GB variant. KGI Securities is predicting that the 6.1-inch LCD model will be priced somewhere between USD $649 to USD $749, which will cater to the low-end to midrange markets thanks to its lower resolution display and cheaper build materials.
The TrueDepth Camera features such as the Face ID, Animoji, and Portrait Mode selfies are exclusive to the iPhone X this year but it’s expected to be available in every variant to be introduced in 2018. It’s also expected that all the new iPhones will no longer have Touch ID and will instead have Face ID for biometric security.
Source: 9to5Mac

Pokdepinion: Friendly reminder that these are merely speculation and nothing more. It will not be considered official until Apple announces it themselves. This would mean that we still have quite some time to hear about the new Apple devices. This does sound like some interesting stuff is cooking up on Apple’s side for next year.
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Here is the Official Xbox Series X Launch Games Lineup

As we get closer to the launch of the Xbox Series X, as well as the Xbox Series S, many gamers grow increasingly excited. However, not many of us are planning to get it immediately. If you’re looking for reason to own it at day one, then check out the full launch games lineup right here.
Official Xbox Series X Launch Games Lineup

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According to a new post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft has officially unveiled the Xbox Series X launch games lineup, which has over 30 games. A number of those games have support for the Xbox Smart Delivery feature, which lets you upgrade from the Xbox One version to its proper next gen version. There are also some games that are available with the Xbox Game Pass.
Without further ado, here’s the full list of Xbox Series X launch games:
Xbox Series X Launch Games Lineup

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Smart Delivery)
Borderlands 3 (Smart Delivery)
Cuisine Royale (Smart Delivery)
Dead by Daylight (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
DIRT 5 (Smart Delivery)
The Falconeer (Smart Delivery)
Forza Horizon 4 (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
Gears 5 (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
Gears Tactics (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
Grounded (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
King Oddball (Smart Delivery)
Maneater (Smart Delivery)
Manifold Garden (Smart Delivery)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
Planet Coaster (Smart Delivery)
Sea of Thieves (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
Tetris Effect: Connected (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
The Touryst (Smart Delivery and Xbox Game Pass)
War Thunder (Smart Delivery)
Watch Dogs Legion (Smart Delivery)
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship (Smart Delivery)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Smart Delivery)
Yes, Your Grace (Smart Delivery)
Fortnite
NBA 2K21
Bright Memory 1.0
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
Enlisted
Evergate
Observer: System Redux
Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition

The launch of a new generation of games is the culmination of epic creative and technical endeavors from developers around the globe, all focused on a single goal: delivering immersive new experiences and rich new worlds to explore. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S day one lineup reflects this incredible ingenuity, bringing you a creative, diverse and deep collection of iconic, inventive, and critically-acclaimed games from amazing creators around the world.
Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief
The Xbox Series X will be officially launching on 10th November 2020.
Source
Pokdepinion: It’s a pretty good lineup, and the next gen console wars appear to be much fiercer than ever before. If only the Xbox brand had an official presence in Malaysia, that would be great.
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Apple MacBook Pros recalled because their batteries are a fire hazard

Batteries are the most volatile components in any laptop. Our processors may get insanely hot, but they won’t explode or catch fire. Batteries, on the other hand, will. Which is why Apple is recalling their 15″ Retina MacBook Pro 2015 to replace the batteries, free of charge.
The MacBook Pros in question were sold between September 2015 and February 2017, which is quite a long time. To check whether your specific unit is affected by these subpar batteries, you can check the serial number at Apple’s support page.
The last MacBook Pro to sport a proper array of I/O ports…
If your laptop is involved in the recall, all you need to do is bring your MacBook Pro to an Apple Repair Center for service. You might not have a MacBook for one to two weeks though, so be prepared. By buying another MacBook! /jk

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Apple has not been exactly the nicest when it comes to replacing broken hardware, but a fire hazard definitely deserves more attention than faulty keyboards. At least they aren’t charging you to fix their problem.
          iTWorld Apple Premium Service Provider, Ipoh            iTWorld Apple Premium Service Provider, PJ
For Malaysians, you can refer to iTWorld to get your battery replaced. You are advised to backup your data before sending them for service. You can send them to the Apple Premium Service Provider outlets in PJ and SNS Ipoh HQ.
Pokdepinion: Isn’t it a bit late to realize that the batteries are bad? It’s like 2 years late. If anyone had died from an exploding battery, they would have.
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Study By Visa Shows Malaysians Will Likely Continue ‘New Normal’ Shopping Post-Pandemic

It has been a year since COVID-19 caused movement restriction orders and lockdowns in Malaysia, grinding normal life as we know it to a sudden halt. Since then, individuals and businesses have learnt to adapt to the restrictions and guidelines to adapt to their new lifestyles. According to Visa’s Consumer Payment Attitudes study, more than four in 10 Malaysians shopped online through websites or apps for the first time and more than three in 10 made their first purchase online using social media channels.
Online shopping won’t stop even after COVID, says Visa

Furthermore, 88% of Malaysians use home delivery services, with 36% of them being first-time users. As the number of people shopping in physical stores decreases, more Malaysians are turning to digital commerce platforms. According to Visa’s study, online shopping via mobile apps and websites increased by 83%, while shopping via direct delivery via phone orders increased by 65%. Malaysians are also increasing their spending on online marketplaces (48%), as well as home-based companies (44%).

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Malaysians have also developed behaviours that restrict physical exposure to the virus, such as wearing a face mask, avoiding crowded spaces and shared facilities, making digital payments, shopping online, and supporting local or home-based businesses, to name a few.
According to Ng Kong Boon, the Country Manager for Visa Malaysia, “The pandemic has accelerated the nation towards a cashless society as we see more new users of digital commerce and more Malaysians carrying less cash in their wallets compared to pre-COVID-19 period. Based on VisaNet data, one in five active Visa cardholders who did not make an eCommerce purchase in 2019 made their first online shopping purchase during (the) first half of last year.”

He also mentioned that the pandemic had caused a 63% surge in contactless card payments amongst contactless payment users. “For every 10 transactions, Malaysian cardholders made an average of seven contactless payment transactions. As Malaysians become more particular about physical hygiene contactless payments will enable them to transact in a secure and seamless environment. This is an opportunity for the country to grow more cashless payments across a wider spread of everyday categories in the year to come,” added Kong Boon.
Travel is the top category that wanderlust customers most look forward to spending on when borders reopen, in the hopes that the pandemic will soon be under control. According to the research, 43% of Malaysians want to travel internationally after COVID-19. Thirty per cent expect to spend money on domestic travel, and fourteen per cent want to do staycations in their own cities.
Pokdepinion: I still remember the uncertainties surrounding everyone when MCO first started last March and how scary it was. I definitely relied solely on online shopping even for the most mundane of products as it was just so scary to go out.
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Large Number of Malaysian WhatsApp Numbers Have Been Put Up For Sale

There has been some worrying developments recently as a large number of Malaysian WhatsApp numbers have been put up for sale online.
Malaysian WhatsApp Numbers Leaked?
Picture credits: Cybernews
As reported by both Cybernews and Lowyat.net, there is a database seller who is selling a database with over 1.5 billion WhatsApp numbers from users spanning over 98 countries across the globe on. Roughly 21.4 million of them are said to be Malaysian users.
The seller specifically mentioned that the database only contains WhatsApp numbers and they have been divided for each country. These were allegedly not obtained via a data breach of any kind as they were obtained by data scraping.

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Essentially, the seller (or someone related to them) sweeps data that are already out there online, such as on social media platforms like Facebook. While there is still suspicion that the data could still have been obtained from a Facebook data breach earlier this April, the seller claims that it is not the case.
While it can be hard to determine whose numbers are included in that database unless you got ahold of it, this is more so a public service announcement that a large number of you out there will likely be receiving spam messages on WhatsApp sooner or later from unknown people.
Source
Pokdepinion: Get ready for a massive blocking spree. If you see a random number call you on WhatsApp, it’s best to ignore it.
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XiaoMi MiPad Coming in The Next Flash Sale?

Akan datang. Yep, one of the worst teasers I have ever seen in my life. Posted on their FB page, this teaser is just a pixelated copy of this:

The prices in the pic above are from the China Xiaomi website, where the 16GB version goes for RM744.06, and the 64GB will cost RM973.69. Not really high prices if you ask me, given the specifications which include with a NVIDIA Tegra K1 quad core CPU (2.2GHz Cortex-A15) with a 192-core ULP GeForce Kepler GPU at it’s heart, 2GB RAM and 7.9″ 2K screen. While it may look uncannily like an iPad – and is even sized like an iPad mini, screen the same resolution and size as an iPad mini 2 or 3 – one has to remember that the Android ecosystem for tablets isn’t as matured as iOS. Still waiting to find out if MIUI makes Android a lot more tablet friendly. However, it’s price will work in the MiPad’s favor among the budget-conscious community. Even then it may be about time for a MiPad 2, considering the MiPad has been launched in the middle of 2014. But we are quite sure the response here will be just as amazing as it has always been for Xiaomi’s products, given that the price is right. Here’s hoping there is enough stock for every one of us interested in one.

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Counter-Strike 2 Announced: Valve Bringing Major Overhaul to Classic FPS Game

Valve has officially announced Counter-Strike 2, coming this summer. It promises an overhaul to every system and every part of the experience, including updated maps, dynamic smoke grenades, and “sub-tick updates.
Counter-Strike 2: Valve’s Major Overhaul of Classic FPS Game

Valve has announced that a new version of Counter-Strike is coming this summer. Counter-Strike 2 promises to overhaul every system, every piece of content, and every part of the Counter-Strike experience. The game will run on Valve’s Source 2 engine, and it will be the largest technical leap forward in the history of the game.
The original Counter-Strike game was released in 2000 and was based on a mod for Valve’s Half-Life. Valve followed that with Counter-Strike: Source in 2004 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2012. The free-to-play CS:GO remains incredibly popular, with over 1.4 million players on Steam. Now, Valve is preparing to launch a new version of the game that will bring significant changes to the classic FPS title.

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The announcement comes with three videos of Counter-Strike 2 in action, showing off newly updated maps, dynamic smoke grenades, and “sub-tick updates,” which Valve says offers even more precise server updates. In a limited test playable starting today for select Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players, Valve is also publishing an FAQ about the limited test for CS2 and how to get in.
One of the most significant changes to the game is the visual overhaul for Counter-Strike’s classic maps. Some of these maps have been played on for over 20 years, and Valve promises they will be cleaner, brighter, and better thanks to upgrades and overhauls which leverage all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features. Players will enjoy a refreshed and updated gameplay experience that should feel modern and exciting.

Smoke grenades in Counter-Strike 2 are also getting a big overhaul, with plumes that are now dynamic volumetric objects that interact with the environment. They will react to lighting, gunfire, and explosions, and players will be able to create “holes” in smoke grenades and even blow them away with frag grenade explosions. This change should lead to more realistic gameplay and add an extra layer of strategy to the game.
Finally, Valve is promising to go beyond the 128 tick rate in other online multiplayer games with its new technology called “sub-tick updates.” These updates will be the heart of Counter-Strike 2, allowing servers to know the exact instant that motion starts, a shot is fired, or a ‘nade is thrown. As a result, regardless of tick rate, moving and shooting will be equally responsive, and grenades will always land the same way. This should make gameplay smoother and more responsive.
Source
Pokdepinion: With Valve supposedly bringing a fresh experience for gamers, it will be interesting to see how the community will enjoy it. I’m also going to keep an eye on Riot Games to see if they were to do anything major for Valorant to minimize the loss in players.
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AMD’s New Chipset Driver Optimizes Dual-CCX Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs For Gaming

The driver lets Windows better understand which chiplet die is the better one to direct its workloads to.
Image: Videocardz / AMD
Videocardz has revealed a set of slides with AMD explaining the latest features in the chipset driver for optimizing the upcoming Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X3D CPUs. Unlike the 8-core Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the two former chips has one thing in common: two CCXs.
With both Ryzen 9 X3D parts, the total L3 cache comes at 128MB in total – but it is put together in a 32+32+64MB configuration. By default, each CCX gets 32MB of cache totaling in 64MB in the whole CPU (like the Ryzen 9 7950X); but 3D V-Cache puts an additional 64MB on top of one CCX, which makes that die in particular containing up to 96MB of L3 cache at disposal.

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The reasoning behind this is down to frequency considerations. As adding cache takes minor frequency penalties, AMD opted to leave one die focusing on cache-heavy workloads while the other handles frequency-focused work. That requires a special driver to tell Windows what to do with a unique configuration like this, something similar to Intel’s Thread Director feature, which directs the work to P-core or E-core as needed.
Image: Videocardz / AMD
Image: Videocardz / AMD
What this driver does is dynamically allocating the ‘preferred cores’ based on workloads; this is all done automatically by default. However, AMD says a BIOS setting can override this behavior as needed. Another similar feature is called PPM Provisioning File Driver, which focuses on gaming workloads. When the CPU detects a game is running, it will run the game on a single CCX of 8 cores with the bigger cache size and dynamically parks the other. In case more utilization is detected, the parked CCX will be re-enabled automatically.
This feature is only required for both Ryzen 9 X3Ds as they are the only chips that contains dual-CCX with 3D V-Cache on it. The 8-core Ryzen 7 7800X3D however only contains a single CCX – so it will not require this feature to perform as intended.
Source: Videocardz
Pokdepinion: I guess this feature can be a testing ground for a possible hybrid core Zen 5 CPU’s workload allocation, according to leaks so far.
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AEON Member Plus Visa Card and AEON Wallet Mobile App Officially Launched

With Bank Negara Malaysia plans to increase the number of online transactions in the country, AEON Group has decided to join in the bandwagon by launching their AEON Member Plus Visa Card and AEON Wallet mobile app.
AEON Member Plus Visa Card & AEON Wallet Mobile Officially Launched In Malaysia
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution was present at the launch
The launch was attended by Malaysia’s Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, where he officiated the event. AEON Group aims to dispel the notion that cashless payments are insecure and not user-friendly with the launch of the two products.
With the AEON Member Plus Visa Card, it is a 1-for-all card that not only allows AEON loyalty member card users to collect double points at all AEON outlets, but also acts as a Visa prepaid card for cashless payment in-store and online.

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Switching over to the AEON Wallet app, well it’s basically everything you’d expect from an eWallet application. The app is linked to an AEON Member Plus Visa CArd and allows you to pay through VR code at all AEON retailer outlets. The card also supports Visa payWave for faster transactions, lessening the time you need to queue up.

Though you probably have seen dozens of eWallets going around, AEON’s version is actually the first that is launched by a retailer here in Malaysia (the more you know).
The AEON Member Plus Visa Card and AEON Wallet are now available to everyone in the country. Card owners can top-up funds at any AEON Retailer Outlet’s cashier counters, AEON Credit Service ATMs, online banking, or even the AEON Wallet mobile app. AEON Wallet is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Pokdepinion: I might be using this eWallet, because I usually visit AEON malls frequently. Might as well I get something out of it right?

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Logitech G Named Official Sponsor To 3-time League of Legends World Champion T1

Logitech G has announced today of their agreement with T1, the three-time world champion of League of Legends, where they will become the Official Sponsor for the esports team.
With the partnership, Logitech G will go hand in hand with T1 to engage with esports fans across the region, where they strive to help grow the esports community. In addition to that, they also will collaborate in designing “next-generation, innovative technologies” for the market.
It goes without saying that T1 will promote Logitech G as the official provider of peripherals in their training facilities and digital channels.

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Here’s what they have to say about the partnership:
Logitech G is proud to team up with T1. These athletes not only have a strong heritage in their home country, but they are also performing at the highest level globally. We are excited to build a relationship that focuses on leveraging their expertise and talent across multiple game genres to continue developing world-class, industry leading technology for gamers around the world. We look forward to T1 being great ambassadors not only in Asia, but all over the world. Brent Barry, Logitech G Head of esports
T1 was founded back in 2004, and they have since won three World Championships in 2013, 2015, and 2016, as well as five other major titles.
Pokdepinion: Can’t really say that I’m surprised at all with the collaboration. Seeing how they are both top of their game, it’s like a match made in heaven. Will we see limited edition T1 Logitech gaming peripherals? Hopefully so.
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PlayStation 5 Could Be Sony’s Last Video Game Console

Technology has evolved so much over the years. The acceptable standards of yesterday aren’t really applicable today, and the same can be said tomorrow on what we have today. Depending on where it goes and consumer demands, the PlayStation 5 could very well be the last video game console by Sony.
In an interview with CNET, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan talked quite a bit on the current state as well as future of gaming. He was asked if the PlayStation 5 would be the last console and his answer was simply “I actually don’t know.”

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What I think is: I actually don’t know. I’ve been around a while, and I sat there in 2012 and listened to all sorts of smart people tell me about mobile and that the PlayStation 4 was going to be the most terrible failure ever. The logic was actually hard to fault. But we believed in that product then, we believe in this next generation product now. Who knows how it might evolve? Hybrid models between console and some sort of cloud model? Possibly that. I just don’t know. And if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.
When it comes to moving towards a new platform, Jim Ryan wants to keep the transition as seamless as possible. While that’s what they’re doing from the PS4 to the PS5, the same can be said if there ever comes a time where video game consoles will no longer be a thing.
It doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their gaming platform however, but it’s hard to say what it could end up being. What I think is possible is a cloud gaming platform similar to Google Stadia. This would be viable as you’d be able to play on any machine that has internet access. However, that’s merely a speculation and nothing more.
Source: CNET
Pokdepinion: Well, it’s not like they’re giving up, it’s just how technology is evolving and shaping the landscape. We might not even need a home console anymore in the future, and the Nintendo Switch is actually a good sign of that.
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Enthusiasts Made Windows 11 Fit Inside 200MB of RAM Despite Microsoft’s Limits

Anything fits, if you try hard enough…
Image: @XenoPanther (Twitter)
Windows 11 has gotten itself a bit of notoriety for how strict its hardware requirements get (most notably the trusted platform module, or TPM). That of course got the enthusiasts figuring out how far they can break Microsoft’s limits and fit the entire OS on places it wasn’t supposed to be.
Another pain point among enthusiasts when it comes to Windows 11 (or even Windows 10) is how much telemetry and unnecessary bloat has been occupying system resources which in turn caused high system requirements they’re asking for. Hence, a race towards de-bloating Windows has begun ever since, in the hopes of making a fully functional OS fit into slow and often outdated systems.

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However, the attempts made by NTDev here isn’t strictly making a functional OS, but rather making it run at all with the smallest RAM space possible. NTDev is the team behind ‘tiny11’ – which is a lightweight version of Windows 11 that can run without issues on systems having RAM as little as 2GB. This time around, the team claimed they have successfully made the system run at a ridiculously small amounts of RAM with just 384MB at disposal.

Here is tiny11 running on just 384MB of RAM! pic.twitter.com/suB9ytsQaM
— NTDEV @[email protected] (@NTDEV_) February 5, 2023

But you read the title. The attempt was quickly surpassed by another user @XenoPanther (who’s a Windows Insider), who managed to get Windows 11 running at just 200MB of RAM! The user claims they managed to boot as low as 196MB of RAM – but with RAM capacity that’s worthy of an early 2000s PC, getting the OS to run at all proved to be a massive test of patience, rather than challenge.
Image: @XenoPanther (Twitter)
In all occasions, the RAM is so strained to the point no room is left for any applications to run, and both the CPU and SSD are running full-tilt all the time likely as a result of RAM usage (likely related to paging file allocation). XenoPanther’s attempt at booting tiny11 at sub-200MB (through a virtual machine) RAM has seen the system crashing with BSOD errors for 30 minutes, and even spitting out some unusual out-of-memory errors.
Of course, much like “would this device run DOOM?”, it’s more of an experiment than a practical use case to see the limits of any software. That being said, there’s a reason a slimmed-down OSes, albeit unofficial, like tiny11 exists – many old systems may not have the processing power to deal with modern OSes, and tiny11 can be, among some Linux OSes or even ChromeOS Flex, give these old systems a new breath of life.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Pokdepinion: This is giving me flashbacks of using one of those netbooks with dismal specs and that Intel Atom processor…
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I’m sure many of you have fond memories of Farmville, the old days on Facebook when you get spammed with notifications on people asking you to visit their farm. It looks like the browser-based game will finally be shutting down for good.
Farmville is Finally Shutting Down After 11 Years of Service

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Zynga has announced that Farmville will finally be shutting down after 11 years of service. The reason for this is because the Adobe Flash Player support will be ending this year, basically rendering the game inaccessible on web browsers.
For those of you who aren’t aware, Adobe will stop the distribution and updates of their Adobe Flash Player after 31st December 2020. It will be shutting down on Facebook, together other games that are reliant on Flash.
In-app purchases will be available until 17th November 2020, and it will be disabled right after. As such, it’s best to spend your in-game credits before that date, just in case. If you want to take a trip down memory lane, Farmville will still be up and running from now until 31st December 2020.
It might be worth seeing it through to end as Zynga has planned a number of in-game activities until the game is shut down for good. You also have the option to play the other Farmville games around, but if you want the OG experience, you still have time to do so.
Source
Pokdepinion: This brings me back some good memories. I mean, even my mom played Farmville at one point. You will be missed.
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NieR: Automata Invades Final Fantasy Brave Exvius; NieR Characters Available for Limited Time

When the dystopian world of NieR: Automata crashes into Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, there will be plenty of chaos…and fun for us gamers.

NieR: Automata Invades Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
ARVE Error: need id and provider
Square Enix announced today further details for the highly anticipated NieR: Automata collaboration in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, which is set to begin today, August 11th. The popular free-to-play mobile game continues to provide new content and collaborations to its growing community, having recently reached 25 million total downloads worldwide.

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Through August 24th, characters from NieR: Automata, including 2B, 9S, 21O, and Adam transform into pixel art and join the ever-growing cast of units in the mobile game. Additionally, A2 and Eve enter the world of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as 2 new global exclusive characters.

During this limited time event, players will face off against waves of machines and NieR: Automata bosses as they collect medals to exchange for special in-game rewards and materials use to craft weapons and armor, including the iconic Emil’s Head.
Additionally, from August 9th through 18th, players will be able to purchase a special summer package once per day for 400 Lapis. This unique bundle contains numerous in-game items for nearly 50% off, including a Rare Summon Ticket, Magic Key, NRG (stamina), and more.

Square Enix also announced the start of registration for the Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Fan Festa event in New York City, which will take place during New York Comic Con on October 6th at CAPITALE. Producer Kei Hirono and Global Version Producer Hiroki Fujimoto invite players to this free fan event to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the title and to thank fans for their continued support.
For more information on the event as well as the registration page, click here for it.  Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is available now as a free-to-play app on the App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore.

Pokdepinion: I haven’t played Final Fantasy Brave Exvius for a while now… mostly because I was tired of grinding. I suppose I have a reason to re-visit the game now.
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Nokia 5710 XpressAudio Has A Unique Audio Feature, and It’s Coming to Malaysia

In what seems to be a callback to their early innovative days, the Nokia 5710 XpressAudio brings a unique feature that you don’t find in other phones, and it’s coming to Malaysia.
Nokia 5710 XpressAudio

The Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is a unique phone that includes a pair of built-in wireless earbuds that can be revealed by sliding down a compartment at the back of the phone. These earbuds connect via Bluetooth and can be used with other devices.

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Despite not being able to support music streaming apps, the 5710 XpressAudio can still act as an MP3 player and includes FM radio support. It is powered by a Unisoc T107 SoC and features 4G connectivity. In addition to the earbuds, the phone also has two built-in speakers for listening without the earbuds, although the earbuds themselves may not be comfortable for everyone due to their non-interchangeable tips.

The Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is a music-oriented phone with dedicated physical buttons for media control on either side of its 2.4-inch QVGA display, reminiscent of the Nokia XpressMusic line of phones. It also has a 0.3MP camera with a flash on its back, a micro USB charging port, and a 1,450mAh battery that can last between 20 to 31 days, depending on your usage and connectivity.
The device supports the use of a microSD card with capacities up to 32GB, but it should be noted that you will need to purchase one separately. The wireless earbuds included with the phone have not had their battery life or impact on the phone’s battery life disclosed by HMD Global.
The Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is available for purchase on the official Nokia Shopee store for RM339 and comes with a charger and removable battery in the box, although only the black colour option seems to be available.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’m actually hoping this eventually ends up being a feature in a future Android smartphone. The innovative design is just nice to make them stand out again, and it will be a good callback to how they were during the Symbian era.
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NVIDIA Empowers Electronics Manufacturers with Digitalization Workflow at COMPUTEX

NVIDIA has unveiled a comprehensive reference workflow that leverages its advanced technologies for generative AI, 3D collaboration, simulation, and autonomous machines. This workflow is designed to support electronics manufacturers worldwide in their industrial digitalization efforts.
Streamlining Operations with NVIDIA’s Reference Workflow

Their reference workflow provides manufacturers with a holistic approach to digitalization, covering planning, building, operating, and optimizing factories. By integrating their technologies into the workflows, manufacturers can leverage the following key components:

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NVIDIA Omniverse: Connecting leading computer-aided design apps, APIs, and generative AI frameworks, Omniverse facilitates seamless collaboration and simulation in a virtual environment. Manufacturers can build, test, and refine their designs before committing to physical production, saving costs and reducing delays.
NVIDIA Isaac Sim: This application enables manufacturers to simulate and test robots, allowing for the optimization of robotic automation processes. By using Isaac Sim, manufacturers can enhance production efficiency and improve quality control.
NVIDIA Metropolis: The vision AI framework, now integrated with automated optical inspection, empowers manufacturers to automate quality-assurance processes. Metropolis ensures accurate and efficient inspection of manufactured products, further improving production efficiency and reducing costs.

Prominent electronics manufacturers, including Foxconn Industrial Internet, Innodisk, Pegatron, Quanta, and Wistron, have embraced the  reference workflow to enhance their operations and drive digitalization. Here are some examples:

Foxconn Industrial Internet is automating circuit-board quality-assurance inspections with the help of NVIDIA Metropolis, achieving significant operational efficiency gains.
Innodisk is deploying NVIDIA Metropolis to automate optical inspection processes, improving production efficiency and reducing costs.
Pegatron is leveraging NVIDIA technologies to digitalize its circuit-board factories, enabling simulation, robotics, and automated production inspection.
Quanta is using NVIDIA AI robots to inspect product quality, combining Isaac Sim for simulation and AI for inference on the robots themselves.
Wistron is building digital twins of its automated receiving lines and operations buildings using NVIDIA Omniverse, allowing for efficient planning and optimization.

NVIDIA is collaborating with leading manufacturing-tools and service providers to create a comprehensive ecosystem that covers the entire digitalization workflow. From systems-level hardware solutions to platform-level integration and application-level optimization, they are working with partners such as ADLINK, Advantech, Aetina, and Prodrive Technologies to ensure seamless compatibility and maximize the benefits of digitalization for manufacturers.
Learn about all of these and more at COMPUTEX to witness the future of industrial digitalization.
Source
Pokdepinion: With its comprehensive reference workflow and collaboration with industry leaders, they are revolutionizing the digitalization efforts of electronics manufacturers worldwide. By leveraging AI, 3D collaboration, simulation, and autonomous machines, manufacturers can streamline operations, enhance quality control, and drive cost savings. Their commitment to empowering the industry with cutting-edge technologies positions it at the forefront of the digitalization revolution, and it’s an exciting time to be alive.
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NVIDIA unveils new Max-Q technologies and GeForce RTX SUPER for laptops

Laptops are supposed to be portable, and while huge desktop replacement (DTR) models have their appeal, the majority still want something they can carry with them everyday. Thus the relevance of the NVIDIA Max-Q GPUs, which come in at a lower TDP than their full-performance brethren to allow for OEMs to design slimmer and lighter gaming laptops.
New Max-Q Technologies

NVIDIA has announced a number of additions to their Max-Q offerings, including Max-Q Dynamic Boost. The GPU will now communicate with the power delivery hardware to play around with the power targets to send power where it is needed most adaptively. NVIDIA promises up to 10% better frame rates with Max-Q Dynamic Boost, which is quite significant.

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Depending on whether your game is CPU or GPU-bottlenecked, Max-Q Dynamic Boost can really improve your performance. The latest CPUs are really quite beefy already so there’s probably a good chance of your games being GPU-bottlenecked, and thus you would be able to enjoy better performance thanks to Dynamic Boost.
What I believe to be the most important addition is Advanced Optimus, which lets you enjoy a G-SYNC display along with the power-saving benefits of Optimus. The reason why you can’t enjoy G-SYNC with Optimus active is because the iGPU communicates directly with the display when Optimus technology is active, while G-SYNC needs the NVIDIA graphics to directly drive display.

There were earlier designs letting you use both technologies in the same laptop, but they required a reboot to switch between iGPU and NVIDIA dGPU. With Advanced Optimus, a dynamic display switch lets you switch between the iGPU and dGPU seamlessly, just like how you would on a current-gen Optimus laptop, with the new thing being that you can use G-SYNC in games too. That’s essentially letting you have your cake and eat it. The first laptop to feature the technology will be the Lenovo Legion 7.

Aside from these big upgrades, NVIDIA also announced low-voltage GDDR6 to save power on the VRAM’s side. They have also worked with partners to use more efficient regulators in the the Max-Q laptops. Last but not least, NVIDIA shared that DLSS actually offers up to 20% better efficiency.
GeForce RTX SUPER for Laptops
For those who want more performance than what current-gen GeForce RTX laptops can offer, they can opt for the new GeForce RTX SUPER models for laptops. There will be the new GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER and GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER parts to deliver a higher level of performance in the laptop segment.
GeForce RTX for Laptops Specs

CUDA Cores
Boost Clocks
Memory
TGP

GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER
3072
1080 ~ 1560 MHz
8GB GDDR6
80 ~ 150+ W

GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
2560
1155 ~ 1380 MHz
8GB GDDR6
80 ~ 115W

GeForce RTX 2070
2304
1125 ~ 1455 MHz
8GB GDDR6
80 ~ 115W

GeForce RTX 2060
1920
1185 ~ 1560 MHz
6GB GDDR6
65 ~ 115W

They have essentially EOL-ed the GeForce RTX 2080 for laptops, but they are maintaining the GeForce RTX 2070 models and below. They have also shifted the price points down a bit, with the GeForce RTX 2060 set to appear in $999 laptops, making hardware-accelerated raytracing more accessible.
Pokdepinion: Well, maybe this is the time that we can no longer look down upon the Max-Q variants as inferior siblings of their full-performance brethren.
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Apple iPhone XR, XS and XS Max has landed. Head over to iTworld to get your dream smartphone!

The latest flagship from Apple are now in Malaysia. The iPhone XR, XS and XS Max are now available in Malaysia. Not just that, the new Apple Watch Series 4 is here too. iTworld, together with their parent company SNS Network (M) Sdn Bhd had a grand launching event in their exclusive showrooms.
iTworld held these at their prominent locations in the Apple Authorized Reseller Stores; iTworld The Starling, Petaling Jaya and iTworld KB Mall, Kelantan. Sales began as early as 9am & queue began an hour earlier for those who had pre-ordered.

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Those who pre-ordered were entitled to VIP queue lane and walk-in customers were given an additional lane. First 10 customers walked away with complimentary wireless chargers upon purchase of their new iPhone devices and additionally the 11th – 50th customers entitled for lucky draws.
There are also attractive limited time packages offered. Career bundling with Celcom and CITIBANK installment plan up to 36 months with bundle savers offerings, accessories PWP from RM21 onwards and others being just some of them. This allows users to own the latest iPhone at a much affordable way.
Pokdepinion: If you have been eyeing on the iPhone, I highly recommend you to get it from iTworld considering their packages. Trust me, you won’t be let down.
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AMD “Phoenix 2” APU May Be The Chipmaker’s First Hybrid Processor

Taking the regular Zen 4 core, and add it with Zen 4c core originated from EPYC Bergamo CPUs.

It was spotted that one particular entry of the [email protected] scientific research project database is an unnamed AMD engineering sample that is alleged to be the “Phoenix 2” processor, according to @InstLatX64. The Phoenix 2 will be the first ever hybrid CPU to come out of Team Red, for which Intel has first introduced en masse in 2021.

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Image: InstLatX64 (Twitter)
The most interesting part of this CPU is the core configuration: it features 12 threads from 6 physical cores – among those six cores, four of which are the smaller Zen 4c core which supports simultaneous multithreading (SMT), unlike Intel’s E-cores which doesn’t. The remaining two ‘big’ cores are your bog-standard Zen 4 cores found on latest Ryzen chips.
Previous sources from 3DCenter claims the Phoenix 2 (PHX2) will get 2C+4c core configuration with 4MB L3 cache on each core cluster, while L2 cache remains to be 1MB per core. Clockspeed wise, Zen 4c is said to be ‘similar’ to Zen 2 – so we’re looking at possibly 4.0GHz or thereabouts. Onboard graphics would be cut down to 4 Compute Units with 256 Stream Processors.
The system has been quietly running on the compute for the scientific research since March, so perhaps this machine could have been in the hands of some testers inside or even outside of AMD. Could that mean launch is imminent? Hard to say – but unofficial sources are claiming a potential 2H 2023 launch.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Pokdepinion: That Zen 4c core with SMT may be the key to establish a commanding lead against Intel’s laptop CPUs again (given Intel traditionally don’t scale performance as well on lower power envelopes).
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Devil May Cry 5 Update Removes Partial Nudity Censorship

If you’re a fan of Devil May Cry 5 then chances are that you’ve heard some interesting and weird stories about the game. We recently covered about a partial nudity censorship which affected Trish in a short scene of the game. It appears that a new update has removed this censorship.
As seen in the video at the top of this page from YouTubers Itachi Uchiha, patch 1.07 for Devil May Cry 5 on the PlayStation 4 has now removed the light that initially covered up the brief partial nudity of Trish in the game’s cutscene following Mission 11. With this update, the PS4 version is now identical to that of the Xbox One and PC counterparts of Devil May Cry 5 which never had this scene censored in the first place.
However, there is a rather strange caveat with this entire ordeal. According to multiple reports and footage that has been shared online, it seems that this patch has only removed the censorship in the scene for those in the United States. For those in Europe, this scene in question still contains the same light that covers Trish’s rear area. The reasons as to why this is the case have not been given by either Sony or Capcom.

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It’s a very odd chain of events but this might just not be the end of it. We’ll be reporting on the matter if and when there’s more information that becomes available.
Devil May Cry 5 is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The free Bloody Palace DLC for the game is now available.
Pokdepinion: For many adults now, what you’d be seeing is relatively harmless but for kids, definitely not good for them. But then again, kids shouldn’t be playing a game like this to begin with.
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Power Rangers: Legacy Wars Launches on Mobile; It’s Morphin’ Time!

In today’s world, nostalgia reigns supreme as evident by Lionsgate’s new Power Rangers movie which is finally out in cinemas this week. In conjunction with the movie’s release Saban, Lionsgate and mobile developer nWay have released a tie-in game called Power Rangers: Legacy Wars.
Power Rangers: Legacy Wars Is Out Now on iOS and Android
Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is a real-time multiplayer fighting game that features not only the Rangers from the new movie but all members of the Power Rangers and villains throughout the franchise’s 24 year history.

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Now as a longtime fan of the old series this is pretty much a dream come true as I get the chance to finally pit my favourite Rangers against other Rangers and see which one comes out top.

Combat in Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is interesting as it uses a card-based combat system against real players in a real-time PvP in your own customizable team of three Rangers (or villains). Each team consists of one leader and two assists which you can upgrade  as you progress through the game using the game’s shard collecting system. You can also create or join alliances – where you can chat and trade Ranger shards with other alliance members.

Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is heavily banking on the fans sense of nostalgia so if you’re a fan this game is for you. However, its colourful visuals and fun gameplay, non-fans and casual gamers alike would definitely enjoy this game as well. Power rangers: Legacy Wars is free-to-play (with some expected micro-transactions) and is available now on iOS and Google Play Store.
Pokdepinion: I remember religiously watching Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers on RTM growing up. Every weekend I’d quickly (and reluctantly) finish all my homework just so that I can watch the show without any interruptions. I remember feeling giddy and extremely excited whenever the iconic “Go Go Power Rangers” theme song starts playing (I still do). That’s exactly how I felt playing this game. All in all Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is clearly targeted to fans of the long-running franchise.
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realme 6 Pro Officially Launched In Malaysia At RM1,399

The folks at realme Malaysia has today launched the brand new realme 6 Pro which comes with six cameras in total and a 90Hz refresh rate display, to name a few.
realme 6 Pro Malaysia launch
realme 6 Pro Malaysia price
Under the hood, the realme 6 Pro packs a Snapdragon 720G chipset as well as a 4300mAh battery, which you can charge with its 30W fast charger.
As we’ve mentioned, there’s plenty of camera lens on the smartphone. On the back there’s a 64MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto lens, a 8MP ultra-wide camera, and finally a 2MP macro lens. As for the front, you got a dual selfie camera setup, with one of them being at 16MP lens while the other a 8MP ultrawide.

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The price? Well you can get your hands on the realme 6 Pro for the price of RM1,399. The phone will officially go on sale tomorrow, the 12th of May 2020 at their official store on Lazada where you can also get your hands on a Daily Mood Casings (worth RM149) as well as 1-year extended warranty.
As for the offline sale, the realme 6 Pro will be available on the 16th of May 2020 at all authorized dealers in the country. Those who get it at that time will also get their hands on the case and warranty extension.
We’ve also released our review of the standard realme 6. Do check that out right here.
Pokdepinion: We’ll be releasing the review for the Pro version as well soon, so do lookout for that one too!
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Nintendo Games Will Be Used To Teach ‘Life Skills’ In Schools

Remember back in our school days where we played video games legally? Well neither do I. According to a report, British Schools are said to to start using Nintendo games in classes in order to teach kids ‘life lessons’.
The idea is thanks to Digital Schoolhouse, a non-profit organization that’s backed by the government (in the UK) where they plan on introducing Nintendo games to classrooms. Seeing them choosing Nintendo games is understandable as most games on the platform are ‘child friendly’. It appears that Smash Bros. Ultimate has been confirmed to be one of the games that will be used by them.
It seems that one of the key focus that they’re trying to implement is teamwork, a trait that’s clearly positive. A research has been done that suggest that gaming at a young age can help with brain development and growth.

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Digital Schoolhouse have been working on the project since 2014.
Pokdepinion: I’m sure that if this was implemented in Malaysian schools, there will be mixed feelings. I think that it’s not such a bad idea. Pick appropriate games and add supervision, there should be no problems.
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LIAN LI Introduces Latest PC Chassis the LANCOOL III

LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd. unveils the LANCOOL III, the newest addition to the LANCOOL line.

The LANCOOL III is air-flow optimized with a 51% porosity front mesh panel, fine mesh panels at the top and both sides of the PSU shroud, and four pre-installed 140mm PWM fans. The PC case allows users to add up to a 360mm radiator at the front on the multi-position bracket, above the PSU shroud which is 80mm thick, and up to a 420mm radiator at the top which is 75mm thick max, at an offset position with ample room for 60mm tall memory sticks.

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The LIAN LI LANCOOL III supports up to E-ATX motherboards, 420mm long graphics cards, and ATX power supplies, as well as different storage solutions for mounting up to twelve 2.5″ SSDs or four 3.5″ HDDs and eight 2.5″ SSDs. The PC chassis has two brushed metal strips on the front and each strip serves as a door handle for the tempered glass panels on the right and left sides.
Users may move the contemporary I/O situated at the top of the front panel to the bottom for better access when the case is put on a desk. The LANCOOL III RGB’s I/O panel has extra RGB control buttons for light customization of the three pre-installed 140mm ARGB fans at the front.
The case’s second chamber has extensive cable management that includes eight Velcro straps hidden behind two detachable cover panels fixed on hinges and magnetically closed. To arrange and separate the front panel connections, motherboard 24-pin and GPU power cables, and fan hubs, three huge Velcros with various channels are used.
Five smaller Velcro straps are put around the motherboard region to route wires such as the CPU EPS cable and storage devices. Furthermore, there is ample area to attach up to four fan/ARGB hubs.
The O11D EVO vertical GPU kit allows for vertical GPU placement in the LANCOOL III. Users may choose between a black or white kit with a PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 riser cable.
The vertical GPU kit may be fitted in the LANCOOL III at multiple heights, with a lower position leaving 6mm of space between the kit and the top of the PSU shroud and a higher position leaving 46mm of clearance above the PSU shroud for fans and a radiator.
Starting 15 July 2022, the LIAN LI LANCOOL III will be available for pre-order. The prices are stated in the table below:

Model / Colours
Black
White

LANCOOL III
$149.99
$159.99

LANCOOL III RGB
$159.99
$169.99

Feel free to visit LIAN LI LANCOOL III’s official website for additional details.
Pokdepinion: Anyone who is looking for a new PC case anytime soon, this might be the one for you!
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realme Buds Air Review — Breaking Expectations

We got the opportunity to get our hands on the newly released realme Buds Air, where it comes in a familiar design that’s compact. Will it impress us? Carry on to find out.
Unboxing

The realme Buds Air comes in a yellow box, where in our case, we’ve gotten our hands on the white version.

Inside, the packaging is pretty much straightforward where there’s:

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Charging caseBuds (inside the case)USB-C cableQuick guide book
Appearance

With the realme Buds Air’s case, it’s probably one of the smallest charging cases around. The case itself is made out of plastic and is shaped like a big pill with smooth curves all around.

It’s nice to see that with the realme Buds Air you get a USB-C port on the underside of the case for charging.

As for the buds themselves, well they look eerily similar to a certain fruit-company’s design.
Specifications
Drivers12nmFrequency ResponseN/ASensitivityN/AImpedanceN/AHeadphone TypeTrue wireless, ear budsConnectionBluetooth 5.0GFP (Google Fast Pair Technology)Optical Sensor for Wear DetectionWireless Range10mNoise-cancellingN/A for playbackEnvironment Noise Cancellation (ENC) for callsBatteryEarphonesUp to 3 hours playbackCharging Case5x Full Charge (total 17 hours)WeightEarphones4.2 gramCharging Case42.3 gramColourWhite, Black, Yellow
User Experience
Pairing
Similar to other wireless earbuds in the market, you simply need to take the realme Buds Air out of the charging case and simply pair them to your smartphone. The next time that you take them out, they will instantly connect to your device.

Once you’ve paired them to your smartphone, connecting them afterwards is almost instantly. I found that you wouldn’t need to wait for like a few seconds to pair like other wireless audio products.
Should you take out one of them from your ears, the Wear Detection feature will automatically kick in and pause your audio. Put it back on and the audio will resume playing without the need for you to press anything.
Sound

The audio quality when listening to music is rather good on the realme Buds Air. Songs sound crisp and the bass is adequate enough thanks to their Dynamic Bass Boost.
Due to the design, you can expect low noise isolation. This means that you’ll still hear environmental sounds around. You could negate that by having your volume turned up, but of course, we wouldn’t recommend that for long periods of time.
As for calls, it sounds like audio that you hear from one of those ‘radio calls’, which isn’t really that good in terms of quality.
Comfort

As we’ve mentioned earlier in the appearance section, the realme Buds Air resembles Apple’s AirPods, but hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, eh? It is however quite a bit more compact, with the Buds Air probably being the most portable earbuds that we’ve tested here at Pokde.net.
For the buds themselves, you may find it a problem should your ear lobes to be a different size than the average. Personally, they fit just nice into my ears (thankfully for that).
One of the things that I found troublesome was the glossy plastic material on both the case and buds themselves. If you have sweaty hands like me, the Buds Air gets rather slippery.
In terms of controls, the realme Buds Air has the following:
Play/pause, accept call: 2x tapSkip song: 3x tapVoice assistant, decline call: Hold one side for 2 secsEnter/exit Gaming Mode: Hold both sides for 2 secs
For the gestures, I wished that they had added one more controls for you to skip backwards while listening to music.
Battery Life
As far as claims go, realme has said that the Buds Air has a battery life of 3 hours (buds only). I found that figure to be slightly shorter as I managed to squeeze 2.5 hours instead. It’s worth noting that there could be a multitude of different factors that could affect it but for me personally, I had set the volume to 50% and was using the default mode. If it were to be in the gaming mode, it’s likely that it’ll drain the battery even more.
There’s also the benefit of Qi wireless charging with the earbuds. It’ll come in handy should you happen to have one around you. Quite an interesting touch for realme to throw in wireless charging here to be entirely honest, considering that none of their smartphones offer it at the moment.
Conclusion

realme is asking for RM299 for the realme Buds Air. What do I think about that? Well it’s simply an offer hard to refuse, despite some of the flaws that it has. It’s even more attractive when you take into account the fact that there’s a special price of just RM199 on its first sale on 21st January 2020.
In terms of audio quality, I was quite pleased and felt the Buds Air did give me a satisfying experience. At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing, right?
For that, I award the realme Buds Air our Silver Pokdeaward.

A big thanks to realme Malaysia for providing the realme Buds Air that was used in this review!
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OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Better Than Expected

Unboxing the OnePlus Buds Pro 2
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Box

Let’s kickoff the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review with the unboxing. Unlike the OnePlus 11, the packaging here is has a red and white colour combination with a picture of the product itself. Given how small the box is, it does seem like there’s a lot of visuals on the box but there’s really nothing much to it. Inside the box, you can find the following items:
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Box content

User guide, warranty, and safety booklet
MelodyBoost leaflet
USB-C cable
Spare antibacterial ear tips (different sizes)
Charging case
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 earbuds themselves

Specifications

Drivers
11mm + 6mm dynamic driver

Microphone
3 microphones + AI algorithm

Frequency Response
10Hz – 40,000Hz (44.1kHz Sampling)

Headphone Type
In-ear

Connector
Wired
USB-C
Wireless
Bluetooth 5.3 with LE, Google Fast Pair, dual connection, and LHDC 4.0

Wireless Range
10m

Noise-cancelling
Yes, Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC)
48db TUV-Certified Adaptive Noise Cancellation

Battery
Earphones
60mAh
Charging Case
520mAh

Dimensions
Earphones
24.3 x 20.85 x 32.18 mm, 4.9g x 2
Charging Case
60.1 x 49 x 24.9mm, 47.3g

Colour
Arbor Green, Obsidian Black

Ingress Protection
IP55

The Good
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Charging case
With your typical TWS earbuds, the touch controls is usually on the back of the buds but in the case of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, it’s on the stems. At first, this felt odd as I’m not used to it but after some time, I realized that it’s certainly better this way as it minimizes the chance of accidentally pausing media or accidentally activating other functions since the stem is lower down from the ear. If you’re the kind who often move your hair or touch your head, you will appreciate it.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Earbuds
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has a matte finish on both the charging case and earbuds, which is more pleasing to see but that is subjective. What isn’t subjective is the fact that you don’t have to worry about smudges while you’re handling them. It’s worth noting that the stems themselves are glossy but I’m surprised that it doesn’t smudge as easily as I thought, and the stem itself has a small surface area so it’s fine. As for build quality, the earbuds themselves feel rather premium but I’ll talk more about the charging case in the next section.

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As for sound quality, it seems that the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is geared more towards movies, games, and certain music. I say this because while the highs and mids are admirable, it has rather weak bass even when the equalizer is designed to maximize it. You get a decent soundstage with good audio separation which also makes it ideal for games and media. Noise cancelling works great and is on par with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, but still can’t beat Sony’s flagship TWS series.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – HeyMelody app
Part of what makes the sound quality better is Audio ID 2.0, which tailors your listening experience based on the size of your ears. While I do not personally know how much of an improvement it makes, I can see some of the changes that it makes to supposedly make it sound better for you, and the process is both quick and simple.
One great thing about the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is the fact that it works on any smartphone without losing out on features, including the iPhone. While it is advertised to connect very quickly with OnePlus devices, I found it interesting that it’s almost equally as fast on the iPhone 14 Plus. You can even connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously thanks to Google’s Fast Pair feature, which is ideal to have it connected to a smartphone and either a laptop or a tablet. Just make sure you have the HeyMelody app (for smartphone) to access all the necessary features.
Battery life is pretty good if I do say so myself. The earbuds themselves can last 6 to 6 and a half hours with ANC enabled but if you disable it, it can go for around 8 hours. As for the charging case, you can expect at least 4 full charges, which is more than enough. To give you some perspective, I found that TWS earbuds around the same price range would go for about 5-6 hours max, with charging case being able to provide 3 full charges.
The Bad
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Wearing the buds
One gripe that I have with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is the fact that it only has an IP55 rating. This means that it has been tested against dust and water for up to 55 minutes at a pressure of one atmosphere. In simpler terms, it can withstand sweat and a bit of rain but if it’s not advised to use it if you’re caught in a heavy rain or plan on taking it to the shower. The example sounds a bit ridiculous but considering that the competition is coming in with IPX7, it’s a bit disappointing but not a dealbreaker.
As for Spatial Audio, this part I’m genuinely uncertain about. While the prompt for it came out and it did the necessary configurations alongside Audio ID 2.0, I can’t really tell the difference. This applies to both the iPhone 14 Plus and the OnePlus 11, which is odd. It’s either the Spatial Audio not doing much or a bug prevents it from being implemented properly. For now, I’m going to wait if there will be an update addressing it but you should take note of this issue.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review – Rear
For this part, it’s more so of an awareness thing rather than a negative but the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is claimed to have low latency, making it ideal for gaming. However, Bluetooth is known to have latency issues, even in newer version. In this case, the Bluetooth 5.3 LE has about 54ms of latency. While it might be better than a good number of Bluetooth-powered TWS earbuds, it’s still rather noticeable. It’s just a limitation of Bluetooth technology and can’t be helped unless some magical evolution happens with the technology.
While I’m personally pleased with the build quality of the earbuds, I can’t say the same about the charging case. The bottom part feels fine but the lid itself has a hollow, plasticky sensation that doesn’t exude confidence. There are more affordable earbuds with charging cases that are better built. If you’re getting this, do not open the charging case with too much force as it feels like the lid can break off rather easily.
Lastly, the Ambient Sound, which they refer to as Transparency mode, could do a better job. With other TWS earbuds, I can hear my surroundings still rather clearly unless I drive the volume up to max level but with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, I can barely hear anything with music playing at 60% volume. At that point, you’re better off setting the Noise Control to off to save battery.
OnePlus Buds 2 Pro Verdict
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review
In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro to be good but it ended up being a pleasant surprise. Sure, you do have better options but for the price of RMXXX, it’s certainly an attractive buy. Whether this is the right pair for you depends on how much you prioritize bass and whether you prefer TWS earbuds with or without stems.
At the end of our OnePlus Buds 2 Pro review, I award this pair of TWS earbuds with our Silver Pokdeward.

Big thanks to OnePlus for sending us this earbuds for the purpose of this review.
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