While markets are opening up, the impact of COVID-19 has simply highlighted that our needs for fast and reliable WiFi (TV streaming, gaming, Internet) has never been higher. As everyone is now online and becoming used to being online, it also seems like our WiFi has never been slower too.

To help out everyone, here are our Top 3 fast and easy tips to speed up your WiFi in your home.  We guarantee that You can do them on your own without any extra money or too much tech know-how. If you don't need to know why, just check out the Hot Tips below or read on for more details. If you've seen them already then scroll past all the Top tips for an alternative solution.

Here are our Top 3 fast and easy tips to speed up your WiFi:

WiFi dead zones are those places where you can’t get any connection even though there’s a strong signal everywhere else in the house. We all have those, like that one zone on the bed or the corner of the room. One of the main reasons could be because your router has not been positioned in the best spot possible.

For many of us, where we position our routers is more a case of “that’s the closest spot to the telephone port”, but according to the experts, the best place to put them would be in the center of the home in the highest spot possible. So, placing it inside a glass and metal cabinet or on the lowest shelf is probably not the best place for it.

Hot Tip #1: Put your router in the center at the highest spot

Believe it or not, our WiFi signals can be interfered with by a number of things, many of which are actually in our homes. These include reflective surfaces like mirrors and aquariums and home appliances like microwaves and TVs. Certain materials like metal and heavy timber can also affect WiFi signals as well. To help strengthen your WiFi, you should try to avoid placing these interferences near your router at all.

This means placing your router away from mirrors, aquariums, fountains, microwaves and above all, your smart TV. Many people tend to put their routers in metal or thick vintage teak wood cabinets right below their TVs which is probably the worst place to put it, in terms of WiFi interference. Ideally, you should place it on a wooden shelf or rack by itself with nothing else around.

Hot Tip #2: Don’t surround your router with interfering clutter (metal, appliances, etc.)

You can see that the connection is more stable on the 5Ghz band WiFi above compared to the 2.4Ghz band WiFi below

Most routers these days have dual WiFi  bands, 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. The usual 2.4Ghz band has a wider range (~ 125 meters) and works better through walls but is not as fast as the 5GHz band. The 5Ghz band is faster and more stable but it has a shorter range (~ 60 meters) and doesn't work so well through walls and other objects.

So, if your router is in your living room with your smart TV, we’d recommend you connect your smart TV to the 5Ghz band on your router. If you're in the bedroom or upper floor, switching to the 2.4Ghz band is probably better.

In Malaysia, if your router does support dual bands, usually the installer crew will set up 2 WiFi networks, one on the 2.4Ghz band and the other on the 5Ghz band (usually the same name but with a"_5G" added). Both should use the same password but if you're setting up your own WiFi router, you'll have to setup both yourself.

Hot Tip #3: Switch between 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz depending on how near you are to your router

You can pair your WiFi router with a Mesh WiFi router which solves all of the problems above, without you having to do anything more than connect a few cables and follow instructions from an app. Most Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Malaysia will offer you the option of adding on Mesh WiFi and it's usually more affordable to do so as well.

For example, unifi offers 4 options to enhance your WiFi experience by adding on Mesh WiFi depending on the Internet plan you have with them. The most affordable option is the Deco M4 at RM15 added to your monthly bill for the next 2 years. This equals to (RM15 x 24 = RM360).

Compare the price of say a Deco M4 on unifi with a set of 2 units from their official online shop

A quick search online reveals that the RRP (Recommended Retail Price) for a 2 pack TP-Link Deco M4 set costs about RM379 (and you'll have to pay it all in one lump sum). Scaling up to the Deco M9 Plus gets a difference of (RM35 x 24 = RM840) vs RM999, so if you can afford the M9 Plus or perhaps the highest-end Deco X60, you'll definitely get more savings.

It depends on your needs, but common sense indicates that the more premium device would have more advantages and if you compare the TP-LINK Deco X60, M9 Plus and M4 this is quite true. Basically, the more premium mesh WiFi routers support more devices (upwards of 100 devices and above) and also have a wider range.

Of course, there are other features but those are the most important ones to us. However, we can't guarantee that all ISPs will offer the same deal, so do your research ya?

TP-Link is a fairly well-known router brand with various mesh WiFi routers

So, what do you think? Did any of the tips above help improve your WiFi? Did we miss out on anything? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech articles like this.


Top 3 mobile apps for Malaysians to earn real rewards and money

As the MCO or Movement Control Order has extended, many Malaysians are stuck at home with just their smartphones, rapidly dwindling savings and nearly no way to earn anything. While it’s not impossible to do work with just your smartphone (we do it all the time), here’s how to earn real rewards and money with just your smartphone using these top 3 mobile apps.

If you like to share stuff on social media, you can get 8coins for this which you can exchange for free stuff, extra cash and vouchers. Granted, you’ll have to share Specials that have to be shared by others before you can earn more 8coins but it's backed by Media Prima Digital, so it's definitely legit. Get started with 8coin on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Microtasks on GigaGigs include completing surveys or trying out new products or services. If you complete them you can earn money or points.

While signing up is free, some of the products or services may require money to try out but each survey is generally RM2 or more. You can download GigaGigs on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Relatively new, the Google Opinion Rewards app offers you free Google Play Store credit when you answer quick surveys. While this means you're limited to paid apps and in-app purchases, at least you don't have to use real money for this.

Obviously, it's available on the Google Play Store but it's also on the Apple App Store as well.

So those are the Top 3 mobile apps Malaysians can use to earn rewards online but if you didn't know already, our own TechNave app lets you win smartphones and other gadgets for free through our giveaways.

So far, prizes have included gadgets and devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0, Huawei MatePad Pro, Honor 9X, Redmi Note 9S, OPPO A91, realme 6i and more. But that's not all as we’re looking to give away even more very soon.

While each giveaway is set up as a lucky draw, you can get a higher chance to win by earning and using Tickets for the giveaway you’re interested in. You can get these tickets by signing up using the App, sharing the App on your social media and referring friends.

Sign up is free and you can download the TechNave app on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once you’ve signed up on the TechNave app, do take a look around as we also cover the latest tech news, gadget reviews, phone specs and price comparison tools along with retail listings for nearby shops.

Yes, we know these aren’t apps but since they can be accessed on your smartphone from the browser, these extra sites should still be great if you’re looking to earn more rewards online. Check them out below:

And that’s it for this time around. Hopefully you can earn some great rewards, smartphones, gadgets or maybe even some cash with just your smartphone during this MCO. Did we miss out on anything? Got a great rewards app or site you think is better? Let us know on our Facebook page and we’ll update this list. For now, stay tuned to TechNave.com


Top 3 reasons why the Huawei MediaPad M3 beats out other tablets like the iPad mini 4 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Tablets don’t often get very high-end tech specs or features, despite the fact that they are rapidly edging out the laptop or desktop as most users choice of media playback device. They usually don’t pack in renowned audio technologies, don’t have the latest processors or the most RAM and usually are made of plastic. The tablets that do use more premium materials like metal are often so expensive that they cost more than most laptops. Thankfully, this is no longer the case with the Huawei MediaPad M3. Find out why and how this premium yet value-busting tablet beats out most other tablets like the Apple iPad mini 4 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 in nearly every way.

Featuring a premium metal unibody chassis crafted from aerospace grade aluminum, the Huawei MediaPad M3 shares design similarities with the flagship Huawei P9 and Huawei G8 smartphones including similar diamond cut bevels, a curvy back for a comfortable grip and rear camera panel, yet still only being 7.3mm thin.

Utilizing an aerospace-grade aluminum unibody and curved back, the Huawei MediaPad M3 looks and feels like a premium device

Despite having a larger 8.4-inch display, the MediaPad M3 is actually less wide at 124.2mm than the aforementioned 134.8mm wide iPad mini 4 with its 7.9-inch display and the Galaxy Tab S2 with its 8.0-inch display. This makes the MediaPad M3 easier to hold one-handed, unlike the other two tablets which like it or not, have to be used two handed.

Despite a larger 8.4-inch 2K display, you can easily hold the Huawei MediaPad M3 onehanded

Unlike most tablets this size, the MediaPad M3 also wins out in terms of tech specs as the larger 8.4-inch display actually packs in a 2K or 1600 x 2560 pixel resolution for a higher pixel density of 359 ppi (pixel per inch) than the other two tablets. It also features Harmon Kardon certified dual speakers and a dedicated AK4376 audio chip for HiFi sound, again something that the other two mentioned tablets (and most other tablets) do not offer.

The Huawei MediaPad M3 packs in dual speakers and audio technologies co-engineered with famed audio specialist Harmon Kardon

The MediaPad M3 is no slouch in other tech specs either as it also packs in the energy efficient yet flagship performance Kirin 950 chipset with an octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM (the iPad mini 4 only has 2GB of RAM while the Galaxy Tab S2 has 3GB of RAM). The MediaPad M3 is also more secure than most tablets as it has a built-in fingerprint sensor that not only unlocks your tablet at 0.47 milliseconds but also acts as the home button and offers swipe and touch navigation.

The Huawei MediaPad M3 not only packs in a fingerprint sensor, you can also use it for more than just unlocking your device.

Not just that, the MediaPad M3 also packs in an 8MP front and rear camera. Granted, the iPad mini 4 and Galaxy Tab S2 both offer 8MP rear cameras as well, but the iPad mini 4 only has a 1.2MP front camera while the Galaxy Tab S2 has a 2.1MP front camera. Good news for those who like taking selfies or for productivity purposes like video conferencing or making voice calls. All three tablets feature 4G LTE and 802.1 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi connectivity though, but many other tablets don’t.

The Huawei MediaPad M3 offers great media playback with it's 8.4-inch 2K display and dual Harmon Kardon speakers

Priced at RM1699 for the silver coloured MediaPad M3 with 32GB of storage, for the features and tech specs it offers above, the MediaPad M3 offers an unbeatable price to performance ratio. This is because the less stellarly featured iPad mini 4 and Galaxy Tab S2 both come in at RM1699 with 32GB of storage too. Search elsewhere and we’re certain you won’t find any tablet with a flagship chipset and processor, 4GB of RAM, 2K display, fingerprint sensor and more going for this price range.

It is for these reasons that we have to say that the Huawei MediaPad M3 clearly beats out most other tablets in the same price range, the same display size and most other comparable features. However, we know that there are some who want a bit more with their tablets and Huawei also have the MediaPad M3 with 64GB of storage going for RM1999 as well. Check out our comparison tool for the complete Huawei MediaPad M3 vs Apple iPad mini 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tech specs comparison or VMALL.my and Huawei Retail stores if you’d like to pick up the MediaPad M3 for yourself.


Top 3 reasons why the U Mobile Postpaid 38 could be the plan for you

These days, you'll see many people at places like cafes just chilling out or working on the go. Some of them use the free WiFi provided by these premises to get connected to the Internet. But as you know, free WiFi isn't reliable or secure so a data plan is crucial.

Lucky for us, there are a lot of options available. But for thrifty Malaysians looking for a value deal, how would they know which is the right plan to subscribe to? Well, today we're here to tell you the top 3 reasons why the U Mobile Postpaid 38 plan could be the plan for you.

So, why do people avoid free WiFi? That's because in most cases you're sharing the connection with a lot of people. All you need is one person to start watching YouTube in 1080p, and suddenly there's not enough bandwidth to go around. But if you have your own high-speed mobile plan, that's not a problem.

Well, the U Mobile Postpaid 38 plan promises super-fast Internet and no speed cap. The good thing about this is that when U Mobile upgrade or improves its mobile network, you can expect the speed to naturally increase. Moreover, U Mobile has confirmed that the plan is 5G-ready. Once the company deploys its 5G network, you will enjoy download speeds of more than 1-Gigabits/second!

Fast Internet speeds mean faster downloads, and more data gets used up faster. While you can enjoy super smooth FHD videos, it will quickly finish up your data cap. If you have a small data cap like 5GB/month (some old postpaid plans maintain low caps), it would be finished in just a couple of days. So, if you're looking for a good mobile plan, you'll want to plenty of data.

With the U Mobile Postpaid 38, you get 30GB of high-speed Internet. As far as postpaid plans go, this is the most affordable option in Malaysia! Since the subscription fee is RM38, that means you get a cost-to-data ratio of roughly RM0.79/GB, which is really good!

Many of us don't use standard voice calls anymore, especially if we don't make calls that often. That's because calling via WhatsApp makes more sense, as it uses your quota of data. But for businessmen who need to make a lot of voice calls, the U Mobile Postpaid 38 plan also offers unlimited voice calls!

So, there you have it, our top 3 reasons to pick the U Mobile Postpaid 38 plan. If you'd like to learn more, check out U Mobile's plan at their site.

What do you think, is the value of the U Mobile Postpaid 38 plan enough for you? Let us know, and stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Top 3 reasons why you should get the Honor Play for mobile gaming

The Honor Play features various technologies that will improve the gaming experience of the user while playing various mobile games such as Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and more.

This video will talk about the features such as GPU Turbo Technology, 4D Smart Shock, 3D Surround Sound and more to give you an idea of what the smartphone is capable of. Who knows, you might even get one yourself! If you like what you see don't forget to click subscribe button and for more videos and updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Top 3 reasons why you would want to have 5G with U Mobile

When it comes to the Internet, faster speeds are always better. Be it for businesses or consumers, 5G would provide the speeds and benefits for enhancing our online experiences. To enjoy 5G, the first step is getting a 5G device and a 5G mobile plan.

Of course, buying a new smartphone is more about the phone and less about 5G. Those of you who are less tech-savvy may wonder "what does 5G do for me?" 5G can do many things, but for today, let's talk about the top 3 reasons why you would want to have 5G with U Mobile.

First and foremost, the biggest reason to want a 5G mobile plan is speed. Recently, it was reported that Malaysian 5G users already experience 16.8 times faster download speeds and 6 times more upload speeds than 4G. U Mobile is offering speeds that are 10 to 100 times faster than 4G (for context 4G is usually 20Mbps to 300Mbps). And best of all, you'll get this upgrade at no extra cost!

Of course, faster speeds should be accompanied by higher data caps. After all, you won't want to run out of data just because you've been binging too much high-resolution Netflix. Well, that's not a problem since U Mobile postpaid plans offer plenty of data. You could even get up to 1000GB of 5G data!

The U Postpaid 98 plan offers not just 1000GB of 5G High-speed data but a lot more too!

Now you have the speed and enough data to binge any content you want. But is there a limit to the 5G data you can access? Not at all! If you sign up for a U Mobile postpaid plan, you'll have a single pool of data to use as you please. In other words, there's no 4G/5G quota split. This is great if you're often moving between areas that may or may not have 5G.

As you can see, there are solid reasons why you would want a U Mobile 5G plan. The company's 5G plans, especially the postpaid ones, offer more value to the average digital citizen. Even if you're a prepaid user you can still expect more value, with unlimited 5G speeds on the weekends (from 12am Saturday to 11.59pm Sunday) every week. The enhanced prepaid U35 for example also let's you share up to 3GB of mobile hotspot, again at no extra costs!

If you are a heavy mobile Internet user, you can't go wrong with choosing U Mobile. Obviously, you'll need to sign up to U Mobile if you're not already a user. And you can do that in a few easy steps:

Step 1 - Head to your nearest U Mobile service centre or visit u.my/5Gnow

Step 2 - Pick the plan that fits you from U Postpaid 38, U Postpaid 68, U Postpaid 98 or Prepaid U25, Prepaid U35 and Prepaid U40

Step 3 - Make sure you enable 5G and redeem unlimited 5G weekends via the U Mobile app!

If you're interested, you can also visit U Mobile's website to learn more. That's it from us for now, but do let us know what you think of the many new 5G mobile plans in the comments. Also, stay tuned to TechNave for more news and articles like this.


Top 3 reasons why your Android smartphone "ages" or slows down over time

Most Android smartphone users have been through it before, the previously fast and powerful smartphone you bought last year, has now "aged", becoming slow and unwieldy. What used to take microseconds now takes almost a minute… or 3. Here are the top 3 reasons why your phone ages or slows down over time.

#1: There are a lot more apps than before … most that you don’t use

#2: The apps that you do use, have been used a lot

Even after 6 months with just the apps you use, the amount of memory used by each app can be huge

#3: All the pictures / videos / files you’ve taken have clogged up the gallery ... and your phone

Generally, you can solve the top 3 reasons above by 1) removing the apps you don’t use, 2) clearing out your app caches and 3) getting rid of your files. Or you can do a factory reset and get the phone exactly as how it was when you first bought it. The downside is that you may lose the precious memories you’ve built with your phone. Thankfully, with the Huawei Mate 9, you won’t ever have to worry about this aging or slow down as Huawei’s Kirin 960 processor utilizes a cutting edge Machine Learning algorithm that automatically manages your phone’s resources based on your habits.

Huawei’s cutting-edge Machine Learning algorithm and hardware lets you say goodbye to aging phone slowdowns and delivers consistent performance through:

Apart from not aging after more than a year, the Huawei Mate 9 is actually rated to not age or slow down over a period of 18 months. It should continue to provide the same fast performance with its Kirin 960 processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage as when you first bought it, making it an excellent flagship smartphone priced below RM3K at just RM2699. You can get the Huawei Mate 9 at VMall.my or other authorized resellers nationwide.

Here's some of the other key features and highlights of the Huawei Mate 9


Top 3 things we’re expecting to see based on the Unpacked Official Trailer

As we’re coming up to the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked scheduled for 11 August 2021, the Unpacked Official Trailer has revealed a number of things to expect. Released on 28 July 2021, the trailer has already hit 100 million views as of 4 August 2021. Did you spot them just like we did? Read on to find out.

With the hint of “Get ready to unfold” near the end of the trailer, the subject of this coming Galaxy Unpacked is more than likely the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3. Especially as the trailer shows a device opening up from the side and then going upwards to reveal a sprawling city (which leads to the next hint, but more on that later).

The Galaxy Z Fold3 will be more durable compared to its predecessor?

Other speech hints like “Once we’ve experienced better, we never go back” and “Is “good” good enough?” indicate that this next iteration of the Galaxy Fold3 isn’t going to be just another small incremental improvement. Considering that the previous Galaxy Fold2 fixed the hinge and made the overall foldable phone tougher, what other major improvements can you think of?

Now the previous Galaxy Z Fold2 made the 7.3-inch screen larger at 7.6-inches with a 120Hz refresh rate, so what else would Samsung do to improve the screen? One of the key things that many users wanted was the fact that despite the Galaxy Z Fold being one of Samsung’s major flagships, it wasn’t able to use the S Pen.

We think that the new Galaxy Z Fold3 screen is not only likely going to be tough enough to use the S Pen stylus, but if we know Samsung, they’ll also likely throw in major improvements to the S Pen as well. Rumours have already indicated that there could be not one but 2 new S Pen styluses, and both could likely be used on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold3

If we continue with our analysis of Galaxy Z Fold3 improvements, one of the other major flagship features missing from the Galaxy Z Fold2 was water and dust resistance. If Samsung has in fact managed to make the screen on the Galaxy Z Fold3 tough enough to be able to withstand a rather sharp pointy stylus tip scratching it repeatedly, then wouldn’t Samsung also make the rest of the phone tougher as well?

This indicates that another major improvement would be water and dust resistance. Since we’re already expecting Samsung to go the full nine yards, it’s quite likely that the Galaxy Fold3 will have IP68 water and dust resistance as well. Since this coming unpacked is all about foldables, we also wouldn't put it past Samsung to introduce the next iteration for their other foldable display phone with the Galaxy Z Flip3 as well, but that's probably for a different article in the future.

Is there anything else that you might have spotted in the trailer below that we didn't? What other improvements will make the Samsung Galaxy Fold3 “good enough” for you? Discuss and let us know in our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com where we’ll be covering the Galaxy Fold3 this 11 August 2021.

Here's the Galaxy Unpacked Official Trailer


Top 3 topics you can expect from MWC Shanghai 2023

Mobile World Congress is back! No, not the mobile product showcase in Barcelona. That one was held at the end of February 2023, so it's already over. We're talking about the other event normally hosted by GSMA - MWC Shanghai – that's going to be at the end of June 2023.

Right, so what is MWC Shanghai all about? It's a large conference for industry leaders to discuss cutting edge tech. Previously cancelled in 2022, the event is making a comeback this year and will run from 28 to 30 June 2023. But what does it have in store for us this year? Well, here are the top 3 topics you can expect from MWC Shanghai 2023.

The first has to be artificial intelligence (AI), which has been a popular topic in recent months. What's great about AI is how it can be integrated into different mediums.

Microsoft has already done this with the Microsoft Edge browser, which comes with an AI-powered Bing search. Google is also testing their Bard AI on Pixel devices and for their Workspace apps like GMail, Docs and Slides, so we could see widespread implementation on Android devices in the future. Be it smartphones, web browsers or any other platform, advanced AI could bring something new to our lives.

Personally, it would be interesting to see what these companies can show on web browser integration. After all, it could change how we do web searches, generate images or even write our emails and documents in the future. But for MWC Shanghai 2023, topics seem to be focused on ways to use AI instead of what platforms will be used to implement the AI.

The other big topic we expect to see is 5G in general. Devices like smartphones are highly reliant on mobile connectivity. It's how we connect to the Internet and communicate with each other. That's why advances in 5G and beyond could impact a lot of things.

Now that 5G is a reality in some regions, tech companies are looking forward to what we can do with 5G instead. During MWC Shanghai 2023, there will be discussions on 5G spectrum, 5G-powered machines (like flying drones), 5G Advanced and more. There's also a keynote on 6G, which will likely talk about the current progress of 6G research.

For exhibitions, there will be some companies showcasing new innovations in 5G. In this hall, visitors can expect to see how upcoming 5G systems could disrupt the mobile ecosystem and change how we interact with mobile devices.

Yup, the third big agenda at MWC Shanghai 2023 seems to be about the Metaverse. While the average consumer doesn't think the metaverse will take off, tech companies aren't ready to give up on it. In fact, this year's conference has more than a few keynotes discussing this topic.

From the list of agenda, you can see plenty of sessions that will talk about the metaverse. There's one keynote titled "Bringing the metaverse back to reality", another about whether the metaverse is still worth investing in, and one about a "Mobile Metaverse Initiative". As you can see, tech companies and investors are very interested in the concept.

You can also expect to see the "Reality+" term at MWC Shanghai 2023. The related keynotes will discuss the metaverse, AI, and the future of social interactions and gaming. With companies like Apple and Meta stepping up their mixed-reality headset game, this is a topic that you might want to pay attention to.

And that's roughly what you can expect to see from the upcoming MWC Shanghai 2023. Mind you, our list was based on the keynote schedule posted by GSMA. Don't be surprised if there are other big reveals that aren't announced during a keynote. If you're interested, you can visit the official MWC Shanghai website for more details.

Anyway, which of the three topics above excites you most? Is it the virtual metaverse, 5G tech, or advanced AI? Let us know in the comments on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave for more articles like this.


Apple could replace Touch Bar with a slot for Apple Pencil for future MacBooks

Over the past few years, the Touch Bar has been featured on some MacBook models to allow applications to utilize touch gestures to interact with their functions. However, Apple might take the next step to bring something different to future MacBooks. According to sources, the Touch Bar could be replaced by a slot for Apple Pencil in the coming years.

A recently leaked patent already shows us how the slot for Apple Pencil would look. Not only it houses the Apple iPad accessory, but it could also act like a mouse or display function keys thanks to the retainer’s built-in lighting system. For example, it can be used to trigger a function of a key of a conventional keyboard that is missing from the keyboard or duplicates it.

Besides a slot, there's also a demonstration of the Apple Pencil situated on the sides and bottom of the MacBook, perhaps magnetically. For now, there's no guarantee that the future MacBooks will come with the design change. Doing so might continue to blur the line between the MacBooks and the iPads as well.

What do you think about the news? You may share your opinion with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Top 30 tips for you before Pokémon Go gets released (in Malaysia)

Hello my fellow Malaysian Pokétrainers, we know many of you are itching to get your hands on the app since the day it was announced (we are too), it's been almost 3 weeks now since the app was released and many gamers have been reporting several interesting stuff they discovered. We decided to give you all some insightful tips from the trainers all around the world before it releases in Malaysia, however, do keep in mind that maybe some of the tips might not work because the game is still buggy. Without further ado, here are the 30 tips for you to be the very best!

1. It's been reported that some trainers are able to get back their Pokéball after it misses the target by tapping on it, this has yet to be proven solidly since it's a 50-50 from both sides. It may have to do with the game's glitch.

2. You will have a chance to catch the Pokémon's mascot - Pikachu if you ignore the first three Pokémon starters.

3. Hatching your egg requires you to leave the app open at all times, but there is another option to hatch your egg without opening it, that's where the Pokémon Go Plus device comes in which will make the app active.

4. Another way to save your phone's battery is to switch the Battery Saver option on, the function will keep the app running and turn your screen off when you put your phone upside down (perfect for putting in your pant's pocket).

5. The footprints shown below the Pokémon indicates the distance from you, it's been speculated that one footprint is at least 50 meters of distance, there are many theories about it but check this one out from Nerdist YouTube channel on their theory about it.

6. You can actually encounter a Pokémon with no footprints in your "Nearby" screen by tapping on it.

7. For those who don't know, the battles seen so far are not turn-based but in real time. Trainers are able to dodge incoming attacks by swiping left or right, and deal damage by tapping on your opponent's Pokémon.

8. Since it's using real time, your Pokemon only has a default Attack and Special Attack (that you can't chose) unlike the traditional four-moves only in the games.

9. Speaking about battles, for now, trainers can only do gym battles (which an A.I. controls the Pokémon in charge). It's been reported that Niantic is planning to feature PvP (player vs player) into the app in the future, so that's exciting.

10. In gym battles, you can decrease the gym owner's "prestige" meter by defeating their Pokémon. Defeating a defending Pokémon can remove 1000 prestige points, and another 500 bonus points for beating every Pokémon without losing a match.

11. By assigning a selected Pokémon of your team to defend your gym, you can get daily bonus (EXP, Stardust and Coins). So the more Pokémon you have, the high daily bonus you will have (as long as your Pokémon is still in charge). Your prizes will increase depending on the number of defending Pokémon you have or their CP points, also, you can claim the prizes every 20 hours by going to the Shop then tap on the blue shield icon.

12. Like the games, you can rename your Pokémon by tapping the pencil symbol next to a Pokémon's name.

13. Also, like the games, evolution will revive and heal your Pokémon that has fainted. Save up your medical supplies!

14. Unlike the games, your Pokémon's strength is based on Combat Power (CP) points instead of levels. It's best to power up your fully evolved Pokémon's CP points because it gives you more.

15. You can do a quick "drive-by PokéStop" by tapping 'X' quit button when you visit one, this will help you by automatically getting the requisite items into your inventory so you don't have to wait for the animation to stop.

16. Similar to Pokémon X and Y, the rustling grass animation means there's a high chance of a Pokémon to appear (not all the time, though, according to reports).

17. Like the mechanics since Pokémon Gold/Silver, the day and night system will only allow some Pokémon to appear at a certain time.

18. There's a misinformation about certain Pokémon appearing in different countries such as Kangaskan in Australia, Farfetch'd in Japan and etc, this proved to be false as they can be acquired by hatching.

19. If you're experiencing lag during battling, you can close the app and restart the battle after waiting for a few minutes due to the unstable server.

20. The higher your level is, the better chance of you finding stronger and rare Pokémon.

21. You might already heard of this, but there's a crazy way to level up yourself fast by keeping a lot of Pidgeys, Ratatas and Weedles. Check the video above for the explaination.

22. It's better to catch a Pokémon when your AR (augmented reality) is switched off (just tap on the 'camera' button on the top right) because the Pokémon will stand still.

23. When catching a Pokémon, you will notice a bubble ring appearing around the Pokémon. Green means easy to catch, yellow is medium, and orange/red means difficult. Sometimes Pokémon will fight back, you have to wait for the ring to get smaller or use razz berries because it helps you easier to catch.

24. The app uses both your phone's pedometer and GPS to calculate how far you've actually walked, so if you're thinking of using a car to hatch an egg, it won't be counted. However, there are reports that using a skateboard or jogging works, as long as you're not going too fast.

25 Your app will still work if you're in a car or train, but just you'll often pass through several PokéStops or Pokémon while on the road.

26. If you encounter a Pokémon with '???' status, it means it doesn't recognize you as a trainer. But it's still possible to catch it.

27. Catching Pokémon gives you bonus EXP, so depending how you throw your ball, you will get different points based on four ratings - blank, good, nice, excellent. Trainers noted that throwing the Pokéball in the middle of the ring gives extra EXP.

28. There's a technique of throwing a 'curvedball' on a Pokémon that also gives a lot of EXP, but the downside is not easy using it. To throw a curvedball, press hold on the Pokéball then it will start rotating; when it starts to spark, release and watch it fly. It takes several practices to get it right.

29. Since the server is not completely stable yet, your app takes time to load a new map for the Pokémon to appear. It's been suggested by trainers to take a short break of 5 minutes every 100 meters or so to let the server catch up and load the new map for your app. The spinning Pokéball on the top left corner is the loading symbol.

30. Lastly, it's been comfirmed at Comic-Con 2016 that the way to evolve your Eevee into Vaporeon, Flareon and Jolteon is by naming them Rainer, Pyro and Sparkly respectively. If you don't like the name, you can always rename them again anyway.

So there you have it, read anything else interesting that are also useful? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more news at Technave.com![Source, Source]


Top 4 Reasons why the honor View 10 is the New Flagship Killer

So here's another post about the honor View 10. It may seem like we are posting quite a few articles about it, but not many of you are aware of its price drop RM2099 to RM1899. With that, this makes the device the most affordable flagship this year and when we say flagship, we aren't kidding. Still with us? Here are the Top 4 Reasons why this phone is the new flagship killer.

The Kirin 970 offers plenty of gaming performance potential with the View 10 thanks to its new heterogeneous computing architecture. Compared to a quad-core Cortex-A73 CPU cluster, its own HiAI is incorporating a Neural Processor Unit (NPU) that is able to deliver up to 25 times faster performance and 50 times the efficiency when performing AI tasks. To put this into another perspective, the Kirin 970 chip can process over 2000 images per minute in an image recognition test.

On top of that, by processing big data in the cloud, the cloud-based AI systems continuously updates the View 10 by getting to know you better every day, providing you with personalized services, intelligence and experience. On top of that, you should also know that the Kirin 970 is built on a 10nm process which features an octa-core ARM Cortex CPU and Mali-G72 12-core GPU.

It's no wonder the phone's performance and battery life are very impressive, as experienced from our review and my trip to Paris. By the way, just to throw in the comparison to the previous models, its graphics processing performance increased by 20% and energy consumption decreased by 50%.

With all the aforementioned Kirin 970 explanation above, the View 10 is definitely not a pushover when it comes to gaming. From our experience, this phone really takes the cake and it's the true successor to the honor 8 Pro gaming smartphone. In fact, the View 10 is the official gaming smartphone for the ESL (Electronic Sports League) and recognized by most pro European gamers, which was evident in honor's Modern Combat Versus International Series eSports finals held in Paris earlier this month. Since eSports games require excellent connectivity for smooth gameplay, this is not a problem for the View 10 as its processor supports LTE Cat.18 DL and Cat.13 UL connectivity, enabling the highest possible download speed on any carrier networks worldwide (up to 1.2Gbps).

In addition, there's also a Game Suite feature specifically designed for gamers. This helps to block out any calls and notifications when you're playing, and it even helps you to prevent from going out of the game if you ever accidentally hit the home button with 'lock navigation keys'. Of course, the gaming power saving mode helps to sustain the phone for longer fun times too. Nice.

Sure, there's no Leica grade lens on the View 10 just like its Huawei cousins, but it's still supported by AI and has 13 different scenery detections for the user to choose. We must say, the View 10 is a serious contender when it comes to mobile photography. Sporting a 16MP (RGB) + 20MP (monochrome) dual rear camera, there is not much to complain about its photo quality even in low-light, colours are vivid and if you're a pro in light adjustment, you will surely have a fun time taking pictures like I did below.

Asides from taking awesome photos, the selfie camera is not bad as well and even has AR Lens (Augmented Reality) for the selfie lovers. Not only can you put AR Stickers on yourself, but you can also change the background to a well-known place like London or Paris just for fun.

Speaking of AI or Artificial Intelligence, the View 10 has a few tricks up its sleeves. Since the days of the Huawei Mate 9, the company has been incorporating Machine Learning and the View 10 is no exception. To sum up the gist of Machine Learning, the AI inside monitors and studies your usage pattern and allocates memory to CPU, apps and battery to optimize performance.

Moreover, Face Recognition is not just another typical technology that unlocks when you look at it. There are three pretty cool AI technologies integrated beneath that full metal body. First, the AI intelligently shows lock screen notifications meaning when you get a message notification on the home screen, the message won't be displayed until it recognizes your face. You can also set the setting without having to open the app to read the whole message.

The second and third trick is quite similar, as it has to do with screen panel light. On screen-on, it knows when you stop reading and will turn off the screen, whereas for display orientation, it will adjust the light sensitivity according to the distance between you and the phone.

Last but not least, Easy Talk AI can adjust voice volume from other noisy traffic environments during a phone call, which will raise either your voice or the caller to have a clear conversation. In other words, no more repetitive "HALLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?" remarks and that's nice too.

Phew, that was quite a comprehensive list there. Writing this makes me want to purchase one right now. Once again, the View 10 is on an all-new price drop for RM1899 at its Vmall.my, 11Street, Lazada Malaysia, Shopee and Brightstar. So get it while you can while stocks last, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more geeky articles at TechNave.com!


Top 4 reasons why you should snap up the Samsung Galaxy Note FE while you still can!

Even from the beginning of pioneering larger than 5-inch display phablets, the Samsung Galaxy Note series has continued to grow from strength to strength, adding on premium leather materials, curved edge screens and better cameras while maintaining the signature S-Pen stylus functionality. This constant pioneering evolution has never stopped, even when setbacks happen, as the Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition or FE was created just for the fans of the Samsung Galaxy Note series. Here’s 4 reasons why you should snap up the Samsung Galaxy Note FE while you still can.

Previously, a device which has been recalled has no chance of ever being released again, but thinking of all the Samsung Galaxy Note series Fans, Samsung learned from the setback that caused the global recall and released the Galaxy Note FE specifically designed to meet and answer all the expectations of Galaxy Note series fans that came up due to said event. As such, there are no plans for a Galaxy Note FE 2, making the current Galaxy Note FE a limited edition device you probably won’t see done by anyone else ever again.

Despite utilising many technologies from 2016, the Samsung Galaxy Note FE still packs in a flagship level processor and graphics, a 5.7-inch 2K dual-curved edge display, Iris Scanner on top of the fingerprint sensor and IP68 dust and water resistance. It also has fast wireless charging, NFC, a 12pm dual-pixel OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) packing camera, support for up to 256GB microSD and more flagship features than any other stylus capable phablet in its class.

While the official Samsung Galaxy Note FE price is at RM2599 a quick look at other stylus driven devices reveals that no other device offers the same level of features that the Galaxy Note FE brings to the table (see the #2 flagship features above). In addition, the Christmas promotions are offering the Galaxy Note FE with 20% off Air Asia X flights, so you can not only gift this value-added phablet to some special person for Christmas, you can also bring them on an enjoyable trip as well.

Samsung really do learn and listen to their fans, which is why the new Galaxy Note FE spurred the development of an internationally accredited 8-point battery safety check which is now being implemented not just for the Galaxy Note FE’s new 3200 mAh battery but for all Samsung devices. The recognition for these Samsung safety measures are global as both airlines and mail carriers now allow the Galaxy Note FE onboard. If these super stringent safety fanatics trust the improved Galaxy Note FE, then why don’t you?

Seeing as how the Galaxy Note FE is not only a limited edition device and it packs all the flagship features you could want, it makes for the perfect device for all those Samsung S-pen users looking for a more portable and value-added smartphone for the upcoming holiday season. Available at all authorised resellers from an RRP (Recommended Retail Price) of RM2599, get yours now and you can also get an RM200 rebate at selected stores with mySamsung Campaign treats (valid until 31 December 2017).


Hey TechNavers, according to our daily top 10 hits on our website, we know how much you all really like mid-range phones with respectable specifications for a reasonable price. However, we think that there's one smartphone you are missing out, which is the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus. Why? Because it's sitting at RM899 only and here are the Top 5 ASUS ZenFone Max Plus features you probably didn't know about.

Most smartphones with full view displays still can't fit in a video playback or newer games like Arena of Valor yet, but the ZenFone Max Plus is an exception

I know, smartphones nowadays are going full view displays and they all look quite gorgeous, using a 5.7-inch HD+ with an 18:9 screen-to-body ratio but why is it the first thing on this list? Well, to begin with, remember that the phone less than a thousand ringgit, so this makes it the best value-for-money price for a RM899 phone with that 18:9 aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is no gimmick as well, for it can really fully utilize any video playback or games without leaving any black space.

To add on to that, video playback can only reach up to 720p only. But for games, this means it can still perform quite well even on the highest setting.

Just like the ZenFone 4 series, the ZenFone Max Plus uses a pair of dual rear cameras. The dual rear 16MP + 8MP cameras located on the back let's users take advantage of the wide-angle feature by switching to the secondary sensor, providing them a 120-degree wide angle shot that is just perfect for outdoor activities taking landscape photos.

Meanwhile, the front camera isn't too shabby. It stands at 16MP and that's a big one for RM899, easily giving selfie lovers something to enjoy with Selfie Master app access that offers BeautyLive, Collage, Slideshow, Video and Beauty Mode levels. Both front and back 16MP cameras can take videos and images in 18:9 aspect ratio as well.

As you can see, it still has one more day to go before the battery runs out

Perhaps the favourite one among our readers, is that this economical device is packing a large 4130mAh battery inside. From our experience, the device can last up to two days easily on average usage. How many devices do you know that has that much battery power and costs around RM899 price? ZenFone Max Plus is the only 18:9 phone with battery capacity larger than 3000mAh, enough said.

Face Unlock is also another feature that's getting quite popular these days, but to find one on an RM899 device is uncommon and ASUS did it anyway. Face Unlock works just fine and unlocks rather quickly, but if you're not a fan of that, there's still the fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone. So with that being said, the phone offers you maximum security in Face Unlock + Fingerprint Scanner.

(L-R) SIM card tray, PowerMaster charging menu page and the speaker grill at the bottom

Other than that, users will be glad to know that the ZenFone Max Plus has a fast charging technology (5V/2A), despite the huge battery capacity, it is much better now as it won't take ages unlike previous Max series models (speaking from experience), the phone will be fully charged in just 2 hours.

Speakers are quite loud but not noisy at all when on max volume, making it quite ideal for entertainment on the big screen and last but not least, there's also a dedicated microSD slot that can go up to 256GB for those who want more space. Also, there are lesser bloatware with the enhanced all new ZenUI 4.0 for better smoother user experience.

So there you have it, do you think the ZenFone Max Plus deserves more attention now? Has it entered your value-for-money smartphone list yet? By the way, there's a ZenFone Max Plus contest by ASUS Malaysia going on so if you're interested in winning one, head over to their Facebook page here and good luck.

That's all for now, stay tuned for more top list articles at TechNave.com.


Top 5 BIG battery smartphones you can get in Malaysia

Sick of carrying around an extra power bank around? And don’t you just hate it too when you forgot to bring either that or the charging cable? As the usage of streaming and playing entertainment on their devices continue to increase, having high battery mAh in smartphones is a popular criteria for Malaysians. If you’re looking for one, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our top 5 smartphones with big batteries you can get in Malaysia.

Coming first with a bang in our list is the latest device from ASUS - the ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL), offering 5000mAh battery life, the device can withstand up to 5 days if one doesn’t use its dual pixel dual rear camera, intense gaming, or social features that often.

The price of the phone is affordable as well at RM1888 (RRP is RM2099) making it one of the finest flagship killers out there. Not to mention, the camera also sports Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), 12x zoom (5x zoom in video recording mode) and 4K video recording. A perfect tool for any phoneographers and videographers alike.

We recently did a review of the device too, click here to check it out.

Next, Samsung also has something in store for Malaysians. The Galaxy A9 Pro (2016) also comes with a 5000mAh battery pack and it’s priced at RM1999 officially. The phablet is designed for those who love big tech-specs, it has a 6-inch Super AMOLED FHD display with a 2.5D glass for the front and back, 16MP (OIS) / 8MP front camera, fast charging, plenty of memory space of 4GB RAM and 32GB ROM (expandable memory available up 256GB).

Overall tech-specs are classified as mid-range, but it’s still a long lasting phone as it can last up to one and a half days for heavy users. This makes it perfect for those mobile movie watchers or those who watch video on the go. Click here to read our review to know more.

Ok, maybe 5000 mAh isn’t enough for you. Well, Lenovo got you covered then. Presenting the Lenovo P2, this smartphone has 5100 mAh battery and it’s said that the battery can last up to 3 days of normal usage. On top of that, a single charge of 15 minutes can provide 10 hours of battery life, thanks to the 24W rapid charger.

Slated for RM1299, the mid-range smartphone features a respectable Snapdragon 625, 4GB of RAM, 32GB storage (with expandable memory of 128GB), 5.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, a 13MP Sony IMX258 camera sensor and has other convenient apps such as Skype, Evernote, McAfee Security and others.

As for the rest of the tech-specs, you can find out more about it here and our hands-on video here.

If you know Oukitel, chances are that you know they are known for having huge battery juices inside their phones. But did you also know that Oukitel is already in Malaysia? They released a bunch of phones just last March and the one that you can get is the K6000 Plus.

As the name implies, it carries a 6080 mAh battery and this actually made the phone thicker than usual. Also as a mid-range tier phone, it comes with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, with MediaTek 6750T, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage (expandable with 128GB), 5.5-inch LTPS display, 16MP Sony IMX298 rear camera and a 8MP front camera. All these for RM999 only.

To check out the full specifications and other Oukitel phones, click here.

Last but not least, the Xiaomi Mi Max has the biggest panel among the phones here with 6.44-inch display. However, it can’t be said the same for the battery because it’s only 4850 mAh (so close). The specifications on the phone isn’t that shabby, as the camera has a phase detection auto focus in its 16MP main camera, running on Snapdragon 650 processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM (128GB extra memory) and a quick fingerprint sensor on the front.

To get this phablet, you can purchase it through YES or Celcom’s bundle plans for RM999, Lazada is also selling it but it comes at various prices.

So that’s it, any other monster battery phones that we missed out in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments below, stay tuned for more geeky tech articles at TechNave.com!


Top 5 Best Smartphones offers to get in Lazada 5th Anniversary Event

Hey TechNavers, did you know Lazada’s 5th Anniversary is happening right now?! Well, do we have exciting news for you because we are collaborating with them and will choose FIVE lucky winners to be entitled for a pair of free gifts which are AULA official Killing Soul Wired Gaming Mouse and Wings of Liberty Mechanical Gaming Keyboard!

Two gaming peripherals prizes for the 5 winners each!

So how do you win? First, Lazada are offering the top 5 best phone offers during their 5th Anniversary event:

Links to the smartphone promotion by Lazada

Within the three days, anyone can be entitled for the prize as long as they buy anything during the Lazada campaign (such as these cool gadgets and accessories here) by clicking any of the links above or the "Shop" button below! As mentioned, only five will be chosen as the lucky ones to win the pair of gaming peripherals; the five winners will be announced within two weeks and prize will be delivered by Lazada directly.

The P10, OnePlus 3T, and Redmi Note 4 are all new smartphones that have just entered the Malaysian market recently, while the Mate 9 and F1s are last year's phones, but they still have a solid reputation so don't write them off yet if you're looking for an awesome camera-centric phone! So what are you waiting for? Get them phones and get lucky before it's too late!


Top 5 Cool vivo X21 Features That You Should Know

We heard you loud and clear, the vivo X21 may be kind of cool looking with the in-display fingerprint sensor but the RM2299 price tag could be a tad expensive for that price range. But to be fair, there are a couple of reasons why this mid-range device is at that price range and we think you should reconsider it. What are these resons? Read below to find out the Top 5 cool vivo X21 features that you should know.

As many of you should know already, vivo Malaysia has been heavily marketing the in-display fingerprint sensor on the X21. It's no longer on the back nor front on the home button, just in the front underneath the display and it's kinda amazing that they did it first before Apple.

Not only does the in-display fingerprint not affect the overall visual experience, but the digital fingerprint appearing along with the Always-On display looks awesome. Even more so when your finger or thumb touches the screen, with the light emanating from the OLED screen panel showcasing the fingerprint texture just like how sci-fi movies do it. It can get addictive and it can even make you unlock your phone for no reason just to see that technology in action.

Then there's the AI Face Access and as the name suggests, it uses your face to unlock the phone and it has an infrared light to recognize your facial feature in just 0.1 seconds, even in complete darkness and has the option to lock certain apps with it. Now that's the Face Access that every phone should do.

On the other tech-specs, the X21 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE processor offering upper mid-range processing power. Coupled with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a 3200mAh battery with fast charging technology that allows it to be fully charged in just one and a half hours these are more than respectable tech specs.

So that looks pretty normal for mid-range smartphones you say? But do you really need a flagship tier chipset for your everyday activity? Maybe you do, but if you're a mobile gamer, the SD 660 has you covered, as it can play games like PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 8: Airborne and Arena of Valor pretty swiftly. In addition to that, it allows you to record Moments of Valor in AoV too, which some of the high-end devices can't do for some reason and there's a Game Mode that stops incoming calls and messaging when gaming. Nice.

Moving on to the camera feature, you probably have also been informed that the X21 has a Dual Pixel Sensor, but what you should also know is that it doesn't magically turn your 12MP photo into 24MP. That's a common misconception and vivo isn't the first to do this either.

So to clarify, what the Dual Pixel Sensor actually does is absorb light photodiodes and convert it into 24 million photographic units. Due to the larger photographic area of each pixel, this captures more image data allowing excellent photos in low-light environments. I'll just let the photos below do the talking.

See that bird? The PDAF is good enough to catch it in mid-air!

Okay, HDR is probably not the newest technology as most smartphones have it already. It also looks like vivo is just slapping the term "AI" over it, but the X21's AI HDR photos actually look a lot better than most smartphones in the current market. HDR already helps the user to solve the problem of taking photos with a strong backlight from the back, but the AI HDR takes it a step further by maintaining the user's face, yet enhances the sky in the background.

The AI can automatically detect and fix the image's light balance accordingly thanks to the dual-core pixels and P3 camera. Of course, we have direct proof of that which you can see in my selfies below.

Lastly, because there's no actual physical home button, vivo was able to implement a 6.28-inch display on the X21 with a 19:9 ratio reaching up to 90.3% on the front. It also uses a Super AMOLED display giving satisfying colours displayed on the screen panel while saving energy, allowing users to have a broader vision watching videos, playing games, reading and browsing the Internet.

This makes it an ideal entertainment device and if you're annoyed with the notch on top, no worries about that as the system will automatically hide it before you want to search for it in the settings. Enough said.

The X21 is currently RM2299 and it's available in every vivo store, authorized dealers, online stores (Lazada, 11street and Shopee) and Digi as well. Stay tuned for more vivo stuff at TechNave.com.


It's been a short while since the Samsung Galaxy S10 series was unveiled to the world. As the 10th edition of the Galaxy S series, Samsung sure surprised us with a lot of features, much more than we expected and even though all of them aren't exactly new, we think they are a nice improvement. So, here are the Top 5 Features the Samsung Galaxy S10 series got right.

Starting with almost everyone's favourite feature - Samsung has finally brought the triple camera configuration to their flagships (except the Galaxy S10e). With the trend of running on wide angle lenses, the Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10 are using the same 12MP (wide-angle, F/1.5 - F/2.4, OIS) + 16MP (ultra wide-angle, F/2.2) + 12MP (telephoto, F/2.4, OIS) triple rear camera.

The numbers may not look that impressive, but we will let the photos speak for themselves. We took some outdoor and indoor shots which look great. You may have experienced the fish-eye lens effect on some phones, but the Galaxy S10+ does not give off much of that vibe even though the ultra wide-angle lens is 123-degrees. This is an improvement from the Galaxy A7 (2018) last year and the colours are spot on, this goes for indoor shots too where the lights don't overexpose itself.

Starting with this one, you can see that there isn't much noise in this low-light environment cafe. The yellow light in the middle there also didn't shine too brightly when facing the camera

(L-R) Next, we played around with the ultra wide-angle, wide-angle, 2x telephoto shot and a 10x zoom in

An ultra wide-angle shot is excellent for this kind of shot

It even captures the sunray piercing through the clouds!

The scene optimizer still works wonders in this Insta-worthy shot

There are some nice filters too for you to check out

Sure, reverse wireless charging is not new and at the moment, it's not really the preferred method to fast charge a smartphone yet. But what Samsung did was even better, besides being able to charge a smartphone via Wireless PowerShare (Samsung's version of reverse wireless charging), the Galaxy S10+ is able to charge accessories as well! This is definitely bringing convenience to another level and you can say goodbye to your charging cables.

That said, we couldn't really test out how fast the Galaxy S10+ is able to charge the Galaxy Buds casing, as there is no battery indicator shown in the setting. But we will surely do a test in our future review!

Another feature that has been around for the whole of 2018, Samsung has also finally brought it to live this year. Previously, there have been rumours about it appearing on the Galaxy S8 series (which it never did). Even though it came later, the Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor's unlocking speed is actually faster than we thought. From my experience during the Samsung Galaxy S10 Tech Breakfast event, the feature was one of the first things I tried and I was very impressed (you have to take my word for it).

So yes, it came late to the party, but at least it's not clunky, unlike other phones. The Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor also works with the display turned off, so that's really great without having to press the power button to login.

Here's a fun fact, when we were comparing the sizes between the Galaxy S9+ and Galaxy S10+ for research purposes, we actually found out that the new flagship not only looks more beautiful but is sleeker as well. The Galaxy S10+ may sport a slightly bigger display of 6.4-inches, but it's also thinner measuring at 7.8 mm only compared to the Galaxy 9+'s 8.5mm size.

The Galaxy S9+ (left) and Galaxy S10+ (right) looks similar, but the Galaxy S10+ looks thinner

Oh, did I mention that the Galaxy S10+ is surprisingly lighter? It weighs 175g only! Also combined with the Infinity-O display, which almost maxes out the screen and definitely looks better than the original notches.

Finally, another thing they got right is everyone's most relied upon but understated feature - the storage space. As you may know, the highest memory capacity (for the Malaysia market) goes up to 8GB of RAM + 512GB storage and usually, this will jack up the price tag a lot. Comparing this with the Apple iPhone XS Max that uses a 4GB + 512GB combo at a hefty RM7049, it makes a lot more sense to get the Galaxy S10+ at just RM4599.

If that's still not enough internal storage for you, you'd be glad to know that the memory is expandable up to 512GB via microSD card, effectively going over 1TB storage and able to save many precious photos and videos. Aw yis.

So those are the Top 5 Features the Samsung Galaxy S10 series got right for us. But what about you? Which part do you think Samsung got right? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech articles at TechNave.com.


More Samsung articles? You bet. At first glance, it may seem like the Samsung Galaxy S10 series camera looks more or less the same with other smartphones that also has a triple or double camera setup. But after playing around with it for a few days, I was taken by surprise that the newest flagship has a lot more to offer than that. So in this article, I'll show you the Top 5 New Samsung Galaxy S10 camera features You Should Know About. Let's get to it.

Similar to other new phone models with a triple rear camera setup, it seems that going for ultra wide-angle lens is the way to go. So what sets the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ apart from the rest? I'll tell you - the ultra wide-angle lens is by far one of the widest one of all the lenses, capable of going up to 123-degrees. Although it's not far from the standard 120-degrees, the mere extra 3 degrees do make a difference in capturing MORE than what the camera views as well as qualifying it to be a Insta-worthy.

An ultra wide-angle photo, The Sound of Music is tingling in my veins from looking at this photo

This was taken in a normal wide-angle mode, we moved closer from the original spot

The bokeh effect is strong with this one

The difference between aperture F/1.5 (left) and F/2.4 (right)

It's also worth noticing that by switching into ultra wide-angle mode, Samsung does not compromise the photo quality unlike other smartphone brands since it's equipped with a 16MP sensor. It's also coupled with a OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), Dual Pixel Technology and Dual Aperture mode. This is serious stuff for mobile photography enthusiasts.

Sure, a lot of smartphones have a dual front camera nowadays, so what makes this special then? Well, the Galaxy S10+ features a 10MP + 8MP dual front camera and we didn't expect the secondary sensor to be that big. With an 8MP RGB Depth Sensor on board, this is just taking the selfie game to another level, and it's not just to assist the Live Focus for portrait shots, but it also allows the user to take wide-angle wefies in a small space and that's just convenient.

Selfie shot with HDR mode on (left) and a normal one (right)

If you want to, you can take great wide-angle selfie shot, you can really see the difference

So snapping photos with the camera are awesome, but what about video recording? For a long time, most Android phones have not really made a breakthrough, but this is where Samsung comes in - both the front AND back cameras are capable of recording in up to 4K UHD format.

This will bring vlogging on-the-go a whole new life without having to carry around a heavier device for that. Furthermore, there is a video stabilizer that REALLY works and it's a bit unbelievable that the short video recording we shot below was taken on the Galaxy S10+.

4K UHD Video Recording with video stabilizer on (first part) and off (second part)

On that note, there is no video stabilizer on the front camera, though, but it's still capable of taking amazing videos

Sorry we had to scale it down, but you can see that the panorama is quite wide and long enough that we can go back to our own balcony!

Panorama is one way of trying to take a beautiful landscaping shot, but on many smartphones, the end result can sometimes be unsatisfactory. Some can take really long shots that are too narrow, others can be wide and short. So what did Samsung do? Simple, they integrated ultra wide-angle mode for the panorama by default, now you can take shots that are both long and wide. The picture speaks for itself!

Finally, this is another small feature that Samsung didn't really market but we found useful called Shot Suggestions (or Intelligent Shot) which you can find in your camera settings. This is particularly useful for mobile photographer newbies, teaching them what is the correct angle to take a photo automatically. If you don't need it, you can just simply turn it off and do it your own way.

Shot Suggestions will only work in ultra wide-angle mode

So that's all, folks. The Galaxy S10 series camera features are pretty great and so far, the TechNave team (especially me) are loving it. Stay tuned for more Galaxy S10 series goodies only at TechNave.com, as we will continue to find out more about it!


Top 5 Raya Dengan Shopee Smartphone Deals and more!

Can you believe it? Hari Raya is just around the corner, and you know what this means!

It’s the Shopee Raya Promo Sales! With lot’s of promotions from now until 6 June 2019, where you can "Raya Dengan Shopee" with tons of premium deals, Raya Special Collection, vouchers, free shipping with lowered minimum spend, and more.

Just so you know, the biggest sale will be the Big Ramadhan Sale which starts today. Stay tuned to Shopee Mall Sale on 7th May, and Shocking Sale Day on 8th May too!

Raya sale is also incomplete without a massive discounts on smartphones! Buy new smartphones this raya with a massive discount up to 40%! You won’t want to miss out on these awesome deals: Apple iPhone XS Max, Xiaomi Mi 8, Realme 2 Pro, HONOR 7C and vivo Y53. Without further ado, here’s a table list to ease your reference:

Obviously, the one that stands out the most is the iPhone XS Max. If you want a bigger storage model, you can still get it at 256GB and 512GB for RM5349 and RM6199 respectively. The Realme 2 Pro also has two more variants for RM799 (6GB + 64GB) and RM899 (8GB + 128GB) now.

In addition, cashback makes a return and it's not just 100% but 200%. Within the promotion period, you will be getting an upsized Cashback Day on selected platforms with vouchers released in those three days. This also applies to the popular Shocking Sale RM1 and it will be featured daily for selected hours, even more so on 8 May 2019.

Wait, there's more - Goyang Shopee will also be featured during the promo period with Shopee Coins, Vouchers and Gifts worth up to RM5 million! If you play this feature throughout the period, you can choose to participate in the Goyang Shopee Video Challenge and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM10,000. Interested? Here's how it works.

During the Goyang Shopee game, you can put your own spin and dance along with the song which can be downloaded from Shopee YouTube. The video must be uploaded on your own Instagram account publicly with these three hastags hashtags #GoyangShopee #RayaDenganShopee #ShopeeMY. The top 5 winners will be selected based on originality, creativity and meeting the criteria (to be announced at the end of the campaign).

Lastly, there are special voucher codes for both new and current Shopee users for the Big Ramadhan Sale. For new Shopee users, they will get a RM7 OFF with a minimum spending of RM30 on all Preferred Sellers and Shopee Mall shops, except for Tickets and Vouchers, Milk and Formula, or Diapers and Potties categories with promo code “TECH7”.

This applies the same to current existing Shopee users but with RM10 OFF for a minimum spend of RM100  with promo code “TECH10”. Keep in mind that the special vouchers are only applicable to the Shopee app and not the website.

So that's all about Raya Dengan Shopee promo period and another great time to get the products that you've always wanted! If you don't have the Shopee app yet, you may get one now right over here. Happy Shopee-ing and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!


Apple could replace the iPhone 15 Pro's physical buttons with touch-sensitive surfaces

Although it's still way too early for iPhone 15 rumours, we thought you would like to know about this new one. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple will remove the remaining physical buttons for the iPhone 15 Pro lineup but replace them with a technology that has been used before for the Touch ID button.

According to Kuo, rather than using physical buttons, the iPhone 15 Pro models could have solid-state inputs that don't move at all. If you don't know what they are, it's the idea of using just touch-sensitive surfaces to do what the mechanical buttons can do. You may find this sound familiar as it's the technology used for the home button on iPhone 7 and 8. To make the touch surfaces feel like the real deal, Apple would use taptic engines to mimic the sensation of pushing a real button.

It's said one of the benefits of removing the physical buttons will prevent the issue of parts wearing out as time goes by. The taptic engines will also allow Apple to introduce new gesture controls. However, it's too early to assume this will happen, considering that we're still almost one year away from entering the next iPhone era.

What do you think about the replacement? Drop a comment to let us know your opinion, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more iPhone news.


Top 5 Selfie Smartphones

Aside from the bezel-less hype that most smartphone manufacturers are hopping on, we also can't help but notice that there's another on-going trend as well and that would be the selfie smartphones. As the term suggests, it's basically all about the selfie and some even went as far as integrating dual cameras at the front! Anyway, if you're looking for one, here's our Top 5 Selfie Smartphones in no particular ranking. Let's get started!

We just recently reviewed this unit and it almost got a perfect score, reason being is that the secondary front camera which uses a 5MP wide-angle lens (120-degrees) could have been better as the resolution is a bit too low. However, the wide-angle lens really helps a lot especially for wefies and it is great for the outdoors, not so much for indoors, though.

Despite that, the main camera is the one that really shines thanks to the 24MP DuoPixel technology that helps the hidden 12MP dual pixel sensor to take in twice the number of light-capturing photodiodes, then processing the resolution to create a 24MP image digitally. Also, there's a Selfie Master app on the device, allowing selfie lovers to arrange a photo collage and slideshows, and record 4K Selfie Video live stream through Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

The ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro is available in Malaysia right now for RM1799, quite an affordable price for a mid-ranger.

Next on our list is the V5 Plus, as some of you might already know, vivo is probably the one responsible for the selfie craze in the Malaysia market, releasing not one but three V5 variants starting with the V5, V5 Plus and then the V5s as the last one. We choose the V5 Plus for two good reasons - it has dual front 20MP Sony IMX376 sensor (f/2.0, 5P lens) + 8MP (f/2.0) camera and a huge 5.5-inch full HD screen which Malaysians love.

The V5 Plus is also the first of its kind to feature a pair of cameras in front, both sensors are not separated like the aforementioned Selfie Pro so it works similarly to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. The secondary 8MP sensor is mainly for creating the bokeh effect and can be adjusted to your preference. You can check out the selfie samples right here from our review of the V5 Plus.

By now, the V5 Plus' price should have gone down from RM1699 after several months. Be sure to check with the official retailers on that.

Speaking of vivo, we are also looking forward to the company's next selfie smartphone, the V7+ which is coming soon on 26 September 2017. Although we haven't officially tested it yet, the specs sheet speak for itself - a huge 24MP front camera and 5.99-inch FullView HD display without any home button.

The design looks great too and we have to say this is the best-looking smartphone from vivo at this moment. However, we are a bit curious to why it's using a Snapdragon 450 processor when its predecessor used a 625 model. Hopefully, we will get the answer next week.

Price and availability are a mystery at this moment, but if we have to guess it could cost around RM1.5K more or less. Stay tuned.

Coming in next is the self-dubbed Selfie Superstar, Huawei Nova 2 Plus. This smartphone is no pushover as well because it has a few handy selfie features that greatly enhance your face. It imports everything that the P10 series has - a 3D facial recognition, Portrait mode, Softlight LCD screen flash, and a 10-grade beautification mode. Of course, the 20MP front camera is there too.

Not only that, this is the only selfie phone that has a dual camera at the back with 12MP + 8MP sensor in Graphite Black, Prestige Gold and Aurora Blue. Besides that, there is a rumour of a new selfie phone called the Nova 2i that's coming soon next week so stay tuned from Huawei Malaysia.

The Nova 2 Plus currently cost RM1999 and it's available in Malaysia now.

Finally, Xiaomi also has its own selfie smartphone which is the Mi Note 3 that was recently announced not too long ago. On paper, the Mi Note 3 is the most powerful one out of the bunch running on 6GB + 64GB memory capacity, Snapdragon 660 processor and also the biggest battery with 3500mAh. However, the camera setup is normal since it's only using a 16MP front camera, while the dual rear camera is a 12MP + 12MP combo.

So why is this on our list? Well, even though it's just a bigger Mi 6 version, it's the Beautify Mode that makes it unique because not only it gives you different levels of Beauty Mode, but also a digital makeup allowing you to make up on the phone itself! Say goodbye to those eye bags, put on that eyeshadow, the possibilities are endless. Also, there's a special digital makeup mode for guys too.

There is no price tag yet for the Malaysia market, but in China, it has three different costs which are 2499 Yuan (~RM1608), 2899 Yuan (~RM1865) and 2999 Yuan (~RM1929).

So what do you think, do you agree that smartphone manufacturers should continue making more selfie smartphones? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech stuff at TechNave.com.


Top 5 Shiniest Smartphones yet

We are already halfway through 2017 and there were quite a few interesting smartphones we have seen these past few months. Quite few of them offered some rather shiny backsides so here we go with the Top 5 Shiniest smartphones yet (in no particular order). Check them out below!

If you thought the Honor 8 already look that good, the newest member of the club - the Honor 9 that was recently revealed over the weekend has truly succeeded it and looks even better. It comes in Black, Blue and Amber Gold options and nearly the same specifications as the Huawei P10 including the 12MP (RGB) + 20MP (Monochrome) dual main camera setup, but just lacking the Leica lens and possibly the Portrait mode which was not shown during the reveal.

The Honor 9 has yet to arrive in Malaysia, but we are guessing the price estimation would be around RM1.5K - RM2K. Stay tuned for that when Honor Malaysia officially announces it.

In the other corner, its cousin the Huawei P10 lite is a shiny one too, especially the Sapphire Blue model. The Pearl White, Midnight Black, and Platinum Gold colours shine too but they just pale in comparison against the Sapphire Blue. The P10 lite is the most affordable one among the bunch here at RM1299, which you can check out more in our review and we have to say that the camera performance is quite good even though the 12MP rear and 8MP front cameras don’t have any Leica lens on them, thanks to the 1.25 µm pixel sensor and Portrait mode respectively.

The P10 lite also comes with handy features such as the Knuckle Sense technology and USB OTG connectivity for easier tasking.

If you want a more powerful device, the HTC U11 is the shiny smartphone for you. The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 5.5-inch QHD display, a 12MP HTC UltraPixel 3 main camera and a huge 16MP sensor for the front, with 3000 mAh battery (quick charge 3.0). Moreover, the U11 also sports the world’s first ever HTC Edge Sense feature which allows the user to have a “squeezy” interaction with the phone.

This one costs RM3099, though. So if you’re tight on your budget, there’s still the equally shiny U Ultra and U Play for RM2599 and RM1499 respectively (if you trade-in an old phone for the U Play )

Speaking of affordable high-end phones with shiny backsides, there’s one you can get which is the Xiaomi Mi 6. Actually the Black, White, and Blue models look alright, it’s the special Ceramic and Silver edition that shines the most. It also sports some high-end tech-specs such as the Snapdragon 835 (10nm chipset), 6GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB internal storage, dual 12MP camera sensors (one is a telephoto lens), USB Type-C, and a 3350 mAh battery just for RM2399 on SatuGadget dot com.

Unfortunately, the Ceramic and Silver edition aren’t available yet in Malaysia, but if you really want it then an imported set costs 2999 Yuan (around RM1916).

Last but not least, if you don’t really care about your budget. Sony has the Xperia XZ Premium for your pleasure and it costs RM3399. It has all the powerful-specs that were mentioned earlier, but it has one trick up its sleeve that makes it unique - the Super Slow Motion 960fps video capture which is a really fun feature from our experience. Heck, you can even use its back as a reflective mirror. It's that clear.

There’s also an IP68 water and dust resistance grade and USB Type-C 3.1 on board too, coupled with a lot of camera add-on features such as Predictive Hybrid Focus, Triple Image Sensing technology, 5x clear image zoom, SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode, 4K recording, and more. Making it an ideal camera-centric smartphone for phoneographers.

So what do you think? Did we miss out any other shiny smartphones? Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more geeky articles at TechNave.com.


Top 5 Tips to Buy a Gaming Smartphone

So you've clicked on this page, and you're probably a mobile gamer looking for a killer gaming smartphone. There are quite a few factors on getting one, but we are going to tell you five of the most major tips. Without further ado, welcome to our Top 5 Tips to Buy a Gaming Smartphone, check them out below!

Yes, just like the PC Master Race users, having good displays and high resolution is a must even for a hardcore mobile gamer. It's not rocket science that you need at least a 5.5-inch display or more, as any smaller than that results in you having to squint just to see the details. Likewise, the resolution should be at least 1080p or full HD, if not 2K or 2560 x 1440 pixels, especially if you want to enjoy the glorious moment of defeating your opponents.

Besides that, having a higher resolution display will also help future-proof your upcoming VR or AR gaming. Better be prepared right?

More RAM ensures faster loading times and more stable gameplay, so the more RAM or Random Access Memory you have, the better. Now, despite the fact that most smartphones and even some flagships are just limited to 4GB of RAM, you will need at least 4GB of RAM because of the intense performance from certain games such as Asphalt 8: Airborne and Arena of Valor. More RAM like say 6GB of RAM would ensure smoother overall performance, not to mention handling other apps that you're running in the background such as screen recording for video streaming.

So you might have enough RAM to load every game smoothly, unfortunately, you also need a fast processor and Graphics Processing Unit or GPU to keep up with the fast paced action. Many previous 2K display devices could not handle the load needed to process 2K pixel resolution gaming. While midrange processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 are catching up and providing great gaming at lower price points, what you really need for a satisfying gaming session is a flagship level processor.

Just cause you have a high resolution display, fast processor, plenty of RAM, it isn't going to mean squat if your gaming smartphone has a small battery as most gaming sessions take hours. These days, even 3000 mAh isn't enough, so make sure that you look for a gaming smartphone with at least 4000 mAh or you're going to be cut off in the middle of gaming due to low-power alerts.

This is probably the biggest factor of them all, as most hardcore mobile gamers are still studying so their cash might be a bit tight. Usually, it's best to get flagships that possess all the aforementioned factors above, but they usually cost more at less RM3K and upwards which can be just a bit too much for most Malaysian mobile gamers.

Thankfully, the Honor 8 Pro not only costs below RM2K (RRP: RM1999) it also provides all of the tips above. If you are lucky, you can even get lower than that at some retailers in Malaysia. The Honor 8 Pro is also VR/AR ready with 2K or 1440 x 2560 resolution, coming in with a 5.7-inch QHD display, a Kirin 960 processor + Vulkan API, 6GB of RAM + 64GB internal storage and a huge 4000mAh battery. With these kind of specifications for below RM2K, this one wins already lah, ok? If you want to know more, you can check out our review here.

So did we miss out anything else? What other factors do you look for when it comes to buying a gaming smartphone? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more geeky articles at TechNave.com.


Mobile gaming and value buy are two terms that don't often mix, but thanks to more and more brands coming to Malaysia, there's now a whole bunch of value buy smartphones for gaming that you can get for below RM1K or RM1000. Rather than have you sift through all of them, here's our Top 5 Value buy smartphones for gaming you can get in Malaysia for below RM1K.

Now, do bear in mind that we're looking for a smartphone suitable for gaming but isn't specifically a gaming device, so this means that our list of devices below have to have midrange or better chipsets and plenty of RAM. Better chipsets usually mean better graphics processors, which results in nicer looking games and our criteria for these value buy gaming smartphones is based on that. So while nice cameras are a bonus, the smartphones we're highlighting should have gaming related features such as big batteries or a big screen or plenty of memory. So, in no particular order, here's our list.

One of the few smartphones in Malaysia to utilize stock Android, the Xiaomi Mi A2 features an upper midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for RM899. Long known for its value buy features, Xiaomi have included a 5.99-inch fullview FHD+ display (2160 x 1080 pixel resolution) but there's still bezels on this one for a 77.4% screen to body ratio.

The result is a rather tall smartphone but the stock Android also means there's less bloatware in the way, so your Mi A2 can game with no hidden apps getting in the way. The 3000 mAh battery is just standard though, so you may have some issues for those marathon binge gaming sessions. The 12MP + 20MP dual rear cameras and 20MP front camera are a nice touch but don't really add much for the gaming experience.

One of the newest kids on the block here in Malaysia, the Realme 2 Pro is the only one in our list to offer a 6.3-inch fullview “Dew Drop” notched display and up to 8GB of RAM. Coupled with the upper midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and a fairly large 3500 mAh battery, the Realme 2 Pro is more compact with an 84% screen to body ratio. These features make the Realme 2 Pro the gaming all-rounder in our list.

The shimmering diamond back design on the Realme 2 Pro is certainly eye catching in either black or red, but the overall “Dew Drop” screen design means that this smartphone is more compact while the notch should not interfere too much with your gaming sessions. That being said, the Realme 2 Pro 8GB RAM + 64GB storage version is usually priced at RM1099 but because it is going to be available for RM999 on Shopee for their 11.11 sale (on 11 November 2018) it qualified for this list. Not only that, but the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage version which is normally RM949 is also going for RM899.

Coming in for RM949, the Honor 8X sports a large 6.5-inch fullview FHD+ display and an upper midrange Hisilicon Kirin 710 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The notch is quite wider but the compact body means that while it has the largest display in our list, it is also one of the more compact devices as well with an 84.4% screen to body ratio. It is also one of the more eye catching devices in our list with its glossy back.

While we do note that it is one of the few phones here with AI camera features for both the 20MP + 2MP dual rear cameras and 16MP front camera, this isn't going to contribute much to your gaming experience. The 3750 mAh battery means you can certainly game for longer with the Honor 8X but it isn't the biggest battery device in our list by far.

Another fairly new kid on the block in the Malaysian market, the Huawei Y9 2019 is almost a mirror copy of the Honor 8X except that it has less storage (64GB) and slightly lower resolution cameras. It still features a Kirin 710 upper midrange chipset, 4GB of RAM and a large 6.5-inch FHD+ display but the back is probably not as head turning as its cousin.

It also has a larger 4000 mAh battery so this could potentially be the better big display device for long gaming sessions. Coming in at RM899, it also has a discount for this 11.11 online singles day.

The only device in our list to have a slightly lower but still midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, the 6GB RAM ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 also has improved cameras over the 4GB RAM version and a massive 5000 mAh battery. Granted, the metal body is somewhat generic but the 5.99-inch display with no notch is suitably FHD+ and fullview.

While not nearly as powerful as the other devices in this list, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 is more than capable of handling PUBG Mobile, albeit on medium settings and a bit of lag. The more energy efficient Snapdragon 636 chipset and 5000 mAh battery means this is the longest lasting smartphone for gaming in our list, ideal for those long marathon gaming binges, especially if you don't care too much about the performance.

Overall, the Realme 2 Pro is probably the best choice for your value buy gaming due to its all-rounder features and tech specs. Priced well below RM1K for just one day for the 8GB RAM version, we hope that Realme Malaysia decide to make this permanent, but you should probably take this chance and keep watch on their official Shopee and Lazada stores. In any case, if you can't make it tonight, the RM949 priced 6GB RAM version will still be available to get at any time.

If you're more concerned with a bigger display, then the honor 8X and Huawei Y9 2019 are good for gaming alternatives while the Mi A2 is the one to get if you can't stand anything else but Stock Android. The ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 on the other hand is probably the best option for a marathoner gamer on a budget.

Check out how well the Realme 2 Pro handles games like Asphalt 9

So, what did you think of our Top 5 Value buy smartphones for gaming you can get in Malaysia for below RM1K? Did we miss any? If you have suggestions, feel free to update us on our Facebook page and stay tuned for more tech news and articles like this at TechNave.com


There’s almost always a tradeoff when it comes to laptops. If you want something powerful you trade off portability, if you want something small you give up power. Or so I thought. The ASUS ZenBook 13 is a compact device that packs a punch.

Powered by the 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and the Nvidia MX150 and currently the smallest 13-inch laptop and weighing in at 1.09kg, you’ll find yourself able to have both power and portability in one device. If that doesn’t convince you, here’s the Top 5 fantastic features of the ASUS ZenBook 13!

In today’s on the go age, many are looking for devices that are portable and easy to handle. Sure you can work on your tablets or smartphones, but that isn’t very viable for those who need MORE.

This device is tiny, measuring at  0.67 inches in height which is super slim, 11.89 inches in width, 7.4 inches in depth, making it just a little larger than your larger smartphones and as large as some tablets out there. My favourite bit about this is how it can fit into my tiny Micheal Kors bag and just travel with it. Going through airport security is less of a hassle as there is no need to bring a larger bag to travel. As it is light, bringing it in and out of your bag for security checks is pretty convenient as well!

Despite the smaller device, the screen is surprisingly large! The display measures in at 13.3-inches with a 16:9 resolution and extremely skinny bezels. The bezels measure at 2.8mm thin while the bottom bezel is only 3.3-inches which means every single bit of the device’s viewing area is utilized.

The placement of the webcam still remains at the top of the screen, which I really like. While other devices choose to move their webcams elsewhere or implement a thicker top bezel to house the webcam, the ASUS ZenBook 13 still managed to keep their webcam where most users would be familiar with despite the incredibly skinny bezels. What makes it even better is that the webcam quality is not compromised at all, delivering some pretty crisp and clear images and videos.

One thing that may bother many about most small laptops is the absence of the numeric or number keypad to the right of the keyboard. I know many who use the number keypad for work as it does increase productivity and speed.

ASUS have found a way to implement the number keypad and it seems like they really are chasing after the tagline “You can have it all”. It is a pretty innovative solution to a problem which many had simply disregarded, mostly leaving users without the number pad.

In this case, the touchpad of the laptop also doubles as a number pad. To activate it, simply press and hold down on the number pad logo on the touchpad and the touchpad will light up, revealing the number pad.

It works pretty accurately and you’re still able to utilize the trackpad even with the number pad function activated. This makes it perfect for moments when you’re rushing that excel budget sheet or need a number pad for anything.

One thing I disliked about working on most laptops is how flat the keyboards are. That often resulted in strained wrists and fatigue. ASUS's solution for this is the ErgoLift Hinge. When the screen is opened, it will push the keyboard up. This helps tilt the keyboard into a more comfortable typing position. The screen which can be tilted up to a 143 degree angle allows the keyboard to be lifted up to a 3 degree angle.

Besides that, the ErgoLift Hinge also improves laptop cooling, allowing heat to escape better. It also improves audio performance as the speakers which are situated under the device are no longer covered. My favourite bit about the ASUS SonicMaster speakers is definitely the fact that the Harmon Kardon audio it produces is loud, crisp and comes with some pretty decent bass.

I’ve mentioned powerful before and here’s why I mentioned it. The ASUS ZenBook 13 comes with the Nvidia MX150 graphics card paired with up to an Intel Core i7 processor. These two bits of hardware are some of what makes this device so powerful along with the Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system.

My job requires me to do some pretty heavy duty stuff like video editing so it has been pretty challenging for me to find a laptop that is not only powerful for my work but also compact enough to be used anywhere and anytime. Rendering a 7 minute video through Adobe Premiere Pro on this laptop only took me just under 3 minutes. My super PC at home with the RTX 2070 graphics card and AMD Ryzen 1700X took a little less than 1 minute. Despite the huge gap in hardware and device size, this laptop does present some pretty decent power.

There’s a lot more to love about the ASUS ZenBook 13 laptop other than just these 5 reasons. If you’re interested to know more about the ZenBook 13, particularly about the UX333 in Burgundy red above, catch our upcoming full review for the laptop along with the unboxing, hands-on and other content or videos.

Available in Royale Blue, Burgundy Red and Icicle Silver from RM4399 for the Intel Core i5 powered UX433 to the Intel Core i7 powered UX533 at RM6099, the ZenBook 13 is currently available at all authorized resellers and the ASUS Malaysia official website! For the latest news on the most powerful and compact devices around, stay tuned to TechNave.com!


Top 5 features of the iOS 12 unveiled on WWDC 2018

During WWDC 2018, Apple has unveiled several new features to be included in the upcoming iOS 12. The features that Apple has introduce will further expand upon existing features and several quality of life improvements as well. Here are the top 5 features that will make its debut into the iOS 12 ecosystem, starting with Memoji.

Memoji is an extension of the Animoji feature that allows the user to make an animated character of themselves which can be used to send to other users as well. Oh, and there’s also “tongue” tracking as well which allows the facial recognition system to track your tongue and animate it onto the Animoji characters as well.

Next up is the Augmented Reality which opens the doors to many uses and entertainment possibilities, such as using the rear camera as a measuring tool that could measure the dimensions of a given object.

In terms of entertainment, Apple has partnered up with several leaders in the industry such as Adobe and Autodesk to create a new file format called the USDZ to standardize sharing of Augmented Reality content across different platforms.

Apple’s Siri has also been updated with the new Shortcuts feature which allows the user to setup custom phrases to launch different applications on the iOS devices. Siri will also extract the context from the request in your custom phrase and gives you options and suggestions to help you make an educated decision. Not only that, the feature will also track your usage patterns throughout the day and gives you various suggestions based on your usage habits.

FaceTime Group Chat with up to 32 participants

FaceTime received a huge upgrade as well allowing up to 32 simultaneous users in a single group chat. It is also integrated together with iMessage, allowing members of the group chat to quickly drop in and drop out of the FaceTime call. The Animoji and its extension, the Memoji also works on group FaceTime allowing everyone in the video chat session to mask their heads with the desired Animoji of their choice.

Last but not least, Apple has introduced several features on the iOS 12 to help improve the productivity of the user as well as “Do Not Disturb” features. These features allows the user limit their time on specific Apps such as social media and news entertainment sites to improve productivity. Not only that, The Do Not Disturb feature will also mute all notifications during a set period of time such as while you’re sleeping or during work hours. Finally, the notification section has been updated to group multiple alerts from the same application into a single grouped notification as to not clutter the display.

For more info you can watch the livestream keynote on the Apple Official website. All the features mentioned will be available to all iOS 12 compatible devices worldwide. For more updates, stay tuned to TechNave.com.