There's a new CelcomDigi Online Shop with the latest devices & accessories

Today, CelcomDigi Berhad (CelcomDigi) is pleased to announce the launch of the all-new CelcomDigi Online Shop. Designed specifically for existing Celcom and Digi customers, you can visit this online shop for the latest savings on the latest devices and accessories.

For starters, Celcom and Digi customers can now effortlessly upgrade their devices with exclusive discounts of up to RM1,000 on devices and accessories. This includes the 0% Easy Payment Plan option and door-to-door free delivery for a hassle-free shopping experience.

The CelcomDigi Online Shop offers a wide range of mobile devices, including the latest Apple, Samsung, and Honor devices, all without the need for a contract. Moreover, customers can purchase the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G for only RM5699, and other 5G phones for as low as RM899.

There are also a wide variety of accessories to complement customers' digital lifestyles, including the popular Apple Watch and AirPods Pro. For more information, Celcom and Digi customers can visit https://shop.celcomdigi.com over here to enjoy exclusive benefits and savings.


There's a new HONOR Watch GS Pro in Camo Blue for the same price of RM999

The HONOR Watch GS Pro has been around in Malaysia for quite some time now but it was only available in black. If you thought it was too "plain" black for you, HONOR Malaysia just released a new cool colour variant - Camo Blue and it's available now across the nation.

According to the company, the Camo Blue strap is made of nylon instead of the traditional silicone material. It also features Dope Dyeing to strengthen and enhance the resistance to wear and tear, as well as offering eye-catching shades of blue. Dope Dyeing is said to be more environmentally friendly compared to the traditional dyeing process.

Apart from the new colour scheme, the smartwatch specifications and features are essentially the same. It sports a battery life up to 25 days (vary on usage) and uses a 14 MIL-STD-810G-rated build to resist challenging environments like hiking. What's more, the price tag also remains the same at RM999.

You may visit HONOR Malaysia's online store right here or visit the nearest HONOR Experience Store. What do you think of the Camo Blue variant? We think it's pretty cool (#punintended) so let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple could be working on a new MacBook with a foldable display

In the last two years, increasingly more foldable devices have been launched. These are all mobile devices, using either a book-like design or clamshell design. But some companies might be considering foldable displays for other devices.

According to Ross Young (via MacRumors), Apple is working on an all-screen MacBook that uses a 20-inch foldable display. In other words, the device would have a larger screen than most MacBooks. This means that the physical keyboard would be replaced with a virtual one. Of course, Apple will probably use this as a chance to sell its Magic Keyboards. For your info, the price of the Magic Keyboard starts from RM379.

You'll probably have to use a Magic Keyboard with this so-called foldable MacBook

Besides this so-called foldable MacBook, Apple was rumoured to be developing a foldable iPhone. The Apple analyst Kuo Ming-chi previously predicted that the 8-inch foldable iPhone could launch as soon as 2023. However, Young claimed that Apple will be delaying the launch till 2025. Allegedly, Apple is not in a hurry to enter the foldable market. As for the foldable MacBook, it might not be released till after 2025.

While foldable smartphones have been gaining some popularity, would foldable laptops take off? Let us know what you think about this in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about the foldable MacBook.


There's a new HP Experience Hub in Pavilion Bukit Jalil and there's a small cafe in it

Today, HP Malaysia and Thunder Match Technology (TMT) just did a grand launch of the first-ever HP Experience Hub store in Pavilion Bukit Jalil. To celebrate this grand launch, there are various promotions and discounts that customers can purchase inside the mega huge store. Not only this includes laptops but as well as its printers, monitors, gaming peripherals and more.

With a wide range of products and services, this new Experience Hub is aimed to give customers access to customer service agents to guide them through their shopping experience. To make it more personalised, the hub was designed to offer consumers a personalised introduction and journey. Customers can get a hands-on experience whilst testing or comparing the products.

Moreover, the Experience Hub also features an interactive game wall which allows customers to try their hands at fun interactive games using the latest in AR/VR technology. There is also a dedicated printer corner with interactive videos and guides to educate customers. You can check out what the store looks like in the photos below.

To bring personalisation to another level, they even have a small cafe section offering drinks to customers. If you want to check out the Experience Hub, you can visit the store now at Pavilion Bukit Jalil at Level 4 from the main entrance. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new Heyup Lazada online store launching soon and we are giving away a RM20 voucher

Is Heyup a new smartphone brand? Nope, it's a new tech gadget distributor and the brand has collaborated with a few smartphone brands to help sell their gadgets. We also have a special RM20 voucher just for you all but before we get to that, here are some things you should know about Heyup.

There's gonna be a brand new Heyup Lazada Flagship Store first sales launching day on 17 June 2022 where you can purchase Black Shark, Nubia RedMagic, ZTE, Smartmi, YEEUU and even the upcoming Nothing devices. Besides that, Heyup even has its own gadget such as the Heyup Boxe which is a mini portable project for RM999 (RRP RM1299).

As for the aforementioned smartphone brands, you can get some of them at a discounted price. For an example on Nubia devices:

Do note that all the first online sales at the Heyup Lazada Flagship Store will happen at 12 AM sharp on the said date. Then for our special RM20 voucher, it is only limited to the first 10 customers and it can be used starting from 17 June onwards on any device. You can take a look at the list of devices available for promotion here.

Find anything you like at the store? Do check it out while you're at it. Stay tuned for more trending tech gadget deals only at TechNave.com.


There's a new Huawei Mate40 Pro 4G with Kirin 9000 chipset and HarmonyOS 2.0

Last December, the Huawei Mate40 Pro 5G variant was released with a price tag of RM4299. Here, we found out that the company silently launched the 4G variant with the same configuration as the 5G variant.

According to sources, the device is powered by a Kirin 9000 chipset and HarmonyOS 2.0. Although both devices sport the same chipset, the 4G variant can only support 4G connectivity. This device features a 6.76-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, triple rear camera, and 4300mAh battery with 66W SuperCharge. Click here to learn more about the device.

Are you excited about the Huawei Mate40 Pro 4G? Would you go for the 5G or 4G variant? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


There's a new Limited Violet Edition Galaxy Ecosystem Pack for a limited time, price starting from RM4599

Samsung is known to release special Galaxy editions to different regions over the past few years. So in this latest one, it looks like we are getting a new Limited Violet Edition Galaxy Ecosystem Pack in Malaysia. The package includes the latest Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G or Galaxy S21 5G phone, a pair of Galaxy Buds Pro and a Galaxy Watch Active2 and they are all in violet.

Both the Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 phones are fixed at 256GB. Since there are two different phones, that means there are two different packages for RM5099 and RM4599 respectively. If you were to buy each device individually, it would cost up to RM5897 and RM5297 respectively. That saves you up to RM798 which also means you're essentially getting a free Galaxy accessory!

This limited edition bundle has already begun today until 30 April 2021, while stocks last (1000 units only). You may get it at any Samsung Experience stores, selected Samsung Authorised Retailers and the online store here, with terms and conditions applied.


There's a new Maxis Family Plan with unlimited mobile data from RM299/month

If you're looking for a family line, Maxis just recently announced its own version - the Maxis Family Plan. It features unlimited data to four mobile phone lines and home internet from RM299 per month. Moreover, you can also upgrade it up to 800Mbps. Interested? Read on the offer below!

As mentioned by Maxis, the entire family can enjoy unlimited data across four mobile phone lines as well as their home broadband from RM299 per month. There is also the option to add on up to four new devices via Maxis Zerolution from RM19 for each mobile line, where customers can choose a wide selection of phones, tablets and smartwatches.

The default Internet speed for this plan is just 30Mbps, but you can choose to upgrade the fibre speed up to 800Mbps from RM40/month. On top of that, the Maxis Family Plan also includes a 65” Samsung TV (TV Zerolution) from as low as RM1 a month.

To learn more about the Maxis Family Plan and sign up, you can visit the nearest Maxis Centre or visit the official webpage right here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new Pink WhatsApp circulating online and it's a trap

If you heard about a Pink WhatsApp application, DON'T DOWNLOAD IT. Well, that's the announcement from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) this morning, sending a warning to the public about the malicious app.

According to MCMC, scammers are sending the Pink WhatsApp as bait to users online. The bait is advertising better security and privacy features, customised UI, as well as enabling large file transfers. If the user installs the Pink WhatsApp, the scammers will then have instant access to various items within the phone, including media files, SMSes, contact lists and others.

*... WHATSAPP PINK -A Red Alert For Android Users ...*'*... व्हॉट्सॲप पिंक Android वापरकर्त्यांसाठी रेड अलर्ट ...**...व्हाट्सएप गुलाबी (पिंक) Android उपयोगकर्ताओं के लिए एक रेड अलर्ट...*#CyberSafeMumbai REGARDS,NORTH REGION CYBER POLICE STATION,CRIME BRANCH, CID, MUMBAI pic.twitter.com/viTbVrcWrn

How this works is that users may receive a message and link from a fake WhatsApp account, inviting them to try Pink WhatsApp. As a reminder, any links sent by unknown numbers are definitely suspicious, even if it's from your friends and family. And of course, companies do not use a casual phone number to contact you unless stated otherwise.

Malaysians are encouraged to make a report of any suspicious activities conducted online to the Aduan MCMC portal right here or the Aduan hotline at 1800-188-030. Stay safe and be vigilant.


There's a new RGB LED light feature on the realme GT Neo 5

As we reported before, realme will be launching the realme GT Neo 5 in China first on 9 February 2023. But before the launch, the company released a new teaser video showcasing a new feature on the phone.

As you can see in the promo video below, the realme GT Neo 5 will have a new RGB LED light beside the triple rear camera. Depending on the phone's status, the RGB LED light can turn to a few colours to tell you what's happening. For instance, red means low battery, purple means there's an incoming call, white is for new messages, and playing mobile games will show various colours.

Also in the video, it's confirmed that the realme GT Neo 5 will feature a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, as well as a new 240W fast charging technology that was already announced a few days ago. Moreover, the phone also has a new Dynamic Island notification UI look but it doesn't interact with the punch-hole front camera.

Besides that, rumours have it that the realme GT Neo 5 could use a 6.74-inch AMOLED 144Hz display with 1.5K resolution. It should also run on realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13 out of the box and could come with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

We won't have to wait that long for the realme GT Neo 5 soon. The phone should also make its way to the MWC 2023 in Barcelona for public viewing. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Aston Martin Limited Edition and it's priced at ~RM13K

Samsung have launched the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Aston Martin Limited Edition in China, it is the second edition after the Thom Browne Edition. There are only 777 Aston Martin edition units with a price tag of CNY 20999 (~RM13401) each.

According to sources, the package includes 6 items which are the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (Mystic Bronze or Mystic Black), Galaxy Watch3 (Mystic Silver or Mystic Black), leather case, navy blue t-shirt, black & white hat, and a card with the serial number on it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 Aston Martin Limited Edition box

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 Aston Martin Limited Edition items

For some reason, the phone and watch don't have any Aston Martin engraving nor logo on it so they both remain as the standard retail version. As for the accessories, it comes with the Aston Martin and BSEM Asia Sonic Racing logos.

Do you think this package is worth buying? Let us know in the comments below, be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


There's a new Transformers Edition for the iQOO 3 5G and it looks cool

We have written plenty of iQOO series news here on our website, albeit an unfortunate thing that vivo Malaysia have no interest in importing that gaming smartphone series at all. Unless if you're willing to buy an imported version without any warranty from online sellers, here's something that might be worth considering - there is a new iQOO 3 5G Transformers Edition and it looks awesome.

For the tech specs, the Transformers Edition shares the exact same ones as the vanilla iQOO 3 5G model so nothing much to look there but it's the outlook and custom user interface that makes the highlight. The device's body is featuring a carbon-fibre texture and there's a "Monster Inside" slogan written there too. The iQOO user interface is using the Autobots theme with a simplistic outlook, with multiple app icons using that robotic design.

But they didn't stop there though, even the accessories and of course, the box is using the same theme. Inside the box, the charging brick, USB Type-C cable, and the protective casing are all custom-branded. It's said the charging brick is black with a golden Autobot logo on it, and we are pretty sure it is the same 55W Super FlashCharge technology.

Reports say that the Transformers Edition will be available on 1 June 2020, but there is no price announced for it yet. We are pretty sure Transformers fans will be the first ones to queue up for this limited edition but what do you think? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new U Mobile Unlimited GX68 postpaid plan on a limited time offer for RM58/month

In this short news, U Mobile have announced a brand new #GILERUnlimitedGX68 postpaid plan. To celebrate this release, there is a limited time offer for just RM58/month and yes, it's forever if you get it now instead of paying RM68/month.

If you're familiar with their packages, you can guess it right that the new postpaid plan comes with unlimited data (with unlimited speed) and unlimited calls to all networks. For the hotspot feature, they offer 5GB for free which you share with anyone and anytime. For the limited time offer, they didn't specifically say when the promotion will end but we suggest that you ought to get one now if this is the one you're looking for.

Other than the Unlimited GX68 plan, there's also the Unlimited GX38 prepaid plan. Currently on a limited time offer, customers can claim it for just RM35/month and that seems like a nice deal. For more information, you can visit the Unlimited GX68 and GX38 plan here and here respectively.

Stay tuned for more U Mobile news at TechNave.com.


Apple could be working on a new iPad Pro powered by A14X Bionic chipset

Did you feel underwhelmed by the new iPad Pro that Apple launched back in March? Fret not, for there may just be another model in the works that's more powerful. Sources indicate that TSMC is manufacturing new A14X Bionic chipsets for Apple this year, which could mean that a more powerful iPad Pro is on the way.

According to Commercial Times (via TechSpot), TSMC has started to mass manufacture chipsets on the 5nm process this year. This includes the A14X Bionic chipsets for Apple and Kirin 1000 chipsets for Huawei. Depending on when the production begins, there's a chance that these new chipsets could be used for a new iPad Pro that will launch within 2020. Of course, Apple may also prefer to keep the chipsets in inventory for next year.

We don't have any info on what's new with the A14X Bionic yet, but it's unlikely to be a major upgrade over the A14 Bionic. However, we do believe that there's a chance it will have 5G connectivity, as well as a bump in clock speeds or more GPU cores. Another possibility would be additional features.

Of course, everything above is currently speculation, so do take it with a grain of salt. Having said that, what do you think about it? Is there a need for a new iPad Pro this soon? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


There's a new free Astro Bundle upgrade in the Maxis Fibre 100Mbps plan

Today, Maxis have added a new feature into their Maxis Fibre 100 Mbps package. If you happen to watch a lot of Astro channels, this might be a good one for as you will be able to upgrade freely to 300Mbps with an Astro Bundle from that same plan at RM129/month.

With that in mind, that also means that there are new add-ons from Maxis for that plan. On the page, we can see that there's a new "3x speed upgrade + Ultra Box" and a 65" Samsung 4K TV from just RM1 per month only. The former has three packs depending on your needs - an Astro Starter Pack (RM61.32/month), Astro Value Pack (RM80/month) and Astro Super Lite Pack (RM115/month). It's worth noticing that selecting the pack will allow certain language channels to appear in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.

Should you choose the Astro Super Lite Pack, it offers 4K UHD-ready content with over 50,000 videos for your entertainment. The Ultra Box installation fee will be free as well as part of this pack but otherwise, choosing the other two come with a fee starting from RM99 for the HD Box. In addition, the 300Mbps with Astro Bundle upgrade still retain the same features as the Maxis Fibre 100Mbps such as unlimited data, local voice calls, Apple TV 4K 64GB and Mesh WiFi.

You can opt to check out if your area is covered by this plan or not. For more information, you may visit the Maxis page to check it out. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new leak for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3!

Last week, we reported on the render leaks of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy device lineups which included the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Today, a leakster Max Weinbach claims both devices will be IPX8 rated.

If these devices are really certified with IPX8, it means both Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be the world’s first foldable smartphones able to withstand water depths of more than 1 meter for over 30 minutes. Aside from water resistance, dust proof is important too since the folding components might catch dust easily. Unfortunately, no information on that for now.

Flip3 and Fold3 are IPX8 https://t.co/Lenz8aOuCV

As for the tech specs, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 3300mAh battery with a 15W charging. It is equipped with a 6.7-inch S-AMOLED display and a 1.9-inch external display while sporting a 12MP primary camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens at the back as well as a 10MP front selfie camera.

As of now, there is still no official information on the tech specs and the upcoming launch event on 11 August, so do take this with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more tech news updates on TechNave.com


There’s a new metro line station in China, Shenzhen and it’s called...Huawei Station

Recently, Shenzhen just added 2 new routes in the metro line, and one of the station names is called the Huawei Station. Yup, Huawei not only manufactures a wide variety of gadgets but now they even have a metro line that is named before the company.

Mind you, Huawei did not build the station but the reason why it’s called Huawei Station is that it is located next to their Headquarters in Shenzhen. With this, guess everyone who takes the metro line will definitely know where is Huawei HQ from now on (lol). Huawei Station is one of the new stations located on Line 10, it is placed in between Gangtou and Bei’er Rd.

Besides that, the people were certainly surprised by the new station and promptly took some photos with the station name by showing off their devices such as HONOR, iPhone, and even Xiaomi users. Would you check-in at Huawei Station when you pay a visit to Shenzhen? Let us know in the comments below, be sure to stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new official Evangelion store on Shopee and it's real

Is this the real life? Well, turns out it wasn't a joke at all when we visited the official Evangelion store on Shopee. According to the webpage, the items are the real stuff and come all the way from the land of the rising sun (Japan, duh) with various price tags.

So what do they sell there? Many, many things. The obvious ones would be the DVDs, Blueray and CDs collection which includes the anime and even original soundtracks. On top of that, action figures are included as well and even everyday household items like pillows to cups, costumes, bandanas, backpacks. Heck, we even saw a cutting board, scoop, neckties, toolbox, an eye patch (lol) and the list goes on and on.

The items there aren't cheap either, the most affordable one is an Original Phosphorescent Stickers: TEST type-01 at RM81.42, whereas the most expensive one we can find is an original [Kazan x EVA] Eva 01 leather zip wallet for a freaking RM1073.17. Do people actually buy this stuff? Well, if there's a store setup for Malaysia and Singapore, it probably means there's a niche market somewhere.

If you want to know more, you can visit the official Evangelion store right here and turn on your fan mode. It seems to have almost everything for a fan there and what would you buy? Stay tuned for more cool local tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new phone in China that looks exactly like the iPhone 14 Pro

From time to time, we would see some iPhone clones in the market. Recently in China, there is an iPhone 14 Pro clone called the LeEco S1 Pro that looks exactly like it, even with the Dynamic Island feature.

Although it looks premium, the LeEco S1 Pro is oddly an underpowered device. It features a Unisoc T7150 chipset, alongside three different memory configurations. This includes 4GB, 6GB and 8GB of RAM and 64GB, 128GB and 256GB of storage. The 60Hz LCD is 6.5 inches but offers 720p.

Like every budget phone, the LeEco S1 Pro has a 5000mAh battery and only supports 10W charging. The camera setup is pretty simple too, using a 13MP main camera and 5MP front camera. The iPhone clone also runs on Huawei Mobile Services since Google Mobile Services is not available in China.

We don't think this iPhone 14 Pro knockoff will be released globally but if you're curious, the price for the 8GB + 128GB variant is 899 Yuan (~RM579). Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's a new unifi Plus Box with a promotional Home 300Mbps plan for RM199

As some of you already heard, unifi just officially launched their new unifi Plus Box product which is powered by Android TV. It's a new unifi Home plan with a wide variety of entertainment features from as low as RM149 per month and if you're wondering whether it's worth getting one, well, let's break it down on what's in for you.

First up, anyone who subscribes to the new Home plan will get the unifi Plus Box for free so that's nice. Not only that, almost all the shows that are available in the Plus Box have 4K resolution as well as having your favourite apps pre-installed there such as - unifi TV, BBC Player, YuppTV, Dimsum, Viu, YouTube and more. Of course, you can also project your mobile, tablet or laptop content onto the TV as long as it has the unifi PlayTV app.

As for the price packages, there is also the RM189 and RM199 (promotional price, RRP is RM259) package with different Internet speed. According to their website, they said the unifi Home 300Mbps for RM199 per month is the most popular one as it comes with a free six-month Viu subscription and unifi PlayTV app access up to 5 devices. Besides that, all three unifi Home plan packages have the same features.

For existing customers, they can change to the new plan with an additional RM10 per month to the monthly charges. Unfortunately, Netflix is not available on this but at least there's iflix.

So what do you think of the unifi Home plan and Plus Box promotion? For more information, you can check out their official promotional page and FAQ here. Stay tuned for more unifi news at TechNave.com.


There's a realme 10 Ultra leaked specs poster and it's probably not real

At this moment, the realme 10 series will be making its appearance soon. Reports say that 9 November 2022 is the scheduled date but before that, a new leak showed a new poster talking about the realme 10 Ultra phone.

The poster didn't really reveal that much, but the realme 10 Ultra could feature the unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 200MP primary camera and a 2160Hz PWM Dimming function on the display. There's no front camera to be seen on the display as well. However, we are taking this with a huge grain of salt because it's just a fan-made poster.

There are a couple of other things to consider too. The Snapdragon Summit will be held on 15-17 November 2022 which would likely unveil the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, so that's not in line with the official launching date on 9 November 2022. There's no 200MP camera either, at least in commercial terms and the 2160Hz PWM Dimming has been reported as speculations only.

realme has also never released a phone with the "Ultra" monicker before. So if anything, the company should be releasing the realme 10 series with similar names such as the realme 10, realme 10 5G, realme 10i, realme 10 Pro 5G and realme 10 Pro+ 5G. Let's not forgot the GT brand is usually the flagship lineup.


There's a weird Nubia Red Magic 6 promo video hinting that the device could float?

It seems that a promo video regarding the Nubia Red Magic 6 seems to hint that the smartphone will come equipped with the 9-axis spatial positioning and floating movement feature. In other words, the device seems to have the capability to float by using the cooling system embedded in it.

However, do take every single bit of information showcased in the video with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Nubia has yet to provide an official statement regarding the feature. Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs regarding the Nubia Red Magic 6.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on the promo video? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


There's actually a Razer X Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch made specifically for gamers

Razer may have released a lot of gaming peripherals, but never did we imagine that they would do a smartwatch and even more so with Fossil. As a limited-edition smartwatch, the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch is apparently launching globally this month for $329 (~RM1382) in a limited quantity of just 1337 units (haha, I see what they did there).

In case you didn't know, the Gen 6 is the first smartwatch powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ Platform by Fossil. Compared with its predecessor, it has an overall 30% increased performance in speed, faster application load time and responsiveness. The wearable is also running on Wear OS by Google and even has a dedicated wellness initiative for gamers, Champions Start From Within.

The Razer X Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch features a 44mm black case, three exclusive watch faces, and elements of a Razer user interface. It will also include two custom-designed and interchangeable 22mm silicone straps in Razer’s iconic black and green. As a smartwatch, you can expect to see familiar features such as:

While it's not available in Malaysia, you can head over to www.fossil.com and www.razer.com to enquire about the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's an KFC Online Store on Lazada with ongoing promotions as low as RM5

Yes, you read that right. KFC Malaysia officially has an online store on Lazada. We aren't sure when did it officially appear but it looks quite recent. The Lazada platform is also very different from GrabFood and KFC's own app so let's take a look.

On Lazada, it seems that KFC didn't put on a lot of food choices. There's the classic dinner plate combo, signature box - classic, 2-PC Nasi Lemak KFC combo, cheesy wedges and 6 pieces of nuggets. One thing to also note is that all of the food sets must be self-collected and the promotion price is still ongoing until 30 June 2021.

If compared with KFC's on GrabFood and the company's app, the ones on Lazada are slightly cheaper even without promotion. However, it should be noted that after the promo price, the delivery will kick in and won't make that much of a difference. Going out for self-collection during the current circumstances is pretty risky too but do be careful.

What do you think of KFC hanging out on Lazada? And are there any other hidden fast-food restaurants around? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


5.5-inch Huawei Honor 3X and 5-inch Honor 3C officially announced

Filling out the Huawei Honor line is the recently announced Huawei Honor 3X and Honor 3C. Both smartphones are in the larger size range with a 720p 5.5-inch display for the Honor 3X and a 720p 5-inch display for the Honor 3C. However, one of the more notable tech specs for the Honor 3X is that it is using the 1.7GHz 8-core or octa-core MediaTek MT6592 chipset and processor. Other tech specs for the Honor 3X includes 2GB RAM, a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and a 3000 mAh battery. Another notable feature is that the Honor 3X has dual-SIM support with both miniSIM and microSIM slots.

The Honor 3C on the other hand packs ina 5-inch LPTS screen, 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 chipset and processor, 1GB/2GB RAM, 8GB storage + microSD, 8MP f/2.0 rear camera, 5MP front camera, Android 4.2 and dual SIM support. The Huawei Honor 3X is priced at 1700 Yuan (RM907) while the Huawei Honor 3C is going for just 800 yuan (RM426) for the 1GB RAM version and 1000 yuan (RM533) for the 2GB RAM version. No news about any official Malaysia release dates but we should see them soon, if not officially then at local sellers.[Source]


Apple could be working on an AirPods Pro... Lite?

With true wireless earphones continuing to trend, it seems that Apple will look to expand its AirPods range. In the latest piece of news, Apple is allegedly going to launch a new AirPods Pro Lite later this year. The company has enlisted the help of USI (Taiwan), Amkor (US), JCET (China), and Murata (Japan) to manufacture it.

According to Digitimes, the AirPods Pro Lite would be an entry-level model. That's weird because it would make more sense if it were named AirPods Lite in that case. In our opinion, if Apple really chooses to make a product with this name, it's more likely that the model will sit in between the standard AirPods and AirPods Pro. Regardless, the new model is expected to release around mid-2020, if things go as planned.

Of course, with the coronavirus outbreak still a global threat, it's possible that the production for the new AirPods Pro Lite could be delayed. With that said, would you prefer Apple's new true wireless earphone to be an entry-level model or something in between its two existing ones? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


There's an OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G House of the Dragon Limited Edition set and I want to get one now

We have seen a couple of cool special editions but we never thought that we would see a House of the Dragon Limited Edition set. This time, it's on the OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G and it looks super awesome. It's only available in India, though, but here is what the limited edition bundle comes with.

Inside the box, the phone comes with a special House Targaryen Phone cover in black with dragon scale-like leather and the gold Targaryen emblem too. There's even a dragon egg collectable as decor too, that is half the size of the Reno 8 Pro 5G.

Other than that, you also get a dragon SIM eject pin, dragon emblem phone holder, a Targaryen Sigil key chain as well as a Message to Commemorate that was written by King Viserys 1 Targaryen. The seal of approval is mainly about welcoming you into the House of Fire and Blood.

In terms of tech specs, the Reno 8 Pro 5G House of the Dragon Limited Edition is the same as the standard edition. Some highlighted features include an 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging technology for the 4500mAh battery pack, a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Max chipset + MariSilicon X Imaging NPU, a 120Hz 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and others.

What do you think of this limited edition set? And do you watch the House of the Dragon? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There's another OnePlus Nord Mystery Box giveaway for RM99 which includes the phone, earbuds, jackets & more

You probably have heard about OnePlus Nord Malaysia doing a Mystery Box before, well, they are back again with another round for the same RM99 price tag. This time around, there will be 450 mystery boxes that include OnePlus Nord phones, OnePlus Buds, and OnePlus Tyvek Jackets.

According to their official Facebook post, not all the boxes will include the products mentioned above (hence it's called a Mystery Box). Only two sets of OnePlus Nord phones will be randomly put inside the boxes, along with 10 sets of OnePlus Buds, as well as 15 sets of OnePlus Tyvek Jacket. For RM99, getting either one of these is quite worth it but then again, you have a low probability of 16% to win any of the OnePlus products.

You think the probabilities to win these prizes are too low? Nope, these are the highest probabilities among all other...

OnePlus Nord Malaysia also mentioned that if you didn't get any of the products, you will earn a OnePlus Nord T-shirt, Nord Determined Tote Bag, Nord Brave Bottle and Nord Waterproof Stickers + RM99 cash voucher. While that sounds pretty "meh", they also said the cash voucher is applicable for the OnePlus Shopee Official Store with no minimum spending. If you're ready to gamble, the Mystery Box will start at 12AM, 4 August tonight on their Shopee platform here. Good luck!


There's another iPhone SE 2022 upgrade that you might not know

This year's Apple iPhone SE doesn't only come with a more powerful processor, but it also brings an improvement that you might not know. Thanks to the enthusiasts from PBKreviews, it's found out that the device actually has a larger battery capacity than its predecessor.

After dismantling the iPhone SE 2022, the team discovered that it packs a 2,018mAh battery, which is 10% more than the 1,821mAh battery in iPhone SE 2020 offers. It's worth mentioning that the iPhone SE 2020 uses the same battery as the iPhone 8. With the slight increase, the iPhone SE 2022 is now able to last two more hours on a single charge.

Besides the battery's capacity, they also identified that the components would be harder to get replaced in the latest generation of the budget iPhone. It's said that Apple has stuffed the new iPhone SE with an incredible amount of screws, and there are also enough small elements. Furthermore, it is also impossible to use the iPhone SE 2020 components in the new iPhone SE, though they basically have the same design.

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


There's going to be a new Razer Edge 5G handheld gaming console unveiling soon

Today, we got some juicy news about another handheld gaming console device. It has been confirmed that US telco Verizon, Razer and Qualcomm are working together and hinted at a new Razer Edge 5G. According to the media, it is said to be the world's first 5G handheld gaming device.

The Razer Edge 5G is confirmed to feature a Snapdragon G3X Gen 1 Gaming Platform utilizing the 5G Ultra Wideband, a first of its kind by Qualcomm. They are also calling it an Android handheld gaming device that lets you play games locally, streamed from a console (most likely Xbox) or accessed directly from the cloud.

BREAKING: @Verizon, @Razer and @Qualcomm are teaming up on the world's first 5G mobile gaming handheld—Razer Edge 5G! It will allow you to play your favorite games regardless of whether you are gaming in the cloud, on an app or streaming from your console. https://t.co/TYPw5xFyeF pic.twitter.com/F9Vg3CfABl

They didn't give much information after that, but more will be unveiled at the upcoming RazerCon on 15 October 2022 which is not too far. We also got a glimpse of the gaming console which looks similar to the Steam Deck. It will come in black and features the usual left and right triggers on both sides.

What do you think about it? We think this could give the Steam Deck some serious competition but it remains to be seen. Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There was a surprise Nothing Phone (1) event and it shines brighter than we thought

The Nothing Phone (1) has finally been unveiled online and it looks quite sleek. However, a YouTuber from Germany just took a trip to check out the phone physically and it's even cooler than we thought. Just as what you see on the cover image, the Nothing Phone (1) does have some lighting.

While we can't understand a thing that Rafael Zeier said in his video, sources say that the Nothing brand just held an unannounced event on the device in Switzerland. No one was allowed to touch the phone, as it was sealed inside a glass for the media to check it out. The lighting appears to be surrounding the dual rear camera, the bottom and the top right of the Nothing Phone (1), and possibly the circular design in the middle just as previously teased during the announcement by Carl Pei.

From the looks of it, the lighting seems to come off randomly. Sources also suggest that incoming notifications and calls should also light up the phone. A closer look also shows us the Nothing brand hanging out on the bottom left, whereas the middle logo somewhat mimics the Apple logo. The exterior of the logo also suggests wireless charging.

But anyway, what do you think of the Nothing Phone (1) design? Let us know in the comments below and do stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There will be a DOTA anime series premiering in Netflix on 25 March 2021

That's right DOTA fans, this video game is getting a Netflix adaptation! Promptly titled DOTA: Dragon's Blood, it will be officially released on Netflix on 25 March 2021 and it was developed by Studio MIR hailing from South Korea.

There will a total of eight episodes altogether and the story will focus on well-known DOTA heroes. This includes Dragon Knight Davion and Moon Princess Mirana who are tasked with battling against the Scourge. If you know your game, the ancient dragon is also included and can be seen in the video trailer below.

Here's a little love from us, to you. Yes, you. You know who you are. pic.twitter.com/AGlnOi3NIf

If you're worried that the DOTA anime series might flop, we think you shouldn't worry much because it was entrusted and supported by Valve, the publisher of DOTA 2. Furthermore, Studio MIR is also known for their works on The Legend of Korra, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. DOTA 2 also has a super large fanbase of up to 11 million players on Steam alone.

Are you excited to watch DOTA: Dragon's Blood on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There will be a Huawei P60 Pro & Mate X3 hands-on experience soon in Malaysia

If you're interested to check out the new Huawei P60 Pro and Mate X3, you're in luck. Huawei Malaysia just announced that these two phones are coming to Malaysia and is offering fellow Malaysia a chance to have a hands-on experience.

To be one of the first to experience the Huawei P60 Pro and Mate X3, interested participants can just register their interest on the HUAWEI Official Website here. Huawei Malaysia will prepapre some exciting gifts upon successful registrations (T&C applies) and the two latest Huawei flagships can be viewed at 50 selected Huawei Experience Stores across the country.

To recap some of the highlighted features, the Huaweo P60 Pro is the world's first to use a multi-lens-group for low light photography with the telephoto lens. To complement it further, Huawei's trademarked RYYB, XD Fusion Pro and XMAGE camera software would produce the best image possible.

Also, the phone has a new modern design that's inspired by Rococo design, introducing the industry's first "Mother-of-Pearl" design. Huawei also integrated a 4815mAh silicon-carbon negative electrode battery that supports 88W wired Super-Fast Charge Turbo and 50W wireless charging technology.

You can read the full details of the Huawei P60 series and Mate X3 from our news coverage here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There will be a Nothing Exclusive combo box deal for Malaysians soon, with a starting price from RM2668

In just two more days, Nothing Malaysia will be releasing a new exclusive combo box for the Nothing fans and customers. From the 4th until the 13th of November 2022, there will be a special Nothing Phone (1) and Ear (stick) wireless earphones bundle, alongside a pair of quality scented candles.

Available only at Nothing Lazada Flagship Store and Nothing Shopee Mall, the special bundle is at a recommended retail price of RM2668. The starting price is when you get the Nothing Phone (1) 8GB + 256GB model, so if you want the bigger RAM unit (12GB + 256GB), that's RM2968. You may also choose the black or white Nothing Phone (1).

On the other hand, the Ear (stick) looks the same as the Nothing ear (1) but has a slight improvement. The wireless earphones feature a custom 12.6mm dynamic driver instead of an 11.6mm speaker driver for each side. With the charging case, the pair can last up to 29 hours of battery life.

For your reference, the Nothing Phone (1) costs RM2399 (8GB) or RM2699 (12GB), whereas the Ear (stick) is RM469. Getting the bundle saves you RM200 with a free pair of candle sticks so that's not a bad deal if this is what you're looking for. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There will be a Redmi Note 8 Pro World of WarCraft Limited Edition

The Redmi Note 8 series news are continuing to sprout out more now and in this latest one, we have learned that the company was rumoured to partner up with Blizzard for a World of WarCraft special edition and it turns out to be true!

In addition to Green and White Redmi Note 8 Pro model, the official Redmi account on Weibo has posted two new photos of the special retail boxes. Simply dubbed as the Redmi Note 8 Pro World of WarCraft Limited Edition, there will be two variants and there's barely anything that we know of except that it will coincide with the MMORPG's 15th anniversary. But like most special edition models, we can guess that this smartphone will have a WoW theme and wallpapers pre-installed within, along with a special WoW casing.

The Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro are set to launch on 29 August 2019 in China first, so we should be expecting the special edition there too. To recap, the Note 8 will be sporting a Snapdragon 665 chipset whereas the pro variant's one is a new MediaTek Helio G90T gaming-centric chipset, along with a 64MP main sensor as part of the camera module.

So what do you think of the Redmi Note 8 Pro World of WarCraft Limited Edition? Seems like they are serious about going on the gaming route for this one. Stay tuned for more Redmi news at TechNave.com.


There will be a drive-in cinema experience in KL soon and only 50 cars can enter

All image credit goes to vulcanpost.com and TwoSpicy Entertainment

Our local cinemas may have reopened to the public in this period, but there are still some rules and SOPs to follow in order to watch inside the hall, such as needing to sit apart from each other which is understandable. That said, what if I told you that there's another way for Malaysians to enjoy each other's company while watching a movie on the big screen?

As the title suggests, the MCO period probably inspired TwoSpicy Entertainment CEO, Arvin Randahwa about bringing back the old school idea of a drive-in cinema. Called as M-Junction Drive-In Cinema, it's said that the drive-in cinema experience will be held at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MATIC) and only 50 cars are allowed to enter. It should also be noted that only two people are allowed to be together in the car (due to the SOPs regulation), so that's too bad but a great idea for couples or bffs nonetheless.

If you're wondering about the movie-watching experience, TwoSpicy Entertainment is using a huge LED screen panel (measurement unknown) and the sound is transmitted through Bluetooth and WiFi. As for movie rights, they would need to apply for movie licenses for upcoming and newly released films but other than that, they will be showing classic and recent movie releases including local ones.

Can you book online or you can just drive-in? Well, the answer to that is both. According to vulcanpost.com, there will be two ticket tiers - the sponsors and higher ticket categories (RSVP) are for the front rows, whereas the rest is for the first-come-first-serve basis. Customers can also order snacks as well on the spot or have it included in the ticket package. Of course, temperature check is still necessary before going in.

When will it be ready? Well, sources say that it is "tentatively set for 20 July 2020" but we haven't heard much about it yet (also, it was raining heavily last night, must have affected the launch). But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple could be working on 'realityOS' for its upcoming VR/ AR headset

Apple might be preparing a new operating system for its rumoured virtual or augmented reality(VR/ AR) headset. Developers have spotted the name 'realityOS' roaming around some pre-release iOS 13 builds, GitHub repositories and App Store upload logs. No matter if it's for the company's upcoming VR/ AR headset, there must be something going on.

Back in 2017, Bloomberg first found it referenced as 'rOS'. The source also noted that it could be based on iOS. The new references to realityOS spotted by developers increase the possibility of the company working on it. Fellow developer Steve Troughton-Smith says that a GitHub repository referencing realityOS confirms it "has its own OS and binaries... and has a realityOS simulator." If you don't know about GitHub, it's actually a code hosting platform for version control and collaboration.

Not long ago, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the AR headset could arrive by the end of this year with "the same level of computing power" as an M1 Mac. The analyst also suggests that the headset will be a standalone device. Therefore, it's not surprising for it to have a dedicated operating system. However, don't expect the headset to arrive anytime soon as the company is reportedly facing challenges with overheating, cameras, and software.

Are you excited about seeing how the first Apple VR/ AR headset would look? Leave a comment to let us know how you feel, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


There will be a new vivo NEX coming in Q1 2022, and features the latest SD 898 chip

vivo has generously confirmed that there will be a new NEX device coming in the first quarter of 2022. The last vivo NEX, vivo NEX 3, was launched two years ago. Therefore, it's undoubtedly a piece of exciting news for those who've waited long. Today, the latest report has arrived by claiming that the device would feature the latest 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 too.

Other than the chip, it's also said that the next vivo NEX won't be 'NEX 4' but will be called 'NEX 5'. If you want to know why, it's because that '4' in Chinese is consonant with the word death. Besides the vivo NEX, there are also other multiple devices that could come with the chip, including its first foldable and the iQOO 9. However, since rumours are saying iQOO could become an independent brand next year, we might not be calling it a vivo smartphone by then.

Are you excited about what's to come next year? Leave a comment to let us know how you feel about all these upcoming vivo smartphones and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more smartphone rumours.


There will be flash sale for the realme watch, Band, Buds Air and Power Bank 2 starting from RM79

Today, realme Malaysia is proud to showcase their latest AIoT products for the Malaysia market. As we mentioned before, the AIoT products consist of a realme watch, realme Band, realme Buds Air Neo, and a 10,000mAh realme Power Bank 2. Not only that, but they have also added in the realme Buds Q and a 30W Dart Charge Power Bank (10,000mAh).

As we previously promoted the realme AIoT products in a special bundled box package, it turns out that there won't be any bundle promo for it but rather sold as a separate product. If you are interested in buying, the following price tag for each product RM299 for the realme watch, RM129 for the realme Band, Buds Q and the 10,000mAh Power Bank 2 each, and RM199 for the Buds Air Neo and 30W Dart Charge Power Bank (10,000mAh) each.

Or if you're patient enough, there will be a flash sale for each realme AIoT product on Shopee. The first flash sale will be the realme watch and the 10,000mAh Power Bank 2 on 12 June 2020 for RM249 and RM99 respectively. Then to the following week on 22nd and 23rd of June, the realme Band and Buds Air Neo will be just RM79 and RM149 respectively. As for the realme Buds Q and the 30W Dart Charge Power Bank (10,000mAh), these two products will only be available from July 2020 onwards.

So that's all about the latest realme AIoT products showcase, which one is your favourite? And are you disappointed that the realme Smart TV didn't make an appearance because we are (lol). Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more local trending tech news at TechNave.com.


There will be more colour options for the iPhone 13 this year?

Twitter user @Apple_Tomorrow recently posted a tweet showcasing a bunch of renders regarding Apple’s upcoming iPhone 13 series smartphones. The renders hint that the iPhone 13 will be available in two new colourways including Sunset Gold and Rose Gold.

Other than that, it doesn’t seem like the upcoming iPhone will have significant design changes compared to the iPhone 12. Do take every bit of information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Apple has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Introducing iPhone 13 Pro Max!With a new MASSIVE camera bump and 4 beautiful new colours! - Sunset Gold- Matte Black- Rosé- PearlWhat do you think?RT! pic.twitter.com/i1ZoAhOZi5

Not only that but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, exact tech specs and local pricing as well. With all that said, what are your thoughts on the new iPhone 13 colourway? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


These 2 Qualcomm chips could bring active noise-cancelling to budget Bluetooth earbuds

Thinking about buying a Bluetooth earphone with active noise cancelling? Hold on, it's best to sit on the idea for now because you might be able to buy one that's relatively cheaper soon. Qualcomm has announced two new Bluetooth audio chipsets that are meant for true wireless earphones (TWS) catered for those who want more affordable options.

According to Qualcomm, the QCC304X and QCC514X chipsets will use a new Qualcomm TrueWireless Mirroring technology. Essentially, only one earbud is connected to your device via Bluetooth while the other mirrors the connected earbud. In theory, this should help in reducing the power requirement, thus improving battery life. In the example given by Qualcomm, a TWS earbud with these two chips and a 65mAh battery will last up to 13 hours (ANC off). Pretty impressive!

In terms of features, both will come with the Hybrid Qualcomm Active Noise Cancellation (Hybrid ANC). This means that you can set it to also listen in to your surroundings, a useful feature if you are in places like an airport and need to hear the announcements. Besides that, the two chipsets will come with Voice Assistant, so it'll be able to work with services like Siri and Google Assistant.

Of course, there are currently no companies that are making earphones with these chipsets yet. But we're excited to see some affordable ones resulting from this. With that said, how often do you use active noise cancelling and is it an important feature for your daily life? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


These Apple iPhone X drop and durability test videos really prove you'll need a good case or skin to go with it

The Apple iPhone X offers Apple's answer to the 18:9 fullview display with their now signature notch, no more fingerprint sensor and Face ID. It is also, one of the first iPhones to have a back glass, which Apple currently offers on replacement for $549 (~RM2320). JerryRigEverything and SquareTrade both came out with durability and drop test videos strongly backing up the obvious need to buy a good case or skin with the iPhone X (which is expected in Malaysia in the coming months). Check them out for yourself below:


These BIG features could make the Huawei Y9s the perfect Christmas present for 2019

Christmas is just around the corner and you are looking for gifts. Maybe you want to get a new smartphone but have a tight budget and if that's the case, why not consider the Huawei Y9s? Whether it's for yourself or a loved one, the Huawei Y9s has a lot going for it - BIG ones.

The Huawei Y9s was launched just recently in Malaysia and it has a few compelling reasons why it could be the perfect Christmas present this year. Let's go over what those reasons are below.

The first thing you'll notice about the Y9s is the screen. It's a 6.59-inch IPS screen with a 1080 x 2340 resolution and nearly non-existent bezels. This means it has a great screen-to-body ratio, essentially stretching almost end-to-end at the front to give you a more immersive experience when watching those Christmas videos or playing games together. All the better to enjoy special Christmas programs or if you have to, your relative's vacation photos or videos.

Next up are the phone's front and back cameras, which are both amazing. The 48MP main camera at the back is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, enabling you to shoot truly impressive shots along with great group shots of the Christmas dinner. And if you're more into taking portrait shots, the 16MP pop-up front camera is more than capable of giving you very detailed selfies or even a wefie with friends and family. With the inclusion of the AI algorithm, your Christmas celebration photos will only look better. Also, the large 128GB storage capacity means you will be able to take a LOT of photos.

Christmas means lots of partying and possibly in places where you might not get to charge your phone. Having a large 4000 mAh battery on this phone means that you don't need to carry a power bank around to stay connected and contactable (won't want parents worrying!) With that much juice in the tank, you can be assured that your phone will still be usable long after you leave the party.

Does all of that sound good? What if we told you it's also easy on your wallet - a great value proposition commanding a price tag of a mere RM999? For those who want to buy a new phone but prefer not to spend big this Christmas, the Huawei Y9s could be the ideal gift and if you need something similar but not as high-end, then there's also the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 for RM799.

We hope this write up was useful for you to decide whether to buy this smartphone for Christmas. Interested? Then head over to the product page for more details or to make a purchase. You could also visit the closest Huawei Experience Stores in Malaysia to get a feel for the device yourself. Do let us know what you think of the phone and if you're planning to buy it on our Facebook page. For more news like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


These HiPods H2 wireless earbuds have “24 hours” music playback that cost ~RM112

During July, TECNO launched a pair of wireless earbuds, HiPods H2 in India. TWS earbuds are usually expensive, but the HiPods H2 comes with an affordable price of 1999 INR (~RM112).

The HiPods H2 weighs 55.8 grams and the body measurement is 58 x 58 x 29.6mm. Like most TWS earbuds, they also come with a compact and portable casing that is convenient to bring around. These earbuds support the latest Bluetooth 5.0, touch switch, IPX4 water resistance, noise-cancellation, and AAC (found on Apple Music).

This should suit the gym junkies because it is sweat resistant and it is very convenient to bring around. As for the battery life, the promotion claims that it has a “24 hours unstoppable music experience” but actually it is just up to 6 hours of music playback (marketing gimmick, lel). Besides that, they claim it can last up to 30 hours of stand-by mode from less than 2 hours charging.

In case you are wondering what is the pop-up connection, it is simply the same thing as the Apple Airpods when you connect with an iPhone. So in TECNO’s case, the pop-up connection is meant for TECNO phones which sounds like this is only for TECNO phones (duh). What do you think about the HiPods H2? Will you buy and try it if these are launched in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


These Huawei Mate 30 accessories include the Watch GT 2, FreeBuds 3 and more from ~RM829

Asides from the new Huawei Mate 30 series consisting of the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro, Huawei also unveiled a whole bunch of accessories. This includes the new Huawei Watch GT 2, Huawei Freebuds 3, Huawei Vision Screen and more. Check out all you need to know about these accessories below.

The Huawei Watch GT 2 is available in two different sizes, 42mm and 46mm. The 42mm version uses a 1.2-inch AMOLED display while the 46mm uses a 1.39-inch AMOLED display. They're the first Huawei smartwatches to utilize an all-in-one 3D glass-screen for a wider view of the touchscreen display.

Both utilize the new Kirin A1 chipset with an advanced Bluetooth processing unit, audio processing unit, ultra-low power application processor and dedicated power management unit. These combine with a Cortex-M7 processor and to offer up to 2 weeks of battery life on classic mode. With GPS tracking mode turned on, the 46mm variant can last up to 30 hours while the 42mm variant can reach 15 hours.

In addition, Huawei Watch GT 2 adds Bluetooth call and music playback function, which can connect with Huawei mobile phone up to 150m connection distance, the added phone book function which can save friends' contact information and facilitate user search.

The Watch GT 2 can monitor heart rate, sleep and record heart rate variability (HRV) to help relieve stress with their Huawei TruRelax technology. It can track 15 sports, including running, walking, climbing, hiking, trail running, cycling, open water, triathlon, walking, running, cycling, swimming pool, free training, elliptical machine and rowing machine.

It provides targeted pre-exercise data analysis for different sports, data recording analysis in sports and professional advice after exercise. The AI will then act like your personal coach, offering suggestions on what to improve. The pricing for the Huawei Watch GT2 is €249(around RM1154) for the 46mm version and €229(around RM1061) for the 42mm version.

The Huawei FreeBuds 3 true wireless Bluetooth stereo headset is also equipped with the latest Kirin A1 chipset and supports Bluetooth 5.1. The Huawei FreeBuds features a semi-open bionic design that provides users with a comfortable and secure fit.

Using a round design that is available in black and white the Huawei FreeBuds 3 is the first true wireless headset that supports active noise reduction, effectively eliminating ambient noise. It also supports bone noise call noise reduction, which makes the other party hear more clearly.

The Huawei FreeBuds 3 use a 14mm high-sensitivity moving coil unit with a bass tube design and a delay of up to 190nm for a better experience when playing games. In terms of battery life, the Huawei FreeBuds 3 has 4 hours of battery life, with a 20-hour battery life fast charge. The pricing for it is €179 (around RM829).

The Huawei Vision Screen is equipped with a lifting AI camera like the HONOR smart screen, allowing users to use the camera for self-portraits, video calls and more. The AI camera will automatically lower and return to its original position after you turn off the device. Also, Huawei's smart screen is equipped with Huawei Sound smart 8+1+1 inteligent sound system.

At the same time, the Huawei smart screen supports the Huawei Share function. This means that the image, file and video content on your Huawei phone can be projected onto the smart screen by simply touching the NFC tag. No news on Malaysia release dates or pricing details for this 4K smart tv, but it would be nice if it came in for an affordable price tag.

Huawei also revealed some third-party devices like the OSMO Mobile 3 Gimbal and a portable studio lamp as part of their Huawei Camera Kit. Perhaps Huawei will bring them in as combo gifts when the Mate 30 series arrives in Malaysia.

As of now, there are no official information in regards to the Malaysia release date as well as local pricing for any of the devices mentioned. Would you be interested in owning the Huawei Watch GT2? What about the FreeBuds 3 or Huawei Vision Screen? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


These are the 5 common mistakes that people do when buying a smartphone

At the end of 2020, most smartphone brands would throw a Christmas and year-end sale on their smartphones that were released this year. "Which phone should I get?", "What is the discount now?", "Should I wait until a new model comes?", so many questions, but many buyers aren't exactly careful when choosing a new phone.

In this article, we will be talking about the 5 common mistakes that customers frequently do when buying a phone. Before we start, we would like to have a disclaimer that the list is based on our opinion and it may be subjective. Therefore, it may not be the same for everyone including you (maybe you like upgrading your phone every year, and that's just fine). Now that we've got that out of the way, let's begin!

"Aren't all phones the same?" you ask and well, yes and no. Granted, if you were to compare all the flagships - they are more or less the same. But just like there are different kinds of music, there are also different kinds of phones. There are gaming-centric phones, entry-level phone, phones that focus on photography and more.

Gaming phones are perfect for hardcore mobile gamers

So if you happen to play mobile games a lot, then a gaming-centric (or flagship-level) phone is obviously the way to go for the best experience. We get this question a lot in our inbox, about if an entry-level phone is good for mobile gaming and the obvious answer is usually no most of the time, I mean, you can still play with them but just don't put any high expectations.

As long as you know what kind of phone you need, you would usually have an easier time to process the kind of phone model you need to look for. As I often write in a few of my reviews - you get what you pay.

Closely related to the first point, tech specs and features are one of the most important factors before buying a phone. However, we also have to keep in mind that not everyone needs a flagship-level device. A good example of this is like when there's a new iPhone model - you're not forced to get the latest one.

Just as everyone is given a choice, you're also not forced to get a phone with the highest refresh rate displays, a high megapixel camera sensor and so on. There's nothing wrong if you DO want one, but don't get too obsessed by chasing the latest trend and not utilizing it fully in the end. This is the same as getting a high-end gaming PC but not playing any video games on it at all.

Speaking of flagship-level smartphones, it's crazy to think that a few of them have a much higher RAM and storage capacity than most laptops. It's always good to have some extra space but there's just one problem - how much space (and speed) do you actually need?

To answer that, you can always go into your phone's settings and check out how much space you are using. Personally, I'm using a 256GB iPhone 11 model and its storage is not even filled halfway, and I believe many people are in the same boat as I am. Likewise, people who don't play mobile games or do any productivity work don't exactly need 16GB of RAM either.

Phone prices are often based on memory capacity, so don't fall into the trap of getting a low storage device because it's more affordable, get the one that fits your lifestyle. On that note, you should also learn how to save your files online (Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox and others) because it's pretty much the future and we are on the way to that path.

Besides the memory capacity, this can be applied to phone sizes. After all, it's also important to be comfortable in bringing your phone around. I don't think I need to remind you of the times when you had trouble putting a 6.7-inch phone into your pocket or having your thumbs being sore from typing on it. Get a phone size that is just right for you!

This one is tricky, as this is because brands often do a surprise discount announcement or hold off a higher memory variant to a later date. When a price is too good to pass by, we understand that reckless or impulse purchases happen spontaneously but it's still important to compare prices with other stores (online and offline).

For example, you might probably have noticed that some unethical stores would actually put fake price tags on a product. I once saw an Android phone having a massive discount, only to realize that its "original" price was a fake on Shopee. Taking that into account, you should also be careful of the store or distributor's reputation.

On top of that, many stores tend to offer different gifts as well. Malaysian brands are excellent at that but sometimes it's best to consider first before making a purchase. Another instance, a brand once offered a new smartphone + wireless earbuds bundle which meant consumers were forced to get the latter as well. At that time, they weren't selling the new phone as a standalone and that was not a good offer.

Have you ever bought a phone only to discover some faulty technical issues? You're not alone. In this modern age, there are many ways to get information and asking a salesperson in a store about a phone is less reliable (because they will still try to convince you to buy it). Moreover, many consumers tend to search for online reviews nowadays.

However, we also understand that online reviews are not that easy to refer to as well. After all, paid reviews do exists so this is where being a smart consumer becomes important. You shouldn't just rely on one review when you can refer to many as possible and then follow your favourite reviewer who is both fair and unbiased.

(psst, you can follow us on our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter page for the latest tech news and reviews)

Like most tech reviewers like us, we tend to tell you the highlighted tech specs and features of a certain device. We also just recently published our favourite and recommended devices of 2020 that we reviewed (and bought), so you can check that out too while you're at it. You can read comments from our readers on our Facebook page on their thoughts as well.

Well, that's our take on the 5 common mistakes that people often do when buying a smartphone. As aforementioned, these are just our personal views so some of them may not apply to you. But hey, most of us want to make the best of our devices in the long run, so share this with your friends and family!

One last thing, you can always use our comparison tool on our website to help you compare the tech specs and find the best-priced phones. Thanks for reading and happy shopping, stay tuned for more tech opinions like this at TechNave.com.


These are the Samsung Galaxy Note20 features that we like so far

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 series is currently on pre-order now until 20 August 2020 and if you're wondering about its features, we got you covered. It's been barely a week since the debut but we certainly have been exploring the phone. From new S Pen features, to upgraded apps and more, here are the Samsung Galaxy Note20 features that we like so far!

When the Galaxy Note 9 was released, it was the first time that Samsung integrated a Bluetooth connectivity feature to perform certain tasks such as taking a photo and doing a slideshow. For the latest S Pen, you can now literally use the stylus like a wand for certain functions.

From the air actions settings, there are five new motions for the S Pen. If you want to take a quick screenshot, you can do a zigzag motion for this. To go back, wave the stylus to the left then right, or up and down to return to the home menu. If you want the air actions to do something else, you can set them to do other tasks like opening a mobile app. Nice.

Additionally, Samsung has claimed that its Samsung Notes app is better than ever. It's now able to link and sync to the Microsoft OneNote and Outlook on your PC, which means that you can multitask seamlessly on-the-go even after leaving your PC. Furthermore, whatever you edit on your phone will be automatically saved and synced to the cloud.

This new upgrade for the OneNote (web and Windows 10) and Outlook (web) will be available in November later this year. By the way, it's worth mentioning that there's a new Audio Bookmark feature too. You can use this to record sounds while taking down notes! If you think about it, this feature can be really useful for doing live interviews or meetings.

Samsung DeX has been around for a long time and it allows users to connect up to a monitor to do their work. This time around, you can even connect your Galaxy Note20 series to a TV (preferably a Samsung TV, of course) wirelessly! With this, you can now watch your videos or photos on the big screen and control it from your phone via the DeX UI.

While it's no secret that Samsung Galaxy flagship devices can record up to 8K resolution, Samsung took this a step further by implementing Pro Grade Video mode. Not only can you now take control of the ISO, shutter speed, FPS, and other options while recording, but the audio recording is even better than before by allowing you to focus the audio from the front or back. You can also make it focus on ambient sound or a connected Bluetooth mic.

Finally, one of the more interesting new features on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G is the ability to access Xbox Game Pass. This is quite a big deal as it allows you to stream AND play over 100 Xbox games! However, we were told that this feature won't be available in Malaysia so that's why it's an honourable mention. Pity.

If you're interested, you can head over to the Samsung online store to pre-order the phone (more information here). You even get to receive a free Galaxy Buds Live or Galaxy Buds+ wireless earphones, depending on which Galaxy Note20 model you buy. In addition, you can also get a complimentary UV Sterilizer (worth RM299) and Wireless Charger (worth RM209) with either the Galaxy Note20 4G, Galaxy Note20 5G or Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G.

So these are the Samsung Galaxy Note20 features that we like so far, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech reviews at TechNave.com.


Apple could bring Face ID to MacBooks and iMac PCs in the future

Countries around the world might be going into restrictions, but the march of technology continues. Recently, new patent filings from Apple were found, detailing the possible implementation of the Face ID technology for devices other than the iPhone. Just like how Microsoft uses Windows Hello with Windows PCs, Apple will be using Face ID for its computers.

According to AppleInsider, Apple's Face ID authentification system will likely be heading to a MacBook computer first. The patent was labelled as "Light recognition module for determining a user of a computing device", which is rather telling of what it's supposed to do. With the implementation of Face ID on a MacBook, Apple could start to consider releasing a high-end business model that's packed with security features.

Besides the implementation on a MacBook, the patent also has two images showing an iMac computer with a notch on top. The notch is believed to house a camera that will be used along with Face ID, allowing the desktop PC to also be equipped with the security feature. Of course, patents drawings don't necessarily mean a product based on it will be coming. Even if there is, it might not be a product that's launched in 2020.

Having said that, would you appreciate having Face ID on a MacBook or iMac PC? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


These are the best (and worst) video games that we played while staying at home recently

By now, most of the industries and businesses in Malaysia have reopened after the Movement Control Order period. Most of us are also already back to our offices, but it is still far from over as we still have to practice social distancing. That said, most of us also miss working from home because we suddenly had ample time doing the things that we always wanted to do - like catching up on hobbies, learning cooking, and gaming.

As young working adults, playing video games is not something that we can do on-the-go most of the time due to other activities. So in honour of Video Games Day (Google it), we decided to look back at the video games that we finally managed to play throughout the past few months. From old ones to recently released, here are the best (and worst) games that we have played while staying at home recently.

After the release of DOOM Eternal, I actually didn't buy the game immediately because it cost RM237 (#walletpain). Newly released video games in Malaysia are super expensive and what's more, it was during the MCO period which wasn't a good idea. But because I had to review the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, I couldn't just play an old game to test the performance. So it was only logical that I bought it on Steam.

I enjoyed DOOM (2016) a lot so I was looking forward to this sequel and boy, did it deliver. Awesome industrial metal soundtracks (checked), being a badass (checked), rip and tear (checked), these are all the points that make DOOM Eternal such a great and fun game to play. Also instead of just running around frantically killing demons, there are some new mechanics and abilities that require skills to kick ass which also means you can have your own playstyle. Best video game purchase ever!

Worst game - Dragon Age: Inquisition (PC version)

A rather mixed review for the PC platform

Before you start attacking me, hear me out first. Of course, Dragon Age: Inquisition is no doubt one of the best RPG games in this decade. I really loved Dragon Age: Origins so I looking forward to this third entry when the game was on a discount sale on Origins platform. But there was just one big problem.

As you may know, the Dragon Age franchise is under Electronic Arts and the company is notoriously known for releasing badly made video games. For some reason, if you have an anti-virus program running in the background, there's a good chance that the game will close itself when you try to launch it. Even after disabling that, the user interface on the PC version is absolutely horrendous so it was an awful experience, especially during battle scenes. EA could have easily fixed this with a patch and they are actually aware of this but up until now, NOTHING. Keep in mind that PC players have been encountering this issue 5 years ago. Fabulous job, EA.

Honourable Mention: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition

Since I couldn't play Dragon Age: Inquisition properly, I decided to try out The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This video game was sleeping in my Steam library for two months ever since the Chinese New Year special sale which I got for RM30+ and that's a super sweet deal. Keep in mind that this is the Game of the Year Edition which includes Hearts of Stone alongside the Blood and Wine DLC expansion packs.

Take your time and explore, The Witcher ain't going anywhere

Playing The Witcher 3 was really fun because of how big the world is. You can easily get distracted from doing the main mission and do side quests instead, collecting gear, earning money, and many more. Playability is an A+ here, but it takes up a lot of your time and up until now, I haven't completed playing the Blood and Wine expansion. Well, the purchase was worth it.

Best game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition

The number of quests in The Witcher 3 is crazy and fun to do. I also got sidetracked for doing side quests because that's one of the best parts of the game and most of them aren't repetitive like other RPG games. Also, since I read The Witcher novels, playing the game feels like a "virtual reality novel" so that's all I have to say about that. Period.

It sounds ironic since I write news about smartphones almost daily, but I have grown out of playing mobile games. Sure, they are free to play but nowadays there are a lot of intrusive advertisements. If you accidentally tap on the ad banner, it brings you to either a Lazada or Shopee app and that made me not want to play any mobile games anymore. Also, mobile games quality are inferior. (lol, #PCMasterRace).

While it’s not exactly a video game, I still enjoy it as an interactive chatting software. If you don't know what is VRChat, imagine it as an online FPS game but without guns and a total of 16 players from all over the world (represented with all kinds of avatars) gathered in a room (of various themes) to chat with one another using their microphones.

Of course, this game is recommended to have VR equipment for the best experience but using the keyboard+mouse is fine. I can chat with various people from every corner of the world, which I find fascinating in this game. Plus, I started to learn the Japanese language during the early MCO period and I can now speak fairly well with random Japanese I meet in VRChat.

Worst Game - Operation Flashpoint: Red River

OFRR is a military-simulator FPS that isn’t exactly as famous as ARMA and for a good reason - the video game sucks. It’s very buggy and the controls aren’t exactly intuitive, but perhaps the worst part of the game is your AI teammates. In a game where teamwork is absolutely crucial in executing your plans and flanking your enemies, your AI teammates can’t even tell the difference from left to right.

To be fair, AI teammates in mil-sims have always sucked. So if you really want to play this game, you really need friends. But then again, not many gamers even play this game...so yeah.

Honourable mentions: Mad Max, Watch Dogs, and Euro Truck Simulator 2

Without beating around the bush too much, I also played Mad Max, Watch Dogs, and Euro Truck Simulator 2. Open-world games are my favourite video game genre!

Not Keegan playing but here's a glimpse of Fall Guys gameplay

I played a lot of games during MCO but the one that I had the most fun with is Fall Guys. This video game was released before the lockdown but it became popular only now thanks to video game streamers, but I digress. Anyway, Fall Guys is not graphically intensive so it can easily run on most computers. You can team up with your friends as well as up to 4 players in a party. It's also very easy to pick up and play even by those who have no prior gaming experience.

As for bad games that I've played, this goes to Green Hell which is a survival video game. There are numerous game-breaking bugs such as save files not being saved properly, certain NPCs not visible to some players and other under-optimized gameplay features. Even the inventory can be confusing at times and after I was done with the game, I never bothered replaying it again.

If you've never heard of Among Us, it's a pretty fun party game with up to 10 players. The objective of the game is to find the betrayer among your friends in a spaceship so in a way, it's similar to the Mafia or Werewolf card game. This video game is also cross-platform meaning that you can play with your friends from PC, iOS and Android!

However, joining your friend's lobby can be a little buggy at times. There are limited maps for now so it can get a bit boring by playing the same map. Moreover, you might develop trust issues with your friends.

FFVII is no stranger to most gamers and even for those who won't play the game, they would surely know the name. After waiting for years and getting my hands on it, I was taken by surprise that this remake version is refreshed with new gameplay mechanics and of course, the graphics are gorgeous. Despite the new elements, playing the remake made me feel nostalgic of my first FFVII game.

As part 1 of the whole remake version, the storyline was pretty straightforward with some minor changes but overall, the plot is still interesting. The side quests are easy and they don't jeopardize the main storyline so that's good. Most importantly, I get to see Tifa my waifu in glorious HD <3

In some ways, Raft is quite similar to Minecraft as it's a game that allows you to collect ingredients and build stuff. It was quite fun at first during MCO, where I and my friends get to work together in Raft but the game got pretty boring because of the repetitive daily tasks. So in a way, it doesn't have that many things to do if compared to Minecraft.

It's fun at first but I got bored after a few rounds

Multiplayer works fine with your friends but as mentioned, the gameplay gets stale after a few days of playing. It's also weird that you need quite a high graphics specs to play this video game that doesn't need a lot of graphics power. Oh well, maybe it's just not the type of game for me.

So yes, I'm a big LoL fan and I've been playing it for years and it's the only game that I still play in my free time. I don't think I need to explain why this game is fun, the wide variety of heroes, the dynamic gameplay, and the excitement of coming back from behind and winning the game. In general, I like playing MOBA games (but not on mobile lol).

Putting the 2018 LoL World Championship opening ceremony here because it's still awesome

Worst game - League of Legends (again haha)

Meanwhile, LoL can also be a stressful game to play. As most MOBA fans know, there is a high amount of toxic gamers in the game calling awful names which can be morally depressing. This is the bad part of LoL that I'm used to over the years, but I wish the community isn't like that.

I play a lot of video games in my spare time but the one that I love the most is Minecraft. I play it, I watch YouTube videos about it, I just love it. I think I spend too much time on Minecraft even though there are other good games too, but I just like building things from my imagination and no other games can come close to it. It's that simple.

When I told my colleague (the one writing this) about Minecraft Earth, he actually forgot that this mobile game version existed and this can tell you how bad the game is. I mean, even speaking as a Minecraft fan, I don't find the mobile game that fun because playing on the PC is way better. I still gave it some chance during MCO but nah, it's just an inferior version.

Asking us to play Minecraft mobile doesn't make sense too after being on the PC for several years

The best game I experienced in 2020 was Ghost of Tsushima. I’ve always been a big fan of Japanese mythology and lore and the game was able to articulate that perfectly in the game. Mixing elements of history as well as Japanese folklore, the game reminded me of how I loved that particular era in Japan when it came to video games.

As a person who never had an interest in open-world games, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed GoT. Each sidequest was unique with an interesting story. It was a fresh breath of air among other open-world games that would repeatedly send players to do fetch quests in a non-interesting way. I also loved how the game showed us that sometimes, tradition and honour are meant to be bent and broken to achieve a goal.

Worst game - Kingdom Hearts III DLC: Re Mind

As a huge Kingdom Hearts fan who has been following the game since my teens, I was already pretty unhappy with the base game. The game started great and just simply fell off, I was hoping that Re Mind would be a continuation of the game, shedding light on what happened to Kairi which it did but in a way that re-used the content from the base game. That left a very sour taste in my mouth as I did have to shell out around RM100+ for the game.

Editor's note: I've never played the game but The Frozen chapter arc is known to be one of the worst gaming level designs ever

While the re-used content wasn’t great, I held hope for the game to at least get better. Alas, woe is me, the game did not. The story content was short and the promised Final Fantasy characters are shown in the trailer (which many of us sorely wanted to see in the game as they were not shown in the base game at all) were simply there for looks and without function. Technically, most of the DLC players had paid for are the optional hard mode boss fights in order to fight the secret boss.

I mean, let’s be real: WHO WOULD PAY OVER RM100 FOR OPTIONAL BOSS FIGHTS THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS FINAL MIX VERSION OF THE PREVIOUS KINGDOM HEARTS TITLES?

The fact that this was not highlighted in the trailer at all to let players know what they paid for has left me doubtful of wanting to continue playing the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

So that was all the best and worst games that we played while staying at home over the past few months. Did any of your favourite games make it to our list? And which game did you spend the most time on back then? Let us know in the comments below and thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more tech articles at TechNave.com.


These are the smartphone series that never came to Malaysia (officially)

If you were to ask me, choosing a smartphone is not an easy task in our current era. Unlike a decade ago where there just a few noteworthy brands to choose from, there are a "berzillion" smartphone brands right now fighting for our attention (and money) and the competition is indeed fierce.

Despite the competitiveness in the smartphone industry, there are actually some brands who choose to skip Malaysia as a potential market. We decided to gather up a list of companies and these are the smartphone series that never came to Malaysia (lol). To make the criteria clear, imported versions do not count so it must have an official smartphone launch just like how Samsung Malaysia, Huawei Malaysia and others do it. You get the idea, here we go!

Obviously, the Google Pixel series is probably the first thing that comes into your mind. Since the company's first smartphone debut in 2016, it's unfortunate that Malaysia was and still is not part of their marketing scope. And every time we release news about their phone launches, we and the rest of the smartphone enthusiasts would lament over the fact that the devices are very unlikely to set their foot here.

The Google Pixel 4a is available in Singapore but not Malaysia, sigh

Sure, you can grab an imported version from overseas. But you can't find any official local pricing even from Google Malaysia here. The warranty from local retailers would probably be without any official assistance from Google as well. So yeah.

Here's a pop quiz - when did vivo introduce their sub-brand iQOO and how many phones do they have? A quick Google search would let you know that the iQOO 5 series is the latest one, but you would also be surprised to know that iQOO was only introduced in early 2019. SAY WHAT NOW?!

Look at all these iQOO phones that are "coming soon" LOL

That's right, with the advent of gaming smartphones at that time, it was inevitable that vivo joined the competition but for some odd reasons they never export the brand out of China. In just under 2 years, there are already 13 iQOO smartphone models (according to our database) and we aren't quite sure why they don't expand the brand. Too early? Or perhaps no interest? Oh well.

So here's a funny story - back in 2013, LG actually announced that they would be moving away from smartphones but here we are many years later, watching the company releasing a unique dual-screen smartphone just recently as well as the LG Velvet as a mid-range phone with a cool "raindrop" rear camera design. Just not in Malaysia.

Despite having a brand presence in Malaysia for 20 years selling TVs, refrigerators and other home appliances, they just stopped being active in marketing their smartphone models for the Malaysian market for some reason several years ago. We even asked them about that recently from their latest NanoCell 8K TV showcase and all we got was the political answer "We are looking into that".

In case you didn't know, the Nubia brand was actually started by ZTE many years ago. Now officially as an independent brand, Nubia Malaysia actually had a fair share of success for releasing affordable entry-level smartphones for the masses. However, that was 3 years ago and they have been quite silent since then.

After the ASUS ROG Phone hype in 2018, Nubia then released their trademark Red Magic as affordable gaming-centric smartphones. The series has great specs tagged with a great price around of just RM2K but there's just one problem, the brand focuses more on the Chinese market. Granted, you can find some Nubia Red Magic phones at some local retailers but none of them are really official.

While it's common to see newer entry-level phones with huge battery packs up to 6000mAh, but the ones we are talking about are the phones with huge battery capacities up to 10,000mAh. The two most notable brands that specialize in that are none other than Oukitel and Gionee, with the latter releasing the Gionee M30 for ~RM844 whereas the Oukitel WP6 is RM~RM1261 back in May 2020.

The Oukitel WP6 (left) and Gionee M30 (right)

A bit of a history lesson - Oukitel actually did make their first brand debut in Malaysia back in 2017 with phones under RM1K. Back then, their smartphones' batteries were up to 6000mAh which were uncommon although the other tech specs left much to be desired. After their debut, we have never heard from them again and it's probably due to poor response from the public.

Before we end this article, it's worth mentioning Motorola and the ASUS ZenFone 6 series here as well. Starting with Motorola, the Malaysia branch is practically gone in Malaysia which is unfortunate because the company did well in the mid-range market segment. It has been two years now since then, and it's too bad that we probably won't be able to check out any of the upcoming Motorola phones.

The last Motorola and ASUS phones (Moto G5S on the left and ZenFone 5 on the right) that we reviewed back in 2018

As for ASUS Malaysia, they are focusing more on the laptop and gaming market as opposed to the ZenFone series. Right after the ASUS ZenFone 5, the ZenFone 6 didn't make it to the Malaysian market and we won't be surprised if the ZenFone 7 series get cut from the list too. They shall be sorely missed.

Just some tips to our readers there, if you are buying an imported set - you will need to check if the phone is using a global ROM or China ROM. If it's the latter, no worries as you can still install Google Mobile Services via APK installation. That's not all, you also need to check if the bandwidth support is accesible in Malaysia or not, it would suck if none of our local telcos are supporting the phone. Last but not least, make sure that you get the product from a trusted seller that offers a reliable warranty. You can use our TechNave app to search, compare and buy phones at a legit store nearby you.

So that's our list of smartphone series that never came to Malaysia. Do you agree with us? Did we miss out anything else? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more cool tech articles at TechNave.com.


These are the top 5 things we like about the Acer Swift 5

If my memory serves me, I have been using the Acer Swift 3 for work about two years now. Which model version, you ask? It's the 2019 model and if you know Acer's naming scheme habits, they haven't changed any of their laptop lineup names for a few years. This includes the latest Swift 5 (2020) which we are going to talk about today.

As the title suggests, this is a first impression article on what we think about the Swift 5. Although we have used it for a short period of time previously, there are a few things that left a good impression on us. Without further ado, here are 5 things we like about the Acer Swift 5.

It's so light that I can hold the laptop with just my fingers seamlessly

Weighing at just 1kg, the Swift 5 actually feels lighter to carry if compared with my old Swift 3. It's common for tech journalists like myself to visit phone launches or other outdoor events with our laptops so that's a bonus. However, with the on-going pandemic, it's going to take a long time for us to get back into action but it's just as important to have an easily portable laptop like this if you're working from home, especially if you tend to transition from the desk, to the sofa and so forth.

Besides being just light, the body build material is quite solid as it is made from high-grade magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminium alloys. My colleagues are also digging the Mist Green variant design. The design may look the same as the predecessor but as the saying goes - if it's not broken, don't fix it.

Ever since the pandemic started, I've also set up my workstation at home to work efficiently. I usually hook up my laptop to a monitor so that I have two screens for multitasking. But with the Swift 5 laptop, Acer has integrated a touchscreen display that allows me to multitask even further! Imagine zooming in at a picture on the screen and to be honest when compared with a mouse, the touchscreen is way faster.

The 14-inch IPS screen also delivers Full HD resolution with a 100% sRGB colour gamut, which is great for people who need accurate colour grading (designers, photo editors, video editors, etc). The screen-to-body ratio is just 90% but the bezels are narrow enough for my liking. However, if you're not the type that likes touching the screen because of the fingerprint smudges and dirtying it...

...Then you don't need to worry about that because this Swift 5 laptop features an Antimicrobial Corning® Gorilla® Glass. What this means is that the screen is resistant to bacteria that comes from your fingertips (hey, it's inevitable) thanks to the BPR and EPA-compliant silver-ion coating. Besides your screen, Acer also integrated the antimicrobial coating on the chassis, keyboard, hinge, fingerprint reader and even the rubber feet below. Talk about taking hygiene to the next level (lol) but seriously this is especially awesome in today's current pandemic.

The Antimicrobial coating is all over this laptop

Moving into the tech specs, I was also surprised to know that this Swift 5 is equipped with 16GB of RAM. That's not something you see every day on a lightweight laptop and it's more than enough to get most of my work going. Moreover, it's also good enough to render videos and writing some news report at the same time without slowing the laptop down.

Last but not least, the Swift 5 uses the latest Intel® Evo™ Platform Certified and it is powered by the Core i7 processor. That's the latest 11th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors and it's accompanied by Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics and up to 512GB PCIe SSD storage. With the 16GB of RAM on board, it's surely able to keep your workflow going and you don't need to worry about the laptop heating up as well - as Acer have a pair of heat pipes inside to keep things cool.

The specs and Intel® Evo™ Platform label

So these are a couple of things that I like about the Swift 5 so far. Compared with my current Swift 3 laptop, I would say that the former is a pretty big improvement especially for the Antimicrobial display which is also a touchscreen with Corning® Gorilla® Glass. In terms of price tags, the 8GB variant is RM3999 whereas the 16GB variant is RM4999.

If you are keen to know more about the Acer Swift 5 (model SF514-55TA), you may head over to Acer Malaysia's website here to check it out. But what do you folks think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech opinion articles like this only at TechNave.com.