Samsung Galaxy Note 4 first looks

Launching in Malaysia today, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the latest S pen stylus based phablet in Samsung's pioneering phablet range. Thanks to Samsung Malaysia we managed to get some time with the Galaxy Note 4 which you can see in the images below. New features include a premium metal frame, a simplified multi window, photo note and much more. In addition, a product demo of the Galaxy Note 4 is also included but do check out the tech specs and features below:

The metal frame really adds a bit more premium feel to the Galaxy Note 4

No more ugly stitches but same comfortable artificial leather backside

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 product demo and highlighted features


Android 12 update is turning Xiaomi devices into bricks

A few days ago, Google had officially announced Android 12 by uploading its source code to Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Not long after, Chinese smartphone brand, Xiaomi, was quick to kick start its beta program for the Mi 11, Mi 11 Pro, and Mi 11 Ultra. However, the bad news is, the early build of the operating system update seems to be turning the devices into bricks.

According to the source, after installing updates with assembly numbers "V12.5.1.0.SKBMIXM", "V12.5.1.0.SKKMIXM" and "V12.5.1.0.SKAMIXM" on the mentioned devices, they have somehow broken down. The only way to revive them is by contacting the service centre. To clear it up, the company has actually warned the testers about the risk from an early update that is full of bugs and errors.

It's still unsure if all the Mi 11 devices face the same issues or just a few. Furthermore, we also somehow need to thank the first batch of testers for sacrificing their devices for the rest of us to get the best experience out of Android 12. We believe that Xiaomi will fix that soon and we look forward to its twist on the upcoming operating system update!

Drop a comment to let us know your opinion on this news and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the most updated tech report.


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 hands-on video

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 offers some of the latest and greatest features and tech specs for nearly every smartphone in the world at this point of time. Fortunately, we managed to get some hands-on time with it and take it's S Pen stylus driven features for a spin. Thankfully, we weren't disappointed as the new metal frame offers a premiumly solid feel that we haven't felt in a Samsung smartphone in a long time. For an idea as to what the Galaxy Note 4 could offer you, check out our hands-on video below:


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launched for consumers in Malaysia

The first five owners of the Samsung GALAXY Note 4 (from left to right) Chong Yan Jie, Shaharensha bin Said Muhamed, Colin Chew, Sun Koh, and Vince Song, who also received complimentary Gear S and Gear Circle, posing for a photo with Mr Lee Dong Yong, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is now officially available for everyone in Malaysia with the recent consumer launch last Friday on 17 October 2014. The launch saw 500 lucky Samsung Galaxy Note 4 buyers walking away with a complimentary Gear Circle necklet-cum-Bluetooth headphones. A three day roadshow was also held with various activities and giveaways at various locations including the Blue Concourse, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall. Samsung Malaysia and it's partners of Celcom, DiGi, Harvey Norman and Maxis provided booths for users but here is what Samsung had to say about it:

"Our three-day roadshows is just one of the ways to introduce a new experience through our latest device – the GALAXY Note 4 via the activities that we have planned. This way, our consumers can aptly correlate our product with their lifestyle that will simplify their day-to-day tasks." Lee Dong Yong, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics

Throngs of Samsung Note fans flocked to the Blue Concourse of Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall to discover and purchase the GALAXY Note 4.

The Samsung GALAXY Note 4 comes in Charcoal Black and Frost White, and is available for purchase at all Samsung Experience Store and Samsung authorised retailers from today onwards, for RM2,499. Completing the GALAXY Note 4 ecosystem are the Gear S and Gear Circle, which retails for RM1,099 and RM299 respectively.

The three-day roadshow at Blue Concourse, Sunway Pyramid featured a series of activities that enabled consumers to get to know the features and functions of the Samsung GALAYXY Note 4.


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launched in Malaysia at RM2499

Lee Dong Yong, President, Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn. Bhd. announcing the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Gear S and Samsung Gear Circle

The much-awaited Samsung Galaxy Note 4 finally makes it's way to Malaysia in a launch here today. The phablet will retail at RM2499 and be available from 17 October 2014. It will be on demo at various roadshows from 17 October 2014 to 19 October 2014 at various Samsung Experience Stores, with the first 100 buyers getting a free Samsung Gear Circle bluetooth headphones set. Telco bundle deals will also be available. Confirming previous rumours, Malaysia will be getting the 1.9GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 processor version. Other notable tech specs and features include:

Confirming our earlier predictions, the Samsung Gear S smartwatch was also announced. The smartwatch is fully 3G capable and comes with both Bluetooth and WiFi support along with IP67 water and dust resistance. Other tech specs and features include a 1.0GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display with 360 x 480 pixel resolution, 300 mAh battery and Tizen operating system. We'll be covering more on the Gear S and Gear Circle later but for now, the Samsung Gear S will be priced at RM1099 while the Gear Circle will be going from RM299. The Gear Circle and Gear S smartwatch are expected in November 2014.

The Samsung Gear S features a curved Super AMOLED screen that you can type with

The Samsung Gear Circle bluetooth headphones snap magnetically around your neck like a necklace when not in use

Models with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Gear S

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Gear S will also come with Swarovski crystals along with Mont Blanc designed cases and stylus

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 features highlighted once more

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs the gluteas maximus (the human butt) bend test


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 now available in Blossom Pink for Valentine's Day

We are just a few days away from Valentine's Day. So, it isn't surprising to see Valentine's Day promotions appear. Even Samsung has a new promotional offer for 15 February 2015 with the announcement of the flagship Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in a brand new color, Blossom Pink making it the ideal gift for your Valentine's. The Galaxy Note 4 Pink version will be available for purchase throughout the country via Samsung Experience Stores and Samsung dealers for a price tag of RM2499. For this price, the phone features very high-end tech specs. This includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. The display up front is 5.7-inches and features 2K pixel resolution with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. There is a 16MP rear camera with a 3.7MP front shooter as well. Other tech specs include a fingerprint sensor, S Pen, 4G LTE support, NFC, Infrared Port, Wi-Fi and GPS. The Note 4 comes with a 3220 mAh battery to power all these features with a stated run time of 20 hours on 3G. Other than the Blossom Pink color, the phone is available in Frosted white, Charcoal black, and Bronze Gold but for a better informed decision do check out our Galaxy Note 4 review.


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 officially announced, tech specs include 5.7-inch 2K display + 16MP OIS camera

Samsung has officially announced their Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phablet. While it features a same sized 5.7-inch display as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the overall design for the Note 4 is more compact, with slimmer bezels and a slightly taller frame. The overall look is more refined, with a classy metal side frame and artificial leather backside, this time with no rough stitching visible. The S Pen slides in at the bottom like before but the Galaxy Note 4 already has accessores from Montblanc that includes more stylish S Pen styluses and back casings. The full tech specs and feature list for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can be seen below:

The Montblanc S Pen stylusesThese Montblanc back casings are likely real leather

No news yet on any Malaysia release dates or pricing for either the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or the Montblanc accessories but the Galaxy Note 4 is set for launch sometime in October 2014. Pricing is expected to be from $750 (RM2382) but we wouldn't be surprised if it goes even higher. For those interested in the full reveal, do check out the Samsung UNPACKED videos below:


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review - A stylus driven beast of a smartphone

While the world continues to march on with newer digital devices and smartphones, billions of people still use a pen, pencil and paper to write notes. For these people, there is the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, a stylus driven beast of a smartphone that packs in tons of features and topnotch tech specs in a single 5.5-inch display sized phablet. If you're one of these people or an artist or a doodler or someone who likes powerful smartphones, then you'll definitely want to check out our in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 below (large portions of this review were written and created using the S pen, heck, this entire paragraph was written by hand despite my horrible handwriting).

Samsung have long been criticised for making most of their devices using mostly plastic. Thankfully, this isn't entirely the case with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as it comes with a solid metal frame that feels as tough as a brick. The rounded corners in particular have been contoured making the sides slimmer than the top and bottom. According to Samsung, this was done partly to reinforce the frame and partly to make the Note 4 more shock resistant in case of falls (which often happens on the corners). We think this gives the Note 4 a slightly different look compared to all the other Samsung smartphones which all tend to look the same. The build quality is surprisingly solid with no flex to the frame at all. While the new Note 4 does away with the artificial leather back, it manages to maintain a similar texture with a leather-like pattern on the plastic back over.

The new metal frame on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is solid as a brick

Featuring a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, the screen on the Note 4 is simply beautiful. While the colours are still somewhat saturated, the quad HD or 1440×2560 pixel resolution offers crystal clear clarity unlike any other display we've seen so far. On the back, the Note 4's rear camera sticks out a little while on the front, the capacitive back and previous apps buttons light up when touched. An IR blaster is placed on top so you can use the smartphone as a universal remote control.

The backside retains the a leather pattern but does away with the previous artificial leather

The S pen stylus is a bit more stylish this time around but it is still as small as theprevious S pen styluses. I found the S pen to be very pressure sensitive but a bit too small and thin for my sausage sized fingers (contributing to the muscle cramps I'm feeling in my hand). It still slides in and out of the phablet easily, while the button on the side of the stylus turns it into a mouse and keyboard on the move as it activates the floating Air Command menu.

The slim S Pen stylus slots in and out of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

On it's own without any S Pen, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a very powerful smartphone featuring a 1.9GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 5.7-inch quad HD or 2K display, NFC, 4G LTE, an IR Blaster, Heart Rate monitor, finger print scanner and a 16MP ISOCELL rear camera with optical image stabilization. With the S Pen the Galaxy Note 4 becomes a portable computing machine with a built-in mouse and keyboard that you can bring anywhere. For a full tech specs and features list check it out below:

The Malaysian version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is powered by a 1.9GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 processor

While it retains key features such as the hovering mouse-pointer-like S Pen stylus and the Air Command function menu, the Galaxy Note 4 does offer a multi-window mode and photo note function which offers a bit more over the Galaxy Note 3. The swipe based finger-print scanner built into the home button work surprisingly well with just a few misses compared to the single touch finger-print scanner on the Apple iPhone 6 or Huawei Ascend Mate 7. The IR Blaster lets you turn the Galaxy Note 4 into a universal remote for your TV or sound system while the 3.7MP front camera lets you take panorama or wide-angle shots as well.

Change your Samsung Galaxy Note 4 into a universal remote control

The Air Command menu and S Pen work wonderfully together

The fingerprint scanner built into the home button may be swipe-based but it works surprisingly well

Performance-wise the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is currently the king of the Android phablets with an AnTuTu score of 48948. In 3DMark the phablet gets xxx while in Epic Citadel, the Galaxy Note 4 gets xx fps. Most people will question the need for a 2K display on the 5.7-inch screen of the Galaxy Note 4 but the higher resolution is particularly useful when using the multi-window mode as smaller text in separate windows are still sharp and easy to read. Photos taken using the 16MP ISOCELL rear camera also pop better with the 2K display and if you get good enough with the S Pen you could very well ditch your laptop or notebook computer entirely.

There is nothing higher in AnTuTu but the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 maxed out most 3DMark tests

Most smartphones wouldn't be able to pull off ultra high quality even on normal settings, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 does it on 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution in Epic Citadel

Real-life testing shows that the Galaxy Note 4 is more than capable at handling any apps as it handled Asphalt 8: Airborne with high visual quality settings very smoothly. Taking it a step further, the Note 4 can open multiple apps at the same time and we used it to copy a picture, edit it and then write an article, followed by publishing it to our CMS, something we'd normally do on our notebook computer or desktop. Throughout this, there was no lag and no hang and the 2K display really helps with multiple apps open at the same time while the S Pen stylus helps edit photos a lot better than your finger can (doesn't get in the way).

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is very capable, with smooth lag free performance on the highest visual quality settings of Asphalt 8:Airborne

Initially, I thought that the S pen would be one of the main reasons users wouldn't like the Note 4 but after trying it myself, I would have to say that it is one of the main reasons to get it. Samsung have managed to make the hand writing and stylus driven features work very intuitively and if you stop to think about it, a pen or pencil is the first writing tool any of us learn to use. Surprisingly, hand writing apparently takes up a lot of battery as 2 paragraphs in a matter of 10 to 15 minutes takes up about 10% of the battery life. Thankfully, the Note 4 recharges back up to 100% in just 30 to 45 minutes.

The quad-HD screen is very useful when you're using the multiple window mode on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The other note taking features are very useful especially for students as the photo note really helps you take and make notes at an angle. We'd have liked an OCR-like feature where it would be able to recognise images and make them into actual text but for the most part the S Pen and photo note does offer good note taking features for those who like using them. We're still not big fans of the long-list TouchWiz user interface particularly because there are a lot of features on the Galaxy Note 4 making for a very long list to scroll through, but the S Pen works wonderfully regardless.

The hand-writing feature is smart and intuitive and when you master it you can easily do practically anything with your Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Camera performance is exceptional with crystal clear clarity and very bright colours. Taking pictures with the Galaxy Note 4 was a very smooth experience with lag free shots and interesting features that you could download and add on as you needed them. We didn't notice much difference with the optical image stabilization, but then none of our reviewers have very shaky hands to begin with. Audio quality is good and clear but it isn't loud enough to be your replacement boom box anytime soon.

Pretty good 120 degree wide-angle front camera performance

Retailing at RM2499, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the most expensive smartphones in Malaysia and with the features that it has available to it, it is hard to recommend the Galaxy Note 4 as either a cameraphone or affordable student to young adult phablet. True, it is a more than capable cameraphone, but using it as just a cameraphone feels like a major waste of it's other features. However, as a portable computer that you can carry about in your pocket the Galaxy Note 4 knows almost no rivals as there are few stylus driven phablets with the same power and stylus driven interface like it.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is an exceptional phablet and smartphone with excellent features and tech specs. While it may offer a great camera, powerful processor and best display available, the main feature of the Galaxy Note 4 remains the S Pen and it's stylus driven interface. When you master the S Pen you can say goodbye to your notebook computer or desktop as chances are you can do whatever you did before faster and easier on the Galaxy Note 4 (with the exception of coding or number crunching). Business users looking for such a device will love the Galaxy Note 4 as will digital artists and doodlers looking for a high-quality all-in-one sketching device. Most students won't be able to afford the Galaxy Note 4, but those who do will get a device that they can bring anywhere and use for practically everything.

Check out our hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

*TechNave.com would like to thank Samsung Mobile Malaysia for providing us with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 for this review. It allowed us to do a more in-depth review and highlight more features.


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 roadshow happening for 3 days across Malaysia, free Gear Circle for first 100

In line with the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 here in Malaysia, Samsung Malaysia will be offering several promotions along with a 3-day roadshow across Malaysia. The first 100 customers who purchase a GALAXY Note 4 at participating Samsung Experience Stores and authorised dealers will receive a complimentary Gear Circle bluetooth headphones while the roadshow will be happening from 17 October 2014 to 19 October 2014 at the following Samsung Experience Stores:

The Samsung Gear Circle bluetooth headphones clip around the neck magnetically

For a refresher, do check out the following tech specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4:


Samsung Galaxy Note 4 video shows handwriting features

It is no secret now that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is set for a reveal at their upcoming Samsung UNPaCKED event on 3 September 2014. However, it still doesn't showcase all of the new features that the Galaxy Note 4 may bring. A new teaser video from Samsung reveals that it could be all about the handwriting as it shows more streamlined note taking for those who like to write with the S Pen on their digital device. It also shows how the new Galaxy Note 4 will look like. Check out the video for yourself below:


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ launched for Malaysia, roadshow promos start tomorrow

Samsung Malaysia have officially launched their Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ smartphones for Malaysia today with the roadshows kicking off at Gurney Plaza Penang (4 - 6 September), Sunway Pyramid (4 - 9 September) and Sutera Mall Johor Bahru (4 - 6 September). No surprises here as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will be offered at RM2699 while the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is going for RM3099. Thankfully, you still get free accessories worth up to RM538, up to half-price discounts for the second Galaxy Note 5 purchased and a trade-in program for current Galaxy Note users to receive discounts from RM200 to RM1150. The two smartphones will be available in Malaysia starting from tomorrow on 4 September 2015 but hit the roadshows early for the promotions.

To reiterate, the free accessories include a 11300 mAh battery pack for RM306 and a wireless charger worth RM232. The 50% off discount for the second Galaxy Note 5 means you have to purchase two Galaxy Note 5 smartphones and pay full price (RM2699) for the first Note 5 and 50% off for the second Note 5, but you have to be among the first 100 to line up for the Sunway Pyramid roadshow or the first 50 at the other roadshow locations. The trade-in program will still let you trade in your Galaxy Note for RM200, Note 2 for RM600, Note 3 for RM800 and Note 4 for RM1150. In addition, the Galaxy S6 will be priced at RM2199 and the Galaxy S6 edge at RM2599 during the roadshow period. Check out our hands-on pics below.

Featuring tech specs that include 4GB RAM, a 5.7-inch quad HD or 2K display and wireless quick charging both.the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ are premium smartphones. Utilizing the same glass and metal design first introduced with the Galaxy S6 the Note 5 in particular now offers an S-Pen stylus that pops out with a push and sports an improved Air Command menu (just be careful not to slot in the S-Pen the wrong way).


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ telco comparison for Malaysia

Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ recently got launched here in Malaysia to very good response from Malaysians. Featuring a new slim yet premium glass and metal design, the two new Samsung Galaxy smartphones are getting more and more difficult to find through normal channels. Apart from our tech spec comparison tool, here at TechNave.com we also have our phone plan comparison tool and the bundle plans for the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ have been updated. You can check out the various bundle plans according to monthly commitment, contract period and even telco provider with our Samsung Galaxy Note 5 plan comparison tool and Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ plan comparison tool.


Android 12L to come in 2022, brings improved UI for larger screens

At one point, Android tablets were devices that no one cared for. But they have seen a revival of sorts this year, with more brands starting to release both mid-range and flagship models. As such, Google is looking to make UI improvements for it.

Yesterday, Google announced that Android 12L will be coming in early 2022. While it wasn't confirmed, the 'L' probably refers to large since Android 12L was designed for tablets and foldable devices. The idea is to make the Android 12 user interface easier to use and better looking for large screens. Tablet displays tend to have different aspect ratios compared to smartphones, so that makes sense.

Besides that, Google also mentioned improved compatibility for apps and better split-screen mode. The latter is the most useful, as it takes advantage of the large screen size so you can even run two apps simultaneously. There will also be a new taskbar that lets you quickly launch apps on the fly.

If you plan to use a high-end tablet as a laptop replacement, Android 12L should be an interesting update for you. But what are your thoughts on that? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about it.


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge+ confirmed for Malaysia on 3 September 2015 for RM2699 and RM3099

Samsung Malaysia has just confirmed the pricing and sent out the invites for the Malaysia launching of their latest Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Samsung Galaxy Note 5. According to Samsung Malaysia the launch will be on 3 September 2015 but both will be available on 4 September 2015. The Galaxy S6 edge+ will be priced at RM3099 (inclusive of 6% GST) with 32GB storage and come in black and gold. The Galaxy Note 5 on the other hand will be priced at RM2699 (again inclusive of 6% GST) with 32GB storage and in gold or white. While both feature nearly the same tech specs, the Galaxy Note 5 features the latest in S Pen stylus technology, while the Galaxy S6 edge+ offers a larger 5.7-inch dual edge curved display with 2K resolution. Both feature a more premium design of metal and glass along with the latest ISOCELL camera technology. Stay tuned for more details and information as we'll be covering the launch come 3 September 2015.


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 hands-on video

The recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 saw the Note phablets taking a turn to the fashionable side as it now comes with a Samsung Galaxy S6 inspired design of premium metal and glass. Gone are the leather-like patterns on the back but this isn't a bad thing as you can see with our hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Priced at RM2699, the Galaxy Note 5 offers a number of new and improved features not least of which include a faster Samsung Exynos processor, 16MP ISOCELL rear camera and spring-loaded S-Pen stylus. Check out our hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 below:


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 now comes in four colours and trade-in your old Note for up to RM1150 discount

Samsung Malaysia recently revealed that their latest Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phablet is now available in four colours including black sapphire and silver titanium. In addition to this, they also revealed that the S-Pen powered phablet will also be available for trade-in at various roadshows. While the first roadshow already finished at Putrajaya, the next slew of roadshows are expected to start from 15 October 2015 to 1 November 2015. Also in addition, Samsung Malaysia and Ingram Micro are also offering trade-in discounts both for your older Samsung Galaxy Note phablets along with other smartphones, with the actual price to be evaluated by Ingram Micro staff on site. Priced at RM2699, the trade-in discounts can go up to as high as RM1150 but for a full list of all the roadshows and trade-in pricing go check it out below. In the meantime, you can see exactly what we thought about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in our full review.


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 officially announced in glass and metal

After months of rumours, Samsung have officially announced their Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phablet for public consumption. Gone is the artificial leather backside to be replaced with a very Galaxy S6-like glass and metal back and thinner profile. Featuring a new 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 2K or QHD resolution, the new Note 5 packs in the same S Pen but it can now be auto ejected. As rumoured, it also packs in tech specs that include the latest Samsung Exynos 7420 processor, 4GB RAM, 16GB / 32GB storage options, a 16MP rear camera with wide f/1.9 aperture, optical image stabilization and auto real-time HDR along with a 5MP front camera with f/1.9 aperture and a fingerprint sensor. There are obvious sacrifices to this new look as the battery is now a smaller 3000 mAh and there is no option for any microSD slot. On the other hand, it is one of the first smartphones to have quick wireless charging with a 2 hour charge time. No Malaysia release date or pricing details yet but it is expected to arrive in the US on 21 August 2015. We expect the Malaysia release to be within the same month of August 2015.


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review - Prettiest Galaxy Note powerhouse phablet yet

It has only been recently that the Samsung Galaxy Note phablets have started looking better than just oversized slate smartphones with built-in styluses, but even the previous Galaxy Note 4 wasn't the most fashionable phablet around. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 on the other hand, features a metal and glass design that is both striking and premium looking, quite easily making it the best looking Note phablet yet. Does this affect the performance in any way? We find out in our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 below.

After years of being a rectangular slate of a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 finally looks and feels like a flagship phablet. This is in no small part due to the Samsung Galaxy S6 edgeinspired design but even the S-Pen stylus is slimmer with a metallic finish and pops out with a push on the bottom-end. We say Galaxy S6 edge rather than Galaxy S6 because of the curvy full metal frame and dual edge curved glass backside. In fact, if you put the Galaxy Note 5 on its screen, it looks like the Galaxy S6 edge from the front and side. Tech specs and features are as high-end as before except that you lose certain features like expandable memory. You do gain a lighter and slimmer smartphone that feels as solid as before but it is definitely more premium looking than previous Galaxy Note phablets. Check out the full tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 below:

Overall, the biggest and most useful new feature on the Galaxy Note 5 that we found is its ability to write notes in standby mode just by taking out the S-Pen stylus. The fact that you can now take notes as easy as picking up a pen or pencil and writing on paper makes the Galaxy Note 5 even more useful for those who like to still use pens or pencils. All of the previous Air Command features are still here like Action Memo and S Notes and you can also add shortcuts for other apps as well. However, while the overall Samsung TouchWiz interface remains the same, it isn't as bloated as before and is somewhat easier to navigate. Multitasking and multiwindow functions are also still here while the 2K or 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution 5.7-inch display ensures that details are just as sharp on multiple windows.

The standby note and other S-Pen Air command features are particularly useful for those who like to use a stylus

The multiwindow and heart rate sensor are still there for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5

In terms of performance the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is easily king of the Android phones with an AnTuTu score of 65294. This carries on to a score of 16747 fps on 3DMark for Ice Storm but it seems that it isn't capable of running native 2K display benchmarks just yet as the Slingshot benchmark only got 919 (which isn't bad compared to how some other devices performed). This can also be seen on Epic Citadel with 29.8 fps on 2k or 2560 x 1440 pixel resolutions but this is understandable due to the much higher resolution. Actual game performance is still superb with Asphalt 8:Airborne showing buttery smooth performance on the highest visual quality settings.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is still the king with an AnTuTu score of 65294

However, for native 2K or 2560 x 1440 resolution like Epic Citadel, the Galaxy Note 5 only managed a close 29.8 frames per second

No worries though, as normal 1080p apps and games like Asphalt 8:Airborne will still run buttery smooth on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5

If you want to use the S-Pen stylus, the Galaxy Note 5 is still very much a two handed device but thankfully the new more compact design does let you use the 5.7-inch screen one handed as well. Samsung have really done a lot of work with their interface this time and it shows in all the right places with an easier to use panorama shot for both the front and rear cameras along with a more energy efficient handwriting engine. The Galaxy Note 5 does run warm though, which means it also gets quite hot when under pressure (or using the GPS). It also gets warm while quick charging but at least you can opt for wireless charging or via the microUSB port. You can get a full charge in about 1 hour or so though. Battery life is quite good, with about 1 day and a half on medium to heavy usage.

Camera performance is in a word - fast, very fast. Both front and back cameras autofocus very quickly even in low-light conditions with clear picture quality, capturing almost no noise and offering excellent colour reproduction without being difficult to do at all. There are some new camera features like Live broadcast and virtual shot but if you can't see a previous feature like Dual Camera, all you need to do is to download it. The Pro mode does offer a bit more in terms of manual camera settings without looking too daunting for the average photographer.

The Pro mode offers fairly easy to use manual camera settings

There are some new camera features and if you're missing the old ones you can download them as well

While you don't use up as much energy writing with the S-Pen I would have to say that either my harlowritng has become worse or the character ✓ ears on the new Note 5 13 es l less flexible. As such, while we wrote nearly the whole review for the Galaxy Note 4 with the S-Pen, we can't say the same about the Galaxy Note 5. Again, those with good handwriting will definitely enjoy the S-Pen better. Trying out the S-Pen on apps other than the S-Note proved to be successful but personally I find that the slimmer S-Pen is a bit too slim, making my hand cramp up at first but I soon got used to it. Connectivity and call quality are excellent as before while audio quality is loud, clear and crisp.


Samsung Galaxy Note 5 unboxing video

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 brings a premium glass and metal look to the S-Pen powered phablet series with a new Galaxy S6 inspired look and feel. Thankfully, this time around we managed to get our hands on a complete box with what appears to be a premium inner ear headset and more. Check out our unboxing video of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 below to find out what else comes in the box.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Delayed in Malaysia

Samsung recent announcement of their new flagship phablet, Samsung Galaxy Note 7, were originally planned to land in Malaysia next week. But due to the company is experiencing a global suppy constraint in meeting the demands of market launches, Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd will be rescheduling the Malaysia launch to September 2016.

Samsung Malaysia also promised that all the pre-orders from their official pre-order site and partners on 8th - 10th August 2016 will be honoured. Perhaps good things don't come easily,so all the Galaxy Note lovers still need to be patient before they get their hands on the new Galaxy Note 7. Make sure to stay tuned on TechNave for more upcoming news, especially those who pre-ordered.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery casing hands-on video

On top of the unboxing and hands-on videos of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, we also managed to get our hands on the official battery casing for the Galaxy Note 7. We'll be doing a more complete review of the casing and the Galaxy Note 7 in a bit so check out the video for yourself below and stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 hands-on video, testing out the iris scanner and more

Continuing on from our unboxing video, we go hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and some of its new features. This includes the new iris scanner, a few improvements of the new S-Pen stylus and more. We'll be doing more tests and videos soon along with a review for the phablet in just a bit so stay tuned for more at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 production to halt until further notice

Today, Samsung Electronics Co. has stopped all production of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, but only for temporarily although we don't know for how long. This was officially stated by a supplier for Samsung, as there are still more reports of the Note 7 replacements catching fire.

For the sake of consumer safety regulators from South Korea, the USA and China, the halt also means the Samsung factory in Vietnam has ceased operations for now. So far, the company has made a global recall of 2.5 million units.

Until a new official statement of when the Note 7 will be re-released again for the public, former Note 7 owners will just have to seek a new phone while waiting. Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com.


Android 13 beta has arrived, revealing some features that address privacy concerns

The first Android 13 beta has been now made public. However, if you're not a developer and you download it, there would be nothing much for you to see as it's just a developer preview. Despite that, the source is still able to dig out a few features that hint at the upcoming operating system (OS) update will stress privacy.

The most interesting one would be the photo picket tool. It is said to allow users to select media files without granting the apps full access to the entire media library. There's also a new 'Nearby device permission for Wi-Fi' that allows apps to discover and connect to nearby devices over Wi-Fi without needing access to your location. Other than these, it's still unsure whether Google is preparing more features to address privacy concerns users have towards the OS.

The first developer preview of #Android13!Find out what’s new in the next version of Android, from privacy features like photo picker, to developer updates like themed app icons, programmable shaders, and more. Get started ↓ https://t.co/tFAnXQnBQ2

Design-wise, it looks like Android 13 will change the colour of all app icons to match the theme on the Pixel phones. Currently, Android 12 does change the colour of app icons and other interface elements to complement the wallpapers, but it doesn't work with third-party apps. Other tools like adding custom Quick Settings tiles and per-app language preference are also coming along with the next update.

The features do make us feel excited for Android 13. How about you? Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replacement now available in Malaysia

New Samsung Galaxy note 7 model (left) and the old model (right)

Today, Malaysian customers are finally able to have their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replaced with a newer and improved model, it's now available in all across Malaysia and also for those who has pre-ordered it.

We also have taken the liberty to differentiate the new and old model, on the box, if you spot black square sticker as seen in the image above, it means it's the newer model. Moreover, the battery status bar on the smartphone will have a green display. Check out the differences below:

Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 revealed with default 64GB storage, Iris Scanner and more for RM3199

Today, Samsung has unveiled the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on their website and YouTube channel. The release date is scheduled for 19 August 2016 and pre-order for the device will begin in a matter of days worldwide (stay tuned), the price tag is RM3199 and the device shares a lot of similarities with the Galaxy S7 edge. Below are the official specifications:

The Galaxy Note 7 now packs an all-new Gorilla Glass 5 and using the trademark Dual-Edge displays on its 5.7-inch Quad HD with 2560 x 1440 resolution, Samsung also included a kind of HDR chip that's used on their TV, which will definitely raise the standard of entertainment and work. Next, the Note 7 has the same excellent 12MP Dual Pixel rear camera from the S7 edge as well. But with the aforementioned chip that brings out the best contrast colours on the screen, Samsung may have beaten their own game. The battery is 3500 mAh only, just 100 mAh less than the S7 edge, but at least it has USB Type-C port and wireless charging. There's also an Iris Scanner that you can use to unlock your phone as well.

The S Pen, on the other hand, now has IP68 water and dust resistant grade like the Note 7. The design is more refine and has a 3D symmetrical build, what's more, you can do "oil painting" on the device, edit GIF files and even translate words with it which is awesome.

That's all for now, we will dig out more details when the device finally arrives in Malaysia. Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com!


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 slow motion hands-on video

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 comes equipped with a Dual Pixel 12MP rear camera coupled with Optical Image Stabilization. We gave it a go with the slow motion mode in the video below. Check it out for yourself and see what the Galaxy Note 7 can do. If you're interested, go check out our unboxing, hands-on and battery casing videos as well.

Check out the slow motion mode on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to land in Malaysia next week

You've seen it, you've heard it, the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recently revealed not too long ago and has seen nods of approval from thousands of fans and tech enthusiasts around the world. But one question remains, when is it coming to Malaysia? Pretty soon!

On 8 August 2016, Samsung Malaysia Electronics is opening pre-orders for their latest Note as early as this coming Monday at 10AM. Fans will be pleased to note that Samsung is introducing exclusive pre-order deals for the first 4000 units, so you can expect savings and rewards worth up to RM957. Also, there will be a free 102000mAh Battery Pack and a Wireless Charging Stand, and the 4000 early birds will receive an exclusive 10% discount for the Galaxy Note7 which retails at RM3199.

How to be one of the first few Malaysians to own the intelligent Galaxy Note7?

“As a leader in the mobile industry, Samsung continuously creates meaningful innovation and pushes the boundaries of technology to bring consumers the best of mobile innovations. We designed the Galaxy Note7 to be the most intelligent smartphone in the market as we strive to deliver true refinement, infinite possibilities and unique mobile experiences for users,” said Lee Jui Siang, Vice President of Mobile and IT Business Unit, Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

The latest Galaxy Note7 features refined craftsmanship, premium materials and a unique symmetrical edge design, including a water and dust resistant body grade IP68 and an enhanced S Pen; a new Iris Scanner for new security measures, and HDR video streaming capability.

To find out more about the Galaxy Note7, please visit www.samsung.com/my/note7preorder. Remember, this pre-order promotion is limited to the 4000 units on a first-come-first-serve basis while stocks last.


Samsung Galaxy Note 7 unboxing video

As you might know from our Facebook Page, we managed to get our hands on the full boxed set of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. We've gone on to do the unboxing video for the RM3199 smartphone. Find out what else it comes with in the video below:

Find out what else you get for RM3199 asides from the Samsung Galaxy Note 7


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Hands-On Review!

Samsung Galaxy Note8, one of the best smartphone ever made by Samsung. The Galaxy Note 8 is available to be purchased at RM3999 here in Malaysia. It may be identical to the Galaxy S8 but with just a slight changes, the whole experience of using the Note 8 is far superior to the Galaxy S8. With the introduction of the dual camera and some neat features on their S Pen, it makes the device much more fun to use compares to other smartphones at this price point. Check out the full hands-on video review to find out more.

For more information about Galaxy Note8, kindly visit their website here and make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com for more upcoming news.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8, S8 and S8+ are now available in pink

Today, Samsung Malaysia Electronics has added a new colour addition to the Galaxy Note8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. For the Galaxy Note8, it will come in Soft Pink while the latter two are in Rose Pink (honestly, what's the difference? lol). So guys, if your partner has always wanted a pink Samsung phone, this is your chance now.

In terms of price, all three phones will remain the same as RM3999, RM3299 and RM3699 (inclusive of 6% GST) respectively despite the new colour addition. But that's not that, for every purchase of the Galaxy Note8, S8 and S8+ Pink Edition, the owner will get a complimentary pink Alcantara cover worth up to RM209 (while stocks last) and a 20% off base fares and premium flatbed fares by AirAsia X. Sweet.

Just in case you're wondering what other available colours are there, the Note8 also comes in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, and Maple Gold, while the Galaxy S8 and S8+ are available in Coral Blue as well. Stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 endures scratch, bend but not burn durability torture tests

Right on cue, JerryRigEverything have done their usual set of durability tests on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 which includes scratch, bend and burn tests. Overall, the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protected glass and metal sandwich that is the Galaxy Note 8 does as well as can be expected but does get permanently burned due to the nature of the Super AMOLED screen but you can watch this below for yourself. In any case we really recommend a nice case for the Galaxy Note 8 and there are quite a few nice ones from Samsung themselves or other third-party brands.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 gets same 94 DxOMark as Apple iPhone 8 Plus but more emphasis on zoom

Fresh from the highest score of 94 on DxOMark for the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, DxOMark have awarded the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with the same score of 94 but mention the zoom in particular. Featuring 12MP dual-rear cameras and a wide-angle 26mm f/1.7 lens plus a 52mm telephoto f/2.4 lens with x2 optical zoom and x8 digital zoom, according to DxOMark the Galaxy Note 8 has the best zoom capabilities for a cameraphone to date. Apparently, the Galaxy Note 8 managed to get the highest score of 100 in the photography section for less noise and more details but doesn't do as well in video with a score of 84.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is RM3999! Plus Pre-Order Bundle of RM888

Hey TechNavers, as speculated, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is gonna cost RM3999! Yeah, that is a big sum to take in (we feel your pain) and it's one of the most expensive Android phones to date in the smartphone market. But remember that we said customers who pre-order will get a special package? Initially, it was first leaked from our friendly Internet neighbour Mr Anonymous about the special package, it seems that the news is official now.

According to Mr Anonymous, anyone who pre-orders it will get a cash rebate of RM321, a 5100mAh power bank, a Clear Cover casing, and an extra warranty for the screen for 12 months (exactly like Samsung Protection Plus). This bundle package is worth RM888 overall and the best part is you will only spend RM3678 overall. We know it's still expensive, but it's something (lol).

To refresh your memory, the Note 8 is featuring its first dual rear 12MP camera accompanied by Optical Image Stabilization for each sensor, 6GB RAM, with a memory storage up to 256GB, Snapdragon 835 processor, a S-Pen, Bixby A.I. digital assistant, IP68 water and dust resistant grading, biometric security (fingerprint and iris), wireless charging, 3300 mAh battery, Android 7.1.1. Nougat out of the box and much more.

Pre-order for the Note 8 will start on 5 September until 10 September 2017, and it will officially go on sale on 15 September 2017. Thanks, Mr Anonymous for the tips and stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Android 13 expected to use HUAWEI's EROFS file system format to save more space

Something new has been spotted for Android 13 once again. This time, it's reported that the operating system will start using HUAWEI's EROFS file system format, which helps to save up space on the devices.

EROFS, shorts for 'Enhanced Read-Only File System', was created by Xiang Gao on behalf of HUAWEI a few years ago. A Cuttlefish virtual Android device image shows that devices using EROFS stand to save up to 800MB of space. It could also bring a reduction in the OTA update size. Furthermore, the research paper published by Xiang Gao and other researchers states that EROFS can reduce boot times of "real-world applications" by up to 22.9%.

Esper.io's Mishaal Rahman is the one who discovered the feature through uncovering multiple commits over the past few months referring to the change. If implemented, developers would have to use the EROFS file system format for read-only partitions. Those failed to match the requirement would be restricted from accessing Google's services, including the Play Store.

Android Police expects these changes to reflect in the Android Compatibility Definition document, so we should know more about the feature by then. Until now, which Android 13 feature you're most excited to see? Leave a comment to let us know, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech news.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 leaks wide colour options, scores big on GeekBench

Move over silver, gold and black. The guys at TechnoBuffalo has leaked to what appears to be the possible colour options for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

The new leak that was spotted on Weibo has suggested that the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be coming in a total of 8 stunning colours. Aside from the regular Gold, Midnight Black and Arctic Silver colour schemes, the Note 8 will be donning these:

On top of that, we will also see the return of the matching S Pens which will also match their Note 8 counterpart colour schemes, a feature brought forward from the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

The colours are bound to differ in different regions so we won’t know which colours will be coming to Malaysia if coming at all, but since we are almost in the same Asia Pacific region as Korea, we can expect all if not some of the colours to come here. Be patient guys, we only have a few weeks to go before the 23 August 2017 release so soldier up!

On a side note, the Note 8 was also recently spotted on GeekBench with impressive scores of 1984 for the single-core test and 6116 for the multi-core score. Big, big scores for the Note 8 but they fall short of the Exynos 8895 Samsung Galaxy S8 which scored 2121 and 7101 in its scores respectively. Still, impressive scores nevertheless. This could be due to a number of reasons, maybe a larger and more powerful screen perhaps?

Nothing much else can be said from the GeekBench page though, it only confirms what we already know about the Note 8 specs.

Do remember to take these rumours with a pinch of salt, and a big reminder to look out for the official launch on the 23 August 2017. Make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest scoops.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 officially launched in Malaysia by Song Ji-Hyo for RM3999

Today, Samsung Malaysia has officially launched the Galaxy Note 8 in Malaysia. Joining us with Korean celebrity, Song Ji-Hyo at Pavilion (Kuala Lumpur). The roadshow starts off successfully and crowded with many fans. Available in Midnight Black, Maple Gold, and Orchid Grey for Malaysia , the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be priced at RM3999 with the roadshows starting today. Featuring a 6.3-inch Infinity Display, Dual Camera, S Pen, Iris Scanner, wireless charging, IP68 water and dust resistance and much more that we covered previously in detail at the Unpacked 2017 in New York.

Customers get to purchase the Galaxy Note 8 within this 4-day roadshow from 21 to 24 September with many great deals, so make sure you don't miss it! First 100 to purchase the brand new Galaxy Note 8 gets the opportunity to meet Running Man star Song Ji-Hyo on stage in person and collect a free Clear View Standing Cover autographed by Ji-Hyo. Also, 8  members from the media and 22 lucky fans get to take selfie with Song Ji-Hyo on stage. Check out the photos below to see how successful the event went.

Just in case you missed it, we also did a short hands-on review video on the Galaxy Note 8. Check out the video below:-

For more information regarding the roadshow, visit Samsung Malaysia's roadshow page here.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 photo features revealed online

Thanks to the folks from GSMArena.com, they have discovered a website called samsungsem.com revealing and explaining how the dual rear camera module on the anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 8 feature works. We have taken a look at the picture samples and each of them sure looks promising. Take a look at them below!

First up, we can see the Super Night Shot with the light enhanced nicely compared with a single lens camera in a low-light environment. A digital depth of field effect is also seen above, works similarly to Huawei's wide aperture effect.

Moving on, Note 8 will have an optical Zoom 3x in its camera system. We aren't sure which camera phone are they comparing with but it's clear that the Note 8 has better clarity over it.

As usual, low-light shots aren't a problem for the Galaxy Note 8

The refocus part here is just the same as the bokeh effect, we are guessing that the refocus speed should be fairly fast. On the other hand, the background effect looks weird but it looks like Samsung is trying to achieve the zooming in-ish effect or something from the looks of it.

That's all the images we can find online, but what do you think? Will Samsung change the camera game in the smartphone industry? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for our Galaxy Note 8 coverage at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review - A noteworthy Samsung Galaxy Note

The Samsung Galaxy Note series has always been a favourite for people who just love big screen devices with a stylus, it was only until the Note 7 broke that winning streak due to battery safety issues. With this, getting back the public's trust and faith was no easy task, but thankfully with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, we can safely say that Samsung has bounced back and even though it costs a hefty RM3999, allow us to tell you why the Note 8 is one of the best stylus-driven phablets to own.

The Note 8 launch happened just when smartphone manufacturers were beginning to switch to a full front display, so it was only natural that Samsung made it similar to the Galaxy S8+. Well, you probably have already seen the design so to answer that, we will have to say both yes and no. The Note 8 is pretty similar to the S8+ with the Infinity Display but is more sturdy, curved and exquisite looking. Personally, I prefer holding the Note 8 to the S8+ because of the sturdiness and solid build quality.

The Note 8 is also a great device to bring around to work despite being so huge, but because of the Infinity Display, it doesn't feel that big in your hand. You can even say the Note 8 is like a supermini CPU for you to work while travelling on the road or in events, perfect for a businessman who travels often.

The back, fingerprint scanner is still on the right side but they switched the camera and LED flash position

The S-Pen slot, USB Type-C and the headphone jack

Here are the specifications for the Galaxy Note 8:

As expected, we got the Exynos 8895 processor as usual for the Malaysia market, as well as the 6GB which allows you open multiple apps. The 64GB internal storage might not look enough for heavy users but at least there's a microSD card slot available. But that's not the point, the Note 8 has a lot of features under that thick casing - there's IP68 water and dust resistance, Wireless Charging (just so you know, we aren't gonna talk much about this because cable charging is still faster), Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner, Face Unlock, a dedicated Bixby A.I. digital assistant, and of course the S-Pen which is also IP68 water and dust resistant.

But TechNave, don't you think there are too many features, especially for security? Let's see, at this moment you have three unique biometric security which is the fingerprint sensor, your face and eyes, plus the pattern and passcode, that makes it five which seems a bit of an overkill. Needless to say, you don't have to use all of them of course so those are just options for you. Let's start with the Iris Scanner first, the accuracy of unlocking is quite good (except in low-light environments, duh) but it's a bit troublesome if you wear glasses. Not saying that it won't unlock if you are wearing them, but it's better if you take it off.

Facial Recognition is alright, but we think the fingerprint sensor is still the preferred one to use, but there is just one problem which is that it's still located at the right side beside the LED flash on the back, which when combined with the Note 8's long body, you can still miss the spot to unlock quite often.

Moving on, now we can talk about the S-Pen. At first glance, the S-Pen doesn't seem very extraordinary but it has some strong points. We already know it's resistant to water and dust, but there is a new Live Message feature function that interacts superbly with you, allowing drawings, painting and of course, working on the go.

For the camera, there are a lot of modes and the new one will have to be the Live Photo bokeh feature, producing a lot of beautiful photos. There are also other functions such as sunlight and luminous shooting which will be shown more below.

The Super AMOLED screen can get too bright sometimes, but you can adjust the screen colour temperature with the Blue Light Filter function

Both the device and S-Pen are water resistant

Without a doubt, the Note 8 is certainly Samsung's most powerful smartphone (for now). We didn't experience any lag with gaming (we tested with Asphalt 8: Airborne) and the battery doesn't heat up even if you plug it in with Fast Charging (which can charge up to 50-60% within half an hour) and doing whatever you need to do. The Note 8 delivers in all cases so thumbs up for that.

Normal daily usage (left), testing with GPS for an hour (right)

We know that some people are questioning the battery drop with the Note 7, but we beg to differ as it's probably for the best. At only 3300mAh capacity, it's actually more than enough for everyday use and it can support up to 16 hours. However, if you turn on the GPS function, it could maybe last around half-day (12 hours-ish) so yeah, bring your power bank if you're going to go get lost on the road somewhere.

Onward to the camera, since it's equipped with a pair of OIS for the rear camera, image and video stabilization is very good and even though the sensor is still using the same dual pixel from the Galaxy S7, we aren't complaning because of how beautiful the images are (enhanced somewhat by new algorithms). Check out the image samples we have below!

This was taken a quite a low light environment (also, that sexy beast)

Testing out Luminous mode, barely any noise + perfect lighting

Water almost seemed like it's frozen in time

So the bottom line is, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a really good phone - with strong performance, useful S-Pen capabilities, multiple biometric security options, that IP68 water and dust feature (even the S-Pen!), superb camera modules and good battery life. This is an especially strong case if you like the fullview Infinity Display and you're also an avid stylus fan. If you ask me what is the thing that might convince you not to get it, the only reason I can think of is perhaps the price.

With RM3999 on the line, you can actually get a decent gaming laptop (lol). But since we are talking about smartphones, there are other affordable options such as the Galaxy Note FE at RM2599. But if you are okay without the stylus, there's the Sony Xperia XZ Premium (RM3399) or Xperia XZ1 (RM2999), the Apple iPhone 8 (RM3649), the OnePlus 5 (RM2388) and the Nokia 8 (RM2299).

So what do you think? Are we missing out anything else? Let us know in the comments below, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more future reviews at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 roadmap leaked online

We aren't sure if someone is in trouble for leaking the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 roadmap table below, but it's a win for us. Thanks to a kind South Korean-English website, we now know the timeline from the Unpacked 2017 event until the official sales launch date. Check it out below!

Judging by the roadmap, there is a 50-50 chance that Malaysia might also experience the same thing as South Korea. But we will take our chances by being the second wave of countries for getting the device. Looking back at Samsung Malaysia's official launch in Malaysia with all its flagships, we can assume the Note 8 will arrive in Bolehland in October 2017.

In addition, there is also the following statement from a Korean carrier representative, he said

"We are going to be fully ready so that there aren’t any setbacks regarding Galaxy Note 8 sales. It will be important to see how much of initial supplies mobile network providers can secure since they expect that there will be many early buyers of Galaxy Note 8."

We sure hope so too, Samsung. Looking forward to the Unpacked 2017 event this month soon!


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 rumoured to price from RM4000, may come with cool gifts for pre-orders

It’s is no secret that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will not be on the cheap side, but the boys at Android Authority have leaked that the Note 8 price might be even higher than we ever thought.

They have reported that the Note 8 will be available in three different storage options with prices listed below:

There you have it; the report suggested that the coveted Note 8 may break the 5K barrier from the 256GB memory option. Those prices are in no way a walk in the park but our previous brochure leak may suggest that the device could be worth it.

Do strictly keep in mind though that these are non-official rumours and should be taken with a pinch of salt. This is no way a real representation of what the real price could be, so make sure to check out the official launch in a couple of days on 23 August 2017 for more of the official (or even Malaysian) stuff.

On another note, those that are keen to pre-order this super flagship device have some good news to look to. Popular leakster Evan Blass (@evleaks) has suggested that the Note 8 will come with some awesome goodies.

Evan reports that pre-order customers may receive one of two packages:

Note that these gifts are rumoured to be for the US region only and it’s still totally unknown on what Samsung Malaysia could give away if they are giving away at all. This is just a sneak peek preview on the possible gifts that we may see on this side of the Earth.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 tech specs like dual rear camera might have been confirmed thanks to leaked sales brochure?

As the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 big unpack is coming in just the next few days, the usual early leaks have popped up, this time with a sales brochure from ausdroid. This apparently confirms that the Galaxy Note 8 will have a dual rear camera with one of them offering telephoto 2x optical zoom, OIS or Optical Image Stabilization and an f/1.7 aperture. Other tech specs like a 6.3-inch QHD+ resolution Infinity Display, S Pen, Iris Scanner, wireless charging and IP68 water and dust resistance are more or less to be expected after the Galaxy S8. The brochure also shows that you can still write on the Note 8 while it is on standby. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet, but we'll be there to check it out in New York on 23 August 2017 so stay tuned to TechNave.com. Register your interest with Samsung Mobile Malaysia for a quick heads-up.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 unveiled with new dual-lens camera, pre-order for Malaysia coming soon on 5 September 2017

Samsung has officially unveiled their Samsung Galaxy Note 8 flagship smartphone at their Samsung UNPACKED 2017 event. The new device includes a 6.3-inch Infinity Display, Iris Scanner, wireless charging, IP68 water and dust resistance and much more. Hey, don't you worry about the battery - it has gone through Samsung's 8 Point Battery safety check (the most rigorous in the industry). Below is the rest of the tech specs, features and pre-order dates below:

Unlike the Galaxy S8, the Note 8 gets a new 12MP dual-lens camera setup that includes 2x optical zoom while still utilizing a dual pixel camera sensor. It also comes with Optical Image Stabilisation and an f/1.7 aperture which is perfect for low-light photos. A new mode called Live Focus allows you to adjust the bokeh before and after taking the photos.

Just like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus Portrait Mode, it switches the second lens that has 2x Optical zoom for the bokeh effects. It requires the subject to stay around 1.2 metres away and needs rather well-lit conditions to get a great bokeh result but the overall interface is easier to use. Another stand-out feature is Dual Capture, where both Live Focus (2X Zoom with Bokeh Effects) and Normal Picture (Wide Angle) are saved at the same time.

There is also a new feature that utilizes the Infinity Display, called the App Pair - this lets you launch two apps at once easily. Meaning that you can message your friends while watching a video, or even dialling a conference call with the number and agenda on your screen. Pretty sweet for multitaskers.

The S-Pen is now capable of a host of note-taking features letting you write animated messages and share them as a gif with a friend. You’ll also still be able to use the S-Pen to take notes with the screen off. The Note 8 is compatible with their Smart Switch software to help you transfer your photos, contacts and music from your old phone, so it should not be a hassle if you are planning to upgrade to this device. It's also water and dust resistant.

Did we also mention that with the Note 8, you are able to translate texts quickly? And get this, it's capable of translating up to 71 languages, even for converting units and foreign currencies.

In terms of pricing, unfortunately it wasn't mentioned but according to Bestbuy.com, it cost $929.99 (~RM3979) so don't be surprised if it cost around RM4K in Malaysia. On top of that, Samsung Malaysia Electronics has officially announced that the pre-order will be available on 5 September until 10 September 2017 on this page here. They've also pretty much confirmed that the Note 8 will make its debut on 15 September 2017, so customers who pre-order in that period will get a special pre-order package as well.

For more information about Galaxy Note8, kindly visit their website here and make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com for more upcoming news and hands-on videos but for now, check out their introduction video below.


Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will officially be released in September

Samsung CEO, DJ Koh revealing the Galaxy Note 8 plans in an interview

If you know your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 rumours, you should already know that the phone will likely appear at the upcoming IFA 2017 event in Germany next month. Well, we have confirmation from DJ Koh, Samsung CEO revealing that it will be revealed in late August, then to be on sale in September 2017 officially.

However, don't get too happy about it yet. According to DJ Koh, there will be two phases in September - for the first phase, USA, UK, and South Korea will be the first countries to get their hands on it. Then followed by the rest of the world in October, which Malaysia is in. Dang it.

Aside from Samsung showing its new toy, many smartphone manufacturers will also show up at the IFA 2017, namely Huawei, Google, LG, Sony, and Lenovo. Apple will also reveal one of the most anticipated 10th Anniversary iPhone but at their own event in September.

Stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 gets joint 2nd place in DxOMark at 103 but still higher than Galaxy S9 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has finally got its official DxOMark score of 103, which is 2nd place with the HTC U12+ below the Huawei P20 Pro. This is still higher than the 99 scored Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. The folks at DxOMark mention that it has a photo score of 107 and a video score of 94 for accurate but neutral colours and overall very good image quality.

They do note that it does have some issues with autofocus consistency but the more efficient image stabilization, good zoom capabilities and realistic bokeh simulation combine well with the new AI features. The S-Pen is also mentioned as making the Galaxy Note 9 a compelling choice in today’s rather saturated market, but we have to note that this is for those who like to use a stylus with their smartphones.

Here’s our take on the Galaxy Note 9’s dual aperture cameras and if you need the full review we have that as well. You can also see a quick and simple video and an article on what the new S-Pen enabled Galaxy Note 9 can do as well.


Android 13 may make SIM cards obsolete by allowing connection to two carriers on a single eSIM

Google is reportedly working on a feature that would allow for devices running Android 13 to support multiple profiles on a single eSIM. This would essentially allow users to connect to more than one carrier with a single eSIM and make SIM cards obsolete.

Senior technical editor for Android developer platform Esper, Mishaal Rahman in a blog post last Thursday alluded to this feature coming to the big Android 13 update. However, no release date timeframe for the update was mentioned.

According to Rahman, Google’s alleged plans to  to allow for multiple enabled profiles (MEP) was referenced in the Android Open Source Project and Android Developers website. Speaking of which, Google was granted a patent in 2020 for an MEP solution that splits a single physical interface between different digital (logic) connections.

Rahman predicts that this feature will debut in Android 13 after finding evidence that Google has been trying out the MEP solution on "unspecified Pixel hardware". Furthermore, the solution isn't specific to Android either, meaning it could be applied to other operating systems such as iOS.

What do you guys think of this alleged new feature? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and as always, stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest trending tech news!


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 may be released a month earlier with an under-display fingerprint sensor

Samsung Galaxy Note series usually comes around in September every year, but new rumours have reported that the unannounced Galaxy Note 9 might actually come a little bit earlier than expected. According to sources, the device's firmware builds - N960FXXE0ARB7 and N960FXXU0ARC5 have already started two weeks ahead compared to its predecessor.

What this means is that it's quite possible that the device might arrive way earlier in April next month! ...just joking, I meant the beginning of August and not only that, it appears that the device is under the codename Crown, featuring rumoured tech-specs such as a 6.3-inch S-AMOLED screen in a screen-to-body 18:5:9 ratio, along with its signature Infinity Display but a newer version. For the processor, it should come with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and an Exynos 9810 as well. On top of that, we can surely expect its RAM power to reach up to 6GB and an internal storage of 256GB.

Besides that, another rumour on the Note 9 is that it may have an under-display fingerprint sensor. But this one is on the fence, so we are taking this with a grain of salt and you should too. It would be nice to have it, though, so we shall see since there's still a long way to go.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 officially #Unpacked, starting from RM3699, up to 1TB total storage, a Bluetooth S-Pen, 4000mAh battery and more

(Updated) Today, Samsung Electronics has started the month of August with a bang by revealing the Galaxy Note 9. Coming soon in Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Metallic Copper and Lavender Purple, the phablet will come in two variants which are 6GB + 128GB and a massive 8GB + 512GB model (+ an expandable memory up to 512GB). Malaysia will be part of the first wave to receive it.

The pre-order will start on 10 August (12PM) to 19 August 2018 with the starting price of RM3699 for the 6GB + 128GB model. If you want the bigger one, that'll be RM4599 for the 8GB RAM + 512GB model. The pre-order will end on 19th August 2018 and all the colours except for the Lavender Purple model will come. You can check out more pre-order details about the phablet right here or at Samsung official website.

As predicted by the Internet, the new phablet looks more or less the same as its predecessor with a few slight changes on its rear body. It still has a dual rear camera but these have been repositioned horizontally with a much better fingerprint sensor placement. However, perhaps the most interesting part is that the S-Pen has a Bluetooth feature.

What can it do? Well, the Bluetooth on the S-Pen opens up many possibilities, at this moment it can control slide presentations from the device, switch pictures back and forth without touching the screen panel, play and stop YouTube video and take pictures with it. Samsung foresees many developers taking advantage of this so keep an eye open for it!

Here are the four models with the S-Pens. As you can see, the Ocean Blue model is the only one with the yellow S-Pen (for some reason) while the rest gets the same colour treatment

The repositioned dual rear camera and fingerprint sensor, much better compared to its predecessor

As mentioned, the Dual Aperture feature is back (you can see the two phones with its different apertures) and accompanied by the new Scene Optimizer, this can potentially bring Samsung mobile photography to new levels

Samsung also mentioned that the Galaxy Note 9 has a slimmer look thanks to the diamond cut on the frame. Note that I said slimmer look, not became slimmer

The hybrid dual SIM card tray stays on top

Then for the bottom, it's the same as usual with the S-Pen, speaker grill, USB Type-C and the 3.5mm headphone jack. By the way, you no longer need a DEX dock anymore to connect it to a monitor, as all you need is a HDMI to USB-Type C cable

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy Note 9 is not so different from the Galaxy S9+, particularly the Dual Aperture in the main camera, which can switch from f/1.5 to f/2.4 depending on the brightness of the environment. Dual Pixel technology and IP68 water and dust resistance also make a return, with an additional new wireless charging technology.

However, there is a now new Scene Optimizer (you know, those AI Scene Recognition stuff) and Samsung has integrated 20 of these scenes. In addition to the Flaw Detection feature, the camera can also detect a person blinking, image blur and of course, lens smudge alert which has been introduced already.

Samsung also integrated a new Water Carbon Cooling System, which is specifically made for cooling the device down while gaming. According to the company, the technology can keep the heat down by 3.5x times compared with phones using carbon fibre.

Here's the official tech-specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9:

Stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 pre-order could start way earlier than expected

So as most of you already know, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is on the way to New York City on 9 August 2018 and that's earlier than expected. That being said, if we are going to see the official launch that early, how about the pre-order and the official release date? The Internet has some ideas.

The Internet thinks that the Galaxy Note 9 could start its pre-order in mid-August. This is of course if the South Korean company is still using the same pattern as the Galaxy Note 8 from last year's, which came just three weeks after the reveal on 23 August 2017. Then for the Malaysia market, it came within a month. This is quite a strategic move and an advantage over Apple since they would usually reveal the latest iPhone every September. However, knowing Samsung's tradition, they would usually release their products in three waves. Hopefully, Malaysia would be part of the first wave. So with some wild guesses, the Malaysia market could actually get their hands on it in early September 2018.

Anyway, all of this is just speculation so until we get an official statement from Samsung, let's take this with a grain of salt. Samsung will probably announce it on the launching day so stay tuned for our official coverage at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 press images leaked

Notorious leakster, Evan Blass has teased us via his Twitter account with a leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, showcasing the front of the device, back, as well as the upcoming Bluetooth enabled S-Pen. Based on the images, the device looks similar to its previous predecessor, the Galaxy Note 8 except it seems to have a much thinner top and bottom bezel. As for the rear of the device, there is a section where both the rear camera, LED flash and heart rate sensors are located, not to mention the fingerprint sensor just below the camera segment.

In terms of tech specs, we expect to see the Galaxy Note 9 running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810 chipset depending on the market. Either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 6.4-inch display, camera setup similar to the S9+ and a large 4000mAh non-removable battery. However, take every bit of information with a grain of salt with rumours and leaks like these and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 price leak from Indonesia starting from ~RM3812

Over the weekend, there was some news about Lazada leaking the price unofficially for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. While that's quite common, what's funny about this is that this was posted on Samsung Malaysia's official store with the following price RM4299 (128GB) and RM5099 (512GB), which of course, has already been taken down.

If you think the leak stops there, you're mistaken. According to sources, Indonesia has also released the price leak and some promo images online. In their region, the Galaxy Note 9 128GB model is 13.5 million Rupiah (~RM3812) while the Galaxy Note 9 512GB is 17.5 million Rupiah (~RM4942). Comparing the prices, our neighbour's price tag isn't that far off from ours and we have a stronger currency. On top of that, the black, blue and brown colour models will also make their way there which is in line with us too.

It seems that Indonesians can get a Samsung Smart TV too upon pre-ordering the Galaxy Note 9

The Galaxy Note 9 will probably feature an Exynos 9810 processor for the Malaysia market, along with 6GB of RAM, wireless charging technology, 4000mAh battery and a rumoured Bluetooth S-Pen stylus. What do you think of the price? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 price leaked starting from ~RM4680

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 price has been leaked courtesy of spiderweb.pl, a polish news site. Based on the leak, it seems that the standard version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will cost about 4299 Poland złoty (~RM4680) including 20% VAT for the standard edition which is the 6GB RAM + 128GB internal storage. The source also furthers hints that the S Pen will definitely have Bluetooth connectivity and it will come in several colour schemes such as Black, Blue, and purple in Poland for now. However, we expect more colour schemes such as grey, yellow and maybe rose gold to come out soon after.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 release date in South Korea and specs leaked

Based on a south korean news site, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is expected to launch on 24 August 2018 in South Korea which is earlier than Apple’s usual September phone release. Not only that, the device mentioned has already passed TENAA certifications as well.

Based on the TENAA listing, the China variant come with dual-SIM, 6.4-inch display with as aspect ratio of 18.5:9, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810 chipset depending on market, 6GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, dual camera setup in the rear, new and improved S-Pen with Bluetooth Capabilities, and it is powered by a large 4000mAh non-removable battery.

Based on recent reports, the Galaxy Note 9 looks very similar to its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Other than that, there is no other information such as pricing and when the device will be available in Malaysia. As always with rumours like these, take every bit of information with a grain of salt and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 renders leaked and it doesn't seem to have an in-display fingerprint sensor

Images courtesy of @OnLeaks and @91Mobiles

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 renders were leaked showcasing the design of the device, courtesy of @OnLeaks and @91Mobiles. Based on the renders, we can see that the fingerprint will be housed slightly under the dual camera compartment.

Not only that, it is also slightly thicker compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 which could hint that the phone will be carrying a larger battery, presumably a 3850mAh battery. And no, the Galaxy Note 9 will not be equipment with an on-display fingerprint sensor. At the bottom of the render, you can see that that the 3.5mm Audio Socket is still present (hurray!) and an S-Pen to the bottom right corner of the device.

Bottom of the alleged Samsung Galaxy Note 9

In terms of specs, rumour has determined that the Galaxy Note 9 will come equipped with a Samsung Exynos 9810 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 depending on the region, 6GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, dual camera setup with dual aperture capability, 6.3-inch QHD+ display and lastly, the 3850mAh non-removable battery mentioned previously. As always with all leaks and rumours, take every bit of information with a grain of salt. For more updates, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review - The ultimate all-rounder that has it all

Is this the review that you've been waiting for? You probably have read some of our articles on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 for the past three weeks, such as the battery, the Water Carbon Cooling System, the S-Pen and others. Obviously, this phone doesn't need any introduction. But what you probably need to know is whether this phablet is worth the purchase (starting from RM3699) or not. So without further ado, here's what we think of the Galaxy Note 9.

While it's true that the new phablet hasn't changed much from the Galaxy Note 8, I personally have no problem with that because Samsung is one of the smartphone brands that refused to follow the notch trend. The only physical changes are the relocation of the rear fingerprint sensor to the bottom of the dual rear cameras and the overall body becoming a tiny bit bigger. Doesn't sound like much, but it's much needed. You will no longer smudge your camera lens anymore, also for some reason, holding the Galaxy Note 9 horizontally feels much nicer compared to its predecessor.

Mhmmm, that big 6.4-inch screen panel. Also, the unique blue and yellow S-Pen beside it

Closer look at the dual rear camera and the new relocated fingerprint sensor

The S-Pen stylus has a button and Bluetooth connectivity now, functioning like a mini remote to play / pause and switch between images and more

The bottom stays the same as usual, from left to right - you have the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C, speaker and the slot for the S-Pen

The volume and Bixby dedicated button are on the left side, while the power button stays on the other side

The colour selection for the phablet isn't noteworthy either, there's Midnight Black, Metallic Copper, Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple. Unfortunately, Lavender Purple wasn't chosen as part of the Malaysia market so we are only given three choices. For some odd reason, only the Ocean Blue has the Yellow S-Pen while the rest follows the phone's body respective colours. When I asked Johnathan Wong, Samsung's Director of Product Marketing what was the reason behind it, he simply said it's for marketing purposes. Well, I guess it does make it stand out and it worked.

Here are the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9:

While the design hasn't changed much, the specifications did and it's a big upgrade. Comparing with the Galaxy Note 8, the most notable ones are the 8GB of RAM, 4000mAh battery and the jaw-dropping 512GB worth of internal storage. OMG, 512GB? Have they gone mad? Do we really need that much space? Surprisingly, the 512GB model was the first one to be sold out during the pre-order period so I guess the answer is yes. We have written an article about why that might be so, so do check it out here.

Besides that, the Galaxy Note 9 retained most of the features as well as some new additions, such as the dual AKG stereo speakers, the same Dual Aperture mechanic from the Galaxy S9+ with a new Scene Optimizer (check out our camera comparison here between the two devices), a new Water Carbon Cooling System, DEX mode only needs a USB Type-C to HDMI cable to connect and the S-Pen now has Bluetooth connectivity.

At the moment, the new S-Pen acts like a mini remote control that allows you to do a couple of things. This includes snapping pictures and browsing them in the Photo Gallery app, playing and pausing any video and music players like YouTube, voice recorder and others, and being able to present your slides to your colleagues like a wizard (because it's like a mini magic wand, haha). It doesn't end there, though, Samsung is allowing developers to try something new with this feature so we can't wait to see what they can come up with!

Here's the before and after of the temperature

We are also glad to tell you that the Water Carbon Cooling System is not a gimmick either. As the mobile gaming market continues to ascend, Samsung knows that this is quite an important piece for the gamers. From our experiment, this cooling system can dissipate heat from 42-degrees to 34-degrees within a few minutes. On that note, you probably won't even reach that temperature because we had the phablet connected to the laptop running Gamebench software at the same time, but on a side note, though - the body' side frames will be quite hot but tolerable enough, so be rest assured that you will have a fantastic gaming time.

Camera comparison between Galaxy S9+ (left) and Galaxy Note 9 (right), can you tell the difference?

Flaw Detection feature is improved, aside from detecting smudged lens, the phone can also now detect if a person blinked, blurred images and strong backlight

Connecting the phablet to a TV monitor via Type-C to HDMI cable

This is how the monitor looks like in Dex mode

Since our review unit is the 6GB + 128GB model, the Galaxy Note 9 score chart on the benchmarks is respectable enough. It landed on the 12th spot just behind its cousins, the Galaxy S9 series and the 3DBench score is quite good too, but we have seen better scores, if we were using the 8GB RAM model, it should score better. We also started using Gamebench for our reviews now and the phablet's GPU is able to maintain at 75% throughout the test. To add on to that, other minor performance such as network calls and connectivity is alright, unless if you're underground or out of range from your preferred telco line.

AnTuTu score, it should score higher if we were using the 8GB RAM model

Battery chart from 100% to 45% after 3 hours of intense gaming

But do you know what's more impressive? The gigantic 4000mAh battery. Granted, this is not Samsung's biggest battery pack, as the title belongs to the Galaxy A9 Pro (2016) with a 5000mAh battery. Anyway, we tried grinding the Galaxy Note 9's battery hard and after 3 long hours of multiplayer (with Arena of Valor, Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile), it can withstand until 45%. Keep in mind, this is an impressive feat because multiplayer requires a constant connection (including talking through the mic in AoV and PUBG Mobile), the graphics were set to max and big high resolution displays also tend to drain the battery. With this, doing your daily social tasks won't be an issue and should last more than a day easily.

We also mentioned that the Galaxy Note 9 is using the exact same camera tech specs as the Galaxy S9+, but it now has a Scene Optimizer. If you think it's like those "AI" photography you see advertised nowadays, well you're half right, but from my experience the feature is more like refining the image instead of making it "pop" up (if you know what I mean). Not to mention, it has an improved Flaw Detection Intelligent Camera that will notify you if you need to retake the photo again. Check out our photo samples below!

Underwater shot! Oh fun fact, the S-Pen's Bluetooth won't work if the phablet is under the water, so you'll have to do it manually

Here's a Live Focus shot + some editing from the S-Pen

Yo dawg, I heard you like bokeh shots, so I'm taking a bokeh shot of you taking a bokeh shot of the plant

You're welcome to photoshop this photo lol

It was a hazy evening, but you can see the sky painted with a wee-bit of orangeness from the sun

Check out those flexed muscles, very detailed

For RM3699 or RM4699 (512GB model), the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is like the ultimate all-rounder - it has good performance for gaming combined with the Water Carbon Cooling System, a durable battery, a convenient Bluetooth S-Pen for work, an improved camera and a large storage space. Even though that's the case, customers might skip these incremental updates (because money "note" enough) and might look at the Galaxy Note 8 instead.

From the perspective of a smartphone + stylus category, the Galaxy Note 9 doesn't really have any competition. So if you're okay without the stylus, there are some similar flagships out there too. For a more premium-looking flagship, there's the OPPO Find X (RM3699, 8GB + 256GB), vivo NEX (RM2799, 8GB + 128GB), Huawei P20 Pro (RM2899, 6GB + 128GB), OnePlus 6 (8GB + 256GB, RM3099) and even its relative, the Galaxy S9+ (RM3769, 6GB + 128GB).

On top of that, if you're on a tight budget and still want a flagship phone, you can go for the ASUS ZenFone 5Z (RM2299 for 8GB RAM + 256GB or RM1899 for 6GB + 128GB), the Xiaomi Mi 8 (RM1599) and the recently launched POCOPhone F1 by Xiaomi for a ridiculous RM1428 (6GB + 128GB) price tag. Well, the choice is yours.

So how do you like the Galaxy Note 9? Think they went overkill by integrating 512GB into it? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more smartphone reviews at TechNave.com.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 roadshow begins, offering freebies, cash rebates and meet & greet with local celebrities

If you missed out the pre-order of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, don't fret because starting today (24 August 2018) onwards, the phablet is now officially in all Samsung Experience Stores, authorized resellers and partners across Malaysia for the same starting price of RM3699. Also starting from 24-26 August 2018 (or 27 August for Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur), there are several roadshows showcasing the phablet.

At a recommended retail price of RM3699 and RM4599 for the 128GB and 512GB models respectively, the Galaxy Note 9 is available in Midnight Black (both 128GB and 512GB) and Metallic Copper (128GB) with matching S Pen colours, and Ocean Blue (128GB) with a Yellow S Pen. If you're one of the first 1000 customers who purchase the new phablet at the roadshow, you will have a free gift that includes a Samsung Screen Protection Plan, Wireless Charger Pad and exclusive Selfie stick worth a total of RM515. On top of that, you can also get an instant cash rebate of RM999 if you decide to purchase a second Galaxy Note 9.

In addition to that, there will be some local celebrities making an appearance at Suria KLCC Kuala Lumpur roadshow this weekend. Below are the details of the roadshow locations and time slot for the special guests:

For more information about the Galaxy Note9 roadshow, you may visit the website here to check it out, as well as the full specifications and features about the phablet from our coverage from New York. Stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Android 13 might let users transfer media files more seamlessly with this feature

Although Android 13 is still a long way to go, we have already seen some of the features that it might bring. Today, a new one dubbed 'tap to transfer' has arrived, and it could allow users to transfer media files to speakers more seamlessly.

According to the source, the feature works by tapping the device on a speaker to play certain songs. It's somewhat similar to the 'Hand off audio' on Apple's HomePod smart speakers, which allows users to hold an iPhone or iPod Touch close to a HomePod to set the speaker as the output. Apple's makes use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but we're still not sure which mechanism Google's will follow.

There are also a few screenshots that demonstrate how the feature works. One screenshot has a small message on the top that reads "Move closer to play on DEMO", with another one showing "Playing on DEMO". The latter also has an Undo button, and it's assumed that users can stop playing the music after accidentally getting too close with a speaker.

Do you think this feature would be helpful to you? Drop a comment to let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specs leaked hinting a 512GB model

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has been spotted on a korean e-commerce website showcasing that the device will come in 3 variations with different capacity in terms of internal storage such as the 64GB, 256GB, and lastly, a whopping 512GB. It is best to note that the 512GB variant is expected to only be available in certain markets such as South Korea and chinese markets for now.

In terms of design, however, the device will have heavy resemblance to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is expected to be running on the Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 6.4-inch display, and a 4000mAh non-removable battery. It is best to note that the tech specs is not official so take every bit of information with a grain of salt. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.

Storage options for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9


Samsung Galaxy Note Edge announced, first bended display smartphone

Ever since Samsung came out with their YOUM flexible displays, everyone has been wondering when we'd be able to see a Samsung smartphone featuring a bended or flexible display. In a surprise move, Samsung officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, the world's first smartphone with a bended display. Exactly as it's name suggests, one side of the display is bent at an angle and is a fully functional Super AMOLED touchscreen. Apart from that, other tech specs and features are more or less the same as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, right down to the S Pen and better looking artificial leather backside. The single edge touchscreen on the side does make it feel a bit lopsided and it also raises the question of whether it is made for left-handed or right handed people, but overall the design is very premium looking. Tech specs and features for the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge include:

No Malaysia release dates or pricing details for the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge are available yet but it is expected to come later in 2014. So far, everything seems to be as accurate as the leaked flexible Super AMOLED display roadmap said it would be so we can likely expect a foldable or completely flexible display device at the next IFA in 2015.


Samsung Galaxy Note Edge coming to Malaysia soon?

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge remains the only smartphone in the world with a bended touchscreen on the side. Initially released with limited units for only certain countries, it seems that the Galaxy Note Edge could soon make it's way to Malaysia. This is because it was recently spotted in the SIRIM database under it's code number of SM-N915F. Other notable tech specs and features for the Galaxy Note Edge include a 2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB RAM and a 16MP ISOCELL rear camera along with S Pen stylus support. No news yet on specific Malaysia release dates or pricing but we expect the price to be higher than the RM2499 priced Samsung Galaxy Note 4 due to the Galaxy Note Edge's limited units. Stay tuned for more developments as it could be coming with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A7 which has also appeared on the SIRIM database.


Samsung Galaxy Note Edge launched in Malaysia for RM2999, hands-on included

Luke Au, Head of Product Marketing, Mobile Division, Samsung Malaysia Electronics launching the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

While it has been available in Malaysia since 6 February 2015, we managed to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. Retailing at RM2999, the smartphone with a bended or curved display will be available in charcoal black and misty white. The Note Edge offers the same features as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, right down to the improved S-Note, photo note and Air Command menu. However, it's extra curved strip of touchscreen adds on a row of customizable buttons, a notification center when you're watching or doing something else on the main screen and acting as the cover window to help save energy when you have the cover on. In short, it acts like an independant or extra screen for the Note Edge. It is a known fact that production of the Note Edge is limited, so if you want it, you'd better get it while you can. Check out the tech specs and our hands-on pictures of the Note Edge below.

Go Benn Lee, Manager, Product Marketing, Mobile Division, Samsung Malaysia Electronics explaining more on the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

The main screen offers the same 2K or 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution with an added 160 pixel strip on the edge

All the features in Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are here on the Note Edge, including the fingerprint scanner, 16MP rear camera, heartrate sensor and built-in S-Pen stylus

Sample night shot in the rain with the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, 16MP, Auto with no filter


Samsung Galaxy Note FE available for pre-order with a starting price of ~RM2628

After the much rumoured Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Fan Edition), Samsung has officially announced that the phablet will appear in South Korea first on 7 July 2017. LG’s carrier network, LG U+ actually posted the pre-order page on their Facebook but it’s no longer there, although they still accept reservations.

As mentioned in our previous post, the only difference between the Note FE and Note 7 is the battery downgrade with 3200 mAh battery (which is probably for the best), as well as having Bixby on board just like the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Aside from that, everything else is the same as the Note 7, even the recycled body parts that were returned to them last year.

The price tag could be up to 700,000 Won (~RM2628) and will come in Black Onyx, Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, and Silver Titanium. There are only 400,000 units so it’s hard to say if Samsung will import them into Malaysia.

Do you want the Note FE to come to Malaysia? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.