Vivo S1 review - A good budget-friendly gaming phone

Back in early July 2019, Vivo Malaysia started teasing a new smartphone. It wasn't just another smartphone, but a new S smartphone series which was quite intriguing. What could the new series bring to the table? We waited and just after three weeks, it was revealed to be the Vivo S1.

While the one in China also has the same name, it's a totally different variant from our local set. For just RM1099 only, this budget-friendly smartphone has quite a lot to offer - a gigantic 4500mAh battery with Dual-Engine Fast Charging technology, In-Display Fingerprint Sensor, Triple Rear Camera and more. This sounds good on paper, but how about in real life? Check it out in our review below.

Smartphones in gradient design are so common now that most consumers aren't probably going to bat an eye because it will be covered by a protective casing eventually. But still, the colour is one of the first things that gets the attention and the Vivo S1 certainly has the looks.

Coming in Diamond Black and Skyline Blue, the latter is the one that's quite unique because it can reflect some wavey effects perfectly separating the gradient colours. Combining that with the simple Vivo brand and the shiny triple rear camera, people could mistake it as a premium smartphone.

The back and front of the S1, a solid design

You can get a lot of shiny patterns with different lighting on the back

Triple SIM card tray with a dedicated microSD slot, the other button you see there is the quick Google Assistant button

Here's your typical volume and power button, 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB and speaker grill placement

Thankfully, the back design is not purely glass so you don't have to worry about its breaking it. But I'd still recommend getting a protective casing just in case. It's also worth mentioning that the screen panel is made of AMOLED so that's great for video playbacks and image viewing.

The 6GB RAM + 128GB storage memory capacity is more than enough for a casual smartphone user, while the Helio P65 chipset by MediaTek is quite respectable for gaming performance. Not to mention it has AI integrated cameras and more.

The Vivo S1 has a ton of features, but there is one thing that bothered me - the amount of bloatware apps on this phone is a lot. Just when you thought brands have learned that nobody really uses them, this is not the case for the S1 as there are a bunch of Vivo apps that practically mirror those available from Google.

For instance, the V-Appstore, Hot Apps and Hot Games are more or less the same, while Vivo.com leads you to the website (lol). There's also a Vivo Browser which is a combo of Google Chrome and News spamming you news that you didn't ask for, and then there's Jovi AI that leads you to Google Assistant. In my opinion, this is a waste of resources but some might like them.

Vivo Browser will start sending you news notification once you start using it even without signing in

Hot Games app (left) which you can download the same games on V-Appstore, Hot Apps and Google Play Store. On the right, you can edit your in-display fingerprint sensor animation which looks nice but doesn't unlock as fast as it should

Game Assistant makes a return and like most similar features from other brands, it helps to boost gaming performance as well as blocking out all incoming messages and calls. There's an Esports mode that is specifically meant for "Battle Royale" mobile games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Arena of Valor as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a game recorder for some reason.

There IS a feature that I like, though. Vivo is probably the first to have this feature before other brands. The FunTouch OS 9 actually has a Dark Mode and surprise surprise, it works on Facebook, WhatsApp and WPS Office! Dark Mode also applies to its own app interfaces such as Settings, Note and others.

Thanks to the Game Assistant, Helio P65 chipset and 6GB of RAM, the Vivo S1 can play intense graphics games rather well, surprisingly. This includes Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile but about the Esports Mode that we mentioned earlier, it doesn't seem to make that much of a difference for Battle Royale games. Nonetheless, it gets the job done at the end of the day so that's all it matters.

With 4500mAh battery inside, it can last for a day's normal usage easily. Battery consumption from heavy gaming seems average like most devices, as it drains around 10% more or less after half an hour of gaming.

The recharging is fine, but I expected better since their Dual Engine Fast Charging technology back in the V11 charged quite fast. For some reason , it took more than 30 minutes for the S1 to go over 50%. Oh well, still better than your average 10W charging output.

Sitting at the 51st spot in the AnTuTu score chart

3DMark (left) score isn't that impressive, the battery performance (right)

While gaming performance is fine, its FPS is only up to 30 max, the zig-zag line you see is the CPU usage during multiplayer

Overall result from Gamebench - 30FPS, 89% FPS stability, and 15.63% CPU usage

Other minor performances such as WiFi connection, GPS and network calls are working fine. It's worth mentioning that the display performance is good too since it's using AMOLED display. The audio performance, on the other hand, could use some improvement (sometimes it can be too sharp) but then again, it's not something you expect out of a RM1099 device.

Moving on to the camera performance, the triple rear camera on a budget-friendly device is definitely a catch. But having a look at the specs, the redeeming quality of the photos mostly come from the 16MP Sony IMX499 sensor and the 32MP front-facing camera which takes good photos.

That can't be said the same about the 8MP ultra-wide lens which is a bit too little in my opinion. Taking an ultra-wide photo shot can still be achieved, but depending on which environment you're at, results may vary. You can check out our photo samples below.

The difference between taking a normal angle (left) and ultra-wide angle (right) photo from the same position

Here's the horizontal ultra-wide angle photo shot

Medium shot of a car, as long there's light, the photos are fine with the main camera

Using portrait mode, it's not really able to capture white balance (left) and movement that well (see the blurred dress)

Another portrait mode photo, the hand on the model (right) doesn't look crisp

Colour contrast on portrait mode fades off too

Photos will also suffer in low-light environments

Even the main camera can't do much in a low-light environment like this

The Vivo S1 sort of feels like a mixed bag of features. At RM1099 it is a good deal as it has a nice design, respectable mid-range specs, Game Assistant, and a pretty big 4500mAh battery (with a somewhat fast charging technology). While I can understand that the features (camera performance, fast charging, and in-display fingerprint scanner) aren't as good as the upper mid-range and flagships, the most glaring minus is the amount of bloatware that does the same thing as Google apps.

In comparison, it has plenty of fierce competition around. There's the Xiaomi Mi 9T that already won fans with a Snapdragon 730 chipset for RM1199. The same goes for the OPPO F11 Pro that has similar specs and captures good low-light photos. Since this is the first S series smartphone they made, we hope they can make a better and much-improved device on the next model (most probably called the S2) in the next few months.

So what do you think of the Vivo S1? Know anyone that uses the smartphone? Let us know, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more smartphone reviews at TechNave.com.


Vivo S1 unboxing, hands-on and first impression video

Not to be confused with the Vivo S1 from China, the pre-order for the local set is now over and it's finally on sale in every Vivo concept store, authorized dealer, as well as its online store portal (Vivo, Lazada, Shopee and Presto Mall) across the nation for just RM1099. For a device featuring mid-range tier tech specs, we have to say it isn't so bad on paper.

As a budget-friendly device, here are some of the highlight features of the S1 - it houses a new MediaTek Helio P65 chipset, 6.39-inch AMOLED FHD+ display, a 32MP AI camera, a triple 16MP (Sony IMX499 sensor) + 8MP (120° ultrawide lens) + 2MP (depth sensor) rear camera, a 4500mAh battery supported by a Dual Engine fast charging technology, 6GB + 128GB memory capacity and many more, which can be explored more in our unboxing, hands-on and first impression video below.

Stay tuned for more unboxing videos at TechNave.com!


Vivo S1 will have different design and tech specs for the Malaysian market + 32MP front-facing camera

Vivo Malaysia has recently teased that the Vivo S1 series will be coming in Malaysia, equipped with a 32MP front-facing selfie camera which is embedded under the dewdrop notch. Not only that, but it will also come with a triple rear camera setup as well. That being said, it is best to note that the Vivo S1 series that is coming to Malaysia is completely different in terms of design and tech specs as compared to the Vivo S1 that was released in China, most likely due to a clash in the naming scheme.

Other than the triple camera setup, the Vivo S1 will also come with an in-display fingerprint sensor as well as AI camera assistant. As of now, there is no news on the Malaysia release date, official pricing as well as the exact tech specs of the Malaysian Vivo S1. What do you think about Vivo S1 series so far? Let us know on our Facebook Page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo TWS Neo spotted on their website and it's expected to be cheaper than ~RM486

It seems that Vivo’s upcoming earbuds called the Vivo TWS Neo has been posted on their official website, and it seems to come equipped with a 14.2mm drivers and an AptX codec from Qualcomm. While not much is known in regards to the exact price of the aforementioned earbuds, gizmochina claims that it will most likely be cheaper than RMB799(~RM486).

With all that said, do take every bit of information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Vivo has yet to provide an official statement in regards to the accidental leak. Not only that, but there’s also no information on the Malaysia release date and local pricing of the TWS Neo for now.

Would you be interested in getting the Vivo TWS Neo as soon as it is available in Malaysia? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V11 unboxing and first impressions video

The Vivo V11 has recently been released and it is currently valued at RM1699. In this video we’ll doing an unboxing and first impression of the recently released device.

In terms of tech specs, the device is running on an Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 12MP + 5MP rear camera setup, 25MP front facing selfie camera, 6.41-inch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and it is powered by a 3400mAh non-removable battery. For more updates and videos like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V11i and Y81i price dropped on Vivo Christmas Carnival Season starting from RM499

Hey TechNavers, Christmas is coming early! Vivo Malaysia will be starting its Vivo Christmas Carnival Season tomorrow (23 November 2018) and with that, you can bet it's another promotion sale on some of their gadgets! The two spotlight gadgets are the latest Vivo V11i and the Y81i, as the prices have dropped to RM1099 and RM499 respectively.

The promotion is available at all Vivo Concept Stores, authorised dealers and collaboration partners across the nation, as well as its online store on Lazada and LMall, Shopee, 11street and of course its official online store here. The initial price for the V11i is RM1299 and we think it's a good time to get one if you're looking for a selfie snapper. To recap, it features a 16MP + 5MP dual rear camera with several AI features such as AI Backlight mode, AI Low light mode, AI Scene Recognition and AI Portrait Framing. It also has a Fast Charging technology and comes in Starry Night, Nebula and Fairy Pink.

On the other hand, nothing much to look at the Y81i but it's a super budget-friendly smartphone. Happy shopping and stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo V11i officially goes on sale in Malaysia for the price of RM1299

The Vivo V11i is officially available for purchase in Malaysia for the price of RM1299 at all Vivo concept stores, authorised dealers and partners such as Senheng, senQ, Courts, Chan Furniture, Harvey Norman as well as Aeon across Malaysia. For those who are keen on purchasing online may do so at online stores such as Lazada, 11street, Shopee, LMall, Ezbuy, Aladdin Street and lastly, Vivo’s official online store. In addition to that, customers who purchase the Vivo V11i will be entitled for a limited edition gift box courtesy of Vivo.

In terms of tech specs, the Vivo V11i runs on the MediaTek Helio P60 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 16MP image sensor + 5MP depth sensor rear camera setup, 25MP front facing selfie camera, 6.3-inch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels and a 3315mAh non-removable battery.

Alternatively, if you want the Vivo V11 which has a higher 6GB RAM, this variant uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, the same storage space and 25MP front camera, a 12MP (dual pixel) + 5MP dual rear camera, 3400mAh battery and the first mid-range smartphone to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor along with a Dual Engine Fast Charging technology. This variant cost RM1699.

For more information you can check out Vivo's official website and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like these.


Vivo V11i telco price and benefits comparison

The Vivo V11i was launched earlier this month for the price of RM1299 and it is available for purchase from telcos in Malaysia such as Maxis, Celcom, and Tunetalk. We are going to take a closer look at each telcos as well as the price and benefits of purchasing a Vivo V11i from them.

Starting with Celcom, customers will be able to get the Vivo V11i for free simply by signing up for either the Celcom First Platinum Plus priced at RM188 a month or the Celcom First Platinum priced at RM148 a month. By getting the device through the First Gold Supreme at RM128 or First Gold Plus at RM98, the device will be priced at RM438 and RM598 respectively. In addition to that, customers who purchase through Celcom will be able to obtain 100GB of free Video, unlimited calls, WhatsApp and WeChat and up to 100GB of data for internet browsing.

Maxis on the other hand, offers the Vivo V11i for the price of only RM1 when purchasing the device through their MaxisONE Plan 188 a month and MaxisONE Plan 158. Obtaining the device through the MaxisONE Plan 128 and MaxisONE Plan 98 will drop the device’s price down to RM499 and RM599 respectively. There’s also benefits such as unlimited calls and SMS, up to 60GB of data for internet browsing shared up to 4 phones lines.

Lastly, Tunetalk is offering 240GB of internet data when the device is purchased from the official Tunetalk store and it has to have a TuneTalk SIM card installed. You can check out more information about these offers on their respective official websites.

The Vivo V11i runs on the MediaTek Helio P60 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 16MP image sensor + 5MP depth sensor rear camera setup, 25MP front facing selfie camera, 6.3-inch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels and a 3315mAh non-removable battery. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V15 Pro equipped pop-up camera officially available starting from ~RM1658

Vivo has announced the official launch of the Vivo V15 Pro in India today, starting from the price of INR28990(~RM1658) and comes with a 32MP pop-up front-facing camera along with a 48MP + 8MP + 5MP rear camera setup.

Speaking of the pop-up camera, the mechanism is similar to that of the Vivo NEX which was unveiled last year. There was even a promotional video about it showcasing that the pop-up camera is able to hold up to more than 12KG in weight without malfunctioning. While it is not known that the V15 Pro could do the same, we expect the pop-up camera to be able to perform similarly.

Vivo NEX pop-up camera durability test video

In terms of the tech specs, the Vivo V15 Pro is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 32MP pop-up camera mentioned earlier, 48MP + 8MP + 5MP rear sensors, 6.4-inch display with up to 91.64% screen-to-body ratio and it is powered by a 3700mAh non-removable battery with fast charging capabilities. That being said, there is no official news on when the aforementioned device will be available in Malaysia, as well as the official price for it. Stay tuned to TechNave.com, as we provide more updates such as this.


5 Panasonic wireless earphones (that looks cooler) for the Apple iPhone 7

Ever since the Apple AirPods were revealed, it has been made-fun-of by the Internet of its silly design for weeks and for a good reason. Although internally it makes sense, but it just looks like Apple got lazy on how it should look. Anyway, Apple are also offering some new Beats by Dre headphones for a wireless experience, but there are other options as well that you should also check out.

The five wireless Panasonic pairs below are all on sale on Amazon right now through 1 October 2016, should you be interested just click on the link of the name and order them!

Panasonic WINGSBest in Class Wireless BluetoothIn Ear Earbuds Sport Headphones RP-BTS50-W (White)

Panasonic WINGSBest in Class Wireless BluetoothIn Ear Earbuds Sport Headphones RP-BTS50-K (Jet Black)

Panasonic WINGS Best in Class Wireless Bluetooth In Ear Earbuds Sport Headphones RP-BTS30-W (White)

Panasonic WINGS Best in Class Wireless Bluetooth In Ear Earbuds Sport Headphones RP-BTS30-Y (Urban Yellow)

Panasonic WINGS Best in Class Wireless Bluetooth In Ear Earbuds Sport Headphones RP-BTS30-K (Jet Black)

Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com.


Apple iPad 5 Front Panel Leaks Confirm New Narrower Look?

In our previous Apple iPad 5 rumour we mentioned that the fifth generation iPad could be going for a narrower look and feel with a thinner and lighter chassis. These new leaked pictures of a tablet's front panel seem to confirm this.

Sourced from french blog Nowhereelse, the pics certainly seem compelling with direct pressure from the fingers on what appears to be the glass screen. However, while the previous rumour about a narrower Apple iPad 5 may be true, it could very well be the front panel of a china-brand tablet, many of which also have 9.7-inch screens. The source blog does have a good track record when it comes to Apple leaks, but as always, don't believe everything you see completely.[Source]


Vivo V15 Pro featured in an exclusive fashion shoot in Pin Prestige lifestyle and fashion magazine

Recently, the Vivo V15 Pro has been featured in an exclusive fashion shoot hosted by Pin Prestige, which is the leading Chinese luxury fashion and lifestyle magazine. The photoshoot highlighted as well as showcase the various capabilities of the aforementioned device, while also maintaining a fashionable and stylish outlook.

Not only that, it comes equipped with the world’s first 32MP elevating front camera which allows the everyday fashionistas to take beautiful pictures of their outfits daily even in lowlight conditions. Mike Xu has noted that Vivo aims to “break barriers and be in tune with the consumer’s lifestyle needs to provide the best of technology combined with style and fashion.”

In terms of the tech spec of the Vivo V15 Pro, the device is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 128GB of internal storage, 48MP + 8MP + 5MP rear camera, 32MP Elevating Front Camera, 6.39-inch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2316 pixels and it is powered by a 3700mAh non-removable battery. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V15 Pro may sport a triple rear camera setup with an interesting blood red to black gradient design

Ahead of its launch on the 20th of February in New Delhi, India, the vivo V15 Pro has been leaked again. An Indian publication shared a leaked hands-on video which lasts a mere 3 seconds, revealing the back of the device.

The vivo V15 Pro may come in a glass body with a gradient colour, starting with black on the top to a dark, blood red at the bottom which is patterned. On the top left, a triple camera setup can be seen, positioned vertically.

Besides that, the publication also revealed images of a poster, showing that the Chinese manufacturer may also be revealing the vivo V15 on the same day as the V15 Pro. So far, no tech specs and features of both phones have been revealed. Our guess, besides the obvious difference in RAM and internal storage, the phones may differ in camera sensors as well but we shall see.

The posters showing the reveal of the V15 may be on the same day as the vivo V15 Pro

We expect the device to feature a 32MP selfie camera housed in the pop up mechanism. Other than that, it may be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage and high screen to body ratio Super AMOLED display. A UD fingerprint scanned is almost a given, seeing the leaks, and the rear camera may come with 48MP, 8MP and 5MP sensors.

Pre-orders for the smartphone are expected to begin ahead of its launch on the 15th of February. Honestly, despite assurances in their teaser videos that the smartphone will be sturdy, I still have reservations about moving parts in smartphones. What do you think? To be the first to know about the vivo V15 Pro when it is revealed, TechNave.com is where you should be checking out!


Vivo V15 Pro review - An impressive mid-range camera phone

Taking selfies has become a fairly daily routine and it is enormously popular on social media. In addition to photography techniques, a good selfie camera plays a part in taking insta-worthy photos that will get you lots of likes.

Speaking about selfie phones, Vivo has recently launched the Vivo V15 Pro. Inspired by the Vivo Nex, the V15 Pro is their first mid-range phone with a whopping 32MP pop-up selfie camera. Priced at RM1799, the pop-up selfie camera also supposedly works smoother and sturdier than the Nex with its improved mechanism. But is that enough to make it stand out in the market? Read on to find out more.

Available in Topaz Blue and Coral Red, the V15 Pro has a visually striking design that will make some heads turn. The review unit that we have is in Topaz Blue with a stylish colour gradient. Upon a closer look, the rear is textured and reflects mesmerizing shades at different angles which makes it look even more stunning.

The device comes with curved glass on the back with rounded corners which sit quite nicely in hand. It comes in the right size for most women’s hands and is compact enough to carry around without feeling the strain on your palm. However, it is a bit too slippery to hold without a cover.

The Vivo V15 Pro measures 157.3 x 74.7 x 8.2 mm and weighs 185g. Thanks to the pop-up selfie camera, the V15 Pro offers a no-notch full view and slimmer bezels which bears a 91.64% screen-to-body ratio

You will see a slight bulge on the rear of the phone and that’s the rear camera. The V15 Pro gets a triple camera setup consisting of a primary sensor, ultra-wide angle and depth sensor along with LED flash. The vivo logo is placed at the bottom

On the right side are the volume rocker and power button while a customizable smart button is on the left. The smart button has up to three different functions via a single press, a double press or a long press. Above the smart button is a dedicated MicroSD tray

The dual nano-sim tray and Micro USB port are placed at the bottom left, while the 3.5mm audio jack is at the top with the pop-up camera

Overall, I would say that the V15 pro is very stylish. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen with punchy colours and sharpness that was beyond our expectations, it works pretty well even if the phone is used under bright sunlight. Without a notch, nothing distracts you from visual content and watching videos is definitely an immersive experience!

For a minimalist who gets bored with the normal black or white, it is definitely a great option to consider. However, it is prone to fingerprints and smudges. Without a case, be ready to wipe it every now and then.

The V15 Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon 675 chipset and 6GB of RAM. Generally, 128GB worth of space should be good enough for most smartphone users but you can always add on a microSD card for additional storage needs, up to 256GB. It's also powered by a 3700mAh battery and has an 18W fast charging technology.

Camera wise, the phone comes with a triple rear camera setup with 48MP (primary sensor) + 8MP (AI ultra-wide angle lens) + 5MP (depth sensor). It is said that the device adopted 4-in-1 pixel technology, supports A1 super night mode, backlight mode, HDR, A1 face beauty, AI body shaping and 120° super wide angles. Sounds like what all a modern selfie smartphone should need!

The camera UI for the front (left) and back (right)

Then for selfies, there is a 32MP camera sensor sitting under the pop-up camera module. In addition to AI face beauty, it supports AR sticker and AI filters. It has a speedy facial unlock even in low light or dark environments and quite secure as the device refuses to unlock with eyes closed. Well, not everyone is a fan of Face ID, but the in-display fingerprint reader works equally fast and is perfectly fine even with a wet and sweaty finger.

There is also a digital assistant called Jovi, but mainly still revolves around the Google Assistant so it still hasn't changed much from the last time we saw it on previous vivo phone models. The AI image recognition on the rear camera detects and identifies objects inside the frame, provides information like name, pricing, location and some other details. As far as identifying objects is concerned, the search results are a bit off. Besides AI image recognition, Jovi features a range of AI features such as AI photography, AI scene recognition and an AI button.

As a mid-range phone, it showed pretty good results with a score of 180501 on the Antutu benchmark test, whereas the 3DMark scores around 1000 and the Vulkan API scores 1160. Quite impressive, and it gets better with Game Assist for a nice gaming experience, this is because it features all the common tools such as background calls, black floating previews, bot mode, auto reject calls, display easy touch and game picture-in-picture. Thumbs up for uninterrupted mobile gaming moments anymore!

The 3700mAh battery can run easily over a day without using a power bank. However, the charging speed is somewhat slower than expected (since it has an 18W fast charger) which takes nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete charging from 26% to 100%. So please remember to charge your phone before you dash out the door without a charger.

In terms of gaming performance, the V15 Pro performed decently while playing Arena of Valor. The gameplay was rather smooth with no frame drops even when it was running on HDR graphics setting. After about 20 minutes of gameplay with auto-brightness adjustment, the battery drained only 4% which is quite impressive.

Playing for long periods of time didn’t even come close to heating up the phone for a wonderful gaming experience. Of course, it's a different story on a more intense graphics game like Honkai Impact 3, which drains the battery more and the graphics can be slightly laggy. But the overall gaming experience was satisfactory.

Game Assist toolbar can be slid from the left

Honkai Impact 3 can be quite blurry and pixelated sometimes, but the battery only dropped 4% after 20 minutes of gameplay

It’s time the look at the camera test! I personally appreciate the AI beauty and AI body shaping tools, as it makes me look fabulous from head to toe in both photos and videos. It is convenient enough to post to social media without having to edit it! However, the downside is that the photos aren't as sharp when captured in low light conditions.

Thankfully, the night mode greatly improves brightness and clarity which takes only 2-5 seconds to process. It should be noted that the shutter speed setting and brightness adjustment are not allowed for night scene shooting. In low brightness, I would suggest using professional mode or normal mode. Overall, the V15 Pro delivers a pretty good photo quality. It’s even better if night mode is applicable to selfie low light conditions to get rid of the noisy and grainy results. Check out the photo samples below!

Crisp and clear, as long as there is light

Mhmm, ain't complete without a food photo

This is a macro shot of a miniature motorcycle

The texture details on the papers are not bad

If you are a photography enthusiast, the V15 Pro is a decent mid-range option with a long-lasting battery. So there’s no need to worry about the battery running out while taking photos outside. The tech specs are also great for general use with reasonably good gaming performance.

On the other hand, the HONOR View 20 is another pretty good choice and retails for RM1999. It does not come with a wide angle lens and a pop-up camera., though, and another alternative is the Huawei Nova 4, priced at RM1899. Well, if you can afford them it is really just a matter of personal preference which you choose.

For the latest on mobile phone reviews, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V15 to be unveiled sooner than expected and it's equipped with 32MP front and 48MP rear camera

Previously we’ve mentioned in a recent article, stating that the Vivo V15 series could be launched on the 20 February 2019. However, based on a recent invite that we have received, the Vivo V15 series could be unveiled earlier than the aforementioned date.

As far as we know, for now, the Vivo V15 Pro will come equipped with a 32MP pop-up camera in the front and a 48MP + 8MP + 5MP triple-rear camera, 6GB RAM + 128GB of internal storage, in screen fingerprint sensor and it is powered by a 3700mAh non-removable battery. Stay tuned to TechNave.com as we provide more updates on the smartphone mentioned.


Vivo V15 to come in a new Pink Colour in collaboration with SimplySiti

In collaboration with Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s SimplySiti brand, Vivo will be releasing a new “Blossom Pink” colour scheme which will be launched on the 13 May 2019. Vivo has yet to give us any info regarding the official local pricing of the device, as well as what kind of products from SimplySiti that will be bundled along with the new colour.

In terms of the tech specs, the Vivo V15 is equipped with the Mediatek Helio P70 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 12MP + 8MP + 5MP rear camera, 32MP front-facing pop-up camera, 6.53-inch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and it is powered by a 4000mAh non-removable battery. For more updates regarding the product mentioned, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V17 Pro could come with dual pop-up front camera and quad-camera setup at the back

Based on a statement by winfuture.de, the upcoming Vivo V17 Pro could come with a dual pop-up front-facing selfie camera as well as a quad-camera setup in the rear. Not only that, but it is also expected to come embedded with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset, up to 8GB of RAM and a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display.

In terms of the tech specs on the image sensors, the front-facing pop-up module is expected to house a 32MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. While on the back, the device will come with a 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP cameras which are arranged vertically.

With all that said, do take every bit of information with a grain of salt as vivo has yet to provide any comments on the aforementioned smartphone. What do you think of the alleged Vivo V17 Pro? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo V17 Pro launched with dual pop up selfie camera priced at ~RM1768

The vivo V17 Pro has been officially launched today. This smartphone features a dual pop up selfie camera with 32MP + 8MP (ultrawide) sensors as well as a quad rear camera setup. The price of the device is pretty decent at 29990 Rupees (~RM1768).

Tech specs of the device include a 6.44 inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, an in-display fingerprint reader, the Snapdragon 675 chipset, 8GB RAM + 128GB internal storage and a 4100mAh battery capacity with 18W Dual-Engine Fast Charge support.

As mentioned before, the elevating selfie camera comes with 2 sensors. The 8MP (ultrawide) sensor comes with a 105 degree FOV which is pretty useful for group shots and scenic selfies. The pop up mechanism is also where the earpiece is placed, allowing the device to rock the fullview display. In addition, there is also an LED flash housed there named Selfie Softlight for better low light pictures by combining multiple photos.

On the back, you’ll find a quad camera setup lined vertically in the middle of the device. It comes with 48MP (Sony IMX582) + 13MP (telephoto with 2x optical zoom) + 8MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (depth) sensors. The 8MP sensor is also able to capture macro shots from distances as close as 2.5cm.

The device comes in 2 colours which are Crystal Black and Crystal Sky and goes on sale in India on the 27th of September. There has been no word of the Malaysia price or Malaysia release date of the device. Fingers crossed that it does come here! Would you be grabbing this phone? Keep up with the latest vivo news on TechNave.com!


Vivo V17 Pro may be coming to Malaysia soon with dual pop up selfie cameras

Vivo has always been innovative when it comes to their smartphones and the upcoming vivo V17 Pro is no exception. This device has been confirmed to feature a dual pop up selfie camera and a quad rear camera setup.

A vivo store’s Facebook page had made a post with the hashtags #comingsoon and #preorder. With this info, we can safely predict that the device should be announced in Malaysia very, very soon.

The vivo V17 Pro has been expected to come with tech specs that include the Snapdragon 675 chipset, up to 8GB RAM, up to 128GB internal storage, a 6.44 inch AMOLED display with optical in-display fingerprint reader, 4100mAh battery and USB-C port.

Now here comes the interesting part: The camera. The vivo V17 Pro has been confirmed to launch with a quad camera setup on the back with 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP sensors. The selfie camera is really where my interest is piqued.

We’ve seen dual selfie cameras on smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S10+ but the vivo V17 Pro could be the first dual pop up selfie camera on the market. The selfie cameras may be equipped with 32MP + 2MP sensors which means that the device may be able to capture some solid portrait shots.

So far, no Malaysia release date or Malaysia price has been mentioned but the idea that the device may be here soon is pretty reassuring. With these cool features on a mid-range device, would you be upgrading to this phone? Keep up with the latest vivo news and releases on TechNave.com!


Vivo V17 Pro passes SIRIM certification + Vivo continues to sponsor PUBG MOBILE Club Open 19

Previously, one of the Vivo stores in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has hinted the possibility of the hexa-camera V17 Pro smartphone coming into Malaysia soon. Well, we are pleased to announce that this is legit and it has received SIRIM certification.

It was registered under Vivo Technologies Sdn Bhd with the name 'vivo 1910'. With this, we believe that the V17 Pro will be launched quite soon in Malaysia. Just throwing a wild guess, but we think it will be released in October, given the time frame for the company to prepare like how they did it for the Vivo S1.

Vivo Malaysia has also started teasing the '6 Cameras, Perfect Shot' smartphone, which hinted that the V17 Pro will be coming with a 32MP dual pop-up front camera and a quad-rear AI camera. Besides that, it's said that the phone will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset, up to 8GB of RAM, 128GB storage, a 4100mAh battery, an in-display fingerprint sensor on the 6.44-inch AMOLED display and more.

In other news, Vivo has also stated that they will continue to be the official title sponsor of the upcoming Fall Split of PUBG MOBILE Club Open (PMCO) Global Finals 2019 in December. You can read more information about it right here. Until then, stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo V17 Pro will be unveiled on 1 October 2019 in Malaysia

Vivo Malaysia has recently announced that the Vivo V17 Pro, which is equipped with up to 6 cameras will be launched in Malaysia on 1 October 2019. Based on what we know so far, the Vivo V17 Pro recently acquired a SIRIM certification and it possesses tech specs such as a 32MP + 2MP dual front-facing pop-up camera.

On the flip side, the rear of the device is expected to come with an AI-assisted 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP quad-camera setup as well. Other than that, not much is known about the rest of the tech specs such as the chipset, memory configuration, battery capacity as well as display size.

Would you be interested in getting the Vivo V17 Pro smartphone for yourself? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Apple iPad 5 Malaysia Release Date & Specs

Various reliable sources expected that Apple should announce the newest iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 this month.  As a norm for Apple, the event should be held on 22nd October.The focus of the event will be on the 5th generation full size iPad as well as the second generation iPad mini. The new iPad 5 is expected to be thinner, lighter and overall smaller because of its reduced bezels. The second generation iPad mini 2 will get the same treatment, expected along with the new retina display. Rumors saying that Apple will putting the fingerprint scanner on them but it is not been confirmed yet.If the announcement date of October 22nd is true then the release date for both new iPads should be around first week in November.

The focus of the event will be on the 5th generation full size iPad as well as the second generation iPad mini. The new iPad 5 is expected to be thinner, lighter and overall smaller because of its reduced bezels. The second generation iPad mini 2 will get the same treatment, expected along with the new retina display. Rumors saying that Apple will putting the fingerprint scanner on them but it is not been confirmed yet. If the announcement date of October 22nd is true then the release date for both new iPads should be around first week in November.


Vivo V20 Pro 5G release: 44MP Eye Autofocus & Snapdragon 765G, priced at ~RM1978

The vivo V20 series have not yet launch in Malaysia, but there a lot of rumours about it. The vivo V20 Pro 5G has just launched in Thailand, and we think it could be the same tech specs if it is going to launch in Malaysia.

The vivo V20 Pro 5G comes with an anti-scratch matte glass and 3 colour variants which are Sunset Melody, Midnight Jazz, and Moonlight Sonata. As for the display, it features a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED display and a 60Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the device does sport a Snapdragon 765G chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage.

Sunset Melody (gradient), Midnight Jazz (black), and Moonlight Sonata (white)

On top of that, the camera module kinda looks similar to the X50 series. The device features a triple rear camera, a 64MP (main camera) + 2MP (mono lens) + 8MP (ultra-wide) with some new features such as tripod night mode, super night mode, 3D soundtracking, and double exposure.

As for the selfie snapper, it comes with a 44MP (main camera) + 8MP (super-wide angle lens). There’s a new feature which is an Eye Autofocus that will focus on the user’s eye even if the subject doesn’t look at the camera. Furthermore, this device does sport a dual-SIM tray, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 10.

Lastly, the phone comes with a 4000mAh battery capacity, supporting 33W FlashCharge technology with a USB-C charging port. The price tag for this device is THB14999 (~RM1978). Would you buy the vivo V20 Pro 5G if it is launched in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments below, be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


Vivo V2035 spotted on Geekbench listing with tech specs

Last month, the vivo V2035 was spotted on FCC and now it appeared on Geenbench. According to sources, the device might sport 8GB of RAM and running Android 11 out of the box.

Besides that, it may feature a dual-SIM slot, 4G connectivity, powered by a 5000mAh battery, and supports 18W charging. As for the chipset, it might perhaps sport a Snapdragon 662 or Snapdragon 460.

Which vivo smartphones do you think is this? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


Vivo V3Max announced for RM1399 only with Dual Charging Circuit, advance HiFi audio and more

(left to right) Vivo emcee, Mr Eric Ye, Global Product Manager, Mr Mike Xu, CEO of vivo Malaysia, and Mr Zheng, vivo General Manager showing the Vivo V3Max

Today, Vivo has revealed the Vivo V3Max for RM1399 only (inclusive of GST) and although the device is already on pre-order in Malaysia since 6 April onwards until 14 April (2016), the device will be up for retail sale on 15 April at every authorized vivo dealers nationwide. Below are the official specifications:-

The bottom, headphone jack located on the top

The right side, dual-SIM slot is lcoated on the left

"Until today, vivo has over 3000 sales offices and service centre that cover the whole Malaysia. In the future, we will increase the number of sales offices and service centre to help our customers from different regions to solve their problems," said Vivo Malaysia CEO, Mr Mike Xu at the event today sharing vivo's aim to move towards to become the world's top class enterprise in the long run.

The gold smartphone packs quite some impressive tech-specs (refer above). Using the theme "Faster than faster", this is what makes the V3Max stand out with is fast response time and smooth experience thanks to its Funtouch OS 2.5 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, which has been significantly optimised at the system's bottom level. The "CPU mode smart recognition" feature is part of the OS and it's designed to run the CPU in a number of ways, with 30 over items optimization at the system's bottom level.

Moving on, perhaps the most impressive feature of the device is its Dual-Charge Circuit that provides fast charging speed, it's said to be used for 2 hours of non-stop music playback in just 5 minutes! By adopting the dual-chip controlled twin engine charging circuit, the twin-circuit is able to provide faster and more stable charging speed than a single-circuit one.

What's more, users can take a selfie with the fingerprint on command, it also has a new camera feature known as UltraHD photo which can take extremely high-quality pictures that when you zoom in the image, it's still crystal clear. And able to video chat with friends and family without exiting a video playing in the background. Lastly, it has 9 different types of protection systems which are:

For more information on V3Max, visit either one of the links below to get started.


Vivo V3Max coming to Malaysia on 13 April 2016, get your free gifts with a pre-order now

The Vivo V3Max will be coming to Malaysia on 13 April 2016 with a special pre-order promotion going on. Go check out the nearest vivo outlets to make your pre-order and get a mystery gift worth RM199 and a leather phone case (while stocks last). The V3Max offers a number of premium tech specs and features including a Snapdragon 652 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, a rear fingerprint sensor and 5.5-inch full HD display. No Malaysia pricing details yet, but it recently went on sale in India for RM1409 so here's hoping to a price tag below that.

Here are the specifications for the Vivo V3 Max:

Vivo Malaysia are also holding a contest to win a Vivo V3Max called the Finger-Run, which you can check out at their site.


Vivo V3Max review - Polished performing 4GB RAM metal midranger

There’s a whole bunch of metal midrange smartphones these days packing in a metal unibody, fingerprint sensor and more or less midrange tech specs and the vivo V3Max appears to be one of them. To be perfectly honest, I’m not particularly a fan of vivo smartphones, having already reviewed another metal Vivo, but this time around the V3Max pleasantly surprised me with it’s well polished design and flagship-level performance. Read on to find out why.

Most metal unibody smartphones look alike these days, but with small touches like different placement of the antenna bands and a more refined build, the vivo V3Max manages to make a metal unibody smartphone that looks a bit more unique compared to all the others… from the back. While it still maintains a rear fingerprint sensor below the 13MP rear camera with dual LED flash, the design sets it apart from all the other matte metal backsided smartphones out there so kudos to vivo on that.

At 168g the V3Max is quite lightweight and portable for a 5.5-inch display phablet while the 7.58mm thin body is fairly comfortable to hold thanks to the subtly curved backside. The full HD 5-inch display looks better than average with accurate colours while the front design is functional with slim bezels. We would have liked it more if the front was shiny metallic as well and the rear camera was flush to the body but this isn’t an issue with the included transparent soft case. Vivo have been quite generous as the V3Max comes bundled with a free TPU case, USB OTG cable and fast charger to go with the dual-engine quick charging feature and the standard USB to microUSB cable

Fairly generous pack for the vivo V3Max, complete with USB OTG cable and soft case

The vivo V3Max comes with a fast charger

The Vivo V3Max holds the distinction amongst the current range of metal midrangers as one of the few to pack in 4GB of RAM. However, like these other metal midrangers common features like a rear fingerprint sensor and metal body are also there. That being said, here are the V3Max tech specs:

Apart from the RAM, other high-end features include the 5.5-inch FHD display, 13MP PDAF rear camera, metal body, fingerprint sensor, dual SIM 4G LTE and dedicated AK4375 Hi-Fi Audio chip. While it may be vivo’s current flagship, it is missing certain flagship features like NFC or an infra-red blaster for universal remote controls.

The Funtouch OS is skinned much like iOS

Android 5.1 is rather low compared to the other smartphones (most of which are using Android 6.0 Marshmallow moving onto Android 7.0 Nougat) but the Funtouch OS 2.51 has been skinned to resemble Apple’s iOS, right down to the swipe up control center. While you can capture video (useful for recording games) I didn’t like the extra steps it took to take a screenshot. You also get a split screen feature as well.

The vivo V3Max camera features and professional photo mode

There are 9 camera features available, not much compared to some like the PixelMaster series from ASUS, but there are features like panorama, HDR and slow motion, so they are enough for most users. There is a professional mode as well again designed to look much like the one in iOS.

We have to say, the better processor and bigger RAM does make for better performing midranger with an AnTuTu score of 73164, placing it very close to other flagships. Other benchmarks were also higher than average while gaming with Asphalt 8: Airborne was more or less lag free even with high visual quality settings. The phone does become a bit warm when fast charging or using the GPS but you generally do not feel the heat too much thanks to the bundled casing.

AnTuTu scores for the vivo V3Max were up there with the flagships

Get lag free performance in Asphalt 8: Airborne

Camera performance is fast and zippy with none of the former lagginess found in some other vivo phones with very fast autofocus and panorama stitching. Colours are clear, vibrant and accurate, while video and selfies are well done for the most part. However, low-light performance could have been much better as you can see significant grain in our night shots.

The Hi-Fi Audio works mainly for Hi-Fi headsets but even the bundled headset provides better audio quality then normal headsets. The speakers are decidedly loud and clear for the most part, but if you want to take full advantage of the Hi-Fi audio chip be prepared to get a pair of Hi-Fi headphones as well. Call quality is good while connectivity is also fairly good as well. The fingerprint sensor is as fast as advertised and works well for the most part.

Battery performance is good with about a day and a half on normal usage but heavy users may find that it only lasts up to about a day. The quick charger thankfully gets you up to 100% in under 2 hours. The full HD display is one of the brightest we’ve seen so far, but the auto display brightness doesn’t really do well in detecting when to turn the brightness up or down. The screen is thankfully bright enough to use under sunlight though.

Overall, the vivo V3Max is a very good metal midranger both in terms of design and performance but due to the rapidly saturated midrange market, with new contenders coming out with better tech specs at lower prices every day, the RM1499 price tag vivo is asking for the V3Max is a bit high. Thankfully, this price tag has dropped down to RM1399 in recent times.

Granted, you’ll find few with 4GB RAM in this range but the lack of other extra features like say an infra-red blaster universal remote control, unique camera and so forth, make the V3Max seem like a rather feature-generic flagship in a midrange body. Performance-wise the phone does not disappoint where it counts like gaming or daytime camera performance, but the lack of said features keeps it from becoming a full fledged flagship.

Nevertheless, the V3Max is a total package, satisfying on most other counts so if you’re looking for a well-designed metal all-rounder, then the V3Max is a better choice than many others, especially if you use your phone with a pair of Hi-Fi headphones. That being said, competition is fierce, especially around this price range as you can get the similarly specced Honor 7 for RM1176 now and NFC enabled Honor 7 Enhanced edition for RM1318 while the Snapdragon 820 equipped Xiaomi Mi 5 can be had for RM1599. As always, the choice is yours, but if you like a powerful device with great audio in a metal fingerprint sensor enabled body, then we recommend you at least give the V3Max a try out.


Vivo V3Max unboxing and first impression hands-on video

The Vivo V3Max has been around in Malaysia for more than a month now, featuring 4GB RAM + 8GB ROM, 5.5-inch display, 13MP rear camera + a huge 8MP front camera, a fingerprint sensor and many more, this device is RM1399 only (inclusive of GST) and comes in Gold and Rose Gold. Check out our unboxing and first impression hands-on video below!


Vivo V5 Plus Review - Best Vivo Selfie cameraphone yet

Vivo is one of the few smartphone makers that offer higher resolution sensor for the front camera compared to the rear. So there's no surprise that they're doing the same with their new Vivo V5 Plus. It is amongst the first phones to offer dual front cameras. Find out how it fares in our review below.

The design looks similar to the Apple iPhone series particularly starting from the Apple iPhone 6s series. Other than the slightly bigger home button and the placement of the power and volume button, the phone looks identical to an iPhone.

It looks just like an iPhone with a different branding

Headphone jack, USB 2.0 and speaker grill

Here are the Vivo V5 Plus specifications:-

Vivo has finally switched up to Qualcomm from Mediatek. The Vivo V5 Plus includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage, which is a good combination. However, when it comes to the features, there isn't much else that we could see. It has similar app icon designs as the iOS user interface from an iPhone.

In terms of camera features, the front camera is the star of the show. The Vivo V5 Plus uses a 20-megapixel sensor with a f/2.0 aperture and an additional 8-megapixel sensor for depth. It creates a bokeh effect in the camera app by separating you from the background. The aperture is adjustable depending on how shallow you want the depth-of-field effect to be. It works just like the iPhone 7 Plus in Portrait Mode but you do get extra control over your aperture and post re-focusing point. The UI looks simple and very similar to an iPhone. It has all the basic settings and surprisingly it also features functions like taking photos with voice and palm.

4K Video Recording but doesn't have stabilization

With a Snapdragon 625 powering the Vivo V5 Plus, the going is pretty smooth despite Vivo's heavy Android skin. Multitasking is handled well and we didn’t notice any major stuttering in animations. The fingerprint sensor is very quick at authentication and you can use it to lock apps in addition to just unlocking the phone. Playing a high graphic game like Asphalt 8: Airborne does feel smooth but the loading time may take a while. Other benchmarks like AnTuTu and Epic Citadel are above average scores place it a bit higher than most midrange devices.

The phone does get warm after playing games for more than 10 mins. Its temperature level doesn't feel irritating but the heat generates more at the top part of the phone. The 5.5 Inch Full HD display handles movies well but the colour isn't as vibrant as the display like Super AMOLED. Audio quality is pretty weak in terms of sound clarity. Treble level seems to be much higher than the bass level till a point it breaks easily at high volume.

No battery chart can be found in Vivo V5 Plus

The Vivo V5 Plus has a non-removable 3055mAh battery which easily goes a full day on a single charge. Fast charging is supported in the form of Vivo's ‘Dual-Charging Engine’ technology, which features two microchips to handle higher current. Using this, we were able to achieve a 43 percent charge in about half an hour.

As for the camera performance, this phone focuses on the selfie camera rather than the rear camera. The image comes out sharp and has a warm skin tone when taking selfie with the 20MP Sony IMX376 sensor + 8MP dual camera. The Bokeh Mode definitely makes the subject pops out thanks to the shallow depth-of-field effects. This camera app is pretty versatile with the ability to re-adjust and re-focus in post when you shoot in Bokeh Mode. The Beauty Mode does work very well as it smoothes out your image without making it look fake. As for the rear camera, the 16MP isn't as good as the front. Clarity and sharpness aren't as good as the front due to the lower resolution. The lack of any kind of image stabilisation may be its weak point so the image gets blurred easily. Autofocus on both front and rear are quick but isn't as snappy, it takes around 1 second for it to focus.

Outdoor- Selfie Unedited with nice bokeh

Outdoor- Easily archieve proffesional look with some editing

Lowlight - With and without filling light

Video recording on both front and rear show fairly good performance

Conclusion - The perfect selfie camera smartphone

The Vivo V5 Plus comes with a price tag at RM1799 in Malaysia. It may be somewhat more expensive than their previous smartphone, but the performance is better with a Snapdragon 625 processor. The selfie camera is simply unbeatable for now on the market. We have yet to see any smartphone front facing camera that could achieve this level of quality. However, in contrast, the rear camera isn't nearly as good as the front camera, so if you really take a lot of selfies, this is the only smartphone you need for now. Performance is pretty up to standard for the price, so for casual mobile gamers it surely won't be disappointing.

For those who are looking for a more complete photography focused cameraphone you should probably pick up the ASUS ZenFone 3 or Honor 8 but closest competition in this price range would be the 4 GB RAM OPPO R9S with similar design but different brand and also the IP68 water and dust resistant Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 or A7 2017.

So what do you think? Could the amazing selfies make you want to get this smartphone? Let us know in the comments below, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more reviews at TechNave.com.


Vivo V5 Plus to be revealed this month with dual selfie cameras

When the selfie king phone (check out our review here), Vivo V5 was launched during November last year in Malaysia, words have it that the vivo V5 Plus version would be released in the following month but it didn't happen. However, now we can confirm that the plus variant will make an appearance this month, starting with India on 23 January 2017.

Looking at that teaser poster, the V5 Plus is actually bringing the dual camera at the front instead of the back. While it does seem to be a bit overkill, we will have to wait and see what Vivo has to say about this, we think one of the lens should serve as a wefie mode and it makes sense, but this is just speculation as there are no official tech-specs yet.

The V5 Plus is not the first to come up with a dual selfie camera, for it was the Lenovo who did it first with the Vibe S1 back in November 2015. Stay tuned for more Vivo news at Technave.com.


Vivo V5 is official, bringing 20-megapixel selfie camera to the masses

If you are a selfie fiend – the latest smartphone from Vivo may just suit your bill. The Vivo V5 features a 20-megapixel front selfie sensor that comes with a front flash dubbed ‘Moonlight Glow’, powered by a mid-range specs list.

The front camera is a Sony IMX376 sensor, with a f/2.0 aperture, and Face Beauty 6.0 software tricks. An octa-core MediaTek MT6750 SoC runs the show, with a 720p 5.5-inch screen as the front façade, 3000mAh battery and 4GB/32GB RAM/Storage combo.

Not bad for a mid-range smartphone – but we have to wait and see if the selfie camera delivers the goods. Stay tuned to TechNave for more information on the Vivo V5 smartphone in Malaysia


Vivo V5 review - The new king of selfie phone

Just when you thought we didn't need another selfie smartphone in the market right after the OPPO F1s, Vivo decided to drop another one on us - the Vivo V5 coming in full frontal attack with a 20MP front camera. Actually, the V5 is the latest phone marketed as an all-purpose selfie phone, just after the F1s and the Gionee S6s (which is only available in China and India). With a retail price of RM1299, is this too much for just a selfie phone? To find out the pros and cons, take a read below to find out.

Checking out the V5 design was an intriguing one, because a few months ago I reviewed the F1s (which you can read here) and it came to my attention that both devices are practically identical to each other. It's not just the front that looks 99% the same, but even the back features the company logo, camera + LED flash placement, and even the antenna lines all in the exact same place.

I know I've said that a lot of smartphones look alike to each other nowadays before, but this is taking phone design cloning to another level. We're not going to get into a debate as to which phone actually came out first but it's basically slapping the logo on top of it and calling it a day. Despite that, the phone still looks great so there's that.

3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 and speaker grill, nothing on top

With FunTouch 2.6 out of the box, this OS is finally now based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow as opposed to the V3Max's odd FunTouch 2.5 OS based on the outdated Lollipop. Even though that's the case, there's not much difference between two in terms of user interface. Suffice to say, that means the camera features are the same, along with the similar iOS skin and the convenient screenshot/screen recording function too.

That being said, the V5 does have some tricks up its sleeves. It has a couple of Smart Motion options like "Shake to turn the flashlight on", "Tilt to zoom pictures", as well as One-hand mode and Smart Multi-screen. Convenient as it is, there is one problem about it, though, most of these features don't really work that well.

When I say it doesn't work that well, what I mean is the practicality of it. For example, the Smart Multi-screen can only work if there's a notification displayed as floating icons like Facebook Messenger, but why do I have to wait for the floating icons to work? Why can't I just want it immediately? Not so convenient after all.

Even executing the One-handed mode is tough, I only got it to work 1 out of 10 times before giving up. "Tilt to zoom pictures" doesn't work too, same goes to the Smart Click. Heck, it doesn't even have a battery chart for you to keep track, and it's hidden in the "About phone" page, who does that?

But there is one redeeming factor, and that'd be the unpressable home button which also serves as a fingerprint sensor. And get this, the fingerprint unlocks the phone instantaneously. In fact, I'll say it unlocks as fast as the Mate 9 Pro, perhaps even faster than the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus since it doesn't need to "Raise to wake". Of course, you can add more fingerprint locks for other apps too, so good job on that!

Camera modes, hand gesture feature works just fine

Messing around with the macro setting, it looks nice but that means every detail in the image is blurred out

Like the F1s, both devices sport the same processor and HD screen, but the V5 comes with 4GB RAM to its advantage. So with that, it can play games just fine and has a better GPS sensor when compared with the F1s as Pokemon GO ran more accurately even with the updated fix patch. Obviously not built for gaming, the phone battery drains kind of fast but at least it doesn't overheat. On average usage, it will last you a day and that's about it.

There's also a HiFi audio system inside the hood, the music quality is actually quite commendable even with their earphones that come in the box. However, if the music playback is in the open, I think the sound is just average but at least it's not undistorted when the volume is maxed. I imagine the sound will be even better when paired with a HiFi headset, it's too bad I don't have one to test it out with at the moment.

As for the camera, it comes with one of the biggest megapixel front cameras ever produced - 20MP and the numbers don't lie; it takes really clear images with the front camera and so much so you might even be embarrassed of yourself if it exposes your pimples and other unwanted things. There's beauty mode to cover that, but like most users that I've come across, beauty mode looks a bit too fake. Anyway, below are some photo samples so check them out:

Selfie mode in low light (left, it's suppose to be a lot darker by the way), and softlight technology flash turned on (right)

The V5 does tend to have some minor problems getting macro shots

Occasionally, some close up shots turn out okay

Too much exposure even though it wasn't even that bright

Contrast is a bit lacking in this wide shot

Some grainy effect inside but not too bothered

Under some conditions, some night shots can look great

Since the V5 is marketed as a camera and music phone, it's only fair to compare it with the F1s. In retrospect, we think the F1s has better camera quality for the main one; whereas the V5 clearly beats the F1s as the new self-proclaimed selfie phone. But other than that, there's nothing really much to say about the rest because of its clunky FunTouch user interface features. The design is alright, the fingerprint sensor is awesome, though, and it's also good enough to play games like Asphalt 8: Airborne.

I think if you're looking for a good all rounder phone, you should probably consider the F1s since it's slightly cheaper at RM1198 as opposed to RM1299. But if you only care about the selfies and don't want to miss the moment with more selfies, then, by all means, the V5 is the one and only for you.

Know anyone who's crazy about selfies? Then you can actually consider the V5 as a perfect Christmas present for them. Thanks for reading, stay tuned for more reviews at Technave.com and Merry Christmas!


Apple iPad 5 Price in Malaysia & Specs

Apple iPad 5 Malaysia Release Date & Specs (Rumors):

I must say that the release of both iPad Mini and iPad 4 was a surprise for me. Everyone was expecting the new iPad mini but not really an iPad 4. Why? Because the the previous generation was only in stores for 6 months before Apple decided to make an new generation ipad and scrap the older one. Will this also be the case of the new iPad 5?

In my opinion I hope that it won’t only be faster, better battery time, camera etc, but really have something new and “fresh”. Let’s take a look at Apples nearest competitor in the tablet space, Samsung.Personally I think the Samsung tablet are really good verces the prices point, and I’ll get basically the same functions as an ipad.Therefore I hope that iPad 5 will be something new and really blow there competition away as they did with the iPhone. But hey, invention the wheel all over again is HARD!We are going the cover the iPad 5 release date in this post and give an estimate when the next generation apple tablet is going the be released. If it’s ever going to be a new ipad model or if Apple decides to focus on the iPad mini instead.Last Apple event, one expert made a prediction that there will be a new release of and lighter, fast and especially thinner iPad 5. The release date of this next ipad was supposed to be early next year (our guess is around April 2013).For Apple to hold their lead in the tablet market one investor wrote in Appleinsider that Apple felt pressured and would release a 9.7-inch iPad 5.“we think launching the lighter, thinner 9.7-inch iPad as quickly as possible matters more for Apple strategically” from Kuo’s Report.What do you think about Apple launching another tablet? Would you buy it or wait for a iPad Mini 2 perhaps?


Vivo V5 unboxing and first impression hands-on video

Back on 22 November, vivo Malaysia presented the ultimate ‘selfie’ smartphone the vivo V5, which features a massive 20MP camera at the front, along with a softlight technology as an LED flash replacement. Priced at RM1299, it's already available at all vivo authorized dealers and retail stores nationwide. Without further ado, check out our unboxing and hands-on video below!


Vivo V5S Review - Improved selfie cameraphone at an affordable price

Vivo has once again made another selfie targeted smartphone that offers a higher resolution sensor for the front camera compared to the rear with the Vivo V5S. Is it just a slightly upgraded version compared to its predecessor? How much more do you actually get from the "S" version? Find out in our review below.

The design looks similar to its predecessor but the company have moved the antenna line to the edge to make it look more like an Apple iPhone. Other than the slightly bigger home button and the placement of the power and volume button, the phone looks identical to an iPhone.

Looks exactly like the iPhone with the antenna moved to the edge

Headphone Jack, USB 2.0 and speaker grill

The 20MP Sony IMX376 Sensor Selfie front camera

Unclickable Home Button with Fingerprint Sensor

Vivo still uses the same MediaTek processor, so it's kind of a bummer to see that still. The Vivo V5S includes a MediaTek MT6750, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Only the bigger capacity of internal storage has been upgraded at this point. The phone runs on Funtouch OS3.0 which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and we were quite disappointed that it didn't get Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

The UI looks similar to an iPhone, but there are some interesting features introduced by Vivo like the App Clone feature. It allows users to create a second instance of any app. Users can use the two apps to log into different accounts (so you can have double Facebook accounts at the same time, etc.). Vivo also integrated a split-screen multitasking feature called Smart Split 2.0. It lets you run two apps simultaneously.

Some of the other software enhancements include Smart Click that turns on the flashlight or launches the camera by long pressing the volume buttons, Smart Motion that lets you activate a bunch of gestures to control various functions and One-handed Mode that shrinks the display to one corner of the screen.

In terms of camera features, not much has changed. The Vivo V5S still uses a 20-megapixel sensor with a f/2.0 aperture on the front camera. The front camera also has a "Moonlight Glow" front flash. A 13-megapixel rear camera with PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) is on the back. It has all the basic settings and it also features functions like taking photos with voice and palm.

1080p Video Recording is available on both cameras

With a MediaTek MT6750 powering the Vivo V5S, it still manages to do a decent job when it comes to general operations like multitasking or running apps smoothly. The fingerprint sensor is very quick at authentication and you can use it to lock apps in addition to just unlocking the phone. Playing a high graphic game like Asphalt 8: Airborne does feel smooth but the loading time may suffer a bit despite the 4GB of RAM. Other benchmarks like AnTuTu and Epic Citadel are pretty average scores as MediaTek isn't that great when it comes to benchmarking.

A rather lower entry-level to midrange AnTuTu Score

The phone handles heat pretty well. It remains at an acceptable temperature level even when playing games for more than 10 minutes. The 5.5 Inch HD display handles movies well although it's only 720p display. The sound quality from the speaker was impressive though. Unlike its predecessor, the treble and bass level are now more well balanced.

No battery chart can be found in Vivo V5S

The Vivo V5S packs a non-removable 3000mAh battery. In real-world usage, the phone managed to last over a day with heavy usage. The V5S took slightly less than 90 minutes to charge fully from zero. Charging speed all things considered is not bad even though it doesn't support fast charging.

Front Camera, before and after Face Beauty Mode

As for the camera performance, this phone focuses on the selfie camera rather than the rear like most other Vivo smartphones. Selfies taken during the daytime shows a good amount of detail and proper colours. Lowlight shots may suffer a bit with noise but with the help of the moonlight glow feature, taking a selfie in lowlight isn't going to be an issue. The Face Beauty 6.0 does work very well as it smoothes out your image without making it look fake.

Front Camera, Lowlight without and with filling light

The 13-megapixel rear camera on the Vivo V5s is still impressive. It's quick with focusing and manages to capture some good detailed shots. There's a slight distortion at the edges though.

Rear Camera, Outdoor Portrait HDR Mode On

Taking photos in HDR mode can be hard as highlights are often overexposed. But once you do get the hang of it, the image can look vibrant and amazing. Portrait shots on the rear camera just don't look as great as the front camera though, as facial features seem to look less pleasing to the eyes. Autofocus on both front and rear are quick but aren't snappy, as it takes around 1 second for them to focus.

The Vivo V5S comes with a price tag of RM1299 in Malaysia offering an improvement over the Vivo V5. The phone still performs well in terms of general usage, battery life, and camera quality. Taking great selfie can be easily done with the V5S but it definitely won't be as impressive as the more expensive Vivo V5 Plus. However, the rear camera isn't nearly as good as the front camera compared the Vivo V5 Plus. So if you just want an affordable smartphone to take great selfies with ease, this one would be perfect for you.

Performance is pretty much up to standards for the price, so casual mobile gamers won't be disappointed but if you already have the Vivo V5, we don't see much reason to upgrade. You can find the Vivo V5s at online sellers like DirectD and SatuGadgetDotCom or other authorized resellers with some offering freebies or even installment plans.

For those who are looking for better processor performance with a better rear camera, you should consider picking up the Moto G5 Plus for the Snapdragon 625 processor and Android 7.0 Nougat experience as it comes with a 12MP Dual Pixel autofocus rear camera for around the same price. The Huawei P10 Lite could also be a great choice if you're looking for an affordable smartphone with a great camera as well.

So what do you think? Could this be your next selfie camera smartphone to get? Let us know in the comments below, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more reviews at TechNave.com.


Vivo V7+ Malaysia price leaks at RM1499, Fullview Display plus 24MP selfie camera

As we near the launch of the Vivo V7+ here next week, the price has apparently been leaked by overeager dealers, revealing the price to be RM1499. Pre-order has started and ends on 28 Sep 2017, which includes freebies of a free FIFA bag, 6 months extended warranty and a RM10 Watsons voucher.

We've already seen some of what the V7+ front and rear cameras can do but we'll find out more come launch day on 26 September 2017.


Vivo V7+ October deals from Senheng, SenQ, Lazada, Watsons and more!

With the release of vivo V7+ recently at the end of September, you can now get it at multiple stores and online retail for the price of RM1499. We have compiled a bunch of them together so if you're looking for one, you've come to the right place. Check out below on what each store offers!

First up, Senheng and SenQ are providing customers with the option of having 0% instalment payment plan up to 24 months as well as an exclusive trade-in program. For the instalment plan, it's as long as 24 months with zero interest and you only have to pay RM62.46 per month. The trade-in program is pretty good too as it can go up to at least RM1800 rebate. Also, signing up as a PlusOne member will grant you an additional 1-Year extended warranty. It's also worth mentioning that if you purchase the V7+ at either Senheng or SenQ, you will also get a vivo x FIFA backpack worth Rm100 and Watsons voucher worth RM10.

In relating to Watsons, they are also giving away 14 V7+ units throughout October. In their first ever "Match the Receipt Contest", all you have to do is check out Watsons Facebook page and Watsons outlets display every 2 days at 10 AM to look out for a mysterious value. Why? This is because if your receipt which matches the amount of the mysterious value, shoppers will be automatically entitled to participate the contest, then a winner will be announced every 2-days. For more information, head over to watsons.com.my/watsonsbrand to check it out.

Last but not least, you can also log into to Lazada.my to purchase the selfie snapper as well. You will get free goodies such as a Free Watsons Voucher, a Limited Edition FIFA Russia 2018 vivo Backpack Bag for just RM1499. This is only viable from 29 September until 15 October 2017. Oh, Harvey Norman is selling the V7+ on their website too.

To recap the tech-specs, the V7+ is vivo's most powerful selfie snapper sporting a 24MP front camera with softlight LED flash. It's also their first full front display measuring a 5.99-inch with a 18:9 screen-to-body ratio featuring its first facial recognition feature – Face Access – that allows you to unlock your device by just looking at it.

That's all, folks! Happy shopping and stay tuned for more vivo Malaysia news at TechNave.com.


Vivo V7 Plus Review - FullView Display with 24MP Selfie Camera

As usual, Vivo is back again with a smartphone that offers higher resolution for the front camera compared to the rear. But they have now joined the trendy FullView family with their new Vivo V7 Plus. It is amongst the first phones to offer a 24MP selfie camera but no dual selfie camera. Find out how it performs in our review below.

While it still looks similar to their previous smartphones, the FullView display makes the Vivo V7 Plus look sexier and more up to date now. The fingerprint scanner has now moved to the back.

On the back, it looks like a Vivo 5 Plus with a fingerprint scanner.

The new design feels rather sharp to grip at first due to the thin body but you get used to it after a while. It feels fairly solid with good build quality and fairly premium metal back. While it is quite lightweight at least it doesn't feel like a toy.

Headphone jack, USB 2.0 and speaker grill

Here are the Vivo V7 Plus specifications:-

Overall, it seems to be slightly upgraded in terms of specs compared to the Vivo V5 Plus. But it's a bummer that it only runs on a Snapdragon 450 Soc but the 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage with expandable memory up to 256GB makes up for it somewhat. Features-wise, there still isn't much else that we could see. It has similar app icon designs as the old iOS 10 user interface from the Apple iPhone. Other extra features include duplicating messenger apps like Whatsapp or Wechat to log in with separate accounts, long screenshot, and smart click to assign different functions. We could also hide the navigation key now and use sliding gestures.

Camera Interface with Selfie Portrait Bokeh Mode On

In terms of camera features, the front camera remains the star of the show. The Vivo V7 Plus uses a 24-megapixel sensor with a f/2.0 aperture. Unlike the V5 Plus that has dual camera setup, the V7 Plus still supports Portrait Bokeh mode but it blurs the background using the software. With that being said, no post focus point adjustment was found in the V7 Plus so you can adjust the focus after you take the shot. The UI looks simple as usual. It has all the basic settings and it also features functions like taking photos with voice and palm. Users can also add Photo Watermark like most higher-end smartphones. There's also a new Live Photo Mode that works exactly like what we get on the iPhone.

Basic Camera Settings with Photo Watermark

1080P Video Recording but doesn't have stabilization

With a Snapdragon 450 powering the Vivo V7 Plus, users may doubt the performance but so far it has been pretty smooth for daily tasks despite Vivo's heavy android Skin. Multitasking is handled well and we didn't notice any major stuttering in animation. The fingerprint sensor is pretty quick at authentication. Playing a demanding graphic game like Asphalt 8: Airborne still feels smooth as it doesn't require much power to run on an HD display. Other benchmarks like AnTuTu and Epic Citadel are pretty average, placing it around most other midrange devices.

The phone doesn't really get warm after playing games for more than 10 mins due to the lower processing speed from the Snapdragon 450. The 5.99 Inch HD FullView display enhanced the viewing experience when it comes to playing games. It also handles movies well despite only having a HD display. Video quality looks sharp enough but you'll still get black bars on the side on third-party apps like Youtube or Facebook. Audio quality is pretty average in terms of sound clarity. Volume is loud but lacks bass.

No battery chart can be found in Vivo V7 Plus

The Vivo V7 Plus has a non-removable 3255mAh battery which easily goes a full day on a single charge. No fast charging is supported but it should be fine as not much power is required for the lower-end processor and lower screen resolution.

As for the camera performance, this phone also focuses on the selfie camera rather than the rear camera. Image quality may look bad when you're taking a selfie, but it is due to the lower resolution screen. Seeing the image from a PC, images turn out to be sharp and have a similar skin tone to the iPhone when taking a selfie with the 24MP camera. The Portrait Bokeh Mode makes the subject pops by a bit but not as much like the V5 Plus with Wide Aperture Control. It also supports basic EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), so taking a sharp selfie is much easier to achieve too.

The Beauty Mode does work very well as it smoothes out your image without making it look fake. As for the rear camera, the 16MP isn't as good as the front. Clarity and sharpness aren't as good as the front due to the lower resolution. The lack of any kind of image stabilization may be its weak point so the image gets blurred easily. Autofocus on both front and rear are quick but isn't as snappy, it takes around 1 second for it to focus.

Outdoor - Normal Mode Selfie in a drifting Car Unedited

Lowlight Selfie - With and without front filling light

The Vivo V7 Plus comes with an RRP (recommended retail price) of RM1499 in Malaysia. It may be somewhat more expensive than other similar smartphones, but the 24MP camera selfie image quality is still slightly clearer than the rest on the market. However, in contrast, the rear camera isn't nearly as good as the front camera. The FullView display is great but still required more optimization from third-party apps. Performance is slightly lower than the standard for the price, but for casual mobile gamers it is still acceptable.

For those who are looking for a true selfie camera smartphone, you should probably pick up the Vivo V5 Plus with dual selfie camera setup but it lacks a FullView display. The closest competition would be the slightly higher performance Huawei Nova 2i at a price tag of RM1299 or the Xiaomi A1 with Snapdragon 625 at a price tag of RM1099.

So what do you think? Could the high 24-megapixel selfie with FullView display make you want to get this smartphone? Let us know in the comments below, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more reviews at TechNave.com.


Vivo V7 Plus going beyond borderless widescreen for a bezel-free display?

We recently received a leak from an anonymous TechNaver about the upcoming vivo V7 Plus. While vivo will likely maintain their #PerfectSelfie track record with powerful dual front cameras, the leak shows that it will also have a borderless or bezel-free display. We also expect it to have an under-the-glass ultrasonic fingerprint sensor along with other high-end tech specs but for now do take this rumour with a pinch of salt and stay tuned to TechNave.com for all the latest Vivo tech news.


Vivo V7 Plus officially launched in India for about RM1446, 5.99-inch HD FullVision display, 24MP selfie camera and rear fingerprint sensor

Today, Vivo officially launched their Vivo V7 Plus in India for 21990 Indian Rupees (~RM1446). Pre-orders start in India on 7 September 2017, while it will be available from 15 September 2017. Featuring a 24MP selfie camera, 5.99-inch Fullview HD display and a Hifi DAC chip the phone offers camera features like wide selfie and a live beautifying feature for video. No specific Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet, but we expect it to come in the next few months or so.

Unexpectedly, the V7 Plus will not feature any ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, instead, the usual fingerprint sensor is located on the back. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, the V7 Plus promises energy efficient performance and longer than average battery life, perhaps making it ideal for those who like to watch movies on their smartphones.

You can see the Vivo V7 Plus tech specs below:


Vivo V7+ hands-on - Selfie and Rear Camera picture samples

Wanna know a secret? We actually got ourselves a prototype vivo V7+ from vivo Malaysia! (#thx #xoxo). With that, we decided to test the selfie snapper and main camera around, but in today's article, we will show the main camera picture samples first.

So what does the main camera offer? To start off, it houses a 16MP sensor on the rear and according to sources, the aperture is fixed at f/2.0 (seems unlikely). In addition, the main camera also has a Live Photo feature which basically functions as a gif file format but with sound enabled in a photo. Check out the V7+ photo samples below!

Trying to "freeze" the water but it does its best lol

The colour contrast is really smooth in this panorama

Notice the details on the glass panels on the building, looks good

Panorama selfie! It looks like a fish-eye filter lol

Taking a few photo snaps feels quite fast thanks to the Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology and the software optimization algorithm inside the V7+, details on close-up are pretty good and bright. Of course, there are other camera modes too to play around such as Night Mode, Ultra HD Mode, Professional Mode, Slow Mode, Time-lapse Mode and PPT Mode.

So what do you think of the photos? Tomorrow we will release another one that focus on the Face Beauty 7.0 and Portrait Mode so stay tuned for that at TechNave.com!


Vivo V7 series coming soon to Malaysia, tech-specs leaked revealing 24MP front camera

If you're subscribed to vivo Malaysia Facebook page, chances are that you have seen their latest teaser about an upcoming smartphone called the V7 and V7+ which we reported just over the long weekend. Information of the tech-specs are scarce but we may have something thanks to the new X20 and X20 Plus rumours. So what is the relation?

Well, according to the source, the two series are actually the same given with the same bezel-less design so we can assume the same tech-specs as well. To start off with the X20 and X20 Plus, the difference between the two is the display size which is 5.2-inch and 5.5-inch respectively, but both delivering a screen-to-body ratio of 18:9. The processor and memory are slightly different too, with the X20 Plus holding a Snapdragon 660 and 6GB + 128GB while the X20 features a Snapdragon 630 and 6GB + 64GB memory capacity.

Other than that, the rest of the tech-specs is said to be the same, packing Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, 3500 mAh battery and a huge 24MP selfie snapper. We can also expect it to carry an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner technology.

We aren't sure why vivo feels the need to separate the two names even though both are the same (if it is). Different regions will get the X20 and X20 Plus or the V7 and V7+, it's confirmed that we will get the V7+ as teased by vivo Malaysia and it's said the reveal will be on 7 September 2017.

Until then, stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo X Fold 2 release: SD 8 Gen 2 chipset, 6.56-inch ~ 8.03-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 1800 nits peak brightness and more for ~RM5808

The Vivo X Fold 2 was officially released in China today as the first foldable display phone to utilize a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with 12GB RAM, 256GB / 512GB storage and 4800 mAh battery with 120W fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. The 12GB + 256GB version will be priced for 8999 CNY (~RM5808) while the 12GB RAM + 512GB storage version goes for 9999 CNY (~RM6453).

The main highlight of the phone remains the displays with a 6.56-inch AMOLED exterior display using a resolution of 2520 x 1080 pixels. When the phone is unfolded, the inner screen is 8.03 inches with a resolution of 2160 x 1916 pixels, 120Hz refresh rated, HDR10+ support, up to 1800 nits peak brightness and ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

Weighing in at 280g, the Vivo X Fold 2 measures 161 x 73.4 x 13mm ~ 6.7mm when unfolded. Camera tech specs include a 50MP OIS + 12MP ultra wide + 12MP telephoto triple rear camera. A 16MP front camera is placed in a punch hole in both the inner and exterior displays.

No Malaysia release dates or pricing details but the Vivo X Fold 2 is on pre-order in China from 28 April 2023. Would you be interested in it if it comes to Malaysia? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Apple iPad 5 Rumours: Thinner, lighter and due after July?

Rumours about Apple's fifth generation iPad or iPad 5 are also growing with many saying that there may be a change in design. While the 9.7" screen size or Retina (2048 x 1536 pixel resolution) display may not change, the screen for the new iPad 5 may become a bit narrower than the almost square Apple iPad of today. This new design is said to follow that of the iPad Mini more than the traditional iPad design.Other related rumours also include a thinner and lighter body, which when combined with a narrower chassis may mean a more portable and compact Apple iPad. The screen for the Apple iPad 5 may be manufactured by LG Display and Sharp while the actual Apple iPad 5 may begin mass production between July to August.[Source]


Vivo X23 teaser showcased an in-display fingerprint sensor for the device

Based on a teaser on Vivo’s official website, the Vivo X23 is announced to come equipped with an in-display fingerprint scanner along with other features such as a super wide-angle lens, a teardrop notch, 91.2% screen-to-body ratio as well as the aforementioned in-display fingerprint sensor.

Furthermore, the device is expected to come shipped with 2 different colour schemes which is the Blue and Pink color. Other than that, there is no news on when is the official release of the device, tech specs, the price of it as well as when the device might drop into the Malaysian Market. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo X5 Max officially announced, features a 4.75mm thin design profile

The Vivo X5 Max has officially replaced the Oppo R5 as the slimmest phone in the market. The device which was announced on 10 December 2014 features a 4.75mm thin profile. In comparison, the Oppo R5 was .10mm thicker at 4.85mm. In spite of the ultra-thin profile, the new Vivo flagship comes with a MicroSD card slot as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. The previous slimmest phone title holder, Oppo R5 had to let go of these two slots to slim down the size. According to the company, this impressive feat was accomplished by making the internal components thinner than traditional smartphones. The motherboard inside the X5 Max measures just 1.7mm in thickness while the screen assembly and the speaker box measure 1.36mm and 2.45mm.  The device is powered by a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor. It comes with 2GB RAM onboard along with 16GB memory which is expandable. On the front, the phone has a 5.5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display along with a 5MP secondary camera on top. At the back, there is a 13MP camera. The Vivo X5 Max runs on Android 4.4.4 Kitkat with Funtouch 2.0 UI on top. While Vivo has not yet revealed any information about Malaysia release dates or pricing, the device should go on sale in China starting 22 December 2014 for RMB2998 (RM1700).


Vivo X5F passes TENAA, expect an official announcement later today

Looks like the long teased Vivo X5 Max isn't the only smartphone that will be unveiled at the 10 December 2014 event hosted by Vivo. A new Vivo smartphone going by the name Vivo X5F recently passed through the Chinese certification agency, TENAA. According to the tech specs listed on the TENAA website, the X5F will be the smaller variant or mini version of the X5 Max. The images reveal a similar design profile as the X5 Max with only one exception. The device will be 6.3mm thin as opposed to the Max's 3.75mm thickness. Other tech specs and features include a 1.5GHz Octa Core CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM which is expandable via MicroSD card, 13MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front camera sensor. On the front, there will be a 5 inch display with resolution 1280 x 720 pixels. From the specs and the design, this model looks like a mid-range offering and hence, will be cheaper than the flagship. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but we should know more soon, or at least after the announcement today.


Vivo X5Max hands-on video, first impressions on this 5.08mm thin smartphone

We go hands-on with the thin yet premium vivo X5Max. Priced at RM1799, the smartphone features a mix of midrange to high-end tech specs. However, the X5Max used to be known as the world's thinnest smartphone but the version we have here in Malaysia is 5.08mm thin and not the record-breaking 4.75mm thin of the international version. There are pros to this as it means that our Malaysian vivo X5Max comes with a larger 2300 mAh battery. Truth be told, we hardly noticed the difference but you can see for yourself in the video below:


Vivo X5Pro available in Malaysia for RM1599

Vivo Malaysia recently launched their new Vivo X5Pro smartphone for RM1599. Featuring a full metal frame and 2.5D curved glass on the front and back the X5Pro also comes with a 13MP f2.0 camera with phase detection autofocus and sapphire lens. Other stand-out features include dedicated HiFi audio with a Cirrus Logic DAC AK4375 audio chip but like the previous Vivo X5Max, this is only discernible with headphones. Other tech specs include a 64-bit 1.5GHz octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, dual SIM 4G LTE support, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 5.2-inch FHD super AMOLED display, 8MP front camera and 2450 mAh battery. It will run Android 5.0 Lollipop right out of the box with vivo's FunTouch OS 2.1 and is available at all authorized dealers in Malaysia.

At first glance, the Vivo X5Pro looks to match the Huawei P8 with it's 6.4mm thin full metal frame, phase detection autofocus 13MP rear camera and RM1599 price tag, but the midrange Snapdragon 615 processor and other tech specs mark this as more of a higher-priced midranger. The all metal 6.4mm thin Huawei P8 offers a much faster Kirin 935 processor with 3GB of RAM at RM1799 but you can see the full tech spec comparison with our vivo X5Pro vs Huawei P8 phone comparison tool. We're certain that some users will find the feature set available on the vivo X5Pro just right for them but you can also check out the vivo X5Pro against other smartphones with Snapdragon 615 processors using our phone comparison tool or by using the links below:


Vivo X6 certified by TENNA and teases split-screen feature

Vivo has been giving us some teasers for the past few days and now they're back again. This time, with a split-screen multitasking feature.  Meanwhile, TENAA also recently certified the Vivo X6 with some sneak peeks of the tech specs below:-

If that's only the tip of the iceberg, we can't wait to see the full offical tech specs in the future. and it's no wonder it can perform the split-screen feature (if true). Things are shaping up and looking good for the X6, we can't wait to see what else it can offer. Until then, keep calm and vivo.


Vivo X6 teaser appears, coming with MediaTek Helio X20 tech specs?

A teaser image was released by Vivo recently showing two golden presents and one that is marked "X6", indicating that the Vivo X6 will be the new model to be revealed in the coming days of this month.

Focused on stability, speed, battery life and durability rumours indicate that the tech specs will pack a MediaTek 10-core Helio X20 processor, 4GB RAM, 1GB graphic RAM, 6-inch QHD AMOLED display with Force Touch, a 21MP main camera + 12MP selfie snapper and a huge 4000 mAh battery. Running on Android 5.1 Lollipop it may be equipped with a dedicated shutter button for faster picture snapping. The X6 might be available in different colours as well.

More information will be revealed eventually when Vivo announces it this month, so take a pinch of salt for this one and sit tight!


Vivo X7 processor and RAM revealed in latest teaser

We are just 10 days away from the end of June and vivo has yet to reveal the date of announcing the vivo X7, despite that, they are continuing their teaser promotions and the latest one is about its processor and RAM.

In the latest X7 teaser, it was revealed that the phone will feature a Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor + MSM8976 chipset inside the hood, as well as a 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM, along with a self-learning engine, the wisdom engine 2.0, that is capable of smart resource scheduling, the XPlay 5 also has the same wisdom engine. That's considerably quite 'high' spec for a mid-range tier phone. Aside from that, we also confirm the device will sport a 16MP front camera with Moonlight flash, and a fingerprint sensor.

Word has it that the X7 could cost 2500 Yuan (around RM1563), but take it with a grain of salt. Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com!


Vivo X7 will have a fingerprint sensor and ultra-thin bezels

Today is day three and we got ourselves the third teaser entry from vivo about the X7 smartphone. So far, we know that it has a 16MP camera sensor and a Moonlight Flash at the front, the new teaser reveals the X7 will indeed have a fingerprint sensor as well, and the design coming in ultra-narrow bezels which can be seen on the image.

Aside from the ultra-narrow bezel design, the teaser also mentions that the phone is meant to be one-handed use. With this, there's a possibility that the device will feature a display size of around 5-5.2-inches, there is also some insider source of the vivo X7 sporting a Mediatek Helio X25 and 3000mAh battery. And since the front camera is equipping 16MP, it's also possible for the rear camera to be the same or even higher up to 21MP.

Expect more teasers from vivo in the coming weeks, stay tuned for more news at Technave.com!


Vivo X9 Plus, now available in Space Grey too!

The Vivo X9 Plus, which was launched in China late last year, gains a new colour. In addition to the existing Gold and Rose Gold, the flagship device is now available in Space Grey too.

Compared to the other 2 colours which sports a white front fascia, this new Grey colour also gains a new black front fascia, which makes the phone look sleeker and classier as it makes the dual front cameras less obvious compared to the white.

Revealed in conjunction with a special Valentine's Day sale, it is priced at the same 3498 Yuan (around RM2255), but comes with extra free gifts in the form of an additional power bank, Bluetooth speakers and headset. Other than the colour, the rest of its specificaitons remained the same. It is powered by the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 653, comes with a generous 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. A 5.88-inch IPS display up front gives it the "Plus" moniker, as well its main selling point, the dual 20MP + 8MP front cameras, and the 16MP f/2.0 PDAF assisted rear camera. Keeping all these hardware powered is a 4000 mAh battery.

Can't wait to see this amazing device being launched in Malaysia!


Apple iPad 5 gets exact measurements, thinner and lighter

We've seen quite a few leaked pics and videos of the upcoming Apple iPad 5. Many of them confirm that it will look a lot like the Apple iPad mini but a recent video has surfaced showing off the exact measurements of the Apple iPad 5 compared to the previous generation Apple iPad 4. The most obvious tech spec differences is the width, thinness and weight as the Apple iPad 4 is 185.7mm wide and 9.4mm thick while the Apple iPad 5 is 169.5mm wide, 7.2mm thick and about 37% lighter. While there isn't any news on Malaysia release dates or pricing just yet, many are estimatng the Apple iPad 5 and Apple iPad mini 2 may arrive on 15 October 2013. For now, check out the video below: