Qualcomm making its own gaming phone with help from ASUS

If you've been following recent gaming news, you'd know how big a hit Genshin Impact turned out to be. The game garnered 23 million downloads on mobile alone, proving that a lot of gamers do play such high-end games on their phone. This could be why Qualcomm itself wants to have a go at the market and create gaming phones.

According to Android Authority (via Digitimes), Qualcomm has enlisted the help of ASUS to develop new Qualcomm-branded gaming phones. Sources claim that Qualcomm will be building a range of different devices, with at least one that will feature the next flagship Snapdragon 875 chipset. If this is true, we could see a Qualcomm gaming phone as early as the first quarter of 2021.

Qualcomm gaming phones could follow the ROG Phone DNA

To add on to this, it was reported that Qualcomm and ASUS will have a joint purchasing agreement for components used in the two companies' gaming phones. The components include camera modules, battery, displays, and more. This suggests that the upcoming Qualcomm-branded gaming phones could follow the design and hardware specifications of ASUS gaming phones, such as the ROG Phone 3 series.

Digitimes has been pretty reliable before so this rumour could be true, but it's best to take this with a grain of salt. Having said that, would you buy a Qualcomm gaming phone? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like this.


Qualcomm may launch Snapdragon 865 chipset next month

We’ve just seen the birth of the Snapdragon 855+ chipset recently and now Qualcomm is planning on unveiling their next flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 865 chipset. The chipset may reportedly be using TSMC’s second gen 7nm processor.

The first smartphone manufacturers that may be showcasing the chipset soon include Samsung, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi. It is reported that Qualcomm may be launching the chipset in November instead of December to compete with Huawei’s Kirin chips. So far, no other info about the chipset has been revealed.

If this is true, we may be seeing Q1 flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S11 series launched with this chipset. However, do take this info with a grain of salt as no official announcement has been made by Qualcomm. Stay tuned to TechNave.com to find out more!


Qualcomm might present the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus chip soon

Although it has only been less than two months since the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, we have now received the latest information claiming that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus will make it to the market soon.

The reason for the successor to arrive in the market this early could be the manufacturing issues faced by Samsung. If you have no idea, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is manufactured by Samsung, but Qualcomm has moved part of the production to TSMC. Therefore, launching the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus might be a plan to cover up the mess by letting TSMC produce its new batch of chipsets.

Since it's not long since the launch of the predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus won't feature many huge upgrades. However, it would still offer improved CPU performance through higher clock speeds but with better power efficiency. The source mentions that the upcoming Xiaomi 12 Ultra and Mix 5 series could debut with this chip.

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


Qualcomm obtains permit to sell 4G chipsets to Huawei

When it comes to the sales of mobile devices, the number that Huawei sells every year presents a huge opportunity for profit. That's why Qualcomm has been negotiating with the US government for permission to sell mobile chipsets to Huawei and it has been recently approved.

According to Reuters, the US government has given Qualcomm the license to sell chips for mobile phones to Huawei. However, the company will only be allowed to sell 4G chipsets to the Chinese company. This means that chipsets like the upcoming Snapdragon 875, which will definitely come paired with the new Snapdragon X60 5G chip, won't be sold to Huawei. There are already rumours that the Huawei P50 series next year will feature Snapdragon chipsets.

Before this, Huawei has relied on its in-house Kirin chips for most of its devices. But with the trade ban restricting Huawei's access to current and future mobile chipsets, the company has become unable to manufacture its own chips. This is big news for companies like Qualcomm, as Huawei will have to rely on them to manufacture new mobile chipsets.

For now, it looks like things are looking up, but let's see if Huawei can find a new source of 5G chipsets too. Perhaps Samsung's Exynos chipsets could come into the picture? Let us know what you think in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Qualcomm offers to invest in Arm if the ~RM164 billion deal with Nvidia falls through

In September 2020, Nvidia had announced its plan to acquire Arm from SoftBank for about 40 billion USD (~RM164 billion). However, Qualcomm has jumped out of the middle of nowhere recently and offered to invest in the semiconductor company rather than purchase it outright, in the event Arm rejects the deal offered by Nvidia.

Qualcomm is planning to club together with a consortium of industry players to purchase a stake in Arm if SoftBank floats the company, which means allowing Arm to go into the process of becoming a publicly-traded company. According to future Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Arm will attract a lot of interest from a lot of the companies within the ecosystem to invest in it if it had an independent future.

On the other hand, Nvidia goes against the idea by stating public listing will only hinder Arm's ability to innovate. It also mentions that what Arm needs is an infusion of new technology that can provide the company licensees everywhere, and that's why Nvidia offered the deal. As nothing has been finalized, we could only wait for more news to come.

Let us know what you think about the news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


Qualcomm officially announces Snapdragon 888 Plus at MWC 2021

Today, Qualcomm Technologies Inc. kicked off the first day of the Mobile World Congress 2021 with a new announcement about Snapdragon 888 Plus 5G Mobile Platform. As a follow up to the current Snapdragon 888 chipset, here's what we know so far about the news.

According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 888 Plus is improved further with intelligent entertainment, including AI-enhanced gameplay, streaming, photography, and more – backed by boosted performance in speed and connectivity. The company apparently also integrated a Snapdragon Elite Gaming feature to enhance smooth responsiveness, HD graphics and mobile-first desktop-level.

Compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 888 Plus offers an increased Qualcomm Kryo 680 CPU Prime core clock speed at up to 3.0 GHz and the 6th generation Qualcomm AI Engine with up to 32 TOPS AI performance, which is more than 20% improvement. Christopher Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Handset Business at Qualcomm, said that the new chipset "is synonymous with premium Android experiences".

With that said, we guess we will be seeing new smartphones with a Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset by the end of the year. If you would like to read the full detailed tech specs and features, you can visit the official webpage right here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm officially unveils the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1, the SoC powering the Meta Quest Pro

Meta recently unveiled the Meta Quest Pro Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality (MR) headset which has turned heads for its enhanced capabilities. The headset is made possible thanks to a new chip by Qualcomm called the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 which the company has provided more details on after the Quest Pro’s release.

According to Qualcomm’s official website, the new SoC supports 8k 60fps 360-degree video, ‘concurrent perception’ technologies, including head, hand and controller tracking, 3D construction, automatic room mapping and high pixel density. Furthermore, it also sports a new image processing pipeline that achieves less than 10ms latency. As such unlocks full-colour video passthrough for mixed reality.

In terms of performance and efficiency, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 has a 30 per cent improved thermal performance compared to its predecessor as well as 50 per cent higher sustained power. Qualcomm revealed that multiple OEMs have already committed to launching VR devices powered by the new chip by the end of the year.

All in all, the next-gen VR headsets look really promising. What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this!


10 tips to improve your ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphone's battery life

The ASUS ZenFone 2 is one of those smartphones which offers near the best in performance per value but one of the major detractors for it is it's low battery life. For the most part, this is because users are not utilizing all of the battery life saving functions and features available on the ZenFone 2. In this article we go through 10 helpful tips to increase energy efficiency and lengthen battery life even longer than before on your ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphone. Check them out for yourself in this article or see what we found out in our ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML review.

1. Adjust screen brightness and activate Auto Brightness

The number one battery drainer on your smartphone remains your screen but in most cases, users have the brightness on maximum and the Auto Brightness feature deactivated. Most people actually don't need this maximum brightness, so first, activate the Auto Brightness feature and lower the screen brightness to the lowest possible (just enough to be visible). To adjust brightness, swipe down from the notification bar twice, tap the Auto function on the right and use the slider. Granted, this may seem rather dim at the moment but after a while your eyes will adjust.

To squeeze more juice out of your battery, you can shorten the screen timeout time so that your phone goes into sleep mode faster. Try changing the time from the default 1 minute to 15 seconds. To change this setting, tap Settings > Display > Sleep.

3. Remove all the apps and bloatware that you're not actively using

Some people may actually use Omlet Chat, UP for Jawbone or Tripadvisor but many of these extra apps (in other words bloatware) also add another strain on the ZenFone 2's smartphone battery. Previously these apps were not removable but recent updates allow you to remove the apps after you have selected to uninstall recent updates.

4. Disable remaining apps that you do not actively use with the Auto Start Manager

Despite recent updates, there are some apps which cannot be removed or uninstalled completely. For those apps, use the Auto Start Manager to disable them each time the ZenFone 2 starts up.

The ZenFone 2 has many extremely useful battery modes, one of which is Smart-saving mode. It provides extra toggles for brightness, a feature that turns off internet, and an Extend Standby feature that lowers battery consumption by efficiently managing your push notifications when your phone is in sleep mode. Tap Settings > Power management > Power Saver > Battery Modes > Smart-saving mode.

Have you ever wished for a single button that solves all your problems? When you tap Boost, not only does it make your phone faster, but it also lowers battery consumption. Swipe down from the notification bar twice to find the Boost button.

7. Select either Wifi or 3G/4G mobile data, don't activate both

Choose Wi-Fi or 3G/4G Data, don't activate both. Granted, using Wi-Fi instead of a mobile data connection will use less battery because your phone doesn't need to constantly search for the network but having both on only means you're using more energy. To turn on WiFi or mobile data, swipe down from the notification bar twice and tap the Wi-Fi icon or Mobile Data icon.

8. Turn off Location Services, Bluetooth and NFC

Turning off these services when you're not using them can extend your battery life effectively. To turn these services off, swipe down from the notification bar twice and tap the Location, Bluetooth, or NFC icon.

9. Disable double tap to sleep / tap to wake

While this is one of the more useful features on the ASUS ZenFone 2, always having the smartphone aware or active to detect double taps also increases the strain on the ZenFone 2 battery. To deactivate it go to Settings > ZenMotion > Touch Gesture and turn it Off. This will also deactivate gesture shortcuts but it reportedly increases battery life dramatically. You can still wake or suspend your ZenFone 2 by pressing the power button on top of the smartphone.

Most freemium apps actively use data automatically to both search for new advertising as well as to send your usage data back to their servers for marketing purposes. These apps do so automatically with no options to deactivate these asides from buying the No Ad versions. This automatic usage of data really saps battery life, so if you are using an ad-based freemium app, see if you can live without it, get a similar app that doesn't use ads or buy the No Ad version. This will increase battery life, help your app developers make the app better and give you the better performance.

While some of the tips above can be used immediately with no changes to how you use your ZenFone 2 smartphone, some others may seriously affect how you normally use your device. As such, weigh the decision to use each of the tips above accordingly. If it makes life too difficult, then perhaps you should try one of the other tips instead. Use each tip at your own discretion, while these tips should not destroy your smartphone, for some people simply tapping Settings is an invitation to disaster. TechNave won't be held responsible for any explosions or inexplicable hangs or shutdowns (they didn't happen to us so they shouldn't happen to you).


31 new emojis are making their way to iOS and Android

It's always exciting to find out there's an addition of new emojis. This time, Unicode Consortium is considering adding 31 new emojis to Emoji 15. Therefore, it might be time to update your current most-used emojis with these new ones!

The new emojis include a light blue heart, grey heart, donkey, moose, black bird, jellyfish, hair pick, maracas, flute, folding hand fan, pea pod, hyacinth, ginger, goose, wing, and a Khanda. Emojipedia has showcased some samples, but the final design will depend on how major companies like Apple and Google want to deliver.

Emojis are fun ways to interact with people through messaging. Not to mention WhatsApp now allows its users to react to text messages with all the emojis rather than the initial six options. It's said that the Unicode Consortium will finalize the list of the new emojis in September, with each emoji subject to change prior to final approval as the new additions remain at the draft stage.

Is there any one of the new emojis you can't wait to use? Drop a comment to let us know, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Acer releases more Vero products - Aspire Vero 15 laptop & a Vero laser projector, starting from ~RM3K

Acer has been releasing a few Vero-type products for a while now and in this latest one, there's the new Acer Aspire Vero 15 (AV15-53P) laptop and the Acer Vero PL3510ATV laser projector. It's noted that the latter is the first projector to be an eco-friendly device.

Before we talk about the laser projector, let's start with the Aspire Vero 15. It's powered by 13th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics, a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display and of course, using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in its chassis. It is also equipped with up to 16GB of onboard LPDDR5 memory and two M.2 SSDs that support up to 1TB of storage.

Moreover, the laptop comes with Wi-Fi 6E and presents a generous selection of ports including two Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C, two USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, DC in, and an audio jack port. It also has an impressive 1440p QHD webcam that comes with Acer PurifiedView and Acer PurifiedVoice collaboration technology.

Next, the Acer Vero PL3510ATV projector is equipped with a Full HD resolution, a dynamic 4,800 ANSI lumens laser diode, and a contrast ratio of 50,000:1. On paper, it's said to project crystal-clear images from long distances, even in bright indoor settings. Acer also claims that it consumes 48% less power as compared to traditional lamp-based projectors.

Incorporating 50% PCR plastic in the chassis, the projector is also combined with a 30,000-hour lifespan. For adjustments, the Vero PL3510ATV projector supports 2D keystone, and 4-corner correction technology which adjusts projection to any viewing surface to provide a distorted-free display. For instance, its lens shift feature lets you navigate the lens without having to move the device at all.

It's worth noting that the device is IP5X rated and features a 10W built-in speaker, alongside an Audio Return function for enhanced audio quality via speakers. This projector also supports Android TV and it's also Chromecast compatible. For pricing and availability, you can refer to the details below for each model:

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.


Qualcomm plans to introduce Quick Charge 3+ technology to budget-friendly smartphones

As smartphone features continue to improve exponentially throughout the years, it has come to our attention that many companies are attempting to integrate a faster-charging technology for devices. So far, we have seen Android companies in pursuing this such as OPPO, vivo, Huawei, Samsung and more but the super nice ones (like around 40W) are mostly seen on premium phones. For Qualcomm, they aim to change that with a new Quick Charge 3+ technology.

Wait, don't we have Quick Charge 4+ already? Why are we going backwards? Well actually, the Quick Charge 3+ is meant for affordable smartphones so that's great news for the budget-conscious consumers. According to Qualcomm, the Quick Charge 3+ solution will be able to charge a device from 0% to 50% in just 15 minutes, which is 35% faster than its predecessor, and up to 9-degrees cooler. The company further stated that this feature will be making its way to smartphones equipped with a Snapdragon 765G and 765 chipsets.

Speaking of making its debut, reports are saying that the Quick Charge 3+ solution will appear on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth (or a.k.a. Mi 10 Lite Zoom) which will also have the Quick Charge 4+ solution. Either way, the Quick Charge 3+ solution will be available in most budget-friendly smartphones in the future that are using Snapdragon chipsets.

Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm preparing to launch Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in H2 2022

Most of us know that Qualcomm is currently preparing to launch the TSMC variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, namely Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+. However, we didn't know that the semiconductor manufacturer is secretly working on another chip as well, and it's the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.

According to the source, the chip will definitely bring improved performance, in terms of energy efficiency and wireless connectivity, compared to the previous 7 series chips. Chinese insiders have also revealed some information regarding the chip's architecture. It's said to be an advanced 4nm process technology that offers eight computing cores, which are located in two clusters - four Cortex A710 cores with a clock frequency of 2.36 GHz and Cortex A510, operating at a frequency of 1.8 GHz. Besides that, it should also pack the Adreno 662 for graphics processing.

Unfortunately, the source mentions that the chip will not be as powerful as you thought, and it's unlikely to surpass the Snapdragon 870 in performance. Of course, we might still have to wait until the second half of this year to find out about it, as the chip is expected to launch in that time frame. Before that happens, we should get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ earliest by May.

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


Qualcomm ready to launch new palm-sized mesh network routers

When it comes to electronics, other than becoming more powerful there's always the option of becoming more compact. And it seems that's what Qualcomm wants to do with routers. The company has unveiled a new architecture for routers that can be powerful yet stay compact.

Qualcomm has announced the Immersive Home Platform, which consists of routers that support Gigabit-speed WiFi. One of them is a mesh network router that is the size of a palm, allowing you to deliver high-speed WiFi to your home or office without taking up much space. Part of the Qualcomm Immersive Home 210 series, this palm-sized router has WiFi 6 support for wider wireless coverage.

WiFi 6E opens up the 6GHz spectrum, which is less congested

There's also the more powerful Qualcomm Immersive Home 310 series, which is a tri-band mesh router that also supports WiFi 6E. In case you are unaware, WiFi 6E provides access to the 6GHz spectrum, which is separate from the more commonly used 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum. In other words, you can expect more stable wireless performance due to less network congestion.

If you have a large house or office, you'll probably benefit from having mesh routers, so this might be something you'd be interested in. With that said, do you people already use mesh routers and how do they perform? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to us at TechNave.com for more tech news.


Qualcomm reveals full range of benchmarks for Snapdragon 888 chipset

Benchmark scores aren't everything, but they can tell us how well a device could perform. And when it comes to the Snapdragon 888 chipset, things are looking promising. Qualcomm has just shared a comprehensive list of benchmark scores, showcasing the prowess of the new chipset.

In the official post, Qualcomm confirmed that used a range of different benchmark programs. This includes synthetic and graphics benchmarks, as well as those that test the chipset's AI, gaming, and photography capabilities. For example, the Snapdragon 888 chipset scored 735439 in AnTuTu, which is an improvement of around 14% over the Snapdragon 865+ chipset.

Besides that, the chipset is expected to deliver up to 35% faster graphics rendering and up to 73% increase in AI-inferencing performance. There's no gauge on how this chipset improves photography, but you can check out the other benchmark tests performed in the image above. Suffice to say, the improvement is quite significant.

We're expecting next year's flagship smartphones to be more expensive, so brace for that if you plan to upgrade. But having said that, would you be looking to upgrade, or go for a device featuring older hardware to save cost? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates like this.


Qualcomm reveals new Snapdragon Sound technology with a few new audio features for Android

Just recently, Qualcomm just introduced a new technology called Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound. As the name implies, it will be heavily emphasized in smartphone audio and connectivity with the best audio sound quality possible. Under the theme 'How sound should sound', here's what you can expect from the company.

From their website, Snapdragon Sound is designed to deliver HiFi sound in 24-bit and 96kHz high-resolution Bluetooth music from your phone with Qualcomm aptX Adaptive audio technology. Qualcomm also aims to make the speakers bearable (without sounding like breaking) when maximizing the volume with Qualcomm Aqstic technology.

Plus, it's also designed to deliver super wideband 32kHz voice quality for clearer network calls with aptX Voice, eliminating background sounds. Qualcomm is also trying to offer a glitch-free audio experience in which Snapdragon Sound optimizes your device no matter how many other smart devices are around from interfering. For mobile gaming, it offers ultra-low latency of just 89 milliseconds.

Snapdragon Sound seems to be optimized for Snapdragon 888 chipset, FastConnect system, Bluetooth Audio SoCs and other features that we just mentioned above. This is pretty great news for Android users but we don't know which brand will adopt this technology yet. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm reveals their latest Snapdragon 690 5G chipset with 4K HDR video and 120Hz refresh rate support

With 5G technology picking back up its feet to the tech world, Qualcomm was secretly working on a new chipset all this while. Introducing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G chipset, it will be the first 600-series that is integrated with 5G technology.

In terms of features, the chipset is equipped with the 5th-Gen Qualcomm AI Engine and uses a new Hexagon Tensor Accelerator. What this means is that it has the ability to make real-time transitions more smooth, like when zooming in between ultrawide and normal camera mode, or camera filters on certain apps. The chipset can also support 4K HDR video recording as well as supporting displays that have up to 120Hz refresh rate.

As for the 5G speed, the SD 690 chipset features a Qualcomm FastConnect 6200 (2x2 WiFi) and a Qualcomm Snapdragon X51 5G Modem-RF which supports SA, NSA and sub-6GHz global 5G frequency bands. For comparison with the SD 675 chipset, it is 20% faster and 60% faster in graphics performance that's quite good. Do note that the aforementioned 5G frequency bands are usually only seen on the 700 and 800-series 5G chipsets.

According to Qualcomm, only a few OEMs will start using the Snapdragon 690 5G chipset which includes HMD Global, Motorola, LG Electronics, SHARP, TCL and Wingtech. The company also expects to see the chipset rolling out in the second half of the year, so expect to see more smartphone brands trying to get their hands on this soon.

So what do you think of this new chipset? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's Quick Charge 5.0 can charge up to 50% in just 5 minutes

You already know there's Quick Charge 4.0, now get ready for Quick Charge 5.0! It was officially announced by Qualcomm a few hours ago at this time of posting and it's the world's first commercial 100W+ charging platform that will arrive soon this year.

So how fast can the Quick Charge 5.0 work on your smartphone? According to their website, they claim that it can charge up to 50% in just five minutes. Comparing with Quick Charge 4/4+, that's 4x faster and up to 70% more efficient as well as 10°C cooler which sounds mightily impressive. If you're concerned of the charging heat, don't you worry as Qualcomm is using a new Dual Charge technology for better thermal management.

On top of that, Qualcomm is also integrating Qualcomm Battery Saver and Smart Identification of Adapter Capabilities technology for the new Quick Charge 5.0. These features will assist and enhance the phone's battery life cycle longer and better but then again, it also solely depends on how the user treats the device. It was also hinted that Xiaomi would be the first smartphone brand to use Quick Charge 5.0 since Zhang Lei, the Vice President of Mi Phone stated that Xiaomi users will be able to enjoy using it.

If you would like to learn more about Quick Charge 5.0, you can check it out at their official webpage here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's SD 870 comes equipped with a large core that's capable of hitting 3.2GHz

Based on a statement by DigitalChatStation on weibo, it seems that the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset is expected to come equipped with a large core that’s capable of achieving up to 3.2GHz. While it may not perform as fast as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 chipset, our source did note that the SD875 will focus more on lowering power consumption.

With all that said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Qualcomm has yet to provide an official statement on the leak. Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs of the smartphone that will have the chipset in question.

What are your thoughts on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset being able to hit up to 3.2GHz clock speed? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's Snapdragon 875 chipset performs better than Huawei's Kirin 9000 chipset

Based on a statement by Digital Chat Station on weibo, it seems that a Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 benchmark hints that the chipset performs better than the HiSilicon Kirin 9000 chipset. However, in the GPU department, both chipsets perform about equal.

With that in mind, it is best to note that the performance of the chipset largely depends on the smartphone that it is embedded in as minor things such as a slightly higher RAM capacity or storage speed could drastically influence the overall performance. However, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Qualcomm has yet to provide an official statement on the leaked benchmark

That being said, what are your thoughts on the performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 chipset? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's Snapdragon 875G chipsets will be manufactured by Samsung

Based on a report by myfixguide.com, it seems that Qualcomm has contracted Samsung to manufacture the Snapdragon 875G chipset, which could be released somewhere around the end of this year. While not much is known in regards to which smartphone will come with the aforementioned chip, we do know that the contract is worth around ~RM3.5 billion.

But that’s not all, our source also mentioned that the upcoming smartphone equipped with the new chipset will come equipped with 5G capabilities and up to 100W+ fast charging support. With all that said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact Samsung and Qualcomm have yet to provide an official statement.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on Samsung manufacturing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 875G chipset? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Acer releases new gaming monitor and all-around projectors in Malaysia for a starting price of RM1199

Today, Acer unveiled a new gaming monitor called the Acer XF240H gaming monitor, as well as improved and all-around Acer P1286 and X127H projectors. The Acer XF240H is available for purchase immediately at all authorized Acer resellers nationwide, at a price of  RM1199; while the projectors are retailed at RM1899 and RM1699 respectively from select authorized resellers nationwide.

A 24-inch entry-level gaming monitor, the gaming monitor features Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The AMD FreeSyncTM technology allows the monitor to synchronize with the amount of frames per second that GPU renders, eliminating screen tearing and making gaming smoother. Combining that with a 144Hz refresh rate, the time it takes for frame rendering will be shortened, and it has an ergonomically-designed stand that allows height, swivel, tilt and pivot adjustment enabling user to find the ideal viewing position.

Moreover, the monitor is equipped with the Acer EyeProtect technology which incorporates several features including Flicker-less, Blue Light Filter, ComfyView display and Low dimming designed to reduce eye strain and fatigue, providing a more comfortable viewing experience for heavy users.

Next, the P1286 projector comes with 3400 ANSI lumens while the X127H projector comes with 3600 ANSI lumens. This means both projectors deliver high level of brightness, high contrast and 3D capability, making presentations more crystal clear, vibrant images from a long distance on a large screen even in daytime indoors.

The projectors’ top-loading lamp will allow users to easily replace the lamp module without detaching the projector from ceiling, projected images can also rotate 180-degree to ensure the correct orientation by Auto ceiling-mount on the projectors.

Featuring 3W built-in speaker providing rich sound; instant resume; smart adjustment and reliable security. The P1286 also offers wireless projection capability allowing users to break free from the limitation of cables.Accumulation of dust or smoke may cause reduced brightness and faded colour of the displayed images, with this in mind, they are shielded from the pollutants by the Sealed Optical Engine design, hence extending the optical performance.

For more information, please visit Acer Malaysia Facebook or call Acer’s Product Infoline at 1800-88-1288 (9am - 6pm, Mondays to Fridays).


Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit to be held earlier this year from 24-26 Oct 2023

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 hasn't been out for that long, but we're already getting news about its successor. An official update from Qualcomm has confirmed that the Snapdragon Summit will be held from 24-26 October 2023, making it about 3 weeks earlier than the one last year.

So what can we expect from the Snapdragon Summit 2023? Qualcomm is definitely going to showcase its next-gen flagship mobile chipset - the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. For your info, this chipset will allegedly be the last to be manufactured on the N4P node. On paper, this suggests that it won't provide that big of a performance jump, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 uses the same process.

However, some sources claim otherwise. According to Digital Chat Station (via MyDrivers), the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will sport a new CPU configuration of 1x Cortex-X4, 5x Cortex-A720, and 2x Cortex-A520 CPU cores. For those unaware, this means that Qualcomm's next flagship chipset will replace two power efficiency cores with two performance cores. Unfortunately, we're not sure how this would impact performance and battery efficiency yet.

Of course, we can't confirm anything, so take our speculation with a grain of salt. For now, we'll keep an eye out for more rumours of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so stay tuned to TechNave for future updates.


Qualcomm’s #SnapdragonKickUps challenge could win you a trip to watch Manchester United Live

Qualcomm Technologies Inc have officially announced their #SnapdragonKickUps Instagram Reels Challenge for fans following the Snapdragon Insiders Community. Those who win will be able to watch a matchup at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego between Manchester United vs Wrexham A.F.C.

Starting from now till 31 May 2023, winners will be announced on 1 June 2023. Winners will not be chosen based on soccer skills and are open to legal residents of Malaysia. Winners will get a ticket to the match, round trip airfare and hotel accomodation along with a SnapdragonⓇ 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy device (likely a Samsung Galaxy S23 series device)

To participate in the #SnapdragonKickUps Instagram Reels Challenge follow the steps below:

If you should win, don't forget to let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's Windows on Snapdragon laptops will be coming to Malaysia soon in 2021

Fresh after announcing their Qualcomm 8CX Gen 2 chipset for laptops, Qualcomm recently held a virtual briefing on their upcoming plans for Windows on Snapdragon laptops for Southeast Asia. Suffice to say, they have been working with various laptop makers to bring their Snapdragon 850 and 7c compute platforms to market in Malaysia, perhaps as soon as Q1 or Q2 of 2021.

Qualcomm noted that their own initial testing against laptops with similar capabilities to their 8cx Gen 2 (10th gen Intel Core i5) have been better in terms of battery performance and reliability. This could in turn lead to more silent Windows laptops that still have enough battery to work the next day, but no exact numbers were given. They also said that they’ve been working closely with Microsoft, so application compatibility should not be an issue either.

They haven’t specifically named names or even certain laptop models but from the briefing, we expect Snapdragon powered laptops from brands such as SNS Networks JOI and Microsoft Surface in 2021. They’ve also been working with ASUS, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Huawei and a few other laptop brands as well, but no guarantees whether these brands will also bring in their Snapdragon 850 or 7c powered laptops either.

Prices should be competitive, but again, no specifics were mentioned. So, would you be interested in a Windows on Snapdragon powered laptop for 2021? We’re game to try as long as Microsoft doesn’t do another Windows RT experience again (from the briefing, it doesn’t seem so). Let us know what you think on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's first 6nm chipset SD775G to debut alongside the flagship SD875

Other than launching their latest flagship chipset soon, Qualcomm is also ready to unveil the Snapdragon 775G on the same stage as well. The Snapdragon 775G will be the successor of the Snapdragon 765G which powers several upper mid-range smartphones like the OnePlus Nord and LG Velvet.

The SD775G will be the manufacturer's first 6nm chipset. It is expected to have a 40 percent faster CPU and 50 percent better graphics than its predecessor. Other than that, the mid-range chip is also said to support 120Hz display, 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.

Besides the 775G, the Snapdragon 875 has been one of the stars when it comes to the 5nm chipsets. The chipset is manufactured using Samsung’s 5nm EUV process. It is also expected to be 25 percent smaller and 20 percent more power-efficient compared to the current 7nm chip. We can't wait to get our hands on the devices that are powered by these two!

Let us know what you think about the news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more latest tech updates.


Qualcomm's first Snapdragon 810 Developers smartphone announced for $800

Qualcomm has just announced its new Mobile Development Platform Smartphone (MDPS) which features the latest 64-bit Snapdragon 810 processor. Along with this super-fast SoC, you get other ready-to-ship technologies developed by the chip maker. The Snapdragon 810 64 bit Octa Core processor inside is made up of four Cortex A57 and Cortex A53 cores built on a 20nm process. As a result, even with a 50% increase in the processing power, the chip should be power efficient. The device comes with an Adreno 430 GPU, which is 30% faster than the previous generation along with 4GB LP-DDR4 RAM. The device also comes with many more features as listed below but unfortunately, these technologies don't come cheap, and anyone interested can purchase the device from Qualcomm for $800 (about RM2682).

On the back, there's a 13MP camera sensor with OIS capable of recording 4K videos at 30 fps. While on the front, there is a 4MP auto focus camera which can take 1080p videos. Other notable features include USB 3.0, a fingerprint sensor, 11.1 surround sound with Dolby and DTS, Bluetooth 4.1, Snapdragon StudioAccess technology and SecureMSM digital rights management. There are a number of sensors onboard too, like an ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, pressure sensor, temperature and humidity sensor, UV sensor, Mobeam sensor, 3 axis gyro and 3 axis accelerometer. Obviously, there are no Malaysia release dates or pricing for the Qualcomm MDPS but it does give an indication as to what new features are coming in smartphones for 2015.[Source]


Qualcomm's latest WiFi 7 Networking Pro Series can reach up to 33Gbps

Back in MWC 2022 a few months ago, Qualcomm introduced the next generation of WiFi 7 connectivity. The company released more details today, namely four new Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms, namely the 1620, 1220, 820 and 620 models. Here's more detail about the technology.

To get into the figures, the highest data speed achievement recorded was 33Gbps on the 1620 platform thanks to the quad-band 16-stream feature. This is followed by 21Gbps (1220 platform, triband 12-stream), 16Gbps (820 platform, quad-band 8-stream) and finally, 10Gbps (triband 6-stream).

In terms of features, the WiFi 7 now sports faster and has multiple connections. This is due to the new supporting 320MHz channels in 4K QAM and multi-link operation respectively. For the latter, it was designed to deliver massive capacity, stability and extremely low latency, when connected with Qualcomm FastConnect, 7800-based WiFi 7.

As you can see, these capabilities can be utilised in the future when 5G becomes mainstream. WiFi 7 can be great for gaming, streaming, and sharing huge video files, as well as XR applications of tomorrow. Qualcomm AFC Solution is also integrated to ensure enhanced 6GHz operation in both indoors and outdoors.

We expect to see WiFi 7 technology in future devices such as laptops from 2023 onwards. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 865 chipset set to appear in devices in Q1 2020

Android smartphones powered by Qualcomm are once again set to gain more performance, with Qualcomm announcing three new mobile chipsets today. The chipmaker has revealed the Snapdragon 865, Snapdragon 765 and Snapdragon 765 5G chipsets at the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2019.

The Snapdragon 865 is designed for flagship devices, while the Snapdragon 765 and Snapdragon 765G are meant for upper midrange devices. Note that though the latter two will come with a 5G modem, the Snapdragon 865 doesn't. Instead, smartphone manufacturers will have to purchase the Snapdragon X55 5G modem to go with the chipset. In other words, you won't be seeing 4G variants of Snapdragon 865-powered smartphones.

Devices featuring the Snapdragon 865 will start appearing in the first quarter of 2020. Xiaomi has already confirmed that its Mi 10 will have it and Motorola will be making its comeback to the mobile market with flagship phones equipped with the chipset.

As for the Snapdragon 765 and 765 5G, these two have a slower X52 modem integrated inside. Both will also provide advanced AI processing. The Xiaomi Redmi K30 and OPPO Reno 3 are expected to be the first two devices using the Snapdragon 765 5G chipset.

We still don't have the tech specs for any of the three chips but it shouldn't be long before they are announced. What do you think of Qualcomm's decision to bundle the Snapdragon 865 with a 5G modem? Let us know on our Facebook page. Also, stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates on this.


Qualcomm's next CEO suggests that chip shortage will last till late 2021

We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic has far-reaching consequences. But the one with perhaps the biggest impact is the semiconductor industry. Recently, Qualcomm's next CEO was available to talk about the impact of the chip shortage.

In a recent interview with CNET, Christiano Amon (Qualcomm's CEO-elect) confirmed that the shortage has also affected Qualcomm. Amon said that the shortage was "impacting everything, and of course impacting phones." This is why Qualcomm hasn't been able to secure enough processors to meet the market demand, which led to a decline in the total number of smartphones sold in 2020 by 12.5%.

That's not about to change anytime soon, as Amon believes that the shortage will continue late into 2021. However, things can and will get better as the year goes on, so Qualcomm has no plans to build its own chip factories. Instead, the company will continue to rely on Samsung and TSMC to manufacture chipsets for a range of different industries. He also mentioned that Qualcomm's current developments will be focused on 5G.

It's interesting to get some industry insights like this once in a while, and at least we get a projection on when the wide-ranging shortage could end. Hopefully, the prices of devices will also be reduced once things go back to normal. What are your thoughts on the topic? Share it with us in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Qualcomm's upcoming ARM-based Snapdragon 8cx chip could still lose to Apple's M1

News has reported that Qualcomm is preparing for an ARM-based Snapdragon 8cx chip for Windows 10 to compete against Apple's M1 chip. Sadly, this new benchmark leak of the upcoming chip might be here to tell you not to put too much hope on it.

Spotted by Windows Latest, the benchmark score of an engineering sample of this new processor on GeekBench still can't get ahead of the Apple MacBook Air that features the M1 chip. Looking at the chart organized by the source, the engineering sample with the name "Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD)" is placed third after two variants of the MacBook Air launched at the end of 2020. However, the chip can still be found on top of the Surface Pro X range.

Besides that, the result might have also confirmed that this new chip will focus more on performance rather than the battery life which Qualcomm usually emphasizes. It could be done by featuring an eight-core configuration comprising four “Gold+” high-end cores and four “Gold” high-end cores and having a clock speed of 2.69 GHz.

Let us know what you think about this news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Qualcomm showed how 5G networks can assist in healthcare, transportation and others

Recently, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc held an event in Kuala Lumpur on 29 March 2023 to showcase its latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential of Connected Intelligent Edge. The event was part of its ongoing campaign, "The Edge of Possible".

During the event, Qualcomm highlighted the convergence of 5G networks with Connected Intelligent Edge. This technology allows data to be processed and analyzed in real time, allowing faster decision-making and response times. It can be utilised in healthcare, transportation, and other jobs by analysing vast amounts of data which can change the way we live, work, and interact with each other.

On the other hand, connected intelligent camera solutions can secure and safeguard enterprise environments, transform enterprise security and public safety segments, and optimize business operations. As 5G provides low latency and high bandwidth, it can put security cameras to various new use cases, from mission-critical emergency services to smart factories and smart cities.

Furthermore, Qualcomm also showed how AI features are improving work for hybrid employees. This includes enhanced and more natural video conferencing, advanced security and privacy, more power for intensive computing tasks, power saving and efficiency, tools to improve productivity and power innovation.

All in all, Qualcomm's aim is to provide enterprises with the right computing power to run their workforces effectively. By integrating artificial intelligence capabilities into enterprise PCs, it will become more prevalent in transforming industries, powering new consumer experiences, and fueling the growth of the digital economy.


Acer releases three new Avengers Special Edition Laptops in Malaysia, starting price from RM3299

In great anticipation of Avengers: Infinity War movie release next week, Acer Malaysia has collaborated with Marvel and brought in three special Avengers Special Edition Laptops - Acer Aspire 6 Captain America Edition, Nitro 5 Thanos Edition and Swift 3 Iron Man Edition. All these devices are now available for purchase immediately at selected Acer resellers across the nation with a recommended retail price of RM3299, RM4299 and RM4399 respectively.

The Aspire 6 is one of the newest Acer laptops to arrive in Malaysia and as a limited edition featuring Capt's iconic pentagram, it is equipped with the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U processor, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card, a 4GB of DDR4 RAM (upgradable to 16GB) and a mega 1TB of SATA HDD storage. Moreover, it's also packed with great connectivity, using a 2x2 MIMO 802.11ac wireless technology and Gigabit Ethernet, as well as several ports including a USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1, a USB 3.0 port that supports power-off charging and another two USB 2.0 ports.

Aspire 6 Captain America Edition, nerd alert

The front view, nice touch pad and layout design there

In addition to the 15.6-inch Full HD display device, it also has a Dolby Audio Premium and Acer TrueHarmony technology for the best sound quality, along with two digital microphones with Acer Purified.

Meanwhile, the Nitro 5 Thanos Edition is more or less the same as the original Nitro 5 that we know. The only difference is that is powered by 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics (no Ti) with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM, 8GB of DDR4 memory (upgradable to 16GB), 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD for storage. As for the Swift 3, it's using the same tech-specs so to know more about it, you can head over here to check it out.

Iron Man edition, too bad the reactor logo doesn't have the actual light shining beam

Even has the Marvel logo besides the fingerprint sensor

Another note to add on is that since these laptops are limited edition, it will only be on sale for a limited time between 17 April to 30 June 2018. Furthermore, there will be a four-day Acer Avengers: Infinity War Special Edition Laptop roadshow in Sunway Pyramid on 26-29 April 2018 with a few fun activities, this includes a 1v1 DotA 2, PUBG and FIFA challenge, an Avengers theme photo booth and a QnA session.

Should you participate in the activities, you can bring home a mystery Acer gift from the 1v1 challenge and those who purchase selected Aspire, Swift, Spin or Predator series will be rewarded with freebies. Below is a list of which freebies you can get from the selected models.

That's it folks, stay tuned for more Acer news at TechNave.com and we can't wait to watch Avengers: Infinity War!!


Qualcomm to release "Lite" variants of the SD 875 chipset that's probably much cheaper

Based on a statement by Digital Chat Station on Twitter, it seems that Qualcomm could be releasing several “Lite” variants of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 chipset which will be priced much cheaper. With that said, we can expect smartphones equipped with the aforementioned Lite chipset to be much cheaper compared to the full-specced Snapdragon 875 chip.

Other than that, there is no official information in regards to which smartphone will come equipped with the chipset as well as the Malaysia release date of the device. However, it is probably safe to assume that smartphones that come with the new chip will come with a much lower price tag. Do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Qualcomm, as well as the smartphone manufacturers, have yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

If you heard it right, the Green Factory product communication meeting was talking about Snapdragon 860? Then the Snapdragon 875 series may also have a lite version. The next generation of new machines from Green Factory will continue to be thin and light. In addition t.. (1/2)

Would you be interested in getting a smartphone equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 Lite variant chipset? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm to release the SD888 Lite chipset without 5G connectivity?

Based on a statement by @rquandt on the user’s Twitter account, it seems that Qualcomm could be planning to release a Snapdragon 888 Lite chipset that comes without a 5G modem. While there is no official information in regards to which smartphone will come with the aforementioned chipset, it does give us a better idea of what to expect when it is officially available in the global market.

From what we can see, the tweet mentioned that the Snapdragon 888 Lite will most likely be priced much cheaper compared to its non-Lite counterpart. Not only that, but there could also be a possibility that Huawei might adopt the chipset in question to any of their non-5G smartphones.

Qualcomm has a lower end derivate of the Snapdragon 888 (SM8350) in the works. SM8325 is the model number and there seems to be NO integrated 5G modem on this one. #CheapFlagshipPhones

With all that being said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Qualcomm and Huawei have yet to provide an official statement on the leak. Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs for now.

Would you be interested in getting a smartphone that’s equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm to take on Apple's M1 chip in the near future

Based on an official statement by Qualcomm’s CEO, it seems that they will soon be releasing a new product to take on Apple’s M1 chip. The upcoming product will be aims to bring similar performance and efficiency similar to Apple’s M1 chip to Windows laptop and computers.

While not much is known in regards to the official release date of the upcoming chip, our source mentioned that we can expect the release date to be somewhere around 2022 under the company called Nuvia. The new brand will consist of several employees who have worked on developing Apple’s M1 chip.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on Qualcomm releasing a new chip to take on Apple Silicon? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm unveils entry-level Snapdragon 480 5G chipset

Many countries are pushing 5G heavily, but 5G devices tend to be more expensive. As a result, chipmakers are starting to make cheaper options like mid-range 5G chipsets. Now, Qualcomm has gone one step further by unveiling the entry-level 5G chipset - the Snapdragon 480.

The Snapdragon 480 is the Qualcomm's first 4-series chipset to get 5G, which will open the way for entry-level devices to gain access to 5G networks. Specifically, this 8nm chipset's integrated Snapdragon X51 5G modem supports both mmWave and Sub-6 GHz networks. Besides that, it comes with Cortex-A76 and Cortex-A55 CPU cores, as well as an Adreno 619 GPU and a Hexagon 686 processor for AI tasks.

Other than 5G, this chipset also supports Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DDS), Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. As for other features, it will support displays with refresh rates of up to 120Hz and FHD+ resolution, as well as Quick Charge 4+, a max camera resolution of 64MP, and more. Overall, it seems quite impressive for an entry-level chipset, which is expected to launch in Q1 2021.

In our opinion, once phones powered by this new chipset appears, those who don't need anything fancy could invest in one and get a lot of value for money. But what do you think? Share your comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Qualcomm unveils new mid-range Snapdragon 778G 5G Mobile Platform for mobile gaming & multimedia

Mid-range chipsets are becoming more trendy now thanks to the market demands. In Qualcomm's latest development, the company have just announced a brand new Snapdragon 778G 5G Mobile Platform. Here's everything you need to know about the mid-range chipset.

For starters, Qualcomm described the Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset as a "triple threat" for mobile gaming, AI acceleration and video capture. A Snapdragon X53 5G Modem-RF System is part of the new chipset that enables mmWave and Sub-6 bands, allowing WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E via Qualcomm's FastConnect 6700 Mobile Connectivity System. To give you a figure, WiFi 6 can achieve up to 2.9 Gbps.

In terms of Accelerated AI, Qualcomm is using a 6th Gen AI Engine that offers performance twice as much. Fusing with a Hexagon 770 processor, it allows faster data transfer between all AI accelerators in terms of mobile gaming, audio, photography and more. There's also a Sensing Hub boost for AI-based audio processing.

Last but not least, the Spectra 570L Triple ISP can help the chipset to capture three videos at once. This includes photography too of up to 22MP photos via a triple concurrent capture, alongside burst capture at 120FPS (8MP) or 90FPS (12MP). The platform also sports a computational HDR video capture which merges multiple frames for the best possible footage.

Other than that, there are other features too in the Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset. This includes a 5G connectivity, charging speed, sound technology and many others. If you want to read the full details, you can visit the page right here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Qualcomm will be releasing three new Snapdragon chipsets in the second half of 2018

Recently, both ASUS Malaysia and honor have announced their own budget-friendly phones for the Malaysia market. While they are both priced under RM400, it comes with entry-level tier specifications which are expected and that left many Malaysians a bit down due to the low processor power.

But all that is about to change in the near future, it has been reported that Qualcomm will be adding three new chipsets for the 400 and 600 series - namely the Snapdragon 429, Snapdragon 439 and Snapdragon 632, and yes, you can bet these new chipsets will have better performance but that's not all, it's said to improve battery life, enhanced graphics, powering dual camera setups and even "AI" features which is great.

Using FinFET architecture, Qualcomm claimed that the SD 429 and 439 are 25% fast and more energy efficient than the predecessors, as well as having faster download speeds for smooth video streaming and web browsing. In addition, the Adreno 504 GPU performance has improved to 50% for rendering graphics while the SD 439's Adreno 505 has a 20% improvement for that. Then for the SD 632, it is 40% better with the Kryo 250 CPU and Adreno 506. You can check out the chart above for reference.

We foresee a number of entry-level Android phones to feature those new chipsets in the second half of 2018. So stay tuned for that as we wait and see which brand will be adopting this!


Qualcomm won't be giving Samsung any orders to make Snapdragon 865 chipsets

Many brands rely on Qualcomm's mobile chipsets these days but there are others that are trying to gain more market share. Apple and Huawei have an advantage here, being able to manufacture their own chips, like the A13 Bionic and Kirin 990. But Samsung actively uses Qualcomm chips in many of its devices and needs orders for chips to improve its chip business. Unfortunately, Qualcomm may not want to play ball.

According to Business Korea, Qualcomm may choose to give all its orders for new Snapdragon 865 chipsets to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), leaving none for Samsung. You would imagine that TSMC should already be swamped with orders to build chips for Apple, Huawei, Nvidia, and more, but clearly the Taiwanese manufacturer's production capacity is not to be underestimated.

Supposedly, this move is aimed to prevent Samsung from acquiring the knowhow to improve its future Exynos chipsets, thus allowing Qualcomm to maintain its tech advantage. Qualcomm has no qualms when it comes to mid-range Snapdragon 765 and 765 5G chipsets, however, because those won't divulge any of the company's best technologies.

We can't tell you if this is true or not, but what do you think? Do share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like this.


Qualcomm working on another chip that will be embedded in low-end laptops

Based on a report by WinFuture.de, it seems that Qualcomm could be working on a chip that seems to be an upgrade from the Snapdragon 7c that was released quite a while back. Not much is known in regards to the exact product that will come with the upcoming chip embedded, our source did mention that it will most likely be similar to the Snapdragon 775 chipset.

As for specs, the chip in question will come equipped with 4 low powered cores clocking in at 1.8GHz, a high-performance core clocked at 2.7GHz, as well as 3 remaining cores at 2.4GHz. With all that being said, do take every bit of information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Qualcomm has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs of all the products mentioned. Would you be keen on owning a laptop equipped with Qualcomm’s new chip? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Qualcomm working on the successor of the SD8cx to take on Apple's M1 chipsets

Based on a report by winfuture.de, it seems that Qualcomm could be working on the successor of the Snapdragon 8cx to take on Apple Silicon chips. While not much is known in regards to which product will come with the Snapdragon chip, it does give us a better idea of what expect from Qualcomm in the near future.

As of now, our source hinted that Qualcomm is currently testing the Snapdragon SC8280XP chipset with the first variant capable of reaching up to 2.7Ghz while another variant is able to achieve up to 2.43Ghz. Not only that, but the chipsets are also expected to come with an integrated NPU to handle AI-based tasks.

With all that said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Qualcomm has yet to provide an official statement on the leak. Not only that, but there’s also no news on the exact tech specs, release date, and local pricing regarding the product that comes with the new Snapdragon chipset.

What are your thoughts on the new Snapdragon chipset for now? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Quantic Dream's next game could be called Star Wars: Eclipse

With the end of the Star Wars Skywalker saga, fans of the franchise have been thirsting for more. Many enjoyed The Mandalorian, which is an ongoing series that's available on Disney+. But many others are looking to film new movies or make new games, and one of them is Quantic Dreams.

In an interview with Giant Bomb (via VGC), the French game developer Quantic Dreams will announce a new Star Wars game soon. Allegedly, it will be announced before the end of the year. There aren't any confirmed details about this game so far, but the source claimed that the game will be called Star Wars: Eclipse and that it will take place in the High Republic Era.

For your info, the High Republic Era from 300 to 82 BBY, which refers to "Battle Before Yavin" or the Galactic standard calendar. According to the official website, this is an era way before the Skywalker saga (around 200 years). Interestingly, Kotaku claimed that the game would be more action-oriented than previous Quantic Dreams titles like Heavy Rain.

But what do you expect the game would look and feel like? Is there a particular concept or feature you would like to see? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for future updates about it.


Acer revealed Chromebook Tab 10 for education, starting price from ~RM1271

Recently In Taipei, Taiwan, Acer just unveiled its first education tablet - the Chromebook Tab 10 (D651N) running on Chrome OS. Designed for educational purpose in mind, Acer wants the customers to utilize this in K-12 classrooms to expand and enhance the students' learning ability with the speed, simplicity and security of Chrome OS. Below is the tech-specs of the tablet.

Being lightweight and compact enough for students to carry it around, the highlight of the tablet is Expeditions AR, which is Google’s AR technology that maps the classroom and places 3D objects in it for students to study, making subjects such as biology, geography and astronomy easier to understand visually. Moreover, it comes with a Wacom EMR stylus, enabling the students to have fun with interactive apps, sketch, take notes and share ideas with classmates and teachers. The stylus can be embedded in the chassis dock for secure storage, it doesn’t require a battery and is resistant to accidental drops.

On top of that, IT admins can also manage the Chromebook Tab 10 on their campus, making updates, configuring apps, as well as manage extensions and policies with the Chrome Education license. Since the tablet also supports multiple user sign-in, it can be shared throughout the school labs, allowing quick access for each student's information, apps, projects, Gmail and others when they log onto their accounts. Even if a device is lost, stolen or damaged, students won’t lose their information thanks to the Google Drive's protection.

As for the price and availability, it seems that it will launch in North America first in April with the starting price of $329 (~RM1271). That's pretty affordable for a tablet, no word for whether if it's coming to Malaysia, though, but we shall see. Stay tuned for more Acer news at TechNave.com.


Quiet Ride is now a permanent feature in your Grab app & here's how to turn it on

For a few weeks, Quiet Ride has been part of your Grab app if you wish not to talk during the ride. Now, the feature is a permanent feature and you can enable it automatically.

Enabling Quiet Ride is easy, you just have to order a Grab ride in your app as usual. But before you book it, tap on the "..." Setting symbol and toggle on Quiet Ride. The feature is also free (obviously) and you're set to go! After that, Quiet Ride will always be turned on for your next Grab ride until you switch it off.

That being said, Grab drivers can still check with your on your confirmed trip details, answer their phone calls and have the music on. There's also a chance that your driver may miss your Quiet Ride request, so just let him or her know if that's what you want.

You can visit the Quiet Ride FAQs section right over here for more details. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


RANGER Bluetooth Audio Transceiver - 2-in-1 Bluetooth enabler

While technology continues to offer new ways to communicate, sometimes it makes it difficult for us to utilize our older technology devices. This type of situation can easily come up when you're trying to transmit music to your AV or home theater system but it doesn't have a Bluetooth receiver. Offering a solution on both sides is the RANGER Audio Transceiver AT0200 or Bluetooth Audio Transceiver. Hook it up to your AV or Home theater system and it can now receive music from your smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth connectivity. Flip a switch on the Transceiver and it can transmit or stream music directly to Bluetooth enabled devices like wireless speakers or headphones. Tech specs for the RANGER Audio Transceiver AT0200 or Bluetooth Audio Transceiver include the following:


RANGER Handy Keyboard - Fully featured wireless keyboard with built-in Track ball

While there are many 2.4GHz wireless keyboards out there, few offer as many features and control as the RANGER Handy Keyboard. Featuring 2.4GHz wireless technology this RF small sized keyboard offers a built-in 7mm Trackball and scroll wheel built into the keyboard. Located on the sides, these fatures offer a more ergonomic method of control for your home entertainment center, Smart TV, TV box and game console. It is also invaluable for meeting room presentations where mobility and control are necessary for success. With more than 15 hotkeys available, the RANGER Handy Keyboard offers any number of one-press shortcuts that you can easily use for your purposes. Tech specs and features for the RANGER Handy Keyboard include:


RANGER Palmtop II RF Keyboard

Sometimes, all you want for your Smart TV, Android TV box, IP TV, computer or notebook is just a simple way to enter text and control the cursor from a distance. For those situations, RANGER have come out with their Palmtop II RF Keyboard which is designed to fit easily in the palm of your hand. Utilizing 2.4GHz radio frequency wireless technology, the full QWERTY keyboard integrates a touch pad and laser pointer for presentation purposes. A 10 meter operating range ensures that you can do everything from your couch or from the back of the room while smart function controls provide quick-and-easy shortcuts for multimedia and other functions. Check out the full list of tech specs of the RANGER Palmtop II RF Keyboard below:

For more information check out the RANGER site but the RANGER Palmtop II RF Keyboard is available for a retail price of RM139 or SGD59.


RANGER SMARTY Remote Keyboard - All-in-one Universal Remote, Keyboard and Air Mouse combo

As our lives become more and more connected through Smart devices like HDTVs, TV Boxes and game consoles, it is becoming increasingly difficult to interact with them, all the more so since there is a remote for each device. For this reason, the RANGER SMARTY Remote Keyboard was created as it combines a Universal remote control with a Wireless Keyboard and Air Mouse. This dual-sided accessory lets you control your Smart TV, HDTV, game consoles and other compatible devices at a distance with a range of up 8 meters, this wireless remote has a microphone and speaker which lets you access voice calls through Skype via your Smart TV while the built-in six-axis gyro allows for air mouse motion control. Other notable features include it's ability to learn your preferences while providing an 8-channel infrared remote control function. Tech specs for the RANGER SMARTY Remote Keyboard include the following:

For more information regarding the RANGER SMARTY Remote Keyboard please go to the site.


RANGER Touchpad Plus Keyboard offers all-in-one wireless control

Tied down by keyboard cables? Too many batteries needed for your wireless keyboard and mouse? Simplifying this, RANGER have released their RANGER Touchpad Plus Keyboard which is a 2.4GH wireless keyboard with built-in touchpad. The touchpad doubles as a number pad and can switch between touchpad mode and keypad mode with ease. The RANGER Touchpad Plus also features a number of integrated multimedia shortcut keys and comes with island type keyboard keys for a more comfortable and easier to clean design. Just in case you do need a wired connection, the RANGER TouchPad Plus keyboard also includes a USB extension cable, so that you have the option to connect if you need to. Check out the tech specs and features of the RANGER TouchPad Plus Keyboard below:

Check out the RANGER Touchpad Plus keyboard site for more information. The RANGER Touchpad Plus keyboard retails for a recommended price of RM139 or SGD59.


RE:Collection app by Maxis is now available to help dementia patients

Today, we were invited to check out a new 'tech spin' by Maxis. Called as RE:Collection, it is a data-driven personalised reminiscence app designed to aid elderly Malaysians with dementia that can be downloaded on the Apple and Google Play Store. On top of that, they even showcase a prototype Smart Table (promptly called as UnforgetTABLE, we are not making this up) which is capable of object recognition and brainwave analytics.

Before we dive into the table questions, let's talk about the RE:Collection app first. At first glance, it may look like just an ordinary Photo Gallery which the same memories feature, favourite memories and identifying friends and family, but it turns out to be more than that when we investigate it further. Not only dementia patients can reminisce over past memories via photo or video triggers, but even relive past stories through Augmented Reality on the spot when using the phone to point at a photograph. In a way, this helps improve the connection between the caregiver and seniors by discovering what are the best triggers through insights and analytics.

You can upload as many photos and videos (video size up to 50MB only) on the RE:Collection app

You can also do tagging and activate AR for a specific photo

Maxis didn't just stop there, of course. They went on looking for ways outside of the app to further assist the patients and this is where the Smart Table, the UnforgetTABLE, comes in. Like a sci-fi movie, the user is required to wear a headset sensor and the Smart Table can display the brainwave output of their mental state on the screen (excitement, sadness, etc). This is so that the caregiver can observe the signals while the patient watches the replay on the table when an object is placed on top of it.

Since this is a prototype, it's obviously not for sale but still an intriguing technology that can help patients in the future. Maxis have worked with Caring With You, an enrichment centre for people living with Alzheimer's and dementia, the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia, Dr Rizah Mazzuin Razali and Dr Ungku Ameen, Head of the Geriatrics Units at KL and Klang hospitals, for valuable insights in developing the app as well.

In addition, Maxis also produced a short film in promoting the RE:Collection app. You can check out the short video right here, as well as the UnforgetTABLE Smart Table at the Maxis centre in KLCC starting today.

Stay tuned for more Maxis news at TechNave.com.


RGBae fans will fall in love with Lenovo Legion's latest line of gaming peripherals and RTX laptops

The Y740 laptop. Loving the side RGB lighting

Over at CES 2019, Lenovo Legion is ushering the new year with two new gaming laptops, the Legion Y740 and Legion Y540, both equipped with the latest RTX graphics cards. In addition, they’ve also unveiled their latest line of peripherals for gamers. What makes them different this year is that all their stuff are equipped with every gamers’ favourite aesthetic: RGBae!!

The Y740 is the highest spec laptop between the two. It comes in two sizes, a 15 inch version and a 17 inch version and the difference between them (other than the sizes), are the GPUs. The 15 inch variant is equipped with the RTX 2070 while the 17 inch version is equipped with the RTX 2080. Other than that, both variants come with the 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, 32GB DDR4 RAM, a 144hz display, CORSAIR iCue RGB backlit keyboard lighting as well as Dolby Sound Radar.

The Y540 laptop only comes with white backlighting and I love it

Meanwhile, the Legion Y540 gaming laptop is equipped with the RTX 2060 GPU and Intel Core processors. It is only 15 inches in size and comes with a white backlit keyboard which looks extremely classy, in my opinion. The keyboard has a <1ms input time which makes it perfect to match players’ fast reaction times in games. In addition, it comes with Harman Kardon speakers that supports Dolby Atmos and only weighs 2.3 kgs. Both the Legion Y740 and Y540 laptops have 6 hours battery life as well as the Lenovo Legion Coldfront dual fan thermal layout to keep gaming sessions cool.

Look at that gorgeous RGBae at the bottom!!

In addition to the jacked up laptops, Lenovo Legion also unveiled their latest line of gaming peripherals. The Lenovo Legion M500 gaming mouse is loaded with a Pixart PMW 3398 sensor that features 16000 dpi and 50g IPS tracking precision as well as OMRON micro switches. The design of the mouse does intrigue me but it doesn’t look like those with claw grip hands like me would enjoy the mouse. However, I do like the flashing logo on the back of the mouse as well as the RGB base.

The Lenovo Legion K500 RGB keyboard is another part of their peripheral line unveiled at CES which they claim comes with a “modern, minimalist design”. Personally, it looks like any other gaming keyboard to me but it does have a more “clean” look to it. It has red switches and anti-ghosting with 104-key rollover. From what I’ve seen, it does come with a wrist rest but it’s hard to say if it is detachable or not, judging from the photos.

Can't tell if the wrist rest is detachable

Besides that, they’ve also come out with their very own headsets, the Lenovo Legion H300 stereo gaming headset and the Lenovo Legion H500 Pro 7.1 surround sound gaming headset. The H300 has an all metal design with dynamic 50mm drivers. It comes with an all metal design but is lightweight to ensure that its wearer remains comfortable even after long periods of wear. The H500, as the name suggests, supports 7.1 surround sound. Both headsets come with retractable mics but it doesn’t seem like the headsets have RGB but I could be wrong.

Gaming monitors are also Lenovo Legion’s latest product. They’ve revealed 2 new variants which are the Lenovo Legion Y27gq and Lenovo Legion Y44w monitors. The Y44w monitor is a 43.4 inch curved display with 3840 x 1200 resolution. It has a brightness of 450 nits and 144Hz refresh rate. In my opinion, if you’re a gamer who wants to appreciate story based games and racing games like Witcher 3 or Forza Horizon 4, this would be the monitor for you. Meanwhile the Y27gq monitor stands at 27 inches with 2560 x 1440 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. Competitive gamers, this is the monitor you should be striving for, especially if you’re into competitive FPS games such as CS:GO or PUBG, this one’s for you.

If you're into racing games as well as beautiful open world games, the Y44w is for you

The monitor pro gamers should aspire to get, the Y27gq

Legion is Lenovo’s gaming line which came out not too long ago and it is commendable to see how far they’ve come since they’ve set foot into the gaming world. So far, I’m liking what I see from them and their gaming laptops have been pretty great for their prices which have been pretty reasonable. I wasn’t a big fan of their peripherals previously but they were never brought into Malaysia for awhile. I’m honestly excited to give their latest additions a try, especially their peripherals because I’m a sucker for RGBae (#gameraestheticz). So far, no Malaysia release date or Malaysia pricing has been mentioned yet but we’ll make sure you’re the first to know if you keep checking back on TechNave.com!


RHB Now Internet Banking and RHB Now Mobile Banking are closing soon by end of March

If you are still using these two old RHB platforms, please take note. On 31 March 2023, RHB will terminate both RHB Now Internet Banking and RHB Now Mobile Banking.

By removing the two old RHB platforms, RHB customers can still perform their financial transactions at the bank's new platform - RHB Online Banking. Current RHB account holders can still log in there with their existing username and password. They should also adjust their transfer method, and payment details when setting up.

Regular payments or transfers can be added to the same account. All they have to do is set up their favourite accounts on the new platform by enabling "Add to Favourite" at the Payment Details page. On top of that, RHB customers are advised to delete all recurring transactions from the classic RHB Now platforms after setting up the new RHB Online Banking before the 31st of March to avoid repeated payments.

To know more about transferring from your account to the new RHB Online Banking platform, you can visit and read the FAQ section right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


RHB, YTL, AEON and two others successfully received digital bank licences by Bank Negara Malaysia

Today, the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has officially announced five successful applicants for the digital bank licence. If you recall back, a total of 29 applications were sent but only a handful got approved by the Minister of Finance Malaysia.

From the report, Boost Holdings and RHB Bank Berhad, Sea Limited and YTL Digital Capital Sdn. Bhd. and KAF Investment Bank Sdn. Bhd. are majority-owned by Malaysians (licensed under the Financial Services Act 2013 (FSA). The other two are licensed under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (IFSA) which are AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd., AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad and MoneyLion Inc. and KAF Investment Bank Sdn. Bhd.

So what does this mean for you and me? According to Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah, the successful applicants for the digital bank licences "are expected to further advance financial inclusion" as well as provide a safer and more convenient way to transact. Shamsiah hopes that this can help Malaysia to overcome geographical barriers, reduce transaction costs and promote better financial management.

How the five applicants got approved for the digital bank licences depends on several factors by the BNM. This includes the "character and integrity of the applicant", "soundness and feasibility of the plans", and their "business record and experience". A total of four levels of assessment were executed, with the assistance of a cross-functional technical team, a review team and internal independent observers from BNM’s risk and legal departments.

The successful applicants are going to undergo a period of operational readiness. BNM will be validating the process through auditing which can take between 12 to 24 months. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Acer revealed Predator Orion desktops featuring 9th Gen Intel Core processors

Today, Acer has revealed a new Predator Orion 9000 and Predator Orion 5000 gaming desktops featuring the latest 9th generation Intel Core processor. It also delivers up to 8 cores and 16 threads which is much needed for gamers to withstand the most demanding gaming graphics today.

The Predator Orion 9000's processor, Intel Core i9-9900K is an industry leading real-world performance that will surely make all gamers happen, delivering the best gaming performance possible for hardcore gamers. On top of that, the graphics card is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPUs which can support over 8K UHD graphics. Of course, it does come with a customizable ARGB (Addressable RGB) lighting bars and RGB LED fans and even showcase the interior inside with the electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels and IceTunnel 2.0 for airflow management.

On the other hand, the Predator Orion 5000 model also features up to 9th generation Intel Core i9-9900K processors as well as up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPUs. Similarly, it also showcases the interior such as the IceTunnel 2.0 airflow management design.

There is no official price tag yet, but to know more about the new powerful machines, you can check out the Predator Orion 9000 and Predator Orion 5000 here. Stay tuned for more Acer news at TechNave.com.


RM 4.05 million for an Apple iPhone 7?

The next Apple iPhone – the iPhone 7 is not even officially out yet, and a company already selling pre-orders for bespoke and customised iPhone 7. One such company is Brikk, based in Los Angeles. The company is selling options for customised iPhone 7, ranging from the standard version – priced at USD 4995(~RM 20,274) – all the way to the Bespoke Imperial version, which will cost you a cool USD 1 million (~RM 4,058,950).

According to Brikk, each Lux iPhone 7 handset is disassembled, hand polished, plated with gold or platinum (depending on model), and then reassembled - all in Los Angeles. You can choose from 10 different colour options, and even different gold types – 18 carat pink gold and 24 carat gold are offered as options. For the top tier, you get “up to 60 carats of diamond” to decorate it with.

The phone itself is reportedly set to be launched sometime around September, and Brikk promises that their bespoke collection can be delivered one month after the official launch. Anyone looking for a high-end iPhone?


RM100,000 will be imposed on those who post fake news about COVID and emergency

Today, the Malaysia Government is imposing a new rule to tackle fake news. Starting today onwards under the Emergency Ordinance (No. 2) 2021, any individual or party who publish or broadcast fake news about any related COVID-19 and State of Emergency matters will be fined up to RM100,000.

On top of that, the individual or party can also be imprisoned for up to three years. The fake news, whether in written format, visuals or audio recording could find the ones responsible to be in trouble, but they will be given 24 hours to delete the publication with instructions of the authorities. This even affects those living outside of the country, regardless of nationality.

While we shouldn't be sharing or posting any fake news in the first place, this move has made some Malaysian lawyers worried. This is because it looks like a "net" effect" on the freedom of expression and "a movie to silence the rakyat". But what do you folks think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for trending tech news at TechNave.com.


RM1000 will be handed to violators of MCO after being brought to the police stations!

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the police will begin to issue RM1,000 compound notices to those disobey the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the compound notice would have to be settled within two weeks at any Health Ministry office.He mentioned the police had issued standard operating procedures (SOP) while compound forms had been distributed to all states. Those who break the rules during MCO will be brought to the police station before handed a compound notice and if they refuse to pay the compound within two weeks, they may request for trial. Lorries and those delivering food will also be inspected at all roadblocks to prevent any attempts of smuggling prohibited items such as cigarettes.

Acryl Sani urged Malaysians to obey the rules during MCO not just to avoid the compound as RM1,000 is not a small amount, but also help to break the Covid-19 infection chain.  Meanwhile, 66 members of the police force had tested positive for Covid-19 so far while another 1,225 individuals which including police officers and their family members were undergoing self-quarantine at home.

With that said, there are 156 new detected positive cases since yesterday, which makes a total of 4,119 Covid-19 cases in Malaysia. So please do not take it lightly and wash your hands often while staying at home. Stay tuned for more local news updates at TechNave.com!


RM1249 Quad-AI Camera Huawei Nova 3i to offer up to RM1000 worth of freebies and co-branding offers

Launched previously in July 2018, the quad-AI camera packing Huawei Nova 3i retails at RM1249 at all Huawei Experience stores, display zones, authorized dealers and major telcos along with a free Huawei Bluetooth earpiece. On top of that Huawei have also announced a whole bunch of co-branding offers and freebies worth up to RM1000 while stocks last.

Powered by the Kirin 710 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the Nova 3i offers 16MP + 2MP dual rear cameras and 24MP + 2MP dual front cameras. These Quad-AI (Artificial Intelligence) cameras allow for intelligent photo optimizations of over 200 scenarios across eight categories for the front cameras and more than 500 scenarios across 22 types for the rear cameras. There’s also intelligent composition to help your average Malaysian take better photos along with 480fps super slow motion, 3D Qmoji and more.

Stand-out offers for us would be the free RM100 voucher from Lazada, free 6-month premium subscription to Viu and an RM10 rebate on your next Grab ride but each purchase of the Nova 3i also gives you free entrance tickets to the upcoming KL Fashion Week (with an AI-powered 24MP selfie camera phone, this seems like a great deal for Malaysia’s fashionistas). However, there’s also discounts off of Sunway Lagoon tickets, Nerd Unit purchases and other promos from Starbucks, Lazada and AirAsia. Check out the full list below or https://consumer.huawei.com/my/ for more details.

Here’s all the Huawei Nova 3i co-branding deal details (promotions are valid until 31 December 2018):


RM2.32 Million compound amount issued to Malaysian Telcos for offenses of Fake Registration, Lower Quality Services and more!

As we slowly but surely make our way into 5G and 2019, MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) recently came out with a report about the RM2.32 million compound amount of 63 various offences made by telcos in Malaysia up to February 2019. The various offences include failure to comply with Mandatory Standard of Quality of Service (MSQoS) in network and customer services, fake registrations, removal of competitors’ promotional material, failure to deal reasonably with consumers and adequately address consumer complaints and other provisions in the Communications & Multimedia Act 1998 along with failure to handle mobile number portability requests by consumers.

Surprisingly enough, this is significantly higher than the RM3 million for 77 compound offences issued to Malaysian telco providers throughout 2018. MCMC says they will continue to enforce the law to ensure that consumers are able to choose and receive a satisfactory level of services at affordable prices. All we can say is, interesting times ahead for Malaysia? In the meantime, stay tuned to TechNave.com


RM300,000 cash prizes on the line from Celcom Game Hero - Kill Shot Legacy tournament

So, Celcom is proud to announce its third game series for Celcom Game Hero - Kill Shot Legacy. Cash prizes were also revealed and there's a pool of RM300,000 for the participants to win. The first person shooting game is of course developed by non-other than local Malaysian content developers, Techninier and this on-going initiative showcase Celcom supporting the Malaysian content developer community.

Kill Shot Legacy has already been running since 7 November 2017 as the third gaming tournament for Celcom Game Hero. The game places place across different timelines including the Old West, an Alien Zone, Military Base and a futuristic environment, both casuals and pro-gamers can participate this contest and all they need to do is just score the highest points in the leaderboard. There are eight game mastery level challenges, where the players can expect a load of new contents and shoot it out within the next four months for the top leaderboards, the next group of winners will go head to head and drawdown for the grand prizes.

For more information on Celcom Game Hero’s third tournament – ‘Kill Shot Legacy’, visit www.gamehero.my.


RM379 for Huawei Mate 10 Pro and RM509 for Samsung Galaxy Note 8!? Be Alert!

We recently spotted someone selling a Huawei Mate 10 Pro for RM379 (normal RRP RM3099) and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 for RM509 (normal RRP RM3999). Suffice to say, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is, so BE ALERT! Don't just rush, rush and buy, buy just because the price looks good but you can see why below.

After a quick look at the tech specs we found features which didn't match with ours such as 1GB RAM + 8GB Storage and 2GB RAM + 16GB storage (ours has the Mate 10 Pro at 6GB RAM + 128GB storage while the Galaxy Note 8 is at 6GB RAM + 64GB storage) so it definitely felt fishy. After digging all the way down into the comments, the seller reveals that they are clones (but just for the Galaxy Note 8 entry, the Mate 10 Pro listing didn't have any questions yet).

We're not pointing fingers here so we've deleted the identity of the seller, but the seller clearly does not mention either device as being a "clone" in the tech specs or titles

This is rather unscrupulous as the fact that these devices are "clones" is not mentioned in the tech specs or the titles, something which some online marketplaces are making mandatory for all listings. So, here's a very big reminder to all our TechNavers to be alert and dig a bit more if the deal sounds too good to be true. Always check and compare against our tech specs and find out more before you buy it. If in doubt, ask the seller questions and if you're still doubtful feel free to ask us. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for all the latest news and BE ALERT TechNavers!


RM4.5 million worth of discounts coming soon on Double 11 Cybersale at Vmall.my

Yup, it's that time of the year again. Not talking about Halloween tomorrow, but the Double 11 cybersale promotion by honor Malaysia is coming real soon. For those who don't know, 11.11 is an annual and its biggest online shopping day of the year. So on this coming 7 November until 11 November 2017, honor Malaysia has announced that there will be a whopping RM4.5 million worth of discounts on VMall.my!

Customers can look out for exciting flash sales on 7 November starting at 10AM and during that hour, some selected honor smartphones will be as low as RM299 or up to 65% off, as well as item accessories, starting as low as RM3. Other promotional offers that shoppers can look out for are powerbanks starting from RM68 (original price of RM199) and headphones at RM68 (original price of RM248). Meanwhile, smartphone accessories will be available starting from RM11.

To bookmark the upcoming Double 11 cybersale, make sure you save the VMall.my page and happy shopping!


RM5 for an Apple iPhone XS offer is FAKE

There was recent rumour circulating on Facebook, stating that the Facebook page called “Switch” will be offering the iPhone XS for a promo price of only RM5 instead of the original price of RM4999. Switch has clarified on their Facebook page, stating that the offer is not true and they will not be offering the aforementioned smartphone for such a low price.

If you take a closer look at the websites that Switch has posted a screenshot of, you can clearly see that the URL at the top does not match up with the websites they represent.

This isn’t the first time someone has misrepresented the product they are selling, as there was a similar case that happened last year in March in which a shop was selling a non-authentic unit of Samsung and Huawei devices for extremely cheap prices and vastly different tech specs compared to the original.

That being said, we highly advise everyone to keep a lookout for fake products such as the ones mentioned above. Also, if an offer seems too good to be true, triple check the details before committing to such a purchase. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


RM56999 Acer Thronos features triple monitor, adjustable seat, "Zero gravity" mode and more

The Acer Thronos has been showcased at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Major which is happening on the 16 November 2018 until 18 November 2018. With only 2 units of the Acer Thronos in Malaysia as of now, the entire setup costs RM56999 which is as much as a car.

There are several controls on the armrest which is connected to the seat’s motorized seat adjustment that allows the users to adjust the Thronos to their liking such as the Tilt, screen height, “Zero Gravity” mode which tilts the user at 45 degrees as well as the footrest.

The gaming chair is powered by their very own Acer Predator Orion 9000 which has an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GTX1080 TI in duo SLI, up to 64GB of RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD and 2TB of HDD. As for the display, the Thronos carries 3 Predator XB271HU which has an IPS panel display with screen resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, 4ms GTG response time, G-Sync capabilities and refresh rate overclockable up to 165hz. For more update like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Acer reveals Liquid Jade Primo for Windows 10 and Iconia One 8 value tablet

Just a day ahead of CES and already Acer are making announcements on gadgets and devices. This time around Acer have revealed the Acer Liquid Jade Primo smartphone featuring Microsoft Windows 10. Tech specs are listed below but from what we can see of the smartphone, it packs reasonably high-end features like a 21MP rear camera and a USB Type C port. The Acer Iconia One 8 on the other hand offers 16GB storage, an 8-inch 720p display and Android 5.1 for below $100. It is clearly meant for kids as it offers a Kids Center with simplified interface and pre-screened content for kids along with parental controls.

No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet for either device but the Liquid Jade Primo is slated for a starting price of $620 (RM2690) while the One 8 tablet is going for $99.99 (RM433.91).


RM6.8 billion worth of smartphones spent by Malaysian consumers in 2016-2017 - A Gfk study

Did you know that from March 2016 until February 2017, we have spend around RM6.8 billion worth of smartphones? That’s awfully a high amount of money, and this is an increase from RM5.4 billion during 2015, with mid-range phones are the main driving force behind the spike.

According to Gfk, a marketing research firm, China smartphone manufacturers are also responsible for penetrating into our local market, releasing a series of mid-range phones costing between RM900 - RM1050. The research also noted that Malaysian consumers are in favour of bigger screen size phones measuring over 5-inches, with 45% of the 8.5 million units purchased in the last 12 months. Comparing with 2016, more bigger screen size phones are being distributed, jumping from 21% to 37%.

“With the recent nationwide expansion in mobile connectivity, consumers in the country are increasingly using their smartphones for activities such as mobile shopping, social media and general surfing of the internet,” observed Stanley Kee, Managing Director for Southeast Asia, GfK.

“Shopping apps, especially, are also gaining popularity, paving the path for mobile payments. More consumers today are contributing to the growth of mobile commerce (m-commerce) in Malaysia, making payments through their mobile devices for retail items, airline tickets, and services such as Grab and Uber.”

Additionally, Gfk Shopper Monitor Electro consumer survey also reported that majority of Malaysian consumers rely on price and brand image as the key factors to purchase a smartphone.

“Since Malaysian consumers are largely motivated by price, we believe the mid-range category of smartphones will continue to dominate the market this year,” said Kee. “The marketplace will remain competitive, as we anticipate further sales surge for this popular device with the country’s recovering economy being a key contributing factor.”

Lastly, another Gfk study based on Point of Sales Tracking has revealed that a smartphone’s life cycle is getting shorter at a faster pace. This is no surprise, seeing that at least every quarter, a newer model comes out to battle other models.

So what do you think? Smartphones seem to be an important part of our lives now. We also think Huawei is one of the main contributors to our spending (lol). Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.