(6th from left) Yang Berhormat Dato’ P Kamalanathan, Deputy Minister of Education, pictured with Microsoft employees and students from the Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus

Last week, Microsoft Malaysia concluded its Philanthropy Week in Taylor's University Lakeside Campus with YouthSpark Live, which was organized in partnership with Yayasan Geenrasi Gemilang - Microsoft's partner NGO that works develop youths to equip them with skills to boost their employability.

YouthSpark Live was officiated by Yang Berhormat Dato’ P Kamalanathan, Deputy Minister of Education, who explained the importance of initiatives like YouthSpark in tandem with the country’s efforts to create a globally competitive workforce,

“The theme of this forum, YouthSpark Live: Empowering Youth, is a very important agenda of the Government under the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the intellectual development of students are subjects very close to my heart. The Ministry welcomes the involvement of the private sector and NGOs to assist in making STEM education the preferred choice for our students. A STEM workforce is vital to growth of the country’s economy, and I believe the future of the nation will depend very much on the skills and knowledge that our young generation possess especially in the sciences, to sustain our country’s competitiveness and socio-economic wellbeing.”

Jasmine Begum, Director, Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and Emerging Markets, echoed YB Dato’ P Kamalanathan’s sentiment,

From L to R:Jasmine Begum, Director, Corporate External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia; Prof Dr Pradeep Nair Deputy Vice Chancellor, Taylor’s University; Yang Berhormat Dato’ P Kamalanathan, Deputy Minister of Education; Datin Rowena Florece Director, Human Resources, Microsoft Malaysia; and Michael Teoh Su Lim, a YouthSpark Icon and Founding Director & Lead Trainer, Thriving Talents

“At Microsoft, we believe every young person should have the opportunity to learn computer science, giving them the power not only to use, but also to create with technology. YouthSpark Live will discuss computer science being a fundamental skill for the next-generation workforce, and a skill that is valued by employers in every sector, not just technology.”

The event also addressed some of the emerging career opportunities and how youth can and should compete in an increasingly global economy. Nick Foong, Head of Youth Development & Communications, Generasi Gemilang explained,

“Generasi Gemilang’s mission is focused on four main pillars – community development, youth development, counselling and care, and strategic alliances, all of which serve to build human capital for a better tomorrow. Microsoft YouthSpark partnership and technology donations will help the Foundation reach over 1,200 youths across urban Malaysia and into the far interiors of East Malaysia. YouthSpark Live will identify the skills they need to reach their goals, figure out how technology will accelerate them forward, and get connected to programs that will help them get there.”

Microsoft YouthSparks is a platform for youth to learn about careers in technology, entrepreneurship, online safety, and today’s employment landscape. To date, it has created new opportunities for more than 227 million young people in over 100 countries around the world.

In other news, the were other 3 events under Microsoft Malaysia’s Philanthropy Week as well which are:-

From L to R:Dr Raja Kumar Murugesan, Acting Dean, Taylor’s School of Computing and IT; Angela McKay, Director of the Government Security Policy and Strategy team, Trustworthy Computing, Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, Microsoft; Kaja Ciglic, Senior Cybersecurity Strategist, Trustworthy Computing, Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, Microsoft; Alecia Heng, President and Co-Founder, Gorgeous Geeks; and Melur Natasya Saufi, Board Member, PS The Children at the expert panel session

“At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Delivering on this mission starts with great technology, but great technology alone is not enough. Too many of technology’s benefits have yet to reach the people who need them. Through Microsoft Philanthropies, we're investing Microsoft’s strongest assets to drive greater inclusion and empowerment of people who do not have access to technology and the opportunities it offers and enables. As we do so, we will build on the foundation of Microsoft’s 30-plus years of giving, seeking new ways to achieve greater outcomes for a broader segment of the world’s population,” concluded K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia.

YB Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, receiving a token of appreciation from K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, after delivering her keynote speech

To find out more about how Microsoft Philanthropies, please visit www.microsoft.com/about/philanthropies/.


270,000 units of Redmi Note 11T Pro Series were sold in China in just one hour

The Redmi Note 11T Pro Series was launched in China just a few days ago on 24 May 2022 and response for the new smartphones has been incredible. In fact, some 270,000 units were sold within just one hour of the devices being made available for purchase!

Following the achievement, Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing lauded the feat and shared the good news on his official Weibo account. In the post, he also shared a poster thanking all Redmi fans for the high volume of sales within just a short span of time.

In case you missed the release of the series, here’s a recap on the details of the Redmi Note 11T Pro Series. Comprising of the Note 11T Pro and Note 11T Pro Plus, both devices are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC.

They also feature a 6.6-inch 144Hz LCD panel (20.5:9, FHD+), making them the first devices in the Note 11 series to support such a high refresh rate. Besides that, both devices also share a similar primary camera, which is a 64MP GW1 shooter. An 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro camera compliments the main sensor in both devices.

The main difference between the two are their batteries, with the Note 11T Pro sporting a 5080mAh battery with 67W wired charging while the Note 11T Pro Plus having a smaller one at 4,400mAh but with support for a higher 120W wired charging, coupled with an in-house Surge P1 charging chip.

The Note 11T Pro starts from CNY1799 or ~RM1,185 for the 6/128GB variant and the Note 11T Pro Plus starts from CNY1999 or ~RM1,317 for the 8/128GB trim. Besides the standard paint jobs, Xiaomi has also announced an Astro Boy edition priced at CNY2499 Yuan or ~RM1,646 with a configuration of 8/256GB.

Xiaomi has yet to announce the devices’ availability outside of China, including Malaysia. However, based on previous releases, the series is very likely to hit the shelves in our country soon.

What do you guys think of the Redmi Note 11T Pro Series? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news!


ASUS ZenFone Max Plus unboxing and hands-on video

As one of the few 18:9 aspect ratio display smartphones below RM1K, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus offers a number of value-for-money features for just RM899. We do an unboxing and hands-on video for a closer look at the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus.


Microsoft Malaysia cuts Surface RT down to RM1099

Barely 3 months after it's official release in Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia are cutting down the price for the Microsoft Surface RT tablets. The price decrease follows what Microsoft has done for the US market with an overall RM450 decrease worldwide. This means that the Microsoft Surface RT tablets are now priced as follows:

The price cut is largely seen as a stock clearance move so that Microsoft can refresh their Microsoft Surface RT lineup with new Intel Haswell processors. Unfortunately, there are no price cuts for existing Surface Pro or other Surface accessories. At this price the 32GB Surface RT certainly sounds a bit more easier to stomach, but would you pay this much for a tablet with limited apps, laggy performance and no keyboard? This may be too little too late though, as current tablet and touchscreen notebook models are still priced much lower, are more powerful and have full access to many apps. If anything, Microsoft could just donate these first generation Surface RT tablets to educational institutions for perhaps a tax rebate.


Microsoft Malaysia launches SQL Server 2016

Today, SQL Server 2016 is officially launched by Microsoft Malaysia as the company’s newest flagship for business analytics and data management platform. With the release, this tally with Microsoft’s vision of empowering every person and organization to achieve more and support of the industry’s demands to build up data science.

The SQL Server 2016 is designed to assist businesses in rethinking their data strategies with today's challenges, support hybrid transactional/analytical processing, advanced analytics, machine learning, mobile BI, data integration, encrypt query processing capabilities and in-memory transactions with great persistency.

Ir Dr. Karl Ng Kah Hou, Director, Innovation Capital Division, The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) addressing some questions about MDeC’s initiatives on data science in Malaysia

Ir Dr Karl Ng elaborates, “Data scientists are experts in analyzing data to come up with business insights and they are very much in demand right now. We are committed to finding the right talent for this field – to build a vibrant and dynamic Big Data Analytics industry locally. With close collaboration with the ecosystem partners, we are confident that we are able to meet our target by 2020 of 1,500 data scientists, MDeC believes that having the right tools and technology platform are equally important to enable data professionals to be more productive and innovative.”

Michal Golebiewski, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer, Microsoft Malaysia delivering an opening address at the launch of Microsoft’s SQL Server 2016

Michal Golebiewski, explains, “Gartner’s Magic Quadrant report is a testament to the demands brought forth by the revolution within the industry. Organizations and sectors alike want more insights to transform their businesses and services. Microsoft recognizes this shift and has integrated SQL Server 2016 with the tools and resources required to be ahead of today’s revolution curve. We believe that SQL Server 2016 is the biggest leap forward in Microsoft's data platform history with real-time operational analytics, rich visualizations on mobile devices, built-in advanced analytics, new advanced security technology, and new hybrid cloud scenarios.”

SQL Server 2016 Express is offered as a free download, with the Standard version starting at USD3717 (around RM14534) and the Enterprise version at USD14256 (around RM55744). To learn more about it, visit Microsoft's SQL Server 2016 page to find out.


Microsoft Malaysia launches Tech4Good for modern Malaysia NGOs with digital transformation

YB Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia and Md. Ghani Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Salam Malaysia having a discussion on the role NGOs play to communities in Malaysia

Tech4Good, is a new initiative by Microsoft Malaysia designed to provide non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the technology, knowledge, community and resources they need to fulfil their missions. From now on, Tech4Good will be platform for NGOs to have access to world-class solutions and technology that support their efforts in serving their communities, including youth, women, undocumented children and persons with disabilities.

Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Yang Berhormat Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun officially launched Tech4Good and commended Microsoft for its efforts in supporting NGOs with 21st-century technology and resources for their digital transformation.

“Empowering NGOs is in tandem with the Government’s ambition to accelerate Malaysia towards being a high income nation through innovation and transformation. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development recognizes the contribution of NGOs in driving developmental activities which has brought sustainable change for various communities."

YB Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development delivering her keynote speech on empowering NGOs, and the sustainable changes they bring to communities

"We believe that by leveraging technology, NGOs can scale up operations; be more efficient; increase reach; deliver effective results; and hence realize the goals they are meant to. Microsoft has put in place sustainable programs that invests in communities and I am encouraged that programs like Tech4Good take on a 360 degrees approach through its private-public-people collaborations.”

Md. Ghani Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Salam Malaysia, echoed the sentiment, “Technology has changed the world and the way we communicate, and being at the forefront of this evolution will help modernize the way our volunteers work to bring about change. We are proud and very happy to partner Microsoft and benefit from its technologies, which will break down borders for our volunteers serving at home and overseas to help people and communities in need.”

Tech4Good is part of Microsoft Malaysia’s Philanthropy Week, the wider campaign that runs from 28 May to 12 June. The campaign includes collaborations with private and nonprofit entities, such as Kidzania, PS The Children, Gorgeous Geeks, Yayasan Generasi Gemilang, Taylor’s University, and Yayasan Salam Malaysia, with the aim of empowering and enabling NGOs as well as youth, and embracing diversity.

YB Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development sharing a light moment with K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia before the official launch of Tech4Good

“At Microsoft, we invest our greatest assets in digital inclusion programs and partnerships to help deliver the benefits of technology to every person and every organization on the planet, and this includes non-profit entities. That is the idea behind Microsoft Philanthropies, a new organization within Microsoft that will bring to life our expanded ambition and commitment to corporate philanthropy,” said K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia. “We are bringing the same ideal to Malaysia through the Philanthropy Week campaign – connecting the benefits of technology to those who need them most.”

K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia  (5th from left) and YB Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of Women, Family & Community Development (6th from left) flanked by members of Microsoft Malaysia’s Senior Leadership Team and Microsoft volunteers during the photo session

Activities under the initiative were held during Tech4Good Day at Microsoft Malaysia, which showcased best practices, tech tips and tricks, and case studies on leveraging Microsoft technologies to more than 100 NGOs.

To find out more about how Microsoft Philanthropies reinvents productivity for NGOs through programs, initiatives and technology donations, get started at www.microsoft.com/about/philanthropies/product-donations/


Microsoft Malaysia presents Hour of Code campaign in Malaysia with Minecraft

Participants of HELP International School in Hour of Code campaign

Microsoft Corp. and Code.org have held a campaign in Malaysia to launch the third-annual Hour of Code in Asia Pacific, in effort to to broaden global participation in computer science. Using the theme “Code4Good”, Microsoft Malaysia hosted the Hour of Code campaign spanning 247 locations across Malaysia. Over 25000 children and youth from nonprofit and international schools participated the campaign.

One of the highlights from this year’s Hour of Code, is that a specially created “Minecraft” coding tutorial by Microsoft Corp. and Code.org was unveiled. The purpose is to introduce students and educators the fun in doing basic coding concepts in the world of Minecraft. Such one occasion was seen in Henry Gurney Prison School in Malacca, where over 150 of its students were shown how easy it was to code. Over 20 Microsoft Student Partners, which comprised of undergraduates from across Malaysia along with employee volunteers from Microsoft Malaysia, taught them how fun, relatable and enjoyable coding is in Minecraft.

“A core part of our mission to empower every person on the planet is equipping youth with computational thinking and problem-solving skills to succeed in an increasingly digital world,” said Jeff Bullwinkel, Associate General Counsel and Director of Corporate External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Asia Pacific and Japan, who was at Henry Gurney to officiate the event. “With ‘Minecraft’ and Code.org, we aim to spark creativity in the next generation of innovators in a way that is natural, collaborative and fun – and this extends to everyone including the students here at Henry Gurney.”

Yusni Bin Habibullah, Deputy Superintendent of Henry Gurney Prison School, was thrilled with the program. ”Our inmates rarely get opportunities to be involved in such an engaging program, more so one that exposes them to 21st century skills that will prepare them for success in the future. They really enjoyed themselves and got to experience a truly exciting time learning how to code in a unique and fun manner through “Minecraft”. We hope this program will inspire the participants to fulfill their potential and to make use of the knowledge they gained today when they leave school.”

Not only this campaign is helping to educate the inmates of Prison Schools across Malaysia with the knowledge and skills that will be useful for their future careers, but it also saw the participation of children and youths of all ages from schools in the Federal Territory and Selangor, including students and participants from the Help International School, Tenby International School and Nation Building School. Separately. Under the theme of “Code4Good”, food and other essentials for the victims of recent floods in Malaysia were donated by the children who attended the Hour of Code sessions.

Jasmine Begum, Director, Corporate External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and Emerging Markets said, “At Microsoft, we believe every young Malaysian should have the opportunity to learn computer science, giving them the power to create with technology. We want to create immersive and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential life skills and supporting educators in guiding and nurturing student passions. Therefore it is with great pleasure that we welcome the announcement by Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Secretary General, Ministry of Finance at 1AES to introduce coding in primary schools as a pilot project next year."

“With the Hour of Code campaign, we continue to create real impact in Malaysia, equipping the younger generation with computer science knowledge and basic programming which are skills that will form the foundation for many jobs in the future,” she concluded.

Participants of Cyberview Minecraft Camp 2015

A recent survey conducted by Microsoft, found out that at least four out of every five students find that “coding is cool”, however, only 53% of youth in the Asia Pacific feel that they have an opportunity to learn coding in school.

For more information, visit www.Code.org or read more about the campaign from Cyberview Minecraft Camp 2015.


Microsoft Malaysia releases Lumia 550 and Nokia 230 Dual SIM for RM559 and RM269 in Malaysia

Microsoft Malaysia has recently released two new devices nationwide – the Lumia 550 smartphone and the Nokia 230 Dual SIM feature phone. Both are currently available for RM 559 (with GST) and RM269 (with GST) in selected authorized retailer stores which are listed below.

The Lumia 550 is currently one of the most affordable 4G LTE smartphone in the market now running the latest Windows 10 software, along with a pre-installed Microsoft Office app it's sure to assist users to be productive while on the move to view, create, and edit documents.

It's also available under Digi's SmartPlan for Business with a monthly commitment of RM98 for 24 months.

Next, the new Nokia 230 Dual SIM is perfect for those who are only looking for a phone to call, message and internet communication purposes such as the GroupMe feature, which allows quick social sharing to Facebook, Twitter and Skype. What's more, it also allows users to take pictures, play videos, and even gaming like Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Midnight Pool 3.

For more information about the products, visit either one of the links below


Microsoft Malaysia to collaborate with the Prisons Department of Malaysia

(L-R: 4th from left) TKP Dato’ Narander Singh, Kajang Prison Director; Jasmine Begum, Director of Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and Emerging Markets; TKJP Dato' Haji Hassan bin Sakimon, Deputy Commissioner General, Malaysian Prisons Department; Mary Snapp, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Philanthropies; and KP Dato’ Jamaluddin Saad, Director, Management of Inmate Division, Prisons Department of Malaysia, pictured on stage together at the announcement today

As of 30 June 2016, Microsoft Malaysia has announced a three-year partnership with the Malaysian Prisons Department (under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs), to provide juvenile inmates in the country with digital literacy and upskilling opportunities in the areas of digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, and capacity building.

The main objective of this three-year collaboration is to prepare 500 inmates, aged between 16 to 21 from 13 prison schools nationwide, with capacity building opportunities with Microsoft volunteers, student partners and NGO partners such as Yayasan Generasi Gemilang, for employability and to pursue further educational opportunities upon their release.

They will be trained to use basic computer programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Malaysia is also looking at providing training to teachers from the prison in the areas of digital literacy, which would help them to impart the necessary skills required to improve learning outcomes.

Mary Snapp, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, explained that the collaboration was part of Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to invest in digital inclusion programs and partnerships in the country.

“Microsoft was founded on the principle that people can do remarkable things when technology is within reach. We want to create immersive and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential life skills – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, character, citizenship and computational thinking – and supporting educators in guiding and nurturing student passions.”

Mary Snapp, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, giving her keynote speech, elaborating on how empowerment begins with inclusion

“We are excited about the partnership with the Prison Department of Malaysia on this program, which includes providing Digital Literacy, entrepreneurship, computer science and leadership amongst others, looks at employability and start-ups as an outcome for these 13 prison schools,” she said during her visit to Malaysia.

The announcement also marks the company’s second collaboration with the Prisons Department of Malaysia. Last year, Microsoft Malaysia’s Hour of Code initiative introduced over 160 Henry Gurney Prison School inmates to a specially created “Minecraft” coding tutorial, in which students and educators learnt about the basics of coding – allowing them to navigate, mine, craft and explore in a two-dimensional “Minecraft” world, plugging together blocks to complete actions and generate code.

Following its success, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been in discussions with the tech giant to develop similar capacity-building programs. This has led to the Prisons Department of Malaysia considering the development of IT Academies for these 13 Prison Schools nationwide, which includes Henry Gurney Prison Schools and Integrity Schools.

(R-L) Mary Snapp, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, receiving a token of appreciation from TKJP Dato' Haji Hassan bin Sakimon, Deputy Commissioner General, Malaysian Prisons Department

The partnership with The Prisons Department of Malaysia is part of Microsoft Philanthropies’ efforts in bridging gaps across communities. By working together with both public and private organizations, the company aims to help more Malaysian youth fill computer science-related jobs that will exist in the country as the nation move towards a developed status by 2020.


Microsoft Office 2021 coming later this year with dark mode support and accessibility improvements

After releasing the Office 2019 back in September 2018, Microsoft will be bringing upgrades to the software by launching Office 2021 later this year. The news was announced yesterday with the company promising two new versions that will be available on both Mac and Windows PCs in the second half of the year.

At the announcement, the company didn't reveal much about the new features that will come together with Office 2021. However, it has announced its plans to support both Office 2021 and Office LTSC, the enterprise version of the release, for five years and promised to share more details with us closer to the release. Besides that, it is also said that Office 2021 is a one-and-done purchase and there's no need for a Microsoft 365 subscription.

According to The Verge's Tom Warren, the LTSC variant will include upgrades like dark mode support and accessibility improvements. It is claimed that most of those features should make their way to the consumer version of the software as well. The Office 2021 and Office LTSC will ship with OneNote included and support both 32-bit and 64-bit systems out of the box.

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


Microsoft Office apps gets a redesign on iOS, now faster and easier to use

If you're an Apple iPhone or iPad owner that needs to use Microsoft Office apps, then this could be a bit of good news for you. According to Windows Central, Microsoft has overhauled Excel, PowerPoint, and Word for iOS. The company is said to have redesigned the three apps from scratch.

Essentially, Microsoft has made the apps look better and work faster. Users should now experience a design that would look fairly similar to the desktop program. So, if you have your files saved on cloud storage, you'll more or less be able to work on your documents even when you're away from your computer.

For those who find it necessary to have Microsoft Office in iOS, the redesigned apps could be useful for you. But having said that, how many of you actually use productivity apps like Microsoft Office on your mobiles? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for other news.


Microsoft Office now compatible with Apple Macs with M1 chipset

If you already have or are planning to get one of the new Apple Mac computers with M1 chipset, you could be concerned with its software compatibility. But it looks like you won't have to worry about Microsoft Office anymore, as Microsoft has announced that new version of Microsoft Office 365 for Macs.

In an official blog post, Microsoft confirmed that the new version of Microsoft 365 for Mac will run natively on Apple Mac computers that use the Apple M1. This includes Microsoft Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. The apps will not only perform better thanks to the new chipset but also come with a new design that conforms to macOS Big Sur's design.

The new update has a few things of note. One of them is an updated Office Start screen that uses the Fluent UI design, which is meant to make the Office apps easier to use. There's also update for iCloud accounts on Microsoft Outlook now, a 'Tell Me' tool to let you quickly find the functions you need, and more.

It should be noted that the new Microsoft 365 for Mac update is universal, so you should be able to experience the new changes on your Intel-based Apple Mac computers too. Do let us know if you like the new changes and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Microsoft Paint to be removed in next Windows update

It is truly an end of an era for us Windows users, as one of the most iconic and beloved image editing software, Microsoft Paint, is confirmed to be removed from the next Windows 10 updates.

Microsoft has recently released a list of apps and services that will be removed or deprecated in the upcoming Windows 10 Fall Creators update. One of them sadly, is the 32 year old MS Paint, which has been part of our PC lives for as long as the first Windows version.

But don’t worry guys! After an overwhelming response from the people of the internet, Microsoft has heard our cries and announced that MS Paint will only be removed as a default software suite and instead will be downloadable as a standalone app in the Windows Store. Hurray!

The move to remove MS Paint is probably because Windows wants to push their latest painting and image editing software, Paint 3D which was introduced earlier this year and features a whole lot more tools for drawing, including 3D objects. You can check out Paint 3D here in the Windows Store.

So there it is guys, what was your best experience with MS Paint? Let us know in the comments and make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com for the juiciest tech news.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 6GB RAM first impressions

The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 6GB RAM version is now available in Malaysia for RM999 (RM899 for 1 day on 9 September 2018) and we managed to get some hands-on time with it. Packing in practically the same tech specs as the ZenFone Max Pro M1 3GB RAM version, the extra memory comes with upgraded 16MP cameras and offers a bit of a boost to the already midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset and massive 5000 mAh battery it comes with. Check out our first impressions below to see if it's worth your while.

Offering the same solid metal body as the ZenFone Max Pro M1 3GB RAM + 32GB storage version, there aren’t any physical or design differences for the ZenFone Max Pro M1 6GB RAM + 128GB storage version. This isn’t a bad thing though as the phone is still solid with rounded corners and edges, while the metal body feels slightly premium.

The only difference here is the 16MP front camera but there is still a 5.99-inch FHD+ display in a fairly comfortable grip

A 3.5mm audio jack and microUSB port on the bottom

The triple card tray lets you put in dual SIM and a microSD, no sacrifices required

There’s still a notch-less 5.99-inch full HD+ display on the front, fingerprint sensor on the back, 3. 5mm audio jack and microUSB port on the bottom. Coming in black and silver it looks good but like its 3GB RAM sibling, probably won't get second glances.

Taking a quick look through at the tech specs below shows the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage as the obvious new additions but there's also a new 16MP + 5MP dual rear camera combo (the 3GB RAM version had 13MP + 5MP dual rear cameras) and 16MP front camera. The main highlights of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, 5000 mAh battery and near stock Android operating system remains the same. The phone comes with a free case and Free Fire voucher.

There's a 16MP + 5MP dual rear camera here

All you need is in the box, especially if you're going to play Free Fire

Our initial benchmarks didn’t show all that much of an increase in performance due to the increased memory. Just a slight increase in AnTuTu and even a slight decrease in GeekBench but we did notice a slight improvement to game performance using PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9. While Asphalt 9 was smooth sailing, the lag we noticed for PUBG Mobile in the 3GB RAM version was a bit less than before but still noticeable if you’re looking for it.

Battery performance was just as stellar as before, with about 3 days on medium to heavy usage and 5 days on minimal. This still means that you can play games for a long time on the 6GB RAM version of the ZenFone Max Pro M1 and you get a bit of a boost in loading times and performance as well. Other aspects didn’t change much either so audio, call quality and connectivity are just as good as the previous 3GB version and the screen is just as good at watching movies and videos as before.

AnTuTu, 3DMark and GeekBench 4 scores are nicely midrange but very similar to the 3GB RAM version

We noticed a slight increase in smoothness for PUBG Mobile

Camera performance was a lot better compared to the previous 3GB RAM version with its 13MP + 5MP rear camera combo though as we managed to get some really good shots on just auto. The higher resolution really helps get more details this time around, despite it being just a 3MP increase. Colours are vibrant and accurate but overall camera performance asides from this is still the same as the previous 3GB RAM Max Pro M1, so while you can record 4K video there are no special features like super resolution or even panorama.

There’s still the rather blocky interface of the Snapdragon Camera app, but ASUS tells us the solution for that is to download the Google Camera app which could be the thing to do if you're missing panorama. Nonetheless, you can still capture some really stunning shots with the existing camera app, which you can see below.

See all the details? And this is the zoomed up part

Overall, we found the 6GB RAM ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 to be a nice value buy, especially for those who need that longer battery life. The larger memory does mean there’s more storage in the device and the 16MP camera upgrades certainly do help in taking better photos or even selfies. So if you didn’t buy the 3GB RAM version before due to the cameras, RAM or storage, then this 6GB RAM version is definitely the device to get but to know more, we'd suggest reading the 3GB RAM versions review.

That being said, with the recent slew of new flagship killers like the Honor Play (RM1249) and the Pocophone F1 (RM1299) from Xiaomi, all you need to do is pay a few hundred more ringgit to get a whole other level of performance. Closer contenders would be the Xiaomi Mi A2 (4GB RAM, 64GB storage for RM999) which offers better cameras, more storage and a more stock Android feel but none of these offer large 5000 mAh battery benefits.

As mentioned above, the 6GB RAM ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 is going for RM899 on 9 September 2018 at Lazada with a chance to get an RM50 discount voucher as well, but the promotion is only for that 1 day or as stocks last. It would be great if this RM849 price tag remained for it to remain competitive but we'll see what ASUS decides to do in the future. For now, stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news and reviews.


Microsoft Philanthropies donates $1 billion in cloud computing resources to serve the public good

As part of Microsoft's new three-part initiative  plan, Microsoft Corp CEO Satya Nadella have announced that the recently formed Microsoft Philanthropies will be donating $1 billion of Microsoft Cloud Services. The purpose is to give back to the public, and also to serve nonprofits and university researchers over the next three years.

“Microsoft is empowering mission-driven organizations around the planet with a donation of cloud computing services — the most transformative technologies of our generation,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who on Wednesday will speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Now more than 70,000 organizations will have access to technology that will help them solve our greatest societal challenges and ultimately improve the human condition and drive new growth equally.”

In September last year, a total of 193 heads of state and various world leaders have adopted 17 sustainable development goals to achieve by 2030. The goal – is to end poverty, hunger, and ensuring affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for everyone.  This is why cloud computing has not only become important for science and technology; but also for economic and social challenges for better human services. To improve communications and problem-solving for organizations to work in a more productive and efficient manner, cloud computing is vital to unlock the secrets within the data so that new ways and breakthroughs can be realized.

“We’re committed to helping nonprofit groups and universities use cloud computing to address fundamental human challenges,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith.  “One of our ambitions for Microsoft Philanthropies is to partner with these groups and ensure that cloud computing reaches more people and serves the broadest array of societal needs.”

Below are Microsoft's three-part initiative:-

In addition, Microsoft Azure platform is one of Microsoft's cutting-edge technology available and it's been relied by many organizations to focus on big challenges. Below are the initiatives that show the cloud computing's potential impact can have:

“Access to technology is critical to the operations and services of NetHope and its 44 humanitarian nonprofit member organizations,” said NetHope CEO Lauren Woodman. “The power of cloud computing will create exponential value for all we do to serve the millions of people in our communities around the world.”


Microsoft Phones getting streamlined to not more than six a year?

Despite all the successes Microsoft has been having with its Lumia phones, it appears that we may soon see less Lumia phone releases in the near future. This comes about as Microsoft have laid off 7800 employees "generally working on smartphones" and writing off the $7.6 billion Nokia acquisition. In response to rumours that Microsoft would stop making Lumia phones entirely, Satya Nadella, Microsoft's current CEO announced that there would be restructuring and streamlining, resulting in flagship, business and value smartphone categories for any new upcoming Lumia smartphones. Bloomberg also found out that there may be just 1 or 2 devices for each category. Obviously, Microsoft have already released more than six Lumia smartphones already, but this likely means that this streamlined approach will be the way Microsoft will operate their streamlined phone business from now on. As it is, we are expecting some flagship Lumia smartphones to appear shortly.


Microsoft Store now available to 3rd party stores like Amazon and Epic Games Store

When you download apps on your phone, you either use the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. But did you know that there are similar stores for Windows PCs? The one that we all have is the Microsoft Store, and it's now getting expanded with third-party app stores.

According to the announcement, Microsoft is starting to allow third-party stores to put their apps on the Microsoft Store. The first ones joining are Amazon and Epic Games Store (in a few months), which you can access once you download the app. Note that this doesn't mean that the apps from these stores would be directly available on the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft will officially launch the upgraded Microsoft Store on 5 October 2021 with Windows 11. It's a great move that should benefit smaller platforms that are not as well-known. But it's hard to say if this is useful for bigger platforms like Amazon, Epic Games Store, and Steam.

Do you use the Microsoft Store to look for specific apps? Also, what do you think about the integration of third-party platforms to the Microsoft Store? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Microsoft Surface 2, Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets priced for Malaysia

Microsoft Malaysia recently announced the arrival of the Surface 2 here in Malaysia at a price tag of RM1399 for the 32GB version and RM1699 for the 64GB version. Tech specs for the Surface 2 look to be upgraded somewhat with a 1.7GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor but it is still running Windows RT 8.1. Additional accessories like the Type Cover 2 or Touch Cover 2 cost RM409 and RM379 separately. The Surface 2 should be available after 14 March 2014 but it's announcement has also meant a price cut for the existing Microsoft Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets. The 64GB Surface RT tablet has been discounted down to RM1199 from RM1399 while the 128GB Surface Pro is now RM1899 from RM2749. Considering the slightly lower pricing for the Surface 2, we expect the Surface Pro 2 to go for around RM2649 making the current Surface Pro tablet a very tempting choice for those looking to get an older but powerful Windows 8 tablet.


Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets overheating resulting in dimmed screens

It appears that some users of the recent Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets have been having problems with their tablets related to overheating. The main symptom of this is that the screen for the tablets becomes so dimmed that users can't see what they are doing. This often comes up when either the Surface 2 or Surface Pro tablets were doing processor intensive tasks like games or multi-tasking (multiple programs running at the same time). When contacted, Microsoft have said that the company is aware about the problem and are currently working on an update to fix the problem. According to them, a quick fix is to let the overheated tablets cool down first, which should take about a minute or two. The screen should then return to normal brightness afterwards. Here were their exact words:

"Surface devices may dim the screen as thermal temperatures rise from extended, high CPU intensive activities - like gaming. In some scenarios this does not appear necessary...We’re working on a tuning update that will remove this unnecessary dimming event. You can expect this update in an upcoming Windows Update package. In the meantime allow the Surface to cool down for a minute or so in order to return the screen to previous brightness levels."


Microsoft Surface 2 tablet officially announced with Windows 8.1 RT

In line with the Intel Haswell revamp of the Microsoft Surface Pro tablets, the Surface RT line of tablets gets a revamp as well in the form of the new Microsoft Surface 2 tablet. Featuring Windows 8.1 RT and running on a new NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, the Surface 2 is thinner, lighter and faster. Other tech specs include a microSD card slot, a USB 3.0 port, 32GB and 64GB storage along with a 10 hour battery. The new Touch Cover 2 keyboard is also very much updated including backlit keys, 1092 sensors and is 1mm thinner than the original Touch Cover. Other features include a free pre-installed Microsoft Office 2013 RT suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Note and Outlook RT along with 200GB of free SkyDrive cloud storage for up to 2 years and one year's worth of International Skype calls. Pricing in Malaysia hasn't been determined yet but we estimate the Surface 2 to be at $449 (RM1437) for the 32GB version and $549 (RM1757) for the 64GB version. For more information check out the Surface 2 site.


Microsoft Surface 3 announced for RM1879 on pre-order

Microsoft recently announced their new Surface 3 tablet for work and play starting from RM1879. Featuring a 10.8-inch 1920 x 1280 full HD display, the tablet offers the same look and feel of the Surface range of tablets with it's adjustable built-in kickstand but is just 8.7mm thin. Powered by a new quad-core Intel Atom x7-Z8700 processor, stand-out tech specs and features include 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, optional 4G LTE, Surface Pen support, an 8MP rear camera, 3.5MP front camera, 2GB / 4GB RAM and 64GB / 128GB storage. It also packs in a USB 3.0 port, microSD, Mini DisplayPort, MicroUSB port and stere speakers with Dolby audio technology. Thankfully, it comes with the full Windows 8.1 and Office experience. Like other Surface tablets it also comes with a Type cover and other accessories. While it isn't available off the shelf yet, you can get it on pre-order here in Malaysia.


Microsoft Surface Book 2 and Surface Laptop introduced in Malaysia, starting price is RM4499

Today, Microsoft Malaysia is proud to announce that the Surface Book 2 will be available in Malaysia across all authorized retailers starting 15 March 2018. Coming in two model variants based on their processor and screen size, the starting price is RM6899 and the Surface Laptop is included as well as one of the new devices which is already available. Check out below for the official specifications, as well different pricing for each model and authorized retailers:

According to Microsoft, the new Surface Book 2 is at least five times more powerful than its predecessor thanks to its latest 8th Gen Intel Core chipset and even has NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, allowing users to take advantage of it running softwares such as Adobe Creative Cloud, intense graphic games at 1080p and 60fps and it can last up to 17 hours of battery life.

Quite an interesting hinge design, allowing a smoother opening for the device

Here's how the 2-in-1 device looks like, the tablet's side and the keyboard

A closer look at the keyboard hinge mechanism to the tablet

The keyboard surface design is quite unique, as there is a curve on both sides of the keyboard

You can detach the tablet and turn it the other way around

The Surface Pen, it's a separated product for RM299

On the other hand, the Surface Laptop is a lightweight and poweful device using a 7th Gen Intel Core processor and can last up to 14.5 hours of battery life. Unlike like the Surface Book 2, the model variants will be based on processor and memory with a starting price of RM4499.

Side view, it's Microsoft's thinnest display yet

In addition, below is the recommended retail price for Surface Book 2, Surface Laptop as well as Surface accessories and adapters are as follows:

Stay tuned for more Microsoft news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Book 3 comes with 32GB of RAM and 127W charger has been launched

Microsoft Surface Book is one of the top-notch products when it comes to getting a laptop with Windows OS these days. After two years, the Surface Book 2 finally got an upgrade. The new Surface Book 3 has just been announced and it's the most powerful laptop that you can get from Microsoft now.

The rumours that we have heard earlier have now been proved. Microsoft Surface Book 3 indeed comes with 32GB of RAM and can be upgraded up to 2TB of storage. Although the design of the Surface Book 3 hasn't been changed much, the laptop still doesn't disappoint as Microsoft has improved most of the features that consumers have asked for.

For the previous model, users have complained that the laptop won't be fully charged during gaming when it was plugged in. Now, a spokesperson from Microsoft mentioned that the new 127W charger on the 15-inch model will fix the issue. Other than that, the laptop will also bring the options of different graphics cards including Intel's Iris Plus graphics, a discrete Nvidia 1650 GPU, a GTX 1660, and a Quadro RTX 3000 depending on the model you choose.

The Surface Book 3 comes in two sizes which are a 13-inch model and a 15-inch model with the options of Quad-core 10th gen i5 and i7 processor. They are being sold at the price starting from 1599 USD (~RM6911). Other than the Surface Book 3, Microsoft has announced other products as well including the Surface Go 2 and Surface Headphones 2. The Surface Earbuds will also finally go on sale after it was launched last October.

Let us know what you think about the Surface Book 3 on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more new tech product launches.


Microsoft Surface Book 3 listed on US FCC website, could launch as early as May 2020

If you're wondering what happened to the Microsoft Surface Book 3, it's still going to be launching this year. Sources have claimed that the 2-in-1 PC may be unveiled as early as May 2020. The device recently passed the US FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification process and is expected to be made available in the US first.

According to Windows Latest, Microsoft applied for the Surface Book 3's certification last week and it's now public on the FCC website. Previously, it was rumoured that there will be two variants of the laptop and this has been confirmed with two entries for the device on the FCC website. Interestingly enough, its SAR (Specific Absorption Rating) test report shows that it contains the WiFi module C3K1957, which corresponds to the Intel WiFi 6 AX201 module.

Not much revealed, but it does confirm that the laptop uses an Intel WiFi 6 module

In our previous article, some specs of one of the variants were listed. That one is likely the larger 15-inch model that sports an Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q GPU. The second variant should be using a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU instead.

There's still a lot that is unknown about this laptop, but it's likely to be launched soon now that it's certified. Since its FCC filing came not long after the ones for the Surface Go 2 and Surface Earbuds, we can probably expect all three products to launch at the same time too.

Having said that, which Microsoft Surface product are you most looking forward to? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for potential updates on the Surface Book 3.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL and ZenFone 5 ZE620KL officially launch in Malaysia for affordable RM699 and RM1299

ASUS Malaysia have officially launched their ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB 602KL smartphone for a value busting RM699 along side their new midrange ASUS ZenFone 5 ZE620KL for an also very affordable RM1299. The ZenFone Max Pro M1 3GB RAM + 32GB storage will be available for only RM599 during the flash sales which will be happening on the 1, 5, 12, 19 and 26 June on Lazada. From July onwards, the 3GB + 32GB storage variant will be priced at RM649 instead. The 4GB + 64GB variant however, will be available for pre-order on Lazada as well for RM799.

Despite going for an entry-level price of RM699, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL packs in a midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, 3GB RAM + 32GB storage, 5.99-inch fullview fullHD+ display, stock Android 8.1 UI and massive 5000 mAh battery, which ASUS hopes will offer #limitlessgaming or at least longer lasting and better quality gaming than your average value-busting device. Another 2 versions are expected to arrive later on featuring 4GB RAM + 64GB storage going for RM849 and 6GB RAM + 64GB storage priced at RM999. It is best to note that the 3GB + 32GB version will have a 13MP + 5MP rear camera and a 8MP front facing selfie camera while the 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 64GB variant will house a 16MP + 5MP rear camera and a 16MP front camera.

The ASUS ZenFone 5 ZE620KL on the other hand is the company's latest midranger in the ZenFone 5 series. Utilizing the same midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor but with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, the ZenFone 5 ZE620KL looks like the more traditional ZenFone with its shiny Zen concentric circle backside and new ZenUI 5.0 over Android 8.0. Featuring a 12MP dual pixel + 8MP wide angle dual rear camera, this is ASUS's new cameraphone with AI or Artificial Intelligence driven functions. There will be one more version of the device which would be called the ASUS ZenFone 5Z which will be come with a 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage.

Here are the tech specs and hands-on pictures for the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL and the ASUS ZenFone 5 ZE620KL:

5.99-inch fullview display with full HD+ resolution makes it great for gaming and movie watching

Matte metal back with rear fingerprint sensor and 13MP + 5MP dual rear camera hump

MicroUSB port, plus the 3.5mm audio jack

Dedicated triple slot with a slot for dual SIMs and a microSD


Microsoft Surface Book 3 specs revealed by Energy Star

Many of you probably know Energy Star, but you probably never expected leaks to come from that source. That's right, Energy Star just became a new leak source when the details for an upcoming Microsoft device was revealed. The leak revealed some of the specs for the Surface Book 3, which is expected to launch within this month.

The 2-in-1 PC from Microsoft is spotted by a Twitter user on Energy Star, with some info on its CPU and RAM included. Based on images posted by the source, both the 13-inch and a 15-inch model for the Surface Book 3 will be using an Intel Core i7 CPU that runs at 1.3GHz. As was suggested in our previous article on the Surface Book 3, this is most likely the 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 quad-core CPU. Also, the Energy Star listings indicate that both variants will have up to 32GB of RAM.

Surface Book 3 Energy Star Certification[email protected]1065G7? pic.twitter.com/nWFMd3A7EQ

No other specs were revealed, but it was previously suggested that the two variants will use an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 and 1660 Ti GPU respectively. A US FCC listing also confirmed that both variants will come equipped with an Intel WiFi 6 module. More details will probably be revealed closer to the launch date.

Now that Microsoft's next convertible laptop is beginning to get certifications, the official launch may be right around the corner. It's looking quite promising, but what do you think of the specs revealed so far? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for further updates.


Microsoft Surface Duo 2 could launch in 2021

Remember last year's Microsoft Surface Duo? Despite the unique dual-screen, it's tech specs weren't the most impressive and the price tag made it hard to recommend. Regardless, sources claim that Microsoft is working on a successor that will launch this year.

According to Windows Latest, the Surface Duo 2 would be launched in Fall 2021, which is around September to December. Sources close to the project say that the device has been in development since 2H 2020. This suggests that Microsoft could once again go with older hardware from last year. However, it's still expected to come with a faster chipset, 5G support, and an improved camera.

The Surface Duo's size and dual-screen made it appealing, but it had many flaws

Other than hardware, Microsoft's biggest aim for the new model is improving the software. One of the big reasons that last year's model flopped was because of issues with the software, such as the camera app. This time around, Microsoft wants to resolve all of them with the Surface Duo 2. To do that, Microsoft has been adding more engineers to the Surface Duo development team.

Mind you, this is just a rumour for now. But Microsoft has never been the best when it comes to hardware (except for maybe the Xbox consoles), so we don't know if this rumoured successor will be any better than its predecessor. What do you think? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news about it.


Microsoft Surface Duo 2 leak reveals triple-camera

For a lot of enthusiasts, the Microsoft Surface Duo failed to impress. Many felt that its software didn't do enough to showcase what a dual-screen can do. But Microsoft decided to make a sequel anyway, and now we have some photos of the Surface Duo 2.

As revealed by Tech Rat (via Windows Central), photos of the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 suggest that it would have a rear triple-camera setup. In comparison, the first-gen Surface Duo only had one front-facing camera and no rear cameras. While the camera specs have not been revealed, the setup is expected to consist of a standard primary camera, ultra-wide lens, and telephoto lens.

Besides the cameras, the Surface Duo 2 is expected to come with a Snapdragon 888 chipset. This means it'll be a more powerful device at release than its predecessor, which launched with the - at the time - 1-year old Snapdragon 855 chipset. Moreover, it's rumoured that this new model will come with a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button and NFC for wireless payment.

Allegedly, Microsoft will launch this device sometime in October 2021. Well, let's keep an eye open for more leaks. But with that said, would you be more interested in the new Surface Duo 2 launching this year? Let us know in the comments below! Also, stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on this device.


Microsoft Surface Duo 2 release: Dual-screen, triple-camera setup, and SD 888 5G chipset from ~RM6290

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced an event where it would launch a series of new products. This includes new Microsoft Surface laptops like the Surface Pro 8. But an interesting one would be the Surface Duo 2, which is a major improvement over its predecessor.

During the event, Microsoft showed off the new Surface Duo 2. It has a new hinge that promises to be more precise and reliable, while the displays are protected by Corning Gorilla glass. Moreover, it packs a Snapdragon 888 chipset, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 512GB of storage, and a 4449mAh dual battery. The AMOLED displays are also on this larger, unfolding into an 8.3-inch 2688x1892 resolution screen.

Besides that, the new model comes with a few notable upgrades. Unlike the original Surface Duo, this one comes with a triple-camera setup at the back. It consists of a 12MP main camera, 16MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera. Another new feature is the Glance Bar, which lets you check the time, battery percentage, and notifications without opening the device.

The Microsoft Surface Duo retails from USD 1500 (~RM6290) and is expected to be available on 21 October 2021. There's no news on whether it will launch in Malaysia, but we'll keep an eye out for updates on that. Until then, stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Microsoft Surface Duo 2 to feature the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon flagship chipset

Microsoft Surface Duo is a dual-screen device that was launched last year. Compare to Samsung's folding devices, Microsoft's offering is less attractive as it doesn't feature a folding display but simply connecting two screens with a mechanism. Despite that, the tech giant is still going with the same design for the successor, but the good news is, it is said to come with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon flagship chipset this time.

The Surface Duo was launched in 2020 but the device is powered by the Snapdragon 855 launched back in 2019. For the Surface Duo 2 that could arrive by the end of the year, it will feature either 2021's Snapdragon 888 or the upcoming Snapdragon 888+. However, as Redmi's product director claimed that there won't be smartphones with the 4nm Snapdragon 888+ coming in H2 2021, the Surface Duo 2 is likely to end up using the 5nm chip.

Not only the latest flagship chipset but the Surface Duo 2 is said to bring camera improvements as well. The first-generation Surface Duo sports a single 11MP camera sensor and it's definitely not enough to compete with what the other brands are offering on their folding devices. With the successor, Microsoft could add an external camera system and a bump to improve the photography.

Let us know what you think about the Surface Duo 2 on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


Microsoft Surface Duo 2 will launch with vastly improved launcher

Regular smartphones are no longer interesting for many, so companies started exploring new form factors. Microsoft decided to go with a dual-screen, which sounds interesting on paper. The Surface Duo didn't quite succeed, but maybe an improved software for the Surface Duo 2 would do the trick.

According to WindowsLatest, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 will launch with Android 11 and an updated Microsoft launcher. It should also come with a variety of features that will make the device on par with non-Duo devices. The same update will be available to the first-generation Surface Duo, which should greatly increase the device's usefulness.

One of the first-gen Surface Duo's biggest issues was its software

Besides the launcher, the Surface Duo 2 is also expected to feature some design changes. It's rumoured that the new model will have a new hinge design, triple-camera module, and NFC support. Moreover, the device will have a Snapdragon 888 chipset. This means it'll be less outdated on launch compared to its predecessor. Anyway, the Surface Duo 2 is slated to launch in October 2021.

It should be noted that Microsoft never launched the Surface Duo in Malaysia. But Microsoft often launches its Surface device here, so there's a chance that this could come. Having said that, would you be interested in getting one? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about it.


Microsoft Surface Duo 3 expected to have a foldable display

After being wrong twice with their dual-screen Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 devices, it looks like Microsoft could be going for a foldable display with their Surface Duo 3. Coming in from reliable “sources”, the new Surface Duo 3 is expected to look like last year’s vivo X Fold.

Other tech specs mentioned by this “source” indicates that the Surface Duo 3 will have a foldable display inner screen and flat outer screen, much like other Fold phones like the vivo X Fold. It could also feature wireless charging, but at this point we do caution that you should take everything with a healthy pinch of salt.

We expect that the Surface Duo 3 will also use an Android fork for its operating system but perhaps offer better Microsoft Windows link or Office integration than normal Android foldable display devices. We’re also hopeful that there will be more compatible apps this time around, but what do you think? What would make you want to get the Surface Duo 3 if it does come out? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave.com.

If the Microsoft Surface Duo 3 looked like the vivo X Fold, would you buy it?


Microsoft Surface Duo allegedly spotted live, comes with front-facing camera and flash

When Microsoft announced that it was working on the Surface Duo, a device with two screens, many people must have been sceptical of the idea. Such a concept has never taken off but Microsoft seems confident that it could work. Regardless, the device is coming soon and was even allegedly spotted live.

Thanks to the keen eyes of Twitter user @yraeu, we now have a photo of someone holding what seems to be Microsoft Surface Duo. From the photo, you can see that the person is holding an Android device with two screens. Both screens are on here, with one showing an Android home screen and the other with a document open. It also seems to have a front-facing camera, flash, and speaker on the right screen.

Hey, not sure if interesting, but I just saw a guy in Vancouver's SkyTrain playing around with Surface Duo. Got photos and videos. pic.twitter.com/TsRQYdD1pz

We're not sure if this photo is real but in our opinion, the Surface Duo could be a fantastic device if Microsoft can successfully get developers to make apps that interact with the two screens as intended. In particular, people who like multitasking should find it useful. But what do you think about this, do you find it interesting? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for updates.


Microsoft Surface Duo could have been certified on FCC, may be coming soon

Earlier this month, Panos Panay of Microsoft revealed a photo of himself with the Surface Duo, once more fueling speculation that the device would be coming soon. As an Android tablet with two screens that can interact with each other, it's considered more fascinating than regular tablets. Now, sources claim that the device has been certified on the US FCC, indicating an imminent launch.

According to Droid-Life, the FCC record doesn't have any direct references to the Surface Duo due to a request for confidentiality. But the test report hints that it is an Android 10 'phablet device' and that it was tested in "four configurations with both screens". It may be circumstantial evidence, but an Android 10 Microsoft tablet with two screens can only be the upcoming Surface Duo.

The device will have LTE support, but no Bluetooth 5 or NFC

Besides that, we also found that the short-term confidentiality requested by Microsoft would last till 29 October 2020. This could be a hint of the device's launch window, though that would contradict the rumour that it's launching soon. It could also be Microsoft deliberately ensuring that there won't be any major leaks before the device is officially revealed.

While a dual-screen tablet is certainly different, we don't know if Microsoft has plans to launch this in Malaysia. But with that said, would you be interested in purchasing it if it becomes available here? Let us know in the comments on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for updates on this.


Microsoft Surface Duo could launch much earlier than was expected

The dual-screen devices that Microsoft has been working on are rather intriguing for us. For sure, their ability to run two different apps that can interact through the separate screens can be invaluable. So, it's great to hear that the Surface Duo is coming soon.

According to Zac Bowden (via TechRadar), Microsoft is considering the launch of the Surface Duo before Samsung can launch its Galaxy Fold 2 on 5 August 2020. This lines up with a previous rumour claiming that the device could launch in Summer 2020. Interestingly enough, the official product page lists the device as "coming Holiday 2020", which in turn suggested that the earliest launch date would be in November 2020.

I'm told Microsoft wants to launch Surface Duo before the Galaxy Fold 2 is announced. So, before August 5th? We're getting close. Assuming plans don't change, Surface Duo should start shipping in less than 2 months.

The initial launch window announced last year was "Holiday 2020"

To be fair, the Surface Duo's product page was revealed in October 2019, so plans may have changed since then. Speaking of plans changing, the Surface Duo (Windows 10X) was delayed to 2021. This was officially confirmed by Microsoft back in April, as the company has decided to prioritise getting Windows 10X to work on a single screen first.

Due to the big difference between the initial and rumoured launch window, we're not sure if this rumour is accurate. With that said, would you be interested in getting a dual-screen Android tablet like this? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL unboxing and hands-on

As the launch for the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 and ZenFone 5 approaches, we managed to get in some hands-on time to unbox the rumoured to be RM699 value busting ZenFone Max Pro M1. Offering a midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, a stock Android 8.1 interface with a massive 5000 mAh battery and 5.99-inch fullview fullHD+ display, we take the phone through its paces but you can see for yourself below:


Microsoft Surface Duo might come equipped with an SD855 and up to 6GB of RAM

It seems that a leak relating the Microsoft Surface Duo has been spotted on windowscentral.com, hinting that the device will come equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset instead of the Snapdragon 865 chipset and two 5.6-inch displays. Not only that, but it seems that the aforementioned dual-screened smartphone will most likely be unveiled around June 2020.

As for the tech specs, the Surface Duo is expected to come equipped with the chipset mentioned above, 6GB RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, two 5.6-inch displays with a screen resolution of 1800x1350 pixels, and a 3460mAh internal battery. Furthermore, the smartphone is only equipped with a single 11MP camera, a fingerprint sensor, and it supports the Surface Pen which allows the user to easily write down notes or draw.

Do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Microsoft has yet to give an official statement in regards to the leaked info. In addition to that, there are still other details we do not know about such as the price, IP rating, and whether it supports wireless fast charging.

With all that said, would you be interested in getting the Microsoft Surface Duo as soon as the Malaysia release date is announced? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Duo release: SD855 chipset with customized Microsoft interface, priced at ~RM5,870

After so many rumours, Microsoft's foldable smartphone Surface Duo is finally going to hit the shelf on 10 September. The device is now available to pre-order with a price of 1,399 USD (~RM5,870). Let's find out what will the Surface Duo offer!

The Android device will feature last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM and two internal storage options including 128GB and 256GB. It has a 3,577mAh battery as well with an 18W power adapter in the box. For the screens, it uses two 5.6” FHD+ OLED displays with 4:3 aspect ratios, which are connected by a 360-degree hinge that offers versatile modes.

For photography, the Surface Duo is equipped with a single 11MP camera with F/2.0 aperture which sits on top of the right display alongside the LED flash. Microsoft has stated that the camera offers a “super zoom” feature with a 7x digital zoom. Furthermore, users can also record 4K videos at up to 60fps with it.

After knowing the mentioned tech specs, you must be wondering if it's worth the price. The key selling point of the Surface Duo is actually its multitasking capabilities. Other than being powered by Android 10, the device is also running a customized interface that Microsoft built for productivity on the go. The company has also reworked its Office and OneDrive Android apps specifically for the Duo.

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


Microsoft Surface Duo will ship with Android 10, but an Android 11 update could come soon

If a previous rumour is to be believed, the Microsoft Surface Duo could be just around the corner. That's why we're starting to see more details being leaked online. The latest new rumour claims that Microsoft is already working on an Android OS update for the device.

According to Windows Latest, Microsoft already has plans to update the Surface Duo to Android 11. It will still ship with Android 10 initially but could get an update to Android 11 a few months after the dual-screen tablet has launched. The decision to go with Android 10 instead of Android 11 out of the box could be due to the launch window.

To elaborate, Microsoft had originally planned to launch the Surface Duo in Q4 2020. If that were the case, the company would have had time to get the device to have Android 11 at launch. But if the plan is to launch it before the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 as rumoured, then maybe Microsoft won't have enough time to ensure that their first-party apps will work well on the dual-screen device.

Microsoft hasn't confirmed this yet, so do take the news with a grain of salt. Having said that, would you be interested in this device if it comes to Malaysia? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Microsoft Surface Go 2 and Book 3 Malaysia release: 2-in-1 form factor and Surface Pen support from ~RM1955

Are you a fan of Microsoft Surface devices? Well, good news for you because the latest Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3 are coming to Malaysia this month. You'll be able to get the latest mobile devices from Microsoft from retailers like Harvey Norman or online shops like Lazada.

First, let's talk about the Surface Go 2. The device was first revealed back in April 2020, so we already know that it's running on either an Intel Pentium Gold or 8th Gen Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU. It also has up to 8GB of RAM, has either a 64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD for the internal storage, and a 10.5-inch PixelSense display.

In terms of features, it comes with the Studio Mics dual-microphone for better voice clarity and lower background noise in video meetings. Additionally, there's a 5MP front camera and 8MP rear camera that can be used to quickly scan documents. Best of all is the Surface Pen, which makes tasks like sketching and drawing much easier.

Next, we have the Surface Book 3, which is a 2-in-1 laptop with a detachable keyboard. It's effectively an ultrabook that can also turn into a tablet. Available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, the Surface Book 3 comes with the latest 10th Gen Intel Core CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD storage. It even has variants with different dedicated GPUs for you to choose from, including the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q and Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q.

Besides the two new mobile PCs, Microsoft also has a new Surface Dock 2 and USB-C Travel Hub. These are optional accessories meant to expand the usability of the new Surface devices and other laptop PCs by providing additional ports. In particular, you'll get extra ports like Ethernet, HDMI, and even a legacy VGA port on the Travel Hub.

For those who are interested in the new Surface devices, you can pre-order them now from the authorised shops. The Surface Go 2 will be available officially on 18 June 2020 from RM1955, while the Surface Book 3 can be yours starting 23 June 2020 from RM7788.


Microsoft Surface Go 2 could have thinner bezels yet house a larger 10.5-inch screen

About a week ago, there was news that Microsoft could launch the Surface Go 2 in May 2020. It's starting to look like this news could be true, as more details of the device have been surfacing (pun intended). Sources have claimed that the Surface Go 2 is going to have a larger display than its predecessor while maintaining the same size.

According to Windows Central, Microsoft is going to make the bezels on the Surface Go 2 thinner. As a result, it will house a larger 10.5-inch display despite the convertible laptop having the same chassis size as the Surface Go. The good thing about this is that you can expect the keyboards and other optional accessories to work with the new model. Besides that, the max resolution will be increased to 1920 x 1280.

It's also suggested that the Surface Go will come in two variants. The first one will house an Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. As for the other one, it comes with an Intel Pentium GOLD 4425Y, Intel HD Graphics 615, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage.

The expected retail price for the lower variant is USD 399 (~RM1752), while the more powerful variant is estimated to cost around USD 550 (~RM2415). Those estimates are based on the original Surface Go's price, however, so it's might not apply for the new one. With that said, tell us what you think about this convertible laptop on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for updates.


Microsoft Surface Go 3 Malaysia release: now available in Malaysia starting from RM1888

As previously reported, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 is priced from RM1888 and today is the day. The tablet is now officially launched in the Malaysian market starting today onwards with three variants based on the processor and memory configuration.

Just for your information, the Surface Go with Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB + 64GB, WiFi edition is the one at RM1888. There is also an 8GB + 128GB model for RM2588 and lastly, a 10th Gen Intel Core i3, 8GB + 128GB, WiFi model as the highest for RM2988. You may also get a Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse for RM119.

As for other features, the Surface Go 3 will come with Windows 11 OS. The display is the same as the predecessor, measuring at 10.5-inches alongside the webcam for Windows Hello facial recognition. There aren't any LTE versions aren't available just yet.

If you are interested, the Surface Go 3 and Ocean Plastic Mouse will be available from 5 October and 11 October respectively via commercial authorised resellers such as:

That's all, folks. Stay tuned for more local tech gadget launches in Malaysia only at TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Go 3 spotted on Geekbench

When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, Microsoft is probably one of the more well-known brands in Malaysia. In this category, the Surface Go series is great as it's relatively affordable. And if you're looking for a new model, the Surface Go 3 is launching soon.

According to Gizmochina, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 was spotted on Geekbench. It's confirmed that the laptop will come in (at least) two variants. The first one features an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y and 4GB of RAM, while the other one sports an Intel i3-10100Y CPU and 8GB of RAM. Note that the RAM is DDR3, which makes it slower than the more common DDR4 RAM used in most devices these days.

Obviously, the second variant will perform better than the first one. In fact, it scored 4359 for single-core and 7643 for multi-core on Geekbench. In comparison, the variant with the Intel Pentium Gold CPU scored 3197 for single-core and 5643 for multi-core. As you can see, the Core i3 variant's multi-threaded performance is significantly better, so it'll be better for productivity.

Since Microsoft has a presence in Malaysia, we can probably expect this to launch here eventually. But what else do you need from laptops other than form factor? Share your requirements in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Microsoft Surface Go 3 tech spec leaks, coming on 22 September

A few weeks ago, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 was spotted on Geekbench. Today, we found the tech specs leaks of the device and coming on 22 September.

According to sources, this is a 2 in 1 tablet device which can work as a Windows laptop once the keyboard cover is attached. The device is expected to sport a 10.5-inch display with 1280p resolution and feature the Intel Core i3-10100Y quad-core chipset along with 8GB of RAM. Besides that, the device might come with a slower Intel Premium Gold 6500Y chipset and 4GB of RAM.

These are just leaks, why not just take them with a pinch of salt and don't be serious about it. Well, let us sit back, relax, and wait for the Microsoft event. Are you looking forward to the Surface Go 3? Let us know your comments below and be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Go pre-order for Malaysia begins on 2 August 2018, price could start from ~RM1600

So Microsoft Malaysia has just announced Surface Go's availability for Malaysia on 2 August 2018, there's no local price revealed yet but in the USA the manufacturer's suggested retail price is just $399. That's just ~RM1600 in direct conversion and surprisingly affordable, but of course this is not the device made for gaming.

Anyway, the Surface Go is Microsoft's most compact device yet weighing over 500g and measures 8.9mm thin only. The PixelSense Display is 10-inch long and the 3:2 custom calibrated display is designed to render the pages of most school textbooks. The hinge can extend to 165 degrees for flexibility, allowing users to make it as a tablet or studio mode, and support for type and mouse input with their Signature Type Cover.

Powered by a 7th Generation Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y, it offers up to 9 hours of battery life without a need for a fan. For charging and docking, there's Surface Connect and USB Type-C 3.1, as well as a microSD card reader for storage expansion. Users will also be glad to know that there's a Surface Pen ready too.

The pre-order in Malaysia will start on 2 August 2018, followed by Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan with more markets to follow, while both Australia and New Zealand will start theirs tomorrow (11 July 2018). To read more about the Surface Go, you can visit the page right here and stay tuned for more Microsoft news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and Pro 7 are now in Malaysia starting from RM4499

Today, the long-awaited Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and Pro 7 that was announced back in early October have finally arrived in Malaysia. As per tradition, there will be a few variants to cater to the needs of the consumers as well as accessories that will be sold separately. The starting price of the new Surface laptop lineup is from RM4499.

Before we get to the price tags, here's a quick recap of the tech specs and features. The Surface Laptop 3 features the latest Intel 10th Gen Ice Lake quad-core processors (13") and AMD Ryzen 5 3380 U (15"), also, the design is more or less the same with the sleek keyboard design. USB Type-C is present and so as the fast charging technology which can charge up the laptop up to 80% in just an hour.

The Surface Pro 7 also looks similar and uses all the latest Intel Core processors (i5 and i7) with four different memory variants. The Surface Pro X is not available yet but Microsoft Malaysia have confirmed that they will bring it in during January 2020, alongside the Surface Hub as well. Anyway, you can check out the price tags for each model and accessories below:

Surface Pro 7 (left), Pro X (centre) and the Slim Pen for the latter (right)

The 13.5" and 15" Surface Laptop 3 variants have the same design but different sizes

**Arriving in January 2020*First two months of retail in exclusive to Harvey Norman

The Surface Laptop 3 and Pro 7 are now available in Malaysia via commercial authorised resellers - Prestariang, Software One - as well as authorised retailers All IT, Gizmart by PC Image, Gloo by SNS, Harvey Norman, Lazada-Microsoft, Senheng, Shopee-Microsoft and TMT by Thundermatch. For more information on the laptops, you can check them out right here at microsoft.com/en-my.

Stay tuned for more Microsoft news at TechNave.com.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro (M1) buyers will receive a 32GB microSD card for free due to shipment delay

In this short news, ASUS Malaysia has announced on their Facebook page that the customers who have ordered the ZenFone Max Pro (M1) 4GB + 64GB model will receive a complimentary 32GB microSD Card as a token of apology. This is due to the shipment delay happening elsewhere so they really feel bad about it. That being said, the new shipment date was also revealed and it will arrive on 10 July 2018 onwards. What a bummer.

To recap the specs, the 4GB + 64GB model also features the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, a 6-inch IPS LCD display in 1080p, a humongous 5000mAh battery, a dual 16MP + 5MP camera and more for RM849. If you wanna know more, check out our review here and stay tuned for more ASUS news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Malaysia pre-order: 11th Gen Intel Core & AMD Ryzen variants, starting from RM4599

Today, Microsoft Malaysia just announced the pre-order for the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 from a starting price of RM4599. Available in Alcantara (Platinum) or metal finishes (black and platinum), the company is also selling several accessories such as speakers and webcams. Here's everything you need to know.

For your information, the Surface Laptop 4 is Microsoft's latest multi-functional laptop available in either 13.5-inch or 15-inch screen sizes. On top of that, it also features a touch functionality and a 3:2 PixelSense aspect ratio alongside Dolby Atmos Omnisonic speakers around. You can also find the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processor or AMD Ryzen with Radeon Graphics Microsoft Surface Edition.

In terms of accessories, you can get yourself extra add-ons including a wired or wireless headphone for RM239.80 and RM508 respectively, portable speakers for RM508 and an external webcam for RM318). Some of these accessories will only arrive at a later date (August or September) so do keep checking at your local listings. You may also visit this webpage for the rest of the Surface Laptop 4 pricing based on memory.

As aforementioned, the Surface Laptop 4 will be available for pre-orders starting 19 May 2021. You can find them at commercial authorised resellers such as SoftwareONE and Maxis; and authorised retailers such as All IT, Gloo by SNS, Harvey Norman, Lazada-Microsoft Authorised store, PC Image, Senheng, Shopee-Microsoft Authorised store and TMT by Thundermatch. The laptops will also be generally available from 8 June 2021.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Malaysia release: AMD Ryzen CPU, Radeon Graphics, and 512GB SSD from RM4599

It's been a few weeks since Microsoft announced the pre-order for the Surface Laptop 4. If you were interested, then the wait is over. As announced, the laptop is available in Malaysia starting today for a starting price of RM4599.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is an ultrabook designed for productivity. They're available in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants with multiple configurations. Customers can choose to have either a CPU from Intel (Core i5-1135G7/Core i7-1185G7) or AMD (Ryzen 5 4680U/Ryzen 7 4980U CPU), up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of SSD storage. The 13.5-inch will have a larger 47.4 WHr battery, while the 15-inch variant features a 45.8 WHr battery.

Besides the Surface Laptop 4, Microsoft will also be selling a few accessories under the Microsoft Modern series. This includes a USB headset, wireless headset, USB-C speaker, and webcam. The laptop and accessories can be purchased from authorised retailers, which are listed here. These accessories are compatible with Microsoft Teams and are useful for online meetings.

If you're interested in any of them, do check out the prices attached below. You can also visit the official product page for more details. Having said that, what do you think of Microsoft's new laptop? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for news of other laptops and mobile devices.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 - Ultra-thin design laptop | TechNave Unboxing and Hands-On Video

2 weeks ago, Microsoft Malaysia had launched the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 and you may choose to have either a CPU from Intel (Core i5 or Core i7) or AMD (Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7). Here is the unboxing video of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15-inch Ryzen 7 that comes with a price tag of RM5999.

There are two colour variants which are Platinum and Matte Black with an Aluminium body that weighs 1.5kg. As for the tech specs, it comes with a 15-inch PixelSense™ Display with 1664p resolution and a touch-screen panel. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen R7™ processor with Radeon™ Graphic Microsoft Surface® Edition, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.

For more information, please check out the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 unboxing video and be sure to stay tuned for more unboxing videos on TechNave.com.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 could launch this month with AMD CPUs from ~RM5900

When you think of Microsoft laptops, the first thing you would think is that it has an Intel CPU. But this time around, the company could switch things up. A reliable source has claimed that the Surface Laptop 4 would have AMD variants.

According to Winfuture.de, an online retailer unwittingly leaked the prices for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 variants. They're expected to launch later this month on 27 April 2021, with prices starting from 1199 Euros (~RM5900). Moreover, some renders show what the new model looks like. Not much was changed, but there's allegedly a small compartment that allows you to upgrade the NVMe SSD.

In terms of tech specs, the new model will not only come with Intel's latest Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs but also new Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 CPUs from AMD. It will also have up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage. Besides that, Microsoft is expected to launch the model in 13.5-inch and 15-inch sizes.

If you are considering getting a new Surface Laptop, you can check out the leaked prices above. Mind you, prices in Europe tend to be higher due to the tax rate, so it could be much cheaper when it's launched here. We'll keep an eye out for updates on this, but until then, stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 release: Next-gen CPUs, studio mics, and Omnisonic speakers from ~RM4126

Last week, it was rumoured that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 could launch on 27 April 2021. As it turns out, the device was going to be out earlier and was unveiled yesterday. It has now been made available first for the US, Canada, and Japan with prices from USD 999 (~RM4126).

In an official intro video, Microsoft revealed the new Surface Laptop 4 and a few of its key features. It's confirmed that the new model will come in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants, as well as the option to pick between Intel and AMD CPUs. Moreover, it's equipped with a 720p HD webcam, dual far-field studio mics, and Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos.

Regarding the specs, the ones mentioned in our previous news turned out to be accurate. For the AMD models, you can choose between the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U or Ryzen 7 4980U CPU. Intel models will come with either the Core i5-1145G7 or Core i7-1185G7 instead. The new Surface Laptop 4 will also have up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.

If you're interested, you can check out the official website for more details. We're not sure if Microsoft would launch this here though, so do stay tuned to us here at TechNave for more updates on that.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review - Lightweight and high-performance laptop for work

If you are a working professional looking for a new laptop, you might be curious about the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. It was recently released in Malaysia with impressive tech specs, such as having 11th Gen Intel Cores and AMD Ryzen processors. However, it comes with a rather hefty price starting from RM4599. Is it worth it?

Honestly, the Surface Laptop 4 isn't all that different from its predecessor in terms of design. But if you do have the budget for a Microsoft laptop, fret not because we're here to walk you through the pros and cons. Without further ado, here is our review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (AMD variant).

To kick off this review, you should know that aside from having an Intel or AMD variant, the Surface Laptop 4 comes in two sizes which are 13.5-inches and 15-inches. For our review unit, we got was the Matte Black 15-inch AMD variant. Regardless of size, the Surface Laptop 4 features a super lightweight body at the expense of more powerful hardware. This includes the GPU, which isn't a dedicated one, and other features that we will touch on later.

Besides Matte Black, there is also a Platinum colour

The keyboard and trackpad sizes are satisfactory. While the key travel is kind of short, the keyboard is still comfortable to use

On top of being lightweight, the Surface Laptop 4 was designed with a minimalistic approach. It may look simple, but the surface (haha) of the laptop is all smooth metal, thanks to the sandblasting technique. Overall, our Matte Black review unit feels clean and delicate. However, it also attracts fingerprint smudges. Even the Platinum variant may have the same issue.

Another minus point of the Surface Laptop 4 is the lack of I/O ports. All you can find is one USB-A port, one USB-C port, and an audio jack on the left side. As for the right side, there's a Surface Connect port, which can be used for power and various docks or adapters. It's flat and works magnetically, making it easy to swap the connectors when you need to. While it is a convenient port, it's a hassle for consumers. You would need to buy proprietary docks or dongles for extra ports, which might be required for work purposes.

(L-R) The difference between a 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratio

Not only is the laptop capable of running 2K resolution videos but also opening multiple tabs at once without crashing

The Surface Laptop 4 comes with a 15-inch PixelSense touchscreen (2496 x 1664 pixels, 201 PPI). It can be tilted 135-degrees, which can be handy in some scenarios. The laptop doesn't come with a stylus, but you can use any Surface Pen without pairing it. You'll also notice that the aspect ratio is 3:2, so if you are used to a 16:9 laptop, it will take a while to get used to this PC.

As mentioned, the Surface Laptop 4 offers both Intel and AMD processors in two sizes. For our AMD Ryzen variant, the 15-inch features an 8-core Ryzen 7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. It was able to score 4686 and 704 points on PCMark 10 and 3DMark, respectively. With this in mind, it's clear that the Surface Laptop 4 is meant for work productivity and not much else.

The scores from PCMark (top) and 3DMark (bottom)

If you want to use the laptop for content creation, forget it because the Surface Laptop 4 lacks a discrete graphics card. As you can see from the 3DMark benchmark result, it has poor graphical performance with an average of 3.40FPS for the first run and 4.21FPS in the second. However, you can technically play some light indie video games on it.

According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop 4's rated maximum battery life is around 17.5 hours with average usage. From our experience, that was often not the case. But then again, the battery life will vary for each user. Our writer spent most of her time with the laptop on Google Chrome and an image editing software while playing YouTube Music in the background in performance mode. With this use case, the Surface Laptop 4 only lasted an average of 5.5 hours. An odd thing about the laptop is the Battery Saver. It doesn't seem to work well, as it drains the battery at a similar rate even when we enable the feature.

Another battery test in Battery Saver mode

20 minutes for around 10% battery charge

While that's a problem, the charging speed is at least quite commendable. The Surface Laptop 4 can be charged up to 80% within an hour, thanks to the 65W power adapter. Even a full recharge only takes 2 hours. As for other notable features, the connectivity and webcam on this PC are fine. The speakers are also quite good with support for Dolby Panorama, so that's nice.

All in all, the Surface Laptop 4 is a decent device for work purposes. It has a large screen despite being lightweight, and Microsoft has pre-installed some programs inside. This includes Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams, which many people use for their work. In terms of performance, it's certainly more than capable of handling any office work.

If we could improve the Surface Laptop 4, we would add more I/O ports and perhaps shrink the bezels around the display a bit more. While the battery test didn't meet our expectations, the laptop can easily last longer if you don't stream YouTube Music as much as we did. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more tech gadget reviews at TechNave.com.

Pros - A larger screen in a thin and compact body, decent battery life, touchscreen support, and a good typing experience

Cons - Needs more I/O ports such as HDMI, SD card reader, and USB-A

Conclusion - This is for the business-class target audience