OnePlus to combine Hydrogen OS and Oxygen OS to streamline software development

A report online stated that OnePlus is set to combine their two branches into a single OS for faster and better OS development for their customers. Oxygen OS – used in OnePlus devices in the general market – and Hydrogen OS – used in OnePlus devices in the China market – is set to combine together in the near future. Will this news hold water?

One of the reasons that was cited for the combination was to speed up software updates for OnePlus devices. This will result in better protection for users as new updates can be sent out in a prompt manner, rather than having to wait for updates to be developed for both Hydrogen and Oxygen OS.

For those who likes the stock Android experience on Oxygen, you may be disappointed as more features from Hydrogen may be incorporated into Oxygen. On the other hand, this may mean that we get faster software updates down the road from OnePlus. Stay tuned with TechNave for more news on this OS merger.


OnePlus to launch 27W cooling clip with OnePlus Ace 2

Smartphones are getting better each year, even becoming capable of playing high-end games. But the one problem many of them have is heat. The CPU and GPU in chipsets generate a lot of heat, so a good cooling solution is important. For OnePlus, that solution is gonna be an external one.

On 7 February 2023, OnePlus will launch the OnePlus Ace 2, a flagship device with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. This is currently the fastest mobile chipset on the market, and as you would expect, it generates plenty of heat. Enough that OnePlus feels it's a good idea to include a cooling back clip to go with it. This cooling clip runs on 27W of power and promises strong heat dissipation with overclocked performance on the phone.

Besides the chipset, the OnePlus Ace 2 also has a 5000mAh battery that supports 100W fast charging. Another of its key features is the Sony IMX890 sensor, which comes with optical image stabilisation. The phone will also support lossless computation for RAW images, promising more vivid colours and details for photos taken.

For your info, the OnePlus Ace Pro was rebranded as the OnePlus 10T for the global market. So, we could also see this OnePlus Ace 2 launched here in a similar manner. Perhaps the OnePlus 11T, what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about this phone.


Acer Predator XB323QK & Nitro XV282K release: 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and more from RM3299

Earlier today, Acer Malaysia held a big launch to unveil a bunch of new products. There are some Acer Predator laptops unveiled at the launch, as well as two new gaming monitors added to the brand's lineup. Say hi to the Predator XB323QK and Nitro XV282K.

First, let's take a look at the Acer Predator XB323QK. This model is a 31.5-inch 4K (3840x2160) gaming monitor that uses an Agile-Splendor IPS panel to delivers a refresh rate of 144Hz and DCI-P3 90% colour gamut. To help with the visual fluidity, the monitor also comes with Adaptive Sync and Nvidia G-Sync. It also has features like the ErgoStand so you can adjust it to fit your ergonomic needs.

Then there's the Acer Nitro XV282K, which is a 28-inch 4K monitor with similar features. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and covers 90% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. On top of that, it comes with AMD FreeSync Premium, HDMI 2.1 support for Sony PS5 and Microsoft Xbox One consoles.

Both models can also function as a built-in KVM switch, allowing you to switch between multiple PCs without changing your keyboard, monitor, or mouse. They also have multiple eyecare features like LightSense and VisionCare 3.0, which earned them the TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe certification.

As for prices, the Predator XB323QK costs RM4299 while the Nitro XV282K will retail for RM3299. For more info, you can also visit their respective product pages. But with that said, would you be interested in buying high-end 4K monitors like these? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


OnePlus to launch new budget earbuds, the Nord Buds 2R this 5 July

OnePlus has teased the release of its new entry-level earbuds, the Nord Buds 2R in India soon. Confirmed for a 5 July launch date, read on to find out more about the audio accessory.

The teaser was published on Amazon India and didn’t reveal much about the earbuds except for the design and launch date. Speaking of the design, it looks almost identical to the Nord Buds 2 except for the colourful blue colour of one of the Nord Buds 2R’s variants.

Based on the teaser, details of the earbuds would be revealed gradually leading up to the launch date. On 27 June, the Nord Buds 2R’s drive will be revealed, its ability to block noise on 29 June, its battery life on 1 July and its connectivity features on 3 July.

The ‘bloc the noise’ part is definitely intriguing, as it would allude to the earbuds having Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) abilities, or at least Hybrid ANC. For budget earbuds, that is definitely a welcomed feature.

Of course, no price or availability details were mentioned yet too, though it should be cheaper than the Nord Buds 2. As a reminder, the Nord Buds 2 was launched in Malaysia in April, priced at RM329.

Well, we just have to wait for 5 July to know the full specs and price. Until then, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this!


OnePlus to launch new device soon with a Dimensity 8100 chipset and 160W fast charging

We might be seeing a new OnePlus smartphone soon after the company was recently spotted receiving the mandatory 3C Certification in China for a device codenamed ‘PGKM10’. Shared by reliable tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the upcoming OnePlus device will feature the Dimensity 8100 chipset and a whopping 160W fast charging capabilities.

Previously, Oppo was reported to be including a 150W fast charging tech in its latest smartphone and it seems that OnePlus is one-upping its partner company in this regard. Furthermore, given the device has already passed 3C Certification, it is very likely that OnePlus would be releasing this PGKM10 device soon.

However, the identity of this latest OnePlus device is still up in the air with many insiders giving different takes on it. As we’ve reported in December last year, some tipsters speculated that the device would not be a smartphone at all, but instead the highly-anticipated OnePlus Pad.

However, with the 3C Certification pointing towards a 160W fast charging capability, it seems more unlikely for it to be a tablet. This is further backed by the recently-launched Oppo Pad having only 33W fast charging, which the OnePlus Pad would pretty much share a lot of the same specs with, given the close relationship between both companies.

Furthermore, a leak by MySmartPrice suggested that the PGKM10 device would actually be the OnePlus 10 Ultra given the specs that the 3C Certification revealed. The leak further claimed that this device would sport a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display with Full HD+ resolution, a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main shooter and a 4500mAh battery.

Well, only one way to find out, which is to wait for OnePlus to officially revealed the device themselves. Let’s hope that this PGKM10 smartphone would prove to be a banger of a phone!

What do you guys think? Are you excited for OnePlus’ newest release? Share your comments with us on our Facebook page and as always, stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest trending tech news!


OnePlus to launch the OnePlus 3....in (virtual) space

As part of an early marketing machine for the upcoming new phone, OnePlus decided to launch the upcoming model OnePlus 3, in virtual reality, at a place called the Loop. In conjunction with this, they announced that they will be giving away free 3D headsets for smartphones, which was snapped up in under a couple of hours.

OnePlus is calling its space station The Loop, which is also the name of the headset that they developed with the help of AntVR. The station looks to be an interesting event location to launch their upcoming flagship smartphone.

We have seen what the OnePlus 3 is supposed to look like , and the possible specs list plus the fast charge technology that could be in the smartphone. We will be looking forward to the launch and share with TechNave readers when it launches soon.


OnePlus to release new IP55-rated wireless earbuds on 14 October

Previously, there was a rumour about OnePlus releasing a new pair of wireless earbuds thanks to a hidden code within Oxygen OS. Turns out that it is true as the company just made an official tweet about it, as they will unveil a new IP55-rated Buds on 14 October.

If we had to guess, the new wireless earbuds could be called as the OnePlus Buds Z. Judging from the teaser image, it looks like the earbuds will have silicone ear tips which the current OnePlus Buds don't. Rumours also have it that the Buds Z are the lesser version so it could be more affordable as well.

No matter the weather, you won't miss a beat with our new IP55-rated Buds. See them October 14.

With all that said, the OnePlus Buds Z will be launching alongside the upcoming OnePlus 8T 5G on 14 October 2020. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


OnePlus to release the Nord 2T 5G and Nord Buds on 19 May 2022

The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G has been in the rumour mill for some time now. In fact, as we reported previously, its complete tech specs was allegedly leaked back in January this year. Now, OnePlus has finally confirmed that the smartphone is set for release on 19 May 2022 at 4PM CEST, alongside the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G and Nord Buds.

The tech company published a blogpost yesterday regarding the upcoming devices, saying that they will launch in Europe at the aforementioned time and date. However, OnePlus only gave teasers of both the Nord 2T 5G and Nord Buds’ features, with the full specs list only set for reveal during the event.

Aske K, the EU PR Manager for OnePlus said that the Nord series is dubbed as the Flagship Killer Series by the company. This is because the product lineup is seeking to end mediocre performance by making high-end features available at a price you wouldn’t think was possible.

As for the Nord 2T 5G, OnePlus asserted that it is packed to the brim with flagship features. However, for now, the company only revealed that it features 80W SuperVOOC charging from the 10 Pro 5G.

As for the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, OnePlus will be making it available to the European market for the first time on 19 May. Previously, we already reported the release of the smartphone in India and China, hence you can check out its specs list here.

Finally, as for the Nord Buds, OnePlus said that it is the next step in the company’s mission of making great tech more accessible. The first Nord audio product, it offers consumers the signature OnePlus experience at the affordable price tag associated with the Nord lineup.

Interested? You can watch the livestream of the event on the OnePlus Youtube account.

So, what do you guys think of the upcoming Nord products by OnePlus? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news!


OnePlus to release the cheapest OnePlus Nord smartphone with SD460 priced at ~RM893

Based on a statement by Twitter user @the_tech_guy, it seems that OnePlus could be releasing the cheapest OnePlus Nord variant which comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 chipset very soon. While not much is known in regards to the release date of the smartphone, we do know that there could be a variant with up to a Snapdragon 865 chipset.

As for the pricing, our source mentioned that the device will be priced somewhere around INR16000 (~RM893), which is considered quite affordable by today’s standards. However, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that OnePlus has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Upcoming budget smartphone from OnePlus comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SOC (SM4250). pic.twitter.com/q9Dy5qIMdj

Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs for now. Would you be interested in getting the OnePlus as soon as it is available in the local market? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


OnePlus trademarked "OnePlus Pad", expected to be launched alongside OnePlus 9T

OnePlus started as a smartphone-only brand but has recently entered other markets with smartwatches, TVs, and other tech gadgets like power banks, earphones and more. To further expand its product categories, the company is said to launch its first tablet very soon.

According to the source, OnePlus has trademarked "OnePlus Pad" with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). However, the listing doesn't reveal much about the device other than the name. It is also unsure whether the tablet will belong to the high-end or budget segment.

As the trademark is spotted at this time, it is suggested that it could be launched alongside the OnePlus 9T that is expected to arrive later this year. If not, it could also be presented together with next year's OnePlus 10. For now, let's wait for more news to come so that we can have more precise information regarding OnePlus' first tablet.

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


OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus Urban Traveler Backpack which will be available next year

Other than the numerous smartphones that OnePlus released in the past few months, OnePlus seems to have unveiled their very own backpack called the OnePlus Urban Traveller, which is expected to go on sale starting 8 January 2021. While not much is known in regards to the Malaysia release date, we do know that it is capable of holding up to a 16-inch laptop and it is also water-resistant up to an extent.

In addition to that, it seems that the bag is available in two colour variants which are black and white, and it comes with a 20L capacity to store all your items. With all that said, would you be interested in getting the OnePlus Urban Traveller Backpack as soon as it is available in Malaysia? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


OnePlus unveiled three new Android TVs with up to 4K resolution & Dolby Atmos speakers starting from ~RM744

Besides the anticipated OnePlus Nord smartphone, OnePlus also just recently released their latest Android TV lineup in India. Showcasing the U and Y series, there are three different models - OnePlus TV 55U1, 43YI and 32YI. The starting price is just 12999 rupees (~RM744)!

First, the 55-inch 4K Android TV model belongs to the U series and you can tell this is a high-end tier TV. Built with a solid metal chassis and aluminium alloy frame material around, you can also find a layer of carbon fibre texture on the surface to make it look premium. The screen panel is LED with 3840×2160 pixels and supports 93% DCI-P3 colour gamut, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10/10+ and HLG.

There is also a dedicated Gamma Engine that optimizes the colours on different scenes and faces. On top of that, it can even achieve motion estimation and motion compensation just to increase the frame rate and anti-aliasing for the sake of a smooth scene transition. In terms of tech specs, you will find a quad-core MediaTek 5887 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB storage, and two full-range 30W speakers enhanced with Dolby Atmos and two Tweeters.

Next up, the Y series includes the 43-inch FHD and 32-inch HD model which are also featuring the same Gamma Engine tool. However, you won't find the MEMC function that we just mentioned earlier. The tech specs are also different, the speakers are just 20W but at least they still support Dolby Atmos. The memory capacity is also smaller with 1GB of RAM and 8GB storage.

All the aforementioned TVs use Oxygen Connect and can be paired up with an Android or iOS device (up to 5) as a controller. We have no idea if OnePlus plans to bring this into Malaysia or not but if they do, the HD model will probably be the popular one. But would you want one? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


OnePlus' upcoming device is called OnePlus Nord and will be priced around ~RM1,279

Other than predicting the tech specs of an upcoming device, the name is also another thing that we need to play the guessing game with. The next OnePlus device is rumoured to be called either OnePlus Z or OnePlus Nord, and fans have been debating which one sounds nicer as well. Today, the guessing game has come to an end as the name has finally been revealed on their promotional Instagram account. It appears that the device will be called OnePlus Nord.

OnePlus Nord is expected to be launched on 10 July as a budget smartphone. For that, the company has also opened a new Instagram account to release a four-part documentary series to promote the device. Today, the first part of the series has been posted and followed by a name confirmation.

To recap, the OnePlus Nord is expected to house a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. Other than that, it will also come with a dual front-facing camera setup that includes a 32MP and 8MP sensors. Saying it's a budget phone, you must be wanting to know its rumoured price. It is said that the OnePlus Nord will have a price tag of around 299 USD (~RM1,279).

Let us know what you think about the name OnePlus Nord on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more viral smartphone updates.


3 types of digital citizens who should sign up for Celcom MAX

In 2021, more of us are relying on the Internet to run daily tasks. Be it for work, education, games, or just to stay in touch, we need an Internet connection that won't let us down. Of course, there are a lot of factors to consider before you sign up for an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Speed is obviously important, but being able to stay connected and having some added value is just as important.

Celcom MAX™ has a lot to offer in that sense. It comes with a Celcom Home Fibre™ broadband and a Celcom MEGA™ mobile plan in one bill, allowing you to stay connected anytime, anywhere. Of course, you may be wondering what it’s all about and who may benefit from it. So today, let’s take a look at the 3 types of digital citizens who may want to sign up for Celcom MAX™.

The first type of person who would benefit from Celcom MAX™ is the highly mobile modern-day employee. Whether it’s taking a Zoom call at the office or replying to emails while on the go, Celcom MAX™ provides you with the means to keep up with your busy work life. So, what plan would be good for a regular employee or SOHO boss?

If you live alone, the RM179/month plan is probably the one you should go for. It offers a 100Mbps Home Fibre™ plan and Celcom MEGA™ 80 plan in one bill, which makes it convenient when you need to settle your monthly fee. This plan is also more than enough for the average person to get max Internet connectivity. For small office bosses, you could opt for the RM259/month plan for more bandwidth and a free Celcom Mesh WiFi, which you can use to expand your WiFi coverage and provide seamless connectivity.

On top of that, you can save up to RM638 for a Microsoft Surface LTE, which is a great device for those who want to be always connected. You also get max value with RM21/month lifetime savings, which applies across all plans!

Those who are into streaming content online could also consider signing up for Celcom MAX™. If you love to binge movies on Netflix at home and stream music from Spotify endlessly while you’re out, it means you also want to be connected always. What’s a good plan for someone like that?

The RM199/month plan seems like the best option here. This plan gives you a 300Mbps Home Fibre™ plan, so you can even stream Netflix on 4K with no issues. You could also consider the RM259/month plan if you have a big family who all want to stream online videos. In fact, Celcom MAX™ gives you 6 months of max entertainment for either iQIYI or iflix for free! On top of that, you could enjoy max savings of up to RM2599 for a 60-inch Sharp Smart TV.

Finally, there’s that person who does everything at home. With the current situation in the country, it’s not unusual for there to be someone who wants to work, learn, and play at home. Celcom MAX™ can help with that, as the Home Fibre™ connection provides you with a fast Internet to do all your tasks.

If you work from home and have kids that need to take online classes, all you need is the RM179/month plan to get you started. Its 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload are enough for you to comfortably access your emails, upload files, and attend Zoom meetings. But if you want to play games online or stream 4K videos on Netflix, you may want to go for the RM199/month plan instead for 3x more download speed (300Mbps).

Of course, there are a few more add-ons and promos for Celcom MAX™ that we haven’t mentioned. Another great thing is that the first 100 customers who sign up get their first monthly bill waived! If you’re interested, do check out the official Celcom MAX™ website for more details.

So, what are your thoughts on Celcom MAX™ so far? Would you sign up for it once it is officially available? Let us know in the comments below! For more news on the latest tech and mobile gadgets, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Acer Predator gaming accessories and Predator Triton 700 gaming notebook announced from RM9999

Acer Malaysia officially launched some new Predators today with their Acer Predator Triton 700 gaming notebook computer featuring an overclockable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics with 18.9mm thin and slim Max-Q design powered by a 7th Gen Intel Core processor from RM13999 with a version packing in a GeForce GTX 1060 from RM9999.

Other Predators included the Predator X34P and Z35P curved gaming monitors with 34-inch and 35-inch 3440 x 1440 pixel resolution displays that can be overclocked up to 120Hz and are NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible. The Predator Galea 500 gaming headset and Predator Cestus 500 gaming mouse (RM299) with unique dual switch design were also announced.

Other Acer Predator Triton 700 tech specs include 2 NVMe PCIe SSDs in a RAID 0 setup, 32GB of DDR4 2400 Mhz RAM, a 15.6-inch full HD IPS display supporting NVIDIA G-SYNC, Corning Gorilla Glass and a 120Hz refresh rate combine with Dolby Atmos surround sound and an RGB-backlit mechanical keyboard for a complete gaming experience. The thin Predator Triton 700 uses a Dual AeroBlade 3D Fan and 5 heatpipes to keep things smooth and cool running. Every purchase of the Predator Triton 700 with GTX 1080 lets you buy a Special Edition TTe-Sports GT Fit Predator gaming chair at RM1399, Predator Gaming mouse at RM499 and Predator Gaming T-shirt at RM99 (a-redemption.com)

Nearly no Malaysia release dates or other pricing details for the unmentioned Acer Predators above but the X34P gaming monitor is expected to be available in mid January 2018 while the Z35P is already available.


OnePlus' upcoming monitors will offer 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time

OnePlus will enter new category segment by launching its first two monitors, the OnePlus Monitor X 27 and E 24, on 12 December in India. Before that, the brand shared more information about the two by revealing the refresh rate.

According to a new teaser poster, the Monitor X 27 and E 24 will offer a 165Hz refresh rate. Besides that, the monitors also get a 1ms response time for smooth gameplay. They're confirmed to feature AMD's Freesync Premium technology as well. It will allow the monitors to eliminate stuttering and screen tearing in games and videos by locking the display's refresh rate to the graphics card's frame rate.

As mentioned in the last article, the X 27 will belong to the more premium segment, while the E 24 will arrive as a mid-range product. OnePlus should be uncovering more tech specs and features in the coming days. Therefore, we should get to know more about them soon.

Are you excited about seeing OnePlus' very first monitors? Drop a comment to let us know how you feel, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech gadget reports.


OnePlus users are getting exclusive access to play PUBG Mobile in 90 FPS

Although the smartphones from OnePlus do not shout 'gaming beasts', their hardware and software are definitely still enough for users to enjoy gaming sessions without any major restrictions. Now, a piece of good news has come as certain OnePlus smartphones will get exclusive early access to PUBG Mobile in 90 FPS (Frames Per Second).

OnePlus has announced that the users of the OnePlus 8 and 7T series, as well as the OnePlus 7 Pro, can now play PUBG Mobile in smoother 90 FPS. The company also said that no other smartphones will get the feature until 6 September according to the timed-exclusivity deal (Sad~).

OnePlus has never launched any gaming-centric devices but they have landed quite some deals with gaming-related companies. Earlier, the company struck a similar deal with Epic Games by having its 8 series devices to run Fortnite in 90 FPS. They have also partnered with Fnatic, one of the largest esports organizations, to offer a gaming-focused Fnatic mode on their devices which optimizes performance and blocks notifications.

Let us know what you think about this good news (if you're a OnePlus user) on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more latest smartphone gaming news.


OnePlus will also unveil a smartphone that equipped with SD 888 5G on H1 2021

Based on a statement by androidauthority.com, it seems that OnePlus will officially unveil the OnePlus 9 series that’s equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset next year. While not much is known in regards to the exact release date of the aforementioned smartphone, our source did mention that it will most likely launch around H1 2021.

Not only will it be powered by the latest Qualcomm chipset, but there is also a possibility that the aforementioned smartphone will have a display that’s capable of reproducing up to 10-bit colour depth. However, do take that statement with a grain of salt because OnePlus has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

With all that, what are your thought on OnePlus releasing the OnePlus 9 series that’s equipped with the Snapdragon 888 5G chipset? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


OnePlus will be hosting the 'Sembang-lah! OnePlus' talk show on 18 March 2021!

OnePlus Malaysia has officially announced that they will be hosting the ‘Sembang-lah! OnePlus’ talk show, which will be held on 18 March 2021 from 12PM onwards. The talk show will be broadcasted on platforms such as OnePlus Malaysia’s official Facebook page, as well as on OnePlus’ official Flagship store on Lazada.

Furthermore, we won’t be surprised if OnePlus start giving out discount codes or do product giveaways in the near future. If you want to find out more information regarding the talk show or any of OnePlus’ products, head over to their Facebook page, Instagram account, or their official website.

Would you be interested in watching the ‘Sembang-lah! OnePlus’ in the future? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


OnePlus will reportedly launch its first-ever tablet, the OnePlus Pad this 7 February

OnePlus has long been rumoured to be working on its first Android tablet and now, more sources are pointing toward it being released this 7 February. These include reliable tipster Abhishek Yadav who claimed that the tablet would launch during the company’s upcoming Cloud 11 event next week.

Taking to Twitter, Abhishek further claimed that OnePlus might launch the 11R 5G and a 65-inch TV alongside the tablet during the event. Of course, we all know that the event would see the release of the 11 5G and Buds Pro 2.

On the official website for the Cloud 11 global event, OnePlus did tease that “boxes come in all shapes and sizes” which may allude to the Android tablet. Speaking of which, the tablet may be given the name “OnePlus Pad” and it won’t be a surprise if it is a rebadged OPPO Pad or OPPO Pad Air, given the relationship between the two manufacturers.

Of course, do take this information with a grain of salt as nothing is confirmed as of yet. Well, we just have to wait a few days to know for sure.

What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news.


OnePlus worked with CD Projekt Red to launch the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition

Last night, OnePlus has brought the OnePlus 8T into the market with new impressive upgrades. The device will be available in two colours which are Aquamarine Green and Lunar Silver when they arrive in Malaysia on 22 October. However, other than the mentioned colours, it looks like there's another option for you as OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition has been revealed today.

OnePlus has announced a collaboration with CD Projekt Red, the game studio behind the highly-anticipated video game, to work on a special design for the OnePlus 8T. The company has revealed a short teaser video but the only thing that could be seen about the device in it is the screen. Therefore, we might need to wait for a while to see the full look of the probably futuristic-looking OnePlus 8T!

It is said that the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition will be launched two weeks prior to the game's launch date. Other than the smartphone, we believe that some of you can't wait to get your hands on the video game too!

Let us know what you think about the collaboration on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more interesting tech news like this one!


Online guide to Huawei Malaysia's Mega Online Sale Day on 11 November 2018

So we have been posting quite a few posts about the Mega Online Sale Day by Huawei Malaysia for a couple of days now. With just a day away from 11 November 2018, we figured that we will just do a compilation of all the promos that they are having. Without further ado, below is our guide to Huawei Malaysia's Mega Online Sale Day!

So first up, Grow Your Shopping Money helps you to grow your shopping funds more and more in the Shop.Huawei. Currently, there are three types of rebate vouchers and depending on which one you buy, you will have some extra funds returned. Currently, we think the RM50 voucher purchase is the best one as the value of the rebate is RM200. Do note that you have to purchase this before 11.11. Below is the table chart for your reference:

Speaking of rebates, customers who purchase any item between 12AM and 11.59PM on the day will also receive an additional 5% rebate. This is eligible for the coupon but does not apply to new Huawei Mate 20 series, Y9 2018 and flash sales offers. Luckily, the new MateBook series is part of this voucher promo and you can save up to RM587 and get up to RM1000 worth of gifts!

We have also mentioned this earlier, but the Huawei Nova 3 series got a price cut. Initially, the recommended retail price for the Nova 3 (6GB + 128GB) was RM1919 but it's selling for RM1699 now, this goes the same for the Nova 3i (4GB + 128GB) which was RM1299 and it's now RM1099. That's quite a good buy if you're a selfie lover looking for a selfie smartphone, and if you purchase it on 11.11, you will also bring home a coloured water bottle, a RM10 Watsons couple and an AM116 headphone!

In addition to that, the Mate 20 X will also arrive in Malaysia on 11 November 2018. Coming in Midnight Blue and Phantom Silver, the 6GB + 128GB gaming device will be priced at RM3199 and those who purchase it will also bring home a free M-Pen and a phone case. Customers can also get a free wireless keyboard worth RM199 from the VIP App (while stocks last).

Or if you're looking for a budget friendly device, the Y9 2018 will also be on sale for just RM649. That's excluding the 5% and voucher rebate promo!

Flash sales is also a common occurrence during promotion sales, so with this, Huawei Malaysia is putting up a 6700mAh power bank for just RM11 during a certain period. On 11 November 2018, the Flash will start at 9AM first, followed by 12PM, 3PM and 6PM, each window will only have 25 units so better be fast!

Last but not least, Huawei Malaysia is also collaborating with Air Asia for the Big Loyalty programme. So on the same day, whoever spends the most amount will be rewarded with a two-way ticket! It's not mentioned if the ticket can be used anywhere, but if you do get chosen, Huawei Malaysia will notify you via email or SMS by 14 November 2018.

So that's all about the Mega Online Sale Day, you can actually visit the Shop.Huawei online store right now to read the terms and conditions to get yourself prep for a product. You can also simply scan the QR code above to download the Huawei AppGallery and happy shopping! Stay tuned for more Huawei news at TechNave.com.


Online retailers starting Xiaomi Mi A1 pre-order sale for RM1099 officially

So apparently, last night a phone dealer has started a pre-order on the recently announced Xiaomi Mi A1. According to the online retailer, the pure stock Android smartphone is set to arrive on 21 September for a price tag of RM1099.

They aren't the only one who claimed that but Gadgetronics has also started the Mi A1 pre-order for the exact same price, so did some other online retailer from Lazada.my which oddly enough, couldn't be found in their search engine. But no worries, we got three workable links for you below (Xiaomi Seremban's pre-order page is removed for some reason) so check it out below!

To recap, the Mi A1 uses a Snapdragon 625 processor with 14nm FinFET technology, 5.5-inch FHD display in 1080p, a set of dual 12MP (wide angle) + 12MP (telephoto lens) camera sensors, pure stock Android (Nougat), 3080mAh battery and more.

Stay tuned for more Xiaomi news at TechNave.com


Online specs-leak on Sony new smartphone reveals Snapdragon 845 and more

Can you believe it? Year-end is coming soon and this means is another round of rumours for the upcoming MWC 2018. Although it's still 2-3 months away, we got some new juicy news that Sony Mobile will be unveiling another generation Xperia smartphones in the first quarter (of course) and will have four variants.

Under the codename H8216, H8266, H8276, and H8296, we are pretty sure that these four smartphones will have at least two mid-rangers, a high-end one and a premium device, knowing Sony Mobile's pattern, they do tend to release a lot of models in a lineup in a year with the same design (hey, if it's not broken, then don't fix it right?) and we also happen to get some sneak peak of the specifications.

According to Reddit (lol), the H8216 model is said to feature a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, along with a 4GB + 64GB memory capacity. The display size is a bit odd, though, measuring 5.48-inch in 1080p and there will be a pair of cameras at the back as well, using a 12MP sensor for each, while the front is using a 15MP sensor. In the battery compartment, it will be 3130mAh and will also definitely run on Android 8.1 Oreo.

So how does that sound to you so far? Are you looking forward to the new Sony smartphones next year? Stay tuned for more Sony news at TechNave.com.


Only 1% of US smartphones buyers think the headphone jack is a main selling point on a smartphone

A survey involving over 3600 smartphone buyers in the US has revealed that not many people really care if their smartphones have the headphone jack. Only 1% of buyers think that the headphone jack is a top three feature on their devices.

Respondents given choices between price, screen, camera, battery, storage space, tech specs, OS, headphone jack as well as “cool factors”. Out of these choices, only 1% of the respondents chose headphone jack as one of their top three features to look at when purchasing a phone.

The feature that was most popular with 35% votes is price. This hardly comes as a surprise as mid-rangers as well as flagship spec devices with a lower price tag such as the Samsung Galaxy S10e does much better in the market as opposed to premium flagship devices with high price points.

The next most chosen factor is the OS with 30% votes and the third is tech specs at 14%. Screen priority only had 5% votes and only 4% cared about the battery (but we hear a lot of people complaining about their devices running out of battery, though). 2% of users cared about the “cool factor”.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 has no headphone jack as well

As surprising as it may sound, perhaps it's time to stop crying when companies decide to remove the headphone jack from their latest devices. Samsung, who had bragged about the headphone jack for a while had also recently removed the headphone jack from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.

Perhaps this survey is an indicator that the 3.5mm headphone jack may be fading away soon. Do you think this is the same case for Malaysia? Keep up with the latest tech news on TechNave.com!


Acer Predator release: Predator Orion 7000, Predator GD711, Predator GM712, and Predator Gaming Desk unveiled!

Yesterday, Acer held an event to unveil some new products. Among them were laptops, Chromebooks, monitors, and even a 4K projector. There are also some new Predator series devices, which includes one gaming desktop, two gaming projectors, and also a gaming desk!

As you may know, the Predator Orion series features powerful gaming desktop PCs. The latest Predator Orion 7000 packs a 12th Gen Intel Core CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080/3090 GPU, and up to 64GB of DDR5 (4000MHz) RAM. It also has 2x NVMe SSD slots that support up to 1TB each, as well as 2x slots for HDD of up to 3TB.

To ensure that there's enough cooling for these components, Acer used 2x 140mm Predator FrostBlade 2.0 front fans and 1x 120 mm Predator FrostBlade 2.0 rear fan. There's even an AIO liquid cooler for the CPU. It will also have excellent Internet and network speed thanks to its Intel Killer 2.5G Ethernet port and Intel WiFi 6E module.

Acer also unveiled the Predator GD711 yesterday, a 4K LED projector that covers 125% of the Rec. 709 colour gamut. Another model is the Predator GM712, a 4K lamp projector that features a throw ratio of 1.22. It allows you to project a 100-inch screen from just 2.7 metres, which can be convenient depending on your location.

In terms of features, both models deliver brightness levels, high dynamic contrast, and HDR10 support. They also come with Variable Refresh Rates (VRR), which can output your favourite games at up to 240Hz (PC) or 120Hz (console) at 1080p. Another feature is Game Mode that can let you enhance the contrast and dark levels in games.

Finally, there's the Predator Gaming Desk. This is a large 55-inch gaming desk that comes in a carbon fibre surface or custom-designed Predator mouse mat. It's not just a simple flat desk either, as it comes with various parts to store your accessories. This includes the headphone hook, cup holder, cutouts for cable management, a rack for devices like gamepads, and more.

Acer hasn't confirmed if and when these products would be available in Malaysia, but we did get the price list (refer to the table below). You could also visit the product web pages for more details. With that said, what do you think of Acer's latest Predator gaming products? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Only one OnePlus 11 device will launch in early 2023

According to the latest report, OnePlus will only introduce one device for the OnePlus 11 early next year. The company only launched the OnePlus 10 Pro, and the standard variant is nowhere to be found. Therefore, it looks like it will continue to follow this strategy in the future.

The source, from tipster Max Jambor, mentions that OnePlus will ditch the 'Pro' branding for the OnePlus 11. However, the device will still be a "pro-specced" flagship, aiming to launch in Q1 2023. The company will likely introduce an even more powerful device in the second half of the year, but it's still something to be confirmed. Besides that, a mid-range phone, which has nothing to do with the OnePlus 11 series, could also appear at the beginning of the year.

The OnePlus 11 is expected to arrive with the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. It could also sport a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED curved display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Other tech specs include up to 16GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, 100W fast charging, and a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary camera assisted by a 48MP ultrawide and a 32MP 2x telephoto camera.

Are you excited about seeing the OnePlus 11? Leave a comment to let us know how you feel about it, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more smartphone rumours.


OnwardMobilty is shutting down so we won't be seeing a new BlackBerry 5G phone anymore

What is OnwardMobilty and what do they have to do with the smartphone industry? Well, you see this company used to be in charge of developing and providing smartphones with physical keyboards. But since nobody really used that feature anymore, this means OnwardMobility is pretty much doomed.

From OnwardMobilty's official website, there is an official announcement that the group will be shutting down indeed. As we mentioned earlier, this spells the end of BlackBerry since this brand's unique selling point was using a physical keyboard on a mobile device. BlackBerry did try to bring this signature feature to their smartphones but they weren't executed very well.

In case you missed it, BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 services have already been shut down after 4 January 2022. Not only that, the company sold 90 smartphone IPs to Huawei and its BlackBerry Messenger also closed in 2019. The last time that BlackBerry made an appearance in Malaysia was way back in 2018 as well and the pricing didn't sit well with consumers by the selection of lower mid-range tier specs.

Are you an avid fan of BlackBerry? You can let us know your fondest memory of having one in the comments below. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Ookyo explained - Everything you need to know

A few days ago, you probably have stumbled upon this new plan called ookyo (pronounced as oo-kyo, you know like Tokyo). Ookyo is a brand new online subscription service by Maxis that provides Internet plan for Malaysians. Since it's by Maxis, This doesn't mean that Maxis or Hotlink users can use it but new registrants or customers from other telcos can also register for Maxis Pay and enjoy ookyo. It's neither a postpaid, prepaid or mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). So...what is it exactly and why should you bother? That's what we are about to explain.

So first things first, ookyo is 100% digital so that means there's actually no physical stores for you to go to and get the SIM. It's all done online and you can download it on Google Play Store for free (sorry, none for iOS at this moment but it's coming soon), sign up, then pick a date for your SIM delivery. The service is activated via the ookyo app which also means online support is available 24/7, you can also link your ookyo account to your Google Play Store and get sweet reward points after purchasing items or apps. But more on that later.

What is ookyo offering? There are currently two basic packs at this moment - The Social Pack or Entertainment Pack for RM30/month only with unlimited data (yes, both). Woah, sounds great. But here's the thing, there are only a few selected apps that are eligible for it. For Social Pack - popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and others are obviously free, while for the Entertainment Pack - Spotify, YouTube, games like Clash Royale and others are free too.

For apps aren't listed on their list, you are only granted 3GB for it, but you can have an unlimited pass to a certain app for as low as RM3, only if you want to. On top of that, Whatsapp, LINE, WeChat, and Facebook Messenger are always free, and once the plan finishes after 30 days, it will be auto-renewed. By the way, network calls and SMS aren't unlimited, they cost 15 sen/30 seconds and 15sen/SMS respectively.

The next thing about what makes ookyo stand out is being able to give back 10% Google Play Credit to your account, that is if you shop at an ookyo store, of course. However, if you invite 5 friends and family by sharing your referral code, you are granted RM5 Google Play Credit up to RM100 limit. Sweet.  There is one important side note about using ookyo, though, which is that you need to enable VPN access to the app (I know, #mafan). But this is for your benefit because it will give you unlimited internet data usage for the apps listed, or else it will just deduct it from the 3GB data pool. No worries, there's a tutorial guide in activating the VPN right here. Also, a debit or credit card is needed for the account.

So that's it! Before ending this article, it's worth mentioning that from 25 September - 31 October 2017, new ookyo members will get 20% Google Play Credits reward cashback on purchases in the ookyo store, and the first 1000 customers to join will get 50% cashback on their RM30 ookyo plan (instead of 20%) which is worth RM15.

To find out more about ookyo, kindly head over to ookyo.com.my or and read the FAQs right here to check it out. Stay tuned for more Maxis news at TechNave.com.


Ookyo now offers unlimited Internet data for any four apps of your choice

Hey, remember about that Ookyo subscription service by Maxis introduced last October? They are back again with a new update and all Ookyo customers will be granted unlimited Internet data for ANY four apps of their choice! Aside from that, they also get to enjoy an extra 5GB, as well as an option of unlimited calls and SMS.

Initially, Ookyo only allowed you to have unlimited Internet data for two packages (Social and Entertainment), but that's all changed now with any four apps from a catalogue of over 100 apps including YouTube (yay!). As for the apps that aren't in your top four list, you are given an extra 5GB and you don't have to buy this as it's already included in your plan. Of course, you still need to pay as low as RM3 a month to enjoy an unlimited Internet on any other apps.

Ookyo is also offering a free Google Play credit, this allows users to enjoy a 10% Google Play credit with every Ringgit spent in the ookyo store, including in-app purchases as well as movies, books and magazine purchases in the Play Store. Oh, also for unlimited calls and SMS, you will need to add in RM8 for the monthly fee.

Having the flexibility to change their choice every month, this makes Ookyo the only digital prepaid plan to have such an offer. Ookyo also wants you to know that if any of your favourite apps are not on the list, you can suggest via the ookyo app.

To find out more about Ookyo, you can visit their official website here or download the ookyo app from the Google Play Store (sorry, still no app for iOS). Stay tuned for more Maxis news at TechNave.com.


Open letter to pause Giant AI Experiments for 6 months appears, signatories include Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak

Ironically enough, this image was created with the help of the bing Image Creator, which is also a generative AI

An open letter requesting that AI labs around the world pause their experiments on AI more powerful than GPT4 for 6 months has appeared. Notable individuals of the 1123 signatories to date include Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla and Twitter and Steve Wozniak, Co-founder of Apple but there’s also various other CEOs, professors, leaders and so forth.

Apparently fearing that AI will gain sentience and reach the point of singularity, the Open Letter further states “This pause should be public and verifiable, and include all key actors. If such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium.”

According to the letter, during this pause AI experts should “jointly develop and implement a set of shared safety protocols for advanced AI design and development that are rigorously audited and overseen by independent outside experts”. With stories appearing of GPT4 and other AI supposedly having feelings, planning to break out and so forth, it seems like a wise move.

What do you think? Should we pause AI development for a bit to put in some more safety controls or maybe even a kill switch? Share your thoughts in the comments or you can add your signature to the letter but as always, stay tuned to TechNave.com


OpenAI releases AI classifier to check for Chat GPT written articles, still needs work

OpenAI, makers of the AI-driven Chat GPT, have released a new AI classifier that might be able to check if something has been written using Chat GPT. However, just like their own Chat GPT, they also included plenty of disclaimers saying that their AI classifier “is not fully reliable”... and they’re right.

We previously tried out AI Writing Check for the exact same purpose and didn’t have very good results. This time around, the OpenAI AI classifier has different limitations in that it requires a minimum of 1000 characters or 150 to 250 words rather than limiting the words to 400, which is good and like the AI Writing Check, there’s no freemium ads you have to watch just to use the AI classifier.

You do have to sign up with OpenAI though, but you might not want to do so after we tell you our results. Trying out the OpenAI AI classifier with the exact same ChatGPT written article that we tried before, we got the statement “The classifier considers the text to unlikely be AI-generated”. It’s better than nothing and perhaps it does work better with educational essays, but be warned that it’s still “not fully reliable” just yet.

In any case, what do you think about AI like ChatGPT? Should educational institutions start grading essays and coursework for use with ChatGPT instead of banning it entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


OpenKirin Project allows Huawei users to flash Stock Android ROMs until 22 July 2018

OpenKirin is a project to bring stock Android ROMs as well as other ROMs such as the LineageOS, Resurrection Remix OS, and CarbonOS into the Huawei and Honor ecosystem. As for now, the project currently supports 17 phones and tablets that are running the EMUI 8, notably the Huawei Mate 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro and the Honor View 10. Unfortunately the project only lasts until 22 July 2018 so be quick if you’re interested in flashing your EMUI devices. You can check out the complete list of supported devices and downloadable ROMs on the OpenKirin website as well as guides to install the custom ROMs as well.

Needless to say but since this is not officially supported by Huawei or Google it invalidates your warranty and there is no guarantee you'll get updates as fast as say a Google device or even an EMUi supported device. So be aware. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


OpenSignal awards Celcom for No.1 in 4G Availability and Upload Speed Experience

Well, this is a great way to start off the week. Celcom Axiata Berhad has been awarded by OpenSignal for achieving the first spot for 4G Availability and Upload Speed Experience in Malaysia. This was published in OpenSignal’s ‘Mobile Network Experience: Malaysia’ report, April 2019, based on an independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period of 1 December 2018 until 28 February 2019.

According to the report, Celcom managed to score 86.8% for 4G availability across the nation, 61.2 points for Video Experience, an average connection of 14.7Mbps in Download Speed Experience, and an average connection speed of 6.3Mbps for Upload Speed Experience. You can actually read the full report right here by OpenSignal if you want to. The Opensignal award was presented by Brendan Gill, Chief Executive Officer of Opensignal, to Idham Nawawi, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad at Celcom’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, namely “@celcom”

Idham (fourth from left) and Brendan Gill (fifth from left) flanked by members of Celcom’s management team on the left and Opensignal members on the right during a group photoshoot

Opensignal is an independent mobile analytics company that is committed to improving mobile connectivity across the globe, as well as applying scientific analysis to billions of on-device measurement to reveal the truth about the real experience users receives on mobile networks. Stay tuned for more local tech news at TechNave.com.


OpenSignal reports that Yes and Maxis are leading in Malaysia's 4G LTE availability

OpenSignal recently announced test results of Malaysia's 6 main mobile operators in terms of 4G signal availability and download speeds. The results point to Yes followed by Maxis leading the pack which includes Celcom, Digi, U Mobile and Webe.

While Yes was the clear winner in terms of 4G LTE availability, OpenSignal found that Maxis dominated in more fields. On the other hand, they also found that 3G connectivity was rather lacking from all parties, but you can see the full details at the OpenSignal site.


Opensignal - Celcom & Yes listed as Global Rising Stars in 4 categories, and more

Recently, Opensignal released two new reports about each country's mobile network experience globally. As usual, we will be taking a look at our local telco's performance in various categories.

First up, Celcom has impressed Opensignal so far as one of the most improved telcos on a year-on-year basis. Celcom improved the most in Games Experience, Voice App Experience, Download Speed Experience and Upload Speed Experience. In the Download section, it rose by 95.6%, the second-highest percentage increase observed globally and the largest seen in South East Asia.

Additionally, Yes by YTL Communications also appeared in the Global Rising Stars chart. If you take a closer look at the chart below, Yes is also listed in the same four categories as Celcom. Although Opensignal didn't mention any of the year-on-year data percentages about Yes, the analytic firm certainly took note of the telco as one of the Global Rising Stars across the aforementioned categories.

On the other hand, Maxis got Global High Performer for Time on 4G/5G and a Global Rising Star for Download Speed Experience. Opensignal reported that Maxis' network rose by 61% within a year, whereas for U Mobile, the company rose by 9.5% to reach 98% as a Global High Performer and a Global Rising Star for Time on 4G/5G. Unifi also got a Global Rising Star for Upload Speed Experience, with its network rising by 26.4% between H2 2021 and H2 2022. Meanwhile, Digi only appeared in the Download Speed Experience and Time on 4G/5G without any data presented.

Next, Malaysian users observed a 26% improvement in their Live Video Experience. This landed Malaysia in fifth place globally in terms of 4G to 5G Live Video Experience improvement. Indonesia got first (32.7%), followed by the Philippines (28.1%), Peru (27.1%) and South Africa (26.3%). It is also noted that Malaysia is one of the top 10 markets that offer live video streaming providers an opportunity to expand.

If you want to read the two reports, visit the links below to check them out. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Acer Predator unveils Predator X35 curved monitor priced at RM9399 and more

Also unveiled at today’s Acer Predator event are 3 brand new gaming monitors. The best out of these monitors is the Acer Predator X35 curved monitor with up to 200Hz refresh rate in overclocking mode and a 2ms Grey to Grey response time.

With a 3440 x 1440 UWQHD resolution VA panel, the screen delivers an impressive 1.07 billion  colours in a 90% DCI-P3 standard. It has up to 1000 nits peak brightness which highlights the darker colours and blacks. If you’re into RG-Bae like I am, the back of the monitor lights up with RGB colours supported by the RGB Light Sense App which lights up according to the movie, music or game you’re playing. The screen costs RM9399 and is available mid-July.

If that’s a little out of your budget, you can have a look at the Acer Nitro Series Monitor which features a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time which eliminates blur, ghost and smearing effects. For gamers to easily change the display settings, the screen comes with Acer Display widgets so that users do not have to fumble with buttons.

The Acer Nitro Series monitors include the Acer Nitro VG271U P which measures at 27 inches with WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display priced at RM1399, the Acer Nitro VG270 P which measures at 27 inches with FHD IPS display priced at RM899 and the Acer Nitro VG240Y P monitor which measures at 23.8 inches priced at RM699. All 3 monitors are available at the end of July.

If you’re looking for a 31.5 inch monitor, turn your eyes to the Acer ED322QR P. It comes with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a FHD VA Panel display. It has a 1800R curve form factor and a 178 degree viewing angle. AMD Radeon FreeSync technology is equipped on this display with 144Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time. This monitor is priced at an affordable RM939.

So will you be upgrading your gaming rigs with these monitors? If you are, these monitors are on display at the Predator Roadshow in Sunway Pyramid starting from now till the 30th of June. Keep up with the latest Acer releases on TechNave.com!


Opensignal - Celcom picks up 4 overall mobile internet experience wins and more

It wasn't that long ago when Opensignal released its Global Mobile Network Experience Awards 2023. Now, we have access its latest Mobile Network Experience Report 2023 and below are just some of the interesting findings.

As announced in the previous report, Celcom users experienced the fastest overall speed with a score of 26.3Mbps. Maxis isn't too far behind either with 25.9Mbps, then followed by Digi in third place. Overall, all the telcos improved their scores but Celcom has the biggest jump by 136% (15.2Mbps).

On the other hand, Yes by YTL Communications gets the best Availability Awards with 98.8%. It's followed closely by U Mobile, which is just 0.7% behind as well as Maxis in third place. Yes is also the sole winner of 5G Availability, with a score of 33.8% — U Mobile is in second place, scoring 8.8 percentage points lower than Yes. Opensignal says that Yes 5G users spend 33.8% of their time on average with an active 5G connection.

Speaking of 5G, Opensignal also notes that Malaysian users see a massive uplift in average download speed when connected to 5G. Digi got first in 5G Download Speed with an average speed of 440.7Mbps, 62.6Mbps ahead of second-placed Unifi's score of 378.1Mbps. Digi also got the best 5G Upload Speed award with U Mobile and Celcom, as the three operators have statistically tied scores of 42.8-44.3Mbps.

If you want to read the full detailed report of this, you can visit Opensignal's report right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal - Digi breaks 20Mpbs barrier in Download Speed Experience and more

We are entering the fourth quarter of the year soon but before that, Opensignal just released the latest report of Malaysia's Mobile Network Experience report. As usual, there are just a couple of key findings from June until August 2022, namely, Digi, Celcom and Maxis.

According to Opensignal, Digi seems to be doing very well as the subscribers now have the fastest average download speeds with 20.5Mbps. On the other hand, Digi along with Maxis also got the best Video Experience award, with statistically tied scores of 43.2-43.3 points (on a 100-point scale). With the consistent performance, Digi also bags another win at the Excellent Consistent Quality award at 64.8%.

Meanwhile, Celcom takes hold of the 4G Coverage Experience award with an impressive score of 9.2/10 point scale. The chart says Maxis users also got to have the best mobile gaming experience, followed by YES for Availability, Unifi in Core Consistent Quality and U Mobile for having the best Upload Speed Experience.

On the other hand, our commercial 5G services got noted by Opensignal as one of the last countries in Southeast Asia. There is still no official signage or confirmation on which local telcos have signed up for the single 5G wholesale network by Digital Nasional Berhad. It is not known how long will Malaysia continue to face this challenge, since it was reported that Maxis and U Mobile backed out a few weeks ago.

For the full report by Opensignal, you may visit the official webpage right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal: Kuala Lumpur ranked 2nd place for having the fastest 5G download speeds

Yup, you read the headline correctly. We aren't kidding with this latest 5G analysis report by Opensignal. It was only published yesterday and we are just as surprised as you to find out that Kuala Lumpur is in second place in terms of 5G download speed (Mbps). The charts are based on Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)'s biggest cities.

As you can see from the chart below, Seoul takes the first spot with 453.1 Mbps but KL came in second as mentioned earlier at 376.6 Mbps. That said, KL got first place in terms of 5G Upload Speed with 52.8 Mbps. Compared with Seoul, it's a bit of a far cry seeing the country with 40.6 Mbps only and to make things intriguing, our neighbour Singapore scored an average of 266.3 and 24.3 Mbps for 5G download and upload speeds respectively.

According to Opensignal, KL is rocking the chart simply because of the specific market situation in Malaysia. As many of you know, only one company (YES) is riding on Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB)'s single wholesale 5G network. The soft launch began in December 2021 only a number of selected places have 5G such as KL, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. Therefore, only some people get to enjoy 5G for now.

With this, it's only natural that Malaysians who got to experience 5G felt a huge download improvement from 4G. However, this is still the early 5G phase for Malaysians. As aforementioned by Opensignal, there is only 10.9% of the time when 5G is available which is really low in the chart, as well as scoring 2.5 rating in terms of 5G reach.

If you would like to read the full report by Opensignal, you can do so at the hyperlink given here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal - Malaysian 5G users experiencing 16.8x faster download speeds than 4G & more

Since all the local telcos are on board (except Maxis) with Digital Nasional Berhad's 5G Single Wholesale Network (SWN), Opensignal could finally do better research on Malaysians' 5G experience. Although it's still relatively early, Opensignal reported that we have "demonstrated an impressive improvement over existing 4G networks".

In the analysis, Malaysian 5G users are seeing average download speeds of 284.9 Mbps. Compared with 4G, the download speed was 16.9 Mbps so, in retrospect, that is 16.8 times faster than ever. Also comparing it with neighbouring markets, Malaysian users had 180.2 Mbps (172.2%) higher average 5G download speeds than Thai users’ 104.7 Mbps, but 47.7 Mbps (14.3%) lower speeds when compared to Singaporean users’ average 5G download speeds of 332.6 Mbps.

In other sections, most Malaysian 5G users have a good network experience in mobile gaming and streaming videos. In the charts, the 4G usage for mobile gaming and streaming videos were just Fair but improved to Good and Very Good respectively. For the latter, users saw fast loading times with only occasional stalling, but the experience might have been somewhat inconsistent across users and/or video providers/resolutions.

Opensignal ended the analysis by saying 5G still has room for improvement in the Malaysian market. As DNB continues to expand its 5G SWN across the nation, more Malaysians will have a chance to get connected. However, this also means that Malaysians will need to get a 5G device that is eligible for DNB's list. Although Digi, Celcom and U Mobile have signed on to the SWN, some devices still don't have 5G access such as the iPhone.  To read the full report, you can visit the official web portal right here. And has anyone of you experienced 5G yet in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal - Most Malaysian mobile gamers are still facing poor multiplayer mobile gaming experience in 4G networks

So Opensignal is back once again with a new report on our mobile network experience across Malaysia. Looking into the National Digital Infrastructure Lab (NDIL) report and phase 1 plans for all the 13 states and 3 federal territories, here's what we noticed on our future mobile progress.

According to the research, the majority of Malaysians are able to access into 4G LTE network which stands at 86% (average). However, this cannot be said the same to East Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as those who are staying in Kelantan experiencing 80% or less for 4G. This is particularly an issue where rural areas are still experiencing weak 4G or just 3G signal.

That said, even though the majority of Malaysians have 4G access, playing multiplayer mobile games over cellular networks is still challenging. In case you didn't know, mobile gaming is the preferred entertainment method for us and most states have "poor" multiplayer mobile gaming experience. But for the metropolis cities like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya and even Pahang, most Malaysians have a "fair" experience from that activity.

The poor and fair multiplayer mobile gaming experience is further evidenced by OpenSignal when they measured the 4G download speed. Overall, the download speeds ranged from 10.5Mbps (Kedah) to 16.5Mbps (Putrajaya) whereas states like Kelantan, Sabah and Perlis' results are quite low as well. On the other hand, our 4G Video Experience is quite "good" although we would have to wait from 3 to 4.3 seconds for a video to start playing.

With all that said, this is probably one of the reasons why the NDIL is initiating the JENDELA project. As you should know, JENDELA is an initiative to help accelerate and expand 4G as much as they can to improve Malaysia's digital connectivity. As we progress towards 5G, this is an important job for the government to upgrade and strengthen the foundation before transitioning.

If you're interested in reading the full report, you may head over to Opensignal's report right here to check them out. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal investigated why 3G-only users in Malaysia haven't transitioned to 4G

If you recall, our Prime Minister Muhyiddin announced that 5G connectivity will be ready by the end of 2021. While the tech community are taking it with a dose of salt, it is quite evident that 3G is phasing out as both Celcom and unifi will shut it down gradually. That said, there are still plenty of 3G-only users especially in the rural areas of Malaysia.

With this in mind, Opensignal has decided to investigate why there are still 3G-only users in Malaysia. From the analysis, the first reason why these groups of people haven't transitioned to 4G networks is that they simply don't have a 4G subscription. Here's the weird thing, while 81.9% of 3G-only users in Malaysia had a 4G-capable smartphone and spent time in 4G-covered areas, they either lacked a 4G SIM card, haven't upgraded or disabled 4G on their phones.

Speaking of that, it was also discovered that 5.6% of our 3G-only users had 4G-capable devices but spent their time in areas where we have never seen a 4G signal from their mobile network operator. In addition, 0.5% of the 3G-only users lacked both 4G coverage and 4G-capable devices, which brings the number of Malaysian 3G-only users outside of the 4G footprint to 6.1%. With this small percentage, Opensignal thinks it is not the main reason for the large numbers of 3G-only users in Malaysia.

Out of the aforementioned 81.9% of 3G-only users, 12% of them don't have a 4G phone. Opensignal noted that there are a few factors for this, namely users may have held on to their older 3G phones because of cost. On top of that, they may also lack awareness of 4G benefits as well as affordable 4G subscription price plans.

So there you have it. From Opensignal's analysis, it appears that the main reason why there are still 3G-only users is that they have yet to subscribe to 4G or are not aware of the benefits even though the majority of them are in 4G-enabled areas, rather than because of weak 4G coverage. Weak 4G coverage is an issue but the percentage is rather small in rural areas.

If you would like to read the full analysis report, you can head over to the official webpage right here. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal report - Celcom and Maxis gained new subscribers, while Digi and U Mobile lost the most in 2020

If you felt like changing your telco line over the past few months, you're not alone. With the majority of Malaysians hogging on the server network, we are experiencing slower Internet data speed no thanks to the pandemic. In fact, Opensignal noted that many Malaysians have changed their mobile operator to another in 2020.

According to Opensignal's statistic charts, many Malaysians have jumped ship and joined Celcom and Maxis. Unifi followed behind them, but Digi and U Mobile lost the most subscribers. It's interesting to note that when the MCO was implemented in March 2020, that was around the period when U Mobile experience a sharp dive down whereas Maxis slowly gained momentum. As for Celcom and Digi, their subscribers went opposite directions just before June 2020.

In another chart, Opensignal compared the mobile network experience between current network users and leavers. On average, leavers tend to have a bad mobile experience before switching to another telco provider. On the other hand, leavers also an average of between 69.8% and 145.5% more time without a mobile signal, or less time connected to either a 3G or 4G network.

How about your mobile network experience? Did you change to another telco line? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal reports that Malaysia has one of the best 5G download speeds (for now)

Yes, we are as surprised as you are. In this latest global 5G experience report by Opensignal, Malaysia is actually one of the top rankings in three 5G speed categories, as well as 5G Games Experience. As many of you should know, 5G is still rolling out and not available in many states at all.

Despite that, Malaysia tops the table for the uplift in users’ average download speeds using 5G over 4G with a staggering 25.7 fold increase. In the 5G download speed and 5G peak download speed category, Malaysia is surprisingly behind South Korea and Taiwan in second place respectively. Malaysia is also in first place in and 5G upload speed ahead of Sweden.

Currently, only two operators have deployed 5G across the nation and also are on a single wholesale network. Of all the places, we also only know that some parts of Kuala Lumpur, Cyberjaya and Putrajaya are the hot spots for 5G. With this, there can only be so few 5G users and Opensignal predicts that as more users and more operators take up 5G, then the 5G experience would likely to drop dramatically.

That being said, Malaysia is hanging on at the top 15 in 5G Games Experience just behind Germany. Our country is nowhere to be found in the 5G video and voice app experience at all, though. And since 5G is only limited to three districts for now, Malaysia did not appear in the 5G availability and 5G reach chart as well.

The data collection was gathered from 1 March until 29 May 2022 by Opensignal. If you would like to read the full report, you can do so by visiting the link right here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal's analysis on Malaysia mobile data usage during the pandemic suggest a lack of WiFi network access

Opensignal is back again with another report and this time around, it's about analyzing mobile data consumption and experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report features many countries on their usage and Malaysia is included as well. If you've wondered how the rest of our Malaysian people handled mobile data consumption, read on below.

Looking at the graph below provided by Opensignal, the two lines presented are 'Average data consumption' and 'Download Speed Experience'. The graph showed the two lines in the Malaysia graph have a great contrast in March, going in the opposite direction as far as they can and it was the time when the first Movement Control Order happened. In case you have forgotten, our local telcos have limited the speed so that Malaysians stuck at home can surf online steadily, hence the sharp drop on the download speed and the spike on data consumption.

Besides Malaysia, other developing countries also experienced the same thing such as India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Peru, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. Interestingly, Taiwan and Latin American countries experience the total opposite from, as they experienced low data consumption and high download speed experience. Then as for developed countries like the US, Switzerland, Australia and others, there was no change between the two metric lines.

In conclusion, Opensignal suggests that since many people were staying at home during the pandemic period, many of them would have Internet access via WiFi. This could be the reason why developed and Latin American countries have little to a sharp decrease on mobile data consumption, as well as suggesting that developing countries (like ours) are still lacking a WiFi network at home.

But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and if you want to read the full report, you can head over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news like this only at TechNave.com.


Opensignal's latest mobile network experience report shows close competition between Malaysian telcos

As our economic sector is slowly reopening, Opensignal is back once again with another report on Malaysians' mobile data experience. The last report was done in April 2021 just before the lockdown, so in this latest news - the data gathered was between 1 June until 29 August 2021 based on Celcom, Digi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi.

As usual, Opensignal has provided several categories from download speed experience to 4G coverage. There are some key findings from the report, such as Maxis reclaiming the spot for video experience but just by a bit. In fact, all the telcos' scores are quite close (except Celcom) that it doesn't seem to be a clear winner at all.

Besides video experience, each respective telco has picked up the first rank in each category. Below is the summary:

Another interesting report is how each state performs with the respective telcos including YES Mobile. Since all the telcos performed differently, it is noted that Digi's performance is dominating strongly in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. However, the company is a joint winner with Celcom in Video Experience in both states whereas U Mobile has the best 4G availability by some points.

If you would like to read the full report, you can simply visit the official webpage here to check it out. What do you think of the latest report? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Acer Spin 3 (2020), TravelMate P614 and Veriton K8 released, starting priced from RM2699

Today, Acer Malaysia celebrated their 30th anniversary in Malaysia so in conjunction with that, the company have spewed multiple new products for their customers. Ranging from working to gaming, we will be taking a look at the 2020 version of the Acer Spin 3, TravelMate P614, as well as the Veriton K8-660G desktop with a starting price of RM2699.

Staring with the new Spin 3, the laptop is even slimmer and lighter than before compared to its predecessor. Weighing just 1.5kg and measures 16.9mm thin, the 14-inch display FHD display continues to use the convertible hinge so the user can transform it into a tent or tablet mode.

On the flip side, it packs up to 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, up to 8GB RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and the Acer Active Stylus is back too with fast charging technology. There are two variants for this, the higher-spec costs RM3199 while the other one is RM2699 using Intel Core i3 and 4GB RAM.

On the other hand, the TravelMate P614 has made its debut and this is specially designed for professionals who are always on-the-go. Able to standby up to 20 hours of battery life (with fast charge technology up to 50% in 45 minutes) and endure from falling down (MIL-STD-810G and 810F military-grade), this laptop is surprisingly 1.1kg only.

As for the tech specs, it is equipped with up to 10 gen Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB DDR4 memory, an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics, and up to 1TB of Gen 3 x 4 PCIe SSD NVMe technology. It's able to lay flat completely and sports the latest WiFi 6 (GIG+), this is faster than the typical AC 2x2 with speed up to 1700Mbps and 75% lower latency. To add on, the laptop's Intel Thunderbolt 3 port can transfer up to 40Gbps with connection up to 8K displays.

Like the Spin 3 2020, the TravelMate P614 with 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics retails at RM6299; while the 10th Gen Intel Core i5, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD is priced at RM4899.

Finally, if you're looking for a powerful PC desktop then there's the Veriton K8-660G. Below is the tech specs and features you should know:

Acer Malaysia have also released a bunch of monitors for work and gaming, you can check them right over here and a new projector as well. Stay tuned for more Acer news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal's new analysis say U Mobile users have the most improved 4G Download Speed experience after MCO

Previously, we reported Opensignal's analysis of Malaysia mobile data usage during the pandemic and they seem to suggest that there's a lack of WiFi network access. The company didn't stop there as they are back with another new report about our average mobile data consumption and download speed experience during the original MCO period.

As you can see in the first graph below, Opensignal has been monitoring our data consumption and 4G Download Speed Experience from the first MCO day until 28 September 2020. Since our local telcos had to limit the mobile data for everyone to surf normally, it's not surprising to see a huge spike and differences between the two lines. Fast forward to 1 July, the two lines slowly drifted back but with some distance in between.

Moving on to the next graph, this is an interesting one as it covers U Mobile, Maxis, Celcom, Digi and unifi. Since Opensignal nominated U Mobile as one of the most improved global networks in the Mobile Network Experience Global Awards (which most of you still don't believe lol), it's not surprising to see the 4G Download Speed Experience passing the users' data consumption. Celcom's network saw the highest increase in average data consumption — up to 44% — followed by a surge of up to 36% on Maxis, while that on its peers’ networks ranged below 35%. unifi's 4G Download Speed Experience has a rather rollercoaster ride throughout the months.

Opensignal further analyzed the distribution of our users' 4G download speeds for February, April and July to understand the variations in download speeds before, during and after the period in which the unlimited plans were offered. In their findings, they found that a higher proportion of users, on average, experienced lower download speeds in April, compared to February. The graph also showed that the majority are below 10Mbps.

If you would like to check out the full detailed report, you can head over here and read it yourself. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opensignal says Malaysians are the champions in mobile data consumption during the pandemic

Over the past year, Opensignal has given us plenty of reports that Malaysians have relied on mobile broadband plans by local telco operators. You would think that by now, it would make more sense to subscribe to an actual WiFi package but that's not the case. In this article, we will be taking a look at the monthly mobile data consumption in the Southeast Asia region from January 2020 until March 2021.

From the graph below, you can see that besides Malaysia, other SEA countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia are included as well. From March 2020 onwards, you can clearly see that all the countries except Singapore have escalated in mobile data consumption due to the lockdown. Malaysia has the highest mobile consumption especially in April 2020 with 30.7% and has remained consistently high throughout the year.

In fact, Malaysian mobile data users consume so much data that Opensignal recorded an impressive 35.2% YoY growth between January 2020 and January 2021. Opensignal also mentioned that both Malaysia and Thailand's mobile data consumption in January last year were tied at 19.5GB, but Malaysia remained at the top a year later with 26.4GB, compared to Thailand's 22.3GB.

Perhaps it may have something to do with the free daily data packages and unlimited data plans that were introduced last year, but those were and are short-term solutions to improve mobile internet connectivity in Malaysia. Celcom and Maxis may have gained the most subscribers, but Digi and U Mobile are now the most improved in Opensignal's Mobile Network Experience Report April 2021. To embrace the long-term challenge, the government is committing an RM400 million investment in hopes to improve network capacity and coverage.

Our dear Prime Minister Muhyiddin also said 5G should be ready by the end of the year, but looking at the current issue now, one may think if Malaysia infrastructure is actually ready for such change. Oh well, we shall see. If you want to read the full report, you can visit the page here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opera GX Mobile is a browser for gamers and is launching on iOS and Android soon

These days, everything sounds more impressive if you tag the word 'gamer' to it. That's marketing at its best, but even then there comes a point where it feels silly. Specifically, what if there was a browser for gamers? That's what Opera GX Mobile is meant to be.

For those unaware, the Opera GX was first launched in June 2019 for Windows and Mac. Opera has confirmed that the beta version of Opera GX Mobile is now coming to Android and iOS, with the app becoming available on the app stores in the coming weeks. But if you want to try the beta to get a feel for it, you could download the Android APK or get it on iOS TestFlight now.

So, what makes Opera GX Mobile a "gaming browser"? Well, it has features you often see from gaming-centric devices. For example, its Fast Action Button (FAB) allows you to enjoy navigating its interface with vibration and haptic feedback. You could also use it to share game walkthroughs, tutorials, and more to your desktop Opera GX Browser. Other features include the game release calendar, built-in ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, and more.

Honestly, it feels more like a browser with the 'gaming' moniker to appeal to gamers. But it's developed by Opera, so at least you can expect a rather light application. If you use this particular browser, do share your thoughts on it in the comments below! For more news on the latest tech and gadgets, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Opera VPN Now available on Android for free

After their purchase of the company SurfEasy that provides easy-to-use VPN apps, Opera has finally released Opera VPN for Android for free as a standalone app.

Like the VPN function in Opera browsers, the Opera VPN is completely free to use. It allows users to choose between a number of countries to VPN to, including USA, Canada, Singapore and The Netherlands. The app also includes a built-in ad-tracking blocker, to block ad sites tracking your behaviour across the web.

It will not be the best VPN client you will have on your smartphone, but it is free, easy to use and it is great to access web content from anywhere in the world.


Opera browser now has built-in sidebar for Twitter, Messenger, and more

If you're not a fan of the memory-hogging Chrome browser and want an alternative, why not try Opera? A new version of the browser has been released and it comes with a feature that social media addicts may enjoy. Specifically, we're talking about the new sidebar feature.

According to the official website, you can now directly access Twitter via a sidebar in Opera, without having to open a browser tab for it. You can even pin the sidebar so it's always on top, allowing you to quickly share things. In the same way, the sidebar can provide you with quick access to Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and more.

Besides that, Opera also comes with a variety of useful features. There's a free VPN, ad-blocker, dark mode theme, and even a currency converter all built into the app. In other words, these are there without having to download extensions.

For those who are already users of Opera, what are your thoughts on the browser as a whole and the new updates? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Opera will be launching a new ChatGPT function on its own web browser soon

Out of all the web browsers, Opera is probably not one of the most popular ones if compared to Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. However, the Opera team will be adding a WebGPT feature for the browser soon and here's what you can expect.

From Opera's short video teaser, its ChatGPT integration will be on the left sidebar. After you install it, you can just simply click on "Shorten" which can be found on the top right. Clicking it will allow ChatGPT to appear and do some wonders on a website you're reading. For example, if you're reading a long article, ChatGPT will summarise it for you easily.

That being said, Opera Head of Strategic Partnerships and AI Ecosystems, Per Wetterdal said that the company's WebGPT feature isn't available to everyone yet. But it will launch soon and Opera is excited to see the rollout of this new experience soon. Microsoft will also have something similar with its Edge browser and we expect the same for Google Chrome.

What do you think of this upcoming feature? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Opinion: Are Malaysia's Mobile Telcos moving in the right direction?

Malaysia is known for many things in the IT world. We are ranked number 5 for taking selfies in the world. We are on Facebook and social media a lot more than most people in other countries within the region. While we have not yet reached the same level as countries like South Korea, our smartphone and mobile telecommunications or telco industry is definitely on the rise. And while many of us won't admit it, a lot of our online actions and reactions rely on how the various Mobile Telcos of Malaysia are moving. So here at Technave.com, we'd like to stop for a minute and see where we are, what packages and plans are available and how we as the common everyday user should react to the wave of new telco plans, packages and deals? Are Malaysia's Mobile Telcos moving in the right direction? What would be the most ideal mobile telco plan in Malaysia? Read our analysis as everyday Malaysian users to the everyday user in Malaysia to find out.

There are actually many Mobile Telco companies in Malaysia with the four major companies currently being Celcom, Maxis, DiGi and U Mobile. TM or the Axiata Group as they are now called are fixed line and broadband Internet service providers and are not by our definition a Mobile Telco company. Neither is P1 WiMax but there are a lot of newcomers in the field including Yes from YTL, Altel and Tune Talk amongst others. Celcom has been here the longest and as such is seen as the premium brand with the best stability. Maxis has generally been known to have the best coverage. DiGi was formerly seen as the value-added brand but now stands toe-to-toe with Maxis in terms of coverage but is still a bit more affordable than Maxis. U Mobile is the current value-added mobile telco brand in the market. All four them now offer 3G and 4G LTE services along with all the older mobile Internet connectivity technologies like 2G and WAP. Nearly all of them offer some form of subsidized device or smartphone under a prepaid or postpaid plan.

The four major mobile telcos in Malaysia include Celcom, Maxis, DiGi and U Mobile

While Prepaid users still have to register their particulars these days, it is relatively easier to pick up a starter pack and drop it than it is to do so with a postpaid plan. All you have to do is make sure you top up it's airtime to ensure that it remains valid while the actual cost of the calls, SMS or mobile Internet is deducted from the value you add in from the top up. If you don't top up your airtime after a certain time period, the prepaid number or account expires, but as we said before, you can add on a new prepaid number quite easily. Rates for pay-per-use mobile voice and Internet are definitely higher on prepaid, but it is easier to pick up and go mobile than with a postpaid plan.

From a mobile data standpoint for prepaid, so far we've found U Mobile to be the most effective in terms of cost and coverage in Malaysia. Granted, it doesn't get coverage in the more rural areas up near Pahang or Cameron Highlands but then neither does Maxis which is known for it's better coverage. U Mobile also does not work very well overseas or outside of Malaysia, but for that it is easier to get a local prepaid number or data plan overseas than to get one Malaysian prepaid number that roams well. On prepaid we have found that Maxis and DiGi prepaid numbers travel overseas better than U Mobile but for our tech writers and journalists U Mobile is more than enough. We've found that rather than make calls from an International number, it is cheaper and more cost effective to make VoIP calls using Skype and other messenger services.

It is more affordable to make VoIP calls over the Internet through apps like Skype than to make direct IDD calls from overseas

For Malaysian mobile Internet usage, some of us use a MiFi hooked up to an ISP such as P1 WiMax. Others use the Unlimited Internet plans from U Mobile like U18 or U28 if we need to be online all the time even if your speed is throttled after a certain data quota is reached. Through personal experience with friends and relatives not so inclined with IT, we have found that mobile Internet is becoming more and more important, partly because of social media and chat messengers. While Voice calls are still widely used, many people here in Malaysia are dropping SMS and MMS entirely as it is easier and cheaper to just use a chat messenger like WhatsApp, Viber or Line. The chat service is also generally faster, allowing people to send and view pictures and videos made using smartphones and other mobile devices better.

Chat or messenger apps like Whatsapp offer a lot more features than normal SMS or MMS but need mobile Internet to run

However, we have also found that while mobile Internet for prepaid users is maturing, the cost is becoming less effective, especially as content becomes bigger and speeds become faster. Now, even prepaid users on U Mobile can get 4G LTE and while coverage for 4G LTE is still small, users in those areas are finding that their data consumption becomes faster, data quotas run out earlier and they have to top up more per month than before. We admit that this isn't the fault of mobile telcos like U Mobile, but in general the cost for airtime is less effective than before. For example: the older U Mobile prepaid plan would only need RM10 to get 30 days of airtime but the current U Mobile prepaid plan only gets 20 days of airtime for an RM10 top up.

While it may be less cost effective now, new unlimited plans from Malaysia's Mobile telcos are balancing things out. Telcos are offering plans with unlimited voice, or unlimited Internet but like us, they seem to understand that SMS and MMS services are on the way out for prepaid as there are no plans yet to have unlimited SMS or MMS for a prepaid plan. Instead, the focus is on providing more cost effective rates for Social Media or mobile Internet browsing. One of the more innovative Mobile Internet products we've seen is the Hotlink Free Internet Prepaid plan which offers unlimited Internet at all times. Unfortunately, there is a catch as the speed has been limited to 64kbps which is not suitable for doing anything faster than chatting, social media and reading email and even then without big attachments or high resolution videos.

Hotlink's Free Internet Prepaid Plan offers unlimited mobile Internet at rather slow 64kbps speeds

Under a Postpaid plan, you will have to sign up for an initial contract period and pay a monthly minimum commitment fee even if you don't make any calls or send SMS or use Mobile Internet at all. However, you do get charged lower rates and more services which include rebates, discounts and usually subsidized prices for selected smartphones and devices. While you have to pay a fine for paying your monthly fees late, it does guarantee a better quality of services than a prepaid Mobile account. If you set it up with auto pay and a credit card you can just forget about it and still get the best quality mobile Internet and calls whenever you feel like it.

Our postpaid users tend to be sales people and those in business who need a good quality service. They don't care too much about how much they have to pay to get it and they don't want to have to monitor their Internet usage like a prepaid Internet user would. As such, quality or stability of service and coverage are the main factors for a good Malaysian postpaid mobile telco. Based on these factors, we've found Maxis to be the best mobile telco for postpaid users, as they strike a good balance between quality of service and coverage compared to Celcom and the other mobile telcos. Celcom may provide better quality of service in some areas, but is a bit pricier than Maxis and less value for money, especially since they have capped their data quotas and removed most of the unlimited features. Celcom and Maxis do tend to have better coverage in rural areas compared to either DiGi or U Mobile though.

Unlike prepaid users, overseas performance for postpaid users is a lot better with Celcom, Maxis and DiGi being the better choices. However, it doesn't change the fact that calling from overseas is cheaper through the Internet using VoIP or Skype. It does take the hassle out of having to find and buy a good local prepaid number or data plan every time you travel though. Some mobile telcos don't allow for mobile Internet while roaming so making a VoIP call with these telcos would not be a good idea as that would be charged a lot more.

Most postpaid Mobile telco data plans are too expensive in that the amount of data quota doesn't match with the amount of money you have to pay for it. However, some Mobile telcos are coming out with Unlimited features as well such as U Mobile and Maxis. The recent Maxis OnePlan is a good example where it provides unlimited Voice, SMS and mobile Internet on 4G LTE speeds. However, there is a catch for the mobile Internet as you only get 2GB on 4G LTE, so when you finish this quota your speed will be throttled down to 64kbps. The price for unlimited postpaid plans such as this are still too high to warrant the rather low data quotas.

The Maxis OnePlan offers a number of limitless or unlimited services for postpaid users

Overall, Malaysia's mobile telcos are indeed moving in the right direction but at a snail's pace and not doing the most with what they have available. As it is, the ultimate mobile telco plan for Malaysia is still not here yet. Our ideal mobile telco plan would include stable coverage with better priced unlimited data plans. Clearly, the future of mobile telco plans lays in Internet usage, so much so that even SMS and MMS are dying out from it, but the fact remains that most mobile telcos are not offering very good mobile Internet or data plans.

Yes, but probably not now. At the current state of coverage, 4G LTE is only available in selected areas and these are mainly around Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Pulau Pinang. Everywhere else is still mostly stuck on 3G. This is understandable as most telcos in Malaysia only just announced their 4G LTE packages this year. Likewise, most mobile data users in Malaysia don't have 4G LTE devices and one of the main reasons is coverage. When this improves, then 4G LTE will change everything, but for now it is safer to get a good 3G or 3G+ mobile data plan and compatible device. Thankfully, many of the more affordable smartphones and mobile devices in Malaysia are capable of 3G connectivity.

U Mobile for example, only has 4G LTE coverage in Petaling Jaya...

We feel that Malaysia's mobile telcos should learn to keep to the adage of "doing more with less". Keep expanding LTE but don't offer packages or focus too much on 4G LTE. It is still fine to keep 4G LTE packages expensive, right now, as not many people can use it anyway since there is either no coverage or they don't have a compatible device. For now, Malaysia's mobile telcos should focus on more stable 3G Mobile Internet while making data packages more competitive or offering faster and cheaper unlimited data plans. Longer airtime wouldn't hurt either.

Keep doing what we're doing but don't get too out of whack if we don't get 4G LTE support. We should buy more plans with better focus on better priced data quotas or faster unlimited mobile Internet. Malaysia's mobile telcos are driven by money and demand, eventually (and hopefully) someone up top watching the numbers will notice. If you're interested in a specific device or plan do check out our Phone Plan Comparison tool where you can narrow down your search to the device name, monthly commitment price, contract period and telco.