Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7 review - A high quality omni-directional sound speaker

The Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7 is a big egg-shaped wireless speaker that is compatible with either Android or iOS smartphones and offers a 360-degree, omni-directional surround sound. The speaker can be controlled using Samsung’s Multiroom app (available on Apple too) to adjust volume from other devices connected to the same sound system such as a TV or Soundbar, and even listen from other various music sources online such as Spotify. It’s been in Malaysia for quite some time now and it cost RM2199 (with GST), but is it worth your jam? Read below to check it out.

The first impression that I had when I opened up the box was that the Samsung R7 really reminded me of the alien egg from the movie franchise Alien, besides that it also look like a football (American version) and it's futuristic looking. The 181 x 422 x 181 mm speaker comes in either black or white colour, supported by a nice silver chrome stand, and it actually weighs 3.4kg. Carrying it around may seem like a hassle at first, but thanks to its egg-shaped design it’s fairly easy to move it around once you figured it out. It also has a plug at the bottom for power source.

The 5-inch woofer is located at the middle-bottom and the 1-inch tweeter on the very top, this was designed in such a way that it gives a 360-degree omni-directional surround sound no matter where you put it. The control are just above the woofer area, and only the volume control have the buttons whereas the rest (play/pause, TV sound connector and power on/off) are touch sensor. Besides that, if you’re willing to pay a bit more (prices vary in different regions), you can also choose the speaker to stand on a tripod or hang from the top with a ceiling mount.

Ceiling mount (left) and tripod stand (right)

Tech Specs of the Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7:

Now feature wise, Samsung really wants you to play with the Samsung Multiroom app for the R7. This app, according other reviewers it has been praised for its improvement from the previous version (which I never had before). So what do I think of the app being a new user? Well, setting it up was plain easy. The app was kind enough to show me a setup tutorial, it will teach you how to connect your device via Bluetooth or wirelessly (voice call on your smartphone doesn’t work, I tried). Overall, the purpose of the app is to access and play your songs from various sources, like your smartphone, radio channels, online music services (Spotify and others), and also allows you to edit your playlist.

Multiroom front page after connecting successfully

The rotating scroll around the song image is pretty cool to find songs

Most of the time, you would probably want to connect your smartphone and R7 wirelessly together because the connection is better (obviously), connecting them together with Bluetooth is good too but if you’re at a certain distance (estimated 10 meters) the signal starts dying out and the music will lag. Not to mention, the Bluetooth won’t connect all your songs into the R7 as well, I know because I have 1000 songs in my playlist and half of them weren’t even in there. However, that’s not to say wireless connection is perfect. If the line is too lagging, it will lose the connection too.

On the other hand, the Multiroom app is also capable of connecting and controlling multiple sound devices at the same time. You can edit the names according to the speaker’s location, and if you happen to have two R7’s, you’re in for a cinematic experience in your living room (which I couldn’t do).

The option to choose other speakers if available

Now this is where the fun begins, if you’re a "musicholic" like me then I’m pleased to say that the R7 really delivers the sound. If you’ve seen my hands-on video on the R7 (below), then you know what I’m saying. The R7 can play almost any type of genre effortlessly, not to mention you can tweak the audio setting to your liking too in the Multiroom app.

Frankly speaking, I think the R7 sounds best in the living room because of how it was designed to produce the omni-directional sound and it should be used to its full potential, even when turning on the volume doesn’t make the R7 feel like exploding. However, I must comment that there are times that there’s something missing in the bass. The feeling is like when you’re trying to do a 3 pointer shot in a basketball game but missed with an air-ball, you know, the so close yet so far kind of impression. But then again, the song quality also truly depends on the source you got it from.

You can set the audio setting to your preference

There is a downside of course, which is the RM2199 (with GST) price tag (and maybe the bass sound too if you’re like me) which is quite expensive. But this is the price to pay for a high quality speaker, and keep in mind that most high quality audio sound devices like the R7, headphones and even earphones are around the same price too (if not, higher). So if you have the budget I say go for it, but if you’re not into this kind of thing then you can forget about it.

Anyway, the Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7 is a great speaker for entertainment purposes, you can have it in parties, or dance to the music home alone like Tom Cruise from Risky Business movie. I think putting it in the living room is really suitable because of its design and aesthetic value. Multiroom may seem like an unnecessary app too to some people but it comes in handy to control the R7 and other multiple sound devices from a distance wirelessly, not to mention it can play other music services too like radio stations and Spotify.

Oh yeah, you can even set an alarm on the app too lol

Hmm, having it on New Year’s Eve party tonight would be sweet. Thanks for reading, everyone. And Happy New Year!

*TechNave.com would like to thank Samsung Electronics Malaysia for providing us with the Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7 for this review. It allowed us to do a more in-depth review and highlight more features.


Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7 unboxing

The Samsung Wireless Audio 360 R7 is a huge wireless speaker that is compatible with either Android or iOS smartphones and offers a 360-degree surround sound. But how big is it? Check out the unboxing video to find out.


Samsung Wireless Charging Trio out on official website

Some of us have multiple types of devices and would like a way to charge them all while we sleep. That's why some companies have been working on charging mats. But before Apple could even launch its AirPower charging mat, Samsung took the lead by unveiling its Wireless Charging Trio.

According to GSMArena, the Wireless Charging Trio was spotted on Samsung's South Korean and German website. This charging mat uses Qi wireless charging to charge up to three types of devices simultaneously. Specifically, you'll be able to charge a smartwatch, TWS earbuds, and a smartphone. There's a specific area on the mat for charging a smartwatch, but you can place the other two devices anywhere on the main area and they should charge.

Some tech specs for the wireless charging mat were also revealed. It's confirmed that the Wireless Charging Trio has six charging coils inside for better charging surface coverage, allowing you to deliver 9W of charging to your Samsung devices. There will also be LED indicators to show the charging status of the devices.

Considering that Samsung has started adding the Wireless Charging Trio to the official websites, we can probably expect it to be launched very soon. With that said, would you be interested in getting one of these? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on this.


Samsung #YouMake Christmas Special: Customisable gifts and exclusive Galaxy deals throughout this December

The festive season is upon us and Samsung Malaysia is starting up the Christmas cheers by offering special year-end promos throughout December. This year, with Samsung #YoutMake Christmas Special, consumers can customise their Galaxy products to reflect their unique personality or customise Galaxy gifts for family and friends to suit their style.

From now until 31 December 2022, customers who purchase Samsung Galaxy devices at participating stores are entitled to a complimentary Christmas DIY Kit. The kit contains a Christmas Bag, Christmas Card and stickers. Of course, terms and conditions do apply.

Moreover, for those that have the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 or are planning to get one, you can get the device customised at Samsung Experience Stores in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and The Gardens Mall. You’ll receive a transparent case for free too and have fun making it over with stickers to express your authentic style. Do hurry up though as they’re on a first come first serve basis and while stocks last!

Of course, what’s a year-end promo without exclusive deals and gifts? Under the #YouMake Christmas Special, you can get these exclusive gifts with Samsung Galaxy device purchases at participating stores:

That’s not all, as Samsung is also offering an exclusive range of Eco-Friends Accessories to jazz up your Galaxy devices. Collect all your favourite characters from The Simpsons for your Galaxy Z Flip4, Galaxy Watch5 or Galaxy Buds2 Pro starting from RM119. Meanwhile, Star Wars fans can enjoy great value with the Star Wars Eco Pack and save RM1505 on these products below:

For those who want to try out Galaxy devices first before purchasing them, register for the Galaxy Trial Program to try out the Galaxy Z Flip4 256GB, Galaxy Watch5 Pro, or Galaxy Buds2 Pro for 30 days at only a third of the price, from now until 15 December. Visit Samsung Malaysia’s official website here. As always, do stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news and deals such as this!


Samsung Z officially announced as first Tizen based smartphone

Samsung has officially announced their first Tizen based smartphone with the Samsung Z. Featuring the same artificial leather backside as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 it stands apart from other Samsung Galaxy devices with rather sharp corners compared to the much rounder design on the Samsung Galaxy S5. Tech specs and features for the Samsung Z include a 2.3GHZ quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage with up to 64GB microSD, 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, 8MP rear camera and 2.1MP front camera.

Other notable features include 150Mbps 4G LTE support, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, WiFi, an IR remote, a fingerprint sensor and heart rate monitor. The device weighs in at 136g and is rather thick at 8.5mm. The smartphone will get it's apps from the Tizen Store but it can also run converted Android apps as well. The Samsung Z is set to appear at the Tizen Developer Conference today and will be coming to Russia in Q3 2014. No news on Malaysia pricing or Malaysia release dates yet but we expect it to come in late Q3 or early Q4 of 2014.


Samsung Z2 official product video appears online

We have shared the official render of the Samsung Z2, their Tizen powered smartphone right here, and now a new product video of the phone has appeared online, showing us the functionality and features that can be expected from the house-brand smartphone.

It is set to feature a new quad-core processor running at 1.5Ghz, a 4 inch AMOLED screen which we suspect is a HD display, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The back camera is a 5-megapixel unit while the front is a paltry 0.3 megapixel snapper. It is expected to come with a 1500 mAh battery, and running Tizen 2.4 out of the box. It is said that current mobile “essential” apps such as Whatsapp and Facebook will be present.

So far we don't have any indication on where the target market of this phone is, but if it comes to Malaysia, would you get it yourself? Stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news on the Samsung Z2.


Samsung accidentally confirmed the existence of Galaxy A82 5G

Samsung had launched 3 Galaxy A series smartphones in 2021 which are the Galaxy A32 series, Galaxy A52 series, and Galaxy A72. Here, we found out that the company accidentally confirmed the existence of the Galaxy A82 5G on their security updates page.

According to sources, it was spotted by Android Central and the security updates page has a sea of Samsung smartphones and tablets that are to be updated. The Galaxy A82 5G was spotted under the quarterly update section and in the meantime, it also mentioned that the Galaxy S8 Lite will receive updates but not the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

On top of that, the Galaxy A82 5G might come with a QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is expected to feature a Snapdragon 855+ chipset that was introduced back in late 2018. We think there will be more leaks in the upcoming weeks.

Let us know which Galaxy A series smartphone will you go for? Will you wait for it to launch in the Malaysian market? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


Samsung accidentally revealed the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra before official launch

Just some wee hours ago, it seems that official image renders of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra got leaked online. That said, it wasn't leaked by any random tipster but by Samsung themselves on their Russian website. Nonetheless, and the phone looks mighty fine.

How this happened was when a Russian YouTuber, Techno Harry, was just surfing on the Samsung Russian website and discovered a new addition to the Galaxy Note 8 landing page. Of course, it has since then been taken down already but what he saw was the probably the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. While it's true that Samsung tends to release a new Galaxy phone with a new colour, this unannounced phone matched the design leaks from previous news.

Samsung accidently posted the Note20 Ultra in Mystic Bronze on their Russian website. It looks great! pic.twitter.com/irRWVHLq5e

To add on, this new colour is called Mystic Bronze and you can see how the triple rear camera setup looks like which again, matched the previous news. You would also notice how this phone looks similar to the Galaxy S20 series, going hand in hand with a similar design theme. In terms of tech specs, many reports are saying that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is going to feature a Snapdragon 865 chipset (most likely for the US), up to 16GB of RAM, a 6.9-inch QHD+ display, 108MP sensor as the main camera, a 4500mAh battery and a next-gen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

Besides the Galaxy Note 20 series appearing in the annual Unpacked event on August, it's said that Samsung also plans to reveal the Galaxy Fold 2, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and the Galaxy Watch 3. But what do you think of the look? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Another launch event hosted by Samsung will be happening very soon

Based on a statement by techradar.com, it seems that Samsung is planning to host another launch event on 2 September 2020 to launch various new Samsung products. While not much is known in regards to which products Samsung might announce, our source did mention that they will most likely unveil products ranging from wearables, TVs, home appliances and more.

Not only that, based on our previous coverage, but there could also be a chance Samsung might unveil the highly anticipated Galaxy Tab S7 during the aforementioned launched as well. However, do take some of the statement with a grain of salt due to the fact that Samsung has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Furthermore, there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date and local pricing for now. Would you be interested in getting any of the new products Samsung will be launching in the near future? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung accidentally reveals the storage and colour variants of its upcoming devices

Leaks regarding tech consumer products are a common thing these days, that it’s hard for companies to truly put their upcoming products under wraps. However, for this particular Samsung device leak, the leaker is Samsung itself as its insurance website actually revealed information on its upcoming devices.

Shared by Reddit user u/AlexQuakeZ on the r/GalaxyFold subreddit, it seems that the UK Samsung Care+ website had jumped the gun and listed all the possible storage and colour variants of 3 of Samsung’s upcoming devices. The devices are the Galaxy Z Flip4, Galaxy Z Fold4 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Series.

For the Galaxy Z Flip4, it has 71 colour variants with the four primary colours being Blue, Bora Purple, Graphite and Pink Gold. As for storage options, the device will come in either 128 or 256GB configurations.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold4 will come in 3 colours, namely Beige. Grey/Green and Phantom Black. It is also listed for 256 or 512GB storage variants.

Lastly, the Galaxy Watch 5 will come in either 40mm or 45mm sizes while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will only come in a 45mm size. For the former, it will be offered in Blue, Gold, Graphite and Silver while the Pro version will have Black and Titanium colour options. Both the regular and Pro version will also come in either Bluetooth or LTE version.

So, what do you guys think of the storage and colour options of Samsung’s upcoming devices? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Samsung accidentally shares details about the Samsung Galaxy A90 being notchless

Samsung has been hard at work introducing their Galaxy A line. The Samsung Galaxy A90 has been rumoured to be out soon with an interesting feature: A pop up camera that rotates, making it both the selfie and rear camera, similar to the OPPO Find X.

On the Samsung Indonesia website, an image was posted to promote the Samsung Galaxy A series. Some fine texts at the bottom of the poster mentions that “Notchless Infinity screen only available on the Galaxy A90”. The page has now been removed. So does a notchless Infinity screen indicate a punchole screen or does it mean a pure, unobstructed screen? With rumours that the Samsung Galaxy A90 coming with a pop up camera, we may be inclined to this that it is the latter. The A series is Samsung’s line with premium specs without the flagship price tag.

Recently, Samsung had just released the Samsung Galaxy A30 and A50 in Malaysia and the A60 has an April 19 release date. If Samsung really does proceed with the pop up mechanism for the A90, this would be the company’s first pop up smartphone. It is expected that the device would be making an appearance at the Galaxy event on the 10th of April. So what are you expecting to see on the A90? Want more Samsung news? Head on over to TechNave.com!


Samsung acquiring HARMAN for RM35 billion for automotive electronics expertise

The parent company of Harman-Kardon, JBL and AKG will be purchased by Samsung for a staggering USD 8 billion (~RM 35 billion) in a deal that give Samsung a significant presence in the large and rapidly growing market for connected technologies.

While the deal will involve most (if not all) of HARMAN’s audio portfolio, Samsung is actually targeting their automotive arm, as HARMAN is the market leader in connected car solutions, with more than 30 million vehicles currently equipped with its connected car and audio systems, including embedded infotainment, telematics, connected safety and security.

Within the announcement, it was mentioned that Samsung’s Automotive Electronics Business Team and HARMAN will work together to pursuit opportunities within the automotive sector. The Korean company has planned to retain Harman’s existing assets however, including its work force, headquarters, facilities, and brands once Harman become a stand-alone subsidiary under Samsung when the acquisition is completed in mid-2017.

Will we see Samsung devices powered by Harman-Kardon soon? Will we get AKG-branded earphones with every Samsung smartphone device? Stay tuned to TechNave to find out soon.


Samsung adds 360 Audio Recording to Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Camera Controller to Galaxy Watch series in latest updates

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (Samsung) today announced new software updates to the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Samsung Watch series that the company claimed would elevate content creation for Galaxy users. These include 360 Audio Recording for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Camera Controller for the Galaxy Watch Series.

In a press release, Samsung elaborated that the new 360 Audio Recording feature allows users to capture binaural sound on video, precisely as they hear it. Pairing the Galaxy Buds2 Pro with a Galaxy smartphone, users can now capture high-quality, realistic audio for video without the need for bulky professional equipment, anytime, anywhere.

Moreover, as the name would suggest, the feature picks up 360-degree sound using a microphone in each earbud, placing viewers at the centre of the action. It is the first feature in the Galaxy line leveraging LE Audio, an advanced new Bluetooth audio standard that brings better audio quality, improved latency and better battery life.

As for the Camera Controller feature on the Galaxy Watch series, it allows users to control their smartphone’s camera right from their wrists. A new update, soon to be available on the Galaxy Watch5 and Watch4 series also adds zoom capabilities to Camera Controller, whereby you just need to pinch your Galaxy Watch to zoom your phone’s camera.

The 360 Audio Recording update will be progressively released on Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 via software updates today. As for the Camera Controller update, it will be available on the Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch5 Pro, Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic beginning this February.

So, what do you guys think of these updates by Samsung? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news such as this.


Samsung adds extra virtual RAM to Galaxy A52 with RAM Plus

Virtual RAM is probably one of the hottest things in the Android smartphone market nowadays. With many Chinese OEMs offering their take on the technology, Samsung has also jumped on board by rolling out "RAM Plus" to Galaxy A52 users.

Users will get to enjoy an increased amount of RAM by installing the October 2021 security patch for the device. It will bring an extra 4GB of RAM, but a small sacrifice will be needed since it uses some amount of local storage.

However, unlike others, Samsung's feature lacks customization. Users will be unable to disable the feature nor change the amount of RAM. If a device supports RAM Plus, it'll be enabled permanently. To check whether your device is eligible for the feature, you need to navigate to Settings > Battery and device care > Memory.

How do you feel about Samsung finally offering virtual RAM to users? Leave a comment to let us know and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more smartphone reports.


Samsung allegedly adding 120Hz refresh rate for the 1440p resolution on the Galaxy S20 series displays

Samsung may have already unpacked the new Galaxy S20 series smartphones and confirm availability in Malaysia, but that doesn't mean it can't add new stuff to the devices. A new rumour is claiming that Samsung is currently working on the software of the devices, hoping to enable 120Hz refresh rate on 1440p resolution.

According to Max Weinbach, Samsung could release the update within 1 to 3 months time. For those who are unaware, the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra all run on 1080p out of the box. Users can change the resolution to 1440p but the 120Hz refresh rate is currently unavailable for this resolution, a limitation that was put in place to reduce the battery consumption.

Samsung is working on optimizing software for WQHD+ 120hz on the S20 series and should release it in the next 1-3 months if all goes well.

Bear in mind, Samsung hasn't made an official announcement on this yet. Before releasing the update, the company will have to ensure that the battery consumption when using this mode is at a manageable level. What constitutes as manageable is up for debate, but if Samsung feels that it's not worth it then we might not see this update happen at all.

Having said that, how important is having 120Hz refresh rate on 1440p resolution for you? Would you actively use it for videos and games, even with the potentially huge battery drain? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Samsung allegedly has a lite version of Galaxy Tab S6 up its sleeve

Tablets may not be all exciting these days, but Samsung continues to make them for the people who still appreciate having bigger screens. While the Galaxy Tab S6 from last year has some beefy specs that make it a powerhouse, it's not really the most affordable for a tablet. Fortunately, Samsung has plans to launch a Galaxy Tab S6 Lite that will be easier on your wallet.

According to Android Headlines, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite will look the same as the standard variant. It's expected to have an Exynos 9611 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and internal storage of either 64GB or 128GB. In addition, it should come with an S-Pen that can be wirelessly charged, Android 10 out of the box, and a price tag speculated to be around USD 399 (~RM1674).

For your reference, the Galaxy Tab S6 is officially available in Malaysia for RM3099. So, if the Lite is priced as speculated, it would be close to half of the normal Tab S6's price. That's great if you want a tablet that's larger than the Galaxy Tab A series but wouldn't kill your bank balance.

Of course, this is still considered speculation and we don't have official word on any launch dates though Android Headlines claims that it will be in the next few weeks. But would you consider this tablet if it makes its way to Malaysia or would a new Tab A series model be more affordable for you? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates on this.


Samsung allegedly successful in adding S-Pen support for foldable phones

A stylus would be useful for a screen this big

In the last few months, there have been sporadic rumours about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. Many believe that this year's model will come with S-Pen support, while the Galaxy Note series would be discontinued as a result. In fact, industry sources claim that a foldable with S-Pen will launch within 2021.

According to ETNews (via Wccftech), Samsung has managed to include stylus function for foldable devices. This suggests that the company has overcome the technical challenge of implementing a digitiser into a foldable panel. If that's true, we could indeed see a foldable phone with S-Pen support in 2021, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

The Galaxy S21 comes with S-Pen support (image from XDA Developers)

Many also think that this may spell the end of the Galaxy Note series, as its selling point has always been the larger display and S-Pen support. Since the Galaxy S21 Ultra has S-Pen support, the supposed Galaxy Note 21 smartphones may not be very appealing alternatives, especially if they end up being more expensive.

Samsung hasn't officially confirmed any of the above, so do take the news with a grain of salt. With that said, would you be more interested in the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if it has S-Pen support? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Samsung also announces Oculus-powered Gear VR for Galaxy Note 7

Aside from the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Samsung also announced their Samsung Gear VR for the Galaxy Note 7. Powered by Oculus Rift VR, the Gear VR may be made for the Note 7 but it is also backward compatible with other Samsung devices like the Galaxy S7 edge and Galaxy S7. No Malaysia release dates but we expect it to be coupled with the Galaxy Note 7 when it arrives on 19 August 2016.

Here are the Samsung Gear VR for Note 7 tech specs:


Samsung and AMD are now partners and they get to integrate AMD technology for mobile applications

Today, Samsung Electronics is happy to announce that they have just partnered with AMD. Together, they aim to create "ultra-low power, high-performance mobile graphics IP based on AMD Radeon graphics technologies" which sounds kickass for future mobile gaming.

With this newfound partnership, Samsung is licensed to use AMD graphics IP as well as paying AMD technology license fees and royalties. On the other hand, AMD will also get the license to custom graphics IP used for smartphones and other products. This includes the recently announced, highly-scalable RDNA graphics architecture by Samsung.

“As we prepare for disruptive changes in technology and discover new opportunities, our partnership with AMD will allow us to bring ground-breaking graphics products and solutions to market for tomorrow’s mobile applications,” said Inyup Kang, president of Samsung Electronics’ S.LSI Business. “We look forward to working with AMD to accelerate innovations in mobile graphics technologies that will help take future mobile computing to the next level."

Well, that's pretty exciting. This could potentially bring Samsung up to the gaming smartphone level in the future, rivalling Razer Phone, ROG Phone as well as BlackShark. But we shall see.


In recent years, the MSI GE Raider series has been getting more recognition as one of the top gaming laptops for hardcore gamers to have. Previously, we talked about how the MSI GE76 Raider may be one of your best companions for gaming & working from home. This time, we are introducing you to another variant - the GE66 Raider.

You must be thinking right now - "There are so many RGB gaming laptops, so why should I consider this one?" Well, we listed a few reasons below, so stay a while and listen. Here are 4 reasons why the MSI GE66 Raider is the RGB gaming laptop you need.

First and foremost, one of the first things you will notice is the display. Like most modern gaming laptops nowadays, you can't have 4K resolution alone without a high refresh rate. MSI designed the GE66 Raider specifically for this reason with up to 240Hz refresh rates in QHD mode. Alternatively, gamers can switch the display setting to FHD and enjoy a refresh rate of up to 300Hz.

Besides the high refresh rates, there are other display features available. The display is a standard 15.6-inch 4K OLED panel, which delivers a brightness of 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, and is VESA certified. These features mean that the GE66 Raider is also perfect for content creators who need the best and most accurate colours.

OK, most modern gaming laptops already have RGB lighting. So what's so special about the MSI GE66 Raider? As you can see, this laptop not only has an RGB keyboard. It also comes with a panoramic aurora lighting design across the front chassis. That's something you don't usually see, and as a sucker for RGB, I love it.

As expected, you can customise the RGB lighting on the GE66 Raider. With 16.8 million colours at your disposal, you can create any colour pattern to your liking and light 'em up!

Recently, the 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs were unveiled at CES 2022, but the latest 11th Gen CPUs are still quite good. This laptop is equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics, resulting in a performance boost of up to 30% compared with the previous generation.

On top of that, the GE66 Raider offers a next-gen PCIe Gen4 SSD with x16 bandwidth. Compared with its predecessor, the SSD is twice as fast at 31.508 GB/s to 15.754 GB/s. This can surely maximise the GeForce RTX 30 series graphics performance for gaming and storage processing. If you plan to go all the way, you can also max out the RAM capacity at 64GB.

Speaking of GeForce RTX 30 series, most hardcore gamers like yourself should know by now that this GPU bad boy is currently one of the best graphics cards in the market. So as long as you have this inside the GE66 Raider, you will have lots of glorious gaming in rich 4K resolution.

High-end tech specs tend to overheat devices, especially when the performance setting is almost maxed. MSI obviously didn't forget about that and has integrated the Cooler Boost 5 technology into the GE66 Raider. This version features a new design with dedicated thermal dissipation functions for the CPU and GPU. It also has larger cooling fans and wider heat pipes, ensuring that the GE66 Raider doesn't overheat when pushed to its max performance.

Before we end, it's worth noting that the GE66 Raider has WiFi 6E. This technology isn't new, but it does deliver the fastest Internet connection possible. It's also backward compatible with the current 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and WiFi 6 devices.

If this is the kind of RGB gaming laptop you have been looking for, head over to the list of online stores here to get yourself started. Also, MSI Malaysia is having a Chinese New Year Promotion from now until the 13th of February 2022. Depending on the selected model, you can get discounts of up to RM2700 off alongside bundled gifts.

As for the GE66 Raider, it is currently on promotion for RM7999 (RRP RM9399). If you buy this gaming laptop, you also get to bring home an MSI Urban Raider Backpack, MSI Gaming Mouse, MSI Gaming Headset, and MSI Dragonshield Spaceship figure. How cool is that? To find out more about the CNY Promo, you can visit the official link.


Another mid-range Nokia phone teased, could be the 7.1 Plus with a mega display

Nokia is sure on a roll, we have mentioned before that the Nokia 6.1 Plus and 5.1 Plus have been introduced to Malaysians just two weeks ago, then the 7.1 was revealed last week and finally, probably (and hopefully) the last piece of the mid-range family, the 7.1 Plus and it may come with a "mega display" quite soon.

Initially, the 7.1 Plus teaser was uploaded on Nokia Mobile India's Twitter account but it has been taken down. Luckily, the folks from MySmartPrice managed to take hold of the teaser image first and uploaded it onto YouTube. From the image, we can only see a faint outline of the dual rear camera and an LED flashlight, the device also seems very rectangular-ish which might explain the "mega display" disclaimer.

According to the latest TENAA listing, it's said that the 7.1 Plus's display will be 6.18-inch in 1080p. Besides that, it also features an octa-core processor, a dual 12MP + 13MP rear camera, a 20MP front camera, 3400mAh battery pack and has two memory variants of 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB.

The 7.1 Plus is scheduled to be unveiled on 11 October 2018. Until then, stay tuned for more Nokia news at TechNave.com.


Samsung and Blackberry teaming up to create the world’s most secure tablet

Two names that are unlikely muttered in the same breath has joined forces to build one of the more secure tablet in the world. This tablet has passed inspection and will be used by government officials in Germany. The tablet is called the SecuTablet, by Samsung and Blackberry.

The German Federal Office for Information Security’s approved the tablet and gave it a security level of “classified – for official use only.” The tablet leverages BlackBerry Hub for secure messaging and an encryption card from BlackBerry subsidiary SecuSmart. The SecuSmart card encrypts all data stored on the SecuTablet, and transferred to and from the tablet. It will use both Samsung’s KNOX and Blackberry’s own security softwares in the tablet.

The tablet will cost a whooping USD 2380 (~RM 9702) for the extra security, for a tablet that is essentially the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. Do you think the price is appropriate? Stay tuned to TechNave for more news soon.


Samsung and Discord join forces for global mobile integration partnership

Back when Samsung introduced its cross-platform feature that is coming soon on the Galaxy Note10 series, they have formally announced that their partnership with Discord which marks the first major mobile platform integration for the latter.

What does this mean and how is this any different from downloading a Discord app on your mobile phone? Well, it seems that Samsung users can directly jump into voice chat or see what games your Discord friends are playing from the Samsung Game Launcher. According to Samsung, the feature is now available on the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ and there will also be an option to instantly join your friends' voice chat groups via Discord overlay.

To use the Samsung Game Launcher Discord features, the user will require a Discord mobile app and a connection to a Samsung account. Friends lists, chat avatar icons, voice overlay, and voice chat features are provided to Galaxy users exclusively through Discord for a limited time.

The feature will be available in other Galaxy mobile phones in the near future. Stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung and Harman Kardon releases new premium soundbars with DTS:X technology starting from RM4999

Rewind back to a year ago, Samsung Electronics acquired Harman Kardon and finally, they are introducing two new premium soundbars - HW-N950 and HW-N850. They are now available and as for the price tag, the new soundbars will cost RM6499 and RM4999 respectively in every Samsung authorized dealers and chain stores nationwide.

These new audio bad boys feature both Samsung and Harman Kardon's logos to signify their partnership so with this, both the HW-N950 and HW-N850 are the first major collaboration between the two companies to enter the premium category. It features DTS:X technology and Dolby Atmos speaker to make your home like a theatre. The HW-N950 has four speakers, two wireless surround sound speakers and the main unit (the control centre) with 7.1.4 channel which is the largest number for a soundbar. On the other hand, the HW-N850 is the lesser model featuring a 5.1.2 channel with a main unit speaker and woofer.

For more information on Samsung’s Audio products, please visit www.samsung.com/my/audio-video/ and stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung and LG will stop supplying display to HUAWEI after 15 September

Apart from not able to use Google Services and work with various chip suppliers from the U.S., HUAWEI is now facing another new challenge. Today, it is reported that Samsung and LG have both decided to stop supplying display to the Chinese manufacturer.

According to a Korean source, Samsung and LG have come to a decision which they are going to suspend the supply of “premium” smartphone displays to HUAWEI. It is said that it will go into effect after 15 September. It is unsure whether the decisions were stemmed from the trade ban, but anyway, we're sad to hear about it.

However, it looks like HUAWEI knew that this was coming and they've already prepared for it. The source mentioned that HUAWEI has started to test displays from local suppliers like Visionox, Tianma, and CSOT. Also, let's not forget that the company is still working with BOE too! Therefore, the whole situation might not be that bad.

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


Samsung and Maison Margiela introduce a special edition Galaxy Z Flip 4

Last month, Samsung announced it would work with fashion house Maison Margiela on a special edition Galaxy Z Flip 4. After a not-so-long wait, the device has finally arrived, revealing a fully customized design that reflects the fashion brand's philosophies.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 Maison Margiela Edition features a matte white back cover with a hint of grey. Its metal frame gets a silver hue, with translucent prints on the device to outline the internal circuits. Of course, there's the French brand's emblematic numeric coding ring too. To accompany the exterior design, Samsung and Margiela made a see-through wallpaper, which reminds us of the Nothing phone, showing the internals on the screen. It also brings a completely new UX design with tailor-made app icons and wallpapers.

Furthermore, the device's packaging includes two customized protective cases. Both feature the French brand's "four stitches" emblem on a white surface. Moreover, Samsung has painted one leather cover with a unique texture that could change over time, while the other one features a ring holder that resembles Maison Margiela's emblematic numeric coding ring. The company also mentioned that the packaging box is a piece of art itself.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Maison Margiela Edition will only be available in China, France, and South Korea starting from 1 December 2022. However, the company hasn't shared anything regarding the pricing yet, and it's unknown if it'll make ways to other countries. Stay tuned to TechNave.com, and we'll bring you the latest update.


Samsung and Mastercard are launching their biometric payment card later this year

Back in 2017, Mastercard unveiled a biometric payment card that allows you to make purchases without ever touching a keypad and it's definitely a great idea to protect users' identities. Until now, the company is making the card with Samsung adding its own twist on it.

According to Samsung, the card "will adopt a new security chipset from Samsung’s System LSI Business that integrates several key discrete chips" rather than Matercard's current tech. With the card, users' fingerprints will be scanned through the card rather than an external point-of-sale (POS) device. This will increase security as it reduces physical contact points.

The card will also be backed financially by Samsung Card, which is owned by Samsung Life Insurance and it's South Korea's biggest credit card company. It is claimed that the card will be rolling out in South Korea later this year. For now, Samsung did not mention the release for other regions.

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


Samsung and Maybank preview Samsung Pay for Malaysia

Samsung and Maybank Malaysia heads showing off the Samsung Pay in action

Samsung Malaysia Electronics and Maybank previewed the Samsung Pay wallet-less payment system today for media and selected guests. Featuring the ability to pay for products and services with your compatible Samsung phone (Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note5, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy A7 (2016) or Galaxy A5 (2016)), those who have registered for it can now make payments everywhere you can pay with a Maybank Visa paywave prepaid, credit or debit card.

Be one of 500 users to win RM100 cashback for every RM500 cumulatively spent via Samsung Pay. By the time the official launch happens Samsung hopes to have all major Malaysian banks and phones like the Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 and Galaxy A7 2017 ready for Samsung Pay.


Samsung and Microsoft Xbox look to collaborate on cloud gaming

With all eyes on the launch of new Samsung devices, it's easy to overlook other things. But the news of the Korean electronics company partnering with Microsoft Xbox on the cloud gaming front is certainly not less interesting. According to CNET, the two companies will be collaborating on a cloud-based games streaming service.

Samsung has mentioned that collaboration is for a premium service, which means we can expect there to be a subscription fee involved. From the description, we believe this to be referring to Microsoft's Project xCloud, a cloud gaming service that could be launched with the upcoming Microsoft Xbox Series X next-gen console. The partnership between the two companies would mean that Samsung Galaxy devices in future could get access to Microsoft Project xCloud.

There's not much else we can speculate on, considering the lack of details from Samsung regarding this. But Microsoft did mention that more details of the service will be announced later this year, possibly during E3 2020 or closer to the launch of the Xbox Series X that is slated for Q4 2020.

What Samsung did announce is that Microsoft's Forza Street racing game will be made available to Galaxy devices via the Galaxy Store. Having said all that, what would you like to see from Microsoft's cloud gaming service and do you think the Xbox Series X will come to Malaysia? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung and Senheng giving off RM100 e-vouchers through the FLEX & SNAP Malaysia Day Challenge

To celebrate Malaysia Day, Samsung Malaysia and Senheng have launched a campaign to give off an RM100 e-voucher to purchase selected Samsung products from the Senheng x Samsung Premium Experience Store. If you're interested, continue reading to know more about the rules and steps on how to win yourself that RM100 voucher!

Starting from 16 to 21 September, head to the Senheng x Samsung Premium Experience Store at Four Seasons Place, KL and snap a photo or video that expresses your patriotism through creativity. Be sure to include both Senheng and Samsung logos, and you may choose to take the photo or video inside or outside the store. After that, upload your work on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #SenhengxSamsung and make sure you have made your account public during the campaign's period.

To participate in the campaign, you must be above 18 and a Senheng PlusOne Member. You may register by walking into the store or downloading the Senheng App. The processing fees will be RM12. Brainstorm for an idea now, and you could be the first 90 eligible participants to win an RM100 e-voucher.

Enjoy your Malaysia Day long weekend, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more local tech news!


Samsung and Stanford University developed a OLED display with 10000 PPI

Virtual reality (VR) has never gone mainstream and there are few obvious reasons. For one, price is a barrier to entry as most VR headsets are expensive. But lack of depth in content and what VR users call the "screen door" effect is another. Fortunately, there could now be a solution for that last part.

In case you don't know what the "screen door" effect is, it's basically the phenomena where you can see gaps between pixels when viewing a VR headset. This is due to the display being within close distance to your eyes, yet not having the pixel density to make it look complete. According to Engadget, Samsung and Stanford University have developed a new type of display with up to 10000 pixels per inch (PPI).

As you can tell, that's way more PPI compared to any existing VR headset on the market at the moment. This new type of OLED display borrows a concept from solar panels. It has a reflective layer known as an "optical metasurface", which takes advantage of how light can reflect on certain types of surfaces. In doing so, it allows certain colours to 'resonate' in the pixels. If you're curious about the technicalities behind it, there's an IEEE Spectrum article that goes into a bit more detail.

With that said, what do you think about VR technology? What's the biggest factor stopping you from buying a VR headset? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Another new HONOR 50 series design leak revealing a different camera module

We are less than a week from witnessing the new HONOR 50 series. Scheduled for 16 June 2021, it was only a matter of time that a rendered design would leak online and here we are. In this rendered image, the HONOR 50 series has a different look from previous rumours.

According to GMSArena.com, HONOR is quite likely to reveal the HONOR 50 and HONOR 50 Pro. Both phones have a huge main camera sensor alongside two smaller ones that are unknown at the moment. Rumours have it that the pro variant's main camera is 108MP with an f/1.8 aperture, whereas the standard model could be using a 50MP sensor.

From the looks of it, the two other small cameras don't look like the typical ultrawide nor periscope lens which are popular these days. At best, perhaps it's a telephoto lens and we read that the HONOR 50 series focuses on blogging. Unfortunately, that's all the images we got and we expect to see more of it soon.

In terms of other tech specs, the HONOR 50 series is going to feature a Snapdragon 778G chipset which could fit the standard variant. On the other hand, the pro might have a Snapdragon 888 chipset but do take this news with a pinch of salt. Until then, stay tuned for our official coverage at TechNave.com.


Samsung and TSMC reportedly to be producing Snapdragon 895 & 895+ in 4nm

Last week, Qualcomm officially announced a new Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset but it seems that a successor could already be in the works. There isn't much information but sources report that there is a blueprint on the manufacturing process already for the Snapdragon 895 and 895+ chipset.

According to a popular and reputable leaker @UniverseIce from Twitter, Qualcomm may have contacted both Samsung and TSMC to manufacture these unannounced chipsets in the future. He also claimed that these two chipsets are 4nm, which are a technological breakthrough for sure and should appear next year annually.

Snapdragon 895 → Samsung 4nmSnadragon 895+ → TSMC 4nm

From the Twitter post above, Samsung should be in charge of manufacturing the Snapdragon 895 whereas TSMC is tasked with the latter. Sources also reported that the upcoming chipset could feature a Kryo 760 CPU alongside an Adreno 730 GPU, Spectra 680 ISP as well as a Snapdragon X65 5G modem.

As Qualcomm moves into 4nm, we might see newer Snapdragon 800 and 700 series chipsets in 5nm and that's great for mid-range tier smartphones. This may also mean future mid-range devices are becoming better and good for the masses with near-flagship experiences. Stay tuned for trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Samsung and Xiaomi are rumoured to be using 120Hz screen on upcoming devices

There are leaks surfaced on the internet which Samsung and Xiaomi are going to adopt a 120Hz refresh rate screen onto their upcoming devices. According to sources, Samsung is expected to adopt the technology in its highly anticipated Galaxy S11 series, and Xiaomi is already testing it out for commercial use next year.

Samsung was supposed to release the Galaxy Note 10 series with a 90Hz screen this year with all the rumours going on. However, the tech giant somehow skipped it and it was kinda disappointing for some of the Samsung fans. Now, rumour has it that the Galaxy S11 series is going to be using the 120Hz screen (Surprise!). It is expected to be the same for the Galaxy Note 11 series in the future as well if Samsung really pulled off with that.

Another China tech giant, Xiaomi, has also been spotted testing the 120Hz refresh rate screens on their upcoming devices as well. Some of the photos have been leaked showing that users are allowed to switch between 90Hz and 120Hz in the setting on MiUI 11. If it is true, we can expect to see Xiaomi smartphones featuring 120Hz screens next year.

Both of these popular smartphone manufacturers are aggressive when it comes to adopting new technology into their devices. With these rumours appearing on the internet, it becomes more exciting to see better smartphones to be released in the future.

Want to see more smartphone rumours like this one? Stay tuned on TechNave.com!


Samsung and YouTube expand global HDR content on all 2016 Quantum dot TVs

Today for the first time in history, Samsung Electronics has announced the company will now support YouTube's global High Dynamic Range (HDR) playback on television. That's right, the YouTube application is now accessible on all 2016 Samsung Quantum dot TVs and UHD TVs, which will launch progressively throughout the world this month.

Launched through an automatic software update, users can access YouTube HDR content by visiting the HDR category within the YouTube app on YouTube's 4K channel, providing an easy way to navigate and enjoy premium content. With a steadily growing number of HDR content providers, YouTube’s HDR support is expected to introduce more genre offerings in the coming year and satisfy user demand for a true-to-life viewing experience on the content they enjoy the most.

Emerging as one of the most sought after display technologies in the last few years, HDR is an image reproduction technology that analyses the contrast ratio of a video to help express even the most subtle differences in shades and tones of colour. Paired with Samsung’s Quantum dot TV, the picture that is produced appears more realistic and life-like on screen. In addition, Samsung’s Quantum dot TVs have the capacity to generate peak brightness of 1000 nits, optimised for an ideal HDR viewing experience.

Stay tuned for more Samsung news at Technave.com.


Samsung announce 2023 Smart Monitors lineup

Samsung Electronics recently announced their new full 2023 Smart Monitor lineup which will include the new M8 (M80C), M7 (M70C) and M5 (M50C). The full lineup consists of 9 monitors with the M8 (UHD resolution, 400nit brightness) and M7 (UHD resolution, 300nit brightness) in 32-inches while the M5 is available in 32-inch and 27-inch sizes.

Both the M8 and M7 utilize a new Iconic Slim Design at 11.39mm at the thinnest point of the monitor along with a herringbone pattern on the back. The M8 comes with a height-adjustable stand that can tilt or pivot 90 degrees for long files. The M8 also supports HDR 10+ and the Samsung Gaming Hub along with the Smart Hub for streaming services like Netflix or YouTube.

The M8 and M7 both have built-in voice assistants and there’s also a SlimFit magnetic and removable camera for the M8 which supports FHD resolution. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but for more details, you can check out the site. Interested in any of these 2023 Smart Monitors? Which one? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Samsung announce Galaxy S II TV for mobile television in a smartphone

Being able to receive and display television signals on a mobile phone is by no means a new technology, however, it is probably one of the first times we've seen it being implemented by a branded manufacturer like Samsung. The device with the built-in TV antenna is called the Samsung Galaxy S II TV and while it doesn't have much to do with the Samsung Galaxy S II it does offer some interesting tech specs such as:

These tech specs are decidedly entry-level to midrange and we worry somewhat about the rather limited battery, considering that previous mobile TV enabled mobile phones tend to have a really bad battery drain especially when watching TV. For now, the Samsung Galaxy S II TV is headed for Brazil with no news just yet for how much or when it would be available in Malaysia and other parts of the world.


Samsung announce cashback deals of up to 8% for dahmakan, Shopee and Watsons

Looking for some good deals during movement control order (MCO)? Due to the extension of the MCO, we are going to have to continue shopping from home or ordering food online. With that being the case, Samsung has decided to provide cashback deals to Samsung Members when making purchases online with dahmakan, Shopee or Watsons.

Beginning from now till 30 April 2020, Samsung Members will be able to get cashback deals of up to 8%. This promotion applies for meals ordered through dahmakan or essential goods bought via Shopee or Watson. To redeem the cashback, you will have to use the Samsung Members app, which will direct you to the ShopBack website to make your purchase. With the cashback, you could stand to save some money during MCO. If you have the app, do check it out now to see what deals are available to you. With that said, are there any of you who make use of Samsung's ShopBack deals often? Are the deals available satisfactory for you? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Samsung announce their flexible displays, flexible screen Galaxy Round coming in October 2013?

Samsung have also confirmed a 5.7-inch flexible screen that is also heading to a smartphone or similar device in October 2013. More specifically, Samsung have said to expect such a smartphone this week, which jives with earlier rumours saying that a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with a flexible display would be coming soon. Samsung is already mass producing these 5.7-inch displays with tech specs and features that include a lightness of just 5.2 grams and 0.12mm thinness. Other tech specs include support for full 1080 x 1920 pixel resolutions. Other rumours indicate that a flexible display enabled Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is expected to be mostly the same as current versions which would include Snapdragon 800 chipsets and other features.Samsung's flexible displays also have a curvature radius of 400mm, again beating out that of competitor LG. Samsung say that they can make about 1 million flexible screens per month.

In related news the Samsung smartphone with the flexible display is expected to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or a new lineup of smartphones and be revealed within this week. The next line of flexible display Samsung smartphones could be called the Samsung Galaxy Round which was recently trademarked by Samsung for the US. Tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy Round include the aforementioned flexible 5.7-inch AMOLED display, a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP camera, Android 4.3 and support for an S Pen stylus. Unlike the LG flexible display which is said to be concave, the Samsung Galaxy Round will likely be curved from side to side, much like the prototype revealed during the Samsung Youm showcase at CES 2013.


Samsung announced 43.7MP Samsung ISOCELL Slim GH1 for slim full-display smartphones

Today, Samsung Electronics has yet again introduced a camera sensor - it's the industry's first 0.7-micrometer (μm)-pixel image sensor, known as the 43.7MP Samsung ISOCELL Slim GH1. Once again on using the ISOELL Plus technology to capture images at the smallest pixel size, this feature is ideal for slim full-display devices.

According to Samsung, the ISOCELL Plus is able to minimize colour cross-talk and optical loss, as the 0.7μm pixels can "absorb sufficient light information to produce bright and vivid photographs". In other words, the sensor works remarkably well in low-light environments thanks to the help of pixel-merging Tetracell technology which can increase light sensitivity.

In terms of video recording, this piece of technology refines it further as most high-resolution image sensors would crop or scale down the field of view (FoV). But not the ISOCELL Slim GH1, again with the help of Tetracell technology, it won't sacrifice the detailed FoV (even for vlogging) at 60fps. Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) is available as well.

Samsung will be mass-producing this new sensor at the end of this year. To learn more, you can visit the official newsroom right over here to check it out. Stay tuned for more Samsung news at TechNave.com.


Samsung announced 5 years of Android updates for selected Galaxy devices

When it comes to software updates, most Android phones would only have a year max. Fortunately, Samsung Galaxy phones are quite consistent and Samsung just announced there will be five years of Android security patches on selected Galaxy phones.

According to Samsung, the selected Galaxy phones include the latest Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy XCover 5, as well as the Galaxy Tab Active 3. As for Samsung Galaxy devices from 2019 or later, they would get only four years of Android security patches. The firmware updates will either be monthly or quarterly.

Despite the statement, sources believe that Samsung may be able to offer the same 5 years of security updates for non-flagship models. This may include the latest Galaxy A series that is quite popular in the Asian regions. In case you didn't know, the Galaxy S6 series, Galaxy S7 series, and the Galaxy S8 series managed to have four years of updates.

Samsung's security or also known as Knox has always been a part of the Galaxy ecosystem for the longest time. If you would like to learn more, you can check out the website right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Samsung announced Galaxy A12 & Galaxy A02s with up to 48MP cam and 5000mAh battery, starting from ~RM729

In another silent release, Samsung Electronics just announced a new Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A02s. As the name suggests, these two new phones are for the budget-conscious consumers and below are the official tech specs and features.

Starting with the Galaxy A12, Samsung didn't say what chipset is it using but it's possibly a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset because of the CPU cores clocking in at 2.3GHz and 1.8GHz. There seem to be three memory variants, for RAM - it's 3GB, 4GB or 6GB and for internal storage - 32GB, 64GB and 128GB with an expandable memory slot up to 1TB. Like most entry-level phones, it packs a big 5000mAh battery with 15W charging speed.

The cameras on the Galaxy A12 is quite impressive, featuring a 48MP (main) + 5MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (depth) + 2MP (macro) quad rear camera. You can find an 8MP front camera at the top-notch on the 6.5-inch Infinity-V HD+ display. Likewise, the Galaxy A02s also has the same display size and resolution but using a 5MP front camera only.

The triple rear camera by the Galaxy A02s consists of a 13MP (main) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth). Another similar feature is the 5000mAh battery as well, but the rest is not the same. There's only one memory variant - 3GB + 32GB (expandable up to 1TB) and it could be using a Snapdragon 450 chipset due to the cores clocking at 1.8GHz.

Both these phones will be available in January and February 2021 respectively. For the former, the starting price is €179 (~RM870) and the latter is €150 (~RM729). No word if Samsung Malaysia plans to import them but the Galaxy A series is popular here so we shall see. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Another new HTC teaser hyping to be the "smoothest and fastest Android phone"

HTC is at it again with another video teaser, this time talking about their HTC 10's camera power and being "obsess with providing you the best ever smartphone for shooting photos and videos.", the "smoothest and fastest Android phone.", and "fine tuning the highest quality sound possible.". But can they truly deliver it?

While it does seem promising and all, but they did the same thing in the past before such as the One M9, for example, got bad vibes in the USA leaving their financials and stock price shaky. And what's more, picking an indirect fight with Huawei P9 and P9 Plus which was just revealed yesterday showcasing their dual 12MP Leica rear camera is quite a bold statement, and let's not forget Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge's dual pixel camera is very impressive as well.

Anyway, the smartphone is said to feature a Snapdragon 820 with quad-core CPU and Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB RAM + 32GB ROM is inside the hood, carrying a 5.1-inch Super LCD 5 display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, a huge 12.3MP rear camera while the front gets 5MP, and lastly Android 6.0.1 will be pre-installed.

HTC is expected to unveil the HTC 10 in an online event worldwide on 12 April at 8PM (GMT), stay tuned as we will be covering the news here at Technave.com!


Samsung announced four image sensors with 0.7μm pixel size aiming to get rid of camera bump

Samsung is one of the leading companies when it comes to manufacturing smartphone components. Not only the company is currently making Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 875G chipset, but they have also announced a few image sensors with 0.7μm pixel size today.

The new Samsung image sensors are aiming to reduce physical space occupied by camera sensors and also offer high resolutions. Nowadays, you may see some of the smartphones come with big camera bump that can be slightly unbearable. By reducing individual pixel size, the camera modules will become smaller to save some space. It is stated that with just a 0.1μm difference, from 0.8μm to 0.7μm, the sensors are up to 15% smaller and 10% shorter.

Other than shrinking the sensors, the light reception on them is also improved by the ISOCELL 2.0 which enhances the wall structure between cells. It can increase light sensitivity by up to 12% compared to the ISOCELL Plus. Besides that, the Smart-ISO will also ensure that incoming light is used to the fullest extent.

There are four sensors being launched including a 108MP ISOCELL HM2 sensor, a 64MP ISOCELL GW3 sensor, a 48MP ISOCELL GM5 sensor, and a 32MP ISOCELL JD1 sensor. The 108MP ISOCELL HM2 brings ‘Super PD’ which is a faster way of using phase-detection for autofocussing. It is capable of 3x lossless zoom too with the high resolution. The sensors are ready to be mass-produced except the GM5 which should be ready for Q4.

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


Samsung announced industry's first 200MP and 1.0μm 50MP sensor with advanced autofocus technology

The day has finally come, Samsung has successfully manufactured the ISOCELL HP1 which is the industry's first 200MP sensor with 0.64μm pixels. Moreover, the company also made the ISOCELL GN5, a super-slim 1.0 μm 50MP sensor with autofocusing Dual Pixel Pro technology.

First, let's talk about the ISOCELL HP1. With the most advanced 0.64μm-sized pixels, the sensor should be able to produce ultra high resolution in a small package such as a smartphone. On paper, photos taken from a phone should hold even more details than before. Like the 108MP sensor, images should remain sharp even when cropped or resized.

Going into the technical side, Samsung integrated an all-new ChameleonCell technology. It is a pixel-binning technology that uses a 2x2, 4x4 or a full pixel layout depending on the environment. For example, if it was a low-light environment, the ISOCELL HP1 can change into a 12.5MP image sensor with 2.56μm pixels by combining 16 pixels nearby. This allows the newly formed pixels to absorb more light and produce brighter and clearer photos. It is also capable of taking 8K video resolution at 30FPS.

As for the ISOCELL GN5, it is the industry's first 1.0μm image sensor to have the Dual Pixel Pro technology integrated. By utilising the autofocus capabilities, the technology is said to place two photodiodes within each 1.0μm pixel of the sensor either horizontally or vertically to recognize pattern changes in all directions. This allows the ISOCELL GN5's autofocusing to be instantaneous, producing sharper images in both bright and low-light environments.

On top of that, the ISOCELL GN5 is also using Samsung's pixel technology which applies Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI) on a Dual Pixel product. An FDTI allows each photodiode to absorb and hold more light information, improving the photodiodes’ full-well capacity (FWC) and decreasing crosstalk within the pixel.

We won't be surprised to see the new 200MP and 50MP sensor in future Samsung Galaxy devices next year. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Samsung announced the first Android 11 One UI 3 beta program for developers

After launching various products at the Unpacked Event that happened last night, Samsung has made an exciting announcement today regarding the One UI. The company will start to test the Android 11 One UI 3 starting with a pre-beta program.

The pre-beta program is currently only available for Samsung's partner developers that reside in South Korea and the United States. Other than location, the developers must also be using a Galaxy S20 series phone (S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra LTE/5G) to stand a chance to join the program.

It is surprising to see Samsung has started to develop their latest One UI as Android 11 hasn't even been announced yet. For a company that was notorious for slow software update roll-out, we can see that a lot of improvements have been made. With that said, users are now getting faster monthly security updates compared to years ago.

Share with us what are the things that you would like to see in One UI 3 on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more viral tech news.


Samsung announced the launch of the triple rear camera Samsung Galaxy A7

Today Samsung Korea has announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy A7 which features a 24MP Telephoto + 8MP Wide Angle + 5MP Depth Sensor camera setup at the rear, 24MP front facing selfie camera, 6-inch Super AMOLED display and Bixby. Available in either Blue, Black or Gold color scheme, the comes with memory options of up to 128GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM.

Interestingly enough, the Samsung Galaxy A7 will come with a side mounted fingerprint sensor for a much more convenient and ergonomic way to unlock your device. In terms of tech specs, other than the ones listed above, the Samsung Galay A7 will be running on a Cortex-A53 chipset, 6-inch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels and it is powered by a 3300mAh battery.

However, there is no news on the local price of the device just yet so we have to wait until the official local launch of the product which is on the 11 October 2018. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung announced the theme for keynote event at CES 2022

In 2022, CES (Consumer Electronics Show) will return as a physical event rather than being held virtually. The CES 2022 will take place in Las Vegas from 5 to 8 January to showcase advanced technologies from participating brands. Since it's less than one month to go, Samsung has announced the theme of its keynote event, and it's "Together for Tomorrow".

Samsung mentions that CES' keynote addresses "not only signify the opening of the event but also present the direction of future products, services, and technologies". The Korean tech giant also wants to promote the idea "technology should exist for humanity and the Earth" next year. However, it didn't mention anything about the products that will make an appearance through the blog post.

According to rumours, we could finally see the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE at the event, as it's said to go on sale right after it ends. Besides that, new MicroLED TVs, MiniLED TVs, QD-OLED TVs, and new home appliances are also the other Samsung products that could show up at the expo. The company is expected to announce some Galaxy A series mid-range smartphones as well.

Are you excited about what's to come? Leave a comment to let us know what you would like to see and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Samsung announces Evolved Exynos 5 Octa - 2x 3D and 20% more Power

Samsung previously reported about their upcoming Evolved Exynos 5 Octa chipset and now are releasing all the details. Codenamed as the Exynos 5420 the chip uses a new six-core ARM Mali T628 MP6 core that (according to Samsung)  provides 2x graphics boost compared to the previous Exynos 5 Octa chipset. The main processor runs a Quad-core of 1.8GHz ARM Cortex A15 processors linked up with 4 1.3GHz ARM Cortex A7 processors in a big.LITTLE configuration. This delivers 20% more processing power than the previous chipset.

Other tech specs include Dual-channel LPDDR3 at 933MHz for a memory bandwidth of 14.9 GBps, enabling full HD WiFi display support. An image compression solution for energy efficient multimedia loading, may provide better energy efficiency. No news yet on when such a chip would appear but manufacturers are already playing around with samples so we can expect some models after August when the chip is scheduled for mass production.


Samsung announces Expert RAW camera app support for more old Galaxy devices

Samsung has the Expert RAW camera app made for its premium flagship smartphones to access more advanced camera features. The devices that support the app are limited. It's only available for devices with the highest tech specs in the newer series, and even the Flip foldables are out of the list. Now, the Korean tech giant has announced that the app will arrive on more previous Galaxy devices, allowing more customers to get a taste of it.

It's announced that the Expert Raw app will be available on three more devices, the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Note 20 Ultra, and Fold 2. According to the source, the performance may vary due to the hardware as they have different image sensors and processors. However, users will still get access to a lot of new camera features with this app.

The Expert Raw camera app gives users control over shooting parameters such as shutter speed, exposure, ISO, white balance, and more. It also allows them to save photos in RAW format to apply effects easily later. Besides that, it offers the option to save the images in JPEG format as well. It's worth mentioning that these features are not available on the default camera app installed on Galaxy smartphones out of the box.

It's cool for Samsung to make a more professional camera app for its Galaxy smartphones to unlock the full capabilities of the camera sensors. What do you think about it? Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


Samsung announces Flood Relief Programme to provide support for affected products

If you're one of the victims of the flood and also own some Samsung products, this will be a piece of good news. Samsung Malaysia has announced the Flood Relief Programme to provide support, including cleaning and repairing, for affected Samsung goods in the recent floods.

The company will be giving a one-time free cleaning and inspection plus free labour costs to repair the affected products. However, it is not applicable for accidental physical damage due to mishandling, such as a cracked screen. To benefit from the programme, customers have to make an appointment or send in their affected Samsung products to Samsung Customer Service Centers before 31 January 2022.

If you want to find out more information, you may contact 1800-88-9999, live chat via Samsung Members or head to Samsung.com/my. You may also directly make an appointment through the mentioned channels. It's good to see that Samsung is stepping in to help out the flood victims, and let's hope that everything will get better soon.

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


Samsung announces Galaxy Ace 4 and more

Samsung has officially announced a number of smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy Ace 4, Samsung Galaxy Core II, Samsung Galaxy Young 2 and Samsung Galaxy Star 2. These smartphones are obviously headed for the entry-level market they are notable in that some of them will come with Android 4.4 KitKat. Check out the tech specs and features for the Samsung Galaxy Ace 4, Samsung Galaxy Core II, Samsung Galaxy Young 2 and Samsung Galaxy Star 2 below:

While Samsung have not offered any details on Malaysia release dates or pricing we expect the pricing to start with the Galaxy Ace 4 and Galaxy Core II and then go down to the Galaxy Star 2. We're not sure there is anyone who can survive on just 2G but Samsung does cater for all individuals of every type and need. [Source, Source]


Samsung announces Galaxy C5 for China, priced from RM 1360

We have seen many leaks of it online, and now Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy C5 for the China market. It comes with a decent list of specification, all in a full metal body design.

If you want choice, the phone itself comes in four different colours – gold, pink gold, silver and grey. The specs for the C5 includes a 5.2 inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 4Gb of RAM, either 32GB or 64GB or onboard storage, 16 megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture lens and dual tone LED flash, an 8 megapixel front camera with a f/1.9 aperture lens, 4G LTE connectivity, dual SIM slots, and a 2600 mAh battery.

It will be retailing for RMB 2199 (~RM 1360) for the 32GB version and RMB 2399 (~RM 1486) for the 64GB version. So far it is only being released in China, so we may have to wait until Samsung Malaysia announces if they will be bringing this into the Malaysian market.


Another new Meizu smartphone coming soon

If you think Meizu is done releasing new devices before the new year, you are sadly mistaken. News have it that the company will plan to launch a new Blue Charm smartphone tomorrow in China, we also have a new teaser promo image to prove it.

According to the rumours, the Meizu M5 Note will come in two variants, probably in both polycarbonate and a metal model version, the design is also similar to the M1 Note, featuring 5.5-inch display, an Helio P10m processor, 2.5GB RAM and a 4000 mAh battery inside.

To add on to that, the polycarbonate might cost 999 Yuan (around RM639). while the metal model is priced at 1099 Yuan (around RM703) respectively. Stay tuned for more Meizu news at Technave.com.


Samsung announces Galaxy Note 3 Neo and Galaxy Note 3 Neo LTE+, hexa-core processor included


Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 4 tablets range

Confirming their new Samsung Galaxy Tab refresh is the recent announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 range of tablets. This includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 4 10.1. The overall design has not changed, except perhaps for a slightly more rounded look. The more notable changes are internal with tech specs that include:

All of the Galaxy Tab 4 tablets will be running Android 4.4 right out of the box but there is no news if the interface will be any different. As standard of the Galaxy Tab series, the tablets will have 3G and GPS capabilities built-in but asides from screen size there isn't really much to differentiate each tablet. The upgrade to quad-core processors from the previous dual-core processors is a welcome change but there is still no news on Malaysia pricing or release dates just yet. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Tab 4 tablets will be available in Q2 of 2014 so we're thinking the latest would be in June 2014.


Samsung announces ISOCELL camera technology for better low-light conditions

Samsung has just announced their ISOCELL CMOS image sensor technology which they say beats back side illumination (BSI) sensors in other cameraphones. According to Samsung, BSI has limitations in that the cross-talk interference is higher the closer pixels are to each other, which happens with larger megapixel camera sensors. Through Samsung's ISOCELL, each pixel is isolated, allowing it to catch more light from the sensor resulting in better exposed, blur-free photos shot in low-light conditions.

According to Samsung, ISOCELL camera modules will have 30% better colour accuracy and the same 30% better dynamic range capture. In addition, ISOCELL modules are also slimmer due to 20 percent wider chief ray angle, allowing them to fit into slimmer devices. The first Samsung ISOCELL sensor codenamed the S5K4H5YB has already been detailed and is an 8MP 1/4" module with 1.12 micron ISOCELL pixels. It is currently making the sampling rounds amongst customers and is set for mass production in Q4 of 2013, which could see the next generation of Samsung smartphones sporting ISOCELL camera sensors. Samsung had this to say:

"Through advances in pixel and process technology, smartphone and tablet cameras have made it easier than ever for consumers to capture and share beautiful, clear images with the world. ISOCELL technology is yet another innovation that significantly raises the bar in image quality, and demonstrates Samsung's technology leadership in image sensors for mobile devices." Taehoon Kim, System LSI marketing, Vice President, Samsung Electronics.


Samsung announces Odyssey Ark gaming monitor and The Wall All-In-One for up to RM1229419

Samsung has officially announced 2 new display products with the Odyssey Ark gaming monitor and The Wall All-In-One smart TV.  The Odyssey Ark will be priced for RM13999 while the The Wall All-In-One will be priced from RM495543. Both can be seen at the Senheng x Samsung Experience Store at the Shoppes, Four Seasons Place.

The Odyssey Ark is a 55-inch 1000R rotating curved gaming screen with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time (GtG). In addition, it has a Cockpit Mode and Ark Dial exclusive controller. For audio, Sound Dome Technology utilizes AI Sound Booster and Dolby Atmos to deliver 3D surround sound with 4 speakers and 2 central woofers. The LS55BG970NEXXS will be priced for RM13999.

Coming in just 49mm thin and designed to hang on your wall like any other masterpiece painting, The Wall All-In-One is available in 110-inch 2K (LH012IABMHS/XS, RM495543), 146-inch 2K (LH016IABMHS/XS, RM707132) and 146-inch 4K (LH008IABMUS/XS, RM1229419). All models use Black Seal tech for purer blacks with enhanced depth along with Ultra Chroma tech for purer RGB colours. A 20bit processor and Micro AI Processor make images smooth while removing noise.

Check out the Samsung site for more info, but at these prices these devices are obviously for people with a good deal of money to spend or perhaps a business. If you had that sort of money how many would you get? Let us know and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Samsung announces World's first smart glove wearable: Samsung Fingers!

On cue for 1 April 2014, Samsung has announced the Samsung Fingers Smartglove which features a flexible 3-inch UHD Emo-LED display on the palm. The claimed tech specs also include a hidden 16MP camera with most of the controls being done through gestures. The smart glove charges through solar tech, which could be on the back of the hand. There are also various types in the works with the iron spike covered Samsung Fingers Tough and the lady-like Samsung Fingers Class. Quite obviously, this is an April Fools joke as all the claimed tech specs are impossible to implement at this time. It is very good to know that Samsung have a good sense of humour and can at least laugh at themselves so that we can laugh along with them.


Samsung announces a Galaxy event on April 10th, might be the launch of Samsung Galaxy A90

Only a month ago Samsung had unveiled their highly successful Samsung Galaxy S10 series. And now they have announced another Galaxy Event on the 10th of April, the same day as the OPPO Reno unveiling.

The announcement was made on their official Twitter account. A looping video was posted with a man skateboarding through the outlines of three devices which barely stood out against the white background. Two of the silhouettes didn’t have a notch or cutout on the screen and one of them had the Infinity-V screen. The video was captioned with “Enter the era of live”.

Enter the era of live. April 10, 2019 - Live on https://t.co/kDIR3TcbZ5 #SamsungEvent pic.twitter.com/EqN8wF04Wd

No announcement of what phones may be launched on that date but if we were to guess, we would think that it may be the Samsung Galaxy A90 - the highest spec of the A series. Since the silhouette of two if the devices in the video show no notches or cutouts, it seems that is may just be in line with the rumour that the A90 may be released with a pop up or rotating camera.

As for the Infinity-V display, our guess it that it might bea new Samsung Galaxy M or even the Samsung Galaxy A70. We are speculating that the device released is intended to compete with OPPO’s Reno series which may mean competitive prices with pretty decent specs and features. Samsung had started 2019 strong with the S10 series and they aren't slowing down. Just yesterday they launched the Samsung Galaxy M20, A30 and A50 in Malaysia. So what do you think will be released? We’ll be updating you of any updates about the event on TechNave.com!


Samsung announces chance to win RM1.2 million worth of devices this CNY

The celebrations are really really picking up now with Chinese New Year beginning this weekend. In fact, there's a new Samsung deal as we usher in the Year of the Rat. From now till 16 February 2020, purchase of any selected Samsung device will net you a chance to win a second device.

Samsung Malaysia has confirmed that it has 1094 devices available to be won, worth a grand total of RM1.2 million. All together, there's 18 units of the Galaxy Fold, 388 units of the Galaxy A50s and 688 units of the Galaxy A30s. Also, the prizes will be distributed on a weekly basis.

To win one of these, you first have to purchase a Samsung Galaxy device that's eligible for the contest, then submit your details and receipt to Samsung Malaysia. you also need to submit a creative picture following the theme of the Year of the Rat. We've included a table listing the eligible devices below for your reference:

Are you still doing some last minute CNY shopping? Let us know on our Facebook page about whether you'd love to see more news of CNY contest or promos like this. For other news, remember to stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung announces entry-level Galaxy Ace Style with Android KitKat

Samsung has recently announced their Galaxy Ace Style smartphone for the entry-level to midrange market. Featuring tech specs which include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, up to 64GB microSD, 4-inch display and 5MP rear camera the smartphone seems just right for the entry-level user. However, it does stand out by coming with Android 4.4 KitKat which has been optimized to run with minimum requirement hardware. The design is typical Samsung with a mostly plastic build, some chrome trim and rounded corners. It should be available in April 2014 for white and gray colour options. Unfortunately, there aren't any specific Malaysia release dates or pricing details just yet so stay tuned for more updates.


Samsung announces new Neo QLED 8K, OLED, SmartThings and more

At their Unbox & Discover livestream, Samsung recently revealed a 98-inch model on top of their QN900C premium Neo QLED 8K smart TVs with features that include Auto HDR Remastering, Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony 3.0. For their 2023 Samsung OLED lineup (S95C, S90C), the Neural Quantum Processor 4K also makes it the “World’s First Pantone-Validated HDR OLED”.

For gamers, Samsung revealed their Odyssey NEO G9 which is the world’s first dual UHD resolution monitor and the Odyssey Ark. Utilizing Samsung’s Gaming Hub, the platform now includes partnerships with Amazon Luna, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Utomik and Xbox, allowing for cloud gaming or game streaming without the need for a computer or game console.

Game more with just a monitor like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9

The new SmartThings connect together automatically eliminating the need for a dedicated SmartThings hub

For their new SmartThings, the IoT hub is built into Samsung’s products allowing for automatic and instant connection. In addition, thanks to the Home Connectivity Alliance, Samsung’s SmartThings works with all MATTER IoT communication standard devices, while the Samsung Knox Vault chip keeps your data safe and encrypted.

You can check out their site or the video below for more information but there’s still no Malaysia release dates or pricing details, but Samsung says to wait and see on 18 April 2023. Perhaps we’ll know the price and more then, but until then stay tuned to TechNave.com


Samsung announces new Sunrise Gold and Burgundy Red Galaxy S9 series edition

Continuing on their Galaxy conquest, Samsung Electronics has announced two new colour editions for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphone. Introducing Sunrise Gold and Burgundy Red, the latter will first debut in South Korea and China first this month, then followed by the former in June in selected markets including Australia, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, with additional market availability coming soon.

Okay, so Malaysia is not part of the first wave, but don't give up on hope just yet. The Galaxy series is quite popular in Malaysia so I'm sure Samsung didn't turn a blind eye to this. Should the new editions come to Malaysia, the price tag will most likely cost the same from RM3299 to RM4399 depending on which model variant you're getting.

Also, here's a fun fact about the new design - the Sunrise Gold edition is Samsung's device to feature a satin gloss finish which wraps the smartphone in a tranquil glow and glimmer, while the Burgundy Red edition is one of the deepest red colors available featuring restrained gloss for added density and a look that is contemporary and traditional.

Just so you know, the Galaxy S9 series are also available in Midnight Black, Coral Blue, and Lilac Purple. We will be keeping an eye on the new editions' availability for Malaysia so stay tuned for that at TechNave.com.


Another new Xiaomi patent granted, shows foldable phone with pop-up camera

Clamshell phones haven't been popular in a long time but the design seems to be making a comeback of sorts. It was just last month when the new Motorola RAZR with a foldable display was launched in Malaysia. Now, a new patent granted to Xiaomi could mean that another one is in the works.

According to LetsGoDigital, the patent details a foldable phone with a pop-up camera. These new diagrams are different from the ones we've seen before, which still showed the front camera and sensors on the front. In the new one, the front and rear camera systems are secured into the pop-up system. Without the front camera and sensors taking up space on the display, the device will have a very high screen-to-body ratio. Overall, pretty fancy features.

Besides the front camera, the rear camera and sensors are also attached to the pop-up system. What's interesting here is that the parts here will allegedly be behind a secondary display. This display is mainly used for notifications when the device is folded.

Mind you, owning patents doesn't necessarily translate into being able to produce an actual device. It's likely that such a device may not appear in the near future. Regardless, this kind of design is refreshing and one many would love to see.

Does anyone of you like clamshell phones? Let us know what you think about this design on our Facebook page. And for more news like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Samsung announces slimmest NX 10mm F3.5 Fisheye lens

Samsung recently released the new Samsung 10mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens. Designed for the Samsung NX system this super wide is the smallest and slimmest AF fisheye lens on the market. Half the size and weight of other fisheye lens in the market it should lighten the load for any photographer on the move. Utilizing Samsung’s 180-degree lens technology, it is compatible with the NX system, including the new NX300. Weighing in at just 72g the lens comes in black or white. The tech specs for the Samsung 10mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens include:


Samsung announces the Exynos 1280 arrived in recently launched mid-range devices

Samsung has officially announced the chip that gets featured in the recently launched Galaxy A33, Galaxy A53 and Galaxy M33. The Exynos 1280 is based on the company's 5nm EUV process and features an eight-core CPU. Now, let's continue reading to find out more details about the new mid-range chip!

The eight-core CPU brings two Cortex-A78 performance cores and six Cortex-A55 power-efficient cores. Meanwhile, the GPU is handled by the Arm Mali-G68, alongside supports for both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G connectivity. Furthermore, the chip also comes with the Fused Multiply-Add (FMA) that should bring better power consumption and battery life. There's the onboard neural processing unit (NPU) providing AI functions like scene segmentation, real-time motion analysis and multi-object surveillance as well.

The Exynos 1280 can cope with FHD+ displays refreshing at up to 120Hz. Its image signal processor (ISP) supports a maximum resolution of up to 108MP and three 16MP additional modules. The chip also arrives with multi-frame image processing for clearer images with less noise, electronic image stabilization (EIS), plus 4K video recording and playback at 30fps. Other connectivity features include dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2 and Quad-constellation multi-signal for L1 and L5 GNSS positioning.

Do you want to see more smartphones with the chip? Drop a comment to let us know, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


Samsung announces the Galaxy J2 2016

Remember the Samsung Smart Glow, their take on a new generation of notification LED? Well now they have released a product with the new system. The Samsung Galaxy J2 2016 was just announced in India featuring the new LED tech.

The Galaxy J2 (2016) specs features a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, a Spreadtrum SC8830 quad-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion, 8 MP/5 MP camera combo, LTE, 2,600 mAh battery and Android Marshmallow out of the box. It’s available in black, silver or gold colors. It comes with features such as the S Bike mode, Ultra Data Saving mode and Turbo Speed Technology, which is reportedly able to launch native apps 40% faster than devices with double the RAM.

Pricing starts at Rs 9,750 (~RM 580) for the J2 2016. Will we see the J2 2016 enter the Malaysian market soon? Stay tuned to TechNave for more information.


Samsung announces the Gear Fit 2, with built in GPS, for under USD 200 (~RM 828)

After so many leaks online, the latest health tracker from Samsung is finally launched. The Samsung Gear Fit 2 is a refresh of the original Gear Fit, that was launched in 2014, and it comes with more features than the eye could see.

First of all, it’s bigger thanks to the 1.5 inch AMOLED screen. It needs the bugger screen as it now has a built-in GPS,which can be used with the built-in map app to show you the way around. It also has the now-standard assortment of personal health metrics: steps, sleep, various activities, and heart rate built in.

Another cool feature is that it has a built in Spotify app, so that you can run while listening to your tunes -  but you still need your phone as it doesn’t have a 3G radio. Otherwise just load up your songs to its built-in 4GB of storage.

The Gear Fit 2 is compatible with any Android smartphone running Android 4.4.4 and above. It will come in three colours, and will retail at USD 179 (~RM730). There is no availability details yet for Malaysia from Samsung Malaysia, so stay tuned for up to date info here on TechNave.


Samsung announces the Gear S3 smartwatch

It is not surprise that Samsung is still coming out with new smartwatchs in their Gear series. What is surprising however is that the new Gear S3 is not a replacement, but a parallel model to the older Gear S2. Featuring the same great rotating bezel, an all-new design and many more enhancements – the Gear S3 is set to add more value to the Tizen smartwatch market.

There will be two models on offer – Classic and Frontier (just like the Gear S2). What differs between the two is the latter will have LTE connectivity, flat buttons and a more rugged looks. Both devices will come with the rotating bezel, with added functionalities. Both models feature a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED fully circular display, which now comes with Samsung’s Always On Display feature that now supports 16 million colours. Both Classic and Frontier versions also sport IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance, as well as an extra military-grade durability rating to help the watch stay functional in extreme temperatures.

For the first time, the Gear S3 features Samsung Pay functionality for wireless payments. Unfortunately neither the price nor availability has been announced by Samsung for the Gear S3 – so stay tuned to TechNave for more news coverage on the Gear S3 as well as IFA 2016.


Samsung announces the new Exynos 9820 + leaks of their upcoming phones

Everyone has been pretty hyped about Samsung’s upcoming chipset since the Samsung Mobile official Twitter account tweeted a photo of a smartphone with the date 14 November 2018 with the hashtag #TheNextExynos. True to the date, the Korean giant earlier unveiled the next generation chipset, the Samsung Exynos 9820 in China. For the first time, this chipset comes with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) which is said to offer seven times artificial intelligence based computing power compared to its predecessor.

The chipset has a 3 tier build with custom fourth generation cores, in which, two custom cores are used for processing power, two Cortex A75 large cores for optimal performance and quad Cortex A55 small cores for efficiency. Samsung claims that the single core performance of the chip compared to the Exynos 9810 is 15 percent better for multi-core and 20 percent better for single-core. Overall, the Exynos 9820 is 40 percent better than the previous chipset. Along with the chipset comes the Mali-G76 MP12 processor which has more execution units, double channels and is 35 percent more energy efficient than the Exynos 9810.

For photography enthusiasts, this chipset has advanced ISP that supports up to 5 sensing elements. Both selfie and rear cameras would be able to support 22MP sensors and it also supports dual camera setups with a maximum of 16MP sensor. Recording videos on this chip supports 8K 30fps and 4K 120fps and 10bit HEVC/H.264/VP9 codec. Displaywise, it supports 4K resolutions.

Yup. Galaxy S10 coming in three models.SM-G970F and G970USM-G973F and G973USM-G975F and G975Uare in testing.

In related news, Samsung could have 3 models of its upcoming flagship series, the Samsung Galaxy S10 in the works. A tweet by a reliable leaker, Roland Quandt (@rquandt) tweeted out the models numbers of the devices which might be SM-G970F and G970U, SM-G973F and G973U, SM-G975F and the G975U. He added that Samsung has their own communication processor with 5G-NR and claims that the processor would most likely be used in Exynos based Samsung Galaxy S10s but not all the smartphones will utilize the 5G network.

In other news, here’s what the foldable, tentatively named Samsung Galaxy F, might look like. LetsGoDigital had put together a few 3D designs of the phone based on Samsung’s patent drawings. Not a lot of details, tech specs and features have been released in regards to the foldable smartphone but it is reported that the company will demo the phone again at MWC 2019 before its launch in May. However, the information in this article is just speculation for now, so take this with a grain of salt. Do you think Samsung’s innovations would do well next year? If you want more Samsung news, make sure to hit up TechNave.com!


Samsung announces their smallest 20MP ISOCELL Slim 3T2 ISP, headed for more front punch camera phones?

Asides from announcing their Exynos 7904, Samsung also announced their smallest 5.1mm ISOCELL Slim 3T2 Image Sensor Processor offering 20MP resolutions for more front punch display or hole-in-display smartphones. The ISP utilizes Samsung's Tetracell technology which merges four pixels as one, allowing for brighter and sharper pictures in low-light.

While we think this makes it perfect for slimmer and sleeker front punch display smartphones, when applied for rear cameras, it utilizes an RGB color filter array with 60% higher effective resolution at 10x digital zoom. No actual smartphone has been named to use it yet (although we think the new rumoured Galaxy A8s FE could utilize it) but the new camera sensor is expected to hit mass production in Q1 of 2019.