Monthly Archives: March 2020

Android, Mobile, News

Realme 6 Launches in Malaysia for MYR 999– Online as Well, Of Course

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If you go out into the smartphone market right now, you would be spoiled for choice. You have not even set a budget. So let us say that you have a budget of MYR 1,000 for a smartphone. That part of the market, while not as filled as the mid-range market from MYR 1,000 – MYR 3,000 market range, is still quite a crowd.

You get plenty of offerings from most of the Chinese brands. They are not some brands you never heard of too. They are reputable brands that have been in the market for some time now, with proven products and strategy. You have brand names like OPPO, who have started making great flagships like their OPPO Find X2 series. You have Xiaomi who had innovated with their Mi Mix Alpha wraparound display. You have HONOR and HUAWEI who made headlines with their own flagships too.

The point is, they make smartphones that sells at below MYR 1,000 as well; and they are not half bad products at that price. You still get the latest Android, the latest hardware to work with, not the most high-end of stuff; but you get the picture. It is a tough market to be in.

Source: Realme

That is where the Realme brand shines though. They make budget friendly devices at great prices. Their latest offering just resonates that quality of theirs. The Realme 6 that was just launched in Malaysia a few days ago.

The Reame 6 is not some kind of revolutionary product that completely changes Realme’s range of smartphones. It is to replace the Realme 5, yes; but it is more like an evolution that a revolution.

The display, for example is not that big of a step up in terms of size. At 6.5-inch, it is still the same size with the Realme 5. The notch that was on the Realme 5 is now a punch-hole on the top-left corner of the display. The resolution is also bumped up to Full HD+ instead of HD+. You also get 90Hz refresh rate with the display, and 12Hz sampling rate. Then again, 90Hz is becoming a norm these days.

Source: Realme

The upgrades do not just end there though. It is throughout the whole device. The device is packing improved power too thanks to the MediaTek MT6785 Helio G90T Octa-core system on a chip (SoC). They tout it as a gaming class processor, like almost everything else in the market. It does work well on games like PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends though, as demonstrated in a livestream.

That Octa-core processor unit is helped by 4GB of RAM, which may not seem like a lot; but 4GB is more than enough most of the time on a smartphone. You are not getting shorthanded in your storage size though; 128GB in storage, in fact. You even get a MicroSD slot if you need to expand your storage size.

Source: Realme

Out the back is still a quad-camera layout; no one is crazy enough to make an official appearance of a five-camera layout just yet. Instead of a 12-Megapixel shooter though, you get a bumped up 64-Megapixel main shooter. That is supported by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 2-Megapixel Macro lens, and a 2-Megapixel Black and White lens which also acts as a depth sensor. Out the front is a 16-Megapixel shooter, that is also a bump up from 13-Megapixel of the Realme 5. Of course, with the main shooter you can shoot videos t up to 4K resolution.

All this power is no use if you cannot bring it out of the house or leave your charger behind. It comes with a 30W fast charging capability on its 4,300 mAh battery. It is charged via a USB Type-C cable too, so there is that. On another plus side, it still has a 3.5mm jack so your old headphones are not obsolete.

  • Source: Realme
  • Source: Realme
  • Source: Realme
  • Source: Realme
  • Source: Realme

The Realme 6 will be available 27th March 2020 onward on Realme’s online retail partners for MYR 999. The device will be available in two colours options – Comet White, and Comet Blue. In conjunction with Lazada’s birthday party sale, Realme will bring the price down on the 27th March 2020 to MYR 799, exclusively on Lazada Malaysia from 12.00 a.m. to 2.00 a.m. Of course, more information can be found on their website, or you can head to Lazada Malaysia to check it out.

Android, Mobile, News

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S Challenges Conventions of Mid-Range Smartphones; Again

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By now, the Xiaomi brand should not be an unfamiliar name to any of us. The brand has been associated with not only super budget friendly smartphones. They are also associated with high-quality smartphones for the modern sensible people. The Xiaomi Mi 9T and Mi 9 Pro is still a very impressive device to us, at its price.

While you think that Xiaomi cannot get any better than the Mi 9 series and Mi Note 10 series, you would think wrong. They just launched their brand-new Xiaomi Redmi 9S just a little while ago. It starts at MYR 799, and they are measuring themselves against the biggest names in the industry, like Samsung and their Galaxy A51 mid-ranger. That Samsung device Is worth twice the Redmi Mi Note 9S.

Source: Xiaomi Malaysia

We start with the outlook, the design. While the front looks just like any other smartphone that is, the back is a little different. They say they design it with symmetry in mind. They are not kidding. It sort of looks like a little like a familiar smartphone we saw a year or two ago. In a sense, it looks good. It also has all the familiar things that makes it a Xiaomi device.

It has that very familiar 3D curve at the back that makes the device feel better in the hands. To be fair, plenty of smartphones share similar design too. This is a Xiaomi device though, so even at MYR 799, it should feel premium. Still, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S is not known as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S in India, it was known as the Redmi Note 9 Pro and it was launched earlier this month.

Out the front is a 6.67-inch IPS Small DotDisplay pushing out Full HD+ resolution protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The Corning Gorilla Glass is not just reserved for the front too. It extends all the way at the back.

On the sides are aluminium frame that holds the two pieces of glass together. The display does not contain a fingerprint sensor though. The fingerprint sensor is now on the side integrated with the power button. Yes, the power button fingerprint sensor is making a comeback.

Source: Xiaomi Malaysia

At the back is a 48-Megapixel quad camera that is housed with an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 5-Megapixel macro lens, and a 2-Megapixel depth sensor. Oh yes, we are forgetting the front facing “dot” camera – a 16-Megapixel shooter. The main camera also packs an Electronic Image Stabiliser for better photos. It makes night, long exposure photos look even better. Even if you are not using a tripod.

The Android 10.0 based MIUI 11 device is packing power with Qualcomm’s 720G Octa-core system on chip (SoC). You get up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB in storage, with microSD compatibility. All this goodness is kept running by a large 5,020mAh battery with 18W fast charging.

There are a few more things that makes this device a treat though. The Redmi Note 9S still comes with 3.5mm headphone jack when every other smartphone does not include the jack. It is also splash-proof; not an IP rating, but splash-proof is still good to have. It has an IR blaster packed in as well.

  • Source: Xiaomi Malaysia
  • Source: Xiaomi Malaysia
  • Source: Xiaomi Malaysia
  • Source: Xiaomi Malaysia

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S will be available in Malaysia from the 27th March 2020 onward. It will come in three colour options; Glacier White, Aurora Blue, and Interstellar Grey. It will be available in two variants; a 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, and a 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. When it is available you can get the 4GB + 64GB from Shopee and Lazada for MYR 799. The 6GB + 128GB options will be available in the online stores and the official stores on the same day too for MYR 899. You can find more information on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S from their website.

Mobile, News

HMD Global Revives XpressMusic with the New Nokia 5310

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Nokia’s XpressMusic line up was one of the most iconic brands back in the day. It was hard to find a youth without one of the many XpressMusic phones in their hands. It was a must have with some of the most unique features for music lovers.

This year, HMD Global is bringing back the ethos of XpressMusic in the new Nokia 5310. Yes, the company is making it a yearly affair to bring back one of Nokia’s iconic feature phones. The new Nokia 5310 comes with the familiar XpressMusic design with the red bands flanking the sides of the display. It comes in black and white.

The Nokia 5310 isn’t like the other revivals that HMD Global has done though. It only comes with 2.5G connectivity and is powered by a MediaTek MY6260A and has 8MB of RAM and 16MB of internal storage. Yep! It’s a feature phone through and through. It’s got a 2.4-inch TFT screen and is powered by a 1200mAh battery.

That said, the Nokia 5310 keeps the XpressMusic tradition of having dual loud speakers. It also has quick access music buttons on the red strip on the side of the screen.

Pricing & Availability

The Nokia 5310 will be available in selected markets starting March 2020. It will retail for €39.

Android, Mobile, News

Nokia 1.3 Comes with Google’s Camera GO for Android GO

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HMD Global has long been one of the only Android smartphone manufacturers to support Google’s Android GO platform. The platform sought to bring better performance to lower end smartphones to improve the overall user experience. Instead of building in most of the apps into what limited space the device has, it optimises based on usage and allows users to stream or download; whichever suited their needs better.

The Nokia 1 was one of the first devices to support the platform. That doesn’t change with the new Nokia 1.3. Coming with the Snapdragon 215 processor, the new affordable smartphone looks to carve a niche in the lower end for itself. The Snapdragon 215 is a quad core processor clocked at 1.3GHz; unlike it performance centric brethren, the 215 does not adopt a bigLITTLE configuration and is made of four Cortex A53 chips. This is supported by 16GB on on board storage and 1GB of RAM.

It comes with a 5.71-inch IPS LCD display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. The screen of the Nokia 1.3 will have a HD+ resolution of 720×1520 pixels with a pixel density of 295 pixels per inch. It will be powered by a 3,000 lithium polymer battery and have HMD’s signature all day battery life.

On the connectivity front, the Nokia 1.3 comes with support for WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2 LE and GPS. It also is 4G capable.

Camera Experience Powered by Google’s Camera GO

The new Nokia 1.3 is one of the first smartphones to come with Google’s new Camera GO app. The new Camera GO app is made to enable advanced features such as portrait shots on lower-end, sub USD$50 smartphones. The app plays well with Google’s Android GO, in fact, Google says that the app is deeply integrated with the system.

On the Nokia 1.3, the Camera GO app will be working with the single 8-megapixel sensor of the smartphone. It is autofocus capable and has HDR support. On the front, the Nokia 1.3 omes with a single 5-megapixel sensor.

Pricing & Availability

The Nokia 1.3 will be available starting in April 2020. It will be availble in Cyan, Charcoal and Sand colours. It looks to be costing about € 95 (MYR 447.29).

Android, Mobile, News

Nokia 5.3 Packs a Mid-ranged Punch with the Snapdragon 665

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HMD Global has arguably made Nokia phones a mid-range champion. The company brought back the Nokia brand with a bang with their first generation of Nokia Android smartphones, spearheaded by the original Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. Two years later, the company has stuck to its guns and launched the latest iteration of their mid-range champion, the Nokia 5.3

Like it’s predecessors, the Nokia 5.3 comes packs respectable specifications with a design language that has become a signature for Nokia smartphones. The new smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 and will be complemented with 64GB of internal storage. However, users will be able to chose between 3GB, 4GB, or 6GB of RAM. Storage is expandable through the microSD card slot.

The Android 10 touting smartphone will come with a 6.55-inch IPS LCD display with a HD+ resolution of 720×1600 pixels. It has a pixel density of 268 pixels per inch with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone will be running on the Adreno 610 graphics processing unit.

On the camera front, the Nokia 5.3 comes with a quad camera array. The main camera is 13-megapixel sensor with an aperture of f/1.8 with support for Phase Detection Auto-focus (PDAF). This is complemented with a 5-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, 2-megapixel macro sensor and 2-megapixel depth sensor. It will be able to support Full HD 1080p video recording at 30 fps. On the front, the Nokia 5.3 is equipped with a 8-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture.

Connectivity wise, the Nokia 5.3 will support WiFi 802.11b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2 LE and GPS. It supports USB Type C but doesn’t seem to support fast charging.

Pricing & Availability

The Nokia 5.3 will be available globally in April. It will come in Cyan, Sand and Charcoal. It looks to be costing about €189 (MYR 891.48).

Android, Mobile, News

HUAWEI Mate Xs is Out to Play Today for MYR 11,111!

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No, please do not get the title wrong. The HUAWEI Mate Xs still does not have Google Play Store out of the box. Now that we got that out of the way, let us get right to it; HUAWEI’s very anticipated foldable smartphone is available for purchase in Malaysia today onward.

For the price of MYR 11,111, you are getting a piece of engineering marvel that is the HUAWEI Mate Xs starting from today. There is a problem, however. We are not technically allowed out of our homes to buy a smartphone. Even if do get outside, the shops are not even open. So, what is HUAWEI on about? How are they selling their new smartphones?

Source: HUAWEI

Online is the word. Of course, selling smartphones online is nothing new to HUAWEI. They have been doing it for years with their sister brand HONOR. Of course, they have their own curated web store as well.

Obviously at this state, where no one can be out and about doing their regular shopping, HUAWEI can only put the HUAWEI Mate Xs on sale on the web store. So here it is, no launch gambit, no fancy roadshows; just a simple product put online. A little underwhelming for the Mate Xs? Yes. Necessary? Yes as well.

The HUAWEI Mate Xs – As Weird as Interstellar

The HUAWEI Mate Xs comes only in one colour option; that is Interstellar Blue. As you can see in our hands-on video, with poor lighting, the device does actually look quite good. If you must ask as well (of course, you would) it really feels like a quality product like no other. The folding mechanism gives you a load of confidence with the device, it has a solid resistance that gives you a sense that this thing is meant to be folded in and out for a lifetime. Even the crease is barely noticeable on the HUAWEI Mate Xs, less pronounced than, let us say a Samsung Galaxy Fold.

Still, it is quite a different interpretation of what a foldable smartphone should look like. We like that about the HUAWEI Mate Xs. We also like the fact that it has a tonne of power and 5G connectivity thanks to the ultra-powerful HiSilicon Kirin 990 System on a Chip (SoC) with 8G of RAM and 512GB of storage. We like that the EMUI 10 (based on Android 10, by the way) that is on the device is optimised for multiwindow functionality.

HUAWEI Mate Xs Hands On

We also like the fact that the device only features one display (8-inch to 6-inch), which is technically cheaper and simpler to maintain. Although, at this point, it is difficult to say thanks to the more ‘robust’ folding mechanism. Also, not too sure about the battery life because it only has 4,500 mAh squeezed into its tight body. We are not saying that this is not impressive; it is an impressive feat still.

As we mentioned before in our launch article as well, you only get a single array of cameras that you use for both main camera shots and selfies. That is, in our books, great as well; less things to worry about and you get a single camera quality instead of two different results on two different fronts. The HUAWEI Mate Xs has a main 40-Megapixel camera, a 16-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, an 8-Megapixel telephoto lens, and a Time of Flight sensor for even more stellar portraits and better auto focusing.

So, you can get your hands on the HUAWEI Mate Xs today for MYR 11,111 from HUAWEI’s one and only web store. With that purchase you get a free HUAWEI Freebuds 3 worth MYR 679. You also get an Envelope Leather Case for the device worth MYR 299. In the box itself you get a sort of shell to cover the sides of your new smartphone and a pair of USB Type-C earphones. Oh right, this thing does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. You also get HUAWEI’s three months warranty on your display, just in case. That warranty covers everything from drops to whatever sort of accidental collisions the device might face within the three months. It does not cover water damage though, and this is not an IP rated device, so keep it away from coffee, or even rain.

HUAWEI VIP Home Delivery Service

Beyond that, you get to choose on the method of your receipt of the device. Yes, you get to choose. You can be optimistic and tell the web store that you will collect your HUAWEI Mate Xs at your preferred HUAWEI Store. That is if you can find one that is open, or if you can wait until April for the device. If not, you can choose for the HUAWEI Mate Xs to be delivered right to your doorstep. They call it the HUAWEI VIP Home Delivery Service.

You can expect a man in tuxedos to arrive at your doorstep, mask ready of course (health and safety requirement), and gloves. They would ring your doorbell, and you answer the door greeted by an English accent and your smartphone on a silver tray. They will sanitise the device in front of you as well, just to add to the drama and show. Then you pick it up and feel like the most important man in the world.

Source: HUAWEI

No, we are kidding. The face mask and sanitation procedures are true though. Still, I would imagine that if you bought your smartphone you would not be able to wait for it to get a first glimpse and hands-on with it. I suggest you go for the delivery service, all you have to do is provide them with your contact and delivery details anyway.

The HUAWEI Mate Xs is now on sale at HUAWEI’s online web store. The highly anticipated smartphone will set you back MYR 11,111. The free gifts mentioned are available for all purchases of the HUAWEI Mate Xs until further noticed by HUAWEI. More information on their device can be found on HUAWEI’s Website.

Android, Mobile, News

The New Nokia 8.3 Makes 5G More Affordable Than Ever

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Nokia’s brand has a long history in the telecommunications space. After a successful relaunch into the mobile industry a few years ago, HMD Global, is looking to up the ante with their first 5G device – the Nokia 8.3 5G. The company touts the Nokia 8.3 as their future-proof 5G smartphone.

The Nokia 8.3 will come packing the new Snapdragon 765G modular platform which allows for high performance that won’t break the bank. To this end, HMD has taken advantage the chip’s unique offerings to push Nokia devices forward. The new Nokia 8.3 is one of the first smartphones that will be equipped with the new Snapdragon 765G and will be 5G capable. In fact, it will support more bands across the TDD and FDD spectrum than any other devices.

The processor will be paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. It will also be able to support more memory through the use of microSD cards. It will come with a 6.81-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It will retain the usual 20:9 aspect ratio with a pixel density of about 386 pixels per inch.

On the camera end, the Nokia 8.3 will be coming with a quad camera setup on the back. We’ve been hearing about it’s “Captain America Shield” design. It looks like that is the case with ZEISS branding in the middle. The Quad camera setup comes with a 64-megapixel main sensor. The sensor is a wide angled sensor with an f/1.89 aperture. The 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor is equipped with an f/2.2 aperture. These sensors are complemented by a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. All of these are, of course, ZEISS optics. HMD was also touting Log mode video capture on the 8.3 which will be able to bring cinema quality video to the smartphone. On the front, the 8.3 is equipped with a 24-megapixel selfie camera.

HMD Global talked about enhancing the camera experience on the Nokia 8.3 with new features. One of which is the new action cam mode which is similar to the super steady feature we’ve seen in other manufacturers. Of course, being a Nokia device, the smartphone is also capable of recording OZO audio which will support directional sound recording.

The Nokia 8.3 will be powered by a 4,500 mAh lithium polymer battery. HMD is confident the battery and software optimisations will allow the 8.3 to deliver on its “all day battery” promise. It also supports 18W fast charging. The 8.3 will be launching with Android 10 out of the box with the promise of 2 alphabet updates.

Pricing & Availability

The Nokia 8.3 is expected to be available sometime in March or early April in selected markets. It will be available in Polar Night, a deep shade of blue. Prices for the device will start at €599 (MYR 2,822.77).

Social Media

Facebook is Getting a New Design and Dark Mode

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Facebook is arguably one of the largest social media platforms across the world. What started as a small project to keep a class of college mates connected is now a multi billion dollar platform. The platform has become so big that it has an estimated 2.5 billion active users. In fact, in Malaysia, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t on Facebook.

The platform has come a long way from when it first launched though. Its design has been through many revisions since the days of Vampire Wars and Pokes. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that most users today may not recognise the Facebook of the past. The design we know now is a totally different from the original Facebook.

Facebook is about to get another redesign. Yep. You read that right. The social media platform has started testing out a new design which looks like its ready to make a debut. While it would be a stretch to call it fully refined, the redesign is more content focused and easy to navigate.

The Good: You get YOUR Content in and Dark Mode

The new layout seems to have an increased focus on content; particularly content that you’ve curated yourself through liking and subscribing. It also looks like the News Feed has been redesigned to be more chronological. In my short time with the redesign, I’ve seen more posts from my friends that are more up to date than I have in years! Now this is the best thing to happen to Facebook in recent years, in my opinion. It brings a more organic, personalised feed to the user and you don’t end up commenting on something that happened months ago just cause the algorithm decided it.

Another thing I’ve enjoyed is the accessibility of the new design. Everything is laid out for you to interact with. You don’t have to click endlessly into menus and pages you’ve never been into before. Getting to your privacy settings is also a lot more intuitive than before. It only took two clicks to get to the privacy menu.

Everything is within your view. Your notifications are kept neatly in the top right under the bell icon. You settings in the down facing arrow. Messenger is tucked neatly to the right side and integrates into the overall design. If that isn’t your style you can choose to have it as a pop up over your Facebook. You have you shortcuts and pages tucked neatly on the left.

The highlight for me is dark mode. The darker design to Facebook is a lot neater and easier on the eyes. That could be a bad thing too since it was easier to look at the screen for longer periods of time.

The Bad: Gradients Everywhere!

That said, Facebook feels a lot less refined thanks mainly to the amount of gradients in the design. The design team at Facebook has adopted gradients and a pretty fluorescent colour scheme. You’d have seen this colour scheme in the many Facebook apps on Android and iOS. They’ve now made it to the main page of Facebook.

The gradients and colour scheme is atrocious. It brings a very childish and immature feel to the platform. It also forces me to use dark mode so my eyes don’t bleed as much. I’d prefer it if the colours were a little less in your face and more subtle and easy to look at. Facebook could also afford to hit the brakes on the gradients.

That said, if the changes in the News Feed and the accessibility are staying. Facebook is taking a step in the right direction to being more open and more user centric. That said, not everyone will like the new redesign, but I’m looking forward to seeing the final version.

Android, Mobile, News

5 Things You Still Can Buy From OPPO For Lock Down

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If you have not known yet, Malaysia is on lock down from the 18th March 2020 all the way to the end of the month on the 31st March 2020. Well, some may argue that it is not technically a lock down, rather a restricted movement order. Whatever it is, the government has put their hammer down and asks everyone that is not essential to the country’s main functions to stay at home. We have stayed in for two days.

While the news for COVID-19 remains as bleak as ever, there are still some that aims to cheer the people up. Life goes on as well for everyone, HUAWEI is soon releasing their foldable Mate Xs still into the market, despite the lock down. HMD and Xiaomi is still going ahead with their global smartphone launch; although this has nothing to do with Malaysia’s lock down. Stores are still operating in full capacity. Except, everyone is online now.

OPPO is one such brand that is still doing business as usual online. They are soon releasing the OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G on the 21st of March 2020. They have also just launched their new entry-level smartphone, the OPPO A91 into the market with the help of Lazada and Shopee; their online marketplace partners. They are not stopping there though. For the period of the lock down (19th March 2020 – 31st March 2020) they are giving out massive discounts in their own web store.

Considering that, it would be quite selfish of us to not share what they have in store for you. Here are the five things we thought you might want to buy for the lock down. Keep in mind there are no particular standings to the listed items.

1. OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Earbuds (IoT, MYR 599)

Source: OPPO

A little about the history of OPPO. They did not really start with manufacturing smartphones. They were initially a digital audio company. They started life as OPPO Electronics making high-end earphones, amps, and speakers. They were good at that too. They made the iconic OPPO PM-1. (PM for Planar Magentic) headphones. In MYR, they were worth more than 10,000. Sadly they went out of production.

Still, the legacy of their audio expertise live on with the OPPO Enco Free True Wireless earphones. The OPPO Enco Free TWS earphones is worth MYR 599. With the battery case, it offers up to 25 hours of music playback. The earphones itself gives you 5 hours of music playback, which also means the little, compact case gives you five four extra charges.

With Binaural Bluetooth transmission on top of the Bluetooth 5.0, OPPO’s Enco Free ensures that you have a constant and stable feed of music from your connected smartphone. Yes, it does sound good too with a large (for an in-ear earphone) 13.4mm driver stuck within its slim body. The stems are also touch buttons that supports slide gestures or even touch gestures. Plus, the interchangeable silicon tips ensure that you get a good fit and that your Enco Free does not drop off. Of course, it makes a great wireless earpiece too.

2. The OPPO Find X2 Series (Smartphone, MYR 3,699 – 4,599)

Source: OPPO

In this case, we did not mention a specific model. There is a reason for that. The reason is that it is quite difficult to choose, for us anyway.

The OPPO Find X2 series is a flagship series that is two years in waiting. The pro version is only coming on the 21st of March 2020. But that does not mean that you should not get the regular OPPO Find X2.  The differences, though can be quite an upgrade in experience, is minute enough that you can consider saving MYR 600 and get the OPPO Find X2. You only get one different lens, a battery that is 60mAh smaller, and a smaller memory module.

Both devices are great devices though. Both supports 5G connectivity so you have the option to upgrade to a 5G SIM card once its available. Both pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 for good measure. Both are ultra-smooth operators with 6.7-inch AMOLED QHD+ display that refreshes at 120Hz and samples at 240Hz. Both have the same great 48-Megapixel main shooter. What more could you want from a flagship?

3. Coros Pace (Wearables, MYR 899)

Source: Coros

It is important to keep yourself active and find ways to exercise at home in the lock down period. These two weeks at home can make a person lazy very fast. There are tonnes of home exercises you can do as well. There are tonnes of them you can find online. That is easy enough then.

What is difficult is keeping your progress in check. You need a fitness tracker for that one. But what is the use of a fitness tracker that you only use for two weeks? You should get one that would last you even longer than two weeks. You should get one that you can take even up the mountains when you go for a hike. You should get the Coros Pace from OPPO’s web store.

The Coros Pace is hardly a smartwatch. There is no Bluetooth connectivity on it either. It does have GPS/GLONASs though. That means that the watch can trace your steps to form a running or cycling map for you. Like any fitness tracker too, you get an accurate heart rate monitor. It will also go deep into the water with you with 5 ATM water resistance rating. Of course, it tells time. What is amazing about this fitness tracker is that it will last you up to 50 days (in UltraMax GPS mode, up to 30 days in regular use).

4. WeLoop XH3 Smartwatch (Wearables, MYR 369)

Source: WeLoop

Regular fitness trackers are not your thing? No problem, you go for the WeLoop XH3 smartwatch.  One big plus side; it is cheaper than the Coros Pace, a whole lot cheaper.

Cheap does not mean bad though. The square face displays everything that you need. It is even a touch screen so interaction with it is simple. Being a smartwatch, you can connect it to your smartphone and work as your notifier with vibrations and what not.

Of course, this works as your fitness tracker too. It has a heart rate monitor on its back, it has got all the right motion sensors to keep your movements recorded and decoded correctly, it connects to all the popular fitness apps you can find on your smartphone, and for good measure you can take it swimming too. Beyond all that, it can last you up to 40 days on a single charge. That eliminates the need of plugging it into a charge constantly or every night. A watch should not have to be kept on a charger, it should be worn, and this is designed to be worn

5. Various Data and Charging Cables

Source: Olike

OPPO has a accessories arm called Olike. They make things like powerbank, TWS earphones, and Bluetooth Headphones and even regular earphones. They also make cables, good cables.

One thing that all of us in the tech industry can agree on is that you can never have too many spare cables. There is pain in looking for the right cables when you need a charge of your powerbank or even your friend’s powerbank. Even when you want to leech off your friend’s PC for more juice, you always need a cable.

Having your own cable also means that it is one less thing to worry about when you need power. Plus, when you take a photo and need to offload it for post processing on your PC, it is always good to know you have a cable somewhere in your bag.

Olike cables are reasonably priced and they work well too. We especially like their braided cables because they feel like they can last forever. They support all kinds of fast charging too, so even if you are using a Qualcomm Fast Charge 3.0, or OPPO’s VOOC charging, you are safe with Olike cables.

Codes Codes Codes

Source: OPPO

What was the point of all this again? Oh yes, OPPO is giving out discounts in their own web store. The discounts are not reflected on the store though unless you have a discount code. What discount codes?

Code Voucher Worth (MYR) Limitations
TechENTIOT50 50 Enco Q1 & Enco Free
TechENTOPPO20 20 Phones below RM600
TechENTOPPO50 50 Phones from RM600 to RM999
TechENTOPPO100 100 Phones from RM1000 to RM1999
TechENTOPPO200 200 Phones RM2000 and above
TechENTxOPPOFindX2 250 FindX2 and Find X2 Pro

We have you covered. Now you can go shop. More information on products can be found on OPPO’s website.

Computers, Mobile, News

Apple’s New iPad Pro Has LiDAR & TrackPad Support

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The iPad Pro turned heads when it was first launched back in June 2017. Many were asking where this large tablet would sit in the continuum of devices that is available to the consumer. However, the iPad Pro became one of the most revered devices for creatives and those looking to be productive on the go.

The 2020 iPad Pro ups the ante with Apple’s new A12Z Bionic chip. The A12Z succeeds the A12X SoC (System on a Chip) which Apple introduced with the previous generation iPad Pro. The new processor comes with 8-cores; 4 of which are optimized for performance while another 4 are optimized for efficiency. Apple touts that this processor makes the new iPad Pro “faster and more powerful than most Windows PC laptops”.

The new iPad Pro is, once again, made for creatives looking to work on the go. Apple’s A12Z Bionic chip makes it possible to edit 4K video and design 3D models on the iPad. According to Apple, the chip also comes with enhanced thermal architecture and fine-tuned performance which allows it to handle larger workloads than previous iPads. The performance of the iPad Pro 2020 is enhanced further with the Neural Engine of the A12Z which allows next generation apps to run.

The display on the iPad Pro 2020 is a near bezelless Liquid Retina display. Both the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will come with Apple’s most advanced display yet. The new display has support for the DCI-P3 gamut which makes colour reproduction more accurate than ever. This is enhanced with ProMotion technology which automatically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and better responsiveness.

The camera module on the new iPad Pro comes with a dual sensor setup. It is equipped with 12-megapixel, wide angle sensor with an aperture of f/1.8 and a 10- megapixel, ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and 125° field of view. The camera setup supports up to 5x Zoom, Smart HDR, Auto image stabilization and 4K video recording at up to 60 fps.

The biggest change on the new iPad is the inclusion of a LiDAR Scanner module. This module allows the iPad to measure the distance between it and surrounding objects for up to 5 meters. This will work both indoors and outdoors. The LiDAR sensor works in tandem with the cameras and motion sensor to enable a whole new level of AR experiences. Apple has announced that apps developed on its ARKit technology will automatically be able to make use of the sensors when the ARKit updates.

Apple also brings the iPad Pro one step closer as the rival to the Surface Pro from Microsoft with the addition of trackpad support. The support comes with an updated iPadOS and likely will make its way to older iPads. However, the new iPad Pro is the only iPad with a Magic Keyboard. The new Magic Keyboard has a unique floating design which allows the iPad to shine. It also comes with USB-C pass-through for charging. Like the Magic keyboard on the recently announced MacBook Air, the magic Keyboard comes with 1mm travel for a better overall typing experience.

Pricing & Availability

The new iPad Pro will be available in Space Gray and Silver starting today on Apple’s website. It will be available in stores starting next week in 30 countries including the United States.

The 11-inch iPad Pro will be retailing for USD$799 for the WiFi only model and USD$949 for the WiFi and cellular version. These prices are for the 128GB version of the iPad, there are options for 256GB (USD$899 WiFi; USD$1,049 WiFi + Cellular), 512GB (USD$1099 WiFi; USD$1,249 WiFi + Cellular ) and 1TB (USD$1,299 WiFi; USD$1,449 WiFi + Cellular ) of storage.

The 12.9-inch version starts at USD$999 for the WiFi only model and USD$1,149 for the WiFi and cellular model. As with its smaller sibling, the prices mentioned are for its 128GB version. There are also 256GB (USD$999 WiFi; USD$1,249 WiFi + Cellular), 512GB (USD$1,299 WiFi; USD$1,449 WiFi + Cellular) and 1TB (USD$1,499 WiFi; USD$1,649 WiFi + Cellular) versions.

In Malaysia, these Models are priced as follows:

iPad Pro (11-inch) (MYR)
  128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB
WiFi 3,499 3,949 4,849 5,749
WiFi + Cellular 4,149 4,599 5,499 6,399
iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (MYR)
  128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB
WiFi 4,399 4,849 5,749 6,649
WiFi + Cellular 5,049 5,499 6,399 7,299