Republic of Gamers (ROG) is back with a bang (bang), and this time, it’s all about celebrating the eSports spirit. ROG is collaborating with MOONTON Games to introduce a special limited edition of the ROG Phone 6. The ROG Phone 6 MLBB M5 Special Edition comes as MOONTOON is building up to the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M5 World Championship 2023.
Inspired by MLBB Hero: Yu Zhong
The ROG Phone 6 MLBB M5 Special Edition pays tribute to Yu Zhong with an exclusive design, and it’s not just about looks. It’s packed with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Yu Zhong complements the ROG ethos and design with his colourful background, rebellious spirit, and daredevil attitude. The ROG Phone 6 and 6D both come with bold accents and colourways that reflect that rebellious spirit.
Underneath its stunning design, the ROG Phone 6 MLBB M5 Special Edition shares the technical prowess of the highly-acclaimed ROG Phone 6. This gaming powerhouse is driven by the Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform, which promises unrivalled mobile gaming performance. With 12 GB of LPDDR5 memory, you’ll experience smooth app switching, making multitasking a breeze.
Moreover, this device features a high-tech cooling system to prevent overheating during marathon gameplay sessions. No need to worry about running out of power; a powerful battery ensures you stay in the game, and the AirTrigger 6 controls provide a console-like gaming experience. With a 165 Hz display, you can expect a visually stunning gaming adventure. Heat shouldn’t be an issue either with the phone’s AeroActive Cooler.
Unboxing the ROG Phone 6 MLBB M5 Special Edition will be a unique experience in itself. Along with the device, you’ll receive an exclusive gift box valued at over MYR788. This treasure trove includes a premium Yu Zhong-themed DEVILCASE, an MLBB badge holder, a handy MLBB screen-cleaning cloth, and an AeroActive Cooler 6 clip-on external cooler.
Pricing & Availability
Starting from October 12, 2023, the ROG Phone 6 MLBB M5 Special Edition will be available in Malaysia for MYR2,299. You can find it at all ROG authorized dealers and online channels, including ASUS eStore, Shopee, and Lazada.
But that’s not all; the first 500 purchasers of this special edition will also receive 500 MLBB Diamonds to elevate their gaming. Terms and conditions apply, so make sure to check with your local ASUS representative.
For gamers in Indonesia, the ROG Phone 6 MLBB M5 Special Edition will be available from October 12, while those in the Philippines can expect it on October 25. Stay tuned for availability in other regions, as the gaming excitement spreads.
Samsung has discreetly revealed its budget-friendly tablets, the Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+, primarily in the Indian market. These newcomers join the Galaxy A series, emerging as competitive contenders in the budget tablet arena and are hot on the heel of the announcement of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series. Despite the hushed release, they promise impressive specifications and features.
Galaxy Tab A9: Compact and Capable
The Galaxy Tab A9 is compact, sporting an 8.7-inch LCD with 800 x 1340 pixels resolution. Powering this tab is MediaTek’s Helio G99 SoC which should deliver commendable performance with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
In the camera department, the Tab A9 features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel selfie shooter. This tablet is designed for extended use, thanks to a robust 5100mAh battery. Furthermore, it comes in two variants: Wi-Fi and 5G.
Samsung doesn’t skimp on audio quality; the Tab A9 is equipped with AKG-powered dual speakers. You can choose from three appealing colour options: Grey, Dark Blue, and Silver.
Galaxy Tab A9+: Bigger and Better
The Galaxy Tab A9+ follows in the footsteps of its sibling, maintaining the same design aesthetics and colour choices. However, it steps up the game with an 11-inch LCD boasting a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. It houses a Snapdragon 695 SoC for enhanced performance and is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Photography enthusiasts can enjoy an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. This tablet also incorporates a quad-speaker system to amplify your audio experience.
Pricing & Availability:
In India, the Galaxy Tab A9 is competitively priced at INR12,999 (MYR738.70) for the 4GB RAM variant (Wi-Fi only). The 5G variant, offering extended connectivity options, is available at INR15,999 (MYR908.40).
For the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, the Wi-Fi model, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, retails at INR20,999 (MYR1,192.29). The pricing of the 5G variant is yet to be disclosed.
No word yet on if the tablet will be making its way to Malaysia.
Honor is back with its latest budget-friendly 5G smartphone – the Honor Play 50 Plus. Following the success of the Play 40 Plus, released last October, this new iteration aims to raise the bar in affordable 5G smartphones.
The Honor Play 50 Plus is equipped with the midrange Dimensity 6020 SoC that should offer snappy performance and should be able to handle some heavier games. It comes with two RAM options, 8GB and 12GB, and a generous 256GB of storage. Complementing this hardware is Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2.
Source: Honor (China)
On the display side of things, the device boasts a sizeable 6.8-inch FullHD+ LCD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate. A centrally placed punch-hole houses an 8-megapixel selfie camera.
Looking at the back of the smartphone, you’ll see a familiar design reminiscent of Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series. It features two large left-aligned circles within an accented housing. Within this is the dual camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
The Honor Play 50 Plus isn’t going to die on you suddenly thanks to its humungous 6,000mAh batter. It supports 35W fast charging but there is no indication if the smartphone supports wireless charging.
It does, however, include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual speakers, and Hi-Res Audio support. It also comes with a rare 3.5mm headphone jack.
Source: Honor (China)
Connectivity-wise, the phone is equipped for the future with 5G support, making sure you stay connected at high speeds. It also comes with support for WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 and GPS support.
Pricing & Availability
The Honor Play 50 Plus comes in four stylish colours – Jade Green, Starry Purple, Galaxy Silver, and Midnight Black. The 12GB/256GB model is available for CNY1,399 (approximately $195/€185/INR16,275/MYR907.20). It’s already available on Honor’s official store in China. Although, the 8GB/256GB version is nowhere to be found yet.
It is unclear if Honor will be bringing the smartphone to Malaysia. However, if we go on past trends, we may not see it in Malaysia. However, with the current market – never say never.
Samsung’s Fan Edition isn’t just for the Galaxy S23 FE this year, it’s expanding beyond just its smartphone. This year, the Galaxy Tab S9 and Galaxy Buds lineups are also getting affordable, scaled-back Goldilocks versions under the ‘FE’ moniker. The Galaxy Tab S9 is getting a little bit of special treatment with two devices getting the FE treatment – the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+. Where the “+” plays a significant part in how the devices have been designed and optimised.
The Galaxy Tab S9 series takes the baton from the Tab S7 FE. The new series of tablets brings some of the features from the recently announced Galaxy Tab S9 series to a more affordable price point. It’s also upping the ante from its predecessor. While the tablets don’t come with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it comes with the capable Exynos 1380 chipset.
Both tablets in the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series bring substantial improvements in the display department. The Tab S9 FE boasts a 10.9-inch TFT LCD panel, while the Tab S9 FE+ steps it up with a larger 12.4-inch TFT LCD panel. Yes, these sizes are on par with the Tab S9 and S9+. However, they only come with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz and an FHD+ resolution. The tablets also come with Samsung’s Vision Booster technology that enhances outdoor visibility by optimizing colour and contrast, making the tablets usable even in challenging lighting conditions.
These tablets aren’t just about performance; they also focus on sustainability. Both the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the Tab S9 FE+ are crafted from recycled materials, including pre-consumer recycled aluminium and post-consumer recycled plastics. While they might not be used in 100% of the tablets, they are prominent in select components. Both models, along with the included S Pen, boast an IP68 rating, ensuring dust resistance and the ability to withstand accidental water exposure.
Samsung has also upped its game in the camera department. The FE features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera. In contrast, the FE+ comes equipped with a dual camera setup on the back with an 8-megapixel main sensor complemented with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide rear camera and the same 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera. These cameras come with the same software features we’ve seen in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series including auto-framing.
Battery capacity in the FE+ is impressive, with a 10,090mAh unit that can last up to 20 hours of video playback on a single charge. The Tab S9 FE, although slightly smaller in size, still packs a decent 8,000mAh battery. Samsung claims that the battery can go from 0% to 100% in just 90 minutes.
The tablets come with two storage options: 128GB or 256GB. These tablets come with the option to expand storage up to 1TB using a microSD card. When it comes to RAM they come with either 6GB, 8GB or 12GB.
Both tablets support 5G, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth. They will also be running on Android 13 and One UI 5. Samsung promises four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates. When it comes to apps, they come with support for a range of creative tools and apps, including Goodnotes, LumaFusion, and Clip Studio Paint.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE series will be priced from USD$449 (MYR2,128.97) or €529 (MYR2,633.45) internationally. Both tablets will be available for purchase starting October 10 in Mint, Grey, Lavender and Silver.
In Malaysia, the tablet will be priced from MYR2,099. Both tablets will be available in Malaysia from October 10, 2023. Detailed pricing is listed below.
After over a year’s hiatus, the latest addition to the Fan Edition (FE) series, the Galaxy S23 FE is finally here. It looks like a worthy successor to the Samsung S21 FE which preceded it. Taking its cues from Samsung’s preceding smartphones this year. It comes in a clean, single-slab design with a coloured back and a metallic frame.
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy S23 FE boasts an “Advanced 4nm Processing,” which should translate to either a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 chip, depending on your location. While it departs from the “for Galaxy” chips of 2023 phones, it’s still a major step up from the Galaxy S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. Plus, this year’s base model offers 8GB of RAM, showing up the previous 6GB option.
When it comes to storage, options include 128GB or 256GB, with no microSD expansion. Although 256GB should satisfy most users, it’s worth noting that these options align with the capacities available for the S23 and S23+.
One of the standout improvements is the main camera, which is now a 50MP sensor. This is a significant jump from the S21 FE’s 12-megapixel main sensor. However, the ultrawide, a 10-megapixel sensor with a 123° field of view, and telephoto, an 8-megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom, cameras remain at lower resolutions comparatively. Surprisingly, Samsung has opted for a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the Galaxy S23 FE, a downgrade from the 32-megapixel sensor of its predecessor.
The display of the Galaxy S23 FE is a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with an FHD+ resolution. It also sports a 120Hz refresh rate which can dynamically adapt to on-screen content. It’s a smartphone that has a Goldilocks size fitting comfortably between the S23 and S23+. In terms of dimensions, it’s slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor but feels solid with an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
The 4,500mAh battery capacity remains unchanged from the Galaxy S23 FE’s predecessor. It also supports wired charging at 25W significantly less than the 45W of the S23 and S23+. However, Samsung promises a 50% charge with 30 minutes of charging. It also supports wireless charging. Like its predecessors, the Galaxy S23 FE offers IP68 dust and water resistance.
When it comes to software support, it’s in line with other high-end Samsung devices, promising four OS updates and five years of security patches. Out of the box, it runs One UI 5.1 on top of Android 13. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is taking it a step further with a body constructed from recycled materials including an aluminium frame made from recycled aluminium. It also incorporates pre-consumer glass and post-consumer plastics sourced from items like fishing nets and PET bottles.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy S23 FE is priced from USD$599.99 (MYR2,838.89) for the 128GB model. That’s a significant $100 drop compared to the Galaxy S21 FE’s launch price and USD$200 less than the price of the Galaxy S23.
In Malaysia, the Galaxy S23 FE will officially be priced at MYR2,999 for the 128GB version and MYR3,299 for the 256GB version.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
It will be available in Mint, Graphite, Purple and Cream with Tangerine and Indigo available exclusively on Samsung.com.
It’s expected to hit the market on October 10th in Malaysia and October 26th in the US. Like all Samsung devices, it will be available through various carriers and retailers.
No one has a bigger bone to pick with the affordable segment than Honor. Where it was once an indelible mark is now an arena where it has to prove its prowess. The Honor 90 is another try to prove that the company knows what people want at the astounding prices that they’re used to getting Honor smartphones.
On paper, the Honor 90 seems to check all the boxes when it comes to specifications with a large camera sensor, the latest version of Android and Magic OS and even battery life that is touted to last “All day”. Do these features make the perfect smartphone? Is it worth forking out the money for? We’re about to answer these questions in our in-depth review.
Design
Thin. Light. Durable. That’s the three words that come to mind when describing the Honor 90’s design. While the smartphone is for all intents and purposes a run-of-the-mill midrange smartphone when it comes to design, Honor has injected some of its design influences into it.
The slim form factor is very much appreciated at a time when smartphones, particularly in the mid-range, are opting for chunkier bodies. The Honor 90 isn’t just slim, it’s somehow ergonomic. Holding it in your hand is comfortable. The dual curved edges don’t dig into your hands like you would expect it to. Instead, it’s comfortably curved and gives you a little bit more grip when holding the phone.
The back of the phone is textured. The version we have has a matte texture that gives it a lot more traction when you use it. Honor has also given it a metallic finish which makes it look a little bit more premium. The two camera humps also have a halo that gives it a pretty finish and makes the protruding a little bit more acceptable.
Hardware
When it comes to hardware, the Honor 90 doesn’t shy away from being a mid-range smartphone. Instead, it embraces it. In fact, it’s showing the industry that the company knows how to strike a balance between performance and price that is not only acceptable, it’s applauded.
The Honor 90 continues to use Honor’s MagicOS. Like the Magic5 Pro, the interface has come leaps and bounds not only from its roots under Huawei but also when it comes to stability, performance and even optimisations.
The optimisations that Honor brings to its midrange smartphone more or less mirror those on its flagships like the Magic5 Pro. It has a very light layer on top of Android 13 with a clean, near-minimalistic take on Android and its Material UI. It does away with the opacity and density of colour that is now the signature Android 13 and puts on a light layer of effortless simplicity that makes the OS easier on the eyes and simpler to interact with.
MagicOS 7.1 continues to imitate the look and feel of iOS but is beginning to slowly differentiate itself. While some of the styles of the icons and interface may mimic iOS, Honor is focusing on making the interface fluid and dynamic. It is one of the better Android-based operating systems out there. The interface is responsive, easy to navigate and very fluid. Everything is accessible with one click. This includes, for better or worse, the control centre that feels like a spaceship control panel. But this also means that, unlike other Android interfaces, the notifications and controls are separated. Definitely a welcomed convenience but is handicapped by the need to remember which side to swipe down on. Swiping further to the right brings down the control centre but if you wanted to bring down the notifications shade, you won’t be able to. Instead, you’ll have to back out of the control centre and swipe to the left of the screen.
Cards which made its debut with MagicOS 7, continues to be included with the Honor 90’s version of MagicOS 7.1. While they are a welcomed addition and layer to the convenience that the OS affords, it’s still remains rather handicapped with limited 3rd party support. I still found myself going back to regular widgets to get the functionality I was looking for.
Again, like in the Magic5 Pro, customization continues to be limited to font packs, icon packs and themes. At this point, with the increasing amount of customization offered by stock Android, it feels like Honor needs to up the ante and embrace it. Allow users to further customize their experience with coloured accents in addition to those already available. This, of course, excludes the highly customizable always-on-display (AOD).
Overall, when it comes to user interface, it feels like the Honor 90 brings a consistency we haven’t seen in many mid-range smartphones when it comes to feature sets. Nearly all the flagship software experiences are accessible on the Honor 90, unlike a majority of the competition who choose to limit lower-end software experiences.
Performance
The Honor 90 is laced with features that allow it to squeeze every bit of performance from a processor that can be seen as a little dated. That said, it also proves that not all smartphones need to be on the latest and greatest to provide an experience that is comparable to any flagship. Honor has tweaked and optimised the processor and software to deliver a very high-performing phone that doesn’t break the bank.
Multitasking & Productivity
The Honor 90 gave me a welcomed surprise when it handled multitasking without a hitch. I was, of course, expecting that the phone would be sluggish or, at least have noticeable slowdowns when multitasking. But that really wasn’t the case.
In fact, the phone excelled; especially when it came to doing tasks like split-screen multitasking. I was able to work on a Google document while referencing a website with ease. This was also the case even when I was using a split screen with YouTube. There was nearly no instance where the smartphone slowed down enough that it was unusable.
Multitasking was a breeze, to say the least. But it seems like the phone was made for it to be honest. The optimisations that were made to the software make it really easy to jump in and out of tasks and documents with features like split screen and pop-up window.
Call Quality & Connectivity
Being a mid-range phone, I expected to have some concessions in hardware that would affect call quality. However, the Honor 90 pleasantly surprised me with pretty good call audio. The tone was warm, crisp and clear. Unlike a lot of the competition in its range, the audio lacked a lot of the tinny resonance we’ve come to expect with lower-end smartphones.
It’s also got all the bells and whistles when it comes to connectivity. The Honor 90 has 5G connectivity which should serve you well when it comes to your carrier. The higher speeds – which was gotten thanks to YTL communication’s Yes 5G – did come in handy when downloading big files off emails and also streaming my shows off Amazon Prime and Netflix. Support for WiFi 6 also came in clutch with streaming.
There were minor hiccups with connectivity – particularly with WiFi 6 and 5G. With the former, it had issues maintaining a connection with my WiFi 6 router. However, the issue was resolved after an update for the OS itself. The 5G connectivity problems seem to be stemming from the network itself. I had more stable data connectivity on 4G LTE. Of course, data speeds were not as impressive but a more stable connection does provide a better overall experience. However, since the 5G issues were verified to not be connected to the phone, it didn’t factor into our overall rating.
Overall, when it comes to call quality and connectivity, the Honor 90 really shows up the competition. It’s getting the basics right – and then some.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, the Honor 90 didn’t have that many hiccups. During the review period, we tested the smartphone with games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9: Legends, Pokémon UNITE and Diablo Immortal. The smartphone was able to perform pretty well across the board. However, it’s not unexpected given the class in which the Honor 90 punches.
The graphical intensity of Genshin Impact really did make the Honor 90 sweat. Putting the game on max settings made the phone go warm. However, it also limited the frame rate and made the game unplayable in my honest opinion. Taking the settings down a notch changed the experience totally. The game performed well with optimised settings. The Honor 90’s cooling system kept the phone cool, but it still did warm up after a while. While it’s not very surprising, it was more surprising to go an hour or two without the phone getting any warmer.
Diablo Immortal, on the other hand, gave the Honor 90 a proper challenge. As always, this was most apparent with demon mobs. Just as my character was being overwhelmed by the mob, so too was the phone. It began stuttering and lagging just a tad. It’s not unexpected as the game does give higher-end devices some problems too. With the 90, this happened when there was about 60 to 80 monsters on the screen at the same time. Adding AoE attacks to the mix did slow it down a little more but the phone quickly rebounded once the animations were over.
Overall, if you’re gaming on the Honor 90, you’re not going to be facing many hiccups thanks to the enhanced version of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. Aside from these two instances, other games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends had little to no issues.
Battery Life
Honor brings its signature battery life to the Honor 90. This smartphone really does give claims of “all day” battery life a run for their money. The battery on the Honor 90 was able to last at least 36 hours on a single charge with mixed-use. However, more often than not, I found myself charging the Honor 90 only after 2 days of regular use. This included using the phone for shooting, emails, messaging and calls.
On average, I was getting at least 36 hours of battery on a single charge. When it was actively being used, the smartphone was able to last about 3 hours on a full charge. At 15% with battery saving mode, I was able to get another 2 to 2.5 hours depending on usage during the time. On standby, this time went well over 4 days of battery life. This was without mobile connectivity and with minimal screen time.
Display
The display on the Honor 90 is one of the better ones in its price range. The AMOLED panel reproduced colours pretty accurately. When it comes to brightness, the screen is able to achieve a blinding 1,600 nits peak brightness. That means it was more than just legible even under direct sunlight.
While the display is just FHD+ in resolution, the Honor 90 does support HDR10+. This addition means that the display can reproduce intricate details in dark visuals. Viewing and editing video on the go on this screen was amazing thanks to HDR as well. The screen’s high refresh rate made transitions were buttery smooth.
The Honor 90 had one of the best reading experiences on a smartphone in its class. This is primarily due to the TUV Rheinland Certified blue light reduction for eye protection, and also reading modes. My eyes weren’t tired even after about 2 hours of reading an ebook and my comics. The ebook mode made reading less strenuous on the eyes but I still haven’t gotten used to it yet. So, I found myself reading using normal screen modes with blue light reduction and eye comfort turned on.
Cameras
The Honor 90 comes with a triple camera setup with a massive 200-megapixel sensor. However, Honor is allowing the hardware to be the only hero when it comes to the camera. The company has been developing its own algorithm to augment the quality of pictures taken with the smartphone. It seems like the Honor 90 is the first of many in a game of striking the best balance between hardware and software with Honor’s midrange. The smartphone continues to employ pixel binning to get the most out of the sensors it comes with but with the extra light and information, it’s able to create sharper, crisper edges in its pictures.
Honor’s AI enhancements overall are a little bit aggressive for me. However, it does produce pretty detailed and vibrant pictures from the sensors. That said, I found myself turning AI off to get the shot I wanted in most situations. That said, without AI, the cameras performed pretty well even in point-and-shoot (Auto) mode.
Photos taken with the Honor 90’s camera were vibrant and detailed in good lighting. However, its performance under low lighting was less than stellar. Often, pictures were overblown to compensate for the lack of light. While quality degradation is expected, we expected a little more from the Honor 90 camera. Photos in low light were noisy and some were ruined by overcompensation. That said, kicking it into Pro mode is a saving grace. It allows you to get results that are closer to what you want.
Zooming in to take pictures on the Honor 90 can be a little bit of a hit or miss. This is pretty expected given the lack of a telescopic sensor in the phone’s camera setup. However, images and video are pretty crisp and detailed as long as you don’t go beyond 3x zoom. Going any higher than that or even maxing out at 10x resulted in grainy, blurry pictures. The Honor 90 comes with the same AI stabilization as the Magic5 Pro. It’s still as mind-blowing as it was with the Magic5 Pro.
Videos taken with the main camera setup are pretty good. We used it to do a few of our video content on social media (let us know if you find them). The results with good lighting are close to DSLR quality. Of course, we can’t get 100% of the intricacies of a DSLR with the smartphone. It’s perfect for capturing memories but falls a little short when it comes to being a video production powerhouse./
I feel like the Honor 90 puts most flagships to shame with its front-facing camera. Although, I feel like it does come with a caveat that it’s enhanced with AI features. With the right lighting, the pictures are vivid, colourful and detailed. The large 50-megapixel sensor allows for amazing quality. Even under low light, the results were better than a lot of the other options out there. But this may be cause we’re so used to low-quality selfies in this price range.
Overall, the Honor 90 has a power-packed camera setup. The robustness of the software and the versatility of the triple camera setup make it a good starter option for aspiring content creators. It’s also one of the best that we’ve used when it comes to video footage. Honor is definitely honing its software and hardware balance.
A Power packed Offering with Little to Lose with a Delicate Balancing Act between Software and Hardware for the Best Value
The Honor 90 is walking a delicate tightrope of features and price points. The performance of its software makes it a top contender for anyone looking for a value-for-money option for a smartphone. Extra emphasis on the value for money as the Honor 90 breaks a price point that other mid-range flagships dismiss readily. Its feature-packed software and selectively outstanding hardware make it worth every penny spent. You’ll be able to game on more intense games, create content capture memories and even multitask without breaking the RM2,500 price point. We’re comfortable calling this an unbeatable value smartphone.
Xiaomi just unveiled its latest Xiaomi 13T Series smartphones, and they’re all about helping you take your photography and videography to the next level. Co-engineered with Leica, the Xiaomi 13T Series is touted to deliver stunning images and videos with authentic Leica colours and style.
Camera Technology Co-Engineered with Leica
The Xiaomi 13T Series features a triple camera setup with Summicron lenses from Leica. The main camera is a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens with a 24mm equivalent focal length and a 7P aspherical lens that captures more light and detail. There’s also a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with a 50mm equivalent focal length for close-up shots and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens for landscapes and group photos.
Xiaomi’s new Custom photographic styles feature in Pro mode lets you adjust Tone, Tonality, and Texture at the preset stage, so you can retain more details and colours for post-processing. You can also save your favourite presets for your own unique look.
With the Xiaomi 13T Pro, you can shoot videos in 10-bit LOG 4:2:0 H.265. This format gives you more control over colour and detail in post-production. The pre-installed Rec.709 LUT gives you an added professional touch for better colour accuracy and visual depth. You can also import your own LUT styles. The camera is also capable of 8K video recording, you can capture every memory in more detail than ever.
Long Battery Life, Crisp Visuals and Dolby Atmos
The Xiaomi 13T Series features a 6.67-inch CrystalRes Display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1.5K resolution (2712 x 1220 pixels). The display is also incredibly bright, with a peak brightness of 2600 nits. With 100% DCI-P3 gamut coverage and support for 68 billion colours, you’ll get stunning visuals with accurate colours and vibrant contrast. Completing the media experience is the built-in dual speakers that has Dolby Atmos support.
The Xiaomi 13T Series is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset in the Pro model and the MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra in the standard model. Both chipsets should offer excellent performance and power efficiency. Powering this is a 5000mAh battery that supports Xiaomi’s 120W HyperCharge. This allows you to get 100% charge in under 20 minutes on the 13t Pro. The regular Xiaomi 13T, on the other hand, comes with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.
Stylish with Substance
The Xiaomi 13T Series features a sleek and contemporary design. The Alpine Blue model has a premium Xiaomi BioComfort vegan leather back panel with a soft and delicate texture. Also along for the ride are the Meadow Green and Black models that come with glossy finishes. Both smartphones are tough and durable complete with IP68 water and dust resistance.
Together with a tough, stylish build. The Xiaomi 13T series comes with a guarantee for security and Android updates. Xiaomi is committed to providing four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security patches.
Pricing and Availability
The Xiaomi 13T Series will be available for pre-order from September 27 to October 6, 2023. The Xiaomi 13T Pro price starts at MYR2,499, while the Xiaomi 13T starts at RM1,799.
Those who purchase a Xiaomi 13T series smartphone during the pre-order will get a premium package. This consists of free screen replacement (within six months upon purchase) worth RM 299; 100GB cloud storage on Google One for 6 months, and 1+1 years of extended warranty.
In addition to this, purchases made in-store or through Xiaomi’s online stores will be getting some freebies. The freebies are listed in the table below with the available variants and pricing for each.
Motorola is adding to their mid-range lineups with the release of two new devices, the Moto G54 and its unique variants in three different regions as well as the G84.
China and India first to unique variations of the G54
Motorola initially announced the Moto G54 to be available in both China and India. However, both regions will be getting the same device with slightly different specifications. Both market variants do share the same key components. They are powered by a Snapdragon 695 processor with 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage. They also have a 6.5-inch 120Hz display, 50MP rear camera and 16MP front camera.
For the China market, the Moto G54 comes with a 5000 mAh battery with 15W wired charging, is thinner at 8.04mm thickness and weighs 179.7 grams. The secondary camera module on the rear is a 2MP depth sensor. A unique feature is the finish on the back. The device comes with a vegan leather back available in 3 colors; blue, green and magenta. The Moto G54 is available in China today on Lenovo CN website for 1099 Yuan (~RM707).
The Moto G54 available to India has a slight edge in hardware. It comes with a larger 6000 mAh battery with faster 33W wired charging, charger bundled together too. There is an option for a larger memory variant of 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Perhaps the biggest difference lies in the processor, where it debuts the Mediatek Dimensity 7020 chipset in the Indian market. Additionally, the secondary rear camera module is also improved, with an 8MP ultrawide sensor.
With all this extra power, the Indian market variant of the Moto G54 is both thicker at 8.89mm, and heavier at 192 grams than its Chinese counterpart. While it may not have the vegan leather back, the rear plate is plastic with a glass-like finish, available in three colors; Mint Green, Pearl Blue, and Midnight Blue. The device is available today on the official Motorola India website, with prices starting at ₹15,999 (~RM900) for the 8GB RAM/128GB variant.
Moto G54 releases in Europe alongside the G84
Europe sees the debut of two devices from Motorola, with the Moto G54 and G84. The G54 variant in Europe is rather similar to the Chinese market variant. Powering the device is the Dimensity 7020 chipset with 8 GB of RAM with 256 GB of storage. It retains the 6.5-inch 120Hz display, 5000 mAh battery with 15W wired charging, 50 MP main camera and 2 MP macro shooter. It is available for €179 in four colors; Mint Green, Midnight Blue, Indigo Blue, and Glacier Blue.
The Moto G84 comes in slightly ahead of the G54 in the mid-range bracket for Motorola. It sports a more vibrant 6.5-inch pOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695nm chipset supplemented with more RAM, 12GB specifically with 256GB storage. While it retains the 5000 mAh battery, it does have faster 30W wired charging. Cameras remain a 50MP main module and an 8MP ultrawide module on the rear.
And yes, the Moto G84 does come with the vegan leather back, this time with three color options; Midnight Blue, Marshmallow Blue and PANTONE™ Colour of the Year 2023 – Viva Magenta. The Moto G84 is available in Europe for a slightly higher price of €199 then the G54. Both the G54 and G84 are also now available in the UK for £179.99 and £249.99 respectively.
Honor isn’t holding anything back this year. The smartphone manufacturer has come out guns blazing with a smartphone that may very well be the push it needs to tip over into premium territory. While it’s not their first rodeo, the Honor Magic5 Pro 5G feels like it breaks away from conventional Honor smartphones or maybe it’s the first of a line of smartphones that will revolutionise where Honor stands in the spectrum of smartphones.
The Honor Magic5, truthfully, isn’t the first flagship-class smartphone from Honor. However, it brings together a bevvy of software features that beautifully complement the hardware that comes inside. So, does Honor prove that it has what it takes to be a premium smartphone? We’re about to find out in our in-depth review.
Design
The Honor Magic5 Pro 5G isn’t a smartphone that feels cheap. It’s designed to stand out in more than one way. It’s got heft and a rather larger circular accent where the cameras are housed. While it may seem like the smartphone is rather large, Honor has taken steps to ensure that the smartphone fits nicely into your palm without much hassle. The edges of the back of the phone are slightly curved making it easier to hold.
The smartphone is built to feel sturdy in hand. The back feels sturdy and premium with its aluminium alloy and glass materials. It also feels good in hand and has more grip than other smartphones with similar finishes. The Honor Magic5 Pro is also not on a mission to run away from you when you put it on a flat surface. It does slip off the table or surface any chance it can.
The buttons on the sides of the phone are satisfyingly clicky. There’s enough travel for a satisfying click and the buttons themselves feel sturdy and high quality despite being moulded plastic. Even the frame of the Honor Magic5 Pro is built to last.
Hardware
The Honor Magic5 Pro is stepping out of being a midrange flagship to true flagship territory. It’s got the specification to back that aspiration. Honor is packing the Magic5 Pro with specifications that put other similarly priced smartphones to shame and its software may just be adding to the burn.
3D Time of Flight (TOF) Depth Sensor LED Flash HDR10 Panorama 4K Video recording (30/60fps) 1080p Video recording (30/60fps) Gyro-electronic image stabilization (EIS) 10-bit Video
Accelerometer Proximity Sensor Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass Colour Spectrum sensor Face ID IP68
Miscellaneous
Dual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia)
MYR3,499 (256B + 12GB) MYR4,299 (512GB + 12GB)
Retail Price (US)
EUR€1,199 (512GB + 12GB)
User Interface
Honor’s MagicOS has come leaps and bounds from its humble roots as an offshoot of Huawei’s EMUI. The company has optimised the software to fit their technology needs and has made a seamless, user-friendly experience that translates across the board.
On the Magic5 Pro, MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13 brings a very minimalistic take on stock Android. It delivers key Android features without the flash and opacity of stock Android. Instead, it delivers a thoughtful take on Android with the focus being on simplicity and functionality.
The interface of MagicOS 7.1 is, for better or worse, designed to look similar to iOS. There’s no running from it. There are icons that are similar and even folders have similar functions to iOS. However, Honor brings its own flavour with the fluidity. Using the interface is easy, responsive and very superfluous. Honor puts everything within a single click including an excessive amount of controls in its control centre. Yes – they’ve separated the notification shade and quick toggles. While it is a welcomed separation. The need to remember which side of the screen to swipe to get access to quick settings is irritating.
That isn’t the only change either. Honor is also introducing their own take on widgets called “Cards”. These cards provide some extended functionality compared to widgets. However, they are not resizeable or stackable like regular Android widgets. Fully functional cards allow you to essentially interact with apps without needing to open them. That said, Honor runs the complication of not having this feature fully supported by 3rd party apps. So, in the end, you end up using “traditional widgets” to get the functionality you want.
Customizability is a little limited on MagicOS 7.1 on the Honor Magic5 Pro. While stock Android allows you to customize your colours and accents in the interface, Honor has limited customizability to themes, icon packs and fonts. While it may seem a little limiting, this approach to personalisation allows the interface to remain clean while incorporating elements of the user’s personality. The Always On Display can also be customised to fit the needs of the user as well.
All of these unique features, while not flawless, lend themselves to one of the best iterations of Android I’ve used in quite a while. It’s simple, straight to the point and highly customisable. All characteristics of a user experience that is easy and simple. You can, of course, get all the usual functionalities and complexities of Android but the simple, easy-to-use interface makes it more refreshing.
Performance
Honor’s Magic series has never been a slouch when it comes to performance. However, the Magic5 Pro feels supercharged and on par with other flagships this year partially thanks to the processor within the smartphone. That said, it is more than likely this performance boost more due to the optimisations Honor has included in Magic OS 7.1 and also RAM optimizations.
Multitasking & Productivity
Working on the go or even getting things done in a pinch is not going to be a problem on the Magic5 Pro. The smartphone is built to be a productivity machine even without the stylus support we’ve seen in many other smartphones. Honor has ensured that the phone is able to handle nearly any workload you can throw at it.
When it comes to multitasking, the Honor Magic5 Pro excels. Whether it is jumping between apps in the recent apps interface or even using split screen, the Magic5 Pro is a champion. It is able to multiwindow multitask with a simple gesture. Pulling out the multitasking bar will allow you to launch apps in floating window mode. From the same bar, if you drag the app icon to the active screen, you’ll launch a split screen mode. While it isn’t as intuitive as regular stock Android gestures, it also prevents unwanted launches of apps. It’s also easier to explain to
Multitasking isn’t just about multiple windows, it’s about how the smartphone can handle the stress of running multiple apps at any given time. The Honor Magic5 is able to do this without choking. The processor is pretty powerful and the ample amount of RAM and ability to use dedicated allocations of memory as RAM extension for more when needed is genius. So, if ever the phone begins to choke, you can always increase the RAM to see if it is a memory issue.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Honor Magic5 Pro performs admirably when it comes to connectivity. It supports 4G LTE and 5G connectivity without much issue. WiFi connections were stable with little to no disruptions or disconnects. Mobile data over 5G and 4G LTE were stable and didn’t have many hiccups.
When it comes to calls, the quality on the Magic5 Pro was pretty good. Using Voice over LTE (VoLTE) was seamless and didn’t have any issues. Regular calls were also stable without much distortion. The call quality was good. Users on the other end of the line sounded crisp and clear. The sound quality was warm and full and didn’t sound metallic or distorted.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, the Magic5 Pro had little issues. During the review period, we tested the smartphone with games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9: Legends, Pokémon UNITE and Diablo Immortal. The smartphone was able to perform pretty well across the board. However, it’s not without some caveats.
The graphical intensity of Genshin Impact did give the Honor Magic5 Pro a run for its money. While the game could be played in near maximum settings, the smartphone did get a little warm. This is even with the refinements that Honor has done to the cooling system in the smartphone. While it’s not very surprising, it was more surprising to go an hour or two without the phone getting any warmer. At no point during the prolonged session did the smartphone get too warm to hold. Of course, this was without charging the phone. We definitely wouldn’t suggest doing that.
With Diablo Immortal on the other hand, the smartphone did struggle a little bit. This was particularly apparent when getting mobbed by demons. There was a point at which the smartphone couldn’t handle the number of events happening on screen and it started lagging. However, this only happened when I decided to accumulate about 100 enemies on the screen before using a skill with AoE damage. That said, once the animations for the attack were over, the game did rebound to be fully playable once again.
Overall, if you’re gaming on the Honor Magic5 Pro, you’re not going to be facing many hiccups. Aside from the two instances mentioned, games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends were able to run for prolonged sessions without issue. The only issue was whether I could handle the length of the gaming session.
Battery Life
Battery life on any Honor smartphone is commendable. However, on the Magic5 Pro, it’s amazing. I found myself charging once every 2 days. This is with 5 Gmail accounts and 7 work emails syncing in the background. Not to mention WhatsApp and Telegram. Honor’s AI technology when it comes to battery optimisation is astounding, to say the least.
On average, I was getting at least 36 hours of battery on a single charge. When it was actively being used, the smartphone was able to last about 3.5 hours on a full charge. At 15% with battery saving mode, I was able to get another 2 to 2.5 hours depending on usage during the time. On standby, this time went well over 4 days of battery life. This was without mobile connectivity and with minimal screen time.
Display
The display on the Honor Magic5 Pro is one of the best we’ve seen in the price range. The OLED panel was able to reproduce colours pretty accurately with enough brightness to be viewable even under direct sunlight. It’s pretty clear that Honor was going all out when it comes to the display as it performed outstandingly well even under harsh sunlight.
The HDR support on the display is a welcomed addition to the panel. Details in dark scenes, like the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones, are noticeable and have enough detail to appreciate. The screen’s high refresh rate was also a boon in games and also when it came to the user interface. Transitions were buttery smooth.
Reading and texting on the Magic5 Pro was a pleasant one. With the TUV Rheinland Certified blue light reduction for eye protection, and also reading modes, I could read on the screen for prolonged periods. My eyes weren’t fatigued even after about 2 hours of reading an ebook. Speaking of, the smartphone does come with an eBook reading mode which turns everything black and brownish mimicking an ebook reader. While this is great for extremely long reading sessions, I wasn’t used to the look of the mode and ended up turning it off after about 15 minutes.
Cameras
The Honor Magic5 Pro comes with a triple camera setup. While it doesn’t come with co-branding like some other smartphone brands, it does deliver rather commendable results. Honor’s decision to go with 50-megapixel sensors across the board does come with some benefits when it comes to the consistency of the pictures and footage that you get from the cameras.
Honor also has some AI magic happening in the background when it comes to the camera. With pixel binning and AI, the camera setup is able to produce pretty sharp and vibrant photographs. The same can be said for the video footage that you get with the smartphone’s cameras. However, the AI can be overly aggressive at times resulting in overly exposed pictures or video.
That said, photos taken with the main camera are vibrant and detailed when you have good lighting. While there is some quality degradation when it comes to darker conditions, the photos still remain relatively detailed. In more challenging lighting conditions, photos can be noisy and blurry. By “more challenging” lighting conditions I mean near pitch black. Other than that, you should be able to get good photos from the camera.
Taking zoomed-in pictures can be a mixed bag with the Honor Magic5 Pro though. The optical zoom gives you decently detailed pictures. However, when you move to zooms beyond the 3.5x, results can be mixed. AI stabilization can only do so much when it comes to zooming in. Pictures beyond 30x zoom are horribly noisy and lack detail. Speaking of AI stabilization, the one on the Magic5 Pro is pretty good. In video mode, when you’re moving at higher magnifications, the AI creates a smooth panning effect to minimize motion blur and dizziness.
Videos taken with the main camera setup are pretty decent. In fact, we’ve shot some of our content using this smartphone – it’s up to you to find out which. The results with good lighting are really good. In fact, it’s probably comparable to some of the other flagship devices which are built specifically for photography. Honor has also baked in the ability to shoot in LOG which allows you to get a pretty colour-accurate video in post-production. LOG shooting will result in a flatter, duller colour profile which allows you to better colour grade after editing.
When it comes to the selfie camera, the Magic5 Pro has a little bit of work to do. While the pictures under good lighting are vivid, robust and detailed, the lower megapixel sensor leaves some space for improvement particularly when it comes to detail. The low light performance is also a little bit lacking on the front camera.
Overall, the Honor Magic5 Pro has a pretty good camera setup given its price point. The robustness of the software and the versatility of the triple camera setup make it a good option for aspiring content creators. It’s also one of the best that we’ve used when it comes to video footage. Honor’s prowess at creating all-rounded cameras is definitely on show with this flagship.
An Honor-able flagship device that proves that the right balance of specifications and software is a winning formula
Honor is putting other “premium” smartphone brands to shame with the Honor Magic5 Pro. It’s proven that the right specifications and a robust but focused approach to software result in a smartphone that can cater to a wider range of users. The Magic5 Pro comes with a feature set that makes it one of the best smartphones for content creators while also being the perfect phone for people wanting to be productive on the go.
Google’s Android Auto has been getting constant updates for a while now and is getting the attention it finally deserves. Android Auto has been a blessing for plenty of Android users in their cars. With every update, they just get better, more useful, and even more relevant to drivers today than ever before. You can use Google Assistant seamlessly in your car, for example. You can also reply to text messages via Android Auto, obviously via voice activation. In one of their latest updates, the interface now allows you to spread the screen out in multiple windows with Google Maps or Waze taking up most of the real estate while allowing another app like YouTube Music, Tidal, or Spotify in a smaller window. Even your notification can get its own window in the latest interface.
Source: Google
In their latest update, Google is looking to make Android Auto a better journey companion than before by bringing more apps into the Android Auto Ecosystem. For those that are always on-the-go but can never get away from their smartphones for work, Google is bringing Zoom and WebEx into Android Auto for a more seamless video call experience even when you are stuck in a terrible traffic jam. For the long-drawn-out standstill traffic, they are also bringing Prime Video into the fold. Best of all though, for better journey planning, they are bringing weather updates via The Weather Channel app into Android Auto.
The Weather Channel app has been the most popular weather prediction app on Android devices worldwide. It is only natural to start bringing the app into Android Auto for the purpose of journey planning. The Android Auto version of the app will operate a little differently from the smartphone app though. There are still some similarities like push weather updates, but now it is more catered toward your specific journeys. It updates the users of incoming bad weather, for example, just so that you can either plan around the traffic build up, or brace for extended journey times. The Android Auto app also can offer hourly forecasts, follow-me alerting, and Trip View radar that allows you to be your own F1 race engineer watching out for rain on your journey.
Source: Google
The updates are being rolled out to Android Auto units by select manufacturers currently and will roll out to other users following the select manufacturers. They are also rolling out digital key support in select regions for select manufacturers and models. Of course, while that nifty feature allows you to lock and unlock your car via your smartphone, you want to keep in mind that it will only work if your care comes natively with Android Auto. More information on the latest updates on Android Auto can be found on their website.
