The OnePlus 9 series is upon us. We know that the new OnePlus ‘Flagship Killer’ flagship model is coming with a Hasselblad branded camera module. We also know that its specs will be very similar to OPPO’s latest Find 3X Pro, at least for the Pro variant of the device. What we did not know is that there is going to be a budget friendly version of the series, now we know it as the OnePlus 9R.
The OnePlus 9R, as per Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus, is meant for the India market for now. The device is supposed to be going along the philosophy of the route of the OnePlus Nord. In that sense, the OnePlus 9R, while not technically a successor to the OnePlus Nord, is meant to sit in the mid-range spectrum of devices in the industry.
OnePlus says that the OnePlus 9R is going to feature 5G capabilities. That should be a welcome to emerging markets or at least for some future proofing. They also say that the OnePlus 9R should be a performer when it comes to games. That also means a display that refreshes at 90Hz at least.
Of course, to be a top gamer the OnePlus 9R needs some performance out of its hardware. That comes in the form of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (rumoured). We could be wrong though.
As far as reports go though, these are the only details to be found so far. There are no other firm details on the OnePlus 9R. We do expect it to be priced a little higher than the Nord though, if we are to believe rumours of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865.
Whatever it is, the OnePlus 9 is soon launching. The device is scheduled to make a global debut on the 23rd of March 2021. The new OnePlus 9 series is supposed to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 System on a chip (SoC) and will power two 50-Megapixel cameras. OnePlus has also formed a partnership with Hasselblad to optimise their camera even more. To watch OnePlus launch their new OnePlus 9 flagship series on the 23rd March 2021, you can head over to their YouTube channel.
Samsung just unveiled their latest entries into their Galaxy A series which bring with them a totally new approach for their midrange smartphones. The new Galaxy A72 spearheads the line up with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G and 8GB of RAM. It also has up to 256GB of internal storage.
The new Galaxy A72 will be coming to the market in the next few weeks and will retail at EUR€449 internationally. In Malaysia, the smartphone will set you back MYR2,299.
Follow us on all our social media: www.facebook.com/techenttv www.instagram.com/techenttv www.linkedin.com/techenttv www.twitter.com/techenttv
Samsung is taking an all-new approach to their midrange with the newly announced Galaxy A line up. With the company bringing flagship features to their midrange, they’ve diversified their offerings across the Galaxy A Series.
The Galaxy A52 is a step down from the Galaxy A72 but brings the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal memory. However, it replaces the 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with a 5-megapixel depth sensor and comes with a slightly smaller Super AMOLED display.
Follow us on all our social media: www.facebook.com/techenttv www.instagram.com/techenttv www.linkedin.com/techenttv www.twitter.com/techenttv
Together with their recently unveiled Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72, Samsung also took the covers off their new Galaxy A32. The Galaxy A32 maintains the ethos of the new Galaxy A series but looks to bring even more value. That said, it does compromise a little bit more when it comes to specs and features.
The Galaxy A32 comes with a MediaTek Helio G80 with 128GB of onboard storage and 8GB of RAM. Like its bigger siblings, the A32 also supports up to 1TB of extra memory through its microSD card slot. It will come with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rates.
Similar to the A52 and A72, it comes with a quad camera setup. It has a 64-megapixel main sensor with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF). This is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5-megapixel macro sensor and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. On the front, it comes with a 20-megapixel fixed focus camera. The camera setup on the Galaxy A32 support recording 4K UHD videos at 30fps.
The A32 also comes with all the bells an whistles from the new A52 and A72. This includes KNOX integration and One UI 3.0. It has a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 15W fast charging.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A32 will be available in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue and Awesome Violet. No pricing has been officially announced just yet.
Samsung just revealed something really awesome! Their Galaxy A series is taking some notes from their successful flagships. The new A series line up brings some of the most sought features from their Galaxy S series to a more affordable price point. Samsung’s new approach is a return to their approach from the Samsung Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 of 2017.
The new Galaxy A72 and the Galaxy A52 both come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G for their 4G versions while the A52 5G comes with the Snapdragon 750G. They will be coming with 8GB of RAM with up to 256GB of internal memory which can be expanded with an additional 1TB of memory with a microSD card.
Awesome Features Come to the Galaxy A Series
The new headliners for the series are the Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72. These two models bring features like IP67 water- and dust-proofing to the Galaxy A line up and even complement this with more features that make their devices so compelling. The new approach comes after Samsung’s own Galaxy A51 became one of their best selling smartphones. According to them, consumers are looking for more compelling offerings which are affordable and don’t compromise much when it comes to features.
The A52 and A72 bring a large, Super AMOLED display to the table. The former comes with a 6.5-inch display while the latter comes with a larger 6.7-inch display. Both of them come with 90Hz refresh rates while the 5G variant of the A52 comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung is claiming that even at 90Hz their A72 and A52 are able to provide a more seamless experience without too much compromise. This is particularly true when it comes to LCD panels that are commonly used in A series competitors. Samsung is also equipping the new A series with Eye Comfort Shield which lowers blue light emissions significantly for better eye health and less strain.
On the battery end of things, Samsung is equipping the Galaxy A52 with a 4,500mAh battery on both the 4G and 5G versions while the Galaxy A72 will be coming with a larger 5,000mAh battery. Samsung claims that these will allow their offerings to last for up to 2 days on a single charge.
Awesome Quad Camera Setup with up to 30x Zoom
While Space Zoom doesn’t make it to the Galaxy A series, it comes with a capable quad camera setup with slight tweaks across the line up. The main camera sensor of the Galaxy A series is a 64-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and autofocus (AF). This is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor with 123° field of view and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. The final fourth sensor is different on the Galaxy A72 and the A52. The A72 comes with a 8-megapixel telephoto sensor capable of 3x optical zoom with OIS and AF. The A52, on the other hand, comes with a 5-megapixel depth sensor. On the selfie front, the two devices come with a fixed focus 32-megapixel sensor.
Hardware is only part of the story when it comes to the new Galaxy A series. Samsung is bringing features like Single Take to the series to complement the capable hardware. But, before we jump into that, Samsung has also brought tetra binning to the new A series. The camera on the A series creates a larger single pixel by binding four pixels together to allow more light and detail to reach the sensor. This improves low light performance and creates more detailed night shots.
Awesome Software to Complete the Experience
In addition to this, the new A series is coming with AI powered scene optimizer capable of automatically enhancing your photos. The scene optimizer is able to detect and optimize 30 scenes. However, if you can’t find the perfect picture in with scene optimizer, you’re able to take control with Pro mode. Once you have the perfect settings you can store them in the new “My Filter” feature which allows you to apply them to the 4K UHD videos or pictures you take down the road. You can even take 8-megapixel pictures from 4K videos with Video Snap.
Samsung is also bringing KNOX along for the ride with the new A series. While there are components of KNOX built into Android’s core. This will be the first time that Samsung is brining KNOX’s full capabilities to the series. This means that your data is encrypted and secured from the source. This comes as a part of Samsung’s One UI 3 which will be available on the A52, A52 5G and A72 at launch. Keep in mind, Samsung has also promised at least 4 years of updates for their devices to ensure device security.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy A52 & A72 will be available in Awesome Black, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue and Awesome White with a haze (matte) finish. They are available now with prices starting at EUR€349 (MYR1,713.20) for the regular A52, EUR€429 (MYR2,105.91) for the A52 5G and EUR€449 (MYR2,204.08) for the Galaxy A72.
In Malaysia, the A52 and A72 will be available with 256GB onboard memory with 8GB of RAM. No pricing details have been announced just yet. The A52 5G isn’t available in Malaysia just yet. However, Samsung may make it available later on.
It is here, the new OPPO Find X3. We initially thought that we had to patiently wait for another year before OPPO releases their Find flagship series. We did not though, and the OPPO Find X3 series has launched to replace the OPPO Find X2 series of 2020.
OPPO Find X3 Pro
We start with the usual headline figures at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G enabled System on a Chip (SoC) and up to 12GB of RAM paired. Up to 256GB in storage; UFS 3.1 of course for faster read and write speeds. Android 11 with ColorOS 11.2. We all know what the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 can do at this point.
That is just the tip of the iceberg that is the OPPO Find X3 Pro. All the powerful internals are wrapped by a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that boasts 1,440 by 3,216 pixels (1440p/WQHD+). That display also features one of the world’s fastest response time at about 5-10ms in touch response time. On top of that, 120Hz refresh rate ensures that graphics are super smooth at all times. It is not a full time 120Hz display though. The Find X3 can turn the refresh rate down all the way to 5Hz for less intensive usage. OPPO says that the display also covers 10-bit colours and features 100% DSI-P3 colour gamut for even better colour reproduction and accuracy on top of HDR10+. OPPO being OPPO, the display can be calibrated to adjust for specific colour blindness too, neat.
Source: OPPO
Wrapping around the display and framing the back of the OPPO Find X3 Pro is a beautifully sculpted glass back. No ceramic trickery this time, just normal glass that is shaped to conform the curves and bumps intended for the back of the device. The glass back is not a regular glass back that has a cut out for the entire camera module though. The glass back stretches throughout the back of the device with cut outs made only to fit the lenses. The result is an amazing looking back that is available in either the classic black or a unique blue with a sort of fingerprint resistant texture.
The glass back not only hides the 4,500mAh battery with SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W) and AirVOOC (30W) wireless charging technology. It also seamlessly houses the quad camera set-up that is a newly developed 50-Megapixel IMX789 main camera, an also newly developed 50-Megapixel IMX766 ultra-wide camera with Free Form lens, a 13-Megapixel telephoto camera capable of 5x optical zoom, and an impressive 3-Megapixel macro camera for those amazing close-up shots. You get 10-bit colour high-resolution photos with both 50-Megapixel sensors on the OPPO Find X3. Thanks to the Free From lens technology on the ultra-wide camera, the photos come out distortion free. Of course, the camera is also capable of shooting videos at 4K 60p with 10-bit colours.
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Of course, they did not forget the front-facing camera. It is OPPO, after all. The selfie camera then is a 32-Megapixel unit. The high-resolution front camera is also given some extra tweaks like an enhanced ‘night mode’ to capture more natural, more detailed selfies even in low-light. That also means better looking Instagram photos.
Price and Availability
OPPO’s latest Find X3 Pro is said to be available globally toward the end of March 2021 at EU€ 1,149 (US$ 1,373*) which is about MYR 5,641** with the current conversion rate. The OPPO Find X3 Pro will be available in Gloss Black and Blue (yes, just ‘Blue’; no fancy naming this time) colour options. Alongside the OPPO Find X3 Pro, OPPO also announced that the OPPO Enco X is now available globally at EU€ 179 (US$ 214*), which converts to approximately MYR 879** currently.
There are no mentions to indicate specific local availability dates and official pricing. If we can take a guess though the OPPO Find X3 Pro might set you back MYR 5,899 and the OPPO Enco X will set you back between MYR 699 (based on CN¥ 999 pricing) all the way to MYR 899 (based on EU€ 179 pricing). We are also expecting that Malaysia’s availability for both devices to be somewhere at the end of March 2021 to early April 2021. For more information on the OPPO Find X3 Pro and OPPO Enco X ANC TWS earphones you can visit OPPO’s website.
*Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = US$ 1.20 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021
**Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = MYR 4.91 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021
ASUS is arguably one of the first companies to make a gaming smartphone. The original ROG Phone launched back in 2018 to much acclaim and praise and with a customised chipset from Qualcomm. This year, ASUS refines its ROG Phone series with more features and more affordable price points.
The ROG Phone 5 series is the first in the ROG Phone family to officially be introduced with more than one entry into the line up. The series will consists of the ROG Phone 5, the 5 Pro and the 5 Ultimate which are differentiated by a few features and key specifications. On the outside, the ROG Phone 5 series continues to inherit the ostentatious design queues which have become its signature. Over on the back you have the angular accents of the camera modules and the angular design of the new ROG Dotted Matrix Design which allows for some extensive customisation. The Pro and Ultimate variants, this is replaced by angular lines which surround the ROG Vision screen.
Specc’d to Game
When it comes to the phone itself, the ROG Phone 5 series comes equipped with a Samsung AMOLED screen. The screen is a 6.78-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2448×1080 pixels. The phone boasts one of the only displays with a 144Hz refresh rate. On the protection side of things, it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better scratch and shatter resistance.
The new entries are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with either 8GB, 16GB or 18GB of RAM with up to 512GB of internal storage. It doesn’t seem to support memory expansion with a microSD card – making it the third flagship this year to eschew the microSD card. The ROG Phone 5 Pro and Ultimate are available with 512GB of internal storage with 16GB and 18GB of RAM respectively. The ROG Phone 5 caps out at 256GB with 16GB RAM. The series is also the first in the ROG Phone series to support 5G connectivity.
Perfecting Audio
The new ROG Phone continues to support better audio features by not only retaining the 3.5mm audio jack but also introducing even more audio centric features. Of note is the inclusion of a high-end ESS9280AC Pro DAC on the 3.5mm jack for better audio fidelity. It also supports symmetrical dual front-facing speakers. These are some of the largest speakers on smartphones coming in at 12x16mm. ASUS promises a louder, more rounded experience with these speakers. Also along for the ride this time is a DIRAC tuned AudioWizard with customizable equalizer for your perfect sound. DIRAC is providing optimisations on the ROG Phone 5 series to minimise crosstalk and widen the sound stage of the audio experience on the ROG Phone 5.
Of course, the ROG Phone 5 series comes with all the bells and whistles of its predecessors including improved Air Triggers and motion controls. In addition, ASUS is also introducing a new AeroActive cooler which come with two physical buttons for the triggers when plugged in.
Accessories, Accessories, Accessories
As with previous ROG Phones, ASUS is bringing a whole slew of gaming oriented accessories to enhance the ROG Phone 5. The first, is the AeroActive cooler which helps cool the phone down during intense gaming sessions while allowing you to charge the phone. This year, there are actual buttons on the AeroActive Cooler to provide a more tactile experience when it comes to using the triggers.
This year sees an improved ROG Kunai 3 controller. The controller allows you to have the versatility to play in a more console like way on the gaming smartphone. If you’d rather a more attached experience, the ROG Clip gives you a controller with a clip for the smartphone. It can attach via the USB-C port on the side of the ROG Phone 5.
ASUS has also opted to include more audio centric accessories this year with the ROG Cetra II earphones which comes with active noise cancelling with ambient mode. The wired earphones come with LSR drivers for premium sound quality and embedded microphones. ASUS also introduced the ROG STRIX GO BT with the ROG Phone 5. The wireless headphones come with up to 45 hours of battery life and AI noise cancelling microphone technology.
For those looking to upgrade from the ROG Phone 3, take note that not all accessories are forward compatible. Notably, the TwinView Dock 3, Mobile Desktop Dock and AeroActive Cooler 3 are not supported. The Kunai GamePad II, on the other hand, is partially supported by the 5.
Pricing & Availability
The ROG Phone 5 series will be available starting March 2021. The regular ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for MYR2,999 (USD$726.84) for the 8GB/128GB version and MYR3,799 (USD$920.73) for the 16GB /256GB version. Both will be available in Phantom Black and Storm White. These versions do not come with the AeroActive Cooler. Internationally, the ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for €799 (USD$950.16) for the 8GB/128GB, €899 (USD$1,069.02) for the 16GB/256GB version and €999 (USD$1,187.94) for the 16GB/256GB version.
The ROG Phone 5 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 11 March 2021 to 25 March 2021. Pre-orders of the ROG Phone 5 will come with a free Kunai 3 GamePad. You can pre-order the phone exclusively on the ASUS store on Shopee.
The Pro will be retailing for MYR4,499 (USD$1,090.39). It will be available only in Phantom Black and comes with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. The Pro will be available starting in May 2021. Internationally, it will be costing €1,199 (USD$1,425.83).
The Ultimate will be retailing for MYR4,999 (USD$1,211.51). It will be available only in Storm White and will come with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. It also comes with the limited edition ROG Ultimate Fan Gift box which hosts a whole bunch of ROG swag. Internationally, the Ultimate will be costing €1,299 (USD$1,544.75).
UPDATE (11/03/21): OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 9 will come with a Sony IMX766 50-Megapixel ultra-wide camera. They also say that the Ultra-Wide camera should deliver distortion free ultra-wide shots thanks to the free-form lens technology OnePlus 9 features. The OnePlus 9 is also confirmed to come with a Sony IMX789 for its main camera.
HUAWEI has Leica right behind them, but they will not be the only one smartphone manufacturer with a large imaging giant behind their camera technology anymore in the market. Technically, since Sony’s Alpha integration with their smartphones, HUAWEI has not been the only one. Then again, Sony’s integration should have been natural in the first place. No matter.
Now OnePlus is the next smartphone player to add a big imaging solution manufacturer in their list of solution partners. That big name is Hasselblad. Of course, you see the benefits in the camera.
If you have not heard of Hasselblad, it is okay. Hasselblad is a name that is familiar only to enthusiast photographers and is a brand that you see in large studios. That is because their camera trade is unlike Sony, Canon, Nikon, and even Leica. They make Medium Format cameras, cameras with sensors as large as your face (that is an exaggeration).
If you put a Sony mirrorless camera beside a Hasselblad camera, the Sony will look like a child’s camera. But that is mostly thanks to the fact that the body of a Hasselblad needs to house a much larger sensor. You rarely see a Hasselblad out in the wild because of the heft. But they are also mostly used for studio photography to be made to large prints, like the ones you see on billboards or your magazines.
In that case, OnePlus is getting one of the world’s top imaging solutions provider as a partner and that can only mean one thing. The OnePlus 9 will come with a Hasselblad engineered camera. That, or at least a camera that is co-developed and engineered with Hasselblad, a world leader in imaging technology. That also means that OnePlus might take the camera top spot fight to the likes of Apple, HUAWEI, Samsung, Xiaomi, and even OPPO with the US$ 150 million that Hasselblad is planning to commit in the three-year partnership deal.
The OnePlus 9 is said to sport a custom Sony IMX789 sensor that is capable of shooting photos at 12-bit RAW. It is also rumoured that the OnePlus 9 can shoot videos at up to 8K (30fps), which also means that the camera is no less than 34-Megapixel. It is also supposed to be the first smartphone to be able to shoot 4K videos at 120fps, the slow-motion territory. The new camera supposedly packed into the OnePlus 9 also has a new autofocus mechanism that locks in a lot faster than traditional smartphone cameras.
There are no confirmations yet on the resolution of the camera currently. But at least we now know that the OnePlus 9 will come with an excellent low-light performance too thanks to dual native ISO. With some clever knowhow too, the OnePlus 9 should be able to shoot amazing looking panorama shots at 140o field of view.
There are a few things that we know about the OnePlus 9 though. The top-of-the-line variant should come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC. It could also come with up to 12GB of RAM and an OLED display with up to 120Hz in refresh rate. These are things we have seen before on the flagship though. The OnePlus 9 should also come with 65W fast-charging on a 4,500mAh battery pack too. Wireless charging is expected to be up to 45W for what will most likely be the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Unlike Samsung and Apple though, OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 9 will come with a charger. Many of today’s smartphone chargers barely hits 45W in charging speeds. In that case, for OnePlus to fully capitalise on their own 65W charging capability, its best that OnePlus includes their own proprietary charger that chargers at that speed, very much like OPPO and their VOOC technology.
The OnePlus 9 will be launched on the 23rd of March 2021 at 10.00 a.m. EDT (11.00 p.m. +0800GMT, Kuala Lumpur). We pretty much know how it will look like when it launches thanks to OnePlus’ own video teasing the Hasselblad camera. There are no mentions yet on its availability and official pricing.
Xiaomi’s Redmi line-up has been the long serving champion of great value for money smartphones. Okay, I might have exaggerated their position a minute there. But they are really good at what they do; they are really good at making budget friendly smartphones that punches above their weight.
Yesterday they launched the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note10 Pro in Malaysia with prices starting at MYR 799. The new Redmi Note series is, technically, the brand’s most advanced Redmi yet in certain areas.
Redmi Note 10 Pro
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
You get a very powerful and proven Qualcomm Snapdragon 700 series in the form of a Snapdragon 732G. Unfortunately, you do not get 5G capabilities with the chipset. Then again, 5G technology has yet to see public daylight in Malaysia at this time.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro more than makes up for it with an ultra-powerful 108-Megapixel main camera though. Yes, it is the same 108-Megapixel sensor that the Xiaomi Mi11 gets. You also get the enhanced Night Mode 2.0 for even better low-light shooting capabilities with the high-resolution camera. That added with the dual native ISO nature of the sensor means you can really take this device to the night. The 108-Megapixel camera also comes with an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide sensor, 5-Megapixel telemacro sensor, and a 2-Megapixel depth sensor to make it even more versatile.
You also get the Note 10 Pro with 120Hz AMOLED display. This makes this mid-ranger one of the most unique smartphones in the market. You seldom see 120Hz refresh rates in smartphones at this price, at this range. The 6.67-inch Full HD AMOLED display boasts Full HD+ and is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Of course, all that power needs a lot of electricity to keep it going. That is where the 5,020mAh battery comes in to ensure you get a whole day of running time. You can get the battery charged quickly too at 33W.
Redmi Note 10
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
The Redmi Note 10 is a little less impressive with 6.43-inch AMOLED DotDisplay taking up its front. But you still get 33W charging on the impressive 5,000mAh battery. You also still get dual speakers similar to the Redmi Note 10 Pro with Hi-Res Audio certification for immersive audio.
The Processor is a step down from the Redmi Note10 as well at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 678. The System on a Chip (SoC) is still no slouch though. You can still play modern mobile games with it with no issues.
On the camera front, while not as impressive as the 108-Megapixel main camera flanked by three other cameras, the Redmi Note 10 still has four cameras packed into the rear section of the device. You get a 48-Megapixel main shooter, which is still relevant today, an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter, a 2-Megapixel macro sensor, and a 2-Megapixel depth sensor.
Redmi Note 10S
Want a higher-resolution camera without breaking your bank with the high-end Redmi Note 10 Pro? There is the in-between model that is the Redmi Note 10S.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S features a 64-Megapixel main shooter that is flanked by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 2-Megapixel macro camera, and another 2-Megapixel depth camera. You can see a pattern emerging here. The 64-Megapixel sensor though should be able to give you super clear, super pretty photos out-of-the-box.
You are not getting a Qualcomm Snapdragon to boot here though. You are getting a MediaTek Helio G95 SoC to work with. The MediaTek Helio G95 is proven to be a potent and capable processor in mobile gaming, so you should not be left wanting more.
You also get 5,000mAh battery packed in its body for all-day battery and even more. If that is not enough, the battery charges at up to 33W too for a quick trip to the sockets.
Redmi Note 10 5G
If you want to take advantage of 5G networking when its available then you have to look at the 5G variant of the new Xiaomi Redmi Note series. It is the only Redmi Note series that is powered by MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 700 with 5G capabilities. There are some compromises on this device though.
For one, you get one less camera. You still get a high-resolution 48-Megapixel main camera to work with. But you are only getting two other cameras besides. You get a 2-Megapixel macro sensor and another 2-Megapixel depth sensor. You also lose out on the front camera at 8-Megapixel compared to 13 (10 and 10S) and 16 (10 Pro).
You do get a bigger display though at 6.5-inch. You also get an impressive 90Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate that will optimise itself to keep your device lasting as long as it can on a single charge. You also get a 5,000mAh battery for an impressive battery life. Although, you only get up to 18 in charging speed.
Spec Sheet
RedmiNote 10 Pro
RedmiNote 10
Redmi Note 10S*
Redmi Note 10 5G*
Display
120Hz AMOLED 6.67” DotDisplay
6.43” AMOLED DotDisplay
6.43” AMOLED DotDisplay
90Hz AdaptiveSync 6.5” DotDisplay
Rear camera
108MP wide-angle camera 8MP ultra-wide angle camera 5MP telemacro camera 2MP depth sensor
48MP wide-angle camera 8MP ultra-wide angle camera 2MP macro camera 2MP depth sensor
64MP wide-angle camera 8MP ultra-wide angle camera 2MP macro camera 2MP depth sensor
48MP wide-angle camera 2MP macro camera 2MP depth sensor
Front camera
16MP front camera
13MP front camera
13MP front camera
8MP front camera
Dimension & Weight
164mm x76.5mm x 8.1mm 193g
160.46mm x 74.5mm x 8.29mm 178.8g
160.46mm x 74.5mm x 8.29mm 178.8g
161.81mm x 75.34mm 8.92mm 190g
Processor
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 732G
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 678
MediaTek Helio G95
MediaTek Dimensity 700
RAM+ROM
LPDDR4X UFS 2.2
LPDDR4X UFS 2.2
LPDDR4X UFS 2.2
LPDDR4X UFS 2.2
Audio
Dual speakers 3.5mm headphone jack Hi-Res Audio certification
Dual speakers 3.5mm headphone jack Hi-Res Audio certification
Dual speakers 3.5mm headphone jack Hi-Res Audio certification
3.5mm headphone jack Hi-Res Audio certification
Security
Arc side fingerprint sensor
Arc side fingerprint sensor
Arc side fingerprint sensor
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Charging
5,020mAh (typ) battery Supports 33W wired fast charging
5,000mAh (typ) battery Supports 33W wired fast charging
5,000mAh (typ) battery Supports 33W wired fast charging
5,000mAh (typ) battery Supports 18W wired fast charging
Connectivity
Dual SIM Multi-functional NFC* IR blaster
Dual SIM IR blaster
Dual SIM Multi-functional NFC IR blaster
5G Dual SIM Multi-functional NFC IR blaster
Variant
6GB+64GB* 6GB+128GB 8GB+128GB
4GB+64GB* 4GB+128GB* 6GB+128GB
6GB+64GB 6GB+128GB 8GB+128GB
4GB+64GB 4GB+128GB 6GB+128GB
Available color
Onyx Gray Glacier Blue Gradient Bronze
Onyx Gray Pebble White Lake Green
Onyx Gray Pebble White Ocean Blue
Chrome Silver Graphite Gray Nighttime Blue Aurora Green
*Availability may vary between markets.
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 series, as per mentioned earlier starts at MYR 799 (Note 10 6GB + 128GB). The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro will be available in Malaysia with 128GB storage options only, and it starts at MYR 999 (6GB RAM) and MYR 1,099 (8GB RAM). The Redmi Note 10 will be available 8th March 2021 onward at official Xiaomi physical Stores, authorised retailers, and their official Lazada store. The Redmi Note 10 Pro will be available 15th March onward in Xiaomi’s official offline stores, authorised retailers, and their official store on Lazada. There are no mentions of pricing and availability for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S and Redmi Note 10 5G at this time.
There isn’t much you can’t do with a smartphone these days, from filming content to banking online from anywhere with just a few taps. But there is always room for improvement, and Samsung Electronics is constantly seeking to make the smartphone experience more intuitive to help us do even more. This is why One UI was created.
Unveiled in November 2018, One UI improved smartphone usability for millions of users. After two years of further evolution, Samsung launched One UI 3 in December 2020, building on the design, efficiency, and user experience of the original across various devices. Now Samsung is raising the bar yet again with One UI 3.1. From February 18th, the latest One UI is bringing updates to support powerful functionality for some existing smartphones.[1]
So what kind of experience can users enjoy with One UI 3? Samsung Mobile Press sat down with the designers of One UI to ask them what we can expect.
The 4 Principles of One UI
1) Focus on the task at hand 2) Interact naturally 3) Be comfortable to view 4) Make things responsive
These four principles were established by One UI designers to give users the best experience possible.
▲ Jeonggun Choi, Principal UX Designer in the Core UX Group, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics
The fourth principle is a completely new principal introduced for One UI 3.1.
“From tablets to foldable phones and regular smartphones, the types of devices people are using has diversified, and the number of features and functions has also increased,” said Principal UX Designer Jeonggun Choi. “Following this trend, new principles were needed to provide the best layout for our users.” Whether an app is running on the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Tab, or the foldable Galaxy Z series, the UI is optimized for each device.
When using the Samsung Notes app on smartphones with regular sized displays, for example, users can access the app menu by pressing the navigation button at the top left side of the screen. But on the Galaxy Z Fold and Tab series, users can take advantage of the larger display by having the entire menu always in view, without having to press anything.
▲ Before (left) and after (right) views of the high contrast menu function
As part of the fourth principle, Samsung has also improved the accessibility experience by recommending features that complement the ones already in use. When someone with impaired or weakened vision has High contrast fonts turned on, for example, One UI suggests other features that improve visibility such as Bold font or Dark mode on the Recommended for you screen. One UI also reduces the hassle of having to sort through several menus by allowing users to turn off any accessibility features they are using from a single screen.
“Accessibility features are so diverse that it can often be difficult to use them to their full potential,” said Jeonggun Choi. “The ‘Recommended for you’ function increases convenience and helps users get more out of those features by identifying and recommending ones that users may need. We’ve also made it easy to use these features only when needed by allowing users to turn the features on and off while in use on one page.”
Galaxy Ecosystem Allows for Seamless Connectivity Between Devices
Another perk offered by One UI 3 is the ability to seamlessly switch between smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Taking into account the increased use of tablets and laptops spurred by a boom in remote learning and work, the new update provides a ‘connected device experience.’ This seamless ecosystem is paramount to enhancing study and work productivity.
“A new feature called ‘Continue apps on other devices’[2] has been added so that users can continue whatever they were doing on their smartphone – whether browsing a web page or working on a draft in Samsung Notes – on their tablet,” said Principal UX Designer Min-Young Chang. “Users can also copy text on their smartphone and paste it onto their tablet.”
In addition, users can connect their Book Cover Keyboard to both their tablet and smartphone with the Wireless keyboard sharing feature. The new Auto Switch feature also automatically connects Galaxy Buds to whichever device is playing media, so that users can seamlessly switch between their smartphones and tablets.
Connected device experiences are not only available with mobile devices, they are also available on home appliances such as TVs. Starting with One UI 3, users can use Smart View to enjoy multimedia content from their smartphone on their TV alongside the camera feed from their smartphone. This is especially beneficial for users who work out at home, allowing them to compare their movements with those of their virtual instructor.
“Starting with the One UI 3.1 update, users can cast their Google Duo video calls onto their TV with one just click,” said Jeonggun Choi. “With an increasing number of people connecting with their family via video calls and conducting virtual work meetings, this is an especially useful feature.”
A Customizable Galaxy Experience to Suit Your Needs
Smartphones are no longer just a tool that gives users the power to do various tasks—they’ve become a means of self-expression. Perhaps the best example is decorating the Galaxy Z Flip with stickers to create your own unique phone. But there are many ways to create a custom smartphone experience with the latest updates. “We have implemented a diverse array of features to let users use their smartphone as a form of self-expression,” said Jeonggun Choi. “Users can enjoy a customized Galaxy experience by choosing a video as the incoming and outgoing call screen or changing the wallpaper in the Messages app.”
▲ Before (left) and after (right) views of the quick panel. The design has been simplified and the most commonly used icons have been placed to speed up the search process. Users can add other icons by clicking the ‘See more’ button in the top right corner.
“We first analyzed the usage for each feature available in previous models,” said Min-Young Chang. “After ranking the features based on their popularity, we placed the most used features at the top while hiding the least used features to simplify the panel.”
Saving Your Time, Even if it’s Only 1 Second
▲ Min-Young Chang, Principal UX Designer in the UX Design 2 Group, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics
Another updated feature available through One UI 3.1 is the integration of the Clock app with Digital Wellbeing’s Bedtime mode.[3] After opening the Clock app, users can tap See More, then tap Set bedtime to set their sleep and wake-up times. Users no longer have to switch between two apps, making setting a daily sleep schedule easier and faster.
“Users might not be aware of all of the One UI design updates that have been made but these improvements combined help users recognize and react to various features quicker and in a more direct manner. Even if it saves 1 to 2 seconds of user’s time, I think it would have been worth the effort,” said Jeonggun Choi. “The One UI designers are going to continue coming up with designs that elevate our users’ happiness and satisfaction with Galaxy devices.”
[1] Features of One UI 3.1 may vary by device model. Updates may vary by carrier, country, and model. [2] Both connected devices need to be running One UI 3.1 or above, have Bluetooth turned on, be signed into the same Samsung account, and be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. [3] The feature allows users to change the background to grayscale and mute incoming notifications in order to help them sleep better.
