Samsung has announced a new tablet in their line up, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. The new tablet complements their recently announced Galaxy Tab S6. The S6 Lite brings most of the Tab S6’s cutting edge features at a more affordable price point.
The new Galaxy Tab S6 lite will be running on Android 10 with One UI 2. This will be powered by an octacore Exynos 9611 processor with 4GB of RAM with either 64GB or 128GB of internal memory. The setup promises a pretty comparable experience to the Tab S6 and other competitors on paper.
Samsung is focusing on productivity and entertainment with the S6 Lite. It has equipped the tablet with AKG tuned dual speakers as well as a large 10.40inch TFT screen. It has a WUXGA resolution of 1200 x 2000 pixels and a pixel density of about 224 ppi. In addition, Samsung is bundling 4 months of YouTube Premium with the Tab S6 Lite. Spotify also integrates seamlessly into the new One UI setup on the Tab S6 Lite.
The Tab S6 Lite will also be coming with an S Pen in the box. You won’t need to worry about losing your S Pen as it will be able to stick to your tablet thanks to a magnetised right side. The S Pen comes with all the bells and whistles that come with the S Pen on the Note 10 series. However, given the camera setup of the S6 lite, we doubt it will have the AR features. That said, if you want to enhance your productivity even more, you’ll be able to get an optional keyboard magnetised case for the tablet.
The camera setup on the Tab S6 lite is a single 8-megapixel sensor on the back. This sensor comes with a wide lens and has a 1.12µm pixel size. It is capable of shooting 1080p at 30fps. On the front is a 5-megapixel sensor capable of shooting in 1080p at 30fps. These cameras should be able to handle most of what you need a camera to on tablet.
On the connectivity front, the tablet supports 4G LTE connectivity and also dual band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. It also has support for Bluetooth 5.0 LE and WiFi Direct. It is powered by a 7,040 mAh battery with Adaptive Fast Charging.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite will go on sale starting in Q2 2020 (April – June 2020) priced from USD$349 (MYR1,526.54). It will be available in Oxford Gray, Angora Blue and Chiffon Rose.
Last week, two of the biggest tech companies, Google and Apple, announced that they would be working together to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the companies announced a cross-platform API that would allow for better contact tracing. The companies also mentioned that they would be working with government bodies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and other orgranisations to develop the APIs.
That effort may have just hit its first snag in the United Kingdom (UK). in report published by The Guardian, the NHSX, the digitization arm of the National Health Service (NHS), and Google and Apple are at an impasse. The main issue seems to be related to the way data is collected and access to the data. In their announcement, the two tech companies were adamant that the development of their API will keep user privacy intact. This would mean that the data that is collected in a decentralised way; limiting what data is visible and what can be done with it. The NHS, however, is looking to collect data with a centralised database.
While the two approaches seem to a menial issue when it comes to the bigger picture, a decentralised approach to collecting data will allow better user privacy by limiting who has access to the data. Essentially, this will keep the data within the same device. However, using the NHS’s approach of having a centralised database, the data can then be viewed in aggregate. It also means that data is continuously communicated over the internet which can lead to more security concerns.
That said, with the new APIs begin developed by Google and Apple for Android and iOS, these contact tracing applications would be able to run in a more power efficient way. With the current restrictions on the way device features are used on the operating systems, the NHS’s app would be rendered near useless as it would need to be “active” to be able to use features like Bluetooth. This would mean that the apps would, in essence, force devices to maintain an open Bluetooth connection to help do the contact tracing. The fact that the app would need to be active to effectively contact trace, introduces a potentially huge backdoor for hackers and malefactors to take advantage of. However, using the approach being used by the APIs, this wouldn’t happen. It would use operating system access to trigger the Bluetooth when needed.
It seems that the NHS was hoping that these limitations would be eased up on for contact tracing purposes. However, Apple and Google are adamant in maintaining their limitations. In fact, Google has gone on record to say that the limitations are being maintained to prevent the abuse of functionality; in particular for surveillance purposes. On the other hand, the limitations also pose a data collection conundrum for bodies like the NHS. The extra data that they get from their approach would allow tracking of population flows, “near misses” and even contacts from those who have opted to share their data.
Malaysia and Singaore have released their own contact tracing apps in the Apple App Store and Google Playstore. The MySejahtera app and TraceTogether respectively have been deployed by the governments in those countries to help with managing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease. However, the apps have seen limited adoption among the general public. The TraceTogether app is already known to use Bluetooth to Bluetooth communication to help with contact tracing. The data collected by the app is stored in a centralized server similar to how the NHS wants to implement its app. This could be one of the factors of the app’s limited adoption.
Samsung has released the Galaxy S10 Lite equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. The processor is paired with a minimum of 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage and up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. A new and improved triple main camera consisting of a 48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro camera. For the selfie camera, it gets a 32 MP wide camera. Packing a relatively large-sized 4,500 mAh battery that could last you the entire day.
Coming in three different beautiful colours of Prism White, Prism Black, and Prism Blue. It is Priced at MYR 2,699 in Malaysia and USD$649 in the US. Will the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite live up to its other S10 Series? Is this Samsung’s answer to go against Chinese’s smartphone flagships?
The HONOR brand has always been known for bringing devices with great value for money and killer specs. Their flagship devices always bring top of the line specifications with a price point that makes them even more compelling. This year, the company is looking to do this with the HONOR 30 Series. Their latest flagship which refocuses their line up on smartphone photography.
The HONOR 30 series consists of three devices: the HONOR 30, HONOR 30 PRO and the HONOR 30 PRO+. The new line up is HONOR’s first to carry the Kirin 990 and Kirin 985 processors. The new 7nm chipsets bring 5G capabilities and better power efficiency. In fact, the HONOR 30 is the first smartphone to carry the all new Kirin 985 processor. The HONOR 30 PRO and PRO+ will be running on the Kirin 990 processor.
When it comes to display, the HONOR 30 PRO+ is the only one in the range which comes with 90Hz refresh. Other than that, the HONOR 30 series comes with an OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The HONOR 30 comes with a smaller 6.53-inch display while the PRO and PRO+ come with a larger 6.57-inch display. Across the series, the displays have a Full HD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.
On the memory side of things, the 30 will be equipped with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM while the PRO will only come with 8GB of RAM while the PRO+ will come with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. The 30 and 30 PRO will be pairing their RAM with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage while the PRO+ will be only have 256GB of internal storage. This is expandable with HUAWEI’s proprietary NM card.
As mentioned earlier, the HONOR 30 range is refocusing the company’s flagship series on photography. The 30 is equipped with a quad camera setup. The camera setup consists of a 40-megapixel RYYB sensor, a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. However, the PRO and PRO+ versions of the HONOR 30 come with a 50-megapixel RYYB sensor for the main sensor; specifically the Sony IMX700. They also retain all the same telephoto lens but have a larger 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The PRO and PRO+ come with only a triple camera setup unlike the quad camera on the HONOR 30. All these devices are capable of 50x hybrid zoom.
On the front, the 30 PRO and PRO+ come with a dual sensor setup with a 32-megapixel sensor paired with an 8-megapixel sensor. The HONOR 30 is equipped with a single 32-megapixel sensor.
The HONOR 30 series is the company’s first to come with 5G connectivity. This includes mmWave and sub-6 connectivity. The series comes with dual SIM capabilities and is powered by a 4000mAH battery with support for 40W SuperCharge. Wireless charging is only supported on the HONOR 30 PRO+. It also supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 LE. The series will be running Android 10 with Magic UI 3.1.
Pricing & Availability
The HONOR 30 and 30 PRO will be available in three colours: Emerald Green, Icelandic Frost, Neon Purple and Midnight Black. While the HONOR 30 PRO+ seems to have an additional Titanium Silver edition with the brand inscribed. Pre-order have already begun in China with the device scheduled to be available starting on 21 April.
Smartphones have gone quite crazy these days. If you think about it, there are not many smartphones that you can buy at MYR 1,000. Thing is though, there are plenty of people that still does not want to or cannot spend above MYR 1,000 for a new smartphone.
In that space, there are even less players. Most established brands in the smartphone industry has gone above the MYR 1,000 line. That leaves only certain players staying in that market space. One of the most prominent one that kept within that line is Realme.
While the price range does not make it sound like a premium brand, they do make some compelling smartphones. Their realme 6 that just launched about a month ago for example, gives you best in class performance but at the same time has an asking price that is easily reachable for almost anyone who is looking for a smartphone. Today, they introduced another one, the realme 6i.
Source: realme
The first thing they teased, not teased, what was the right word? Rendered. They rendered two colours on offer for the Realme 6i – Green Tea and White Milk. But that is not all they are, they are not just pretty things. They pack some power too.
It is even more powerful than the Realme 6. It packs a MediaTek Helio G80 Octa-core System on a Chip (SoC) that clocks up to 2.0GHz. That is MediaTek’s most powerful SoC to date, and realme 6i is the first device to boast this kind of flagship power from MediaTek. You get up to 4GB of RAM with the SoC too, meaning multitasking should be no issue. You get up to 128GB
Out the back is a 48-Megapixel main camera that is supported by three other lenses, very much like any modern realme. You get an ultra-wide lens, a black and white lens, and a macro lens together with the 48-Megapixel main camera. They did not specify the amount of megapixel the other lenses pack though. Out the front is a 16-Megapixel camera for selfies. There is no telephoto lens here, which is a little out of the ordinary. Thing is, black and white lens does help with detailing on your final photo though. All this power and high-resolution photo are pushed to your eyes through a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with a small notch on top of the display.
To ensure that you can take photos all day long or even play games all day long or at the very least stay connected to the world for a whole day, the realme 6i packs a large battery. Larger than usual at 5,000 mAh. That is also one of the largest you can find in smartphones in its class. That 5,000 mAh battery can be charged at 18W fast charger. It can also charge your friend’s smartphone if your friends need some extra power. Now you can be your friend’s hero.
Source: realme
The Realme 6i is available in two colour variants, as mentioned earlier. It will be available in Green Tea and White Milk colour variants. The Realme 6i will be available from MYR 699 (3GB + 64GB) and MYR 899 (4GB + 128GB). From the 23rd of April onward, the 3GB RAM and 64GB storage variant of the Realme 6i will be available exclusively on Shopee. If you do get your device on first sale date, you can get your device at MYR 599. The 4GB + 128GB variant will be available two days later on the 25th of April 2020 in all Realme authorised dealers and retailers. For more information, you might want to check out their website.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold made a triumphant debut last year at Galaxy Unpacked along side the Samsung Galaxy S10 series. It’s announcement and eventual roll out to consumers has made it one of the first commercially available foldable smartphone. Packing a unique form factor and multiple screens, the foldable has the unique ability to provide even larger visual real estate when unfolded.
Being one of the first on the market has its merits, however, does its form factor show promise? Is it worth buying? Is it a must have? Or are we still in early days when it comes to foldables?
Those are the questions we’re looking at as we unfold the Galaxy Fold and its many features in this review.
Design
It comes as no surprise that the Galaxy Fold’s design would be the talk of the town. In the past decade, we’ve not seen a smartphone come with a design that allows it to bend the same way. In fact, the combination of Samsung’s design, the multiple displays and the design materials used, make the smartphone truly unique.
Let’s start off with the aesthetics. The Galaxy Fold is undoubtedly a looker. It’s a smartphone cum tablet that is designed from the bottom up to be a premium device. The outer later of the Galaxy Fold is made of a combination of metal and glass, like many Samsung flagships before it. The outer shell of the smartphone feels sturdy and well built. The shimmer and reflective nature of the outer glass layer gives it a sense of allure and prestige. The hinge’s outer design complements this quite perfectly.
Since we’ve mentioned the hinge, it was one of the problem areas for Samsung when it initially sent out review samples. However, the company was quick to delay its commercial launch and improve the hinge design. It capped the sides of the hinges with plastic T-caps to prevent dust getting into the hinge and wreaking havoc. Personally, I think the tighter design of the hinge lent to more sturdy build of the device.
That said, one thing that stood out like a sore thumb to me was the gap between the two halves of the screen when the smartphone is folded. The Galaxy Fold leaves a gap of about half a centimetre at the hinge and tapers down to the edges when folded. While I know that Samsung designed the hinge as such to prevent creasing, some people are definitely going to find this a little aesthetically unpleasing.
Let’s move on over to the inside of the Fold, where the 7.6-inch display of the Galaxy Fold lies. Samsung should design their tablets like this! The sides of the screen are flanked with a raised plastic bezel which prevents the screen from getting scratched should you place it on the table face down. The plastic bezel also elegantly frames the dual camera sensors on the inside of the Fold. The outlook of the Fold’s insides scream premium and are pretty nice to use and interact with. I’d go so far as to say that it was made for pudgy fingers like myself!
The location of the volume rocker, power button and the fingerprint sensor make so much sense on the Galaxy Fold. Everything is in reach. You don’t have to struggle to power on or scan your fingerprint to unlock your phone. In fact, the smaller form factor of the Fold when folded makes for some of the most ergonomic placements for the buttons. But, it also lends to a display that I found a little bit of a let down. We’ll dive into that in the display section of this review.
Hardware
Samsung didn’t compromise much when it came to hardware in their first foldable flagship. They’ve packed a top of the line Snapdragon 855 paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal memory. You’ll definitely have more than enough performance to go around. With these specifications, you can expect smooth sailing when it comes to doing performance intensive tasks or running larger apps.
That said, Samsung’s approach to the multiple displays on the Fold leaves a little bit to be desired when it comes to practicality. That said, the company didn’t hold back when it comes to display quality – well, at least for the foldable screen. We’ll dive into the nitty gritty later on.
Aside from the screen, the hardware on the Galaxy Fold is commendable. Everything from having wireless charging, a unique battery design, supporting eSIM and even having HDR10+ all lend itself to an overall experience I can grow to like – with time and refinement.
The User Interface on the Galaxy Fold is your run-of-the-mill Samsung OneUI interface. That said, Samsung has introduced some optimisations specifically for the Galaxy Fold. These optimisations make the overall experience of the Fold truly cohesive and more productive compared to any of their other flagships out there.
The first is multiwindow. Yes. I know, any Android device out there can do multiwindow. However, the way Samsung has made optimizations for the Galaxy Fold allows you to be more effective with your work and productivity with the increased screen space. Naturally, I really couldn’t be effective using multiwindow in the smaller screen. There simply isn’t enough screen.
The second is app continuity. Samsung has made so that some applications are able to seamlessly move between the two screen environments of the Galaxy Fold. They automatically go from a the normal experience we’re used to on any phone to a tablet optimized one on the 7.3-inch foldable screen. That said, not every app is able to do this with some apps getting stuck in a 4.6-inch window. These apps end up as 4.6-inch letterboxes in the middle of the 7.3-inch display. The only way to get out of the app is to go back to the smaller screen and relaunch the app from the 7.3-inch display. This was particularly apparent with high intensity apps such as games.
The biggest difference between the Galaxy Fold and the other Samsung and Android devices is that there are two environments which you interact with. The smaller, 4.6-inch display on the outside and the foldable 7.3-inch screen. The optimisations are great – individually. However, when it comes to how Samsung has dealt with the experience, it feels disjointed and bridged. What I mean is, the spaces on the 4.6-inch screen and the 7.3-inch screen feel like they are two separate spaces. The home screens have to be set up individually. While I can appreciate the fact that some of us may customize our home screens differently with the two experiences, others may just want to setup a home screen that works on both displays. The experience feels like a scaled back version of Samsung’s KNOX. I would have much preferred if the home screen experience was more cohesive. Even if it was an option to turn on, it would have made the user experience a little better overall.
Other than that, the UI and user experience (UX) on the Galaxy Fold is pretty well optimized – as is expected from a Samsung device. The UI is similar on both screens which makes sense. You wouldn’t want to learn two different UIs on a single device. However, the let down when it came to UX is the poorly optimized apps when it comes to the larger display. Android’s lack of native tablet or large screen optimizations is glaring in the Fold but that’s not something that Samsung has control over. They are limited to the offerings and backbone that is provided by Google’s Android development.
Performance
The Galaxy Fold was no slouch when it came to performance. The device was pretty consistent and was able to take quite a beating when it came to high performance apps. The processor and software optimizations lent themselves to one of the most delightful smartphone experiences I’ve had to date.
Call Quality & Connectivity
Call quality on the Galaxy Fold was pretty good as is expected. The Fold was able to provide consistent call quality. The person on the other end sounded really clear and warm. There wasn’t any tinny resonance or distortion when it came to the speaker. People on the other end also noted that the audio was clear. In fact, I jumped from the smaller screen to the larger one during a call and the person on the other end couldn’t tell the difference between the two modes. This was literally a jump from an earpiece to speaker. This was a pleasant surprise for me.
The Galaxy Fold was pretty consistent when it came to connectivity over WiFi and even on cellular (4G). The smartphone was able to pick up line where my S9 was struggling to. This was a welcomed surprise. It is also most probably due to the updated antennae that come with an update processor. Even when I was getting no signal on the S9, the Fold was able to register one to two bars. That aside, there were no dropped calls or sudden drop in cell and WiFi signal when I was using the Fold. Even when it came to using Bluetooth headphones on the Galaxy Fold, the connection was pretty stable and was able to be maintained even when I left the room.
Multitasking
Multitasking on the Galaxy Fold is a truly enjoyable experience – especially when it came to the larger screen. With the added display real estate and Samsung’s optimisations, I was able to get more done with more windows. As mentioned before this, the smaller screen was a little too small when it came to multitasking.
Samsung enhanced the multiwindow multitasking on larger display of the Fold. I was able to use 3 – 4 apps simultaneously which allowed me to be more productive. I was constantly using my email, note taking and to do apps simultaneously when I was working on the Fold. Even with the keyboard activated, there was still ample display to read and reply emails while taking notes. I was also using apps like Spotify for music in the background.
During these multitasking sessions, I rarely experienced any lag or stuttering. In fact, the experience was pretty smooth. I’d go so far as to say it was a lot smoother than the experience I’ve had on many other flagship class smartphones. The optimizations that Samsung has put into the Fold are a boon to the smartphone’s uniqueness.
Gaming
Gaming on the Galaxy Fold was a rather mixed bag. This was mainly due to the poorly optimized apps on Android itself rather than a problem with the device itself. Many gaming apps couldn’t use the extra display real estate afforded to it by the larger screen of the Fold effectively. Many, if not all, of them simply stretched the smartphone layout which really didn’t do justice to the Fold’s extra real estate. However, gaming on the smaller screen was not too bad as it was more native for the apps.
That said, when it came to performance, the Galaxy Fold wasn’t hindered. Games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battle Grounds (PUBG) ran well on both displays and this was at the maximum settings afforded by the game. There wasn’t much tearing or lag and the gameplay was as good as it could get. Other, less intensive games, were able to run smoothly and games such as Candy Crush, Two Dots and even Angry Birds managed to retain a pretty good user experience even on the larger display.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Fold had really good battery life especially considering that it had two displays – one larger than most smartphones. I managed to get about one and a half days usage on average during my time with the foldable. However, when I was doing more intensive tasks, this was a lot lower at about 10 hours. That said, the inclusion of fast charge both through wired and wireless charging allowed me to quickly top off charge if battery levels dropped too low. This managed to get me through whatever I was doing until I could charge it properly.
Benchmarks
The Benchmarks for the Galaxy Fold are commendable. However, as with all our mobile reviews, we reiterate that benchmarks only tell part of the story. In fact, in the previous sections, it has been highlighted that the hardware of the Fold isn’t the main drawback. It has more to do with software optimizations and app support.
Displays
The Samsung Galaxy Fold comes with two displays: a 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED display and a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED Display. Both are good displays but there may be a few things that put the smaller screen at a disadvantage.
7.3-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED Display
The foldable display is one of the first of its kind in the world. Samsung wasn’t fooling around when it was designing the fold. The company decided to go with one of their best displays on the Fold and this definitely bolstered the viewing experience on the device.
The Dynamic AMOLED display is definitely one which allows content to shine. The colour reproduction and accuracy is one of the best when it comes to smartphone displays. The larger size of the display also lent to content being more immersive. The display was sharp and crisp. It had no problems when it came to performing under bright light. I was able to use and interact with the display without problems.
There is, however, one major issue with the display – the crease. Given that it’s a first generation foldable, I’ll cut it a bit of slack; But, to be honest, the display experience of the Galaxy Fold is disrupted, quite literally, by the crease. It is especially jarring when you’re viewing content that’s bright. Even when you’re using apps like Amazon’s Kindle app or reading a piece on a website, it’s hard not to notice the crease. In fact, you’re reminded of it every time you run your finger to swipe on the display.
The screen is also pretty fragile. Samsung had to repeated remind us to not press or interact with the screen recklessly. In fact, they reminded us that even putting your credit card in the middle of the fold could lead to the credit card number being permanently indented into the screen. While I didn’t have much issues with the screen getting scratched or indented during my time with the device, it was always in the corner of my mind. This also meant that I was constantly walking on eggshells when I was using the smartphone.
4.6-inch Super AMOLED Display
The cover screen is a run-of-the-mill Super AMOLED Display. The details were crisp and sharp and the lower resolution was really not noticeable cause of the screen size. Colour reproduction and accuracy left a little bit to be desired and, to be honest, it was constantly highlighted by the Dynamic AMOLED display underneath.
While I understand prioritizing the larger display, the smaller screen essentially became the one I was interacting more with since I would answer calls and texts with it. I was constantly looking for more display real estate when it came to the front screen. The elongated display and design of the screen made it so that things felt cramped which led me to do most of my typing on the larger display. I was also beginning to realise the flaws in colour reproduction and accuracy more and more as I used the Fold cause of the immediate availability of the larger Dynamic AMOLED Display in the Fold. Samsung could have opted to have a lower resolution Dynamic AMOLED Display for the cover display to have a more cohesive experience.
That said, the displays aren’t a deal breaker though. They serve their purpose and, to be very honest, I wasn’t consuming much media when I was using the front display. Instead, I found myself spending more time on the larger display as it was easier on the eyes, had more screen real estate and it was also more functional.
Cameras
The Galaxy Fold has six cameras in total. That’s more than a lot of smartphones when it first released. Samsung’s design sees a triple camera array as the main camera, a single camera on the cover and a dual camera setup in the Fold. It’s smart, but I think a bit of an overkill when it comes to cameras.
I found myself favouring the back camera array. The pictures taken with the main 12-megapixel sensor was always crisp and had really good details. This was the same for the 12-megapixel telephoto and the 16-megapixel ultrawide sensors. It was a really easy to use experience with photos turning out really detailed (with the right conditions). Samsung’s AI features also bolstered the camera experience giving suggestions and activating relevant modes seamlessly when I was in shutterbug mode.
The front, cover camera is a single 10-megapixel sensor and it became my go to camera when it came to selfies. The details and crispness of the photos were comparable to any other Samsung flagship. While the dual sensors would have allowed for more modes to shoot in, the convenience of having this camera on the outside made it a default for selfies.
The cameras I used the least were the ones in the Fold: the 10-megapixel and 8-megapixel dual sensor setup. Perhaps it’s cause I was rarely in video calls, but it felt more seamless taking pictures with the front, cover camera. However, when I did use it, the pictures and video were really good. I could see a lot of detail and even when I was in video calls, people on the other side remarked that the image was a lot clearer compared to other smartphone cameras.
So Much Potential, Let Down by Software that Feels Like a Work in Progress
All in all, the Galaxy Fold is a device I would get – in the future. The smartphone is definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to foldables, the Fold still feels like a work-in-progress. It feels like a collection of ideas which need a little bit more tweaking to be ready for prime time. The form factor has a lot of potential but it feels like Samsung was a bit rushed with the Fold. It doesn’t have that Samsung finesse we’re used to seeing with their flagships and higher end devices.
That said, the Galaxy Fold is in no way a bad device. It’s actually one of the best devices that Samsung has designed to date. It’s a breath of fresh air in an increasingly stale smartphone market. Samsung was able to excite a market that had grown to become routine with minimal design updates. In fact, if you do have the cash to spare, it can be a valuable investment especially if you’re the type of person that is always looking to be productive on the go.
Apple has announced the latest addition to their iPhone line up, the new iPhone SE. Yep. It’s not the iPhone SE 2 or the iPhone SE 2020, the company has simplified things by just naming it the iPhone SE. The new affordable iPhone will be replacing the iPhone 8 which will be halting sales after the new smartphone hits stores.
Apple hasn’t compromised much when it comes to the new iPhone SE. The company is packing it with some of the latest technology that comes with iPhone 11 series; making the new SE one of the most feature packed offerings in the market for its price point.
The iPhone SE comes with the new A13 Bionic processor that the company launched with its iPhone 11. The SE also comes in a familiar package retaining the iPhone 8’s design and chassis. That’s not all that it retains, it also brings back the home button and Touch ID sensor that Apple’s iPhone flagships have done away with since the iPhone X. The iPhone SE is also smaller overall. It comes with 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone which allows for a more comfortable experience with the smartphone. It has a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels in a familiar 16:9 aspect ratio. The phone also comes with Haptic Touch which enables the Quick Actions functionality in iOS.
On the camera front, the iPhone SE comes with a single 12-megapixel sensor. The sensor has an f/1.8 aperture and is equipped with a wide angle lens. Apple is touting the SE’s single sensor camera as one of the best on an iPhone yet. It enables some of the most used camera features nowadays such as Portrait mode with Apple’s six Portrait Lighting effects and Depth Control using the Neural Engine of A13 Bionic processor. This also translates to the front camera of the iPhone SE. The single, 7-megapixel sensor is able to take portrait pictures using machine learning and also what Apple calls monocular depth estimation. The main camera supports 4K UHD video recording of up to 60 frames per second (fps) while the front facing camera supports up to 1080p.
The SE will be running iOS 13 out of the box and will also be able to support augmented reality (AR) experiences available on apps in the Apple App Store. It also supports eSIM and dual SIM functionality.
Pricing & Availability
The iPhone SE will be go on pre-order starting from 5 a.m. on April 17, 2020. It will be available in stores and via carrier partners starting April 24, 2020 in the U.S. an in 40 other countries.
Source: Apple
It will be retailing at USD$399 for the 64GB version, USD$449 for the 128GB version and USD$549 for the 256GB version. The iPhone SE will be available in White, Black and (PRODUCT)RED. Proceeds from the sale of the (PRODUCT)RED version of the iPhone SE will contribute directly to the Global Fund to combat COVID-19.
No official availability has been announced for Malaysia just yet. However, the iPhone SE is listed on Apple Malaysia’s Website. The official Pricing in Malaysia is as follows:
Last night was a special night. Last night (it is night in Malaysia, morning or daytime in wherever the OnePlus was launched) was the big launch of OnePlus’ highly anticipated follow up to the OnePlus 7 line-up. It is the launch night of the OnePlus 8 series.
The OnePlus 7 series was something quite special to us. We like it a lot. Then again, we have always liked the OnePlus brand. We loved the OnePlus 7T, launched later in the year is a big reinforcement of the OnePlus 7.
The OnePlus 7 Pro was also the first time we praised its camera when we tested it last year. For the first time, we liked the photo quality from a OnePlus. We think that that could be thanks to some expertise borrowed from OPPO. I doubt that they will give credits to OPPO for that though.
The OnePlus 8 then, the replacement to the OnePlus 7 series. They start with the display of the device. On the older OnePlus 7, they pushed boundaries with 90Hz in refresh rate. This year, after OPPO’s Find X2 launch, we suspected that the OnePlus 8 series will get the same sort of display. We guessed right on that one. It even has the same punch hole that fits a front-facing camera. Yes, they are ditching the pop-up mechanism as well. That also means that it is an IP68 rated device now.
Source: OnePlus
It is a 6.7-inch 120Hz QHD+ display, exactly same as the OPPO. It also boast 10-bit format display which produces 10-billion colours on the OnePlus 8 Pro. That 120Hz refresh rate is also paired to 240Hz in sampling rate. We loved the display on the OPPO Find X2 (review coming soon). It is ultra-responsive, ultra-smooth, and very beautiful. I personally used it for PlayStaion Remote Play for Death Stranding, and we can really appreciate its colours and resolution.
Then comes the camera, they fit a bigger camera this time too. It is a 48-Megapixel main camera that is flanked by another 48-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens on the side. Yes, it is sounding like the OPPO Find X2 Pto. It even has Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) to pair with. In that case also, you can expect this smartphone to impress your eyes with its photos.
Source: OnePlus
You also get the ultra-powerful, ultra-snazzy Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. Paired to the Snapdragon 865 is 12GB of RAM for even smoother and better multitasking. That is sort of where the similarities between the OnePlus 8 Pro and OPPO Find X2 Pro ends though.
Videos can go up to 4K. But this time, you get audio Zoom as well and 3D audio capture so you can add some dynamics to your videos. Smartphone videos have come a long way and some film makers are already starting to use smartphones in their arsenal of tools. Take us for example.
There is a new haptic feedback machine that is designed to give you more immersion during gaming. That is different from the OPPO’s haptic feedback vibration engine. It also has a wireless charging capability. Its 4,510 mAh battery is VOOC FlashCharge capable too, but you can wirelessly charge the OnePlus 8 Pro at 30W, fastest ever on a wireless charger so far. It even reverse charges other wirless charging devices.
Source: OnePlus
Other things that the device comes with are software based. You can do Live Captioning with audio and video recording, which is something else really. That is also thanks to OnePlus working with Google. In that collaboration as well, you get to take advantage of Google’s extra 100GB space of Google Drive for you. You can also access to selected Stadia titles on your OnePlus. Time to spend on a decent controller for your smartphone. It is also Amazon Alexa compatible should you prefer the Amazon based assistant.
Then there is the OnePlus 8, the regular one. It is just a slightly smaller version of the OnePlus 8 Pro. It packs the same Sony IMX586 sensor that pushes 48-Megapixel. Paired to it though is a 16-Megapixel ultra-wide camera. That is also supported by a Macro lens at the other side. It has a smaller display too, at 8.55-inch. The 8.55-inch is not a 120Hz display though. It is a 90Hz Fluid display that we saw on last year’s OnePlus. That also means that it is a Full HD+ display instead of a QHD+. Still a nice display though.
Instead of the 4,510mAh battery you get on the Pro variant, it makes do with a 4,300mAh battery. It is a smaller smartphone after all. At least you still get the 30W wireless charging capability. Both OnePlus 8 devices also support 5G out of the box, which is nice.
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
Source: OnePlus
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro is available in three colour choices. One of which is called Interstellar White, which is claimed by OnePlus to be a pain for photoshoots. No, not its camera, it is a pain to other cameras because apparently it does not stay in the same colour in all sorts of angles. That is not good for us. But still, we might like it.
The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro will be available in selected markets April 2020 onward. The regular OnePlus 8 will set you back US$ 699 (MYR 3,028*) for the 8GB + 128GB variant, and US$ 799 (MYR 3,462*) for the 12GB + 256Gb variant. The OnePlus 8 Pro will set you back US$899 (MYR 3,895*) for the 8GB + 128GB variant and US$ 999 (MYR 4,329*) for the 12GB + 256GB variant. There are no word yet on when that device will reach Malaysia. If the OnePlus 7 series is any indication though, we are guessing that the distributor will start selling the OnePlus 8 by May 2020 onward. We can only wait though.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.33 as of 15/4/2020
Last week, we saw the HUAWEI P40 series being globally launched. The HUAWEI P40 and the P40 Pro is supposed to come to the market first. The HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus is probably the one you want to go for, but that is going to set you back a lot of money and you have to wait until mid-year 2020. It is also the one that comes with five cameras instead of the measly three of the HUAWEI P40 and the four of the HUAWEI P40 Pro.
Source: HUAWEI
In that case, you might have expected the HUAWEI P40 series to arrive in Malaysia a little later, in waiting for the HUAWEI P40 Pro+. That is not the case though. Malaysia is quite a lucky market. Well, if I am quoting them right, Malaysia is one of their key markets in South East Asia. Flattering, no?
That also means that we are one of the first markets also to get HUAWEI’s latest and greatest. That happens today with the HUAWEI P40 series, starting with the HUAWEI P40 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro flagship devices. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+, as was announced in the global launch, will be available at a later date.
Source: HUAWEI
Still, the HUAWEI P40 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro are still the flagship device that you have been waiting for since the HUAWEI P30. We found the HUAWEI P30 to be quite brilliant, if we are being honest and we do not expect the HUAWEI P40 devices to be anything less than that. Still we have covered all the necessary spec talk in the global launch, so we are going to spare you the lecture.
Briefly though, the flagship series is powered by none other than HUAWEI’s own HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G capable System on a Chip (SoC) with dedicated dual Neural Processing Units (NPU) for maximum delivery. All of them will come with 8GB of RAM. That is smaller than some of the outgoing flagships now. Then again, who needs more than 8GB? Both flagships will come with a main 50-Megapixel camera.
Source: HUAWEI
The only few things that differentiate one from the other is the design cue, their screen sizes, the number of cameras packed at the back, and their price tags. The HUAWEI P40 comes with a regular 6.1-inch display with Full HD display while the Pro comes with a bigger 6.58-inch overflow display with 90Hz and 2,640 by 1,200 pixels for resolution. The HUAWEI P40 comes with three cameras at the back while the HUAWEI P40 Pro comes with four cameras at the back.
The HUAWEI P40 and P40 Pro will be available for pre-order from the 3rd April 2020 (10.08 a.m.) onward via HUAWEI’s online sales portal, various retail partners, or HUAWEI’s Lazada Flagship store and your devices will come to you on the 11th of April onward. You have to keep in mind that while the HUAWEI P40 and P40 Pro are EMUI 10 devices based on Android 10, they do not come with Google’s Play Store. The HUAWEI P40 flagship series will come in four colours for now – Black, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, and Silver Frost. I must say that I really like the Silver Frost.
Alongside the HUAWEI P40 series, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro has also arrived in Malaysia. The HUAWEI MatePad variant that is coming to Malaysia though is the WiFi edition one, not the 5G ready one. It is available in two colours – Midnight Grey and Pearl White. It will also be available for pre-order at the same time the HUAWEI P40 series is available for pre-order on the 3rd April 2020 for MYR 2,399. If you do, you get a keyboard case, the M-Pen, and 3-month free subscription for HUAWEI Video worth MRY 1,000.
There is also the HUAWEI Watch GT 2e that is designed for the active lifestyle. The HUAWEI Watch GT 2e can last you two weeks on a single charge and will come in two colours – Mint Green and Graphite Black. It will also be available for pre-order at the same time for MYR 599. If you do, you get a free strap that is worth MYR 68.
How much? The HUAWEI P40 will set you back MYR 2,799 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro will set you back MYR 3,899. If you pre-order your device you get to enjoy free gifts worth up to MRY 1,300. You get a free HUAWEI FreeBuds 3, 50GB of cloud storage, 1-year extended warranty, 1-month of screen protection, 3-months free subscription to HUAWEI Video, wireless charging case for the P40, and a wireless car charger if you get the HUAWEI P40 Pro. For more information on the HUAWEI P40 series, you can head to their website.
We like Garmin smartwatches, we do. While some of them are not specifically smartwatches in the modern sense (touch screen), they do still work like one. They connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone. They can be connected to your earphones for exercises and runs. They detect your heartrate and display all the information it can gather on your smartphone. They also take on notifications from your smartphones. So, the Garmin fitness trackers are smartwatches, unique smartwatches.
We like Garmin smartwatches because they are very well made. They are very rugged too, and their smartwatch batteries last you weeks instead of hours or days. Plus, their expertise in GPS tracking does not hurt as well. They are remarkable premium smartwatches to own.
In that sense also, Garmin has been making smartwatches that is targeted towards certain types of individuals. Most of them are quite active, to be fair. You get runners, swimmers, sailors, flyers, and even race drivers.
They also make smartwatches for golfers that is the Approach S40 and the S60. There is a new one though, an even better one. Welcome to the Approach S62.
Source: Garmin
The Garmin Approach 62 is an evolution of the Approach S60. That also means that it has all the great features of the Approach S60. It is a touch screen smartwatch, so you do not have to fiddle around with the buttons. At the same time, it has all the tracking functions you need on the golf course. It keeps all the distance information and scores for you so you can look at the data at home.
The new Garmin Approach S62 though can do one better. It has a slew of new sensors for swing detection. Now you can look at your past swings and let the watch determine which clubs are the best for each shot from wherever you are. Yes, the Approach series has golf course map data built into the smartwatch. They call the feature ‘Virtual Caddie’.
Source: Garmin
The Garmin Approach S62 smartwatch also features slightly bigger display at 1.3-inch. While it does not sound like much, a larger screen also means you do not have to squint so much to find your data or look at what is on the display. Of course, like a smartwatch too it has all the bells and whistles you might already expect from a smartwatch like heart rate monitors, oxygen saturation levels and what not.
You can expect the Approach S62 to last you up to 14 days on a single charge. With GPS mode on, you cut that down to 20 hours. Look at it this way though, you are not going to be walking around the golf course for 20 hours at a time. 20 hours is more than enough then.
Source: Garmin
Source: Garmin
The Approach S62 is available for pre-order via Garmin’s brand stores and MST golf stores across Malaysia. It will set you back MYR 2,399; more expensive than the Approach S60. You cannot technically go out to buy the Approach S62 now though because of the whole Movement Control Order (MCO) situation. Pre-orders are until the 30th of April 2020 though so you have about two weeks to pre-order one for yourself. If you do pre-order, you get MYR 259 worth of Garmin’s golf merchandises (while stocks last).
