Each year, there are a few events we all look forward to. For Samsung, we are always excited for their two Unpacked events. For Apple, they have their WWDC and annual iPhone launch events. For Google, we are always excited for their I/O event. This year, as expected, it is happening.
The last Google I/O 2022 saw Google announce their latest Tensor 2 integrated mobile processing chip. It also saw their latest Google Pixel smartphone revealed to the world. To the disappointment of many, The Google Pixel did not come with a foldable or flip form that was highly anticipated and rumoured.
For 2023, the date to be saved is 10th of May 2023. Google’s current CEO has tweeted the event date and even posted a link that directs users to the mini page complete with a countdown clock. The website also says that the conference is open to all who wish to attend or watch online. There will be a “limited live audience” present though, according to Google.
As usual, we expect to see the next iteration of Android, Android 14 now to be announced at the event. Android 14 is now available too for developers, so if you want to be the first to know what is going to come, you can sign up as one and preview the build yourself. Alongside Android 14, we expect to see Google announcing new hardware, a new Pixel device perhaps, a new Wear OS device, and maybe a TV box. If we are lucky, maybe they will launch a new Chromebook at the event. There are a few rumours going around that we can expect to see Google’s foldable Pixel devices announced in this year’s Google I/O event. There are also rumours about a tablet device from Google that is to be announced in the upcoming event.
All these are just speculations for the time being though. The event is not happening in another two months, which means there is still plenty of unknown. What we know though is that there will also be various developer sessions and discussions after the keynote event headed by Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google.
The INSTAX cameras are a lot of fun. In any social gathering, the INSTAX camera and printer can capture great memories and you can physically keep the photos for these occasions and start a collection. There is only one issue, with most INSTAX cameras, there is no way for you to digitally store the photos. This is where INSTAX UP! app comes in.
It is not another camera app. You do not need another camera app on your smartphone, since most modern smartphones offer better than ever camera experiences today. But it still does rely on using your smartphone’s camera.
Instead of capturing the regular things like portrait or objects in street photography, it captures your INSTAX print outs. It can even recognize the type of print you are using including mini, SQUARE, and WIDE films. To ensure that the digital copy is free of all sorts of blemish, the app automatically reduces glare on the photos in challenging conditions. You can even adjust the contrast, brightness, and even colour vividness and temperature after capturing the photos. All that is then stored in your smartphone digitally so that you can reprint the image using an INSTAX printer if you want.
There are more you can do with your INSTAX photos now with the INSTAX UP! app. There is a new ‘photo in photo’ mode. You can take the print and put it against a backdrop of a scenery or other photos to be shared across social media directly from the app itself. You can even compile your favourite photos within the app. While compiling your collection, you can shake the app to mimic the INSTAX films being tossed around in a box. You can even share this collection with your friends directly from the app.
The app even allows you to choose how you want to view your INSTAX photos. You can keep it neat and organized in the ‘list view’ mode. Or, if you do not mind a little bit of chaos, there is the ‘box view’ mode that makes it look like you tossed your INSTAX films all into a box. You can also find a few ‘tips and tricks’ from the app itself in taking photos and portraits that will look good on and INSTAX films or even how to spice up your home and room with INSTAX products.
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
The app is now available for free on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. The app, as mentioned, is compatible with any INSTAX film and photos that has been printed. Again, it is not a camera app. You can find out more about the INSTAX UP! and other products from their website.
Touch ‘n Go should not be an unfamiliar name to Malaysians or residents of Malaysia. They are technically the first company in Malaysia to introduce cashless transactions via their Touch ‘n Go prepaid cards for tolls and later for public transportations. They were not the first to introduce an eWallet app for Malaysia, probably one of the latest. At their current state though, they are one of the most widely used eWallet apps in Malaysia.
As one of the most widely adopted eWallet in Malaysia, security and safety in transactions and storing money is a bigger concern than ever before. Even with various digital banking systems in place, scams and fraud activities still can happen. In that regards, Touch ‘n Go has introduced five measures in accordance to Bank Negara of Malaysia’s latest mandatory guidelines for banks to combat fraud and scams on their own platform.
Venturing Beyond Passwords
The first of the five measures implemented by Touch ‘n Go is to move beyond one-time password (OTP) systems to more secure systems. For Touch ‘n Go, that more secure system is through face verification. Facial recognition, as a security measure, is nothing new. It has been a security system that has been introduced on Android smartphones for a long time now and has been made better with each iteration and new technologies. In leveraging a modern smartphone’s camera system, the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app now requires a particular user’s face for app logins, PIN changes, and even perform transactions. They also require users to blink when using the feature just to make sure that offenders are not just using a photo of the user to access the app.
Tighter Fraud Detection and Blocking
Fraud detection has been a large part of operating digital payment systems. Even banks have their own ways and guidelines in handling fraudulent transactions. To ensure they can prevent fraudulent transactions, they have placed a few guidelines and rules to transactions. In some cases, transaction limits are set to prevent certain transactions from happening.
In accordance with the latest guidelines from Bank Negara Malaysia, Touch ‘n Go have implemented new rule sets for transactions. According to Touch ‘n Go, the new rule sets are tighter than before. There is also a new set of thresholds for transactions that will trigger alerts from the app. If any abnormal activities are tracked, an email alert will be sent out to users. Users still can set transaction limits too, in case of transactions where the set limit is breached, users will need to verify the transactions further.
One Device, One Account
While it is not a unique feature at this point, you can only attach your Touch ‘n go eWallet account to a single device. That means that even if you have two smartphones, you can only use your Touch ‘n Go eWallet on one of your devices. You cannot have both devices logged into the eWallet too.
They also introduced a feature called TapSecure on the app. The feature requires users to authenticate and verify transactions via the app. The feature can only be attached to one users’s linked device for transaction approvals within the user’s account.
Still Getting Through Toll Gates
All the new measures point to ensuring that users verify themselves before making any sort of transactions. There is a problem, however. Touch ‘n Go eWallet has been adopted to work with toll gate payments in Malaysia. If the measures are also implemented for toll payments, toll gates could be backed up.
In that sense, Touch ‘n Go is only implementing the security and verification measures based on their risk assessment. For low-risk transactions like toll gate payments, verification will not be required. There are also other low risk transactions implemented within Touch ‘n Go that will not trigger the security measures.
If you are logging into your eWallet for the first time on a new device, there will be a number of limitations to the app usage and transaction limit too within the first 48 hours. That limit also includes topping up the eWallet. Any transactions and top ups that is not within the limit will be rejected outrightly.
Easier to Reach
To bolster the effort in fraud prevention, Touch ‘n Go has also set up their own dedicated channel for fraud and scam reports. The call center will be based out of the National Scam Response Centre, Malaysia’s own fraud and scam response unit and center. The dedicated channel links you directly to a specialized team that will attend to any fraud or scam cases or queries. You can reach them at +603-5022 3888 and select “4” to make any fraud or scam reports.
For more information on Touch ‘n Go’s latest safety measures, you can check out their website.
If you want to buy a smartphone that folds, you have a very simple choice. To be fair, there was not too many choices to begin with. In Malaysia at least, you could only get your hands on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip smartphone. Not anymore though, now you can get one from OPPO.
They call it the OPPO Find N2 Flip smartphone. Yes, it shares nearly the same name as the foldable candybar that is the OPPO Find N2. It is smaller than the Find N2 though, and it folds differently.
At MYR 3,999, the Find N2 Flip not what you want to call accessible. It is also priced the same as its competition. At this time too, it is the most expensive OPPO smartphone you can get your money on.
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Flagship Power
For that money, you are paying for a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ system on a chip (SoC). Before you dismiss the OPPO Find N2 Flip as an overpriced mid-range smartphone, we can assure you that the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ is designed to be a powerful flagship class smartphone processor. The SoC even offers dual-SIM 5G capabilities. At the same time, the SoC allows OPPO to work with its best-in-class SUPERVOOC battery charging speeds at 44W. Alongside the powerful SoC, you get 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM for super-fast operations and smooth multitasking. You also get up to 256GB in storage, which you will want to ensure you have enough storage space for all your photos.
50MP Camera Co-Engineered with Hasselblad
You need 256GB of space because the camera fitted to the Find N2 Flip can take 50-Megapixel photos with some Hasselblad magic. There is also an 8-Megapixel shooter for ultra-wide angle photos. Out the top of the internal display is a 32-Megapixel selfie camera. Of course, the cameras all work with OPPO’s in-house built MariSilicon X image processor to enhance low-light photos and even videos.
Two Displays, One Smartphone
Source: OPPO
Before you get to the large internal display, you are met with a large external display that is more than functional enough for you to work with. The 3.26-inch acts as your sort of mirror or secondary monitor when you are taking photos or videos. Your subject can even look at how they will eventually look in the photo and give you directions if they need to. The large display also allows you to get more info from apps from bespoke widgets. You can even control some of the apps directly from the external display without unfolding the entire device. Always-on-display mode allows you to get even more information from your smartphone without even picking your device up from the table.
Flip the device open and you get a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 21:9 aspect ratio. You get Full HD+ resolution out of it, nothing too extravagant here. You still get smooth 120Hz experience with it though. With up to 240Hz of sampling rate too, the device will feel snappy in your hands. Of course, the AMOLED panel sports 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut with vivid and realistic colour reproductions.
Big, Fast Battery
Keeping everything running an entire day and more is the biggest battery you can find in this kind of smartphones. You find a 4,300mAh battery feeding all the components for an entire at a time. The 44W SUPERVOOC charging ensures that you can get it up and running again in less than an hour when it is flat.
The New Generation Flexion Hinge – Teardrop Fold
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
The bulk of the money, we feel, goes to the innovative hinge design that keeps crease on your main display at minimum. They call it the New Generation Flexion Hinge rather than Flexion Hinge 2, for some reason. Still, they say that the new hinge is much better and more robust than before. They claimed that the hinge is tested to more than 400,000 folds without failure.
The original Flexion hinge was a complex thing. The New Generation Flexion Hinge has been simplified to minimize moving parts and therefore increase reliability and durability. Less moving parts also means less things to go wrong and less wear on the components. Less components also means that the hinge is smaller than before.
The result is a compact hinge than can sit in a body tighter and slimmer than ever before. The innovative new hinge also allows the device to be folded in without a gap in between panels to better protect the display against dust and other contaminants when it is folded in. A smaller hinge module is also what allowed OPPO to fit larger battery and external display modules.
Price and Availability
The OPPO Find N2 Flip is now available for pre-order until the 10th of March 2023. You get to chose between two attractive colours – Astral Black and Moonlit Purple. As mentioned, it will set you back MYR 3,999. If you do pre-order your smartphone, you are eligible for exclusive free gifts like an extended warranty plan, an Enco Air3 wireless headphones, and case for your smartphone all amounting up to MYR 637 in value. You even get to top up MYR 299 for a OPPO Care Screen Protection Plan if you want, a 50% discount. You can pre-order your OPPO Find N2 Flip from My OPPO Space, OPPO brand stores, telco partners, OPPO’s own Official Online Store, their official stores on Shopee and Lazada, and all their retail partners across the nation.
Qualcomm continues to drive innovation for IoT at MWC 2023, with a host of announcements for both their hardware and software platforms.
iSIM announced for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platforms
A huge step for IoT devices with iSIM available on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The highlight of these announcements is the unveiling of Integrated SIM (iSIM) for their flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform. The iSIM is a highly desirable form factor for developers as it allows space saving in design, be it smartphones or even wearables, while also reducing supply chain costs. The iSIM saves space by eliminating the need for a separate component while also requiring significantly less power than eSIMs. Both of these traits are cornerstones for developing IoT devices.
Collaborating with French developer Thales, Qualcomm has also confirmed GSMA’s (Global Association for the Mobile Communications Industry) security certification for what would be the world’s first commercially deployable iSIM. This assures best-in-class security level while also being compliant with the GSMA Remote SIM Provisioning standard that Thales eSIM already offers. This form factor also complements existing SIM and eSIM designs, and research by Kaleido Intelligence suggests the market share to grow to 300 million by 2027.
Snapdragon Spaces to kick start AR experiences with global partners
7 global operators will leverage Snapdragon Spaces for new and exciting AR experiences.
Qualcomm has also furthered their commitment towards Extended Reality (XR) with plans to leverage Snapdragon Spaces with 7 leading global operators. These include a multi-year collaboration with Japan’s KDDI corporation focused on the expansion of XR use cases and creation of a developer program. The Snapdragon Space XR Developer Platform is a cross-device, open-ecosystem that provides developers with the tools to pioneer Augmented Reality (AR) experiences, with a focus on headworn AR devices. Just recently, Xiaomi has set things in motion with the recently announced Xiaomi Wireless AR Glasses Discovery Edition, powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Platform. Oppo too has confirmed a new mixed reality (MR) device, the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 device to be approved as Snapdragon Spaces Ready.
Scaling digital transformation with Qualcomm Aware Platform
Qualcomm has also unveiled their Qualcomm Aware Platform, which aims to provide the resources necessary to simplify and scale digital transformation. These include a combination of industry-leading cloud and edge technologies, API-first architecture and developer-friendly tools.
Scaling digital transformation through the Qualcomm Aware platform
Qualcomm already offers industry-leading IoT modem chipsets, including the recently announced Qualcomm 216 IoT LTE Modem capable of speeds of up to 10 Mbps at ultra-low power. With the recent acquisitions of Skyhook Wireless, Inc. and the assets of PoLTE Corporation, new proprietary positioning techniques and a now global signal database allows Qualcomm Aware to deliver intelligent and ubiquitous location capabilities in an always-on, low-power manner.
Having the best silicon and global connectivity is not enough to guarantee IoT deployment success, so Qualcomm has worked hard to address a key challenge in this area; ecosystem fragmentation. Qualcomm Aware brings together an ecosystem of hardware and software partners to develop solutions for varied yet specific business needs. This has culminated with Qualcomm Aware Blueprints, which enable enterprises to quickly and efficiently roll-out pre-designed solutions, tailored to requirements.
A growing list of Qualcomm Aware Supporting Partners
With efficiency in mind, Qualcomm Aware also offers a highly customizable framework and implements standard APIs that interoperate seamlessly with private clouds, industry-specific application platforms, enterprise tools and softwares. These include enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management, inventory management and many more. One of the key integrations will be with Microsoft Dynamics 365, a major cloud-based business application that combines components of both ERP and customer relationship management (CRM) with additional AI tools and productivity applications.
What choices do you have when you can only spend up to MYR 1,500 for a smartphone? Can you even get something decent for that kind of money? It turns out, you can with vivo’s latest MYR 1,299 V27e smartphone.
The vivo V27e’s price range places it squarely in the entry-level smartphone segment. What you get though, is a little more than entry-level.
For starters, you get a 64-Megapixel shooter out the back of the device. That main shooter also packs something vivo calls the Hybrid Image Stabilisation feature. That is buzzword for a combination of Optical Image Stabilisation and Electronic Image Stabilisation, a sort of mix for both physical and software defined stabilization to achieve better stability when taking photos and even videos. They call the 64-Megapixel sensor an ‘Ultra-Sensing’ sensor as well. vivo claims that the sensor offers more light exposure and that allows the sensor to capture 600% more light for even better detailing and photo quality than ever before, especially in low-light conditions. That main camera is paired with a 2-Megapixel macro camera and a 2-Megapixel depth sensor.
The 64-Megapixel shooter is also paired with something they call an Aura Light. It works together with portrait mode to create something they call the Aura Light Portrait. The LED flash out the back is shaped like a tiny right light. The arrangement also means that the light is diffused and softer on the skin allowing for ‘studio-level’ lighting effects for better and natural looking portraits.
Out the front is a 32-Megapixel camera sitting at the top section of the display. The vivo V27e can take advantage of the 32-Megapixel front-facing shooter with an array of different templates and shoot modes too.
Speaking of the front-facing camera, the display that it sits out of is impressive too. It is a 6.62-inch Full HD+ display. It is also an AMOLED display that offers colour contrasts and vividness like no other display can in its class. At the same time, you get 120Hz refresh rate out of the display, quite unheard of for smartphones in its price range.
Keeping Android 13 based Funtouch 13 running smoothly on the 120Hz AMOLED display is a MediaTek Helio G99 system on a chip (SoC). The processor is built upon the 6nm process technology for better efficiency and better power delivery. It is not a 5G chip unfortunately, meaning you do not get 5G connectivity out of the vivo V27e. The SoC gets up to 12GB of RAM to work with paired with up to 256GB of storage. To keep everything going for an entire day is a built-in 4,600mAh lithium battery that is capable of 66W charging speeds.
Price and Availability
The vivo V27e is now available in Malaysia via all vivo concept stores and authorised dealers across the nation. You can also get your hands on one from vivo’s own e-store, or vivo’s official stores on Shopee, Lazada, and even Tik Tok. You can choose between the pretty Lavender Purple, or the regular Glory Black. As mentioned, the vivo V27e will set you back MYR 1,299. If you get yours 4th March onward to the end of the month, you get a free smart tag, Bluetooth speaker, an extended warranty package, and also a 1-year screen protection plan for your vivo V27e. More on the smartphone can be found on their website.
Google is bringing a few new features to Android and Chromebooks. Most of the new features will be making their way to Android devices starting today. These new features mainly bring more “Material You” to Android and its personalization features. However, there are a few updates in the list that improve productivity and accessibility.
Google Keep Gets A Widget & Wear OS Complication
For those looking to be more productive on their Android devices, Google Keep has got your back. The note-keeping and to-do list app is being improved with a widget that allows you to pin single notes to your home screen. The new widget is fully actionable; allowing you to check things off your checklist or even update notes. It will display reminders, background colours and images in the Keep notes and also syncs seamlessly with Google Keep and your smartwatch.
Speaking of smartwatches, if you have a Wear OS by Google smartwatch – this includes the new Samsung Galaxy Watch5 series – you’ll be able to use Google Keep on the go. Google is also introducing two new shortcuts for Wear OS that allows you to create notes and to-do lists from your Wear OS watch face.
In addition to this, Google is enabling direct editing and annotating of PDFs with a stylus or by touch in the Google Drive app. You’ll be able to use different strokes, the highlighter or even hide, undo, delete or save a new copy of the annotated document too.
Less Noise on Google Meet, More Seamless Integration with Chromebooks
Google Meet is getting noise cancellation during calls on more Android devices. This means you’ll be able to drown out the noise when you have to take a meeting on the go.
Being on the go means you’ll need your earbuds or headphones to take the call, thankfully, if you’re using a Chromebook, Google is bringing Fast Pair to Chromebooks. This will simplify connecting your Bluetooth audio devices to the Chromebook essentially making it a single click. What’s more, if you’ve paired the device on your Android smartphone before, it will seamlessly connect to your Chromebook as well.
Express Yourself
Android is getting more ways to express yourself as well. New emoji combinations will be able on Emoji Kitchen. You’ll be able to combine two or more emojis to better express yourself in chats with Gboard. In addition to this, you’ll also be able to customise Google Wallet’s pay animations. Google will be bringing things like playful penguins to Google Wallet.
Finally, Google Chrome will allow you to increase the size of the content you’re viewing in the browser with a simple slider. The slider will allow you to change things like the text, images, videos and interactive controls by up to 300% while preserving the page layout. You’ll even be able to save your preferences so you don’t have to keep resetting them every time. The feature is currently in Chrome Beta before it officially rolls out in March.
A month after the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G release, Samsung has silently released the 4G version of the same smartphone in Malaysia. The Galaxy A14 replaces the A13 released last year as the entry-level to Samsung’s extensive Galaxy A series.
The A15 4G has a MediaTek Helio G80 processor instead of the Samsung Exynos 1330 that comes with the A15 5G. This is supported by up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory. In addition to this, the smartphone continues to support memory expansion through microSD cards. Dual SIM is also supported on the A14.
The smartphone comes with a 6.6-inch HD+ LCD display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It comes with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel main camera setup complemented by a 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front is a 13-megapixel selfie camera. It has a 3.5mm audio jack with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Connectivity-wise, the smartphone supports 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, near-field communication (NFC), and GPS. The 5,000mAh battery charges via USB-C and supports 10W charging.
Pricing & Availability
Samsung hasn’t listed an official price for the Galaxy A14 4G just yet but it has listed the device in its Malaysian online store.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 will be available in Black, Silver and Dark Red.
HMD Global has announced a slew of new Nokia smartphones. The most unique of which is the Nokia G22 which is the first smartphone that is launched together with IFixIt. Weird partner for a smartphone right? Well, it begins to make sense when you consider that the Nokia G22 is also the first smartphone from HMD Global to be completely self repairable. The new smartphone is launching with a self-repair kit which will be available via IFixIt in Australia, the United Kingdom and other European Union countries.
The Nokia G22 is another notch in HMD’s line up of affordable, durable and well-supported Android smartphones. It also holds true to the company’s commitment to sustainability with a plastic back made from 100% recycled materials. The new smartphone comes with a 6.52-inch, HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness. It comes with a quad core Unisoc T606 with 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal memory. It also supports up to an additional 2TB of memory via microSD.
On the camera front, the G22 will be coming with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel main sensor. This sensor has an f/1.8 aperture, a 5P lens and is autofocus enabled. A 2-megapixel depth and 2-megapixel macro sensor complete the triple camera setup. On the front is an 8-megapixel fixed focus CMOS sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and 1.12µm pixel size.
It comes with the usual connectivity features including Bluetooth, Near Field Communication, GPS, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and USB-C connectivity. It’s powered by 5,050mAh battery with HMD’s signature promise of up to 3 day battery life. It supports 20W fast charging.
The smartphone will launch with Android 12 and has been guaranteed 2 years of OS upgrades from HMD global.
Pricing & Availability
The Nokia G22 will be available in two colours: Lagoon Blue and Meteor Grey. It will be available in two variants: 4GB+64GB and 4GB+128GB. The smartphone will be priced from EUR179 (MYR852.44).
At home QickFix Kits will be available on iFixit.com with prices starting from EUR5 (MYR23.82). HMD Global lists the prices for a replacement battery at EUR24.95 (MYR118.83), and the replacement charging port at EUR19.95 (MYR95.02).
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is one of the benchmarks in the world of mainstream wireless headphones. We regarded it as one of the best options for headphones of its type. It will set you back MYR 1,500 and above though, depending on when you get your hands on the device. In any case, it is not a budget friendly type of device to own. Then again, it is not made to be budget friendly. It is made with the word ‘premium’ in mind, and it shows in a lot of ways.
Still, what if you do not have MYR 1,500 to spend on a headphone? You might have to settle for something that is less powerful than the WH-1000XM5. You might have to compromise on build quality, and even size. With Sony’s latest WH-CH720N and WH-CH520, you might not have to.
Sony WH-CH520
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
This one is not an over-ear headphone like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or even its brother, the WH-CH720N (which we will talk about later). It is a smaller form factor on-ear headphone that is designed to be the perfect run-around listening tool to fit in your bags. It is designed to be a long-lasting all-round headphone for your daily usage.
The WH-CH520 offers up to 50 hours (music only) in battery life, that is 20 more than the WH-1000XM5, 15 more than the WH-CH720N, and 15 more than its predecessor, the WH-CH510. That also means that you might not need to get it to a USB port in a week, depending on how you use your headphones. Impressive, considering the compact design of the headphone.
Thanks to its mostly plastic construction, it weighs only 147g. That means that adding it into your bag does not add that much weight into your out-of-office or home set up. That also means that your neck and head bears less weight, and with that you might be able to work with the headphones for much longer.
Within the headphone is a 30mm closed unit driver. Alongside the large drivers is a plain microphone for calls and video conferencing if you connect it to your PC. Sadly, you will not find a 3.5mm AUX jack on the WH-CH520 headphone, which also means that you are out of luck when your battery goes flat.
You do get Bluetooth 5.2 connection on the device though, which ensures better stability and low latency connections with your Bluetooth devices. Android’s Fast Pair feature also ensures that you only need to turn on your headphone to quickly get it paired and connected to your devices with as little fuss as possible. There is also Swift Pair for Windows laptops or tablets. Of course, everything about the headphone can be controlled via the Sony Headphone app from your smartphone. If not, there are proper buttons on the earcups for that proper tactile feel. You can control the headphone or music via Voice too if you want with either Google Assistant or Siri.
As with Sony’s latest audio gears, you get 360 reality audio as a standard feature. You get to experience the feature with Tidal and if you connect the headphones with a compatible Bravia XR TV. If you do connect it to your Bravia XR TV, you even get to enjoy Dolby Atmos audio. You get DSEE, not DSEE Extreme upscaling technology. DSEE is still great for upscaling your Spotify music adding all the little details your music might lose in compression.
Sony WH-CH720N
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
If you prefer a larger headphone to cover your ears, the WH-CH720N should fit the bill. Like its predecessor, the WH-CH720N is also a noise cancelling headphone. Unlike the previous headphone though, it is cheaper and features a flagship class noise cancelling technology.
The WH-CH720N comes with the same V1 Integrated Processor for noise cancelling that the WH-1000XM5 packs. It is regarded as the best noise cancelling technology to date, so if that is the only thing you care about in your headphones, it is money well spent here. But that also means that you are getting a much better noise cancelling experience than the older WH-CH710N with even better wind noise reduction algorithms when you are outdoors. Thanks to the better processor, ambient noise is also better than ever with the Sony WH-CH720N. The noise cancelling/ambient noise feature can also be set automatically depending on your geolocation via the app.
Within the large earcups are closed 30mm dynamic drivers on each end. The battery pack offers up to 50 hours of battery life if you turn off Noise Cancelling. Of course, you are not going to do that, you get 35 hours of battery life with Noise Cancelling, five more than its premium cousin, the WH-1000XM5. If you run out of battery though, you can still use it with an included 3.5mm AUX jack.
Unlike the premium WH-1000XM5, the WH-CH720N does not come with gesture or touch control. It has physical buttons instead, which we kind of like better than gesture controls. That also means that the headphones, while packing a few mics for better noise cancellation, does not pack a proximity sensor that pauses your songs when you take the headphones off your ears.
You get DSEE still on the WH-CH720N, which adds lost details on compressed audio including Spotify. You might want to get a Tidal subscription though to get into Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. If you have a Sony Bravia XR TV, you even get the full Dolby Atmos experience with the headphones complete with surround sound. For calls, you get the same Beamforming microphones as the WH-1000XM5, which should mean that you get crystal clear voice in all sorts of environments.
While it is not made of premium materials like the WH-1000XM5, the WH-CH720N is not what you call cheap in terms of build quality. There are a lot of plastics, true, but there is a metal piece that holds the headband together with its sliding mechanism. The faux leather earcups is also designed with all-day comfort in mind. It is also Sony’s lightest over-ear headphone in ever at 192g. That also means that you can wear the headphones all day and not feel fatigued.
Price and Availability
The WH-CH520 is available in four attractive colours – Blue, Cream, White, and Black. It will retail at MYR 229, reasonably affordable for what it offers. We think that it will be perfect for those looking to travel light and is looking for a compact audio set-up to go anywhere.
The WH-CH720N is a little more premium at MYR 649. It is MYR 50 less than its predecessor though. It also features flagship level noise cancelling and better mics all around. You can get it in Blue, White, or Black colour options. This one is for the budget conscious audiophiles that appreciates good noise cancelling, we think. More about the new Sony Headphones can be found on their website.
