OPPO has announced on its official Chinese website the launch of its new Reno9 series of devices. Three devices have been named: the Reno9, Reno9 Pro and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1-powered Reno9 Pro+.
Three variants announced for the Reno9 series. Image source: GSMArena
The Reno9 basics: 6.7-inch 120Hz display, dual camera-setup and 4500mAh battery with fast charging
120Hz OLED display, 12GB RAM and eye-catching Red and Pink Gradient colors for the Reno9. Image source: GSMArena
The vanilla variant of the Reno9 offers a 6.7-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It offers good visibility as the display reaches up to 800 nits of brightness, rated for HDR10+ content and has 2160Hz PWM dimming. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G and runs on the Android 13-based ColorOS 13 out of the box. Rear cameras are a 64MP main shooter with 2MP black and white sensor. The front facing camera is a 32MP selfie camera with autofocus. The device itself is pretty light and handy, weighing in at 174g with thickness up to 7.2mm. This space fits a 4500mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging with the adapter provided. The Reno9 is available in 4 colors: Black, Gold, Red and Pink Gradient. For memory configurations, there are two variants, both with 12GB of RAM and option of 256GB or 512GB of storage.
Reno9 Pro steps up performance with imaging platforms and 16GB speedier RAM
Powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 8100 and dedicated imaging platform MariSilicon X, the Reno9 Pro brings impressive photos and videos. Image source: GSMArena
The Reno9 Pro is an upgrade on the Reno9 hardware wise despite sharing the same body. They share the same body dimensions, 4500mAh battery and 6.7-inch OLED display. It is powered instead by the flagship Mediatek Dimensity 8100 platform, that promises better performance while still running ColorOS13. Photo taking gets a big upgrade with the improved dual camera setup. It now consists of a 50MP main shooter, and an 8 MP ultrawide-angle module. It also features the MariSilicon X Imaging NPU, an Oppo developed platform for image processing. This imaging platform also enables 4K AI night video, 20-bit ultra HDR and live preview on Android devices among other features. All variants of the Reno9 Pro come with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, a capacity not seen since the Find X3, and options of 256GB and 512GB. The device is available in three colors: Black, Gold, and Pink Gradient.
Spearheading the series with Snapdragon 8+Gen 1
Headlining the new series is the Reno9 Pro+ that promises premium features and hardware. While sporting the same 6.7-inch display as its siblings, the display and the phone itself has a curved design. The highlight feature is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 platform under the hood, making it the first Oppo flagship to run this platform. It is also coincidentally the first device to have both the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Marisilicon X Imaging platform. By leveraging the image and video enhancements features of both platforms, we can expect enhanced image quality, color accuracy and clarity.
Improved cameras with Snapdragon and MariSilicon X platform-driven image enhancement. Image source: GSMArena
The camera setup is once again improved with a 50MP main shooter with autofocus and OIS capabilities and 2MP depth sensor. The secondary module is an ultrawide 8MP shooter with 120 degrees field of view and has macro capabilities when shooting close up to 4cm. The battery receives an upgrade to keep everything powered with 4700mAh capacity and 80W fast charging over USB-C. It is available in the same memory configuration of the Pro series, with 16GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage. As for color options, Oppo has done away with the Pink Gradient and introduced a new Mint Green option alongside the standard Black and Gold. Unfortunately the Mint Green is only available for the 256GB storage variant.
Stand out with the Mint Green color for the Reno9 Pro+. Image source: GSMArena
Honor has announced the Honor 80 series of smartphones on its official website for China. Three variants of the series, Honor 80, Honor 80 Pro and Honor 80 SE are expected, sporting better cameras, display and faster charging.
Honor 80 Pro (left) and Honor 80 (right) renders. Image source: GSMArena
Better triple camera setup, 120Hz displays and MagicOS 7.0
The new series of smartphones was unveiled by Honor during two-day launch event in China, which also showcased MagicOS 7.0. Leading the pack are the vanilla Honor 80 and more premium Honor 80 Pro variants. The Honor 80 Pro comes with a 6.78-inch, 120Hz curved OLED display with 2700×1224 resolution. A highlight of the device is the 160MP main shooter, enhanced with Honor’s Image Engine software. The revamped software features upgraded AI RAW algorithms, scene optimizations, skin texture detection and even AI Vlog mode. The other modules on the back are a 50MP ultrawide and 2M depth module. The front camera is a 50MP selfie camera with secondary 2M depth module. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, though it appears to be a slightly underclocked version as reported by GSMArena.
Honor 80 and 80 Pro will be available in 4 colors. Image source: GSMArena
The standard Honor 80 variant sports a slightly smaller 6.67-inch OLED display with 2400×1080 resolution with 120Hz refresh rate. It has the same 160MP main shooter and 2M depth module but with a lesser 8MP secondary module. The selfie camera is also of a lesser resolution with 32MP. It is powered by the newly announced Snapdragon 782G SoC and like the Honor 80 Pro, runs on MagicOS 7.0 based on Android 12 out of the box. Both Honor 80 and Honor 80 Pro comes with 4800 mAh batteries and with fast 66W wired charging. They will be available in four color options; Blue Wave, Pink Morning Glow, Jade Green and Bright Black. And for storage options, both devices will be available in three combinations; 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM, 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM and 12GB + 512GB ROM.
A wallet friendly variant, the Honor 80 SE
Honor 80 SE is the budget entry of Honor’s new smartphone series
Honor has also announced the Honor 80 SE as a budget entry for the series. It sports a 6.67-inch curved 120Hz OLED display with FHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080. The main camera is a toned-down 64MP main with 5MP ultra-wide module and 2MP macro triple-camera. It will still sport a 32MP selfie camera as seen in the Honor 80. Instead of a Snapdragon SoC, it comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 900 but still runs on MagicOS 7.0 out of the box. It also packs a 4600mAh battery with 66W charging and only comes in two memory configurations; 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM and 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM. The device will also be available in four colors; Moonlight Crystal, Iceland Fantasy, Cherry Pink Coral and Bright Black.
At the moment, there is no official word on release dates and pricing for the Honor 80 series outside of China. Based on the prices on the Honor official website, TechNave has estimated the prices as follows; Honor 80 starting at RM1727, Honor 80 Pro starting at RM2237 and Honor 80 SE starting at RM1535. For more updates on availability and pricing in Malaysia, follow HONOR Official Store and HONOR Malaysia’s Facebook page
What can you get for MYR 1,299? You can get an entry-level smartphone device with that kind of price. When we say entry-level, we mean devices with a rather unimpressive system on a chip (SoC), low memory in both RAM and storage, regular 12-Megapixel camera, and maybe a large battery to come with. In some sense, an entry-level device looks more like a glorified powerbank in some cases. They are rather unimpressive devices you usually use as a backup device, or a secondary communicator for work and other things.
Thing is, MYR 1,299 is still not a small amount of money. The first Samsung Galaxy S was priced at about MYR 1,000 and that was one of the most expensive devices around at the time. In that sense, MYR 1,299 should be able to buy you more than just a glorified powerbank. It should be able to get you something decent to work with. It can get you a realme 10 Pro 5G.
The realme 10 Pro 5G and 10 Pro+ 5G are not what you want to call flagship devices if you want to pit them against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series or even the Xiaomi 12 Series. It is still somewhat a mid-range device. For a mid-range device though, it is a pretty impressive package at a remarkable price point.
The most unimpressive part on the new series of devices from realme is the SoC within the device. It is a Dimensity 920 5G chipset. It is not the most powerful chip you can find even in MediaTek’s lab. It still supports 5G connectivity though, which is something of a futureproofing measure. It is paired with an 8GB RAM module, something most flagships sport. Of course, you can pay a little bit more to get up to 12GB (Pro+ 5G) of built-in RAM. Thanks to realme’s clever user interface, you can borrow up to 12GB more from its internal storage (up to 256GB) to make up to 24GB of RAM, an overkill amount even for flagship class devices.
You the back of the device is an impressive 108-Megapixel shooter (both Pro 5G and Pro+ 5G). It is the same camera module that you can find behind a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Xiaomi’s range-topping 12 Pro. In that regard, you are getting a flagship class camera here at a hardly believable price point.
To view all the high-resolution photos, is a rather regular flat display for the realme 10 Pro 5G. It measures in at 6.72 inches. It sports Full HD display, quite unheard of in this price range in 2022. It also boasts 120Hz refresh rate with a peak brightness of 680 nits. Underneath all of the glass and aluminium construction is a huge 5,000mAh battery to keep the realme UI4.0 running all day.
Then there is the Pro+ 5G. It is an MYR 300 premium over the regular realme 10 Pro 5G at an 8GB + 128GB configuration. But you do get a little bit more. Its 6.72-inch display is not a flat display anymore, it is an OLED 3D curved display that stretches to 800nits in brightness. It is lighter too at 173g while packing an extra 8-Megapixel ultrawide camera on its back. You also get what realme calls Tactile Engine 2.0 packed into its UI4.0.
At a price point starting at MYR 1,299, the realme 10 Pro series is not a contender in the entry-level space. It is more than an entry-level device; we dare to call it a mid-range device that can challenge the higher-end segment. At its asking price too, it is a remarkably attractive deal.
The realme 10 Pro 5G and realme 10 Pro+ 5G is now available for pre-order via realme’s own web store, their official Shopee store, and official Lazada store. The Realme 10 Pro 5G retails for MYR 1299 (8GB + 128GB) onward and will be available 16th December 2022 onward from all realme’s authorized distributors and retailers, including their online stores. The realme 10 Pro+ 5G will be available 12th December onward and will run a Lazada exclusive (MYR 1,399 for 8GB + 128GB) deal on its launch day. It will retail from MYR 1,599 (8GB + 128GB) onward from the 16th of December 2022. More information on the new realme 10 Pro series devices can be found on their website.
Telegram is still one of the most popular messengers in the world alongside WhatsApp and Signal. It is simple to use, you can have access to a single account via multiple smartphones or even PC devices at the same time, and you do not even have to back your data up periodically. Telegram automatically saves your chat via the cloud and allows you to access it instantaneously when you sign into your account from anywhere in the world, as long as you can remember the phone number you signed up with Telegram. WhatsApp only allows you to hold your account on a single device at a time. Your WhatsApp back up data is strictly stored inside your smartphone, Google Drive, or Apple Cloud; even WhatsApp cannot access your data, apparently.
There is a common denominator when it comes to the popular messengers you see across the globe too. For all the major platforms, you need to share your phone number to get an account. Telegram sees that as one point of failure in terms of your privacy and cyber security, so they look to do away with phone number.
Telegram’s more recent updates has done away with just that. Recently Telegram has started auctioning and selling off rare usernames for their new platform based on the TON Blockchain. TON also features their own cryptocurrency, the Toncoins. Buying the unique username allows users to sign up to an anonymous account without ever giving away your phone number. You can even do that yourself on Fragment. You get your verification code on Fragment as well, of course.
You are not getting something as unique as a codename or the regular usernames though. You are getting a bunch of random numbers that resemble a phone number. That unique number will be tied to your Fragment account so any verification that is needed for your Telegram sign ins will go to Fragment. This also eliminates the need for you to sign up and use Telegram via your own phone number to make it even more secure, and more anonymous in some sense.
The new update also brings a whole host of improvements largely aimed to make Telegram more secure and private. Users should already be familiar with self-destruct messages, where users can delete their messages without leaving so much as a trace in their chats. They can set a delete timer for their chats or messages too on the platform. Telegram is now expanding the feature from 2013 and give you more control over your digital footprint.
You can now automatically delete your messages in all your new chats with any user, regardless of who starts the chat. In some ways, it allows you to keep your inbox tidy by keeping it up to date. In private groups, users who have the authorization can also set timers to their messages to be deleted after some time.
Telegram also allows you to sort your messages and groups using via Topics. Instead of looking for names or specific chat groups, you can sort your messages on Telegrams like you see forums. Now it is more powerful than before because you can sort out messages from groups with more than 100 members. They also added a new two column mode for the feature for an even more streamlined navigation than before allowing you to quickly go from one topic to another.
They even updated the anti-spam filter to be even more aggressive than before allowing your chats and groups to be a lot cleaner than before. If you do not feel comfortable giving away your phone number to other people to add you on Telegram, they have included a temporary QR code generator for you to show to others, when you need it. The people adding you will not even get to see your phone number. If you want to know how Telegram uses your smartphone’s storage, there is an even more detailed view of it now on Telegram itself.
On top of these security updates, Telegram also added a few new features that has to do with emojis. Users of Telegram Premium gets access to new interactive emoji with full screen effects and everything. All Telegram users get access to all the security features that Telegram has introduced so far though, so if you have not spent a single dime on Telegram, you still do not have to. Telegram is available for free on Google’s Play Store and Apple App Store. For more information on Telegram’s update, you can visit their website.
Apple launched their most expensive wearable item back in September alongside their Apple iPhone 14 devices. They launched the new Apple Watch Ultra, which was made with space age technology and is built to endure the most extreme conditions you can subject your body to. One of them is to go down to depths you will only go as a scuba diver.
According to Apple, the Watch Ultra can go in depths up to 40 meters. While there are dive watches and computers that can go deeper than that, you want to remember that the Apple Watch Ultra is no bigger than the regular watch and is also built as a watch and fitness tracker you can take anywhere with you. In that sense, the Apple Watch Ultra is a feat on its own.
While it was able to go down to 40 meters under water, and into the ocean for that matter, you could only get basic information from it like a regular watch. It did not have the right tools to record your depth, or how much air you have left, or how long you’ve dived. Until now, that is, with the Oceanic+ app.
Source: Apple
The app was also announced when they launched the Apple Watch Ultra, so it should not come as a surprise. The app is not an in-house developed one (developed by Huish Outdoors in collaboration with Apple), that could also be why it launched later than the Watch Ultra itself. It is still 2022 though, so it is not like we had to wait years for it.
The Oceanic+ app basically turns your Apple Watch Ultra into a rather comprehensive dive computer. They say that the app allows the Watch Ultra to act as an advanced dive computer and robust dive planner. Of course, you can review all information post-dive as well.
Source: Apple
The dive computer on the Apple Watch Ultra may not be similar to other dive computers you might have come across. They say that they have built the interface to be as intuitive as possible to be used on the Apple Watch platform. The interface is designed to allow users to quickly get information from the watch and dive stress free without making mental calculations during their dive. That also means that they need to cram and simplify as much information as they can into the tiny display that is the Apple Watch Ultra. It even gives users some form of directive to ensure their safety during the dive with “Stop”, “Go Up”, and even “Go Down”.
They have managed to integrate things like surface time, depth, and gas capacity into an interface that would be familiar to any Apple Watch user. On top of that, the dive planner gives you extra information like tides, water temperatures, weather updates, currents, and updated information uploaded by other users. It even tracks your GPS location, so you know where you are in your dives. You can even tell if you have a notification from the Apple Watch Ultra in the water with the Watch vibrating. They say you can even feel the vibration through a 7mm thick wetsuit. Haptic feedback, according to the developers, is a better way for your watch to communicate with you under water.
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
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Source: Apple
The Oceanic+ app is now available for the Apple Watch Ultra via the App Store. Of course, there is a companion app for your iPhone as well where you can view all sorts of information from your Apple Watch post-dive. The Apple Watch Ultra will set you back from MYR 3,799 onward, which is a lot of money for an Apple Watch. Then again, a dive computer will set you back just as much or more.
In the couple of years Samsung’s Galaxy foldables existed alongside HUAWEI’s own iteration of foldable devices, there has been plenty of interest from other manufacturers in producing similar devices. Microsoft has their Surface Duo Android smartphone, though they do not feature folding displays. OPPO launched their Find N (not in Malaysia, unfortunately). Google is even considering a foldable Pixel at more accessible price ranges. Then there is HONOR and their new Magic Vs.
Inevitably the HONOR Magic Vs is going to be compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, the current most popular foldable device out there. It is a slightly larger device offering a 7.9-inch foldable OLED display over Samsung’s 7.6-inch. In terms of resolution, it is also closer to the Galaxy Z Fold4 than the OPPO Find N at 1,984 by 2,272 pixels, which is also technically more than the Samsung. Its refresh rate is only at 90Hz though, the Samsung offers 120Hz. Still, it features HDR10+ colours and up to 800 nits of maximum brightness, which is still something.
Source: Honor
When you fold up the larger display, you can still use the device with its 6.45-inch OLED display that offers Full HD+ resolution. You get 120Hz refresh rate with this one for the smooth UI feel. It also offers up to 1200 nits in brightness, which could be useful under intense sun light.
They really are targeting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 with this Magic Vs. Underneath the expansive display, you can find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the same one you find on Samsung’s latest and most powerful foldable smartphone. The system on a chip (SoC) gets paired with up to 12GB of RAM for the best Android 12 experience you can find on modern devices. You get up to 512GB in storage with the device too, just in case you need all that space to store movies, audio files, work files, and even photos.
You would want that much space for photos with the MagicOS 7.0 device. Out the back is a triple camera set up that is headlined by a 54-Megapixel shooter. Alongside that is an 8-Megapixel telephoto lens and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold4, the HONOR foldable only features one selfie 16-Megapixel camera that is lodged in the punch hole of the external display. That also means you get all uninterrupted foldable display.
Keeping everything running an entire day is a large 5,000mAh battery. If you need a quick charge before you leave the house, the 66W HONOR SuperCharge technology can fully charge the device within 46 minutes.
Source: Honor
Source: Honor
Source: Honor
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Source: Honor
The HONOR Magic Vs has launched in China and is now taking pre-orders that are expected to ship out by November 30th. It come in three colours – Orange, Cyan, and Black. There are also apparently two other colour options for their highest specced model – Black and Gold. At launch, the HONOR Magic Vs is priced from CN¥ 7,499 (US$ 1,050/MYR 4,736*) all the way to CN¥ 10,888 (US$ 1,520/MYR 6,876*). There are no confirmed dates or official pricing for the local market just yet. We are expecting HONOR to launch the device sometime soon though, if they are launching the device here at all. They also mentioned that this will be their first international foldable smartphone, which makes its local launch all the more likely. More information on the HONOR Magic Vs can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of CN¥ 10 = MYR 6.32 as of 24/11/2022 on xe.com
The new age of mobile computing is pretty much here. Qualcomm kicked it off with their new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 System on a Chip (SoC) for flagship devices. This one will definitely go on powering the greats of the industry like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S devices, next generation OPPO Find X device, the anticipated next-generation OnePlus flagship, and even Xiaomi’s next high-end device.
While flagships are highly popular in terms of branding and hype, they are not the devices that sells most. Google recognized it and scratched their Nexus project a few years ago and started their mid-range Pixel project that was met with welcome arms by users. The new Google Pixel devices are powered by their own Google Tensor processors. This was not the case a few generations ago though. Google’s Pixel project would not have been possible if Qualcomm did not introduce their very intriguing Snapdragon 700 series.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 700 series was introduced to fulfil a rather unique, but popular demand. It was made to fill the gap between their exclusive mid-range Snapdragon 600 series and number crunching high-end flagship Snapdragon 800 series processors for smartphone device. It was made to be sit in a smartphone that performs pretty much like a flagship device with an affordable price tag.
Alongside the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, they introduced their new high-performing Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G platform. The new platform will replace the older Snapdragon 778G+ that currently powers some of the most innovative devices out there like the unique Nothing Phone 1, Honor 60 Pro 5G, and even Motorola’s Edge 30 5G.
Source: SamMobile
The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G comes in with a the same eight-core configuration from the Snapdragon 778G+. The SoC is a more powerful one and is clocked faster than before though. It packs Qualcomm’s eight Kryo cores that clocks up to 2.7 GHz compared to the 2.5 GHz that was extracted from the older Kryo 670 platform.
The new platform also brings a whole host of improvements across the board that makes new mid-range class devices even more enticing than some flagship devices. For one, it packs a Qulcomm’s latest Quick Charge 4+ technology that allows your smartphones to charge at up to a theoretical 100W. In theory, it should allow most smartphones to charge well within an hour while maintaining an optimum temperature. There is Qualcomm’s new Quick Charge 5, but that is reserved for flagships at this point. Still, 100W is plenty fast for smartphones.
They have also improved their AI (Artificial Intelligence) engine that adds several features and capabilities in camera functions. At the same time, the improved AI is also supposed to improve video performance by enhancing the mic and speaker switching function to reduce interference and make video chats feel a lot more natural even without headphones. Of course, the AI engine is also supposed to help reduce battery consumption by cleverly understanding how individual users use the device and turn off apps based on those usages.
We mentioned camera, the processor is also supposedly a better image processor than before. It now supports up to 200-Megapixel resolution cameras for photographs. At the same time, the new processor also captures videos at up to 4K at 30 fps, with HDR on top of that. If you are going to capture action photos, it does 30 22-Megapixel photos in a second.
Of course, 5G has to be now included as a standard. It only makes sense since the SoC it replaces also packs 5G. The 5G antenna on this piece of kit supports both mmWave and Sub-6GHz frequencies, which means you are not going to have to worry about getting it to work with 5G standards across the globe. At home, the Snapdragon 782G supports up to 2.9 Gbps wireless transmission via 6GHz (WiFi 6/6E) standards.
The new mid-range SoC will find its way into the new generation of mid-range devices you will find in 2023. There is no announcements and confirmations on which devices will get the Snapdragon 782G powering them just yet. We are guessing that manufacturers like Xiaomi, OPPO, and even Samsung will be jumping on the platform and announce a device packing the new hardware in the coming months. More information on Qualcomm’s latest mid-range Snapdragon 782G SoC can be found on their website.
When Sony announced and released the WH-1000XM4, or the fourth generation of their most premium noise-cancelling headphones, we were excited about it. It featured the same design as before, nothing wrong with the folding design, it is perfect for travelling. It is a more comfortable headphone to work with. Thanks to the improved processor, noise cancellation is better than ever, and sound quality improved. We liked the WH-1000XM4.
Then there is their fifth-generation premium noise cancelling headphones. The architecture of the headphone has changed alongside new materials. There is a new driver, which is lighter and smaller than before. There are now two processors within the headset, one more than before. All this should make Sony WH-1000XM5 the best noise cancelling headphones money can buy today.
Is it though? Is it worth MYR 1,799? Should you buy the older one instead? We find out.
Design
The new WH-1000X flagship headphone looks different from before. There is no more folding the headphone to fit a more pocketable case or shape. The adjustable headband is now smooth and quiet. It is slimmer now than before, which is good. They also made it longer to relief some clamping pressure.
The ear cups are also larger than before. They say there are eight mics on the headphone, four on each ear cup. We could identify six of them by a quick visual inspection. We suspect the other mics are inside the ear cups.
The WH-1000XM5 feels like a much larger headphone compared to its predecessor. The larger ear cups wrap your ears and seals them better. Strangely, it is lighter than before.
The carrying case is also larger now. Inspired by Japanese origami, it can be folded flat for storage. It is oddly shaped, like a flattened bell. We think that the older headphone package is easier to pack since it takes up less space in your bag compared to the new one.
Because there is more space in the case, packing the cables and airplane adapter is rather simple. You can simply put everything in the magnetically sealed compartment within the case.
The Most Comfortable WH-1000X Headphone Ever
There is a benefit to its size. Since it weighs no more than the older headphone, and with less clamping force, you can wear it for longer periods of time. They say that they used more composite materials to make it even lighter than before.
The cushions on the ear cups are a little thicker than before, but somehow airier too. The larger ear cups also mean better passive noise cancelling. Of course, you might want to think about using it indoors where there is active cooling.
Hardware
While the overall size of the headphones is larger, the drivers are smaller than before. The driver in each cup is now 30mm, 10mm smaller than before. It is made with carbon fiber composite to ensure they still offer powerful bass.
Bluetooth 5.2 Active Noise Cancelling DSEE Extreme Beamforming Mic Adaptive Sound 360 Reality Audio 360 Spatial Sound Dolby Atmos Multipoint Connection Speak-to-chat
Features
Sony spares no expense at equipping their flagship noise cancelling headphones with even more features this time. These features can prove useful in a lot of situations too.
Two Devices, One Headphone
There is a caveat, as per warned by the Sony Headphones app when turn on multipoint Bluetooth connection. Choosing to connect your headphone to two devices at once voids LDAC support, but you can still prioritize sound quality. You also might not be able to tell the difference unless you concentrate hard
Speak-to-Chat
On the WH-1000XM5, activation delay is much better than before. You get a little ping to tell you that it has detected your voice and cut the music. The headphone goes into ambient mode almost immediately when you start a conversation. Once it activates, it will stay on for 15 seconds by default.
Via the app as well you can change how sensitive the algorithm works according to how it works for you. You can extend it to 30 seconds, indefinitely, or reduce it to 5 seconds. We find that 15 seconds and normal sensitivity on the function is good enough for our use case in most cases.
Touch Control and Quick Control
Like before, the right side is where all the touch sensitive controls are. Your music controls start with a double tap to pause or play music, then swiping left (forward) or right (backward) to go back and forth between your favourite songs. To control volumes, you swipe up and down. A double finger tap-and-hold switches the Speak-to-Chat function on or off. A single button tap-and-hold brings you to voice assistant of your choice via the Headphones App. Every input comes with a ping so you know the headphone registers them. There is an additional Noise Cancelling Ambient button that can also be programmed to respond to double or triple taps that you can set up yourself via the app.
To quickly get into Ambient Noise mode temporarily without speaking, you simply place your palm over the right ear cup for a quick conversation. If not, just take off your headphone to pause the music. Once you put it back on, your music starts again.
Sony Headphone App
We always maintained that the Sony Headphone App is one of the best control apps for wireless headphones. The interface is still familiar to any users of Sony Headphones. For the WH-1000XM5, there is now a “Services” tab that allows the headphone to connect to a variety of apps and add certain functionality for the app. For now, that service is limited to quickly launch Spotify.
The app is also how you update your headphone. Once the headphone gets connected and app launches, the firmware gets updated. You can also choose not to update your headphone immediately.
Geotagging
Through your smartphone, the headphone detects your location and sets its Noise Cancelling/Ambient Noise levels to your preference, turns speak-to-chat on or off, and even changes its equalizer to your liking in different geotagged areas. Via the app you can add locations and set up your headphone however you like in all your saved locations.
Fast Pair but No NFC – Wait What? Why?
We love that new Bluetooth devices now come with Fast Pair and Quick Connect. We only need to turn the headphone on and our Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra picks it up immediately and prompts the pairing sequence. Everything was done within a few seconds, and we can use it immediately after. To tailor our experience, we took a few extra minutes fiddling through the Headphones app. No NFC to be found on the headphone though, bummer.
You Might Want to Keep it Dry
The WH-1000XM5 does not come with any IP rating or any assurance from Sony that it is water resistant. In that case, you might want to refrain from getting it too wet in any situations. We think that the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphone is mostly made to be used in the likes of airports and malls or even at home.
Performance
While improvements are made everywhere else, the most important part of a headphone is how it sounds.
Picking up the Phone
The WH-1000XM5 offers crisp and clean voice in calls. At the same time, because there are more mics than ever now and thanks to Sony’s clever voice pick up technology, we are reported to sound better than ever in calls.
Sound Quality
As expected from Sony, the maker of some of the best audio gears in the industry, the WH-1000XM5 is still one of the best sounding headphones in its class. The bass response is deep on the WH-1000XM5. The low-frequencies pack a lot of details and punch, but it also feels like the mid-range and high-end frequencies are slightly muddled compared to its predecessor. You still get clean high-end frequencies and detailed mid-range tones, albeit a little on the warm side.
Thing is, we still prefer the audio reproduction on the WH-1000XM4 over this pair. The WH-1000XM4 somehow sounds a little more balanced and just a tad cleaner. Again, this is something you’d only pick up if you pay enough attention.
Noise Cancelling with Two Processors
Instead of just using one QN1 processor to handle both audio and noise cancelling work, the new headphone features two processors. You get the QN1, and you also get a V1 integrated processor from the WF-1000XM4 earbuds.
The WH-1000XM5 has something they call Auto NC optimizer that is supposed to adapt the noise cancelling algorithm to suite your environments better. They also say that the new algorithm and added microphones are supposed to cancel mid and high-frequency sounds better than ever.
With eight mics for working together with the processors, you get arguably the best noise cancelling experience from a Sony headphone. The WH-1000XM5 seems to filter noise a little better than before all-around. Even in a crowded café, putting on the headphone is like transporting yourself into a different place. You still hear some noise, but it is a lot less. Even the coffee machine is less intrusive.
Ambient Noise mode
One of the biggest improvements on the WH-1000XM5, we think, is its ambient noise mode. We find that extremely useful even on the previous headphones when someone is trying to get your attention to have a quick conversation with you. It responds much faster and accurately now.
You can turn it on by pressing the NC mode button also on the right earcup or cover it with your palm. That button can also turn of your Noise Cancelling/Ambient Noise functions completely. If you turned your Speak-to-Chat function on, it turns on the moment it detects your voice.
Ambient noise mode on the WH-1000XM5 does not sound natural. But it is closer than ever, we think. Having conversations with the headphone on feels more natural than before and voices are picked up a little better, if you prioritize voice.
Out and about, having the ambient noise mode on is important to at ensure spatial awareness. We recommend having ambient noise mode on in the public for your own safety. Of course, in the airports or train stations, you want to be able to hear announcements with ambient noise mode.
DSEE Extreme
DSEE Extreme is simply audio upscaling technology that upscales regular audio from the likes of Spotify. It turns your regular Spotify quality to CD quality by filling details due to compressions.
The result, if you pay attention, is quite a significant boost in details in your music. There are plenty of added details in music you listen to, very comparable to what you are get from CDs if you can remember. You get a better result if you are working with Spotify, though Tidal and Deezer offers better audio experiences.
360 Reality Audio
The only way to really experience 360 Reality Audio without spending a fortune on a Sony Bravia XR TV is to get a subscription to Tidal. We do not own a Bravia XR TV. In that case, we have to put a disclaimer here that our 360 Reality Audio experience will not be representative to what you get from a Sony Bravia XR TV.
On Tidal, 360 Reality Audio works only on songs that are produced specifically with 360 Reality Audio in mind. You want to keep in mind that 360 Reality Audio is not Spatial Audio. It is a music-first proprietary technology that supports up to 64 audio channels aimed to put you in the middle of a concert hall or recording studio.
Listening to audio with 360 Reality Audio changes your music listening experience. Most of the time, you really feel like you are listening to music being recorded right in the middle of the studio with instruments and singers all around you. We recommend you listening to Alicia Keys’ “3 Hour Drive” featuring Sampha and compare it to the regular “Master” version.
Battery Life Champ
To be fair, there is nothing to shout about here. It still features the same battery life as before at 30 hours of music playback time despite working with two processors. If you want to use it for calls, it can for up to 24 hours, and you are not going to be on the phone for 24 hours at a time.
We have never used it beyond 20 hours without charging the headphones, so we will not be able to fully confirm its 30 hours battery life. But it does about 20 to 24 hours with little to no issue, and we take Sony’s word for it. We used the headphone mainly for music and connected to a single source, our smartphone with about 70% volume and Noise Cancelling all at all times.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 – Something is Missing
The WH-1000XM5 looks like a completely different product compared to its predecessors. We assure you that it is not though. It is still very much a Sony product; it feels like a quality product built to last. Instead of poorer build quality, the weight savings are obtained through new material sciences and innovative technologies.
There are a few things we feel that makes the WH-1000XM5 a small step back compared to the Sony-WH-1000XM4. The audio quality took a slight hit due to the smaller drivers. The WH-1000XM5 cannot be folded to be as compact as before, which is rather annoying since the package is rather bulky. It is also MYR 200 more than the previous headphones at MYR 1,799.
There are still a lot of positives on the WH-1000XM5. The headphone is more comfortable than before with a near perfect clamping force, allowing extended use cases. The lightweight construction also means that there is less strain to your neck too. The noise cancelling is better, and voice is picked up better, especially when you need to make calls. Functions like Speak-to-Chat also respond more accurately than before, which makes it a lot more intuitive.
It is hard to justify a purchase decision for this one. In terms of noise-cancelling capabilities, this is the best you can get your hands on currently, only marginally. With ANC, its predecessor sounds slightly more balanced too, albeit with a slightly less punchy bass. If sound quality is your focus, there are better sounding headphones too.
We think that the MYR 1,799 price tag is steep for the entire package. You are paying for some new interesting innovations on the headphone though. In our opinions, the slightly better sounding WH-1000XM4 is now a bargain. Sony’s headphones go on sale all the time too, so you can get your hands on Sony’s headphones for less than its retail price tag.
Is it worth replacing your WH-1000XM4 with this one? We do not think so. Although it is an upgrade everywhere, you also take minor hits in key areas. The trade-off is not enough to justify an upgrade from the already stellar WH-1000XM4. If you come from even older platforms, it is worth the upgrade.
The ROG Phone 6 was announced earlier this year with impressive specifications and a sharp focus on gamers. It seems like that’s not enough for ASUS as they’ve just announced another version of the ROG Phone 6 – the ROG Phone 6D. It’s not just the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ that’s changed on the phone either, ASUS is taking major design risks with the 6D.
Built for Power on the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ Chipset
The biggest change coming to the ROG Phone 6D series is the processor. The D in the name comes from MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ processor which brings a boost in performance. The new flagship chipset from MediaTek brings high clock speeds of up to 3.2GHz complete with 5G connectivity. The processor is complemented with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage for the ultimate gaming experience.
The Mediatek-powered ROG Phone 6D series comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. The display has an FHD+ resolution of 1080×2448 pixels and also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Of course, the ROG Phone 6D series continues to come with the AirTriggers for quick, customisable gaming buttons. In addition, it also comes with high colour accuracy with a ΔE value that’s below 1. It also supports HDR playback.
On the camera front, the ROG Phone6D comes with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor which is complemented by a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. On the front is a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
The biggest change comes in the form of a brand new approach to cooling on the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate. The new 6D ultimate comes with a unique vent that allows the AeroActive cooler access to a heat sync. The direct access allows the cooler to directly cool the processor and circulate air within the phone resulting in 30% better cooling and more power from the processor.
Holy Special Editions… It’s Batman!
In addition to the regular ROG Phone 6D series which consists of the regular 6D and the 6D Ultimate, the lineup is also getting a special DC collaboration. The collaboration sees the Caped Crusader take over the regular ROG Phone 6D with a special wallpaper and the Bat Symbol replacing the ROG emblem on the dot-matrix display on the back.
The special Batman edition also comes in a special box which is emblazoned with the Bat symbol and also a special Bat symbol SIM ejector tool. The box has design accents that bring the City of Gotham to life complete with a fully functional Bat Signal to call Batman when you need him.
Pricing & Availability
The ROG Phone 6D series will be available starting on 9 November 2022. The ROG Phone 6D (12GB +256GB) will be priced at MYR3,499 while the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (16GB + 512GB) will be priced at MYR4,999. Both will be available in Space Gray.
The Batman edition of the ROG Phone 6 with 12GB RAM and 256GB of onboard storage will be on sale for MYR4,799.
HMD Global is striving to be one of the first mobile manufacturers to factor in the environment when it comes to devices. The new Nokia X30 5G is the first offering coming to Malaysia with an increased sense of environmental responsibility. It is made of 100% recycled aluminium and incorporates 65% recycled plastics in its build. Everything from the packaging to the device itself contains recycled materials. HMD is touting it as the device with the smallest eco-footprint to date.
Source: Nokia.com
While it remains one of the most environmentally conscious devices, it isn’t leaving performance behind. The Nokia X30 5G comes equipped with an octa-core Snapdragon 695 5G. The system on a chip (SoC) is paid with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. When it comes to the display, it comes with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It also has a 90Hz refresh rate and 700 nits peak brightness. The display comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for protection and scratch-proofing.
In the camera department, the Nokia X30 5G comes with a dual camera setup. This setup is consists of a 50-megapixel main sensor that is complemented by a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The main 50-megapixel sensor comes equipped with optical image stabilisation (OIS) with an f/1.8 aperture. The complementary 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor comes with a 123° field of view and an f/2.4 aperture. On the front is a 16-megapixel selfie camera with aq f/2.4 aperture.
Source: HMD Global
HMD continues to offer more than just the basics when it comes to the camera experience. In line with its PureView experience, the camera comes equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) which allows users to capture the best pictures with a click of a button. The new app interface also puts your frequently used settings at the tip of your tips for quick access and snapping. Capture Fusion allows you to reap the benefits of both the 50-megapixel main camera and the ultra-wide camera bringing details to the focal point of your picture.
All of these features are powered by a 4,200mAh battery with a guarantee for 800 charging cycles. It comes with USB Type connectivity for charging and data and IP67 dust and water resistance.
Pricing & Availability
The Nokia X30 5G will be available in stores from mid-November 2022. Pre-orders are now ongoing on Shopee and Lazada. Pre-orders will be entitled to a free Nokia clear case and Nokia Comfort Earbuds worth MYR250.
The smartphone will be available in Cloudy Blue for MYR2,099.
