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OnePlus 9 Series Launches with Hasselblad Camera

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It is not the first time we see iconic camera brands enter the smartphone market. You see it first with HUAWEI’s P9 smartphone with Leica’s input in the camera department. Last night you saw Vivo and Zeiss getting together launching the X60 flagship. You even see Sony’s Alpha department dabbling into Sony’s Xperia smartphones.

Today, it is a little bit different though. Today marks the night that one of the most iconic camera manufacturers taking a dive into the smartphone market. Tonight, is the night that a certain medium format icon makes its name in the smartphone camera scene. Tonight, Hasselblad has entered the smartphone camera game.

If you have not understood the significance of the launch of the OnePlus 9 series yet, put it this way; the first camera that landed on the moon was a Hasselblad. It took that iconic photo of the astronaut on the moon. So, a partnership of this magnitude could be a significant step forward to smartphone cameras.

Enough of Hasselblad for now though. We have to talk about the smartphone for a while. We start with the OnePlus 9 Pro.

OnePlus 9 Pro

Source: OnePlus

The OnePlus 9 Pro is OnePlus’ true tech flagship with the most powerful processing chip in the world so far. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G 5nm System on a Chip (SoC) with a new cooling system they call OnePlus Cool Play to keep the phone at comfortable temperatures. Alongside the Snapdragon 888 SoC is a healthily sized RAM at 12GB. You get up to 256GB of storage with that RAM but with no MicroSD expansion slot.

All those things contribute to showing the minimalistic and simplistic OxygenOS, now based on Android 11. The Oxygen OS is paraded on the large 6.78-inch display that refreshes at 120Hz (up to) and pushes QHD+ resolution. They call it the Fluid Display 2.0. It is an LTPO variable refresh rate (1Hz – 120Hz) display that boast 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut for even more true-to-life colours on the device. You also get a maximum of 240Hz in touch sampling rate for a near instant response time from touch to display.

Before we move on to the back, we can take the time to appreciate the one thing OnePlus devices have that no other Android device has. We can take our time to appreciate the silent and vibrate switch above the powerbutton. Once you have admired that switch, it is time to move to the back, the main package everyone wants to see.

You get a power bulge that is the camera array module. Under the metal plate that spells the icon that is Hasselblad are four impressive cameras. You have one 48-Megapixel Sony IMX789 sensor as the main hitter in the camera array. Alongside the 48-Megapixel sensor is a very powerful Sony IMX766 50-Megapixel that shoots out of an ultra-wide lens. The ultra-wide sensor is supposed to be about three times the size of the sensor you can find on the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. The ultra-wide lens is a free-form lens too to ensure there is less distortion on your photos. There is also a powerful 13-Megapixel 3.3x optical zoom sensor. There will also be one 3-Megapixel macro lens on the Pro variant of the OnePlus 9 series.

The Hasselblad input on OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera supposedly improves colour science. Hasselblad cameras are known for their excellent and highly accurate colour science. That is what OnePlus 9 Pro will get from Hasselblad’s investment. That, and up to 12-bit RAW photos. The result is photos that looks like they come from actual DSLRs.

The cameras now can also shoot videos at 8K 30p. while 8K is a bit of a stretch today still, you can dial that down and shoot videos at 4K 120p to create even more stunning videos or create slow-mo videos. For even better looking videos, the OnePlus 9 Pro features something called DOL-HDR mode for better and more detailed exposures on your captured videos.

The OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a punch hole on the front. That punch hole houses the front-facing camera obviously. You get 16-Megapixel out the front that can also record videos at 4K resolution.

Under all of that glass and metal is a 4,500mAh battery that should guarantee the device lasting all day. If the OnePlus 9 Pro’s battery drains though, the battery can Wrap Charge at 65W (Wrap Charge 65T) via its USB Type-C port. Of course, the OnePlus 9 Pro can be charged wirelessly too at 50W for a quick 43-minute pit-stop.

OnePlus 9

Source: OnePlus

The vanilla OnePlus 9 is not a completely different story from the OnePlus 9 Pro. You still get the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 platform to work with. You get less RAM and storage at 8GB and 128GB though. No, you do not get a MicroSD card expansion slot here still.

Instead of a large 6.78-inch display though you are getting a 6.5-inch Full HD+ OLED display. 6.55-inch is not exactly small though. You still get 120Hz too, which will still make the OnePlus 9 feels extra smooth.

You also will still get the powerful 48-Megapixel Sony IMX689 and 50-Megapixel Sony IMX766 sensors as the biggest feature on the camera array module. You get the Hasselblad branding too, of course. You still get the telephoto lens too but lose the macro lens to make this a triple lens camera set-up.

You still get the same 4,500mAh battery from the OnePlus 9 Pro too with 65W charging capabilities. The vanilla OnePlus 9 still gets wireless charging, but not the full 50W beans that charges the device in 43 minutes. Instead it wirelessly charges at 15W that should still wirelessly charge the device in less than 3 hours.

OnePlus Watch

Source: OnePlus

Alongside the OnePlus 9 series smartphones, OnePlus also introduced their new Watch. It measures in at 46mm and is made with 316L standard stainless steel. It boasts a glass protected 1.39-inch round AMOLED display that boasts 326ppi. Of course, to ensure that you can customise the OnePlus Watch to your tastes and style, it features a regular 22mm lug. That also means you are not stuck to buying proprietary straps.

It is a smartwatch of course. That is why you will find the regular array of sensors you can expect from a smartwatch or fitness tracker. You can find GPS, altimeter, and also blood oxygen sensor on the wristwatch. It even recognises over 110 exercise modes for maximum flexibility in your workouts.

To keep your smartphone away when you go for a run, the OnePlus Watch can store up to 500 songs (mp3, we assume). To keep it safe and working after a rigorous workout, a swim, and even extreme activities that involved plenty of dirt, it is IP68 and 5ATM certified. All of that, and you get a whole week of battery life in a 20 minute charge. At full charge, the OnePlus Watch lasts 14 days, longer than almost all the available smartwatches that packs the same features.

It is clever at home too. You can use it as a remote for the OnePlus TV. It will automatically lower the TV’s volume when you receive a phone call. It even turns off the TV for you when you fall asleep in front of the OnePlus TV. You need a OnePlus TV for all these functions to work though.

Pricing and Availability

The OnePlus 9 Pro will be available in three colour variants. You can get it in Stellar Black, Pine Green, and Morning Mist. The vanilla OnePlus 9 will be available in Winter Mist, Astro Black and Arctic Sky colour options. Alongside the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro, they introduced a bunch of bumper cases and a trigger buttons you can attach to any OnePlus smartphones. The OnePlus 9 will be available at US$ 729 (MYR 3,005*) while the OnePlus 9 Pro starts at US$ 1,069 (MYR 4,407*).

The OnePlus Watch will be available in two Classic variants and one Limited Edition variant. The classic variant boasts either Moonlight Silver or Midnight Black colour schemes. That will start at US$ 159 (MYR 656*). The Limited Cobalt Edition comes with leather straps and Sapphire Glass material alongside its Cobalt body. No mentions yet on its pricing and availability.

*Approximate value based on conversion rate US$ 1.00 = MYR 4.12 on xe.com as of 23/03/2021

Android, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

#MYReels Simplifies Content Creation on Facebook and Instagram in Malaysia

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Instagram today just introduced a brand-new feature for content creators. They call it ‘Reels’ to help content creators make even more variety of contents on Instagram stories at least. Of course, short form contents on Instagram Stories can be shared across to Facebook as well.

Reels for Instagram will bring the long-awaited Instagram Music feature that has been available in other regions for a while now. But Reels is not just about taking the Music feature into Instagram Stories for Malaysia. It is also about helping content creators to create more varieties of contents on Instagram.

There are a few tools that comes with Reels too to make it a speedy content creator tool of choice for the many content creators on Instagram and Facebook. You can control your video speed for one, to make seamless and great looking slow-motion videos. You can record your videos now without even touching your smartphones too with a timer and countdown function now. You can add timed texts and stickers on selected parts of your video too now, instead of guessing and just hoping for the best. You can even align yourself up from previous videos to create a smooth, seamless transition in videos. Most of the time as well, on your smartphone, you are shooting free-handed so Instagram Reels can touch-up the videos to add extra stability and control over your short form videos.

Obviously, bringing Music feature into Instagram and Facebook in Malaysia is huge too. Creators in Malaysia now have access to an expanded licensed music library for their own contents on Facebook and Instagram. Users can also use music stickers on their Instagram and Facebook Stories and even easily add lyrics on their contents. It does not stop there too, you can now have music on your Facebook Profile.

If you think that Reels adds some ‘TikTok like’ functions and features to Instagram and Facebook, you may not be completely wrong. The rise of TikTok has empowered plenty of content creators to quickly make compelling short form contents that you can easily follow on their platform. TikTok has also appealed to plenty of Instagram and Facebook content creators thanks to the innovative tools that TitTok has provided for quick and seamless content creation. The introduction of Reels and its suite of content creation tool should bring some content creators back to Instagram and Facebook.

Reels is now available for Instagram and Facebook users in 50 regions. Malaysia is a part of those 50 countries with Reels introduced in Instagram and Facebook. Music is available in 90 countries so far and Malaysia is now part of those countries to have Music features available. Instagram and Facebook are two free apps available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Android, Mobile, News

POCO Unveils Two New Performance Oriented, Affordable Flagships – The POCO F3 & POCO X3 Pro

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POCO has finally revealed “The Real Beast” POCO F3 and the PCO X3 Pro. The new flagships are spearheading the company’s foray into providing value-oriented flagships that don’t only take their value seriously but also the performance they pack as flagships. Powered by flagship-class Snapdragon 800 series processors, they aren’t skimping on much when it comes to performance. 

POCO F3 

The new POCO F3 5G comes with a 6.67-inch, AMOLED display. The ultra-tiny DotDisplay also comes with 120Hz refresh rate. POCO has opted to go with the AMOLED E4 panel for better image performance. The F3 has opted for a FHD 1080p resolution and enhanced the display with 360Hz sampling touch and 1300nits of peak brightness. It has up to 5000000:1 contrast ratio and features what Xiaomi is touting to be “true color”. 

The POCO F3 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor along with Adreno 650 GPU at its core which provides better, more snappy performance compared to their X3 Pro. The processor and GPU are complemented by up to 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of onboard UFS 3.1 memory.  

On the camera front, the POCO F3 features a tri-camera setup with a single sensor for the selfie camera. On the back, the triple camera setup comes with a 48-megapixel primary camera with f/1.79 aperture and 6P lens with a 1/2″ sensor size and 1.6μm 4-in-1 large pixel. This is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor with 119° of field of view and an f/2.2 aperture together with a 5-megapixel tele-macro lens with f/2.4 aperture. On the front, it has a 20-megapixel sensor. 

While the device come with basic connectivity such as USB Type-C, NFC feature, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, 3.5mm headphone jack and other. However, POCO F3 is sound by Dolby Atmos, the dual speaker is able to enhance the performance and increase the immersive experience. It is packed with 4520mAh battery and an in-box fast charger at 33W. However, the device has a slimmer and light weight design at measure 7.8mm and 196 grams for weight compare to POCO X3 Pro.  

POCO X3 Pro  

Together with the F3, POCO also announced the new POCO X3 Pro which comes with a 6.67-inch FHD, LCD Dot Display. The display is capable of up to 120Hz refresh rate. It also packs a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The display is also equipped with HDR 10 technology, and is capable of 450 nits of brightness and a contrast ratio of1500:1. Don’t fret about your eyes as the smartphone also comes with reading mode 2.0 and Dynamic Switch which helps protect your eyes while keeping the colour true to life.  

It is powered by Snapdragon 860 octa-core processor, and paired with an Adreno 640 GPU. This is complemented with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS3.1 internal storage.  

When it comes to cameras, the POCO X3 comes with a quad-camera setup complemented with a single front camera. On the back, the camera comes with a 48-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.79 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with 119° field of view as well as a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, both lenses come with f/2.4 aperture.  The selfie camera is a 20-megapixel sensor. 

The POCO X3 Pro is equipped with large, 5160mAh battery but remains fairly light weight coming in at only 215g. It comes with a 33W fast charger in the box. The POCO X3 Pro device comes with dual speakers with high-res audio certification. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Similar to the POCO F3, the X3 Pro comes with the latest version MIUI 12 for POCO based on Android 11.  

Pricing and Availability  

The POCO X3 Pro is available in three colour variants: Phantom Black, Frost Blue and Metal Bronze. The device will retail with prices starting at MYR 999 (USD$242.90) for the 6GB+128GB model while the 8GB+256GB version will retail at RM1299(USD$315.77) in Malaysia. Internationally, prices will start at EUR€199 (USD$153.72/MYR632.25) and EUR€249 (USD$296.72/MYR 1,220.65) respectively.  

In Malaysia, the POCO F3 will be available for purchase on the Xiaomi Official Store Global on Shopee starting from March 24, 2021. The POCO X3 will be available at a special price of MYR899 (USD$218.55) and RM 1099 (USD$267.20) from March 24 (00:00GMT +8) to 25 (23:59GMT+8) while stock last. 

Product  RAM  ROM Price Limited deal  
POCO F3 6GB 128GB RM999 (USD$242.90) RM899 (USD$218.55) 
 8GB 256GB RM1299 (USD315.80) RM1099 (USD$267.20) 
POCO X3 Pro 6GB 128GB RM1399 (USD340.12)RM1299 (USD$315.77)
 8GB 256GB RM1699 (USD$413.10) RM1499 (USD$364.41) 
Official Malaysian Pricing for the POCO F3 and X3 Pro

The POCO F3, on the other hands, will be offered in three colours: Arctic White, Night Black and Deep Ocean Blue.  The device will available with prices starting from MYR1,399 (USD$ 340.12) for 6GB+128GB and MYR1,699(USD$ 413.10) for 8GB+128GB. Internationally, it will be priced starting from EUR€299 (USD$356.42/MYR1,466.26) and EUR€349 (USD$416.02/MYR1,711.21). 

In Malaysia, you can purchase the POCO F3 on the Xiaomi Official Store Global on Lazada starting from 27 March 2021. Similar to the X3 Pro, the F3 will be available for a discounted price of MYR 1,299 (USD$ 315.80) for 6GB+128GB and MYR 1,499 (USD$ 364.41) for 8GB+256GB from March 27 (00:00 GMT+8) to March 28 (23:59 GMT+8) while stocks last.

Official Specifications

 POCO F3 POCO X3 Pro 
Display 6.67“AMOLED, ultra-tiny DotDisplay E4 material 2400×1080 FHD+  120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate Contrast ratio: 5000000:1 Brightness: 900 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak)   True Color  True Display HDR10+ MEMC (Motion Estimation and Motion Compensation) Sunlight display 3.0 360° Ambient Light Sensor 6.67″ FHD+ LCD DotDisplay 2400×1080 FHD+  120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate DynamicSwitch Contrast ratio: 1500:1 Brightness: 450 nits (typ) Sunlight display Reading mode 2.0 HDR10 
Body Arctic White Night Black Deep Ocean Blue Corning®️ Gorilla® Glass 5 front and back Phantom Black Frost Blue Metal Bronze Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 front 2.5D glass front 3D curved back 
Dimensions 163.7mm x 76.4mm x 7.8mm 196g 165.3mm x 76.8mm x 9.4mm 215g 
Bands 2G: GSM: 850 900 1800 1900MHz         3G: WCDMA: 1/2/4/5/8         4G: LTE FDD: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/20/28/66         4G: LTE TDD: 38/40/41       5G*: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n41/n77/n78     2G: GSM: 850 900 1800 1900MHz 3G: WCDMA: B1/2/4/5/8 4G: LTE FDD: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28 4G: TDD-LTE: B38/40/41 
Performance Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 870 Mobile Platform 7nm process technology Qualcomm® Kryo™ 585 octa-core CPU, up to 3.2GHz Qualcomm® Adreno™ 650 GPU Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 860 Mobile Platform 7nm process technology Qualcomm® Kryo™ 485 octa-core CPU, up to 2.96GHz Qualcomm® Adreno™ 640 GPU 
Storage LPDDR5  UFS 3.1 LPDDR4X  UFS 3.1 
Heat dissipation LiquidCool Technology 1.0 Plus D5 copper heat pipe + multi-layer graphite LiquidCool Technology 1.0 Plus D5 copper heat pipe + multi-layer graphite 
Rear camera 48MP main camera – 1/2″ sensor size, 1.6μm 4-in-1 large pixel – f/1.79, 6P lens, AF 8MP ultra-wide camera – f/2.2, FOV 119°  5MP telemacro camera – f/2.4, AF (3cm-7cm) 48MP main camera – 1/2“ sensor size, 1.6μm 4-in-1 large pixel   – f/1.79, 6P lens, AF 8MP ultra-wide camera – f/2.2, FOV 119°  2MP macro camera – f/2.4, FF (4cm) 2MP depth sensor     – f/2.4, FF 
Front camera 20MP in-display camera 20MP in-display camera 
Connectivity Multi-functional NFC  IR blaster Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 6 5G* Multi-functional NFC  IR blaster Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi 6 Dual SIM, Dual 4G standby 
Unlock Side-mounted fingerprint sensor Face unlock Side-mounted fingerprint sensor Face unlock 
Charging 4520mAh (typ) battery  33W in-box fast charger 52 mins*** to 100% USB-C 5160mAh (typ) battery  33W in-box fast charger USB-C 
Audio Dolby Atmos®** Dual speakers Hi-Res Audio  Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified  Dual speakers High-res audio certified 3.5mm headphone jack 
Motor X-axis linear motor Z-axis linear motor 
System MIUI 12 for POCO based on Android 11 MIUI 12 for POCO based on Android 11 
Storage 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB 
Android, Mobile, News

Samsung Galaxy A Series Pricing & Availability Revealed for Malaysia

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Samsung recently unveiled their new Galaxy A series smartphones. The new entries take Samsung’s pre-existing approach to midrange phones and turns in on its head. This year the Galaxy A series comes with specifications that push the old envelope for midrange smartphones and brings more value.

The company has now confirmed their A Series offerings. Malaysia will be getting their Galaxy A72, Galaxy A52, Galaxy A32 5G and the regular Galaxy A32. The new line up joins the earlier released Galaxy A42 5G. If you need a full rundown of the Galaxy A series, you can head on down to our articles for the launch of the A52 and A72, and the A32’s reveal.

The new smartphones will be available in Malaysia starting on the 26th of March 2021. Samsung Malaysia is having a special introductory offer for the smartphones starting on 26 March 2021 until 30 April 2021. Purchases of the A52 and the A72 will come with a free “Clear Standing Cover” worth MYR109 while purchases of the A32 will come with a “Clear Standing Cover” worth MYR39. The Galaxy A series is also eligible for Samsung’s trade up program which allows you to get an immediate cash rebate for your old phone.

The new A series will be available in Awesome Violet, Awesome Black, Awesome Blue and Awesome white across the board. Of course, only the A52 and the A72 come with the haze finish. The Galaxy A72 will be available for MYR1,899; the A52 for MYR1,499; the A32 5G for MYR1,199, and the A32 for MYR1,099.

ModelRecommended Retail Price (RRP)ColourFreebie
Galaxy A72
(8GB RAM + 256GB ROM)		RM1,899Awesome Violet
Awesome Blue
Awesome White
Awesome Black		Clear Standing Cover (worth RM109)
Galaxy A52
(8GB RAM + 256GB ROM)		RM1,499Awesome Violet
Awesome Blue
Awesome White
Awesome Black		Clear Standing Cover (worth RM109)
Galaxy A32 5G
(8GB RAM + 128GB ROM)		RM1,199Awesome Violet
Awesome Blue
Awesome White
Awesome Black		Soft Clear Cover (worth RM39)
Galaxy A32
(8GB RAM + 128GB ROM)		RM1,099Awesome Violet
Awesome Blue
Awesome White
Awesome Black		Soft Clear Cover (worth RM39)
Android, Editorial, Mobile

3 Reasons Why The vivo X60 Series with ZEISS Technology May Defy Your Expectations

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vivo isn’t a name you would necessarily associate with photography. However, the company has been honing its offerings over the past few years, becoming an innovator when it comes to developing new technologies in the smartphone photography space. Just last year, in 2020, vivo introduced one of the most compelling, feature packed smartphones – the vivo X50 series. The X50 series was also the first smartphone to come with built-in gimbal stabilization. This year’s vivo X60 Series is upping the ante even more with a new, camera centric collaboration with ZEISS.

Source: vivo

The collaboration isn’t just done on a whim. ZEISS and vivo are working together to develop technologies that will take smartphone imaging leaps and bounds. As part of this collaboration, the two companies have setup the vivo ZEISS Imaging Lab to research and develop new technologies that will improve smartphone photography. The new vivo X60 series is the first smartphone series to bring the fruits of this collaboration mainstream.

That’s enough of a history lesson. Let’s get into the fun parts! Here’s why the vivo X60 series will defy your expectation.

1.   ZEISS Lenses Help Capture Every Moment with Clarity

Source: vivo

As mentioned, the vivo X60 series is the first series bringing technology and innovations from the vivo-ZEISS partnership. This includes a whole new set of camera lenses and technologies which will up your photography game significantly.

ZEISS is bringing its Vario-Tessar lenses to the vivo X60 which will allow you to capture clear, crisp pictures. These lenses come with ZEISS’s T*anti-reflective coating which allows more light to be captured by the sensor on the vivo X60 Pro. vivo’s Extreme Night Vision 2.0 further enhances low light performance in the vivo X60 series. The AI algorithm helps reduce noise under low light, giving you crisp, rich details. Simply put, you’ll be able to capture amazing pictures even under low light!

These paired with apertures as large as f/1.48 on the customised Sony IMX598 sensor and vivo’s Pixel Shift Ultra HD Imaging you’ll be capturing pro-level, detail rich pictures with a single click.

2.   Steady Shot move aside, Gimbal Stabilization 2.0 is bringing the heat!

The vivo X60 Pro will be coming equipped with an improved version of vivo’s Gimbal Stabilization which debuted with the vivo X50 Pro. The improved Gimbal stabilization technology allows the smartphone to catch even steadier shots. So, you won’t have to worry about blurs thanks to shaking.

Source: vivo

The improved Gimbal Stabilization technology stabilizes the camera across four axes in addition to the pitch and yaw of the cameras. This allows the camera to remain still even when your hands are shaking or when you’re walking. It helps minimise sudden jerks and even allows you to take videos with cinematic movements. This is helped further by VIS 5 axis video stabilization technology.

3. 5G connectivity & Top of the line performance without breaking the bank thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 processor

vivo’s X60 series comes powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 processor. While it may seem like the Snapdragon 870 is a generation behind, that cannot be further from the truth. Announced earlier this year in January, the Snapdragon 870 brings improved performance over last year’s flagship Snapdragon 865. However, it also walks the tightrope when it comes to affordability.

Source: Qualcomm

It packs a super capable Qualcomm Hexagon 698 processor which not only boasts better performance over last year’s processor but also provides better power efficiency. It has a 10% boost in GPU and CPU performance and even supports 5G connectivity. The Qualcomm Spectra image signal processor allows you to capture even clearer images and supports multiple AI functions such as portrait mode. It also supports 4K videography at simultaneous 64MP image capture. The vivo X60 series will have a new ZEISS Biotar Portrait style which will allow you to capture artistic, centre-weighted portraits without the need for extra accessories.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Source: vivo

That’s right, these 3 reasons are simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to vivo’s new X60 series. The features are still being revealed as we speak in leaks and even announcements. We’re definitely anxious to see what vivo has in store for us with the vivo X60 series. The smartphone is turning out to be one of the most exciting smartphones of 2021!

Don’t forget to tune in to the official launch of the vivo X60 series happening on March 22 2021 at 9.30 p.m.!

Android, Mobile, News

OnePlus 9R 5G – the Less Expensive OnePlus 9, Confirmed for India

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The OnePlus 9 series is upon us. We know that the new OnePlus ‘Flagship Killer’ flagship model is coming with a Hasselblad branded camera module. We also know that its specs will be very similar to OPPO’s latest Find 3X Pro, at least for the Pro variant of the device. What we did not know is that there is going to be a budget friendly version of the series, now we know it as the OnePlus 9R.

The OnePlus 9R, as per Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus, is meant for the India market for now. The device is supposed to be going along the philosophy of the route of the OnePlus Nord. In that sense, the OnePlus 9R, while not technically a successor to the OnePlus Nord, is meant to sit in the mid-range spectrum of devices in the industry.

OnePlus says that the OnePlus 9R is going to feature 5G capabilities. That should be a welcome to emerging markets or at least for some future proofing. They also say that the OnePlus 9R should be a performer when it comes to games. That also means a display that refreshes at 90Hz at least.

Of course, to be a top gamer the OnePlus 9R needs some performance out of its hardware. That comes in the form of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (rumoured). We could be wrong though.

As far as reports go though, these are the only details to be found so far. There are no other firm details on the OnePlus 9R. We do expect it to be priced a little higher than the Nord though, if we are to believe rumours of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865.

Whatever it is, the OnePlus 9 is soon launching. The device is scheduled to make a global debut on the 23rd of March 2021. The new OnePlus 9 series is supposed to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 System on a chip (SoC) and will power two 50-Megapixel cameras. OnePlus has also formed a partnership with Hasselblad to optimise their camera even more. To watch OnePlus launch their new OnePlus 9 flagship series on the 23rd March 2021, you can head over to their YouTube channel.

Android, Hands On, Mobile, Video

Samsung Galaxy A72 Hands On

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Samsung just unveiled their latest entries into their Galaxy A series which bring with them a totally new approach for their midrange smartphones. The new Galaxy A72 spearheads the line up with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G and 8GB of RAM. It also has up to 256GB of internal storage.

The new Galaxy A72 will be coming to the market in the next few weeks and will retail at EUR€449 internationally. In Malaysia, the smartphone will set you back MYR2,299.

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Samsung Galaxy A52 Hands On

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Samsung is taking an all-new approach to their midrange with the newly announced Galaxy A line up. With the company bringing flagship features to their midrange, they’ve diversified their offerings across the Galaxy A Series.

The Galaxy A52 is a step down from the Galaxy A72 but brings the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal memory. However, it replaces the 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with a 5-megapixel depth sensor and comes with a slightly smaller Super AMOLED display.

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Samsung Brings More Value with The Galaxy A32

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Together with their recently unveiled Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72, Samsung also took the covers off their new Galaxy A32. The Galaxy A32 maintains the ethos of the new Galaxy A series but looks to bring even more value. That said, it does compromise a little bit more when it comes to specs and features.

The Galaxy A32 comes with a MediaTek Helio G80 with 128GB of onboard storage and 8GB of RAM. Like its bigger siblings, the A32 also supports up to 1TB of extra memory through its microSD card slot. It will come with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rates.

Similar to the A52 and A72, it comes with a quad camera setup. It has a 64-megapixel main sensor with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF). This is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5-megapixel macro sensor and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. On the front, it comes with a 20-megapixel fixed focus camera. The camera setup on the Galaxy A32 support recording 4K UHD videos at 30fps.

The A32 also comes with all the bells an whistles from the new A52 and A72. This includes KNOX integration and One UI 3.0. It has a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 15W fast charging.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A32 will be available in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue and Awesome Violet. No pricing has been officially announced just yet.

Official Specifications

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Samsung’s Galaxy A Series Gets Awesome Flagship Features

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Samsung just revealed something really awesome! Their Galaxy A series is taking some notes from their successful flagships. The new A series line up brings some of the most sought features from their Galaxy S series to a more affordable price point. Samsung’s new approach is a return to their approach from the Samsung Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 of 2017.

The new Galaxy A72 and the Galaxy A52 both come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G for their 4G versions while the A52 5G comes with the Snapdragon 750G. They will be coming with 8GB of RAM with up to 256GB of internal memory which can be expanded with an additional 1TB of memory with a microSD card.

Awesome Features Come to the Galaxy A Series

The new headliners for the series are the Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72. These two models bring features like IP67 water- and dust-proofing to the Galaxy A line up and even complement this with more features that make their devices so compelling. The new approach comes after Samsung’s own Galaxy A51 became one of their best selling smartphones. According to them, consumers are looking for more compelling offerings which are affordable and don’t compromise much when it comes to features.

The A52 and A72 bring a large, Super AMOLED display to the table. The former comes with a 6.5-inch display while the latter comes with a larger 6.7-inch display. Both of them come with 90Hz refresh rates while the 5G variant of the A52 comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung is claiming that even at 90Hz their A72 and A52 are able to provide a more seamless experience without too much compromise. This is particularly true when it comes to LCD panels that are commonly used in A series competitors. Samsung is also equipping the new A series with Eye Comfort Shield which lowers blue light emissions significantly for better eye health and less strain.

On the battery end of things, Samsung is equipping the Galaxy A52 with a 4,500mAh battery on both the 4G and 5G versions while the Galaxy A72 will be coming with a larger 5,000mAh battery. Samsung claims that these will allow their offerings to last for up to 2 days on a single charge.

Awesome Quad Camera Setup with up to 30x Zoom

While Space Zoom doesn’t make it to the Galaxy A series, it comes with a capable quad camera setup with slight tweaks across the line up. The main camera sensor of the Galaxy A series is a 64-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and autofocus (AF). This is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor with 123° field of view and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. The final fourth sensor is different on the Galaxy A72 and the A52. The A72 comes with a 8-megapixel telephoto sensor capable of 3x optical zoom with OIS and AF. The A52, on the other hand, comes with a 5-megapixel depth sensor. On the selfie front, the two devices come with a fixed focus 32-megapixel sensor.

Hardware is only part of the story when it comes to the new Galaxy A series. Samsung is bringing features like Single Take to the series to complement the capable hardware. But, before we jump into that, Samsung has also brought tetra binning to the new A series. The camera on the A series creates a larger single pixel by binding four pixels together to allow more light and detail to reach the sensor. This improves low light performance and creates more detailed night shots.

Awesome Software to Complete the Experience

In addition to this, the new A series is coming with AI powered scene optimizer capable of automatically enhancing your photos. The scene optimizer is able to detect and optimize 30 scenes. However, if you can’t find the perfect picture in with scene optimizer, you’re able to take control with Pro mode. Once you have the perfect settings you can store them in the new “My Filter” feature which allows you to apply them to the 4K UHD videos or pictures you take down the road. You can even take 8-megapixel pictures from 4K videos with Video Snap.

Samsung is also bringing KNOX along for the ride with the new A series. While there are components of KNOX built into Android’s core. This will be the first time that Samsung is brining KNOX’s full capabilities to the series. This means that your data is encrypted and secured from the source. This comes as a part of Samsung’s One UI 3 which will be available on the A52, A52 5G and A72 at launch. Keep in mind, Samsung has also promised at least 4 years of updates for their devices to ensure device security.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy A52 & A72 will be available in Awesome Black, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue and Awesome White with a haze (matte) finish. They are available now with prices starting at EUR€349 (MYR1,713.20) for the regular A52, EUR€429 (MYR2,105.91) for the A52 5G and EUR€449 (MYR2,204.08) for the Galaxy A72.

In Malaysia, the A52 and A72 will be available with 256GB onboard memory with 8GB of RAM. No pricing details have been announced just yet. The A52 5G isn’t available in Malaysia just yet. However, Samsung may make it available later on.

Official Specifications