In the wake of Apple’s grand unveiling of the iPhone 15 family, a familiar but bittersweet ritual has taken place – the discontinuation of older iPhone models to make way for the new. While this is an expected part of the annual iPhone event, there was one unexpected twist: the demise of the beloved iPhone 13 mini, marking the end of an era for compact smartphones.
The iPhone 13 mini joins the ranks of discontinued models, alongside the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the aging iPhone 12. However, the absence of a compact iPhone in Apple’s current lineup is a poignant shift. The 5.4-inch iPhone category, once represented by the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini, has now vanished.
The decision is a testament to market dynamics, as these compact models struggled to find widespread appeal compared to their larger counterparts. With the iPhone 13 mini’s departure, users favouring more petite smartphones will face a dwindling selection.
While Apple’s official sales channels may cease offering the iPhone 13 mini, it’s possible that some retailers may continue to carry limited stock. Additionally, online marketplaces like eBay might provide a lifeline for those determined to secure one of the last 5.4-inch iPhones.
This poses a poignant change in Apple’s mobile strategy. However, on the other side of the fence, we’ve seen Android phones like the ASUS Zenfone lineup do particularly well despite its compact size. Do you believe there is still a place for compact smartphones in today’s world dominated by larger screens? Share your thoughts on this farewell to the iPhone 13 mini and the compact phone era.
Honor isn’t holding anything back this year. The smartphone manufacturer has come out guns blazing with a smartphone that may very well be the push it needs to tip over into premium territory. While it’s not their first rodeo, the Honor Magic5 Pro 5G feels like it breaks away from conventional Honor smartphones or maybe it’s the first of a line of smartphones that will revolutionise where Honor stands in the spectrum of smartphones.
The Honor Magic5, truthfully, isn’t the first flagship-class smartphone from Honor. However, it brings together a bevvy of software features that beautifully complement the hardware that comes inside. So, does Honor prove that it has what it takes to be a premium smartphone? We’re about to find out in our in-depth review.
Design
The Honor Magic5 Pro 5G isn’t a smartphone that feels cheap. It’s designed to stand out in more than one way. It’s got heft and a rather larger circular accent where the cameras are housed. While it may seem like the smartphone is rather large, Honor has taken steps to ensure that the smartphone fits nicely into your palm without much hassle. The edges of the back of the phone are slightly curved making it easier to hold.
The smartphone is built to feel sturdy in hand. The back feels sturdy and premium with its aluminium alloy and glass materials. It also feels good in hand and has more grip than other smartphones with similar finishes. The Honor Magic5 Pro is also not on a mission to run away from you when you put it on a flat surface. It does slip off the table or surface any chance it can.
The buttons on the sides of the phone are satisfyingly clicky. There’s enough travel for a satisfying click and the buttons themselves feel sturdy and high quality despite being moulded plastic. Even the frame of the Honor Magic5 Pro is built to last.
Hardware
The Honor Magic5 Pro is stepping out of being a midrange flagship to true flagship territory. It’s got the specification to back that aspiration. Honor is packing the Magic5 Pro with specifications that put other similarly priced smartphones to shame and its software may just be adding to the burn.
3D Time of Flight (TOF) Depth Sensor LED Flash HDR10 Panorama 4K Video recording (30/60fps) 1080p Video recording (30/60fps) Gyro-electronic image stabilization (EIS) 10-bit Video
Accelerometer Proximity Sensor Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass Colour Spectrum sensor Face ID IP68
Miscellaneous
Dual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia)
MYR3,499 (256B + 12GB) MYR4,299 (512GB + 12GB)
Retail Price (US)
EUR€1,199 (512GB + 12GB)
User Interface
Honor’s MagicOS has come leaps and bounds from its humble roots as an offshoot of Huawei’s EMUI. The company has optimised the software to fit their technology needs and has made a seamless, user-friendly experience that translates across the board.
On the Magic5 Pro, MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13 brings a very minimalistic take on stock Android. It delivers key Android features without the flash and opacity of stock Android. Instead, it delivers a thoughtful take on Android with the focus being on simplicity and functionality.
The interface of MagicOS 7.1 is, for better or worse, designed to look similar to iOS. There’s no running from it. There are icons that are similar and even folders have similar functions to iOS. However, Honor brings its own flavour with the fluidity. Using the interface is easy, responsive and very superfluous. Honor puts everything within a single click including an excessive amount of controls in its control centre. Yes – they’ve separated the notification shade and quick toggles. While it is a welcomed separation. The need to remember which side of the screen to swipe to get access to quick settings is irritating.
That isn’t the only change either. Honor is also introducing their own take on widgets called “Cards”. These cards provide some extended functionality compared to widgets. However, they are not resizeable or stackable like regular Android widgets. Fully functional cards allow you to essentially interact with apps without needing to open them. That said, Honor runs the complication of not having this feature fully supported by 3rd party apps. So, in the end, you end up using “traditional widgets” to get the functionality you want.
Customizability is a little limited on MagicOS 7.1 on the Honor Magic5 Pro. While stock Android allows you to customize your colours and accents in the interface, Honor has limited customizability to themes, icon packs and fonts. While it may seem a little limiting, this approach to personalisation allows the interface to remain clean while incorporating elements of the user’s personality. The Always On Display can also be customised to fit the needs of the user as well.
All of these unique features, while not flawless, lend themselves to one of the best iterations of Android I’ve used in quite a while. It’s simple, straight to the point and highly customisable. All characteristics of a user experience that is easy and simple. You can, of course, get all the usual functionalities and complexities of Android but the simple, easy-to-use interface makes it more refreshing.
Performance
Honor’s Magic series has never been a slouch when it comes to performance. However, the Magic5 Pro feels supercharged and on par with other flagships this year partially thanks to the processor within the smartphone. That said, it is more than likely this performance boost more due to the optimisations Honor has included in Magic OS 7.1 and also RAM optimizations.
Multitasking & Productivity
Working on the go or even getting things done in a pinch is not going to be a problem on the Magic5 Pro. The smartphone is built to be a productivity machine even without the stylus support we’ve seen in many other smartphones. Honor has ensured that the phone is able to handle nearly any workload you can throw at it.
When it comes to multitasking, the Honor Magic5 Pro excels. Whether it is jumping between apps in the recent apps interface or even using split screen, the Magic5 Pro is a champion. It is able to multiwindow multitask with a simple gesture. Pulling out the multitasking bar will allow you to launch apps in floating window mode. From the same bar, if you drag the app icon to the active screen, you’ll launch a split screen mode. While it isn’t as intuitive as regular stock Android gestures, it also prevents unwanted launches of apps. It’s also easier to explain to
Multitasking isn’t just about multiple windows, it’s about how the smartphone can handle the stress of running multiple apps at any given time. The Honor Magic5 is able to do this without choking. The processor is pretty powerful and the ample amount of RAM and ability to use dedicated allocations of memory as RAM extension for more when needed is genius. So, if ever the phone begins to choke, you can always increase the RAM to see if it is a memory issue.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Honor Magic5 Pro performs admirably when it comes to connectivity. It supports 4G LTE and 5G connectivity without much issue. WiFi connections were stable with little to no disruptions or disconnects. Mobile data over 5G and 4G LTE were stable and didn’t have many hiccups.
When it comes to calls, the quality on the Magic5 Pro was pretty good. Using Voice over LTE (VoLTE) was seamless and didn’t have any issues. Regular calls were also stable without much distortion. The call quality was good. Users on the other end of the line sounded crisp and clear. The sound quality was warm and full and didn’t sound metallic or distorted.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, the Magic5 Pro had little issues. During the review period, we tested the smartphone with games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9: Legends, Pokémon UNITE and Diablo Immortal. The smartphone was able to perform pretty well across the board. However, it’s not without some caveats.
The graphical intensity of Genshin Impact did give the Honor Magic5 Pro a run for its money. While the game could be played in near maximum settings, the smartphone did get a little warm. This is even with the refinements that Honor has done to the cooling system in the smartphone. While it’s not very surprising, it was more surprising to go an hour or two without the phone getting any warmer. At no point during the prolonged session did the smartphone get too warm to hold. Of course, this was without charging the phone. We definitely wouldn’t suggest doing that.
With Diablo Immortal on the other hand, the smartphone did struggle a little bit. This was particularly apparent when getting mobbed by demons. There was a point at which the smartphone couldn’t handle the number of events happening on screen and it started lagging. However, this only happened when I decided to accumulate about 100 enemies on the screen before using a skill with AoE damage. That said, once the animations for the attack were over, the game did rebound to be fully playable once again.
Overall, if you’re gaming on the Honor Magic5 Pro, you’re not going to be facing many hiccups. Aside from the two instances mentioned, games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends were able to run for prolonged sessions without issue. The only issue was whether I could handle the length of the gaming session.
Battery Life
Battery life on any Honor smartphone is commendable. However, on the Magic5 Pro, it’s amazing. I found myself charging once every 2 days. This is with 5 Gmail accounts and 7 work emails syncing in the background. Not to mention WhatsApp and Telegram. Honor’s AI technology when it comes to battery optimisation is astounding, to say the least.
On average, I was getting at least 36 hours of battery on a single charge. When it was actively being used, the smartphone was able to last about 3.5 hours on a full charge. At 15% with battery saving mode, I was able to get another 2 to 2.5 hours depending on usage during the time. On standby, this time went well over 4 days of battery life. This was without mobile connectivity and with minimal screen time.
Display
The display on the Honor Magic5 Pro is one of the best we’ve seen in the price range. The OLED panel was able to reproduce colours pretty accurately with enough brightness to be viewable even under direct sunlight. It’s pretty clear that Honor was going all out when it comes to the display as it performed outstandingly well even under harsh sunlight.
The HDR support on the display is a welcomed addition to the panel. Details in dark scenes, like the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones, are noticeable and have enough detail to appreciate. The screen’s high refresh rate was also a boon in games and also when it came to the user interface. Transitions were buttery smooth.
Reading and texting on the Magic5 Pro was a pleasant one. With the TUV Rheinland Certified blue light reduction for eye protection, and also reading modes, I could read on the screen for prolonged periods. My eyes weren’t fatigued even after about 2 hours of reading an ebook. Speaking of, the smartphone does come with an eBook reading mode which turns everything black and brownish mimicking an ebook reader. While this is great for extremely long reading sessions, I wasn’t used to the look of the mode and ended up turning it off after about 15 minutes.
Cameras
The Honor Magic5 Pro comes with a triple camera setup. While it doesn’t come with co-branding like some other smartphone brands, it does deliver rather commendable results. Honor’s decision to go with 50-megapixel sensors across the board does come with some benefits when it comes to the consistency of the pictures and footage that you get from the cameras.
Honor also has some AI magic happening in the background when it comes to the camera. With pixel binning and AI, the camera setup is able to produce pretty sharp and vibrant photographs. The same can be said for the video footage that you get with the smartphone’s cameras. However, the AI can be overly aggressive at times resulting in overly exposed pictures or video.
That said, photos taken with the main camera are vibrant and detailed when you have good lighting. While there is some quality degradation when it comes to darker conditions, the photos still remain relatively detailed. In more challenging lighting conditions, photos can be noisy and blurry. By “more challenging” lighting conditions I mean near pitch black. Other than that, you should be able to get good photos from the camera.
Taking zoomed-in pictures can be a mixed bag with the Honor Magic5 Pro though. The optical zoom gives you decently detailed pictures. However, when you move to zooms beyond the 3.5x, results can be mixed. AI stabilization can only do so much when it comes to zooming in. Pictures beyond 30x zoom are horribly noisy and lack detail. Speaking of AI stabilization, the one on the Magic5 Pro is pretty good. In video mode, when you’re moving at higher magnifications, the AI creates a smooth panning effect to minimize motion blur and dizziness.
Videos taken with the main camera setup are pretty decent. In fact, we’ve shot some of our content using this smartphone – it’s up to you to find out which. The results with good lighting are really good. In fact, it’s probably comparable to some of the other flagship devices which are built specifically for photography. Honor has also baked in the ability to shoot in LOG which allows you to get a pretty colour-accurate video in post-production. LOG shooting will result in a flatter, duller colour profile which allows you to better colour grade after editing.
When it comes to the selfie camera, the Magic5 Pro has a little bit of work to do. While the pictures under good lighting are vivid, robust and detailed, the lower megapixel sensor leaves some space for improvement particularly when it comes to detail. The low light performance is also a little bit lacking on the front camera.
Overall, the Honor Magic5 Pro has a pretty good camera setup given its price point. The robustness of the software and the versatility of the triple camera setup make it a good option for aspiring content creators. It’s also one of the best that we’ve used when it comes to video footage. Honor’s prowess at creating all-rounded cameras is definitely on show with this flagship.
An Honor-able flagship device that proves that the right balance of specifications and software is a winning formula
Honor is putting other “premium” smartphone brands to shame with the Honor Magic5 Pro. It’s proven that the right specifications and a robust but focused approach to software result in a smartphone that can cater to a wider range of users. The Magic5 Pro comes with a feature set that makes it one of the best smartphones for content creators while also being the perfect phone for people wanting to be productive on the go.
Google’s Android Auto has been getting constant updates for a while now and is getting the attention it finally deserves. Android Auto has been a blessing for plenty of Android users in their cars. With every update, they just get better, more useful, and even more relevant to drivers today than ever before. You can use Google Assistant seamlessly in your car, for example. You can also reply to text messages via Android Auto, obviously via voice activation. In one of their latest updates, the interface now allows you to spread the screen out in multiple windows with Google Maps or Waze taking up most of the real estate while allowing another app like YouTube Music, Tidal, or Spotify in a smaller window. Even your notification can get its own window in the latest interface.
Source: Google
In their latest update, Google is looking to make Android Auto a better journey companion than before by bringing more apps into the Android Auto Ecosystem. For those that are always on-the-go but can never get away from their smartphones for work, Google is bringing Zoom and WebEx into Android Auto for a more seamless video call experience even when you are stuck in a terrible traffic jam. For the long-drawn-out standstill traffic, they are also bringing Prime Video into the fold. Best of all though, for better journey planning, they are bringing weather updates via The Weather Channel app into Android Auto.
The Weather Channel app has been the most popular weather prediction app on Android devices worldwide. It is only natural to start bringing the app into Android Auto for the purpose of journey planning. The Android Auto version of the app will operate a little differently from the smartphone app though. There are still some similarities like push weather updates, but now it is more catered toward your specific journeys. It updates the users of incoming bad weather, for example, just so that you can either plan around the traffic build up, or brace for extended journey times. The Android Auto app also can offer hourly forecasts, follow-me alerting, and Trip View radar that allows you to be your own F1 race engineer watching out for rain on your journey.
Source: Google
The updates are being rolled out to Android Auto units by select manufacturers currently and will roll out to other users following the select manufacturers. They are also rolling out digital key support in select regions for select manufacturers and models. Of course, while that nifty feature allows you to lock and unlock your car via your smartphone, you want to keep in mind that it will only work if your care comes natively with Android Auto. More information on the latest updates on Android Auto can be found on their website.
Flip, Fold, Open, Close – Foldables seem to be all the rage as more and more companies continue to weigh in on the new form factor. From sleek, shiny folding clamshells to thinner-than-you-can-imagine folding tablets, that’s the current climate of the smartphone market. But, as more companies start releasing their foldables, it’s becoming more difficult to differentiate and stand out from the noise.
The Galaxy Z Flip5 is Samsung’s fourth iteration of their pioneering Galaxy Z Flip lineup and it makes some strides when it comes to functionality and features. However, is that enough for Samsung to stand out? Or will it simply get lost in the crowd? We’re taking a deep dive into the smartphone and its new features to find out just that.
Design
The Galaxy Z Flip5 is not a revolutionary update when it comes to design. Instead, Samsung has made small, incremental updates to the design in response to consumer feedback and also to accommodate the many features that it introduced.
The Flip5, like its predecessor, is very focused on being a fashionable addition to your tech gear. Its svelte form factor is meant to be easy on the eyes, light in hand and a statement piece when it comes to your outfit. It’s built to accessorize and be functional.
The biggest, most obvious change this year is the top half of the Flip being jet black. This is done to accommodate the upsized 3.4-inch display that now emblazons the top half. Samsung has also opted to keep the Flip5 colourful as a lineup with a selection of seven colours at launch with more options sure to come as the year progresses. However, the pastel palette of the Flip5 is lost and subdued even further by the jet-black upper half, leaving the phone feeling rather drab. Most colours appear white or slightly off-white after a while. We experienced this with the Mint colour of the review unit we had.
The other design change is the reduction and removal of the visible gap between the two halves when closed. While this is a major aesthetic change, it doesn’t affect the functionality. The biggest impact it had in our review period was making it harder to open the Flip with a single hand. This was just because there wasn’t a place to leverage to push the hinge open. Speaking of the hinge, Samsung has changed its design to minimize moving parts which also allowed for the removal of the gap. The only complaint we have with this design change is that it seemed to make the crease more apparent. It felt deeper, and more pronounced on the Flip5 than it was on the Flip4.
Other than that, the Galaxy Z Flip5 is still a pretty little thing when it comes to design. It’s made a few functional tweaks that leave it feeling refreshed. However, it feels like Samsung needs to refine the design a little bit more to get to that perfect balance of aesthetics and functionality.
Hardware
Hardware-wise, the Z Flip5, feels like a repeat performance of the Z Flip4. Of course, that doesn’t include the larger cover display which plays a prominent role in the improved functionality of the smartphone.
OneUI continues to homogenise the Samsung ecosystem when it comes to mobile devices. The user interface of the Flip5 is for better or worse – the same. However, there is one caveat Samsung has introduced a lot of features when it comes to the cover screen and the folding form factor. While not much has been done in terms of better adapting the UI to the longer 22:9 aspect ratio, they have introduced features which make apps look better optimised for the display.
Samsung’s focus when it came to UI this generation is undoubtedly on Flex Mode. The company has put its weight behind some apps like Facebook, Instagram, and the Google Suite to better utilise Flex Mode. In Malaysia, we have apps from companies like ZUS coffee, Family Mart and Maxis that have been optimised to make use of Flex Mode. However, for apps that haven’t been optimised, you have the option to enable the floating Flex Mode trigger which brings up a grey screen at the bottom which functions like a touchpad. Using this touchpad, you can scroll, select, and interact with the active you have in Flex Mode. One of the features I used most in Flex Mode is using the Flip5 on a flat surface to free up my hands during a video call.
Of course, Flex Mode’s features extend to a whole myriad of Samsung apps like the camera. In the camera itself, activating Flex Mode allows you to hold the Flip5 like a camcorder with functions and buttons on the bottom side while the viewfinder remains on the front. Flex Mode also allows you to take selfies with the cover screen and the main cameras.
Speaking of the Cover Display, Samsung’s new approach to it – the Flex Window expands the functionality of the display tremendously. You can now interact more directly with the apps from the cover display itself. You’ll be able to reply to messages with a full on-screen keyboard while reading it. You can create and edit calendar events seamlessly as well. However, the functionality goes into overdrive when you use some of the Good Lock modules. The Multistar module lets you use any app on the with no restrictions. During our time with the device, we tried to do some gaming with it on the Flex Window. While it didn’t feel very comfortable, it was possible to game on the FlexWindow.
While the Galaxy Z Flip5 comes with a larger FlexWindow, it did allow me to properly disconnect from my apps. I found myself striving to not open the Flip throughout the day. I was replying to messages with the FlexWindow while checking my schedule with a simple swipe. The best part is everything and I mean everything was a swipe away. This to me was the best feature of the User Interface hands down.
Performance
The Z Flip5 continues to be one of Samsung’s go-to flagships when it comes to foldables. However, aside from its processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 this year, it doesn’t feel like a flagship like its larger sibling the Fold5 or even the Galaxy S23 series.
That said, Samsung’s focus on OneUI does make it a little better with the software optimizations and a killer feature like the FlexWindow.
Multitasking & Productivity
Samsung’s focus on OneUI also trickles into productivity with features like the sidebar, split screen and floating windows playing a huge role when it comes to productivity. While the Flip doesn’t necessarily have the form factor to be a productivity powerhouse, the ability to use 2 apps in split screen and Flex mode makes it functional for people looking to get things done on the go. It also shines when it comes to creating an environment to focus on work thanks to the cover display.
Multitasking and productivity also get a little bit of a kick with the FlexWindow and more so with Good Lock. The fact that you don’t have to open your phone to get things done is a dream for me. I found myself using the calculator, calendar and to-do list apps from the FlexWindow itself. The voice recording widget made it even easier to quickly capture my thoughts. Samsung’s Notes app also helped accomplish some note-taking and productivity on the go.
Call Quality & Connectivity
With Samsung’s track record with flagship smartphones, it should come as no surprise that the Flip5 has crisp call quality and a bevvy of connectivity options including 5G. The unit we got for review didn’t come with a dual SIM but the Malaysian version of the smartphone does come with support for Dual SIMs. That said, you could leverage the eSIM capabilities of the smartphone to get the same result.
Aside from this, the Galaxy Z Flip5 does come with support for Bluetooth 5.3, and WiFi 6e. Like many of the other Samsung flagships, the Flip5 had no qualms when it comes to connectivity. 5G connectivity was quite fast with commendable performance on 4G LTE as well. If anything, the connectivity on the Flip5 and other Samsung devices, in general, has been a lot more stable than many of its Android competitors.
Bluetooth performance on the Flip5 was also pretty solid. Using the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, I was able to move about while connected to the smartphone. Signal degradation only happened about 30 to 40 meters away from the phone. It was the same even when using the OnePlus Buds2 Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM3.
Quick Connect and nearby share are boons to the device too. Provided the device you are trying to connect supports it, all you have to do is click one button and your earbuds, speakers or even laptop are connected seamlessly. The option to use nearby share to send large files wirelessly is also a plus. I mean, sending a 100MB file over a nearby share took only 5 minutes and you didn’t have to fumble with cables or finicky wireless pairing.
Gaming
When it came to gaming, the Z Flip5 was a little bit of a challenge. Let’s be straight, you’re not buying a Z Flip5 for its gaming capabilities. However, with a processor like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and extendable RAM, you would expect a little bit more from the device.
While games ran pretty well on the smartphone, the issue we had with it was that it got a little bit warm. Not as bad as the S22+ when we reviewed it, but it did get warm. Of course, this wasn’t with simple games like Candy Crush or Angry Birds. This was with games like Diablo Immortal and Genshin Impact. That said, while it did get a little warm, there were hardly any stuttering or screen tears during gaming sessions.
Your biggest challenge when it comes to the Flip5 with gaming is the fact that it has a hinge. If you’re playing a horizontal game, you run the risk of over-exerting and bending the hinge the wrong way; and even if you bend it the correct way, your gaming session is disrupted because you accidentally switched off the screen.
However, with games like Pokemon GO, Pokemon TCG Live and Marvel’s Snap, we didn’t feel the hinge as much. The vertical alignment alleviates a lot of the issues we mentioned.
Battery Life
Samsung’s track record with battery life hasn’t been the best but it’s also not the worst. With the Flip5, I was easily able to get a good 7-8 hours with regular use. This was primarily using apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram and Threads. On days where I found myself interacting more with the FlexWindow this easily went up to about 11-13 hours. However, if you are using it constantly, you may find yourself looking for a charger in about 6 hours.
Of course, it should come as no surprise that I only managed to get about 3 hours of continuous gaming time with the Flip5. This was playing Diablo Immortal which can be quite taxing on the battery and processor.
Display
The display of the Galaxy Z Flip5 is one we’re used to seeing in Samsung flagships. The flexible AMOLED 2X and the FHD+ resolution are a good combination. The screen is capable of vivid colours and deep blacks. However, the panel can oversaturate some colours like reds and oranges when pumped up to vivid. In its natural tone mode, it feels a little washed out. These are, however, issues that can be addressed through software updates later on. Samsung’s inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate is also a plus which brings buttery smooth and fluid animations and a little bit of an edge when it comes to games like PUBG Mobile.
The only thing that takes some getting used to when it comes to the display on the Flip5 is the aspect ratio. With most phones coming with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the 22:9 aspect ratio will seem a little weird at first. You will notice black bars on videos that you usually wouldn’t have any. However, these issues will take a backseat as you continue to use the device.
The FlexWindow or Cover display is the hallmark of this smartphone. The Super AMOLED panel in the FlexWindow does its job pretty well. It delivers high-quality images with good colour reproduction. You won’t even realise that it only has a 60Hz refresh rate. However, I don’t think Samsung was prepared for users like me who end up using this display more than the main display. But for all the functions that are possible on the screen, it excels at delivering a near-perfect experience.
Cameras
Samsung continues to opt to equip the Flip series with a dual-sensor setup when it comes to cameras. To be very honest, you’re not missing out on much when it comes to camera performance – unless you’re looking for extensive camera performance to be a Pro photographer. Let’s be honest, you’re better off buying a camera at that point. Samsung has packed a bevvy of features into the camera of the Flip5 for users like most of us who want to point and click and not fuss about apertures, shutter speed and the like.
Samsung continues to prove that more sensors don’t mean better cameras. The Z Flip5’s dual 12-megapixel main cameras are pretty decent. They give you enough options for Zoom and changing to a larger aperture or even landscape shots with an ultrawide mode. The versatility also means you have options even for a bokeh-licious portrait shot. With super steady mode, you’ll be able to shoot while walking or skating but also it allows for better movement shots.
Up front, the Galaxy Z Flip5 is equipped with a 10-megapixel sensor. One that I didn’t use much as I found myself defaulting to the main sensors. The FlexWindow allowed for better control of selfies using the front cameras. The selfie sensor was only my go-to when it came to video calls. This was mostly cause of the convenience the folding allowed me when using it. It allowed the phone itself to become like a tripod and freed up my hands to do other things.
That said, the images from the selfie camera were still pretty sharp and detailed.
The main camera setup is an unusual combination of two 12-megapixel sensors – a wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and an ultrawide one with an f/2.2 aperture. Samsung didn’t even include its variable aperture technology. However, the combination gave relatively good photos. Colours were bright and popped.
That aside, the camera combination allowed the Flip to be a little more versatile than other dual-camera smartphones. While the lack of a telephoto meant that there was no optical zoom, the limited digital zoom allowed for good zoomed-in photos. However, don’t expect the quality to be anything like other smartphones with optical zoom. Pictures beyond 2x or 3x zoom become grainy and unusable. Zoom aside, the phone was still able to adapt to portrait mode and was even able to take close-up shots. The versatility proved to be quite useful during our review period, but it still is no replacement for a DSLR.
The main camera paired with the cover screen is also a winning combination. The fact that you’re getting stunning selfies thanks to the main sensors is a win in our books. What’s more, you don’t even need to flip the phone open to use them. However, the size does limit the versatility of the cameras. However, that’s not a deal breaker considering you technically can just flip the phone open to use the cameras fully.
Supersizing a Cover Screen and Making it Flex Hard with Functionality while Leaving Users Wanting More in terms of Performance and Upgrades
Saying the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is an iterative update would be a disservice to the change that the FlexWindow brings to the table when it comes to functionality and productivity. However, when you look at what powers the Z Flip5 and the overall specifications, it seems like Samsung may have been a little too hyper-focused on its update of the Z Flip lineup.
That said, the focus pays off when it comes to the overall user experience. The hyper-focus allowed Samsung to iron out the kinks and perfecting features that were left to third parties to figure out. Them taking on things like optimising for FlexWindow and FlexMode elevated the user experience significantly making it a more enjoyable user experience that you would be comfortable with even in 3 years. That said, Samsung’s inclusion of an IPX8 rating needs to be recognised as it brings us that much closer to having a foldable that is truly water and dust-resistant and having peace of mind with splashes and accidental spills is a big win.
User experience-wise, it’s a near-perfect update to the Galaxy Z Flip series. However, the only place where the Flip tends to fall short is on the hardware upgrades that it lacks internally. We want to see Samsung up the ante with features like Cameras and RAM to make it even more compelling than their A and S series. Samsung can make a performance powerhouse that’s a foldable and the Z Flip series is the series to prove it. Sadly, the Flip5 isn’t that.
USB-C isn’t just on the iPhone 15, it’s also coming to the 2nd Generation AirPods Pro. Oh, don’t forget, it’s got MagSafe too.
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) comes with enhanced sound quality and double the Active Noise Cancellation of the previous model. This means you can immerse yourself in your music or calls like never before, without being disrupted by external noise. The advanced Transparency mode also lets you stay connected to your surroundings when needed.
It also comes with Spatial Audio technology which gives a three-dimensional soundstage that makes movies, music, and games come to life. While immersive audio is nice, it would be lost without the best fit when it comes to the AirPods itself. The new AirPods Pro come with an expanded range of ear tip sizes to ensure the perfect fit for every user. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will be compatible with the Apple Vision Pro that is set to debut early next year in the U.S. This combination unlocks 20-bit, 48 kHz Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency.
No need for lightning anymore when you have a USB‑C connector to the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Now, you can use a single cable to charge multiple devices, from your Mac and iPad to your AirPods and iPhone 15 series. USB-C isn’t the only thing new on the 2nd Generation AirPods with USB-C. It’s also got an IP54 rating for both the earbuds and case.
They incorporate recycled materials, such as 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets and 100% recycled gold in printed circuit boards. The packaging is redesigned to reduce waste, aligning with Apple’s goal to eliminate plastic from packaging entirely by 2025.
Pricing and Availability
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) will be available for USD$249 or MYR1,099.
For added personalization, these AirPods can be engraved for free, offering a mix of emoji, names, initials, and numbers.
Believe it or not, Apple’s Lightning connection has been with us since the Apple iPhone 5 was introduced in 2012. The Lightning cable and port had not changed in shape and look until last year’s iPhone 14 series. While it was understandable for Apple to work with the Lightning standard in 2012, where Micro-USB was still the mainstream standard, USB Type-C has brought an evolution to mobile connectivity and has done more for laptops and smartphones than even USB 3.0 standard. To be fair, we only saw one smartphone sporting the USB 3.0 port, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, to not very much success. In that sense, there are no good reasons for Apple to keep the Lightning connection with their top-of-the-line smartphone since Apple themselves have updated their iPad Pro and iPad Air series with USB Type-C ports. They must at least see some value on USB type-C in that case.
The European Union (EU) forced Apple’s hands last year before their launch of the iPhone 14 series. Apple had to start developing their iPhones with USB Type-C port instead of their traditional and rather iconic lightning port. That is the first big difference between the previous iPhone and the upcoming iPhone 15 series. That is not what they highlighted in their launch gambit though.
Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
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There is not much of a surprise with Apple’s latest regular iPhone 15 series. Most of the features are trickled down from Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro devices of last year. The Apple Silicon A16 Bionic, for example, is the same chip you find on the previous iPhone 14 Pro. The “island bar” as well, is a feature introduced in the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, now accessible for the more accessible Apple iPhone 15.
In a lot of ways, we see this Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus as sort of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro series with USB type-C port. They share the same size as the previous iPhone 14 series as well at 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch respectively. They pack more pixels than before though since they are technically the iPhone 14 series devices at Super Retina XDR resolution. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus now also gets the updated 48-Megapixel main camera alongside a 24-Megapixel 2x Telephoto lens. No third lens here, as expected from a regular iPhone.
Other than the USB type-C connection, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus sports slightly differing visuals from before in terms of colours too. There is the usual black option, as expected. There are now Blue, Green, Yellow, and even Pink to consider for the iPhone 15 series. Of course, there will be a RED edition later.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
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The pinnacle of the iPhone has to be their Pro series models. The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max takes everything the iPhone 14 Pro series had and turned them up to 11. This is the most advanced Apple iPhone ever. You might want to take a pinch of salt though when it comes to expecting big changes.
Apple A17 Pro – Advanced Does Not Begin to Describe it
The biggest change, other than the USB type-C port now found at the bottom of the device is its integrated chip. It is now called the Apple A17 Pro, no more ‘Bionic’ in their namesake. It is also the first 3nm chip that is commercially available on a smartphone device featuring 19 billion transistors in a single chip. There are two performance cores and four efficiency cores that power the iOS 17 device. They have also made the neural engine bigger at 16-cores just for on-device AI implementations that includes predictive texts, certain Siri functions, and more. They have update the GPU as well with new hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing cores with MetalFX support for the best-in-class graphics processing available on a smartphone. They even announced that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game made for the current generation gaming consoles, will be available on the iPhone when they are available. PlayStation Studios are also adapting Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 into the iPhone which will be available later in the year. On top of all of that, the A17 Pro features a new ProRes codec for ProRes file processing and editing, Pro Display Engine for even better display experience on either the 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, and AV1 decoder. The A17 Pro even features a USB 3 controller that allows the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max to take full advantage of USB type-C.
Bigger, Better, More Lenses than You Need
While you cannot see the upgrade, Apple claims that the main camera features a larger sensor than before. It is still a 48-Megapixel sensor though underneath what they claim to be multiple lenses on the main camera. They claim that you can choose between 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm lenses for different feel and look for your photos. You can even set whichever focal lengths as your default length just so that it will get back to your preferred focal length when you launch the camera app. Instead of a 3x telephoto lens, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max now offers a 5x 24-Megapixel telephoto camera at 120mm focal length, the longest focal length featured on an iPhone ever. They also improved their 12-Megapixel ultra-wide camera at 13mm to also allow users to capture macro photos. In terms of software, the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max cameras offer a new Smart HDR engine that allows for a more true-to-life photo to be captured with brighter highlights, rich midtones, and deep shadows. Thanks to LiDAR technology and the A17 Pro’s neural engine, low-light photos have never looked better on the iPhone.
It is not just photography that gets some needed boost though. You can now capture proper ProRes videos and connect the iPhone to an external recording device or medium via USB type-C. They also now allow you to capture videos with log encoding for even more flexibility in colour grading or correction. Most of all, you can now capture videos at 4K 60p for brilliant slow-motion videos in post editing. If you have an Apple Vision Pro or have ordered one, you will be delighted that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max can capture something they call a Spatial video that you can use only specifically with Apple Vision Pro. We assume it is sort of an AR type 3D video that is captured by both the main camera and ultra-wide camera to be stitched into a single 3D video for that nifty augmented reality experience.
Titanium – Same As the Mars Rover
Source: Apple
One of the more interesting parts of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is the way it is built though. While featuring the same sort of look as the iPhone 14 Pro, it is made from a different material that also offers slightly different colour options and look. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is now made of Titanium, a lightweight alloy with higher tensile strength than any metal material at its weight. That means that the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are the lightest iPhone Pro models ever to grace our hands. While it is still an alloy product, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max still comes with MagSafe and Wi2 wireless charging support. They now come in a choice of black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium colour options.
Prices and Availability
Apple’s iPhone 15 series and iPhone 15 Pro series will be available for pre-orders from the 22nd of September 2023 onward and will ship out just a week after that on the 29th of September 2023 onward. The iPhone 15 will set you back from MRY 4,399 onward while the iPhone 15 Plus will set you back at least MYR 4,899. If you are opting for the more premium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, they start at MYR 5,499 and MYR 6,499 respectively. For more information on the new Apple iPhone 15 series and iPhone 15 Pro series, you can head out to their website.
It’s that time of the year again… Apple is about to unveil its new iPhone lineup. The event is mere hours away! But, before we sit through another keynote, let’s take a quick rundown of the rumours that have surfaced about the iPhone 15 and its siblings.
Firstly, let’s talk about the name of the upcoming iPhone. Rumours indicated that Apple was poised to drop the Pro Max name in the iPhone 15 lineup in favour of the “Ultra” nomenclature. However, it seems like that won’t be the case as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurmen has indicated otherwise. We’ll just have to wait and see which one is true at this point.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max render based on multiple design leaks (Source: @graphicalryan, MacRumors)
The biggest change we expect to see on the iPhone 15 is the replacement of the Lightning port in favour of the USB-C port. The change comes as a result of legislature in the EU which requires manufacturers to adopt USB-C as a common charging port for the benefit of the consumers. The legislature was passed in 2022 and gave manufacturers until the end of 2024 to comply. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, it’s expected that Apple will include higher-speed USB-C ports in higher-end iPhone 15 models. According to Kuo, it’s expected that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will support USB 3.2 and/or Thunderbolt 3 while the iPhone 15 will support USB 2.0. It’s also rumoured that the new iPhones will support 35W charging although, this may only be possible with Apple-made adapters.
Another big change we expect to see in the iPhone 15 series is a change in the camera technology. The iPhone 15 has been rumoured to be the first iPhone to feature a stacked CMOS sensor. The change in sensor technology is expected to result in a wider dynamic range and better low-light performance. The stacked CMOS sensors are expected to rely less on the image processor of the phone itself when taking low-light pictures.
Source: 9to5 Mac
While we’re on the cameras, the iPhone 15 is tipped to have a periscope lens in its camera setup. The periscope lens is expected to be included in the Pro Max model with a significant bump in camera hump size. It’s expected that the periscope lens will bring either 5x or 6x optical zoom to the camera while hybrid zoom may go well beyond that. Reports also suggest that the sensor will be a 1/2.9″ sensor with a large f/2.8 aperture. The complete setup of the cameras on the iPhone will feature a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the 15 and 15 plus. The Pro and Pro Max on the other hand will have an additional 12-megapixel telephoto sensor with either 3x or 6x optical zoom.
The iPhone 15 lineup is expected to be more diverse when it comes to the display as well. The vanilla iPhone 15 and the 15 Plus are expected to have a display with only a 60Hz refresh rate while the Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to have a display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate. It’s expected that the screen size of the iPhone 15 series will be unchanged from the iPhone 14. The 15 and 15 Pro will stick to the 6.1-inch size while the Plus and Pro Max will sport a 6.7-inch display.
Apparently, Apple will be using two different systems on a chip for the iPhone 15 lineup. The 15 and 15 Plus are expected to ship with the A16 Bionic which is used in the 14 Pro and Pro Max. On the other hand, the 15 Pro and Pro Max will be shipping with the upgraded A17 Bionic. The A17 Bionic is rumoured to be developed using TSMC’s 3nm technology which promises better performance for lower power.
The iPhone 15 line has also been rumoured to do away with the physical buttons with haptic buttons. However, while rumours point to these plans having been scrapped before the new iPhone entered mass production, a post on X from accessory maker Spigen teased “something’s different” with a picture of the power button and volume rocker only this morning.
Apple is rumoured to be making the new iPhone series with a new, higher-grade titanium which is lighter than the iPhone 14. However, with more premium materials comes a very painful spike in the price especially when it comes to the Pro Max model. It’s rumoured that the price of the iPhone 15 series itself will start at USD$799.99. That would be the base model iPhone 15 with 128GB of memory, the 15 Plus is rumoured to be a USD$100 premium over the 15 at USD$899.99 for the same configuration. The 15 Pro’s base model will apparently set you back USD$999.99 with 256GB of storage while the 15 Pro Max will start at USD$1,199.99 for the 256GB version. That said, another rumour points to the prices being USD$100 more expensive with base storage starting at 256GB across the board.
Well, that’s about it when it comes to rumours. You’ll have to stay tuned to techENT for the details tonight when we finally get the official details on the new iPhone 15 lineup. If you want to tune in to Apple’s keynote, just head over to Apple.com or tune in to the official YouTube Channel at 1 AM, Malaysian time or 10 AM Pacific time.
Following a series of surprise unveilings, they’ve added another gem to their repertoire – the Huawei Mate X5. Positioned as a direct successor to the Mate X3, the Mate X5 delivers significant under-the-hood upgrades while keeping its design largely intact.
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The Mate X5 has a massive 7.85-inch LTPO OLED main display, offering a crisp 2,224×2,496 pixel resolution. Complementing this is the 6.4-inch LTPO OLED cover display with a 1,080 x 2,504-pixel resolution, both are fortified with Kunlun Glass.
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While the exterior design maintains its essence, the camera island on the back has slight tweaks. The camera lineup, however, remains unchanged. The Mate X5 comes with a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a 13-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide lens and a 12-megapixel f/3.4 periscope module with 5x optical zoom.
Under the hood, the Mate X5 packs up to 16GB of RAM and a capacious 1TB of storage. Although the official chipset details are unavailable, it is speculated to be the Kirin 9000s SoC, the same powerhouse that drives the recently launched Mate60 series. It’s a 5G-ready chip, made in China using SMIC’s 7nm process technology.
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What sets the Mate X5 apart is its all-new antenna design, which claims superior signal reception. Huawei’s Lingxi antenna harnesses AI algorithms to intelligently select the best network for optimal connectivity. Moreover, the antennas around the device’s frame feature dual-mode tuning technology, further elevating signal quality.
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In the battery department, the Mate X5 steps up its game with a larger 5,060mAh battery, supporting a speedy 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 7.5W reverse wireless charging. The device runs on HarmonyOS 4 and introduces innovative air gesture controls, enabling users to navigate videos, webpages, and images without touching the main display. Notably, the Mate X5 has IPX8 water resistance and offers two-way BeiDou satellite messaging in China.
Pricing & Availability
The Mate X5 is currently on pre-sale in China via VMall, with open sales expected to commence on September 15. The retail price of the Mate X5 has yet to be announced however, pre-sale indicates a CNY1,000 (MYR641.86) deposit.
The device is available in a new Phantom Purple colour, joining the existing Feather White, Feather Black, Feather Gold, and Green Mountain options.
The digital age of smartphones and apps gave birth to plenty of alternatives for communication methods. We are not really talking about the evolution of 3G to 4G to the current 5G, or whatever that it will evolve into the future. We are talking about going back to messenger apps that sort of lost their appeal when mobile phones became a thing in the Windows XP era. Thanks to the large uptake of an app ecosystem like Apple’s App Store, WhatsApp became a big phenomenon, even bigger than the BlackBerry Messenger. Even with BlackBerry bringing their Messenger app, the rise of apps like Signal, and even Telegram, WhatsApp remains the most popular alternative messenger app you use on your smartphone. There is a good reason for that.
WhatApp, while starting out as a rather simple messenger app for the masses and bridging the gap between Apple iOS and Google Android users, has progressed to become something beyond a simple messenger. The look has not changed all that much to be fair, but the number of features that is packed into the app makes it one of the most complete messenger apps you have out there. One of biggest or most significant updates, at least in our opinions, is the introduction of Communities into the platform. They are not stopping there though.
Source: WA Beta Info
According to the most reliable WhatsApp leak sources, WA Beta Info, WhatsApp is now working on bringing third-party messaging into the platform. This will be in accordance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations that obligate tech companies to offer a more global communication tool that allows users from different platforms to communicate with each other. That also means that you might be able to start texting your friend on Telegram or WeChat without having to download those apps or have any account on the apps and vice versa.
While it has appeared as a Beta feature on WhatsApp Beta version 2.23.19.8 for Android, it does not mean that we will see the feature coming as a fully developed feature anytime soon. There are plenty of things to work on when it comes to third-party app messaging abilities. For one, end-to-end encryption between different apps works rather differently from one another. While a previous interview tells us that the encryption protocol between Signal and WhatsApp is rather similar, there are no guarantees that both apps can communicate with each other without hiccups. There is also a problem of the different programming languages and architecture on the platforms for seamless transition and communication between each of the programs. You also want to keep in mind that not all the features that come out in the Beta version of WhatsApp will be released as a full feature for WhatsApp in the future.
This Beta feature is a little different though. It is developed in compliance with a sanctioned regulation. That also means that we will most likely see the feature being baked into WhatsApp and other messenger apps like Telegram and even Signal. It is just a matter of time.
PayPal debit and credit cardholders can now integrate their cards into the Apple Wallet app, making them accessible for use with Apple Pay. The process is straightforward and can be accomplished in two ways.
Firstly, you can open the iOS PayPal app and find the conspicuous “Pay with your iPhone” banner on the homepage. By tapping this banner, you will be redirected to the Apple Wallet app, where you can conveniently add your PayPal debit or credit cards.
Alternatively, you can add your PayPal cards to your Apple Wallet by opening the app and selecting the plus icon in the display’s upper right corner. Follow the step-by-step instructions to integrate either your PayPal credit card, PayPal debit card, or both into your Wallet app. Once added, you can choose which PayPal card to use for transactions when using Apple Pay.
It’s important to note that Apple retains a small fee of 0.15% of the transaction value, equating to 15 cents for every $100 spent using Apple Pay.
Interestingly, Venmo, a subsidiary of PayPal, is also expected to introduce Apple Pay support for its Venmo credit and debit cards, although this feature has yet to be implemented.
This development coincides with Apple’s recent promotion of its Apple Pay service by releasing several promotional videos. According to analysts, Apple Pay could generate up to $4 billion in revenue this year, solidifying its position as the fifth most widely used payment method globally, trailing only behind PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
