Huawei may be facing a tough 2021 if the new licensing measures taken by the Biden administration is any indication. It looks like the U.S. is clamping down even further on the restrictions that were initially put on Huawei. According to Reuters, the Biden administration is reinforce existing measures by streamlining and making existing licenses more consistent. The new measures seem to reinforce pre-existing measures that are preventing Huawei from accessing much needed resources and components for its infrastructure and mobile businesses particularly when it comes to 5G technologies.
The new measures come as the latest blow to Huawei in what seems to be a crippling two years for the company. Back in 2019, Huawei was placed on the “entity list” which prevents companies trading in the U.S. from doing business with the company. This was done after reports surfaced of the company potentially providing access to data to the Chinese government.
Since then, Huawei has been facing hurdle after hurdle when it comes to acquiring technologies for its broad range of products. This has led to Huawei losing access to Google’s Mobile Services (GMS) which has impacted its smartphone businesses which use Google’s Android operating system. Huawei has been hard at work building its own Huawei Mobile Services and App Gallery to complete the user experience on their smartphones. The company has also been working on their own proprietary OS – Harmony OS – which is intended to replace Android on its devices.
It looks like Xiaomi is likely going to have a break when it comes to their impending U.S. ban. In a court ruling released on the 13th of March, a judge in the District of Columbia, Rudolph Contreras, found that the classification of Xiaomi as a “Chinese Communist military company” was “arbitrary and capricious” and granted the company a preliminary injunction against the restrictions that were due to take effect. In addition to issuing the preliminary injunction, the judge stated that filing of the claim from the Department of Defense lacked “a satisfactory explanation” and lacked a rational connection between the facts and the conclusion made. The preliminary injunction bodes well for Xiaomi as the company looks to reverse the classification all together.
Xiaomi found itself in the middle of a legal battle towards the end of Trump’s administration. The Department of Defense, under Trump, declared Xiaomi a threat to national security citing ties to the Chinese government. However, Xiaomi has since denied the claim. In their court filing, the company cited that the classification would cause irreparable damage and losses. Keep in mind, the ban that Xiaomi was facing is not the same as the one Huawei is facing. Xiaomi was facing a ban on investments from the U.S. If the injunction was denied, any individual or company linked to the United States would have had to divest their shares in the company by November. This was clarified by Xiaomi when it announced that Google Play Services would remain on its international phones.
Xiaomi has since issued a public statement regarding the matter.
The ASUS ZenBook name is one of icon. We say that because the ASUS ZenBook name goes back to 2011. You can trace the ZenBook at the birth of Windows UltraBooks as well. In fact, the ASUS ZenBook of 2011 was the first Windows PC UltraBook that is introduced to the world.
The ASUS ZenBook line-up has expanded to not just ultra-portable notebook PCs. It now covers ASUS’ premium line-up of lightweight notebooks that are made at the highest standards possible, it covers their convertible notebooks too. There are even dual-display notebooks within the line-up now.
For 2021, ASUS’ is bringing another innovation to their new ZenBooks – the power of OLED displays. They start with the ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED (UX371), ZenBook Flip 13 (UX 363), and ZenBook Duo 14.
ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 Flip OLED (UX363)
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
True to its name, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED comes with an OLED display measuring 13.3-inch to be precise. It boasts Full HD in resolution. Thanks to OLED technology, colours pop on the glossy display with 100% coverage on DCI-P3 colour gamut. Because it is OLED also, it is bright at 400nits. Of course, because this is a convertible, the 13-inch display is a touch sensitive display.
The Flip 13 packs some punch as well though to keep the OLED display happy. There is an 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to) to boot within the svelte all-metal body. The processor is supported by Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics integrated GPU as well, to ensure that you still can edit videos on the go. You get up to 8GB of RAM as well to work with and up to 512GB of SSD for speedy data reads and transfers. SSD also means that Windows can boot up near instantly. It also comes with ASUS’ innovative and compelling ASUS NumberPad 2.0 technology which allows for a full-sized edge-to-edge keyboard without squeezing the keys to fit the number keys (not like there are any extra spaces for it anyway).
Small and light does not mean limited though with the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED. You still get full I/O ports like the USB Type-A power and a standard HDMI port alongside two Thunderbolt 4 enabled USB Type-C ports. You get big audio too with Harman Kardon certified audio system on ASUS’ SonicMaster stereo speakers. Of course, you get the latest networking technology in the WiFi 6 connectivity and dual-band Bluetooth 5.0.
ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED (UX371)
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Full HD may not be enough for you. You can get your hands on 4K in that case with the ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED. You still get OLED on the 13.3-inch display convertible. Only this one is a 4K UHD display with up to 100% DCI-P3 coverage and up to 400nits in brightness too.
The internals are just as impressive as the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 too. You get the latest Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor as well with Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics to power the 4K UHD display. On top of that though you get 16GB of RAM, twice more than the regular ZenBook Flip. You also get up to 1TB in SSD storage space.
You still get full connectivity with a full-sized USB Type-A and standard HDMI ports as well besides the two Thunderbolt 4 enabled USB Type-C ports with charging capabilities. Of course, you also get Harman-Kardon certified ASUS SonicMaster stereo dual speakers to work with. On top of all of that, ASUS claims a battery life of 15 hours, which is impressive if you can actually get that much battery life.
ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 (UX482)
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
For even more flexibility in work, you need two displays. Rather than buying a notebook and a high-resolution external monitor, you could get yourself a notebook with two displays. That is the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14. The main display pushes 1080p Full HD resolution at 14-inch. You get 100% sRGB colour gamut as well as Pantone validation on the IPS display for the highest level of colour accuracy on the display. Of course, it is also a touch sensitive display like the secondary display that tilts to you. The secondary display is also a high-resolution Full HD 12.6-inch display. Obviously, you are not getting full height on the display, it covers the usual spot for the keyboard.
To keep the two displays running happily is an Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to) 11th Generation processor and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce MX450 discrete GPU. You also get u to 16GB of RAM to keep the two screens happy with multiple windows running at the same time. For all your storage needs, there is a 512GB SSD storage to keep things trundling along smoothly and quickly. Of course, in the interest of speed and stability you also get WiFi 6 connectivity as standard alongside Bluetooh 5.0.
In terms of utility, this workhorse needs to offer maximum flexibility in working ports. There are two Thunderbolt 4 enabled USB Type-C ports accompanied by one USB 3.2 Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, a standard HDMI port and a microSD card slot. Its speakers are Harman Kardon certified units too, so you can rely on the notebook’s speakers to edit your videos and audios. This one is a content creator’s dream tool.
Availability and Pricing
The ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED (UX363) will be available today onward from ASUS authorised dealers and all ASUS official online stores retailing at MYR 6,799 onward. The ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED (UX371) will be available today onward as well from ASUS authorised dealers and all official online stores retailing at MYR 4699 (Core i5) and MYR 5,199 (Core i7) onward. The ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 will also be available today onward from ASUS authorised stores and all online stores for MYR 5,499 (Core i5 + 8GB RAM) and MYR 6,499 (Core i7 + 16GB RAM) onward. For more information on the new 2021 ZenBook line-up you can head over to ASUS’ website.
A lot of us share accounts when it comes to streaming services. Sometimes it’s with close friends, other times its with family. However, it seems like Netflix isn’t very fond of sharing even though their platform allows up to five profiles in a single user. The company has long been trying to limit account sharing as more and more people seem to be doing it.
In its latest efforts, Netflix seems to be testing out a feature that may make sharing an account more of a hassle. Users who have been sharing accounts are reporting that they are seeing prompts for them to verify the account or sign up for a new account.
In their new effort, it seems like Netflix is trying hard to weed out sharing. In fact, while the practice isn’t illegal, it technically goes against their terms of service – if you don’t reside in the same household. However, the company has acknowledged that the practice is inevitable and a valuable marketing channel. That said, a spokesperson has come on the record to clarify stating, “This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so,”.
It comes as no surprise that Netflix is testing ways to make life a little bit harder for people who are sharing accounts as account piracy has also become increasingly common among Netflix users. If you’ve had your Netflix account compromise, you will be painfully aware that aside from sharing, incidences, where accounts are being accessed by total strangers, are not unheard of.
While it seems like the company is clamping down on “unauthorised” access, the move comes at an interesting time. Disney+ recently reported that their subscriber numbers have surpassed their initial expectations. The new streaming service reported that they are well over 100 million subscribers – something Netflix co-CEO, Reed Hastings, claimed to be impossible in an interview with CNBC.
First came Facebook Lite, now the Lite comes to Instagram. Instagram is getting a new app targeted at emerging markets. Similar to its sister app, Facebook Lite, Instagram Lite brings the platform’s core features in a package that is less than 2MB in size; a far cry from the 30MB of the original Instagram app.
The new Lite version of Instagram was developed by Facebook’s development team based in Tel Aviv – the same team that worked on Facebook Lite. The team studied and honed into what users wanted as their core Instagram experience even with limited data. For Instagram users, these were mainly their messaging and video features.
Of course, this doesn’t steer away from the image-centric features of Instagram. The team built the app keeping in mind that the core experience on the platform still relies on images. Hence, when you go into the Lite application, you will notice that animation and data rich features such as filters may be missing. That said, features such as stickers and GIFs still make it into the new Lite App. The app also sees a simplification of icons like the trash icon being replaced by an “X”.
The new Instagram Lite app is available in 170 countries as of now. Most of the countries in the list are emerging markets where people have limited access to data.
Auto Captions Arrive While Reels Crosses Over to Facebook
In addition to the rollout of Instagram Lite, a select group of people have also gotten access to new features in the regular app. Notably, a new Auto Captions sticker called “CC Captions” has been appearing for a small number of users. The sticker transcribes spoken audio when added to an Instastory. The feature was first reported by Matt Navarra, a Social media consultant on Twitter. In a statement to Engadget, Instagram has clarified that the feature is not yet publicly available.
NEW! @Instagram has added a ‘Captions’ sticker for Stories
— Matt Navarra (I quit X. Follow me on Threads) (@MattNavarra) March 9, 2021
Facebook also seems to be testing the waters with Reels. The company has been experimenting with allowing select creators in India to share their Instagram Reels over to Facebook. Creators who opt-in to the feature are able to share Reels directly to Facebook. One caveat is that their content appears to be appearing with their Instagram handles. Reels itself seems to be making its way to Facebook as the is getting updated to allow users to create and post Reels from the app.
5G is huge. We have not seen such technology arriving in Malaysia yet at this time, but we know it is coming soon. According to OPPO as well, 5G support is also one of the most sought features in a smartphone. That is why they have introduced their latest OPPO F19 Pro and OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G.
The OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G is OPPO’s first F-series 5G device is powered by MediaTek’s Octa-core Dimensity 800U processor with an ARM G57 MC3 GPU. Of course, it is powered by ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11. The device will available in 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB internal storage flavour with support for microSD extension.
Source: OPPO
The OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G packs a 6.43-inch Full HD resolution AMOLED display panel with 60Hz refresh rate. despite its regular refresh rate, you get up to 180Hz touch sampling rate for fast touch response on the 20:9 display. On top of that, 409 ppi of pixel density and peak brightness up to 800nits does not hurt too.
The OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G comes with a quad-camera setup complemented with a single front camera. The quad-camera set-up includes a 48-Megapixel Omni OV48B as the primary lens with f/1.7 aperture, an 8-Megapixel, ultra-wide snapper with 119° field of view and f/2.2 aperture, a 2-Megapixel macro lens, and a 2-Megapixel depth sensor, both lenses come with f/2.4 aperture. Out the front, it has a 16-Megapixel selfie camera with f/2.4 aperture. They say that AI features are also enhanced for better photos and experience. Features such as AI Highlight Portrait Video, Dual-View Video, and Ultra-Night Video is now available for both the front and rear cameras.
Source: OPPO
To keep the OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G going for a whole day is a 4310mAh battery with 50W Fast Charging capability. As with any modern mid-range smartphone, the OPPO F19 Pro+ also comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, Bluetooth 5.1, Dual Nano SIM, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Its fingerprint sensor is tucked under the Gorilla Glass 5 protected display. F
OPPO F19 Pro
The OPPO F19 Pro is not a 5G device and is powered by a MediaTek Helio P95 Octa-core System on a Chip (SoC). You can choose between 2 memory variants – 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM paired to either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. If 256GB is not enough, there is the MicroSD slot for expansion. It features a slimmer design at 7.8mm but comes packing a 4,310mAh battery with 30W fast charging capability. Other than the fact that this does not support 5G networks, the rest of this device is similar to the OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G
Pricing & Availability
OPPO F19 Pro and OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G will be available for pre-order 17th March 2021 onward in 2 colour variants – fluid black, and Space Silver. The new OPPO F-series devices can be pro-ordered from via Amazon India and Flipkart India.The OPPO F19 Pro’s price starts at INR 21,490 (MYR 1,212.7) for the 8GB + 128GB variant and INR23,490 (MYR 1,325.5) for 8GB +256GB model. The F19 Pro+ 5G is starting at INR 25,990 (MYR 1466.4) for 8GB + 128GB trim. There are no confirmations currently about local pricing and availability yet. For more information, please visit OPPO’s website.
Product
RAM
ROM
Price (INR)
Price (MYR)
F19 Pro
8
128
INR 21,490
MYR 1,214.0
8
256
INR 23,490
MYR 1,327.0
F19 Pro+ 5G
8
128
INR 25,990
MYR 1,468.4
Based on xe.com (currency converter) on 12 March 2021
Specifications
OPPO F19 PRO
OPPO F19 PRO+
Display
160.1 x 73.2 x 7.8mm 172g 6.43inch Full-HD (1080 x 2400) AMOLED panel 60Hz Refresh Rate 180Hz Touch Sampling 8-bit Color Depth 92% DCI-P3 100% sRGB 409ppi Contrast Ratio 1000000:1 800nit peak brightness
Fitbit has announced the Fitbit Ace 3 with a swimproof design. The new Fitbit Ace 3 is designed for kids ages 6 and above, and is aimed at helping develop healthy habits in kids. Everything from getting enough sleep for their age to staying active throughout the day.
The Fitbit Ace 3 encourages a kid to get active by giving them goals to achieve. The watch will remind the kids to move around to take at least 250 steps within an hour and reach at least 60 daily active minutes. Parents can even set different goals for their children when it comes to school hours. Unlike other fitness trackers, the Fitbit Ace 3 focuses on steps with its pedometer instead of a heart rate monitor. This due to the varied heart rate in children at different stages in their life.
That said, the Ace 3 is an incremental update to the Ace 2. This time, the Ace 3 comes with a timer, sleep tracking, bedtime reminder, silent alarm as well as do not disturb and sleep modes. To ensure kids stay active every day and practicing healthy habits, the watch will remind the kids to develop a consistent sleep schedule. Additionally, there are new animated clock face characters including a bunny, a cat, a martian, and a spaceship. Aside from these, there are up to 20 clocks to choose from.
To make things even more kid friendly, Fitbit is partnering with Illumination to bring Minions to the Fitbit 3. The two companies have created two new bands called Despicable Blue and Mischief black which allow the kids to have more self expression with their favourite minions on their wrist. The bands are simply the beginning of the partnership as Fitbit promises that there is more to come.
As always, the Fitbit wearable is only half the equation. Parents are able to add their kid’s devices to a family account on the Fitbit app on Android and iOS. This allows parents to manage the apps shown on their kids, and even approve kid’s friend requests on the app. Parents are also able to view their Kid’s recent activity in the app. Kids can also access the app on their devices with a view that focuses on the development of healthy habits and customisations.
The Ace 3 also allows kids to receive call notifications directly on-wrist from their smart devices. Even with these features, the smartwatch is able to last up to 8 days compared to 5 days of the Ace 2.
Price and Availability
The Fitbit Ace 3 will be available in Black with a Sport Red clasp and Cosmic Blue with an Astro Green clasp. It will retail for MYR328.00.
This watch is available to preorder now at fitbit.com. First sales start on March 29, 2021 with all major retailers in Malaysia including on Lazada and Shopee.
It is here, the new OPPO Find X3. We initially thought that we had to patiently wait for another year before OPPO releases their Find flagship series. We did not though, and the OPPO Find X3 series has launched to replace the OPPO Find X2 series of 2020.
OPPO Find X3 Pro
We start with the usual headline figures at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G enabled System on a Chip (SoC) and up to 12GB of RAM paired. Up to 256GB in storage; UFS 3.1 of course for faster read and write speeds. Android 11 with ColorOS 11.2. We all know what the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 can do at this point.
That is just the tip of the iceberg that is the OPPO Find X3 Pro. All the powerful internals are wrapped by a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that boasts 1,440 by 3,216 pixels (1440p/WQHD+). That display also features one of the world’s fastest response time at about 5-10ms in touch response time. On top of that, 120Hz refresh rate ensures that graphics are super smooth at all times. It is not a full time 120Hz display though. The Find X3 can turn the refresh rate down all the way to 5Hz for less intensive usage. OPPO says that the display also covers 10-bit colours and features 100% DSI-P3 colour gamut for even better colour reproduction and accuracy on top of HDR10+. OPPO being OPPO, the display can be calibrated to adjust for specific colour blindness too, neat.
Source: OPPO
Wrapping around the display and framing the back of the OPPO Find X3 Pro is a beautifully sculpted glass back. No ceramic trickery this time, just normal glass that is shaped to conform the curves and bumps intended for the back of the device. The glass back is not a regular glass back that has a cut out for the entire camera module though. The glass back stretches throughout the back of the device with cut outs made only to fit the lenses. The result is an amazing looking back that is available in either the classic black or a unique blue with a sort of fingerprint resistant texture.
The glass back not only hides the 4,500mAh battery with SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W) and AirVOOC (30W) wireless charging technology. It also seamlessly houses the quad camera set-up that is a newly developed 50-Megapixel IMX789 main camera, an also newly developed 50-Megapixel IMX766 ultra-wide camera with Free Form lens, a 13-Megapixel telephoto camera capable of 5x optical zoom, and an impressive 3-Megapixel macro camera for those amazing close-up shots. You get 10-bit colour high-resolution photos with both 50-Megapixel sensors on the OPPO Find X3. Thanks to the Free From lens technology on the ultra-wide camera, the photos come out distortion free. Of course, the camera is also capable of shooting videos at 4K 60p with 10-bit colours.
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Of course, they did not forget the front-facing camera. It is OPPO, after all. The selfie camera then is a 32-Megapixel unit. The high-resolution front camera is also given some extra tweaks like an enhanced ‘night mode’ to capture more natural, more detailed selfies even in low-light. That also means better looking Instagram photos.
Price and Availability
OPPO’s latest Find X3 Pro is said to be available globally toward the end of March 2021 at EU€ 1,149 (US$ 1,373*) which is about MYR 5,641** with the current conversion rate. The OPPO Find X3 Pro will be available in Gloss Black and Blue (yes, just ‘Blue’; no fancy naming this time) colour options. Alongside the OPPO Find X3 Pro, OPPO also announced that the OPPO Enco X is now available globally at EU€ 179 (US$ 214*), which converts to approximately MYR 879** currently.
There are no mentions to indicate specific local availability dates and official pricing. If we can take a guess though the OPPO Find X3 Pro might set you back MYR 5,899 and the OPPO Enco X will set you back between MYR 699 (based on CN¥ 999 pricing) all the way to MYR 899 (based on EU€ 179 pricing). We are also expecting that Malaysia’s availability for both devices to be somewhere at the end of March 2021 to early April 2021. For more information on the OPPO Find X3 Pro and OPPO Enco X ANC TWS earphones you can visit OPPO’s website.
*Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = US$ 1.20 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021
**Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = MYR 4.91 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021
ASUS is arguably one of the first companies to make a gaming smartphone. The original ROG Phone launched back in 2018 to much acclaim and praise and with a customised chipset from Qualcomm. This year, ASUS refines its ROG Phone series with more features and more affordable price points.
The ROG Phone 5 series is the first in the ROG Phone family to officially be introduced with more than one entry into the line up. The series will consists of the ROG Phone 5, the 5 Pro and the 5 Ultimate which are differentiated by a few features and key specifications. On the outside, the ROG Phone 5 series continues to inherit the ostentatious design queues which have become its signature. Over on the back you have the angular accents of the camera modules and the angular design of the new ROG Dotted Matrix Design which allows for some extensive customisation. The Pro and Ultimate variants, this is replaced by angular lines which surround the ROG Vision screen.
Specc’d to Game
When it comes to the phone itself, the ROG Phone 5 series comes equipped with a Samsung AMOLED screen. The screen is a 6.78-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2448×1080 pixels. The phone boasts one of the only displays with a 144Hz refresh rate. On the protection side of things, it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better scratch and shatter resistance.
The new entries are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with either 8GB, 16GB or 18GB of RAM with up to 512GB of internal storage. It doesn’t seem to support memory expansion with a microSD card – making it the third flagship this year to eschew the microSD card. The ROG Phone 5 Pro and Ultimate are available with 512GB of internal storage with 16GB and 18GB of RAM respectively. The ROG Phone 5 caps out at 256GB with 16GB RAM. The series is also the first in the ROG Phone series to support 5G connectivity.
Perfecting Audio
The new ROG Phone continues to support better audio features by not only retaining the 3.5mm audio jack but also introducing even more audio centric features. Of note is the inclusion of a high-end ESS9280AC Pro DAC on the 3.5mm jack for better audio fidelity. It also supports symmetrical dual front-facing speakers. These are some of the largest speakers on smartphones coming in at 12x16mm. ASUS promises a louder, more rounded experience with these speakers. Also along for the ride this time is a DIRAC tuned AudioWizard with customizable equalizer for your perfect sound. DIRAC is providing optimisations on the ROG Phone 5 series to minimise crosstalk and widen the sound stage of the audio experience on the ROG Phone 5.
Of course, the ROG Phone 5 series comes with all the bells and whistles of its predecessors including improved Air Triggers and motion controls. In addition, ASUS is also introducing a new AeroActive cooler which come with two physical buttons for the triggers when plugged in.
Accessories, Accessories, Accessories
As with previous ROG Phones, ASUS is bringing a whole slew of gaming oriented accessories to enhance the ROG Phone 5. The first, is the AeroActive cooler which helps cool the phone down during intense gaming sessions while allowing you to charge the phone. This year, there are actual buttons on the AeroActive Cooler to provide a more tactile experience when it comes to using the triggers.
This year sees an improved ROG Kunai 3 controller. The controller allows you to have the versatility to play in a more console like way on the gaming smartphone. If you’d rather a more attached experience, the ROG Clip gives you a controller with a clip for the smartphone. It can attach via the USB-C port on the side of the ROG Phone 5.
ASUS has also opted to include more audio centric accessories this year with the ROG Cetra II earphones which comes with active noise cancelling with ambient mode. The wired earphones come with LSR drivers for premium sound quality and embedded microphones. ASUS also introduced the ROG STRIX GO BT with the ROG Phone 5. The wireless headphones come with up to 45 hours of battery life and AI noise cancelling microphone technology.
For those looking to upgrade from the ROG Phone 3, take note that not all accessories are forward compatible. Notably, the TwinView Dock 3, Mobile Desktop Dock and AeroActive Cooler 3 are not supported. The Kunai GamePad II, on the other hand, is partially supported by the 5.
Pricing & Availability
The ROG Phone 5 series will be available starting March 2021. The regular ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for MYR2,999 (USD$726.84) for the 8GB/128GB version and MYR3,799 (USD$920.73) for the 16GB /256GB version. Both will be available in Phantom Black and Storm White. These versions do not come with the AeroActive Cooler. Internationally, the ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for €799 (USD$950.16) for the 8GB/128GB, €899 (USD$1,069.02) for the 16GB/256GB version and €999 (USD$1,187.94) for the 16GB/256GB version.
The ROG Phone 5 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 11 March 2021 to 25 March 2021. Pre-orders of the ROG Phone 5 will come with a free Kunai 3 GamePad. You can pre-order the phone exclusively on the ASUS store on Shopee.
The Pro will be retailing for MYR4,499 (USD$1,090.39). It will be available only in Phantom Black and comes with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. The Pro will be available starting in May 2021. Internationally, it will be costing €1,199 (USD$1,425.83).
The Ultimate will be retailing for MYR4,999 (USD$1,211.51). It will be available only in Storm White and will come with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. It also comes with the limited edition ROG Ultimate Fan Gift box which hosts a whole bunch of ROG swag. Internationally, the Ultimate will be costing €1,299 (USD$1,544.75).
Mobile and wireless sound are some of the most ubiquitous things that we are taking advantage of nowadays. Just in recent years, we saw an increase in the number of people adopting true wireless headphones and earphones like the Sony WH-1000MX3 and the Galaxy Buds Pro. However, as Qualcomm’s James Chapman put it, the industry has a “dirty secret” – sound quality is reduced – sometimes significantly when it goes wireless. That’s where Qualcomm believes it can step in to help revolutionise wireless audio with its new initiative called Snapdragon Sound.
Source: Qualcomm
Snapdragon Sound is essentially Qualcomm flexing its proven prowess in two fields – wireless audio and mobile. A flex which, in the company’s own words, puts them in a unique position to address the issue of lacklustre sound when it comes to mobile and wireless audio. The new Snapdragon Sound initiative merges the technology and capabilities from Qualcomm spanning their mobile platforms, Bluetooth audio connectivity and video technologies to culminate in what is, essentially, a new certification for mobile sound.
Qualcomm’s new audio-centric efforts seem to have borne some fruit with the company already touting 2 times the bitrate when it comes to streaming music wirelessly and even when taking voice calls over wireless audio products. They also report a 45% lower latency when it comes to audio-video synchronisation. These comparisons were done against the mSBC codec with Qualcomm’s developed aptX codec.
Source: Qualcomm
That said, Qualcomm has lofty goals for Snapdragon Sound promising partners an already optimised sound experience for devices. Their optimisation focuses not only on the quality of the connection from the source device to the headphone or earphone but from the audio itself to the ear. At least, that’s what Qualcomm is claiming. Snapdragon sound promises to improve overall user experience by focusing on better fidelity, battery life, latency, and voice among others.
Source: Qualcomm
Qualcomm says that they will be certifying devices that utilise their Snapdragon Sound platform in a facility in Taiwan. These devices will be tested to meet their requirements at this facility before they are certified. At the time of the announcement, Qualcomm announced Xiaomi, Audio-Technica and Amazon Music HD as official Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound partners. Of note, Qualcomm did mention that current Snapdragon flagships do not have Snapdragon Sound certification.
