Category Archives: News

Computers, Gaming, News

Alienware Lands with New Line Up Spearheaded by the Area 51m R2

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Alienware saw a return to the spotlight last year thanks to a large, power packed champion: the Area 51m. The new form factor paired with a major redesigned pushed the Alienware offerings into the spotlight. The new Legend design language brought a sense of imposing elegance to the new offerings which enhanced their offerings.

This year, Alienware is continuing with their Legend design and is packing more performance into their products.

Alienware Area 51m R2

The Alienware line up continues to be spearheaded by the Area 51m R2. This year’s Area 51m R2 comes in the same larger than life form factor as last year. However, it has a slimmer silhouette coming in at 1.7 inches at its thickest and 1.089 inches at its thinnest. It’s 15.85 inches by 12.565 inches in size and comes in at only 4.7kgs at its most specc’d out. However, the slimmer body of the R2 isn’t lacking in ports it comes with 2 USB 3.2 ports, 1 USB 3.2 with powershare, 1 card reader, 1 Thunderbolt 3 Port, an Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port, an HDMI port, 1 Audio Out, a microSD card reader and a global headset port.

The Alienware Area 51m R2 comes with a 17.3-inch display with options for Full HD and UHD panels. These display panels are also available with NVIDIA G-SYNC and come with up to 300Hz refresh rate. It also has options for Tobii Eyetracking. The panels support 100% Adobe RGB gamut and RGB gamut where compatible. Otherwise, the panels cover 72% of the NTSC gamut.

The new refresh also comes equipped with 10th generation Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processors for power. This is complemented with up to 64GB of RAM. Storage wise, the Alienware Area 51m R2 comes with options for single storage, dual and even RAID0 Plus configurations of up to 4TB. Graphics wise, the laptop is available with the AMD Radeon RX 5700M, NVIDIA GeForce GTX1660 Ti, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER.

Alienware m15 & m17

Alienware’s m15 and m17 are also getting a new refresh. The new offerings retain the Legend design language but come with more power so users can be productive and game on the go. They also come in the same, familiar size that users have already fallen in love with.

The Alienware m15 and m17 both come with the latest generation of Intel Core i processors with i5, i7 and i9 options to choose from. They also come packed with gaming and graphical prowess with the choice of AMD RADEON RX5500M or NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX1650 Ti, GTX 1660 Ti, RTX 2060, RTX 2070, RTX 2070 SUPER and RTX 2080 SUPER. They also come with up to 32GB of RAM. This is complemented with up to 4.5TB of storage in either single, RAID0 or RAID0 Plus configurations.

The displays on the Alienware m15 and m17 are similar to the Area 51m options. The only difference would be in the m15’s smaller 15.6-inch size and an additional OLED option for UHD resolution. Both the m15 and m17 have options that include Tobii Eyetracking technology too. They also share a similar number of ports as the Area 51m.

Alienware Aurora R11

Together with the laptops, Alienware is also refreshing the Aurora with the latest Intel Core i processors. The R11 will be coming with options with the Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9. It comes with options for up to 32GB of RAM in both 2933MHz and 3200MHz flavours depending on your performance needs. It will also be sporting up to 4TB of storage. These will be available in Single, Dual and Intel Optane configurations.

On the graphics front, the Aurora R11 will be able to handle single and dual GPU configurations. Alienware is offering NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards ranging from the GTX1650 to the RTX2080 Ti and AMD options ranging from the RADEON 5600 to the RADEON VII for single graphics card configurations. For dual graphics configurations, users can choose from the RTX 2070 SUPER with NVLink SLI, RTX 2080 SUPER with NVLink SLI and RTX 2080 Ti with NVLink SLI.

Being a tower, the Aurora R11 comes with a a slew of ports including a headphone jack/line out port, microphone/line in port, 2 USB Type A v3.2, 1 USB Type A v3.2 with Powershare Technology and a USB Type-C v3.2 with Powershare technology on the front of the tower. On the back, there are 6 USB Type A v2.0, 1 USB Type-C v3.2, 2 USB Type A v3.2 and various surround sound ports on the back. It has an RJ-45 Killer E3000 Gigabit ethernet port as do all the Alienware offerings.

Pricing & Availability

The Alienware Area 51m R2 will be available globally starting on June 9, 2020 starting at USD$3,049.99 (MYR13,202.69).

The m15 and m17 will be available globally starting on May 21, 2020. The Alienware m15 is priced starting at USD$1,499.99 (MYR6,493.10) while the m17 will be priced from USD$1,549.99 (MYR6,709.54).

The Auroro R11 wil be available from May 13, 2020 with prices starting at USD$1,129.99 (MYR4,891.26). Alienware mentioned that there will be additional configurations available starting May 28, 2020 for as low as USD$879.99 (MYR3,809.12).

Only the m15, m17 and Aurora R11 will be available in Malaysia. The m15 R3 will be available starting 22 May, 2020 with prices starting at MYR9,899. The m17 R3 will be going on sale at the same time with prices starting at MYR12,199 while the Aurora R11 will be available starting 30 June, 2020 with prices starting at MYR6,999.

Computers, Gaming, News

Dell Gaming Comes Back with More Power

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Dell’s gaming line up has always been one the company’s most compelling offerings when it comes to budget gaming systems. The Dell Gaming line up inherits some of the DNA of the older Alienware devices before the brand adopted its new Legend Industrial design.

This year, the line up continues to have the sleek build that we’re familiar with in Dell gaming laptops. This year’s comes a little sleeker with the Dell G3 15 coming in at 21.6mm thick and 365.5mm by 254mm in size. It’s also slightly lighter weighing at least 2.34kgs. The G5 15 comes in a little bit thicker at 24.5mm while maintaining the other dimensions.

This year, the G3 15 and G5 15 are both getting refreshed with the latest generation Intel Core i processors with options for the Core i5 and Core i7. The laptops also have options for NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards ranging from the GTX 1650 Ti to the RTX 2060. The Dell G5 15 comes with an additional configuration with support for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q design.

On the display side of things, the Dell G3 15 and the Dell G5 15 come with a 1080p, Full HD panel. These panels have configurations supporting 60Hz, 144Hz and 300Hz refresh rate. Both models come with single and dual storage configurations supporting up to 1.5TB of memory out of the box.

Connectivity wise, the G3 15 and G5 15 both support WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth. There is an additional option for WiFi 6 which will be available at a premium. Both models also have different configurations for ports. You can look at the official specifications for detailed information.

The Dell G5 15 comes with a chassis with 12 zone RGB lighting. This is not available on the G3 15 or models of the G5 15 with the RTX 1650 Ti.

Pricing & Availability

The Dell G3 15 will be available globally starting on May 21, 2020. Prices will start at USD$779.99 (MYR3,375.50).

The Dell G5 15 will be available starting the same day with prices starting from USD$829.99 (MYR3,591.88).

Malaysia will only be getting the Dell G5 15 for now. It will be available starting 26 May, 2020 with prices starting at MYR4,499.

Official Specifications

Dell G3 15

Dell G5 15

Computers, News

Dell Announces New XPS 15 & XPS 17 with 10th Gen Intel Processors & NVIDIA Graphics

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Dell’s XPS series continues to be one of the company’s most popular device line ups. In recent years, the line up was revitalised with a new, slim form factor and a more compelling feature set. Even more recently, Dell has been continually increasing the ability of the XPS series to cater to the mobile workforce while appealing to those that need a powerful laptop with a slim form factor.

This year, the XPS series is getting an even more compelling feature set with more power packed internals, large form factors and the same thin and light design that has become an XPS signature. The new additions to the line up join a newly refreshed XPS 13 which was introduced earlier at CES 2020.

Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15 brings a unique balance of portability and performance to XPS series. It comes in slightly larger than the successful XPS 13 and packs more powerful insides. The XPS 15 is continuing the ethos of the series with premium build quality and it gears itself to catering for a user requiring an increased level of power to remain productive.

The new XPS 15 comes in a sleek 13.57-inch by 9.06-inch body with a thickness of only 0.71 inches. However, the sleek dimensions didn’t hinder Dell from packing in as many ports as they could in the 15. It has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, 1 USB Type-C port with support for USB 3.1, a full sized SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo jack.

When it comes to displays, the new 15 comes with a 15.6-inch display. Depending on its configuration, it can either be a 4K UHD+ panel with touch support or a Full HD+ panel. The display choices are all Dolby Vision certified, support HDR and covers 100% of the Adobe RGB gamut and 94% of the DCI P3 colour gamut.

The XPS 15 will be powered by the 10th generation Intel Core i processors ranging from the Core i5 to the Core i9. This will be complemented by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 Ti in addition to the built-in Intel UHD Graphics. It will support up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage. It comes powered by either a built-in 56Wh or 86Wh battery.

Dell XPS 17

The XPS 17 is the hulk of the series packed with power for creators. It shares most of the same specifications of the XPS 15. This includes options for processors which also range from the Core i5 to the Core i9 with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

The display options on the XPS 17 are also similar albeit in a larger 17-inch size. However, in addition to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 Ti, the XPS 17 has an additional option for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. Connectivity wise, the Dell XPS 17 shares the Bluetooth 5 and WiFi 6 connectivity of its smaller sibling.

The XPS 17 shares the sleek form factor of its siblings as well. Although, it measures a larger 14.74 inches by 9.76 inches with a slightly heftier 0.77-inch thickness. However, with the larger measurements come a larger number of ports. It comes with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a full sized SD card reader and a 3.5mm combo port. It also has a slightly larger battery coming in at 56Wh or 97Wh.

Both new members of the XPS family come with Dell’s Creator edition recommendations but the XPS 17 is the only one that is part of the NVIDIA’s RTX Studio program.

Pricing & Availability

The XPS 15 will be making its way globally starting at USD$1299.99 (MYR5,626.31). It will be available starting May 13, 2020. It will be arriving in Malaysia starting on May 15, 2020 for MYR7,999.

The XPS 17 will run you USD$1,499.99 (MYR6,491.52). It will be available internationally in Summer 2020. As of now, the XPS 17 will not be available in Malaysia.

Official Specifications

Dell XPS 15

Dell XPS 17

Business, Computers, News

AMD Takes Aim at High Performance Computing with the RADEON PRO VII

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AMD has been creating waves in the processor space for a few years now; dropping the gauntlet for its competitors when it comes to their Ryzen processors and also their RADEON graphics cards. The company is also expanding their reach to mobile in a collaborative effort with Samsung to bring their RDNA architecture to mobile processors.

That said, the company has long been working at providing compute capabilities to the industry as well. While they haven’t had a single product geared at taking on the market directly, their products have been used and optimised for years. This year, AMD is filling the void with their new AMD RADEON PRO VII graphics processor.

The new AMD RADEON PRO VII graphics processor uses AMD’s VEGA 20 architecture to help deliver top class performance at a more affordable price point for the industry. In fact, the new PRO VII comes in at about 25% of the price of competing products. This allows companies and workforces to free valuable resources for other functions.

With the new PRO VII, AMD looks to address the increasing demand for simulation workloads. The new card is capable of up to 6.5 TFLOPS of double precision performance and is equipped with 16GB of HBM (High bandwidth memory) to help process compute and simulation tasks more efficiently and at a faster pace. In fact, the RADEON PRO VII has about 1TB/s of memory bandwidth. This allows it to handle even more complex models and datasheets and even enables more efficient 8K broadcasting. It also runs at lower temperatures compared to the competition allowing it to function at high capacity for longer durations.

The RADEON PRO VII also supports AMD’s Infinity Fabric Link which allows two GPUs to share memory resources for bigger project workloads. The new GPU is also built with security in mind with hardware validated boot.

Software Geared for Professionals

Together with the announcement of the RADEON PRO VII, AMD also highlighted their continual support for industry and professional applications with their commitment to providing stable, industry grade software. The company announced the availability of Professional drivers which will be updated regularly. In addition, their software will have Day-0 certification from relevant parties to ensure that programs are stable and compatible for professionals. This certification process will be ongoing and will be applied to every update.

In the same vein, AMD also announced that their RADEON ProRender will have a more simplified licensing model to enable more widespread adoption. The company will be using the APACHE based licensing format to streamline licensing and ease adoption among professionals. At launch, the ProRender 2.0 is supported by Unreal, SideFX, Autodesk Maya and Blender.

Pricing & Availability

The AMD RADEON PRO VII card will be available starting June, 2020. It will cost USD$1899 (MYR8,215.05).

AMD’s entreprise drivers are already available for download as of the announcement.

Computers, News

AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 Mobile Series Comes Out to Work

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AMD announced their 4000 series mobile CPUs last month. The updated 4000 series mobile CPUs are supposed to be a huge upgrade over the older 3000 series mobile CPUs. They are supposed to be faster and more powerful with more cores as well.

The new 4000 series of mobile CPUs are also supposed to be much better for gaming. In reported benchmarks, it showed a huge improvement over the older 3000 series that it replaced. It also showed overall advantage over older Intel 9th generation processors. We do not have the numbers against the newer 10th Generation Core mobile processors for now, we can assume that they are somewhat on par.

There is a small niche of users who require a bit more than just processing power though. They require reliability, and efficiency in their work. They jump from one workspace to another very quickly too. In that case, they need something more secure. Security in terms of PC is mostly seen as a software implementation rather than hardware. Not anymore with the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 series.

Source: AMD

The AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 series is offered in three flavours. It comes in a budget friendly form: an AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U. It comes with the value pack: an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U. It also comes with the top-of-the-line no compromise package: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U.

This is not to be mistaken for the regular AMD Ryzen 4000 series CPUs, however. This is a class of its own. There is a difference between the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U. But, the U moniker at the back still stands. They are both made for ultra-thin notebook PCs.

There are several key differences between a regular premium ultrabook and a made for business ultrabook. Business grade notebooks usually are more robust for example. They also place more emphasis on data security more than everything else. Those are the key differences between the regular Ryzen 4000 series and the Ryzen PRO 4000 series. 

Source: AMD

The clock speeds are not actually that different from the regular AMD Ryzen 4000 series mobile CPUs. Which also means that they are supposed to have all the same power ratings, there or there abouts. Being an ultrabook type CPU, they should be similarly power efficient too.

What is different though is the PRO suite that comes with the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 mobile CPU series. The suite built within the CPU itself is meant for make your work more secure and easily manageable by your IT team. They promised around 20+ hours of battery life with more premium platforms too. They did not mention the exact battery size used for this claim though, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Source: AMD

Still, the business grade processors are designed to fit any sort of businesses. There are businesses that refuses to upgrade their software until it is too late. There are some businesses that are always eager to update their software. AMD Ryzen PRO is designed to be stable and prepared for any eventuality in that regards. Of course, the AMD Ryzen PRO is also designed to last forever. Then again, that would also depend on manufacturer otpimisation in cooling solutions, or maintenance efforts.

We should see some work class notebook PCs to feature the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 CPUs. We have seen some consumer grade AMD Ryzen 4000 series launched in the new ASUS notebook PCs. It is only a matter of time before we start seeing more notebook PCs come packing a Ryzen processor.

Android, Mobile, News

OPPO Reno3 Series Brings 108-Megapixel Imaging to the Game at MYR 1,699

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OPPO has been really stepping up in the smartphone game. Their OPPO Find X2, as we have reviewed was one of the best flagship smartphones that you can buy in today’s money, in our opinions. The OPPO Find X2 Pro is also an impressive media powerhouse capable of wonderful things.

The OPPO A92 that was launched last week brings things a bit more down to earth. But still, the OPPO A92 was launched to impress too. It packs a great camera package in an offering that will set you back less than MYR 1,500. Today, they set out to impress the mid-range market with a high-end camera package in a smartphone. It is the OPPO Reno3 series.

Welcome to the OPPO Reno3 series. Like any other modern smartphone, there are two variants of the OPPO Reno3. There is the regular Reno3 and the Reno3 Pro. With the Pro, they brought the big gun out.

Source: OPPO

Yes, we start with the OPPO Reno3 Pro and its cameras. Technically because they start the presentation with that. There is a 64-Megapixel main camera flanked by a 13-Megapixel telephoto lens, a 2-Megapixel monochrome (black and white) sensor, and an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide lens. Get this though, the camera array can capture images at up to 108-Megapixel in resolution.

Wait a minute, the main sensor is only 64-Megapixel. Yes, we heard you. They do it via something called super sampling. What that means is that the camera itself takes multiple photos of the subject in quick successions or an instant. Those photos are then mashed together to fill pixel information that is missing from the original 64-Mgeapixel camera to create a highly detailed 108-Megpaixel resolution photo. It is a trick that plenty of professional photographers use to create an image that looks like it was taken via a medium format camera, but only using a full-frame or even an APS-C camera.

You must keep in mind that that kind of process is quite a lot of work and taxing to the hardware. That also means that you need to let your smartphone do its job before taking another photo. Take it with a pinch of salt and be patient. Still, we seldom see this kind of technology on a smartphone these days, so it is a welcome.

Source: OPPO

Going to the front is a punch hole that shoehorns two cameras for great selfies. The main shooter is A 44-Megapixel camera that is supported by a 2-Megapixel depth sensor. Again, not new implementation for a smartphone. We saw this on something like the Samsung Galaxy A8 before too. There are more modern smartphones with this kind of arrangement of course. What is more impressive though is OPPO’s ultra-dark mode for both the front and back camera. It somehow eliminates noised and at the same time, brightens images even when you can barely see anything while taking the photo.

The front cameras are embedded in a beautiful 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display pushing Full HD+ resolution to your eyes. Super AMOLED is widely known for its great colour contrast and vividness. There is no curved elements on the display though, unlike the Find X2. Like the Find X2 as well, the Reno3 series has given up on the pop-up mechanism. Turns out notches are not a bad thing.

The regular OPPO Reno3 still packs four cameras and can still shoot 108-Megapixel resolution photos. It might take the regular Reno3 to process the photos though with 48-Megapixel in tow. The other supporting cameras are the same as the Reno3 Pro. The regular Reno3 also comes with a single front facing camera at 44-Megapixel that is lodged in the familiar dew-drop notch on top of the same sized 6.4-inch AMOLED display.

Source: OPPO

Both ColorOS 7 (based on Android 10) devices in the series are powered by MediaTek processors. The OPPO Reno3 Pro packs a MediaTek Helio P95 flagship class Octa-core System on a Chip (SoC) while the regular OPPO Reno3 packs an equally impressive MediaTek Helio P90 SoC. Juice comes from a 4,025mAh battery on both devices. Of course, that battery comes with OPPO’s 30W Flash Charge 4.0 for a quick getaway.

You get 8GB RAM on both devices and up to 256GB of storage on the OPPO Reno3 Pro. On the regular OPPO Reno3, you are stuck with 128GB. Still, you can upgrade them via a MicroSD slot that is not shared with a SIM tray. Yes, it is a three-card tray with two dedicated SIM slots and single MicroSD slot. Whichever device you get sill offers the in-display fingerprint sensor.

  • Source: OPPO
  • Source: OPPO

The OPPO Reno3 series is available today onward on your favourite online shopping platforms: Lazada and Shopee. Of course, you can get them on OPPO’s own online store too. The OPPO Reno3 Pro is available for MYR 2,399. The OPPO Reno3 is available for MYR 1,699. Both are available in Midnight Black and Aurora Blue colour options. For more information about the OPPO Reno3 series, you can check out their website, or webstore.

Contributed, News

Malaysians Have Been Searching for Everything from Condoms to Yoga Mats during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Since early March, the high rate of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia has resulted in the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide. Soon after the official announcement, panicked purchasing increased drastically resulting in most daily necessities being sold out in most places.

With most Malaysians aware of the prolonged duration of the MCO, consumers are turning to online market places to obtain necessities and equipment to enable them to work-from-home (WFH). Thus, we investigated the search trends of more than 900,000 iPrice Malaysia visitors. The data has shed light on a number of interesting and unexpected findings.  

The research was conducted by analyzing the online search behavior of close to 1 million visitors on iPrice Malaysia between 18 March 2020, when the MCO was first enforced, and 17 April 2020. All percentage increases displayed in this research were obtained by comparing the search impressions data with consumers’ online search behavior prior to the implementation of the MCO.

1. Satisfaction is important, but safety always comes first

In the medical supply category, it was unsurprising to see a 648% increase in search interest for face masks such as surgical masks & N95 masks. However, it seems like Malaysians are getting adventurous as there was also a rise in interest for sex related products such as sensual toys, vibrators, fertility test kits & condoms.

From their search behaviours, we saw the following percentage increase in interest:

  • 347% increase in searches for sensual toys & vibrators
  • 79% increase in searches for fertility test kits
  • 61% increase in searches for condoms

While it seems like Malaysian could be indulging in self love and even more adventurous exploits, this also shows that Malaysians are being more cognizant of family planning especially with the increase in searches for fertility test kits.

2. Malaysians are running out of patience with their overgrown hair

The MCO began in the mid of March & has been ongoing for more than 6 weeks. This also means that most Malaysians probably have overgrown hair and are looking for ways to take care of it.  

iPrice data reveals major increase in searches for trimming clippers. In fact, the increase was an averaged 17,652%! This trend can also be seen throughout various social media platforms, where people has been sharing the results of their DIY haircut attempts.  

3. The MCO is potentially breading more MasterChefs

Malaysians are probably tired with packaged and delivered foods. As a result, they are turning to more home cooked food. Data reveals high interest in appliances such as bread makers, mixers, air fryers and ovens suggesting that people are showing interest in experimenting with various recipes.

This is supported by the increase in searches related to appliances including bread makers (7,587%), stand mixers (3,048%), ovens (1,058%) and air fryers (2,029%).

4. Malaysians Prefer the Nintendo Switch during the pandemic

The inability to go outdoors may have led to excessive boredom. As such, people are looking for ways to stay entertained at home. This could be driving the an increased interest in gaming. Data shows high search interest for gaming items such as the Nintendo switch, Animal Crossing game & board games such as Monopoly.

Nintendo’s latest game, Animal Crossing , saw a 17,427% increase in interest, while the Nintendo Switch saw an average increase of 1,064%. Board games, on the other hand, saw a 4,336% surge in interest among Malaysians.

5. Tablets preferred over laptops?

When it comes to preparing for WFH, Malaysians are probably looking to purchase tech that would allow them to be more productive; one would think that this would mean that they would be looking for laptops or PCs. However, the data indicates otherwise. In fact, it shows that Malaysian are turning more to tablets. On average, searches for tablets saw an increase of 1,125%, while laptops recorded a 299% increase.

This would suggest Malaysians are probably getting tablets for work or entertainment activities.

6. Staying fit indoors

Like many others on the internet, it seems that Malaysians are also worrying about gaining weight from being cooped up at home for too long. It’s all over social media! More people are showing an interest in working out at home. This is reflected in the data, there was a surge in searches for exercise equipment such as skipping ropes (4,528%) and yoga mats (2,016%).

Research methodology

Data featured in this study were obtained by aggregating thousands of product pages of more than 150 online merchants through https://iprice.my/. Data on the increase in searches were analyzed by comparing the impressions data recorded from March 18 – April 17, 2020 as compared to February 16, 2019 – March 17, 2020. 

Android, Mobile, News

HUAWEI MatePad and MatePad T Completes the Family

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The HUAWEI MatePad Pro is awesome. We tried it at its launch and loved it. There was only one problem we have with the tablet. If not for that small problem, it would have been perfect. Still, nothing in this world is perfect.

Let us not dwell on that though, there are new tablets in town from HUAWEI. You Might have guessed them from the title. The HUAWEI MatePad, and the HUAWEI MatePad T is joining the HUAWEI MatePad Pro in Malaysia.

HUAWEI MatePad

The regular HUAWEI MatePad is easily mistaken as the HUAWEI MatePad Pro. They are similar in design and functionality, to be fair. They are similar only in design though. Everything inside is different from one to the other.

Source: HUAWEI

The HUAWEI MatePad packs a HiSilicon Kirin 810 System on a Chip (SoC) with an integrated Da Vinci Artificial Intelligence (AI) NPU. You get slightly less resolution than the HUAWEI MatePad Pro too at 2K resolution. Still, 2K in resolution is still plenty of pixels for 10.4-inch. That display is still paired to a great four-speaker stereo audio system tuned by Harman Kardon.

It is also compatible with HUAWEI’s magnetic keyboard that was designed for the HUAWEI MatePad Pro. You can even use the M-Pencil on this if you want. You charge the M-Pencil with the large 7,250mAh battery pack in the tablet.

Unlike the HUAWEI MatePad Pro though, the MatePad has something called the eBook mode that optimises its display for better reading experience. Of course, it comes with MEETime out of the box too. Yes, it also has HUAWEI’s clever Share capabilities.

The HUAWEI MatePad is available 16th May 2020 onward. There are no colour options for this, so you only get to have it in Midnight Grey. The HUAWEI MatePad will set you back MYR 1,399 when it is available, about MYR 1,000 less than its bigger, higher end brother. You get a Flip cover, a free 3 months Premium subscription to HUAWEI Video, and 15GB of HUAWEI’s Mobile Cloud storage for 12 months. For more information on the HUAWEI MatePad, you can head over to their website and webstore.

HUAWEI MatePad T 8

10-inch tablets are not your thing? We understand that. 10-inch is a little on the hefty side and difficult to enjoy in a lot of conditions. You just need something to carry around and might need to kill time with it.

Source: HUAWEI

The HUAWEI MatePad T 8 would fit in that bill very easily with its 8-inch display. The 8-inch is no slouch still, mind you. There is still an Octa-Core processor within its smaller form factor. Given, it is a MediaTek. The MT8768 platform is MediaTek’s latest tablet platform.

That new tablet processor is also designed to be kind to the battery. Still, it does not hurt to have 5,100mAh battery packed in the 8-incher. All that and you are still only carrying 310g around. It is not lighter than an average smartphone, but it is pretty close to some of the flagships these days.

It is not just a tablet designed for the adults though. It is also designed with kids in mind. You can have a Kids Corner put on the tablet for your kids. That dedicated space is designed as a safe space for children to learn and be entertained. It is also designed so that parents can have better control over their kids’ media consumption of course. You can set time controls, content restrictions, and more.

The HUAWEI MatePad T will also be available the same time as the HUAWEI MatePad on the 16th May 2020. You can get your hands on one for MYR 559. It only comes in one colour though: Deepsea Blue. If you do get your hands on one, you are entitled to a 3 months Premium subscription of HUAWEI’s Video app and 12months of 15GB access to HUAWEI’s Mobile Cloud Storage. For more information on the HUAWEI MatePad T 8, you can head over to their website and webstore.

HUAWEI Sound X

Alongside the HUAWEI MatePad T and HUAWEI MatePad, HUAWEI also launched the HUAWEI Sound X finally in Malaysia. HUAWEI’s Sound X is a result of their collaboration with one of the world’s premium audio solutions manufacturer, Devialet. It has six tweeters and two woofers. The 8 drivers should deliver clean, crisp, and punchy audio from the low frequencies to the high all around. Apparently the woofers can go as low as 40Hz, which is where bass frequencies lie. The HUAWEI Sound X will set you back MYR 1,299 and is also available at the same time as the HUAWEI MatePad and MatePad T.

Computers, News

Update Your Life with HUAWEI’s New MateBook Line-Up

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The Intel 10th Generation Core platforms have been out for a while now. Plenty of manufacturers have already taken advantage toward updating their line-up with the newer processors. Of course, newer is better and faster. One of the notebook PCs that we wanted to see updated though, was HUAWEI’s MateBook line-up. Until now, that is.

HUAWEI MateBook X Pro

The HUAWEI MateBook X Pro was one of the best value-for-money notebook PCs you can find in the market at its launch. The MateBook X Pro is exactly what it sounds like. It is a modern top class thin and light PC to haul all your work in one place. While thin, it was no slouch too.

Source: HUAWEI

The new 2020 version is a continuation of all those qualities from 2018. It gets the new Intel 10th Generation Core platform in the from of a Core i7-10510U processor (up to). Not top-of-the-line, but still a vastly powerful CPU for a body no thicker than 2 cm. That is thinner than most keyboard you can find the market even. You have up to an NVIDIA GeForce MX250 GPU if you have the urge to take it gaming. No, you may not run today’s AAA titles that well, but it is designed to be a workhorse, not a gaming PC this HUAWEI MateBook X Pro.

Still, up to 16GB of RAM does not hurt especially if you need to have multiple windows and browsers open at the same time. The MX250 would help you too if you ever need to quickly edit a video. Where it shines though is when you want to just wind down and watch a movie on HUAWEI’s beautiful 3K resolution display. It is also touch optimised just in case you are wondering. It even has four speakers for you to enjoy more than just music.

Of course, being a HUAWEI notebook PC, you still get the benefit of using HUAWEI Share. just tap and share a photo between your HUAWEI smartphone and your PC. We especially love this function when used with a HUAWEI smartphone.

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The HUAWEI MateBook PC will be available in Malaysia 16th May 2020 onward. It is available in Space Grey and Emerald Green colour options when it is available. The new HUAWEI MateBook X Pro will start from MYR 7,999. If you are looking for something more budget friendly, you might want to look at something else. If you go for this though, you are entitled to a free HUAWEI Sound X Bluetooth speaker, a HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse, a backpack, and HUAWEI’s Band 4 fitness tracker. For more information on the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, you can visit their website.

HUAWEI MateBook 13

By far one of our favourite Notebook PCs from HUAWEI, the MateBook 13 was an embodiment of what would be a perfect working laptop for us. It is small, light, powerful, and durable. Sure, it had an odd shape thanks to the odd display ratio. But its 13-inch display was beautiful at 2K resolution.

Source: HUAWEI

They kept that 2K resolution on the 13-incher though. There is a new 10th Generation Core processor now. You still get up to 16GB of RAM to work with too, so it is still no slouch. You still get a discrete GPU in the NVIDIA GeForce MX250 for not just your entertainment. It is good enough to work with for light video editing.

One of our favourite things on the MateBook 13 was its very thoughtful fingerprint sensor embedded with the power button. It is not the first time we see this design anywhere, but we appreciate that subtlety and functional form. The other thing was that it was light. The new one, is a mere 1.3kg. It is not as light as some of the thin and light that we see out in the market, but the GPU is worth some cooling, trust me. Plus, it is an all-aluminium body. Of course, HUAWEI Share is that other thing we liked about it.

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The MateBook 13 will be available at the same time as the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro. It is only available in one colour option though. It is only available in Space Grey, which is actually not a bad colour to go with. You can get your hands on one for MYR 4,999. You get all the same free gift as the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro offer excluding the HUAWEI Sound X Bluetooth speaker. For more information on the HUAWEI MateBook 13, you can check out their website, or webstore.

MateBook D 14 & 15

Meant to be the more budget choice and targeted toward the student segment, the MateBook D 14 and 15 are the ones to go for if you are just looking to get work done on the go without much fuss. They are not the smallest or lightest things you can carry around, but they get the job done.

Source: HUAWEI

They are still no slouch too though. You get up to an AMD Ryzen 7 3700U CPU on the 15-incher and up to an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U for the 14-incher. Both get Full HD displays still. Both also gets Radeon Vega GPUs to work with and game with. The 14-inch MateBook D 14 gets Radeon Vega 8 while the MateBook D 15 gets the Radeon RX Vega 10.

You still get up to 16GB of RAM for both devices though. You also get a 512GB SSD to work with, so these MateBook D notebooks are not what you would call slow as well. You also get a fingerprint sensor embedded to the power button, so it is not less premium than the more expensive MateBook 13 or MateBook X Pro. Of course, the HUAWEI MateBook D 14 and D 15 gets HUAWEI Share out-out-of-the box. If you already own a HUAWEI device, that is a bonus that you will want to have.

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The HUAWEI MateBook D 14 and D 15 will be available at the same time with the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro and HUAWEI MateBook 13. It is only available in Mystic Silver. At least you do not get a headache of choosing what colour suits your lifestyle. It will set you back MYR 2,899. You are entitled, while stocks last, for the same free gifts as the HUAWEI MateBook 13 offer. For more information, you can check out their website, or webstore.

Android, Mobile, News

realme 6 Pro puts Flagship Performance in Your Hands for Only MYR 1,399

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In the technology world, high-performance means a lot of money. There are times though in the industry where someone comes in and says that the high-price, high-performance moniker is rubbish. In the smartphone industry, there is always that one brand that does that. In today’s world, that is realme.

To prove a point, they just launched their flagship class realme 6 Pro. Not this is not their flagship. They have the X series for that. This is their mid-range tier smartphone technically.

This is not the only realme 6 device on sale today too. They launched the realme 6 smartphone not too long ago with a maximum price tag of MYR 1,199 as of last week. Today is a different story though. They are upping the realme 6 game.

Source: realme

The realme 6 pro, as the title would have furnished you, cost a little more than the top-of-the-range realme 6 at MYR 1,399. There is quite a little bit more that you are paying for too in the realme 6.

For one, you are paying for a more proven, more standard, high performing Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G. This is not a shade toward the MediaTek processors. The Qualcomm processors are just a little more optimised for Android, to be fair. That is also why they tend to cost more, it is the gold standard in the smartphone world.

You are also paying for a very slight bump on the display front. It is larger at 6.6-inch. You still get Full HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. The realme 6 had 6.5-inch of display. They are also bot IPS panels.

Source: realme

In terms of memory and storage, the realme 6 and realme 6 Pro are tied at 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage ( up to). Both can be upgraded via MicroSD slot that is also a hybrid SIM tray. The MYR 200 does not really go here. Not to the battery too, at 4,300 mAh with 30W flash charging capability.

Nope, not the main camera either. You still get the same 64-Megpixel main shooter supported by a 12-Megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter, and a 2-Megapixel 4cm macro sensor. Both will give you 20x hybrid zoom too, if you are wondering.

What you are paying for when it comes to the camera though is the extra camera up front. There is a new 8-Megapixel shooter that is there for wide-angle self-portraits beside the high-resolution 16-Megapixel main front facing camera.

Source: realme

To sum it up, you are paying MYR 200 extra for one extra lens, a slightly bigger display, and a new processor. Is it worth it? Yes, it is. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G may not be a flagship type System on a Chip (SoC). It is nearly as powerful though. In terms of daily experience, it is indistinguishable from a flagship class. The slight bump in display size also means that you will not lose any real display real-estate even with another camera in the punch hole camera. Oh yes, you get another camera to go with your smartphone, that is another thing.

Source: realme

The realme 6 Pro is available on Lazada 12th May 2020 onward for MYR 1,399. For a limited time you are entitled to get the realme 6 Pro with a free realme case that is worth MYR 149. The realme 6 Pro will go to the shops form the 16th May 2020 onward. If you do get your device early, you are entitled for a free extended warranty plan on top of a realme smartphone case for your new realme 6 Pro. The new realme mid-range contender comes in two colour options: Lightning Blue, and Lighting Red. Yes, the lightning is the pattern that is stuck behind the device from the glass effect. Yes, it is intended. More information on the realme 6 Pro on their website.