Category Archives: News

News

Acer’s Asia Pacific Predator League 2022 Draws To A Close

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The curtain has closed on Acer’s Asia Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals held in Tokyo, Japan from November 11 to 13. 30 teams from 15 countries across Asia-Pacific battled it out for a share of the USD 260,000 prize pool and the Predator shields.

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Acer’s Predator League was the first physical E-sports competition in three years for Asia Pacific.

Acer’s Predator League was the first physical E-sports competition to be held in the Asia Pacific region in three years. The 2022 Grand Finals was themed “Unite as One”, uniting players from the region to meet and compete “head-to-head” after a long break. The Grand Finals consisted of the Dota 2 and PUBG:Battlegrounds, broadcasted through multiple channels.

Polaris Esports dominates Predator League Dota 2 finals

Ploris Esports
Dota 2 Champions Polaris Esports

Polaris Esports dominated the Dota 2 Grand Finals and took home the coveted Predator shield. Dropping just one Predator League game, the team from Philippines won USD 75 000 after defeating fellow countrymen Execration. In third place is GrindSky Esports, an up-and-coming organization from Philippines that exceeded expectations in the tournament. Outstanding individual performances were also rewarded. ATee from Yangon Galacticos won the Intel MVP award, earning an Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop.

Genius Esports outsmarts the competition in PUBG

Genius Esports
PUBG:Battlegrounds champions, Genius Esports

In another dominating performance, Genius Esports claimed “Chicken Dinner” in the PUBG:Battlegrounds Grand Finals for Acer’s Predator League. Ending 70-points ahead of other teams, the Vietnamese team took home USD 75 000 and a Predator shield of their own. Korean Esports organization DamWon Gaming, came in second place after a strong start to the tournament. ArkAngel Predator, another Filipino esports organization, came in a respectable third place. Ezqelusia from Attack All Around won plaudits for his individual performance and earned the Intel MVP award for PUBG:Battlegrounds.

With outsanding performances form Filipino teams, fans can rejoice with the next Acer Predator League announced in the Philippines. The tournament format will revert to its original state, with qualifiers in the second half of 2023 and Grand Finals in early 2024.

Consumer Electronics, News

Android TVs get More Affordable with Candy

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A Smart TV is the cornerstone of any living room nowadays. However, when it comes to options, there isn’t much when it comes to platforms and operating systems. Currently, one of the most popular platforms is Android TV which not only has a wide selection of apps from the Google Play Store but also has the most robust ecosystem with Google Home compatibility.

Candy From Europe Quality Life

That said, the prices of Android TVs have been steadily increasing over the years thanks to more and more manufacturers entering the foray. There’s a newcomer that’s looking to bring more value and allow more people to enter the world of Android TV – Candy. Candy is a brand with its beginnings in Italy as one of the first companies to release a washing machine. Since then, the brand has expanded to offer a full array of household appliances in multiple markets around the world.

  • Candy Android TV Series 32 43 inches Side
    32-inch & 43-inch Candy Android TV series
  • Candy Android TV Series 32 43 inches Front
    32-inch & 43-inch Candy Android TV series
  • Candy Android TV Series 32 43 inches UI
    32-inch & 43-inch Candy Android TV series

Candy is now making its Android TV portfolio available in Malaysia. After silently introducing its offerings on Shopee during the recent 11.11 Great Sale, Candy is confident that its offerings will not only allow every home to have a smart TV but also enjoy the robust ecosystem Google’s Android TV has to offer.

The current lineup of Candy Android TVs comes in 32-inch, 43-inch and 50-inch options; each with a different specification set. The lineup will launch Android TV 11.0 with built-in Chromecast (Screen Mirroring). All the TVs support Bluetooth connectivity and WiFi support with a slim bezel design to ensure the TVs fit seamlessly into any space.

  • Candy Android TV Series 50 inches Side
    50-inch Candy Android TV series
  • Candy Android TV Series 50 inches Front
    50-inch Candy Android TV series
  • Candy Android TV Series 50 inches UI
    50-inch Candy Android TV series

The top-of-the-line 50-inch C50K702AU comes with 4K UHD resolution and support for Dolby Atmos surround sound. It also supports high dynamic range (HDR) with its D-LED panel. The panel also comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. Together with this, the company is also offering a 43-inch TV with 1080p resolution and a smaller 32-inch TV with 720p resolution.

Pricing & Availability

Candy will be on sale exclusively through its official online store on Shopee. More information on the TVs and its offerings can be found on the official Candy Malaysia website.

Candy Black Friday Sale 1

To kick off their introduction, Candy will be having an exclusive Black Friday sale on Shopee happening from the 25th of November until the 28th. During the sale, all three models will be on sale for unbeatable prices.

ModelRetail Price (MYR)Black Friday Sale Price (MYR)
32” Android TV Model C32K702AMYR 899MYR 599
43” Android TV Model C43K702AFMYR 1,399MYR 1,059
50” Android TV Model C50K702AUMYR 1,999MYR 1,359
News

LazadaSapotUndi: Voucher Rewards for Malaysian Voters

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Lazada encourages Malaysians to vote this General Election 15 by rewarding voters with the LazadaSapotUndi Voucher Pack.

The LazadaSapotUndi Voucher Pack contains vouchers from participating LazMall brands across a variety of categories. Tech enthusiasts will find vouchers from Asus, ViewSonic, Senheng and SenQ. Those looking for beauty products will find vouchers from L’Oreal, Maybelline and Shu Uemura to name a few. There are even vouchers to appeal coffee enthusiasts from Illy, JDE World of Coffee, Carraro Coffee and Oldtown White Coffee.

ENG LazSapotUndi MainKV 1
Get rewarded by voting this GE15 with LazadaSapotUndi

With many more LazMall brands participating, the LazadaSapotUndi Voucher Pack is worth more than RM350 in total. The vouchers can be collected on the Lazada app on 19th November 2022 and redeemed between 19th to 21st November 2022. To collect them, click on the ‘Sapot Lokal’ icon on the app homepage, then click on ‘LazadaSapotUndi’ icon. Then, fill up the form and upload a photo of your inked finger.

ENG LazSapotUndi KV Step by Step
Follow 4 easy steps to redeem the LazadaSapotUndi Voucher Pack

To keep the GE15 spirits high, Lazada is also giving out limited quantities of RM1.50 cash vouchers with RM15 minimum spend. To enjoy these vouchers, download the Lazada app and follow Lazada Malaysia on Facebook @LazadaMalaysia, Instagram @lazada_my, Twitter @LazadaMY and YouTube.

News

Undi Negaraku launched to educate voters, combat misinformation

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Malaysian youth movement Undi18, in collaboration with Google, has launched the Undi Negaraku website just in time for GE15. The website aims to be a one-stop resource center to help prepare first time voters and to combat misinformation.

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Undi Negaraku has resources for first-time voters and seasoned voters alike.

Undi Negaraku aims to prepare both first-time and seasoned voters alike come General Election 15 (GE15) on November 19th. The website is poignant since GE15 is the first election where the youth will make up more than 50% of the electorate.

As GE15 is expected to have 5.8 million first-time voters, the website will have a guide for first-time voters. It includes a summary on key information such as how to cast your vote and polling day practices. There are also detailed information on the election process as a whole and the various parties and coalitions involved.

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Undi Negaraku educates voters to discern misinformation

Undi Negaraku also provides resources on tackling misinformation, a big detriment to the election process. There are resources to help voters identify misinformation and what to do when encountering them. To help with this, the website also provides material on fact checking methods and links to useful tools such as Google Fact Check Explorer.

Going forward, the website will continue to serve as a repository for voter education material. It also provides links to initiatives for those who want a more active role in the democratic process of voting. The first, Undi Negaraku, is a non-partisan youth movement comprising of local youth movements, aiming to produce future leaders and changemakers. The second is PACA, which actively recruits volunteers to be polling or counting agents during elections.

News

SNS Network Technology Offers Students Affordable Devices

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SNS Network Technology Berhad, an ICT system and solutions provider, has announced a slew of deals exclusively for students. The goal is to facilitate students to embrace online learning in schools through affordable devices.

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SNS Managing Director, Ko Yun Hung, hopes to level the playing field for all students to access virtual learning

Managing Director, Ko Yun Hung, believes the deals are timely as they align with the recent launch of Hybrid Classrooms Pioneer Project by the government. He said, “We believe that this special deal makes the devices very accessible to students and levels the playing field for virtual learning situations”.

Wide range of devices and discounts with SNS Network

The special deals by SNS Network Technology covers a range of HP laptops with discounts of RM400. A standout deal is the 11-inch HP Chromebook X360 going for RM599, down from RM1199. Lenovo laptops are also on offer, with prices ranging from RM1249 and discounts up to RM200.

SNS Network offers their own range of smart classroom solutions, JOI, on generous discounts too. The range includes the JOI Classmate laptop series, JOI Chromebook and the desktop JOI PC, with prices starting at RM599. Other brands include the Avita series of laptops priced at RM949 and Huawei, which includes the MatePad T10 tablet for RM349.

SNS iTworld
SNS Network has student deals from tablets to laptops to desktop PCs, all at great discounts.

Additionally, SNS Network offers premium devices exclusively for students with options of iPad, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Microsoft Surface. The HP Probook 440 is available for RM3159 for those that want more productivity. On the top end, the Dell Alienware X14 gaming laptop is also available on a discount at RM8499.

All product offerings are available on the GLOO Education Store for online purchases. Also, in store purchases are available at the following retail stores; on https://www.itworld.com.my/about-us and www.gloo.com.my/about-us.

Computers, News

Microsoft surfaces pre-orders for Surface Pro 9 and Laptop 5

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Microsoft is ushering in the “new era of computing” for Windows PC by unveiling the latest iterations of Surface devices.

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The Surface Pro 9, available for pre-order Nov 8th in, new Sapphire (top) and Forest (bottom) colors.

Surface Pro 9 with Intel and SQ®3 platform choice, two new colors and pre-order goodies

From 8th November to 28th November 2022, the Surface Pro 9 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia. Microsoft has also announced two new color variants, Sapphire and Forest, for more variety. To sweeten the deal, a Surface Pro Signature keyboard and other free gifts (worth up to RM1288) will be given along with every pre-order. Every purchase of the Surface Pro 9, pre-order or otherwise, will receive a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365.

The Surface Pro 9 now comes with two platform choices. There is the Intel Evo platform powered by the 12th Gen Intel® Core processor with Thunderbolt™ 4. The other is the Microsoft SQ®3 platform powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon with 5G connectivity, exclusive for Surface for Business users.

Both Intel and Qualcomm variants of the Surface Pro 9 will share the same build quality and core features. This includes the 13.3-inch PixelSense Display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Microsoft’s custom G6 chip that enhances the inking experience with tactile feedback. The Surface Pro 9 comes with options of Intel i5, i7 or SQ®3 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage, with prices starting at RM5299.

New line of Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt 4 and more pre-order goodies

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt™ 4

Microsoft also unveiled the new range of Surface Laptop 5, available for pre-order from 8th November 2022 in Malaysia. All pre-orders will receive a free Microsoft Arc Mouse and other free gifts (worth up to RM998). All purchases of the Surface Laptop 5 will receive a a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365 as well.

With prices starting from RM5299, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants. Variants have options of 12th Gen Intel i5 and i7 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. All Surface Laptop 5 comes with the signature 3:2 PixelSense display and now with Thunderbolt™ 4 to further boost productivity.

How to pre-order?

Pre-orders for the Surface Pro 9 and Laptop 5 are available in Malaysia starting 8th November 2022. Visit commercial authorized reseller Maxis and authorized retailers including All IT, Gloo by SNS Network, Harvey Norman, Lazada Flagship Store, PC Image, Senheng, Shopee Authorised Store and TMT by Thundermatch.

Computers, Gaming, News

The ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 and Radeon RX 7900 XTX Are Here!

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AMD’s RDNA 3 GPU architecture has just launched less than two weeks ago. While details are still quite scarce, the new GPUs launched in their livestream looked promising. There was not to say plenty in terms of variety in their launch too.

They launched two flagship class GPUs within the Radeon family. You can say hello to AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 and RX 7900 XTX. In their launch, they say that their flagship RX 7900 XTX performs at least 15% better than the older RX 6950 XT in games. Thanks to RDNA 3 technology, which is also an evolution from RDNA 2, AMD’s latest GPUs can maintain and even lower the GPUs’ power consumption while delivering the same amount of processing power. At the same time, AMD has upgraded its encoders to ensure that the new GPUs can work with videos and rendering much better than the RX 6000 series Radeon GPUs.

Of course, you do not only have to buy the GPU directly from AMD. You can get your hands on AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX from AMD’s board partners like ASUS and their new TUF Gaming line up of AMD GPUs. Welcome to the TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs.

The basic construction and design of ASUS’ TUF Gaming GPUs are not completely different from AMD Radeon’s original design. Like AMD’s reference GPU, the ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XT has the same 20GB of GDDR6 RAM. If you want something more cutting edge, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX offers 24GB in GDDR6 RAM.

TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX

TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX RX 7900 XT Gr
Source: ASUS

It is a big card, this one. In its entirety, the GPU takes up to 3.63 slots within your desktop PC. All that cooling is required to keep the 6,144 stream processors with 384-bt memory interface. But this much weight is never good on a PCB. That is why ASUS built the GPU with a die-cast frame holding a solid aluminium backplate and shroud to ensure that the weight does not stress the PCB out too much. For even more security, there is a GPU stand that is included when you buy the Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

The large structure houses a combination of large heatsinks and fan designs that allows for up to 13.8% more airflow and up to 8% more static pressure over TUF Gaming’s last generation AMD Radeon flagship card even at lower fan speeds allowing for a quieter card despite its power. You can also choose between two BIOS presets for either a quieter experience or more powerful performance mode.

The new RDNA 3 GPU packs an HDMI 2.1 port for up to 8K 165Hz display connections. You will not get that kind of graphics for most AAA games played on the GPU though, even if you can find a display to match that. Still, it is nice to know that you are futureproofed. You also get three DisplayPort 2.1, which is technically even better than HDMI 2.1 currently. Unlike NVIDIA’s latest and greatest, the AMD GPU still needs three 8-pin connectors from your PSU to work.

TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XT

TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX RX 7900 XT Gr 2
Source: ASUS

The new high-end AMD GPU packs just a little under 800 stream processors at 5,379. It is still anything but a slouch though. It is paired with 20GB of GDDR6 RAM and 320-bit memory interface, which is still a plenty and rather fast.

The Radeon RX 7900 XT also features a 3.63-slot design that houses plenty of cooling capabilities while remaining quiet. At the same power draw, the GPU runs faster, cooler, and quieter than the older Radeon RX 6900 GPU. That also means that if you truly want to overclock the GPU, you have even more headroom than before.

Price and Availability

While ASUS has announced and unveiled the new AMD GPUs, there are no official dates teased by the board makers. There is also currently no official pricing from them just yet. We are expecting them to be available sometime soon after the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and Radeon RX 7900 XTX reference GPUs arrive in Malaysian shores. You can expect prices to be higher than the reference cards too thanks to the beefier cooling solution that the TUF Gaming variants offer. More on the new AMD Radeon GPUs from ASUS can be found on their website.

News

Google Launches Google Wallet in Malaysia

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eWallets and digital payments have become a norm nowadays. We’re paying for things using apps and smartphones with increasing frequency; even things like boarding passes and tickets are increasingly digital. Wouldn’t it be nice if all these items were stored in a single app or platform? That’s exactly what Google is offering with their Google Wallet app.

Google Wallet was announced at Google I/O 2022 back in May. While you may be wondering – didn’t Google Wallet already exist? The simple answer is yes. However,, Google has reworked the platform from the ground up to support more than digital wallets. The app now houses not only your credit and debit cards, it can support loyalty cards and even your boarding passes for travel.

Google Wallet GIF EN Landscape

The best part? Google Wallet is now available in Malaysia. Users in Malaysia will be able to add their credit cards from CIMB, Hong Leong Bank, Hong Leong Islamic Bank, and Public Bank o Google Wallet. HSBC and HSBC Amanah will be joining the fray soon with their credit card offerings. The same can be done with a majority of debit cards as well. These cards can then be used to pay for online purchases on platforms like Shopee with a single click. In addition, users will be able to add their boarding passes for AirAsia flights at launch with Malaysia Airlines to follow suit.

Adding items like credit cards and debit cards to Google Wallet is simple. If you already have eligible cards attached to your Google account, these cards will be automatically imported to Google Wallet. Users will just need to enable contactless payment for these card on the app. Otherwise, all you have to do is click the “add card” option and follow the steps on screen after which the card will be added and tokenized for use. Cards attached to Google Wallet will be verified by the issuing bank before it can be used on the app.

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  • 06 TNP UI
  • 09 Boarding pass detail view
  • 01 Home Screen1
  • 01 Home Screen
  • 04 Contextual notif flight delay1
  • 04 Contextual notif flight delay
  • 05 alt 1P integrations Transaction details1
  • 05 alt 1P integrations Transaction details

Adding your flight boarding passes is equally as easy. With the airasia SuperApp, it’s as simple as clicking the “add to Google Wallet” option when you book tickets on the app. When you do, you’ll be able to see your ticket in Google Wallet.

Transactions done on Google Wallet are secured using industry standard tokenization. This means that every transaction done with a card on Google Wallet will be completed by a unique, device specific alternate card number which is associated with a dynamic security code that changes with each transaction.

This works on top of Android’s native security features such as its lock screen passcode and biometric verification. Using these features, you will be able to prevent unauthorised access. If you lose or misplace your android phone, you will be able to remotely lock or wipe it from Find My Device.

Users in Malaysia can download Google Wallet from the Google Play Store today.

Compatible Cards are listed below:

BankDebit CardCredit Card
CIMBN/AMastercard
Hong Leong BankMastercardVisa
Hong Leong Islamic BankMastercardN/A
Public BankVisaVisa
HSBC*N/AMastercard
HSBC Amanah*N/AVisa & Mastercards
*coming soon
Accessories, Computers, eSports, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

ZOWIE’s XL2566K Packs TN 360Hz DyAc­+ Technology for the Best FPS Experience Ever

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In the world of fast-paced First Person Shooter (FPS) games, resolution is not everything. You want a display that responds as fast as you can move, you want everything to be fluid and clear as you pan your mouse everywhere to get your targets and still be precise. Since your opponents will be moving, a sharp image while you move is crucial for you to get the kill and be as accurate as possible. Of course, you want a fast-responding display too, one with the least input lag possible.

ZOWIE XL2566K 1
Source: BenQ

The XL2566K is BenQ’s latest ZOWIE gaming monitor made specifically with competitive FPS gamers and the big stage in mind. It is their flagship esports monitor which will no doubt find its way to competitive stages around the world. It packs 360Hz, which also means that CS:GO players can be even sharper than before with up to 360 frames every second projecting on their display.

Then there is DyAc+ technology that is proprietary to ZOWIE. It offers an added clarity in fast motions. Often, just refresh rate alone is not enough to ensure that your image is crystal clear and razor sharp in fast movements. You need a clever sharpening technology like DyAC+ to clean out your image and offer you extra details in the image. The result is a sharper image all around even when your target is at a distance.

It is not an IPS display though, instead you get the less premium TN and there is good reason for that. IPS displays can hit 360Hz in refresh rate, but there are disadvantages to IPS displays. Firstly, it’s response time is slower than that of TN panels. TN panels are also cheaper to produce, making the ZOWIE monitor a little more accessible. Secondly, TN panels offer a better and more reliable response times to IPS displays. The expense? Your picture quality and colours suffer a little bit. But this is the world of competitive FPS gaming. That means that your picture quality matters less, and performance is what you want.

  • ZOWIE XL2566K 1
    Source: BenQ
  • ZOWIE XL2566K 2
    Source: BenQ
  • ZOWIE XL2566K 3
    Source: BenQ
  • ZOWIE XL2566K 4
    Source: BenQ
  • ZOWIE XL2566K 5
    Source: BenQ
  • ZOWIE XL2566K 6
    Source: BenQ

They have also put a lot of thought in designing the product to be as ergonomic as possible for FPS gamers. The 24.5-inch display features a sturdy base that is optimally shaped to allow for a tighter mouse configuration. That not only allow FPS gamers to have a tighter set up for more precision, you take up less space on your desk too. Of course, the stand is height adjustable with tilt adjustment too. You can swivel it a little bit to create more room for your mousepad. It also comes with two side shield panels to ensure that you minimize glare from other light sources.

ZOWIE’s XL2566K is now available on BenQ’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada. You can get your hands on one as well at BenQ’s authorized resellers across the nation. It will set you back MYR 2,949, which is pretty steep for a Full HD monitor understandably. It is a rather niche display though, if you think about it. It serves a very specific purpose, that is to ensure that you are competitive. More information n the new ZOWIE XL2566K TN 360Hz DyAc+ monitor can be found on their website.

News

HONOR 11.11 Mega Sale Offers Big Discounts

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The HONOR 11.11 Mega Sale has been announced, promising discounts on popular devices and the chance to get an exclusive Touch ‘n Go gift set!

HONOR 11.11 Mega Sale KV
Up to 48% off devices on the HONOR 11.11 Mega Sale

HONOR MagicBook 14 laptops on big discounts for 11.11

The HONOR MagicBook 14 AMD variants will be on discount of up to RM920 during the HONOR 11.11 Mega Sale. Fans can get the 16GB RAM + 512GB storage variant for RM2379 and the 8GB RAM + 512GB storage variant for RM1909. The HONOR MagicBook 14 is a great value for money pickup with these discounts, offering good battery life and snappy performance for productivity.

Get The Elusive Touch ‘n Go NFC card with HONOR 70

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Get a limited-edition Touch ‘, Go NFC card with the Honor 70 X. Image source: Lowyat.net

For those still searching for the Touch ‘n Go NFC card, here is another unique avenue to get one. The new HONOR 70 Icelandic Frost edition comes bundled with the enhanced Touch ‘n Go NFC card. For just RM1999, the HONOR 70 comes with an HONOR 70 X Touch ‘n Go Limited edition gift set. The gift set includes Touch ‘n Go RFID set, Protective casing with card holder, and HONOR Band 6 with a 1-year extended warranty.

HONOR X6 available in 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant

HONOR has also added a new variant of the lightweight X6 with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Retailing at RM499, the Honor X6 weighs in at only 194g and comes with a triple rear camera. It is good value for those wanting a smartphone with portability and crisp pictures on the go.

To enjoy the HONOR 11.11 Mega Sale deals and more details, visit HONOR Official Store, HONOR Official Shopee Store, or HONOR Malaysia’s Facebook page

Source: Lowyat.net