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The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra In-Depth Review – The Next Best Thing

January 29, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Some might look at the title and ask us about 5G. We will address that first. Yes, it does come with 5G connectivity. Why did we not include that moniker into the review? Our answer would be it does not really change anything. Since it comes in 5G natively anyway, we do not see the point to the ‘5G’ label at the back.

Then again, the Samsung Galaxy Note series is a trend setter, in our humble opinions. They are always made to be a little overpowered, not overstated. There is always a little more extra ‘oomph’ from the processor of the Samsung Galaxy Note series. They are always beasts of devices.

Who are their target users? If we must describe them in our own words, we will put them as people who heavily rely on their smartphones to do their daily heavy lifting. These things are not really lifestyle connected devices anymore. They are your best companions at work, at home, and at parties. They are what you rely on for everything that you do.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is technically the ultimate expression of whatever that you understood from the previous paragraph. It is a culmination of today’s advanced understanding of a smartphone user that requires more than just texting and calling on a smartphone. It is not really Samsung’s Tour de Force. It is more about Samsung giving a regular Samsung Galaxy Note user what they want.

Is this over-the-top Samsung flagship worth its MYR 5,199 price though? We do admit that it is an expensive piece of kit for your gearbag or pockets. Most importantly then, is it something that you should get? In other words, is it a device for you? We will do our best to answer these questions with our review. Meanwhile, bear with us.

Design

This is by far the largest Samsung smartphone to ever hit the market. It is the largest Samsung Galaxy Note series device by just a few mm on the top, sides, and even less in thickness. Then again, Samsung Galaxy Note devices are not known for their petite sizes.

You would want the large display though, to take advantage of the S Pen stylus. This time, the S Pen is tucked away at the bottom left corner of the device. We are so used to the right bottom arrangement of the previous Galaxy Note devices that it feels like there is a small learning curve here. No, this is not a complain.

We are glad that they moved the S Pen holster to the bottom left though. That means that the power button is now moved back to the right side along with the volume rockers. Nope, no more Bixby button too like the Galaxy Note10 (we did not review that, unfortunately; reasons).

We like that they managed to round of the curved edges that we are getting used to from the Samsung Galaxy Note8. The rounder edges continue to the screen from the back too. This does give the device a good unibody feel. Even the sides feel like they are part of the curve this time.

While thickness has not changed much, the rounded edges on the sides does make the device feel a little beefier than before though. Do not get us wrong, we are not saying that that is not a good feel. It does improve grip levels somehow.

Speaking of grip, we are not big fans of the finish on the glass back. It mutes and softens the colours underneath the glass, which we think is quite brilliant. We mentioned this in our 24 hours article too. But at the same time, it makes it a little more slippery in the hands, which is a big negative.

The rounder edges also give way to a very flat top and bottom of the device though. The bottom’s flatness is only interrupted by the small bump that is the S Pen’s ‘clicky’ bit. Oh, and the frame of the device is also a glossy piece, not a big fan of that either.

We were talking about the back earlier. The muted and slippery glass back is interrupted by one thing though. It is a big bulge of a thing. It looks like its own greenhouse, to be fair. It is the biggest camera housing that we have ever seen in a smartphone. The bulge is about half the thickness of the S Pen. It really stands out too since the frame of the camera is glossy. We really do not like this part because it also means that you really need to get a case for your smartphone that accommodates the thing that is jutting out the back of the smartphone.

That aside though, the device is a light one for its size. It actually feels lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Note9, which is no bad thing. While it is light, there is never a sense of cheapness when you go around the device. It feels premium, just like a Samsung Galaxy flagship should. It does not feel fragile, it feels solid, like a lightweight hammer (do not smash it against anything though, we strongly discourage that).

While the device does gain a little bit in size (it is not a woman, it will not get offended), we do think that it is a really handsome device, even if you put it beside a Samsung Galaxy Note9 in Copper. Oh yes, the one we have here is the Bronze colour variant. We think it looks good, but the colour may not be for us. Keep in mind that this is just our preference though.

Hardware

The battery pack powers an Exynos 990 System on a Chip (SoC) that clocks at a maximum 3.0GHz. That octa-core processor is just as powerful as an average PC processor. Thanks to 12GB of RAM as well, the device might as well be as powerful as a modern PC.

Specifications

Processor	Samsung Exynos 990 Octa-Core 7nm 2x Mongoose M5 @2.73GHz 2x Cortex A76 @2.50GHz 4x Cortex A55 @2.0GHz
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Mali-G77 MP11
RAM	12GB
Memory (as tested)	256GB MicroSD up to 1TB
Display	Dynamic AMOLED 6.9-inch 1,440 x 3,088 pixels ~393ppi 120Hz (up to) HDR10+ Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Operating System	OneUI 3.0 based on Android 10
Battery	Non-Removable Li-Po 4,500mAh Fast Charging 25W Wireless Charging 15W Reverse Wireless Charging 4.5W
Connectivity	5G Dual SIM Wi-Fi WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS A2DP AptX Bluetooth 5.0 LE OTG Support USB Type-C 3.2 Samsung Wireless DeX
Camera (s)	REAR: 108-Megapixel (f/1.8, 26mm wide angle) 12-Megapixel (f/3.0, 120mm telephoto) 12-Megapixel (f/2.2, 13mm ultra-wide angle) HDR 8K video recording (24fps) LED flash FRONT: 10-Megapixel (f/2.2, 26mm wide angle) 4K video recording (30/60fps)
Sensors	Accelerometer Proximity Under-Display Ultrasonic Fingerprint Ambient Light Gyroscope Face Unlock Compass

Features

There is still one thing that we really hate about new modern devices like this Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. It does not have a 3.5mm jack, and that is a big shame, we really think that there is enough space at the bottom or top of the device for a proper 3.5mm audio jack. Still, at least they included the USB Type-C Samsung AKG earphones out of the box.

One Port to Rule Them All

The Samsung Galaxy Note line lost one big port when the Samsung Galaxy Note10 was introduced. In that case, this is not the only Galaxy Note device without a traditional AUX jack. Moving from a Samsung Galaxy Note9 though, the 3.5mm jack is sorely missed. I could not use my high-end Shure SE535 anymore with the Note20 Ultra unless I get a USB Type-C to 3.5mm AUX dongle for it.

Out of the box though you get a USB Type-C AKG earphones, which is still a nice touch. That also means you do not have to go out looking for a dongle or a specific USB Type-C earphone for it. You also have to keep in mind that not every USB Type-C dongle will work with the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. In this case also you might want to consider getting a portable DAC.

Still, since you are already getting a USB Type-C earphones out-of-the-box, you do not need to squeeze wallet to get another hardware just to get earphones working. The earphones do sound relatively good anyway (it is an AKG earphone), so it is not like you are losing out on audio.

The USB Type-C port, as you have guessed, is also its charging port. It is capable of taking on Samsung’s Super-Fast Charger that is also included in the box. Thing is, charging the battery at that speed not only damages your battery though, it produces a lot of heat. In that sense, you might want to keep it charged at a relatively normal speed. This is the part we like.

Even if you use the included charger, you do not have to necessarily charge at the maximum available speed. You can choose to keep fast charging off to charge it at a relatively slow speed. That also means your device charges from nothing to full in about 3 hours or so, perfect for overnight charging.

If you need the speed though, you can turn on Fast Charging and Super-Fast Charging for an accelerated charge time. In Super-Fast charging speed, you can get your battery to a full charge well within 2 hours, faster if your device is turned off. Keep in mind that charging at that speed will shorten the battery’s shelf life.

S Pen – Better Than Before

The Samsung Galaxy Note series’ party piece is always the stylus that comes with it. It has always been the S Pen since day one that sells the Samsung Galaxy Note series devices. It is the defining piece of the Samsung Galaxy Note device. After all, the Samsung Galaxy Note started out life as a smartphone that could take natural handwritten notes via a Pen.

The tenth generation of the world-famous S Pen is technically a remarkably similar piece to its previous generation. The Samsung Galaxy Note10’s S pen technically fits into the tray of the Samsung Galaxy Note20. However, they could not be interchangeable in our tests though, somehow.

Still, the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s S Pen is still a battery powered Bluetooth remote device. It is still a sleek looking pen that functions as just that on the smartphone. You get about half an hour of battery life out of it. But even when the battery is depleted, you can sort of use the S Pen to a certain degree. You just cannot use it as a remote for the cameras and gestures.

The S Pen on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, on paper, might not look like a huge improvement or big leap over the older S Pen. It may not even seem like two different products on paper. But put it to use though and you do see the difference.

The Samsung Galaxy Note10’s S Pen does almost all the things that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s does. You can get gesture controls, camera remote, and it still does all the writing stuff that any Samsung Galaxy Note devices does. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s is just a little bit better, a little bit more instant.

This is more apparent when you start writing with the S Pen. You realise that the S Pen follows your stroke no matter how fast you write or draw on the expansive display. That is thanks to 9ms of response time. Again, that does not seem as instant as it sounds or that much difference when you put it beside the older Samsung Galaxy Note10’s. But the experience is completely transformative and is much better. Of course, the 120Hz display does help as well in that.

Reverse Wireless Charge – Wireless PowerShare

This is technically a feature that was carried over from the previous Samsung Galaxy Note10 series. It is nothing new technically, and there is not much in terms of improvements here. Still, it is a welcoming feature when you have TWS earphones that has wireless charging capabilities. If you pre-ordered your Samsung Galaxy Note20 series smartphones you would get them with either Samsung’s Galaxy Buds+ or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live.

It is not the fastest charging wireless charging technology to be fair. You only have 4,500mAh to work with, after all. By mid-day you might not even have as much battery capacity left too to reverse charge other devices. In that sense, you might not want to be charging other smartphones with the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. If you do, you will see the battery life dwindling quite quickly.

Facial Recognition in Place of Iris Sensor

Like the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra does not pack an Iris sensor anymore. We do think that the Iris sensor is a more sensible and secure platform for security. We do miss that from the Samsung Galaxy Note9. The problem with that was that you could not fit the sensors under the display just yet.

You still get a brilliantly quick facial recognition security feature though. Setting it up is quick and easy too in that sense. If not, you can set your fingerprint sensor in and use that instead. While the under-display fingerprint sensor works, it is not exactly quick as well. It is just as fast or faster than most fingerprint sensors from other smartphones though.

User Interface – OneUI 2.5 on Android 10

The differentiation between one device and another currently is mostly its interface. You interact with your largely touch based device through this graphical interface. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra comes with OneUI 2.5. Yes, it is still an Android 10 device, OneUI is an overlay interface on top of Android 10.

OneUI 2.5 is the latest and greatest of Samsung’s interface. When we first had the Samsung OneUI interface to replace the old, clunky TouchWiz interface, we were quite delighted. Everything is cleaner, lighter, faster, and more intuitive. OneUI 2.5 builds on that with a few difference and upgrades over the years.

For example, OneUI’s camera app has seen plenty of improvements over the camera function. This year’s OneUI that was introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S20 comes with One Take feature that also trickles over to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. You just do not get to zoom all the way to 100x on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. What is the point anyway?

Multitasking and Split Screens

An expansive display was also the signature of the Samsung Galaxy Note device. It was necessary wen Samsung started introducing dual window mode or split screen mode for Android devices on their TouchWiz UI. The current OneUI still support split window mode natively of course.

Of course, having split screens for apps is amazing. We were able to work with two apps open at the same time; what is there not to like? We could, for example, reply a text while having YouTube open in the other window. We could also leave Spotify on while Google Maps is open for a drive through town. There is one thing we do not like about the new OneUI’s implementation of the split screen though; it is not very intuitive anymore.

On the Samsung Galaxy Note10 you could easily launch an app and launch another app with it in an instant from Edge Panels. It was the most intuitive multi-window User Interface (U.I.). You could even launch two apps at the same time if you bothered to set up your Apps Edge Panel tray.

On the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, split screens are still much nicer with a slightly bigger display. Which also means that you get more real estate for both apps open at the same time. You cannot get instant split apps to open via the Edge Panel though, for free anyway. You could get your hands on the Edge Panel function by going to the Galaxy Store via the Edge Panel for MYR 8.31

This also means that having split screens is still a little inconvenient. We had to open Google Maps and Spotify, one after another, and then go into ‘recent apps’ interface and long press the app icon to get split apps to work. Keep in mind that not all apps get split screen capabilities.

Quick Access Edge Panel

This is also a feature that was native to Samsung’s Galaxy Note devices until quite recently. Of course, the luxury of display real estate does play into this. It was just as before too; the quick access panel tray can be placed anywhere at both sides of the display’s edges. We prefer it on the right side where the power button and volume rockers are.

You still can customize what you see or get on the Edge Panel too, as usual. You could load up shortcuts for apps that you like to access, something that you might not want to put into your home screen or open your app tray to access. You could put shortcuts to your favourite contacts too, or even a screenshot setting. You also get access to the music app, annoyingly that does not sync to Spotify, our preferred music streaming service.

As mentioned, the Edge Panel apps could not be paired like what was on the Samsung Galaxy Note10 series or the Samsung Galaxy Note9. Technically you can, but you must pay for it now, as mentioned. It is worth MYR 8.31 in the Samsung Galaxy Store, and we do think it is a worthy investment if you do use Split Screen plenty. It just adds a degree of convenience for you on the smartphone. We are a little annoyed by that though, we do think that the dual app pairing should be a thing for all Samsung Galaxy Note devices.

S Pen Air Actions and Gesture Controls

With OneUI 2.0 update, you could lose all the on-display buttons on the Samsung Galaxy Note devices. On the Samsung Galaxy Note10, you could revert of Android’s original gesture control of swiping at the edges to go back, swipe up from the bottom for ‘home’, and swipe and hold from the bottom for recent apps.

We stuck back to the three-bottom gesture function though, we prefer that. We also hid the on-display button that hints where you should be swiping. That cleans up the interface even more than before.

Additionally, on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra though was S Pen Gestures to navigate the device. There are three main gestures from the pen. You can scribble it around or do specific gestures to navigate your screen without touching your smartphone. This could be useful in presentation situations. Unfortunately, we did not get to try it in that environment.

Of course, you could use S Pen’s Air Actions in the camera app as well to control the camera or just use it as a remote shutter button. If you use it while your media player is playing something you could even use gestures to Play/Pause, get to the next song or previous song, and even control its volume. You can customise how the S Pen Air Actions work with specific apps too.

Bixby

Voice assistants have improved over the years. Smart assistants emerged from that too. The culmination of what Samsung’s know how and Google’s smarts over the years gives birth to the current Bixby that we know today in the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Yes, the current Bixby is partly based on Google’s Assistant algorithm. Bixby is a little cleverer than Google Assistant in some sense though. For one, it does better with Asian names.

But Bixby is not just a smart assistant that tells you what is going on in the day or help you keep track of weather and what not. Bixby, if you connect it to your home devices or other smart devices keeps track of you habits too. When you are going to work, or going home, or certain times of the day, Bixby can open certain apps, brief you on certain happenings, remind you of your daily schedule, or wind down if you are at home.

Setting up schedules or sequences for Bixby is not that difficult as well. You just need to launch Bixby to get everything set up according to times of day or voice commands. Once that is done, you can just leave it be and have your device be your best friend and personal assistant.

There is no longer the annoying Bixby button that you constantly press unintentionally though. Now, you can set it to a longer press on the power button or not at all unless you call “hey Bixby”. That also means less accidental Bixby launches and annoyance.

You can still call the good ol’ Google assistant, but Bixby does a mighty job on its own too. In that sense, we find that we are using Bixby a little bit more. Plus, swiping your home screen to the right brings up daily briefings that shows you the latest news of the day and the weather forecast and other popular news for the day too.

Samsung DeX

Samsung’s Desktop Experience (DeX) has been a staple in Samsung’s flagship devices. Especially on a productivity type device, Samsung’s DeX is a must have feature. On the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, DeX can now be used wirelessly with any smart displays. That means you can make your presentations on your smartphone without using any cables if you have a smart TV connected to WiFi. Of course, it has to be under the same WiFi umbrella to work still.

Like the Samsung Galaxy Note10, you still can use the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s DeX on top of your PC as well as a separate window. You just need to connect it to the PC via any USB data transfer cable. We recommend you use either the provided cable or Samsung’s original cables for the best experience.

The DeX feature on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is something we really appreciate though. You are not just screen mirroring your smartphone. Yes, you still can work with screen mirroring instead and have your device’s display projected directly on a smart display. Nothing wrong with that, except you are still working on your smartphone as a smartphone.

With DeX your smartphone becomes a PC on the wireless display. In that sense, the interface changes to something a little cleaner. Of course, you can still mess up your interface too if you use it often enough and not organise them properly. But you are technically controlling a computer out of a handheld device wirelessly. You can type via your smartphone or a connected Bluetooth keyboard, you even have the option to navigate your pointed via the smartphone or a connected Bluetooth mouse.

So far as well, we think that Samsung is the only manufacturer to nail their mobile based desktop interface. Using DeX does not feel like you are using a smartphone at all, especially if you have your keyboard and mouse connected via Bluetooth, or 2.4GHz dongle (if you have another USB Type-C multi-function extension dongle).

Thanks to 12GB of RAM, you really can have multiple apps open at the same time on the device and still not lose any response time. This is a huge improvement over the previous generation Galaxy Note devices too. Everything on DeX feels just as snappy as they should without sacrificing performance of the smartphone. Of course, if you are connecting directly to a screen without charging the device, the battery drains quite fast. In that case, we do suggest that you get a multi-function USB Type-C dongle for your smartphone.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra technically comes in two variants globally. There is a variant with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the other with the Samsung Exynos 990. The one we have in Malaysia comes with Samsung’s own Exynos 990. While they are different System on a Chip (SoC), they are not completely different in performance figures.

Call Quality and Connectivity

As mentioned before, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra packs 5G connectivity. We cannot however tell you what 5G on the device is like. Malaysia does not have 5G coverage just yet. Thank goodness for 4G LTE+ then.

Phone call works just like any other smartphones. If you have been on Samsung’s devices, the phone app is as familiar to you as the back of your hands. Technically the app has not seen plenty of changes over the years.

In the call department then, you still get the dual mic arrangement for noise cancelling. That also means that what you get with phone calls is pretty much what you expect. You get clear voices transmitted to the other side of the phone call. The same may not be said when other people calls you though, that really depends on their own devices.

We tried making calls in a crowded restaurant (still socially distanced) and still could get our voices out to the other end of the caller with no issues in clarity. Even when the other side of the line decided that they need to put us on speakerphone, in a group call, it works just as well with little to no distortion.

As the recipient of a call in a group is great on the device too. The speakers on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra sounds a little louder than its predecessor. In that note, loudspeaker calls when you are in a conference is workable if you are in a small room. Of course, if you sit too far away from the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the mic may not pick up your voice too much thanks to noise cancelling. Sadly, you have no 3.5mm jack to plug in a speaker or mic to.

Gaming

This is one powerful smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. They did not actually market this as a gaming device though. Of course, as a smartphone we do have to test out its gaming capabilities.

Before we do go on with the gaming aspect though, keep in mind that mobile games are highly optimised for the most popular devices in the market. In that sense, for Android users anyway, gaming is pretty much similar on almost any other Android device.

Still, PUBG Mobile gives you the option of popping itself to the highest available settings. Of course, AOV looks good too alongside Sky Fore Reloaded. We will give this credit to the display prowess more than its internal hardware though. Most mobile games can run smoothly and nicely on most mid-range smartphones these days.

Running the games at 120Hz is a different level though. We have tried gaming with the OPPO Find X2 which features a 120Hz QHD display and we though that was plenty amazing. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra packs a new Dynamic AMOLED with better colour contrasts and accuracy even compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note10.

120Hz and better colour contrasts and accuracy means a better image in games. Colours are more vibrant suddenly and details can be made out easily through the display. The device itself does not give you a dexterity or reactive advantage to games. But the games do look good, and if you are not a competitive gamer, you can live with that.

Battery Life

Battery life has not been Samsung’s strongest suite, we do admit to that. The Samsung Galaxy Note9, when we reviewed it, could give us a whole day of battery life and more. New updates have shortened its battery life a little bit though. At heavier usage patterns too, the Samsung Galaxy Note9’s battery life was shorter than expected.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra packs a large 4,500mAh battery. This is also the largest battery pack ever fitted to a Samsung Galaxy Note device. Which also means it should have a greater battery life than all its predecessors right? Yes, it does, but not by much.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra does have a slightly longer battery life than its predecessors. We used it as our main daily driver for a period of two weeks and I only had to scramble for power banks and charging ports in two occasions. One of which was because I was using the camera a lot from 9.00 a.m onward. In that case, the battery went down to 20% by about 2.00 p.m.

Of course, battery life was not just affected by the camera functions. It was also affected by our WhatsApp, Telegram, phone calls, and even hotspot usage on the device. Thank goodness for power banks.

On a day-to-day basis though, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra gets a fair amount of use for WhatsApp conversations, Telegram, Social Media updates and scrolling, some internet browsing, a few phone calls, and plenty of Spotify use with Bluetooth speakers and a certain Samsung Galaxy Buds (not like there is a 3.5mm jack anyway).

In that case, our battery could last us a whole workday and a little bit more. Just as long as you do not open your camera app too much or for too long. The 108-Megapixel camera array is surprisingly power hungry. Well, when we say surprisingly, it is a 108-Megapixel sensor after all, it needs to process 108 million pixels within the capacity of the device.

You can choose between a normal fast charge or super-fast charge too if you use the provided charging adapter with the provided USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable. The normal Fast Charge will allow you to charge your battery from nothing to full in about two hours. Super-fast charge on the other hand will charge your Galaxy Note20 Ultra in less than an hour, which is wickedly fast at 25W. But that is also extremely scary because the battery really heats up in that situation. You also need to keep in mind charging a battery that fast will degrade the battery faster over its shelf life.

Display

Speaking of the brilliant display which enhances the gaming experience, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra comes with, what we think is Samsung’s most advanced display yet. It is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz in refresh rate. By default, you are looking at Full HD 1080p resolution in your face. You can turn that up to QHD resolution if you want, but you drop refresh rate to 60Hz.

This is one area where we think Samsung should be criticized. Do not get us wrong though, the display is quite brilliant when it comes to its colour accuracy, saturation, brightness, and contrasts. We would like to see a QHD display that would work with 120Hz on Samsung’s end though. OPPO can do it, Samsung should be able too with their technology.

Sadly, we are limited to Full HD at 120Hz. We do somehow understand why though. At 120Hz, your display could be eating into your battery life more than usual. That also means that if you leave your device at QHD with 120Hz, you might drain the battery of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra in less than a workday, which is not what you want to do with a smartphone you want to keep around as a workhorse.

Still, at 6.9-inch, the differences between Full HD resolution and QHD resolution are minute enough that you might not notice them in the first place. What matters then is what you do not need to squint to see, colours and contrasts.

As we have previously mentioned, the Dynamic AMOLED display has improved quite tremendously on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. The blacks are still just as deep as any AMOLED display, and the white just as white and bright. But the other colours are now more natural, less painful and straining to the eyes.

It is impossible to see the difference between one display to another if you look at the devices individually though. You really must put devices side by side to see the difference in colours and textures. You can see the clear difference when you put the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra against the Samsung Galaxy Note9. The reds and yellows are vibrant enough on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra without straining the eyes.

Camera(s) – 108-Megapixel of Goodness

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra packs a large 108-Megapixel sensor at the back. It comes packing with a larger than usual lens too in that sense. Flanking the main camera is a 12-Megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 12-Megapixel telephoto camera. Out the front is a 10-Megapixel front-facing shooter, 2-Megapixel more than before.

The 108-Megapixel main shooter gets brilliant photos in proper lighting situations. The photos come out highly detailed in bright and vivid colours in proper daylight. Which also means you get properly good-looking photos. Of course, you can get RAW photos out of the camera as well if you want. By default, the device shoots JPEG images.

Of course, we mainly shoot in auto mode. You can turn on pro mode to have more control over the camera, but we never really saw a point to that in smartphones. In normal Photo mode and with its AI scene recogniser, the device does a good job at adjusting its own settings for the best photos.

Of course, with a bigger sensor than before and more Megapixel to work with, photos come out with more details. Even in normal photo mode you get a better depth detail from the main camera. Yes, it has something to do with the AI algorithm as well, but anything that makes the photos look better without extra hands is a welcome addition to any camera.

Ultra-Wide shots are still as impressive as before. To be fair though, not much has changed in this department, everything looks similarly saturated and pretty as wide-angle shots from the Samsung Galaxy devices that comes before. That may not necessarily be a bad thing though.

Probably the biggest difference, other than the overkill 108-Megapixel sensor, is the 12-Megapixel telephoto lens that gives us the ability to optically zoom up to 5x. You are still only getting 12-Megapixel photos, but when has 12-Megapixel become less than ideal or enough for photos you share on social media platforms? You can even get a 50x digital zoom on the telephoto, but I suspect that you might not do a lot of that; we know we do not. No, it does not do 100x zoom like the Galaxy S10 Ultra; what for? Who are you stalking?

With a big camera, comes a big frustration of focusing distances though. The 108-Megapixel camera comes with a slightly longer lens and therefore a longer focus distance. You have to be at least 50cm away from your subject now to get a good 108-Megapixel photo, which is quite ridiculous in our opinion. While it is nice to have a high-resolution image, it is frustrating to relearn what a good focus distance is. Although, autofocus is quite fast and near instant. You might not have the same problem with the lesser Samsung Galaxy Note20 though.

We are not very avid selfie takers. In other words, we are not good with selfies. I tend to make stupid faces more than anything with selfie cameras. That said, the 10-Megapixel camera on this thing is quite brilliant. Selfie has not been the Samsung Galaxy Note line-up’s strongest suite. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus had a decent selfie camera with clever beauty mode, but it was not the best in the market and there are plenty of devices with better selfie modes.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s 10-Megapixel front facing camera is a big improvement though. It actually looks good an natural with light beauty mode. If you turn it all the way up, you will start looking a little unnatural, obviously. If you turn beauty mode completely off though, you get a nice wide-angle camera than can take a photo with multiple people in the shot. If you do not need the wide angle, the device cleverly crops the photo anyway and make it an 8-Megapixel shot.

Colour depth and detailing has improved on the front facing camera though. Colours come out more natural than before and plenty detailed than before. In short, selfies look good in the right hands, or stick.

The Elephant on the Back

There is one thing we are not very fond of, to be fair on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Yes, it is a feature – because you get a 108-Megapixel shooter out the back of the device, which is no bad thing. We will talk about the camera a little bit more later though.

What we want to centre around, in this section is the huge camera bump. It is more necessary than you think. There is no getting around the fact that it is humungous and quite ugly when you see it on the side. It is like looking at Squidward’s nose from the side of his face. We have berated the large bump in the design portion though, and now we are going to justify it.

The bump, in what we can tell, is a sort of a dome to separate the heat from the main board. You prevent burning out your main board thanks to the raised platform. It is supposed to help the cameras cool a little more too.

In the sense of keeping the camera operating at a cool temperature though, that does not work so well. After 10 minutes of photo taking or even videos, you do start feeling the heat on the camera bump. That heat quickly spreads through the device though, which is not a good sign for a smartphone that you might want to shoot videos with.

Of course, if you make a living with photos and videos, and you rely on cameras plenty, you might already have a dedicated camera for most of these purposes. If you are planning to fully rely on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, we recommend that you do not. In any case though, the device is still quite a capable one. Which brings us to the next point.

8K Videos in Your Pocket

8K video recording is something really new with consumer level devices. Not too long ago, 4K was still something that plenty of mid-range smartphones could not do. Now, we are moving toward 8K.

Of course, while we can start enjoying 8K resolution technology with the newest TVs and displays, there is not much 8K video contents to work with or enjoy at this time. Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra does not have one of those displays for us to enjoy 8K resolution contents on. The device only has a maximum of QHD resolution, that is quite plenty less resolution than 8K.

It does shoot 8K resolution videos, however. That also means that you can shoot and enjoy 8K resolution contents with the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra paired with a Samsung TV with 8K resolution. While that can happen, it does not necessarily mean that it is anywhere near affordable.

In that case even if you can shoot in 8K resolution, it does not mean you should. This is, of course, unless you are in video production houses and need that kind of resolution for cropping or zooming purposes. That extra resolution in production environment is quite appreciated and important at this point, especially if you settle with 4K published contents.

Even then, you, as a person that makes a living out of videos should already have your own gear to work with. In our case, we rarely produce 4K videos due to the huge file size, heavy load on our editing rigs, and the whole unnecessity of it. You can hardly get a 4K display on plenty of mobile devices and even the PC these days. In this case, shooting at 4K is way more plenty than enough to compensate for details lost when we zoom into videos or crop them for stabilisation purposes.

By default, the videos taken via the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is of Full HD 1080p quality. You can change that in the settings to take 4K and 8K resolutions. At 8K resolution though, image stabilisation does not work. That also means that you should consider spending on a new tripod or gimbal if you plan to shoot at 8K.

Still, if you shoot at 4K, stabilisation works nicely. It is not as silky smooth as we would like it to be. It would help if you do have a gimbal with you, but a moving video is not too jarring to follow with the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra – One Stop Shop Device

At MYR 5,199, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is an expensive device. To be fair, it is while it is a lot of money for a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is a lot of smartphone for that money. That does not mean that we could consciously recommend the device to all our friends.

We could even hardly justify it if we are buying the device for ourselves unless we get it on a carrier plan. But that is not saying that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is not a good device. It is a great device that does set a few standards of its own.

For MYR 5,199, you are getting not just a smartphone. You are also getting an impressive package that turns to a camera when you need it to be, and even a PC if you have a dongle and monitor to pair with. Like we said, you are getting a lot of smartphone from MYR 5,199; more than a smartphone, to be fair.

We feel though that under regular circumstances you will not be able to fully utilise or take full advantage of the device. Sure, you get the power of a portable PC in your pockets. But unless you are going to fork out an extra MYR 1,000 or so to get a portable monitor and a wireless keyboard you can carry with you in your backpack, it will remain a smartphone. That is not even considering that you already have a reliable work notebook PC to go with already.

It shoots at 108-Megapixel and 8K videos, but with the amount of heat that comes from the camera, you might want to think twice of relying on this device as a main shoot device for a whole day. If you do rely on photography for work too, you most likely would have another camera that you are already relying on. While the 108-Megapixel camera on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is impressive, you are equipped enough with a regular 12-Megapixel shooter in your pockets.

In this case, while the retail of the device goes for MYR 5,199, you might be spending more than MYR 6,000 to make full use of the device. That is also considering that this remains the only smart device you own in your life, barring your notebook PCs, your cameras, or even tablets. Keep in mind also making this the only modern computing device and camera gear you own in your life also limits you to a lot of things. In reality then, it might make more sense to spend a little less on a smartphone, and more on other things that you could integrate in your life for a more complete digital experience.

Sure, it is nice to own a smartphone that can do everything. The question is do you really need it though? At the same time, are you wasting the device’s potential away by just keeping it in your pockets? We do have to say though, if you are asking the second question, you know that you should already be looking elsewhere for a smartphone.

Android, Editorial, Mobile, Reviews

First 24 Hours with The Samsung Galaxy S21 – It has the Makings of a True Flagship

January 26, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

With reviews dropping for the Galaxy S21 series today, we thought it would be better to take you through some of the first the impressions we got from the Samsung Galaxy S21 when we first started using it instead. We will, naturally, have a full review with an in-depth breakdown for you to get into the nitty gritty details of the phone.

The first thought that came into my mind when I held the Galaxy S21 is, “It’s back”. The latest iteration of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series finally brings back the qualities that made the Samsung Galaxy S series stand out. Aside from the colour, the phone’s design gives you the impression that Samsung spent its time thinking up the S21.

It a subtle but loud design choice – a metallic accent on a glasstic body. After years of dealing with glass front and backs, the new approach is the breath of fresh air and new life that the series needed. While it may seem like a downgrade going from glass to glasstic, the Galaxy S21 still feels premium and is so much easier to hold in hand. The subtle curves of the back make the phone more palmable and easy to manoeuvre in one hand. It’s also just hefty enough.

The FHD+ AMOLED 2X display brings a pretty brilliant display. We say brilliant not to praise the display but to highlight that this display is plenty bright. Even under direct 11am sunlight, the screen was still legible. We haven’t really noticed the difference with adaptive refresh rate just yet – but rest assured, it’ll be one of the main points in our in-depth review.

Aside from the visuals, it really feels like Samsung took the time to think out this flagship and deliver an experience that is well rounded. The speakers are loud! Even watching Instagram videos on the Galaxy S21 can be risky business (especially if you’re on a video call!). Even at 30% volume, the phone was audible about 3 to 5 meters away. It’s a pretty good indication of the media experience you’ll be getting from the device.

That said, the first 24 hours is usually about the batter and the setup for us. The battery on the Galaxy S21 is actually pretty small – considering the size of the other devices in the series. However, while size does matter, the Galaxy S21 is still able to impress with its battery life. After charging it up to 100%, the battery lasted a good 40 hours before it needed to be charged. The 40 hours included the setup process and the downloading of apps needed on the device. After which, it was swiftly put to a barrage of gaming, YouTube, Instagram and TIDAL. This bodes really well for battery life on the S21 moving forward.

The setup process is pretty straight forward. Samsung asks you to sign in to your Google account and you Samsung account. You can restore your device from either service. Of course, if you’re jumping or upgrading from another Samsung device, you get everything – including your home screen layout transferred over. Something that not many other manufacturers are doing. That said, we didn’t setup the S21 with a back up instead we opted to set it up from scratch. It took us roughly 30 minutes to get all our apps downloaded and all the relevant emails synced. The time from the start of the setup excluding setting up email accounts on a new app and downloading apps was about 10 minutes. Not too bad considering not many of us would like to baby the phone while it updates.

You’ll have to wait when it comes to the camera. We’re definitely excited to see what Samsung has in store there. However, barring that, the Galaxy S21 is definitely hitting the right notes when it comes to a flagship. It seems to be somewhat of a return to form for the Galaxy S series.

Android, Editorial, Mobile, Reviews

24 Hours with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2

January 26, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Samsung’s big launch of the second half of 2020 came with a big announcement too. It came with the big announcement of their follow up to their very innovative 2019 product, the Samsung Galaxy Fold. They now call it the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, basically to align the device to the newly introduced Samsung Galaxy Z series line-up with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.

First Look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is a completely different beast though. It is not a nostalgic keepsake that is bringing back a very popular smartphone design language that is the flip mobile phone. It is not technically new in its form factor too. Well, technically because it is a successor to the 2019 Samsung Galaxy Fold.

This is not just a mere minor product update from the older foldable device though. This looks like a complete overhaul of the device. This feels more like a major evolution, rather than an improvement.

Picking up the Z Fold2

The evolution is apparent from the moment you pick up the device from the box. It feels untypically heavy. Untypical, because you are used to the near weightless feel from Samsung’s vast portfolio of flagship smartphones.

The first touch feels solid, robust; more so than the old Samsung Galaxy Fold. It feels like a product you can properly chuck in your bag when you need to. It feels complete, unlike the ‘prototype’ that was the Samsung Galaxy Fold. It feels substantial, cold, durable.

The first fold did not feel like a mechanism breaking maneuver. That first fold motion does not feel like you are breaking the ‘Glastic’ in to prepare it for even more folds that the display is going to do in its lifetime. The first fold feels tight and satisfying too, nothing fearful or doubtful.

We love the Mystic Bronze colour option. Somehow, the black does not accentuate the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2’s design characteristics enough. Somehow, the Mystic Bronze highlights the odd glossy chromed lining that runs down the center of the device at the back (opened). It accentuates the proportions of the device and somehow frames it beautifully.

The brushed aluminium on the sides adds a contrast to the whole body. It adds some needed texture for better grip, of course. But its contrasting finish also hides the size, or thickness of its body, especially when its folded in. No 3.5mm jack in sight; just dual speakers, USB Type-C, mic ports, rocker and power buttons, and a SIM tray on the sides.

Fold the device and the center line splits to reveal a very pretty, very classy looking chromed housing for the folding mechanism. It closes with a satisfying thud. You know the inner display is protected by a screen protector and a raised bezel with a recessed panel. There are also some little plastic nubs to prevent the sides to completely crash into each other.

Then you unfold it, because you want to set it up for the first time. The back is now a split of a proper glass back and glass protected front secondary display. It feels weird to say that the display on the outside, that is supposed to be tougher and more protected than the inner display is a secondary display here. It is what it is though, with the device opened and spread out to its full glory, the back is made up for the secondary display under a glossed up glass, and the Mystic Bronze matte finish of the main back plate only disturbed by a protruding camera module.

That bulge is quite disturbing on a flat surface though. The device also does not come with a case out-of-the-box for the device, so you might want to consider getting an OEM case for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2. Go for something good, you have spent a good deal of money to get your hands on the device, do not cheap out on the case.

Then you turn it on to set it up for the first time, you rely on its inner display, of course. While it is the same set-up process that comes with any other Samsung device, you feel like you are looking at a completely new set-up experience. Part of that is due to the fact that Samsung bombards you with the ‘dos and do nots’ of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2. But most of it is because you are looking at a much larger display than usual. Not quite tablet display, but not quite smartphone as well.

Everything is the same as when you set up your Samsung for the first time though. We have the benefit of having an older Samsung smartphone to switch from, so Samsung Smart Switch is the way to go. You can get Samsung Smart Switch to work on other devices to, for you to transfer the data from those older devices to a Samsung device.

Larger Than Life

I personally remembered mentioning that the Samsung Galaxy Note series was ‘larger than life’. That was because the Samsung Galaxy Note series, at the time, boasts displays bigger than most smartphones features. The display on a Samsung Galaxy Note series, at that time, borders that of a tablet. Hence the word ‘phablet’ was used to describe the older generation Samsung Galaxy Note devices.

The main display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is even bigger than the Samsung Galaxy Note series though. Unfolded, the screen measures 7.6-inch. It is not a mere Full HD+ screen too. It is a high-resolution 2,208 by 1,768 pixels of Dynamic AMOLED 2X goodness. The other display is still quite large at 6.2-inch but only features Super AMOLED and 2,280 by 816 pixels, in the region of HD+ territory.

There is nothing to complain about up front though, it is a much bigger and much more functional screen than before. The only issue I have with it is how narrow it is. While I have smaller hands and thinner fingers, typing on the narrower display is still quite a nightmare. We can talk about that a little later though. We focus on the bigger picture now, the inside flexible display.

Flexible display is not necessarily a new technology. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, in fact, features the same type of flexible display that the Samsung Galaxy Fold had. The improved the panel and its working tremendously though. The mechanism feels more solid, looks more substantial, and more industrial. There are no more gaps between panels, as they have harshly learnt from their past product. The mechanism is closer to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip than the older Galaxy Fold, to be fair.

The nice thing is that Samsung managed to retain the almost bezel free look that most devices feature today but still have enough bezel to raise a protective barrier for the highly sensitive display. They also managed to fit a punch hole camera instead oof that awkwardly placed notch on the older device. The drawback is that there is only one front-facing camera here instead of two. It is an overall improvement though with less wasted screen real estate.

While the display is that large, videos can hardly take full advantage because of the oddly proportioned display. In the case of YouTube, where you can view the videos either in horizontal or vertical mode, it feels like there is nearly no difference in viewing videos in both forms. Of course, when you put the videos in full horizontal mode, you get an inch more than you get on the normal vertical viewing layout. You hardly notice though, because there are such big black bars on top and bottom of the display.

If you want to watch your videos without holding the device at an angle, you do not need a kickstand. Simply fold the Galaxy Z Fold2 a little bit to create a natural stand. But your YouTube video will shrink to fill one half of the display. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video does not have this feature.

Flipping the device like that also gives us the ability to type messages horizontally with more keyboard space. Samsung’s default keyboard layout when the device is open is a split key mechanism that we actually like very much. We think that it makes sense so that you do not have to reach too far into the middle of the device when typing horizontally. It sort of protects the tender middle of the display in vertical typing mode. Keep in mind though that typing horizontally on Whatsapp will not allow you to see the chat window, that works on Telegram and almost any other app though.

One thing you want to keep in mind if you want to keep your device angled is that the device is back heavy. That also means that your device will tend to rest on the camera side. In this case, if you did not get a case for your Galaxy Z Fold2, the left side of the device will be slightly raised.

Large, but Compact

The large screen folds away to a smaller 6.2-inch display as we mentioned earlier. Technically you get about half the display real estate compared to what is tucked away inside. You get an ultra-narrow workspace and home screen up front. What is nice about this layout is that you can have a completely different home screen on your secondary display compared to what you have on your main display.

You can set up the front display to be a quick access page to things you want to quickly access like calls, messaging, WhatsApp maybe, camera app, or clock. Whatever tickles your fancy can be on that home screen, just like a normal Android home screen. You just have to keep in mind that the display is narrower than even the modern regular small smartphone.

That also means that your keyboard layout is massively compressed and extra small. As mentioned, I had a lot of trouble typing on the front display quickly and accurately. There will always be some sort of typo in every word that I type because the display is so small. Of course, flipping it horizontally helps with typing, but the keyboard will take up at least half the screen at that point. The horizontal layout mimics the keyboard layout when you open to the main display though, which is nice.

The front display though is quite perfect for single handed use, especially when you are out and about. The size of the device in its folded form fits perfectly in your pockets. It is a little on the thick side, we admit, but it still does fit nicely in the pockets, which is all we ask for.

You do not have to watch your YouTube or Netflix videos on the inner display, as it turns out. The secondary display works just fine with all sorts of videos. You get the benefit of making the back plate a stand and just angle the display a little bit for a more comfortable viewing angle on the desk.

We do not think that the secondary display would be as useful or as regularly used as the main display at home just because it is so much smaller and so much more difficult to type on. You will have to keep the device folded to answer calls though. The only earpiece of the device is sitting on top of the secondary display. Imagine if the earpiece was placed on the inside as well.

There is no transition that we can find from the inner display to the outside display though. As far as we know the display locks when you close the display. Which also means you have to turn on the device again if you want to purely use the front display.

4,500mAh Battery – That Cannot Possibly be Enough

When we first heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 comes with a 4,500mAh battery, we started getting concerned on its battery consumption. Remember you are powering two displays and up to five cameras. How the same battery pack you find on a Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra going to help you keep the device running the entire day?

We cannot comment too much here though, we need more time to do a proper review of its battery life. We can report to you that 4,500mAh could be just enough to keep you running from morning to at least after work. Not on your first day with the device though.

Your first set up will take some time if you use Samsung’s Smart Switch. You want to wait for everything to be transferred and installed properly. That is going to take some battery life already unless you leave it plugged in. The next thing you will do is start downloading all the other apps that has not yet been installed already. You are going to start setting up your Google apps, check if your emails are coming in properly, see if all your necessary accounts like Netflix, Prime Video, and such are signed in and working.

There are going to be apps that are not transferred from the older device and you might want to go through Google’s Play Store to install them. Because the display is now much bigger, you might want to play new games on it too. You are going to be on your device for the whole day just to see what its like to do everything.

That is the thing though. If you rely on your battery, you are going to run out of battery by the end of your lunch hour. Thankfully charging is relatively quick, though I do feel that it should be a little faster. Still, getting it from nothing to full in less than 2 hours is not bad at all. You can at least keep it plugged in at work.

24 Hours with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 – We Are Not Sure Just yet

This is a piece of kit that we find cool, to be honest. It is unique, innovative, and it feels like a proper Samsung product; a quality product. At the same time though it costs MYR 7,999. That also means that it could be gimmicky, and obnoxious as a product. If you do buy one, you are making a statement too.

To be fair, we do see potential of this type of form factor in the competitive world of the smartphone industry. We do think that this sort of device has a place somewhere in the world if Samsung keeps at it and probably add S Pen functionality to it. The stylus is a little bit much to ask at this point of time, I know. Technology has not caught up to that request just yet, we understand.

The thing is though, we do not know if we would tell anyone to buy this device. What is wrong with a Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra? What is wrong with an Apple iPhone, for that matter? It is a novelty though, this piece. It is an exquisite piece of engineering we cannot find anywhere, and that is important to keep in mind as we review the device.

We have not explored its capabilities and functions fully just yet. We are just peeling off that first layer of fascination you always have when you get a new smartphone or gadget. Would we change our minds completely on this device? Stay tuned to our review.

Computers, Editorial, Reviews

The JOI Book SK3000 In-Depth Review – Windows Pro on 4G? It Works

January 25, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

If there is one thing I want to complain about, when it comes to modern notebook PCs, is that we still have to rely on WiFi. We are in 2021 now, and we still have to rely on WiFi to get our work going on-the-go. We live in 2021, where the world is turning itself upside down, and where work is not just in the office anymore. We live in a world where work is mobile.

So why do we still rely on WiFi to get our work on? Sure, the easy cure is to use your smartphone as a hotspot device. That is, while a small hassle, still an extra thing to work with. Turning on hotspot on your smartphone for extended periods also means that you are draining your smartphone battery even faster. In slightly older devices, your data network cuts off the moment you pick up a call or make a call. It feels like you are going back to the Dial-Up days, but outside and wirelessly now.

Thing is, the mobile PC platform is the perfect platform to be always connected wherever you are. Your notebooks now are more essential than ever. Your work is no longer stationary. Although, with the pandemic, you are mostly stuck within the confines of your home. Still, within your home, you might move around for a change of environment, in certain parts of your home, WiFi may not be great. There is also chance that you might not even have a dedicated internet plan for home.

Welcome to what seems to be the first modern Windows device that comes with Cellular connectivity. Welcome to the JOI Book SK3000. Welcome to the future-ish.

Design

If you have not heard of JOI, do not worry. Thy are not some Chinese based OEM that sells some subpar product. However, they are also not from Taiwan, or United States, or some European country. They are, in fact, home grown. They stem from SNS Network. This is a topic for another day though. We go back to the JOI Book SK3000.

When you buy any notebook, the first thing that you see is not really the laptop. You actually see the box first, its packaging. In fact, this is true for almost any device you buy today.

The SK3000 comes in a relatively small cardboard box. To be fair, most notebooks come packaged in a cardboard box and the notebook is suspended inside with two foam inserts. The difference is that the box that this JOI Book SK3000 comes in a coloured box rather than a plain brown box that we are so used to with big brand manufacturers.

Pull the device out of the box though, and our first impression of the notebook was surprisingly a good one. They were not lying when they said that this 12.5-incher comes in an all-metal body. That partly means that the device is quite sturdy. It is also quite cold to the touch.

We were also impressed by its thickness, or lack of thereof. They say that this is less than 15mm thick, we believe them. Of course, this is mostly thanks to the fan-less design that the Qualcomm Mobile Compute platform allows.

The lack of thickness also means that you are sacrificing a few things on the Notebook though. The JOI Book SK3000 only comes with a USB Type-C port on the left and a 3.5mm AUX jack on the right side. No, the USB Type-C is not a Thunderbolt port either, that is an Intel exclusive. Still, the USB Type-C can be used with a multipurpose hub for HDMI extensions and such. The only issue now is to buy a USB Type-C hub.

There are no speaker grilles placed outside the shell of the notebook. Instead, underneath the notebook is a screwed in cap that allows you to install a SIM card and MicroSD card for cellular connectivity and memory expansion. As far as we are currently concerned, the MicroSD slot is the only way to expand the device’s internal memory. This thing is just like a smartphone in a notebook shell.

Open it up and the IPS Full HD display greets you alongside its keyboard. Top of the bottom clam is still aluminium with some cut outs for the dual top firing speakers on the unit. The display does not have super-thin bezels, but they are thin enough for its body size. Then there is the fact that the whole display panel is under a flush glass panel to complete the premium look. Hard to fathom the MYR 2,199 asking price when you look at the JOI Book SK3000. It looks and feels properly premium.

The combination of glass material and aluminium on the shell makes the notebook is a little top heavy. When you put your device on the table, while the display will not open flat parallel to the keyboard surface, it feels like the notebook is tipping to its display a little bit. You still can use the notebook at full tilt on the table though, the notebook will not actually tip over unless you push the display a little bit.

All these materials are good too. It makes for a very solid notebook with none of the display flex that we are used to from big brand notebooks. This is also true for the keyboard surface. The only thing that might give away its competitive pricing is the key caps on the keyboard itself. It feels a little hollow and cheap. We will talk about the keyboard more later.

All-aluminium metal body also means that the notebook comes in at a little bit of heft. They claim 1.05kg on this notebook. Weirdly though it feels quite a little bit heavier compared to the Acer Swift 5 that weighs just under 1kg. That notebook has a fan and touch sensitive 14-inch display mind you. The Acer is also more than double the price of the JOI Book SK3000 though.

Overall, we quite like the build quality and look of the notebook. At first glance, it does not look like something that would fit your budget of MYR 2,500 on a notebook. That is a good thing.

Hardware

Under the svelte Aluminium body you will find none of the regular notebook components that you are used to. For one, you will not find a dan underneath the hood You will not even find a dedicated GPU. Instead, you will what seems to be smartphone board components. Then again, not much difference between a smartphone and notebook in terms of components.

You will find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Mobile Compute platform sitting under the hood to run the PC though. There is no Intel or NVIDIA trickery in the notebook. Thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform though, fan-less design is possible. Which also means that this notebook is as quiet as your smartphone.

Specifications

Edit Post

JOI Book SK3000 (2020)	As Tested
*Processor (clock)*	Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Compute Platforms (Octa-Core@2.96GHz)
*GPU*	Integrated Qualcomm A630
*Display(s)*	12.5-inch IPS (1920 x 1080) Glass Panel Narrow Bezel
*Memory*	128GB UFS 2.1 storage 4GB RAM
Networking and Connections (I/O)	1 x USB 3.0 Type-C 1 x 3.5mm AUX 4G LTE (Nano SIM) Bluetooth 5.0
*Battery*	4,200mAh Li-Po 35W USB Type-C Charger
*Operating System*	Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
*Miscellaneous*	1.05kg All-metal body 2.0MP webcam

WPBakery Page Builder (opens in a new tab)Add titleThe JOI Book SK3000 In-Depth Review – Windows Pro on 4G? It Works

Welcome to what seems to be the first modern Windows device that comes with Cellular connectivity. Welcome to the JOI Book SK3000. Welcome to the future-ish.

Design

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is JOI-Book-SK3000-33-1024x768.jpg

When you buy any notebook, the first thing that you see is not really the laptop. You actually see the box first, its packaging. In fact, this is true for almost any device you buy today.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is JOI-Book-SK3000-28-1024x768.jpg

Features

At MYR 2,199, the JOI Book SK3000 seems like a basic notebook PC. It does not look like it has anything more to offer compared to its competitors. Just take a look at the ASUS VivoBook variants for example. For a little bit more money, you get a larger display, and a little more in terms of I/O ports.

The JOI Book SK3000 though is not just a basic, Plain Jane notebook PC though. There is more underneath the skin that should make it more attractive to anyone looking for an ultra-portable workhorse. Just do not expect it to perform miracles for you, and you should be fine.

Ma Look, No Fans

Like we said earlier, the JOI Book SK3000 features no fans inside the all-metal chassis. While this might seem odd when you put it beside a regular PC, it is not for the platform that the device works with. It does not have any fans mostly thanks to the Processor, or rather the System on a Chip (SoC) that this device is based on.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 SoC is not technically a new flagship class SoC for the smartphone market. It is no slouch either though. While it is a few generations out of the current smartphone market, it is still a very powerful platform. Powerful enough to power Windows 10 Pro on a 12.5-inch display in the case of the JOI Book SK3000.

The Qualcomm Mobile Compute platform is largely based on their smartphone counterparts anyway, which also means that a fan is hardly necessary. The platform has been tested time and time again and is optimised for a smartphone platform that is usually void of any sort of active cooling solutions. All you need is a couple of copper heat pipes that spreads the heat around and you have yourself a running SoC.

While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 does heat up a little bit in certain workloads on your smartphone, it hardly ever does on the JOI Book SK3000. Then again, you have to remember that you cannot expect the JOI Book SK3000 to be your main gaming PC. Then again, the PC runs on S mode by default, so you technically cannot install apps from sources other than the Windows Marketplace. More on that later.

The major benefit when you have a device with no fans though is its quietness. You do not need to be wary of the device’s fan suddenly spooling when you sit in a library or in a quiet café somewhere. You do not need to worry about being the one that spoils the peace in a quiet environment. If you leave your Windows Pro on S mode, you never really have to worry about getting the heat up too much on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850.

Always Connected with 4G LTE

Another benefit of using Qualcomm’s Mobile Compute platform like the Snapdragon 850 SoC is its integrated modem that is ready to take on cellular network bands. That benefit translates to a state of readiness of the JOI Book SK3000. Wherever you are, as long as you have a SIM card pushed into the SIM slot with an active data plan, you are going to have internet no matter where you go.

According to SNS network, the SIM tray can take on SIM cards from any of the major carriers in Malaysia. We have only tested the JOI Book SK3000 with YES 4G LTE network and we are happy to report that it works. That also means that where signal is available, the notebook becomes our core work PC and even a hotspot device if needed.

Of course, the device still features WiFi connectivity. But it also switches out of WiFi into cellular very seamlessly. The moment WiFi signals are too weak or cuts, cellular network cuts in immediately, very much like your smartphone. This is kudos not only to the manufacturer though, but this is also thanks to the current iteration of Windows 10 Pro that is ready for mobile usage.

This also means that you do not necessarily have to turn on your smartphone’s hotspot and drain its battery in the process. You save time, and battery. It adds a layer of convenience at work with less battery anxiety and more productivity. Of course, you might still want to think about the JOI Book SK3000’s battery.

The only thing you cannot do with the JOI Book SK3000 is make a phone call directly from your notebook. But why would you make a phone call from your notebook? You have a smartphone for that.

Another downside is that you have no excuse to not work even if there are no WiFi available now. If your boss tells you to check your email while you are out and about, you cannot tell your boss that you do not have an active internet connection for your laptop. You can tell your boss that your battery has ran out. But if your boss provides the data plan for your JOI Book SK3000, you cannot tell him that you have no internet connection, especially at home.

MicroSD Expansion

Like a smartphone too, the JOI Book SK3000 uses a MicroSD slot for its memory expansion. That also means that upgrading the storage on the device is cheaper and easier than you expect. Rather than taking out the whole notebook bottom case to lift its hood to install an SSD, you only need to unscrew a very small door on the underside of the notebook to reveal a SIM slot and a MicroSD slot.

You might want to consider getting a MicroSD card to expand your JOI Book SK3000’s small 128GB memory though. Technically 128GB is not small when you put it in a smartphone context. It is small for a Windows notebook PC though. You might want to think about getting another 128GB of MicroSD card or go up all the way to 512GB in that case.

Given that the notebook only comes in one configuration, having that extra expansion slot is always great. While the slot is a hot swap slot, unless you leave the protective door open, you are not going to access the MicroSD card in anyway. We do think that there is another space for MicroSD cards too for the PC though. Still, you can add that capability via a USB Type-C hub anyway.

Windows 10 Pro

This is a notebook PC, so it runs on Windows 10. It is no regular Windows 10 that we have here though. This is Windows 10 Pro that we are getting here. That also means that you get a few extra features that is missing from the Windows 10 Home you get on your regular notebooks.

You can set password protected partition on your hard disk if you want to. It is also technically more secure than regular Windows 10 Home. But as far as usage is concerned, they technically make nearly zero difference. They are all Windows 10 after all.

This also means that you get a regular Windows 10 experience from the JOI Book SK3000. What surprises us though is how smooth Windows is running on top of a smartphone processor. It feels like a regular PC and probably better than some entry-level stuff in the market.

Performance

We do not really expect big things from the Qualcomm powered JOI Book. Thing is, the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 850 is a powerful piece of kit. We are just not sure if it is optimised for Microsoft Windows or vice versa.

All You Need in an Aluminium Chassis

We are not saying that the Qualcomm based notebook is not good. Windows 10 Pro technically runs fine on the platform. Because Windows knows that it is running atop of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Mobile Compute though, there are certain limitations to it.

Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Google Chrome is not one of those limitations though. You still can enjoy Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, and Tidal on this notebook too. It is not all that bad.

On those programs though, the JOI Book SK3000 works well. Then again, the apps listed are quite basic for any PC. The only app you might want to avoid using in the list is Google Chrome. Google Chrome is a huge RAM hog, which also means it will slow down other things too.

We have always said that you need at least 8GB in RAM to get Windows 10 to run properly. The JOI Book SK3000 is a prove that we are quite wrong. At least on the listed apps, you can have multiple windows open and still work on it with no issues at all. Sure, there might be some lags and stutters from time to time, but they are not so bad that they are irksome.

If you are going to install third party apps like Steam and Adobe Creative Cloud Suite though, be sure to opt out of ‘S Mode’. ‘S Mode’ will not allow you to install any third-party apps to keep Windows streamlined, secure and smooth. if you are content with running apps from the Microsoft app marketplace though, you should be fine in ‘S Mode’.

Gaming – Sort Of

We installed Left 4 Dead 2 and Dota2 to the JOI Book SK3000. We are happy to report that they run though. Obviously, we had to try gaming on the JOI Book SK3000. We are not going to let Full HD 1080p IPS goodness go to waste despite the Adreno based GPU on the Snapdragon 850 SoC.

Left 4 Dead 2 is not exactly a current title. It was not even a AAA title at launch. That also means that its graphical requirements should not be too taxing for modern PCs or even modern processing chips, including a smartphone optimised chip. We managed to get about 24 fps out of the JOI Book SK3000 on the game too, just to prove a point. But there are quite a few shocks and bumps that sends the frame rates crashing down.

We are quite confident that the game could low-key run titles like The Sims 4, and even Two Point Hospital. Cities: Skylines? Forget it. Windows will not allow you to install Minecraft: Dungeons via Microsoft app store though. That also means that Windows think that the JOI Book SK3000 does not even meet the minimum required specifications of the game. We are quite confident still that the JOI Book SK3000 might be able to run Minecraft Dungeons with little issues at about 24fps though. Again, we do not know because we could not even install the game.

If you are planning to play Dota2 competitively on this JOI Book SK3000, you might want to forget it. Yes, Dota2 runs. But it does not run as smooth as you want it to run. You do not want your team mates to rely on you while you are gaming with the JOI Book SK3000.

The good thing is that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 works the same on battery and while you plug it in. That also means that if you are planning to game on battery, you can. You just have to keep in mind that the battery might run out before you finish a session.

Only Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Creative Cloud can be installed on the JOI Book SK3000. There is only one app that is available for this platform though. As per the subheading suggests, you can only work with Adobe Lightroom in full.

If you go on Microsoft’s app marketplace though, you can get Photoshop Express to work with the JOI Book SK3000 too. It is no Photoshop for desktop, but it works. None of the regular video editing apps would install correctly on the JOI Book SK3000 too. Even Adobe’s Premiere Pro refuses to download. Nope, no Adobe Acrobat Reader to download too, sadly.

Keyboard Love Hate

To be fair, the typing experience is not half as bad as plenty of the entry level notebook PCs you can find in the market. There is enough key travel on the keyboard that you feel like you are actually hitting buttons rather than punching a wall with your fingers. There is enough feedback from the keyboard too to make your typing experience a smooth and comfortable one.

What we are not sure of is the plastic finish and material quality that comes with the JOI Book SK3000. The plastic buttons do feel a little hollow to the touch. The textured caps, while does provide a little extra grip, feels a little old school.

While the typing experience borders excellence, the JOI Book SK3000’s keyboard feels a little cheap and hollow. It is not loud. No, it is quite far from that. The keyboard is quite silent to work with. It is technically the loudest thing on the notebook apart from its speakers though.

It is not the fitment of the keyboard as well, because that is actually quite excellent. There is no play on each of the island key caps. They feel secure and nicely fitting. From a glance too, they look like they belong.

Then again, we are sort of nit picking on the keyboard when we say that it feels less premium. It is a perfectly fine keyboard for a notebook. Keys are big and defined too, so any hands can get comfortable with the keyboard. We are just a little irked by the material choice.

Battery Life

One of the biggest benefits, other than quietness, from the Qualcomm Mobile compute platform is its battery life. You only get 4,500mAh in the sleek body of the JOI Book SK3000. While that means about 8 hours of battery life from a regular Intel or AMD mobile processor, it can mean days of battery life for the Qualcomm processor.

True enough, even if you leave the notebook on standby, the JOI Book SK3000 can last you a whole week without charging. Of course, it will not go on forever while remaining always on. But that is definitely more than plenty of notebooks in the same price range.

The beauty of a smartphone optimised computing platform is the application of the Big Small architecture in their processing chips. That also means that the SoC can call for more power when it needs it, and sips energy when it does not. That translates to up to 10 hours of continuous usage of the JOI Book SK3000, and even longer run time while on standby.

Of course, if you do game and run other heavy application on the JOI Book SK3000, you can expect a shorter battery life. If you plan to run Adobe Lightroom for extended periods or even game for extended periods, you might want to consider finding a charging point.

This notebook charges its 4,500mAh battery quite quickly too though. Thanks to Qualcomm’s Fast Charging know how, the notebook can charge at up to 30W. That means you are up and running again within 2 hours of charging your JOI Book SK3000. Because the included charger is also a USB Type-C charger with fast charging capabilities, you can use it to charge your smartphones as well. That, or any other USB Type-C device you might find in your gear bag. In other words, you may not need to carry any other chargers with you.

The only issue with have with the charging though is that not all USB Type-C chargers can work with the JOI Book SK3000. We tried plugging it to the 65W charging brick from Lenovo and it refuses to charge.

Display and Speakers

We have grouped these two categories into one because there is nothing really to shout about with the speakers. The speakers may not be the JOI Book’s greatest strength. We want to say that it could be the JOI Book SK3000’s worst trait too.

The dual speakers on the JOI Book SK3000 sounds super tinny with no clear definition at all. Bass is virtually non-existent on the JOI Book SK3000 too. Thank goodness you can either plug in your earphones into the 3.5mm jack or connect other earphones and headphones via Bluetooth. You are better off using earphones or headphones even for video calls with your team, or friends.

The display is quite gorgeous though. It is an IPS panel displaying at Full HD 1080p. You also get somewhat narrow bezels. Though we do think that they could make a 13-inch fit in this body if they cut down the bezels even more. They did not mention its colour accuracy specifications though.

Still, colours pop on IPS displays and this 12.5-incher is no exception. It is an excellent display to use for entertainment avenues like Netflix and Amazon Video Prime, even YouTube. Again, plug in your earphones for better audio experience. As we have said, you can sort of game on it too.

It may not be the most accurate IPS panel you can get on a notebook, but if you are not too fussy, you technically can use it to colour correct on Adobe Lightroom. You cannot install Adobe Premiere pro or Photoshop, so you can only work with Adobe Lightroom at this point. IPS panels are not typically found in notebooks that costs just above MYR 2,000 too. That also makes this a little bit of a steal.

The JOI Book SK3000 – The Best Compromise

SNS Network says that this particular notebook should appeal to students more than others. At MYR 2,199, the JOI Book SK3000 would definitely be placed in any student’s consideration. But the JOI Book SK3000 has more potential than that.

We think that anyone can benefit from the JOI Book SK3000. It is not exactly expensive to own or to run. For example, if all you need from your PC is to get through your emails, type out a few emails, access your company server remotely from time to time, create excel sheets and powerpoint slides, or even just simple internet browsing for research, this does all of those just as well as any other PC would.

It is not the lightest PC in the market, so you might say. But it is not exactly heavy either. Its charging package is just a little larger as your regular smartphone charger that it makes no difference. The JOI Book SK3000 itself is so compact that you can just get a small sling bag to work with. If you have a larger bag, good, you have more space for other stuff. The notebook will also last more than a full working day, that means your charger can be stuffed deep down in your bag and you will still be okay through the day.

The best part is that you are constantly connected to the internet no matter where you go. Well, technically wherever there is 4G network signal. While constant connectivity could be a bane for work, it could be bliss too.

For students, it will be a bliss for them when they need to get their work going anyway. Especially if you live in a house with no WiFi connection, you will rely on your smartphone for internet. You could, however go on YES 4G Kasi Up plan and work with up to 100GB of internet a month at not very much money. It is a possibility. This works the same even if you are not a student. You may not need to pay more than MYR 100 to get internet working for you.

In short, if you are looking for a PC that sits between the MYR 2,000 to MYR 2,500 price range, this should at least be in your consideration. For that money, you are getting a well-built product that is truly mobile. You do not even need to think about using your smartphone as a hotspot device anymore. It still does all your basic stuff too, what more do you need? Oh wait, product support.

If you are interested to purchase the JOI Book SK3000 you can get the product via their website directly. You can also head to either GLOO Official Store on Lazada or to JOI’s official LazMall page to make the purchase. Alternatively, JOI and GLOO are also on Shopee. For more information on the JOI Book SK3000, you can check in on their website too.

Android, Editorial, Mobile, Reviews

Xiaomi POCO M3 In-depth Review – The POCO That Can!

January 21, 2021 Nur Joo Lee R Guna Segar Leave a comment

If you were looking for the one stop shop to everything the market has to offer but with an affordable price tag, the Xiaomi POCO M3 might be the way to go. It has a robust build, triple cameras, a full HD screen display, excellent battery life for only RM 599 in Malaysia.

Released in November 2020, it should be noted that POCO is actually an independent brand from Xiaomi. Shocked? We were too, but keep in mind that the confusion is there for many since Xiaomi still manufactures everything you see in the POCO. Nonetheless, everything designed is meant to be exclusively for the POCO brand and not a cookie cutter phone copying Xiaomi’s existing devices.

When you buy the POCO M3, you get a yellow outer box encasing the phone along with your typical treats. Along with the SIM eject tool, the USB cable as well as the 22.5W QC3 charger, buyers also receive a transparent silicon case and a screen protector.

Design

As mentioned, the POCO M3 has its own unique design and offers more than you’ve bargained for. The overall build of the device is robust and sturdy. Although made of plastic, the faux leather backing and weight of the phone gives the user the feel of a premium quality design. It also makes it easy to grip and looks a lot cleaner than your regular plastic as it seems to be fingerprint resistant.

The front of the device is a full screen from top to bottom without an inch to spare. It shows off a 6.53” 1080p IPS LCD screen. The front facing 8-megapixel camera is placed dead centre at the top for the best angled selfie. The Gorilla Glass 3 reinforces the build of the phone which easily passed an accidental drop test from the table (Oops! Rest assured, no device was harmed during the writing of this review). Right above the selfie camera, there is a thin grill that serves as the earpiece during calls. The corners of the POCO M3 are curved and the bezels are relatively slim.

On the sides, you have the fingerprint sensor for convenience and the volume button on the right. The fingerprint sensor also acts as the power button. The triple card slot is located on the left side of the device.

The POCO M3’s stereo speakers, 3.5mm audio jack and microphone are housed at the top of the device. The other stereo speaker is found at the bottom along with the mouthpiece and the USB-C port.

Flip the phone on its back and you’ll find quarter of the back covered in dark glass that protects the triple camera and also boasts the POCO logo. The glass makes the design jut out but not in a way that throws the phone off balance and makes it wobble when placed on a table.

The POCO M3 comes in 3 variety of colors – POCO yellow, Cool Blue and Power Black. You can choose to buy the 64 GB or 128 GB variant. It weighs 198 grams and measures in at 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm.

When it comes to the feel of the POCO M3 in hand, it feels sturdy and has enough heft to weigh it down. The heft and size can be a little unwieldy. Maneuvering the phone with one hand can be a task with its weight making things that much worse. That said, the faux leather finish does give it a little more grip.

Hardware

When it comes to hardware, the entry-level POCO M3 isn’t going to blow you out of the water. However, it does come with a more powerful Snapdragon 600 series processor which should give it an edge over some of its competition. However, that really depends on the software optimisations that Xiaomi has built into the POCO M3. As we already know, MIUI 12 is packed with features that are processor intensive. We’ll see how it performs later on.

Other than the processor, the M3 also comes with a pretty respectable setup when it comes to cameras and even memory. However, it’s on par with the competition when it comes to RAM – something that Xiaomi and POCO could have upped for the longevity of the phone.

Specifications

Processor	Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 Octa-core: 4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Adreno 610
RAM	4 GB
Memory	128 GB (As Reviewed) 64 GB microSD slot
Display	6.53-inch IPS LCD 1080 x 2340 ~395 ppi
Operating System	Android 10, MIUI 12
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 6000 mAh Fast charging 18W Reverse charging
Connectivity	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go
Camera	Main: Triple Camera: 48-megapixel, f/1.8, (wide) 2-megapixel, f/2.4, (macro) 2-megapixel, f/2.4, (depth) Video: Full 1080p HD @ 30fps Front: 8- megapixel (f/2.1) Video: Full 1080p HD @ 30fps (wide angle) Features: Panorama
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted) Accelerometer Proximity Compass

User Interface

The POCO M3 comes with MIUI 12 based on Android 10. This makes it equipped with a streamlined interface. It brings fresh and cool animations and a few new features compared to its predecessor the MIUI 11.

As usual with MIUI, it comes with an array of downloadable themes where you can customize ringtones, fonts and so on.

The home screen provides you the usual folders, widgets and so on that you get from any phone running on Android. The MIUI 12 offers you an app drawer that automatically categorizes the apps into categories such as Entertainment, Business and Tools. Feel free to customize the categories or if you hate the feature, simply disable it.

MIUI 12 comes with the new feature of having a floating app. For example, I can open my messaging app on top of the video I’m currently watching. If you don’t want the app to be floating, then split the screen. The one feature that annoyed me was the holding down and slowly having to slide up on the right to open the feature to close or stop all opened apps when clearing your phone. It’s a double swipe up. First swipe is the menu and second is to close apps. I did not have the patience to learn how to overcome this correctly so it might have been a user issue rather than the device itself.

The UI comes with new privacy options which is always welcomed. Users can remove location and device info when sharing photos and videos. There is also a security app that among others scans the phone for malware and helps clear up space to keep the phone running on optimum level.

The fingerprint scanner that is mounted on the right side of the phone is quick and convenient to unlock the phone with your thumb. For a side mounted scanner, it is impressing in terms of accuracy. However, we advise that you activate the Press recognition method offered by Xiaomi so as to avoid accidentally unlocking the device. This unfortunately happened to me and I sent my boss some questionable gifs via WhatsApp because of it.

Performance

The phone is powered by the latest Snapdragon 662 chipset. The GPU is Adreno 610. The SoC has an octa-core CPU and holds either 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB UFS 2.0 internal storage or 4 GB RAM with 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. Both storage expandable via microSD.

We noticed that there was a slight lag when switching in between tasks which makes us believe that the CPU performance could be bogged down by the optimisations and graphically intensive processes in MIUI 12. However, it is more likely that POCO could have afforded to increase the RAM in the POCO M3 to accommodate its MIUI. The issue is exacerbated if you decide to game on the device.

Gaming

When it comes to gaming, the POCO M3 is a drag – literally. Even though the display boasts a high resolution, there will be significant lags if you set your game above 720p. However, this is expected with the price you pay for an entry-range device. That said, POCO was touting this phone as a go to entry device when it comes to gaming – so there is a little bit of a draw back there. The only highlight here is that the phone does not heat up.

Battery Life

The POCO M3 has a massive 6,000 mAh battery and supports 18W fast charging. We’d recommended that you use the fast charger that it comes with it. If you don’t, a slow or normal charge would take quite a while to completely charge this bad boy. In our time with the phone, the battery life was its main highlight; even with 12 hours of full on usage, the battery lasted for 2 full days on a single charge.

Speakers

You will find stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the device, providing users with a balanced audio experience. Due to this, the loudness of the phone is proven when you play YouTube videos or when you take a call with your Asian mom and put her on loudspeaker. The sound quality does not disappoint.

Display

The POCO M3 has a 395ppi density thanks to its extended resolution at 2340 x 1080 pixels. For being on a budget, the M3, which has a large 6.53-inch display, is a cut above the rest in its price category when it comes to display resolution. If you’re a clumsy individual, fret not, the device is equipped with Gorilla Glass 3.

The display is easy to manoeuvre with the brightness level setting being placed at the normal drop down menu. If you’re stuck in the sunlight the whole day, switch on Sunlight Mode for a brighter display.

Camera

The POCO M3 has a triple camera setup for its main camera. The main sensor is 48-megapixel which is complemented bys a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. This triple camera set up is accompanied by a single LED flash. Before you get too excited, the camera is quite basic even though it attempts to hop on the latest trend bandwagon.

The main rear camera is 48-megapixel with f/1.8 lens, 0.8µm pixels and PDAF with night mode available. The macro camera does not have auto-focus but has f/2.4 aperture with 1.75µm pixels. On the front, you will have your 8-megapixel selfie camera with a fixed focus and f/2.1 lens. When you access the camera app, there is a flash mode, HDR mode, AI toggle and beauty effects and filters for the user to play with.

The pictures are nothing out of the ordinary and we didn’t expect them to be. The camera naturally captures and edits the photos with a soft touch but manages to keep the details needed. Overall, the camera tends to make the colours warmer than in real life.

In its different modes, the portrait seems to be more detailed than the regular setting and the 48-megapixel setting compared to the default 12-megapixel captures more detail. However, The AI tends to make the photos captures a bit off through its high contrast setting.

The camera seemed to work best with natural lighting but failed to impress when we tried to use it at night. It doesn’t capture as much details as compared to when used in the daytime. This became better with night mode on but once again, doesn’t compare to natural lighting.

There’s nothing to boast or say much about the front facing camera. It did the job without any issues but other than that, it seemed to be just a basic selfie camera.

In terms of video captured, there isn’t any 4K or 60fps. All videos are captured at 1080@30fps without stabilization. The colours was average at best and nothing out of the basic ordinary.

A Cut Above but Still Bang for Your Buck Comes With Some Sacrifices

The POCO M3 offers more than its competitors in the market with an affordable price tag. It has quite an impressive array of hardware and built in features that make the RM 599 price tag worth it. Trust and believe that you are getting your money’s worth but the phone is not without its flaws and with that price tag, you cannot expect it to be. It’s not the best phone for gaming but runs smoothly if you adjust some in app settings for a good experience. If you’re on a budget or just cannot see yourself spending four figures on any phone, the POCO M3 may just be your best bet right now!

Android, Editorial, Mobile, Reviews, Writer's Choice

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G In-Depth Review – The One You Should Get

January 19, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 series launched with two variants in the line-up. One is the more expensive, more premium, more feature packed Note20 Ultra. It is a formidable machine with great parts in them that makes for very compelling us cases. But it was superbly pricey of a machine too. It made us question everything we thought we wanted in a smartphone.

But they also launched a Samsung Galaxy Note20. No, no ‘plus’ or ‘lite’ moniker here. Just a plain old Samsung Galaxy Note20, a regular name that we are more used to. But it is not quite a Note20 Ultra though this regular one. Of course, they are bred from the same lab and factory. They have plenty of similarities at that, but they are also somehow very different devices.

The question here is of its worthiness to be called a Samsung Galaxy Note20 device. It has an S Pen, yes, but does it fit the criteria of a Galaxy Note20? It is priced like a Galaxy Note device, but is it worth that price? It looks like one, but is it worth the clad of the Galaxy Note name? Most important of all, is this a better buy than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra? Is it worth buying at all? We find out.

Design

First of all, it looks nearly exactly the same as the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. In every way, it mimics the looks and the design language of the more premium device, except in proportions. It is a smaller device compared to the Ultra.

Smaller does not mean worse though. In some eyes, including ours, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 looks better than its more premium brother. It looks like a traditional Galaxy Note unit, not a behemoth of a slate that looks a little out of place on the table. It is, in our opinion, the prettier device in the series, helped by its Cloud Green Colour scheme.

Some will argue that the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is more of a stunner. They say that it looks more stunning than the Samsung Galaxy Note20. More dramatic they say. We respectfully disagree.

Put them side by side, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra looks a little out of proportions. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra looks a little too much, overly bulky. It looks obnoxious with a bulging rear camera module somehow.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 is more subtle in that. It is a smaller device, but not by much. It is a sizeable device still, but acceptably and comfortably large. But it is not obnoxious in design. The camera at the back is built and designed like a normal device, flush into its body. There is still a small bump, yes, but not as disproportionate as the Ultra. Somehow, its body feels svelte and clean.

Everything else on the device is about the same as the Ultra though. From the placement of the speaker units, the mic holes, and even the power and volume buttons. We are pleased that the power button is now back in the correct side of the device and they stayed away from the annoying Bixby button from the Galaxy Note9.

Overall, there is not much to say about the design of the device. Except, there are more colour choices for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 compared to the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. While sometimes that makes me think that the extra colour choices are more like consolation prizes to make up for the fact that you do not get as much power, we prefer the colour choices you get from the Samsung Galaxy Note20 instead of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, somehow.

Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 packs mostly the same internals as the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra save for the RAM size, and battery size. Of course, the battery size in a direct effect of the body size. It also packs less powerful cameras compared to the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, which is quite expected thanks to the price differences. It does not mean that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is less potent than the larger Note20 Ultra though.

Specifications

Processor	Samsung Exynos 990 Octa-Core 7nm 2x Mongoose M5 @2.73GHz 2x Cortex A76 @2.50GHz 4x Cortex A55 @2.0GHz
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Mali-G77 MP11
RAM	8GB
Memory (as tested)	128GB
Display	Super AMOLED Plus 6.7-inch 1,080 x 2,400 pixels ~393ppi HDR10+ Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Operating System	OneUI 3.0 based on Android 10
Battery	Non-Removable Li-Po 4,300mAh Fast Charging 25W Wireless Charging 15W Reverse Wireless Charging 4.5W
Connectivity	5G Dual SIM Wi-Fi WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS A2DP AptX Bluetooth 5.0 LE OTG Support USB Type-C 3.2 Samsung Wireless DeX
Camera (s)	REAR: 12-Megapixel (f/1.8, 26mm wide angle) 64-Megapixel (f/2.0, 27mm telephoto) 12-Megapixel (f/2.2, 13mm ultra-wide angle) HDR 8K video recording (24fps) LED flash FRONT: 10-Megapixel (f/2.2, 26mm wide angle) 4K video recording (30/60fps)
Sensors	Accelerometer Proximity Under-Display Ultrasonic Fingerprint Ambient Light Gyroscope Face Unlock Compass

User Interface – The OneUI 3.0

Samsung, until the Galaxy Note8 at least, always had TouchWiz. TouchWiz, if you have not known yet, were very similar to OneUI that we know and love today. Technically as well, OneUI is more of an evolution of TouchWiz.

TouchWiz though, at some point was clunky, slow, and heavy on its processor. That is also why Samsung’s devices do not seem all that fast at some point even when they are packing the most powerful hardware in the field. The old TouchWiz User Interface (UI) was one that was flawed since its first developed into the ever so popular Samsung Galaxy S.

TouchWiz though was one of the best-known Android overlay UIs in the world at some point and has grown to be one of the most intuitive Android overlays there is. Plenty of the Android functionality that we know and love today can be traced back to the innovations made on Samsung’s TouchWiz. Split screens for example, was made a thing on TouchWiz with the Samsung Galaxy Note line-up.

Because of that initial flaw in design and architecture though, TouchWiz still faced stability issues from time to time and it still feels clunky. That is why OneUI was born. All these history lesson though is here for a reason.

OneUI, in its third generation, is really a platform that is still based on TouchWiz. The latest OneUI 3.0 of course is an Android 11 overlay for Samsung devices. The OneUI evolution allows Samsung to develop something that can be used on mobile interfaces and desktop interfaces. That is their DeX UI, for your information.

But if you do not turn OneUI into DeX, the experience has a lot more in common with TouchWiz UI than stock Android. Because it is Samsung, there are plenty of blacks that is built into the UI. Black, of course, shows off Samsung’s very impressive OLED technology to the world. It also makes more sense in power consumption terms.

That also means that the OneUI is just as intuitive as TouchWiz that came before, maybe even more so. Since OneUI 2.0 onward, you can have the regular Android gesture controls to move away from the traditional three button navigation layout. This is the swipe up from the bottom of the display for ‘home’, swipe up and hold for ‘recent apps’, and swipe from the left or right edge of the display for ‘back”.

Of course, you can still opt to have the traditional three button navigation layout too. You can either have them as proper buttons, or thin lines for gesture controls (swiping up), or not have the lines at all but still utilize that three-button configuration (swiping up). The choice of experience on the OneUI is one of the widest I have come to know.

Of course, if you came from other Android devices and are used to the regular Android gesture controls, you might want to switch to that in the settings. If you are more used to the three-button layout, like me, I still use them but with gestures. There is something for everyone.

There are no noticeable differences between the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s OneUI and Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s OneUI here. As far as we know, you are practically getting the same UI on both devices anyway. The only thing you do not get on the Galaxy Note20 is probably the fast display at 120Hz.

Smart Switch

Changing your smartphone is a hassle. Apple developed the iTunes to make switching iPhones from one generation to another much easier. Via iTunes, your contacts are saved, the apps you have are saved, your device settings are saved, even your home screen arrangement can be saved.

Switching Android smartphone is a little trickier than that. Android devices rely on your Google account to not just work, but for data back up as well. We are not saying that it is not great, it is just not as clean and straightforward because of device compatibilities, internet speed and more. There is the problem of switching between different Android platforms too, to make it another headache.

Samsung was one of the first Android partners to make switching smartphones a breeze with their phone cloning app, Smart Switch. We have been using Samsung devices for a long time, so we are quite familiar with the system. The thing is, it just gets easier and easier to switch from one device to another with Smart Switch, even from Apple iPhones.

Of course, Smart Switch is not a unique app on its own in the app market. There are other manufacturers who have developed their own version of phone cloning app for their own uses too. Like a lot of these apps, you can only use Smart Switch to receive data as a Samsung device. You can receive from any devices including an Apple device.

Unlike previous iteration of Smart Switch, the new version allows you to transfer data via WiFi direct too. Which also means that Samsung does not need to include a USB OTG dongle anymore in their box (they do not, by the way). It also means that transferring your data is a lot more convenient now. You just have to be patient, because it does not happen immediately. There are app compatibility problems as well, even if you are using a Samsung device to switch to the Samsung Galaxy Note20.

Performance

Thanks to Samsung’s proven Exynos 990 platform with 5G capabilities (there is a Note20 without 5G capabilities for sale in Malaysia too), the Samsung Galaxy Note20 performs just like a flagship should. Sadly, the one in Malaysia only gets the Exynos variant. There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ platform variant in another market, but the Asian market has not been getting the Qualcomm variant of the device since the Samsung Galaxy S4.

To be fair, there are some performance differences on both variants. They say that the Qualcomm tends to perform better in certain areas and is on par with the Exynos 990 in plenty of other areas. We cannot say for sure because we have could not test the Qualcomm variant. Still, The Samsung Exynos platform has been a proven platform. In that case, why would it fail us now?

Call Quality and Connectivity

If you are familiar with Samsung’s devices of the past, nothing has changed much in this feature. The only difference on our test unit is the 5G capability which we do not even get to test out because 5G connectivity is extremely limited in Malaysia. When I say extremely limited, there are no commercially viable 5G data plans just yet in Malaysia.

Making calls though is a very standard affair with the Samsung Galaxy Note20. The Phone app icon is exactly the same as before. Even the layout within the app has not changed since its first inception in the Samsung Galaxy S. There are probably minor changes like button sizes, or fonts, or even how lines look. But the general layout and look has remained consistent. There are a few things you can change with the dialer if you dig through the settings. The thing is, a plain old dialer on your smartphone has never bothered anyone anyway. It does the job, and that is the most important part.

When you do place a call or receive a call, the default volume on the earpiece tends to be a little soft. I usually keep the earpiece volume to the maximum just for clarity sake. When the person at the other end of the line is speaking to you properly with his/her device to their ears, it works perfectly, and their voice is as clear as day. You do want to be careful with volumes though, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 somehow has a slightly louder earpiece than what we are used to, same goes to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

On our end, the other person on the other end of the line never complained about the clarity of our voice. That is even with loudspeaker turned on and the device about a meter away from us. We have used the device in a few conference calls a well, with no more than four participants sitting on a small table. Then again, smartphones are never meant to be used as the primary teleconference tool. Still, the loudspeakers are loud, louder than the Samsung Galaxy Note9 and the Samsung Galaxy Note10.

On the front of signal reception, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G is consistently getting full bars of signals in town. There are several known blind spots in town as well, in those areas, even the powerful antennas of the device do not pick up any coverage. That also means that in most of Klang Valley, you are going to get crystal clear phone calls with full bars of signal. Even if the device only shows one bar of signal, you are going to be okay for calls.

The same may not be said too much with data though. When the bars are more than half to full, you get the full beans of your data connection speed; 4G speeds. When the signals drop below that, you mostly get HSPD 3G speeds supposedly. There are times when even 3G speed is not what you get though. Still, you can send out and receive your WhatsApp or Telegram messages of you are patient enough. Even your emails might not get through immediately, so you might want to keep that in mind.

Gaming

This section has been a measuring stick for a while on smartphones. It is not just smartphones though; gaming is also a measuring stick for PCs. Since a smartphone is more like a modern pocket PC now, it is only appropriate that we use these devices for games.

Games on mobile platforms has evolved a lot though. Games on mobile platforms are a lot more demanding in terms of graphical qualities and therefore require a lot of power from the processor and GPU of the device. That also means that the SoC must have enough power to deliver smooth, great looking games properly, just like the PC.

The games we tested the Samsung Galaxy Note20 with are PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 9, Arena of Valor (AoV), and Sky Force: Reloaded. Among these games, the most graphics and processor intensive game is PUBG Mobile since games can take up to 20 minutes at a time and there are plenty of open world rendering to do here. Of course, there are also games like Call of Duty Mobile which is also very demanding on the GPU and CPU, but we have not gotten around to playing that game, so PUBG Mobile it is.

PUBG Mobile defaults to the highest settings available to the game on the Samsung Galaxy Note20. We did not have to fiddle with the settings any further, in this case. Framerates looks consistent and there is very little lags in terms of graphics or even input. That is an indication of good power from the SoC. The heat build up is reasonable as well without frying your hands in longer game sessions.

On games like AoV and Sky Force: Reloaded then, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 handles them like a champ. Even when the screen gets busy, there are no stutters or lags you can see on the display. There are probably one or two dropped frames, but they are not noticeable when you are in game. While there is no 240Hz response rate or 120Hz refresh rate here, you are not playing at a disadvantage in these competitive games. You still can cope and respond accordingly.

Of course, if you are coming from a faster display with an even faster response, you are going to feel that this device is a little slow when it comes to these games. Keep in mind also that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is never really made for gaming. Gaming just complements what the Samsung Galaxy Note20 does best – productivity.

Multitasking and Productivity

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has always been a productivity star. The first Samsung Galaxy Note in the series brought stylus back into smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 puts the power of creation in your hands.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20, as mentioned time and time again, is a very similar device to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. It still has the very useful and iconic S Pen stylus that is now fitted to the left side of the device. It also has a large display still, a larger display than most devices today still at 6.7-inch.

The device’s display is still smaller than the behemoth that is the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Of course, in terms of multitasking, bigger displays also mean you have more real estate to play with. That does not mean that you should not be relying on the Galaxy Note20 for productivity and multitasking.

You still have multi-window functionalities on the Samsung Galaxy Note20. Up to two apps can be open at the same time on a side-to-side or a top-and-bottom layout depending on your device’s orientation. Thanks to an ample 8GB of RAM as well, both apps can load as fast as they can be at the same time without you noticing any stutters or lags.

That also means that you can have multiple Google Chrome tabs open on the device at the same time without any page refreshing when you visit other tabs. As usual, I tend to have over 40 tabs open on Google Chrome at the same time on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 with no stability or load issues on the app, or other apps for that matter. You can even have Google Chrome and other apps open at the same time thanks to multi window. Even that does not seem to slow the device down.

Benchmark

We have said time and again that benchmarks are not everything. They do give an insight to how a smartphone and its hardware work though. Despite its scores, some budget smartphones actually feel and work better than the numbers may suggest. In certain situations too, some devices feel worse than the numbers suggests. So do take the numbers with a pinch of salt. Still, here are the numbers from the benchmarks.

The S Pen – Mightier Than Ever Before

Like the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the S Pen found on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is made to be faster and better than before. In terms of size and shape, you can technically take the Samsung Galaxy Note10’s S Pen and slot it into the Galaxy note20’s S Pen slot, it will fit perfectly. They are exactly the same shape and size.

The S Pen on the Galaxy Note20 is much faster though. There seems to be no input lag between the S Pen and the Note20’s display. Each stroke of the almost instantly translate into lines on the display. If you think that the Samsung Galaxy Note10 had a natural feel while using the S Pen, you will get your mind blown with this device. The lines are just keeping up with the Pen however fast you write.

It is not just an improvement on the speed and latency of the S Pen that Samsung has improved though. Its gesture control now is now even more than ever. You do not need to be in the camera app only to use S Pen gesture controls. You can create customised strokes too for even more functions making the S Pen the only remote you need for your Galaxy Note20. It can even be your presentation tool when you mirror your display on a smart display or even plug the device into a display via HDMI.

All these functionalities are only possible thanks to Bluetooth though. Which also means that the S Pen is still battery operated. The battery charges when you slot the S pen into the S Pen tray of the device though, quickly at that. While only having a battery life of about 30 mins on the S Pen, you can put it into the slot and it will charge to full within a minute, less actually.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 packs a 4,300mAh battery. That is 200mAh smaller than the more premium Galaxy Note20 Ultra. While it is smaller, it is still a significant size in a smartphone. Since the battery needs to power a smaller display too, the battery life should not differ by much to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Samsung promises that the Galaxy Note20’s 4,300mAh battery should last about 15 to 16 hours of continuous usage. That is about one full working day for us. We have not been using the device continuously for that long, so we are not able to confirm nor deny the numbers they put up on their website.

Our typical usage of the device was a couple of phone calls in a day, plenty of WhatsApp messaging, Telegram messaging as well, Emails, YouTube videos, A little bit of Netflix toward the end of the day, taking a few photos from time to time for social media, some music playing via Spotify through our own wireless earphones (since there is no 3.5mm jack), even some games from time to time. Most of our calls never lasted more than two minutes at a time. In fact, most of our phone calls are done within a minute. In our typical use case, the device leaves the charger at 7.30 a.m. most of the time too.

In our review period, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 could last us a whole day from 7.30 a.m. all the way to 11.00 p.m. and still have more to give. We typically put the device into charge by 12.00 a.m. at the latest. Typically, the device would still have about 10-15% of battery left when we plug it in. We recon that the 10% left of the device could last another 45-minutes to an hour if you use the device conservatively, longer if you put your device in ultra-battery-saver mode.

Of course, there are some atypical situations where we use the device for plenty of videos, connect the device to smart displays for presentations, and even using the devices as our data hotspot. In those conditions the device tends to drain its battery a little faster than our typical use. In that case, the device will cry out for a charger by about 9.00 p.m. But that also depends on how extensive you use certain functions, temperature, and plenty of other things really.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note20’s Android based OneUI is displayed through a brilliant Super AMOLED display at 6.7-inch. Yes, that is smaller than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. It packs less resolution too at Full HD+. You need to justify that extra MYR 900 that you are paying for on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra somehow.

It is still an HDR10+ certified display with a punch hole in the middle under a Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It is still a premium Super AMOLED Plus technology. Just that you do not get the 1440p resolution.

Thing is, at this size the difference between 1080p and 1440p is so small that it is negligible. You can hardly see the difference between 1440p and 1080p at this size, which also means it does not make plenty of difference. What might make it feel different in the hands is the refresh rate of the display.

The Dynamic AMOLED 2X found on the Galaxy Note20 has up to 120Hz refresh rate. Of course, you can only use that 120Hz on 1080p Full HD+ mode on the display. In that sense, you might get a smoother sensation or feel on OneUI 3.0 on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

It is a minor thing though, this refresh rate, or lack of it. The interface is still a smooth operator without the 120Hz refresh rate. There tends to be a bit more blur when you are scrolling within the interface, which is a given at 60Hz. Coming down from a 120Hz also makes it feel a little clunky somehow. There is virtually no difference between the two though, just a minor difference in feel.

The colours that re on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is brilliant thanks to Super AMOLED Plus technology. It is no Dynamic AMOLED 2X, but colour contrasts are just as expectedly bright and excellent. There is hardly any colour bleeding or fringing on the display, colours still pop too.

If you put the device beside the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, you might find that the colour temperature of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is a little more natural, and colours might be a little more vivid on the more expensive device. It is also a very minute difference though, one that you have to really pay attention to notice.

That also means that the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s display is still a brilliant one to work with. The Super AMOLED Plus still stands as a great display against other flagships in the market. We cannot complain against the display at all. Then again, we have always championed AMOLED displays thanks to their better colour contrasts, brightness, and more vivid colours. In the new Galaxy Note20 series, they are more natural. We did notice that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra had a slightly brighter display at the maximum brightness though. Whatever it is, you should still be very satisfied with the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s Super AMOLED Plus display.

Camera

This is probably the biggest difference between the regular Samsung Galaxy Note20 and its Ultra variant. The Note20 packs a 12-Megapixel main sensor accompanied by a 64-Megapixel telephoto lens, and another 12-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter. The main camera has a lens opening of f/1.8.

This is a similar camera arrangement to the Samsung Galaxy S20. In terms of camera as well, it is way less powerful than the 108-Megapixel plus two 12-Megapixel combo that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has. It is still a capable camera arrangement to have though.

You still can shoot videos at up to 8K in resolution. Of course, the compromise is that you have to be using the 64-Megapixel telephoto lens. That also means you have a smaller frame to work with and you have to keep your hands really steady. Mind you, Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) does not work at 8K resolutions.

Another downside to the Galaxy Note20’s camera arrangement is that you cannot get a digital zoom of up to 50x. Instead, you get only up to 30x while hybrid zoom is only up to 3x. That is also a limitation of the megapixel count though.

The thing is you do not really need to shoot videos at 8K resolution. You never really need to shoot photos at anywhere near 10x zoom in most cases. You just need your main camera to shoot great photos at most times and you should be fine.

The 12-Megapixel photos are sort of what you can expect from Samsung’s devices today. The photos are crisp, detailed, and vivid thanks to some clever AI Scene optimisation. Of course, 108-Megapixel will give you more detail in one frame. The problem with higher resolution is also more heat collected from the sensor. There is less heat management problems with the Galaxy Note20.

We put the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s thermals to the test especially during product shoots. We shot videos at 4K resolution and photos at a maximum 12-Megapixel. We switched between video and photos for about an hour. Battery dwindled quickly but the device did not heat up to the point where there is a need for concern. Yes, there was still heat, but it is not uncomfortable, and your hands still can manage it. Of course, if you leave it on timelapse mode for extended periods, you might get the device a little too hot and the camera app automatically switches off.

All these said, photos look as amazing as before. There are enough details that you can appreciate the photos and colours still look good. We have always maintained that 12-Megapixel is usually more than enough for a smartphone. That is because most of the photos you take with your smartphone tends to be shared over social media or messenger apps. In those apps, your photos tend to be compressed and they will lose some form of detail.

Still, images still look great, even in lower light conditions. As mentioned, details are still crisp enough even for small prints. Colours are vivid and accurate, and contrasts are quite good. The autofocus also works better in smaller spaces thanks to the smaller megapixel count and shorter lens distance. We are talking in reference to the 108-Megapixel camera on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. For the autofocus to work better, your subject must at least be in the center of your camera though. If you are shooting at a close range, you might want to cover most of your frame with your subject to get autofocus to accurately peak on your subject.

You can, however, use the video footages for your own YouTube videos or Facebook videos. You might want to back out of 8K resolution recording and stick to 4K resolution instead. You should get stellar enough videos with 4K resolution and enough light source on your set or subject anyway. You can even crop your 4K videos down for 1080p videos, and it will still look great and professional with the right tools. There will still be heat build-up, yes, but it will not be uncomfortable even if you shoot for 20 minutes.

There is even slow-motion video mode if you stick to Full HD resolution. You can shoot at 240fps at a limited Full HD resolution. While not quite 4K, 240fps Full HD slo-mo videos still can look impressive in the right areas. You can totally shoot that good-looking skateboarding video.

The front camera is now a 10-Megapixel shooter that is also capable of shooting videos at 4K 60fps if you want. We are not very good with selfies, mind you, so our sample photos are not great. Still the 10-Megapixel selfie camera is detailed enough for you to work with. You can definitely use the photo to print a passport size photo and it will still be detailed enough to work with. There is also beauty mode that you can turn on or off to your liking. We like that even in low light the photos are still usable.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note20 – Maybe You Do Not Need the Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 line-up is not a peculiar one in the standards of smartphones today. There is an issue of the difficulty of choice here though. Do you spend all your money on the ultra-capable, ultra-expensive, ultra-premium Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra? Or do you save some money and get the less premium Samsung Galaxy Note20 instead?

We always say that you should buy something according to what you want and what you need. You would want the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, of course. Do you need it though?

For nearly MYR 1,000 less you are still getting a very capable performer in today’s flagship standards. Yes, you get a slightly smaller, slower, and less resolution on your display. You also get a slightly less powerful camera array at a maximum of 64-Megapixel for its telephoto sensor rather than a 108-Megapixel. You get a slightly smaller battery too, thanks to the slightly more compact dimensions.

You are still getting a high-performing processing chipset that is the Exynos SoC platfrom, the same one in the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. You still get 5G readiness (MYR 3,899 for 4G only variant). There is still the great and mighty S Pen. The display is still an admirable AMOLED unit you can enjoy. You get about the same battery life. Even the photos still look great, even if you do not have 108-Megapixel to work with. You can still record 4K videos too. You get to choose the pretty looking Mystic Green variant at that.

In our eyes, most of the things we mentioned above are what you need in a Samsung Galaxy Note device. In our books then, the most important things for a Samsung Galaxy Note device is covered within the Samsung Galaxy Note20. In that case, we struggle to see the point of paying more for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, if you do not have the extra MYR 1,000 to spend. If value is what you are looking for in this case, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is value for the Galaxy Note series.

Editorial, Lifestyle, Reviews

Samsung The Serif QLED TV In-Depth Review: Smart TVs Never Looked So Good

January 13, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The television isn’t just a screen to consume content anymore. Over the years, the screen has become more of a multi-dimensional surface which isn’t just about multimedia. Some use it to keep in touch, some use it to escape the world while others use it as a statement piece in their homes. So what happens when a company invests more time and effort into making a screen that doesn’t only serve it’s interactive purposes but also helps users create that statement piece to pull a room together? Well, in short: you have the Samsung Serif.

The Serif joins a line up of Smart TVs that occupy a unique niche they’ve come to call “Lifestyle TVs”. This line up with initially started with Samsung’s The Frame TVs is now populated by The Serif, The Sero and The Frame – each built with a unique feature to set them apart.

So, how does The Serif set itself apart? Is it worth an investment? Should you even care about it? Those are some of the questions we’re looking at with the in-depth review of The Serif.

Design

When it comes to design, The Serif is bound to turn heads. Samsung worked with renown design brothers, Ronan and Ewan Bouroullec. The Bouroullec brothers brought a fresh, innovative take on the TV and how it can be used in any room as a statement piece. It takes the drab, reflective rectangle and breathes new life with a unique, head turning design.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Samsung Serif, is its side profile, which, like its name suggests highlights the features of the “I” in serif. The curved top and bottom portions of the TV not only act as design accents but also provide some functionality – as a sturdy base in the case of the bottom, and as a surface for your trinkets in the case of the top. In addition, the design accents actually provide some relief from glare resulting from light sources in the room.

That said, the Serif is designed to stand out. Its unique “I” design is complemented with a heavy, and I mean HEAVY, base. This allows you to stand it anywhere – a feature we delve into further later in the review. It goes without saying that the overall design language of the Serif will make it stand out no matter which room it is in. We got to review a white coloured Serif – the only colour available in Malaysia at the moment and it was the first thing that caught your eye as soon as you walked into the room. The TV is available in Black and Red in other countries.

The unique, understated design of the Serif creates a sense of drama which is apt for an entertainment surface. However, it is also designed in a way that you’re not hard pressed to place the TV against a wall. It has a cohesive design which leaves no port exposed thanks to a panel on the back which ensures that there are no exposed surfaces which are jarring to the eye.

Features

Stand anywhere & hide cables away

As mentioned earlier, the design of the Serif allows you to stand it anywhere. The bottom surface of TV is weighted with a heavy, thick metal base to provide stability. In fact, the TV is stable enough that even a sudden, hard jerk to the TV won’t send it toppling over. It’s thanks to this stability and weight that the Serif is able to be placed on any surface independently.

However, if you don’t want to place it on a table or mantle, you can also stand the TV independently. The Serif also comes with stilt legs which can be screwed into the base. This allows you to stand it independently.

In addition to being able to stand alone, the Serif also comes with a built-in cable management system. This starts with the back of the Serif where a backplate made of plastic and covered in fabric hides the HDMI, USB, Antenna port and more. These cables are then channelled through a hole in either end of the Serif. Through this hole, the cables are run along the nearest stilt leg with a plastic clip; keeping the mangle of cables clean and managed.

While convenient, Samsung’s approach to cabling and wire management in the Serif seems counter intuitive and dated. In fact, it is contrary to the approach Samsung has been pushing in its own QLED flagships with the single cable and connectivity box. The biggest gripe we had with the design of the cable management is the fact that the design tucks away the ports of the Serif, making them inaccessible – particularly the USB port which you are likely to use most often for pictures and other multimedia. To access this port, you need to pry open the back panel and replace it. Not too tedious but if you place it against a wall, this would mean that you have to move the whole TV to access the ports.

NFC tap to Play (Music) & Dynamic Wallpaper

One of the features that we ended up using most when reviewing the Serif was the Tap to Play feature. This NFC powered feature allows you to simply tap your NFC enabled device to connect wirelessly to the TV and play music from any of your installed apps. We mention music specifically cause it’s the only media you can use the feature with. You can’t play videos or project pictures using the Tap to Play function. That said, the Tap to Play function is also able to wake the TV. All you have to do is place your smartphone or tablet on the top of the Serif at a specific position. This is subtly marked for easy identification by an NFC logo.

In addition to this, the Serif comes with Dynamic Wallpapers which allow the screen to show you useful information when you’re not using it for entertainment. The default wallpaper comes with the date, weather, and clock. The dynamic wallpaper is also a key component of the Tap to Play function. It pulls up a wallpaper which response to the beats of the song you’re listening to. It also changes the visual ambience based on the genre you’re listening to.

Samsung’s Tizen OS, BixbY & SmartThings

Samsung’s continues to use its Tizen OS on the Serif. That said, they have optimised it to be less intrusive and more functional than ever. Of course, these improvements came with their flagship QLED TVs. However, it’s nice to see that even models like the Serif are getting the same software.

Tizen OS is lightweight and responsive on the Serif. It actually makes setting up the TV pretty easy with your smartphone through the SmartThings app. Simply connecting the TV on the SmartThings app and setting up the TV from your phone removes most of the tedious setup such as setting up WiFi. The SmartThings platform allows you to import your settings from your smartphone to the TV directly without needing to type your passwords on screen.

After setup, the SmartThings App also allows you to use an on-screen remote control on your smartphone to control the Serif. This control extends to Samsung’s own smart assistant, Bixby. While you need to hold down the voice control button when you use the remote control. If you’re on a Samsung device, a simple “Hey Bixby” allows you to get the Serif to launch your favourite apps or shows on screen.

The Serif also supports Apple AirPlay 2, so if you’re on a Apple device, you’ll be able to connect and access your content just as easily. Perhaps where Tizen OS shows Samsung’s focus on software compatibility is when it comes to Screen mirroring. It goes without saying that Samsung’s own devices are smooth as butter. However, when it comes to other brands such as Apple and the dreaded wireless mirroring on Windows, the Samsung Serif has been one of the most reliable and stable we’ve reviewed to date.

Picture & Sound Quality

The Serif comes with a 4K UHD QLED panel – one of Samsung’s forte’s when it comes to displays. It remains the same with the Serif. The panel that Samsung is using for the new lifestyle TV is bright, saturated and has good contrast. Blacks are deep and whites are bright but not jarring. That said, the panel did have a slightly darker tint compared to other QLED TVs we’ve seen before.

Just like in its flagship QLED TV line up, the Serif also comes with software enhancements for its picture quality. It has a smoothing feature which is supposedly able to make motion less jerky and fluid. This feature was pretty effective on animation content. When we watched show like Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away or Netflix’s Dragon Prince, motion was more fluid, and the viewing experience was more enjoyable. However, when it came to acted content such as The Resident or even The Hamilton Musical, movements were fluid but there was a significant amount of ghosting happening. Actors’ looked like they had their spirits leaving their bodies while they were moving. Of course, this is easily remedied by simply turning the functions off.

One of the best features on the Serif is Samsung’s intelligent mode for picture and sound. This function learns your viewing behaviours and adjusts the settings according to your preferences. In our review case, we were turning the brightness down in dark situations to reduce eye strain. Once the preferred brightness level was set, the Serif intelligently returned to it every time the sensors detected a drop in ambient light. It also helped compensate for levels between the default and preferred setups. The Serif does also come with an ambient sensor which helps with the intelligent setting.

When it comes to audio, the Serif has one of the better speaker setups built in. Unlike some other TVs, this TV has proper speakers built in. The speakers are clear and crisp for dialogue and have good frequency range. It was able to reproduce a good amount of low frequencies and high ones. This led to a rather enjoyable sound experience on its own. In fact, during our review period, the volume rarely went above 20.

A Functional, Well Designed, Functional Statement Piece for Any Room

The Samsung Serif is one of the more unique Smart TVs out there. It’s design allows you to accent any room with a statement piece which will undoubtedly become the focal point of the room. That said, the design of the Serif also allows it to seamlessly blend into room – if the design requires it. However, the smart TV’s design isn’t without its flaws particularly when it comes to port accessibility. Keeping them under a panel is aesthetically pleasing but when it comes to utilising them it becomes tedious. This is particularly true when it comes to the USB port.

That said, it does provide a unique overall package complete with good speakers, great picture quality and a bevvy of features. This creates a unique, compelling proposition looking for a smart TV that can double as a statement piece in any room. However, being slightly higher on the price side of things at MYR6,499, the Serif makes a tough proposition for those of us not looking for a design-centric TV. In fact, put side by side with Samsung’s flagship line up at the same price point it can seem a little anaemic and gimmicky when it comes to features. That said, the minimalist and functional design does win it some brownie points. Overall, it’s got us on the fence. It would be amazing if Samsung’s next Serif brings even more technical features to make it a more complete and compelling offering at its price point.

Computers, Reviews

ASUS ZenBook 14 (UX425EA) In-depth Review: Intel-ligent, Compact Productivity

December 28, 2020 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

When it comes to laptops, ASUS is definitely one of the go to brands for a lot of us. However, with so many line ups and models coming out fast and hard, it can be a little bit daunting when it comes to choices. Well, with ASUS’s new, Intel powered Zenbooks, we’re looking at a refinement of a model released earlier – in fact, we already have a review up of the older model.

So, why look at the Intel variant? The reasoning is pretty simple, the ZenBook is a unique offering with a lot to bring to the table. However, when it comes to performance, the processor can easily be the difference between a good laptop and a subpar laptop. So, where does this Zenbook fall?

Design

Let’s be really frank, there’s nothing very revolutionary when it comes to the ZenBook’s design. In fact, the new Intel powered ZenBook 14 pulls its design from the previously released ZenBook 14. This includes all the design queues and even colours. However, there’s a lot that can change in a matter of months when it comes to the design.

The ZenBook 14 comes with the now signature brushed metal finish. A real indication of the premium line up from ASUS. It has a slim silhouette with a hefty body. However, the top of the laptop clamshell where your display is nested is one of the thinnest we’ve seen on the market. It’s also one of the more sturdy options given it’s metal build. That said, the metal build is also where the laptop’s build gives a little. The hinge that holds the screen seems to be a little looser than you would like it; because of this, the top portion tends to fling back with the slightest jerk. Aside from that, the ZenBook 14 has a pretty solid body.

On the sides of the ZenBook 14 are an array of ports which include a microSD card slot. However, you will notice that the laptop is lacking a 3.5mm port. Other than that, it comes with Thunderbolt 4 capable USB-C ports, an HDMI port and a USB-A port. The USB-A and HDMI ports are actually the reason for the thickness of the laptop. Front and center of the Zenbook 14 is also a large touchpad which doubles as the numpad – a pretty welcomed feature if you work with numbers a lot.

Hardware

The ZenBook 14 isn’t skimping on hardware when it comes down to it. In fact, it has one of the better specc’d setups in the price range with the added benefit of being kitted out with all the I/O ports you need and a durable body.

Specifications

ASUS ZENBOOK 14 \| UX2425EA	As tested
Processor (clock)	Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) 12MB cache
GPU	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Display	14” Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 aspect ratio anti-glare screen 1W 400nits brightness Four-sided frameless NanoEdge design 90% screen-to-body ratio 2.5mm-thin side bezel and 10.9mm bottom bezel IPS-level wide-view technology
Memory	8GB LPDDR4X 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 x2 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections	Intel WiFi 6 with Gig+ performance (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 2 Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® (up to 40Gbps) 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (up to 5Gbps) 1 Standard HDMI 1 MicroSD card reader
Battery	67Wh 4-cell lithium-polymer battery Up to 15 hours battery life
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous	3D IR HD camera with Windows Hello support Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4

Features

While it may seem like the ZenBook 14 is your run-of-the-mill laptop, it comes with enhanced features which ASUS has developed in-house. This includes both software and hardware. There is definitely a lot of features in the ZenBook; with some standing out more than others.

Connectivity Galore

The ZenBook 14 is one of the only laptops on the market to actually have a near complete array of I/O ports. The only one missing from the array is a 3.5mm jack. The ports are a welcomed feature on a thin and light like the ZenBook. This feature alone sets it apart from many of the thin and light laptops in its class. These ports allow for better workflow and make the ZenBook 14 even more versatile. With the USB-C Thunderbolt ports, the Zenbook can hook up to any screen capable of USB-C connectivity for a desk work environment. The same is true when it comes to the HDMI port. The addition of a microSD card slot help workflow if you need to transfer data from the memory cards.

The highlight when it comes to connectivity on the ZenBook 14 is definitely the WiFi 6 support. With the new standard of WiFi connectivity the laptop is able to support higher data transfers when it comes to large files. It’s also future-proofed for high speed WiFi for the near future. That said, the WiFi 6 compatibility thanks to Intel’s modem is also able to draw faster speeds when it comes to regular WiFi too. During our time reviewing the laptop, we noticed about 10-15% faster connectivity on WiFi 802.11 ac connections compared to older laptops. While we thought it was anomalous at first, subsequent tests yielded the same results.

NumPad & Keyboard

The next feature that caught our eye is the Zenbook’s keyboard. The keyboard spans edge to edge on the body of the laptop making it blend seamlessly into the chassis – until the back light kicks in. The typing experience on the keyboard is one of the better ones that is available on a laptop. The 1.4mm of key travel makes the keystrokes less tiring and gives enough depth that it feels pretty natural and comfortable typing for long stretches of time. The keys are also sufficiently big that you won’t end up pressing more than one button. In fact, we would say that the keyboard on the ZenBook has one of the largest key sizes in its class.

The mouse pad is sufficiently large that you won’t run out of space to glide your fingers when working. It’s pretty smooth and comfortable to use. Even the clicking isn’t a strain. It’s simple but thanks to the thought that ASUS put into it, the experience was a little bit better. The real showstopper when it comes to the Touch Pad is ASUS’s inclusion of a NumPad. The virtual NumPad can be turned on by simply tapping the corner. Once the NumPad is activated, it behaves like a regular NumPad on any keyboard. This feature was a real boon especially when you’re dealing with numbers on spreadsheets. It was refreshing and felt more natural to have instead of needing to resort to the numbers on the first row of the keyboard. A swipe on the top also launches the calculator app.

AI Powered Clear Voice & Quick Sign In with Windows Hello

Hardware aside, ASUS has also bolstered some of the hardware with AI. One of the most relevant features to the current realities is their AI powered ClearVoice mic. The microphone intelligently detects and enhances the speakers voice and minimises or removes background noises such as passing vehicles or even your crying baby. With video conferences going mainstream, this feature is very welcomed. During our time with the laptop, this feature did come pretty handy. It was good enough that people didn’t realise that we took a call from a café as the background noise was so minimal.

This paired with the Windows Hello capable IR camera made life very convenient with the ZenBook 14. The IR camera made so we didn’t need to type our password in when in public spaces. It worked really week too. Even in darker environments it was able to detect and recognise faces within 2 to 3 seconds.

Performance

The ZenBook 14 is powerful for a thin and light. ASUS has configured it with enough power to do your everyday tasks and then some. The 11^th gen Intel i7 processor brings a real punch in performance powers. It was able to handle chrome with multiple tabs (by multiple we mean more than 20) open without a hitch. While we don’t refer to benchmarks for performance, there was a noticeable increase in performance compared to the 10^th Generation laptops we tested. Things were smoother and most importantly, they seemed more stable.

While the processor did bring a punch, the Intel Xe graphics is what impressed us. The platform is a major improvement from Intel’s previous integrated solutions for graphics. While previous iterations of Intel’s integrated graphics were able to handle light photo editing and even lighter video editing. The Intel Xe graphics allowed me to do basic editing of 4K on Adobe Premiere Pro without much problems. It was a pleasant surprise, one which led to a lot of syncrhonized work for editing.

The Intel Xe platform also allowed the ZenBook 14 to handle some gaming. During our review, we were able to play games like Star Craft II, Diablo 3 and even some Bastion. While the games aren’t that graphically intensive, they are an improvement over Intel’s UHD graphics. The games were set to medium if not high. Of course, the laptop did heat up after gaming for a while which is expected.

Display

Another strong point for ASUS’s ZenBook 14 is the Full HD 1080p IPS display. The display is capable of 400 nits brightness which allows you to work on it in the sun if need be. But the best part of the screen is the amount of detail you get with it. Yes, it’s not a quad HD display. But at 14-inches, it would arguably be overkill to have such a high definition display. ASUS has found a middle ground that makes sense when it comes to size and display.

The Full HD IPS display of the ZenBook 14 is one of the best we’ve seen on a laptop. It has pretty accurate colour reproduction and has a high enough pixel density that minute details are not missed. This paired with the powerful speakers and the thin bezels make the audio visual experience on the ASUS ZenBook 14 one of the best on the market.

A Powerful Tool for Working on the Go which can seamlessly transition to a desktop setup

The ZenBook 14 with Intel’s 11^th Gen processors is a powerhouse of a laptop with enough battery to last you a full day of use before needing to be topped up. With its myriad of options for ports, its also puts other laptops to shame when it comes to connectivity. Being able to work on videos, picture and also have all-day battery life is a powerful combination that makes the ZenBook stand out. However, it’s a formulaic approach to a laptop which needs a refresh – one we know that ASUS is capable of. While it’s a good performer, it leaves you wanting more in design and user experience.

Gaming, Lifestyle, Reviews

Acer Predator x OSIM Gaming Chair Review: Gaming the Stress Away

December 22, 2020 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Yep. We’re doing this – it’s our first review of a gaming chair – but this one has all the bells and whistles you won’t find in any other gaming chair.

A gaming chair is not just any chair for your computer setup. It’s one that will cradle your behind and support your back while you game endlessly into the night. Back in June, Acer made an announcement that took the gaming world off guard – the launch of a collaboration with OSIM to bring a new type of gaming chair; one that will massage the pain of gaming away. Thus, the Predator X OSIM Gaming chair was born.

Cushy Comfort in Elegant Black with Some Design Kinks

The Predator X OSIM gaming chair is one of the more comfortable gaming chairs we have had the chance to try. It’s well cushioned on the bottom and has pretty decent lumbar support. We say pretty decent but the lumbar support comes in the form of a lumbar pillow which doesn’t have any attachment to the chair. That said, it can’t be attached to the chair cause it’s get in the way of the massaging mechanism. The headrest of the Predator X OSIM gaming chair is also attached pretty loosely to the chair it literally slides into a slit in the back of the top of the chair.

The gaming chair comes in black accented by the Predator cyan. It’s made of a pseudo-leather material which is most likely polyurethane (PU). While the finish looks good, the material isn’t very breathable. This was most apparent with the lumbar pillow and the headrest which tend to get a little bit warm after about an hour or two. However, if you’re in an air-conditioned room, you’re likely not to feel it.

The biggest design flaw in the Predator X OSIM Gaming Chair is the length of the adapter cable. The cable is short and tends to get tangled around the wheels of the chair. It wouldn’t surprise us if you would need to replace the adapter over time. Of course, you can easily remedy this by not plugging it in unless you want a massage; but that pretty much defeats the purpose of having a gaming chair that massages you. OSIM will also need to figure out better cable management when it comes to this chair. As rolling up and down will cause problems with the adapter in the long run.

Hitting all the Right Spots with OSIM

Now we move on to the highlight of the chair – the massage. The massage portion of the chair is powered by OSIM’s massage technology. You access the control by pulling back the right arm rest. This will reveal the controls. You can choose from three preset massage programs by pressing the middle button and whether you need a upper or lower back massage with the button beside that. If you want to take full control of the massage yourself, you have the option to do that as well.

The massage from the Predator x OSIM gaming chair can be pretty intense. For most people, it will hit some of the problem points along your spine. The OSIM mechanism starts off really strong poking into the spine and adjusting after that. That said, when you’ve adjusted to the pressure, the mechanism hits all the right spots. It managed to release a few of the large knots I had in my shoulders and even relieved a few aches in my lower back. It massages in two modes: pounding or in circular motions. When you use the automatic setting, it will alternate between the two to get the knots out.

While the massage is good, the risk of having a massage chair you use as your daily work or gaming chair is that over work your back muscles which can make you pretty sore. So, just don’t over do it.

A Novel Idea with A Pricey Proposition

The Predator X OSIM Gaming chair will set you back about MYR4,899 but it’s available at a discounted price of MYR2,799 at the time of writing. It’s not too bad when it comes to massage chairs, but it is a little bit on the pricey when you look at other gaming chairs. That said, you are getting a massage chair foremost.

All in all, the Predator X OSIM Gaming chair is a novelty. While it would be nice to have a chair like this, it seems a little bit of an overkill. That and the cable management issues make us say wait it out. If the partnership continues into a second iteration, it’s likely that OSIM would have worked out some of the kinks in the design. However, if you are in the market for a gaming chair and a massage chair, this may just be the chair for you.

Editorial, Lifestyle, Reviews

Samsung Q800T Soundbar In-Depth Review: Immersion on a Budget(ish)

December 21, 2020 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Sound plays a humongous part in how immersive content can be. When the quality is below par, we tend to be pulled out from the content we’re viewing. On the other hand, when the sound we experience is rich, bold and warm, we’re immersed even more. That said, when it comes to stock speakers on our TVs, there can be a lot to make up for when it comes to sound – that’s where soundbars come in.

Samsung’s Q800T soundbar is one of the latest soundbars from the big blue. Initially announced at CES 2020, the sound bar brings along with it a slew of features that is aimed at creating a more immersive experience. That said, we’re taking a deep dive into the new offering from Samsung and breaking down the experience to see if it’s truly worth your hard earned money.

Design

When it comes to items like the TV and Soundbar, the first thing that we tend to look for is something that can blend seamlessly with our existing setup and enhance the look of our living space or room. We never want to see an item which disrupts our zen in a space we spend so much of our time in.

The Samsung Q800T is one of the more discreet options you can have when it comes to a soundbar. The sleek, black finish of the soundbar allows it to blend into your setup seamlessly. It’s got a minimalist feel with an industrial finish but you wouldn’t be able to tell from a distance thanks to the black colour.

You can tell that Samsung’s design team has put some thought into the aesthetics of the whole living space when it comes to the Q800T Soundbar. It is able to fit under newer QLED and Smart TVs but, more importantly, it has a small enough footprint that you’ll be able to integrate it into your living space effortlessly. You also have the option of mounting the soundbar on the wall if you so please.

The only design cue that felt a little dated is the wire mesh design that has become somewhat of a signature for Samsung’s soundbar design. It’s a very retro feel which hearkens back to the radios and boom boxes of yesteryear. While it does seem a little dated, it does lend itself to a much sturdier feel overall.

Samsung also bundles a wireless sub-woofer which brings the lows to complement the highs and mids of the main soundbar. While it can seem a little tedious to have an extra component to maneuver and assimilate, into your decor, the sleek black design allows you to place it just out of sight and still get the full benefit of theatrical sound.

Performance

The Q800T packs quite the punch when it comes to sound. In smaller living spaces and rooms, the soundbar is bound to provide a really immersive experience. It was able to flood our studio space of about 1,300sqft with good sound. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was able to accommodate a larger room of about 2,000sqft.

When it comes to the sound quality, the Q800T was pretty impressive. It had very warm mids and highs which made watching cinematic movies enjoyable. The bass on the system was able to carry the explosions in action flicks pretty well too. Overall, it gave a deeper level of immersion when it came to enjoying movies and series.

The soundbar was able to produce really clear audio even when it came to audio. In fact, in its “Voice” mode, the soundbar was able to detect and enhance the audio of news readers which made it a lot easier to hear. This was also true for movies; dialogue was crisp and even whispers were more audible. You rarely miss anything said during movies even when there’s explosions happening.

Our highlight with soundbar came when we were using the PlayStation 4, the sound really brought Horizon Zero Dawn to live. The Dolby Atmos calibration made it so the sounds that we heard felt like we were in the game itself. Objects and creatures behind us in game actually sounded like they were behind us when we were gaming.

Features

The Samsung Q800T soundbar is one of the most feature rich soundbars available. It comes with Dolby Atmos certification as well as DTS:X certification. This means that the tweeters, subs and DSP on the soundbar has been uniquely tuned to be able to reproduce high quality audio to the standards set by Dolby and DTS.

In addition to that, the soundbar is also equipped with an equalizer. You’ll be able to control it manually and cycle through the presets on the controller which comes with the soundbar. However, if you want more granular control, you’ll have to adjust the levels on the SmartThings App.

The hallmark feature on the Q800T is Q-Symphony which synchronises the TV’s built-in speakers to create even more sound depth. It effective adds another two channels to the overall sound setup allowing for better immersion.

Compatibility

The Samsung Q800T soundbar runs on Samsung’s SmartThings platform which is a good thing. All you have to do to set it up on your phone is download the app on your phone and let it do it’s magic – which includes setting up the WiFi on the Q800T as well. Of course, you can manually connect to the speaker through Bluetooth as well and do the setup step by step. However, SmartThings really makes setup a once click step. In addition, the app is universally available – even on the iOS AppStore.

In fact, Samsung’s SmartThings platform also makes it so you can use Bixby to control and play music on your soundbar from your Samsung phone. If your on your Samsung device, you can also connect seamlessly via the SmartThings apps and set your system to automatically connect to the device and playback audio when its in range.

However, be that as it may, the Samsung centric nature of the Q800T is also its biggest handicap. You can’t get the most from the device or the SmartThings platform unless you’re in the Samsung ecosystem; this includes a Samsung QLED TV and a Samsung tablet or smartphone. In fact, one of the hallmark features, Q-Symphony, of the soundbar isn’t readily available unless you have a compatible Samsung QLED TV.

The Q-Symphony feature is actually one of the best features on the soundbar. Thankfully, we got to test it during a technical seminar. In a nutsell, you get an even more immersive sound experience as the speakers on the TV itself sync with the soundbar as front firing speakers complementing the 3.1.2 setup of the soundbar. However, if you’re not using a compatible Samsung QLED TV, you’ll miss out on the extra level of immersion.

A Feature Rich Sound Experience for a Relatively Affordable Price

Overall, the Samsung Q800T soundbar delivers one of the most immersive experiences you can get at it’s MYR3,999 (USD$987.64) price point. In fact, we can say that it’s one of the more complete offering on the market at this time. The unique, feature rich approach Samsung is taking to the soundbar makes a compelling package let down by one handicap – over reliance on a Samsung QLED TV. Other than the lack of Q-Symphony support on every other smart TV, the universality of SmartThings and the quality of the sound produced by the soundbar leaves users wanting little more.