After months in the rumour mill as the OPPO Reno3 Youth, it looks like the OPPO Find X2 Lite is now official. The Find X2 Lite has been launched in Portugal and should see its way to other markets pretty soon.
The Find X2 Lite comes with a smaller 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a a dew drop notch for the selfie camera. The display has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It has dual SIM capabilities and will be able to support 5G connectivity thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. This will be supported by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
On the camera front, the selfie camera of the Find X2 Lite is a 32-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. The main camera is a quad camera setup with a 48-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture. This is complemented with an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, 2-megapixel monochrome sensor and an additional 2-megapixel depth sensor. The main camera supports 4K UHD recording and has gyro electronic image stabilisation (EIS).
It’s powered by a 4,025mAh battery with support for VOOC 4.0 Fast Charging. It has support for Bluetooth 5.0 LE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6) and 4G LTE connectivity.
Pricing & Availability
The OPPO Find X2 Lite will be retailing for EUR€499 (USD$542/MYR2,370.10). It will be available in Moonlight Black and Pearl White.
The device isn’t available for pre-order just yet in Portugal but OPPO Portugal has already opened registration of interest for the country. No word if the device will see a release elsewhere either.
Last week, we saw the HUAWEI P40 series being globally launched. The HUAWEI P40 and the P40 Pro is supposed to come to the market first. The HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus is probably the one you want to go for, but that is going to set you back a lot of money and you have to wait until mid-year 2020. It is also the one that comes with five cameras instead of the measly three of the HUAWEI P40 and the four of the HUAWEI P40 Pro.
Source: HUAWEI
In that case, you might have expected the HUAWEI P40 series to arrive in Malaysia a little later, in waiting for the HUAWEI P40 Pro+. That is not the case though. Malaysia is quite a lucky market. Well, if I am quoting them right, Malaysia is one of their key markets in South East Asia. Flattering, no?
That also means that we are one of the first markets also to get HUAWEI’s latest and greatest. That happens today with the HUAWEI P40 series, starting with the HUAWEI P40 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro flagship devices. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+, as was announced in the global launch, will be available at a later date.
Source: HUAWEI
Still, the HUAWEI P40 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro are still the flagship device that you have been waiting for since the HUAWEI P30. We found the HUAWEI P30 to be quite brilliant, if we are being honest and we do not expect the HUAWEI P40 devices to be anything less than that. Still we have covered all the necessary spec talk in the global launch, so we are going to spare you the lecture.
Briefly though, the flagship series is powered by none other than HUAWEI’s own HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G capable System on a Chip (SoC) with dedicated dual Neural Processing Units (NPU) for maximum delivery. All of them will come with 8GB of RAM. That is smaller than some of the outgoing flagships now. Then again, who needs more than 8GB? Both flagships will come with a main 50-Megapixel camera.
Source: HUAWEI
The only few things that differentiate one from the other is the design cue, their screen sizes, the number of cameras packed at the back, and their price tags. The HUAWEI P40 comes with a regular 6.1-inch display with Full HD display while the Pro comes with a bigger 6.58-inch overflow display with 90Hz and 2,640 by 1,200 pixels for resolution. The HUAWEI P40 comes with three cameras at the back while the HUAWEI P40 Pro comes with four cameras at the back.
The HUAWEI P40 and P40 Pro will be available for pre-order from the 3rd April 2020 (10.08 a.m.) onward via HUAWEI’s online sales portal, various retail partners, or HUAWEI’s Lazada Flagship store and your devices will come to you on the 11th of April onward. You have to keep in mind that while the HUAWEI P40 and P40 Pro are EMUI 10 devices based on Android 10, they do not come with Google’s Play Store. The HUAWEI P40 flagship series will come in four colours for now – Black, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, and Silver Frost. I must say that I really like the Silver Frost.
Alongside the HUAWEI P40 series, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro has also arrived in Malaysia. The HUAWEI MatePad variant that is coming to Malaysia though is the WiFi edition one, not the 5G ready one. It is available in two colours – Midnight Grey and Pearl White. It will also be available for pre-order at the same time the HUAWEI P40 series is available for pre-order on the 3rd April 2020 for MYR 2,399. If you do, you get a keyboard case, the M-Pen, and 3-month free subscription for HUAWEI Video worth MRY 1,000.
There is also the HUAWEI Watch GT 2e that is designed for the active lifestyle. The HUAWEI Watch GT 2e can last you two weeks on a single charge and will come in two colours – Mint Green and Graphite Black. It will also be available for pre-order at the same time for MYR 599. If you do, you get a free strap that is worth MYR 68.
How much? The HUAWEI P40 will set you back MYR 2,799 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro will set you back MYR 3,899. If you pre-order your device you get to enjoy free gifts worth up to MRY 1,300. You get a free HUAWEI FreeBuds 3, 50GB of cloud storage, 1-year extended warranty, 1-month of screen protection, 3-months free subscription to HUAWEI Video, wireless charging case for the P40, and a wireless car charger if you get the HUAWEI P40 Pro. For more information on the HUAWEI P40 series, you can head to their website.
The HUAWEI P30 is a year old now, just about. The P series in HUAWEI’s stables has been the Photography smartphone. It was a smartphone that always took smartphone photography to the next level.
The P9 was the first smartphone that launched with two lenses.
The P20 series launched with a revolutionary three-lens camera arrangement. Then
came the P30 series last year that launched with one more lens in the back of
the device. It was also the device that started the maximum zoom distance race.
Of course, we have the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra that zooms up to 100x. Yes,
this was the race started by the HUAWEI P30 series. HUAWEI, in the modern era
of smartphones are definitely the trend-setters for smartphone cameras.
Source: HUAWEI
That is partly why this is an interesting year for HUAWEI
and for us. The question in everybody’s mind was, how is HUAWEI going to innovate
and revolutionise the smartphone camera again. How are they moving the goal
post, the gold standard of smartphone photography? All that is answered with
the HUAWEI P40 series.
As with any other modern HUAWEI devices, the HUAWEI P40 series
packs their very own HISilicon Kirin 990 5G ready System on a Chip (SoC). That processor
is supported by an 8GB of RAM to help things trundle along nicely and you get
to pick up to 512GB in storage. If that is not enough, you can expand it via a
NanoMemory 2 card. Here is the issue though, you can hardly find a NanoMemory
card in Malaysia.
That may be forgivable though. I hardly can think of anyone
needing an extra memory card in their smartphones these days. Even 128GB is also
plenty if you think about it. The main attraction for today though is the camera.
HUAWEI P40 Pro+
Source: HUAWEI
We start with the daddy of the lot, the big hulking thing
that is the HUAWEI P40 Pro+. Technically, it is not that much of a big thing. Its
display measures in a 6.58-inch. It punches a resolution of 1,640 by 1,200.
That is actually just a little more than Full HD. It also comes with something they
call a Quad-Curve Overflow display. That means that at its four sides, the display
curves into the frame. Visually, that gives you an illusion of a bezel-less
display. It might as well be though, because the bezels are so thin, you might not
even see it.
It also refreshes at 90Hz, not 120Hz like other premium
flagships we see out there. HUAWEI says that this is more battery efficient though,
which rings some truth. That should allow the 4,200mAh built-in battery to last
longer than your average workday.
Its IP68 body is a wrap of glass in front and ceramic at the
back. Ceramic is a unique material because it is a highly durable material. At
the same time, it has glass like qualities that makes it shine. Fortunately,
the P40 Pro+ only comes in that type of body. Unfortunately, the P40 Pro+ is
the only one in the series to get ceramic finish.
That ceramic back is house to a five-camera set up you might
find familiar looking in arrangement. They are very different from their
competitor though. The camera module are co-developed with Leica, as usual.
The main camera, the biggest sensor HUAWEI ever developed is
a 50-Megapixel main shooter with HUAWEI’s very famous RYYB sensor. They say
that it is bigger than its competition and its predecessors. As HUAWEI has
proven too, their RYYB sensor is supposed to be able to absorb more natural light,
allowing for better detailed shots and better details in low-light photography.
In another sense, it allows the camera to ‘see’ better.
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
There is a 40-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens sitting on one
side of the main shooter. They call it a Cine Lens. Then there are two
telephoto lenses you will find on the HUAWEI P40 Pro+. There is a 3x telephoto
lens punching 8-Megapixels, and a 10x telephoto lens at the same pixel count. Both
sensors are RYYB sensors too, mind you. Together with the 50-Megapixel lens, the
HUAWEI P40 Pro+ can zoom up to 100x. Sounds familiar? Yes, somebody has done it
before. So far though, this alongside the Korean contender, are the only devices
to have a zoom factor of 100x. The fifth camera is a 3D ToF camera, to capture
and process 3D environments. There is also an additional colour temperature sensor
though. This is for better colour interpretation and reproduction on your photos.
This also means your photos should look stunning.
Before we forget though, the overflow display has a punch
hole in the top left corner of the OLED display. That houses a 31-Megapixel
camera, a depth sensor, and an Infra-Red sensor combination as its front
camera. That sounds like a recipe for a camera for a mid-range smartphone. The combination
should make a great selfie portrait though.
HUAWEI P40 Pro
Source: HUAWEI
Then there is a littler HUAWEI P40 Pro. When we say smaller,
we have already mentioned that the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ and the HUAWEI P40 Pro share
the same 6.58-inch DCI-P3 certified HDR display with more than Full HD+ resolution.
So in that sense you are getting a device with the same size. You even get the
same 32-Megapixel camera combination out the front.
You also get the same battery size for good measure. Nearly
everything about the device is quite the same as its more premium HUAWEI P40
Pro+ brother. Everything except for its storage option at 256GB, price tag, and
the back.
The back is not ceramic, nothing that premium. It is a glass
back and it comes in five interesting colour options. We especially like the matte
finish variant.
The back also houses an impressive camera set up though. Not
five cameras this time. It is a four-camera set up at the back in what seems to
be identical camera module housing. While it is not a five-camera set-up, it is
still a powerful arrangement with a 5x telephoto lens at the back though.
You still have the same RYYB 50-Megapixel sensor lodged in
the middle of the arrangement. That is also still flanked by a 40-Megapixel
lens. At the other side though is a 12-Megapixel RYYB telephoto camera at 5x
optical zoom. You get a 3D ToF camera to top it all off and a colour temperature
sensor.
HUAWEI P40
Source: HUAWEI
The littlest one in the family. It is not that little as
well. Its display measures in at 6.1-inch and punches Full HD+ resolution. Thing
is, the display can be considered small compared to its competitors too. Even
the OPPO Find X2 has a 6.7-inch display. The punch hole on the display also
houses the same 32-Megapixel camera combination as its more powerful siblings.
The back is also a glass finished glass, like the HUAWEI P40
Pro. Like the HUAWEI P40 Pro too, you can choose between 5 colour finishes. Unlike
the HUAWEI P40 Pro and the P40 Pro+ though, you only get 3,800mAh battery within
the more petite body. Unlike the HUAWEI P40 Pro also, this only sports 128GB in
memory. Still plenty, in our opinion. Unlike the HUAWEI P40 Pro series too,
this does not have the luxury of seeing the Quad-Curve display. It is completely
flat. Which may not actually be a bad thing.
Like its bigger brothers though it still retains its
50-Megapixel camera in the middle. Except, you only get two other cameras flanking
the main sensor. On one side is a 16-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. The other
is an 8-Megapixel 3x telephoto camera. While you get less, you still get the colour
temperature sensor though, which also means your photos still comes out as
stunning as it can be. Maybe just as stunning as the more premium variants.
The Vision Photography
All the devices in the range have plenty of things in common
though. They all share the same 8GB RAM size. They share nearly the same design
language and camera module housing. They also share the same software. All of
them are running on HUAWEI’s Android 10 based user interface (UI) that is the
EMUI 10.
The EMUI 10 in the HUAWEI P40 Pro has a few tricks up its
sleeve over the current generation of EMUI 10 though. While it still allows the
HUAWEI P40 series to shoot at 4K 60fps, the software takes advantage of the
3-mic set up of the Huawei P40 Pro and implements what the industry calls zoom
audio. That also means that it amplifies the volume of the object you shoot as
you zoom into the subject.
Source: HUAWEI
There is a new autofocus system on the HUAWEI P40 series too.
While the world is still stuck on Dual Phase Detection autofocus, HUAWEI uses
Octa Phase Detection autofocus on the HUAWEI P40. That also means you get near
instant and accurate autofocusing from the HUAWEI P40. You can now also take 4K
timelapse videos with your zoom lenses on the HUAWEI P40. So instead of
shooting a scenery, you can choose a subject to focus on and shoot.
The HUAWEI camera app also comes with a more powerful AI.
This is also thanks to HUAWEI’s HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G SoC with a large dual Neural
Processing Unit (NPU). The NPU on that processor is the most powerful independent
NPU we have ever seen in a smartphone SoC.
Source: HUAWEI
The camera app has something called Golden Snap. This feature
is pretty useful for not just regular photographers. It is a killer feature for
any photographers. First, there is the ‘best-shot’ recommendation intelligence.
This should not be all that new. The other two functions they teased though are
quite mind-boggling. The first is the AI Remove Passerby; which does exactly that.
It lets you discard any unwanted people in your photo and let the camera just
focus on you and your surroundings. While that sounds like something only
Photoshop can do before this, you are entering a new era of smartphone photography
with this one. The second is AI remove reflection, which is also exactly that.
No, it will not remove you completely if you deliberately take a photo of yourself
in front of a mirror. What it does is remove the reflected images you get when
you take a photo through a glass panel. Again, something that you though only
Photoshop could do. Not anymore.
The Power of EMUI
While this has nothing to do with its software, we have to
say it for the HUAWEI P40 series. The device packs the fastest wireless charging
capability in the current market. It comes with 40W fast charging capabilities.
It does not just stop there though, like the HUAWEI P30 Pro, you can share your
extra power with other wireless charging devices too. Keep in mind that this is
only for the HUAWEI P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ though.
Still, all the HUAWEI P40 devices have something called Celia;
HUAWEI’s very new, very personal, very clever assistant. It is basically HUAWEI’s
version of Google Assistant. Except, HUAWEI can no longer access Google’s framework
and services anymore. Which also means that this is an HMS device with AppGallery.
It is still Android based though, so you still can sideload Android compatible
apps.
Source: HUAWEI
Still they have something new in the AppGallery called MeeTime.
Sounds like FaceTIme? It is better than that. At first glance it looks like a
very regular video chat app. Thing is, it is like Google Hangouts on steroids.
You can use third-party cameras, connect it to the app, and let the app project
from the camera. You can share your screen across the video chat, you can even project
your video call on your TV or other WiFi compatible displays if you like. It is
the perfect video conferencing tool if you ask me.
Someone close to us mentioned before this that HUAWEI’s HMS
lack a cloud photo gallery. With the new HUAWEI P40 arrangement, it seems like
they are going to fix that in a big way. HUAWEI calls it their Cross
Distributed File System. Essentially, it is a file sharing tool between
devices. The thing is, you can activate it, and you can search your photos
across any of your own devices, even if it is not your smartphone or cloud
storage yet. If you are under the same WiFi umbrella, even better. Of course,
there is the great HUAWEI Share function that we all quite love.
HUAWEI’s Professional Studio Light by HUAWEI Camera Kit x Profoto
Alongside the photography kings, HUAWEI collaborated with Profoto
to create something that we saw; and we really want it. It is sort of a multipurpose
portable photography and video artificial light source. Well, it is technically
a very fancy lamp that comes with its own set of filters. You can control it directly
from your HUAWEI smartphone to your liking or to add a light source to make your
photos look better. No idea how much its priced, or when its arriving into the
market. We are excited though.
Price and Availability
The HUAWEI P40 and HUAWEI P40 Pro will be available in selected
global markets, including Europe from the 7th of April 2020 onward. Both
the devices will be available in the same five finishes; ice white, Deep Sea
Blue, and Black regular finishes, and Frost Silver and Blush Gold matte glass
finishes. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+ will be available way later in June 2020 in two
exclusive ceramic finishes; black and white.
Source: HUAWEI
The HUAWEI P40 series starts from EU€ 799 (MYR 3,768) with the
standard HUAWEI P40 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB in storage. The HUAWEI P40 Pro is
stuck in the middle priced at EU€ 999 (MYR 4,712). The series tops off with
the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ at EU€ 1,399 (MYR 6,598). Expensive? Yes, they are.
Remember that this is not representative of the prices of the Malaysian units when
they get here. There is no official word yet on when the device is coming into
Malaysia. If you need any more information on the HUAWEI P40 series you can
find it on HUAWEI’s
website.
Nokia’s brand has a long history in the telecommunications space. After a successful relaunch into the mobile industry a few years ago, HMD Global, is looking to up the ante with their first 5G device – the Nokia 8.3 5G. The company touts the Nokia 8.3 as their future-proof 5G smartphone.
The Nokia 8.3 will come packing the new Snapdragon 765G modular platform which allows for high performance that won’t break the bank. To this end, HMD has taken advantage the chip’s unique offerings to push Nokia devices forward. The new Nokia 8.3 is one of the first smartphones that will be equipped with the new Snapdragon 765G and will be 5G capable. In fact, it will support more bands across the TDD and FDD spectrum than any other devices.
The processor will be paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. It will also be able to support more memory through the use of microSD cards. It will come with a 6.81-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It will retain the usual 20:9 aspect ratio with a pixel density of about 386 pixels per inch.
On the camera end, the Nokia 8.3 will be coming with a quad camera setup on the back. We’ve been hearing about it’s “Captain America Shield” design. It looks like that is the case with ZEISS branding in the middle. The Quad camera setup comes with a 64-megapixel main sensor. The sensor is a wide angled sensor with an f/1.89 aperture. The 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor is equipped with an f/2.2 aperture. These sensors are complemented by a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. All of these are, of course, ZEISS optics. HMD was also touting Log mode video capture on the 8.3 which will be able to bring cinema quality video to the smartphone. On the front, the 8.3 is equipped with a 24-megapixel selfie camera.
HMD Global talked about enhancing the camera experience on the Nokia 8.3 with new features. One of which is the new action cam mode which is similar to the super steady feature we’ve seen in other manufacturers. Of course, being a Nokia device, the smartphone is also capable of recording OZO audio which will support directional sound recording.
The Nokia 8.3 will be powered by a 4,500 mAh lithium polymer battery. HMD is confident the battery and software optimisations will allow the 8.3 to deliver on its “all day battery” promise. It also supports 18W fast charging. The 8.3 will be launching with Android 10 out of the box with the promise of 2 alphabet updates.
Pricing & Availability
The Nokia 8.3 is expected to be available sometime in March or early April in selected markets. It will be available in Polar Night, a deep shade of blue. Prices for the device will start at €599 (MYR 2,822.77).
OPPO’s Find X was something else from OPPO. It was something
quite extraordinary to come out from OPPO’s stables. It was OPPO’s game changer
also their first device to hit the premium market segment. It sold for MYR
3,699 when it was launched; more expensive than any OPPO devices that came before
it.
It was not like any other OPPO devices that came before as
well. Instead of a familiar Apple-esque design they employed with their best-selling
models, the OPPO Find X was a device they could proudly call their own. It was
a device they could really identify as an OPPO device. It was also OPPO’s first
European ready device.
In all fairness it was also the first smartphone in the
world that was truly bezel-less. While whatever premium devices came with ‘bezel-less’
devices, you still get the notch to house the camera. OPPO’s implementation
made sure that your bezel-less experience is truly bezel-less. How? Quite ingenious,
a motorised pop-up mechanism that slides a whole part of the device to reveal a
front facing camera.
It did not sell for MYR 3,699 merely for that feature though.
It was a world beater with a high-end System on a Chip (SoC). It had other
flagship class specs as well, large RAM and storage. It had a larger than life
battery too at the time. Even its camera array is flagship class. Was it worth
MYR 3,699? It surely looked like it.
Source: OPPO
Now, there is the brand new OPPO Find X2; the evolution of
the iconic flagship from 2018. Instead of just a single device though, the Find
X2 is a series of devices. They are all 5G ready too. The 5G capabilities are
thanks to the most powerful processor available to them in the world today. They
are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865.
The OPPO Find X2
There is not that much difference between the two devices that was launched by OPPO today. Even the price (in Euro anyway). The difference in price is only about EU€ 200 (*MYR 946); which is not that much.
Source: OPPO
There are still some differences to justify the higher price point
of the OPPO Find X2 Pro though. Starting with the storage, the OPPO Find X2 tops
out at 256GB. Mind you, that is not expandable; kind of a bummer, but 256GB is
plenty anyway.
One of the cameras, the ultra-wide lens; you only get 12-Megapixel
out of it. While that is not bad, it will not be the most powerful sensor you
can find on the OPPO Find X2. Then there is the battery which tops out at
4,200mAh for the OPPO Find X2. It still charges as fast as the Find X2 Pro
though.
This is where the differences end though.
OPPO Find X2 Pro
We start with the storage at 512GB of storage, double of the OPPO
Find X2. The OPPO Find X2 Pro also packs a very slightly bigger battery at
4,260mAh. This is no where near as big as we think it would be. Still, it
charges very quickly at 65W (SuperVOOC). It fully charges the device from an
empty battery to full within 38 minutes.
Source: OPPO
The biggest difference between the device is within the camera
array. The OPPO Find X2 Pro packs a 48-Megapixel ultra-wide sensor instead of
12-megapixel. It is supported by the same 13-Megapixel telephoto lens and 48-Megapixel
main shooter as the OPPO Find X2. The difference? 48-Megapixels obviously
captures more details in its ultra-wide shots and its macro shots from at least
3cm away from subject. This camera array is the one that puts OPPO at the top
steps of DX0Mark.
The Find X2 Series Powerhouse
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 paired to 12GB of RAM is not just
keeping the OPPO Find X2’s 5G kicking though. It is also a powerhouse to keep
the Android 10 based ColorOS 7.1 running as smoothly as possible. You can see
that smooth and snappy performance from the large 6.7-inch display that pushed
QHD+ resolution at 120Hz. If you are into gaming, you will benefit from the
240Hz sampling rate; or mor commonly known as touch response these days.
It does not stop there for its display though. The display is in a
class of its own with a 100% DCI-P3 certification. This is also the first OPPO
device to pack a 10-bit display. That also means that you get one billion
colours on the display. The O1 Ultra Vision Vision Engine on the Ultra
Vision display is also the world’s first
engine in the world of its kind on a mobile device. The engine is a hardware
based upscale mechanism that scales 30fps videos to up to 120fps videos with
minimal motion blurring and tearing. With HDR10+, the OPPO Find X2 series’
display is easily the most advanced and most accurate out there in the market.
Immersive too with Dolby ATMOS certified dual stereo speakers.
Source: OPPO
While we have spoken about the camera’s hardware capabilities, there is more to the camera than meets the eye. The 10x hybrid zoom is nothing new technically. What is new though is OPPO’s All Pixel Omni-Directional PDAF that is supposed to increase the Auto-Focus speeds with even better accuracy than regular PDAF systems. The camera also shoots at 12-bit, meaning you get even more details in your shots. Out the front is a 32-Megapixel shooter housed in a small punch-hole on the display.
You get to shoot even better in low-light conditions too
with their new Ultra-night mode 3.0 across all lenses. Your main camera though
gets Ultra Dark Mode treatment to help the camera see even better in near blackness.
While regular Optical Image Stabiliser functions would be enough for photos, videos require a little bit more than that. That is why OPPO has the Ultra Steady Mode 2.0 that combines OIS and EIS on the OPPO Find X2 series. Plus, the Live HDR mode helps you visual your videos without having to take a picture or video first. It samples HDR on top of your display once you fire up the camera. For videos also the OPPO Find X2 devices are equipped with three mics for even better and more advanced noise cancelling functions. Once you shoot, you can edit all of the footage in SoLoop app included within the device.
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
The OPPO Find X2 Pro will be available in Black (ceramic material) and Vegan Leather for EU€ 1199 (*MYR 5,671). The OPPO Find X2 will be available Black (ceramic) and Ocean (glass) for EU€ 999 (*MYR4,725). As expected there is a Lamborghini edition for the OPPo Find X2 series too. Both devices is expected to be available globally in May 2020. Malaysia’s launch is just in a few days away next week though. We should get more information regarding the OPPO Find X2 series’ availability and prices in the coming week. Meanwhile, stay tuned!
*Based on current exchange rate of EU€ 1 = MYR 4.73 as of 6/3/2020
Realme has been announced its very first smartphone that will be using Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865 in India. It is one of other eleven phones that has been announced by other smartphone manufacturers that will also be running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor.
Let’s get straight to the specifications, shall we? Let’s start with the display. It has a Super AMOLED display which is 6.44 inches wide. The display also has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels in a 20:9 screen. This calculates a density of 409ppi, which is not top of the charts but it is already more than enough.
The display is going to have a protection glass of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It is also going to come have a 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch-sensing, and also HDR10+ to give you a fantastic gaming and streaming experience.
As for the cameras, it will run as a quad-camera setup. Having a 64-Megapixel as a main camera. Followed by a 12-Megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, an ultra-wide with angle of 119° from an 8-megapixel camera, and finally a 2-Megapixel monochrome depth sensor. You will be able to record videos in 4K resolution at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps.
The front is where it gets a little interesting, as the phone will be coming with a punch-hole design dual camera. Yes, there were some rumours before and now we are finally confirming it on the actual phone! The front-facing camera will be a 32-megapixel sensor paired with an 8-Megapixel 105° ultra-wide sensor. The front camera is capable of capturing videos at 1080p at either 30 fps or 120 fps.
Other notable features would be the new dual stereo speakers and the discontinuation of the 3.5mm headphone jack. This is also only Realme’s fourth phone with NFC. Like most smartphones these days it uses a USB Type-C connector to charge its 4,200mAh battery. Unfortunately the Realme X50 Pro does not come with wireless charging capabilities, so you are going to have to still depend on a wire to charge the phone.
Last but not least, the brains of the phone. As mentioned above the phone will have a Snapdragon 865 chipset, which also means it is 5G ready. There will be three different variants for RAM and two different internal storage variations. It starts with a minimum of 6GB of RAM paired to a 128GB of storage or an 8GB RAM with also 128GB of storage, and lastly, the maximum RAM and storage you can get is 12GBs of RAM paired to 256GB of storage.
There are two different colours to choose from that is Moss Green and Rust Red. the prices of the phones starts from Rs 37,999 (MYR 2,204) for the 6GB + 128GB, Rs 39,999 (MYR 2,320) for the 8GB + 128GB and Rs 44,999 (MYR 2,610) for the range-topping 12GB + 256GB.
LG has announced its latest flagship, the V60 ThinQ 5G. Just like any other flagship phones these days, it will come 5G ready with the Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865 processor. So, what else does this flagship has to offer?
Let us start with what stands out the most, which personally is the huge 6.8-inch FullVision P-OLED display with a Full HD+ screen resolution of 2460 x 1080 pixels with a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. Wait, hold up. For a phone with that large of a screen, it has a considerably small pixel count, doesn’t it?
Let’s take the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ for example. It also has a 6.8-inch display but it has a higher resolution of 1440 x 3040 pixels. The Galaxy Note 10+ has a pixel per inch (ppi) density of 498 ppi while the V60 ThinQ only has 395 ppi. This is not exactly great news for a flagship phone.
Source: LG
While it does not have a good ppi count, the LG V60 ThinQ has a little trick up its sleeve. Just like last year’s LG V50 ThinQ and the LG G8X, the V60 also has the same feature where it can come with a dual screen. Just like the latest buzz with the foldable phone, this is technically a foldable phone. Just that it does not have a foldable screen.
Other than that, the V60 ThinQ will be coming with a triple camera set up consisting of a 64-megapixel main sensor, a 13-megapixel module that has a 117° super-wide-angle lens and a 3D time-of-flight sensor. The main camera supports 8K recording and 4K recording at 60 frames per second with HDR10+. The front of the phone will be getting a single 10-megapixel camera encapsulated in a dewdrop notch design.
Next, we have the audio side of things. A good part of not following recent trends is that the V60 ThinQ will be coming with a 3.5mm jack! There is also a good part of following a trend is that it will be coming with stereo speakers. Now that is giving people the option of choosing between the best of both worlds.
Source: LG
The V60 ThinQ comes with 8GB of RAM, a 128GB of storage with an expandable storage via a microSD card. To power this phone and its dual screens, the phone comes with a massive 5,000 mAh battery that promises 590 hours standby time with one charge. The phone can be charged using a Qi wireless charger or by a Type-C USB.
Other goodies include, a MIL-STD-810G certification and also a IP68 rating which means that the smartphone is dust and water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. There will be two colour options that are Classy Blue and Classy White.
Sony hasn’t really been one of the top contenders in the market when it comes to smartphones. However, the company did turn heads with their Xperia 1; a smartphone which (finally) brought together Sony’s many strengths into a single, sleek, creator-centric device. This year, they are building on the foundation they set last year with the new Xperia 1 II (pronounced Xperia 1 mark II).
The Xperia 1 II brings back a lot of the features that many fell in love with in the original. Of course, the now signature 21:9 aspect ratio and the slender build are still hallmarks of the new Xperia 1 II. Also making an appearance is the OLED screen with true to life colour reproduction. The mark II also comes with front firing speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Yep. That’s right, Sony brought it back!
Powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, the new Xperia 1 II is Sony’s first 5G smartphone. It comes paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB internal memory. The colour accurate 6.5-inch 21:9 CinemaWide display has a resolution 3840×1644 pixels and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut. This is protected with Gorilla Glass 6. The Xperia 1 II is also IP65/68 dust and water resistant.
Capture & Create with the Xperia 1 II Cameras
The Sony Xperia 1 II comes with a triple camera array complemented with a 3D iTOF sensor for depth perception. The triple camera array consists of a 1/17-inch, 12-megapixel Exmor RS sensor with F1.7 aperture, 24mm focal length and 82° field of view; a 1/3.4-inch, 12-megapixel sensor with 70mm focal length, F2.4 aperture and 34° field of view; and a 1/2.55-inch 12-megapixel Exmor RS sensor with 16mm focal length, F2.2 aperture and 124° field of view. The array is the first camera array to carry ZEISS calibrated lenses in Sony’s mobile portfolio. On the front is an 1/4-inch, 8-megapixel sensor with a F2.0 aperture and 84° field of view. Both front and back cameras come with Sony SteadyShot which stabilises with both electronic image stabilisation (EIS) and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) for the best stabilisation.
All of this is powered by 4,000mAh battery. It has USB Type-C connectivity which allows for USB power delivery fast charging. The Xperia 1 II is also the first smartphone from Sony with Qi Wireless Charging.
No price or official release date has been announced at this time for the new Sony flagship. The phone will be available in Black, Purple and White.
Xperia PRO – for Professionals
Together with their new flagship, Sony announced a new line up of devices meant for industry. The new Xperia PRO line up focuses on bringing productivity and features for professional content creators. To this end, the company has essentially enhanced the mark II with features to cater for better industry usage.
The Xperia PRO comes with an additional mini HDMI port which allows the phone to function as a 4K viewfinder for any DSLR or professional video camera with mini HDMI output. It also has support for 5G standalone on the mmWave band which primes the phone for live streaming on a standalone 5G network.
While these features are impressive, the Xperia PRO loses its wireless charging to make way for it. It will still be powered by a 4,000mAh battery and have support for USB 3.1 version 2.
Mobile World Congress 2020 was cancelled, but that does not
mean that you will miss all the big announcements. HUAWEI just had their announcement
not more than an hour ago. In that announcement they announced the latest HUAWEI
Mate Xs foldable smartphone. It is pretty much an evolution of last year’s
HUAWEI Mate X foldable smartphone. That is not all they launched though.
This year they also introduced the HUAWEI MatePad Pro, a
high-end tablet designed for the professionals. Why we say that? It has a DCI-P3
colour accurate display for the best sort of colour reproduction you can get on
10-inches of display. The 10.8-inch display pushes 2,500 by 1,600 pixels, effectively
a QHD+ display. With a 90% screen to body coverage too it is small, really
small. Thin too at 7.2mm, as thick as modern smartphones.
It is one of HUAWEI’s most advanced tablets to come out of
the Chinese tech giant’s showrooms. It packs HUAWEI’s HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G
processor. You get an option of getting the MatePad Pro with 5G connectivity
too if you really must. Of course, the 5G versions will cost you a little bit
more.
Audio cannot be neglected in a super powerhouse like the
MatePad Pro too. You get not only four speakers at each corner of the device; you
also get far-field mics for your voice commands from a distance away. That is
all wrapped in ultra-light fiber glass body or stylish vegan leather body.
For maximum productivity, you can get the HUAWEI M-Pencil
for EU€
99. You can take advantage of the app multiplier, multiscreen collaboration, multi-window
modes, and even HUAWEI share for even more optimised productivity and
multitasking. Of course, it does have large battery to fill the space within
the slim and compact body. 7,250mAh large, in fact. For that, you get all-day
productivity. It even charges at 40W if you plug it in a wall charger. It can
charge wirelessly at 37W too.
The HUAWEI will be available within this quarter of 2020. Malaysia? We do not have a set date yet, but it looks like we are also getting it soon enough. It comes in either Green or Orange Vegan Leather colour options, or White or Grey glass fiber colour options. Prices start at EU€ 549 (6GB + 128GB) [MYR 2,520], EU€ 649 (8GB + 256GB) [MYR 2,979], EU€ 749 (8GB + 256GB, M-Pencil, Vegan Leather) [MYR 3,438] for the WiFi version, EU€ 599 (6GB + 128GB) [MYR 2,749], EU€ 699 (8GB + 256GB) [MYR 3,208] for the LTE variant, and goes all the way up to EU€ 799 (8GB + 256GB) [MYR 3,666], EU€ 949 (8GB +512GB) [MYR 4,355] for the 5G variant. The HUAWEI MatePad Pro runs on HUAWEI’s EMUI 10.0.1 based on Android 10 Operating System (OS) though you can only get your apps through HUAWEI’s App Gallery.
HUAWEI showcased the interestingly complex and advanced
HUAWEI Mate X, a foldable smartphone that is unlike anything that we could
imagine a foldable smartphone would be. Instead of folding inward, the display of
the Mate X folds outward. That also means that when the HUAWEI Mate X is
folded, the display wraps around the side to the back.
We did not actually see the HUAWEI Mate X making it into the
smartphone market mix in Malaysia. Which also means we did not even get to see
it in person. Still, it made the foldable smartphone market a little bit more
interesting than what it already is. It gives the foldable smartphone market
something to think about, because it was an unconventional solution to a conventional
problem.
This year is still about foldable smartphones apparently. Of
course, there was the Samsung Galaxy Fold that came in with a large display
that folds in. There is an external display of course when the display is folded
in. Then there is the Motorola RAZR and most recently the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
that was just announced two weeks ago. Oh yes, the Z Flip is going to make it
in Malaysia.
Of course, HUAWEI is not going to be the only one missing
out. For this year they are launching their brand-new HUAWEI Mate Xs. Like the
Mate X we saw in CES 2019 last year, the HUAWEI Mate Xs features the familiar
Falcon Wing Hinge. The one found on the HUAWEI Mate Xs is supposed to be sturdier
than the original Mate X though, at least that is what they are claiming.
Like the Mate X of 2020, it also features a display that
folds out into a larger display instead of folding in. Which also means that
the Mate Xs will have a wrap-around display as well. Folded in, the main
display measures in at 6-inch. That extends to 8-inch once popped out. Yes, it
is a spring loaded mechanism, only for the first part of the unfold though.
As one of the leaders in 5G infrastructures and technology,
the HUAWEI Mate Xs comes with 5G capabilities too. While it does have dual SIM
capability, the other SIM tray can only support up to 4G connectivity, understandably
as well.
Of course, a new flashy flagship has to come with a flashy
processor. For that, the HUAWEI Mate Xs gets a HiSilicon Kirin 990 System on a
Chip (SoC). Of course, that also means that the HUAWEI Mate Xs is perfect for
multitaskers with multi-window capabilities built-into the User Interface (UI).
You can even open two instances of a single app if the app supports App Multiplier
feature. Imagine having two instances of WhatsApp running at the same time.
Instead of having two or even three camera arrangements though,
HUAWEI has gone quite conventional with a single camera array. The single camera
array is still a system of HUAWEI’s proven SuperSensing 40-Megapixel quad camera
set-up. Supporting the main camera is a 16-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter, 8-Megapixel
telephoto lens, and a 3D depth sensor for better Bokeh photos.
A large screen, as usual, needs a large battery. The HUAWEI
Mate Xs packs a 4,500mAh battery. While that may not sound that big compared to
equivalent 8-inch tablets, you must remember that HUAWEI smartphones do come
with some very impressive battery life, according to user testimonies anyway. If
that is not enough for you in a day though it charges at 55w; that is as fast as
some notebook PC these days. The notebook that typed out this release, for
example, charges at minimum of 40W. With 55w charging, the HUAWEI Mate Xs
charges from empty to full within 40 minutes.
teThe HUAWEI Mate Xs is said to be sold globally next month, March 2020. Earlier in the presentation Richard Yu did say that the new smartphone will be expensive. How expensive? EU€ 2,499 expensive. That is about MYR 11,500 and that is for the 8GB RAM and 512GB storage variant. Yes, it does come with 5G connectivity. The HUAWEI Mate Xs comes with their very own EMUI 10.0.1 and HUAWEI Mobile Services based on the Android operating system. It does not support Google’s Play Store though.
