Vivo‘s gaming-centric sub-brand, iQOO, is earning its keep as a gaming brand with its brand new iQOO 12 flagship. The smartphone not only brings a whole new level of gaming performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3; but also reinvigorates the brand as a performance-centric experience for gamers.
The iQOO 12 ditches the drab, budget-friendly beginnings of iQOO for a more sophisticated, premium outlook. It comes in two versions with completely different finishes. For that ultra-premium feel, the iQOO 12’s Legend edition leads the way with a design collaboration with BMW. The fresh, pearlescent white finish of the smartphone is accented by the familiar stripes of BMW M Motorsport. The Alpha edition comes with a matte black finish for a sleek, sleeper vibe. Both versions have a metal body with a glass back.
Inside, the iQOO 12 runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal memory. You can get up to an additional 16GB of RAM with RAM virtualisation if the need arises. When it comes to display, the iQOO 12 comes with a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display that covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate for that extra edge when gaming. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is complemented with vivo’s Supercomputing Chip Q1 which helps with super-resolution processing and graphics processing.
On the camera side of things, it comes with a 50-megapixel “Astrography” camera with VCS2.0 biomimetic spectral technology for better colour reproduction. It comes complete with optical image stabilisation and electronic image stabilization. This main camera is complemented with a 64-megapixel periscope sensor with 3x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. The final sensor in the trifecta is a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor.
All of these technologies are powered by a 5,000mAh pro-performance graphite battery that supports 200w FlashCharge.
Pricing & Availability
The iQOO 12 will be available starting on December 11, 2023. It will retail at RM3,399 with only one configuration – 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal memory. As mentioned before, it will be available in two finishes: Alpha (black) and Legend (White). Both version cost the same.
Pre-orders for the smartphone are now available. The pre-order will continue until December 11, 2023. During the preorder period, the iQOO 12 will be priced at RM3,349, an RM50 off the retail with freebies worth up to RM777. This includes the iQOO TWS Air 2, 1-year extended warranty and 1-year screen protection.
After the pre-order period, the smartphone will be available as part of the 12.12 campaign. The smartphone will be priced at RM3,349 with a year’s extended warranty and screen crack protection,
HONOR Malaysia has unveiled the game-changing HONOR X9b 5G. With a pre-order price of RM 1,499 from November 1st to 9th, 2023. It’s a smartphone that is literally hard to beat.
The HONOR X9b comes with smashing durability thanks to its Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Technology. The hallmark feature is made possible thanks to a three-layer screen reinforcement, buffer protection, and sealing protection. The innovative cushioning materials boost shock absorption by 1.2 times, ensuring that your phone can withstand drops from up to 1.5 meters and all angles. The HONOR X9b 5G is the world’s first phone to achieve the 5-star All-angle Drop Resistance Certification from Switzerland’s SGS.
The phone’s body itself is light, coming in at only 185g. However, the HONOR X9b 5G boasts a substantial 5800mAh battery. With this powerhouse, you can enjoy three days of usage on a single charge, making it a reliable companion for work, play, and entertainment. HONOR is also claiming that the battery will retain 80% of its capacity after 1,000 charge cycles.
The HONOR X9b 5G comes with 12GB LPDDR4X RAM. This can be extended with virtual RAM Turbo by an additional 8GB. While this technology does give you a whopping 20GB of RAM, it also requires that you sacrifice 8GB of the 256GB internal storage. The storage on the X9b uses UFS 3.1 technology which is known for its speed.
When it comes to the display, the HONOR X9b 5G features a 6.78-inch AMOLED Curved Display with 1.5K resolution. This display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and can produce over 1.07 billion colours. The phone is designed for the always-on generation, offering features like 1920Hz PWM Dimming, Low Blue Light, Dynamic Dimming, and Circadian Night Display for eye protection during extended screen time.
Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the HONOR X9b 5G’s camera setup. It boasts a triple camera setup with a main 108-megapixel sensor, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. The 108-megapixel sensor features a large 1/1.67-inch sensor and an f/1.75 aperture for capturing more light and producing clear, detailed images.
The Honor X9b is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 Chipset. The setup should deliver ample performance for a device at the price point of the X9b. Running the latest MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13, it offers upgraded features like the HONOR Docs Suite for an intelligent and convenient remote working experience.
You’ll be able to make a statement with the Honor X9b’s three colour options: Sunrise Orange, Titanium Silver, and Midnight Black. The Sunrise Orange features a sleek leather finish, offering a premium touch. All three finishes are fingerprint-resistant, maintaining the phone’s elegant appearance.
Pricing & Availability
The HONOR X9b 5G is available for pre-order at an unbeatable price of RM 1,499 from November 1st to 9th. Pre-orders of the Honor X9b 5G will be entitled to free gifts worth RM978. This includes a HONOR CHOICE Earbuds X5, HONOR CHOICE MOECEN Band, and a 365-day front and back crack replacement.
Xiaomi has just unleashed its latest flagship smartphone series known as the Xiaomi 14 series. Xiaomi’s latest devices have a new OS – Hyper OS – and is the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU.
The Xiaomi 14 Pro is equipped with a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display. This screen is brighter than our future with an obscene 3,000nits brightness. It also comes with a 1440 x 3200 pixels resolution that gives it a pixel density of 522ppi and a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone itself comes with a durable Ceramic Glass finish. It also comes with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ compatibility. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also has Dolby Atmos stereo speakers for an immersive audio experience.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14 series comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It’s the first smartphone to have it hot off its announcement at the recent Snapdragon Summit. The processor is complemented with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
The series also supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC. It has a whopping 4,800mAh battery capable of fast charging of 120W. It also supports 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. Did we forget? It’s also got IP68 water- and dust resistance.
Xiaomi 14 Pro’s camera setup boasts one of the first to sport a breakthrough 50-megapixel “Light Hunter 900” primary sensor. The sensor is equipped with OIS and features a variable aperture and a Leica Summilux lens. The setup also includes a floating 40-megapixel telephoto lens with OIS and 3.2x optical zoom and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The front camera is a 32-megapixel sensor. Video lovers will adore the variable aperture’s f/1.42 to f/4 range and 8K resolution at 24fps.
The vanilla version of the Xiaomi 14 has a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits’ peak brightness as well as density pixels of 460ppi. The image resolution is 1200 x 2670 pixels. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers remain. This one is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance like the Pro and sports an under-display fingerprint scanner. It has a 4,610mAh battery that supports 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.
The Xiaomi 14’s main camera is equipped with a 50-megapixel Light Hunter 900 sensor, a 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor, and a 50MP telephoto sensor with 3.2X optical zoom making. Its 32MP selfie camera supports 8K 24p video however unlike the Pro it does not come with variable aperture.
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi 14 series is currently priced only for the China region with 14 Pro costing:
Variant
Price (CNY)
Converted Pricing (MYR)
12GB RAM + 256 GB storage
CNY4,999
MYR3,266.38
16GB RAM + 512 GB storage
CNY5,499
MYR3,590.88
16GB RAM + 1TB storage
CNY5,999
MYR3,917.38
While the Vanilla version costs:
Variant
Price (CNY)
Converted Pricing (MYR)
8GB RAM + 256GB storage
CNY3,999
MYR2,611.27
12GB RAM + 256 GB storage
CNY4,299
MYR2,807.16
16GB RAM + 512 GB storage
CNY4,599
MYR3,002.83
16GB RAM + 1TB storage
CNY4,999
MYR3,264.00
Both series are available in Black, Jade Green, and White and the regular Xiaomi 14 has a Snow Mountain Pink while the Xiaomi 14 Pro has a Titanium edition.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the Xiaomi 14 series especially when it comes to the international launch.
No one has a bigger bone to pick with the affordable segment than Honor. Where it was once an indelible mark is now an arena where it has to prove its prowess. The Honor 90 is another try to prove that the company knows what people want at the astounding prices that they’re used to getting Honor smartphones.
On paper, the Honor 90 seems to check all the boxes when it comes to specifications with a large camera sensor, the latest version of Android and Magic OS and even battery life that is touted to last “All day”. Do these features make the perfect smartphone? Is it worth forking out the money for? We’re about to answer these questions in our in-depth review.
Design
Thin. Light. Durable. That’s the three words that come to mind when describing the Honor 90’s design. While the smartphone is for all intents and purposes a run-of-the-mill midrange smartphone when it comes to design, Honor has injected some of its design influences into it.
The slim form factor is very much appreciated at a time when smartphones, particularly in the mid-range, are opting for chunkier bodies. The Honor 90 isn’t just slim, it’s somehow ergonomic. Holding it in your hand is comfortable. The dual curved edges don’t dig into your hands like you would expect it to. Instead, it’s comfortably curved and gives you a little bit more grip when holding the phone.
The back of the phone is textured. The version we have has a matte texture that gives it a lot more traction when you use it. Honor has also given it a metallic finish which makes it look a little bit more premium. The two camera humps also have a halo that gives it a pretty finish and makes the protruding a little bit more acceptable.
Hardware
When it comes to hardware, the Honor 90 doesn’t shy away from being a mid-range smartphone. Instead, it embraces it. In fact, it’s showing the industry that the company knows how to strike a balance between performance and price that is not only acceptable, it’s applauded.
The Honor 90 continues to use Honor’s MagicOS. Like the Magic5 Pro, the interface has come leaps and bounds not only from its roots under Huawei but also when it comes to stability, performance and even optimisations.
The optimisations that Honor brings to its midrange smartphone more or less mirror those on its flagships like the Magic5 Pro. It has a very light layer on top of Android 13 with a clean, near-minimalistic take on Android and its Material UI. It does away with the opacity and density of colour that is now the signature Android 13 and puts on a light layer of effortless simplicity that makes the OS easier on the eyes and simpler to interact with.
MagicOS 7.1 continues to imitate the look and feel of iOS but is beginning to slowly differentiate itself. While some of the styles of the icons and interface may mimic iOS, Honor is focusing on making the interface fluid and dynamic. It is one of the better Android-based operating systems out there. The interface is responsive, easy to navigate and very fluid. Everything is accessible with one click. This includes, for better or worse, the control centre that feels like a spaceship control panel. But this also means that, unlike other Android interfaces, the notifications and controls are separated. Definitely a welcomed convenience but is handicapped by the need to remember which side to swipe down on. Swiping further to the right brings down the control centre but if you wanted to bring down the notifications shade, you won’t be able to. Instead, you’ll have to back out of the control centre and swipe to the left of the screen.
Cards which made its debut with MagicOS 7, continues to be included with the Honor 90’s version of MagicOS 7.1. While they are a welcomed addition and layer to the convenience that the OS affords, it’s still remains rather handicapped with limited 3rd party support. I still found myself going back to regular widgets to get the functionality I was looking for.
Again, like in the Magic5 Pro, customization continues to be limited to font packs, icon packs and themes. At this point, with the increasing amount of customization offered by stock Android, it feels like Honor needs to up the ante and embrace it. Allow users to further customize their experience with coloured accents in addition to those already available. This, of course, excludes the highly customizable always-on-display (AOD).
Overall, when it comes to user interface, it feels like the Honor 90 brings a consistency we haven’t seen in many mid-range smartphones when it comes to feature sets. Nearly all the flagship software experiences are accessible on the Honor 90, unlike a majority of the competition who choose to limit lower-end software experiences.
Performance
The Honor 90 is laced with features that allow it to squeeze every bit of performance from a processor that can be seen as a little dated. That said, it also proves that not all smartphones need to be on the latest and greatest to provide an experience that is comparable to any flagship. Honor has tweaked and optimised the processor and software to deliver a very high-performing phone that doesn’t break the bank.
Multitasking & Productivity
The Honor 90 gave me a welcomed surprise when it handled multitasking without a hitch. I was, of course, expecting that the phone would be sluggish or, at least have noticeable slowdowns when multitasking. But that really wasn’t the case.
In fact, the phone excelled; especially when it came to doing tasks like split-screen multitasking. I was able to work on a Google document while referencing a website with ease. This was also the case even when I was using a split screen with YouTube. There was nearly no instance where the smartphone slowed down enough that it was unusable.
Multitasking was a breeze, to say the least. But it seems like the phone was made for it to be honest. The optimisations that were made to the software make it really easy to jump in and out of tasks and documents with features like split screen and pop-up window.
Call Quality & Connectivity
Being a mid-range phone, I expected to have some concessions in hardware that would affect call quality. However, the Honor 90 pleasantly surprised me with pretty good call audio. The tone was warm, crisp and clear. Unlike a lot of the competition in its range, the audio lacked a lot of the tinny resonance we’ve come to expect with lower-end smartphones.
It’s also got all the bells and whistles when it comes to connectivity. The Honor 90 has 5G connectivity which should serve you well when it comes to your carrier. The higher speeds – which was gotten thanks to YTL communication’s Yes 5G – did come in handy when downloading big files off emails and also streaming my shows off Amazon Prime and Netflix. Support for WiFi 6 also came in clutch with streaming.
There were minor hiccups with connectivity – particularly with WiFi 6 and 5G. With the former, it had issues maintaining a connection with my WiFi 6 router. However, the issue was resolved after an update for the OS itself. The 5G connectivity problems seem to be stemming from the network itself. I had more stable data connectivity on 4G LTE. Of course, data speeds were not as impressive but a more stable connection does provide a better overall experience. However, since the 5G issues were verified to not be connected to the phone, it didn’t factor into our overall rating.
Overall, when it comes to call quality and connectivity, the Honor 90 really shows up the competition. It’s getting the basics right – and then some.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, the Honor 90 didn’t have that many hiccups. During the review period, we tested the smartphone with games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9: Legends, Pokémon UNITE and Diablo Immortal. The smartphone was able to perform pretty well across the board. However, it’s not unexpected given the class in which the Honor 90 punches.
The graphical intensity of Genshin Impact really did make the Honor 90 sweat. Putting the game on max settings made the phone go warm. However, it also limited the frame rate and made the game unplayable in my honest opinion. Taking the settings down a notch changed the experience totally. The game performed well with optimised settings. The Honor 90’s cooling system kept the phone cool, but it still did warm up after a while. While it’s not very surprising, it was more surprising to go an hour or two without the phone getting any warmer.
Diablo Immortal, on the other hand, gave the Honor 90 a proper challenge. As always, this was most apparent with demon mobs. Just as my character was being overwhelmed by the mob, so too was the phone. It began stuttering and lagging just a tad. It’s not unexpected as the game does give higher-end devices some problems too. With the 90, this happened when there was about 60 to 80 monsters on the screen at the same time. Adding AoE attacks to the mix did slow it down a little more but the phone quickly rebounded once the animations were over.
Overall, if you’re gaming on the Honor 90, you’re not going to be facing many hiccups thanks to the enhanced version of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. Aside from these two instances, other games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends had little to no issues.
Battery Life
Honor brings its signature battery life to the Honor 90. This smartphone really does give claims of “all day” battery life a run for their money. The battery on the Honor 90 was able to last at least 36 hours on a single charge with mixed-use. However, more often than not, I found myself charging the Honor 90 only after 2 days of regular use. This included using the phone for shooting, emails, messaging and calls.
On average, I was getting at least 36 hours of battery on a single charge. When it was actively being used, the smartphone was able to last about 3 hours on a full charge. At 15% with battery saving mode, I was able to get another 2 to 2.5 hours depending on usage during the time. On standby, this time went well over 4 days of battery life. This was without mobile connectivity and with minimal screen time.
Display
The display on the Honor 90 is one of the better ones in its price range. The AMOLED panel reproduced colours pretty accurately. When it comes to brightness, the screen is able to achieve a blinding 1,600 nits peak brightness. That means it was more than just legible even under direct sunlight.
While the display is just FHD+ in resolution, the Honor 90 does support HDR10+. This addition means that the display can reproduce intricate details in dark visuals. Viewing and editing video on the go on this screen was amazing thanks to HDR as well. The screen’s high refresh rate made transitions were buttery smooth.
The Honor 90 had one of the best reading experiences on a smartphone in its class. This is primarily due to the TUV Rheinland Certified blue light reduction for eye protection, and also reading modes. My eyes weren’t tired even after about 2 hours of reading an ebook and my comics. The ebook mode made reading less strenuous on the eyes but I still haven’t gotten used to it yet. So, I found myself reading using normal screen modes with blue light reduction and eye comfort turned on.
Cameras
The Honor 90 comes with a triple camera setup with a massive 200-megapixel sensor. However, Honor is allowing the hardware to be the only hero when it comes to the camera. The company has been developing its own algorithm to augment the quality of pictures taken with the smartphone. It seems like the Honor 90 is the first of many in a game of striking the best balance between hardware and software with Honor’s midrange. The smartphone continues to employ pixel binning to get the most out of the sensors it comes with but with the extra light and information, it’s able to create sharper, crisper edges in its pictures.
Honor’s AI enhancements overall are a little bit aggressive for me. However, it does produce pretty detailed and vibrant pictures from the sensors. That said, I found myself turning AI off to get the shot I wanted in most situations. That said, without AI, the cameras performed pretty well even in point-and-shoot (Auto) mode.
Photos taken with the Honor 90’s camera were vibrant and detailed in good lighting. However, its performance under low lighting was less than stellar. Often, pictures were overblown to compensate for the lack of light. While quality degradation is expected, we expected a little more from the Honor 90 camera. Photos in low light were noisy and some were ruined by overcompensation. That said, kicking it into Pro mode is a saving grace. It allows you to get results that are closer to what you want.
Zooming in to take pictures on the Honor 90 can be a little bit of a hit or miss. This is pretty expected given the lack of a telescopic sensor in the phone’s camera setup. However, images and video are pretty crisp and detailed as long as you don’t go beyond 3x zoom. Going any higher than that or even maxing out at 10x resulted in grainy, blurry pictures. The Honor 90 comes with the same AI stabilization as the Magic5 Pro. It’s still as mind-blowing as it was with the Magic5 Pro.
Videos taken with the main camera setup are pretty good. We used it to do a few of our video content on social media (let us know if you find them). The results with good lighting are close to DSLR quality. Of course, we can’t get 100% of the intricacies of a DSLR with the smartphone. It’s perfect for capturing memories but falls a little short when it comes to being a video production powerhouse./
I feel like the Honor 90 puts most flagships to shame with its front-facing camera. Although, I feel like it does come with a caveat that it’s enhanced with AI features. With the right lighting, the pictures are vivid, colourful and detailed. The large 50-megapixel sensor allows for amazing quality. Even under low light, the results were better than a lot of the other options out there. But this may be cause we’re so used to low-quality selfies in this price range.
Overall, the Honor 90 has a power-packed camera setup. The robustness of the software and the versatility of the triple camera setup make it a good starter option for aspiring content creators. It’s also one of the best that we’ve used when it comes to video footage. Honor is definitely honing its software and hardware balance.
A Power packed Offering with Little to Lose with a Delicate Balancing Act between Software and Hardware for the Best Value
The Honor 90 is walking a delicate tightrope of features and price points. The performance of its software makes it a top contender for anyone looking for a value-for-money option for a smartphone. Extra emphasis on the value for money as the Honor 90 breaks a price point that other mid-range flagships dismiss readily. Its feature-packed software and selectively outstanding hardware make it worth every penny spent. You’ll be able to game on more intense games, create content capture memories and even multitask without breaking the RM2,500 price point. We’re comfortable calling this an unbeatable value smartphone.
Xiaomi’s Redmi lineup has long been one of the most affordable smartphones available on the market. With the Redmi Note 11 series, the lineup took a step closer to bringing flagship-class specs with its 108-megapixel camera. This year, the series inches even closer with a 200-megapixel camera and high-performance display.
The new series comes with three entries – for now. Spearheading the lineup is the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G which comes with a 200-megapixel camera and the MediaTek Dimensity 1080. The Note 12 Pro+ 5G also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage and runs on Android 12 with MIUI 14. On the entry-level side of things is the Redmi Note 12 without 5G which comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage and comes with a 50-megapixel camera. Sitting right in the middle of the lineup is the Redmi Note 12 5G which comes with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. It comes with a 48-megapixel camera and up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal space.
The hallmark of the new lineup is the 200-megapixel sensor which comes as the main sensor on the Pro+. This main sensor is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front of the Pro+ is a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The Pro+ comes with a 6.67-inch FHD+ Flow AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 900 nits peak brightness and Dolby Vision support. The Pro+ is also the only one in the lineup which comes with a dual-curved design making it more ergonomic.
The Redmi Note 12 5G’s 48-megapixel sensor is complemented by 8-megapixel ultrawide and 2-megapixel macro sensors. It comes with a 13-megapixel on the front. Display-wise it comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED DotDisplay with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,200 nits peak brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The 5G version of the Redmi Note 12 comes with a curved back.
The Redmi Note 12 without 5G comes in a completely flat form factor. It has the same camera setup complementing its 50-megapixel sensor and selfie camera as the Redmi Note 12 5G. Even the display is the same. The major differences here are its processor, the lack of 5G connectivity and the 50-megapixel sensor.
The smartphones are IP53 splash and dust resistance certified. Xiaomi has also opted to keep the 3.5mm combo jack and IR blaster. All versions come with side-mounted fingerprint sensors which are embedded into the power button. They also all come with a 5,000mAh battery with 33W Fast Charging. However, Pro+ ups the ante a little bit with 120W HyperCharge.
Pricing & Availability
The Redmi Note 12 series will be available for pre-order in Malaysia starting on April 6, 2023. During this pre-order, purchases will be entitled to a free Redmi Smart Band 2. The e-commerce exclusive Redmi Note 12 (6GB + 128GB) will be available at a discounted price of MYR659 during this period.
In-store sales begin from April 15 onwards. Purchases made from this date onwards will be entitled to free Redmi Buds 4 Lite while stocks last.
Purchases and Pre-orders can be made at authorised Xiaomi dealers and the Xiaomi storefronts on Shopee and Lazada.
The official pricing and variants available are listed below.
Leica is back in the international smartphone arena thanks to its new partnership with Xiaomi. With its initial offering, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra only officially being rolled out in Mainland China, the Xiaomi 13 marks the brand’s return to the ecosystem. The new Xiaomi 13 series crowning feature is the Leica Vario-Summicron 1:19-2.2/14-75 ASPH camera system which comes on the 13 Pro.
The Xiaomi 13 series comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB internal memory. Of course, the Xiaomi 13 series comes with two entries in Malaysia (for now): the Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The two entries come with a few differences that distinguish the smartphones from each other. The most significant of which the Leica Vario-Summicron 1:19-2.2/14-75 ASPH camera system.
The Pro comes with a triple camera array for the main camera complete with Leica lenses. The setup consists of the 1-inch, 50.3-megapixel Sony IMX989 with an f/1.8 aperture and 23mm focal length. It equipped with dual pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser Autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS). This is complemented with a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom and PDAF. Completing the triple sensor setup is a 50-megapixel utlra-wide sensor with autofocus. On the front, the smartphone comes with a 32-megapixel selfie camera.
The vanilla 13 comes with a triple sensor setup with a main 50-megapixel main sensor with PDAF and OIS complemented with a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On the front is the same 32-megapixel sensor.
Leica isn’t just lending its lenses to Xiaomi for the Xiaomi 13 series, they’re helping with the software. The 13 and 13 Pro both come with the master lens system, a software features which provides better, more granular control to the focal length and depth of field for better portrait photos. In addition to this, the software comes with two distinct photographic styles: Leica Authentic Look and Leica Vibrant Look. These paired with Xiaomi’s own Imaging Engine culminate in Xiaomi’s strongest computational photography flagship.
Of course, with all these photography features, the two smartphones come with powerful displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate.
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi 13 Series will be available in Malaysia starting on March 8th 2023.
The Xiaomi 13 will be available in three colours – Black, White and Flora Green. Only one variant will be available in Malaysia 12GB RAM with 256GB of internal storage. Prices start at MYR3,499.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro will be available in two colours: Ceramic Black and Ceramic White. Two variants of the 13 Pro will be avaiable 12RAM with 256GB of internal storage and a special, limited edition 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage. The former will be priced from MYR4,699 while the limited edition will be on sale for MYR 4,999.
The Xiaomi 13 series will be available for pre-order starting on February 27, 2023 until March 7, 2023. Packages and pricing are as follows:
HMD Global is striving to be one of the first mobile manufacturers to factor in the environment when it comes to devices. The new Nokia X30 5G is the first offering coming to Malaysia with an increased sense of environmental responsibility. It is made of 100% recycled aluminium and incorporates 65% recycled plastics in its build. Everything from the packaging to the device itself contains recycled materials. HMD is touting it as the device with the smallest eco-footprint to date.
Source: Nokia.com
While it remains one of the most environmentally conscious devices, it isn’t leaving performance behind. The Nokia X30 5G comes equipped with an octa-core Snapdragon 695 5G. The system on a chip (SoC) is paid with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. When it comes to the display, it comes with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. It also has a 90Hz refresh rate and 700 nits peak brightness. The display comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for protection and scratch-proofing.
In the camera department, the Nokia X30 5G comes with a dual camera setup. This setup is consists of a 50-megapixel main sensor that is complemented by a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The main 50-megapixel sensor comes equipped with optical image stabilisation (OIS) with an f/1.8 aperture. The complementary 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor comes with a 123° field of view and an f/2.4 aperture. On the front is a 16-megapixel selfie camera with aq f/2.4 aperture.
Source: HMD Global
HMD continues to offer more than just the basics when it comes to the camera experience. In line with its PureView experience, the camera comes equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) which allows users to capture the best pictures with a click of a button. The new app interface also puts your frequently used settings at the tip of your tips for quick access and snapping. Capture Fusion allows you to reap the benefits of both the 50-megapixel main camera and the ultra-wide camera bringing details to the focal point of your picture.
All of these features are powered by a 4,200mAh battery with a guarantee for 800 charging cycles. It comes with USB Type connectivity for charging and data and IP67 dust and water resistance.
Pricing & Availability
The Nokia X30 5G will be available in stores from mid-November 2022. Pre-orders are now ongoing on Shopee and Lazada. Pre-orders will be entitled to a free Nokia clear case and Nokia Comfort Earbuds worth MYR250.
The smartphone will be available in Cloudy Blue for MYR2,099.
Carl Pei’s Nothing is at it again trying to redefine a smartphone. He successfully redefined the flagship smartphone while he helmed OnePlus. Now, he’s taking another go at it with the Nothing Phone (1). The new smartphone defies expectations and chooses to focus on the core user experiences instead of high powered hardware.
Source: Nothing
That isn’t to say that the Nothing Phone (1) is packing a punch. It comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ processor. According to Carl Pei, the company opted for a more reliable processor instead of the latest and greatest on paper. This was influenced by their drive to build a smartphone with their instincts rather than the data. The Snapdragon 778G+ comes with a 6nm archiecture which brings the best of battery life and performance. The Octacore processor also brings 5G connectivity and also Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
When it comes to design, the Nothing Phone (1) is made of a combination of plastics, glass and aluminium. During the launch, Carl Pei highlighted that none of the surfaces with which a user interacts is made of plastic. In fact, the front and back of the smartphone is made with Gorilla Glass 5 while the frame and bezel are made of recycled aluminium. The Phone (1) is possibly one of the more ecofriendly phones out there with more than 50% of its plastics being bioplastics. Even the tin used for soldering is 100% recycled.
Source: Nothing
The Nothing Phone (1) is keeping to the utilitarian approach which the company is becoming known for. Its version of Android is barebones and brings the best features of Android. Like the processor, the company is looking to focus on stability and quality. They believe that their approach to software will give their users a better, more reliable software experience. Of course, they are bringing in features that allow the Phone (1) to play nice with their own Ear (1) earbuds. This takes the form of controls front and center in the dock for active noise cancellation and more. The company is also looking to the future by creating their own NFT widget which allows users to display their collection or view floor prices for NFTs. Nothing is also promising 3 years of major Android Updates and 4 years of security patch updates rolled out every 2 months.
Source: Twitter
“At the beginning of the smartphone revolution, it felt like this amazing product category complete changed we lived, the way we communicate and, lately, it feels like – after a slew of more and more similar products, and more and more uninspiring products – that somehow the smartphone revolution has ended.“
Carl Pei, CEO and Co-Founder of Nothing
When it comes to cameras, the Phone (1) isn’t packing an extensive multi sensor setup. Instead, they are focusing on the essentials and looking to deliver a more consistent and well rounded experience with a dual 50-Megapixel setup. The main sensor is the Sony IMX766 bolstered with opitcal image stabilization and electronic image stabilization for better quality. This is complemented by the ultrawide Samsung JN1 with 114° field of view. The main camera setup is also capable of 4K recording at 30 frames per second. Up front is a 16-megapixel Sony IMX471 sensor with an f/2.5 aperture.
Source: Nothing
The Phone (1) comes with a 6.55-inch, FHD+ OLED display. It has a resolution of 2400×1080 pixels and a 500 nits brightness. Peak brightness tops out at 1,200nits. The display on the Phone (1) is a little unique in that it’s a flexible OLED panel. No – the screen is not curved, it’s flat. However, the design team opted for a flexible panel to bring a sense of symmetry to the face of the phone. The flexible display allowed them to bend the connectors backwards which allowed the display to be more symmetrical. It has support for HDR+ with 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz sampling rate.
All of these specs are powered by a 4,500mAh battery which Nothing touts to provide more than a day’s battery life. It also supports 33W fast charging over USB-C with support for PowerDelivery 3.0. It also has support for 15W Qi wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging. According to Nothing, the Phone (1) will have a complete charge in 70 minutes with wired charging and in 120 minutes when charged wirelessly.
The Glyph Interface
The one feature which sets the Nothing Phone (1) apart from the competition is the Glyph Interface. The interface is essentially a series of LED lights which will illuminate according to different setting which the user can customise. The Glyph Interface is also Nothing’s approach to allowing users to know who’s contacting them even when in silent mode.
Source: Nothing
For now, the Glyphs can be customised to flash to help identify specific contacts. It’s also a complement to the silent mode on the Phone (1). Simply flipping the phone over with glyphs up will put phone in silent mode. The Glyphs will then flash when calls come in and if the call comes from a user defined caller, the pattern of the flashing will follow the customized one.
Nothing is touting this as the start of what can be done with the Glyph Interface. The company is building more features while working with its community.
Pricing & Availability
The Nothing Phone (1) will be available in both Black and White starting on 16th July 2022. From 16th July until 20 July, it will be available exclusively at the Nothing Kiosk in London in limited quantities. There will be partner drops from 18 July 2022 both online an in-store while open sales will begin on 21 July 2022.
The Phone (1) will be priced at GBP£399 (MYR2,110.74) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version. The 8GB RAM + 256GB storage version will be retailing for GBP£449 (MYR2,375.11) while a 12GB RAM + 256GB storage version will be retailing for GBP£499 (MYR2,639.60).
Source: Nothing
It will be available in Malaysia on 18 July 2022 with an exclusive drop via Crossover on its online store and in-store. Starting on 1 August 2022, the Nothing Phone (1) will be available at all major electronics retailers including SenQ, Satu Gadget, DirectD, and TMT. It will also be available online on Nothing’s official LAZADA and Shopee stores. Prices in Malaysia are MYR 2,399 for the 8GB+256GB version and MYR2,699 for the 12GB+256GB version.
Realme has made a name for itself by offering affordable smartphones. However, the company has been uncompromising when it comes to features and value in its offerings with smartphones like the recently released Realme 9 series. That said, Realme is breaking from its MO and exploring a true flagship in their Realme GT 2 Pro. Teased earlier this year at MWC, the smartphone is Realme’s first foray into the flagship market and it’s finally making its Malaysian debut.
Source: Realme
The Realme GT 2 Pro sports Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor which promises top of the line performance. The new 4nm process also brings with it better power efficiency. The phone pairs this with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. However, unlike Realme phones of the past, the GT 2 Pro does away with microSD card support.
It comes with a 6.7-inch, AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+. The display maxes out at 1,400 nits peak brightness. The 2K resolution (1440×3216 pixels) of the panel gives it a 509ppi density. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6 support as well as 5G connectivity.
On the back, the Realme GT 2 Pro is coming with a triple camera setup with a dual 50-megapixel primary sensor with a large 150° field of view. Complementing this dual sensor setup is a 3-megapixel microscope sensor with 40x magnification. On the front is a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The main camera setup supports 8K video shooting. The main sensor comes with phase detection autofocus and optical image stabilization.
Source: Realme
Realme is touting all-day battery life on the GT 2 Pro thanks to its large 5,000mAh battery which supports 65W fast charging. It also comes with an under-display fingerprint sensor.
Pricing & Availability
The GT 2 Pro will be available in Malaysia starting on 25th March 2022 for MYR2,999. It will be available only in the 12GB RAM version with 256GB storage in either black or white.
However, if you’re looking for a great deal, the phone will be offered at MYR2,599 during flash sales on the Realme Malaysia Official store on Shopee from 25th to 26th March 2022 and from 30th to 31st March 2022. Units bought during these periods will come with a free set of Realme Buds 2 NEO.
The first sale at Realme authorized stores will be happening from 26th March 2022 until 27th March 2022. During this period, the GT 2 Pro will be sold at full retail price. However, purchases will be entitled to a free Realme Watch 2 Pro and an extended warranty.
OPPO’s looking to up the ante with nighttime videography with the Find X5 series. For now, OPPO’s flagship series will consist of the OPPO Find X5 Pro, the OPPO Find X5 and the OPPO Find X5 Lite. The Find X5 and Find X5 Pro will feature OPPO’s customised, dedicated imaging NPU – the MariSilicon X which they announced back during OPPO Inno Day.
The Find X5 & X5 Pro – True Flagship Technology
OPPO’s flagship device – the Find X5 Pro – will feature Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The new octa-core processor built on 4nm fabrication promises better power efficiency, processing performance and graphical performance. The Find X5, on the other hand, will feature the Snapdragon 888. The two smartphones are also the first smartphones touting OPPO’s MariSilicon X technology.
Source: OPPO
They both come with AMOLED panels capable of replicating 1 billion colours with a 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass Victus for added protection. However, the Pro comes with a larger 6.7-inch display size with a QHD+ resolution while the regular Find X5 comes with a slightly smaller 6.55-inch display with an FHD+ resolution. Both also come with UFS 3.1 storage technology for faster storage with better read and write performance.
The Pro comes with configurations with up to 512GB of onboard storage and 12GB of RAM while the Find X5 has only been announced with a single configuration of 256GB with 8GB of RAM. Both don’t support microSD cards.
Source: OPPO
Design-wise, the phones sport an updated aesthetic from the Find X3. OPPO has made the curves more seamless giving it a little bit more of a futuristic feel. They’ve also opted to use ceramic instead of glass on the Find X5 and Find X5 Pro. According to them, it’s sturdier and more durable. The sleek, seamless integration of the camera hump is still there on the Find X5 series.
MariSilicon X Backed Camera Setups for Better Nighttime Video Performance
The Find X5 series is banking on the added umph of OPPO’s MariSilicon X. The dedicated photography and videography NPU is being touted as the backbone for most of the upgrades we see in the image and video processing in the Find X5 and Find X5 Pro.
Hardware Tuned to Keep Up with the MariSilicon X
Let’s look at the camera hardware first. The Find X5 and the Find X5 Pro both come with triple sensor setups. The Pro comes with a 50-megapixel, 1/1.56-inch main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture with multidirectional PDAF and OIS with 3-axis sensor shift and 2-axis lens shift. This is complemented with 13-megapixel, 1/1.34-inch telephoto sensor capable of 2x optical zoom with an f/2.4 aperture and PDAF and a second 50-megapixel, 1/1.56-inch ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 aperture with multidirectional PDAF. The regular Find X5 comes with a less robust 50-megapixel main sensor. The front camera sensor on both is a 32-megapixel wide sensor with gyro-EIS.
Source: OPPO
The mainstay of the MariSilicon X is its ability process imaging information on the fly. However, the hardware is only part of the equation. OPPO has bolstered the software to take advantage of the powerful hardware. Firstly, it’s teamed up with Hasselblad to bring true to life colours in still images in the camera’s pro mode. Then it’s also taking full advantage of the advanced NPU in its new 4K Ultra Night Video feature. With the backing on the NPU, the Find X5 and the Find X5 Pro are able to capture high resolution video in the dark. The video also has better dynamic range allowing it preserve more detail.
A Rebadged Reno 7 In the Tailgating Find X5 Lite
If you’ve realised, we didn’t mention much about the Find X5 Lite. This was intentional cause the Lite version of the Find X5 is simply a rebadged Reno7 smartphone. There’s no indication that the smartphone carries the same MariSilicon X NPU for the improved photography either. So, if you’re interested in getting the lowdown on the Find X5 Lite, you can refer to our article on the Reno7.
Pricing & Availability
The Find X5 Pro will be available in two colours – Ceramic White and Glaze Black. It will be retailing for €1,299 (MYR6,079.52).
Source: OPPO
The Find X5, on the other hand will be available in Black and White. It will be retailing for €999 (MYR4,676.23).
Both are available for pre-orders in select regions now.
Official Specifications
Screen grab from official press conference live stream on YouTubeScreen grab from official press conference live stream on YouTube
