In this week’s techENT download, things are a little bleak
with the COVID-19 situation. We had to close our office because the government has
issued a Movement Control Order which limits our travels in and out of the
house. That also means that we have to start working from home full time. As of
yesterday’s announcement, it is going to be the situation until the 14th
of April 2020.
Still, we are optimistic and will still bring you the latest
in tech. In that regards, there are a couple of smartphone launches within
Malaysia itself. The two most interesting ones are the foldable devices coming into
the Malaysian smartphone market fold. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and HUAWEI Mate
Xs is officially available in Malaysia now. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is available
in participating stores at MYR 5,888. The Huawei, on the other hand, is now
available online and you can get your hands on your own unit for MYR 11,111. You
can choose between a delivery or pick up at your favourite HUAWEI store; though
the latter option might be handy way later.
The OPPO Find X2 Pro is finally in Malaysia for MYR 4,599.
The OPPO Find X2 Pro was also one of our most anticipated smartphone to come
into the market. At the same week, HMD Global (Nokia) announced what seems to
be the most affordable 5G ready smartphone in the world with the Nokia 8.3.
They also brought back XpressMusic with their the ‘new’ Nokia 5310.
Beyond that we also saw the Sony PlayStation 5. No, there
are no product renders, or even a reveal of the device. It was just a reveal of
the specifications of the PlayStation 5. It is just slightly less powerful than
the Microsoft Xbox Series X. There is one thing extra on the PlayStation
though, and that is called the ‘Tempest’ 3D audio engine.
Malaysia is on lock down order. Well, more like a partial lock down. All the paperwork calls it is a ‘restricted movement’ order. All non-essential services and businesses are order to close, or all its staff are supposed to work from home. This is fine for businesses like ours, with all our contents and services being digital and online. We can easily work from home. But businesses like car service centers, manufacturing of goods, shops, and even restaurants are going to be affected.
Well, in a broader sense, restaurants and food outlets can operate
under the circumstance that it only does takeaway orders. Supermarkets, hospitals
and clinics, broadcasting, police stations, and fire services are still open.
Some of them on a limited capacity too (not hospitals, they are front lining
the COVID-19 situation. To that, thank you to all doctors and nurses who are
working tirelessly).
Instead of the whole mess of a launch gambit and roadshows
all over Malaysia and its countless malls, OPPO is starting their first sale
gambit with nothing but a simple service of delivering the devices right to
your doorstep. Obviously, you would have to buy one of it to get the device
sent to you.
The OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G, to recap, is one of OPPO’s flagships that is launched this year to replace the now two years old OPPO Find X. The OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G, as its name indicates, packs 5G readiness from its Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 System on a Chip (SoC). It is also OPPO’s most powerful device to date with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of on-board storage. Its camera is supposed to be the best camera ever on a smartphone, topping the charts of DX0Mark with its 48-Megapixel main camera flanked by a 48-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens and a 13-Megapixel lens.
Source: OPPO Malaysia
Unlike the OPPO Find X, the X2 and X2 Pro does not have a motorised
pop-up mechanism. That also means you are not getting a full edge-to-edge display
like the FullView display of the OPPO Find X. Instead, you get something they
call an O1 Ultra Vision display with a 32-Megapixel camera punch hole on the
6.7-inch AMOLED display. It pushes out QHD+ at up to 120Hz. That may take a
toll on its 4,260 mAh battery. With 65W SuperVOOC charging though, there is
nothing to fear, especially in this lockdown anyway.
The OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G is available for pre-order now for
MYR 4,599 until 20rd March 2020. Devices should start shipping to
customers the day after. The device will be available in two finishes – Ceramic
Black and Vegan Leather Orange.
Source: OPPO Malaysia
All pre-order customers are entitled for a free VOOC powerbank,
1-year extended warranty, and 3 months of screen protection. Of course, you must
make full payment before the 18th of April to secure their free
gifts. If you made your full payment before the 23rd of March, you
are also entitled to a free OPPO Enco Free True Wireless Earbuds worth MYR 599
(review coming soon). On top of all the free gifts, OPPO will be offering an MYR
200 voucher to be used in OPPO’s official web store. Of course, you have to
spend more than MYR 200 to use the voucher. Additionally, if you have made your
pre-order and committed the booking fee of MYR 300 at any OPPO’s offline store,
you are entitled to an MYR 300 digital code to make your full payment; in other
words you are getting MYR 300 off your OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G. Of course, terms
and conditions apply. More information on OPPO’s website.
