This article is contributed by Francis Chow, Vice President and General Manager, In-Vehicle Operating System and Edge, Red Hat
Organizations across the globe are deploying new services, generating massive amounts of data at the edge. With this explosion of data, companies are looking for ways to make real-time decisions where this data is being generated – this is where edge computing comes in. Whether it be massive amounts of data, clusters and nodes or disconnected and connected applications in hard-to-reach locations (or all of the above), edge computing can help companies create more intelligent devices, providing innovative ways to stand out in competitive and quickly evolving marketplaces.
Scalability, low latency, more bandwidth, enhanced security, standardization and reusability – these are benefits every organization wants in their infrastructure. But how can they get there? How do they use the IT and OT human and physical resources they currently have to make this happen? Companies are partnering with software companies like Red Hat to provide the infrastructure, support, services and solutions from the far edge to the cloud and back. Red Hat believes in open source solutions at the edge. Adopting open source technologies at the edge helps minimize vendor lock-in, facilitating standards-based integration and means anyone can inspect, modify or enhance, unlike proprietary software that is limited to specific users. From device endpoints to gateways to edge servers to on-premise data centres to the cloud, open source solutions can help drive collaboration and standardization across industries so that everyone can benefit from better products and faster innovation.
In the early stages of edge computing, Red Hat worked with service providers like Verizon to successfully use open source solutions at the edge to transform networks. Verizon built its 5G core network on a modern cloud platform because Red Hat has the capabilities for critical infrastructure with extremely high availability, security and performance requirements within our open source technologies. Red Hat then helped Verizon roll out this same platform to the edge to host 5G RAN base stations at the edge, achieving a homogeneous platform with a leg up in operational efficiency. Verizon is driving 5G into its network to offer its intelligent Edge Network (iEN) and Network as a Service (NaaS) strategy aiming to make its network the most intelligent, adaptive and service-aware network available.
Another example is automotive and software-defined vehicles. With software-defined vehicles, computing at the edge is critical as most of the computing workload is in the vehicle itself. We’re working with key players in the automotive industry to help them embrace new and innovative solutions that can keep up with the pace of change and overcome limitations that have created barriers to adopting new technologies, despite their efforts in standardization and reusability.
Two years ago, we announced that we were investing in the automotive market to build a functional-safety certified Linux operating system. Since then, we’ve started working with companies like Luxoft, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and General Motors to help advance software-defined vehicles at the edge. Red Hat and GM are continuing to work together to develop next-generation platforms for GM’s software-defined vehicles, while also creating a methodology to build high-quality and functionally safe platforms and applications. The goal of this collaboration is to establish best practices that promote the adoption of new technologies and ensure interoperability across different vehicles and systems, making the automotive community more accessible for all, including developers. Today, Red Hat announced the next step in this important work with a collaboration with ETAS, a subsidiary of Bosch, to provide a more scalable platform to help accelerate software-defined vehicle transformation. As a result of this collaboration, automakers can benefit from a tightly integrated, reliable and scalable platform for developing, testing and deploying advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving applications on software-defined vehicles.
As our ecosystem work shows, Red Hat is committed to helping our customers with their biggest challenges and it’s clear to see that open source is the new normal at the edge, whatever the use case. Whether it be concerns about security at the edge, flexibility at scale, management, integration and complexity, Red Hat can provide the best open source infrastructure software as they move to the edge.
Qualcomm, the powerhouse behind cutting-edge chipsets, is changing the game yet again. This time, it’s not about the chips themselves, but their names. Say goodbye to the “c” series and welcome the “X” series.
For years, Qualcomm has been synonymous with top-of-the-line chipsets, but not so much with memorable names. Now, after thorough analysis and consumer feedback, they’re revamping their PC chipset branding. Out goes the “c” series, and in comes the Snapdragon X Series. This change is not just cosmetic; it’s a leap into the future of PC experiences.
The “X” identifier distinguishes the PC platforms from other Snapdragon product categories, eliminating confusion. Now, it’s all about streamlined, user-friendly naming. No more puzzling over which chipset is right for you—Qualcomm has sorted it out.
But it’s not just about the name. Qualcomm is preparing to launch a whole new generation of chipsets that it touts will redefine your PC experience. These Snapdragon X series platforms build on Qualcomm’s expertise in CPU, GPU, and NPU (neural processing unit) technologies. It all starts with the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, a significant leap forward in both performance and power efficiency.
Qualcomm expects that as we move into 2024, the PC industry is about to witness a seismic shift. The Snapdragon X series promises exceptional performance, AI capabilities, unmatched connectivity, and impressive battery life. The Oryon CPU, combined with its NPU, is set to deliver blazingly fast on-device experiences.
The company will be revealing more at the upcoming Snapdragon Summit later this year.
Samsung has discreetly revealed its budget-friendly tablets, the Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+, primarily in the Indian market. These newcomers join the Galaxy A series, emerging as competitive contenders in the budget tablet arena and are hot on the heel of the announcement of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series. Despite the hushed release, they promise impressive specifications and features.
Galaxy Tab A9: Compact and Capable
The Galaxy Tab A9 is compact, sporting an 8.7-inch LCD with 800 x 1340 pixels resolution. Powering this tab is MediaTek’s Helio G99 SoC which should deliver commendable performance with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
In the camera department, the Tab A9 features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel selfie shooter. This tablet is designed for extended use, thanks to a robust 5100mAh battery. Furthermore, it comes in two variants: Wi-Fi and 5G.
Samsung doesn’t skimp on audio quality; the Tab A9 is equipped with AKG-powered dual speakers. You can choose from three appealing colour options: Grey, Dark Blue, and Silver.
Galaxy Tab A9+: Bigger and Better
The Galaxy Tab A9+ follows in the footsteps of its sibling, maintaining the same design aesthetics and colour choices. However, it steps up the game with an 11-inch LCD boasting a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. It houses a Snapdragon 695 SoC for enhanced performance and is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Photography enthusiasts can enjoy an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. This tablet also incorporates a quad-speaker system to amplify your audio experience.
Pricing & Availability:
In India, the Galaxy Tab A9 is competitively priced at INR12,999 (MYR738.70) for the 4GB RAM variant (Wi-Fi only). The 5G variant, offering extended connectivity options, is available at INR15,999 (MYR908.40).
For the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, the Wi-Fi model, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, retails at INR20,999 (MYR1,192.29). The pricing of the 5G variant is yet to be disclosed.
No word yet on if the tablet will be making its way to Malaysia.
After over a year’s hiatus, the latest addition to the Fan Edition (FE) series, the Galaxy S23 FE is finally here. It looks like a worthy successor to the Samsung S21 FE which preceded it. Taking its cues from Samsung’s preceding smartphones this year. It comes in a clean, single-slab design with a coloured back and a metallic frame.
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy S23 FE boasts an “Advanced 4nm Processing,” which should translate to either a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 chip, depending on your location. While it departs from the “for Galaxy” chips of 2023 phones, it’s still a major step up from the Galaxy S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. Plus, this year’s base model offers 8GB of RAM, showing up the previous 6GB option.
When it comes to storage, options include 128GB or 256GB, with no microSD expansion. Although 256GB should satisfy most users, it’s worth noting that these options align with the capacities available for the S23 and S23+.
One of the standout improvements is the main camera, which is now a 50MP sensor. This is a significant jump from the S21 FE’s 12-megapixel main sensor. However, the ultrawide, a 10-megapixel sensor with a 123° field of view, and telephoto, an 8-megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom, cameras remain at lower resolutions comparatively. Surprisingly, Samsung has opted for a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the Galaxy S23 FE, a downgrade from the 32-megapixel sensor of its predecessor.
The display of the Galaxy S23 FE is a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with an FHD+ resolution. It also sports a 120Hz refresh rate which can dynamically adapt to on-screen content. It’s a smartphone that has a Goldilocks size fitting comfortably between the S23 and S23+. In terms of dimensions, it’s slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor but feels solid with an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
The 4,500mAh battery capacity remains unchanged from the Galaxy S23 FE’s predecessor. It also supports wired charging at 25W significantly less than the 45W of the S23 and S23+. However, Samsung promises a 50% charge with 30 minutes of charging. It also supports wireless charging. Like its predecessors, the Galaxy S23 FE offers IP68 dust and water resistance.
When it comes to software support, it’s in line with other high-end Samsung devices, promising four OS updates and five years of security patches. Out of the box, it runs One UI 5.1 on top of Android 13. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is taking it a step further with a body constructed from recycled materials including an aluminium frame made from recycled aluminium. It also incorporates pre-consumer glass and post-consumer plastics sourced from items like fishing nets and PET bottles.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy S23 FE is priced from USD$599.99 (MYR2,838.89) for the 128GB model. That’s a significant $100 drop compared to the Galaxy S21 FE’s launch price and USD$200 less than the price of the Galaxy S23.
In Malaysia, the Galaxy S23 FE will officially be priced at MYR2,999 for the 128GB version and MYR3,299 for the 256GB version.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
It will be available in Mint, Graphite, Purple and Cream with Tangerine and Indigo available exclusively on Samsung.com.
It’s expected to hit the market on October 10th in Malaysia and October 26th in the US. Like all Samsung devices, it will be available through various carriers and retailers.
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.
Qualcomm has just unveiled the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. This latest addition to the Snapdragon family brings a performance-centred processor built for midrange and entry-level devices.
Built on the 4nm process technology, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is geared to be a go-to choice for smartphone manufacturers aiming to strike the perfect balance between power and affordability. It opens up the market bringing more performance to a mid-range segment that is gaining momentum the world over.
Source: Xiaomi on Weibo
Now, you might be wondering about the peculiar name. To clear the air, there was no first-gen 7s, and it’s not a successor to the Snapdragon 7 either. The “s” remains a mystery, but it’s essentially a sign of streamlined specifications. Under the hood, the octa-core system on a chip comes with four high-performance cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and four power-efficient cores humming at 1.95 GHz.
While the specifics of the Adreno GPU remain under wraps, it’s more than capable, supporting FHD+ resolution at 144 Hz. However, it’s worth noting that the FastConnect 6700 connectivity platform takes a step down compared to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, with peak download speeds of 2.9 Gbps and Bluetooth support capped at 5.2. However, that doesn’t rule out low-energy audio needs.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 isn’t too shabby in the imaging department. Its Spectra ISP can handle cameras with resolutions of up to 200 MP and 4K video capture at 30 fps. Memory-wise, it supports up to LPDDR5 clocked at 3200 MHz. Other features include USB-C 3.1 and Quick Charge 4+.
Source: Xiaomi on Weibo
Xiaomi has unveiled that their upcoming Redmi Note 13 Pro will be one of the first smartphones sporting the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 system on a chip. The smartphone is the latest edition to Xiaomi’s renowned Redmi Note line which has always struck an enticing balance between performance and affordability. It will be truly exciting to see the chipset at work in the upcoming smartphone.
Honor isn’t holding anything back this year. The smartphone manufacturer has come out guns blazing with a smartphone that may very well be the push it needs to tip over into premium territory. While it’s not their first rodeo, the Honor Magic5 Pro 5G feels like it breaks away from conventional Honor smartphones or maybe it’s the first of a line of smartphones that will revolutionise where Honor stands in the spectrum of smartphones.
The Honor Magic5, truthfully, isn’t the first flagship-class smartphone from Honor. However, it brings together a bevvy of software features that beautifully complement the hardware that comes inside. So, does Honor prove that it has what it takes to be a premium smartphone? We’re about to find out in our in-depth review.
Design
The Honor Magic5 Pro 5G isn’t a smartphone that feels cheap. It’s designed to stand out in more than one way. It’s got heft and a rather larger circular accent where the cameras are housed. While it may seem like the smartphone is rather large, Honor has taken steps to ensure that the smartphone fits nicely into your palm without much hassle. The edges of the back of the phone are slightly curved making it easier to hold.
The smartphone is built to feel sturdy in hand. The back feels sturdy and premium with its aluminium alloy and glass materials. It also feels good in hand and has more grip than other smartphones with similar finishes. The Honor Magic5 Pro is also not on a mission to run away from you when you put it on a flat surface. It does slip off the table or surface any chance it can.
The buttons on the sides of the phone are satisfyingly clicky. There’s enough travel for a satisfying click and the buttons themselves feel sturdy and high quality despite being moulded plastic. Even the frame of the Honor Magic5 Pro is built to last.
Hardware
The Honor Magic5 Pro is stepping out of being a midrange flagship to true flagship territory. It’s got the specification to back that aspiration. Honor is packing the Magic5 Pro with specifications that put other similarly priced smartphones to shame and its software may just be adding to the burn.
3D Time of Flight (TOF) Depth Sensor LED Flash HDR10 Panorama 4K Video recording (30/60fps) 1080p Video recording (30/60fps) Gyro-electronic image stabilization (EIS) 10-bit Video
Accelerometer Proximity Sensor Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass Colour Spectrum sensor Face ID IP68
Miscellaneous
Dual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia)
MYR3,499 (256B + 12GB) MYR4,299 (512GB + 12GB)
Retail Price (US)
EUR€1,199 (512GB + 12GB)
User Interface
Honor’s MagicOS has come leaps and bounds from its humble roots as an offshoot of Huawei’s EMUI. The company has optimised the software to fit their technology needs and has made a seamless, user-friendly experience that translates across the board.
On the Magic5 Pro, MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13 brings a very minimalistic take on stock Android. It delivers key Android features without the flash and opacity of stock Android. Instead, it delivers a thoughtful take on Android with the focus being on simplicity and functionality.
The interface of MagicOS 7.1 is, for better or worse, designed to look similar to iOS. There’s no running from it. There are icons that are similar and even folders have similar functions to iOS. However, Honor brings its own flavour with the fluidity. Using the interface is easy, responsive and very superfluous. Honor puts everything within a single click including an excessive amount of controls in its control centre. Yes – they’ve separated the notification shade and quick toggles. While it is a welcomed separation. The need to remember which side of the screen to swipe to get access to quick settings is irritating.
That isn’t the only change either. Honor is also introducing their own take on widgets called “Cards”. These cards provide some extended functionality compared to widgets. However, they are not resizeable or stackable like regular Android widgets. Fully functional cards allow you to essentially interact with apps without needing to open them. That said, Honor runs the complication of not having this feature fully supported by 3rd party apps. So, in the end, you end up using “traditional widgets” to get the functionality you want.
Customizability is a little limited on MagicOS 7.1 on the Honor Magic5 Pro. While stock Android allows you to customize your colours and accents in the interface, Honor has limited customizability to themes, icon packs and fonts. While it may seem a little limiting, this approach to personalisation allows the interface to remain clean while incorporating elements of the user’s personality. The Always On Display can also be customised to fit the needs of the user as well.
All of these unique features, while not flawless, lend themselves to one of the best iterations of Android I’ve used in quite a while. It’s simple, straight to the point and highly customisable. All characteristics of a user experience that is easy and simple. You can, of course, get all the usual functionalities and complexities of Android but the simple, easy-to-use interface makes it more refreshing.
Performance
Honor’s Magic series has never been a slouch when it comes to performance. However, the Magic5 Pro feels supercharged and on par with other flagships this year partially thanks to the processor within the smartphone. That said, it is more than likely this performance boost more due to the optimisations Honor has included in Magic OS 7.1 and also RAM optimizations.
Multitasking & Productivity
Working on the go or even getting things done in a pinch is not going to be a problem on the Magic5 Pro. The smartphone is built to be a productivity machine even without the stylus support we’ve seen in many other smartphones. Honor has ensured that the phone is able to handle nearly any workload you can throw at it.
When it comes to multitasking, the Honor Magic5 Pro excels. Whether it is jumping between apps in the recent apps interface or even using split screen, the Magic5 Pro is a champion. It is able to multiwindow multitask with a simple gesture. Pulling out the multitasking bar will allow you to launch apps in floating window mode. From the same bar, if you drag the app icon to the active screen, you’ll launch a split screen mode. While it isn’t as intuitive as regular stock Android gestures, it also prevents unwanted launches of apps. It’s also easier to explain to
Multitasking isn’t just about multiple windows, it’s about how the smartphone can handle the stress of running multiple apps at any given time. The Honor Magic5 is able to do this without choking. The processor is pretty powerful and the ample amount of RAM and ability to use dedicated allocations of memory as RAM extension for more when needed is genius. So, if ever the phone begins to choke, you can always increase the RAM to see if it is a memory issue.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Honor Magic5 Pro performs admirably when it comes to connectivity. It supports 4G LTE and 5G connectivity without much issue. WiFi connections were stable with little to no disruptions or disconnects. Mobile data over 5G and 4G LTE were stable and didn’t have many hiccups.
When it comes to calls, the quality on the Magic5 Pro was pretty good. Using Voice over LTE (VoLTE) was seamless and didn’t have any issues. Regular calls were also stable without much distortion. The call quality was good. Users on the other end of the line sounded crisp and clear. The sound quality was warm and full and didn’t sound metallic or distorted.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, the Magic5 Pro had little issues. 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 without some caveats.
The graphical intensity of Genshin Impact did give the Honor Magic5 Pro a run for its money. While the game could be played in near maximum settings, the smartphone did get a little warm. This is even with the refinements that Honor has done to the cooling system in the smartphone. While it’s not very surprising, it was more surprising to go an hour or two without the phone getting any warmer. At no point during the prolonged session did the smartphone get too warm to hold. Of course, this was without charging the phone. We definitely wouldn’t suggest doing that.
With Diablo Immortal on the other hand, the smartphone did struggle a little bit. This was particularly apparent when getting mobbed by demons. There was a point at which the smartphone couldn’t handle the number of events happening on screen and it started lagging. However, this only happened when I decided to accumulate about 100 enemies on the screen before using a skill with AoE damage. That said, once the animations for the attack were over, the game did rebound to be fully playable once again.
Overall, if you’re gaming on the Honor Magic5 Pro, you’re not going to be facing many hiccups. Aside from the two instances mentioned, games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends were able to run for prolonged sessions without issue. The only issue was whether I could handle the length of the gaming session.
Battery Life
Battery life on any Honor smartphone is commendable. However, on the Magic5 Pro, it’s amazing. I found myself charging once every 2 days. This is with 5 Gmail accounts and 7 work emails syncing in the background. Not to mention WhatsApp and Telegram. Honor’s AI technology when it comes to battery optimisation is astounding, to say the least.
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 3.5 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 Magic5 Pro is one of the best we’ve seen in the price range. The OLED panel was able to reproduce colours pretty accurately with enough brightness to be viewable even under direct sunlight. It’s pretty clear that Honor was going all out when it comes to the display as it performed outstandingly well even under harsh sunlight.
The HDR support on the display is a welcomed addition to the panel. Details in dark scenes, like the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones, are noticeable and have enough detail to appreciate. The screen’s high refresh rate was also a boon in games and also when it came to the user interface. Transitions were buttery smooth.
Reading and texting on the Magic5 Pro was a pleasant one. With the TUV Rheinland Certified blue light reduction for eye protection, and also reading modes, I could read on the screen for prolonged periods. My eyes weren’t fatigued even after about 2 hours of reading an ebook. Speaking of, the smartphone does come with an eBook reading mode which turns everything black and brownish mimicking an ebook reader. While this is great for extremely long reading sessions, I wasn’t used to the look of the mode and ended up turning it off after about 15 minutes.
Cameras
The Honor Magic5 Pro comes with a triple camera setup. While it doesn’t come with co-branding like some other smartphone brands, it does deliver rather commendable results. Honor’s decision to go with 50-megapixel sensors across the board does come with some benefits when it comes to the consistency of the pictures and footage that you get from the cameras.
Honor also has some AI magic happening in the background when it comes to the camera. With pixel binning and AI, the camera setup is able to produce pretty sharp and vibrant photographs. The same can be said for the video footage that you get with the smartphone’s cameras. However, the AI can be overly aggressive at times resulting in overly exposed pictures or video.
That said, photos taken with the main camera are vibrant and detailed when you have good lighting. While there is some quality degradation when it comes to darker conditions, the photos still remain relatively detailed. In more challenging lighting conditions, photos can be noisy and blurry. By “more challenging” lighting conditions I mean near pitch black. Other than that, you should be able to get good photos from the camera.
Taking zoomed-in pictures can be a mixed bag with the Honor Magic5 Pro though. The optical zoom gives you decently detailed pictures. However, when you move to zooms beyond the 3.5x, results can be mixed. AI stabilization can only do so much when it comes to zooming in. Pictures beyond 30x zoom are horribly noisy and lack detail. Speaking of AI stabilization, the one on the Magic5 Pro is pretty good. In video mode, when you’re moving at higher magnifications, the AI creates a smooth panning effect to minimize motion blur and dizziness.
Videos taken with the main camera setup are pretty decent. In fact, we’ve shot some of our content using this smartphone – it’s up to you to find out which. The results with good lighting are really good. In fact, it’s probably comparable to some of the other flagship devices which are built specifically for photography. Honor has also baked in the ability to shoot in LOG which allows you to get a pretty colour-accurate video in post-production. LOG shooting will result in a flatter, duller colour profile which allows you to better colour grade after editing.
When it comes to the selfie camera, the Magic5 Pro has a little bit of work to do. While the pictures under good lighting are vivid, robust and detailed, the lower megapixel sensor leaves some space for improvement particularly when it comes to detail. The low light performance is also a little bit lacking on the front camera.
Overall, the Honor Magic5 Pro has a pretty good camera setup given its price point. The robustness of the software and the versatility of the triple camera setup make it a good option for aspiring content creators. It’s also one of the best that we’ve used when it comes to video footage. Honor’s prowess at creating all-rounded cameras is definitely on show with this flagship.
An Honor-able flagship device that proves that the right balance of specifications and software is a winning formula
Honor is putting other “premium” smartphone brands to shame with the Honor Magic5 Pro. It’s proven that the right specifications and a robust but focused approach to software result in a smartphone that can cater to a wider range of users. The Magic5 Pro comes with a feature set that makes it one of the best smartphones for content creators while also being the perfect phone for people wanting to be productive on the go.
Budget smartphones can be a nightmare sometimes. Most of the time we will only recommend a budget smartphone for those who are looking for a secondary device to work with. If you are looking for a daily driver, we would say that you might be much better off spending a little more on mid-range smartphones. It is 2023 though and things change all the time, entry-level smartphones can be good devices now, like this vivo Y78 5G that they just launched.
On paper, it ticks all the right boxes. It has 8GB of RAM, 256GB in storage, Android 14, and even a 64-Megapixel camera. The processor though is not a mid-range system on a chip (SoC) like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 700 series processors. Instead, you get the entry-level Snapdragon 695. That does not mean that you are getting short handed here. You still get 5G connectivity like most modern smartphones do now. It is also capable of taking videos at 4K resolution when you need it to. It will last even longer than most flagships today thanks to its 5,000mAh battery and the fact that the SoC is less power hungry than even the latest mid-range smartphones.
What greets you when you pick up the device is not some random LCD display that offers 720p resolution. You get a proper 120Hz AMOLED experience with a Full HD+ resolution on the 6.78-inch display. There is a 16-Megapixel front facing camera too on top of the display for video conferencing and selfies. Out the back is a 64-Megapixel shooter that is helped also by two other 2-Megapixel cameras for better depth and detailing; that is all you need really.
Within all the glass and aluminium body, you will find a huge 5,000mAh battery as mentioned before. It is not some old battery technology that offers you days of battery life but keeps you near a wall socket when it runs out too. It still offers 44W fast charging to keep charging times below two hours. There is even support for dual-SIM, which is expected these days.
Price and Availability
The Vivo Y78 5G will come in Dreamy Gold and Flare Black colour options. It will set you back MYR 1,399, which is really not a lot of money for a smartphone at this calibre. For more information on the new entry-level smartphone, you can visit Vivo’s website.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S series is getting much-needed housekeeping and streamlining with the introduction of the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Samsung has removed a lot of the confusion and mess that was present in the previous iterations of the Tab S series. Every variant from the base Galaxy Tab S9 to the Tab S9 Ultra has the same design ethos and features unifying the experience across the board.
The Tab S9 series is the first tablet to have an IP68 rating making it water and dust resistant. This also means that you will be able to use Samsung’s latest tablet come rain or shine. The tablet also comes with support for the S Pen. This time, you won’t need to worry about the orientation of the S Pen when attaching it to the back of the tablet to charge it. Samsung has made the charging mechanism for the S Pen orientation independent allowing you to charge it in any orientation. Samsung also announced a special Creator Edition S Pen which comes with better tactility and a wider tilt angle for drawing.
All the variants of the Tab S9 series come with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The base Tab S9 comes with a 11-inch display while the Tab S9+ comes with a 12.4-inch display and the Ultra tops the series out with a 14.6-inch display. The media experience of the Tab S series is rounded off with a quad-speaker setup that is professionally tuned by AKG. The speakers are 20% larger than the previous Tab S and also support Dolby Atmos.
The Galaxy Tab S9 series comes with all the software features we’ve come to expect when it comes to a large-screen experience with Samsung devices. Multiwindow gets an improvement with support for up to 3 simultaneous apps in an organised grid. DeX is also making a comeback on the Tab S9 series bringing a desktop experience to the tablet.
The Tab S9 series comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This is complemented by up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. On the camera end of things, the front camera on the S9 and S9+ is a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera while the S9 Ultra comes with a dual 12-megapixel setup. On the back, the base S9 comes with a single 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor while the S9+ and the S9 Ultra come with a dual sensor setup with a 13-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor.
Samsung is also partnering with apps to bring them exclusively to the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Popular video editing app LumaFusion, note-taking app GoodNotes and CAD and design application ArcSite will be available exclusively on the Tab S9 series with special offers for users with the Tab S9.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Tab S9 series will be available in two colours – Graphite and Beige. In Malaysia, prices for the Galaxy Tab S9 series will start from MYR3,699 while it will retail internationally with prices starting at USD$999. Detailed pricing is in the table below.
Model
RRP
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G with keyboard(512GB)
RM7,149
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G with keyboard (256GB)
RM6,649
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with keyboard (512GB)
RM6,499
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with keyboard (256GB)
RM5,999
Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G with keyboard (512GB)
RM5,849
Galaxy Tab S9+ with keyboard (512GB)
RM5,199
Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G (256GB)
RM5,249
Galaxy Tab S9+ (256GB)
RM4,599
Galaxy Tab S9 5G with keyboard (256GB)
RM4,849
Galaxy Tab S9 with keyboard (256GB)
RM4,199
Galaxy Tab S9 5G (128GB)
RM4,349
Galaxy Tab S9 (128GB)
RM3,699
Preorders for the Tab S9 series start today and end on the 17 of August 2023. Preorders are entitled to a free double storage upgrade worth MYR600, 50% off the Book Cover Keyboard and a free 12-month subscription to Viu. If you buy from the Samsung Online Store you’ll be able to get an MYR100 e-voucher for your next purchase.
Samsung’s foldable devices were one of the first devices to make it on the scene. This year, the company is working on refining the smartphone experience with new software enhancements and features as well as fine-tuning the design with meaningful updates. The new Galaxy Z Flip5 is leading the charge with an even bigger cover display – now known as the FlexWindow and a refined hinge.
The cover display of the Galaxy Z Flip5 has been supersized and replaced with a 3.4-inch display which covers the whole top cover of the smartphone. The new FlexWindow comes with a totally revamped experience with more functional widgets and a whole new user experience. Like its predecessors, the FlexWindow will still support features like using it for epic selfies with FlexCam and glancing notifications. Using gestures, you’ll be able to access features like Samsung Wallet to access IDs, boarding passes and payment cards as well as widgets from your favourite apps.
The second biggest change is the hinge that the Galaxy Z Flip5 uses. Samsung has reduced the number of moving parts in the new Flex hinge. This has not only reduced the thickness of the Flip5 by about 2mm but has also eliminated the gap on the smartphone when closed. Yes – there is no gap in the hinge when closed.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Flip5 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This is complemented by up to 512GB of internal storage and up to 12GB of RAM. The Z Flip5 comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The cover display is a Super AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate.
The main camera of the Flip5 is a dual camera setup with a 12-megapixel wide sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On the front, is a 10-megapixel selfie camera. The new foldable’s cameras come with Nightography which Samsung has been pushing with their flagship Galaxy S23 series and Galaxy A series. It also comes with auto-framing to help enhance the hands-free camera experience with Flex Mode.
This year’s Galaxy Z Flip5 will also be foregoing the BESPOKE edition we’ve come to expect from the Flip line up. Instead, Samsung is introducing the FlipSuit Case which allows you to customise your Flip5 without the hefty price of a new phone. All you have to do is pop on the case and use one of the NFC enabled plates and it will seamlessly synchronise your FlexWindow with the design of the case. Samsung informs us that there will be new designs and exclusive partnerships coming at a later date.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Z Flip5 will be available in Mint, Graphite, Lavender and Cream at launch. Additional colours like Yellow, Green, Gray and Blue are available exclusively on Samsung.com.
In Malaysia, the Flip5 will be retailing at MYR4,499 for the 256GB version and MYR4,999 for the 512GB version. Internationally, it will be available starting at USD$999.
Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 start today and end on August 17 2023. Pre-orders will be entitled to a free double storage upgrade worth MYR500 and up to 40% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy Tablets, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds series. If you pre-order from the Samsung Online Store, you’ll be able to get an e-voucher worth up to MYR600 on your next purchase.
During the pre-order period, trade-ins of older devices will be entitled to an additional rebate of up to MYR600 under the Enhanced Trade-in Program.
