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Samsung Galaxy A53 5G In-Depth Review: A Delicate Balancing Act That Pushes the Mid-range Further

June 30, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

When it comes to smartphones – particularly Android smartphones – you rarely hear of people recommending midrange phones. In fact, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that you will only get recommendations for flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S22+. That seems to be changing now with more and more companies taking the time to develop and release compelling mid-range, affordable smartphones.

Samsung is, arguably, one of the first smartphone manufacturers to rethink their mid-range with the relaunch of the Galaxy A series back in 2017. The company imbued their mid-range flagships – the Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 – with features that made the devices more compelling than before. This year, in 2022, they are taking the term “flagship” even more seriously by bringing features from the Galaxy S series to the Galaxy A series flagships – the Galaxy A73 5G, Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A33 5G.

With a flagship lineup that fits the “affordable” bill at every price point, we’re taking a look at Samsung’s true mid-range – the Galaxy A53. Does the follow-up to the popular Galaxy A52 warrant your hard-earned money? Did Samsung make a truly compelling smartphone that can champion its mid-range? We’re about to break it down in our in-depth review of the smartphone.

Design

Samsung’s adoption of a tick-tock strategy when it comes to design is no big secret. In fact, the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A52 are virtually indistinguishable unless you look at getting their exclusive colours. However, the lack of emphasis on design has actually worked to the smartphone’s advantage – as you will see later in the review.

The overall design language of the Galaxy A52 looks and feels premium. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Galaxy A53 could be a reinvigoration of what we accept a midrange to be. The smartphone doesn’t have the discernible curves we see in flagships, however, the flatter, candy bar design lends itself to better one-handed use and makes it easier to grip. While it may seem blocky and unwieldy, Samsung has put some subtle curvature to the back and frame of the smartphone. These accented curves are a welcomed addition as they allay the digging sensation of sharper angles on a smartphone.

The Galaxy A53 5G is a sleek-looking phone – especially in White. To be very honest, I wasn’t a fan of the white colour of the A53 review unit we got. However, the colour has grown on me during the course of the review. Why? The first reason is that it has stayed white even after our review period. There was no yellowing or stains even after spilling some soy sauce and curry on it. Even when it did seem a little dirty, a quick wipe with a wet wipe or damp cloth got it back to the brilliant white that came out of the box.

The front of the smartphone is nearly completely covered by the screen. There are minute, 2mm bezels which frame the screen but they do little to dull the visual experience of the smartphone overall. On the back, the sleek white covers 100% of the phone. The small camera hump is hidden by the smooth curves that minimise the visibility of the raised module. It does this so well that you sometimes forget that it’s there when looking at the device. The buttons on the A53 5G are also clicky and, thanks to the colour combinations, add to the sleek outlook of the smartphone overall. The White version we have has a silver frame with the buttons.

Yes, Samsung does check all the boxes when it comes to the aesthetics of the device. However, if there is one nitpick I have with the phone, it’s that it’s comically light. While it’s not a deal breaker, the added heft would have made the phone feel just a little bit more premium. Of course, it’s also because the device itself is made primarily out of plastic.

Hardware

The design is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Galaxy A53 5G. It’s also been supped up with some of the better midrange hardware on the market. While it’s not revolutionary and coming with a flagship processor, Samsung has equipped the mid-ranger with enough oomph for it to stand out among its competition.

Specifications

Processor	Exynos 1280 (5nm) [Octa-Core: 2×2.4GHz Cortex A-78, 6×2.0GHz Cortex A55]
RAM	4GB *8GB (As Tested)*
Memory	128GB 256GB (As Tested)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Mali-G68
Display	Super AMOLED panel 6.5-inch (~405 ppi) 1080×2400 pixels FHD+ resolution 20:9 Aspect Ratio 120Hz Refresh rate HDR 800 nits peak brightness
Operating System	Android 12 with One UI 4.1
Battery	5,000mAh Fast Charging (25W)
Connectivity	Nano SIM 5G/4G LTE/HSPA/GSM Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS A2DP Bluetooth 5.1 LE OTG Support USB 2.0 (Type-C)
Camera	REAR: Quadruple Sensor: 64-Megapixel (Wide) f/1.8, 1/1.7X″, 26mm, 0.8µm Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) 12-Megapixel (Ultrawide) f/2.2, 1/3.94″, 123˚, 1.12µm Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) 5-Megapixel (Macro) f/2.4 5-Megapixel (Depth) f/2.4 LED Flash HDR Panorama 4K Video recording (30fps) 1080p Video recording (30/60fps) Gyro-electronic image stabilization (EIS) Stereo Sound Recording FRONT: 32-Megapixel (Wide) f/2.2, 26mm, 1/2.8”, 0.8µm 4K video recording (30fps) 1080p (30fps)
Sensor	Accelerometer Virtual Proximity Sensing Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass Barometer
Miscellaneous	Dual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia)	(128GB) MYR 1,849 (256GB)
Retail Price (US)	USD$ 349.99 (128GB) (256GB)

User Interface

The Galaxy A53 5G comes with a scaled-back version of One UI 4.1 that we saw in the Samsung Galaxy S22 series. However, Samsung hasn’t slammed the brakes on this version like it has in previous versions. Instead, the version of One UI 4.1 is more feature rich than the ones we’ve seen in the Galaxy A series before.

On the surface, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Galaxy A53 and any other Samsung device. However, when you look a little closer, features like Samsung DeX are noticeably absent. That said, the lack of these features doesn’t really take away from the overall experience of using the A53 as a daily driver.

Like the version of One UI 4.1 that comes with the S22 series, the Galaxy A53’s version brings the same refinement to the experience. It marries the feature-rich elements of One UI with the refinement that comes with stock Android 12. This complementary approach to One UI allows the device to feel more cohesive than previous mid-range offerings. Elements like Dynamic Widgets and colour palettes bring a layer of personalisation that makes the device feel uniquely yours.

The updated look and feel of One UI 4.1 also brings a sense of refinement that was sorely missing before. The interface doesn’t feel childish or cartoon-like anymore. Instead, it feels like Samsung did put some time and thought into the look and feel of the user interface. It feels more cohesive and well-rounded than other Galaxy A series. It’s also more stable and nimbler. Animations have been optimised to make the phone feel faster and don’t weigh it down.

Performance

Historically, Samsung’s A series never had a device that brought more than just an iterative update and core features. That said, this year’s Galaxy A53 5G made us do a double take when it comes to day-to-day performance in nearly every aspect. Overall, it performed pretty well, striking a balance between battery life, features and day-to-day performance.

Multitasking & Productivity

The Galaxy A53 5G is a smartphone that brings all the core features you’d want in a smartphone. It adopts a lot of the features that you need for a smartphone that allows you to be productive on the go. It’s inherited the essentials from the Galaxy S series and adapts it to fit the users’ needs.

The only jarring omission when it comes to multitasking in the A53 is the lack of Samsung DeX which has become a hallmark feature for multitasking on Galaxy smartphones. That said, other features like multiwindow and split screen multitasking do make it into the smartphone. To be honest, the Galaxy A53 is an exercise in restraint when it comes to features and it also proves that there are some features in the Galaxy S that help elevate the experience but are not essential.

During the review period, the Galaxy A53 was able to withstand my daily demands for a daily driver. Syncing multiple emails, having multiple chat apps and even consuming media wasn’t much of a task for the A53. It excelled when multitasking. The overall experience was smooth and, most importantly, functional. I was able to get things done when I needed to without much hassle and the smartphone wasn’t dragging its feet either.

That said, there were a few instances where the smartphone did chug a little. This occurred primarily when using split screen applications. Word processing and messaging apps were fine. However, when it came to using messaging apps or word processing apps in split screen mode with a media-heavy app like YouTube or even the video player, the Galaxy A53 did struggle – but only a little bit. It wasn’t overtly unusable, but it did get a little annoying. That said, this only happened once or twice during my week using it.

Samsung has brought Link to Windows and the ability to receive calls on other devices to the Galaxy A series this year as well. These features are a boon to the A53. Having the ability to respond to messages and transfer files using Link to Windows makes being productive even easier. Screen mirroring via the Link to Windows feature has also made it easier to get things done. If you’re using a Samsung Tablet, the ability to take a call while using the tablet is a welcomed addition too. It actually stops you from panicking and looking for your smartphone all the time; allowing you to focus on the task at hand.

Call Quality & Connectivity

Being a smartphone, it comes as no surprise that the Galaxy A53 is able to handle calls seamlessly. Thankfully, I was able to test the smartphone over 4G LTE and 5G networks. The call quality on both connections was crisp and clear. The audio was a little bit metallic at times but that didn’t hinder the usage. Of course, the call quality was very dependent on the quality of the cell signal. Since Malaysia is still in the early days when it comes to the 5G rollout, the signal for 5G was pretty spotty. However, the Galaxy A53 was able to handle the constant network changes without impacting the battery life too much. Even switching between SIM cards was pretty seamless on the A53.

Samsung has equipped the A53 with more than just the necessities when it comes to connectivity. Bluetooth 5.1, LE, WiFi 6 and GPS are all along for the ride and they all performed well when connectivity was stable. Bluetooth 5.1 and LE allowed me to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro with the smartphone. The connectivity was pretty stable, and it could remain connected for further ranges than other smartphones. WiFi was also very stable when connected. With Smart connect, the phone was able to intelligently jump between known WiFi networks and mobile which allowed me to be connected all the time.

Gaming

Gaming on the Galaxy A53 5G is a mixed bag. While it does have the specs for a decent gaming experience, it stumbles with some of the more demanding games out there. I was hoping to be able to test it further with Diablo Immortal, but Blizzard has delayed that game until July.

The Galaxy A53 5G didn’t fall flat on its face. It just struggled when games got increasingly more detailed in graphics. This isn’t really surprising as the chipset isn’t the top of the line but it does take away from the overall experience of the smartphone. That said, it’s not a deal breaker.

Playing games like PUBG mobile and Free Fire were a little bit of a challenge for the hardware but with the setting put down a notch, it was able to perform well. In fact, compared to some of the competition out there, it performed better. The graphics was smooth though not as detailed as it was on the S22+ but there was little tearing and ghosting. This is mostly thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate of the smartphone’s Super AMOLED display. However, when it came to games like Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds, it did seem like the phone responded slower initially. Samsung seems to have addressed this issue with a software update.

When it comes to cooling, the smartphone did get a little warm when gaming. While it never became uncomfortable to hold, it did get warm enough to become finger warmers. It is understandable considering the heat dissipation of the S53 isn’t cutting edge, but I would advise against gaming and charging the smartphone at the same time.

Battery Life

If there was one area where the Galaxy A53 excelled, it would be the battery life. Throughout my review period, I was consistently only charging the smartphone once in two days on average. Of course, if there was gaming involved, this would be substantially shorter. This could be due to the more efficient 5nm architecture of the Exynos 1280, but it’s more likely due to the Galaxy A53’s optimizations and 5,000mAh battery size.

While it may seem like the smartphone is overly aggressive on optimisations, the truth is that it isn’t. I was consistently getting notifications for social media and my messaging apps like Telegram on the A53 before the S22+. That said, the two day battery life of the A53 isn’t anything new for A series. It has had good battery life for more than 2 iterations already.

Display

Samsung opted to use the Super AMOLED panel in the Galaxy A53 5G. While this isn’t the best panel on the market right now, it does allow the A53 to strike a delicate balance of being feature rich and affordable. The Super AMOLED panel provides enough brightness to be visible under direct sunlight. Although, a teeny bit more lumens would have been ideal. It’s also got pretty good colour reproduction. While it isn’t 100%, you won’t know what you’re missing unless you work with colours on a regular basis. Of course, out of the box, the settings of the display are typical AMOLED with blown-out reds and oversaturated pictures. However, a simple tweak in the settings allows you to have better, more true-to-life colours.

Reading and texting on the display was a pleasant experience. Even over long hours of reading ebooks, my eyes didn’t feel fatigued even with eye comfort turned off. The eye comfort mode brings a degree more comfort, but it also turned the display a little too yellow for my liking. HDR compatibility of the display also lent itself to better viewing and gaming experiences overall. The display combined with the Dolby Atmos sound compatibility gave an immersive experience that we expected from flagship smartphones.

Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy A53 comes with a robust quad camera setup that brings multiple modes and shooting photo possibilities. What’s surprising is that the smartphone comes with a larger 64-megapixel sensor for its main sensor – at least when it comes to pixel count – compared to the Galaxy S22+. However, the sensor pixel count is only one of the many factors that create a good camera experience. The A53’s main sensor is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5-megapixel depth sensor and a 5-megapixel macro sensor.

While the pixel count of the main sensor is larger than most, the smaller pixel size poses a challenge when it comes to details and sharpness. Samsung uses its Galaxy AI and pixel binning to help optimise this. In essence, it stitches multiple pixels to absorb more light and produce more detail in pictures. This technology actually makes the A53’s setup one of the best we’ve seen so far among the smartphones in its category. Pictures taken in auto mode are crisp and detailed with little to no blurring and detail loss.

Galaxy AI is the hallmark function of the camera. Samsung has brought a lot of the software features that was once thought to be reserved for its flagships to the Galaxy A53 5G. Features like single take and even pro-mode makes a full-featured debut with the new A series. These software features not only bring a whole new level of photography to the smartphone, it empowers content creation and creativity.

The pictures taken with the main camera array of the Galaxy A53 are detailed and crisp with good lighting. You can zoom into the photos to see details. However, this detail and sharpness is lost when you start using the digital zoom beyond 2x. Of course, this is expected but it becomes a handicap only because other comparable smartphones have some form of optical zoom. That said, the overall performance is actually pretty impressive. You don’t have long processing times when you take pictures; something that has become a hallmark of smartphones in the same class.

Under low light, the sensors are good but not great. With their focus on Nightography for their flagships, we expected some of the innovations that drive that focus to trickle down to the Galaxy A series but that didn’t happen. That said, low light photography isn’t a write off. Photos taken under low-light are decent, not too detailed but usable. They can be blurry and fuzzy in poor lighting conditions.

When it comes to the front 32-megapixel camera, the Galaxy A53 continues to inherit the selfie DNA of the Galaxy A series. Photos taken with the front camera are crisp and clear – perhaps a little clearer than the main sensor. However, under low light, there is a lot to be desired. Again, low light pictures can be blurry and lack detail.

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The Galaxy A53 5G is able to shoot up to 4K UHD resolution at 30fps when it comes to videos. The main sensor produces pretty respectable videos with enough detail. However, it may not be the best when it comes to becoming a main camera for content. If you’re looking for one that can – you’d be better off with A73 or a flagship S series.

A Redefining Device for the mid-range; transforming a drab, uninspired offering into a flagship experience that brings more than just basic functionality

Samsung proves it’s taking mid-range smartphones seriously with the new approach to the Galaxy A series. The Galaxy A53 5G is an epitome of that being in the middle of the new offerings this year. Even with the scaled back specifications, the Galaxy A53 5G has proven that the software does revolutionise the overall experience for users. A feature-rich software experience puts every capability at your fingertips and could be the tipping point for users getting this smartphone instead.

The Galaxy A53 is truly an exercise in striking a balance. Samsung does a delicate teetering between providing the features users are looking for and the price they are willing to pay for it. The A53 brings a robust set of features both in hardware and software that allow it an edge over the competition. It’s not sacrificing much in the way of camera features and overall performance when it comes down to it. There is space for improvement, but it’s a leap in the correct direction for the company when it comes to their mid-range. It makes the A53 one of the most exciting offerings when it comes to smartphones in the mid-range.

Business, News

Samsung Launches First Premium Experience Store in Malaysia

June 29, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung Malaysia isn’t a stranger when it comes to launching experience stores. However, since its first Experience store launch, the company has evolved into one that offers more than just mobile experiences. In Malaysia, at least, there hasn’t been a store which showcases the full range of Samsung offerings including their smartphones, TVs and household appliances.

Samsung Malaysia is changing that with the launch of their new Premium Experience Store. The store sees Samsung collaborating with local retail giant Senheng to showcase all of Samsung’s offerings. The new Samsung Premium Experience Store is located at ground floor of theShoppes at Four Seasons Place which is nestled in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The store covers a humungous 5,399 sqft and not only showcases Samsung’s extensive offerings but also contains experience zones for customers to get the full experience.

Edward Han President Samsung Malaysia Electronics 1 — Source: Samsung

“We are excited for this collaboration with Senheng that extends on our long-term partnership to enhance Samsung consumers’ experiences. At Samsung, people are at the centre of everything we do. Everything that we are doing today is being designed to enrich people’s lives in ways that matters the most and provide a healthier environment”

Edward Han, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics

The store is also the first to showcase Samsung’s new BESPOKE line up. Walking in, you will be able to see Samsung’s BESPOKE refrigerators, the BESPOKE AirDresser and even the BESPOKE Jet vacuums. The store itself has six experiential zone which showcase different products and experiences including mobile, Neo QLED 8K TV, Lifestyle TVs and more.

Accessories, Lifestyle, News

Samsung Announces Creator Focused ViewFinity S8 Monitor

June 20, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung seems to be on a roll with all their products this year. The company has only just announced some of the most compelling lifestyle products with the expansion of their BESPOKE line up and their new Smart TV offerings. However, it looks like the company isn’t done just yet. Samsung has announced a brand-new, high resolution display with certified colour accuracy aimed at creators.

The new ViewFinity S8 brings 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut with 5ms gray to gray response times. The display seems to want to take on Apple’s Pro XDR display with high resolution IPS panels. The panels come with 1000:1 contrast ratios and a UHD resolution of 3840×2160 pixels.

It will be available in two sizes: 32-inch and 27-inch. Unlike Samsung’s Odyssey G8 monitors, the ViewFinity monitors are flat panels. However, they are made for productivity – particularly if you need colour accuracy. The display is certified by PANTONE and can even support the new 110 colours introduced in PANTONE’s SkinTone Guide. It is also HDR capable; with the 32-inch supporting VESA’s HDR 600 standard while the 27-inch supports HDR 400.

The ViewFinity S8 Monitors come with a matte display which is also UL certified to be Glare Free. The matte finish helps disperse glaring lights while preserving colour integrity and reducing eye strain. It also comes with Adaptive Picture which optimises settings to suit your content while preserving eye health and also Eye Saver mode which reduces blue light exposure significantly. The monitors are also flicker free to reduce eye strain.

When it comes to connectivity, the ViewFinity S8 comes with 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI port and 1 USB-C. Connecting via USB-C enables deeper colour accuracy and up to 10Gbps data transfers. It also comes with a USB Hub feature which allows you to connect USB interfaces to your computer via the monitor.

The monitors also come with an environmentally aware, ergonomic design. Samsung has developed and incorporated new materials made from ocean-bound plastics to help reduce marine waste. These plastics are not only used in the body of the monitor but also in some of the more crucial components of the monitor. They are also more power efficient than before with Samsung’s Eco Savings Plus technology which reduces pixel brightness in sections of the image with black pixels for up to 10% more power savings.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung ViewFinity S8 will be available in 32-inch and 27-inch sizes. It is currently available in South Korea for KRW820,000 (MYR2,794.88/USD$634.94) and KRW720,000 (MYR2,454.51/USD$557.60) respectively.

The monitors will be available globally according to regions starting in June 2022.

Official Specifications

Android, Mobile, News

Samsung’s Galaxy M53 5G Available for Pre-order in Malaysia

June 14, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung’s Galaxy M lineup was initially launched back in 2019 to serve an online-only market alongside the Galaxy A series. However, it seems like the Galaxy M is starting to encroach upon the Galaxy A series territory with its latest release – the Galaxy M53 5G.

in feature galaxy m53 5g sm m536 532244496 — Source: SenHeng/SenQ

The new smartphone comes with a 6.7-inch, FHD+ SuperAMOLED+ display. It comes with a resolution of 1080×2408 pixels and also Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy M53 will be running on the MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor with support for 5G connectivity. The 6nm processor promises more efficient power management which should mean better battery life with the 5000mAh battery.

The Galaxy M53 5G comes with a quad-camera setup for its main camera. The main camera sensor is a 108-megapixel wide angle sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 2-megapixel macro camera sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the front is a 32-megapixel sensor for all your selfie needs.

in feature galaxy m53 5g sm m536 532194899 — Source: SenHeng/SenQ

Connectivity-wise, it’s capable of Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6 connectivity and your regular GPS connectivity. It has support for 25W fast charging via its USB-C port.

However, that’s not where the phone encroaches on Galaxy A territory; the phone is now available for pre-order from Senheng for MYR1,999. That’s just shy of the MYR2,099 of the Galaxy A73 and more expensive than the Galaxy A53. While the Galaxy A does offer more in terms of software and features, the Galaxy M53 does have a lot of the software features that we see in the Galaxy A and Galaxy S series. So, where does the line stand with the Galaxy A and Galaxy M? Will you be getting it?

Lifestyle, News

Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED TVs Make Malaysian Debut

June 7, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED TVs are finally making their way to Malaysia after their announcement in January at CES 2022. The new lineup brings an extensive list of enhancements focused on enhancing the entertainment experience as well as adapting one of the most ubiquitous screens to your lifestyle.

Samsung Malaysia Neo QLED 2022 Launch 2 — Calvert Yap (Head of TV, Audio Visual, Samsung Malaysia), Jimmy Tan (Head of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Malaysia), Edward Han (President, Samsung Malaysia) and Sunghwan Joo (Director of Audio Visual Division, Samsung Malaysia) at the launch gambit of the Neo QLED 8K TV

The new Neo QLED TVs come with a new Neo QLED 8K processor which ups the ante when it comes to image quality. The new Neural Quantum Processor 8K has been enhanced with a new algorithm called the Real Depth Enhancer. This dynamically scans the screen and maximizes the contrast between the object and the background of the scene making the object pop. It also adds a level of clarity and makes the image more realistic in a natural way. Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs are using also a lot more dynamic and reactive as the screens are able to create localised dark zones with the Mini LED technology. The increased precision allows for better, more realistic details and a more natural image as contrast and back-lighting is controlled on a per pixel basis. This year’s QLED TVs are also the first to be PANTONE verified for colour accuracy.

Together with the enhanced technology of the Neo QLED TVS, Samsung is also introducing features that will allow the TV to adapt to its users seamlessly. The TVs now come with features that will not only allow you to be more immersed in your content but also adapt to your work environment. The new line up of Samsung Neo QLED TVs come with features such as Google Duo which will allow you to take and make video calls from the TV with a webcam. In addition to that, DeX is also making its big screen debut and will allow you to use you screen as desktop for remote work. It will also bring a seamless second display experience that will help you get things done more efficiently.

Samsung Malaysia Neo QLED 2022 Launch 4 — Jimmy Tan (Head of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Malaysia) and Edward Han (President, Samsung Malaysia) showcasing the Neo QLED 8K Flagship TV

With accessories like the webcam, the new Neo QLED TVs are here to help you get in better shape. Samsung is bringing even more features that will help you exercise and get fit with your TV. In fact, you’ll be able to get tips on how to improve your form straight from the TV as you workout. Of course, sometimes we prefer working out while watching our favourite shows, with Multiview, you’ll be able to watch up to 4 screens at the same time. So, you’ll be able to watch your stocks, Netflix, workout and be on the video call all at the same time.

There’s a whole lot of improvements that have been baked into the new 2022 Samsung QLED TV lineup – you’ll be able to get the full breakdown in our coverage of the CES announcement.

Pricing and Availability

Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs are already available in Malaysia together with the updated versions of their lifestyle TVs: The Frame, The Serif and The Sero.

Model	RRP (MYR)
85-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900B	49,999
75-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900B	34,999
65-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900B	23,999
85-inch Neo QLED 8K QN800B	33,999
75-inch Neo QLED 8K QN800B	24,999
65-inch Neo QLED 8K QN800B	18,999
55-inch Neo QLED 8K QN700B	12,499

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile

Meet The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 – A Mid Range All-Rounder

May 12, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung has been creating waves and making its mark with its tablets – notably, the Galaxy Tab S series which pushes the boundaries of multitasking and productivity. However, what happens if we want the portability and versatility of a tablet but don’t have the moolah for a Tab S7 or Tab S8? Well, you have the Galaxy Tab A series, which brings all the essentials that make up the core Galaxy Tab experience.

The Galaxy Tab A8 was released worldwide earlier this year in January. It comes with a UNISOC Tiger T618 Quadcore processor. While this may seem a bit out of sorts for Samsung, the SoC isn’t a slouch. According to reviews, it is comparable with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665. It has the Mali G52 MP2 graphics processor and is paired with up to 4GB RAM on the Tab A8. With up to 128GB of internal storage and support for microSD cards, the A8 is looking to be a contender for a top performing mid-range tablet.

The Tab A8 is equipped with a sizeable, 10.5-inch TFT LCD display which brings pretty good colour reproduction and accuracy. However, we’ll wait to make a judgement in our upcoming review. The WUXGA resolution of 1200×1920 pixels with a 16:10 aspect ratio promises a level of immersion that we once thought was reserved for flagships. Samsung completes the Tab A8’s media prowess with a quad speaker setup and Dolby Atmos sound.

It also comes with a conventional single camera setup with an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the back with autofocus capabilities. It can also shoot videos at 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second. On the front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie camera which can also shoot 1080p at 30 fps.

Connectivity on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 shouldn’t be an issue. It’s equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 6 and GPS connectivity. Don’t need to worry about battery life too as Samsung claims that the tablet can last for hours on end with its 7,040 mAh battery. This is also thanks to the tablet supporting 15W fast charging via USB-C. The tablet is also one of Samsung’s lightest coming in at only 508g.

These specifications are just the surface of what the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 can do. We’ll be giving it the techENT review treatment soon. So stay tuned!

Official Specifications

01 galaxy tab a8 specification infographic 1 — Source: Samsung

Android, Editorial, Mobile, Reviews

Samsung Galaxy S22+ In-Depth Review: The Latest Refinement With A Little Bit More to Be Desired

April 29, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been the hallmark of its smartphones since it first debuted in 2010. It’s been the company’s “IT” device housing the latest in technological innovations and software. This year, with the Galaxy S22 series we saw Samsung do something a little bit unconventional for the smartphone manufacturer, we saw them stick to a signature design and fold their Galaxy Note into the Galaxy S series. It’s also the first series to release with the new RDNA powered Exynos SoC with Xclipse GPU. However, that version of the S22 series is only available in Europe.

With that said, the Galaxy S22 series as a whole holds much promise as Samsung’s latest flagship, but we’re zooming into the S22+, the middle child of the lineup. It’s a blown-up S22, but is it only that? Does it have something else that sets it apart from the S22? That’s what we’re breaking down in our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S22+.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S22+ is the epitome of a tick-tock strategy when it comes to design. It inherits most, if not all of the design language of the S21 series. Everything from the unique, two-colour colourway to the rounded edges of the smartphone makes a triumphant return to the smartphone. However, that doesn’t mean that Samsung didn’t make changes to the design at all. The biggest change when it comes to the S22+ is the less rounded edges of the screen, particularly where it meets the metal frame. While the S21 opted for a more curved design, the S22+ has a more angled design which is, ironically, more palmable. The sharper angle also allows you to have a better grip when holding the phone.

Aside from this, there really is nothing too significant when it comes to the overall design. While there are smaller bezels and thinner camera humps, these changes don’t really make an impact on the overall design. That said, the small tweaks that Samsung did do with the design make enough of an impact to make it feel totally different.

Perhaps the most impactful change is the change of materials from yesteryear’s glasstic to Gorilla Glass. The small change does make the smartphone feel a little bit more premium. The aluminium frame complements this pretty well and makes the smartphone feel like a true premium flagship. While we do commend the change, it does mean that it’s pretty much more of the same when it comes to design.

Hardware

While the design is more of the same, Samsung upped the ante when it came to the hardware of the Samsung Galaxy S22+. That said, the Exynos version with the new AMD RDNA based Xclipse graphics is only available in Europe. The rest of us get the version with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It’s a real bummer we didn’t’ get to try out Samsung’s new Exynos, the Snapdragon version seems to be more than good enough to fill its shoes.