TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, LinkedIn – we can’t deny that social media is everywhere nowadays. It wasn’t that long ago when we could only find celebrities from magazines, TV shows and movies. Today, we’ve got the power of becoming a celebrity in the palm of your hands – literally. We’re so intertwined with social media that we need a companion that can adapt and allow us to shoot and edit on the fly. This is where Samsung’s new Galaxy AI-enabled Galaxy Z Flip6 comes in with its nifty tricks and practical features.
I’m not joking when I say that the Galaxy Z Flip6 is one of the most compact smartphones available right now. It literally is the size of your palm when it’s closed. It’s not just small – it’s powerful. A compact powerhouse that is packing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – the latest high-end processor. It’s thanks to this the Flip6 can run apps like Adobe Rush or CapCut without breaking a sweat.
50-Megapixel Dual Sensor Camera When You Capture
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, before we edit we need to shoot. The Flip6 comes with a dual camera setup that has a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. This setup is not only versatile, it’s got enough megapixels to capture every detail. You’ll be able to use this dual setup even when you’re in front of the camera thanks to Flex Cam- a signature for all Z Flip series phones.
Auto Zoom & Flex Mode When You’re Creating
This year we get a little bit more with Auto Zoom. The new feature makes sure that you get the whole picture – whether it’s a wefie or a full-body shot. You’ll also be able to shoot video like a pro with the Flex Mode Camcorder grip too. The mode allows you to have a better grip when shooting video minimizing unwanted shaking and putting you in control.
Did I forget? You’ll be using a large 3.4-inch display as a cover screen with 1600 nits peak brightness. Not only will be able to see what you’re capturing; You’ll be able to see it even under direct sunlight.
Galaxy AI When You’re Editing or Just Need Some Spice
Got the perfect pic but something’s in the background? Galaxy AI in the Galaxy Z Flip6 allows you to remove it with a simple long press. If that doesn’t do it, you can circle to highlight what you want gone. Galaxy AI won’t only remove it, it’ll make it seem like it was never there, to begin with. Maybe you don’t want to get rid of it totally, but just replace it with something else; Galaxy AI definitely has your back with Generative Fill.
Captured a picture that’s missing that special something? Galaxy AI is coming to your rescue in the Flip6. You can literally sketch anything! I mean look at this… I sketched the vaguest piggy… and it created a happy one to accompany me during coffee! Want to turn that funny picture into a sticker? Long press and tap. That’s all it takes. Galaxy AI will do the rest.
Don’t feel like posting a selfie? You can use Samsung’s Portrait Studio to generate illustrated pictures of yourself. You’ll be able to choose from one of five styles and Galaxy AI will do the rest. This feature has to be one of the most fun Galaxy AI features you have on this phone. It’s a blast when you’ve got a kid around and you use this. It’ll keep them entertained for a hot second!
These features are just some of the features that will help you create posts that will get you those likes. Perhaps the best reason the Galaxy Z Flip6 is going to be your social media pal is the fact that it has a battery that can last more than 9 hours on a single charge even when you’re busy making content. I’m pretty sure you’ll even be taking your social media game to the next level with awesome pictures and even some funny ones courtesy of your Galaxy Z Flip6.
As Foldable smartphones become more mainstream, we see brands push to stand out from the crowd with everything but the kitchen sink. Large cover displays, even larger cover displays, interactive cover screens, and even fully interactive home screens built for flip phones. Each one seems to be “better” than the rest.
So how’s Samsung looking to separate itself from the pack? Well, it seems like this year, it’s all about Galaxy AI. Samsung’s approach to integrating generative AI experiences is what stands out, but is that enough to justify the increased price point? We’re looking to answer that with our in-depth review of the Galaxy Z Flip6.
Design
Samsung’s latest approach to flip phones isn’t turning its tried and true form factor on its head in any way. In fact, the company is doubling down on the design cues it introduced with the Z Flip5 and is using them to bring even more software features that make the experience more refined. Let’s start off with the cover screen – the surface we’re sure you’ll be interacting with the most. It’s the same design as last year’s Flip5, with the same folder-esque design that allows a sneak peek into your smartphone. However, Samsung has brought some, more thoughtful experiences to the cover screen allowing you to access more with one screen and reduce swiping between panels. We’ll cover this more extensively in the software portion of the review.
The biggest difference you may notice from the get-go is the slimmer form factor of the Galaxy Flip6. While there’s no change in the actual measurements, Samsung’s new design approach has definitely given the appearance of the phone itself being slimmer and easier to manoeuvre in one hand. There’s more traction when you grip the phone and it feels – somehow – more ergonomic. This is largely due to the more angular design of the phone overall; something we saw even with the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year.
That said, the best improvement comes in the improvements that come with the hinge. While outwardly there doesn’t seem to be much in terms of visual updates. Samsung has updated the hinge mechanism to be more efficient and have a simpler design. This has translated into a phone that is a lot lighter than its predecessor. Not only that, the crease which has become the one pain point in any foldable smartphone is less apparent even after prolonged use over 2-3 weeks. While it is visible at some angles, there is less of a palpable dip where the crease is.
Lastly, when it comes to design, I, personally am in love with the new colour offerings from Samsung. The new more muted pastel colours are definitely more aesthetic and fitting for the Flip line which has become Samsung’s “express yourself” foldable. My personal favourite at the time of writing is the Blue and Mint. However, the crafted black is a close second to these. The introduction of the more masculine “Crafted Black” is also a plus for the Z Flip6.
Hardware
Samsung isn’t just showing some change in the design aesthetics of the Z Flip6, it’s also bringing some much-needed updates to the Flip’s hardware giving it more versatility and power under the hood. These improvements don’t necessarily revolutionize the user experience much, but some of them do impact the features and the user experience.
Samsung’s One UI interface has unified the user experience across devices – more or less. The near-homogenous experience is not a bad thing as users coming from a standard smartphone have less of a hurdle adapting to the new smartphone. However, the unified UI appearance also hides the many improvements that Samsung has made on a software level when it comes to One UI.
Let’s start off with the accessibility upgrades that come with One UI 6.1.1 – this also applies to Samsung flagships like the S24 series. The notification shade of One UI 6.1.1 is more useful. The screen brightness slider is also equipped with quick toggles for dark mode and eye comfort when you open the full notification shade. On top of that, Samsung has updated the design to be cleaner and less cluttered overall. The quick toggles are stored within their own space. This has been made a little further from surrounding items and in a different shade for better visual separation. It also makes sure you know exactly how many quick toggles you have and allows you sort it the way you like it.
Aside from this, Samsung has been hard at work improving foldable device experiences when it comes to its UX. This started with Samsung’s version of Android 12L which optimised Android itself for better large screen experiences. With the Flip6, Samsung perfects these optimisations even more with new modes and ways to use the smartphone.
Of course, like all Flip devices in the past, you’re able to use the smartphone semi-folded with the lower screen becoming a touchpad in FlexMode. However, Samsung has made this feature even more useful when it comes to the camera app. For people like me who have shaky hands, you’ll be able to have a little better control with a more camcorder-like interface when you have the Flip6 semi-open. This will hopefully give you more stability but it also gives you easier access to all your camera settings easily when shooting.
In addition to this, One UI on the cover screen comes with a whole slew of new optimizations that allow you to make the Z Flip6 truly yours. The extensive customizability starts with the screen saver where you’ll be able to choose from a vast selection of wallpapers and set it up the way you want it. This also plays into Samsung’s Flipsuit cases which bring a new level of interactivity when it comes to personalization. That said, the biggest change is the useful addition of multiple widgets into one screen – something we’ll go into further detail in the multitasking section.
Performance
The performance of Samsung’s Flip series is now truly on par with Samsung’s other flagships in all aspects aside from the camera. This also includes the introduction of features that extend the user experience and tweaks that make the smartphone more efficient when it comes to battery life while squeezing every ounce of performance from the hardware.
Multitasking & Productivity
Multitasking and productivity have become a mainstay in any version of One UI. However, there haven’t been many features that have made the Flip a multitasking device until now – this is particularly true when it comes to the improvements on the cover display.
The interface on the cover display comes with a new mode which allows you to set up multiple widgets on a single tile. This has been one of the most impactful features of the Flip6. You’ll be able to set up to four compatible widgets on a cover screen tile. This allows you to get all of the information you need from things like Samsung Health at one go or set up a screen with quick widgets to use apps like recorder. This came in clutch for me on multiple occasions when I was doing interviews – it made things quick and efficient, to say the least.
In addition to this, the Galaxy Z Flip6 comes with the usual split-screen features that we’re used to seeing in any smartphone. This allows you to use two apps simultaneously when needed. Need more? The popup window will allow you one additional window. That said, these run-of-the-mill productivity features are just par for the course of any smartphone at this point.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Flip6 has crisp call quality and a bevvy of connectivity options including 5G as we would expect from an industry leader like Samsung. The Z Flip6 that we got for review isn’t the usual one for the Malaysian market with dual SIM capabilities. However, you could use the eSIM capabilities of the smartphone to get the same result.
Being a flagship device, it comes as no surprise that the Z Flip6 comes with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect when it comes to connectivity. As mentioned, it comes with 5G support which gives you access to blazing fast speeds where available. In addition to this, you have WiFi 6e support (yes, tech enthusiasts it only has WiFi 6e and not WiFi 7; maybe next year?). This should give you enough speed over WiFi to download apps in the blink of an eye – aside from games, those may take several blinks. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.3 and LE support which is audio devices.
Speaking of audio devices, Bluetooth performance on the Flip6 is pretty good. You can high fidelity audio thanks to AptX and it translates when you use a good set of headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and HiFi audio streaming apps like TIDAL. There are hardly any signal drops or packet losses and the audio stream is still stable across 1 or 2 rooms.
Gaming
Gaming on the Galaxy Z Flip6 is a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong – the phone performs well – but my focus on making sure I don’t do irreversible damage to it detracts from the gaming experience.
Let’s be straight – there’s no two ways about it. The Flip6 has the insides to perform swimmingly when it comes to games. I mean, I did test it with games like Solo Levelling and Diablo Immortal. These games played well with literally no problems when it came to rendering and fluidity. That said, it did get a bit warm which is to be expected. Even on high-speed games like Need For Speed and Asphalt 8 there was little to no visual aberrations. In fact, on racing games, the phone felt cooler which is to be expected as games like Solo Levelling and Diablo Immortal have many items on the screen at once.
However, the gaming experience for me is affected by my own concerns about the hinge and damaging it. While the hinge is markedly improved from the Flip5, I still can’t get the feeling that if I’m a little too rough with the phone it will affect the hinge – especially since I’m holding it horizontally where it’s most vulnerable. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a concern exclusively with Z Flip6, as long as the hinge is vulnerable – it’s a concern. Ironically, the same hinge on the Fold6 doesn’t feel as vulnerable when you’re gaming on it. To be fair, this is not something that I would hold against the Flip6.
Battery Life
Battery life is where I would say the biggest improvements come for the Flip6 hardware. It’s gotten a small bump to 5,000mAh but this has translated to pretty significant improvements when it comes to user experience. In synthetic benchmarks, the battery life improvement was only about an hour or 2 at most which is insignificant.
However, when I was using the phone daily this translated to me needing to charge the phone every 1 and a half days. That’s right – 1.5 days – and I’m not talking about working hours. I literally charged the phone every other day. This was with me synching 7 email accounts excluding Gmail and using Instagram and other social media apps continually.
This is huge for people who work on the go as it also means you’re not screwed if you forget to charge your phone. What’s more with quick charging on the smartphone, it is easy to get 10-20% when commuting if you need the top-up.
Galaxy AI
I had to carve out a special section for Galaxy AI in this review simply because that seems to be the push that’s becoming mainstream. We all know Galaxy AI by now with the Galaxy S24 series pushing it and also the emphasis Samsung has placed on it in its promotional items. So, I thought it’d be best to see how these features affected my day to day with the Flip6.
The biggest Galaxy AI feature that I found myself using is the Object Eraser tool. I used this to remove a lot of unwanted items from my pictures to varying degrees of success. This was a welcomed tool when you have to get images for clients or even if something ruined your perfect shot for Social media. That said, other image tools like Sketch to image and even Portrait Studio are welcomed features but I didn’t find myself using them on a daily basis. They’re definitely fun but I didn’t find myself using them too often.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI also has a transcribe feature that came in handy. I found myself using it a lot to transcribe interview recordings. However, Galaxy AI was very hit or miss with the Malaysian accent. Hopefully, this improves with time. That said, Galaxy AI’s other translation features definitely came in handy. Things like live translate will definitely see a lot of use if you deal with people overseas a lot. I only found myself using it to translate WhatsApp chats with my friends from overseas to get my message across more easily in their languages.
Aside from that, Galaxy AI didn’t’ really impact my day-to-day use of the phone. However, that seems to be the place where Generative AI is when it comes to daily interactions and usage now. We’re still in the early days and I expect that these features will become more useful as we progress.
Display
The display of the Galaxy Z Flip6 is one we’re used to seeing in Samsung flagships – a flexible Dynamic AMOLED 2X. The Flip6 comes with an FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display itself is a lot more robust and capable of vivid colours and deep blacks. However, like other AMOLED panels, the panel tends to oversaturate some colours like reds and oranges when pumped up to vivid settings. However, in its natural tone mode, it feels a little washed out. These are, however, issues that can be addressed through software updates later on. Samsung’s inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate is also a plus which brings buttery smooth and fluid animations and a little bit of an edge when it comes to games like PUBG Mobile.
The only thing that takes some getting used to when it comes to the display on the Flip5 is the aspect ratio. With most phones coming with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the 22:9 aspect ratio will seem a little weird at first. You will notice black bars on videos that you usually wouldn’t have any. However, these issues will take a backseat as you continue to use the device.
The FlexWindow or Cover display is the hallmark of this smartphone. The Super AMOLED panel in the FlexWindow does its job pretty well. It delivers high-quality images with good colour reproduction. You wont even realise that it only has a 60Hz refresh rate. However, I don’t think Samsung was prepared for users like me who end up using this display more than the main display. But for all the functions that are possible on the screen, it excels at delivering a near-perfect experience.
Cameras
The Galaxy Z Flip6 continues to come with a dual sensor setup when it comes to its main cameras. However, this year, the Flip6 comes with a larger 50-megapixel main sensor. This is a huge improvement when it comes to the number of megapixels in the main sensor, however, the impact isn’t as apparent when it comes to actual pictures. The main sensor is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor that brings some versatility when it comes to shooting with the smartphone.
That said, the Galaxy Z Flip6’s overall performance when it comes to the camera isn’t bad by any means. It just falls short of what we expect from Samsung after seeing its prowess with the Galaxy S24 series. Where the Z Fold6 seems to be elevated to parity with the S24, the Flip6 is relegated to an awkward space that falls in between a Galaxy A series smartphone and Samsung’s flagships.
Let me break this down a little bit, the Galaxy Z Flip6 takes good, detailed pictures with one big caveat it needs to have the right lighting conditions. It struggles when it comes to less than ideal situations but it doesn’t fall flat. Take for instance one of the pictures in the carousel below – it was taken against a spotlight in the setup of the area we were in and the details are washed out. This was the same in low lighting. Mind you, this was taken with the front camera setup a 50MP + 12MP setup. That said, I can’t come down too hard on the Flip6 for this as it can be addressed with software updates.
However, aside from that, the main camera setup performs very well. Even indoors with downlights, the camera was able to produce good, detailed pictures. It helps that the algorithm in the camera seems to be able to uplift the final product without losing too much detail. The colours of the pictures are also pretty vibrant. The pictures look lively and the colours pop.
The 10-megapixel front-facing camera on the Flip6 was essentially relegated to video calls. While I did end up using it once or twice for selfies, I found myself defaulting to the Cover Screen to get a good, high-quality selfie with the main camera. Samsung’s new autoframe feature adds to this conundrum. I doubt I’m alone when it comes to this. It’s simply more convenient and produces a better picture.
The Galaxy Z Flip6 Gets More Substance with Productivity-focused Features and Galaxy AI but Isn’t Indomitable Yet
The Galaxy Z Flip6 is a great update to the lineup. It brings a lot of meaningful, sought-after improvements. Galaxy AI brings a lot more substance to a phone that was once thought to be very superficial. The same can be said about the updated specifications and supercharged performance optimisations. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the Flip6 to gain my vote as a productivity device but it certainly has changed my tone after using it. I’ve never disliked the lineup but it never was a consideration for an upgrade. However, with the new trajectory that the Flip6, it’s definitely is becoming a big contender.
However, the Z Flip still falls in that weird in-between space of being a flagship by price but a little less when it comes to performance. I feel like Samsung is a step away from truly making the Z Flip a “wow’ device that we’ve come to crave from the brand. That said, if you’re looking for a fashionable upgrade to your smartphone with a good amount of features – you should consider the Galaxy Z Flip6. It’s also why the Z Flip6 is being awarded a Writer’s Choice Award from techENT.
Nubia’s gaming-centric smartphone, the RedMagic 9S Pro, has officially arrived in Malaysia, bringing with it a host of performance-focused features designed to cater to the demands of avid mobile gamers.
At the heart of the RedMagic 9S Pro is an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, ensuring smooth gameplay even for the most graphically intensive titles. To complement this powerful chipset, the device boasts up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a robust cooling system dubbed ICE 13.5 Magic Cooling, which combines a vapour chamber, a high-performance fan, and multiple layers of graphite to maintain optimal temperatures during extended gaming sessions.
The RedMagic 9S Pro also features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 720Hz touch sampling rate, providing a visually stunning and responsive gaming experience. To enhance the immersive gameplay, the device includes shoulder triggers for precise control and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audiophiles.
For photography enthusiasts, the Red Magic 9S Pro offers a triple-camera setup on the rear, featuring a 50MP main sensor. While primarily designed for gaming, the camera system is capable of capturing decent shots when needed.
ZTE is offering early bird incentives for those who pre-order the device. Customers who place a deposit of RM1 within the first seven days of pre-orders will receive a RM30 promo code.
Pricing & Availability
The RedMagic 9S Pro is available in two configurations:
12GB RAM + 256GB storage: RM3,499 in Sleet
16GB RAM + 512GB storage: RM4,399 in Cyclone and in Snowfall
Pre-orders for the Red Magic 9S Pro are open from August 10th to August 13th, 2024. All pre-orders will receive a free RedMagic Cooler VC 5 Pro worth RM249 while stocks last.
REDMAGIC, the gaming-centric smartphone brand, has unveiled its latest flagship, the REDMAGIC 9S Pro. This device is engineered to cater to the demands of hardcore gamers, offering a blend of power, innovative cooling, and immersive features.
At the heart of the REDMAGIC 9S Pro is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with UFS 4.0 storage and LPDDR5X RAM. This combination should deliver exceptional performance, enabling the phone to handle demanding games and multitasking with ease. REDMAGIC claims to have achieved an AnTuTu score of 2,369,542, a testament to the phone’s raw power.
To ensure optimal performance during intense gaming sessions, the REDMAGIC 9S Pro boasts an advanced ICE 13.5 cooling system. This system incorporates a 10-layer design, new frost cooling gel, and a high-speed turbofan to efficiently dissipate heat, keeping the phone cool even under heavy load.
The device features a 6.8-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with BOE Q9+ luminescent material, offering vibrant colours and excellent visibility. For gamers, the 120Hz refresh rate and 2000Hz touch sampling rate ensure smooth gameplay and quick response times. The display also incorporates eye protection features like 2160Hz PWM+DC dimming to reduce eye strain.
The REDMAGIC 9S Pro is equipped with a dual rear camera system, featuring a 50MP main sensor with OIS for capturing detailed and sharp images. The secondary 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera expands your photographic capabilities. For selfies and video calls, the phone has a 16MP front camera with an ink-coated screen.
To enhance the gaming experience, the REDMAGIC 9S Pro offers customizable RGB lighting, 520Hz shoulder triggers, and advanced sound features. The device also includes a 6500mAh battery with 80W fast charging for extended gameplay without interruptions.
The REDMAGIC OS 9.5 introduces several gaming-centric features, including Super Wallpaper, screen extraction, and display customization options. These features, combined with the phone’s powerful hardware, create an immersive and customizable gaming experience.
Pricing & Availability
The REDMAGIC 9S Pro is available in three variants: Sleet (12GB RAM + 256GB ROM), Cyclone (16GB RAM + 512GB ROM), and Snowfall (16GB RAM + 512GB ROM). Pricing starts at RM3,699 for the base model while the model with 16GB of RAM will be priced at RM4,499.
REDMAGIC is offering a launch promotion with a RM500 discount and a free REDMAGIC VC Cooler 5 Pro until August 8, 2024.
OnePlus has officially unveiled the OnePlus Pad 2, the successor to its first foray into the large-screen arena. This next-generation tablet boasts a premium design, a powerful processor, a long-lasting battery, and a focus on productivity, aiming to challenge the dominance of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S series in the Android tablet market. Let’s delve deeper into what the OnePlus Pad 2 has to offer.
The OnePlus Pad 2 retains the familiar sleek and minimalist design of its predecessor. However, it boasts a slightly larger 12.1-inch, 3K LCD display with a high 144Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. The display will have a resolution of 2120 x 3000 pixels and features a 7:5 aspect ratio with a peak brightness of 900 nits.
Under the hood, the OnePlus Pad 2 packs a serious punch with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. This flagship-grade chipset delivers exceptional performance for demanding tasks like multitasking, video editing, and high-end gaming. This focus on processing power positions the Pad 2 as a productivity powerhouse for users who need a device to handle heavy workloads.
The OnePlus Pad 2 is equipped with a massive 9510mAh battery, promising exceptional battery life. This allows you to work, play, and stream content for extended periods without worrying about running out of juice. Complementing the large battery is support for fast charging technology, so you can quickly top up the battery when needed.
The OnePlus Pad 2 aims to be a productivity companion, offering support for an optional stylus, similar to the OnePlus Stylo for the original OnePlus Pad. The Stylo 2 is pressure-sensitive, allowing for natural handwriting and drawing experiences. Additionally, the Pad 2 is expected to be compatible with a magnetic keyboard attachment, transforming it into a more laptop-like device for those who need to get things done on the go.
The OnePlus Pad 2 will run on OxygenOS, OnePlus’ custom user interface based on Android. OxygenOS is known for its clean and bloatware-free experience, ensuring a smooth and responsive user interface optimized for a tablet environment. It will come with OxygenOS 14 out of the box.
Pricing & Availability
The OnePlus Pad 2 will be retailing at USD$549.99 which translates to roughly RM2,567. The tablet is available in a single colour option, Nimbus Gray, at least at launch.
Pre-orders for the OnePlus Pad 2 are expected to begin on July 20th, with the first wave of sales starting on August 2nd alongside the OnePlus Nord 4.
Samsung’s new foldables are getting a much needed update to reflect a new era spearheaded by Galaxy AI. The new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6 are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM. Both come with some meaningful updates that make them easier to use and more useful. The Z Fold6 is slimmer and sleeker than ever before with more powerful features that take Galaxy AI to the next level. The Flip6, on the other hand, takes self expression and customisation to the next level with more accessories.
Sony’s Xperia series of smartphones – particularly the Xperia 1 – has been geared towards creative professionals as a tool and complement to their kits. However, this year is a little bit different with the Xperia 1 VI as Sony isn’t just introducing new creative features including AI, it’s also announcing an exclusive partnership with Activision.
Uniting Technology & Creativity with a More Capable Camera for Better Expressions
Keeping true to Sony’s key tenant of staying true to creativity, the new Xperia 1 VI comes with a brand new camera system. This time, the new system brings Sony’s Exmor T for Mobile image sensor that promises excellent low-light performance. However, that’s not all when it comes to upgrades. The Xperia 1 VI also comes with a brand new triple sensor setup for its main camera. The setup still comes with ZEISS T* coating but features a brand-new variable zoom covering 85-170mm focal length equivalents. The new setup also comes with a wide sensor which is able to shoot in 24mm and 48mm focal length equivalents and an ultrawide sensor that shoots at 16mm focal length equivalent. According to Sony, this new setup is the first to cover such a wide range of focal lengths from Xperia. The camera setup enables up to 7.1x optical zoom and also supports telephoto macro photos and videos.
Masaaki Oshima, Head of Mobile Business Unit and Imaging Entertainment Business Unit at Sony holding the Xperia 1VI during the YouTube Livestream announcement.
The Xperia 1 VI is also bringing AI features for creators. Continuing the company’s approach of unifying its flagship Alpha camera know-how and technology in its Xperia lineup, the Xperia 1 VI is adopting some AI features that we’ve seen in the Alpha family. As such, it comes as no surprise that the Mark VI will feature the return of AI-enabled eye-tracking autofocus. However, Sony is raising the bar by using AI to dynamically recognise and track the human skeleton and posture for more accurate autofocus. This will also ensure that your subject doesn’t go out of focus even in busy environments.
Breaking Its Own Mould with BRAVIA Technology & A Gaming Partnership with Activision
This year, it’s not just Alpha technology being folded into the Xperia 1 VI, Sony’s BRAVIA technology is also tagging along. Boasting the brightest display ever on an Xperia device, the new Xperia 1’s OLED display comes in a new 19.5:1 aspect ratio. Yes, Sony is doing away with the cinematic 20:1 aspect ratio we’ve seen previously. The display is also getting a boost in brightness with “Sunlight Vision”, a new feature that Sony is introducing to ensure that the display remains legible even under direct sunlight. Other than that, the display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space and has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz response rate.
The inclusion of BRAVIA technology is also bringing with it a new gaming partnership with Activision-Blizzard for Call of Duty Warzone Mobile. The new partnership leverages the high performance of the processor and the new gaming-centric features that are coming with the Xperia 1 VI. In addition to richer sound and graphics thanks to BRAVIA technology, the smartphone is also coming with a brand new feature called FPS booster that optimizes the performance of the smartphone for higher frame rates and better gaming fluidity. In addition, the Xperia 1 VI also comes with optimizations for touch that can recognise up to 24 touch patterns and optimize responsiveness for them. Activision’s Call of Duty Warzone Mobile will launch in March 2024.
Top of the line Specs for Creativity
The Xperia 1 VI comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under the hood. The top-of-the-line SoC from Qualcomm right now. This is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory with support for up to 1.5TB additional space through the microSD card slot. The smartphone comes with support for Bluetooth 5.4 and USB 3.2.
The display on the Xperia 1 VI is a 6.5-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2340 pixels. Camera-wise, the triple sensor at the back has a 52-megapixel main sensor and is complemented by a 12-megapixel telephoto and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. Upfront is a 12-megapixel sensor for selfies. All of this is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. The Xperia 1 VI will launch with Android 14 and will come with a guarantee for 4 years of security updates and three major OS updates.
Pricing & Availability
The Sony Xperia 1 VI will be available in the coming months. In Malaysia, it will be available starting July 2024. You can start registering your interest in the device over at Sony’s website now.
It will be available in Platinum Silver, Black and Khaki Green worldwide. According to the Sony Malaysia website, Malaysia will only be getting Black and Khaki Green. No official pricing has been announced just yet.
This year’s Galaxy Unpacked isn’t your regular unpacked. Where we expected Samsung to show off its new flagship, the company showed off its latest software prowess – Galaxy AI. The Galaxy S24 series was the vehicle for Galaxy AI’s debut. Galaxy AI will debut in One UI 6.1 on the Galaxy S24.
Specc’d for Galaxy AI
Before we jump into the meaty parts of Galaxy AI, let’s talk about the Galaxy S24 series. As always, the new flagship series will come with three variants – the Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24+ and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Aside from Galaxy AI taking centerstage, Samsung is also making another big change with the Galaxy S24 series: it’s taking the curved display we’re used to seeing in the Galaxy S24 Ultra and giving it the boot. The whole series is now coming with flat AMOLED 2X displays with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. As usual, the sizes of the displays will differ according to the variant; the S24 will be coming with a 6.2-inch display, the S24+ will be coming with a 6.7-inch display and the Ultra will be coming with a 6.8-inch display. The displays come with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor across the board.
Aside from this, the Galaxy S24 series will be coming with the latest and greatest when it comes to processors. This includes both the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Exynos 2400. For the Malaysian market, the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24+ will be equipped with the Exynos 2400 while the S24 Ultra will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It seems like the American market will be getting the Snapdragon variant across the board. However, processor configurations will differ across different markets. These processors bring a new focus on AI features with dedicated NPUs. The S24+ and S24 Ultra will be coming with 12GB of RAM while the S24 will be coming with 8GB of RAM. The Ultra will also feature a titanium frame while the S24 and S24+ will come with armoured aluminium.
Dual Telephoto Cameras Bring Clarity to the Galaxy S24 Series
The Galaxy S24 Ultra will be the first Galaxy device to be equipped with a quad-camera setup. The highlight of this camera – aside from its Galaxy AI-powered features – is the new dual telephoto setup, The flagship comes with both a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. These sensors are complemented by a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The main sensor is a 200-megapixel. Upfront is a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
Samsung calls this new setup its Quad Tele System which brings better picture quality especially when it comes to zoomed-in pictures. It has near optical quality for pictures captured in up to 10x zoom. Going further will kick it into hybrid zoom which has been vastly improved with Galaxy AI.
The vanilla Galaxy S24 and the S24+ come with triple camera setups. This consists of a 50-megapixel main sensor complemented by the same 10-megapixel, 3x telephoto sensor and 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. It even shares the same front 12-megapixel sensor up front for selfies. Nightography does make a return to the flagship. Samsung has enhanced low-light performance with the help of Galaxy AI
All of these features are powered by a 4,000mAh battery on the S24, a 4,500mAh battery on the S24+ and a 4,900mAh battery on the Ultra. Samsung is also bringing better battery performance with Galaxy AI with automatic optimisations happening in the background all the time. Speaking of optimisations, Samsung is promising 7 years of software support for its phones with the S24 series.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ will be available in Amber Yellow, Cobalt Violet, Marble Gray, and Onyx Black. If you want more variety, the Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue and Jade Green colours are available exclusively on Samsung.com. Prices start at RM4,099/USD$799 for the S24 and RM4,899/USD$999 for the S24+.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra will be available in Titanium Yellow, Titanium Violet, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Black. Like its siblings, additional colours – Titanium Blue, Titanium Orange and Titanium Green – are available exclusively on Samsung.com. Prices for the S24 Ultra start at RM6,299/USD$1,299.
Pre-orders for the series kick off today – 18 January 2024 – until 6 February 2024. During this time, purchases of the S24 series will come with an RM500 e-voucher for your next Samsung purchase on Samsung.com, an enhanced trade-in valuation worth up to RM650, a purchase with purchase discount on selected Galaxy Buds, up to RM800 off select Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Watch models when purchased together with the S24 series and up to 45% off on Samsung Care+ and accessories.
Detailed pricing and variants for Malaysia are in the table below.
Vivo‘s gaming-centric sub-brand, iQOO, is earning its keep as a gaming brand with its brand new iQOO 12 flagship. The smartphone not only brings a whole new level of gaming performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3; but also reinvigorates the brand as a performance-centric experience for gamers.
The iQOO 12 ditches the drab, budget-friendly beginnings of iQOO for a more sophisticated, premium outlook. It comes in two versions with completely different finishes. For that ultra-premium feel, the iQOO 12’s Legend edition leads the way with a design collaboration with BMW. The fresh, pearlescent white finish of the smartphone is accented by the familiar stripes of BMW M Motorsport. The Alpha edition comes with a matte black finish for a sleek, sleeper vibe. Both versions have a metal body with a glass back.
Inside, the iQOO 12 runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal memory. You can get up to an additional 16GB of RAM with RAM virtualisation if the need arises. When it comes to display, the iQOO 12 comes with a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display that covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate for that extra edge when gaming. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is complemented with vivo’s Supercomputing Chip Q1 which helps with super-resolution processing and graphics processing.
On the camera side of things, it comes with a 50-megapixel “Astrography” camera with VCS2.0 biomimetic spectral technology for better colour reproduction. It comes complete with optical image stabilisation and electronic image stabilization. This main camera is complemented with a 64-megapixel periscope sensor with 3x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. The final sensor in the trifecta is a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor.
All of these technologies are powered by a 5,000mAh pro-performance graphite battery that supports 200w FlashCharge.
Pricing & Availability
The iQOO 12 will be available starting on December 11, 2023. It will retail at RM3,399 with only one configuration – 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal memory. As mentioned before, it will be available in two finishes: Alpha (black) and Legend (White). Both version cost the same.
Pre-orders for the smartphone are now available. The pre-order will continue until December 11, 2023. During the preorder period, the iQOO 12 will be priced at RM3,349, an RM50 off the retail with freebies worth up to RM777. This includes the iQOO TWS Air 2, 1-year extended warranty and 1-year screen protection.
After the pre-order period, the smartphone will be available as part of the 12.12 campaign. The smartphone will be priced at RM3,349 with a year’s extended warranty and screen crack protection,
OnePlus is looking to set itself apart again with its once signature “Flagship Killer” moniker. The company’s latest flagship – the OnePlus 12 – looks to be the flagship everyone has been looking for from the company. The new flagship is being heralded as the “culmination of OnePlus over the past decade”. This flagship is OnePlus flexing its muscles, showcasing a fusion of innovation and a relentless pursuit of user satisfaction.
Timeless Design
Design-wise, OnePlus is playing the luxury card. Inspired by high-end watches, the OnePlus 12 is like a timepiece on steroids. It’s got a Flowy Emerald colour that sounds like poetry but looks damn good. According to OnePlus, it’s a nod to nature, with a design that screams sophistication.
That said, the design seems a little more iterative than we’re used to from OnePlus. It does, for all purposes, look like its predecessor, the OnePlus 11. That said, it looks like OnePlus did spend more time on the insides this year.
Specc’d To Kill
The OnePlus 12 isn’t messing around. It’s armed to the teeth with the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. It promises speeds that’ll make your head spin. The CPU is 30% faster, the GPU is 25% zippier, and it’s somehow saving you power while doing all this. It’s even got a display that’ll make your eyes pop, a battery that’s playing the long game, and a cooling system that says, “Bring it on.”
The display of the OnePlus 12 is literally going to make your eyes pop! The new 2K Super Fluid AMOLED display has a peak brightness of 4,500 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate. That’s more than 2x the peak brightness of any of the current flagships. It’s not just all about the screen and processor either, the flagship comes with a maximum of 24GB of RAM and 1TB of internal memory. When we say specced to kill, we mean it. It’s got LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 memory. That’s speedy, to say the least. Together with RAM-Vitalization and ROM-Vitalization we first saw in the OnePlus 11.
It comes with a large 5,400mAh dual-cell battery. Charging shouldn’t be much of an issue with support for 100W SuperVOOC charging as well as 50W AirVOOC Charging. It also comes with the Dual Cryo-structure design that was shown off in concept earlier this year.
Better Cameras, Brighter Photos, Quicker Capture
The OnePlus 12 isn’t playing around when it comes to cameras. The smartphone comes equipped with a LYTA sensor collaboratively developed with Sony. The new 50-megapixel LYT-808 sensor allows for brighter, more detailed photos and videos. This is complemented by Omnivision’s 64-megapixel OV64B periscope sensor with 3x optical zoom and a 48-megapixel Sony IMX581 ultrawide sensor. This setup is further complemented by Hasselblad’s algorithm for image capture.
Together with the hardware, OnePlus is leveraging OPPO’s years of know-how when it comes to imaging. The new flagship has support for ProXDR which allows for better performance in challenging light conditions. Paired with the new LYT-808 sensor, the 12 is gearing up to be the best-performing camera to date from OnePlus.
Pricing & Availability:
This OnePlus 11 is hitting the Chinese market on December 11, 2023. It will be available in three colours: Flowy Emerald, Graphite and Pale White. Prices are as below:
Configuration
Price (CNY)
Estimated Price (RM)
Estimated Price (USD$)
12GB RAM + 256GB Memory
4,299
2,818.74
603.74
16GB RAM + 512GB Memory
4,799
3,146.58
673.96
16GB RAM + 1TB Memory
5,299
3,474.41
743.60
24GB RAM + 1TB Memory
5,799
3,795.51
813.76
Globally, the smartphone is poised to make its debut in early 2024.
