Sony recently announced its new Xperia Pro-I. A flagship that reaffirms the company’s commitment to delivering cutting edge imaging technologies on a smartphone. The Xperia Pro-I is arguably one of the company’s most well defined and boisterous offerings to date which bring together smartphones and Alpha imaging technology.
It comes with a large Type-1.0 Exmor RS image sensor – the same sensor that you get with the Sony RX100 VII. The sensor is complemented with a dedicated Bionz X Image processor. In addition, it also comes with ZEISS lenses with the Tessar T* lens for the best image quality. The 20.2-megapixel sensor brings Sony’s cutting edge imaging into your hands complete with eye-tracking autofocus.
The smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 888 octa-core processor with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. It also supports up to an additional 1TB of storage with a microSD card.
Well, with all the specifications and camera technology out of the way – it’s time to get down to business! The smartphone is available for pre-order in Malaysia! If you’ve been itching for a phone that’s a camera first, you can get the Sony Xperia Pro-I for MYR7,199.
Source: Sony Malaysia Online Store
However, you don’t have to just order the smartphone, instead, you can create your complete creator’s kit with the Complete Creator’s Bundle which adds on the Vlog monitor and the stereo lavalier microphone and shooting grip for MYR8,028 – an MYR839 discount off the regular price of MYR8,867. It also comes with a 256GB microSD card, a screen protector and a casing.
Source: Sony Malaysia Online Store
If that’s a little too pricey, Sony is also offering the Xperia Pro-I in a bundle with the Vlog Monitor which costs MYR8,239. For the pre-order, you can get an MYR519 discount for the bundle.
The preorder offers are available from Sony’s online store starting 15 November 2021 until 15 December 2021.
HUAWEI’s flagship smartphone for the year 2021 has just launched last week Friday. Oddly enough, it was not a global affair. To our surprise too, the news did not create the hype a flagship usually does. There is a good reason for that though. The HUAWEI P50 series is currently only launched for the Chinese market.
The device still appears in HUAWEI’s global site though. While that could mean that HUAWEI might plan a global release of the device later in the year, maybe closer to its availability date, the device launches in a rather quiet fashion. Well, quieter than the usual fanfare of a high-profiled smartphone launch. Does this mean HUAWEI is now not a high-profile smartphone maker?
We think it is contrary to that. We think they are in the midst of a restructure, a sort of regrouping. Before that though, we do have to talk about the HUAWEI P50 series, it is what we are here for after all.
As usual, the flagship brand from HUAWEI is now a series instead of a single device. There are two devices in the HUAWEI P50 series, a regular vanilla P50, and an extreme version P50 Pro. Of course, the bigger one must be the HUAWEI P50 Pro.
HUAWEI P50 Pro
Source: HUAWEI
We start with the most powerful HUAWEI P series to date, the HUAWEI P50 Pro. It is the bigger one among the two devices introduced in the series. Its display measures 6.6-inch and pushes a tiny bit more resolution out of the display. It is an odd display though, because it is not exactly 1440p QHD, but it is not Full HD either at 2,700 x 1,228 pixels. You still get 450 ppi (pixels per inch) with 10-bit colour space though (1.07 billion colours).
It is an OLED panel too, which also means that you are getting highly vivid colours and brilliant contrasts. It also refreshes at 120Hz and features 300Hz in touch sampling rate, which also means you might get a kick out of it for gaming. While it is not exactly a 1440p display, it is still a brilliant one, by the looks of it.
Of course, a large and brilliant display needs powerful internals. Here is the strange part though, you can actually opt for a HUAWEI P50 Pro that does not come with HUAWEI’s own Kirin chipset. It can either come with HUAWEI’s Kirin 9000 System on a Chip (SoC), or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 4G SoC (global site only outlines Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G SoC). HUAWEI’s adaptation to Qualcomm’s chips could have a larger implication for HUAWEI’s future. That is just speculations though, back to the device.
Alongside the powerful chips that you can choose from is either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB in storage (global site only outlines up to 8GB + 256GB). Apparently, there will be no expansion option on the latest HUAWEI P series flagships though. With a larger body too, it has a large 4,360 mAh that should last you a whole day and even more running HUAWEI’s proprietary HarmonyOS 2.0 introduced with the HUAWEI MatePad Pro earlier this year.
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Instead of a single camera bulge, the HUAWEI P50 Pro comes with two camera domes now. One houses three lenses (40-Megapixel MonoChrome, 13-Megapixel Ultra-Wide, 64-Megapixel Telephoto) and the other houses a single 50-Megapixel main shooter alongside an LED flash module. Out the front is a high-resolution 13-Megapixel shooter. Funnily enough, while Leica’s brand still graces the device, there are no mentions of the sensor size on the HUAWEI P50 Pro.
HUAWEI P50
Source: HUAWEI
Then there is the regular HUAWEI P50. In size it is smaller, but not by that much. Instead of the 6.6-inch display, the HUAWEI P50 settles in at 6.5-inch. It is still an OLED display that boasts 2,700 x 1,224 pixels at up to 90Hz refresh rate.
While you get a choice of going for a HUAWEI Kirin 9000 chip, the HUAWEI P50 only gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G treatment, which is odd. Supporting the chipset though is still up to 8GB in RAM and up to 256GB in storage, which are not too bad considering.
The HUAWEI P50 also loses a 64-Megapixel telephoto lens and 40-Megapixel monochrome lens. Instead, you get 12-Megapixel in telephoto lens and a 13-Megapixel ultra-wide camera alongside the 50-Megapixel shooter. You still get two camera bulges though.
Because it is a smaller body, the HUAWEI P50 only packs a 4,100mAh battery. While the SuperCharge 66W fast charging capability remains, the HUAWEI P50 will not be getting wireless charging capabilities. You should still be able to last a whole day and more from the smaller battery though.
Pricing and Availability
The HUAWEI P50 Pro and P50 comes in Golden Black, Cocoa Gold, or Pearl White colour options. The HUAWEI P50 Pro gets an additional colour option in the Charm Pink though. There are no mentions of its availability the global market at this time. At this point too, you can expect the HUAWEI P50 with Harmony OS 2.0 to be shipping out without Google’s Play Store or Google’s basic mobile ecosystem installed.
The HUAWEI P50 and P50 Pro is already on pre-order in China and will start shipping and appearing in stores 8th August 2021 onward. The HUAWEI P50 starts at CN¥ 4,488 (MYR 2,935*) and tops out at CN¥ 4,988 (MYR 3,262*). The HUAWEI P50 Pro starts at CN¥ 5,988 (MYR 3,917*) for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 variant with 8GB RAM and 129GB on-board storage. It tops out at CN¥ 7,988 (MYR 5,225*) for the Kirin 9000 variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of on-board storage.
* Approximately based on exchange rate of CN¥ 10 = MYR 6.54 on xe.com as of 02/08/2021
Qualcomm releases a Smartphone for Snapdragon Insider. Designed by ASUS and powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 5G SoC, it is also one of the most powerful Android device you can get in the market. It is definitely the most powerful Vanilla Android device to date.
The package that comes with the smartphone is a pair of wireless earbuds made in collaboration with Master & Dynamics. You also get a charger and USB Type-C cable bundled in. Obviously the charger is the fastest charger with Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 technology available for the Qualcomm smartphone.
Alongside the super power that is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G SoC is also an ample 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. With those kind of specs, the device has more common with a gaming laptop than any other smartphone. This also makes it one of the most powerful Snapdragon powered smartphone in the current market.
The ASUS designed device is fronted by a 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLLED display. While that sounds underwhelming, the display responses at 1ms and refreshes at 144Hz. Okay, that still does not make it sound all that impressive, especially if you consider that the Sony Xperia 1 III packs a 4K display at 120Hz.
Out the back is a 64-Megapixel camera that is also flanked by an 8-Megapixel telephoto camera, and a 12-Megapixel ultra-wide camera. The camera is capable of shooting videos at 8K resolution. Out the front is a 24-Megapixel camera that is capable of Full HD videos too.
The price? It is US$ 1,499. At that price, it is easily one of the most expensive Android smartphones you can find in the current market. It rivals the price of an Apple iPhone even. Even with all the things you get with the package, it is still and expensive device. It is definitely a reference smartphone though.
While we do not thing “Smartphone for Snapdragon Insider” counts as a name, it is what it is. We also do not think we need another reference smartphone, especially one that is priced this high. Still, the exclusive device has not hit the market at this time. Until we get a hands-on with the device, we cannot comment on its full capabilities and features. Qualcomm thinks it is necessary though. Do you think it is necessary?
Qualcomm has made a name for themselves pushing the boundaries of mobile processing with their successful Snapdragon processors. However, the company has – until now – left commercial hardware to their many partners. The company is changing things up with their latest announcement: a Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders.
Source: Qualcomm
The company seems to be taking a page out of Google’s book and is introducing a concept smartphone built from the ground up to highlight their processors. Designed by ASUS, the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders brings the full potential of the Snapdragon 888 Mobile Platform. The smartphone comes with compatibility for the latest connectivity standards: WiFi 6E, 5G support for both mmWave and sub 6 bandwidths and Bluetooth 5.2. Together with the connectivity, Qualcomm is removing any bottlenecks in performance by equipping the smartphone with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard UFS 3.1 memory. The processor and top of the line storage promises some of the best read and write speeds.
Cameras Augmented by Qualcomm’s Triple ISP Technology & AI
The Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders comes with Qualcomm’s vision for the best camera experience on its platform. It comes with a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor with quad bayer technology; an aperture of f/1.8 and a effective focal length of 26.6mm with a 78.3° field of view; and four axis optical image stabilization. The triple sensor setup comes complemented with a secondary 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 sensor. This sensor has a f/2.2 aperture and an effective focal length of 14.3mm with support for macro shots. An 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom and upto 12x hybrid zoom completes the triplet of cameras. On the front is a 24-megapixel sensor.
Source: Qualcomm
Qualcomm is touting the camera setup as a professional grade camera featuring AI augmentations that allow the camera to take good low light shots and intelligently focus and identify the best shot. Additionally, AI auto zoom allows your subject to be the focus of the shot while bringing you closer to the action. You can even shoot video in 4k and 8K resolutions. This is made possible by the Qualcomm Spectra 580 ISP which has gigapixel processing speeds.
Audiophile Experience Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound Technology
The new Qualcomm smartphone is also one of the first to feature Snapdragon Sound technology. The new optimizations allow users to wirelessly stream high quality, 24-bit audio with bitrates of up to 96KHz. Snapdragon Sound also enhances audio from end to end for a more robust sound with clear highs and boomy bass. It also enables super wideband voice for clear, true to life audio when making calls.
Source: Qualcomm
Of course, since Snapdragon Sound is focused on wireless audio, Qualcomm is including a set of wireless earphones by Master & Dynamic in the box with the Smartphone. The MW08SI comes with active noise cancelling and is powered by Qualcomm’s QCC5141 low power Bluetooth Audio SoC. It is able to do ultra low latency bluetooth streaming with true high resolution audio quality. It even has augmentations for better connectivity in environments with dense RF interference.
Desktop Gaming Experience on the Go
The Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders comes with the Adreno 660 GPU which is touted to bring 35% faster graphics rendering. Variable Rate Shading brings an additional 30% boost in performance as well. This experience is augmented by the 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display. It comes with a Full HD+ resolution of 2448×1080 pixels with a response rate of 1ms and 144Hz refresh rate. The display comes with HDR10+ certification and has a ΔE of less than 1. It also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection and support for always on display. Qualcomm is also touting up to 20% increased responsiveness thanks to Qualcomm Game Quick Touch.
Source: Qualcomm
Dual stereo speaker augmented with Smart AMP up the ante when it comes to audio experience. Snapdragon Sound also works it magic in delivering high quality audio over these speakers. It also comes with multiple profiles optimized for content type. With the large, Quick Charge 5.0 enabled 4,000mAh battery, you should be gaming for hours on end.
Pricing & Availability
The Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders will be available starting on August. It will be available first in the U.S., China, Denmark, U.K., Japan, South Korea followed by India. No indication if the smartphone will be available outside these regions just yet.
Source: Qualcomm
ASUS will be distributing the smartphone. It will be retailing for USD$1,499 (MYR 6,268.31*). It will be available only in Midnight Blue.
*exchange rate taken from xe.com on 9 July 2021 at USD$ 1 = MYR4.18
It’s been quite a while since Malaysia saw a Zenfone. The last Zenfone officially launched in Malaysia was the Zenfone 5 – which, to be honest, was a stellar device. However, since then, ASUS hasn’t brought any of their smartphones – aside from the ROG Phone – to Malaysia. This year, it seems like ASUS will be kicking into gear bringing in not one but both of their Zenfone 8 offerings to Malaysia.
The Zenfone 8 series launched internationally earlier this month. The series brings two new Zenfones into ASUS’s portfolio – the Zenfone 8 and the Zenfone 8 Flip. The Zenfone 8 marks a new approach for ASUS when it comes to smartphones. The company is committing to creating smaller, palmable devices with killer specifications. Of course, to do this, they leave behind some of the defining features of the Zenfone including the flipping camera. That’s where the Zenfone 8 Flip comes in. With a larger body, it brings along the now signature flip camera of the Zenfone series.
Palmable Performance with the Zenfone 8
The Zenfone 8 still carries the honour of being the ASUS flagship. ASUS is packing a top of the line Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor into the smartphone with the Adreno 660 GPU. IT’s coming with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. The Zenfone 8 also packs a 5.9-inch, Samsung AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120HZ refresh rate.
Of course, being equipped with a flagship processor, it comes with support for WiFi 6 connectivity and Tri-band WiFi support on 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz. It also supports Bluetooth 5.2 and Qualcomm’s aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive and NFC. It is also 5G ready.
On the camera front, the smartphone comes with a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor with 1/1.7-inch sensor size and 0.8μm pixel size equipped with Quad Bayer technology. The sensor has an f/1.8 aperture, with a 78.3° field of view and a 26.6mm focal length. This sensor is complemented by a Sony IMX363 12-megapixel ultra-wide, dual pixel sensor. It comes with 1/2.55-inch sensor size and 1.4 μm pixel size and f/2.2 aperture. This sensor supports dual phase detection autofocus and has real-time distortion correction. It also supports 4cm macro shots. On the front is a Sony IMX663 12-megapixel sensor with a 1/2.93-inch sensor with 1.22μm pixel size and 76.5° field of view. It supports Dual Phase Detection autofocus.
The smartphone also comes with an under-display fingerprint sensor. It runs on Android 11 with ZenUI 8. All of this runs on the Zenfone 8’s 4,000 mAh battery which is charged via a USB-C port. The hallmark is that all of these specifications and features are housed within a compact body measuring only 148mm x 68.5mm x8.9mm.
Zenfone 8 Flip – Flipping Bigger than its Flagship
The Zenfone 8 Flip shares most of the same specifications as its flagship brother. However, it comes with a larger 6.67-inch FHD+, AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It comes with only 8GB of RAM and only 256GB of internal storage. It’s also powered by a larger 5,000mAh battery.
The biggest difference comes in the form of the flipping camera. ASUS has imbued the Flip with a triple camera setup which functions as both the main and selfie cameras. The setup comes with the same sensors as the back camera on the Zenfone 8 but is further complemented by an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom and 12x hybrid zoom.
Pricing & Availability
The Zenfone 8 will be available starting from 28th May 2021 at all authorized dealers and ASUS Digital Stores. It will come in two configurations; one with 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard memory which retails for MYR2,699 and a 16GB RAM with 256GB onboard memory retailing for MYR3,299. The latter will be available exclusively on Shopee. It comes in Obsidian Black or Horizon Silver.
The Zenfone 8 Flip will retail for MYR2,999 for the 8GB and 256GB version in Malaysia. It will be available in Galactic Black and Glacier Silver.
Purchases made on ASUS’s Shopee Mall front will be entitled to early bird promos from 28 May to 11 June 2021. Purchases made within this period will be entitled to a SolidSuit Case. ASUS is also offering a trade-in deal where customers are able to trade in their old Zenfones for an MYR200 rebate on the Zenfone 8 series. However, this trade-in offer is only available at physical retail stores from 28 May until 25 June 2021.
It is here, the new OPPO Find X3. We initially thought that we had to patiently wait for another year before OPPO releases their Find flagship series. We did not though, and the OPPO Find X3 series has launched to replace the OPPO Find X2 series of 2020.
OPPO Find X3 Pro
We start with the usual headline figures at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G enabled System on a Chip (SoC) and up to 12GB of RAM paired. Up to 256GB in storage; UFS 3.1 of course for faster read and write speeds. Android 11 with ColorOS 11.2. We all know what the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 can do at this point.
That is just the tip of the iceberg that is the OPPO Find X3 Pro. All the powerful internals are wrapped by a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that boasts 1,440 by 3,216 pixels (1440p/WQHD+). That display also features one of the world’s fastest response time at about 5-10ms in touch response time. On top of that, 120Hz refresh rate ensures that graphics are super smooth at all times. It is not a full time 120Hz display though. The Find X3 can turn the refresh rate down all the way to 5Hz for less intensive usage. OPPO says that the display also covers 10-bit colours and features 100% DSI-P3 colour gamut for even better colour reproduction and accuracy on top of HDR10+. OPPO being OPPO, the display can be calibrated to adjust for specific colour blindness too, neat.
Source: OPPO
Wrapping around the display and framing the back of the OPPO Find X3 Pro is a beautifully sculpted glass back. No ceramic trickery this time, just normal glass that is shaped to conform the curves and bumps intended for the back of the device. The glass back is not a regular glass back that has a cut out for the entire camera module though. The glass back stretches throughout the back of the device with cut outs made only to fit the lenses. The result is an amazing looking back that is available in either the classic black or a unique blue with a sort of fingerprint resistant texture.
The glass back not only hides the 4,500mAh battery with SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W) and AirVOOC (30W) wireless charging technology. It also seamlessly houses the quad camera set-up that is a newly developed 50-Megapixel IMX789 main camera, an also newly developed 50-Megapixel IMX766 ultra-wide camera with Free Form lens, a 13-Megapixel telephoto camera capable of 5x optical zoom, and an impressive 3-Megapixel macro camera for those amazing close-up shots. You get 10-bit colour high-resolution photos with both 50-Megapixel sensors on the OPPO Find X3. Thanks to the Free From lens technology on the ultra-wide camera, the photos come out distortion free. Of course, the camera is also capable of shooting videos at 4K 60p with 10-bit colours.
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Source: OPPO
Of course, they did not forget the front-facing camera. It is OPPO, after all. The selfie camera then is a 32-Megapixel unit. The high-resolution front camera is also given some extra tweaks like an enhanced ‘night mode’ to capture more natural, more detailed selfies even in low-light. That also means better looking Instagram photos.
Price and Availability
OPPO’s latest Find X3 Pro is said to be available globally toward the end of March 2021 at EU€ 1,149 (US$ 1,373*) which is about MYR 5,641** with the current conversion rate. The OPPO Find X3 Pro will be available in Gloss Black and Blue (yes, just ‘Blue’; no fancy naming this time) colour options. Alongside the OPPO Find X3 Pro, OPPO also announced that the OPPO Enco X is now available globally at EU€ 179 (US$ 214*), which converts to approximately MYR 879** currently.
There are no mentions to indicate specific local availability dates and official pricing. If we can take a guess though the OPPO Find X3 Pro might set you back MYR 5,899 and the OPPO Enco X will set you back between MYR 699 (based on CN¥ 999 pricing) all the way to MYR 899 (based on EU€ 179 pricing). We are also expecting that Malaysia’s availability for both devices to be somewhere at the end of March 2021 to early April 2021. For more information on the OPPO Find X3 Pro and OPPO Enco X ANC TWS earphones you can visit OPPO’s website.
*Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = US$ 1.20 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021
**Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = MYR 4.91 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021
ASUS is arguably one of the first companies to make a gaming smartphone. The original ROG Phone launched back in 2018 to much acclaim and praise and with a customised chipset from Qualcomm. This year, ASUS refines its ROG Phone series with more features and more affordable price points.
The ROG Phone 5 series is the first in the ROG Phone family to officially be introduced with more than one entry into the line up. The series will consists of the ROG Phone 5, the 5 Pro and the 5 Ultimate which are differentiated by a few features and key specifications. On the outside, the ROG Phone 5 series continues to inherit the ostentatious design queues which have become its signature. Over on the back you have the angular accents of the camera modules and the angular design of the new ROG Dotted Matrix Design which allows for some extensive customisation. The Pro and Ultimate variants, this is replaced by angular lines which surround the ROG Vision screen.
Specc’d to Game
When it comes to the phone itself, the ROG Phone 5 series comes equipped with a Samsung AMOLED screen. The screen is a 6.78-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2448×1080 pixels. The phone boasts one of the only displays with a 144Hz refresh rate. On the protection side of things, it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better scratch and shatter resistance.
The new entries are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with either 8GB, 16GB or 18GB of RAM with up to 512GB of internal storage. It doesn’t seem to support memory expansion with a microSD card – making it the third flagship this year to eschew the microSD card. The ROG Phone 5 Pro and Ultimate are available with 512GB of internal storage with 16GB and 18GB of RAM respectively. The ROG Phone 5 caps out at 256GB with 16GB RAM. The series is also the first in the ROG Phone series to support 5G connectivity.
Perfecting Audio
The new ROG Phone continues to support better audio features by not only retaining the 3.5mm audio jack but also introducing even more audio centric features. Of note is the inclusion of a high-end ESS9280AC Pro DAC on the 3.5mm jack for better audio fidelity. It also supports symmetrical dual front-facing speakers. These are some of the largest speakers on smartphones coming in at 12x16mm. ASUS promises a louder, more rounded experience with these speakers. Also along for the ride this time is a DIRAC tuned AudioWizard with customizable equalizer for your perfect sound. DIRAC is providing optimisations on the ROG Phone 5 series to minimise crosstalk and widen the sound stage of the audio experience on the ROG Phone 5.
Of course, the ROG Phone 5 series comes with all the bells and whistles of its predecessors including improved Air Triggers and motion controls. In addition, ASUS is also introducing a new AeroActive cooler which come with two physical buttons for the triggers when plugged in.
Accessories, Accessories, Accessories
As with previous ROG Phones, ASUS is bringing a whole slew of gaming oriented accessories to enhance the ROG Phone 5. The first, is the AeroActive cooler which helps cool the phone down during intense gaming sessions while allowing you to charge the phone. This year, there are actual buttons on the AeroActive Cooler to provide a more tactile experience when it comes to using the triggers.
This year sees an improved ROG Kunai 3 controller. The controller allows you to have the versatility to play in a more console like way on the gaming smartphone. If you’d rather a more attached experience, the ROG Clip gives you a controller with a clip for the smartphone. It can attach via the USB-C port on the side of the ROG Phone 5.
ASUS has also opted to include more audio centric accessories this year with the ROG Cetra II earphones which comes with active noise cancelling with ambient mode. The wired earphones come with LSR drivers for premium sound quality and embedded microphones. ASUS also introduced the ROG STRIX GO BT with the ROG Phone 5. The wireless headphones come with up to 45 hours of battery life and AI noise cancelling microphone technology.
For those looking to upgrade from the ROG Phone 3, take note that not all accessories are forward compatible. Notably, the TwinView Dock 3, Mobile Desktop Dock and AeroActive Cooler 3 are not supported. The Kunai GamePad II, on the other hand, is partially supported by the 5.
Pricing & Availability
The ROG Phone 5 series will be available starting March 2021. The regular ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for MYR2,999 (USD$726.84) for the 8GB/128GB version and MYR3,799 (USD$920.73) for the 16GB /256GB version. Both will be available in Phantom Black and Storm White. These versions do not come with the AeroActive Cooler. Internationally, the ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for €799 (USD$950.16) for the 8GB/128GB, €899 (USD$1,069.02) for the 16GB/256GB version and €999 (USD$1,187.94) for the 16GB/256GB version.
The ROG Phone 5 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 11 March 2021 to 25 March 2021. Pre-orders of the ROG Phone 5 will come with a free Kunai 3 GamePad. You can pre-order the phone exclusively on the ASUS store on Shopee.
The Pro will be retailing for MYR4,499 (USD$1,090.39). It will be available only in Phantom Black and comes with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. The Pro will be available starting in May 2021. Internationally, it will be costing €1,199 (USD$1,425.83).
The Ultimate will be retailing for MYR4,999 (USD$1,211.51). It will be available only in Storm White and will come with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. It also comes with the limited edition ROG Ultimate Fan Gift box which hosts a whole bunch of ROG swag. Internationally, the Ultimate will be costing €1,299 (USD$1,544.75).
Update (10 March 2021): More rumors are continuing to surface about the ROG Phone 5 in the days leading up to its release. The first is that the new gaming phone will have a variant with 16GB of RAM. Something we highlighted in our original article. In addition to this, we’ve got our first look at the phone thanks to leaker @IshanAgarwal on Twitter. It seems like the phone will be coming in a new, sleek white color similar to the Zephyrus G14/15. The official renders also show a new AeroActive Cooler with a slight redesign.
And here is the ASUS ROG Phone 5 White Color Variant!
ASUS’s ROG Phone is arguably one of the most popular gaming phones on the market. ASUS launched the first ROG Phone to much fanfare in 2019 creating a new niche for loud, gamer-proud devices. They also pack specifications and software features that allow users to get the most out of their phones when it comes to performance and comes with software optimizations for gaming. Don’t forget the plethora of gaming-centric accessories that is now a signature of the ROG Phone lineup.
In the past, ASUS has announced their gaming smartphone closer to mid year. However, this year, the company has already announced that they will be revealing their new entry into the ROG Phone line up on March 10 at 7pm. With that in mind, we thought it’s be an opportune time to round up the rumours and everything else we know so far about the ROG Phone 5.
Bringing New Design Cues from Successful Laptops
Yep. You read that right. No you didn’t miss a ROG Phone somewhere in between. Instead, ASUS has decided to skip straight to 5 as the number 4 in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects sounds similar to the word for death.
With that out of the way, let’s get down to business. You’d have realised that ASUS has been teasing the ROG Phone 5 for about a week now. If you’ve been paying attention, it looks like the AniMe matrix from the ROG Zephyrus G14 is coming along for the ride. It seems to be the hallmark design feature of the phone and will be replacing the RGB logo which was one back of the phone.
From the leaks, it looks like this may be complemented by a small display. The small strip could be used as a notification ticker or possibly in a similar way that the HTC One Ultra used it for interactive features. However, there’s no confirmations so far on the functionality of the display.
This would be an excellent complement to the triggers that we already know will be coming to the ROG Phone 5. It also seems like there is an extra red button on the phone’s lower left edge. Keep in mind, that the ROG Phone series has historically come with a side mounted USB-C port.
Specc’d to Kill
As is the usual, it seems like the ROG Phone 5 is specced to kill – in a matter of speaking. We know the phone will be coming with a Snapdragon 888 processor. However, what we don’t know is whether the processor will come with a special build like previous years. Typically, ASUS and Qualcomm have launched the ROG Phone 5 with a “plus” or + variant of the year’s top processor. However, this year, the ROG Phone seems to be coming with the run of the mill Snapdragon 888.
We know from TENAA documentation that there will be an 8GB version of the smartphone, possibly the Tencent or STRIX version which we’ve seen in the past. However, we also have an inkling through rumours that ASUS is likely to have a 16GB and 12GB versions as well. Of course, they will be using the UFS 3.1 standard of memory for that snappy runtime. We will definitely see versions with 256GB and 512GB of internal storage however we wouldn’t put it past ASUS to offer a whopping 1TB version too perhaps paired with 16GB of RAM.
When it comes to the battery, we know for a fact that ASUS hasn’t shied away from large battery capacities. This year’s ROG Phone seems to be coming with a 6,000mAh battery if rumours are to be believed. ASUS is apparently achieving this by doubling up on 3,000mAh battery modules. Of course, the phone will be able to support up to 65W Fast Charging and come with Quick Charge 4, USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 and maybe even reverse charging. However, we don’t expect to see wireless charging in the ROG Phone 5 if ASUS keeps to its trends.
Source: ASUS
On the display front, it looks like ASUS might be equipping the ROG Phone 5 with a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen. However, rumours point to the gaming smartphone only coming with a Full HD+ resolution. That said, the display may be getting a boost from the HDR10+ feature it’s rumoured to be touting. It also looks like the smartphone will be coming with Android 11 out of the box.
Thanks to DxO Mark’s audio review, we know that the ROG Phone comes with stereo speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack – hooray~! In addition, it looks like the phone will be equipped with an ESS DAC for better quality sound and it will also have at least four microphones. On the optics side of things, not too much detail is known. However, we do have leads showing that the phone will be coming with a triple sensor setup. It will be fronted by a 64-megapixel main sensor. The remaining sensors are unknown but if we are to go with what came in the ROG Phone 3 and similar phones this year, we’re betting on an ultrawide sensor and a macro sensor.
Pricing & Availability
While nothing much has been said about the price, we’re expecting ASUS to maintain the general price point of the ROG Phone 5. The ROG Phone came with a price tag of $999 in the U.S. and €999 in Europe at launch. In Malaysia, pricing was about MYR4,499 at launch.
However, given Samsung’s move to make the barrier to ownership a little lower this year, we can probably expect that ASUS may do the same; either with a lower specc’d entry or a very slight price decrease. We’ll have to wait and see.
Samsung with their Galaxy S21 series has sort of won the flagship market in the first quarter of 2021. There is the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 11 that was very recently launched too, which was touted to be better than the South Korean flagship in every way, on paper. They also sell the device with a charger, a bonus.
Xiaomi is not the only one vying for the top spot in the premium flagship space though. There is also OPPO. To attempt to dethrone Samsung, they are launching the OPPO Find X3 series in 2021.
There is not much information at this time regarding the OPPO Find X3 series. The only thing we know for certain is that OPPO is launching their OPPO Find X3 Pro on the 11th March 2021. It is also most likely going to be launched with Android 11.
The OPPO Find X2 series really pushed Samsung in terms of specification. They proved that a high-resolution display with high refresh rates is possible. They also proved that high refresh rates does not mean a terrible battery life with the 2020 flagship.
The replacement, the OPPO Find X3 Pro continues on that recipe with a supposed high-resolution 1440p display with up to 120Hz. That is technically not a huge upgrade over the 2020 flagship that it replaces. We are also expecting it to come with up to 12GB of RAM, again something that we have seen before in the OPPO Find X2 Pro.
What is new with the OPPO Find X3 Pro though is supposedly its heart. When we say heart, we are mostly referring to powerhouse that is the SoC. We are expecting the OPPO Find X3 Pro to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 flagship class SoC of course.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC is first seen in Malaysia on the Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship smartphone. While you have seen the Xiaomi Mi 11 perform, it does not mean that the OPPO Find X3’s inclusion of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC is any less significant. The OPPO Find X3 Pro could really benefit from the new powerful SoC.
For one, we really like OPPO’s camera application and optimization. We find that they really are among the best in the industry when it comes to camera technology and innovation. We are saying that they really know how to make smartphone cameras work.
With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, the OPPO Find X3 Pro might just be one of the best camera smartphones in the Android space. Even with the Xiaomi Mi 11 series, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC has boasted better sensitivity for low-light conditions. OPPO’s Find X2 series was one of the best low-light shooters we have tested in 2020. That also means that added sensor sensitivity in low-light will just make the OPPO Find X3 Pro an even better low-light shooter than before.
With the Snapdragon 888 in the OPPO flagship as well, the camera AI should benefit from Qualcomm’s Hexagon 780 dedicated AI engine embedded within the chipset. That could also mean better colours, better temperature adjustment, cleverer angle detection and recommendation, and an overall improvement in scene detection. It could also mean better depth in your photos. In that sense, what could you have asked for more?
Of course, we loved the OPPO Find X2 series for their gaming capabilities. We have used it as an alternative display in completing most of Death Stranding. We also played other games with it of course. Games like PUBG Mobile, and even Mobile Legends really benefit from a fast display.
The OPPO Find X3 Pro should deliver even more gaming performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. Qualcomm’s latest processor is supposedly able to cut down your reaction times in games like Mobile Legends and even PUBG Mobile by 20%. The display is supposed to react to your touch inputs faster than before thanks to the new ultra-fast processor. Of course, even better performance and faster clocks on the SoC does not hurt gaming. They even tout desktop PC level of performances on the SoC.
Of course, all these are still yet to be confirmed. We can only confirm all of the information when the product launches on the 11th of March 2021. Are we excited though? For a smartphone that could give Samsung a run for their money, heck yes.
Xiaomi is no stranger to the smartphone scene. In recent years, the company has clawed its way to become one of the top 3 smartphone brands in the world. The same rings true in Malaysia and Singapore where the company has become one of the top 2 fastest growing smart devices companies. They have attributed their success to their highly innovative R&D process amazing products and what they call “honest prices.” That said, Xiaomi’s biggest boon is the support of their Mi Fans Community. Today, the company announced their latest flagship – the Xiaomi Mi 11, the first device in both Singapore and Malaysia to come with MIUI 12.5 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with support for 5G.
Source: Xiaomi
The Mi 11 is being touted by Xiaomi as a ‘Movie Magic’ device as it allows users to enjoy shooting like a director and edit like a pro. The Mi 11 comes with a triple camera sensor setup and a single selfie camera. Its main sensor is a 108-megapixels sensor. The is complemented with a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor with 123° field of view and the first M series Tele-macro lens. The front 20-megapixel, selfie camera is nestled in a punch hole up front.
The camera setup comes with improved software including an improved night mode which is now available on the ultra-wide and front camera, giving users to the flexibility of shooting at night with different lenses. It is also equipped with AI features such as Magic Zoom, Parallel world, Freeze Frame, and Night Time-lapse, which brings even more variety to the shots that users can take with the smartphone. Apart from that, users can also take advantage of 8 cinematic video filters. The Mi 11 supports recording video in 8K resolution and supports HDR10+. It also has a 30% improvement in capture compared to previous devices.
Source: Xiaomi
Even with all those features, the Mi 11 is thinner and lighter than before. It has a quad-curved edge design on the front and back of the device which make it more ergonomic. This device comes with a WQHD+ resolution AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120hz and 480Hz touch sampling.
The Mi 11 has a dual speaker setup calibrated by Harman Kardon for a more premium audio experience. Keeping the device flagship worthy, the Mi 11 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor complemented by the Adreno 660 GPU promising an immersive, responsive experience. The new flagship is also the first device with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi’s latest operating system which runs atop Android 11. To make sure that you have enough power to last, the Mi 11is supported by a 4600mAh battery fully equipped with 55W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. It also supports 10W reverse charging. The cherry on the package with the Mi11 in Malaysia and Singapore is the inclusion of a 55W GaN (Gallium Nitride) charger in the box.
Pricing & Availability
Xiaomi Mi11 will be available in three colors: Cloud White, Horizon Blue, and Midnight Gray. It will be priced starting at MYR2,799 (SGD999/USD$) for the 8GB version with 128GB internal storage. Full pricing is listed in the table below.
Storage & Memory
Sale Date
Pricing
128GB + 8GB RAM
TBA
MYR 2,999 (SGD$1099/742.53USD$)
256GB + 8GB RAM
March 13, 2021
MYR 2,799 (SGD$999/693.04USD$)
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Pre-orders are now open in Malaysia and Singapore. It will be running from 25 February to 10 March 2021 at Authorized Mi Stores and on Lazada, and Shopee. In Singapore, the Mi 11 is also available for pre-order with M1, Singtel, and StarHub.
Pre-orders are will be up for several freebies. The first 100 pre-orders made will stand a chance to win Mi AloT Premium Pack worth up to MYR1,356 (SGD$ 461.90). The subsequent 600 pre-orders in Singapore and 1,500 in Malaysia will be in the running to win a Mi Air Purifier 3C worth MYR 569 (SGD$ 179). To be eligible, customers will need to register their pre-orders at the official Mi11 pre-order website.
First sales will kick off on March 13, 2021 in Malaysia and 20 March 2021 in Singapore.
