Qualcomm is expanding its horizons with a new take on their Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform. The company started looking into mobile compute back in 2017 and introduced their first generation 7c back in 2019. Slightly over a year after, the company is bringing a new, improved take meant for an always connected future.
The new generation Snapdragon 7c compute platform takes aim at an emerging need for always connected PCs at an affordable price point. The new generation comes with the Snapdragon X15 4G LTE modem which provides on-the-go connectivity; allowing devices that come with the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 to switch seamlessly between WiFi and cellular networks. Qualcomm is looking to address the growing need for reliable, stable connections in the age of Work from Anywhere.
Source: Qualcomm
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c compute platform brings together performance, battery life and connectivity. It comes with an Octa-core Kryo 468 CPU which can be run at speeds of up to 2.55GHz providing enough compute for on-the-go work. Similar to its mobile counterparts, the compute platform comes with an Adreno GPU which supports QHD resolution at 60Hz. It also utilizes the Qualcomm Spectra 255 image signal processor which supports up to 14-bit image signal processing. The package, overall, should rival some of the entry level and lower mid range laptops we see in the market.
Affordable Performance for Entry Level Systems
Qualcomm isn’t just building the compute platform for performance, it’s looking at bringing value to a more affordable segment of laptops. To that end, they have been developing the 7c compute platform to bring performance which lasts. They are touting that the Snapdragon 7c is able to provide performance and multiday battery life. The new generation of the compute platform is built with up to 60% more productivity performance per watt compared to currently available laptops. However, they are also making things more affordable with a lower entry level when it comes to pricing. The 7c platform costs about one third of the currently available premium x86 systems.
Source: Qualcomm
The Snapdragon 7c compute platform isn’t just about the silicon either. Qualcomm is baking in AI features which help with on-the-go working. Their Hexagon 629 DSP in the 7c is able to handle over 5 trillion operations a second with its built-in AI engine. This AI enhances device security and even powers more accurate voice recognition and even features like gaze correction for video conferencing.
Working with OEMs for a Diverse Device Ecosystem
The emergence of Work from Anywhere and its acceleration in the midst of the current pandemic has necessitated Qualcomm and its partners to develop unique solutions. Qualcomm has been working with companies like Acer, ASUS, Lenovo and Samsung to create sturdy, affordable and powerful laptops built on the compute platform. This time, the company is working with manufacturers and even software companies for a more complete and optimised experience on the Snapdragon 7c Compute platform.
Manufacturers like Lenovo, HP and Acer are working on creating on-the-go work systems which take advantage of the compute system. They have Windows 10 laptops running on the 7c. Qualcomm has also been working to optimise the platform to better support all versions of Windows 10 for a better user experience.
That said, Windows isn’t the only operating system that Qualcomm is optimising the Snapdragon 7c for either. The company is also working with companies like Acer and ASUS to cultivate a Chrome OS ecosystem. Systems like the Acer Spin 513 Chromebook are already making their way to the market.
Mobile and wireless sound are some of the most ubiquitous things that we are taking advantage of nowadays. Just in recent years, we saw an increase in the number of people adopting true wireless headphones and earphones like the Sony WH-1000MX3 and the Galaxy Buds Pro. However, as Qualcomm’s James Chapman put it, the industry has a “dirty secret” – sound quality is reduced – sometimes significantly when it goes wireless. That’s where Qualcomm believes it can step in to help revolutionise wireless audio with its new initiative called Snapdragon Sound.
Source: Qualcomm
Snapdragon Sound is essentially Qualcomm flexing its proven prowess in two fields – wireless audio and mobile. A flex which, in the company’s own words, puts them in a unique position to address the issue of lacklustre sound when it comes to mobile and wireless audio. The new Snapdragon Sound initiative merges the technology and capabilities from Qualcomm spanning their mobile platforms, Bluetooth audio connectivity and video technologies to culminate in what is, essentially, a new certification for mobile sound.
Qualcomm’s new audio-centric efforts seem to have borne some fruit with the company already touting 2 times the bitrate when it comes to streaming music wirelessly and even when taking voice calls over wireless audio products. They also report a 45% lower latency when it comes to audio-video synchronisation. These comparisons were done against the mSBC codec with Qualcomm’s developed aptX codec.
Source: Qualcomm
That said, Qualcomm has lofty goals for Snapdragon Sound promising partners an already optimised sound experience for devices. Their optimisation focuses not only on the quality of the connection from the source device to the headphone or earphone but from the audio itself to the ear. At least, that’s what Qualcomm is claiming. Snapdragon sound promises to improve overall user experience by focusing on better fidelity, battery life, latency, and voice among others.
Source: Qualcomm
Qualcomm says that they will be certifying devices that utilise their Snapdragon Sound platform in a facility in Taiwan. These devices will be tested to meet their requirements at this facility before they are certified. At the time of the announcement, Qualcomm announced Xiaomi, Audio-Technica and Amazon Music HD as official Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound partners. Of note, Qualcomm did mention that current Snapdragon flagships do not have Snapdragon Sound certification.
Qualcomm is one of the biggest chipmakers when it comes to mobile. The company is responsible for the silicon in a huge number of smartphones on the market including the U.S. variant of the Samsung S21 series and the recently announced Xiaomi Mi11. That isn’t all, the company’s Snapdragon processors also power some of the more accessible and affordable devices such as the Redmi Note 9s and even HMD’s Nokia lineup. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the company and the Snapdragon brand has built up a following in the past years.
If you’re one of them, Qualcomm is opening the doors for you to get more acquainted with their technology. In an announcement on their social media as well as a blog post, the company announced their new Snapdragon Insider program. The program will give exclusive access to some of the inner happenings at Qualcomm and even allow fans access to experts to learn more about the Snapdragon mobile platforms.
Source: Qualcomm
According to Qualcomm, signing-up will give enthusiasts an exclusive chance to celebrate, engage, and experience the latest Snapdragon technology. The community will be among the first to get news and announcements about Snapdragon-enabled devices and will have access to small-group interactions with content creators and Qualcomm experts. These sessions will allow Insiders to learn how to get the most out of their Snapdragon devices as well as help shape the future of Snapdragon.
If you’re interested, you can sign up at Qualcomm’s website. The program is going live in the U.S., India and Germany with plans to roll out in China soon. There’s no news on which other countries will be able to access the Qualcomm Insider program at this point of time.
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.
At the end of last year, we saw a major shift in the world of personal and portable computing. We saw Apple launching their new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with a confusing architecture style. They brought out the new notebooks that comes packing a processor that seems to be made for a smartphone. They call it their M1 chip. Whatever it is, it runs a full class Operating System made for modern day PCs.
A little later after that, Qualcomm also announced that they are going to delve into the mobile computing platform. They are going to get their Qualcomm 800 series System on a Chip (SoC) platforms into a notebook PC in 2021. Today, that dream is made a reality with JOI.
Source: JOI
Welcome to the Qualcomm PC experience with the JOI Book SK3000. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 SoC. We admit, it is not the most updated SoC in Qualcomm’s books. We also admit, it is not a 5G supporting chipset. But it is still a reasonably powerful chipset.
You still get 4G connectivity out of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850. In this day and age, where 5G is still not available, you are going to get the best connectivity experience with 4G still. It supports any of Malaysia’s network too, so you can get away with just about any data plan. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 is also more powerful than the entry level Processors from both AMD and Intel. In that case, it makes plenty of sense in a notebook.
Unlike the older generation Qualcomm based PCs, the JOI Book SK3000 is not running on some toned-down version of Windows though. It runs on Windows 10 Pro with Bitlocker tools. It is the real deal.
Source: JOI
The small caveat here is that the JOI Book SK3000 only packs 4GB of RAM. We know that Windows can be a little memory hungry at times too, especially if you rely on Google Chrome as your browser. The new Microsoft Edge is a good Chromium based browser though, that does not require a large amount of RAM to work with. Still, we would have loved to see an 8GB RAM size.
It also comes with a 128GB internal SSD which can be expanded via MicroSD card that is hidden with the SIM card tray. We are not entirely sure if you can upgrade the SSD or the RAM at all at this point. We do know that the JOI Book SK3000 is a full aluminium notebook PC though. In that regards, you can expect some nice heft and a high build quality to it.
Still, it is not all that hefty at 1.05kg though. Within that 1.05kg is a 12.5-inch Full HD IPS display. Within the 1.05kg package is also a 4,500mAh battery that with a quoted 10 hours of battery life. Not quite all-day battery life at this point, but 10 hours is still plenty. Obviously because it is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850, it stays on standby when you do not use it to continue receiving emails and other notifications when it is sleeping. In that mode, the battery should last you much longer.
Source: JOI
Source: JOI
Source: JOI
Source: JOI
The JOI Book SK3000 is now available on JOI and GLOO Official stores on Shopee and Lazada. You can also get your pre-order done on GLOO Official website. Of course, you can get your hands on one via SNS Network stores and authorised resellers across Malaysia. The JOI Book will be priced at MYR 2,199 and comes with a 30-day free trial of Microsoft Office.
Xiaomi is one of the most popular Chinese manufacturers producing not only smartphones but also earphones, power banks, smart TVs and other products. In fact, according to IDC, in the smartphone category alone, the company has successfully become the third most popular brand by shipments in the world; beating the likes of Apple, OPPO, vivo and more. Looking to push the envelope further, the company has announced the Mi 11, their latest flagship smartphone equipped with 5G connectivity. Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, they revealed only ONE flagship smartphone; something we haven’t seen from manufacturers in a while!
New Aspirations with a new Flagship
The Mi 11 isn’t just a new flagship from Xiaomi, it marks the company’s move to push boundaries and start taking on giant brands like Samsung and Apple. Most obviously, Xiaomi has its software aspirations fixed squarely on Apple. With the announcement of their new flagship, the company also announced a new update to their signature MIUI interface: MIUI 12.5. The updated MIUI interface continues to focus on user experience with new features focused on increasing performance, reducing load times, optimizing app compatibility, and improving security.
Xiaomi’s focus on creating a performance centric flagship doesn’t wane when it comes to the Mi 11. It’s the first commercially available smartphone equipped with Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor the Snapdragon 888. The processor is equipped with 5G connectivity on both mmWave and Sub5 spectra with a new 1+3+4 architecture which promises better performance and battery life. The Mi 11 is also equipped with faster UFS3.1 storage for and faster 4600MHz LPDDR5 RAM. In addition, the new Mi flagship also comes with a 4,600 mAh battery that supports 55W fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging and 10W reverse wireless charging.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a 4-curve design with AG coating which the company claims to make it more ergonomic and easier to handle. The flagship has also been given a sleeker design coming in at only 8.06mm thick and weighing only 169g. In addition to this, the Mi 11 comes with a 2K AMOLED display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 480Hz touch sampling. The panel comes with E4 OLED technology which allows Xiaomi to fine tune the colour accuracy with a ΔE value of about 0.4. The display employs the latest Gorilla Glass Victus when it comes to shatter- and scratch-proofing.
It’s All in the Details from Camera setup to Content Immersion
The Mi 11 comes with a brand-new triple camera setup which Xiaomi claims brings all the features you need to get great video and pictures. The setup comes with a large 1/1.3” 108-megapixel main sensor paired with a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 5-megapixel telemacro sensor. While it may seem like Xiaomi has opted to not have optical zoom on the Mi 11, their inclusion of a telemacro lens allows users to get some optical zoom while also enabling the camera to capture the finer details.
MIUI 12.5, which debuts on the Mi 11, focuses on immersion with features that help make the user experience more immersive than ever before. One of these features is a huge improvement to the haptic engine of the Mi 11. The enhancement allows users to experience more discerning features when it is utilized. Xiaomi touted the many different surfaces the engine can emulate during their presentation. In addition, the company has also added touch sensors which detect how the phone is being held to prevent unwanted screen rotations. Xiaomi is also upping the ante when it comes to sound with a partnership with Harman/Kardon. The Mi 11 comes with stereo speakers calibrated by Harman/Kardon for a more immersive sound experience.
Pricing & Availability
The Mi 11 is available in three colours: Blue, Black, and white. There are also two special Eco Leather editions available in Khaki and Mist Purple. It goes on sale in China starting on January 1, 2020 with prices starting at CN¥3,999 for the 8GB+128GB configuration. The Mi 11 doesn’t come with a wall wart in the box. However, Xiaomi is making a bundled deal available with a 55W GaN charger for the same price (for now). The bundle is originally valued at CN¥4,098.
Configuration
Price (CN¥)
Price (USD$)
Price (MYR)
8GB RAM + 128GB Storage
3,999
611.83
2,478.25
8GB RAM + 256GB Storage
4,299
657.32
2,664.17
12GB RAM + 256GB Storage
4,699
718.48
2,911.59
The Mi 11 is also available in an extremely limited edition made with Scodix Crystal and signed by CEO, Lei Jun which will be available during a special live stream on TikTok (known in China as DouYin).
The latest generation of mobile network, 5G, is slowly making its way to the masses around the world. With that in mind, more major players in the mobile device market pumping out their own compatible devices. After introducing their 5G capable flagships, Samsung has announced another 5G device- the Galaxy A42 which is priced lower at $450 internationally and only MYR1,599 in Malaysia. It is equipped with all the innovation consumers have come to expect with the Galaxy A series, including a Quad Camera, Infinity-U Display and a long lasting battery.
The Galaxy A42 5G comes with the Snapdragon 750G which brings support for 5G on both mmWave and Sub6 bands according to Qualcomm. However, actual connectivity support has not been revealed by Samsung. The new smartphone comes with a 6.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U Display; which should provide ample viewing space for an immersive media experience. It also has a large 5,000mAh battery with support for Fast Charge which should keep you going for at least one full day. The sleek design of the phone is also ergonomic, with rounded edges to make it more comfortable to grip.
Here comes the catchy features of the Galaxy A42 5G, a powerful multi role Quad Camera that captures images and records videos with enhanced clarity. This consists of 48MP main camera supported by a an 8MP Ultra Wide Camera, a 5MP Macro Camera and a 5MP Depth Camera to capture more detail. Plus, the front-facing camera is a 20MP Selfie Camera, a great addition for selfie enthusiasts. Other Galaxy A42 5G specs include 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A42 will be available in Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot White and Prism Dot Grey. It is available in Europe for €369 starting from 7 November and is already available in Malaysia via Samsung’s online store for MYR1,599.
4/6/8GB RAM 128GB Internal Storage MicroSD slot (up to 1TB)
Battery5
5,000mAh (typical) 15W Adaptive Fast Charging
Biometric Authentication
On-Screen Fingerprint
Colors6
Prism Dot Black Prism Dot White Prism Dot Gray
1 All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this table including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice. 2 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera cut out. 3 Device weight may vary by region and market. 4 Available RAM may vary by country and region. 5 Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,680mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this table including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice. 6 Availability may vary by country. 7The disclaimer for weight specifications has been revised on October 22, 2020 to provide more accurate information.
OPPO has officially launched its newest model OPPO A73 which will make its official debut exclusively on Shopee Malaysia. The sensually sleek design of the model is the latest entry into OPPO’s affordable A series which brings the company’s selfie and camera technologies to a more affordable price point.
The OPPO A73 has been designed with sleek curves to help with the ergonomics and grip of the phone. Coming in at only 152g and 7.5mm, the phone is one of the thinnest and lightest yet from OPPO’s A series. OPPO has also decided to add a touch of variety with a matte, leather-like finish for a more unique, premium finish. What’s more, the finish makes it fingerprint and scratch-resistant.
Source: OPPO
The guts of the OPPO A73 is an octa-core Snapdragon 662 processor capable of speeds of up to 2.5 GHz with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory. The phone will be launching with OPPO’s ColorOS 7.2 which runs on top of Android 10. It’s powered by a 4,105mAh battery with support for 30W VOOC Flash Charge promising a full charge in only 55 minutes. OPPO has also introduced safety features which include five independent thermistors to prevent the overheating while charging.
The OPPO A73 sports a 6.44-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,4000×1080 pixels. The larger screen size provides users with a more immersive experience when it comes to consuming media and even gaming. It also comes with an under screen fingerprint sensor for quick unlock in addition to the face unlock features which come baked in to ColorOS.
A.I. Beauty Enabled Cameras
The main camera on the OPPO A73 is a quad camera setup OPPO calls a 16MP Ultra Wide-Angle quad-cam system. It consists of a 16MP main camera, a 119 degree 8MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP monochrome camera, and a 2MP retro camera. There are some optimized features which include filters and software enhancements to preserve skin tone. The cameras also come with OPPO’s now ubiquitous A.I. technology which it is calling A.I. Dazzle Color. This helps with advanced scene recognition and enhance captured pictures. For video recording, OPPO A73 come with a steady video feature to help stabilise your video recording for better quality with electronic image stabilization.
Source: OPPO
The front comes with a 16MP A.I. Beauty Beauty Camera to let you have the perfect selfie. Also, an ultra-sensitive f/2.0 aperture that offers you higher sensitivity and more clarity during low light conditions.
Pricing & Availability
Source: OPPO
The OPPO A73 will be available in three colours, Dynamic Orange, Navy Blue, and Classic Silver; priced at RM899 on the OPPO Official Online Store on Shopee and OPPO Official Website.
It will be available for pre-order from 3 to 10 November 2020. OPPO is offering free gift for the first 300 customers who purchase the OPPO A73. They will be entitled to a Weloop Neo Smartband worth RM389 and an OPPO Enco W11 that worth RM159. After this, the phone will be available for sale starting on 11 November, 2020 and will be available on the upcoming 11.11 sales.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note series has always been one of the foremost series when it comes to productivity and creativity. With its signature S-Pen and its large display, the series was responsible for revolutionising the smartphone space – the effects of which we still feel until today. This year, the company is looking to do more of the same when it comes to the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note20 series.
The Galaxy Note20 series will consists of only two devices: the Galaxy Note20 Ultra and the regular Galaxy Note; unlike the Galaxy S20 series. However, the gap between the two new flagships is a little more pronounced. The Note 20 Ultra builds on the series’ legacy while the Note20 serves as an entry point for people looking to explore the Note series for the first time.
Swifter Response, More Natural Writing
The new Galaxy Note series comes with a more fortified S Pen. The new S Pen on the Galaxy Note20 comes with a 9ms response time compared to the 42ms in the Galaxy Note10 series. The improved S Pen response time is supposed to provide a more natural writing experience on the smartphone. The higher response time will translate into a more seamless experience and the stroke appearing on the screen as soon as S pen hits the surface. This would also mean that it would be even more natural taking notes and creatives will definitely revel in the feel when their creating on the Note.
That said, the S Pen doesn’t just gain a faster response rate, it also turns into your navigation tool. The new S Pen gains more Air Actions to help with navigation and quick actions. The new Air Actions allows you navigate the Android UI with the S Pen. Gestures like scribbling to cover the screen will trigger a screenshot. It’s hard to describe all of them but it seems like there will be a lot more wizards appearing with Notes in their pockets.
More Features on Samsung Notes and DeX Untethered
Samsung’s Notes app gets a little boost too with the updated Galaxy Note series. It gains the ability to annoted PDFs and even PowerPoint files. Of course, if you’re already a Galaxy Note user, you’d know this functionality is already there with Samsung’s Write on PDF app. However, with the Note20, it comes baked into the Samsung Notes app and users will also be able to export their files to PDF and PowerPoint formats for easy editing.
The productivity features on the Note20 series also get a boost with a new improvement to Samsung’s DeX – it’s now wireless. The untethered DeX experience not only brings the full DeX experience to any capable wireless screen, it also allows your phone to be used as a second screen. This allows you to project and share while keeping items like your messages to yourself. This feature will be compatible with all
The Note20 series also introduces what Samsung is calling Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology. The new tech comes as Android’s – yep, you read that right, ANDROID’s – answer to AirDrop. The new tech is now being used as a means to quickly and seamlessly share files between phones and has been in development for a while now. The technology is pioneered by a partnership between Google and Samsung. That said, the most interesting feature that we got to see was the Point to Share feature which allows you to share files by simply pointing and tapping on the detected phone. Samsung is looking to use this technology as to develop access keys and more in the future.
Augmented Camera features for a better Creator Experience
Last year, Samsung explored the Note series’ prowess when it came to creator experiences. This year, the series take another leap with more creator focused features primarily focused on the camera.
The new Note20 series will be the first Samsung device to have an improved Pro Video mode which gives creators better control of the camera when they are creating. The new pro video mode brings granular sound control; allowing creators to play with volume levels and also choose their sound source. This will allow users to choose between the device mics as well as Bluetooth devices such as the Galaxy Buds Active. The camera also has variable zoom speed just in case you need that extra splash of drama.
The camera also comes with the capability to shoot 8K video with support for lower resolutions. Users can select frame rates of up to 120fps for resolutions below 4K. You can even use DisplayPort over USB-C or USB-C to HDMI for video out.
Powerful Specs that Allow You to Get More Done
As always, the Galaxy Note series comes supped specifications to keep you ever at the ready. The Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra come with top of the line processors capable of 5G connectivity. They will be coming with either the Exynos 990 or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ depending on your region. This will be complemented by either 8GB or 12 GB of RAM and a minimum of 256GB onboard memory. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra will have expandable memory via microSD card slot while the Note20 will not.
The Galaxy Note20 Ultra will be coming with a 6.9-inch, curved Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Quad HD+ resolution of 3088×1440 pixels. The Galaxy Note20, on the other hand, will be coming with a 6.7-inch flat Super AMOLED+ display with Full HD+ resolution of 2400×1080 pixels. They will both come with the signature S Pen with all its bells and whistles as well.
On the camera front, the Note20 Ultra comes with a triple camera setup which has a 108-megapixel main sensor complemented with a 12-megapixel ultra wide sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera. The Note 20 comes with a similar setup replacing the 108-megapixel sensor with a 12-megapixel main sensor and the 12-megapixel telephoto sensor with a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor. The Note series ditches the 100X Space Zoom for a more sensible 50X Space Zoom on the Ultra while the regular Note20 has 30X Space Zoom. The front camera is a 10-megapixel wide sensor. Both smartphones come with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), however, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra comes with Laser Autofocus.
The Galaxy Note20 series will be 5G capable with 4G connectivity being the standard across all regions. The phones will support both the Sub6 and mmWave bandwidths for 5G – support for actual 5G connectivity will depend on your carrier/telco. The Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra will also support WiFi 6 (802.11 ax). This comes in addition to normal WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. The smartphones will also have Bluetooth 5.0 LE and GPS connectivity.
The Note20 will be powered by a 4,300mAh battery while the Ultra will have a larger 4,500mAh battery. Both will support fast charging. This includes wireless fast charging. They will also be capable of Wireless PowerShare as well.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Note20 will be available for pre-order starting September 6, 2020 for USD$999.99 (MYR4,194.84) internationally. In Malaysia, prices will be starting at MYR3,899 for the Note20 and MYR4,299 for the Note20 5G. It will be available in Mystic Green, Mystic Grey and Mystic Bronze.
The Galaxy Note20 Ultra will be available starting at USD$1,299.99 (MYR5,453.30) internationally. In Malaysia, it will be retailing at MYR5,199. It will be available in Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black and Mystic White.
Pre-orders for Malaysia kick off on 6 August, 2020. Pre-orders of the Note20 Ultra will be entitled to a free pair of Galaxy Buds Live worth MYR699 while Note20 pre-orders will be entitled to a free of Galaxy Buds+ worth MYR599.
Back in April, OnePlus had their announcement of their new flagships, the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro. However, back then, rumours were rife with a third device in the series called the OnePlus 8 Lite, which never made its debut. Shortly after, the OnePlus Z surfaced with similar specifications. Now, we have confirmation from OnePlus itself, that their upcoming phone is the OnePlus Nord.
What is the OnePlus Nord?
Remember way back when OnePlus launched their first mid-range smartphone? You don’t? Well, lets talk a little bit about the missed opportunity that was the OnePlus X. Back in 2015, OnePlus released an ill-fated device called the OnePlus X, their first foray into a lower price range than their popular numbered flagship. The device wasn’t very popular and to be honest, was a dumpster fire of a device plagued with bugs.
Come 2020, we have the Nord. OnePlus second attempt at the mid-range market and to be honest, one that makes sense with their numbered flagships hitting true flagship prices. The OnePlus Nord seems to be shaping up as a successor for the OnePlus X. But saying that wouldn’t do justice to the difference in the company’s approach to the OnePlus Nord.
They are approaching the new device like a revitalization of the company’s “Never Settle” tagline. A new beginning for a truly powerful mid-range player with a price tag that puts the competition to shame.
What does the OnePlus Nord Pack?
While we don’t have full confirmations for all the specifications, we can say with confidence that the Nord is shaping up to be a really interesting offering in the mid-range space.
Initially, it was rumoured that the Nord, or the OnePlus Z, as it was known then, would be coming with the MediaTek Dimensity processor. However, the OnePlus Nord seems to now be coming with a Snapdragon 765G which will also mean that the smartphone will be 5G capable. It looks like the processor will be complemented by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. No word just yet on whether the phone will support microSD cards.
Said by a tipster to come from a virtual Nord training presentation, this lines up quite well with what we already know (save for the phone imagery, which is an obvious placeholder). Let the debunking begin! pic.twitter.com/pA5N4oxJOF
On the display side of things, it looks like the Nord will be coming with a 6.55-inch Super AMOLED display. The screen will have a Full HD+ resolution of 2220×1080 pixels and will have a 90Hz refresh rate. It looks like it will be a hole punch display with slim bezels. It will also be flat unlike the curved 8.
It looks like the OnePlus Nord will be coming with a Quad camera array – not the dual or triple camera setup that was initially rumoured. That said, the camera doesn’t look to be your run of the mill mid-ranger either. It’s a quad array with a 48-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra wide sensor, a 5-megapixel macro sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. If it sounds familiar it’s a similar setup to the Redmi Note 9s which was recently released but it’s to be seen if the company is using the same Sony IMX module. On the selfie side of things, the new offering looks to be bringing a dual camera setup with a 32-megapixel main sensor paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor.
Source: @evleaks
All of these specs is rumoured to be powered by 4,300 mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging. It will support USB-C but will not have a headphone jack – which is making more sense since we’re getting inklings of OnePlus launching it’s first true wirelsss earphones.
When can I get it and Where?
The new OnePlus Nord will be making its official debut on July 21, 2020 in a special augmented reality (AR) launch. You will need to download the Nord app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to join in. It will be launching in a very limited beta in North America. However, Malaysia, India and select countries in Europe will be getting the smartphone in all its glory. It looks like the price will be around EUR€500 (MYR2,409.15). We expect the launch price to be about MYR1999-2299 in Malaysia to keep the phone competitive with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy A51 and the iPhone SE.
So far, these are the countries that have been confirmed to get the OnePlus Nord:
