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Sony Xperia 1 III In-Depth Review – A Niche Smartphone for Content Creators

January 6, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Sony’s Xperia 1 is a milestone for the Japanese electronics giant. It is not the most powerful smartphone in the market when it was launched, though it was one of the more powerful flagships. It also marks Sony’s departure from their old Xperia ways and their embracing of the new era of ultra-high-end smartphones.

The first Xperia 1 is also the first Sony Xperia device that was made in collaboration with Sony’s Alpha imaging division. That also means that the camera is now a lot more optimized than before. It now means that Sony has a reliable hardware paired to reliably impressive imaging hardware.

The Sony Xperia 1 marks a new era of Sony smartphones, an era where Sony stopped thinking about sales numbers and focus on a niche. That was three years ago though. In that case, you might be due for an upgrade. What about the new Sony Xperia 1 III (mk. lll)?

In its third iteration, is the Xperia 1 III worth the upgrade from the first generation Xperia 1? Is it worth the MYR 5,799 asking price? Can it still hold its own when Sony is launching another major flagship soon?

Design

The Sony Xperia 1 III follows a design language that should be familiar to its fans. Not much has changed in terms of design language of the Sony Xperia smartphones. They have followed the same design language for years. You might not be able to tell apart one Sony Xperia 1 III to the first generation Xperia 1.

That said though, we are fans of the timeless design language. The device is full of flat surfaces with sharper angles compared to plenty of the regular flagships we are used to in 2021. It looks fresh, modern, and iconic in its skin. The only changes Sony has made between the differing versions of Sony’s Xperia devices are on certain materials used on the device itself.

On the Sony Xperia 1 III, Sony opted for what feels like aluminium for its backplate. While it feels like it is a single unit with the frames, it is not. We suspect that it is so that the Sony Xperia 1 III will be easier to disassemble and repaired. It also still features wireless charging, despite the aluminium. We like that Sony brought back the fingerprint sensor integrated power button.

The first thing that greets you when you take it out from the box is an elongated candy bar that boasts a 6.5-inch display that stretches to 21:9 in aspect ratio. The display may sound like it is a little smaller than most modern flagships. But because it is at 21:9 aspect ratio, the candy bar is longer than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It is much narrower though.

Still, the Xperia 1 III still features the signature camera button which doubles as a dual action shutter button that makes it work exactly like a compact camera. Additionally, there is also a Google Assistant button on the device this time. The Sony Xperia 1 III also features a 3.5mm combo jack, something of a feature today. As with any of the Xperia devices as well, you do not need a SIM tray removal tool for the Xperia 1 III.

There is a slight camera bump at the back of the device, which is quite expected on a modern smartphone. The bump is smaller than most modern flagship devices, though.

Sony did not bother with the whole edge-to-edge moniker with their expansive display. There is a small forehead and a tight chin on the device for earpiece and a front firing speaker, which is very traditional.

Hardware

The Sony Xperia 1 III is not Sony’s most premium device you can find in Sony’s smartphone line-up. Except for its cameras, the Sony Xperia 1 III is still one of the most powerful devices in the Xperia line-up.

Specifications

Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Octa-core 5nm 1x Kryo 680 @2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 @2.42GHz 4x Kryo 680 @1.80GHz
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Adreno 660
RAM	12GB
Memory (as tested)	256GB
Display	OLED 6.5-inch 3,840 x 1,644 pixels ~643ppi 120Hz (up to)
Operating System	Android 11
Battery	Non-Removable Li-Po 4,500mAh Fast Charging 30W
Connectivity	Dual SIM Wi-Fi WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS A2DP Bluetooth 5.2 LE OTG Support USB Type-C 3.1
Camera (s)	REAR: 12-Megapixel 24mm (f/1.7) 12-Megapixel 70mm (f/2.3, telephoto) 12-Megapixel 16mm (f/2.2, ultrawide) 0.3-Megapixel TOF depth sensor 4K video recording (120fps) LED flash FRONT: 8-Megapixel (f/2.0, 24mm) 1080p Full HD video recording (30fps)
Sensors	Accelerometer Proximity Fingerprint Sensor Ambient Light Gyroscope Face Unlock Compass

User Interface – Android 11 with Sony’s Xperia Touch

You can expect nearly stock Android 11 experience on the Sony Xperia 1 III as well. When we say ‘Xperia Touch’, we mean some of Sony’s own apps on the device itself.

On the end of apps, there are a few of Sony’s own app installed in the device. They are not so much bloatware though. You do have to note that there are two different camera apps on the device though. There is the regular Sony camera app that you can easily launch with a long press of the shutter button. There is also a separate video camera app (Cinema Pro) on the device. We will talk about these two apps later.

Most of the User Interface has been kept untouched from Google’s intended look. Even the notification screens are pretty much stock. That also means that you get a device that remains smooth and snappy for longer. At the same time, because the interface does not put extra unnecessary stress on memory and processors, you get apps working properly and smoothly.

Performance

The Sony Xperia 1 III is a powerhouse containing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 paired with 12GB of RAM. That also means that you can expect a lot of good things from the device.

Call Quality and Connectivity

Of course, making phone calls on a smartphone is the most regular thing you would do with it. It is, after all, the most basic function of a phone.

In that sense, making a phone call on the Xperia 1 III is pretty much like any other smartphone you can find today. You just need to pull up the Phone app and dial in your numbers, or type your friend’s name, or scroll through the contact list to make a call.

Connectivity for phone calls are quite excellent when you have enough signal strength to make the call. It also supports VoLTE, which is nothing to shout about for smartphones these days. But that also means you get crystal clear calls from the Sony Xperia 1 III. If you have a friend with networks that leverage VoLTE technology, you are going to have a good long chat with your friend on the phone without realizing that your friend is not even physically with you.

You hardly drop calls too unless you lose network signal on your device. You hardly lose network connectivity on the Sony Xperia 1 III. Of course, if you are going through an area known for weak signals, you are going to get some dropped calls.

Gaming

The display really shines when you game though. The 4K display is amazing to look at in games like Pokémon Unite. The problem is the real estate you get on the display.

The unique aspect ratio of the Sony Xperia 1 III’s display means that there is not a lot of space between the top and bottom of the display when you play games like PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends Bang Bang. That means that your space for your navigation is limited. When you place your fingers on the display, you pretty much cover most of it.

That does not mean that you cannot enjoy the games though. They all look good on the 4K with plenty of details and with highly vivid colours. You do want to watch out for heat, though.

Multitasking and Productivity

With 12GB of RAM, there is no excuse to not perform. While the display is not optimized for multi-window experiences, you can load up tabs on your browser. That is what we did.

On the Sony Xperia 1 III, we have anywhere between 10-20 tabs open on Google Chrome. We often actively switch between 5 tabs most of the time. In that use case, the Sony Xperia 1 III copes very nicely.

We have also tried loading and actively switching between 4 different apps at the same time to stretch the device’s legs. One of the apps includes Google Chrome and multiple tabs on it. Even that did not trouble the Sony Xperia 1 III at all.

Battery Life

One of the biggest benefits to stock interfaces is battery life. Custom interfaces tend to be less efficient than stock ones. Interestingly, you rarely have a battery management system on stock interfaces like the Sony Xperia 1 III.

You do want to keep in mind that there are apps that will drain the device’s battery, like the two camera apps. That said, even with extensive use of the camera apps, you can get a good working day of battery life. On typical days, you are working with a good day of battery life plus a few more hours in the next day, on a single charge.

Charging the device is fast enough. Like most flagships, you get to charge the device from empty to full in less than two hours. Unlike some flagships in the market as well, the Sony Xperia 1 III still ships with a wall charger.

Display

One of the big highlights of any Xperia 1 device is its one-of-a-kind display. The 6.5-inch 21:9 aspect ratio display packs 4K resolution. It is also a more powerful display compared to some 4K TVs you can find today.

This AMOLED display is the most advanced display you can find on a smartphone. You get 120Hz refresh rate on this 4K display. The Sony Xperia 1 series is also the only series of smartphones in the world that gets 4K resolution displays as standard. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a QHD+ display.

As if the 4K resolution is not impressive enough, the 6.5-inch panel also boasts HDR colours with 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. You even get 240Hz touch sampling rate for an almost instant response on your display. To reduce flicker in upscaling contents, the display boasts 240Hz in motion blur reduction.

Thing is, it is not a true 4K UHD display that you work with. Instead of 2,160 pixels in depth, it only features 1,644 pixels. You still get 3,840 on the side.

Still, that does not mean that the display is not impressive. It is a fantastic display to consume contents with. If you are planning to use it as an external monitor for your cameras, it works great too with Sony cameras.

Cameras

The other highlight of the new Sony Xperia 1 III is its camera. You get a humble 12-Megapixel sensor for its main shooter. Both its flanking cameras are also 12-Megapixel units. There is an 8-Megapixel shooter out the front, which is rather understated for a flagship.

Despite the ‘low’ Megapixel count, it is a fantastic camera. You get some Alpha touches, of course. It is also the most reliable camera app and unit you get from a Sony device so far.

The photos you get from the device are amazing to look at in terms of detail and colour. Of course, you may not get ultra-crisp details if you put it beside a Samsung Galaxy S21’s photo at 108-Megapixel, for example. But you do get fine enough details for stunning social media posts.

The selfie camera may not be the best you can find on a smartphone. We think that the selfie camera is more for video calls or facial recognition. Still, if you are in the mood for a selfie, it works.

The Camera App vs Cinema Pro

There are two separate camera apps on the Sony Xperia 1 III as mentioned. Both works differently too, for different functions. The camera app is more of a general app that you can use for both regular photos and videos. The other app is more specific for videos though.

There is one Sony’s specific Alpha camera mode. You get more granular controls over your photos in that mode. If you are a Sony user, the interface is also very reminiscent and very familiar to Sony’s cameras. You also get to set your camera in modes that is closer to a regular camera over a smartphone.

You can put your camera in Auto, which is what we do most of the time, ‘M’ for Manual or ‘Pro’ mode, ‘A’ for Aperture priority, and ‘P’ for Programmable Auto. You get different outcomes and controls in different modesband your Sony Xperia 1 III turns into a point and shoot.

The Cinema Pro app is something you are really going to enjoy if you are planning to use your smartphone as the main content capturing device. It does all the usual thing for a smartphone video mode. You can set the resolution and how many frames it takes. But the Cinema Pro app does way more than that.

It allows you to have even more control over your videos over the regular camera app. You can play around with focus pulling on the Cinema Pro app, both manually and guided auto. You can even control things like ISO and Aperture if you are really getting as much manual control over your video as possible. You can even change the colour profile if you really need to.

Gallery

The Sony Xperia 1 III – The Best of Sony

The new Sony Xperia 1 III is even more expensive than the Sony Xperia 1 II that it replaced. For that money though you are the most powerful Sony Xperia 1 device to date.

The new Sony Xperia 1 III is also more expensive than most flagship smartphones you can find in the market today. The thing is, the Sony Xperia 1 III is marketed toward a very specific target market. They are selling the device to the content creator market, a market that knows what they want in a smartphone.

Of course, you can argue that these guys should maybe go for the Xperia Pro-I instead. The price difference between the two devices makes the Xperia 1 III the more sensible smartphone choice though. Other than the larger and more powerful camera, the Xperia 1 III and Xperia Pro-I shares the same hardware too.

MYR 5,799 is still a lot of money for a smartphone. A Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at this point will set you back MYR 5,299 at retail price (12GB + 256GB). In that sense, there is not that much in terms of reasons to get the Sony Xperia 1 III. But there is a very good reason why you want one. This is a device created specifically with one target audience in mind. Its sole purpose is to do a job for a specific target group; very well at that.

If you are already working with Sony’s vast array of tools, the Sony Xperia 1 III is really an extension. It even shines as a standalone, if you like it to be. The camera is still a Sony Alpha developed tool made for the Xperia, which also means that you are getting a Sony camera that is better than ever. You can even get eye autofocus function working with it. For those alone, you should get the Sony Xperia 1 III.

Accessories, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

HUAWEI MateView and MateView GT Launched in Malaysia – The Beauty and The Beast

July 7, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

HUAWEI has grown from a little-known smartphone maker from China to become one of the tech giants of the world. Of course, the fact that they make great smartphones helped their rise to become one of the most recognisable electronics brands in the world. In the recent years, HUAWEI has also expanded its product range to just more than mobile devices. This is including smartphone peripherals like headsets and wireless speakers. They branched out into home appliances. They also branched out into making Windows laptops, which worked great if you own a HUAWEI device already. They even made smart TVs in the past two years.

It only makes sense then, when HUAWEI started making PCs and even smart TVs, that they start making PC displays. They started with the brand new MateView and MateView GT. As per the title, it really is like Beauty and the Beast. We are not really referring to how the monitors look though; we are referring to what they are made for.

HUAWEI MateView – The Beauty … of 4K+ resolution

The HUAWEI MateView is made for creators in mind and it shows in the colour accuracy rating of the display. It boasts ΔE<2 with 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. On the sRGB scale, it covers 100% of the colour gamut. That also means unparalleled colour accuracy, very important when you are colour correcting photos or even videos. At HDR 400 also, contents shine when displayed on the HUAWEI MateView. We have not even gone to its resolution.

The HUAWEI MateView displays all these colours at an extremely high resolution 4K+. You get 3,840 x 2,560 pixels from the 28.2-inch IPS panel. While that means that you get a very odd 3:2 display ratio, it also means you get more display real estate to work with, important when you only have one monitor to rely on when you work with videos. At 1.07 billion colours as well, colour gradients look natural even when you push the brightness to the maximum 500 nits the HUAWEI MateView is capable of.

It even boasts two 5W speakers on its integrated stand. While it may not be the most powerful speakers you can find in the market, the speakers should produce an acceptable audio, if you do not have an external speaker to work with. At the same time, with wireless projection, you can hook your HUAWEI devices up wirelessly and play your favourite music through the MateView’s speakers instead. For video conferencing, the HUAWEI MateView even packs four built in mics. You can even fire up Cortana on Windows 10 with the mics.

Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI

The HUAWEI MateView is also your friendly USB Hub. While it packs HDMI 2.0 (capable of 3,840 x 2,560 @50Hz) and a MiniDP port, you can hook your PC to the display via USB Type-C cable too. If you hook your PC up to the Display via the HDMI or the MiniDP port, you have an extra USB Type-C port to go alongside two more UBS Type-A ports on the integrated stand. The USB Type-C port also charges at 65W too, which also means your thin and light PC might not need to be plugged into a power source of its own.

HUAWEI MateView GT – The Beast … For Your Gaming Fix

To be fair, we could never have imagined a world where HUAWEI champions PC gaming five years ago. 2021 is a vastly different time compared to the world of 2015/2016 though. The world is in massive lockdown, and everyone is forced to work from home most of their days. One of the ways people spend their remaining time after work then is to game with friends, or publicly in competitive esports titles. Gaming peripherals has a newfound popularity in 2021, through 2020.

The HUAWEI MateView GT is a product of inevitability, at least in our humble opinions. If you can make an excellent 4K display, why not make a gaming display? That is how the HUAWEI MateView GT came about, we think.

It boasts 1440p (3,440 x 1,440) in resolution and the ultra-wide 21:9 display ratio is preferred here. Of course, all that is an influence of the most popular set-up a gaming PC has today. It refreshes at 165Hz as well, which is on par with some of the most advanced gaming displays of the modern world. At 34-inch, the ultra-wide display will also pretty much take up your whole desk space. It is a curved display though, so you do not need to strain to see from edge to edge.

At a glance, you know it is made for gaming with a light strip along the base of the monitor. The slick and slim bars that holds the entire weight of the monitor is painted black too, just so you are not distracted from gaming. But there is more than meets the eyes with this monitor though.

Firstly, to make it fully immersive, HUAWEI ensures that it does not just pack a lot of pixels. The pixels has to display accurate colour information and must look great as well. The display covers 90% of DCI-P3 colour gamut. Its 1 billion colours is also displayed in HDR10 glory at 4000:1 contrast ratio for the best visual experience you can get in a display.

Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI
Source: HUAWEI

OIn top of all of that, the light bar that stretches the width of the base of the monitor is not just for show. It is a touch sensitive volume control bar for the sound bar that is the base of the monitor. It packs two 5W speakers, which may not sound like much, but it does provide with you with immersive stereo experience to go with your gaming. That also means that you do not need to get a separate headphone or speaker set-up to get going. There are even two built-in speakers on the MateView GT itself, for you to communicate with your team mates or rivals in heated gaming sessions.

If you have multiple gaming devices, you can hook up to four devices at the same time. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports, for you PlayStation, or Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. You have one DisplayPort for your gaming PC, and another USB Type-C port for your productivity machine. The USB port can also be used to charge your devices too.

Pricing and Availability

The HUAWEI MateView and MateView GT is now available for pre-order (7^th – 21^st July). You can pre-order yours now via HUAWEI’s Online Store. Of course, you can also head down to HUAWEI’s official store on Shopee and Lazada to pre order both the MateView and MateView GT. The HUAWEI MateView retails at MYR 2,988 while the MateView GT retails at 2,488 with MYR 100 rebate for each pre-order. Each pre-order also entitles you to a complementary HUAWEI WiFi AX3 Dual Core router capable of WiFi 6 networking.

Editorial, Lifestyle, Reviews

Samsung The Serif QLED TV In-Depth Review: Smart TVs Never Looked So Good

January 13, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The television isn’t just a screen to consume content anymore. Over the years, the screen has become more of a multi-dimensional surface which isn’t just about multimedia. Some use it to keep in touch, some use it to escape the world while others use it as a statement piece in their homes. So what happens when a company invests more time and effort into making a screen that doesn’t only serve it’s interactive purposes but also helps users create that statement piece to pull a room together? Well, in short: you have the Samsung Serif.

The Serif joins a line up of Smart TVs that occupy a unique niche they’ve come to call “Lifestyle TVs”. This line up with initially started with Samsung’s The Frame TVs is now populated by The Serif, The Sero and The Frame – each built with a unique feature to set them apart.

So, how does The Serif set itself apart? Is it worth an investment? Should you even care about it? Those are some of the questions we’re looking at with the in-depth review of The Serif.

Design

When it comes to design, The Serif is bound to turn heads. Samsung worked with renown design brothers, Ronan and Ewan Bouroullec. The Bouroullec brothers brought a fresh, innovative take on the TV and how it can be used in any room as a statement piece. It takes the drab, reflective rectangle and breathes new life with a unique, head turning design.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Samsung Serif, is its side profile, which, like its name suggests highlights the features of the “I” in serif. The curved top and bottom portions of the TV not only act as design accents but also provide some functionality – as a sturdy base in the case of the bottom, and as a surface for your trinkets in the case of the top. In addition, the design accents actually provide some relief from glare resulting from light sources in the room.

That said, the Serif is designed to stand out. Its unique “I” design is complemented with a heavy, and I mean HEAVY, base. This allows you to stand it anywhere – a feature we delve into further later in the review. It goes without saying that the overall design language of the Serif will make it stand out no matter which room it is in. We got to review a white coloured Serif – the only colour available in Malaysia at the moment and it was the first thing that caught your eye as soon as you walked into the room. The TV is available in Black and Red in other countries.

The unique, understated design of the Serif creates a sense of drama which is apt for an entertainment surface. However, it is also designed in a way that you’re not hard pressed to place the TV against a wall. It has a cohesive design which leaves no port exposed thanks to a panel on the back which ensures that there are no exposed surfaces which are jarring to the eye.

Features

Stand anywhere & hide cables away

As mentioned earlier, the design of the Serif allows you to stand it anywhere. The bottom surface of TV is weighted with a heavy, thick metal base to provide stability. In fact, the TV is stable enough that even a sudden, hard jerk to the TV won’t send it toppling over. It’s thanks to this stability and weight that the Serif is able to be placed on any surface independently.

However, if you don’t want to place it on a table or mantle, you can also stand the TV independently. The Serif also comes with stilt legs which can be screwed into the base. This allows you to stand it independently.

In addition to being able to stand alone, the Serif also comes with a built-in cable management system. This starts with the back of the Serif where a backplate made of plastic and covered in fabric hides the HDMI, USB, Antenna port and more. These cables are then channelled through a hole in either end of the Serif. Through this hole, the cables are run along the nearest stilt leg with a plastic clip; keeping the mangle of cables clean and managed.

While convenient, Samsung’s approach to cabling and wire management in the Serif seems counter intuitive and dated. In fact, it is contrary to the approach Samsung has been pushing in its own QLED flagships with the single cable and connectivity box. The biggest gripe we had with the design of the cable management is the fact that the design tucks away the ports of the Serif, making them inaccessible – particularly the USB port which you are likely to use most often for pictures and other multimedia. To access this port, you need to pry open the back panel and replace it. Not too tedious but if you place it against a wall, this would mean that you have to move the whole TV to access the ports.

NFC tap to Play (Music) & Dynamic Wallpaper

One of the features that we ended up using most when reviewing the Serif was the Tap to Play feature. This NFC powered feature allows you to simply tap your NFC enabled device to connect wirelessly to the TV and play music from any of your installed apps. We mention music specifically cause it’s the only media you can use the feature with. You can’t play videos or project pictures using the Tap to Play function. That said, the Tap to Play function is also able to wake the TV. All you have to do is place your smartphone or tablet on the top of the Serif at a specific position. This is subtly marked for easy identification by an NFC logo.

In addition to this, the Serif comes with Dynamic Wallpapers which allow the screen to show you useful information when you’re not using it for entertainment. The default wallpaper comes with the date, weather, and clock. The dynamic wallpaper is also a key component of the Tap to Play function. It pulls up a wallpaper which response to the beats of the song you’re listening to. It also changes the visual ambience based on the genre you’re listening to.

Samsung’s Tizen OS, BixbY & SmartThings

Samsung’s continues to use its Tizen OS on the Serif. That said, they have optimised it to be less intrusive and more functional than ever. Of course, these improvements came with their flagship QLED TVs. However, it’s nice to see that even models like the Serif are getting the same software.

Tizen OS is lightweight and responsive on the Serif. It actually makes setting up the TV pretty easy with your smartphone through the SmartThings app. Simply connecting the TV on the SmartThings app and setting up the TV from your phone removes most of the tedious setup such as setting up WiFi. The SmartThings platform allows you to import your settings from your smartphone to the TV directly without needing to type your passwords on screen.

After setup, the SmartThings App also allows you to use an on-screen remote control on your smartphone to control the Serif. This control extends to Samsung’s own smart assistant, Bixby. While you need to hold down the voice control button when you use the remote control. If you’re on a Samsung device, a simple “Hey Bixby” allows you to get the Serif to launch your favourite apps or shows on screen.

The Serif also supports Apple AirPlay 2, so if you’re on a Apple device, you’ll be able to connect and access your content just as easily. Perhaps where Tizen OS shows Samsung’s focus on software compatibility is when it comes to Screen mirroring. It goes without saying that Samsung’s own devices are smooth as butter. However, when it comes to other brands such as Apple and the dreaded wireless mirroring on Windows, the Samsung Serif has been one of the most reliable and stable we’ve reviewed to date.

Picture & Sound Quality

The Serif comes with a 4K UHD QLED panel – one of Samsung’s forte’s when it comes to displays. It remains the same with the Serif. The panel that Samsung is using for the new lifestyle TV is bright, saturated and has good contrast. Blacks are deep and whites are bright but not jarring. That said, the panel did have a slightly darker tint compared to other QLED TVs we’ve seen before.

Just like in its flagship QLED TV line up, the Serif also comes with software enhancements for its picture quality. It has a smoothing feature which is supposedly able to make motion less jerky and fluid. This feature was pretty effective on animation content. When we watched show like Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away or Netflix’s Dragon Prince, motion was more fluid, and the viewing experience was more enjoyable. However, when it came to acted content such as The Resident or even The Hamilton Musical, movements were fluid but there was a significant amount of ghosting happening. Actors’ looked like they had their spirits leaving their bodies while they were moving. Of course, this is easily remedied by simply turning the functions off.

One of the best features on the Serif is Samsung’s intelligent mode for picture and sound. This function learns your viewing behaviours and adjusts the settings according to your preferences. In our review case, we were turning the brightness down in dark situations to reduce eye strain. Once the preferred brightness level was set, the Serif intelligently returned to it every time the sensors detected a drop in ambient light. It also helped compensate for levels between the default and preferred setups. The Serif does also come with an ambient sensor which helps with the intelligent setting.

When it comes to audio, the Serif has one of the better speaker setups built in. Unlike some other TVs, this TV has proper speakers built in. The speakers are clear and crisp for dialogue and have good frequency range. It was able to reproduce a good amount of low frequencies and high ones. This led to a rather enjoyable sound experience on its own. In fact, during our review period, the volume rarely went above 20.

A Functional, Well Designed, Functional Statement Piece for Any Room

The Samsung Serif is one of the more unique Smart TVs out there. It’s design allows you to accent any room with a statement piece which will undoubtedly become the focal point of the room. That said, the design of the Serif also allows it to seamlessly blend into room – if the design requires it. However, the smart TV’s design isn’t without its flaws particularly when it comes to port accessibility. Keeping them under a panel is aesthetically pleasing but when it comes to utilising them it becomes tedious. This is particularly true when it comes to the USB port.

That said, it does provide a unique overall package complete with good speakers, great picture quality and a bevvy of features. This creates a unique, compelling proposition looking for a smart TV that can double as a statement piece in any room. However, being slightly higher on the price side of things at MYR6,499, the Serif makes a tough proposition for those of us not looking for a design-centric TV. In fact, put side by side with Samsung’s flagship line up at the same price point it can seem a little anaemic and gimmicky when it comes to features. That said, the minimalist and functional design does win it some brownie points. Overall, it’s got us on the fence. It would be amazing if Samsung’s next Serif brings even more technical features to make it a more complete and compelling offering at its price point.

Consumer Electronics, Editorial, Reviews

Haier LE50K6600UG Android TV In-depth Review: A Well-Rounded Smart TV With All The Essentials

October 26, 2020 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The television is usually the centre of the living room and the main source of entertainment in a household. As the centre it holds a unique position of being the only item that not only has to look good, it needs to be able to seamless fit into any design. However, this centre piece is slowly finding its way into bedrooms and boardrooms.

This shift is prompted by the additional use cases it has acquired over the years thanks to the internet and the advent of Wi-Fi and streaming. Nowadays, we use the television a complementary screen in addition to our media centre. It connects to laptops, desktops and smartphones seamlessly but, more importantly, it’s become a tool that everyone for work and play.

It has, therefore, become more important that we make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing a television. This is increasingly true with the myriad of choices that we are seeing in the market. There is now a television for every price point. The subject of this review, the HAIER LE550K6600GU, comes in a slither under MYR2,500. Is the MYR2,399 you pay for it worth it? Does it stand up to the competition? Should you go a tier higher for better performance? Those are the questions we’re looking to answer in this review.

Design

The HAIER LE50K6600UG is one of the sleekest television sets we’ve seen in a while. That especially rings true when it come to the sub MYR2,500 price point. HAIER didn’t hold back much when it comes to the design of the TV. It has one of the slimmest bezels for a television of its price-point and its minimalistic design allows it to blend seamlessly into any room setup.

Keep in mind, the HAIER Smart TV isn’t a small one either. It’s 50-inches; while it’s on the smaller end of the spectrum nowadays, it’s still pretty substantial when you put it in the middle of a room. The slim, near bezel-less design allows its to standout while blending in. It may sound a little oxymoronic, but the television is able to blend into any setup thanks to the large, black screen but it also has a panel which is bright enough to make it stand out. It’s built-in Chromecast feature also gives it beautiful pictures to cycle through when not in use. Even when the screen is blank, the surface of the black screen is mattified to minimise its reflectivity. You don’t get much distractions even with the screen off.

The overall footprint of the HAIER LE50K6600UG is also smaller and sleeker than its competition. At its thickest it measures just about 3cm; at its thinnest it’s about 0.5cm. This means that mounting it or even standing it shouldn’t be too much of a space issue. However, the legs provided to stand the TV on a console is about 15cm in width. While the design of the stand is sleek, it’s basically two slim throngs which are in an inversed V.

The one blemish on the sleek design of the HAIER LE50K6600UG is the infrared receiver for the remote control. I mean, it’s a literal blemish on the lower left corner of the TV. The odd bump also glows an ominous red when the television is off. Perhaps the main reason I call it a blemish is the odd brown colouring of the rather large casing for the receiver. It’s about a centimetre thick. However, HAIER placed it in a position that doesn’t take much away from the overall façade of the TV itself.

Features

Android TV

The HAIER LE50K6600UG is one of HAIER’s new Android TV touting smart TVs. It runs Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. However, HAIER couldn’t confirm if there would be upgrades to Android 10 later on. They mentioned that it heavily depended on the hardware requirements of Android 10 for TVs. If the hardware requirements are still met in the LE50K6600UG, it is likely that it will get the update.

However, being an Android powered TV, the HAIER LE50K6600UG is able to access a wide variety of TV optimised apps from the Google Play Store. Apps like TubiTV, Amazon Prime TV and more can be downloaded from the Play Store to optimise your viewing experience. Netflix and YouTube come pre-loaded with a dedicated button on the remote. The wide variety of apps also extends the multipurpose nature of the TV. During our time we had remote streaming apps and even apps for productivity installed.

Android TV’s interface has also been optimised with introduction of Android 9 Pie. The new interface streamlines your frequently accessed apps and has quick access to your most frequently used apps. For example, recommended programs on Netflix are placed front and centre in a widgetised version of the app called channels. This quick access ribbons can be customised and personalised in the settings of the TV.

That said, there is a big flaw when it comes to HAIER’s implementation of Android TV on the LE50K6600UG: pressing the power button on the remote control as you usually would doesn’t turn off the TV. Instead, it sends it into sleep mode. This keeps the processor and graphics processor of the TV running even when the screen is off. However, the most detrimental effect of this is that the TV can get sluggish after a day or two. That said, sending the TV into sleep mode speeds up the boot time of the TV significantly.

AI, Chromecast, & Bluetooth remote control

The remote control of the HAIER LE50K6600UG is not just a standard infrared remote. It comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity as well. The Bluetooth connectivity of the remote control is setup with a simple button combination during setup. After setting up the Bluetooth, you’ll be able to control the TV without pointing the remote at the tv itself. This also means that if you’re trying to mute the volume or turn the TV off in a hurry, you won’t be stumbling to point the remote control at the TV. That said, this functionality doesn’t work when you shut down the TV properly. It will only kick in after the TV has booted the next time.

Aside from that, the LE50K6600UG comes with AI built in. The AI automatically adjusts and optimises the display settings depending on the surroundings of the TV. It works most of the time. However, I found the optimisations to be a tad bit too minute and too focused on the brightness of the display. It rarely adjusted the saturation, gamma or contrast of the display. I’m also pretty certain that the AI could be contributing to the slowdown of the TV’s performance when its not shutdown. However, it’s a simple fix for HAIER with a software update.

The HAIER LE50K6600UG is a 4K UHD TV. It has a resolution 3840 x 2160 pixels. That said, the picture quality of the HAIER LE50K6600UG is passable. It’s not overly saturated like some of its competition. However, when it comes to the colour reproduction, the colours seem a little washed out and heavy on blues. This could be due to HAIER’s configuration of the individual pixels of the panel. There may be more white pixels to compensate for brightness.

That said, it doesn’t affect the overall experience much unless you’re looking for cinema grade screens – which, to be very honest will never be in the price range of this TV. The viewing angles of the screen affects the crispness of the details on the screen which is a little weird. In our review period, anything above about 60° makes the characters and alphabets look a little fuzzy. However, like many of the flaws on the HAIER, you won’t notice it unless you are trying really hard to.

Another big plus for the TV is the built-in Chromecast functionality. This allows the TV to work as a second, complementary screen to your phone, tablet or laptop. You can easily use YouTube and other streaming apps which are able to take advantage of the Chromecast API. It also allows you to be able to project from your PC with ease, allowing you to use it to project presentations seamlessly. The Chromecast functionality is one of the biggest advantages the TV has over its competition.

Google Assistant & Connectivity

Of course, being an Android TV, the LE50K6600UG comes with Google Assistant. This allows you to give the TV commands with your voice. Keep in mind that you need to be signed in and have an active internet connection for it to work. The voice recognition is pretty accurate but only if you enunciate your words properly. That said, I found myself using the Google Assistant very sparingly. I found it more tedious than helpful especially when searching in apps. However, it did come in useful when I wanted to launch apps quickly. It allowed me to launch the apps without clicking into the app drawer and searching for the apps manually.

The HAIER Smart TV comes with a whole array of connectivity from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi. It has 1 ARC HDMI input, 3 HDMI inputs, 2 USB inputs, 1 LAN input, a microSD card slot, L/R out, 3.5mm out and a few more for your over the air television signals. That is a whole lot of inputs and output. That said, the TV is able to intelligently name and label the channels according to the device that is plugged in. However, when it came to the USB inputs, we noticed that it could only read USB 2.0 drives. When we tried USB 3.0 and higher, the TV was unable to detect the drive and its contents. We’re unsure if it is a software issue but it’s likely that it may be a fault with the software of the unit that we had for review.

Picture & Sound Quality

When it comes to sound, the quality is pretty good. In fact, I would go so far as to say that HAIER is a class above most of its similarly priced competition. While the sound isn’t full and rounded, it doesn’t take away from the experience of the TV unless, like a reviewer, you are looking for flaws. The sound coming out of the built-in speakers was rather hollow and tinny. This also made the sound feel a little too bassy. However, this is easily remedied with an inexpensive sound bar, if the sound quality is an essential for your TV.

An Option for Those Looking for a Well-rounded experience without breaking the bank

The HAIER Smart TV is one of the most well-rounded options in its price range. It provides a good picture quality, enough connectivity options and good sound quality. Overall, it has a complete package and provides a pretty commendable experience especially if you’re looking for a good overall experience without going broke.

At MYR2,399, it’s one of the most affordable 4K UHD TVs in the market. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable Android TVs in the market which is a big plus. Android TVs run a premium just because of the licensing that companies have to pay Google. However, HAIER has found a way to keep the TV affordable while equipping it with most of the sought-after features; making it a serious option for people who are looking for an easy, plug and play Smart TV to complete their rooms or home.

Consumer Electronics, Gaming, News

Sony’s New PlayStation 5 Ready 8K BRAVIA Launched with Full Array LED

August 5, 2020 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The next era of console gaming is here! Oh wait, we are not in December 2020 yet; my bad. We got a little carried away with some of the interesting things that Sony promises with their upcoming PlayStation 5 (PS5) console gamer. We are not expecting to see the console until we are closer to December 2020 though.

While the gaming console is not yet coming, it does not hurt to prepare for its arrival. As per Sony’s claims, the next generation Zen 2 gaming console from the Japanese firm will support 8K resolution gaming or even 4K resolution at 120 frames every second. Right out of the box, there is a small issue with those numbers.

Most Televisions(TV) you can buy in the market today does not have the grunt to take full advantage of the power that the Sony PS5 boasts. The only TV that sort of came to mind that might take full advantage of Sony’s new console gamer is Samsung’s 8K Television which was launched last year. It is no Sony though, so it is not necessarily turned and made for PS5.

Of course, it only makes sense then that Sony makes TVs that would be fitting of the next generation gaming console. Sony launching TVs with this kind of power should not come as a surprise though. Still, what amazing devices they are.

Sony BRAVIA X90H

They have launched two new BRAVIA TVs to really take advantage of Sony’s PS5. The Sony Z8H and X90H TVs. The Z series, being the higher-end model will sport 8K resolution while capable of downscaling itself to 4K 120Hz resolution and refresh rate. You get up to 85-inch too for both models for the perfect immersion at home, even when you are not necessarily gaming.

Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony

We start with the X90H series of TVs. At the smallest, it measures at 55-inch. In that case, you get to choose between four sizes for the high-end TV at 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch. All of them sport 4K resolution with HDR as well, so you are still not missing out even if your home may not have as large a space. The best part is that it refreshes at 120Hz still to take full advantage of the upcoming PS5’s 4K 120fps capability. All this is thanks to the new 4K X-Reality processor that Sony put into this thin TV.

Sound from the X90H is handled by Sony’s always brilliant X-Balanced speakers for superior sound quality. The speakers are even Dolby Atmos certified. That also means a highly immersive sound from an amazingly small package. Couple that with Dolby Vision on the TV and you get full immersion without needing an extra speaker system set. That also means you save some money there.

Sony BRAVIA Z8H

Since every other TV maker is getting to 8K resolution, Sony cannot be missing out. They are one of the biggest and more successful TV manufacturers to date after all. That gap is now filled with the Sony BRAVIA Z8H TV.

8K from the Z8H is amazingly rich. To fully take advantage of the many pixels you need a large display. You can appreciate the Full Array LED panel that stretches 85-inch.

Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony

At 8K though, you are limited up to 60Hz in refresh rate, which also means you cannot play games at 120Hz at full resolution. That is okay though, even the PS5 can only do 8K in limited fps. Turn it down to 4K though and you can harness a full 120hz and therefore run your PS5 at 120fps and still enjoy great images. The refresh rate advantage alone is already an advantage for the Sony against other TVs.

It is not a regular HDR that we have here though on the 8K display. It is an Extended Dynamic Range (XDR), instead of High Dynamic Range that we are talking about. That means even more details in the dark, and even better contrasts from your pictures. This is only possible with Sony’s X1 Ultimate processor fitted into the TV. Of course, this being Sony’s highest end TV, it is Dolby Vision certified too.

That is not all this TV is capable of though. It has S-Force speakers which also means that sound comes from multiple parts of the TV. This is quite expected from Sony’s highest end TVs though.

The S-Force speakers means that the Z8H produces sound like no other TVs in the market. Without a full array of speaker sets, the TV itself can produce a true Dolby Atmos experience with virtual surround sound, including the low frequencies. If you have a speaker system, this would be the center firing speaker. In some sense though, if you want your TV space to look clean, you may not even need a soundbar or other speakers for this.

Android TV + Apple AirPlay

Since both the BRAVIA X90H and Z8H TVs are Sony’s line of Smart TVs, they pack Android out-of-the-box for your enjoyment. Sony has been on the Android TV platform exclusively for a while now. That also means that you get to enjoy Netflix, Amazon Prime and even use Spotify on Sony’s amazing speakers built-in with the TV without needing an extra TV box. This is nothing new though.

What is new is the AirPlay compatibility that the new TV comes with. Apple AirPlay, before this, is a feature exclusive to Apple TV Boxes. There were only a handful of TVs in the market that supports the feature. Sony will now fully embrace the Apple ecosystem with AirPlay. This also means you can watch Apple TV and Apple TV+ programs on your TV without an Apple TV Box. You just need to have your Apple iPhone or iPad.

Full Array LED

What is new is Sony adopting Full Array LED panels instead of the usual direct lit OLED panels of the new high-end TVs. While they look similar, there are differences. Bear with us as we get a little bit technical.

Sony’s BRAVIA TVs are known for championing OLED technology even when other manufacturers are moving away from OLED. There is a very good reason for their adamance to their stubbornness though. No, it is not because they are Japanese.

OLED is very expensive, more so than IPS. The price alone is a small reason to other manufacturers choosing to go on a different route to their TVs. The high price is partly due to the limited amount of production in OLED panels.

The price is also still justified by the unparalleled colour contrast, brightness, and accuracy in the display industry. There is a reason why plenty of colour accurate monitors and reference displays still use OLED panels. The only panels that can achieve true black in the modern market are still OLED panels. That is what Sony wants, an unparalleled colour clarity and accuracy compared to any other TVs, while ensuring that you are not blinded.

There are downsides however, besides its high price point. It is not as durable as a regular LCD panel. While you can make OLED panels thinner than your exam papers, It may not last as long as a regular LCD panel. You might want to replace your TV or OLED panel in 3-5 years at a time, and that is just not as feasible in your home.

They call it LED burn in. This is also the reason why Sony did not include the always on function that Samsung has made popular in their wallpaper TVs. This happens especially when you leave an image on the panel for too long. You start seeing silhouettes of the image that is burned into the panel even when you want other images on your TV. This is an annoying and quite uncurable for OLED TVs.

To handle the problem, Sony has an LED ‘cleaner’ program built into their TVs. That does not completely eliminate the issue though. The program just extends the life of the panel a little bit with minimal loss of clarity and quality. The damage can be accalerated with leaving your display on for a long time without anything playing on it. It can be exaggerated with bright colours.

This is where Full Array LED comes in though. If you look through Sony’s specification sheet for the new high-end TVs like the Z8H and X90H, you will notice that it is not an LED panel anymore that is stated in the display. Instead, you find an LCD panel with LED backlighting as its description.

No, it is not false advertising. Full Array LED panels are generaly LCD panels with LED backlight behind the LCD panels. The only difference between a regular LED backlit panel and Full Array LED panel is the amount of LEDs there are in the panel.

Full Array also means that each pixel is individually backlit as well by an LED array. There are plenty of benefits for this. Among which, a Full Array LED panel’s black is the closest to a direct lit OLED panel’s black so far. Though it may not be true black, as far as technicalities are concerned, it makes very negligible differences in a normal human eye.

Everything else is also pretty similar in terms of picture and colour quality. Sure, there is a little more colour bleeding from the edges of the image. That also means there might be a slight smear in the images. Again, they are very negligible to the naked eye. One thing for sure, these panels are cheaper than regular OLED panels to produce. That said, the new high-end TVs from Sony are not exactly on the affordable side.

Price and Availability

The more affordable Sony X90H that is ready to take on your Sony PS5 will set you back MYR 4,299 (starting from). Considering that there are not many TVs that would be boasting next-gen gaming console support, the price is somewhat acceptable. The X90H is now available from Sony’s retailers and Sony Centre’s across the nation.

The Z8H is a pill that is quite difficult to swallow. You would want to have a considerable space for the TV itself, thanks to its enormous size at 85-inch. You will need to spare another MR 79,999 for the TV though if you really want it. Yes, the price is quite similar to their competitor, Samsung’s, offering. You get 4K at 120Hz on this thing though. This is a testament of; “with money, anything is possible”. The high-end 8K TV will be available sometime this month as well, well before PS5 launches.

Design

Hardware

Specifications

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Performance

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Gaming

Multitasking and Productivity

Battery Life

Display

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The Camera App vs Cinema Pro

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Sony BRAVIA X90H

Sony BRAVIA Z8H

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Full Array LED

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Tech Your Way