We get asked this question all the time; “What smartphone can I buy for less than MYR 1,000? The cheaper, the better”. The answer to that, obviously, is not as straightforward as choosing one smartphone amongst others. Well, it could be, but we just like to either mess with people, or we want to be sure that they are getting the right devices for themselves. Then again, modern smartphones are so good, you can hardly go wrong going with any one of them even if they set you back less than MYR 1,000.
Take the newly launched realme C53 for example, it will set you back MYR 599 and it comes with all the latest features you can expect a mid-range smartphone or even flagship smartphones to have. Of course, if it comes with everything that a flagships smartphone should come it, it will be rather expensive. For MYR 599, there are some compromises.
The first compromise comes from within the device. You get a UNISOC Tiger T615 system on a chip (SoC). It is not the most advanced integrated chip in the market at 12nm, but it does the job well enough. You cannot expect it to be a world eSports beater, but it does play games well enough when the mood takes you.
Alongside the SoC is a 6GB RAM that can be bolstered with another extra 6GB borrowed from the 128GB of storage. Obviously if you allocate an extra 6GB of storage for RAM use, you get less storage space. If you are filling up the storage fast though, you still have a MicroSD slot that you can utilise to expand its storage, not even your Samsung Galaxy S23 can do that.
The SoC should also run Android 13 with realme UI just fine as well on the large 6.74-inch display that offers Full HD+ resolution. It is a fast one too at up to 90Hz in refresh rate for hat extra smooth feel. For outdoor use, the display peaks out at 560nits, which may not sound very bright, but it works.
Above the display is a notch that houses an 8-Megapixel selfie camera that you can also use for video calls and record up to 720p videos at 30p. At the back though is a high-resolution 50-Megapixel main camera that is paired to another camera that they did not specify. We suspect it is a depth sensor.
Inside the device, keeping the realme C53 running an entire day is a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 33W at the maximum. While 5,000mAh should keep you running more than an entire day, it is nice to know that you can get the realme C53 plugged in and charged within just two hours before you have to get going again.
Price and Availability
As mentioned, the realme C53 entry-level smartphone will set you back MYR 599. It is now available in Champion Gold and Mighty Black colour options. You can get your hands on one via realme’s official store on Shopee and Lazada, their Official TikTok Store, and their official brand stores and dealers across the nation. For more information on realme’s latest C53, you can visit their website.
HMD Global has announced a slew of new Nokia smartphones. The most unique of which is the Nokia G22 which is the first smartphone that is launched together with IFixIt. Weird partner for a smartphone right? Well, it begins to make sense when you consider that the Nokia G22 is also the first smartphone from HMD Global to be completely self repairable. The new smartphone is launching with a self-repair kit which will be available via IFixIt in Australia, the United Kingdom and other European Union countries.
The Nokia G22 is another notch in HMD’s line up of affordable, durable and well-supported Android smartphones. It also holds true to the company’s commitment to sustainability with a plastic back made from 100% recycled materials. The new smartphone comes with a 6.52-inch, HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness. It comes with a quad core Unisoc T606 with 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal memory. It also supports up to an additional 2TB of memory via microSD.
On the camera front, the G22 will be coming with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel main sensor. This sensor has an f/1.8 aperture, a 5P lens and is autofocus enabled. A 2-megapixel depth and 2-megapixel macro sensor complete the triple camera setup. On the front is an 8-megapixel fixed focus CMOS sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and 1.12µm pixel size.
It comes with the usual connectivity features including Bluetooth, Near Field Communication, GPS, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and USB-C connectivity. It’s powered by 5,050mAh battery with HMD’s signature promise of up to 3 day battery life. It supports 20W fast charging.
The smartphone will launch with Android 12 and has been guaranteed 2 years of OS upgrades from HMD global.
Pricing & Availability
The Nokia G22 will be available in two colours: Lagoon Blue and Meteor Grey. It will be available in two variants: 4GB+64GB and 4GB+128GB. The smartphone will be priced from EUR179 (MYR852.44).
At home QickFix Kits will be available on iFixit.com with prices starting from EUR5 (MYR23.82). HMD Global lists the prices for a replacement battery at EUR24.95 (MYR118.83), and the replacement charging port at EUR19.95 (MYR95.02).
An entry-level smartphone makes plenty of sense if you think about it. It did not used to be like this though. For the longest time, in the earlier days of Android smartphones, entry-level smartphones are ones you want to avoid unless you absolutely must get one, or on such a tight budget, your wallet looked like there was about to be a hole in it. Thankfully, as high-end smartphones get more powerful, so does entry-level smartphones.
It is true that higher-end technologies of the yesteryears get passed down to more budget friendly options for the masses. It is especially true in the smartphone segment and the entry-level smartphone segment. An entry-level smartphone today can be comparable to flagship level smartphone from about 5 years ago in some cases and at a fraction of the price.
One of those entry-level devices you can get soon is the realme C30.
While the most popular smartphone segment in the region are mid-range smartphones, entry-level smartphones like the realme C30 can be rather appealing. For one, its price itself is rather appealing in the sea of flagships costing north of MYR 5,000 these days. The realme C30 will only set you back MYR 499 at most.
Source: realme
Source: realme
Source: realme
It is not like other entry-level smartphones either that tries to stand out with funky designs and weird looks. It is rather subtle, simple, very much like modern flagship smartphones. Of course, it does come with its own unique design to still set it apart. The Vertical Stripe Design, as they call it, are etched lines at the back of the device to not just add a visual impact, it is also to add some texture and grip for a more secure feel in your hands.
No, you do not get a Qualcomm, or a MediaTek for that matter, in this price range. Rather, you get a Unisoc T612 processor. You do not get bleeding edge 5nm technology with the System on a Chip (SoC). You do get eight cores on the device though with clocks up to 1.8Ghz with Cortex A75 architecture. While it may not sound like much, the processor can work with everything you need in a basic smartphone. At the same time, UFS 2.2 speeds should ensure that the C30 still feels as snappy as it can be for the money.
The SoC powers Android 11 with realme’s UI Go on a 6.5-inch display. No, its not a Full HD display, but you still get about 270ppi out of the 720p HD+ IPS panel. The front display also houses a 5-Megapixel front-facing camera for selfies, and even video conferences via the smartphone.
Out the back is a single 8-Megapixel main camera with some AI magic. It is constructed with 4P lens to ensure that your photos look as clear as you see them with your eyes. It is also capable of 4x digital zoom for when you need it. The photos may not take up too much space, but you can add up to 1TB in microSD storage on top of up to 64GB of built-in storage.
To keep everything running as they should be for an entire day, there is a 5,000mAh built-in battery. It is not a fast-charging battery, so you do want to give it some time to charge. You get up to 45 days in quoted standby time though, which is a long time between charges. If you keep it to Ultra Saving Mode, a 5% charge can last for 45.3 hours (quoted).
Price and Availability
The realme C30 comes in three attractive colours – Lake Blue, Bamboo Green, and Denim Black. Not whites, unfortunately. You cannot complain much though when you realise that you are paying MYR 429 (3GB + 32GB) for the smartphone. To get 4GB of RAM and 64GB in storage, you pay just a little bit more money at MYR 499. The realme C30 will be available in all realme Malaysia authorized stores and resellers across the nation from the 16th of July 2022 onward. For more information on the realme C30, you can head over to their website.
It seems like HTC may be coming back into the mobile markets albeit in a very limited way. The company only recently released a new HTC Desire smartphone. Now, it’s releasing a new tablet – the HTC A101 – in Russia and South Africa. The new tablet is rather mediocre on paper and comes with specifications comparable to the Samsung Galaxy A8 or the Nokia T20 Tablets.
The 10-inch tablet comes with a 10.1-inch MIPI In-Cell display with an FHD+ resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. It runs on the UNISOC T618 octa-core processor. The processor comes with two large A75 performance cores clocked at 2GHz and six smaller A55 power efficiency cores. This processor will be complemented by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has support for microSD cards allowing for some additional memory of up to 256GB.
On the camera side of things, it comes with a dual camera setup for its main camera. It has a 16-megapixel, f/2.2 sensor with autofocus. This is complemented by a 2-megapixel, fixed focus ultrawide sensor. The HTC A101’s main camera setup is completed with a single LED flash. On the front is a 5-megapixel, fixed focus sensor for selfies complete with Beauty Mode and AI Face Unlock.
The HTC A101 itself is a slim, relatively small one. It measures only 8.4mm in thickness and 241.5mm in length and 160.3mm wide. It comes with two physical buttons: a volume rocker and a power button. Under the hood, it’s powered by a 7,000mAh battery with support for 5V/2A charging via USB-C. It also comes with mobile connectivity supporting 4G LTE connectivity and Dual SIM with Dual Standby.
Pricing & Availability
The HTC A101 will be available in Russia and South Africa. It will come in Silver and Grey. For now, it looks like the tablet will be retailing as the HTC A100 in Russia for ₽22,490 (MYR1,799.50).
Samsung has been creating waves and making its mark with its tablets – notably, the Galaxy Tab S series which pushes the boundaries of multitasking and productivity. However, what happens if we want the portability and versatility of a tablet but don’t have the moolah for a Tab S7 or Tab S8? Well, you have the Galaxy Tab A series, which brings all the essentials that make up the core Galaxy Tab experience.
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy Tab A8 was released worldwide earlier this year in January. It comes with a UNISOC Tiger T618 Quadcore processor. While this may seem a bit out of sorts for Samsung, the SoC isn’t a slouch. According to reviews, it is comparable with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665. It has the Mali G52 MP2 graphics processor and is paired with up to 4GB RAM on the Tab A8. With up to 128GB of internal storage and support for microSD cards, the A8 is looking to be a contender for a top performing mid-range tablet.
The Tab A8 is equipped with a sizeable, 10.5-inch TFT LCD display which brings pretty good colour reproduction and accuracy. However, we’ll wait to make a judgement in our upcoming review. The WUXGA resolution of 1200×1920 pixels with a 16:10 aspect ratio promises a level of immersion that we once thought was reserved for flagships. Samsung completes the Tab A8’s media prowess with a quad speaker setup and Dolby Atmos sound.
It also comes with a conventional single camera setup with an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the back with autofocus capabilities. It can also shoot videos at 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second. On the front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie camera which can also shoot 1080p at 30 fps.
Connectivity on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 shouldn’t be an issue. It’s equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 6 and GPS connectivity. Don’t need to worry about battery life too as Samsung claims that the tablet can last for hours on end with its 7,040 mAh battery. This is also thanks to the tablet supporting 15W fast charging via USB-C. The tablet is also one of Samsung’s lightest coming in at only 508g.
These specifications are just the surface of what the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 can do. We’ll be giving it the techENT review treatment soon. So stay tuned!
Nokia came back into the smartphone market with quite a bang. Unfortunately, they are not as popular as they were before. Still, Nokia is a popular smartphone maker with Android within their devices. They are popular in the scene of affordable Android devices – the entry-level to mid-range smartphone segment.
They kick off 2022 with a more modest note though. They have just released their Nokia G21, the replacement to their entry-level champion, the G20. This time, they have focused on all the important stuff that is aimed to make the device more reliable than ever.
Source: GSM Arena
Nokia retained a few things from the G20 though. The Nokia G21 still comes with a large 5,050mAh battery that has a quoted battery life of three days while being a little thinner at 8.5mm thick. While that is also the same promise before, Nokia is ensuring that the G21 can last for three days by improving its power saving modes, or rather to implement them in stages. The first power saving mode triggers at 20% and still allows you to run most of your apps as normally as possible. The second, more aggressive power saving mode kicks in at 10% to extend the battery life even more.
Nokia also increased the charging speed on the Nokia G21 to now be delivered at 18W via a USB Type-C. Interestingly Nokia is reportedly shipping the device with a 10W charging brick. To fully take advantage of 18W charging speed, you need to buy a new charging brick.
The new Nokia G21 also comes with a large 6.5-inch LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate. Running the display at 90hz always can drain its battery though. There is an adaptive feature to reduce the display’s refresh rate to 60Hz (when needed) to get more battery life out of the device. It is also now a HD+ 720p display. Which means you can watch Netflix, Prime Video, and even YouTube at HD resolutions.
Source: GSM Arena
You get a new 50-Megapixel shooter out the back of the device. The new improved camera also features a night mode, and Super Resolution function to capture highly detailed images. Sadly, there is no more ultra-wide-angle lens on the device though. Alongside the 50-Megapixel sensor are two 2-Megapixel sensors, one is a macro lens, the other a depth sensor.
Inside the device is also a more powerful System on a Chip (SoC). It comes with a Unisoc T606 12nm chip with eight cores. Two of the performance cores are ARM Cortex A75 cores while the other six efficiency cores are Cortex A55 cores that is still more powerful than the eight Cortex A53 cores from the previous Helio G35. The Unisoc T606 is also paired with a 4GB RAM and up to 128GB of storage and microSD expansion.
Oddly enough, Nokia has not bothered with 5G with this device, it is 4G capable still. On that note as well, the Nokia G21 ships with Android 11 at the time being. Nokia claims that the G21 is Android 12 ready though, which means that the Nokia G21 can be updated to Android 12 as and when it is available. HMD also promised two OS upgrades on their devices, which also means that it will be upgradable to Android 13 when it is available.
Security wise, nothing much has changed too. You still get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that also doubles as a power button. Of course, there is the regular face unlock function that you might be used to on modern Android devices today. The facial recognition now allows you to wear your face mask and unlock the device though.
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
The Nokia G21 is supposed to be available soon. The suggested retail price for this device is from €170 (MYR 806*) onward in Nordic Blue and Dusk colour options. Oddly enough, different regions get different packages for the device. For Malaysia, there are no confirmations on its availability and official pricing at this point. But we are looking forward to seeing the Nokia G21 making its way here.
*Approximately based on the exchange rate of €1 = MYR 4.74 on xe.com as of 14/02/2022
The Tablet has had a tumultuous start in the tech industry. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the last time you had a tablet was more than 5 years ago. However, times have indeed changed especially when it comes to the embattled tablet. We’ve entered an era where tablets are becoming more than just screens; they’ve become the cornerstone of our entertainment systems and, in some cases, our productivity. However, with that being the reality, we’ve also been forced to pay even more for them – until the Nokia T20.
The new Nokia T20 is a unique combination of affordability, versatility and security. It brings together the cornerstone features of a tablet and ensures that your data is safe while you work and play. Not only does it bring some of the immersive technologies we’re so accustomed to when it comes to Nokia smartphones, but it also packs a versatile package that can adapt for any use. In fact, we’ve got 5 reasons that make it one of the most versatile tablets on the market.
1. Specced Out To Meet Your Every Need
The Nokia T20 isn’t like other tablets that force you to choose between having a flagship experience or long-lasting specifications. Instead, the tablet is specced to be able to meet your needs. It comes with a quad-core processor with 2 large performance cores and 6 power efficiency cores allowing it to seamlessly switch between performance and power-efficient modes when in use. You won’t be hungry for a wall socket on the go nor will you be edging to throw the T20 against the wall when you’re gaming.
In addition, it comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which can handle almost anything you can throw at it. If that isn’t enough, you’ll be able to get up to 512GB of additional storage through the microSD card slot. Combine this with a crisp 10.4-inch display with 2K resolution and you’re set to seamlessly glide between work and Genshin Impact. If you’re looking to make the experience THAT much better, you’ll just need to pair a Bluetooth Keyboard or Controller depending on whether you want to complete that document or defeat that final boss.
Oh! Did we forget to mention? It’s also built for work (or play) on the go with support for 4G LTE connectivity. Of course, it supports WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0. In addition to that, the 4G LTE version comes with GPS support.
2. Immersive Entertainment with Hardware that Makes a Difference
If you’re looking for a tablet built for entertainment, you might have just found it with the Nokia T20. It comes equipped with a 10.4-inch in-cell display with 2K resolution. That resolution is higher than most other tablets in its price range! It has a typical brightness of 400 nits so you can even see what you’re doing under the sunlight and with a 5:3 aspect ratio, you’ve got even more visibility when you’re in that game of Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile.
The visual experience is complemented by Nokia’s OZO Audio technology which creates an immersive soundscape with the stereo speakers that come with the T20. In fact, HMD global debuted this technology with the Nokia 6 in 2017 and have been improving it with every generation. You’ll be able to hear every note in the concerto you’re listening to while working and every footstep in that battle royale game you’re playing online.
3. Create A Curated Experience For Your Kids
It’s always a challenge looking for a tablet that will cater to your child while allowing you to keep the experience safe for them. With the Nokia T20, you’ll be able to create a walled-off garden for your child to play in. They will get to enjoy every experience available without you needing to worry about untoward content or security risks.
Setting up the experience is as simple as A-B-C thanks to Google Kids Space. You can set up a Google account for your child and create the experience you want for them. In fact, you can do this remotely using the Family Link app. In fact, you can set up and change limits without disrupting their experience. They will get an uninterrupted experience on the Nokia T20 including in the Play Store and on YouTube. However, certain content will be filtered out according to your settings to keep you at ease. You’ll even be able to set time limits to screen time and app usage!
4. Quality with A Proven Legacy
Nokia devices have a proven legacy of quality. In fact, their devices were so hardy that Malaysians always say that their devices can be used in self-defence! With a legacy like that, where else can you go but up when it comes to quality. The Nokia T20 is made of quality materials that are built to last. The body of the tablet is made of Sandblasted aluminium which is not only a sight to behold but also sturdy with enough rigidity to leave unattended with your kids. Even the glass on the screen is made of toughened glass to withstand the rigours of child use. It also comes with an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance.
Pair this with the bundled rugged case which comes together with your brand-new Nokia T20 and you have a truly ruggedized tablet. Not only does it have the built quality but also the additional protection that it needs when you or your child use it.
5. Guaranteed Security with Timely Updates
HMD Global isn’t just releasing devices without thinking about software support and security. They’ve actually guaranteed updates for all their devices! The Nokia suite of devices will come with 2 years of major OS updates. So, if in those 2 years, there are 5 major updates, you can rest assured you’re Nokia T20 will get them. In addition, HMD Global is guaranteeing security updates for an additional year after that. That’s 3 years of security updates!
In addition to this, the Nokia T20 also comes with Android 11 out of the box. It’s also set to receive the Android 12 update very soon! So you’ll be up to date with the latest software experience and security patches in no time.
Could you be asking for more when it comes to the tablet that is available for only MYR1,099? You’d be hard-pressed to find many other options which come with the thought and experience that comes with the Nokia T20. You don’t even have to leave your home to get your tablet, it’s available online on Shopee and Lazada.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS AN ADVERTORIAL COMMISSIONED BY HMD GLOBAL. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE TECHENT EDITORIAL BOARD.
