HUAWEI just unveiled their 2021 edition of the MateBook D 14 laptop!
Take a look at the 2021 MateBook D 14, and find out what it offers!
2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 Laptop : A Quick Intro!
First, let’s start with this official HUAWEI promotional video that showcases the key features of the new 2021 MateBook laptops!
It consists of not just the MateBook D 14 , but also two MateBook D 15 variants, the MateBook 14 and the MateBook X Pro!
2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 : Specifications
The newly-refreshed 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 has these key specifications
Specifications
HUAWEI MateBook D14
Display
14-inch FullView Display
– 1920 x 1080 pixels, 157 ppi
– 250 nits max. brightness
– 84% screen-to-body-ratio
– 45% NTSC colour gamut
– 800:1 contrast ratio
OS
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor
Intel Core i5-10210U
Memory
8 GB / 16 GB DDR4-3200
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB PCIe SSD
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.1
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, integrated into Power button
Ports
1 x USB Type C
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
1 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x HDMI 1.4b
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Webcam
720p recessed camera
Speakers
2 x 2 watt speaker
Battery
42 Whr
Power Adaptor
65 W USB-C power adaptor
Dimensions
322.5 mm wide
214.8 mm deep
15.9 mm thick
Weight
1.38 kg
2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 : Key Features
Let’s take a look at its key features…
14-inch FullView Display
The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 comes with a 14-inch FullView Display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
This is not a particularly bright display, with a maximum brightness of just 250 nits; and it only has a colour gamut of 45% NTSC.
But it is large, with narrow bezels that gives it an 847% screen-to-body ratio – hence the name, FullView Display.
Performance
It is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U with integrated Intel UHD Graphics.
It comes with either 8 GB or 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and a fast PCIe NVMe SSD with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage.
Battery + Charging
All that is powered by a decent 42 Whr battery, paired with a compact 65 watt USB Type C fast charger.
The charger can be used to charge other USB Type C devices, and supports HUAWEI SuperCharge for certain HUAWEI smartphones.
Connectivity + Ports
The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity built-in.
On the left side, you will find a single USB Type C port, with a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A port and a HDMI 1.4b port.
The HDMI 1.4b port can handle up to 4K displays, but only at up to 24 fps. To display at 4K @ 50 fps / 60 fps, you need HDMI 2.0.
On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm audio port, and a single USB 2.0 Type A port.
We have to wonder though – why stick with super-old USB 2.0, instead of the much faster USB 3.0 port?
Keyboard + Touchpad
The 2021 MateBook D 14 comes with a full-sized, ten-keyless keyboard, and a large touchpad.
Pop-Up Camera
Like the MateBook X Pro we reviewed, the 2021 MateBook D 14 comes with a pop-up camera, hidden under a special camera key on the keyboard.
It pops up when you press on it, and pressing it again hides it. This is a great security measure because the camera is physically blocked until you actually need to use it – no hacker will be able to surreptitiously use it to take your photos or videos!
There is only one problem with such a design – it takes photos and videos at an unflattering upward angle. You will also always appear to look upwards on video conferences, and videos that you record.
HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration
The 2021 MateBook D 14 supports HUAWEI Share for multi-screen collaboration.
It basically lets you connect your smartphone, and use it directly on the MateBook D 15!
You can control the apps and files on your phone directly on the laptop, even drag and drop files!
The only downside? It is limited to HUAWEI and HONOR smartphones with NFC.
HUAWEI MeeTime
The 2021 MateBook D 14 also supports HUAWEI MeeTime, which is their version of Apple FaceTime – a free, proprietary video call service.
It offers some advantages over its competitors – FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc. but can only be used by HUAWEI devices.
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HUAWEI just launched their 2021 edition of the MateBook D 15 laptops in two variants!
Here is a quick preview of both variants of the 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 laptops!
2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : A Quick Intro!
First, let’s start with this official HUAWEI promotional video that showcases the key features of the new 2021 MateBook laptops!
It consists of not just the two MateBook D 15 variants, but also the MateBook D 14, the MateBook 14 and the MateBook X Pro!
2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : Two Variants
In their 2021 refresh, HUAWEI is offering the MateBook D 15 in two variants – the 11th Gen Edition, and the 10th Gen Edition.
As you can pretty much surmise, they are basically the same laptop, just powered by either the 11th Gen Core i5 processor, or the older 10th Gen Core i5 processor.
To make it easier for you to compare them, we created this table comparing their key specifications :
Specifications
HUAWEI MateBook D15
11th Gen Edition
10th Gen Edition
Display
15.6-inch FullView Display
– 1920 x 1080 pixels, 141 ppi
– 250 nits max. brightness
– 87% screen-to-body-ratio
– 45% NTSC colour gamut
– 800:1 contrast ratio
OS
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor
Intel Core i5-1135G7
Intel Core i5-10210U
Memory
8 GB / 16 GB DDR4
8 GB DDR4
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Intel UHD Graphics
Storage
512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6, 2×2 MIMO
Wi-Fi 5, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth 5.0
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, integrated into Power button
Ports
1 x USB Type C
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
2 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x HDMI 1.4b
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Webcam
720p recessed camera
Speakers
2 x 2 watt speaker
Battery
42 Whr
Power Adaptor
65 W USB-C power adaptor
Dimensions
357.8 mm wide
229.9 mm deep
16.9 mm thick
Weight
1.56 kg
2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : Key Features
Let’s take a look at their key features…
15.6-inch FullView Display
The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 comes with a large 15.6-inch FullView Display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
This is not a particularly bright display, with a maximum brightness of just 250 nits; and it only has a colour gamut of 45% NTSC.
But it is large, with narrow bezels that gives it an 87% screen-to-body ratio – hence the name, FullView Display.
Performance
HUAWEI offers two variants, with different CPU + GPU options :
11th Gen Edition : Intel Core i5-1135G7 with Intel Xe Graphics
10th Gen Edition : Intel Core i5-10210U with NVIDIA GeForce MX250
They both come with fast DDR4 memory, and a fast PCIe NVMe SSD with 512 GB of storage.
Battery + Charging
All that is powered by a decent 42 Whr battery, paired with a compact 65 watt USB Type C fast charger.
The charger can be used to charge other USB Type C devices, and supports HUAWEI SuperCharge for certain HUAWEI smartphones.
Connectivity
The 11th Gen Edition supports faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, while the 10th Gen Edition supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
Ports
On the left side, you will find a single USB Type C port, with a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A port and a HDMI 1.4b port.
In case you are wondering, the HDMI 1.4b port can handle up to 4K displays, but only at up to 24 fps. To display at 4K @ 50 fps / 60 fps, you need HDMI 2.0.
On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm audio port, as well as two USB 2.0 Type A ports.
We have to wonder though – why stick with super-old USB 2.0, instead of the much faster USB 3.0 ports?
Keyboard + Touchpad
The 2021 MateBook D 15 comes with a full-sized, ten-keyless keyboard, and a large touchpad.
Pop-Up Camera
Like the MateBook X Pro we reviewed, the 2021 MateBook D 15 comes with a pop-up camera, hidden under a special camera key on the keyboard.
It pops up when you press on it, and pressing it again hides it. This is a great security measure because the camera is physically blocked until you actually need to use it – no hacker will be able to surreptitiously use it to take your photos or videos!
There is only one problem with such a design – it takes photos and videos at an unflattering upward angle. You will also always appear to look upwards on video conferences, and videos that you record.
HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration
The 2021 MateBook D 15 supports HUAWEI Share for multi-screen collaboration.
It basically lets you connect your smartphone, and use it directly on the MateBook D 15!
You can control the apps and files on your phone directly on the laptop, even drag and drop files!
The only downside? It is limited to HUAWEI and HONOR smartphones with NFC.
HUAWEI MeeTime
The 2021 MateBook D 15 also supports HUAWEI MeeTime, which is their version of Apple FaceTime – a free, proprietary video call service.
It offers some advantages over its competitors – FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc. but can only be used by HUAWEI devices.
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Acer just introduced the 2021 Nitro 5 gaming laptop, powered by Ryzen 9 and GeForce RTX 3080!
Here is what you need to know about this new super-fast Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop!
2021 Acer Nitro 5 : Ryzen 9 + RTX 3080 FTW!
The 2021 Acer Nitro 5 just got a MASSIVE upgrade! You can now opt for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX mobile processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics!
It even comes with two DDR4-3200 slots with up to 32 GB memory, and two M.2 slots of PCIe NVMe SSDs! On top of that, it comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Killer Ethernet E2600 connectivity built-in.
The 2021 Nitro 5 boasts a 15.6-inch IPS display with a 165 Hz refresh rate with a QHD resolution, or a stupendously fast 360 Hz refresh rate with a FHD resolution. Both options offer a 3 ms response time for minimal ghosting.
To ensure the 2021 Nitro 5 can withstand even the most intense gaming sessions, it features a revamped thermal system with dual fans and four exhaust fans. On top of that, Acer CoolBoost and NitroSense lets you monitor fan speed, and increase it when you need that extra performance.
It also comes with a multitude of ports – a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with power off charging capability, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and HDMI 2.1 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Acer is introducing six variants, in three phases, and here are their key specifications :
2021 Acer Nitro 5 : Pre-Order Deals!
As part of their Zero to Nitro campaign, Acer Malaysia is offering these pre-order deals for the 2021 Nitro 5!
27 to 29 April 2021
Get RM 200 TNG e-Wallet top-up, a Predator Hybrid Backpack, a Predator Galea 350 gaming headset and a Predator Mousepad worth RM 967 when you purchase :
Get RM 200 TNG e-Wallet top-up, a Predator Utility Backpack, a Predator Galea 350 gaming headset and a Predator Mousepad worth RM 967 when you purchase :
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Made with bioplastics from trees, the Dell Latitude 5520 is not only more powerful, it promises a longer battery life and other improvements.
Join us for a close look at the new 2021 Dell Latitude 5520 business laptop!
Dell Latitude 5520 : 15.6-inch Business Laptop
The Dell Latitude 5520 is a 15.6-inch laptop powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processor, with a longer battery life.
The first Dell laptop to be made with bioplastics from trees, it offers environmentally-conscious businesses a way to minimise their ecological footprint.
Dell Latitude 5520 : Specifications + Options
The Dell Latitude 5520 can be configured to suit your requirements.
Here are the options available in Malaysia. You may get different options in other countries.
Specifications
2021 Dell Latitude 5520
Display Size
15.6-inch
Display Options
Full HD IPS (1920 x 1200, 250 nits)
HD TN (1366 x 768, 220 nits)
Realtek Waves MaxxAudio Pro audio
2 x 2 watt speakers
Dual array microphones
3.5 mm audio jack
Wireless
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2×2)
Bluetooth 5.1
External Ports
2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type C) ports
– with Power Delivery and DisplayPort
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
1 x HDMI 2.0 port
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port
1 x microSD card slot
1 x (optional) micro SIM tray
1 x (optional) smart card reader
Camera
720p webcam only
720p webcam + IR camera
1080p webcam + IR camera
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Dell Latitude 5520 : A Closer Look!
15.6-inch IPS Display
The Dell Latitude 5520 comes with a large 15.6-inch IPS display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It does not have touch capability, which is not needed by most business users.
It has a maximum brightness of 250 nits, which is good enough for indoor use. However, you may have issues using it outdoors in bright sunlight.
For companies on a budget, Dell also offers a HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, and a lower brightness of 220 nits.
Built-In Privacy Shutter
Our review unit came with a high-resolution 1080p webcam, with an IR emitter and camera for Windows Hello facial authentication.
Dell also offers a cheaper 720p webcam, with and without the IR camera.
Both options come with a built-in privacy shutter – a critical feature for security-conscious business users.
Performance
Our Dell Latitude 5520 is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor – a 4-core, 8-thread processor with 12 MB of cache and Iris Xe graphics.
You can also opt for the Core i5-1145G7 or the Core i5-1135G7 – both 4-core, 8-thread processors with Iris Xe graphics.
The processor and its integrated graphics are kept cool by the Dual Opposite Outlet fans, with side venting for improved airflow and cooling performance.
Our unit came with 16 GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory running at 3200 MHz, and a 512 GB Western Digital SN730 NVMe PCIe SSD.
Ports
Despite its large 15.6-inch form factor, the Latitude 5520 is slim at just under 20 mm.
Even so, its slightly thicker chassis lets Dell fit in more ports than slimmer designs like the XPS 13.
On the left side, you will find two Thunderbolt 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2) Type C ports, both of which support PowerDelivery and DisplayPort output.
The Latitude 5520 is charged using a USB Type C cable, so it must be plugged into one of these two USB Type C ports.
There is a large row of cooling vents, and a slot for the optional Smart Card reader.
On the right side, you will find a microSD card reader, a 3.5 mm microphone and headphone combo port, with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports.
And next to them are a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port, an RJ-45 LAN port, and a wedge security lock.
Keyboard + Touchpad
The Dell Latitude 5520 has a full-sized backlit keyboard, with a numeric keypad.
Business users will love the numeric keypad, but it may need some getting used to for those who are migrating from “regular laptops”.
The touchpad is reasonably sized, but offset to the left – something you may need to get used to.
Connectivity
Our Dell Latitude 5520 comes with the Intel AX201 module, which offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with 2×2 antennas and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
On top of that, it comes with an RJ-45 LAN port built-in, giving you access to the best and fastest possible network connectivity.
Audio
The Dell Latitude 5520 features two front-firing speakers with 2 watts power output, powered by Realtek Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
It also comes with a 3.5 mm microphone / headphone combo jack, and dual microphone array.
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Acer just introduced the Nitro QG241YP gaming monitor, which boasts a 165 Hz refresh rate with HDR10 support!
Here is what you need to know about the new Acer Nitro QG241Y gaming monitor!
Acer Nitro QG241YP : 165 Hz Gaming Monitor
The Acer Nitro QG241YP is a 23.8-inch gaming monitor, with a VA panel that supports up to 165 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms VRB response time.
It also features AMD FreeSync Premium technology for smooth, tear-free gaming; and HDR10 with Black Boost technology for greater immersion.
In addition, it comes with ComfyView, BlueLightShield and Low Dimming technologies to help reduce eye strain during long gaming sessions.
The Nitro QG241YP has wide vertical and horizontal viewing angles, but can be tilted for a better viewing angle, or attached to monitor arms using its VEGA mount.
Acer Nitro QG241YP : Specifications
Specifications
Acer Nitro QG241YP
Display Size
23.8-inch
Panel Type
VA
Max. Resolution
+ Refresh Rate
HDMI : 1920 x 1080 @ 144 Hz
DP : 1920 x 1080 @ 165 Hz
Response Time
1 ms VRB
Contrast Ratio
100 million : 1 max (ACM)
Max. Brightness
250 nits (cd/m²)
HDR Support
HDR10
Adaptive Sync
AMD FreeSync Premium
Viewing Angle
178° horizontal, 178° vertical
Max. Colours
16.7 million (8-bit)
Colour Gamut
72% NTSC
Input Ports
1 x HDMI 2.0
1 x HDMI 1.4
1 x DisplayPort
VESA Mount
Yes, 100 x 100 mm
Speaker
Optional (2 watt x 2)
Adjustments
Tilt : -5° to 20°
Power
Consumption
Off : 0.4 W
Sleep : 0.5 W
On : 20 W
Acer Nitro QG241YP : Price + Launch Deal!
The Nitro QG241YP will retail for just RM 749 (about US$181 / £132 / A$237 / S$243), but Acer is offering it at just RM 699 for two days!
You can get this awesome deal even lower at just RM 653!
Here are purchase options in other countries (prices as of 14 April 2021) :
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If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Key Features
6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!
The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (SM7225) mobile platform, which consists of :
2 x high-performance Kryo 570 Gold cores, running at up to 2.3 GHz
6 x low-power Kryo 570 Silver cores, running at up to 1.8 GHz
Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU
Qualcomm Hexagon 694 NPU
Qualcomm Spectra 355L ISP
Fabricated on the 8 nm process technology, this mid-range mobile SoC promises to deliver 20% faster CPU, 20% faster AI and 10% faster graphics performance over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 730G.
RAM + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. This is way more than what most users can ever expect to use.
But if you actually need more storage, it comes with a hybrid SIM tray, which allows you to add a microSD card for more storage!
1 + 4 Cameras!
The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture. The ultra-high resolution is, frankly, overkill for a selfie camera.
So if you don’t need the high resolution, switch to the 8 MP resolution for better low-light photos and videos.
In the back, it has a quad camera system that consists of :
64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
5 MP depth camera, with f/2.4 aperture
We should point out that the depth camera doesn’t take any photos.. It just obtains depth data to allow for more accurate software bokeh effects.
We really like how the matte colour scheme makes the slight camera bump appear even less conspicuous.
Connectivity
While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G is a 5G platform, 5G connectivity was turned off in our Galaxy A52. It may be offered as a 5G model in some countries, but not in Malaysia.
That’s just fine by us as we don’t see 5G connectivity becoming widespread for at least 3-4 more years! Turning off 5G will also help save power and extend battery life.
It also supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), as well as Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Type C connectivity.
Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
The Samsung Galaxy A52 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :
SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!
Security + Protection
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.
is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.
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Samsung Galaxy A52 : Camera Performance + Photo Samples
The Samsung Galaxy A52’s 64 MP main camera takes 16 MP photos by default, with a resolution of 4624 x 3468 pixels.
The 46 MP sensor basically combines four pixels into one large “virtual pixel”, for better image quality and low-light performance.
The Galaxy A52 produces very good photos with really incredible detail at 16 MP, so stick with that unless you are planning to print really large format photos.
While the wide f/1.8 aperture creates a narrow depth-of-field, so there is the risk of ending up with an out-of-focus photo.
It is easy to “fix” that problem by tapping on the screen to make sure the camera focuses exactly where you want it to.
While this works with all smartphones, the Galaxy A52 does a much better job focusing than say, the Redmi 9T.
Here are ten unedited photo samples for you to check out.
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Samsung Galaxy A52 : Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery.
To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We then ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with 60 Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates :
Very nice! Even though it only comes with a 15 watt fast charger, the Samsung Galaxy A52 recharged 62% faster than the Redmi 9T with its 18 watt fast charger!
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Work Performance
We tested the Galaxy A52 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 2.0
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
A52
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Mobile Platform
Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
SD 750G
Exynos
9820
SD 662
Performance Score
(Average)
10523
8981
7874
7846
5986
Web Browsing
8865
8293
7021
8583
5844
Video Editing
6232
9166
5693
5524
3423
Writing
11112
9579
7454
9076
6657
Photo Editing
30789
19376
15812
10710
12031
Data Manipulation
6825
6155
6424
6450
4799
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G is a powerful mid-range mobile SoC. It is actually as powerful as the flagship Samsung Exynos 9820 in work applications!
Samsung Galaxy A52 Gaming Performance : 3DMark
For gaming, we first tested the Galaxy A52 using 3DMark, with these results :
3DMark
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
S10+
Galaxy
A52
Redmi 9T
Device
Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
Exynos
9820
SD 750G
SD 662
Sling Shot Extreme (OpenGL)
6642
5037
4470
2565
1174
Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan)
5722
4794
4314
2416
1098
Sling Shot
8128
4883
4343
3764
1844
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is definitely not as fast in games, as flagship mobile platforms. But it is just over twice as fast as mid-range smartphones like the Redmi 9T.
Samsung Galaxy A52 Overall Performance : AnTuTu
We then tested the Galaxy A52 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
AnTuTu
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
A52
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Device
Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
SD 750G
Exynos
9820
SD
662
AnTuTu Score
522735
348397
341908
330549
173559
CPU
146783
101187
105098
100272
64505
GPU
215205
156700
88068
149930
31734
Memory
89376
72051
60642
68188
40377
UX
71371
18459
88100
12159
36943
Will you look at that? The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G is right between the Exynos 9820 and Exynos 9825 – both flagship mobile SoCs from Samsung.
It is also notably twice as fast as the old Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 used in the Xiaomi Redmi 9T.
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Samsung Galaxy A52 : A Quick Wrap
The Galaxy A52 offers quite the awesome deal that Samsung promised. Let’s do a quick wrap of what we really liked about it.
Very Nice Display
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a very nice 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and brightness of up to 800 nits!
Great Performance
We are very glad Samsung built the Galaxy A52 around the Snapdragon 750G, which proved to offer really good CPU and GPU performance. It feels like a flagship device, without the flagship price.
Nice Set Of Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a very nice set of cameras – both in front and in the back.
The 64 MP main camera and 12 MP ultra-wide camera are the main stars. The 5 MP macro camera will not see much use, but at least it is better than the 2 MP macro camera that comes in some mid-range devices!
The image quality of the 64 MP main camera, in particular, is superb in its default 16 MP mode.
Long Battery Life, Fast Recharging
You will really like how long the Galaxy A52 lasts, and how fast it recharges.
Small Niceties
There are a couple of small features that could be very important, and yet are not available in other mid-range smartphones :
3.5 mm audio port
AKG-tuned speakers
Triple card tray with microSD card slot
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Our Verdict + Award
The Samsung Galaxy A52 offers a lot of great features and a very long battery life, at a great price point.
There are very few smartphones at this price point that would offer you a large 90 Hz Super AMOLED display, a powerful processor and a 64 MP camera system, with a large battery.
This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Congratulations, Samsung!
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Where To Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Key Features
6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!
The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.
1 + 4 Cameras!
The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a quad camera system that consists of :
64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
5 MP depth camera, with f/2.4 aperture
We should point out that the depth camera doesn’t take any photos.. It just obtains depth data to allow for more accurate software bokeh effects.
Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
The Samsung Galaxy A52 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :
SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!
Security + Protection
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.
is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Where To Buy?
It has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
You may not know this, but HUAWEI just launched the MateStation S, which is just great for the new WFH normal!
Find out what the HUAWEI MateStation S offers, and why it is perfect for WFH!
HUAWEI MateStation S : Why It’s Perfect For WFH!
The HUAWEI MateStation S is their first-ever desktop PC, and is designed for the new WFH (Work From Home) normal.
What do we mean by that? Desktop computers are known for offering excellent performance, but are usually bulky, expensive and lack wireless connectivity.
The HUAWEI MateStation S changes that by offering desktop performance in a small package, with wireless connectivity and smart sharing capabilities.
In other words, you don’t have to worry about wires, space or battery life. Just plunk it anywhere at home, and you can start working!
Meanwhile, the HUAWEI AX3 Dual Core router with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi Mesh capability is also coming soon, at just RM 199!
Super Compact!
The HUAWEI MateStation S is super compact. At 9 cm wide and 29 cm tall, with a cubic volume of just 8.6 litres, it is just a third of a standard PC case!
With a stylish star trail design, you can place it on your desk, under it, or even on a nearby bookshelf!
6-Core Powerful Performance!
The HUAWEI MateStation S is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G, a 7 nm processor with 6 cores for excellent multi-tasking performance.
It also comes with integrated 7-core Radeon Graphics, dual-channel memory, and a PCIe x4 NVMe SSD, which delivers ultra-quick start up and response times thanks to its 32 Gbps throughput.
Users have the option to add extra SSD / HDD and even RAM, if they wish to upgrade it after purchase. It comes with two M.2 2280 slots.
23.8-inch FullView Monitor!
It comes with a 23.8-inch FullView monitor, with ultra thin bezels that delivers a 90% screen-to-body ratio.
To ensure eye comfort during long hours of use, the monitor is flicker-free and TÜV Rheinland-certified for low blue light emissions.
Ultra-Quiet Cooling System
To ensure minimal noise impact on your home environment, the MateStation S comes with an ultra-quiet cooling system.
The fan features vertical blades, and works in tandem with a “high-density bionic heat sink” to deliver superior cooling performance at low noise levels.
The fan usually has a noise level of only 22 dB. Even at full throttle, it maxes out at 28 dB, so it won’t disturb anyone sleeping nearby.
Integrated Wireless Connectivity!
Unlike many desktops, the HUAWEI MateStation S offers the wireless connectivity of a laptop.
It comes with WiFi-AC – 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band with 2×2 MIMO – and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity built-in.
So you can easily connect to the Internet and other devices, without worrying about cables!
But in case you need LAN connectivity, it also comes with an RJ45 Ethernet port!
Smart Connectivity!
The HUAWEI MateStation S supports improved HUAWEI Share capability, allowing you to easily share files, images and even text between two devices using drag-and-drop or a simple tap.
You can also connect your smartphone and open three mobile app windows on the large display at once. This allows you to handle multiple tasks on one display, improving your productivity.
For instance, you can attend a video call on one mobile app screen, and take notes on a second screen, while chatting with colleagues on a third screen.
Loads Of Ports!
The HUAWEI MateStation S offers loads of ports – something laptops lack, and many users desperately need.
In The Front
3.5 mm audio jack
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type A) port
USB 2.0 (Type C) port
We should point out that this USB Type C port in the front supports 18 watt fast charging for your smartphone, so you can plug it in to charge while using the MateStation S!
In The Back
Audio input port
Audio output port
Microphone input port
HDMI port
VGA port
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type A) ports
2 x USB 2.0 (Type A) ports
RJ45 Ethernet port
Serial port
The HDMI port connects to any monitor or TV, while the VGA and serial ports offer backward compatibility with many commercial and industrial devices, like projectors and bar code scanners.
Smart Keyboard!
The HUAWEI MateStation S comes with a HUAWEI Wired Keyboard with a built-in fingerprint sensor.
This makes it the world’s first desktop to feature a fingerprint power on and unlock capability! A single touch is all it needs to power on and log-in.
This is a full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad, and a scissor key mechanism that offers 2.5 mm key travel.
Each key measures 16.05 x 6.05 mm, offering a comfortable touch type experience with tactile feedback.
HUAWEI MateStation S : Price + Availability
The HUAWEI MateStation S is available for sale with immediate effect at these launch prices :
Desktop + Keyboard : RM 2,488
Desktop + Monitor + Keyboard : RM 2,999
Every purchase of the full bundle (including monitor) will receive FREE GIFTS worth up to RM 855* upon purchase.
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Epson just launched their EpiqVision Mini EF-12 portable laser projection TV!
Take a look at its key features, and find out if this is what you have been looking for!
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Portable Laser Projection TV!
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is a compact and lightweight laser projector that allows you to enjoy a cinema experience at home, at up to 150-inches in display!
Built around the Epson 3LCD Technology, the EpiqVision Mini EF-12 offers Full HD resolution at 1000 lumens of brightness!
Low Maintenance Cost
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 uses a laser light source with a rated lifespan of 20,000 hours.
Epson says that with 5 hours of daily use, that gives you more than 10 years of enjoyment, with little to no maintenance costs.
Epson Online Meetings (Powered By Zoom)
The EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is Zoom-ready, allowing you to quickly conduct online video conferencing without additional software.
Android TV + Chromecast Built-In
With Android TV built-in, this laser projector lets you stream movies, shows and games from Google Play, YouTube and other sources.
You can also cast your favourite entertainment app or game using Chromecast from any Android or iOS device, Windows or Mac computer!
Bluetooth Yamaha Speaker
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 has a Yamaha speaker built-in, which also works as a standalone Bluetooth speaker for your mobile devices!
Automatic Setup
Thanks to its built-in camera, it automatically adjusts the necessary horizontal and vertical keystone correction, screen distortion and focus level!
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Price + Availability!
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is available in mid-April 2021, with a retail price of RM 4,980 (about US$1,202 / £873 / A$1,576 / S$1,617).
Here are online purchase options in other countries :
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The Samsung Galaxy A72 is designed for the new normal, offering an incredible package of features and performance!
Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy A72 smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy A72 : What You Need To Know!
Designed for the new normal, the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers an incredible package of features and performance!
As Samsung’s official advertisement for the 2021 Galaxy A series says, Awesome Is For Everyone!
6.7-inch Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Galaxy A72 comes with a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!
The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.
1 + 4 Cameras!
The Samsung Galaxy A72 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a quad camera system that consists of :
64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
8 MP telephoto camera, with f/2.4 aperture
5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
The Samsung Galaxy A72 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :
SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!
Security + Protection
The Samsung Galaxy A72 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.
is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.
Samsung Galaxy A72 : Specifications
In this table, we compare the specifications of the Galaxy A72 against the Galaxy A52 :
Specifications
Galaxy A72
Galaxy A52
Display Type
Super AMOLED
Display Size
6.7-inch
6.5-inch
Display Resolution
1080 x 2400 pixels
Display Refresh
Up to 90 Hz
Display Brightness
800 nits maximum
Protection
NA
IP Rating
IP67
Operating System
Android 11
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
CPU
2 x Kryo 570 Gold cores (2.3 GHz)
6 x Kryo 570 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 619
Memory + Storage
8 GB + 256 GB
Storage Expansion
microSD card : up to 1 TB
Front Camera
32 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Camera
64 MP (f/1.8)
Ultra Wide Camera
12 MP (f/2.2)
Telephoto Camera
8 MP (f/2.4)
–
Macro Camera
5 MP (f/2.4)
Depth Sensor
–
5 MP (f/2.4)
Connectivity
Network : 4G LTE, 3G
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, In Display
NFC
Yes
Other Sensors
Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic,
Hall sensor, Light sensor, Proximity
Audio
AKG stereo speakers
Battery
5,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
Charging
25 W fast charging
Dimensions
77.4 mm wide 165.0 mm tall
8.4 mm thick
75.1 mm wide 159.9 mm tall 8.4 mm thick
Weight
203 g
189 g
Samsung Galaxy A72 : Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy A72 will come in four colour options – Awesome Violet, Awesome White, Awesome Black and Awesome Blue.
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The Samsung Galaxy A52 is designed for the new normal, offering an incredible package of features and performance!
Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy A52 smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy A52 : What You Need To Know!
Designed for the new normal, the Samsung Galaxy A52 offers an incredible package of features and performance!
As Samsung’s official advertisement for the 2021 Galaxy A series says, Awesome Is For Everyone!
6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!
The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.
1 + 4 Cameras!
The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a quad camera system that consists of :
64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
5 MP depth camera, with f/2.4 aperture
We should point out that the depth camera doesn’t take any photos.. It just obtains depth data to allow for more accurate software bokeh effects.
Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
The Samsung Galaxy A52 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :
SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!
Security + Protection
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.
is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Specifications
In this table, we compare the specifications of the Galaxy A52 against the Galaxy A72 :
Specifications
Galaxy A72
Galaxy A52
Display Type
Super AMOLED
Display Size
6.7-inch
6.5-inch
Display Resolution
1080 x 2400 pixels
Display Refresh
Up to 90 Hz
Display Brightness
800 nits maximum
Protection
NA
IP Rating
IP67
Operating System
Android 11
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
CPU
2 x Kryo 570 Gold cores (2.3 GHz)
6 x Kryo 570 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 619
Memory + Storage
8 GB + 256 GB
Storage Expansion
microSD card : up to 1 TB
Front Camera
32 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Camera
64 MP (f/1.8)
Ultra Wide Camera
12 MP (f/2.2)
Telephoto Camera
8 MP (f/2.4)
–
Macro Camera
5 MP (f/2.4)
Depth Sensor
–
5 MP (f/2.4)
Connectivity
Network : 4G LTE, 3G
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, In Display
NFC
Yes
Other Sensors
Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic,
Hall sensor, Light sensor, Proximity
Audio
AKG stereo speakers
Battery
5,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
Charging
25 W fast charging
Dimensions
77.4 mm wide 165.0 mm tall
8.4 mm thick
75.1 mm wide 159.9 mm tall 8.4 mm thick
Weight
203 g
189 g
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy A52 will come in four colour options – Awesome Violet, Awesome White, Awesome Black and Awesome Blue.
Samsung Galaxy A52 : Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The new mobile processors also uses a single, monolithic die, which eliminates the I/O latency between dies.
Placeholder : AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 tech briefing video coming soon!
In addition to its improved performance, the AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 mobile processors also come with these AMD PRO technologies :
AMD PRO security provides a multi-layered approach to security features by embedding defenses at every level, from silicon through operating system.
– AMD Memory Guard, automatically enabled on Microsoft Secured-Core PCs, helps enable data and identity protection, while
– AMD Shadow Stack helps provide hardware enabled protection against malware attacks.
AMD PRO manageability enables a full manageability feature set for simplified deployment, imaging and management that is compatible with modern IT infrastructures.
AMD Ryzen PRO processors offer full support for Microsoft Endpoint Manager to deliver a flexible and integrated cloud management solution.
AMD PRO business ready technologies bring enterprise-grade computing solutions designed for quality and reliability, in addition to platform longevity.
AMD Ryzen PRO processors feature 18-months of planned software stability and 24-months of planned availability.
AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 : Models + Specifications
AMD announced three Ryzen PRO 5000 models to replace the three Ryzen PRO 4000 models from last year.
Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U : 8C/16T | 15W | 1.9 to 4.4 GHz | 20 MB cache
Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U : 6C/12T | 15W | 2.3 to 4.2 GHz | 19 MB cache
Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U : 4C/8T | 15W | 2.6 to 4.0 GHz | 10 MB cache
For easier comparison, here is a table comparing their key specifications :
Specifications
Ryzen 7
PRO
5850U
Ryzen 5
PRO
5650U
Ryzen 3
PRO
5450U
Process
7 nm
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
6 / 12
4 / 8
Base Clock
1.9 GHz
2.3 GHz
2.6 GHz
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.2 GHz
4.0 GHz
L2 Cache
4 MB
3 MB
2 MB
L3 Cache
16 MB
8 MB
TDP
15 W
AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 : Availability
According to AMD, enterprise customers will be able to purchase the new Ryzen PRO 5000 laptops from top PC vendors like HP and Lenovo starting in Q2, 2021.
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The Dell XPS 13 (9300) features the first-ever InfinityEdge display with Gorilla Glass 6 protection.
Find out why we think it’s an incredible ultra-light laptop worthy of our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Featuring The InfinityEdge Display
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) continues the evolution of the XPS 13 line, with an ultra-light chassis built from machined aluminium and woven glass fibre, with Gorilla Glass 6 protection.
With the first-ever InfinityEdge display, the XPS 13 (9300) offers a 13.4-inch display in an 11-inch form factor, that fits neatly on an airplane’s seat tray.
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Colour Options
Our unit comes in the Frost White colour with an Arctic White woven glass fibre palm rest.
Dell also offers the Platinum Silver colour option, with a Black carbon fiber palm rest.
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Specifications + Options
Specifications
XPS 13 9300
Display Size
13.4-inch
Display Options
4K touch screen (3840 x 2400)
Full HD touch screen (1920 x 1200)
Full HD non-touch (1920 x 1200)
Display Features
WLED backlight
60 Hz refresh rate
500 nits max. brightness
35 ms response time
1200:1 contrast ratio
Realtek ALC3281-CG audio chip
2 x 2.5 watt speakers
Dual microphone array
3.5 mm audio jack
Wireless
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2)
Bluetooth 5.1
External Ports
2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) ports
– with Power Delivery and DisplayPort
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
1 x microSD card slot
Camera
HD webcam
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, capacitive 500 dpi sensor
Keyboard
Backlit keyboard
19.05 x 18.05 mm key pitch
Touchpad
1300 x 722 pixel resolution
Battery
4-cell 52 Whr lithium-ion battery
Charger
45 watt USB Type C charger
Dimensions
296 mm wide
199 mm deep
14.8 mm thick
Weight
1.27 kg (touch screen)
1.20 kg (non-touch)
Unboxing The Dell XPS 13 (9300) Laptop
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) comes in a premium white cardboard box. Once you fully unbox it, you will find these items :
Dell XPS 13 (9300) laptop
Dell USB Type C to USB Type A dongle
45 watt charger with integrated USB Type C cable
Power cord with localised plug
XPS 13 9300 Quick Start Guide + Safety and Regulatory Information
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Hands-On Experience!
This Dell XPS 13 (9300) is an eminently thin and light laptop. It offers a 13.4-inch display in an 11-inch form factor that weighs only 1.27 kg, and is less than 15 mm thick.
It easily fits into the smallest laptop bag, and even a large handbag. And when you can fly again, you will love how it fits onto the airplane’s seat tray!
Once you try it out, you will find it hard to go back to regular laptops – you will find them heavy and unwieldy!
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Dell XPS 13 (9300) : A Closer Look!
13.4-inch Display In 11-Inch Form Factor
This Dell XPS 13 (9300) model comes with a 4K UHD+ touch display, with a resolution of 3840 x 2400 pixel, a colour gamut of 90% DCI-P3 and DisplayHDR 400 certification.
The incredibly high resolution and wide colour gamut allow your high resolution photos and HDR content to really pop.
Dell also offers a Full HD+ display, with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 100% sRGB colour gamut; in both touch and non-touch options.
All three display options are 25% brighter at 500 nits, and are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 against scratches and impact.
Cameras + Security
The thin bezel at the top conceals two cameras – a regular 720p webcam, and an infra-red camera for facial recognition.
So you can either unlock the XPS 13 using the IR camera and Windows Hello, or the fingerprint sensor, which integrated into the power button.
While its 720p webcam may be rather low in resolution, it uses a new 4-element lens for sharper image quality. It also supports temporal noise reduction to improve video quality in low-light conditions.
We hope that Dell would look at upgrading it to a 1080p camera, with a physical or electronics privacy shutter.
Performance
Our Dell XPS 13 (9300) is powered by the Intel Core i7-1065G7 – a 4-core, 8-thread processor with 8 MB of cache and built-in Iris Plus Graphics.
You can opt for a Core i5-1035G1 or the Core i3-1005G1, both of which come with integrated UHD Graphics.
A redesigned cooler keeps things cool, using a single heat pipe and evaporator design with dual condensers and GORE thermal insulation. The hot air is exhausted through the hinge at the back.
It can get a little toasty from the hot exhaust when you use it on your lap, especially if you’re doing compute-intensive tasks like rendering videos.
It also comes with 16 GB of dual-channel LPDDR4X memory running at 3733 MHz. The memory is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded.
Our unit came with a 1 TB SK hynix PC611 PCIe NVMe SSD, but you can opt for a smaller 512 GB SSD, or a larger 2 TB SSD.
Ports
Due to its ultra-slim profile – 14.8 mm at its thickest point, the XPS 13 has very limited ports.
On the left side, you will find a microSD card reader; as well as a single Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) port, which supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort output
On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm microphone and headphone combo port, with a second Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) port, which also supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort output.
You can plug the USB Type C charging cable into either Thunderbolt 3 port. But unless you are using it on-the-go, you really only have one free port to use.
The good news is Dell actually bundles the XPS 13 (9300) with a free USB Type C to USB Type A dongle, so you can use your USB Type A drives and devices (including cables) with it.
Keyboard + Touchpad
The Dell XPS (9300) comes an edge-to-edge keyboard, and a 17% larger touchpad for maximum working comfort. The keyboard is backlit, and comes with larger key caps!
It definitely offers a far superior typing experience to the horrible butterfly switch keyboard used in Apple MacBook Pro laptops.
Connectivity
Our XPS 13 (9300) comes with the Killer AX1650 module, which offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with 2×2 antennas, and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
It is much too thin to support a LAN port, but you can add LAN connectivity using a USB-C dongle.
Audio
The two long stripes on both sides of the XPS 13 are not cooling vents, but ports for its 2.5 watt stereo speakers, which are tuned with Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
Its 3.5 mm microphone / headphone combo jack is also optimised with the 360-degree Waves NX 3D virtual surround sound with head tracking.
Finally, its dual microphone array is powered by Waves MaxxVoice Pro, which supports VOIP and is Cortana Farfield-capable.
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Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Performance
Our Dell XPS 13 (9300) is powered by the 15-watt Intel Core i7-1065G7 (Ice Lake) with 4 cores and 8 threads, and Iris Plus Graphics with 64 Execution Units.
It comes with 8 MB of cache, and has a 1.3 GHz base frequency that ramps up to 3.5 GHz during intensive tasks.
Our review sample came with 16 GB LPDDR4X-3733 dual-channel memory, and a 1 TB SK hynix PC611 PCIe NVMe SSD.
Work Performance : PCMark 10
The Intel Core i7-1065G7 is a 25 watt processor that can be configured to run at a lower TDP of 15 watt – to improve battery life and reduce thermal output.
At the full 25 watt TDP, it should deliver PCMark 10 scores in excess of 4700. It is obvious now that Dell configured it for the cooler 15 watt TDP. This is why benchmarks are important.
The integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics sounds powerful on paper – with 64 Execution Units – but it is only about as fast as the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 / GeForce 940MX.
So this is most definitely NOT a gaming laptop, although you should have no problem playing older games and games that are not 3D graphics-intensive like DOTA 2.
Battery Life : YouTube + Modern Office
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) comes with a 4-cell smart lithium-ion battery that is rated for 52 Whr.
Dell claims a battery life of up to 18 hours and 49 minutes with the Full HD+ display, and up to 12 hours and 13 minutes with the 4K UHD+ display.
In our general use, we have no problem working a full day on it without recharging, which makes it really convenient when travelling.
That said, we locked the brightness at 50% – higher than the average of 40% – to see how it performs in these worst-case scenarios :
YouTube Streaming
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) lasted 8 hours 15 minutes streaming YouTube videos in theatre mode using WiFi, before its battery dropped to 10%.
PCMark 10 : Modern Office
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) lasted 6 hours 36 minutes before it powered off while running the Modern Office benchmark.
Battery : Recharging Speed
Its 65 watt fast charger took about 52.5 minutes to hit the mid-point (55%), but 2 hours 23.5 minutes to fully recharge its battery from 10%.
Here are the times it takes to recharge from 10% :
15% – 5 minutes 57 seconds
20% – 11 minutes 53 seconds
25% – 17 minutes 45 seconds
30% – 23 minutes 22 seconds
35% – 29 minutes 25 seconds
40% – 35 minutes 8 seconds
45% – 41 minutes 22 seconds
50% – 46 minutes 56 seconds
55% – 52 minutes 39 seconds
60% – 58 minutes 27 seconds
65% – 64 minutes 13 seconds
70% – 70 minutes 15 seconds
75% – 76 minutes
80% – 81 minutes 58 seconds
85% – 89 minutes 41 seconds
90% – 100 minutes 50 seconds
95% – 118 minutes 45 seconds
100% – 143 minutes 20 seconds
This gives it a battery life : recharging time ratio of 3.45 : 1 for video streaming, and 2.76 : 1 for office work.
As a rule of thumb, you will need to recharge its battery about 22 minutes for every hour of battery life.
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Verdict + Award
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) is a really great ultra-light laptop for people who are always on-the-go.
It packs serious processing power, memory and a huge SSD with the latest wireless connectivity built-in, in a very thin and light package.
It is less than 15 mm at its thickest point, and weighs less than 1.3 kg. But this is something you have to hold in your hand to actually get a feel of how much engineering went into the XPS 13.
Even the latest 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro, powered by the new Apple M1 SoC, is larger, thicker at 15.6 mm and weighs more at 1.4 kg!
The extremely thin profile offers some challenges to first time users – limited physical ports. Yet the XPS 13 (9300) managed to squeeze in an extra microSD card reader over the new 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1).
Even so, you will have to live with just two USB Type C ports – one of which is not available when you recharge its battery. Fortunately, the XPS 13 (9300) comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 wireless connectivity.
Thankfully, Dell threw in a free USB-C to USB-A dongle, so at least you have ready access to your USB Type A drives and devices out-of-the-box.
Security-conscious users will love the fingerprint sensor and IR camera, which allows for easy and secure logins. However, the webcam lacks a physical shutter, and the lid clearance is too tight to safely use a third-party shutter.
As far as battery life is concerned, the XPS 13 (9300) will last more than full day’s work without recharging. After a while, you will get used to leaving the office without the charger!
All-in-all, the Dell XPS 13 (9300) is an engineering marvel that must be experienced to truly understand. If you want the very best Windows 10 ultra-light laptop money can buy, this should be right at the top of the list.
That is why we wholeheartedly award it our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank Dell for sending us this review unit, and making us part of the #DellInsideCircle
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Key Features
Here is a quick run-through of the Xiaomi Redmi 9T’s key features.
6.53-inch FHD+ Dot Drop Display
The Redmi 9T sports a large 6.53-inch Dot Drop display, with a FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.
This display has a pixel density of 395 ppi, and a maximum brightness of 400 nits.
It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and is TUV Rheinland-certified for low blue light.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
The Redmi 9T is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 – a mid-range mobile SoC released in early 2020.
It has an 8-core processor, with four high-speed Qualcomm Kryo 260 Gold cores running at 2.0 GHz, and four low-power Qualcomm Kryo 260 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz.
In addition to the Qualcomm Adreno 610 GPU, and 3rd Generation Qualcomm AI Engine, it offers 4G LTE and WiFi-AC connectivity.
Memory + Storage Options
Xiaomi is offering two memory and storage options – 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage.
It also comes with a microSD card slot, in a triple card tray that also supports two nano SIM cards.
This is a big advantage for those who need additional storage, as well as the ability to support two SIM cards.
Five Cameras
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T has an 8 MP selfie camera, with a f/2.05 aperture, hidden in a teardrop notch. A decent front camera at this price point.
At the back, it has a camera system that consists of :
a 48 MP main camera, with f/1.79 aperture and 4-in-1 Super Pixel capability
an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
a 2 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 2 MP depth sensor, with f/2.4 aperture
a single LED flash
This is really a triple camera system since the depth sensor does not capture any images, only provides depth data for better software bokeh effects.
Fingerprint Sensor
While many entry-level smartphones do not come with a fingerprint sensor, Redmi 9T has one on the side – an FPC102x sensor.
It is actually built into the Power button, which is more useful than a rear sensor if you attach it to your car’s dashboard.
Power + Charging
Powering all that is a massive 6,000 mAh battery, which supports 18 watt fast charging.
Oddly enough, it comes with a 22.5 watt Xiaomi MDY-11-EP charger in the box, so that’s a nice “freebie”.
Audio Port + IR Emitter
Those who are still hanging onto their wired earphones will be happy to learn that the Redmi 9T comes with a 3.5 mm port at the top.
In addition, it also comes with an IR emitter that lets you use the Redmi 9T as a remote control.
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Camera Performance + Photo Samples
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T’s 48 MP main camera takes 12 MP photos by default, with a resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels.
The 48 MP sensor basically combines four pixels into one large “virtual pixel”, for better image quality and low-light performance.
The Redmi 9T produces pretty good photos with more than enough detail at 12 MP, unless you are planning to print large format photos.
There are three issues with this camera though, which we will go through below. In the meantime, take a look at three of the better photo samples we took.
Very Narrow Depth Of Field
First – its large f/1.79 aperture makes for better low-light performance, but has very narrow depth-of-field.
If you take a look at the these photos, you can see how only a small segment is in focus.
This is great for portraits, giving you a nice bokeh for the background. However, if you do not frame and focus properly, you will end up with an out-of-focus photo.
Long Minimum Focus
This camera has a rather long minimum focus, which makes for tricky close-up shots. It doesn’t help that the Redmi 9T won’t tell you when the camera cannot focus properly.
If you take pictures of close-up objects, you will more than likely end up with a bunch of out-of-focus photos.
Post Processing Issues
Finally – its AI post-processing sometimes can wipe out details.
If you look at this photo, you can’t really tell the yellow flower petals apart because the saturation boost just wiped out the detail and contrast.
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T comes with a massive 6,000 mAh battery.
To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We then ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained :
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T may support 18 W charging, and even comes with a 22.5 watt fast charger, but it sure is slow at charging.
It takes over 3 hours to fully recharge its 6,000 mAh battery from 20% – almost twice as slow as the next slowest smartphone – the Black Shark 2 Pro!
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Work Performance
We tested the Redmi 9T using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 2.0
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
BS 2 Pro
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Mobile Platform
Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
SD
855+
Exynos
9820
SD 662
Performance Score
10523
8981
8384
7846
5986
Web Browsing
8865
8293
6768
8583
5844
Video Editing
6232
9166
5948
5524
3423
Writing
11112
9579
9226
9076
6657
Photo Editing
30789
19376
17595
10710
12031
Data Manipulation
6825
6155
6339
6450
4799
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 is a mid-range mobile SoC released in early 2020. So it isn’t surprising to see that it’s only about half as fast as a flagship SoC like the Exynos 990.
Even so, it offers pretty good work performance at this price point. Unless you are comparing smartphones side-by-side, you probably won’t notice the difference.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T Gaming Performance : 3DMark
For gaming, we first tested the Redmi 9T using 3DMark, with these results :
3DMark
Note20
Ultra
B Shark
2 Pro
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Device
Exynos
990
SD
855+
Exynos
9825
Exynos
9820
SD 662
Sling Shot Extreme (OpenGL)
6642
6258
5037
4470
1174
Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan)
5722
5386
4794
4314
1098
Sling Shot
8128
8127
4883
4343
1844
Needless to say, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T is no speedy Gonzales, when it comes to games.
On average, it only offers about 20% the gaming performance of a flagship chip like the Exynos 990, which powers the Galaxy Note20.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T Overall Performance : AnTuTu
We then tested the Redmi 9T using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
AnTuTu
Note20
Ultra
B Shark
2 Pro
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Device
Exynos
990
SD
855+
Exynos
9825
Exynos
9820
SD 662
AnTuTu Score
522735
434168
348397
330549
173559
CPU
146783
126170
101187
100272
64505
GPU
215205
188158
156700
149930
31734
Memory
89376
65052
72051
68188
40377
UX
71371
54788
18459
12159
36943
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 has decent CPU and memory performance, but falls short in the graphics department.
It’s good enough for work and the average mobile game. But don’t count on it to push the envelope when it comes to gaming.
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : A Quick Wrap
When we first received the Xiaomi Redmi 9T, we didn’t think much of it. But after a few weeks of trying it out, we came away pretty impressed with a few aspects.
But we also had some concerns, so let’s do a quick wrap…
Fantastic Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T has seriously great battery life. This is a smartphone you can count on for a full day’s work without a power bank.
We have actually gone 2 days without recharging, so most users will probably never have battery anxiety with this phone!
Nice Large Display
The large 6.53-inch IPS display is pretty nice, especially at this price point. You would expect a 720p display without protection, but no, this is a Full HD+ panel with Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
It is not particularly bright though, with 400 nits of maximum brightness. So don’t be disappointed if it appears a little washed out in bright sunlight.
Small Niceties
There are a couple of small features that could be very important, and yet are no longer available in other smartphones :
3.5 mm audio port
IR emitter
Triple card tray with microSD card slot
Pretty Decent Camera
Forget about the 48 MP marketing. It’s really a 12 MP camera. And it’s a nice camera at this price point.
Just watch out for the narrow depth-of-field, inability to take close-up photos and potential over-processing.
Not For Serious Gaming
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 is a pretty good processor at this price point, and offers decent work performance.
However, it has a rather weak GPU. Perfectly fine for those playing simple mobile games, but not for serious gamers.
Slow Charging
Xiaomi may quote a 18 watt charging capability, and even pack a 22.5 watt fast charger in the box. But this baby sure takes its time recharging.
Fortunately, its long battery life ensures that you really don’t need to keep it plugged more than once a day.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Our Verdict + Award
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T offers a lot of decent features and a very long battery life, at a great price point.
There are very few smartphones at this price point that would offer you a large Full HD display, a decent processor and camera system, with a large battery.
This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Where To Buy?
The Redmi 9T is available for purchase, in two variants :
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The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is here, and it only costs $479… if you can find one!
Here is what you need to know about the new 1440p gaming card from AMD!
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT : Official Launch Briefing!
AMD is targeting the Radeon RX 6700 XT at 1440p gamers, with its 40 enhanced Compute Units and 12 GB GDDR6 memory.
Let’s start with the official launch briefing by Scott Herkelman, Corporate Vice President & General Manager at the AMD Graphics Business Unit.
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT : Key Features
The AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards are built on the new RDNA 2 architecture, which features an enhanced Compute Unit, a new visual pipeline with Ray Accelerators, and the new AMD Infinity Cache.
The Ryzen 5000 processor is given greater access to its GDDR6 graphics memory, providing up to 13% better performance when combined with the new Rage Mode one-click overclocking setting.
They will support the next-generation games with greater realism through DirectX Raytracing (DXR) and Variable Rate Shading.
New Ray Accelerator
Every RDNA 2 computer unit has a new fixed-function Ray Accelerator engine to deliver real-time lighting, shadow and refection realism through DirectX Raytracing (DXR).
It can be paired with AMD FidelityFX to enable hybrid rendering, offering a combination of rasterised and ray-traced effects for a blend of better image quality and higher performance.
Variable Rate Shading (VRS)
Variable Rate Shading dynamically reduces the shading rate for areas of the frame that do not require a high level of visual quality, improving performance at little to no perceptible loss in image quality.
Microsoft DirectStorage Support
They will support the future DirectStorage API for faster load times, and high-quality textures.
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT : Specifications
The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT headlines the Radeon RX 6000 series :
Here is a table comparing their key specifications :
Specifications
RX
6900 XT
RX
6800 XT
RX
6800
RX 6700
XT
Transistors
26.8 billion
NA
Fab Process
7 nm
TGP
300 W
250 W
230 W
Compute Units
80
72
60
40
Ray Accelerators
80
72
60
40
Stream Processors
5120
4608
3840
2560
Game Clock
2015 MHz
2015 MHz
1815 MHz
2424 MHz
Boost Clock
2250 MHz
2250 MHz
2105 MHz
2581 MHz
TFLOPS
23.04
20.74
16.17
13.21
TMUs
320
288
240
192
Max. Texture Rate
720 GT/s
648 GT/s
505 GT/s
495 GT/s
ROPs
128
96
64
Max. Pixel Rate
288 GP/s
202 GP/s
165 GP/s
Infinity Cache
128 MB
Graphics
Memory
16 GB GDDR6
12 GB GDDR6
Bus Width
256-bit
192-bit
Bandwidth
512 GB/s
384 GB/s
PCIe Interface
PCIe 4.0 x16
PCIe Power
2 x 8-pin
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT : Performance
AMD shared these performance charts to demonstrate its gaming performance at the 1440p resolution, beating the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti.
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT : Price + Availability
At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has a SEP (Suggested E-tail Price) of US$479, which is approximately £343 / A$614 / S$638 / RM1,940.
The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT will be available from AMD board partners like ASRock, ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI, PowerColor, Sapphire and XFX starting 18 March 2021.
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Lenovo just introduced four 2021 YOGA laptop models – Yoga 6 AMD, Yoga Slim 9i, Yoga 9i and Yoga Slim 7i Carbon.
Confused? Hear from Lenovo themselves, and we will give you a quick run down of all four models!
2021 Lenovo YOGA Laptop Models Revealed!
The Yoga is Lenovo’s top-of-the-line consumer sub-brand, and is designed to offer refined craftsmanship and stunning design, for “consumers with sophisticated taste”.
Lenovo Yoga 6 AMD
The 2021 Lenovo Yoga 6 AMD is their first-generation consumer convertible laptop, that uses a hybrid design of metal and soft-touch materials wrapped in blue fabric.
This 13.3-inch, 2-in-1 convertible laptop features an AMD Ryzen 4000 series mobile processor with optional AMD Radeon graphics, with up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory an 1 TB of SSD storage.
It comes with a Full HD touch screen display, with narrow bezels and a backlit keyboard. It also comes with front facing stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos.
Weighing only 1.32 kg, the Yoga 6 AMD offers up to 18 hours of battery life with a 60 Whr battery.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i
The 2021 Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i offers an exquisite Shadow Black genuine leather cover bonded to an aluminium chassis for a better feel and greater durability.
Built around the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, with Intel Xe Graphics, this 14-inch laptop is just 13.9 mm thick, and weighs just 1.29 kg.
Lenovo also offers a more powerful 15-inch option, powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i9 HK-series mobile processor, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q Design graphics.
Both models offer up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X memory and up to 2 TB of PCIe SSD storage, with three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Lenovo Yoga 9i
The 2021 Lenovo Yoga 9i offers an exquisite Shadow Black genuine leather cover bonded to an aluminium chassis, as well as an all-metal Mica option.
They both come with an edge-to-edge Glass Palm Rest with an encased Smart Sensor Touchpad with haptic feedback.
Built around the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, with Intel Xe Graphics, this 14-inch convertible laptop features thermal venting holes under the keyboard to lower its temperature by two degrees Celsius compared to the previous generation.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is an ultra-light 13.3-inch laptop, with a 16:10 display and a thickness of just 14.25 mm and a weight of just 966 grams.
This is an Intel Evo-certified laptop, with a stunning Moon White finish, and a chassis made from carbon fibre with an anti-fingerprint finish.
2021 Lenovo YOGA Models : Price + Availability
All four 2021 Lenovo Yoga laptop models are available for purchase, with immediate effect, at these starting prices :
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HP just unveiled their 2021 OMEN 15 gaming laptop, codenamed Valkyrie – powered by both AMD and NVIDIA!
2021 HP OMEN 15 (Valkyrie) Gaming Laptop
Codenamed Valkyrie, the 2021 HP OMEN 15 gaming laptop is a 15.6-inch laptop built with serious gaming in mind, with a sleek and modern minimalistic design!
15.6-inch IPS Display
The 2021 HP OMEN 15 comes with a large 15.6-inch IPS display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
You can opt for a 144 Hz refresh rate, as well as a premium 144 Hz display with 300 nits brightness and 72% NTSC colour gamut.
Gaming Performance
The 2021 HP OMEN 15 is powered by the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor, and paired with up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics!
It is kept cool by the OMEN Tempest Cooling Technology, with 3-sided venting and 5-way airflow, to ensure maximum performance even during prolonged gaming sessions!
Memory + Storage
The 2021 HP OMEN 15 comes with up to 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, in dual-channel mode for maximum performance.
You can equip it with up to a 1 TB PCIe NVMe TLC SSD, or up to two 256 GB SSDs in RAID 0 mode for super-fast transfers.
Connectivity
The 2021 HP OMEN 15 comes with Gigabit LAN wired connectivity built in, and offers either Intel Wi-Fi 6 or Realtek Wi-Fi 5 wireless connectivity.
Audio
You do not have to rely on headphones for maximum gaming enjoyment. The new OMEN 15 comes with Bang & Olufsen speakers and support for DTS:X Ultra!
Gaming Keyboard
The 2021 HP OMEN 15 comes with an island-style backlit keyboard with integrated numeric keypad.
You have the option of simple dragon red backlighting, or RGB backlighting with 4 independent zones.
2021 HP OMEN 15 (Valkyrie) : Specifications + Options
The 2021 HP OMEN 15 gaming laptop comes with these specifications and configuration options :
Up to 1 TB PCIe NVMe TLC SSD
Up to 2 x 256 GB PCIe NVMe TLC SSDs
Card Reader
SD card reader
Audio
Bang & Olfusen dual speakers
DTS:X Ultra support
Networking
Gigabit LAN
Wireless Options
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.0
Realtek Wi-Fi 5 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.0
I/O Ports
1 x USB 3.0 Type C with DisplayPort 1.4
1 x USB 3.0 Type A with Sleep + Charge
2 x USB 3.0 Type A
1 x RJ45 LAN port
1 x headphone / mic combo port
1 x Mini DisplayPort
1 x HDMI 2.0a
Camera
HD camera with dual-array digital mic
IR thermal sensor
Keyboard Options
1-zone dragon red backlit keyboard
4-zone RGB backlit keyboard
Touchpad
HP Imagepad Touchpad
Battery Options
6-cell Li-Po, 70.9 Wh
3-cell Li-Po, 52.5 Wh
Charger
150 / 200 watt charger
Dimensions
357.96 mm wide
239.7 mm deep
22.5 mm thick
Weight
2.37 kg
2021 HP OMEN 15 : Price + Availability
The new HP OMEN 15 gaming laptop has a starting price of RM 3,899 (about US$965 / £684 / A$1,220 / S$1,272).
It comes with 2-years of Accidental Protection Damage warranty, and is available from the HP Online Store in Malaysia right now.
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HP just revealed the 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop, powered by AMD and NVIDIA! Here are the details…
2021 HP OMEN 25L Gaming Desktop Revealed!
The 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop packages the latest AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphics in a slim, minimalistic design that will fit right into any modern home.
On top of using branded gaming components, it is also designed to be easily upgradable, and software-customisable via the OMEN Command Center.
Performance
The 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop is built around the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen 9 or Ryzen 7 processor, paired with up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics card.
All that is kept cool by Cooler Master cooling solutions – you can opt for a 92 mm round air cooler, or a 120 mm liquid cooled radiator.
It also features redesigned elevating 15 mm legs, and a new raised graphics slot, to improve system air intake.
Memory + Storage
HP offers up to 32 GB (64 GB in some countries) of Intel XMP-certified HyperX DDR4 memory, with and without RGB lighting.
You can equip it with up to a 2 TB WD Black PCIe TLC SSD, with up to two additional 2 TB hard disk drives for maximum storage capacity.
Connectivity
The HP OMEN 25L comes with both Gigabit LAN wired connectivity, as well as WiFi-6 wireless connectivity through its built-in AX 2×2 card.
DTS Headphone: X Technology
The HP OMEN 25L supports DTS Headphone: X technology, which gives you spatially-accurate 3D sound through any headphones or earbuds.
Micro-ATX Upgradability
The galvanised steel chassis is designed to offer easy tool-less access, and easy cable management. It also lets you easily upgrade the OMEN 25L with aftermarket parts.
2021 HP OMEN 25L : Specifications + Configuration Options
The 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop comes with these configuration options :
Specifications
HP OMEN 25L
Colour
Shadow Black
Design Options
Glass Side Cover (optional dust filter)
Metal Side Cover (optional dust filter)
OS Options
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
FreeDOS 3.0
CPU Options
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Chipset
AMD B450
RAM Options
Up to 32 GB HyperX DDR4 RGB
Lighting
Up to 32 GB HyperX DDR4
GPU Options
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
Storage Options
Up to 2 TB WD Black PCIe SSD
Up to 2 x 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD
Audio
DTS Headphone:X support
Networking
AX WiFi-6 and Bluetooth 5.1 combo
Gigabit LAN Ethernet
Top I/O Ports
2 x USB 3.0 Type A
1 x audio combo jack
Rear I/O Ports
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type A
2 x USB 3.0 Type A
3 x audio ports
1 x RJ45 LAN port
Power Supply
500 Watt ATX power supply
Security
Kensington Security Lock Slot
Dimensions
165.1 mm wide
394.5 mm deep
433.1 mm tall
Weight
11.5 kg
2021 HP OMEN 25L : Price + Availability
The new HP OMEN 25L desktop has a starting price of RM 6,899 (about US$1,707 / £1,205 / A$2,154 / S$2,252).
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The Dell G5 15 5500 comes in a no-frills brown cardboard box. Inside, all you will find are these items :
Dell G5 15 5500 laptop
240 watt charger + cable
Dell G5 Quick User Guide
Safety and Regulatory Information
Dell G5 15 5500 : Hands-On Experience!
The Dell G5 15 5500 is designed to offer RTX gaming, at an affordable price point. So the first thing you will notice its thick plastic chassis and heft.
This is no thin and light laptop, not at 31 mm thick and a weight of 2.65 kg… and that’s not even counting the large and heavy 240 watt charger!
Performance
Our review model was powered by the Intel Core i7-10750H, a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a clock speed that goes up to 5 GHz.
It’s paired with 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and the the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory. More than powerful enough to handle any game you throw at it.
144 Hz Display
The Dell G5 15 5500 comes with a 15.6-inch TN display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and a 144 Hz refresh rate.
Thankfully, it’s paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics, which should have no problem driving the high refresh rate for most games.
Storage
The Dell G5 15 5500 is spacious enough to support both a M.2 socket (for a PCIe SSD), as well as a 2.5-inch drive bay (for a hard disk drive).
Our review sample came with the 512 GB PCIe M.2 SSD from SK hynix. Dell also offers a 512 GB Intel Optane storage option in some countries.
This is more than enough storage for a gaming laptop, but if you need more, there is a 1 TB SSD option, as well as a 2 TB hard disk drive option.
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Dell G5 15 5500 : A Closer Look!
Available Ports
One advantage of not going thin and light is the additional ports. On the left side, you will find these ports (from left to right) :
its barrel power port,
a Mini DisplayPort 1.4b port,
a HDMI 2.0 port,
a USB 3.2 Gen 1 PowerShare port,
an RJ45 LAN port, and
a Thunderbolt 3 (USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C) port.
On the right side, you will find the following (from left to right) :
an SD card reader, which supports SD, SDHX and SDXC cards,
a 3.5 mm earphone + microphone jack,
two USB 2.0 Type A ports, and
a wedge-shaped security lock slot
Keyboard + Touchpad
Thanks to its larger form factor, Dell could fit a full keyboard with a numeric keypad, and a horizontal key pitch of 18.7 mm.
The keyboard is backlit in blue by default, with WASD key highlights. But it can be programmed to support any RGB combination, in up to 4 zones.
It has a pretty small touchpad – just 105 x 65 mm, and it’s offset to the left, which makes it a little awkward to use, unless you are left-handed.
But this isn’t a big problem. This is a gaming laptop, and you will definitely be using a mouse.
RGB Lighting
Complementing the RGB keyboard lighting is an RGB LED light strip along the front edge. This is arguably the Dell team’s only concession towards pointless gaming bling.
Some gamers will argue that it will give a more immersive gaming feel. Whatever rocks your boat, my friend.
Fingerprint Sensor
Dell offers an optional fingerprint sensor integrated directly into the power button, right above the keyboard. There is no IR camera option for face recognition.
We highly recommend adding this feature, as it allows for convenient logging in and greater security especially in public – there’s no need to type in your password.
Webcam + Microphones
The Dell G5 15 5500 comes with a basic webcam, capable of recording 720p video. As well as two microphones – one on each side of the webcam.
This is hardly the ideal setup for video streaming, but it is perfectly adequate for gamers who just need to use it for video chats.
Note that it doesn’t come with a privacy cover, only a status light to let you know when the webcam is activated.
Speakers
The Dell G5 15 5500 comes with two side-firing speakers with a 2 watt output.
Powered by the Realtek ALC3254 with an integrated amplifier, they are loud and offer pretty decent sound quality.
Killer Connectivity
Our premium model comes with a Killer E2500 Gigabit LAN connectivity. Otherwise, you will receive Realtek Gigabit LAN, which isn’t bad at all.
Wireless connectivity is provided through Killer 1650i, which offers Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) connectivity on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
The basic models though come with Qualcomm DW 1820, which offers Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) connectivity on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, as well as Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
Dell G5 15 5500 : Surface Temperatures
An important criteria that many potential buyers forget to check for in a gaming laptop is “how hot does it get?”
What’s the use of buying a powerful gaming laptop if it literally burns your hands while you game?
Take a look at the surface temperatures of the Dell G5 15 5500, with an ambient temperature of 29.8°C.
As you can see, the G5 15 5500 can get pretty toasty, with the temperature of the keyboard reaching a peak of just under 52°C.
On the underside, it peached a peak of 54.3°C in the middle. It is definitely not advisable to game with it on your lap!
We highly recommend you pair the Dell G5 15 5500 with a good laptop cooler, or play in an air-conditioned room. That will greatly reduce its contact temperature, and allow for hours of comfortable gaming.
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This is high-powered 45 watt processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, and a 2.6 GHz clock speed that ramps up to 5 GHz during intensive tasks.
The processor has Intel UHD Graphics built-in, but switches to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory) for gaming and more strenuous graphics work.
Our review sample came with 16 GB of DDR4-2933 memory, and a 512 GB SK hynix PCIe SSD. Keeping all that powered is a large 68 Whr lithium-ion battery.
That means it will not only easily handle games at the display’s native 1080p resolution, it can deliver higher frame rates to take advantage of the higher Hz refresh rates it supports.
Gaming Performance : 3DMark Time Spy Extreme
We also ran a Time Spy Extreme test for those who are thinking of hooking up this laptop to an external display.
Performing between the desktop Radeon RX 5500 XT, and the desktop GeForce RTX 2060, it can handle 1440p gaming, but at roughly half the frame rate.
Gaming Performance : Strange Brigade @ 1080p
Strange Brigade is a third-person shooter game released in August 2018. We tested it at 1080p using the Vulkan API at Ultra High settings.
As you can see, the Dell G5 15 5500 has no problem exceeding 144 fps at times, with an average frame rate of 101 fps.
Gaming Performance : The Division 2 @ 1080p
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is a newer third-person shooter game released in March 2019, with much higher graphics requirements.
Even at the Extreme graphics settings, Dell G5 15 5500 was able to deliver an average frame rate of 59 fps.
We locked the display’s brightness at 50%, and ran PCMark 10’s Modern Office and Gaming tests until it powered off.
The Dell G5 15 5500 lasted about 5.5 hours running Modern Office applications, but only about 77 minutes while gaming.
You can only game on-the-go for a short time. Realistically, it should be plugged in when you game.
Battery : Recharging Speed
Dell quotes a 4 hour recharging time using the massive 240 watt charger, when the laptop is completely powered off.
We are glad to report that its real-world recharging speed is much, MUCH faster. To test it in a real world setting, we started charging at 10% with the display brightness set to 50% :
25% : 21.5 minutes
33% : 26.5 minutes
40% : 35 minutes
50% : 46 minutes
60% : 57.5 minutes
75% : 75 minutes
90% : 91.5 minutes
100% : 148 minutes
It charges really fast to about 90%, taking only just over 1.5 hours. However, the last 10% took much longer – an addition 56.5 minutes!
This gives it a battery life : recharging time ratio of 2.3:1 for office work. As a rule of thumb, you will need to recharge its battery about 26.5 minutes for every hour of battery life.
Dell G5 15 5500 : Verdict + Award
The Dell G5 15 5500 does a good job of focusing on what’s important for gamers, wasting little on pointless aesthetic bling.
Its powerful 45-watt Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics will have no problem driving its Full HD display beyond 60 Hz, no matter what game you play.
It also comes with fast networking capabilities – Killer E2500 offering Gigabit LAN, and Killer AX1650i offering Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
And we love its large number of ports – three USB Type A ports, one USB Type C port, as well as an SD card reader and both HDMI and miniDP ports.
Powering all that is a large 68 Wh battery, but here’s a reality check – you can’t really game on-the-go for more than an hour or so. All that performance comes at a price – battery life.
Realistically, the Dell G5 15 5500 should be plugged into a wall socket whenever you game.
It is also a chunky and heavy laptop, no thanks to its large battery and the much higher cooling requirements for its powerful components.
But if all you want is an affordable gaming laptop that offers powerful gaming performance and a 144 Hz display, it’s hard to beat what Dell G5 15 5500 offers.
And here is what Dell offers over other gaming laptop brands – 2 years of premium on-site service!
Whatever happens to your G5 15 5500, just call Dell Support and they will either remotely solve the problem or send a technician to wherever you are to fix it.
That’s why we have no qualms awarding it our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Dell G5 15 5500 : Where To Buy?
The Dell G5 15 5500 is available in the Interstellar Dark Cover colour, with a starting price of RM 4,499 (about US$1,083 / £847 / A$1,486 / S$1,482).
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Exclusive on Tech ARP – the first look at the 2021 MacBook Pro ports, including a brand new MagSafe 3 port and an SD card slot!
Here is the first ever look at the MagSafe 3 connector, the SD card slot, and other ports that will ship with the 2021 MacBook Pro!
First Look : 2021 MacBook Pro MagSafe 3 + SD Card Slot!
Apple fans who miss the MagSafe port and the SD card reader in their MacBook laptops will have something to cheer for this year!
Apple will not only introduce a new MagSafe 3 connector in the upcoming 2021 MacBook Pro, they will also bring back the SD card slot!
New Apple MagSafe 3 Connector!
The new MagSafe 3 connector is bidirectional and has 5 pins, and will lock and detach magnetically like the previous two generations.
The MagSafe 3 connector is not compatible with older MacBook computers, and has a pill-shaped design with a thinner profile.
The MagSafe 3 port is located on the left side of the 2021 MBP, next to two Thunderbolt 3 (USB4) ports, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Ports on the left side of the 2021 Apple MBP | Copyright : Tech ARP (www.techarp.com)
Return Of The SD Card Reader!
We are also glad to report that Apple will (finally) bring back the SD card reader that many photographers LOVED, and bemoaned when Phil Schiller killed it in 2016.
Now that Schiller is out of Apple, it looks like it’s been resurrected for the 2021 MacBook Pro. Utility finally trumped cumbersome!
The SD card reader is located on the right side, together with a third Thunderbolt 3 (USB4) port and a HDMI 2.0 port.
Ports on the right side of the 2021 Apple MBP | Copyright : Tech ARP (www.techarp.com)
2021 Apple MacBook Pro : What Else Is New?
So what else is new in the 2021 MacBook Pro, other than MagSafe 3 and the resurrected SD card reader?
14-inch + 16-inch Models
There will be two 2021 MacBook Pro models – with 14-inch and 16-inch displays.
Apple M1X SoC
There will no longer be Intel CPU options, only the Apple M1X SoC.
Nothing much is known about the Apple M1X, other than it is a more powerful version of the M1 that has stunned many with its performance.
But rumours have it that it will have 12 processor cores, split into two performance clusters :
P Cluster (Performance) : 8 x Firestorm (?) cores
E Cluster (Efficient) : 4 x Icestorm (?) cores
It will have a more powerful GPU than Apple M1‘s 8-core GPU.
Memory
The Apple M1X will use the same unified memory design as the M1, built directly onto the package for near-instantaneous access.
However, it will offer larger memory options – 24 GB and 32 GB are possible – in addition to 16 GB currently available with the M1.
External Display Support
A big limitation of the Apple M1 is its support for just one external display of up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz.
The 2021 MacBook Pro will support at least two external displays, if not more, via its Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI ports.
OLED Touch Bar Gone!
Good riddance to the pointless OLED Touch Bar. That’s gone for the 2021 MacBook Pro models.
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The Dell XPS 13 (9300) features their first-ever InfinityEdge display, with Gorilla Glass 6 protection!
Here is our hands-on preview of this magnificent ultra-light XPS 13 laptop!
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Featuring The InfinityEdge Display
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) continues the evolution of the XPS 13 line, with an ultra-light chassis built from machined aluminium and woven glass fibre, with Gorilla Glass 6 protection.
With the first-ever InfinityEdge display, the XPS 13 (9300) offers a 13.4-inch display in an 11-inch form factor, that fits neatly on an airplane’s seat tray.
Unboxing The Dell XPS 13 (9300) Laptop
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) comes in a premium white cardboard box. Once you fully unbox it, you will find these items :
Dell XPS 13 (9300) laptop
Dell USB Type C to USB Type A dongle
45 watt charger with integrated USB Type C cable
Power cord with localised plug
XPS 13 9300 Quick Start Guide + Safety and Regulatory Information
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Hands-On Preview
This Dell XPS 13 (9300) is an eminently thin and light laptop. It offers a 13.4-inch display in an 11-inch form factor that weighs only 1.27 kg, and is less than 15 mm thick.
It easily fits into the smallest laptop bag, and even a large handbag. And when you can fly again, you will love how it fits onto the airplane’s seat tray!
13.4-inch Display In 11-Inch Form Factor
This Dell XPS 13 (9300) model comes with a 4K UHD+ touch display, with a resolution 3840 x 2400 pixels, colour gamut of 90% DCI-P3 and DisplayHDR 400 certification.
Dell also offers a Full HD+ display, with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 100% sRGB colour gamut; in both touch and non-touch options.
All three display options are 25% brighter at 500 nits, and are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 against scratches and impact.
Cameras + Security
The thin bezel at the top conceals two cameras – a regular 720p webcam, and an infra-red camera for facial recognition.
So you can either unlock the XPS 13 using the IR camera and Windows Hello, or the fingerprint sensor, which integrated into the power button.
While its 720p webcam may be rather low in resolution, it uses a new 4-element lens for sharper image quality. It also supports temporal noise reduction to improve video quality in low-light conditions.
Performance
Our Dell XPS 13 (9300) is powered by the Intel Core i7-1065G7 – a 4-core, 8-thread processor with 8 MB of cache and built-in Iris Plus Graphics.
You can opt for a Core i5-1035G1 or the Core i3-1005G1, both of which come with integrated UHD Graphics.
A redesigned cooler keeps things cool, using a single heat pipe and evaporator design with dual condensers and GORE thermal insulation. The hot air is exhausted through the hinge at the back.
It also comes with 16 GB of dual-channel LPDDR4X memory running at 3733 MHz. The memory is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded.
Our unit came with a 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD, but you can opt for a smaller 512 GB SSD, or a larger 2 TB SSD.
Ports
Due to its ultra-slim profile – 14.8 mm at its thickest point, the XPS 13 has very limited ports.
On the left side, you will find a microSD card reader; as well as a single Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) port, which supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort output
On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm microphone and headphone combo port, with a second Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) port, which also supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort output.
You can plug the USB Type C charging cable into either Thunderbolt 3 port. But unless you are using it on-the-go, you really only have one free port to use.
The good news is Dell actually bundles the XPS 13 (9300) with a free USB Type C to USB Type A dongle, so you can use your USB Type A drives and devices (including cables) with it.
Keyboard + Touchpad
The Dell XPS (9300) comes an edge-to-edge keyboard, and a 17% larger touchpad for maximum working comfort. The keyboard is backlit, and comes with larger key caps!
Connectivity
Our XPS 13 (9300) comes with the Killer AX1650 module, which offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with 2×2 antennas, and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
It is much too thin to support a LAN port, but you can add LAN connectivity using a USB-C dongle.
Audio
The two long stripes on both sides of the XPS 13 are not cooling vents, but ports for its 2.5 watt stereo speakers, which are tuned with Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
Its 3.5 mm microphone / headphone combo jack is also optimised with the 360-degree Waves NX 3D virtual surround sound with head tracking.
Finally, its dual microphone array is powered by Waves MaxxVoice Pro, which supports VOIP and is Cortana Farfield-capable.
Battery + Charging
The Dell XPS 13 (9300) comes with a 4-cell smart lithium-ion battery that is rated for 52 Whr.
Dell claims a battery life of up to 18 hours and 49 minutes with the Full HD+ display, and up to 12 hours and 13 minutes with the 4K UHD+ display.
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Colour Options
Our unit comes in the Frost White colour with an Arctic White woven glass fibre palm rest.
Dell also offers the Platinum Silver colour option, with a Black carbon fiber palm rest.
Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Specifications + Options
Specifications
XPS 13 9300
Display Size
13.4-inch
Display Options
4K touch screen (3840 x 2400)
Full HD touch screen (1920 x 1200)
Full HD non-touch (1920 x 1200)
Display Features
WLED backlight
60 Hz refresh rate
500 nits max. brightness
35 ms response time
1200:1 contrast ratio
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a 10 MP telephoto camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, and 3X optical zoom, and
a 10 MP periscope telephoto camera, with an f/4.9 aperture, and 10X optical zoom
For the first time, it has two 10 MP telephoto cameras – one with 3X optical zoom, and a periscope camera with 10X optical zoom.
The Dual Zoom capability refers to the ability to smoothly switch from the 3X telephoto camera, to the 10X periscope camera, with AI-enhanced Super Resolution to deliver sharper, stabilised video.
Its Audio Zoom capability isn’t new, having been first introduced in the Galaxy S10 series. It uses the triple microphones to change the range of sound captured as you “zoom” into the action. This lets you “focus” on the subject that you are recording, and reducing ambient noise.
Improved 8K Snap, that lets you capture clear images from your 8K video footage
Super Steady video now supports 60 fps video recording
Single Take lets you capture a variety of still and video formats with a single tap.
It is now enhanced with new pro-style settings like Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo
New Director’s View that lets you see, switch and select the best shot… LIVE!
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is also the first Samsung smartphone to allow you to shoot in 4K at 60 fps on all front and rear cameras!
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can zoom at up to 20X while recording 1080p video at up to 60 fps, and 4K video at up to 30 fps.
So we recorded a series of handheld video clips in both 1080p at 60 fps, and 4K at 30 fps, to test its Dual Zoom and Audio Zoom capabilities.
By default, the Samsung Camera app offers zoom presets of 0.6X, 1.0X, 3.0X and 10X.
You can use pinch-to-zoom further, or you can do a long press on any of the presets to get access to a wider range of zoom presets – 0.6X, 1.0X, 2.0X, 4.0X, 10X and 20X.
Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom @ 1080p (60 fps)
At 1080p, handheld image stabilisation was very good, except at 20X zoom where you can see some visible handshake.
That said, the handshake at 20X is really quite minimal, compared to older stabilised cameras and even worse, unstabilised cameras!
The best test of Audio Zoom can be heard in the Chinese New Year concourse clip. Notice how the music from the concourse gets louder as we zoom in, and fade out as we zoom out.
Dual Zoom + Audio Zoom @ 4K (30 fps)
At 4K, handheld image stabilisation was very good at up to 4X, and pretty good at 10X. At 20X zoom, there was visible handshake, but it was really quite acceptable.
Of course, for best image quality, you should stick to 10X zoom. 20X at 4K looks a little blur, so the extra resolution at 4K doesn’t help at all.
Another good example of Audio Zoom is at the playground. Even though it’s empty, the bird chirps get louder as we zoom in, and fade out as we zoom out.
Dual Zoom is just a fancy name for the ability to switch between the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s two telephoto lenses.
Naturally, you want to use the 3X telephoto camera with its much wider aperture, and only switch to the 10X periscope lens with its narrower aperture when you need the extra reach.
Its AI-enhanced Super Resolution feature enhances image quality in the zoom gap between 3X optical zoom and 10X optical zoom.
While most people are not aware of Audio Zoom, it can greatly enhance the overall audio quality of the video, by focusing on subject in focus.
Thanks to these two features, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra arguably delivers the best video recording capabilities for a smartphone today.
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Together with the Galaxy S21 smartphones, Samsung also introduced their Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth tracker!
Take a look at the new Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, and find out what exactly it does!
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag : Hands-On Preview!
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is a Bluetooth tracker, which you can attach to keys, bags, or anything important you want to keep track of.
It emits a Bluetooth Low Energy signal, which lets your Galaxy devices locate the tracker, and thus the attached item.
Just tap the Ring button in the Samsung SmartThings app, and the SmartTag will emit a piercing tone, at up to 89 dB.
You can also find your Samsung Galaxy smartphone using the SmartTag. Press its button twice, and your smartphone will ring!
In case its tone is too soft or muffled, the SmartThings app will give you its signal strength, letting you pretend that you are tracking Aliens, albeit without direction.
And even if it’s out of range, nearby Galaxy devices will pick up its signal and transmit it to you through the Galaxy Find Network.
It can also act as a remote control for IoT routines. You can program its button to trigger different IoT devices like turning on the smart lights and the thermostat in your home.
However, the Galaxy SmartTag only works with Samsung Galaxy devices. So you can forget about using it with non-Samsung devices, or an iPhone.
The SmartTag is powered by a single CR2032 battery, and is IP53-rated, which means it is not waterproof but can withstand water splashes (like raindrops).
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ : UWB Coming Soon!
While there were rumours that it would support UWB (Ultra Wideband), that capability will only be introduced in a future Galaxy SmartTag+ tracker.
The UWB capability of SmartTag+ will allow you to see on a map the direction of the tracker, making it easier to locate than the Bluetooth version.
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Samsung just introduced the Galaxy S21 Plus, a new flagship smartphone with an iconic new design!
Find out if the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is the smartphone you have been waiting for!
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus : Our Hands-On Preview!
With a 6.7-inch display and a large battery, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is designed for marathon gamers and binge-watchers.
Its edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X display has a Full HD+ resolution, with an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate.
New Flagship Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the US, South Korea and China, and the new Samsung Exynos 2100 in other countries.
They are both flagship mobile SoCs, and here is a quick comparison of their key specifications :
Specifications
Samsung
Exynos 2100
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 888
Fab Process
5 nm EUV
Processor
1 x Cortex-X1 (2.9 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A78 (2.8 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (2.2 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A78 (2.4 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.8 GHz)
The Galaxy S21 Plus comes with a 10 MP Dual Pixel front camera, with an f/2.2 aperture. The Dual Pixel capability allows for faster auto-focus.
In the back, it has a triple camera system, that consists of :
a 12 MP Dual Pixel main camera, with an f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with an f/2.2 aperture
a 64 MP telephoto camera, with an f/2.0 aperture, 1.1X optical zoom and 3X hybrid optic zoom.
This is basically the the same camera setup as the Galaxy S20, without the DepthVision camera.
Most of the improvements are in its camera software :
Improved 8K Snap, that lets you capture clear images from your 8K video footage
Super Steady video now supports 60 fps video recording
Single Take lets you capture a variety of still and video formats with a single tap.
It is now enhanced with new pro-style settings like Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo
New Director’s View that lets you see, switch and select the best shot… LIVE!
Improved Space Zoom with new Zoom Lock capability
Samsung SmartThings Find
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus supports the new SmartThings Find capability, which lets you quickly and easily locate compatible Galaxy devices, even when they are offline.
You can also locate non-connected devices using Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth locater. Simply attach it to your keys, bag or pet, and use SmartThings Find to locate them!
Protection
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is IP68-rated against dust and water, allowing you to immerse it in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
Its display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus against scratches in the front.
