Tag Archives: 5G

You Must Quit Maxis To Get Better Deals!

How To Get Special Deals On Maxis Mobile + Broadband!

If you want the very best mobile + broadband deals from Maxis, there is only one way – you must first quit Maxis! Here is how it worked for me…

 

Don’t Bother Asking For Special Deals On Maxis Mobile / Broadband!

I have been a loyal Maxis customer for many years, and every time my contract comes up for renewal, I will ask for special deals to stay on. The most I will get is a free smartphone to renew my contract for another 2 years.

But finally, I had enough. I was stuck with 0-1 bar of mobile connectivity from March until September 2023, and Maxis wouldn’t even compensate me for the poor reception. So I gritted my teeth and waited out my contract.

Once my contract expired, I quickly decided that I would save over RM1,900 per year migrating to Digi. But out of (misplaced?) loyalty to Maxis, I called their customer care hotline, and even went to a Maxis Center to check if there are any deals for me to stay on.

As usual, Maxis had nothing to offer me as a loyal customer. But there was a surprise for me this year – I will not be receiving a free smartphone to continue my contract, unless I choose to upgrade to the new Maxis 5G plans… with an increase, of course!

So learn from my experience – don’t bother asking Maxis for any special deals to stay on as a loyal customer. To be fair, other telcos likely don’t offer deals to loyal customers to stay on as well. But I have only been a Maxis customer, and can only speak from my own experience.

Read more : Switching From Maxis To Digi Saves Me RM1.9K / Year!

 

How To Get Special Deals On Maxis Mobile + Broadband!

I discovered that the only way that Maxis will ever offer me any special deals to stay on, is if I actually quit their service. And even then, Maxis only did it at the very cusp of my migration process.

When Maxis was ready to hand over my five mobile numbers to Digi, a member of their retention department called me and offered these great deals to stay on.

Existing Maxis 4G Package : RM423 Per Month

First, I should point out that my existing Maxis package bundled a RM98 principal line with four supplementary lines, and 100 Mbps fibre broadband. By bundling with broadband, my principal line has unlimited data, albeit only on the 4G network. There is no 5G connectivity.

However, Maxis only allows a single Share 48 supplementary line with 30 GB of data for the RM98 principal line. So I have to pay a ridiculous RM38 for the remaining three supplementary lines, with just 1 GB of data.

The total pre-tax cost was RM399 per month, or RM4,788 per year.

Maxis 4G Plans 4G Data Cost
Postpaid 98 Unlimited RM 98
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
100 Mbps Fibre Unlimited RM 139
Total Before Tax RM 399

300 Mbps Broadband Offer : RM100 Per Month

First, Maxis agreed to match Digi’s offer of just RM100 per month for 300 Mbps. That’s RM39 (28%) cheaper than my current 100 Mbps plan, and RM49 (33%) off their current 300 Mbps plan.

Over two years, I will save RM1,176! But I was only getting this special offer because I was really quitting Maxis.

Bundled
Broadband
Maxis
Normal
Maxis
Special
Digi
100 Mbps RM 129 RM 90 RM 90
300 Mbps RM 149 RM 100 RM 100

Special Maxis 5G Offer #1 : RM245 Per Month

For the five mobile lines, Maxis offered me a RM245 plan, which would give every user 120 GB of 5G data per month.

There is a 2-year contract, but Maxis will throw in five free smartphones – a Vivo Y36 (8 GB + 256 GB) or equivalent per account.

Not only does that give all of us a heck of a lot of mobile data, and a new smartphone per person, it is also RM15 cheaper than my current package!

Maxis 5G Plans 5G Data Cost
Special Postpaid 49 120 GB RM 49
Special Postpaid 49 120 GB RM 49
Special Postpaid 49 120 GB RM 49
Special Postpaid 49 120 GB RM 49
Special Postpaid 49 120 GB RM 49
Total Before Tax RM 245

Special Maxis 5G Offer #2 : RM281 Per Month

Maxis also offered me a more expensive RM281 monthly plan, consisting of a principal line with 300 GB of data, and four supplementary lines with 50 GB of data.

It would come with a more expensive HONOR 90 smartphone with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, with a 2-year contract.

I should point out that the supplementary lines are not only RM10 cheaper, they come with 50X more data, and 5G connectivity!!! Makes you want to tear your hair out, doesn’t it?

Maxis 5G Plans 5G Data Cost
Special Postpaid 169 300 GB RM 169
Special Postpaid 28 50 GB RM 28
Special Postpaid 28 50 GB RM 28
Special Postpaid 28 50 GB RM 28
Special Postpaid 28 50 GB RM 28
Total Before Tax RM 281

Special Maxis 4G Offer : Only RM200 Per Month!

If I prefer to stick with 4G connectivity only, Maxis offered me a 4G-only plan for just RM200 a month, without contract or free smartphone.

Basically, my supplementary lines would now get a ton of data, and I would save RM60 per month on my existing Maxis package!

Maxis 4G Plans 4G Data Cost
Special Postpaid 48 70 GB RM 48
Special Postpaid 48 70 GB RM 48
Special Postpaid 48 70 GB RM 48
Special Postpaid 28 50 GB RM 28
Special Postpaid 28 50 GB RM 28
Total Before Tax RM 200

 

Why I Declined The Special Deals On Maxis Mobile + Broadband!

While the special deals offered by the Maxis retention department were enticing – free phones! more data! more speed! – Digi still offered a substantially better deal.

My parents, for example, do not need 50 GB of data. They just needed something more reasonable than 1 GB, and I wanted to pay a more reasonable price for their lines.

On top of that, staying with Maxis would not solve my biggest problem – poor connectivity. I have been suffering from poor reception for six months (and counting), and sticking with Maxis for another 2 years was unthinkable.

Maxis may have once been known for having “better coverage” than other telcos. But if they cannot restore proper connectivity after 6 months (and counting), it’s time to move on. I also did not like the fact that they refused to compensate me for the poor connectivity all those months.

But this article is not about dissing Maxis. I wrote this article to share with you the best way to get such special deals from Maxis.

I called them, I even spent time at the Maxis Centre to talk to the staff. There was simply NO special deal or offer for an existing customer. You must literally quit Maxis – sign an agreement to port out to another telco, and be on the verge of switching, before Maxis will ever offer you these special deals.

Even if you want to stick with Maxis, you should still quit and port out to another telco at the end of your contract. This way, you will get access to these special deals. You will only lose out if you stay loyal.

As for me, I bid adieu to Maxis, and started my journey with Digi hours later. It was easy. You should give it a try!

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Switching From Maxis To Digi Saves Me RM1.9K / Year!

I just saved over RM1,900 per year by simply switching from Maxis to Digi! Here is what happened!

 

Switching From Maxis To Digi Saved Me RM1.9K / Year!

My contract with Maxis just expired, and I decided to see if it was worth renewing with them, or switching to Digi. I had earlier asked my neighbours using Digi, and most of them seemed happy with their service.

So I compared the latest mobile and broadband packages from both Maxis and Digi, and I was shocked by how much cheaper Digi was, compared to Maxis. Take a look at what I found!

Existing Maxis 4G Package : RM423 Per Month

My existing Maxis package bundled a RM98 principal line with four supplementary lines, and 100 Mbps fibre broadband. By bundling with broadband, my principal line has unlimited data, albeit only on the 4G network. There is no 5G connectivity.

However, Maxis only allows a single Share 48 supplementary line with 30 GB of data for the RM98 principal line. So I have to pay a ridiculous RM38 for the remaining three supplementary lines, with just 1 GB of data.

The total cost was RM423 per month, or RM5,075.28 per year. Maxis offered to let me continue with this 4G-only package, but I would no longer get any free smartphone for a 2 year contract.

Maxis 4G Plans 4G Data Cost
Postpaid 98 Unlimited RM 98
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
4G Backup Unlimited RM 0
100 Mbps Fibre Unlimited RM 139
Total Before Tax RM 399
6% Service Tax RM 23.94
TOTAL PAYABLE RM 422.94

New Maxis 5G Package : RM445 Per Month

If I wanted a free smartphone with a 2 year contract, I would need to upgrade to the new Maxis 5G plans. The existing RM98 4G plan has been replaced by a new RM109 5G plan – a RM 11 per month premium for 5G connectivity.

From what I understand, tying it with Maxis fibre broadband would still get me unlimited mobile data, but only on 4G. The 5G data is limited to 150 GB, which is more than plenty especially since 5G connectivity is limited.

What I cannot understand is why Maxis continues to limit this RM109 principal line to just one RM48 Share line. If I want all four supplementary lines to have more than 1 GB of data, I would need to upgrade my principal line to their RM199 plan! Ridiculous!

The only good news is they dropped the price of their 100 Mbps broadband from RM139 to RM129. But it makes more sense to upgrade to 300 Mbps for just RM149 per month. Even so, the new Maxis package works out to an unpalatable RM572.40 per month, or RM6,868.80 per year!

Maxis 5G Plans 5G Data Cost
Postpaid 199 4G : Unlimited
5G : 300 GB
RM 199
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
4G Backup Unlimited RM 0
300 Mbps Fibre Unlimited RM 149
Total Before Tax RM 540
6% Service Tax RM 32.40
TOTAL PAYABLE RM 572.40

Sorry, mum and dad, you guys are just going to have to put up with just 1 GB of data if we stick with Maxis.

With their sacrifice, I can get by with just paying Maxis RM445.20 per month, or RM5,342.40 per year. That’s a small 5% increase of RM267.12 per year.

This new package would also get me one of these smartphones with a 24-month contract:

  • Samsung A14
  • vivo A78
  • HONOR 90 Lite
Maxis 5G Plans 5G Data Cost
Postpaid 109 4G : Unlimited
5G : 150 GB
RM 109
Postpaid Share 48 30 GB RM 48
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
Talk and Surf 1 1 GB RM 38
4G Backup Unlimited RM 0
300 Mbps Fibre Unlimited RM 149
Total Before Tax RM 420
6% Service Tax RM 25.20
TOTAL PAYABLE RM 445.20

Digi 5G + 4G Package : Only RM286 Per Month!

But when I checked out the Digi plans, they completely wipe out Maxis.

The Digi RM90 principal line offers free 5G connectivity, with 60 GB of data per month. Unlike Maxis, tying up with Digi Fibre Broadband does not give me unlimited mobile data, but that’s okay – 60 GB is plenty.

More importantly, Digi lets me add up to six supplementary family lines, and their cheapest RM20 family line comes with 10 GB of data per month! That goes up to 15 GB with a 1-year contract, and 25 GB with a 2-year contract!

On top of that – Digi offers 300 Mbps fibre broadband for only RM 100 per month! Granted – there is no 4G backup, but that’s RM49 cheaper than Maxis! Would you pay RM49 per month for “4G backup”? Heck, no!

The Digi package is a mix of 4G and 5G, but that’s okay, because my parents no longer have to worry about how much data they have left.

Digi Plans Data Cost
Postpaid 90 5G : 60 GB RM 90
Postpaid Family 20 4G : 25 GB RM 20
Postpaid Family 20 4G : 25 GB RM 20
Postpaid Family 20 4G : 25 GB RM 20
Postpaid Family 20 4G : 25 GB RM 20
4G Backup NA NA
300 Mbps Fibre Unlimited RM 100
Total Before Tax RM 270
6% Service Tax RM 16.20
TOTAL PAYABLE RM 286.20

And here is the cherry on the top – for a 24-month contract, Digi gives you one of these two bonuses:

  • a free smartphone worth up to RM1,099 (HONOR 9o Lite / Samsung A14), or
  • extra 60 GB of mobile data, or
  • unlimited social media data, or
  • 5 GB of international roaming data in 70 countries

Needless to say, this Digi package is a much better deal, as it only costs RM286 per month, or RM3,434.40 per year!

 

How Much I Save Over 2 Years Switching From Maxis To Digi

In the end, I switched to the Digi Postpaid 90 principal line, and gave all of my supplementary lines a decent 25 GB of mobile data.

Over a standard two-year contract, I will end up saving RM 3,281.76, and get a free smartphone worth RM 1,099. That’s a total saving of RM 4,380.76! Just think of what you can do with all that money!

If I renewed with Maxis, I would have upgraded to their new 5G plan to get that free smartphone and unlimited data. However, my parents would have to continue suffering with 1 GB of data, and I would have to pay an additional RM 3,816 over 2 years compared to Digi!

If I wanted my parents to have a decent amount of mobile data, I would have to really pay Maxis through my nose, and fork out an extra RM 6,868.80 – exactly twice of what the Digi package costs. It just doesn’t make sense to do that.

No matter how I calculate, it just doesn’t make sense (sen?) to stick with Maxis. I will save anywhere from RM1,900 to RM3,400 per year switching to Digi. It really pays to shop around!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 Review : Tech ARP Editor’s Choice!

Read our comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone, and find out why it won our Editor’s Choice Award!

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Colour Options

The new Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone is available in three main colours with a glossy finish :

  • Awesome Graphite
  • Awesome Violet
  • Awesome Lime

Samsung also offers an Awesome White colour option in certain countries.

In the following video, I will show you the three main colour options, and give you a closer look at the Galaxy A54 in the Awesome Graphite, Awesome Violet and Awesome Lime colours. Do let us know which you prefer!

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, with the option to add a microSD card in the hybrid SIM tray. It is covered by a 2-year warranty, with the following launch prices:

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM1,899 / US$449.99 / £499 / A$697 / S$648

Here are online purchase options (we may get commission from your purchase) :

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Key Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone:

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A54
Display 6.4-inch Super AMOLED
– 1080 x 2340 pixels (390 ppi)
– 60 Hz / 120 Hz refresh rate
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (front + back)
Water Resistance IP67
OS One UI 5.1 (Android 13)
Platform Samsung Exynos 1380
CPU 4 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G68 MP5
Memory 8 GB GB
Storage Options 256 GB
External Storage Hybrid microSD slot (up to 1 TB)
Front Camera 32 MP camera, f/2.2, 80˚ FOV
Main Cameras 50 MP wide angle camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Up to 5G Sub6 FDD/TDD
Dual SIM (hybrid) capability
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 6 (dual-band)
Bluetooth : BT 5.3SB : USB 2.0 Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,  Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
Dimensions 76.7 mm wide
158.2 mm tall
8.2 mm thick
Weight 202 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : What’s Inside The Box?

The Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone comes in a thin white cardboard box. Once you remove everything, you should find these items inside the box:

  • Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone
  • One set of documents : Quick Start Guide, warranty card, Samsung Pay leaflet, Regional Lock Guide
  • Type C to Type C USB cable
  • SIM tray pin

That’s it! The package is pretty sparse. There is no USB charger, and no, it doesn’t come with a basic TPU bumper case either.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Key Features

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Key Features

Now, let us go through its key features, and show you why the Samsung Galaxy A54 is worthy of our Editor’s Choice Award!

Samsung Exynos 1380 5G Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is built around the Samsung Exynos 1380 mobile SoC, which is fabricated with Samsung’s own 5 nm EUV process technology.

It comes with an Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU, and an NPU, as well as eight CPU cores arranged in two performance clusters:

  • 4 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
  • 4 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)

The Samsung Exynos 1380 has an integrated 5G modem that supports Sub-6GHz and mmWave standards, as well as LTE Cat.18 uploads and downloads for current 4G networks.

It also supports Wi-Fi 802.11ax (2×2 MIMO) with triple-band capability, as well as Bluetooth 5.3. It supports the four main GPS networks – GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galile.

6.4-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

This display defaults to a 60 Hz refresh rate, but supports a 120 Hz refresh rate that offers smoother graphics at the expense of higher power consumption.

Unlike higher-end smartphones like the new Galaxy S23 Ultra, the display does not dynamically changes its refresh rate. It either runs at 60 Hz or 120 Hz.

32 MP Front Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a high-resolution 32 MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture. Instead of hiding it in a discreet punch hole, it has a stainless steel ring.

This camera defaults to 8 MP by default, combining four pixels into one much larger pixel for better image quality and low-light performance.

This 32 MP camera is capable of recording 1080p video at 30 fps or 60 fps, as well as 4K video at 30 fps.

50 MP Main Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a triple camera system at the back that consists of:

  • a 50 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture, and
  • a 5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture

The 50 MP camera is a “downgrade” in megapixels from the Galaxy A53’s 64 MP camera, but its image quality is better because it is built around the Sony IMX766 image sensor used in phones like the realme 9 Pro+ and Xiaomi 12.

The Sony IMX766 is a larger 1/1.56″ sensor, which offers a 25% larger pixel size of 1.0 µm (compared to 0.8 µm). The larger pixel size is important as it means each pixel can receive 25% more light, delivering better images, especially in low-light conditions.

In fact, that is why the Galaxy A54 defaults to the 12.5 MP resolution, combining four pixels into a much larger 2 µm “bucket” to collect more light. The 64 MP camera in last year’s Galaxy A53 also does the same thing, combining four pixels in one to deliver 16 MP photos.

This 50 MP camera supports PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), and its lens has a wide f/1.8 aperture for better light intake. If you like to record videos, you will be glad to know that it features VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation) and improved OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) offering a wider OIS angle.

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is protected in the front and in the back by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. While this was introduced back in July 2016, it still offers considerable protection.

In lab tests, it can survive drops on hard, rough surface from a height of up to 1.2 metres. It also offers 2X better scratch protection compared to its competitors.

IP67 Dust + Water Resistance

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is IP67 rated against the ingress of dust and water. This means it can withstand being immersed in up to 1 metre of water for at least 30 minutes.

Hybrid SIM + micro SD Tray

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a hybrid tray that supports up to two physical SIM cards, or a physical SIM card as well as a single micro SD card of up to 1 TB in capacity

Read more : EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

USB Type C Port

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with the bidirectional Type C port, which is now the EU standard.

5,000 mAh Fast-Charging Battery

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 25 watt fast wired charging. It does not support wireless charging, or reverse charging.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Battery + Charging

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, which is the same size as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S22 Ultra.

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 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates :

Not bad at all! The Samsung Galaxy A54 has a battery life of 12.5 hours with Adaptive refresh rate enabled, and almost 14 hours with the Standard refresh rate. That’s equal to the Galaxy S22 Ultra at the Standard refresh rate, and 16.7% better at the Adaptive refresh rate.

But let’s also compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the S23 Ultra, S22 Ultra and Z Flip 3 smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy A54 lasted almost 14 hours with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz. But it isn’t quite as efficient as the new S23 Ultra, or even last year’s  S22 Ultra.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra
(60 Hz)
S22 Ultra
(60 Hz)
Galaxy A54
(60 Hz)
Z Flip 3
(60 Hz)
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,300 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 13 hrs 57 mins 8 hrs 11 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.78 mAh 5.38 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

Will you look at that! The Samsung Galaxy A54 was about 13.6% more efficient than the S22 Ultra with the Adaptive refresh rate enabled, coming within 8% of the power efficiency of the S23 Ultra.

Based on what we see here, I definitely recommend turning on the Adaptive Refresh Rate on the Galaxy A54, unless you absolutely need the extra 1.5 hours of battery life.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Galaxy A54
(120 Hz)
S22 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Z Flip 3
(120 Hz)
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,300 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs
0 mins
12 hrs 25 mins 10 hrs
38 mins
6 hrs
44 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh 5.52 mAh 6.27 mAh 6.53 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy A54 supports up to 25 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we relied on the standard 15 watt Samsung fast charger than shipped with their previous smartphones – something we believe most users will end up doing.

Work 3.0 S22 Ultra S23 Ultra Galaxy A54 Z Flip 3
Battery Capacity 3,300 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,300 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 64.5 minutes 88.8 minutes 120.7 minutes 88.5 minutes
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 45.0 mAh 33.1 mAh 29.8 mAh

The Samsung Galaxy A54 fully recharges from 20% to 100% in just over 2 hours with the standard 15 watt Samsung charger. Oddly enough, this is significantly (36%) slower than the S23 Ultra.

I have no idea whether this was an intentional design decision to reduce the Galaxy A54’s thermal output while charging, or to further differentiate it from the much pricier Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In any case, the Galaxy A54 has a good battery life : recharging ratio of 7:1. As a rule of thumb, for every hour of battery life, you only need to recharge it for 8.5 minutes.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Performance Summary

Built around the Samsung Exynos 1380, the Galaxy A54 smartphone has a very fast CPU, but a relatively weak GPU.

What that means is that it offers snappy performance for most part – web browsing, work applications, casual gaming, etc.

It only has trouble delivering high frame rates for graphics-intensive 3D games, and AI or 3D apps may take longer to process in comparison to flagship devices.

But that’s what you need to keep in mind – the Exynos 1380 is a mid-range mobile platform, not a flagship-class. And it is a fast one.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy A54 Ultra using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23
Ultra
Galaxy
A54
S22
Ultra
S21
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
1380
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2100
SD
750G
Performance Score 16408 13523 12860 12535 7874
Web Browsing 15680 10659 10442 10185 7021
Video Editing 7879 7363 7444 6336 5693
Writing 22257 17485 15471 15247 7454
Photo Editing 35533 28805 30177 37847 15812
Data Manipulation 12171 11443 9691 8310 6424

Will you look at that?! The Samsung Exynos 1380 that powers the Galaxy A54 actually beat Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which powered the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

It was also just 17.5% slower than the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC that powers the new Galaxy S23 Ultra flagship smartphone!

Very impressive for a mid-range mobile SoC, especially handily beating the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy S21 Ultra, and coming in 72% faster than the Galaxy A52.

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy A54 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark S23
Ultra
S22
Ultra
Z Flip
3
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A54
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
SD
888
Exynos
990
Exynos
1380
Sling Shot Unlimited 16344 11094 9248 8026 6195
Wild Life Unlimited 14554 9106 3952 4504 2860
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
3814 2220 1174 1387 799

This is where the Samsung Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380 falls short – it is just not very good at gaming!

It was 23% to 42% slower than the Exynos 990, and 28% to 32% slower than the Snapdragon 888!

That does not mean it’s bad for gaming. It can certainly handle most games. It just won’t be able to deliver high frame rates in graphically-demanding 3D games like Genshin Impact, Black Desert Mobile, etc.

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy A54 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S23
Ultra
S22
Ultra
S21
Ultra
Galaxy
A54
Galaxy
A52
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2100
Exynos
1380
SD
750G
AnTuTu Score 1212174 889167 624411 522411 341908
CPU 261886 203090 166290 153230 105098
GPU 538823 402617 258995 149596 88068
Memory 236163 146002 120805 86578 60642
UX 175302 137458 78321 133007 88100

According to the AnTuTu benchmark, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is about 53% faster than the Galaxy A52, and only 16% slower than the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

What’s important to note is that the Exynos 1380’s CPU is fast, coming within 8% of the Exynos 2100. However, it has a relatively weak GPU, and slower memory than the flagship-class mobile platforms in this comparison.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Camera Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Camera Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A54’s 50 MP camera takes 12.5 MP photos by default, with a resolution of 4080 x 3060 pixels. Each JPEG photo using the High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) format, each photo is about 2.5 MB to 5 MB in size.

Without HEIF, the file sizes are much larger, so please remember to turn on the HEIF file format to save space.

  1. Open the Camera app
  2. Go to Settings > Advanced picture options
  3. Turn on High efficiency pictures.

As this photo sample shows, the 50 MP main camera of the Samsung Galaxy A54 offers a nice bokeh, thanks to its wide f/1.8 aperture.

However, that wide aperture presents a problem too – a narrow depth of field, as this sample photo of star anise shows.

If multiple objects are present at different distances from the camera, only some of them will remain in focus, while the others will be out-of-focus.

That makes for nice portraits, but if you do not tap on the area or subject you want to be in focus, the camera may auto-focus on the wrong area or subject, and you will end up with an out-of-focus shot.

As this shot of pineapples show, only a small area of the right edge of the pineapple on the left is in focus. That’s because I intentionally tapped on that part.

Otherwise, the camera would naturally focus on the nearest part of the pineapple (its centre, which is located to the far left of the photo) and this photo would look really out-of-focus.

In most cases, the colour reproduction is pretty accurate, even if it’s indoors.

But in some cases, you can end up with pretty dull-looking photos under artificial light.

You need to be careful with close-up shots though. This isn’t a macro camera, and so it has trouble focusing if the subject is too close.

The problem is – the Samsung camera app does not warn you if the 50 MP camera cannot focus properly on the subject. It may look like it is focused properly in the camera app, but when you open it up later, you will see that it’s completely out-of-focus.

I definitely recommend you tapping on the subject to “force” the camera app to visibly try to focus. If it fails, you know that you are much too close. It’s also a good habit to tap to focus anyway, as this 50 MP camera has a narrow depth-of-field.

There is no need to worry about the “loss” in resolution from 64 MP to 50 MP. In most cases, you probably won’t even realise that the camera defaults to just 12.5 MP!

Even at 12.5 MP, there is more than enough detail in the photos that the Galaxy A54’s 50MP camera delivers, even if you want to zoom in.

But that does not mean that its 50 MP sensor is pure marketing. You can use it to take 50 MP shots, but you will have to live with significantly larger file sizes.

The full 50 MP resolution isn’t needed for 90% of the photos that most people take, but it is useful for long-distance shots. The Samsung Galaxy A54 does not have a telephoto camera, so taking photos in 50 MP effectively gives you a 4X zoom capability.

For example, if you need to take a faraway shot of a bell tower, you can switch to 50 MP before taking the photo. Then you can zoom into the 50 MP photo you took and crop out a much closer looking shot of that bell tower without using software or digital zoom.

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Camera Performance Summary

I’m glad Samsung switched from the 64 MP camera to a 50 MP camera in the Galaxy A54. The “loss” in megapixels is more than made up by the larger and better Sony IMX766 image sensor, with 25% larger pixels.

This improved 50 MP main camera performed well in our tests, generally delivering good photos with accurate colours in most cases. It has a good level of detail, even at 12.5 MP.

The biggest problem I have with it is its minimum focus distance. The camera seems to work best with subjects that are at least 50 cm away, or so. If I get too close to the subject, the shot ends up out-of-focus, especially if I tried to let the camera auto-focus by itself.

This is not readily apparent in the camera app, so you need to tap to focus. That triggers the camera to seek a better focus. That’s when you can see whether it can really focus properly. Even then, I sometimes end up with out-of-focus shots, because I was simply too close to the subject.

For most people, this won’t a problem if you are taking the usual photos – people standing at a distance, landscapes and buildings at a distance, etc. Just keep this in mind if you are taking close shots of products or food, etc.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Summary + Award

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Summary + Award

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is proof that you don’t need to pay top dollar to get a great smartphone. For less than half the cost of a flagship smartphone, it offers most of the features that you need, in a well-protected device.

It comes with a large, excellent Super AMOLED display which supports 120 Hz refresh rate, and is protected on both front and rear by Gorilla Glass 5. It is also IP67-rated against the ingress of dust and water.

Built around the 5 nm Samsung Exynos 1380 mobile platform, the Galaxy A54 offers excellent performance in work apps, offering the equivalent performance as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

However, it falters when it comes to gaming. Its weaker Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU just cannot keep up with the better GPUs used in flagship-class smartphones. That doesn’t mean you can’t game on it. You can – it can certainly handle most games. It just won’t do as well as flagship-class smartphones in graphics-intensive games.

When it comes to photography, it comes with high-resolution 32 MP front camera, as well as a new 50 MP Sony IMX766 camera at the back, and an ultra-wide-angle camera, and a macro camera.

The 50 MP main camera is generally excellent, except under certain indoor lighting where the photos appear washed out. It also has trouble focusing at closer distances, which is probably why Samsung added the macro camera, which would normally be a waste of time for most users.

While I miss the telephoto camera which is a fixture in flagship smartphones, the 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera is arguably a better trade-off – most people would prefer to use it for landscape and group shots, rather than take long-distance shots with the telephoto camera.

The Galaxy A54 takes pretty good videos too, but there are some limitations :

  • it can support 30/60 fps @ 1080p, but only 30 fps for 4K video recording,
  • it is limited to 30 fps, regardless of resolution, when using its ultra-wide angle camera.
  • it can only support video image stabilisation at 30 fps, but not 60 fps

If you really love taking videos at 4K especially at 60 fps or higher, then these limitations will be a deal breaker. Video recording is where flagship devices like the Galaxy S23 Ultra shines.

But for many people, the Samsung Galaxy A54 offers an excellent combination of features and capabilities at a far lower cost. On top of that, you get two years of warranty, three years of Android updates, and four years of security updates.

For these reasons, we gladly award the Samsung Galaxy A54 our Editor’s Choice Award! Great work, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone is available in three main colours with a glossy finish :

  • Awesome Graphite
  • Awesome Violet
  • Awesome Lime

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, with the option to add a microSD card in the hybrid SIM tray. It is covered by a 2-year warranty, with the following launch prices:

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM1,899 / US$449.99 / £499 / A$697 / S$648

Here are online purchase options (we may get commission from your purchase) :

 

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TTDI Ramadan Bazaar Offers Full Digital Payments!

Tech Hunter just launched a a massive Ramadan Bazaar in TTDI called #TechMeToBazaar, where every vendor is fully equipped for digital payments!

 

TTDI Ramadan Bazaar Offers Full Digital Payments!

Tech Hunter just launched a Ramadan Bazaar in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) called #TechMeToBazaar. The massive bazaar boasts over 150 stalls offering local delicacies, and expects to welcome over 200,000 visitors this year.

Thanks to Tech Hunter Global Sdn Bhd (“Tech Hunter”), visitors to the TTDI Ramadan Bazaar can make payments using a variety of digital modes, including debit or credit cards and e-wallets.

All stalls at the TTDI Ramadan Bazaar are fully equipped with payment terminals set up by PayHunter, a Tech Hunter subsidiary, so visitors can simply “wave” their debit or credit cards, or scan the QR codes to digitally transfer money using any e-wallet. Visitors no longer have to worry about bringing enough cash to pay for their buka puasa meals!

TTDI Ramadan Bazaar is also powered by SHOPLINE, a global Smart Commerce Enabler offering omnichannel commerce solutions. SHOPLINE recently integrated its POS system with Tech Hunter’s Smart Mobile Payment Terminal to allow retailers to easily place and checkout a customer’s order via a compact, wireless device – perfect for space-saving and mobile use at the bazaar!

Lastly, YTL Communications’ Yes is the telecommunications provider that powers the 5G connectivity throughout the entire bazaar.

“This Ramadan, we are proud to launch the first ever 5G Ramadan Bazaar, powered by Yes 5G as part of the Tech Me To Bazaar campaign,” said Wing K. Lee, Chief Executive Officer at YTL Communications. “In line with our ongoing mission to enable 5G for All, we are bringing 5G connectivity to one of the most engaged activities of the festive season. Through the Ramadan bazaar at TTDI, we are making 5G accessible for both vendors and customers alike to experience seamless connectivity, fast internet speeds and ultra-low latency through Yes 5G. We welcome all to our Yes booths located within the bazaar, to kickstart their 5G experience powered by Yes”.

 

Promotions @ TTDI Ramadan Bazaar!

Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), SHOPLINE, GrabPay Malaysia and YTL Communications came together as sponsors to offer these promotions at the TTDI Ramadan Bazaar :

  • Visitors who use their BSN credit or debit card to make an accumulated spend of RM50 with a maximum combination of three (3) receipts, will stand a chance to win a one-time RM5 cashback during the campaign period from 23 March until 21 April 2023. A total of 4,000 winners will be selected randomly.
  • Visitors can also enjoy RM30 off, with a minimum purchase of RM200 using Grab’s PayLater function in the Grab app. Visitors will need to scan the GrabPay QR code at the stalls, key in the payment amount and “Pay Next Month” or “Pay in 4 Instalments” to enjoy the discount.

The TTDI Ramadan Bazaar is open from 3 PM every day from 23 March until 21 April 2023.

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Sources : Maxis + U Mobile Decline 5G Network Stake!

Sources have confirmed that both Maxis and U Mobile do not plan to take up a stake in DNB – the government-owned 5G agency!

Here is what you need to know, and what it means for 5G adoption in Malaysia!

 

Sources : Maxis + U Mobile Decline 5G Network Stake!

Sources just confirmed to Reuters that both Maxis and U Mobile do not plan to take up a stake in Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) – the government-owned 5G agency.

According to three people familiar with the matter, Maxis and U Mobile do not see any benefit in becoming a minority shareholder of DNB, but they will remain in talks to gain access to the DNB 5G network.

It is possible that Maxis and U Mobile made this decision to pressure the government into allowing a second 5G service to be setup.

One source said, “[The parties] will have to try and restructure the deal”.

But until one side acquiesces, the rollout of 5G for most consumers in Malaysia will be further delayed.

 

Maxis + U Mobile Is Out, Will Other Networks Buy 5G Stake In DNB?

Maxis, U Mobile, Celcom and DiGi had earlier proposed to take a majority stake in DNB, but that was rejected by the government.

So the four main mobile network operators are now lobbying for a second 5G network – the Dual Wholesale Network (DWN) model, instead of a single whole network controlled by DNB.

With Maxis and U Mobile out, the Malaysian government’s plan to sign agreements with the other mobile networks has been disrupted.

In fact, the deadline ends today (Wednesday, August 31, 2022) for the six mobile network operators in Malaysia to agree on whether to take a combined 70% stake in DNB.

Until now, only Telekom Malaysia and YES – the two smaller telcos – have signed up with DNB to provide 5G access, with TM still running tests, while YES offering very limited 5G coverage in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and here is everything you need to know about its latest foldable smartphone!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 : Evolution Of A Matured Design

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Fold 3 from last year, offering an improved version of the multitasking powerhouse.

Most of the changes are internal – a more powerful processor and an upgraded 50 MP camera. Externally, it looks very similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Hence, Samsung is focused on highlighting what you can do with its foldable design and its massive 7.6-inch Infinity Flex display, and its large 6.2-inch Cover Display.

7.6-inch Foldable Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 retains the Z Fold 3‘s excellent 7.6-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1812 x 2176 pixels.

This display has an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz, offering a balance between silky-smooth graphics and longer battery life.

6.2-inch Cover Display

In the front, it has the same 6.2-inch Cover Display with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a resolution of 904 x 2316 pixels.

This Cover Display allows you to use the Galaxy Z Fold 4 like a regular candy bar device, without flipping open its large foldable display.

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G mobile platform, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.

It comes with 12 GB of memory, and internal storage options of 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB. It only supports a single SIM card and an eSIM, with no microSD card tray, so there is no option to increase storage.

Cameras

Samsung retained the same cover camera and under-display camera as the Z Fold 3:

  • 10 MP cover camera with f/2.2 aperture
  • 4 MP under display camera with f/1.8 aperture

However, they changed the triple camera system at the back, which now consists of :

  • 50 MP wide angle camera, f/1.8 aperture
  • 12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2 aperture
  • 10 MP telephoto camera, f/2.4 aperture

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone :

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G
Main Display 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1768 x 2208 pixels, 374 ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
900 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Cover Display 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
816 x 2260 pixels, 387 ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Gorilla Glass Victus protection
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 12 with One UI 4.1.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G (SM8350)
CPU 1 x Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz )
3 x Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory 12 GB
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 3.1
Cover Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera 4 MP under-display camera (f/1.8)
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
10 MP 2X telephoto camera, f/2.4
12 MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 4,400 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 25 watt
Wireless : 11 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
67.1 mm wide
155.1 mm tall
14.2 mm to 15.8 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
130.1 mm wide
155.1 mm tall
6.3 mm thick
Weight 263 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 comes in three main colour options, as well as a special Burgundy colour :

  • Graygreen – their signature colour this year
  • Beige
  • Phantom Black
  • Burgundy – only available on the Samsung website

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone :

  • 12 GB + 256 GB : RM6,799 (about US$1,525 / £1,262 / A$2,189 / S$2,103)
  • 12 GB + 512 GB : RM7,299 (about US$ 1,638 / £1,355 / A$2,350 / S$2,257)
  • 12 GB + 1 TB : RM8,299 (about US$ 1,862 / £1,541 / A$2,672 / S$2,567)

The Burgundy colour option, as well as the 1TB storage option, are only available on the Samsung website.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 : Colour Comparison!

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Colour Comparison!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone in four main colour options, and a Bespoke Edition!

Take a look at all four colour options, and the special customisable Bespoke Edition!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : A Quick Primer!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Flip 3 from last year, offering a more powerful processor and a larger battery.

It also features a slimmer hinge with straightened edges, with contrasting hazed back glass and a glossy metal frame.

Its headlining feature is naturally its large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display that literally folds into half, turning the Galaxy Flip 4 into an incredibly compact device.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : What You Need To Know!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Colour Comparison

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in four main colour options. Four colours for the 4th gen, get it? 🙂

Two are legacy colours from the Galaxy Z Flip 3, and two are new colours for the Z Flip 4 :

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Pink Gold – new colour
  • Blue – new colour
  • Bora Purple – their signature colour this year

I was amongst the few to get an early hands-on look at all four Galaxy Z Flip 4 colour options, and here is my comparison video.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Bespoke Edition : Customisable Colour

Samsung is also offering the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in the Bespoke Edition, which offers you the opportunity to customise the glass colours and frame options.

With 75 combinations to choose from, you can personalise the look of your Galaxy Z Flip 4 colour to suit your unique personality and lifestyle… for a price, of course.

  • Frame Options : Black / Silver / Gold
  • Front Colour Options : Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki or Red
  • Back Colour Options : Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki or Red

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Colour Options + Price

Samsung is making all four colours options, including the Bespoke Edition, available for purchase at launch, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM4,099 (about US$920 / £760 / A$1,319 / S$1,267)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM4,399 (about US$987 / £816 / A$1,415 / S$1,359)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB Bespoke Edition : RM4,599 (about US$1,032 / £853 / A$1,479 / S$1,421)
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : RM4,899 (about US$ 1,099 / £909 / A$1,576 / S$1,514)

The Bespoke Edition is only available on the Samsung website, and requires 3-4 weeks to deliver, as each unit is custom-made.

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4, and here is everything you need to know about its latest foldable smartphone!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Evolution Of A Matured Design

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Flip 3 from last year, offering an improved version of the popular foldable clamshell form factor.

Most of the changes are internal – a more powerful processor and a larger battery. Externally, it looks very similar to the Galaxy Z Flip3, albeit with a slimmer hinge and straightened edges, as well as contrasting hazed back glass and a glossy metal frame.

Hence, Samsung is focused on highlighting what you can do with its foldable design and its large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display.

6.7-inch Foldable Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 retains the Z Flip3‘s excellent 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.

This display has an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz, offering a balance between silky-smooth graphics and longer battery life.

1.9-inch Cover Display

In the front, it has the same 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.

This Cover Display allows you to view notifications and messages without opening the Galaxy Z Flip 4. You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the Cover Screen widgets.

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G mobile platform, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.

It comes with 8 GB of memory, and internal storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. It only supports a single SIM card and an eSIM, with no microSD card tray, so there is no option to increase storage.

Cameras

Samsung retained the same cameras from the Z Flip 3 :

  • In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with an f/2.4 aperture
  • In the back, it has a 12 MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone :

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G
Main Display 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi
120 Hz adaptive refresh rate
900 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Cover Display 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display
260 x 512 pixels, 302 ppi
935 nits (HBM)
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 12 with One UI 4.1.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G (SM8350)
CPU 1 x Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz )
3 x Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory 8 GB
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera 10 MP camera (f/2.4)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 20 watt
Wireless : 10 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
84.9 mm tall
15.9 mm to 17.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
165.2 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 187 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 comes in four colour options, as well as a special Bespoke Edition :

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Pink Gold – new colour
  • Blue – new colour
  • Bora Purple – their signature colour this year

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM4,099 (about US$920 / £760 / A$1,319 / S$1,267)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM4,399 (about US$987 / £816 / A$1,415 / S$1,359)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB Bespoke Edition : RM4,599 (about US$1,032 / £853 / A$1,479 / S$1,421)
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : RM4,899 (about US$ 1,099 / £909 / A$1,576 / S$1,514)

The Bespoke Edition is only available on the Samsung website, and requires 3-4 weeks to deliver, as each unit is custom-made.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple Is Coming Soon!

The Samsung Galaxy S22 will soon be available in the Bora Purple colour option! Here is what you need to know!

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple : What You Need To Know!

Samsung is introducing a new colour option called Bora Purple for the Samsung Galaxy S22 – its baby flagship of the Galaxy S family!

Bora is Korean for purple, and Samsung chose to introduce this pastel colour to “evoke joy, spark creativity and embrace individuality”

6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple comes with a large 6.1-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.

Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and a contrast ratio of 2 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.

Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.

4nm Flagship Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.

Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

Samsung will be offering just two memory and storage options :

  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
  • 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage

Cameras Galore!

As a Samsung flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!

In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :

  • a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture

Built To Last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a tough Armor Aluminium frame, and is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.

On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a 3,700 mAh battery, which supports wired charging at up to 25 watts, and wireless charging at up to 15 watts.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple
Display 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling (Game Mode)
– 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 1300 nits peak brightness
– 2 million:1 contrast ratio
Protection Armor Aluminium + Gorilla Glass Victus+
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU 1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory +
Storage
8 GB RAM + 128 / 256 GB storage
External Storage NA
Front Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
10 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
S Pen No
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 70.6 mm wide
146.0 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight 168 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple will be available globally starting August 10, 2022.

We do not have a hands-on video of the Bora Purple, but here is our hands-on video of the earlier four colour options – Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green and Pink Gold.

Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.

Samsung did not reveal the price for the Galaxy S22 Bora Purple, but it should be priced the same as earlier colour options :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 3,499 (about US$836 / £617 / A$1,164 / S$1,122)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 3,699 (about US$884 / £652 / A$1,230 / S$1,186)

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy A73 Performance Review!

Take a look at the performance of the Samsung Galaxy A73, and find out how well it performs against the competition!

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : How Fast Is It?

The Samsung Galaxy A73 Ultra runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G – a premium mid-range mobile SoC announced on May 19, 2021.

Fabricated on the 6 nm process technology, the Snapdragon 778G boasts a powerful Adreno 642L GPU, as well as eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Kryo 670 Prime core running at up to 2.4 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Kryo 670 Gold cores running at up to 2.2 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Kryo 670 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz

While the Snapdragon 778G isn’t a new mobile SoC, you will be surprised by how fast it is in the Galaxy A73…

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy A73 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 Galaxy Z
Flip 3
Galaxy
S22 Ultra
Galaxy
A73
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Mobile Platform SD 888 SD 8
Gen 1
SD 778G Exynos
990
SD
750G
Performance Score 13317 12860 12522 10523 7874
Web Browsing 11637 10442 11736 8865 7021
Video Editing 7762 7444 7082 6232 5693
Writing 15316 15471 14796 11112 7454
Photo Editing 25357 30177 26340 30789 15812
Data Manipulation 11938 9691 9502 6825 6424

Amazingly, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G is as fast as the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in work applications!

When it comes to basic stuff like web browsing, video and photo editing, the Galaxy A73 is as fast as the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and 19% faster than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra!

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy A73 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Galaxy
S22 Ultra
Galaxy Z
Flip 3
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A73
Galaxy
Note10+
Device SD 8
Gen 1
SD 888 Exynos
990
SD 778G Exynos
9825
Sling Shot Unlimited 11094 9248 8026 6620 3327
Wild Life Unlimited 9106 3952 4504 2487 3288
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
2220 1174 1387 689 528

For older / simpler 3D games, the Sling Shot benchmark showed that the Snapdragon 778G was only 17.5% slower than the Exynos 990, but 40% slower than the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

But when it came to more strenuous games, flagship smartphones like Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 were 2X to 3X faster than the Galaxy A73.

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy A73 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu Galaxy
S22 Ultra
Galaxy
Z Flip 3
Galaxy A73 Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Device SD 8 Gen 1 SD 888 SD 778G Exynos
990
SD 750G
AnTuTu Score 889167 696767 523209 522735 341908
CPU 203090 206228 159238 146783 105098
GPU 402617 242573 159364 215205 88068
Memory 146002 133586 88705 89376 60642
UX 137458 114380 115902 71371 88100

The AnTuTu benchmark confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy A73 is really quite a powerful smartphone, matching the performance of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Even though Galaxy A73 costs less than half that of the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip 3, it was only 41% and 25% slower.

The Snapdragon 778G also ran cool, increasing its temperature by just 1.2°C. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, in comparison, saw its temperature jumped by over 10°C in the same test!

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : Performance Summary

The Galaxy A73 is the premium mid-range Samsung smartphone for 2022, and it does not disappoint.

Built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, it offers excellent work performance, equivalent to the best flagship smartphones for basic tasks as well as photo and video editing.

Its gaming performance is not flagship-class, as the benchmarks show, but it was no slouch. It will readily handle most games just fine, even AAA games.

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 Colour + Availability!

Here in Malaysia, the Galaxy A73 smartphone is available in three colour options :

  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Mint
  • Awesome Gray

There is only one variant, at this price point :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 2,099 (about US$499 / £379 / A$679 / S$679)

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy A73 Unboxing + Hands-On Preview!

Samsung just sent us their new Galaxy A73 smartphone, and here is our unboxing and hands-on preview!

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : What’s Inside The Box!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy A73 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 108 MP quad-camera system and a large Super AMOLED+ display, at an affordable price point!

They sent one to us to review, so let’s take a look at the box, and see what we find inside!

Once you fully unbox it, this is what you will find :

  • Samsung Galaxy A73 5G smartphone
  • Set of Galaxy A73 documents
  • Type C to Type C USB data and power cable
  • SIM tray extractor pin

Unfortunately, Samsung did not include a 25 watt charger, and the Type C to Type C cable will only support the newer Samsung chargers.

If you have the older Samsung charger, you will need to reuse the old Type A to Type C cable, or buy a new cable.

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 : Key Features!

Now, let’s take a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy A73’s key features, as well as our hands-on experience video!

6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ Display

The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display.

It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz!

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A73 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, which has a triple-tier CPU architecture :

  • a Kryo 670 Prime core running at up to 2.4 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Kryo 670 Gold cores running at up to 2.2 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Kryo 670 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz

It also comes with a Qualcomm Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz.

Memory + Storage Options

The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal flash storage.

The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).

Cameras Galore!

The Samsung Galaxy A73 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.

In the front, it has a 32 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.

In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :

  • a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
  • a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture

IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!

You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A73 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A73
Display 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection IP67
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU 1 x Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
3 x Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 642L (490 MHz)
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 256 GB
External Storage microSDXC
Front Camera 32 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 108 MP OIS camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4
5 MP depth camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Glonass, Galileo
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
Dimensions 76.1 mm wide
163.7 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight 181 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 Colour + Availability!

Here in Malaysia, the Galaxy A73 smartphone is available in three colour options :

  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Mint
  • Awesome Gray

It will be offered in only one variant, at this price point :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 2,099 (about US$499 / £379 / A$679 / S$679)

Here are some online purchase options :

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy A33 : Exclusive Hands-On Preview!

We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A33 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on preview!

 

Samsung Galaxy A33 with 48 MP Quad Camera System!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy A33 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 48 MP quad-camera system!

We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A33 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!

6.4-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display.

It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 90 Hz!

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A33 runs on the new Samsung Exynos 1280 mobile platform, which has a dual-tier CPU architecture :

  • four sustained-performance ARM Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0 GHz

It also comes with a ARM Mali-G68 GPU running at 1.0 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal flash storage.

The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).

Cameras Galore!

The Samsung Galaxy A33 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.

In the front, it has a 13 MP camera, with an f/2.2 aperture, and in the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :

  • a 48 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
  • an 8 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
  • a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a 2 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture

IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!

You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A33 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy A33 Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A33
Display 6.4-inch Super AMOLED
– 90 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection IP67
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Samsung Exynos 1280
CPU 2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU ARM Mali-G68 (1 GHz)
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 128 GB
External Storage microSDXC
Front Camera 13 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 48 MP OIS camera, f/1.8
8 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4
2 MP depth camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Hall, Light,
Virtual Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Glonass, Galileo
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
Dimensions 74.0 mm wide
159.7 mm tall
8.1 mm thick
Weight 186 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy A33 Colour + Availability!

Here in Malaysia, the Galaxy A33 smartphone is available in four colour options :

  • Awesome Peach
  • Awesome Blue
  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Black

It will be offered in only one variant, at this price point :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 1,499 (about US$359 / £269 / A$487 / S$487)

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy A53 : Exclusive Hands-On Preview!

We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A53 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on experience!

 

Samsung Galaxy A53 with 64 MP Quad Camera System!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy A53 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 64 MP quad-camera system!

We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A53 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!

6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A53 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display.

It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz!

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A53 runs on the new Samsung Exynos 1280 mobile platform, which has a dual-tier CPU architecture :

  • four sustained-performance ARM Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0 GHz

It also comes with a ARM Mali-G68 GPU running at 1.0 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

The Samsung Galaxy A53 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal flash storage.

The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).

Cameras Galore!

The Samsung Galaxy A53 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.

In the front, it has a 32 MP camera, with an f/2.2 aperture and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.

In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :

  • a 64 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
  • a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture

IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!

You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A53 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A53 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy A53 Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Display 6.5-inch Super AMOLED
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection IP67
OS One UI 4 (Android 12)
Platform Samsung Exynos 1280
CPU 2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU ARM Mali-G68 (1 GHz)
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 256 GB
External Storage microSDXC
Front Camera 32 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 64 MP OIS camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4
5 MP depth camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Hall, Light,
Virtual Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Glonass, Galileo
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
Dimensions 74.8 mm wide
159.6 mm tall
8.1 mm thick
Weight 189 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy A53 Colour + Availability!

Here in Malaysia, the Galaxy A53 smartphone is available in four colour options :

  • Awesome Peach
  • Awesome Blue
  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Black

It will be offered in only one variant, at this price point :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 1,849 (about US$439 / £336 / A$599 / S$599)

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy A73 : Exclusive Hands-On Preview!

We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A73 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on preview!

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 with 108 MP Quad Camera System!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy A73 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 108 MP quad-camera system!

We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A73 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!

6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ Display

The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display.

It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz!

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A73 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, which has a triple-tier CPU architecture :

  • a Kryo 670 Prime core running at up to 2.4 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Kryo 670 Gold cores running at up to 2.2 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Kryo 670 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz

It also comes with a Qualcomm Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz.

Memory + Storage Options

The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal flash storage.

The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).

Cameras Galore!

The Samsung Galaxy A73 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.

In the front, it has a 32 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.

In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :

  • a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
  • a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture

IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!

You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A73 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A73
Display 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection IP67
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU 1 x Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
3 x Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 642L (490 MHz)
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 256 GB
External Storage microSDXC
Front Camera 32 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 108 MP OIS camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4
5 MP depth camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Glonass, Galileo
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
Dimensions 76.1 mm wide
163.7 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight 181 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy A73 Colour + Availability!

Here in Malaysia, the Galaxy A73 smartphone is available in three colour options :

  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Mint
  • Awesome Gray

It will be offered in only one variant, at this price point :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 2,099 (about US$499 / £379 / A$679 / S$679)

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : Our Hands-On Experience!

Samsung sent us their latest Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone, and here is our hands-on experience!

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : Our Hands-On Experience!

Samsung combined their Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series into the Galaxy S22 Ultra – their latest flagship smartphone.

Not only does it adopt the blockier industrial design language of the Galaxy Note series, it also comes with the S Pen built-in!

Here is our hands-on experience of the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone!

6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a massive 6.8-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.

Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1750 nits, and a contrast ratio of 3 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.

Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.

4nm Flagship Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.

Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

Samsung will be offering four memory and storage options, but not all of them are available globally :

  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
  • 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
  • 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
  • 12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage

Cameras Galore!

As the premiere Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!

In the front, it has a 40 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.

In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :

  • a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a 10 MP periscope camera with 10X optical zoom, f/4.9

Ultra-Low Latency S Pen

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only model in the Galaxy S22 family to come with the S Pen.

Just like the Galaxy Note series, it has a dedicated S Pen slot, so you will never have to worry about dropping the S Pen.

This is an improved S Pen, with ultra-low latency of just 2.8 ms – down from 9 ms in the previous generation. This gives it an instantaneous feel, just like writing an actual pen on paper.

Built To Last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.

On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, which offers a very long battery life.

On top of that, it can support wired charging at up to 45 watts, with wireless charging supported at up to 15 watts.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 45 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Display 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling (Game Mode)
– 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 1750 nits peak brightness
– 3 million:1 contrast ratio
Protection Gorilla Glass Victus+ (front and back)
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU 1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 128 GB
12 GB + 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
External Storage NA
Front Camera 40 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 108 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
10 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
10 MP 10x zoom camera, f/4.9
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
S Pen Yes, 2.8 ms latency
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 45 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 77.9 mm wide
163.3 mm tall
8.9 mm thick
Weight 229 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : Price + Availability

Samsung is offering the Galaxy S22 Ultra in four colour options – Burgundy, Green, Phantom Black and Phantom White.

I had the opportunity to attend an exclusive Samsung preview event, to check out all four colours for ourselves.

Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.

Here in Malaysia, it is available starting 10 February 2022 in three variants, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 5,099 (about US$1,219 / £899 / A$1,699 / S$1,629)
  • 12 GB + 256 GB : RM 5,499 (about US$1,314 / £969 / A$1,829 / S$1,759)
  • 12 GB + 512 GB : RM 5,899 (about US$1,409 / £1,039 / A$1,959 / S$1,889)

Here are some online pre-order options :

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy S22 Hands-On Preview + First Impressions!

I just had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the new Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone, and here are my first impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 : Hands-On Experience!

The Samsung Galaxy S22 arguably offers the best bang for your buck in the new Galaxy S22 family!

Here is our hands-on experience of this compact flagship smartphone!

6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a large 6.1-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.

Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and a contrast ratio of 2 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.

Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.

The display is truly magnificent. In addition, it is super bright, so there’s no problem using it outdoors in bright sunlight!

4nm Flagship Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.

Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.

So far, it has no problem handling everything I threw at it, but I will have proper benchmark numbers up for you shortly.

Memory + Storage Options

Samsung will be offering just two memory and storage options :

  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
  • 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage

Unfortunately, it does NOT support any storage expansion through a microSD card.

Cameras Galore!

As a Samsung flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!

In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :

  • a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture

Built To Last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a tough Armor Aluminium frame, and is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.

Thanks to its heft and Armor Aluminium frame, it feels really solid in my hand.

On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a 3,700 mAh battery, which supports wired charging at up to 25 watts, and wireless charging at up to 15 watts.

Despite having a relatively small battery, the Galaxy S22 appears to have a long battery life. I will have its battery test results up shortly.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S22
Display 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling (Game Mode)
– 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 1300 nits peak brightness
– 2 million:1 contrast ratio
Protection Armor Aluminium + Gorilla Glass Victus+
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU 1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory +
Storage
8 GB RAM + 128 / 256 GB storage
External Storage NA
Front Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
10 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
S Pen No
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 70.6 mm wide
146.0 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight 168 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 : Price + Availability

Samsung is offering the Galaxy S22 in four colour options – Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green and Pink Gold.

I had the opportunity to attend an exclusive Samsung preview event, to check out the colours for ourselves.

Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.

Here in Malaysia, it is available starting 10 February 2022 in two variants, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 3,499 (about US$836 / £617 / A$1,164 / S$1,122)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 3,699 (about US$884 / £652 / A$1,230 / S$1,186)

You can now pre-order the 8 GB + 256 GB model from now until 3 March 2022, to receive this offer!

Here are some online pre-order options : RM3,699 | RM3,699 | RM3,699 | RM3,699 | RM3,699

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold Preview : Take A Look!

The new vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold smartphone is here, offering a new elegant colour option for selfie-lovers!

Find out if the vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold is what you have been waiting for!

 

vivo V23e Mirage Gold : For Photography Enthusiasts!

The new vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold smartphone is designed for photography enthusiasts, offering really great front and rear cameras at an affordable price point.

Those are some of the most important characteristics many consumers are looking for in their smartphones during the pandemic.

6.44-inch Display

The vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold comes with a massive 6.44-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

It uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers much better colour gamut and brightness than regular LCD displays.

High-Performance Mobile SoC

The MediaTek Dimensity 810 is a new and faster mid-range mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :

  • two high-performance Arm Cortex-A76 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz,
  • six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores, and
  • an Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics

It also features a Multi-Turbo software that intelligently optimises network speed, heat dissipation, AI and gaming performance.

RAM + Storage

The vivo V23e Mirage Gold comes with 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory, with an additional 4 GB of extended RAM, giving up to 12 GB of RAM – more than enough to handle multiple memory-hungry games and apps at the same time!

There’s also no need to worry about storage – its 128 GB internal storage is plenty enough for a multitude of games and apps. And if you run out, you can top up storage through a microSD card!

44 MP Selfie Camera

When it comes to photography, the vivo V23e Mirage Gold offers both great selfie shots from its 44 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture for great selfies even in low light conditions.

The front camera automatically focuses on your eye area, to ensure that you are always in focus; with software enhancements to deliver a natural portrait look.

You can also opt for Multi-Style Portrait to create portraits in a variety of distinct styles!

You can also take photos in really dark conditions using its Front Camera AI Extreme Night feature, which uses multi-frame noise reduction to combine multiple shots into one bright and clear shot!

It also supports Steadiface Selfie Video, which ensures that your face remains stable and clear, no matter how you move.

50 MP Triple-Camera System

In the back, it has a 50 MP main camera with a wide f/1.8 aperture, together with an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close as 4 cm).

The main camera supports Double Exposure, allowing you to take two different photos and combine them for a unique double-exposed shot!

5G Connectivity

While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.

More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.1 and a reversible USB Type C port.

Sleek + Light

The vivo V23e Mirage Gold features a premium glass-covered chassis, with a smooth anti-fingerprint finish.

It has a sleek profile that is just under 7.5 mm thick, and weighs just 172 grams.

Large Fast Charging Battery

To power all that, the V23e Mirage Gold comes with a large 4,050 mAh battery, which gives you a full day of usage and then some!

On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging – a quick 30 minute flash charge will restore its battery life to 69%! Best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!

 

vivo V23e Mirage Gold : Specifications

Specifications vivo V23e Mirage Gold
Display 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display
– 1080 x 2400 pixels
OS Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek Dimensity 810 (MT6873)
CPU 2 x Arm Cortex-A76 cores (2.4 GHz )
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores
GPU Arm Mali-G57 MC2
Memory 8 GB + 4 GB Extended RAM
Storage 128 GB
microSD support
Front Camera 44 MP camera (f/2.0)
Main Cameras 50 MP main camera, f/1.8
8 MP wide-angle camera, f2.2
2 MP macro camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In-Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Ambient Light,
Proximity, E-compass, Gyroscope
GPS GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
NFC No
FM Radio Yes
Battery 4,050 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 44 watt FlashCharge
Dimensions 74.28 mm wide
160.87 mm tall
7.36-41 mm thick
Weight 172 grams

 

vivo V23e 5G : Three Colour Options

The vivo V23e 5G was originally available in two colour options – Sunshine Coast on the left, and Cosmic Aurora on the right.

Take a look at how they compare against the new Mirage Gold colour (centre). Do let us know which you prefer!

 

vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold : Price, Availability + Deals!

The vivo V23e 5G has a launch price of RM1,599 – approximately US$378 / £286 / A$532 / S$517.

For a limited time, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM528 from now until 20 February 2022!

  • Limited Edition vivo x L’Oréal Paris Valentine’s Gift Box
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection

From 21 until 28 February, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM399 :

  • 1 Year Extended Warranty
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection

If you like the vivo V23e Mirage Gold, make sure you get it now!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy S22 : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy S22 flagship smartphone, and here is everything you need to know!

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 : What You Need To Know!

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the baby flagship of the Galaxy S family, and it comes at a great price point!

Take a look at its key features, and find out if this is the smartphone for you!

6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a large 6.1-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.

Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and a contrast ratio of 2 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.

Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.

4nm Flagship Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.

Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

Samsung will be offering just two memory and storage options :

  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
  • 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage

Cameras Galore!

As a Samsung flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!

In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :

  • a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture

Built To Last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a tough Armor Aluminium frame, and is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.

On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a 3,700 mAh battery, which supports wired charging at up to 25 watts, and wireless charging at up to 15 watts.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S22
Display 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling (Game Mode)
– 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 1300 nits peak brightness
– 2 million:1 contrast ratio
Protection Armor Aluminium + Gorilla Glass Victus+
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU 1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory +
Storage
8 GB RAM + 128 / 256 GB storage
External Storage NA
Front Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
10 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
S Pen No
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,
Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 70.6 mm wide
146.0 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight 168 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 : Price + Availability

Samsung is offering the Galaxy S22 in four colour options – Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green and Pink Gold.

I had the opportunity to attend an exclusive Samsung preview event, to check out the colours for ourselves.

Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.

Here in Malaysia, it is available starting 10 February 2022 in two variants, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 3,499 (about US$836 / £617 / A$1,164 / S$1,122)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 3,699 (about US$884 / £652 / A$1,230 / S$1,186)

You can now pre-order the 8 GB + 256 GB model from 10 February until 3 March 2022, to receive these freebies!

  • Samsung eVoucher worth RM800
  • Galaxy S22 Silicone Cover with Strap worth RM 169
  • Galaxy Lucky Box (with wide strap) worth RM 79
  • Camera Filter Mount worth RM 169

Here are some online pre-order options : RM3,699 | RM3,699 | RM3,699 | RM3,699 | RM3,699

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy S22 Plus smartphone, and here is everything you need to know!

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus : What You Need To Know!

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the latest iteration of the Samsung Galaxy S family, targeting photography enthusiasts.

Lacking the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s new S Pen, this is the Samsung flagship smartphone for those who don’t need it.

6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus comes with a massive 6.6-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.

Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1750 nits, and a contrast ratio of 3 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.

Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.

4nm Flagship Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.

Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

Samsung will be offering just two memory and storage options :

  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
  • 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage

Cameras Galore!

As a Samsung flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Plus comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!

In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :

  • a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture

Built To Last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus has a tough Armor Aluminium frame, and is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.

On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery, which offers a very long battery life.

On top of that, it can support wired charging at up to 45 watts, with wireless charging supported at up to 15 watts.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 45 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Display 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling (Game Mode)
– 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 1750 nits peak brightness
– 3 million:1 contrast ratio
Protection Armor Aluminium + Gorilla Glass Victus+
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU 1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory +
Storage
8 GB RAM + 128 / 256 GB storage
External Storage NA
Front Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
10 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
S Pen No
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 4,500 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 45 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 75.8 mm wide
157.4 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight 196 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus : Price + Availability

Samsung is offering the Galaxy S22 Plus in four colour options – Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green and Pink Gold.

I had the opportunity to attend an exclusive Samsung preview event, to check out the colours for ourselves.

Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.

Here in Malaysia, it is available starting 10 February 2022 in two variants, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 4,099 (about US$979 / £722 / A$1,363 / S$1,315)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM 4,299 (about US$1,027 / £758 / A$1,429 / S$1,379)

You can now pre-order the 8 GB + 256 GB model from 10 February until 3 March 2022, to receive these freebies!

  • Samsung eVoucher worth RM800
  • Galaxy S22 Plus Silicone Cover with Strap worth RM 169
  • Galaxy Lucky Box (with wide strap) worth RM 79
  • Camera Filter Mount worth RM 169

Here are some online pre-order options : RM4,299 | RM4,299 | RM4,299 | RM4,299 | RM4,299

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just launched their Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone, and here is everything you need to know!

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just combined their Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series into the Galaxy S22 Ultra – their latest flagship smartphone.

Not only does it adopt the blockier industrial design language of the Galaxy Note series, it also comes with the S Pen built-in!

6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a massive 6.8-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.

Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1750 nits, and a contrast ratio of 3 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.

Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.

4nm Flagship Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.

Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
  • three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.

Memory + Storage Options

Samsung will be offering four memory and storage options, but not all of them are available globally :

  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
  • 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
  • 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
  • 12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage

Cameras Galore!

As the premiere Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!

In the front, it has a 40 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.

In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :

  • a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
  • a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a 10 MP periscope camera with 10X optical zoom, f/4.9

Ultra-Low Latency S Pen

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only model in the Galaxy S22 family to come with the S Pen.

Just like the Galaxy Note series, it has a dedicated S Pen slot, so you will never have to worry about dropping the S Pen.

This is an improved S Pen, with ultra-low latency of just 2.8 ms – down from 9 ms in the previous generation. This gives it an instantaneous feel, just like writing an actual pen on paper.

Built To Last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.

On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery + Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, which offers a very long battery life.

On top of that, it can support wired charging at up to 45 watts, with wireless charging supported at up to 15 watts.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.

The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 45 watt charger in-the-box.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Display 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling (Game Mode)
– 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 1750 nits peak brightness
– 3 million:1 contrast ratio
Protection Gorilla Glass Victus+ (front and back)
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU 1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 730
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 128 GB
12 GB + 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
External Storage NA
Front Camera 40 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Cameras 108 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
10 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
10 MP 10x zoom camera, f/4.9
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
S Pen Yes, 2.8 ms latency
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 45 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 77.9 mm wide
163.3 mm tall
8.9 mm thick
Weight 229 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra : Price + Availability

Samsung is offering the Galaxy S22 Ultra in four colour options – Burgundy, Green, Phantom Black and Phantom White.

I had the opportunity to attend an exclusive Samsung preview event, to check out all four colours for ourselves.

Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.

Here in Malaysia, it is available starting 10 February 2022 in three variants, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM 5,099 (about US$1,219 / £899 / A$1,699 / S$1,629)
  • 12 GB + 256 GB : RM 5,499 (about US$1,314 / £969 / A$1,829 / S$1,759)
  • 12 GB + 512 GB : RM 5,899 (about US$1,409 / £1,039 / A$1,959 / S$1,889)

You can now pre-order the 12 GB + 256 GB model from 10 February until 3 March 2022, to receive these freebies!

  • Samsung eVoucher worth RM800
  • Galaxy S22 Plus Silicone Cover with Strap worth RM 169
  • Galaxy Lucky Box (with wide strap) worth RM 79
  • Camera Filter Mount worth RM 169

Here are some online pre-order options : RM5,499 | RM5,499 | RM5,499 | RM5,499

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

vivo V23 5G Preview : What You Need To Know!

vivo just launched their V23 5G smartphone, offering dual front cameras with dual LED spotlights for selfie-lovers!

Take a look at the new vivo V23 5G, and find out if this is the selfie pal you have been waiting for!

 

vivo V23 5G : For Selfie + Photography Enthusiasts!

The new vivo V23 5G smartphone is designed for selfie and photography enthusiasts, offering really great front and rear cameras at an affordable price point.

Let’s take a look at its key features, so you can figure out if this is the smartphone you have been waiting for!

6.44-inch Display

The vivo V23 5G smartphone comes with a massive 6.44-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.

It uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers much better colour gamut and brightness than regular LCD displays.

Flagship-Class Mobile SoC

The MediaTek Dimensity 920 is a new and faster flagship-class mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :

  • two high-performance Arm Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz,
  • six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz, and
  • an Arm Mali-G68 MC4 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics
RAM + Storage

The vivo V23 5G comes with two RAM and storage options :

  • 8 GB of RAM + 128 GB of internal storage
  • 12 GB of RAM + 256 GB of internal storages

Dual Selfie Cameras!

When it comes to photography, the vivo V23 5G offers expanded creativity with dual selfie cameras, supported by dual-tone LED spotlights!

For high-resolution portraits, you have an incredibly high-resolution 50 MP front camera, with a large f/2.0 aperture for great low-light performance.

But if you need to fit many people in, you can opt for the 105° super wide-angle 8 MP camera, with an f/2.28 aperture!

The dual-tone LED spotlights help to ensure even and adequate lighting, even in ultra low-light conditions!

64 MP Triple-Camera System

In the back, it has a 64 MP main camera with a wide f/1.89 aperture, together with an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close as 4 cm).

The main camera features the Samsung ISOCELL GW1 image sensor, which lets you take really great photos in low-light conditions by combining four pixels into one, through its Tetrapixel technology!

5G Connectivity

While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.

More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.2 and a reversible USB Type C port.

Premium Colour Changing Glass Body!

The vivo V23 5G features a Fluorite AG glass-covered aviation aluminium chassis, with a layer of crystals that changes colour with the light!

The glass-aluminium body not only imparts a premium feel, it offers a sleek profile that is just under 7.6 mm thick, and weighs about 180 grams.

Large Fast Charging Battery

The V23 comes with a large 4,200 mAh battery to give you a full day of usage and then some!

On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging, and best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!

 

vivo V23 5G : Specifications

Specifications vivo V23 5G
Display 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display
– 1080 x 2400 pixels
– 90 Hz refresh rate
OS Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek Dimensity 920
CPU 2 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores (2.5 GHz )
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G68 MC4
Memory +
Storage Options
8 GB + 128 GB
12 GB + 256 GB
External Storage NA
Front Cameras 50 MP main camera (f/2.0)
8 MP wide-angle camera (f/2.28)
Dual-tone LED spotlight
Main Cameras 64 MP main camera, f/1.89
8 MP wide-angle camera, f2.2
2 MP macro camera, f/2.4
Single LED flash
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In-Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Ambient Light,
Proximity, E-compass, Gyroscope
GPS GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
NFC Yes
FM Radio No
Battery 4,200 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 44 watt FlashCharge
Dimensions 74.42 mm wide
157.20 mm tall
7.39-55 mm thick
Weight 179-181 grams

 

vivo V23 5G : Colour Options

The vivo V23 5G is available in two colour options – Sunshine Gold on the left, and Stardust Black on the right.

 

vivo V23 5G : Launch Deals!

The vivo V23 5G has a launch price of RM2,099 – approximately US$502 / £367 / A$694 / S$675.

From 14-16 January 2022, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM688:

  • vivo TWS 2e wireless earphones
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection

From 14-16 January 2022, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM558:

  • Wireless vacuum cleaner
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Preview : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just unveiled another Fan Edition smartphone – the Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990)!

Take a look at the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, and find out why it’s such a great bargain!

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just unveiled another Fan Edition smartphone – the Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990), which promises to offer a great bargain for their fans!

It basically offers the best features of the Galaxy S21 series, with the same premium design, at a very attractive price point.

Let’s take a look!

120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display!

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE does not skimp on its display, which is an awesome Dynamic AMOLED 2X display!

It has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 240 Hz touch sampling rate in its Game Mode.

Protected From Drops + Water!

Its Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus – the toughest glass ever used on a Galaxy smartphone!

On top of that, the Galaxy S21 FE is IP68 water-resistant, so it is safe from water splashes and immersion in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes.

Flagship Performance!

Samsung didn’t skimp on performance either – the Galaxy S21 FE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile SoC!

It comes with 8 GB of RAM, and either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. Make sure you choose the storage option you need, because it does not support additional storage through microSD card.

Cameras Delight!

In the front, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a high-resolution 32 MP selfie camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

In the back, it has a triple camera setup that consists of :

  • a 12 MP main camera, with a Dual Pixel sensor, and f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP wide-angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture, and
  • an 8 MP 3X telephoto camera, with f/2.4 aperture

Long Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery, which supports 25 watt wired fast charging, and 15 watt wireless charging.

It also supports Wireless PowerShare, which allows it to recharge your wearables and other smartphones wirelessly.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Model SM-G990
Display 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
– 1080 x 2400 pixels
– 120 Hz refresh rate
– 240 Hz touch sampling rate (Game Mode)
Protection Gorilla Glass Victus (front only)
Water Resistance IP68
OS One UI 4 (Android 12)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
CPU 1 x Kryo 680 Prime core (2.84 GHz)
3 x Kryo 680 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Kryo 680 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 660
Memory 8 GB RAM
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB
No microSD support
Front Camera 32 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel OIS main camera, f/1.8
12 MP wide-angle camera, f/2.2
8 MP 3X telephoto camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In-Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall Sensor, Light, Proximity
GPS Yes, with A-GPS
NFC Yes
Battery 4,500 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired
15 watt wireless
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 74.5 mm wide
155.7 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
Weight 177 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is available in two variants, at these price points :

  • 8GB + 128GB : RM 2,899 (about US$691 / £510 / A$952 / S$937)
  • 8GB + 256GB : RM 3,099 (about US$739 / £545 / A$1,018 / S$1,002)

Samsung Malaysia is offering a special pre-order promotion from 6 January 2022 onwards:

  • RM350 discount
  • Samsung Care+ (additional 1 year free protection) worth RM220

Here are three online pre-order options in Malaysia : Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is available in four colour options, from left to right – Graphite, White, Olive and Lavender.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

vivo V23e 5G Preview : What You Need To Know!

The brand-new vivo V23e 5G smartphone is here, offering a magnificent 44MP front camera for selfie-lovers!

Take a look at what else the vivo V23e 5G offers, and find out if this is what you have been waiting for!

 

vivo V23e 5G : For Photography Enthusiasts!

The new vivo V23e 5G smartphone is designed for photography enthusiasts, offering really great front and rear cameras at an affordable price point.

Those are some of the most important characteristics many consumers are looking for in their smartphones during the pandemic.

6.44-inch Display

The vivo V23e 5G smartphone comes with a massive 6.44-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

It uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers much better colour gamut and brightness than regular LCD displays.

High-Performance Mobile SoC

The MediaTek Dimensity 810 is a new and faster mid-range mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :

  • two high-performance Arm Cortex-A76 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz,
  • six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores, and
  • an Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics

It also features a Multi-Turbo software that intelligently optimises network speed, heat dissipation, AI and gaming performance.

RAM + Storage

The vivo V23e 5G comes with 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory, with an additional 4 GB of extended RAM, giving up to 12 GB of RAM – more than enough to handle multiple memory-hungry games and apps at the same time!

There’s also no need to worry about storage – its 128 GB internal storage is plenty enough for a multitude of games and apps. And if you run out, you can top up storage through a microSD card!

44 MP Selfie Camera

When it comes to photography, the vivo V23e 5G offers both great selfie shots from its 44 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture for great selfies even in low light conditions.

The front camera automatically focuses on your eye area, to ensure that you are always in focus; with software enhancements to deliver a natural portrait look.

You can also opt for Multi-Style Portrait to create portraits in a variety of distinct styles!

You can also take photos in really dark conditions using its Front Camera AI Extreme Night feature, which uses multi-frame noise reduction to combine multiple shots into one bright and clear shot!

It also supports Steadiface Selfie Video, which ensures that your face remains stable and clear, no matter how you move.

50 MP Triple-Camera System

In the back, it has a 50 MP main camera with a wide f/1.8 aperture, together with an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close as 4 cm).

The main camera supports Double Exposure, allowing you to take two different photos and combine them for a unique double-exposed shot!

5G Connectivity

While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.

More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.1 and a reversible USB Type C port.

Sleek + Light

The vivo V23e 5G features a premium glass-covered chassis, with a smooth anti-fingerprint finish.

It has a sleek profile that is just under 7.5 mm thick, and weighs just 172 grams.

Large Fast Charging Battery

To power all that, the V23e comes with a large 4,050 mAh battery, which gives you a full day of usage and then some!

On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging – a quick 30 minute flash charge will restore its battery life to 69%! Best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!

 

vivo V23e 5G : Specifications

Specifications vivo V23e 5G
Display 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display
– 1080 x 2400 pixels
OS Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek Dimensity 810 (MT6873)
CPU 2 x Arm Cortex-A76 cores (2.4 GHz )
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores
GPU Arm Mali-G57 MC2
Memory 8 GB + 4 GB Extended RAM
Storage 128 GB
microSD support
Front Camera 44 MP camera (f/2.0)
Main Cameras 50 MP main camera, f/1.8
8 MP wide-angle camera, f2.2
2 MP macro camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In-Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Ambient Light,
Proximity, E-compass, Gyroscope
GPS GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
NFC No
FM Radio Yes
Battery 4,050 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 44 watt FlashCharge
Dimensions 74.28 mm wide
160.87 mm tall
7.36-41 mm thick
Weight 172 grams

 

vivo V23e 5G : Colour Options

The vivo V23e 5G is available in two colour options – Sunshine Coast on the left, and Cosmic Aurora on the right.

 

vivo V23e 5G : Price, Availability + Deals!

The vivo V23e 5G has a launch price of RM1,599 – approximately US$378 / £286 / A$532 / S$517.

For a limited time, every pre-order will come with free gifts worth RM550

  • Automatic Soap Dispenser Gift Box
  • Viu TV membership (1 month)
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection

There is also a V23e 4G version with a launch price of RM1,399 – approximately US$330 / £250 / A$466 / S$453.

For a limited time, every pre-order will come with free gifts worth RM491

  • Backpack
  • Viu TV membership (1 month)
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection

Buying either model will also get the opportunity to purchase any vivo TWS 2 wireless earphones at 50% off! There are also daily rewards from now until 17 December 2021!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

vivo Y76 5G Preview : What You Need To Know!

The brand-new vivo Y76 5G is here, promising to offer unparalleled gaming and entertainment at an unbelievable price!

Take a look at what the vivo Y76 5G offers, and find out if this is what you have been waiting for!

 

vivo Y76 5G : Optimised For Gaming + Entertainment!

The new vivo Y76 5G smartphone is designed to deliver excellent gaming and entertainment at a highly affordable price point.

Those are some of the most important characteristics many young adults are looking for in their smartphones during the pandemic.

Hence, vivo partnered with Mobile Legends to create the Y76 5G, a fact which is obvious during their local launch in Malaysia.

6.58-inch Display

The vivo Y76 5G smartphone comes with a massive 6.58-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels, 96% NSTC colour gamut and 460 nits of brightness.

When used for mobile gaming, the extra-wide display offers you more screen space, more visibility over your opponents.

Designed For Gaming Performance

The MediaTek Dimensity 700 is a fast mid-range mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :

  • two high-performance Arm Cortex-A76 cores running at up to 2.2 GHz,
  • six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores running at 2 GHz, and
  • an Arm Mali-G75 MC2 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics

It also features a Multi-Turbo software that intelligently optimises network speed, heat dissipation, AI and gaming performance.

Finally, the Dimensity 700 SoC is kept cool by a Five-Dimensional Liquid Cooling System that vivo claims will reduce core temperature by 10 degrees.

RAM + Storage

The vivo Y76 5G comes with 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory, with an additional 4 GB of extended RAM, giving up to 12 GB of RAM – more than enough to handle multiple memory-hungry games and apps at the same time!

There’s also no need to worry about storage – its 128 GB internal storage is plenty enough for a multitude of games and apps. And if you run out, you can top up storage through a microSD card!

Cameras Galore!

When it comes to photography, the vivo Y76 5G focuses on what’s necessary. That means a 16 MP camera in the front, with a wide f/2.0 aperture for great selfies even in low light conditions.

In the back, it has a 50 MP main camera with a wide f/1.8 aperture, paired with a 2 MP depth sensor for software bokeh effects. It also comes with a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close 4 cm).

5G Connectivity

While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.

More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.1 and a reversible USB Type C port.

Sleek + Light

To keep price low, the vivo Y76 5G features a plastic chassis. Yet, it maintains a sleek profile at just under 7.8 mm thick, and weighs just 175 grams.

Large Fast Charging Battery

This is a truly important feature – a large 4,100 mAh battery, which lets you game for hours on end.

On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging – a quick 32 minute flash charge will restore its battery life to 70%!

Best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!

 

vivo Y76 5G : Specifications

Specifications vivo Y76 5G Smartphone
Model V2124
Display 6.58-inch FHD+ Incell Display
– 1080 x 2408 pixels
– 96% NTSC colour gamut
– 460 nits max. brightness
OS Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G
CPU 2 x Arm Cortex-A76 cores (2.2 GHz )
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G75 MC2
Memory 8 GB + 4 GB Extended RAM
microSD support
Storage 128 GB
Front Camera 16 MP camera (f/2.0)
Main Cameras 50 MP main camera, f/1.8
2 MP macro camera, f/2.4
2 MP depth sensor, f/2.4
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : USB Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Ambient Light,
Proximity, E-compass, Gyroscope
GPS GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
NFC No
FM Radio Yes
Battery 4,100 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 44 watt FlashCharge
Dimensions 75.0 mm wide
163.84 mm tall
7.79 mm thick
Weight 175 grams

 

vivo Y76 5G : Colour Options

The vivo Y76 5G is available in two colour options – Midnight Space on the left, and Cosmic Aurora on the right.

 

vivo Y76 5G : Price, Availability + Deals!

The vivo Y76 5G has a launch price of RM1,299 – approximately US$308 / £231 / A$428 / S$421.

If you pre-order one from now until 26 November 2021, you will receive free gifts worth RM587 :

  • RM50 instant rebate, so it’s only just RM1,249
  • VANZO Fragrance Gift Set worth RM138
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty worth RM199
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection worth RM200

After the pre-order period, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM537 :

  • VANZO Fragrance Gift Set worth RM138
  • 1 Year Extended Warranty worth RM199
  • 1 Year Screen Crack Protection worth RM200

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+, 695, 680, 480+ Details!

Qualcomm just introduced FOUR new mobile SoCs – the Snapdragon 778G Plus, Snapdragon 695, Snapdragon 680 and Snapdragon 480 Plus!

Here is what you need to know about these new 5G and 4G mobile SoCs!

 

Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+, 695, 680, 480+ Mobile SoCs!

On 26 October 2021, Qualcomm Technologies introduced FOUR new mobile SoCs for the high-end, mid-range and entry-level tiers :

  • Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G,
  • Snapdragon 695 5G,
  • Snapdragon 680 4G, and
  • Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G

Here is what you need to know about these new 5G and 4G mobile SoCs!

Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G

This is basically the existing Snapdragon 778G, with slightly higher clock speeds for its Kryo 670 CPU and Adreno 642L GPU cores. Its prime Kryo 670 CPU core, for example, will at 2.5 GHz, instead of 2.4 GHz.

Everything else is the same – it comes with the X53 5G modem and the same Wi-Fi 6E connectivity – just rebranded as Qualcomm FastConnect 6700.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G is a new mobile SoC, featuring a Kryo 660 CPU that clocks at up to 2.2 GHz, with an Adreno 619 GPU.

Qualcomm says it will offer 15% better CPU performance and 30% faster graphics rendering, compared to the Snapdragon 690.

Otherwise, it comes with the same X51 5G modem and FastConnect 6200 Wi-Fi 6 connectivity as the Snapdragon 690.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 is a 4G mobile SoC, built on the 6 nm process technology.

It features a Kryo 265 CPU that clocks at up to 2.4 GHz, and an Adreno 610 GPU. It also comes with the X11 LTE modem and FastConnect 6100 Wi-Fi connectivity, which supports up to 802.11ac.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus introduces 5G connectivity to the entry-level 4-series mobile platform for the first time.

It comes with a Kryo 460 CPU that clocks at up to 2.0 GHz, and the same Adreno 619 GPU as the Snapdragon 695 above.

It also comes with the same X51 5G modem and FastConnect 6200 Wi-Fi 6 connectivity as the Snapdragon 695, but with Bluetooth 5.1, instead of Bluetooth 5.2.

 

Snapdragon 778G+, 695, 680, 480+ : Availability

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus, Snapdragon 695, Snapdragon 680 and Snapdragon 480 Plus are expected to be available commercially in Q4 2021.

Several smartphone brands have expressed interest in using these new Snapdragon mobile SoCs in their upcoming smartphones, including HMD Global, HONOR, Motorola, OPPO, vivo and Xiaomi.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : My First Impressions!

Here are my first impressions of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone!

Find out if this is the foldable smartphone for you!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Unboxing + Contents!

The new Galaxy Z Flip 3 is Samsung’s third-generation Flip device, featuring not only a large foldable 6.7-inch display, but also IPX8 water resistance!

As a Samsung ultra-premium smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes in a premium two-tone black-grey box.

Once you fully unbox it, you should find these items inside :

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 smartphone
  • Quick Start Guide
  • USB-C to USB-C data and power cable
  • SIM tray ejection pin

Unfortunately, it does not come with a fast charger in-the-box, or an USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!

6.7-inch Foldable Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 boasts a large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.

Its foldable display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display.

The foldable display lets you partially unfold at any angle, and is now certified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!

1.9-inch Cover Display

In the front, it has a small 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.

This redesigned Cover Screen is 4X larger, making it easier to view notifications and messages without opening the Z Flip 3.

You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the new Cover Screen widgets. You can even coordinate its wallpaper with the new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic!

The Cover Display also serves as a camera preview display, letting you use both rear cameras for superior selfies!

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.

Our review sample came with 8 GB of memory, and 128 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. It is also available with 256 GB of storage.

It only supports a single SIM card, with no microSD card tray. There is no option to increase storage, but generally 128 GB of storage is more than enough for most people.

Protection

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.

In addition, its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Cover Display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

Front Camera

Samsung flagship smartphones are notable for featuring cutting-edge cameras, but the Galaxy Z Flip 3 stayed with the last generation cameras.

In front, it uses a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture. To be clear, this is an excellent camera. It’s just not new.

Dual Cameras At The Back

In the back, it has a dual-camera system, which consists of :

  • a 12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture

These cameras are offer great image quality, even in low-light conditions – thanks to their large apertures.

And as I pointed out earlier, the Cover Display lets you use these cameras for really excellent selfies.

Buttons

The only buttons you will find are on the upper right side of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 – the Volume control buttons and the Power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor.

Pressing the Power button twice activates the Quick Shot mode, which lets you take selfies using the rear cameras with the Cover Display for preview and control.

Only One Port

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 connectivity.

It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.

Battery + Charging

Powering all that is a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 15 watt fast charging, and 10 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.

This is a pretty small battery, and rather slow charging speeds. I’m currently testing its battery life and will share with you the results shortly.

Unfortunately, it does not come with an in-box charger. So you will have to use your old charger, so buy a new one.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Model SM-F711B
Main Display 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
900 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Cover Display 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display
260 x 512 pixels, 302 ppi
935 nits (HBM)
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (SM8350)
CPU 1 x Kryo 680 Prime core (2.84 GHz )
3 x Kryo 680 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Kryo 680 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 660
Memory 8 GB
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera 10 MP camera (f/2.4)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,300 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 15 watt
Wireless : 10 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
72.2 mm wide
86.4 mm tall
15.9 mm to 17.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
72.2 mm wide
166.0 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 183 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes in four colour options (from left to right) : Green, CreamLavender and Phantom Black.

Samsung also directly offers three more exclusive colours in their online store – Gray, Pink and White.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available for purchase from 27 August 2021 onwards, with a starting price of US$999 – about £723 / A$1,361 / S$1,357 / RM 4,231.

Here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

  • RM600 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
  • Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In Singapore, you can pre-order one with these freebies :

  • Free Wireless Charger Duo and Clear Cover with Ring
  • Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In the United States, you will get these offers or freebies when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

  • 50% off Samsung Galaxy Buds2
  • Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
  • Free 6 months of SiriusXM Streaming
  • Free 3 months of Spotify Premium

In the United Kingdom, you will get this freebie + offer when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

  • Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
  • 5% cash back on Samsung.com purchases using Samsung Pay+

In Australia, you will get these offers when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

  • Bonus $300 when you trade-in an eligible device
  • 50% off Samsung Care+

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Unboxing + Hands-On Preview!

Join us for the unboxing and hands-on preview of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3!

Find out if this is the foldable smartphone for you!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Unboxing + Contents!

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is their third-generation Flip device, featuring not only a large foldable 6.7-inch display but also IPX8 water resistance!

As a Samsung ultra-premium smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes in a premium two-tone black-grey box, with these items inside :

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 smartphone
  • Quick Start Guide
  • USB C to USB C data and power cable
  • Ejection pin

Unfortunately, it does not come with a fast charger in-the-box, or an USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 boasts a large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.

In the front, it has a small 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.

Its foldable display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display. The foldable display is now verified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!

Its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Cover Display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, with 8 GB of memory, and either 128 GB or 256 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage.

Its redesigned Cover Screen is now 4X larger, making it easier to view notifications and messages without opening the Z Flip 3.

You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the new Cover Screen widgets. You can even coordinate its wallpaper with the new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic!

It has a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, in the front. And a dual-camera system at the back :

  • 12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture

Powering all that is a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 15 watt fast charging, and 10 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Model SM-F711B
Main Display 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
900 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Cover Display 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display
260 x 512 pixels, 302 ppi
935 nits (HBM)
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (SM8350)
CPU 1 x Kryo 680 Prime core (2.84 GHz )
3 x Kryo 680 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Kryo 680 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 660
Memory 8 GB
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera 10 MP camera (f/2.4)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,300 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 15 watt
Wireless : 10 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
72.2 mm wide
86.4 mm tall
15.9 mm to 17.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
72.2 mm wide
166.0 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 183 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Colour Options

Samsung will offer the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in four colour options (from left to right) : Green, CreamLavender and Phantom Black.

Samsung will also directly offer three more exclusive colours in their online store – Gray, Pink and White.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available for purchase from 27 August 2021 onwards, with a starting price of US$999 – about £723 / A$1,361 / S$1,357 / RM 4,231.

Here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

  • RM600 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
  • Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In Singapore, you can pre-order one with these freebies :

  • Free Wireless Charger Duo and Clear Cover with Ring
  • Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > MobileTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Unboxing + Hands-On Preview!

Join us for the unboxing and hands-on preview of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3!

Find out if this is the foldable smartphone for you!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Unboxing + Contents!

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is their third-generation Fold device, featuring not only a large foldable 7.6-inch display but also IPX8 water resistance!

As a Samsung ultra-premium smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes in a large premium two-tone black-grey box.

Once you fully unbox it, you should find these items inside :

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 smartphone
  • Quick Start Guide
  • USB C to USB C data and power cable
  • Ejection pin

Unfortunately, it does not come with a fast charger in-the-box, or an USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 boasts a large 7.6-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1768 x 2208 pixels.

In the front, it has a 6.2-inch Cover Display with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

In addition to the Gorilla Glass Victus protection for the Cover Display, its rear triple camera system is protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

Its main display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display. The display is now verified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, with 12 GB of memory, and either 256 GB or 512 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage.

There are two stylus options for the Z Fold 3 – the S Pen Fold Edition, and the S Pen Pro. They both feature a specially-engineered retractable Pro tip, with force limit technology to protect the foldable display.

Complementing its massive display are dual speakers tuned by AKG, but there is no 3.5 mm audio jack, in case you are wondering.

Just above its cover display, is a 10 MP camera, which you can use without unfolding the phone. When unfolded, you can use the 4 MP front camera, which is hidden under the display for a seamless look.

At the back, it has a triple camera system, that consists of :

  • 12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • 12 MP telephone camera, with 2X zoom and f/2.4 aperture
  • 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture

Powering all that is a large 4,400 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, and it supports 25 watt fast charging, and 11 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Model NA
Main Display 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1768 x 2208 pixels, 374 ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
900 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Cover Display 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
816 x 2260 pixels, 387 ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Gorilla Glass Victus protection
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (SM8350)
CPU 1 x Kryo 680 Prime core (2.84 GHz )
3 x Kryo 680 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Kryo 680 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 660
Memory 12 GB
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 3.1
Cover Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera 4 MP under-display camera (f/1.8)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP 2X telephoto camera, f/2.4
12 MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G / 3G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 4,400 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 25 watt
Wireless : 11 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
67.1 mm wide
158.2 mm tall
14.4 mm to 16.0 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
128.1 mm wide
158.2 mm tall
6.4 mm thick
Weight 271 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Colour Options

Samsung will offer the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in three colour options (from left to right) : Phantom Green, Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be available for purchase from 27 August 2021 onwards, with a starting price of US$1,799 – about £1,299 / A$2,449 / S$2,439 / RM 7,619.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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OnePlus Promotes Note20 + S Pen, Instead Of Nord 2 5G!

Samsung got a very nice surprise today, when OnePlus India promoted the Galaxy Note20 and its S Pen, instead of their upcoming Nord 2 5G smartphone!

Find out what happened, and why it’s making everyone laugh during this difficult time!

 

OnePlus Promotes Note20 + S Pen, Instead Of Nord 2 5G!

Samsung got a very nice surprise today, when OnePlus India promoted the Galaxy Note20 and its S Pen, instead of their upcoming Nord 2 5G smartphone!

OnePlus India announced today that they are launching the Nord 2 5G smartphone on 22 July 2021, at 7:30 PM IST.

However, earlier today, their team made a hilarious faux pas. Instead of posting a teaser video of the upcoming OnePlus Nord 2 5G smartphone, they posted a video of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and its S Pen.

The tweet even said “The enhanced #SPen is my weapon of choice“!

That sure made us laugh! And I’m sure Samsung is very appreciative of how much the OnePlus India team likes their Galaxy Note20 Ultra smartphone and its S Pen. LOL!

Our friend at Vtechgraphy even posted this meme, to which we added an emoji of us laughing!

Credit : Vtechgraphy

 

Thanks For The Laugh, We Won’t Forget About Nord 2 5G!

It has been a really shitty 2020 and an even worse 2021, so we thank you for the laughter. It was sorely needed!

And don’t worry – we won’t forget about the Nord 2 5G. Heck, now even more people will know about it – a win, win for everyone!

As for the person who posted it, OnePlus India promises that no interns or managers were “harmed” in posting that tweet!

 

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vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition : What You Need To Know!

After introducing the V21 4G smartphone, vivo just launched the V21 5G Exclusive Edition variant!

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition smartphone!

 

vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition : OIS Cameras FTW!

The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition is the ultimate vivo V21 flagship smartphone.

Built around the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, it offers flagship-class performance, with OIS cameras in both front and rear!

Let’s take a look at its key features!

6.44-inch AMOLED Display

The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition comes with a large 6.44-inch AMOLED display, with 500 nits of maximum brightness and a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

On top of that, its HDR10-certified display has a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, and is protected by AG Matte Glass.

Performance

The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, which is a new mid-range mobile SoC, roughly equivalent to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G.

It has two fast ARM Cortex-A76 cores running at 2.4 GHz for sustained performance, six power-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz, and a tri-core ARM Mali-G57 MC3 GPU.

Memory + Storage

The V21 5G Exclusive Edition comes with 8 GB of RAM, but has the ability to expand it with 3 GB of Extended Memory (virtual memory).

It also comes with 256 GB of internal UFS 2.2 storage, which offers 110% faster read speed and 95% faster write speed, compared to the vivo V20.

Its storage can be further expanded using a microSD card – shared with SIM2 in a hybrid SIM tray.

44 MP OIS Selfie Camera

The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition comes with a 44 MP selfie camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture; and support for Super Night Selfie and AI Night Portrait.

This 44 MP selfie camera boasts two world-leading features :

  • its 44 MP selfie camera supports optical image stabilisation (OIS), which allows you to take super-steady photos and videos even while walking!
  • it is the first phone to feature Dual Selfie Spotlight, for radiant selfies even in low light conditions!

Triple Rear Camera System

The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition features a triple camera setup, that consists of:

  •  a 64 MP main camera with f/1.79 aperture,
  • an 8 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture,
  • a 2 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
  • a single LED flash.

The 64 MP main camera with a 4-axes OIS technology, allowing you to take photos and record videos with incredible stability.

Large Fast-Charging Battery

The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition has a large 4,000 mAh battery, which supports 33 watt fast charging. And yes, it comes with the 33 watt FlashCharge 2.0 charger in box!

 

vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition : Specifications

We created this table to take it easier for you to compare the 4G and 5G variants of the vivo V21!

Specifications vivo V21 5G vivo V21 4G
Display Size 6.44-inch
Display Panel AMOLED
Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels
Brightness 500 nits
Refresh Rate 90 Hz
Operating System Funtouch OS 11.1 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek
Dimensity 800U
RAM 8 GB + 3 GB Virtual RAM
Storage 256 GB 128 GB
Front Camera 44 MP OIS (f/2.0)
Rear Cameras 64 MP OIS (f/1.79)
8 MP wide-angle (f/2.2)
2 MP macro (f/2.4)
Network Support 5G 4G
Connectivity Wi-Fi : 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : Type C
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS
Battery 4,000 mAh
Charging 33 W fast charging
Dimensions 73.90 mm wide
159.68 mm tall
7.29 mm thick
Weight 176 g – 177 g

 

vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition : Price + Availability

The new V21 5G Exclusive Edition is available for purchase with immediate effect, with a launch price of RM1,899 (about US$459 / £324 / A$593 / S$606)

Here are online purchase options :

 

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