Samsung Display will finally shut down its LCD business in June, closing a chapter in its history!
Here is what we know so far…
Samsung Display To Finally Shut Down LCD Business!
Samsung Display originally sought to close its LCD business in 2020, even selling its LCD plant in Suzhou to CSOT, a Chinese company owned by the TCL conglomerate.
Their original 2020 plan to shut down their LCD business was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a surge in LCD prices. Samsung decided to continue their business, until end of 2022. However, LCD prices have fallen rapidly recently, with price pressure from Chinese and Taiwanese rivals.
Its parent company, Samsung Electronics, was their largest buyer; but even it has agreed to purchase displays from Chinese and Taiwanese companies like BOE Technology Group and AU Optronics Corps.
Samsung Display To Finally Shut Down LCD Business!
In light of such challenging market conditions, Samsung Display decided to close its LCD business six months earlier.
From June 2022 onwards, Samsung Display will stop producing LCD panels used for large TV screens, and focus instead on manufacturing OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) and Quantum Dot displays.
Employees from its LCD display business are expected to be transferred to its Quantum Dot display business.
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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.
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!
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
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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.
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
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!
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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.
vivo just introduced the X70 Pro and X70 smartphones featuring ZEISS optics and a unique gimbal camera!
Find out if the new vivo X70 gimbal smartphones are what you have been waiting for!
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : What You Need To Know!
vivo just launched their X70 series of professional photography flagship smartphones, with two models – the X70 and the X70 Pro.
Both models come with ZEISS optics for their cameras, and a unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, to allow users to capture the best possible photos and videos, even in the most challenging conditions.
Here is what you need to know about the new vivo X70 series smartphones…
Large AMOLED Display
Both the vivo X70 and X70 Pro come with a large 6.56-inch AMOLED display, with a resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels.
They both support a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 240 Hz response rate, as well as HDR10+ support and Hi-Rest certification.
There is a subtle difference between the two models though – the vivo X70 display has a 2.5D edge, while the Pro version has a 3D curved edge.
Performance
Both models are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 – a 5G mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, with eight processor cores that consists of :
a high-performance A78 core running at 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance cores running at 2.6 GHz, and
four high-efficiency A55 cores running at 2 GHz.
In addition to its 8 processor cores, it has a 9-core Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, and a 6-core MediaTek APU 3.0 AI processor.
RAM + Storage
The vivo V70 comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, while the Pro version comes with a whopping 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
Even though they both come with a lot of memory, they support Extended RAM 2.0 – giving them additional 4 GB of memory on call!
There is no option to upgrade storage through a microSD card, but they both come with more than enough storage for most users, and most importantly – it’s super fast UFS 3.1 flash storage!
Cameras Co-Engineered With ZEISS
Both models have a high-resolution 32 MP front camera, with a triple camera system for the X70 and a quad camera system for the X70 Pro.
Both camera systems were co-engineered with ZEISS and feature lenses with ZEISS T* coating to reduce unwanted light flares, ghosting, stray light and other image artifacts.
The pièce de résistance of both models is the unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, which is coupled with the Gimbal Stabilisation 3.0 technology, to let you capture steady images and video even in the most challenging conditions.
They also support VIS 5-Axis Ultra Stable Video technology, which integrates enhanced optical image stabilisation (OIS) with electronic image stabilisation (EIS) to aggressively stabilise the X/Y-axis as well as Z-axis rotation for silky-smooth video.
Rounding that up is a slew of AI-enhanced photography and videography technologies, like Real-Time Extreme Night Vision, Super Night Video, Pure Night View, Pro Cinematic Mode and more.
Battery + Charging
The vivo X70 Pro and X70 come with large batteries – 4,450 mAh and 4,400 mAh capacities respectively, for a long battery life.
On top of that, they both come with a USB charger in-the-box, which supports 44W FlashCharge for extremely fast charging.
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Specifications
To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Price + Pre-Order Deals
The vivo X70 is priced at RM2,499 – approximately US$598 / £437 / A$822 / S$806.
Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :
Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth speaker + car charger + 1-month Viu subscription
The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM3,299 – approximately US$789 / £577 / A$1,085 / S$1,064.
Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :
Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth sound bar + 1-month Viu subscription
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.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are officially launched!
Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung smartwatches!
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Everything You Need To Know!
On 11 August 2021, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, and here is everything you need to know!
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are the first smartwatches to feature the new Samsung Wear OS, built jointly with Google and featuring One UI Watch – Samsung’s most intuitive user interface.
Both smartwatches are built around the Exynos W920 – a 5 nm dual-core mobile SoC with 20% faster CPU performance and a GPU 10X faster than the last generation.
Samsung also increased the resolution of the display, up to 450 x 450 pixels, and double their memory to 1.5 GB of RAM.
It has 16 GB of built-in storage, which allows you to store your favourite apps, music and photos – all secured by the Samsung Knox security platform.
But arguably the most important thing is its new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, which monitors your heart rate, heart electrical impulses and bioelectrical impedance.
It also comes with an all-new Body Composition measurement tool, to give you a deeper understanding of your general health and fitness, with key measurements like skeletal muscle, basal metabolic rate, body water and body fat percentage.
Both smartwatches offer up to 40 hours of battery life, with fast charging capability – 30 minutes of charging gives you up to 10 hours of battery life!
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Specifications
Specifications
Galaxy Watch 4
Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Model
NA
NA
Chassis
Aluminium
Stainless Steel
Display Size
44 mm : 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 pixels
40 mm : 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels
46 mm : 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 pixels
42 mm : 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels
Display
Full Color Always On Display
Super AMOLED panel
Gorilla Glass with DX+
OS
Wear OS with One UI Watch 3
Processor
Samsung Exynos W920
– two processor cores @ 1.18 GHz
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.
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!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Network : 4G LTE
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
74.37 mm wide
161.24 mm tall
7.38 mm thick
Weight
176 g – 177 g
171 g
Unboxing The vivo V21 Smartphone!
The vivo V21 comes in a premium-looking box. Once you unbox it, this is what you will find inside.
vivo V21 smartphone
vivo V21 clear TPU bumper case
Set of vivo V21 documents
vivo V3330L0A0-UK charger (supports 33 watt Flash Charge 2.0)
USB-A to USB-C data and power cable
USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor
One pair of wired earphones
SIM tray ejection pin
vivo V21 Smartphone : Our Hands-On Experience!
vivo sent us a unit of the V21 smartphone to try out, so here is our hands-on experience and its key features!
6.44-inch AMOLED Display
The vivo V21 comes with a large 6.44-inch AMOLED display, which is HDR10 certified.
While this is the same size as the V21e, it comes with a brighter 500 nits panel, which supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate.
Performance
The vivo V21 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 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 128 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 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 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 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!
Heck, vivo even threw in a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor, and a pair of earphones too.
vivo V21 + V21e : Price + Availability
Both models are available for purchase with immediate effect, at these launch prices :
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
2 x SDRAM slots (dual channel)
Up to 32 GB DDR4-2933
Storage Options
Up to 512 GB Intel SSD + 32 GB Intel Optane
Up to 1 TB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
Up to 2 x 512 GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSDs (RAID 0)
1 x SD card reader
Networking
10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX-201 (2×2) + Bluetooth 5
I/O Ports
1 x USB Type C (GTX 1650 and 1650 Ti only)
1 x Thunderbolt 3 (all other models)
1 x USB Type A with HP Sleep and Charge
2 x USB Type A
1 x RJ-45
1 x headphone / microphone combo
1 x power port
1 x Mini DisplayPort
1 x HDMI 2.0a
Keyboard Options
Red backlit with / without numeric keypad
4-zone RGB backlit with / without numeric keypad
Touchpad
HP Imagepad with multi-touch support
Camera + Mic
HD webcam + dual-array digital microphones
Audio
Dual speakers by Bang & Olufsen
HP Audio Boost with DTS:X Ultra support
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The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display, with a Full HD+ resolution.
It will come with 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, and a 4,300 mAh battery. Its triple camera system will support 8K video recording :
a 12 MP main camera,
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and
a 64 MP telephoto camera with 30X Space Zoom
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, with a 2K+ resolution.
It will come with 12 GB of RAM, up to 512 GB of storage, and a 4,500 mAh battery. Its triple camera system will come with laser focusing and support 8K video recording :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Just before the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 smartphones, an AT&T video leaked…
Take a look at the leaked video… and check out the key features and specifications of the Note20 and Note20 Ultra smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy Note20 | Galaxy Note20 Ultra Video Leaked!
This AT&T video of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra smartphones leaked ahead of the official launch, confirming earlier leaked information.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
The US market will receive the super-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ in their Galaxy Note20 / Note20 Ultra devices.
The Plus version offers a faster Prime core (3.1 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz), and a 10% faster Adreno 650 GPU.
The Snapdragon 865+ also adds Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 capability, although it’s likely that Samsung may lock it at regular Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 for “consistency”.
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vivo is about to launch the X50 and X50 Pro smartphones, with a unique gimbal camera system!
Here is a comparison of the two upcoming vivo smartphones, to help you decide between the two!
vivo X50 + X50 Pro : Official Presentation!
Let’s start with the official vivo X50 and X50 Pro presentation, which gives you an overview of both models, with their specifications at the end.
vivo X50 + X50 Pro Smartphones Compared!
The vivo X50 and X50 Pro smartphones are similar in many ways, but with some crucial differences :
Display : Only Different At The Edges
They both come with a 6.56-inch AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.
The only difference – the basic X50 has a flat display with 2.5D edges, while the X50 Pro display has 3D curved edges.
Performance : Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
They are both built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G mobile SoC, which features eight Qualcomm Kryo 475 processor cores, and the Qualcomm Adreno 620 GPU.
Memory + Storage : Only Storage Capacity
They both also come with 8 GB of RAM, and fast UFS 2.1 internal storage, without a microSD card slot.
The only difference is the X50 comes with 128 GB of storage, while the X50 Pro has 256 GB.
Front Camera : Same 32 MP Camera
They both feature the same 32 MP punch hole camera in the front, with f/2.5 aperture.
Rear Cameras : An Extra 5X Telephoto Camera
They both come with a 48 MP gimbal camera, a 13 MP 2X telephoto camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a 5 MP macro camera.
The X50 Pro, however, comes with an additional 8 MP periscope telephoto camera that offers 5X optical zoom.
Connectivity : The Same
Both models are 5G-capable, although that’s not much good since 5G connectivity is extremely rare, if available at all.
They both support WiFi-AC connectivity, as well as Bluetooth 5.1. They also use the bidirectional USB Type C charging and data port.
Battery + Charging : Slightly Bigger Battery
The X50 has a 4,200 mAh battery, while the Pro model has a slightly larger 4,315 mAh battery. They both support 33W fast charging.
vivo X50 + X50 Pro : Specifications Compared!
We summarise their key specifications for an easier comparison in this table :
Specifications
vivo X50
vivo X50 Pro
Display Type
6.56-inch AMOLED (2.5D edge)
6.56-inch AMOLED (3D edge)
Display Features
1080 x 2376 pixels (398 ppi)
90 Hz refresh rate
Protection
NA
Operating System
Funtouch 10.5 (Android 10)
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
CPU
1 x Kryo 475 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
1 x Kryo 475 Gold core (2.2 GHz)
6 x Kryo 475 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 620
RAM
8 GB
Storage
128 GB (UFS 2.1)
NO microSD card slot
256 GB (UFS 2.1)
NO microSD card slot
Front Camera
32 MP sensor with f/2.5 aperture
Rear Cameras
48 MP gimbal camera (f/1.6, OIS)
13 MP 2X telephoto camera (f/2.46)
8 MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2)
5 MP macro camera (f/2.48)
48 MP gimbal camera (f/1.6, OIS)
8 MP 5X telephoto camera (f/3.4)
13 MP 2X telephoto camera (f/2.46)
8 MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2)
5 MP macro camera (f/2.48)
Connectivity
Network : 4G LTE, 3G
Wi-Fi : WiFi-AC (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : USB Type C 2.0
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Hands-On Experience
In this exclusive video, we present to you our hands-on experience of the Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone in both colour options – Cosmic Black, and Cosmic Gray!
Samsung removed the dedicated Bixby button, so the only buttons you will find are the Volume control and Power buttons along the right edge.
The hybrid SIM tray is located at the top, with a second microphone that is used for noise cancellation.
Like the Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy S20 Ultra no longer has the 3.5 mm audio jack. So you will only find the USB Type C connector at the bottom, flanked by the speaker and main microphone ports.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra does not come with an internal DAC, so you will need to use the provided USB Type C earphones, or purchase a USB-C audio adaptor with a built-in DAC.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : 120 Hz Display
One of the new features introduced in the Galaxy S20 Ultra is a 120 Hz refresh rate for its Super AMOLED display.
Doubling the refresh rate to 120 Hz allows for smoother scrolling and a more realistic gaming experience.
However, running the display at 120 Hz will reduce the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s battery life.
The display not only refreshes twice as often, the GPU has to work twice as hard.
This is why Samsung sets the display to 60Hz by default.
To ensure it will last a long time, Samsung gave it a very large 5,000 mAh battery. The corresponding Galaxy S10 Plus from last year only has a 4,100 mAh battery in comparison.
On top of that, the S20 Ultra supports 45 watt fast charging, although it only comes with a 25 watt fast charger out to the box.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Battery Life!
We ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, with the display set to 60Hz and 120Hz. Here were the best results we obtained :
So there you have it – increasing the display refresh rate on the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra from 60Hz to 120Hz will reduce its battery life by about 21% or roughly 2.5 hours.
Now we can see why Samsung set the display to 60Hz by default. If battery life is important, keep it at the default refresh rate of 60Hz.
But if you prefer to enjoy the 120Hz display, go on right ahead. Thanks to its large 5,000 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra will last you quite a few hours!
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Recharging Speed
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra supports 45 watt fast charging, but only comes with a 25 watt fast charger. Let’s find out just how fast it recharges its 5,000 mAh battery.
Impressive! Even with the same 25 watt fast charger that shipped with the Galaxy Note10+, the Galaxy S20 Ultra recharged its battery 27.5% faster!
It has an excellent battery life : recharging ratio of 12:1. A general rule of thumb – for one of hour battery life, you just need to charge it for 5 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 85% level. This took just 37 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 20.5 minutes to top up the last 15%.
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 in the United States, and Samsung Exynos 990 in the rest of the world.
Here is a comparison of the key specifications of the Exynos 990 vs Snapdragon 865 :
Exynos 990
Snapdragon 865
Process
7 nm EUV
7 nm N7P
CPU Cores
2 x Exynos M5 (2.7 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Kryo 585 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Kryo 585 (2.4 GHz)
4 x Kryo 485 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Mali-G77 MP11
Adreno 650
Memory Support
LPDDR5
LPDDR5
Storage Support
UFS 3.0 / 2.1
UFS 3.0
5G Modem
Exynos 5123 (Separate)
– 7.35 Gbps
Snapdragon X55 (Separate)
– 7.5 Gbps
Samsung Exynos 990 Work Performance : PCMark
We tested its performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
What a nice surprise! Samsung Exynos has historically been rather poor at work performance.
The last-generation Exynos 9825 and Exynos 9820, for example, were significantly slower than their Qualcomm counterparts – the Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 855+.
But the Exynos 990 is 36% faster than the Exynos 9820 (its predecessor), and 13% faster than the Snapdragon 855.
Samsung Exynos 990 Gaming Performance : 3DMark
We tested its gaming performance using 3DMark, with these results.
Not bad at all! Samsung caught up with Qualcomm in gaming performance as well.
The new Exynos 990 was 7.5% faster than the Snapdragon 855+, that powered high-end gaming smartphones like the Black Shark 2 Pro, in Sling Shot Extreme, matching it in the easier Sling Shot benchmark.
Notably, the Exynos 990 was 50% faster than its predecessor, the Exynos 9820 that powered the Galaxy S10+.
Samsung Exynos 990 Gaming Performance : AnTuTu
We then tested the Exynos 990 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
Will you look at that? The Samsung Exynos 990 was 19% faster than the Snapdragon 855+, and 57% faster than its predecessor, the Exynos 9820!
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : RAM + Storage
The top-of-the-line model pairs 16 GB LPDDR5 memory with 512 GB fast UFS 3.0 storage. The other two models come with 12 GB LPDDR5 memory, and either 128 GB or 256 GB storage.
If that’s not enough, the Galaxy S20 Ultra has a hybrid SIM tray, which allows you to use either two nano SIM cards simultaneously, or one nano SIM card and a microSD card for additional storage.
It also supports eSIM, which allows you to activate and swap mobile plans without using a physical SIM card; as well as the possibility of using two mobile plans with a microSD card!
Our review sample was the base model, which means it comes with just 12 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and 128 GB of internal storage.
Of that, 7.5 GB of memory and 104 GB of storage is free and available to use, out-of-the-box.
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Camera Features
In the front, it has a single 40 MP camera with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
At the back, it has a quad-camera system, which consists of :
a 108 MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, PDAF and OIS,
a 48 MP telephoto camera (10X hybrid optical zoom) with f/3.5 aperture and OIS,
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture,
a VGA DepthVision camera with f/1.0 aperture (for depth sensing)
In addition, it is the first Samsung smartphone to be able to record 8K videos!
We can also see a third microphone in the camera bump, which is used to support Audio Zoom – letting you zoom into the action and focus on sound from the subject, while reducing ambient noise.
10X Hybrid Optic Zoom
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra uses a folded lens design, to deliver a 10X Hybrid Optic Zoom range in a slim design.
The lens lays flat, and is positioned at the bottom of the camera. Light from the aperture is redirected by a prism into the lens, refracting at a 90-degree angle to increase the focal length.
Space Zoom Technology
Space Zoom combines their Hybrid Optic Zoom, with AI multi-frame processing enhancements to give you incredible zoom ranges.
Hybrid Optic Zoom : longer zoom range by cropping their new super resolution sensor, and pairing it with new zoom lens
AI Multi-Frame Processing : better image quality of digitally-zoomed images through AI algorithms
Bright Night Mode
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra also offers a Bright Night Mode to greatly improve its low-light photography capability.
Without Bright Night mode enabled, you cannot make out the Minion prisoner’s hands and feet, or the details of Darth Minion’s armour.
But when we took the same scene with Bright Night mode turned on, the brightness and clarity of the scene is greatly boosted!
You can now see the Minion prisoner’s hand and feet, and the intricate details of Darth Minion’s armour, even though both are in the shadows!
In fact, even though we intentionally framed the scene with the light at the back, you can clearly see the details of all three Minions and the teddy bear.
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Camera Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra uses the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HM1 sensor, which is notable for its large 1/33-inch sensor size and ultra-high resolution of 108 MP.
But it defaults to 12 MP – combining nine pixels into one for better image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
At the default 12 MP resolution using the new HEIC file format, each 4000 x 3000 pixel picture has a file size of only about 1-3 MB.
Even using the HEIC file format, the full 108 MP resolution of 2000 x 9000 pixels has a much larger file size of 10-20 MB!
Here are 8 high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The pictures look really good at the default 12 MP, with great detail even if you blow them up 100%. You really don’t need to go full 108 MP.
However, please note that the main camera has a very narrow depth-of-field. While this makes for great background bokeh (the flower picture above), it can be very difficult to focus on the subject.
Take a closer look at the broccoli picture, for example. Look at how only a narrow section of florets are in focus, with the rest quickly going out-of-focus.
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Video Samples
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is capable of recording 8K video from its 108 MP main camera, albeit only for 5 minutes, and without electronic image stabilisation, only optical image stabilisation provided by the lens.
It retains the ability to switch between cameras, and the Camera app has been modified to allow you to zoom all the way to 100X. However, the preset steps are much wider now.
Take a look at these 1080p, 4K and 8K video samples we took :
Video Sample #1 : Blues Band (1080p)
The image quality at 1080p is exceptional, with good control of the exposure. Image stabilisation by the main camera was good, but there was some shakiness when we switched to the telephoto camera.
Its audio quality and noise cancellation were also very good. Even though it was breezy that day, you can’t hear any wind noise.
Video Sample #2 : Blues Band (4K)
This is our favourite video recording resolution. Good image quality at a high resolution, with good exposure.
Video Sample #3 : Blues Band (8K)
The detail at 8K was exceptional, and the image stabilisation (only optical) was better than we expected. But we noticed some autofocus issues – you can see some seeking even though no one is moving.
Video Sample #4 : Street Market (1080p)
In this test of its image stabilisation capabilities, you can see that at 1080p, the S20 Ultra does a very good job of cancelling out hand shake while walking.
Video Sample #5 : Street Market (4K)
Image stabilisation at 4K was very good too. Very smooth video even while walking.
Video Sample #6 : Street Market (8K)
At 8K, there is some noticeable jerkiness, but thanks to OIS, it actually turned out better than we expected.
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : Our Verdict + Award
As the biggest and baddest smartphone in the S20 family, the Galaxy S20 Ultra boasts everything Samsung could fit inside.
Large 6.9-inch high-resolution display – check!
120 Hz Dynamic AMOLED panel – check!
Powerful new Samsung Exynos 990 platform – check!
Lots of free memory – check!
5G connectivity – check!
40 MP front camera – check!
108 MP main camera – check!
10X Hybrid Optic Zoom – check!
100X Space Zoom – check!
8K video recording – check!
AKG-tuned stereo speakers – check!
Large 5000 mAh battery – check!
Very fast battery charging – check!
If you want the very best Android smartphone money can buy, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra would be right at the top of a very, very short list.
The only complaints we have are pretty short :
it should have come with at least 256 GB of storage
it has a rather short battery life, especially with the display at 120 Hz
it is on the bulkier and heavier side
it is not cheap!
On the last point, it should be pointed out that if you pay peanuts for your smartphone, you often get one designed for monkeys. It should come to no surprise that we find ourselves wishing we earned enough to afford one.
For those with deep pockets, this is really one of the best, if not the best, Android smartphones you can buy in 2020. That’s why we have no qualms but to give it our Editor’s Choice Award. Congratulations, Samsung!
Samsung Galaxy S20 Smartphones : Where To Buy?
Here are the online purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy S20 family :
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Worried that gamers are swarming for the highly-affordable ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, ASUS urgently touted the advantages of the delayed ROG Phone 2 Global Edition.
Let’s compare the specifications of the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition against the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition model!
ROG Phone 2 – Super Fast Phone, Super Slow Rollout
ASUS launched the ROG Phone last year, calling it the world’s first smartphone designed for mobile gaming. Unfortunately, they squandered that advantage with an ultra-slow rollout in a fast-moving industry.
More nimble, new competitors like Black Shark not only introduced their own gaming smartphones, they literally surged past them.
Of course, the ROG Phone 2 boasts a 120 Hz display, with a 1 ms response time that totally crushes the likes of Black Shark 2 and Black Shark 2 PRO, and should guarantee silky-smooth gameplay, albeit at the expense of battery life.
That’s why ASUS gave it a massive 6,000 mAh battery – so it will last for quite a few rounds. The downside? It weighs almost a quarter of a kilo and is almost a full cm thick.
Of course, Black Shark has publicly pooh-poohed the usefulness of a 120 Hz display in this recent Q&A session :
Instead of a higher refresh rate, they opted to use DC dimming to reduce eyestrain, and an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur.
There is also the issue of ASUS quietly setting the ROG Phone 2 to use a 60Hz refresh rate instead, to improve battery life.
However, ASUS did NOT want anyone to think or talk about the Tencent Edition because it is MUCH CHEAPER, and is a darn better deal than the Global Edition that they only introduced in October 2019.
They urged their media friends to talk up the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition instead. But in our honest opinion, the Tencent version is a better deal for gamers. Here’s why!
In case you are wondering, the Snapdragon 855 Plus is just a speed-binned version of the regular Snapdragon 855. They are virtually identical.
The only differences are the clock speeds of two parts in the Snapdragon 855 Plus :
its single high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core is clocked at 2.96 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz.
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz.
In other words, its advantage in mobile gaming is a 4% increase in the short boost performance of the CPU, and a 14.9% increase in peak GPU performance.
ROG Phone 2 Global vs Tencent : Price + Availability
ASUS finally released the Global Edition (now renamed Elite Edition) in the US and India in September 2019, with other countries like Malaysia receiving a limited number in mid-October 2019.
Based on the US, European and Chinese launch prices of $899, €899 and RMB 5,999, it is a whopping 23% more expensive than the Black Shark 2 PRO – an extra RM 700 / ~US$240 / ~£136 / ~A$249!
The ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition is much cheaper, of course. Its RMB 3,499 retail price in China translates into approximately RM 2,059 / ~US$499 / ~£399 / ~A$724!
That is 80% off the cost of the Global Edition, and 31% cheaper than the Black Shark 2 PRO!
In the beginning, it was only available officially in China and India… and while you can purchase one off the grey market, you would not receive any warranty or even OTA updates for them.
But the good news is ASUS has finally released the STRIX Edition, which is basically the global version of the Tencent Edition.
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The ASUS ROG Phone 2 boasts an excellent 120Hz display, but did you know that ASUS secretly set it to just 60Hz?
In this guide, we will show you how to switch the ROG Phone 2 from 60Hz to 90Hz or 120Hz!
ROG Phone 2 : 120Hz Display Stuck At 60Hz
The ASUS ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) comes with a really nice and large 6.59-inch AMOLED display.
Its 1080 x 2340 resolution is much lower than the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note10+ or Galaxy S10+, but it boasts a 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Now, that 120Hz refresh rate is the ROG Phone 2’s key selling point. ASUS claims it gives gamers a real advantage against their opponents, as well as a nicer, silkier gaming experience.
However, unbeknownst to many – ASUS actually sets the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) to use a 60 Hz refresh rate, making it no different from its chief rival – the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK).
Amazingly, many gamers and some reviewers were not aware of this. If you see people commenting on how smooth the ROG Phone 2 display looks, without mentioning they manually turned on the 120Hz refresh rate – that’s just the placebo effect! 😀
Simple – as we pointed out from the very beginning – the 120Hz refresh rate will use up a lot more power than 60Hz.
Both the Qualcomm Adreno 640 GPU and the ROG Phone 2’s AMOLED display, has to work twice as hard with a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to 60Hz.
That’s why ASUS gave the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) a large and heavy 6,000 mAh battery. The 120Hz refresh rate would have been murder on battery life.
But ASUS also knew that reviewers and early users would comment about the poorer battery life, even with such a large battery. So the solution was apparently to quietly set the AMOLED display to use a 60Hz refresh rate.
ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!
Now, poorer ROG Phone 2 battery life aside, it would be really foolish to pay so much more for a 120Hz display only to have it run at 60Hz. That would be like buying a Porsche with a 80 km/h speed limiter installed.
So we created this video guide to help you switch your ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) from its default 60Hz refresh rate to 90Hz or 120Hz.
ASUS offers a total of three ROG Phone 2 refresh rate options – 60Hz (default), 90Hz and 120Hz.
You can switch the refresh rate on-the-fly, but unfortunately, it’s not part of Quick Settings. ASUS buried it in the Display settings.
Here is the quickest way to switch the ROG Phone 2’s refresh rate :
Swipe down from the top of the ROG Phone 2 display to access Quick Settings.
Tap on the Settings icon at the lower right corner, to bring up the Settings screen.
Tap on the Display option.
Under Display settings, tap on the Refresh rate option.
You will see that your ROG Phone 2 is set to use 60 Hz by default.
You can now select either 90 Hz or 120 Hz.
Just select the refresh rate you prefer, and the display will flicker a little as it changes the refresh rate.
That’s it – you are ready to go! Enjoy the higher refresh rate!
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To guarantee maximum gaming performance with no dropped frames, the Ludicrous Mode locks the CPU into its maximum clock speed.
Mille-Feuille Full Area Liquid Cooling System
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) features a Mille-Feuille full area liquid cooling system that keeps the entire device cool, as opposed to just cooling the CPU and GPU.
AMOLED Display With DC Dimming
Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) comes with a large 6.38-inch AMOLED display with DC dimming to reduce strain on the eyes.
It also boasts an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur.
Low Latency Touch Screen
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It claims to have the “world’s lowest latency touch screen“, with a response time of only 43.5 ms, slightly less than the iPhone XS at 45 ms and the Galaxy S10 at 60 ms.
Black Shark 2 Pro Has 5-Hour Battery Life
Despite its size, it only comes with a 4,000 mAh battery. However, they assure us that it will let you game for up to 5 hours before it needs a recharge.
X+2 Antenna
To ensure maximum wireless connectivity, it features an enhanced X+2 antenna design.
The two additional side antennas help the X-type smart antenna transfer data wirelessly no matter how you grip the phone.
Black Shark 2 Pro Gaming Audio
Its audio system is designed specifically for gamers, with dual front-facing speakers. They are also 25% larger than speakers of a standard smartphone.
It also comes with three gaming microphones – two of them noise-cancelling microphones in the front to ensure clear in-game voice chats.
4D Gaming Experience
Unlike regular smartphones, it can recognise different environments, weapons, movements and actions (e.g. hits), and can automatically vibrate itself to create a 4D gaming experience.
Black Shark 2 Pro Host Mode
If you want to play on a larger display, you can connect Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) to a TV or monitor using a HDMI cable. Then you can play your games like a console with the optional GamePad 3.0 accessory.
Fast Charging While Gaming
It supports 27 watt fast charging, which gives you 30 minutes playing time with a quick 5-minute charge, and one full hour of gaming with just 10 minutes of charging.
You don’t even have to stop playing. Even if, for example, you are playing PUBG, it will recharge to 15% in just 30 minutes.
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HUAWEI just unveiled three new Watch GT smartwatches – two Watch GT Active models, and a new Watch GT Elegant model for ladies. Here are their prices and availability!
The 2019 HUAWEI Watch GT Active | Elegant Smartwatches
The HUAWEI Watch GT smartwatches feature a tough stainless steel chassis, with a ceramic bezel and double crown controls. They are all waterproof up to 5 ATM.
The HUAWEI Watch GT Active has a 46 mm body with a 1.39-inch AMOLED touchscreen display (454 x 454 pixels). It has a battery life of about 14 days.
The HUAWEI Watch GT Elegant, on the other hand, has a smaller 42 mm body with a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display (390 x 390 pixels). It has a battery life of about 7 days.
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The 2019 HUAWEI Watch GT Active | Elegant Price + Availability
The 46 mm HUAWEI Watch GT Active will be sold at RM 899 / ~US$ 220 / ~£ 168 / ~€ 196 from 6 April 2019 onwards. It is available with Dark Green and Orange straps.
The 42 mm HUAWEI Watch GT Active will be sold at RM 799 / ~US$ 195 / ~£ 149 / ~€ 175 from 4 May 2019 onwards.
Coming Soon : HUAWEI Audio + Eyewear Accessories!
Here is a sneak peek of what HUAWEI will be introducing soon – a mini Bluetooth speaker, HUAWEI Freelace and the HUAWEI – Gentle Monster Eyewear!
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The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 smartphone is the world’s first smartphone with four rear cameras, but are its four cameras really a game-changer?
Do 4X cameras really give you 4X the fun?
Read our in-depth review and find out if the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) truly has a winning formula in its four cameras!
Updated @ 2019-02-02 : Updated with additional photos and information, as well as a new battery recharging speed comparison.
Updated @ 2019-01-19 : Upgraded to an in-depth review, with 3 additional pages and 5 new videos.
Updated @ 2018-11-26 : Upgraded to a preview of the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018, with three videos.
Originally posted @ 2018-09-21
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Revealed!
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) is the world’s first smartphone to feature FOUR cameras in the rear. They are arranged in the same vertical line, matching the triple cameras of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018.
As their designer, Sang Il Park, recently revealed, the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) is targeted at Millennials with a new minimalistic yet expressive design language.
Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Colour Options
Samsung is offering the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) in three colour options – Lemonade Blue, Bubblegum Pink, and Caviar Black. Here is a video comparing the three colour options:
Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Price + Availability
Although Samsung revealed the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) at the Galaxy UNPACKED KL 2018, it was only available for sale in November 2018. Here in Malaysia, sales kicked off on 23 November 2018.
Its launch price was €599 in Europe, and £549 in the United Kingdom. That works out to around US$ 699 in the United States, and RM 2,885 in Malaysia.
However, Malaysians are SUPER LUCKY because Samsung is only selling the Galaxy A9 2018 at RM 1,999 / ~US$ 477 / ~£372!
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Here are some direct purchase links (accurate as of 1 February 2019) :
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a very large 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels. This is an Infinity Display, which means it has very thin bezels, allowing it to deliver a more immersive viewing experience in a smaller package.
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal flash storage.
The Snapdragon 660 is a mid-range SoC from mid-2017. It pairs four high-performance Kryo 260 Gold cores with four low-power Kyro 260 Silver cores, and comes with a fast Adreno 512 GPU.
Its key selling point though are its photography capabilities. Specifically, it boasts a very high-resolution 24 MP front camera, and FOUR rear cameras. We will take an in-depth look later in this preview.
All those capabilities are powered by a 3,800 mAh battery, ensconced in a chassis that is only 7.8 mm thick, and weighs only 183 grams. Unlike the Galaxy A7 2018, the Galaxy A9 2018 comes with the bi-directional USB Type C port.
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Launched in May 2017, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is a powerful mid-range mobile SoC.
It combines eight Qualcomm Kryo 260 processor cores, with an Adreno 512 GPU, a Snapdragon X12 modem, a Spectra 160 camera ISP and a Hexagon 680 DSP.
It has two processor clusters – a high-performance cluster of four Kryo 260 Gold cores running at 2.2 GHz, and a low-power cluster of four Kryo 260 Silver cores running at 1.84 GHz.
The Kryo 260 Gold is a semi-custom version of the Cortex-A73, while the Kryo 260 Silver is a semi-custom version of the Cortex A53.
Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 660 is up to 20% faster in processor performance than the previous year’s Snapdragon 653, and up to 30% faster in graphics performance.
Rear Fingerprint Sensor
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 which uses a side fingerprint sensor, Samsung uses a rear fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK).
The rear fingerprint sensor offers a familiar log-in option for many users, but it is not be possible to use while the Galaxy A9 2018 is attached to a car mount.
But more importantly, this is a new swipe-type fingerprint sensor that is much faster and accurate to use. We were impressed with how fast it took to register our fingerprints using this fingerprint sensor.
If you are concerned about accidentally triggering the Bixby button, we are glad to report that Samsung fixed that by swapping the position of the Bixby button with the Power button.
This means the Bixby button will be the sole button on the left side, while the Volume Control and Power buttons are on the right side. This should eliminate the chance of accidentally pressing the Bixby button while trying to change the volume.
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Triple Card Tray
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby capability, with support for LTE Cat12 downloads and LTE Cat13 uploads. The good news is – it comes with a triple card tray. In addition to the two nano SIM cards, it has a dedicated slot for a microSD card.
Now, it comes with 128 GB of internal storage, which should be plenty for most users. Even so, the microSD card slot allows you to add more storage – up to 512 GB. That would give you more storage than many laptops!
The microSD card is also useful for another reason. The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) is not water-resistant, so storing your recorded photos and videos on the microSD card protects them, in case you accidentally drop your phone into water… or let a car run over it.
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24 MP Front Camera
In the front, the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a 24 MP camera built around the Sony IMX576 sensor, and f/2.0 lens.
The Sony IMX576 is the world’s highest-resolution image sensor, and is usually used only in flagship devices like the HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro.
The wide f/2.0 aperture will help ensure that low-light selfies are possible, even without flash.
4X Cameras In The Back!
The marquee feature of the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) is its quad-camera module in the back. It is, after all, the world’s first smartphone to feature four rear cameras.
Supported by a single LED flash, the quad camera module is made up of :
a 24 MP primary camera with f/1.7 lens and OIS (optical image stabilisation)
an 8 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.4 lens and 120º FOV
a 10 MP telephoto camera
a 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens
Even though there are four cameras, only three of them actually take pictures or videos. The depth sensor is not an imaging camera, and is only used for better depth perception, and subject separation (from the background).
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The wide angle camera boasts the same 120° viewing angle as the human eye, while the telephoto camera gives you extra reach. Here are some photos to show you the differences between the three cameras :
The 5 MP depth sensor is slaved to the main camera, allowing to deliver Live Focus and more accurate software bokeh capabilities. That said, we have to question why it is even necessary.
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That means it was capable of withstanding complete immersion in water up to 1.5 m in depth, for up to 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, Samsung dropped this capability in the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK). This is a real shame, because the IP68 dust- and water-resistance is a major KSP (key selling point) for Samsung. It is one of the ways they are able to differentiate their A series smartphones from the competition.
Ergonomics
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a very large 6.3-inch AMOLED display. But because it’s an Infinity Display – basically it has thin bezels, it is still comfortable to hold. It is about the same size as a 5.7-inch smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Price Check).
Of course, this is still a two-handed device, because of its height. If you prefer to use only one hand, you can turn on the One-handed mode option.
The Super AMOLED display is beautiful as always. However, the Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels results in a non-standard 18.5:9 display ratio. Watching movies will result in some pillarboxing– a black bar on each side of the movie.
The gradated colour scheme at the back is beautiful, and surprisingly smudge-resistant. And from what we understand, the front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Even so, we recommend using the bundled clear TPU bumper case – it protects the glass panels, while still showcasing the beautiful back.
Setting Up The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) runs on Android 8.0 Oreo, with Samsung Experience 9.0. It is very easy to set-up, and should take only about 5-7 minutes to complete.
In fact, it should take less time than usual, because the fingerprint swipe sensor is very fast and accurate. You only need about three swipes to register a fingerprint!
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Available Memory & Storage
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with 6 GB of LPDDR4 memory. There is relatively little bloat, with 3.9 GB (65%) of memory available for use. This is plenty enough to run several apps simultaneously, even memory-guzzling games.
It comes with 128 GB of internal flash storage, of which just under 109 GB is freeto use. That is enough space to store about 15,500 photos, 14 hours of 1080p videos, or 5 hours of 4K videos. If that’s not enough for you, you can top it up with a microSD card of up to 512 GB in capacity!
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Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Camera Performance – Photo Samples
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) uses the superb 24 MP Sony IMX576 in its primary camera, with a really bright and fast f/1.7 aperture. It is supported by an 5 MP depth sensorwith f/2.2 aperture.
The maximum 24 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 5664 x 4248 pixels, and a file size of between 6 MB and 7 MB.
Here are six high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The resolution and detail in the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018’s photos are incredible. You can see the intricate detail of the flower petals, the individual buds of the broccoli florets, and the texture of the pepper seeds.
It also did a great job of bringing out the colour of the subject matter. Every colour is accurately rendered and automatically “amped up” by AI algorithms. If you do not like the increased vividness though, you can turn off the Scene Optimiser feature.
The f/1.7 aperture naturally creates a very narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But you have to be more careful in framing the shot, because the subject may end up out-of-focus.
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a Live Focus feature, but it’s not the same as the Live Focus capability in Samsung Galaxy Note9, even though it has a telephoto camera. Instead, it uses the depth sensor to separate the subject from the background, before applying a software bokeh effect to the background.
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Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Camera Performance – Video Samples
Even though Samsung used the Sony IMX576 sensor in both front and rear main cameras, they limited the front camera to 1080p video recording.
They enabled 4K video recording for the rear cameras, but with electronic image stabilisation disabled. Image stabilisation is only enabled for 1080p or lower resolution videos.
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano Performance (1080p)
At 1080p, the electronic image stabilisation is pretty good. However, the Galaxy A9 2018 appears to have trouble controlling the brightness – the pianist, Mr. Yang, appears too dark while the bright background is overly bright.
Its noise cancellation wasn’t very good, but on the upside – the audio range is wide and rich.
Video Recording Test #2 : Piano Performance (4K)
When we increased the resolution to 4K, the video was noticeably more jerky although it was better than we expected it to be.
Note the 5-7 seconds after we switch to the telephoto camera (and back). For a few seconds, the camera has trouble focusing, and there is a sudden jerk as it finds its focus.
Video Recording Test #3 : CNY Showcase (1080p)
The image stabilisation is good, but we noticed that the camera has some trouble focusing on a new scene as we walked up and down the showcase.
Video Recording Test #4 : CNY Showcase (4K)
Even without image stabilisation, the jerkiness was less obvious than we expected. Again, there was a slight delay before the camera focused correctly. Note how the lanterns look blur as we reach the top of the showcase, before the camera focused on them properly.
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Even though the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is a rather dated mid-range SoC, it held up admirably against the newer mobile SoCs. In fact, it was 9% faster than the Samsung Exynos 7885 used in the Galaxy A7 2018, and just 9% slower than the next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 used in the OPPO R17 Pro.
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
Next, we tested the Galaxy A9 2018’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
Despite its age, the Galaxy A9’s Snapdragon 660 has pretty good gaming performance. It is 70% faster than the OPPO R17 Pro‘s Snapdragon 710, and comes within 17.5% of the flagship-class Kirin 970 that powers the Honor Play smartphone. Not bad!
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the Galaxy A9 2018’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
The problem with using an older 14 nm SoC like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is the higher power consumption which results in a shorter battery life. Even though it has slightly more battery capacity, the Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a shorter battery life than the two smartphones with 10 nm processors in this comparison :
43 minutes (7%) shorter than the Honor Play, with its flagship-class Kirin 970; and
2.5 hours (22.5%) shorter than the OPPO R17 Pro with its mid-range Snapdragon 710.
That said, 9 hours plus of battery life is nothing to sneeze at. Let’s remember – that’s over 9 hours running the benchmark non-stop. Its real-world battery life will be significantly longer
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Battery Recharging Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with an adaptive fast charger with a power output of 15 W. Take a look at how fast it recharged the 3,800 mAh battery.
It took the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) just under 92 minutes to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. Its 15 watt charger actually recharges faster than the Honor Play‘s 18 watt charger.
That is a battery life : recharging ratio of 6:1 – a good ratio. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, charge it for 10.5 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 85% level. This took just 56 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 35.5 minutes to top up the remaining 15%.
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Our Verdict
Last year, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 really impressed us with a great combination of features and performance. It was also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to feature IP68 dust- and water-resistance, as well as the USB Type C port.
For 2018, Samsung chose to “split” its replacement. The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 is really a “lite” version, and the true A7 2017 replacement is this – the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018.
Samsung introduced a number of new features. The marquee feature is the world’s first quad-camera system in the rear, and a new 24 MP front camera. Together with the Galaxy A7 2018, it is also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to feature an Infinity Display, with ultra-thin bezels.
In addition, Samsung not only doubled its memory to 6 GB, they actually quadrupled its storage capacity to 128 GB. And unlike the Galaxy A7 2018, it comes with a rear fingerprint sensor, a USB Type C port, and a larger battery with a faster 15 watt charger.
The quad camera system is a bit of an oddball. With the telephoto camera in the mix, the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK) does not actually require the depth sensing camera. As Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Samsung Galaxy Note9 have proven, the telephoto camera can double as a depth sensor.
When it comes to photos, both its front and rear cameras are excellent, with its main 24 MP camera particularly great in low-light conditions, thanks to its fast and bright f/1.7 lens. The additional telephoto and ultra wide-angle cameras also proved to be useful in getting more creative shots.
Too bad its video recording capabilities was not as good as we expected. We also bemoan the lack of IP68 water-resistance. We hope Samsung will look into improving its video recording capabilities, and adding IP68 into next year’s model.
That said, we have to commend Samsung for the great design they adopted for the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 (MY | US | UK). It is really a work of art. If you like a great-looking smartphone, this is definitely something to consider.
Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A9 2018
Display
6.3-inch AMOLED display
-1080 x 2220 pixels
Operating System
Android 8.1 Oreo
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Processor
4 x Qualcomm Kyro 260 (2.2 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kyro 260 (1.8 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 512
Memory
6 GB
Storage
128 GB
microSD card (up to 512 GB)
Front Camera
24 MP Sony IMX576 sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
Quad Camera System
- 24 MP primary camera with f/1.7 lens and OIS
- 8 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.4 lens and 120º FOV
- 10 MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 lens
- 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens
Connectivity
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
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Ever since they were announced at Computex 2016, ASUS has churned out a number of ZenFone 3 models, like the ZenFone 3 Ultra phablet and the eponymous ZenFone 3 smartphone. But what mobile photographers have been waiting for was ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL).
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the photography-focused ZenFone 3 model designed to take on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) head-to-head, and beat it in every aspect. Yet it costs only half as much! Don’t believe us? Read on and find out for yourself!
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom vs. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus
We are serious about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) taking on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada). Check out this comparison of their specifications and see how they compare with each other!
Specifications
ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom
Apple iPhone 7 Plus (32 GB)
Display
5.5" Full HD AMOLED display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
- 500 nits brightness
5.5" Full HD IPS display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
- 625 nits brightness
192 kHz / 24-bit Hi-Res Audio support
5 magnet speaker with NXP Smart Amp
Dual microphone with noise cancellation
VoLTE support
DTS Headphone:X virtual surround sound technology
No Hi-Res Audio support
Stereo speakers
FM Radio
Yes
No
Battery
5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery
Supports reverse charging
2,900 mAh lithium-ion battery
No reverse charging support
Dimensions
77 mm wide x 154.3 mm tall x 7.99 mm thick
77.9 mm wide x 158.2 mm tall x 7.3 mm thick
Weight
170 grams
188 grams
Colour Options
Navy Black, Glacier Silver, Rose Gold
Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black, Jet Black
Price
US$ 329
US$ 769
We will go into more detail later, but first, let’s unbox the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom!
Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is a premium smartphone, so it comes to no surprise that ASUS gave it the full treatment. It even comes with a soft case and a pair of ZenEar earphones!
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Inside the box, you will find the following items :
One ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) smartphone
One ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom soft case
One set of ASUS ZenFone 3 User Guide, Warranty leaflet and IMEI stickers
One 10 W ASUS charger with a 3-pin adaptor
One USB Type C cable
One pair of ASUS ZenEar earphones with four spare earbuds
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The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL)
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom has a 5.5″ display like the iPhone 7 Plus, but it is slightly smaller and lighter. Instead of the usual IPS display though, the ZenFone 3 Zoom uses an AMOLED display that is protected by the latest Gorilla Glass 5 cover with a 2.5D edge, and a full metal unibody chassis.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC as the ZenFone 3 smartphone. It comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory and 64 GB of internal flash memory. All that is powered by a large 5,000 mAh battery.
The button placements are the same as that of other ZenFone 3 models – the Power and Volume control buttons are on the right side, with the hybrid SIM slot on the left side, and the fingerprint sensor on the back.
Like many thin devices, the audio port on the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is located at the bottom, next to the bidirectional Type C USB port. But note that it is still using USB 2.0 standard, not the latest USB 3.1 standard.
Hybrid SIM & Fingerprint Sensor
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has dual SIM, dual standby capability. It has a hybrid SIM tray for two nano SIM cards. The second SIM card tray (SIM2) doubles as a microSD card slot (up to 256 GB). Both SIM1 and SIM2 support 3G and 4G connectivity, but only one SIM card can connect to the 3G / 4G network – the other can only connect to a 2G network.
The ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has an all-aspect fingerprint sensor located at the back, just under the main cameras. Our tests showed that it requires just 10 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and is very fast and accurate in recognising the registered fingerprint.
The ZenFone 3 Zoom Cameras
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) boasts a 13 MP front camera, built around the Sony IMX214 sensor and a 5-element Largan lens with f/2.0 aperture. It does not have a dedicated LED flash but uses screen flash instead, like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada).
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Like the iPhone 7 Plus, the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has a dual camera system, with a main camera and a zoom camera. This is different from the dual-lens camera of the Huawei Mate 9 or the Honor 8 smartphones, which combines images from two cameras with the same focal length.
Its main camera boasts the Sony IMX362 sensor with large 1.4 µm pixels, and Dual Pixel PDAF technology. It is coupled to a 6-element lens with f/1.7 aperture, and boasts 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation as well as 3-axis electronic image stabilisation capabilities.
The zoom camera has a 12 MP sensor of unknown model, paired with a 59 mm f/2.6 lens. This gives us a 2.3X optical zoom over the main camera. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) has a similar zoom camera, with a shorter 2X zoom and an f/2.8 lens.
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Setting Up The ZenFone 3 Zoom
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and is very easy to set-up. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5 minutes to finish the setup process.
The Ergonomics
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is a 5.5″ smartphone that is 7.7 cm wide, so it is a two-handed device. But because it’s reasonably thick at just under 8 mm, it offers better grip than its thinner rivals. The large display with its full HD resolution is just perfect for watching movies. We also applaud ASUS for using an AMOLED display – it is generally more vivid and power-efficient.
We especially like the satin finish of the anodised aluminium chassis. It is smooth and comfortable to touch, and is resistant to fingerprint smears. Adding on the provided soft case greatly increases grip, but the Power button may be harder to activate.
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Available Memory & Storage
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory, of which 2.2 GB (55%) is free to use. That is more memory than some smartphones ship with! You will never run out of memory with the ZenFone 3 Zoom!
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) also has 64 GB of internal flash memory. Of that, just under 52 GB is available to use. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).
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Camera Performance – Photos
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the excellent Sony IMX362 sensor for its main camera, which boasts very advanced optical and electronic image stabilisation and a fast f/1.7 lens. The full 12 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 3928 × 2944 and a file size of between 4 to 8 MB.
Here are 16 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
As the picture show, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) can really produce amazing pictures. The automatic HDR capability worked great too, adding dynamic range whenever the light permits. The final result – very vivid colours, even in low light. For that, we have to thank the Sony IMX362 sensor with its large 1.4 µm pixels, and the fast
