Tag Archives: Android 11

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.

 

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Why You Should Buy The Galaxy Tab A8 For Your Family!

You may not be aware, but the new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is specially designed for families!

Find out why the new Galaxy Tab A8 tablet is such a great option for your family!

 

Why You Should Buy The Galaxy Tab A8 For Your Family!

Many people are not aware but Samsung created the Galaxy Tab A8 specifically for families, and here’s why it’s a great tablet for families.

Large Full HD+ Display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has a large 10.5-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution that is great for both education and entertainment.

The large display not only gives you a more immersive viewing experience, its multi-window support allows you to split the screen in half to do two things at the same time!

You can adjust the window focus with a simple drag and drop, share content between apps, and even drag and drop a notification!

Sleek + Light

Despite the large display size, the Galaxy Tab A8 is a thin and lightweight tablet with a sleek 6.9 mm metal body that only weighs 508 grams.

This is an important consideration for families, as heavy tablets are not only unwieldy for younger children, they increase the risk of drops and other expensive accidents.

Powerful + Long-Lasting

Tablets for family use do not need extreme performance. They just need decent performance and a long battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is built around an 8-core processor, with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded through a dedicate microSD card slot.

What will impress your family the most is its massive 7,040 mAh battery, which supports 15W fast charging! Not only will it last many hours of non-stop use, it will recharge faster than usual.

Screen Recorder

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with a built-in Screen Recorder feature that lets you easily record any online class, for revision later.

They can also mark and annotate directly on the recording, and take notes during the online class.

Samsung Kids

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 also comes with Samsung Kids built-in, allowing you to restrict younger children to a completely safe environment to explore and learn.

The improved Parental control lets you set limits on playtime, give selective access to apps, and see your children’s activities at a glance.

Quad Speakers + Dolby Atmos

Most tablets at this price point only comes with dual speakers, but believe it or not, this highly-affordable tablet comes with four speakers!

Its quad speaker system also supports Dolby Atmos surround sound, for exceptional audio clarity and depth!

Samsung Knox Security

Even at this price point, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is protected on the hardware level by Samsung Knox.

Samsung Knox is a multi-layered security system that constantly inspects the tablet’s core software, to ensure its data integrity.

Incredible Price Point

Here’s the best part about the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 tablet – its highly affordable price of just RM999 / US$229.99 / £204 / A$373 / S$448?

This will allow even families on a tight budget to afford the Galaxy Tab A8.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Model SM-X200
Display 10.5-inch TFT Display
– 1200 x 1920 pixels
OS One UI 3 (Android 11)
Platform UNISOC Tiger T618
CPU 2 x Arm Cortex-A75 cores (2.0 GHz)
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G52 MP2
Memory +
Storage
3 GB + 32 GB
4 GB + 64 GB
External Storage microSD slot (up to 1 TB)
Front Camera 5 MP camera
Main Cameras 8 MP camera
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic,
Hall Sensor, Light Sensor
GPS GPS, GLONASS, QZSS
NFC No
Audio Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos
Battery 7,040 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 15 watt fast charging
Dimensions 246.8 mm wide
161.9 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 508 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 : Price + Availability!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is available in three colour options – Gray, Silver and Pink Gold, with two variants globally :

  • 3GB + 32GB
  • 4GB + 64GB

Here in Malaysia, it is only available in 3GB + 32GB variant in either the Gray or Pink Gold colour options, with a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM999 (about US$238 / £178 / A$336 / S$322).

From now until 28 February 2022, every purchase will come with two freebies :

  • one Samsung Clear Edge Cover worth RM99
  • one year Samsung Care+ coverage plan worth RM110

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

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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 Tab A8 : What You Need To Know!

Samsung just introduced the Galaxy Tab A8 – a tablet targeted at families!

Take a look at the new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, and find out if this is the tablet for you!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 : What You Need To Know!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a thin and lightweight tablet designed for learning and entertainment, with a very attractive price tag.

It has a large 10.5-inch display, with a sleek metal body that is only 6.9 mm thick and weighs just 508 grams.

Powered by an octa-core processor, it comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded through a dedicate microSD card slot.

The large display not only gives you a more immersive viewing experience, its multi-window support allows you to split the screen in half to do two things at the same time!

On top of that, this highly-affordable tablet comes with four speakers that support Dolby Atmos surround sound, for exceptional audio clarity and depth.

Don’t worry about the Galaxy Tab A8 running out of juice. It has a massive 7,040 mAh battery, which supports 15W fast charging!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Model SM-X200
Display 10.5-inch TFT Display
– 1200 x 1920 pixels
Protection NA
Water Resistance NA
OS One UI 3 (Android 11)
Platform UNISOC Tiger T618
CPU 2 x Arm Cortex-A75 cores (2.0 GHz)
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G52 MP2
Memory +
Storage
3 GB + 32 GB
4 GB + 64 GB
External Storage microSD slot (up to 1 TB)
Front Camera 5 MP camera
Main Cameras 8 MP camera
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Up to Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic,
Hall Sensor, Light Sensor
GPS GPS, GLONASS, QZSS
NFC No
Audio Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos
Battery 7,040 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 15 watt fast charging
Dimensions 246.8 mm wide
161.9 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 508 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 : Price + Availability!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is available in three colour options – Gray, Silver and Pink Gold, with two variants globally :

  • 3GB + 32GB
  • 4GB + 64GB

Here in Malaysia, it is only available in 3GB + 32GB variant in either the Gray or Pink Gold colour options, with a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM999 (about US$238 / £178 / A$336 / S$322).

From now until 28 February 2022, every purchase will come with two freebies :

  • one Samsung Clear Edge Cover worth RM99
  • one year Samsung Care+ coverage plan worth RM110

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 > 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 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

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!

HUAWEI nova 9 + WATCH GT 3 : Synergistic Interconnectivity!

The HUAWEI nova 9 and WATCH GT 3 are great devices on their own, but when used together – they offer synergistic interconnectivity!

 

HUAWEI nova 9 + WATCH GT 3 : What Do They Offer?

The HUAWEI nova 9 and WATCH GT 3 are here, offering a great set of features at highly-affordable price points!

HUAWEI nova 9

The HUAWEI nova 9 smartphone is targeted at millennials who love taking photos and videos, and enjoy creating content and vlogging too!

To cater to photo + video enthusiasts, the nova 9 comes with a 50 MP RYYB Ultra Vision Camera and a 32 MP selfie camera with ultra slow-mo capability, and a slew of other cool features.

It also has a large, beautiful 6.57-inch 120 Hz OLED display, which boasts a P3 colour gamut with ΔE < 1 colour accuracy.

On top of that, it has a large 4,300 map battery that supports 66W SuperCharge technology for super-fast charging.

HUAWEI WATCH GT 3

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 is designed to be an elegant technological masterpiece, with 3D curved glass and a modern body design.

It now lasts for days between charges, and comes with all-day SpO2 and heart rate monitoring, as well as a bevy of workout modes with a personal AI running coach built-in!

It also lets you keep connected through Bluetooth calling, and is ATM 5 water-resistant so feel free to take it for a swim!

 

HUAWEI nova 9 + WATCH GT 3 : Synergistic Interconnectivity!

Both the HUAWEI nova 9 and WATCH GT 3 are sophisticated devices in their own right, but you may not be aware that there is a synergistic interconnectivity when they are used together!

Keep Connected

Once you pair the WATCH GT 3 to your HUAWEI nova 9 smartphone, you will never miss another call even if you accidentally set your phone to silent.

Not only can you receive calls and text messages on your WATCH GT 3, you can also make calls using only voice commands! There is no need to dig out your phone to make the call.

Remote Camera Shutter

Did you know that the WATCH GT 3 can function as a remote camera shutter for your nova 9 smartphone?

This is an incredibly useful feature for solo travellers and photographers, who may not be able to get great shots even with a selfie stick.

All you have to do is set up your nova 9 smartphone at a suitable distance and angle. Then, you are free to snap as many poses as you wish, using the WATCH GT 3 to trigger each shot!

Music Player Controls

While you are out for a jog, or travelling to work, it may not be convenient to use your phone to control the music you are listening to.

Whether it is just to adjust the volume, or to switch to a different track, simply pair the WATCH GT 3 with your nova 9 smartphone, and use it to control your music player!

 

HUAWEI nova 9 + WATCH GT 3 : Where To Buy?

The HUAWEI nova 9 retails for just RM1,999 at these online and offline stores in Malaysia :

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes; and retails for RM1,099 with a leather strap, and RM999 with a fluoroelastomer strap. You can buy it at these online and offline stores in Malaysia :

 

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 | Fact CheckTech 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 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

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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.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | GamingTech ARP

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE Review : A Great Value Buy!

Here is my review of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE – the large “Fan Edition” tablet!

Find out why this 12.4-inch Samsung tablet is a great value buy!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Large Fan Edition Tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a “Fan Edition” version of the powerful but pricey Galaxy Tab S7+ tablet that I reviewed earlier.

It is a large 12.4-inch tablet, designed to offer the key features of the Galaxy Tab S7+, at a much more affordable price point.

To do that, it uses a standard LCD display, a mid-range mobile SoC with less memory and storage, as well as lower-resolution cameras.

Here is a quick comparison of the Tab S7 FE against its big brother, the Galaxy Tab S7+.

Specifications Galaxy Tab S7 FE Galaxy Tab S7+
Display Type 12.4-inch TFT 12.4-inch Super AMOLED
Display Resolution 1600 x 2560 pixels 1752 x 2800 pixels
Refresh Rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
Protection None Gorilla Glass Victurs
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
Memory +
Storage Options
4 GB + 64 GB
6 GB + 128 GB
6 GB + 128 / 256 GB
8 GB + 512 GB
External Storage Up to 1 TB MicroSD card
Front Camera 5 MP 8 MP
Rear Camera 8 MP 12 MP + 5 MP
Connectivity WiFi-6
Bluetooth 5.2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C
WiFi-6
Bluetooth 5.1
USB 2.0 Type C
S Pen Standard S Pen Low-Latency S Pen
Fingerprint Sensor No Yes
Speakers Dual AKG Speakers Quad AKG Speakers
Battery 10,090 mAh battery
Dimensions 185.0 mm wide
284.8 mm tall
6.3 mm thick
185.0 mm wide
285.0 mm tall
5.7 mm thick
Weight 610 g 575 g

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes in four colour options (from left to right) : Mystic Green, Mystic PinkMystic Silver and Mystic Black.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Price + Availability

Here in Malaysia, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE will be available at these launch prices :

  • 4 GB + 64 GB : RM1,899 (approx. US$454 / £337 / A$628 / S$617)
  • 6 GB + 128 GB : RM2,199 (approx. US$525 / £390 / A$728 / S$714)

Here are some online purchase options :

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Unboxing + Contents!

The new Galaxy Tab S7 FE is Samsung’s tablet for the masses, offering a massive 12.4-inch display with a powerful mid-range processor and dual AKG speakers!

It comes in a white cardboard box, containing these items :

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet
  • Quick Start Guide + Warranty Card
  • 15 Watt Samsung Travel Fast Charger
  • USB Type A to Type C data and power cable
  • SIM tray ejection pin

Fortunately, Samsung included a fast charger in-the-box, albeit a standard 15 watt charger and not a 45 watt charger.

Next Page > Galaxy Tab S7 FE Key Features

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Hands-On + Key Features!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a more affordable Fan Edition of the excellent but pricey Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ that we reviewed earlier.

12.4-inch Display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE boasts a 12.4-inch TFT display, which looks massive especially if you are upgrading from smaller tablets like the Apple iPad.

This is not an AMOLED display, but it is bright and looks sharp thanks to the high resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G mobile platform, which offers :

  • a Kryo 670 Prime (A78-based) core running at 2.4 GHz,
  • three Kryo 670 Gold (A78-based) cores running at 2.2 GHz,
  • four Kryo 670 Silver (A55-based) cores running at 1.8 GHz
  • Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz

Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G is a new mid-range mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, which should offer preppy performance without the higher power consumption of flagship mobile SoC.

RAM + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes with two memory and storage options :

  • 4 GB of RAM + 64 GB of internal storage
  • 6 GB of memory + 128 GB of internal storage

The good news is that it comes with a microSD card tray that supports up to 1 TB of additional storage.

Front + Rear Cameras

In the front, it has  a 5 MP fixed focus camera, that is capable of taking photos with a 2576 x 1932 pixel resolution, and Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps.

This front camera is decent but unexceptional. Don’t expect to dazzle your clients on Zoom!

At the back, it has an 8 MP camera that is capable of taking photos with the resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels.

Despite the higher resolution, it is only capable of recording 1080p video at 30 fps. It does, however, supports electronic image stabilisation (EIS).

You should note that this camera lacks an LED light. The hole you see in the camera bump conceals a microphone.

Buttons

There are only two buttons on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE – the Volume control buttons and the Power button.

They are located on the upper right side when held vertically, and left side of the top when held horizontally.

As with Samsung smartphones, double-pressing the Power button activates the Camera app, allowing you to quickly take photos or videos.

Only One Port

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity.

It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.

Dual AKG Speakers

Like its premium brother – the Galaxy Tab S7+, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE has AKG-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

The only difference is the cheaper FE (Fan Edition) has just two speakers, while the Tab S7+ has four.

Battery + Charging

Powering all that is a massive 10,090 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 45 watt fast wired charging.

When used with a 45 watt charger, Samsung says it will fully recharge in just 90 minutes!

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, Samsung only provided a standard 15 watt fast charger in the box. In the next page, I will show you just how long it takes to fully recharge its battery on just 15 watts…

Next Page > Battery Life, Recharging Speed, Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE has a massive 10,090 mAh battery, which promises to deliver up to 13 hours of video playback time.

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 room brightness changed.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20%, repeating several times.

Will you look at that – 12.5 hours of battery life! A little shy of the rated 13 hours, but still much longer than the 8 hours we got with the Galaxy Tab S7+!

With such a long battery life, you can confidently take it on-the-go for a full day’s work without worrying about charging it.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Battery Recharging Speed

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE supports the phenomenally-fast 45 watt super fast charging. Unfortunately, Samsung only bundles an anaemic 15 watt fast charger in the box…

Take a look at how fast its bundled 15 watt fast charger topped up its massive 10,090 mAh battery…

Not bad. The bundled 15 watt charger took just 2 hours 36 minutes to fully recharge its battery from 20% to 100%.

That gives it a recharging speed of about 52 mAh per minute, which is as fast as some 25W or 27W fast chargers.

This gives it a battery life : recharging ratio of just 4.8:1. A general rule of thumb – for one of hour battery life, you will need to charge it for 12.5 minutes.

While that is TWICE as fast as the Galaxy Tab S7+, it cannot match the HUAWEI MatePad Pro, which has a battery life : recharging ratio of 8.5:1, and only needs 7 minutes of charging for each hour of battery life.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : PCMark Results

PCMark Tab S7+ Note20
Ultra
Tab S7 FE Xiaomi
Mi 9
MatePad
Pro
Mobile Platform SD 865+ Exynos 990 SD 778G SD 855 Kirin 990
Performance Score
(Average)
12348 10523 9747 9471 8575
Web Browsing 11864 8865 7355 7792 6723
Video Editing 7664 6232 6028 6038 5656
Writing 12659 11112 10512 10919 10969
Photo Editing 26230 30789 22188 20161 15991
Data Manipulation 9511 6825 8505 7356 6952

Will you look at that? The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G is slightly faster than Snapdragon 855 – the last-generation flagship mobile SoC from Qualcomm!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : 3DMark Results

3DMark Tab S7+ Note20
Ultra
Xiaomi
Mi 9
Tab S7 FE MatePad Pro
Device SD 865+ Exynos 990 SD 855 SD 778G Kirin 990
Sling Shot Extreme (OpenGL) 6958 6642 5487 5386 4865
Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) 6457 5722 4808 4266 4283
Sling Shot Unlimited 8793 8128 7241 6688 4323

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE has good gaming performance too, coming in just slightly slower as the Xiaomi Mi 9, which is powered by the flagship-class Snapdragon 855.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : AnTuTu Results

AnTuTu Tab S7+ Note20
Ultra
Tab
S7 FE
MatePad
Pro
Xiaomi
Mi 9
Device SD 865+ Exynos 990 SD 778G Kirin 990 SD 855
AnTuTu Score 577726 522735 508008 446098 371473
CPU 161243 146783 157465 135977 126011
GPU 230859 215205 155115 144098 156318
Memory 98269 89376 79972 100944 77763
UX 87355 71371 115456 65079 11381

The Samsung Galaxy S7 FE delivered very good performance in AnTuTu, coming in :

Next Page > Verdict + Award, Where To Buy?

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Verdict + Award

Samsung originally introduced the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ as a cheaper but powerful Android alternative to the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro. However, even its price tag put it out of reach of many users.

So Samsung came up with a Fan Edition of that tablet – the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, which sports the similarly large 12.4-inch display, at a much more affordable price point.

The large display really makes a lot of difference if you want a large workspace, or a more immersive gaming or movie experience. More so with its dual AKG speakers that off good bass and clarity.

Instead of the powerful but power-guzzling Snapdragon 865+, Samsung used the new Snapdragon 778G which is not only pretty darn fast, it is more power-efficient, giving it a much longer battery life.

It inevitably comes with less memory and storage, but even 4 GB of RAM is more than enough for most users. And if you run out of storage, you can always pop-in a microSD card for more storage.

Samsung also threw in a standard S Pen and a 15 watt charger in-the-box, but if you want faster charging – you will need to top up for a 45 watt fast charger.

Samsung sadly did not bundle the Galaxy Tab S7 FE with the Keyboard Cover, which is a critical accessory for this tablet.

I cannot emphasise the importance of the Keyboard Cover enough, as it not only protects the tablet and the stylus (in its own special compartment), it also gives you a keyboard and touchpad, turning your Tab S7 FE into a laptop!

If you do not need the keyboard, at least get the Book Cover. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a large and heavy tablet that you do NOT want to drop. Please remember that it lacks the Gorilla Glass Victus protection of its more expensive brother – the Galaxy Tab S7+.

Both the front 5 MP and rear 8 MP cameras can record 1080p videos at 30 fps, but the video quality from the front camera is rather poor. Fortunately, the rear 8 MP camera does a much better job.

Overall – the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE offers much more value for your money than the Galaxy Tab S7+. If you don’t need the frills, you can literally buy TWO FE tablets for the price of one Tab S7+!

That’s why we have no qualms giving it our Editor’s Choice Award! Nice job, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes in four colour options (from left to right) : Mystic Green, Mystic PinkMystic Silver and Mystic Black.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Price + Availability

Here in Malaysia, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE will be available at these launch prices :

  • 4 GB + 64 GB : RM1,899 (approx. US$454 / £337 / A$628 / S$617)
  • 6 GB + 128 GB : RM2,199 (approx. US$525 / £390 / A$728 / S$714)

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 > First PageMobileTech ARP

 

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

How Samsung Tests Galaxy Z Fold3 + Flip3 Foldable Phones!

Take a look at how Samsung tests the Galaxy Z Fold3 + Flip3, and find out why they are the most durable foldable smartphones yet!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 + Flip3 : Tougher Than Before!

Samsung’s third-generation foldable smartphones are getting rave reviews, but many people are still worried about the durability of the foldable displays.

Their new foldable displays have a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that are 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display.

According to Samsung, they are now certified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times. Even if you fold them 100 times a day, they will last 5.5 years!

In addition to sporting new Armor Aluminium protection, these are also the first foldable devices to boast IPX8 water-resistance!

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Review : Darn Good Value!

 

How Samsung Tests Galaxy Z Fold3 + Flip3 Foldable Phones!

To ensure that the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphones will deliver that kind of durability, Samsung put them through various tests :

  • environmental chamber tests – to ensure that the phones will work properly in a variety of climates, from dry to humid, and hot to cold
  • water resistance tests – to ensure the water resistance of the phones in different folding positions, including Flex mode.
  • S Pen drawing tests – to ensure the performance of the digitizer under the foldable display reliably works, even where the display folds.
  • folding tests – to ensure that both Galaxy Z devices will outlast 200,000 folds, or around five years of use.

Take a look at this behind-the-scenes video to see how Samsung tests the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3 smartphones!

 

Where To Buy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 + Flip3?

You can get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 at these online options :

You can get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 at these online 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 Tab S7 FE : Unboxing + Hands-On Preview!

Here is my unboxing and hands-on preview of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

Find out what’s inside its box, and take a close-up look of this Fan Edition tablet for the masses!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Unboxing + Contents!

The new Galaxy Tab S7 FE is Samsung’s tablet for the masses, offering a massive 12.4-inch display with a powerful mid-range processor and dual AKG speakers!

It comes in a white cardboard box, containing these items :

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet
  • Quick Start Guide + Warranty Card
  • 15 Watt Samsung Travel Fast Charger
  • USB Type A to Type C data and power cable
  • SIM tray ejection pin

Fortunately, Samsung included a fast charger in-the-box, albeit a standard 15 watt charger and not a 45 watt charger.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Hands-On + Key Features!

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a more affordable Fan Edition of the excellent but pricey Galaxy Tab S7+ that we reviewed earlier.

12.4-inch Display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE boasts a 12.4-inch TFT display, which looks massive especially if you are upgrading from smaller tablets like the Apple iPad.

This is not an AMOLED display, but it is bright and looks sharp thanks to the high resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G mobile platform, which offers :

  • a Kryo 670 Prime (A78-based) core running at 2.4 GHz,
  • three Kryo 670 Gold (A78-based) cores running at 2.2 GHz,
  • four Kryo 670 Silver (A55-based) cores running at 1.8 GHz
  • Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz

Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G is a new mid-range mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, which should offer preppy performance without the higher power consumption of flagship mobile SoC.

RAM + Storage

Samsung offers two memory and storage options :

  • 4 GB of RAM + 64 GB of internal storage
  • 6 GB of memory + 128 GB of internal storage

The good news is that it comes with a microSD card tray that supports up to 1 TB of additional storage.

Front + Rear Cameras

In the front, it has  a 5 MP fixed focus camera, that is capable of taking photos with a 2576 x 1932 pixel resolution, and Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps.

This front camera is decent but unexceptional. Don’t expect to dazzle your clients on Zoom!

At the back, it has an 8 MP camera that is capable of taking photos with the resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels.

Despite the higher resolution, it is only capable of recording 1080p video at 30 fps. It does, however, supports electronic image stabilisation (EIS).

You should note that this camera lacks an LED light. The hole you see in the camera bump conceals a microphone.

Buttons

There are only two buttons on the Tab S7 FE – the Volume control buttons and the Power button.

They are located on the upper right side when held vertically, and left side of the top when held horizontally.

As with Samsung smartphones, double-pressing the Power button activates the Camera app, allowing you to quickly take photos or videos.

Only One Port

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity.

It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.

Dual AKG Speakers

Like its premium brother – the Galaxy Tab S7+, the Tab S7 FE has AKG-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

The only difference is the cheaper FE (Fan Edition) has just two speakers, while the Tab S7+ has four.

Battery + Charging

Powering all that is a massive 10,090 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 45 watt fast wired charging.

When used with a 45 watt charger, Samsung says it will fully recharge in just 90 minutes!

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, Samsung only provided a standard 15 watt fast charger in the box.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Specifications

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
Model SM-T733
Display 12.4-inch TFT
– 1600 x 2560 pixels
Operating System One UI 3.1 (Android 11)
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU 1 x Kryo 670 Prime (A78) core @ 2.4 GHz
3 x Kryo 670 Gold (A78) cores @ 2.2 GHz
4 x Kryo 670 Silver (A55) cores @ 1.8 GHz
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 642L @ 490 MHz
Memory +
Storage Options
4 GB + 64 GB
6 GB + 128 GB
External Storage Up to 1 TB MicroSD card
Front Camera 5 MP
Rear Camera 8 MP
Connectivity WiFi : Up to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C
GPS GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, QZSS
NFC No
S Pen Yes, provided in-box
Fingerprint Sensor No
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor
Battery 10,090 mAh battery
Charging 45 watt wired fast charging
Dimensions 185.0 mm wide
284.8 mm tall
6.3 mm thick
Weight 610 g

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes in four colour options (from left to right) : Mystic Green, Mystic PinkMystic Silver and Mystic Black.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE : Price + Availability

Here in Malaysia, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE will be available at these launch prices :

  • 4 GB + 64 GB : RM1,899 (approx. US$454 / £337 / A$628 / S$617)
  • 6 GB + 128 GB : RM2,199 (approx. US$525 / £390 / A$728 / S$714)

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)
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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 Performance Examined!

Take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone’s performance, and find out why this beauty is hiding a gaming beast inside!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Flagship Class Performance!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a very slim smartphone that folds to fit even the smallest pockets.

Yet it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world, with high-performance CPU + GPU cores :

  • a boosted Kryo 680 Prime core running at 2.84 GHz,
  • three high-performance Kryo 680 Gold cores running at 2.42 GHz,
  • four high-efficiency Kryo 680 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz, and
  • an Adreno 660 GPU running at 792 MHz

This actually makes it a great gaming smartphone and one that is slim and stylish, and does not feel like a brick!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 Galaxy
Z Flip 3
Galaxy
S21 Ultra
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Redmi
9T
Mobile Platform SD 888 Exynos
2100
Exynos
990
SD 750G SD 662
Performance Score 13317 12535 10523 7874 5986
Web Browsing 11637 10185 8865 7021 5844
Video Editing 7762 6336 6232 5693 3423
Writing 15316 15247 11112 7454 6657
Photo Editing 25357 37847 30789 15812 12031
Data Manipulation 11938 8310 6825 6424 4799

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 lets the Galaxy Z Flip 3 easily handle anything you throw at it, whether it’s just posting your latest Instagram pictures or editing a 4K video.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Gaming Performance

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

3DMark Galaxy
Z Flip 3
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Device SD 888 Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
Sling Shot Unlimited 9248 8026 3327
Wild Life Unlimited 3952 4504 3288
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
1174 1387 528

Look at that – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 packs a serious punch when it comes to gaming.

It may seem unbelievable because the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is so slim and stylish, but it will easily handle any game you throw at it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

The only problem is that because it’s so thin – it can get real toasty when you game on it. The back of the chassis can get as warm as 42°C.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu Galaxy
Z
Flip 3
Galaxy
S21 Ultra
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Redmi 9T
Device SD 888 Exynos
2100
Exynos
990
SD 750G SD
662
AnTuTu Score 696767 624411 522735 341908 173559
CPU 206228 166290 146783 105098 64505
GPU 242573 258995 215205 88068 31734
Memory 133586 120805 89376 60642 40377
UX 114380 78321 71371 88100 36943

The AnTuTu benchmark confirms that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a beast of a performer, beating even the very fast Galaxy S21 Ultra.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Performance Summary

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 doesn’t look like your typical flagship smartphone. It’s larger than normal but looks extraordinarily slim. So you may be forgiven if you thought Samsung gave it a mid-range processor to keep it cool.

This is a flagship smartphone, and it comes with the industry-leading Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile SoC, offering top-notch performance.

So you can count on it to easily handle anything and everything you throw at it, as the benchmark results above amply demonstrates.

The only problems with fitting such a powerful SoC into such a thin and light form factor? Heat and battery life, but that’s another story for another time!

 

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 buy one with these freebies :

  • RM350 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 buy 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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vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : What You Need To Know!

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 :

Specifications X70 Pro X70
Display 6.56-inch AMOLED
– 1080 x 2376 pixels resolution
– 120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz response rate
– HDR10+, Hi-Res
Platform MediaTek Dimensity 1200
– 1 x Arm Cortex-A78 core @ 3 GHz
– 3 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores @ 2.6 GHz
– 4 x Arm Cortex-A55 @ 2 GHz
– Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU
– 6-core MediaTek APU 3.0
Operating System Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Memory 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Extended RAM 4 GB
Storage 256 GB, UFS 3.1 128 GB, UFS 2.1
Front Camera 32 MP, f/2.45
Rear Cameras 50 MP, f/1.75
12 MP, f/1.98
12 MP, f/2.2
8 MP, f/3.4
40 MP, f/1.75
12 MP f/1.89
12 MP, f/2.2
Connectivity WiFi : Up to Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth : BT 5.2
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
GPS GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, QZSS, A-GPS
OTG Yes
NFC Yes
Fingerprint Sensor In-Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Colour Temperature,
Ambient Light, Proximity, E-compass, Gyroscope
Linear Motor Yes
IR Emitter Yes
Battery 4450 mAh battery 4400 mAh battery
Charging 44 watt FlashCharge
Dimensions 73.21 mm wide
158.3 mm tall
7.99-8.08 mm thick
75.39 mm wide
160.1 mm tall
7.55 mm thick
Weight 183-184 g 181-182 g

 

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.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

You can now pre-order or buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 foldable smartphone!

Find out how much it costs globally, and where to pick one up!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : What Are The Colour Options?

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in three colour options (from left to right) : Phantom Green, Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Unboxing + Hands-On Preview!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a starting price of US$1,799 – about £1,299 / A$2,449 / S$2,439 / RM 7,619.

Here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

  • RM850 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 the United States, you will get these offers or freebies when you buy a Galaxy Z Fold 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 Fold 3 :

  • Free Flip Case + S Pen + 25W Super Fast Charger
  • 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 Fold 3 :

  • Bonus $500 when you trade-in an eligible device
  • 50% off Samsung Care+

 

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.

 

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 : How Much + Where To Buy?

You can now pre-order or buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3!

Find out how much it costs globally, and where to pick one up!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : What Are The Colour Options?

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in four colour options (from left to right) : Green, CreamLavender and Phantom Black.

Samsung is also directly offering three more exclusive colours in their online store – Gray, Pink and White.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : My First Impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has 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+

 

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!

In the front, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, in the front.

And at the back, it has a dual-camera system :

  • 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.

 

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 : 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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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Galaxy Unpacked 2021 Trailer Hits 100 Million Views!

The upcoming Galaxy Unpacked 2021 is generating so much interest that its trailer hit 100 million views!

Find out why this is the most popular Galaxy Unpacked trailer so far!

 

Galaxy Unpacked 2021 Trailer Hits 100 Million Views!

The upcoming Galaxy Unpacked 2021 is generating so much interest that its trailer hit 100 million views!

If you watch it, it’s easy to see why it went viral.

The Inception-inspired Galaxy Unpacked 2021 trailer mirrored the genre-bending movie’s incredible folding landscape scene, highlighting just how fantastic the new Samsung Galaxy device will be.

Samsung tells us that the film was designed to challenge the status quo, finally disrupting a decade of incremental improvements to the smartphone, which increasingly look and work the same.

It is finally time, Samsung believes, for consumers to “get ready to unfold” something radically better with the new Samsung Galaxy foldable smartphone that will be unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2021!

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : What To Expect?

 

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : Where + When?

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event will be held virtually, and streamed on Samsung official websites, YouTube and Facebook.

The livestream starts on 11 August at these times globally :

  • Malaysia + Singapore : 10 PM (GMT+8)
  • US : 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PDT
  • UK : 3 PM
  • India : 7:30 PM IST
  • Australia : 12 AM AEST (12 August)

If you register your interest from now until 11 August, Samsung will give you an e-voucher worth RM300 / US$100 / SGD$100 or a complimentary Samsung Care+ (Australia), which you can use with the purchase of your next Galaxy device.

 

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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HONOR 50 | HONOR 50 Pro : What You Need To Know!

The HONOR 50 and HONOR 50 Pro smartphones were just launched in China!

Here is what you need to know about these new Chinese smartphones with “Giant Eyes”!

 

HONOR 50 | HONOR 50 Pro : What You Need To Know!

The HONOR 50 and HONOR 50 Pro are the first smartphones to debut from the new HONOR, after HUAWEI sold the brand to Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology.

It is also their first smartphone to reintroduce Google Mobile Services (which is banned to their original parent company – HUAWEI).

That itself is the biggest, and arguably, the most important news of their launch event on 16 June 2021.

But the most eye-catching part of these new HONOR smartphones? That can only be their Giant Eyes!

Performance

They are both built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G mobile platform, which has 8 processor cores :

  • 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
  • 3 x Qualcomm Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
  • 4 x Qualcomm Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.9 GHz)

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G also features the Adreno 642L GPU, Snapdragon X53 5G modem, Hexagon 770 AI engine, and Spectra 570L image signal processor.

The HONOR 50 Pro features dual VC (vacuum chamber) liquid cooling, paired with graphene sheet for better cooling performance. It also comes with a 4D linear motor for tactile feedback while gaming.

Both smartphone models come with 8 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card support, so you will not be able to add more storage.

OLED Displays

Both the HONOR 50 and HONOR 50 Pro come with OLED displays, capable of 10-bit colour with 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut and a 1 to 5 million contrast ratio.

The HONOR 50 has a 6.57-inch display, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. Meanwhile, the Pro model has a larger 6.72-inch display, with a resolution of 1236 x 2676 pixels.

Both displays have a 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 300 Hz touch sampling rate. They also have a 75° curved edge on both sides, with design cues that are remarkably reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy S10.

Cameras

In the front, both models come with a 32 MP high-resolution selfie camera. The Pro model has an additional front camera – a wide-angle 12 MP camera that boasts larger pixels for better low-light performance.

In the back, they both feature the same “quad-camera” system, that consists of :

  • a 108 MP main camera, with f/1.9 aperture
  • an 8 MP wide-angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture
  • a 2 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
  • a 2 MP depth sensor, with f/2.4 aperture

We should point out that the depth sensor does NOT take any pictures, so it’s really just a triple camera system.

Battery + Charging

The HONOR 50 has a 4,300 mAh battery, and supports 66 watt Super Fast Charging :

  • 20 minutes to charge to 70%
  • 45 minutes to charge to 100%

The Pro model comes with a slightly smaller 4,000 mAh battery but supports 100 watt Super Fast Charging :

  • 20 minutes to charge to 90%
  • 25 minutes to charge to 100%

As you can see, they are both pretty darn fast at recharging their batteries!

 

HONOR 50 | HONOR 50 Pro : Specifications

To make it easier for you, we compare their key specifications in this table :

Specifications HONOR 50 Pro HONOR 50
Display 6.72-inch OLED 6.57-inch OLED
Display Resolution 1236 x 2676 pixels 1080 x 2340 pixels
Display Features 120 Hz refresh rate
300 Hz touch sampling rate
100% DCI-P3
1:5 million contrast ratio
10-bit colour
Operating System Magic UI 4.2 (based on Android 11)
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
Dual VC Cooling Yes No
Memory 8 GB
Storage 256 GB 128 GB / 256 GB
External Storage None
Front Camera 32 MP (f/2.2)
12 MP ultra-wide (f/2.4)
32 MP (f/2.2)
Rear Cameras 108 MP main camera (f/1.9)
8 MP wide-angle camera (f/2.2)
2 MP macro camera (f/2.4)
2 MP depth sensor (f/2.4)
Connectivity WiFi-6
Bluetooth 5.2
USB Type C
4D Linear Motor Yes No
Fingerprint Sensor Under Display, Optical
Battery 4,000 mAh 4,300 mAh
Charging 100 W Super Fast Charge 66 W Super Fast Charge
Dimensions 74.7 mm wide
163.5 mm tall
8.0 mm thick
73.8 mm wide
160 mm tall
7.7 mm thick
Weight 187 g 175 g

 

HONOR 50 | HONOR 50 Pro : Price + Availability

Both smartphones are available for pre-sale booking in China at these price points :

  • HONOR 50 : RMB 2,699 (about RM1,737 / US$420 / £300 / A$552 / S$562)
  • HONOR 50 Pro : RMB 3,699 (about RM2,381 / US$575 / £411 / A$757 / S$770)

They are available in four colour options – Frost Cystal, Amber Red, Emerald Green and Midnight Black.

 

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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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vivo V21 OOTD Contest : Light Up Your Style!

vivo just kicked off their OOTD contest, giving you the opportunity to win a new V21 series smartphone and other cool prizes!

Here are the details!

 

vivo V21 OOTD Contest : Light Up Your Style!

Want to win yourself the new vivo V21 series smartphone and some cool prizes?

Then go join the new vivo V21 OOTD (Outfit of the Day) contest, which runs from now until 31 May 2021!

Contestants stand to win not only a brand-new vivo V21 series smartphone, but also limited-edition co-branded swag like t-shirt, cross-body bag, oversized shirt and bucket hat – all conceptualised and designed by local fashion labels like KitWoo, Evensince, Neonate and Cassey Gan!

vivo Light Up Your Style Contest Prizes
Grand Prize vivo V21 Series Smartphone
+ vivo exclusive co-branded item
1st Prize DJI OM 4 + vivo exclusive co-branded item
2nd Prize vivo Wireless Sport Lite + vivo exclusive co-branded item
Consolation Prize vivo exclusive co-branded item

 

vivo V21 OOTD Contest : How To Participate?

All you have to do is showcase your best creative interpretation of the theme – “Light“, using your lightweight and breezy outfits!

Step 1 : Style up and take your OOTD (Outfit of the Day) photo.

Step 2 : Go to the Light Up Your Style OOTD contest post on Facebook.

Step 3 : Post your photo to the comment section below, with the hashtags #vivoV21Series #LightUpYourStyle #ForYourBestMoments

Step 4 : Share the Light Up Your Style OOTD contest post on your Facebook wall!

Four winners will be selected from these entries, and the announcement will be posted on 3 June 2021.

 

vivo V21 + V21e Smartphones : 44 MP Selfie FTW!

On 28 April 2021, vivo launched their V21 and V21e smartphones, both offering a phenomenal 44 MP front camera as their killer feature!

Both models are available for purchase with immediate effect, at these launch prices :

  • V21 (8 GB + 128 GB) : RM1,599 (about US$390 / £280 / A$502 / S$518)
  • V21e (8 GB + 128 GB) : RM1,299 (about US$317 / £228 / A$408 / S$421)

Here are online purchase options :

Recommended : vivo V21 Smartphone : Our Hands-On Preview!

 

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Breaking News : vivo V21 5G Is Almost Here!

If you have been waiting for the 5G variant of the vivo V21, we have great news – it’s ALMOST HERE!

 

Breaking News : vivo V21 5G Is Almost Here!

When vivo Malaysia launched their V21 Series in April, they featured the industry-leading 44 MP front camera, with OIS (optical image stabilisation) and Dual Selfie Spotlight capabilities!

If you have been for the 5G variant of the vivo V21, we have great news – it’s ALMOST HERE!

We just found out that the vivo V21 5G variant, with the model number V2050, just received SIRIM approval on 5 May 2021!

On top of that, we found out that vivo plans to launch the V21 5G on 27 May 2021!

So you don’t have to wait very long to get your hands on the vivo V21 5G smartphone!

 

vivo V21 Series : 44 MP Selfie FTW!

On 28 April 2021, vivo launched their V21 and V21e smartphones, both offering a phenomenal 44 MP front camera as their killer feature!

Let’s start with this official vivo V21 series promotional video, which gives you a quick overview of their key features.

The vivo V21 series 44 MP front camera not only supports Dual Selfie Spotlight, it also supports :

  • Superior Night-time Selfie, which gives you shake-free selfies, even during a roller coaster ride!
  • AI Night Portrait algorithm, helps ensure that you only get bright and clear selfies, every time!

In addition, the vivo V21 Series is the first to introduce the 3 GB Extended RAM technology, giving you the ability to boost its 8 GB memory to 11 GB!

This extra boost of memory is useful for power users who need to run multiple resource-intensive apps at the same time!

Recommended : vivo Virtual RAM For V21, V21e, X60 : How Does It Work?

 

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vivo V21 Smartphone : Our Hands-On Preview!

The new vivo V21 boasts a phenomenal 44 MP front camera, and a triple camera system as its killer features!

Take a look at our hands-on preview of vivo V21, and find out if this is the smartphone you have been waiting for!

 

vivo V21 + V21e Smartphones : 44 MP Selfie FTW!

On 28 April 2021, vivo launched their V21 and V21e smartphones, both offering a phenomenal 44 MP front camera as their killer feature!

Let’s start with this official vivo V21 series promotional video, which gives you a quick overview of their key features.

To make it easier for you to differentiate the two models, we created this table comparing their key specifications :

Specifications vivo V21 vivo V21e
Display Size 6.44-inch
Display Panel AMOLED
Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels
Brightness 500 nits 430 nits
Refresh Rate 90 Hz 60 Hz
Operating System Funtouch OS 11.1 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek
Dimensity 800U
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 720G
RAM 8 GB
Storage 128 GB
Front Camera 44 MP OIS (f/2.0) 44 MP (f/2.0)
Rear Cameras 64 MP OIS (f/1.79)
8 MP wide-angle (f/2.2)
2 MP macro (f/2.4)
64 MP (f/1.89)
8 MP wide-angle (f/2.2)
2 MP macro (f/2.4)
Connectivity 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 :

  • V21 (8 GB + 128 GB) : RM1,599 (about US$390 / £280 / A$502 / S$518)
  • V21e (8 GB + 128 GB) : RM1,299 (about US$317 / £228 / A$408 / S$421)

Here are online purchase options :

 

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How vivo X60 / X60 Pro Enhances Your Gaming Experience!

Most smartphones are capable of playing games, but vivo shares how their X60 and X60 Pro smartphones offer features that significantly enhances your gaming experience!

 

How vivo X60 / X60 Pro Enhances Your Gaming Experience!

The vivo X60 and X60 Pro smartphones may be focused at delivering flagship-class photographic capabilities, but it is also a gaming powerhouse.

vivo shared how their X60 and X60 Pro smartphones offer features that significantly enhances your gaming experience!

Flagship Class Performance!

The vivo X60 and X60 Pro are built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 mobile platform, which features :

  • 1 x Prime Core : ARM Cortex-A77 @ 3.2 GHz
  • 3 x Performance Cores : ARM Cortex-A77 @ 2.42 GHz
  • 4 x Power-Saving Cores : ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz
  • Qualcomm Adreno 650 GPU
  • Qualcomm Hexagon 698 DSP

All that delivers exemplary CPU and GPU performance that is more than capable of handling any game you throw at it, at maximum resolution!

Display With High Refresh Rate + High Response Rate!

All of that processing power is important because it helps the vivo X60 and X60 Pro smartphones drive their fantastic 6.56-inch AMOLED display, which boasts not only a 120 Hz refresh rate, but also a 240 Hz response rate!

This not only gives you silky smooth visuals, but also ensures you can react much more quickly than your gaming opponents.

This will give you a definite edge in first-person shooter or battle royale games like PUBG Mobile and Call Of Duty Mobile.

Long Battery Life!

This is an oft-overlooked feature – a long battery life. Sure, you can keep your smartphone plugged into the wall, but is that really fun?

The X60 and X60 Pro not only come with a large 4,300 mAh battery, vivo optimised their power consumption to ensure that it lasts longer than competing smartphones.

This lets you go on playing, even when your gaming opponents have run out of power!

 

vivo X60 / X60 Pro : Enjoy A Great Gaming Experience Today!

Here are a few places online where you can buy a vivo X60 or X60 Pro smartphone, to enjoy a great gaming experience!

 

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vivo Virtual RAM For V21, V21e, X60 : How Does It Work?

The vivo V21 series and X60 smartphones now support Virtual RAM / Extended RAM technology!

But what exactly is vivo Virtual RAM, and how does it work?

 

vivo Virtual RAM : How Does It Work?

First introduced in the vivo V21 series, vivo Virtual RAM is basically virtual memory that computers have been using for decades.

When our computers begin to run out of memory, it can use some of our HDD / SDD storage as virtual memory.

While storage speeds are many times slower than RAM speed, this is better than running out of memory, which would cause the app to stop working, or worse, crash the operating system.

vivo Virtual RAM uses the same concept – it utilises 3 GB of the smartphone’s internal storage as virtual memory.

This effectively gives the operating system and apps more memory to use. If your vivo smartphone has 8 GB of RAM, then Virtual RAM expands that to 11 GB.

To improve performance, vivo also borrowed the PC virtual memory technique of swapping out inactive apps into the extended RAM space, so active apps have access to the much faster RAM.

The Virtual RAM technology was introduced in the V21 series, and will soon be added to their flagship X60 smartphone.

 

vivo Virtual RAM : How Useful Is It?

That really depends on how you use your smartphone.

If you only use a few apps at the same time, you will probably never run out of memory.

vivo smartphones now come with a lot of memory – 8 GB, and even games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!

But if you use many apps simultaneously, or switch between them often, this could help prevent slow loading.

According to vivo, turning on Virtual RAM on an 8 GB smartphone will allow you to cache up to 20 background apps simultaneously.

 

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vivo V21 + V21e Smartphones : What You Need To Know!

vivo just launched their V21 and V21e smartphones, offering a phenomenal 44 MP front camera as their killer feature!

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo V21 and V21e smartphones!

 

vivo V21 + V21e Smartphones : 44 MP Selfie FTW!

On 28 April 2021, vivo launched their V21 and V21e smartphones, both offering a phenomenal 44 MP front camera as their killer feature!

Let’s start with this official vivo V21 series promotional video, which gives you a quick overview of their key features.

And now, here is a quick overview of their key features :

Performance

The vivo V21 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, while the V21e runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G.

They both have 8 GB of RAM, with the ability to expand it with 3 GB of Extended Memory (virtual memory).

They both come with 128 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card.

44 MP Selfie Camera

Both smartphones come with a 44 MP selfie camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture; and support for Super Night Selfie and AI Night Portrait.

The higher-end vivo V21 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 Cameras

Both models feature the same triple camera setup – a 64 MP main camera, an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera.

The higher-end vivo V21 main’s camera has a slightly wider f/1.79 aperture, compared to f/1.89 for the V21e.

6.44-inch AMOLED Display

They both come with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display, which is HDR10 certified.

The higher-end vivo V21’s display is brighter at 500 nits, and comes with a higher 90 Hz refresh rate.

Large Fast-Charging Battery

Both models run on a large 4,000 mAh battery, which supports 33 watt fast charging. And yes, they both come with the 33 watt charger in box!

 

vivo V21 + V21e : Specification Comparison

We created this table to make it easy for you to compare both models :

Specifications vivo V21 vivo V21e
Display Size 6.44-inch
Display Panel AMOLED
Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels
Brightness 500 nits 430 nits
Refresh Rate 90 Hz 60 Hz
Operating System Funtouch OS 11.1 (Android 11)
Platform MediaTek
Dimensity 800U
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 720G
RAM 8 GB
Storage 128 GB
Front Camera 44 MP OIS (f/2.0) 44 MP (f/2.0)
Rear Cameras 64 MP (f/1.79)
8 MP wide-angle (f/2.2)
2 MP macro (f/2.4)
64 MP (f/1.89)
8 MP wide-angle (f/2.2)
2 MP macro (f/2.4)
Connectivity Network : 4G LTE
Wi-Fi : 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Bluetooth : BT 5.1USB : 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

 

vivo V21 + V21e : Price + Deals

Both models are available for purchase with immediate effect, at these launch prices :

  • V21 (8 GB + 128 GB) : RM1,599 (about US$390 / £280 / A$502 / S$518)
  • V21e (8 GB + 128 GB) : RM1,299 (about US$317 / £228 / A$408 / S$421)

Here are online purchase options :

If you pre-order either smartphone from now until 4 May 2021, you wlll receive :

  • 1-year extended warranty
  • 1-year screen crack protection
  • RM 50 instant rebate
  • free gifts worth RM349 (V21) / RM209 (V21e)

 

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Samsung Galaxy A52 Review : An Awesome Deal Indeed!

We take a close look at the Samsung Galaxy A52, which promises to offer an incredible package of features and performance!

Find out what the Galaxy A52 offers, and why we gave it our Editor’s Choice Award!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Awesome Is For Everyone!

Designed for the new normal, the Samsung Galaxy A52 promises to offer an incredible package of features and performance!

As Samsung’s official advertisement for the 2021 Galaxy A series says, Awesome Is For Everyone!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Specifications

In this table, we compare the specifications of the Galaxy A52 against the Galaxy A72 :

Specifications Galaxy A72 Galaxy A52
Display Type Super AMOLED
Display Size 6.7-inch 6.5-inch
Display Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels
Display Refresh Up to 90 Hz
Display Brightness 800 nits maximum
Protection NA
IP Rating IP67
Operating System Android 11
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
CPU 2 x Kryo 570 Gold cores (2.3 GHz)
6 x Kryo 570 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 619
Memory + Storage 8 GB + 256 GB
Storage Expansion microSD card : up to 1 TB
Front Camera 32 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Camera 64 MP (f/1.8)
Ultra Wide Camera 12 MP (f/2.2)
Telephoto Camera 8 MP (f/2.4)
Macro Camera 5 MP (f/2.4)
Depth Sensor 5 MP (f/2.4)
Connectivity Network : 4G LTE, 3G
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In Display
NFC Yes
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic,
Hall sensor, Light sensor, Proximity
Audio AKG stereo speakers
Battery 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh
Charging 25 W fast charging
Dimensions 77.4 mm wide
165.0 mm tall
8
.4 mm thick
75.1 mm wide
159.9 mm tall
8.4 mm thick
Weight 203 g 189 g

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy A52 will come in four colour options – Awesome Violet, Awesome White, Awesome Black and Awesome Blue.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.

Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.

Here are some online purchase options :

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : What’s Inside The Box?

We got our hands on the Samsung Galaxy A52, and unboxed it in this video :

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

  • Samsung Galaxy A52 smartphone
  • Set of Samsung Galaxy A52 documents
  • Samsung EP-TA200 15-watt USB fast charger
  • USB Type A to USB Type C data and power cable
  • SIM tray pin

Even though Samsung bundled it with a charger, they did not include a free bumper case.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Setting It Up!

Let’s show you just how easy it is to setup the Galaxy A52 for the first time!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Hands-On Experience!

Now, let’s take a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy A52 smartphone…

Next Page > Key Features, Where To Buy?

 

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Samsung Galaxy A52 : Key Features

6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!

The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G

The Samsung Galaxy A52 is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (SM7225) mobile platform, which consists of :

  • 2 x high-performance Kryo 570 Gold cores, running at up to 2.3 GHz
  • 6 x low-power Kryo 570 Silver cores, running at up to 1.8 GHz
  • Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU
  • Qualcomm Hexagon 694 NPU
  • Qualcomm Spectra 355L ISP

Fabricated on the 8 nm process technology, this mid-range mobile SoC promises to deliver 20% faster CPU, 20% faster AI and 10% faster graphics performance over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 730G.

RAM + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. This is way more than what most users can ever expect to use.

But if you actually need more storage, it comes with a hybrid SIM tray, which allows you to add a microSD card for more storage!

1 + 4 Cameras!

The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture. The ultra-high resolution is, frankly, overkill for a selfie camera.

So if you don’t need the high resolution, switch to the 8 MP resolution for better low-light photos and videos.

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

  • 64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
  • 5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
  • 5 MP depth camera, with f/2.4 aperture

We should point out that the depth camera doesn’t take any photos.. It just obtains depth data to allow for more accurate software bokeh effects.

We really like how the matte colour scheme makes the slight camera bump appear even less conspicuous.

Connectivity

While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G is a 5G platform, 5G connectivity was turned off in our Galaxy A52. It may be offered as a 5G model in some countries, but not in Malaysia.

That’s just fine by us as we don’t see 5G connectivity becoming widespread for at least 3-4 more years! Turning off 5G will also help save power and extend battery life.

It also supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), as well as Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Type C connectivity.

Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem

The Samsung Galaxy A52 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :

  • SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
  • SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
  • Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
  • Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
  • Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
  • Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!

Security + Protection

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.

is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.

We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.

Next Page > Camera Performance + Photo Samples

 

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Samsung Galaxy A52 : Camera Performance + Photo Samples

The Samsung Galaxy A52’s 64 MP main camera takes 16 MP photos by default, with a resolution of 4624 x 3468 pixels.

The 46 MP sensor basically combines four pixels into one large “virtual pixel”, for better image quality and low-light performance.

The Galaxy A52 produces very good photos with really incredible detail at 16 MP, so stick with that unless you are planning to print really large format photos.

While the wide f/1.8 aperture creates a narrow depth-of-field, so there is the risk of ending up with an out-of-focus photo.

It is easy to “fix” that problem by tapping on the screen to make sure the camera focuses exactly where you want it to.

While this works with all smartphones, the Galaxy A52 does a much better job focusing than say, the Redmi 9T.

Here are ten unedited photo samples for you to check out.

Next Page > Battery Life + Recharging, Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy A52 : Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.

Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.

It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We then ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with 60 Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates :

Work 2.0 Galaxy A52
(60 Hz)
Redmi 9T Galaxy A52
(90 Hz)
Galaxy
S20 Ultra
Note20
Ultra
Battery Capacity 4,500 mAh 6,000 mAh 4,500 mAh 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs
33 mins
19 hrs
50 mins
12 hrs
30 mins
11 hrs
32 mins
10 hrs
9 mins
Battery Utilisation
(per min.)
3.86 mAh 4.03 mAh 4.80 mAh 5.78 mAh 5.91 mAh
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That’s excellent battery life! Over 15.5 hours with the display set to 60 Hz, and 12.5 hours with a 90 Hz refresh rate.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Recharging Speed

Take a look at how fast it recharges its 4,500 mAh battery.

Galaxy
S20 Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy A52
Redmi 9T
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 4,300 mAh 4,500 mAh 4,500 mAh 6,000 mAh
Charger Output 25 watts 25 watts 25 watts 15 watts 18 watts
Recharging Time 57.5 mins 63 mins 66.5 mins 84.5 mins 184 mins
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
69.6 mAh 54.6 mAh 54.1 mAh 42.4 mAh 26.1 mAh
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Price Check US
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Very nice! Even though it only comes with a 15 watt fast charger, the Samsung Galaxy A52 recharged 62% faster than the Redmi 9T with its 18 watt fast charger!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Work Performance

We tested the Galaxy A52 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 2.0 Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
A52
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Mobile Platform Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
SD 750G Exynos
9820
SD 662
Performance Score

(Average)

10523 8981 7874 7846 5986
Web Browsing 8865 8293 7021 8583 5844
Video Editing 6232 9166 5693 5524 3423
Writing 11112 9579 7454 9076 6657
Photo Editing 30789 19376 15812 10710 12031
Data Manipulation 6825 6155 6424 6450 4799

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G is a powerful mid-range mobile SoC. It is actually as powerful as the flagship Samsung Exynos 9820 in work applications!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 Gaming Performance : 3DMark

For gaming, we first tested the Galaxy A52 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
S10+
Galaxy
A52
Redmi 9T
Device Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
Exynos
9820
SD 750G SD 662
Sling Shot Extreme (OpenGL) 6642 5037 4470 2565 1174
Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) 5722 4794 4314 2416 1098
Sling Shot 8128 4883 4343 3764 1844

The Samsung Galaxy A52 is definitely not as fast in games, as flagship mobile platforms. But it is just over twice as fast as mid-range smartphones like the Redmi 9T.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 Overall Performance : AnTuTu

We then tested the Galaxy A52 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
A52
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Device Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
SD 750G Exynos
9820
SD
662
AnTuTu Score 522735 348397 341908 330549 173559
CPU 146783 101187 105098 100272 64505
GPU 215205 156700 88068 149930 31734
Memory 89376 72051 60642 68188 40377
UX 71371 18459 88100 12159 36943

Will you look at that? The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G is right between the Exynos 9820 and Exynos 9825 – both flagship mobile SoCs from Samsung.

It is also notably twice as fast as the old Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 used in the Xiaomi Redmi 9T.

Next Page > A Quick Wrap, Verdict + Award

 

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Samsung Galaxy A52 : A Quick Wrap

The Galaxy A52 offers quite the awesome deal that Samsung promised. Let’s do a quick wrap of what we really liked about it.

Very Nice Display

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a very nice 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and brightness of up to 800 nits!

Great Performance

We are very glad Samsung built the Galaxy A52 around the Snapdragon 750G, which proved to offer really good CPU and GPU performance. It feels like a flagship device, without the flagship price.

Nice Set Of Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a very nice set of cameras – both in front and in the back.

The 64 MP main camera and 12 MP ultra-wide camera are the main stars. The 5 MP macro camera will not see much use, but at least it is better than the 2 MP macro camera that comes in some mid-range devices!

The image quality of the 64 MP main camera, in particular, is superb in its default 16 MP mode.

Long Battery Life, Fast Recharging

You will really like how long the Galaxy A52 lasts, and how fast it recharges.

Small Niceties

There are a couple of small features that could be very important, and yet are not available in other mid-range smartphones :

  • 3.5 mm audio port
  • AKG-tuned speakers
  • Triple card tray with microSD card slot

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Our Verdict + Award

The Samsung Galaxy A52 offers a lot of great features and a very long battery life, at a great price point.

There are very few smartphones at this price point that would offer you a large 90 Hz Super AMOLED display, a powerful processor and a 64 MP camera system, with a large battery.

This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Congratulations, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.

Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.

Here are some online purchase options :

 

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Realme Caught Using iPhone To Demo narzo 30A Gaming?

Realme appeared to have used an iPhone to demonstrate the gaming performance of their new narzo 30A smartphone!

Find out what happened, and Realme’s response to this new scandal!

 

Realme Caught Using iPhone To Demo narzo 30A Gaming?

On 20 March 2021, Realme launched the narzo 30A smartphone in Bangladesh, which was live-streamed.

They arranged for three gamers to play PUBG Mobile live, to demonstrate the narzo 30A’s gaming performance.

However, at around the 18:03 mark of the livestream (now removed!), a pop-up appeared on the screen :

Guided Access Started

Triple-click the Side Button to exit

Guided Access is an Apple iOS feature, and is therefore available ONLY on Apple iPhones.

In other words, the PUBG Mobile game being shown on the screen was from an Apple iPhone, not the narzo 30A as claimed.

 

Realme Explains narzo 30A – iPhone Kerfuffle!

This scandal came just days after Realme was exposed for cheating in AnTuTu Benchmark. Realme called it a bug then.

This time, Realme is claiming that the video was pre-recorded due to “local pandemic control policy” and the A1 team sent them the wrong file.

They removed the livestream video, and will republish it after “the re-production is complete“.

Respecting and abiding by the local pandemic control policy, the narzo 30A launch video was planned to be recorded in advance.  Additionally, the launch video involved a narzo 30A hands-on gaming video.

To ensure a better quality video output, the gaming part was recorded by our partner A1 Esports team and sent to the producer, post-recording.

Although the A1 team did use the narzo 30A smartphone for the recording of the gaming part, a wrong file was accidentally sent to the producer, which led to the appearance of a non-realme smartphone in the video.

In response to this issue, we have immediately contacted our A1 team partner to rectify the accident. We shall republish the video after the re-production is complete.

We sincerely apologize for any unanticipated impacts the incident may have caused. Your kind support to the brand is very much appreciated. Please stay tuned with realme for future updates.

 

We Examine The Realme narzo 30A – iPhone Claims

Going through Realme’s statement, we can’t help but feel troubled by a few “logical inconsistencies”…

Issue #1 : Local Pandemic Control Policy?

What local pandemic control policy? They arranged for three gamers to play PUBG Mobile side-by-side, and without face masks too!

Issue #2 : Pre-Recorded For Better Quality?

If the video was pre-recorded, why was there a need for the A1 team members to stand up there and “pretend play”?

If they were concerned about video quality, they should have just streamed the pre-recorded clip directly, instead of displaying it behind the A1 team members, as a large but pixelated video that lacked contrast.

Issue #3 : They Didn’t Check The Pre-Recorded Video?

What makes even less sense is the claim that the A1 esports team recorded their gameplay using the narzo 30A, but sent them the wrong file.

Why would the A1 esports team record their gameplay on an iPhone, as well as the narzo 30A? Didn’t Realme check the video they received, to make sure it was from their narzo 30A smartphone?

Which is more likely?

a) they accidentally triggered Guided Access during the livestream, or

b) the A1 team recorded the gameplay on an iPhone and narzo 30A, and accidentally sent Realme the wrong file, and Realme didn’t check their gameplay before streaming it onto the big screen?

You may recall that the Realme team blamed a bug for their fantastical AnTuTu benchmark score. They have yet to adequately explain that either…

Recommended : Realme On AnTuTu Cheating : A Bug? No Guidelines?

 

narzo 30A – iPhone Scandal : Another Hit To Realme’s Rep

We have been a fan of Realme since they first started with their Realme 2 ProRealme 2 and Realme C1, because they offered really great value for our money.

So we were not surprised by how fast their devices improved, and how fast they grew. Heck, we even took the realme 3 on a photographic trip to the US West Coast, and Las Vegas!

However, a new team apparently took over in the middle of 2019, and it looks like they are willing to risk everything just to gain market share. Perhaps that’s why they coined the tagline, Dare To Leap!.

Since then, they have been hit by revelations that their 90 Hz display only works in certain situations, the recent AnTuTu cheating scandal and now this iPhone streaming scandal.

It’s a real shame, because Realme was doing so well, and building a great reputation for offering great features at a low, low price.

Reputation, as they say, takes a lifetime to build, but can be lost in a second.

We should point out that the Realme narzo 30A is powered by the MediaTek helio G85, which is not affected by the MediaTek benchmark cheating scandal.

Recommended : MediaTek Benchmark Cheating : What Happened So Far

 

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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 A52 Unboxing + Hands-On Preview!

The Samsung Galaxy A52 promises to offer an incredible package of features and performance!

Let’s unbox the Galaxy A52, and get a closer look at it!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Awesome Is For Everyone!

Designed for the new normal, the Samsung Galaxy A52 promises to offer an incredible package of features and performance!

As Samsung’s official advertisement for the 2021 Galaxy A series says, Awesome Is For Everyone!

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Specifications

In this table, we compare the specifications of the Galaxy A52 against the Galaxy A72 :

Specifications Galaxy A72 Galaxy A52
Display Type Super AMOLED
Display Size 6.7-inch 6.5-inch
Display Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels
Display Refresh Up to 90 Hz
Display Brightness 800 nits maximum
Protection NA
IP Rating IP67
Operating System Android 11
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
CPU 2 x Kryo 570 Gold cores (2.3 GHz)
6 x Kryo 570 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 619
Memory + Storage 8 GB + 256 GB
Storage Expansion microSD card : up to 1 TB
Front Camera 32 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Camera 64 MP (f/1.8)
Ultra Wide Camera 12 MP (f/2.2)
Telephoto Camera 8 MP (f/2.4)
Macro Camera 5 MP (f/2.4)
Depth Sensor 5 MP (f/2.4)
Connectivity Network : 4G LTE, 3G
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In Display
NFC Yes
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic,
Hall sensor, Light sensor, Proximity
Audio AKG stereo speakers
Battery 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh
Charging 25 W fast charging
Dimensions 77.4 mm wide
165.0 mm tall
8
.4 mm thick
75.1 mm wide
159.9 mm tall
8.4 mm thick
Weight 203 g 189 g

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy A52 will come in four colour options – Awesome Violet, Awesome White, Awesome Black and Awesome Blue.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.

Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.

Here are some online purchase options :

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : What’s Inside The Box?

We got our hands on the Samsung Galaxy A52, and unboxed it in this video :

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

  • Samsung Galaxy A52 smartphone
  • Set of Samsung Galaxy A52 documents
  • Samsung EP-TA200 15-watt USB fast charger
  • USB Type A to USB Type C data and power cable
  • SIM tray pin

Even though Samsung bundled it with a charger, they did not include a free bumper case.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Hands-On Experience!

Now, let’s take a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy A52 smartphone…

Next Page > Key Features, Where To Buy?

 

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Samsung Galaxy A52 : Key Features

6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!

The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.

1 + 4 Cameras!

The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

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

  • 64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
  • 5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture
  • 5 MP depth camera, with f/2.4 aperture

We should point out that the depth camera doesn’t take any photos.. It just obtains depth data to allow for more accurate software bokeh effects.

Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem

The Samsung Galaxy A52 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :

  • SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
  • SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
  • Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
  • Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
  • Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
  • Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!

Security + Protection

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.

is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.

We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.

 

Samsung Galaxy A52 : Where To Buy?

It has a launch price of RM1,499 (approx. US$362 / £262 / A$474 / S$487) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.

Here in Malaysia, it will come with a FREE clear standing cover worth RM109.

Here are some online purchase options :

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > First PageMobile Devices | Home

 

Support Tech ARP!

If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!


Samsung Galaxy A72 : What You Need To Know!

The Samsung Galaxy A72 is designed for the new normal, offering an incredible package of features and performance!

Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy A72 smartphone!

 

Samsung Galaxy A72 : What You Need To Know!

Designed for the new normal, the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers an incredible package of features and performance!

As Samsung’s official advertisement for the 2021 Galaxy A series says, Awesome Is For Everyone!

6.7-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A72 comes with a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

You may be delighted to learn that it not only supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, it also has 800 nits of maximum brightness!

The display is also Eye Care-certified, and automatically adjusts its colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue – what Samsung calls Eye Comfort Shield.

1 + 4 Cameras!

The Samsung Galaxy A72 boasts a 32 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.

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

  • 64 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
  • 8 MP telephoto camera, with f/2.4 aperture
  • 5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture

Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem

The Samsung Galaxy A72 will allow you to be part of the Samsung ecosystem through these features :

  • SmartThings lets you connect to, and control, smart devices including wearables, tablets, PCs and TVs.
  • SmartThings Find lets you easily locate paired Galaxy devices, or using the Galaxy SmartTag.
  • Music Share lets you sync your phone with a friend’s device to share music, without speaker pairing.
  • Buds Together lets you pair your phone with two sets of Galaxy Buds, to listen together!
  • Quick Share lets you easily and quickly send pictures and videos of any size to nearby Galaxy devices.
  • Private Share lets you revoke photos and videos you shared with just a tap!

Security + Protection

The Samsung Galaxy A72 has Samsung Knox built-in, providing you with a defence-grade enclave to store your sensitive information and data.

is IP67-rated against dust- and water-resistance. This protects it against accidental water splashes, and immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.

We should point out that Samsung warns against immersing it in seawater, the swimming pool or in soapy water.

 

Samsung Galaxy A72 : Specifications

In this table, we compare the specifications of the Galaxy A72 against the Galaxy A52 :

Specifications Galaxy A72 Galaxy A52
Display Type Super AMOLED
Display Size 6.7-inch 6.5-inch
Display Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels
Display Refresh Up to 90 Hz
Display Brightness 800 nits maximum
Protection NA
IP Rating IP67
Operating System Android 11
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
CPU 2 x Kryo 570 Gold cores (2.3 GHz)
6 x Kryo 570 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 619
Memory + Storage 8 GB + 256 GB
Storage Expansion microSD card : up to 1 TB
Front Camera 32 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Camera 64 MP (f/1.8)
Ultra Wide Camera 12 MP (f/2.2)
Telephoto Camera 8 MP (f/2.4)
Macro Camera 5 MP (f/2.4)
Depth Sensor 5 MP (f/2.4)
Connectivity Network : 4G LTE, 3G
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In Display
NFC Yes
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic,
Hall sensor, Light sensor, Proximity
Audio AKG stereo speakers
Battery 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh
Charging 25 W fast charging
Dimensions 77.4 mm wide
165.0 mm tall
8
.4 mm thick
75.1 mm wide
159.9 mm tall
8.4 mm thick
Weight 203 g 189 g

 

Samsung Galaxy A72 : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy A72 will come in four colour options – Awesome Violet, Awesome White, Awesome Black and Awesome Blue.

 

Recommended Reading

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If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!