Roborock just launched its S8 series of AI-powered robot vacuum cleaners! Here is what you need to know!
Roborock S8 Series Robot Vacuum Cleaners Launched!
On Thursday, 23 March 2023, Roborock launched its Roborock S8 series of AI-powered robot cleaners in Malaysia. The Roborock S8 vacuum cleaner series consists of three models:
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
Roborock S8+ (S8 Plus)
Roborock S8
All three Roborock S8 models feature a new cleaning system with two rubber roller brushes, instead of just a single brush in previous models. The dual roller brushes improves its dust pickup, while more effectively tackling matter hair.
All three models also come with higher suction power – up to 6,000 Pa, for a superior cleaning performance. They also feature the Roborock Carpet Boost+ System, which boasts 30% better hair pick-up rate by identifying carpets using ultrasound so the vacuum lifts itself over them and increases suction power for better cleaning.
These robot vacuums also used 3D structured light and infra-red imaging technology to identify and avoid potential hazards on the floor, whether it’s bright or dark.
The top-of-the-line S8 Pro Ultra comes with the new RockDock Ultra system, which delivers automatic mop cleaning, dust emptying and refilling, and self-cleaning.
When the S8 Pro Ultra is in the mopping mode, its dual brush system automatically raises 6 mm to prevent cross-contamination when it returns to the docking station. In addition, it uses warm air drying to prevent mould and odours developing on the mop pad and dock.
The VibraRise 2.0 Mopping System is available on the S8 Pro Ultra and the S8+ models, vibrating at 3,000 times per minute to remove stains from floors. The S8 Pro Ultra comes with two vibration modes for the best possible cleaning in different situations.
Roborock S8 Series Robot Vacuum Cleaners : Price + Availability
These new Roborock vacuum cleaners is available for purchase, at these official launch prices:
Here in Malaysia, these Roborock robot vacuum cleaners are available at AiHome stores in IOI City Mall, One Utama, Mid Valley Megamall, Setapak Central Mall, Sunway Velocity, and iGadgets Pavilion Bukit Jalil.
Online, you can find these Roborock vacuum cleaners at these official stores:
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 will soon be available in the Bora Purple colour option! Here is what you need to know!
Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple : What You Need To Know!
Samsung is introducing a new colour option called Bora Purple for the Samsung Galaxy S22 – its baby flagship of the Galaxy S family!
Bora is Korean for purple, and Samsung chose to introduce this pastel colour to “evoke joy, spark creativity and embrace individuality”
6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple comes with a large 6.1-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.
Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and a contrast ratio of 2 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.
Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.
4nm Flagship Mobile Platform
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.
Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :
a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.
Memory + Storage Options
Samsung will be offering just two memory and storage options :
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
Cameras Galore!
As a Samsung flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!
In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :
a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture
Built To Last
The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a tough Armor Aluminium frame, and is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.
On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a 3,700 mAh battery, which supports wired charging at up to 25 watts, and wireless charging at up to 15 watts.
It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple : Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple will be available globally starting August 10, 2022.
We do not have a hands-on video of the Bora Purple, but here is our hands-on video of the earlier four colour options – Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green and Pink Gold.
Note : Samsung only allowed us to use digital cameras, so the video is not stabilised as it would be with smartphones that I generally use.
Samsung did not reveal the price for the Galaxy S22 Bora Purple, but it should be priced the same as earlier colour options :
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.
ViewSonic just launched new solutions for the corporate and education segments!
Here’s a quick look at the new ViewSonic LED projectors, and the ViewSonic Studio!
ViewSonic Launches New Corporate + Education Solutions!
Thanks for the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those working in the corporate and education industry are looking for a hybrid approach to combine in-person and online meetings and education.
Capitalising on the increased demand in those market segments, ViewSonic is introducing two new 3rd Generation LED projectors, as well as their Hybrid Ecosystem ViewBoard Interactive Display.
3rd Gen ViewSonic LED Projectors
ViewSonic is offering two new 3rd Generation LED projectors – the LS500WHE and the LS550WHE, both offering a maximum brightness of 3,000 ANSI lumens, as well as greater energy efficiency, and a longer lifespan.
The ViewSonic LS500WHE delivers 125% Rec.709 colour gamut, with 50% lower power consumption, and an LED light source that does not require replacements (thanks to its 30,000 hour lifespan), and is mercury-free.
Its optical engine is sealed against dust, with an IP5X rating, ensuring optimal image quality regardless of the environment. And the LS500WHE offers a 360-degree tilt angle projection to support floor and ceiling projections.
The ViewSonic LS550WHE is a short-throw version that offers all of the LS500WHE’s capabilities, with a 0.49 short throw lens, together with horizontal and vertical keystone correction, as well as 4-corner adjustments to eliminate crooked or distorted images.
ViewSonic LS500WHE (left) and LS550WHE (right)
ViewSonic Studio For Education Tech Solutions
ViewSonic also launched the first ViewSonic studio in Malaysia, which offers educators and policy makers access to their latest edtech solutions, like the ViewBoard Interactive Display, and the myViewBoard visual learning software suite.
The ViewBoard interactive display has made significant inroads in the Malaysian education system, taking up 43.5% of the market share up to Q1 2022.
ViewSonic hopes to expand on this through their myViewBoard software suite, which would allow for Student-Centered Active Learning Environment with Upside-down Pedagogies (SCALE-UP).
The integration of the ViewBoard interactive display, with their myViewBoard software suite will allow classrooms to adopt group work, with better engagement through enriched content and an immersive learning system.
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.
Dell just introduced a slew of new S Series monitors, as well as its first 14-inch Portable Monitor!
Dell Introduces 14-inch Portable Monitor + S Series Displays!
Thanks to the pandemic, the workplace has changed globally, with many companies now adopting a hybrid workplace policy.
Dell just introduced a slew of new S Series monitors, as well as its first 14-inch Portable Monitor, to address the need for employees to work between home and the office.
Dell 14 Portable Monitor (C1422H)
Built to be the ultimate laptop companion, the C1422H is Dell’s first ever 14-inch portable monitor, designed to deliver dual-screen productivity to work, present and collaborate anywhere.
Professionals working in the office, at home or on the go will appreciate the Dell Portable Monitor’s lightweight design. It weighs just over half a kilogram, and is less than a quarter-inch thick at its slimmest, making it extremely easy to travel with.
With an IPS panel that offers a Full HD display resolution, with an 16:9 aspect ratio, the Dell C1422H Portable Monitor offers easy plug and play with USB-C connectivity. Simply press the quick access buttons to adjust brightness (up to 300 nits) and the ComfortView feature that reduces harmful blue light emissions.
This sleek yet practical portable monitor complements all workstyles and productivity demands with a small continuous tilt stand that bends from 10 to 90 degrees. It also features Energy Star and EPEAT GOLD certification.
Dell 24 and 27 Video Conferencing Monitor (S2422HZ and S2722DZ)
Hanging out virtually with friends, family and co-workers will be easier with the new 27-inch QHD / 23.8-inch FHD monitors that are specifically designed for video calls.
For an easy out-of-box experience, these monitors come with a built-in 5 MP privacy pop-up camera, noise-cancelling microphones and dual 5 watt speakers. The pop-up camera stays hidden until you’re ready for video chatting, for privacy.
These video conferencing monitors feature Dell’s TÜV-certified ComfortView Plus – an always-on low blue light reduction technology that optimises eye comfort while retaining colour accuracy. Other features include USB-C connectivity, AMD FreeSync technology and a 75 Hz refresh rate for smoother graphics.
These two USB-C monitors offer the convenience of a single cable solution with USB Type Connectivity, to deliver video, audio, and data; while charging your laptop with up to 65 watts of power.
These monitors are great for those who want a clutter-free workspace, with a single-cable monitor to complement their laptops.
Dell 14-inch Portable Monitor + S Series Displays : Price + Availability!
These monitors are available with immediate effect from Dell online and authorised stores, at these starting price points :
Dell 27 Video Conferencing Monitor (S2722DZ) : A$915
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.
We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A33 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on preview!
Samsung Galaxy A33 with 48 MP Quad Camera System!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A33 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 48 MP quad-camera system!
We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A33 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!
6.4-inch Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display.
It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 90 Hz!
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A33 runs on the new Samsung Exynos 1280 mobile platform, which has a dual-tier CPU architecture :
four sustained-performance ARM Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, and
four energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0 GHz
It also comes with a ARM Mali-G68 GPU running at 1.0 GHz.
Memory + Storage Options
The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal flash storage.
The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).
Cameras Galore!
The Samsung Galaxy A33 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.
In the front, it has a 13 MP camera, with an f/2.2 aperture, and in the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :
a 48 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
an 8 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 2 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture
IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!
You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A33 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.
The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.
Samsung Galaxy A33 Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A33
Display
6.4-inch Super AMOLED
– 90 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Samsung Exynos 1280
CPU
2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
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.
We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A73 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on preview!
Samsung Galaxy A73 with 108 MP Quad Camera System!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A73 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 108 MP quad-camera system!
We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A73 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!
6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ Display
The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display.
It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz!
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A73 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, which has a triple-tier CPU architecture :
a Kryo 670 Prime core running at up to 2.4 GHz,
three sustained-performance Kryo 670 Gold cores running at up to 2.2 GHz, and
four energy-efficient Kryo 670 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz
It also comes with a Qualcomm Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz.
Memory + Storage Options
The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal flash storage.
The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).
Cameras Galore!
The Samsung Galaxy A73 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.
In the front, it has a 32 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.
In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :
a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture
IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!
You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A73 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.
The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.
Samsung Galaxy A73 Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A73
Display
6.7-inch Super AMOLED+
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU
1 x Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
3 x Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
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.
Check out the three colour options available for the new Samsung Galaxy A73 smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy A73 : Available In 3 Colour Options!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A73 mid-range smartphone, and it is available in three pastel colours!
We had the exclusive opportunity to check out all three colour options for the Galaxy A73 smartphone recently.
In this video, you will be able to check out all three colour options for yourself. From left to right, they are :
Awesome White
Awesome Mint
Awesome Gray
Awesome Mint is, incidentally, an exclusive colour option for the Galaxy A73 smartphone. It is not available for the Galaxy A53 or the Galaxy A33 smartphones.
For your convenience, here is a comparison of its key specifications :
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A73
Display
6.7-inch Super AMOLE+
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU
1 x Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
3 x Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
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.
Check out the four colour options available for the new Samsung Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy A53 | A33 : Available In 4 Colour Options!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 mid-range smartphones, and they are available in four pastel colours!
We had the exclusive opportunity to check out all four colour options for the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 smartphones recently.
In this video, you will be able to check out all four colour options for yourself. From left to right, they are :
Awesome Peach
Awesome Blue
Awesome White
Awesome Black
Awesome Peach is, incidentally, an exclusive colour option for the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 smartphones. It is not available for the Galaxy A73 smartphone.
For your convenience, here is a comparison of their key specifications :
Specifications
Galaxy A53
Galaxy A33
Display Size
6.5-inch
6.4-inch
Display Type
Super AMOLED
Dynamic
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
90 Hz
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Samsung Exynos 1280
CPU
2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
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.
Take a look at the new HUAWEI nova 9 SE smartphone, and find out why you should not miss its pre-order!
HUAWEI nova 9 SE : Why You Should Not Miss Its Pre-Order!
HUAWEI just launched the nova 9 SE – a phenomenal new mid-range smartphone with a 108MP camera!
Take a look at its key features, and find out why you should not miss its pre-order!
6.78-inch FullView Display
The HUAWEI nova 9 SE comes with a massive 6.78-inch FullView Display, with ultra-narrow bezels that are just 1.05 mm on each side!
This display has a FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2388 pixels, with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a 270 Hz touch sampling rate for a much smoother visual experience!
Sleek + Trendy Design!
The HUAWEI nova 9 SE features the Star Orbit Ring design with a 3D glass back, which is very slim at just 7.94 mm, and weighs only 191 grams.
HUAWEI is also offering it in a variety of nature-inspired colours – Crystal Blue, Pearl White and Midnight Black.
108 MP AI Quad-Camera System!
The HUAWEI nova 9 SE is targeted at those who enjoy photography, and features an upgraded AI-enhanced quad camera system that consists of :
a 108 MP High-Resolution Camera,
an 8 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera,
a 2 MP Depth Camera, and
a 2 macro camera
It is remarkable that such an affordable mid-range smartphone actually comes with a 108 MP high-resolution camera.
Not only can you capture super-high resolution 108 MP photos, it boasts a larger 1/1.52-inch sensor with Multi-Frame Fusion capability.
I cannot stress just how important that is – these technologies allow the nova 9 SE to deliver exceptional image quality even in low-light conditions.
And in super low-light conditions, it can even combine four pixels into one for shots that would not be possible on other smartphones.
16 MP Selfie Camera!
In the front, the HUAWEI nova 9 SE has a 16 MP wide-angle camera, offering the ability to capture more at high resolution.
This front camera supports 4-in-1 Pixel Binning technology that combines four pixels into one, for stunning selfies even in low-light conditions.
In addition, its Super Night Shot capability accurately recognises human faces, and optimises the background to give you well-balanced selfies at night.
Creative Blogging Features!
The HUAWEI nova 9 SE goes beyond just the camera hardware, and introduces two videography features to allow for greater creativity.
Its Continuous Front + Rear Recording capability lets you seamlessly switch between the front and rear cameras, while recording your video. You no longer have to stop recording to switch cameras, which may disrupt the recording process. It also saves you time and effort to stitch the videos together.
It also supports Dual-View Video Recording, letting you record from both the front and rear cameras at the same time. Best of all – you can continue to zoom in and out to wide-angle, for maximum creativity!
As you can see, these features not only allow you to create more unique videos, you can now literally insert yourself into, and be part of your videos!
66W SuperCharge!
The HUAWEI nova 9 SE comes with a large 4,000 mAh battery. But HUAWEI didn’t just stop there.
Its battery actually supports the 66W SuperCharge, the brand-new Low-Voltage Double Charging Pump, and Triple-Terminal Battery Charging technologies.
These battery technologies allow the nova 9 SE to charge up to 60% of its battery in just 15 minutes, with a full charge in just 36 minutes!
In case you are worried, its battery received the TÜV Rheinland Safe Fast Charge Certification, guaranteeing you a worry-free super-fast charging experience!
Every pre-order will come with these free gifts worth RM560 :
HUAWEI FreeLace worth RM379
HMS exclusive rewards worth RM181
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.
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.
I just had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the new Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone, and here are my first impressions!
Samsung Galaxy S22 : Hands-On Experience!
The Samsung Galaxy S22 arguably offers the best bang for your buck in the new Galaxy S22 family!
Here is our hands-on experience of this compact flagship smartphone!
6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a large 6.1-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.
Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and a contrast ratio of 2 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.
Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.
The display is truly magnificent. In addition, it is super bright, so there’s no problem using it outdoors in bright sunlight!
4nm Flagship Mobile Platform
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.
Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :
a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.
So far, it has no problem handling everything I threw at it, but I will have proper benchmark numbers up for you shortly.
Memory + Storage Options
Samsung will be offering just two memory and storage options :
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
Unfortunately, it does NOT support any storage expansion through a microSD card.
Cameras Galore!
As a Samsung flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!
In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :
a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture
Built To Last
The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a tough Armor Aluminium frame, and is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.
Thanks to its heft and Armor Aluminium frame, it feels really solid in my hand.
On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a 3,700 mAh battery, which supports wired charging at up to 25 watts, and wireless charging at up to 15 watts.
Despite having a relatively small battery, the Galaxy S22 appears to have a long battery life. I will have its battery test results up shortly.
It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.
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.
In addition to those online options, these pre-order gifts and promotions are also available at :
all Samsung Experience Stores (SES)
selected Samsung authorised retailers
all Senheng, Grand Senheng and senQ stores
all Urban Republic stores
selected AEON stores (i.e. Taman Maluri, Ampang Utara2, Mid Valley, IOI Mall
all Best Denki stores
all Courts Malaysia stores
all Harvey Norman stores
all Bintang Maju stores
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The 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
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)
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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.
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.
vivo just launched their V23 5G smartphone, offering dual front cameras with dual LED spotlights for selfie-lovers!
Take a look at the new vivo V23 5G, and find out if this is the selfie pal you have been waiting for!
vivo V23 5G : For Selfie + Photography Enthusiasts!
The new vivo V23 5G smartphone is designed for selfie and photography enthusiasts, offering really great front and rear cameras at an affordable price point.
Let’s take a look at its key features, so you can figure out if this is the smartphone you have been waiting for!
6.44-inch Display
The vivo V23 5G smartphone comes with a massive 6.44-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.
It uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers much better colour gamut and brightness than regular LCD displays.
Flagship-Class Mobile SoC
The MediaTek Dimensity 920 is a new and faster flagship-class mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :
two high-performance Arm Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz,
six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz, and
an Arm Mali-G68 MC4 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics
RAM + Storage
The vivo V23 5G comes with two RAM and storage options :
8 GB of RAM + 128 GB of internal storage
12 GB of RAM + 256 GB of internal storages
Dual Selfie Cameras!
When it comes to photography, the vivo V23 5G offers expanded creativity with dual selfie cameras, supported by dual-tone LED spotlights!
For high-resolution portraits, you have an incredibly high-resolution 50 MP front camera, with a large f/2.0 aperture for great low-light performance.
But if you need to fit many people in, you can opt for the 105° super wide-angle 8 MP camera, with an f/2.28 aperture!
The dual-tone LED spotlights help to ensure even and adequate lighting, even in ultra low-light conditions!
64 MP Triple-Camera System
In the back, it has a 64 MP main camera with a wide f/1.89 aperture, together with an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close as 4 cm).
The main camera features the Samsung ISOCELL GW1 image sensor, which lets you take really great photos in low-light conditions by combining four pixels into one, through its Tetrapixel technology!
5G Connectivity
While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.
More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.2 and a reversible USB Type C port.
Premium Colour Changing Glass Body!
The vivo V23 5G features a Fluorite AG glass-covered aviation aluminium chassis, with a layer of crystals that changes colour with the light!
The glass-aluminium body not only imparts a premium feel, it offers a sleek profile that is just under 7.6 mm thick, and weighs about 180 grams.
Large Fast Charging Battery
The V23 comes with a large 4,200 mAh battery to give you a full day of usage and then some!
On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging, and best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!
The vivo V23 5G is available in two colour options – Sunshine Gold on the left, and Stardust Black on the right.
vivo V23 5G : Launch Deals!
The vivo V23 5G has a launch price of RM2,099 – approximately US$502 / £367 / A$694 / S$675.
From 14-16 January 2022, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM688:
vivo TWS 2e wireless earphones
1 Year Extended Warranty
1 Year Screen Crack Protection
From 14-16 January 2022, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM558:
Wireless vacuum cleaner
1 Year Extended Warranty
1 Year Screen Crack Protection
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.
vivo just introduced the X70 Pro and X70 smartphones featuring ZEISS optics and a unique gimbal camera!
Find out if the new vivo X70 gimbal smartphones are what you have been waiting for!
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : What You Need To Know!
vivo just launched their X70 series of professional photography flagship smartphones, with two models – the X70 and the X70 Pro.
Both models come with ZEISS optics for their cameras, and a unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, to allow users to capture the best possible photos and videos, even in the most challenging conditions.
Here is what you need to know about the new vivo X70 series smartphones…
Large AMOLED Display
Both the vivo X70 and X70 Pro come with a large 6.56-inch AMOLED display, with a resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels.
They both support a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 240 Hz response rate, as well as HDR10+ support and Hi-Rest certification.
There is a subtle difference between the two models though – the vivo X70 display has a 2.5D edge, while the Pro version has a 3D curved edge.
Performance
Both models are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 – a 5G mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, with eight processor cores that consists of :
a high-performance A78 core running at 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance cores running at 2.6 GHz, and
four high-efficiency A55 cores running at 2 GHz.
In addition to its 8 processor cores, it has a 9-core Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, and a 6-core MediaTek APU 3.0 AI processor.
RAM + Storage
The vivo V70 comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, while the Pro version comes with a whopping 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
Even though they both come with a lot of memory, they support Extended RAM 2.0 – giving them additional 4 GB of memory on call!
There is no option to upgrade storage through a microSD card, but they both come with more than enough storage for most users, and most importantly – it’s super fast UFS 3.1 flash storage!
Cameras Co-Engineered With ZEISS
Both models have a high-resolution 32 MP front camera, with a triple camera system for the X70 and a quad camera system for the X70 Pro.
Both camera systems were co-engineered with ZEISS and feature lenses with ZEISS T* coating to reduce unwanted light flares, ghosting, stray light and other image artifacts.
The pièce de résistance of both models is the unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, which is coupled with the Gimbal Stabilisation 3.0 technology, to let you capture steady images and video even in the most challenging conditions.
They also support VIS 5-Axis Ultra Stable Video technology, which integrates enhanced optical image stabilisation (OIS) with electronic image stabilisation (EIS) to aggressively stabilise the X/Y-axis as well as Z-axis rotation for silky-smooth video.
Rounding that up is a slew of AI-enhanced photography and videography technologies, like Real-Time Extreme Night Vision, Super Night Video, Pure Night View, Pro Cinematic Mode and more.
Battery + Charging
The vivo X70 Pro and X70 come with large batteries – 4,450 mAh and 4,400 mAh capacities respectively, for a long battery life.
On top of that, they both come with a USB charger in-the-box, which supports 44W FlashCharge for extremely fast charging.
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Specifications
To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Price + Pre-Order Deals
The vivo X70 is priced at RM2,499 – approximately US$598 / £437 / A$822 / S$806.
Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :
Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth speaker + car charger + 1-month Viu subscription
The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM3,299 – approximately US$789 / £577 / A$1,085 / S$1,064.
Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :
Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth sound bar + 1-month Viu subscription
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
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.
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.
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.
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, Cream, Lavender 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.
HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.
Take a look at these new HUAWEI devices!
HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Quick Primer!
HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.
HUAWEI MatePad 11
Running on HarmonyOS 2, the MatePad 11 is the first HUAWEI tablet to feature a 10.95-inch FullView display with a 120 Hz refresh rate for a silky-smooth visual experience, and a DCI-P3 colour gamut for real-to-life colours!
Its display is also TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light-certified, and TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free certified, guaranteeing you hours of comfortable viewing without eye fatigue.
The MatePad 11 comes with the 2nd Generation M-Pencil stylus, which boasts an almost imperceptible lag as low as 2 ms. It has 4,096 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity, giving you a natural writing and drawing experience.
The 2nd Generation M-Pencil also supports Double Tap to Switch tools, for convenient writing and drawing. If you make a mistake, just double tap the M-Pencil to instantly switch it to the eraser mode!
It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript that quickly converts your handwriting into beautiful text, as well as Instant Shape and Instant Table, to help you easily draw perfect shapes and tablets!
The MatePad 11 is also a multimedia powerhouse, with quad-channel large amplitude quad-speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.
It is further enhanced with Histen 7.0 for greater bass and a new sound field enhancement algorithm, giving you that immersive cinema-like audio experience when you watch movies!
The MatePad 11 tablet also comes with 4 microphones, to pick up your voice while eliminating background noise using its built-in noise reduction and echo cancellation technologies.
You also do not need to worry about its battery life – the HUAWEI MatePad 11 offers up to 12 hours of work productivity time or 1080p video playback on a single charge.
HUAWEI MateBook D15
The HUAWEI MateBook D15 is now powered by either the 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, in a superbly thin and light aluminium alloy chassis – just 16.9 mm thin and weighing only 1.56 kg.
It comes with a FullView Display, offering 87% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to its 5.3 mm narrow bezels at the top and sides.
The large 15.6-inch display has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and an anti-glare IPS panel that is TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free certified.
Despite its slim design, the MateBook 15 offers an impressive array of ports :
1 x USB-C port
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
2 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x HDMI port
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : Price + Deal!
HUAWEI is offering their new tablets and laptops at these launch prices :
HUAWEI officially launched the 2021 MatePad Pro in Malaysia – their first tablet to feature the new HarmonyOS 2 operating system!
Here is what you need to know about the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet, including its price and deal in Malaysia!
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Now In Malaysia!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro looks superficially like the 2020 HUAWEI MatePad Pro, but they are quite different beasts altogether.
It is now much bigger 12.6-inch tablet, built around the Kirin 9000E mobile platform and runs on the brand new HarmonyOS 2 operating system!
Flagship Performance
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro is built around the Kirin 9000E, the world’s first 5nm 5G mobile SoC.
It has a triple-core CPU architecture, with a boosted Cortex-A77 core at 3.13 GHz, three high-speed Cortex-A77 cores at 2.54 GHz, and four low-power Cortex-A55 cores at 2.05 GHz.
It has a 22-core Mali-G78 GPU, and two Neural Processing Units – one Big-Core NPU and one Tiny-Core NPU.
Memory + Storage
The 2021 MatePad Pro comes with 8 GB LPDDR4x memory and 256 GB built-in storage, with the option of adding an NM card for additional storage (up to 256 GB).
Large OLED Display
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro sports a massive 12.6-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Thanks to its ultra-narrow 5.6 mm bezels, this FullView Display offers a 90.1% screen-to-body ratio.
On top of that, it has a colour accuracy of ∆E < 0.5, making it a great portable second monitor for professional photographers!
Improved HUAWEI Share Capabilities
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro offers improved HUAWEI Share, offering the next level of device connectivity :
You can not only mirror your HUAWEI smartphone onto your tablet, you can also transfer and share files across multiple devices even laptops, simply by dragging and dropping them!
2nd Generation HUAWEI M-Pencil
HUAWEI is introducing the 2nd generation M-Pencil with the MatePad Pro. This optional stylus has a much lower input lag – as low as 9 ms, with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt sensitivity.
Designed to give you the natural writing experience, it offers the feel of a real pencil on paper. It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript, which transforms handwritten content into machine-encoded text in real time.
If you need to switch into different modes like Instant Shape or Instant Table, all you need to do is double-tap it!
HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
The HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard with a key travel of 1.3 mm; and supports Bluetooth and wireless charging.
This magnetically-paired keyboard quickly converts the MatePad Pro into a full-fledged laptop, offering greater working productivity.
Large Battery + Super Fast Charging
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet comes with a large 10,050 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery built-in for a very long battery life.
On top of that, it supports 40 watt SuperCharge, when used with a 40 watt HUAWEI Super Fast Charger.
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Malaysia Price + Deal!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro will be available for sale in Malaysia from 18 June 2021 onwards, in the Matte Grey colour.
It has an official launch price of RM 3,999 (about US$970 / £686 / A$1,253 / S$1,286). Here are online purchase options :
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 :
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HUAWEI just officially launched their Vision S, powered by their own HarmonyOS operating system!
Here is what you need to know about the new HUAWEI Vision S 4K smart TV!
HUAWEI Vision S : HarmonyOS Smart TV
Powered by HarmonyOS, the HUAWEI Vision S comes in two sizes – 65-inch and 55-inch, both offering smart features like :
interconnectivity,
interactive capabilities,
multi-device collaboration, and
of course, multimedia prowess
Let’s take a quick look at what you need to know about this new smart TV!
HUAWEI Vision S : Specifications
To make it easy for you to compare the two models, here is a table comparing their key specifications :
Specifications
HUAWEI
Vision S
65-inch
HUAWEI
Vision S
55-inch
Size
65-inches
55-inches
Resolution
4K UHD
3840 x 2160 pixels
Colour Gamut
92% DCI-P3
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Brightness
350 nits
Contrast Ratio
5000:1
Backlight Type
Direct LED
Operating System
HUAWEI HarmonyOS
Memory
3 GB
Storage
32 GB
Camera
13 MP magnetic camera
Speakers
2 x 10 W full frequency
2 x 10 W tweeters
Voice Input
6 microphones
Far-field voice pickup
Remote Control
Bluetooth voice remote control
OneHop Projection (NFC)
Connectivity
Wi-Fi : 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
3 x HDMI 2.0 ports
1 x AV-in port
1 x USB 3.0 port
1 x SPDIF (coaxial) port
Power Consumption
230 watts
190 watts
Display Only Size
1449.3 mm wide
837.2 mm high
72.1 mm thick
1230.1 mm wide
714.1 mm high
73.0 mm thick
Display + Base Size
1449.3 mm wide
876.4 mm high
336.7 mm thick
1449.3 mm wide
753.6 mm high
258.0 mm thick
Display Only Weight
19.5 kg
14.2 kg
Display + Base Weight
20 kg
14.7 kg
HUAWEI Vision S : Key Features
Double Refresh Rate, Double Speakers!
Its 120 Hz display, coupled with Advanced Motion Estimation and Motion Compensation (MEMC) promises to offer much more immersive and smoother visuals.
On top of that, it is fitted with twice as many speakers than other smart TVs – two Full Frequency Speakers and two High Frequency Speakers, with a 1 litre sound cavity!
1080p HUAWEI MeeTime Calls!
The HUAWEI Vision S supports MeeTime calls, letting you engage in high-definition video calls at up to 1080p resolution without being connected to a HUAWEI smartphone!
All you need to do is set the Vision S to use your HUAWEI ID during the installation process, and you can make 1080p MeeTime calls directly on it!
OneHop Projection!
The HUAWEI Vision S comes with OneHop Projection built-in, activate with a tap of your HUAWEI smartphone on the HUAWEI Share icon on its remote control!
You will be able to project your smartphone contents onto the display, and navigate by simply swiping left and right on your smartphone!
Mirror Control
The Mirror Control capability turns your smartphone into a touchpad for the Vision S.
This gives you handy touch controls for easier input, without worrying about the remote again.
HUAWEI Vision S : Price + Deals!
The HUAWEI Malaysia Vision S will be available in two sizes, at these price points :
If you pre-order one, you will receive these free gifts!
Vision S 65-inch
Pre-order period : Now until 2 May 2021
Free gifts : HUAWEI WiFi AX3 router + HUAWEI FreeLace Pro *
* only on the HUAWEI Lazada Store + HUAWEI Online Store
Vision S 55-inch
Pre-order period : Now until 12 May 2021
Free gifts : RM200 instant rebate **
** only on the HUAWEI Shopee Store + HUAWEI Online Store
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Epson just launched their EpiqVision Mini EF-12 portable laser projection TV!
Take a look at its key features, and find out if this is what you have been looking for!
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Portable Laser Projection TV!
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is a compact and lightweight laser projector that allows you to enjoy a cinema experience at home, at up to 150-inches in display!
Built around the Epson 3LCD Technology, the EpiqVision Mini EF-12 offers Full HD resolution at 1000 lumens of brightness!
Low Maintenance Cost
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 uses a laser light source with a rated lifespan of 20,000 hours.
Epson says that with 5 hours of daily use, that gives you more than 10 years of enjoyment, with little to no maintenance costs.
Epson Online Meetings (Powered By Zoom)
The EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is Zoom-ready, allowing you to quickly conduct online video conferencing without additional software.
Android TV + Chromecast Built-In
With Android TV built-in, this laser projector lets you stream movies, shows and games from Google Play, YouTube and other sources.
You can also cast your favourite entertainment app or game using Chromecast from any Android or iOS device, Windows or Mac computer!
Bluetooth Yamaha Speaker
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 has a Yamaha speaker built-in, which also works as a standalone Bluetooth speaker for your mobile devices!
Automatic Setup
Thanks to its built-in camera, it automatically adjusts the necessary horizontal and vertical keystone correction, screen distortion and focus level!
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 : Price + Availability!
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF-12 is available in mid-April 2021, with a retail price of RM 4,980 (about US$1,202 / £873 / A$1,576 / S$1,617).
Here are online purchase options in other countries :
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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!
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Key Features
Here is a quick run-through of the Xiaomi Redmi 9T’s key features.
6.53-inch FHD+ Dot Drop Display
The Redmi 9T sports a large 6.53-inch Dot Drop display, with a FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.
This display has a pixel density of 395 ppi, and a maximum brightness of 400 nits.
It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and is TUV Rheinland-certified for low blue light.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
The Redmi 9T is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 – a mid-range mobile SoC released in early 2020.
It has an 8-core processor, with four high-speed Qualcomm Kryo 260 Gold cores running at 2.0 GHz, and four low-power Qualcomm Kryo 260 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz.
In addition to the Qualcomm Adreno 610 GPU, and 3rd Generation Qualcomm AI Engine, it offers 4G LTE and WiFi-AC connectivity.
Memory + Storage Options
Xiaomi is offering two memory and storage options – 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage.
It also comes with a microSD card slot, in a triple card tray that also supports two nano SIM cards.
This is a big advantage for those who need additional storage, as well as the ability to support two SIM cards.
Five Cameras
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T has an 8 MP selfie camera, with a f/2.05 aperture, hidden in a teardrop notch. A decent front camera at this price point.
At the back, it has a camera system that consists of :
a 48 MP main camera, with f/1.79 aperture and 4-in-1 Super Pixel capability
an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
a 2 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 2 MP depth sensor, with f/2.4 aperture
a single LED flash
This is really a triple camera system since the depth sensor does not capture any images, only provides depth data for better software bokeh effects.
Fingerprint Sensor
While many entry-level smartphones do not come with a fingerprint sensor, Redmi 9T has one on the side – an FPC102x sensor.
It is actually built into the Power button, which is more useful than a rear sensor if you attach it to your car’s dashboard.
Power + Charging
Powering all that is a massive 6,000 mAh battery, which supports 18 watt fast charging.
Oddly enough, it comes with a 22.5 watt Xiaomi MDY-11-EP charger in the box, so that’s a nice “freebie”.
Audio Port + IR Emitter
Those who are still hanging onto their wired earphones will be happy to learn that the Redmi 9T comes with a 3.5 mm port at the top.
In addition, it also comes with an IR emitter that lets you use the Redmi 9T as a remote control.
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Camera Performance + Photo Samples
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T’s 48 MP main camera takes 12 MP photos by default, with a resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels.
The 48 MP sensor basically combines four pixels into one large “virtual pixel”, for better image quality and low-light performance.
The Redmi 9T produces pretty good photos with more than enough detail at 12 MP, unless you are planning to print large format photos.
There are three issues with this camera though, which we will go through below. In the meantime, take a look at three of the better photo samples we took.
Very Narrow Depth Of Field
First – its large f/1.79 aperture makes for better low-light performance, but has very narrow depth-of-field.
If you take a look at the these photos, you can see how only a small segment is in focus.
This is great for portraits, giving you a nice bokeh for the background. However, if you do not frame and focus properly, you will end up with an out-of-focus photo.
Long Minimum Focus
This camera has a rather long minimum focus, which makes for tricky close-up shots. It doesn’t help that the Redmi 9T won’t tell you when the camera cannot focus properly.
If you take pictures of close-up objects, you will more than likely end up with a bunch of out-of-focus photos.
Post Processing Issues
Finally – its AI post-processing sometimes can wipe out details.
If you look at this photo, you can’t really tell the yellow flower petals apart because the saturation boost just wiped out the detail and contrast.
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T comes with a massive 6,000 mAh battery.
To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We then ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained :
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T may support 18 W charging, and even comes with a 22.5 watt fast charger, but it sure is slow at charging.
It takes over 3 hours to fully recharge its 6,000 mAh battery from 20% – almost twice as slow as the next slowest smartphone – the Black Shark 2 Pro!
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Work Performance
We tested the Redmi 9T using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 2.0
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
BS 2 Pro
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Mobile Platform
Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
SD
855+
Exynos
9820
SD 662
Performance Score
10523
8981
8384
7846
5986
Web Browsing
8865
8293
6768
8583
5844
Video Editing
6232
9166
5948
5524
3423
Writing
11112
9579
9226
9076
6657
Photo Editing
30789
19376
17595
10710
12031
Data Manipulation
6825
6155
6339
6450
4799
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 is a mid-range mobile SoC released in early 2020. So it isn’t surprising to see that it’s only about half as fast as a flagship SoC like the Exynos 990.
Even so, it offers pretty good work performance at this price point. Unless you are comparing smartphones side-by-side, you probably won’t notice the difference.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T Gaming Performance : 3DMark
For gaming, we first tested the Redmi 9T using 3DMark, with these results :
3DMark
Note20
Ultra
B Shark
2 Pro
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Device
Exynos
990
SD
855+
Exynos
9825
Exynos
9820
SD 662
Sling Shot Extreme (OpenGL)
6642
6258
5037
4470
1174
Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan)
5722
5386
4794
4314
1098
Sling Shot
8128
8127
4883
4343
1844
Needless to say, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T is no speedy Gonzales, when it comes to games.
On average, it only offers about 20% the gaming performance of a flagship chip like the Exynos 990, which powers the Galaxy Note20.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T Overall Performance : AnTuTu
We then tested the Redmi 9T using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
AnTuTu
Note20
Ultra
B Shark
2 Pro
Galaxy
Note10+
Galaxy
S10+
Redmi 9T
Device
Exynos
990
SD
855+
Exynos
9825
Exynos
9820
SD 662
AnTuTu Score
522735
434168
348397
330549
173559
CPU
146783
126170
101187
100272
64505
GPU
215205
188158
156700
149930
31734
Memory
89376
65052
72051
68188
40377
UX
71371
54788
18459
12159
36943
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 has decent CPU and memory performance, but falls short in the graphics department.
It’s good enough for work and the average mobile game. But don’t count on it to push the envelope when it comes to gaming.
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Xiaomi Redmi 9T : A Quick Wrap
When we first received the Xiaomi Redmi 9T, we didn’t think much of it. But after a few weeks of trying it out, we came away pretty impressed with a few aspects.
But we also had some concerns, so let’s do a quick wrap…
Fantastic Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T has seriously great battery life. This is a smartphone you can count on for a full day’s work without a power bank.
We have actually gone 2 days without recharging, so most users will probably never have battery anxiety with this phone!
Nice Large Display
The large 6.53-inch IPS display is pretty nice, especially at this price point. You would expect a 720p display without protection, but no, this is a Full HD+ panel with Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
It is not particularly bright though, with 400 nits of maximum brightness. So don’t be disappointed if it appears a little washed out in bright sunlight.
Small Niceties
There are a couple of small features that could be very important, and yet are no longer available in other smartphones :
3.5 mm audio port
IR emitter
Triple card tray with microSD card slot
Pretty Decent Camera
Forget about the 48 MP marketing. It’s really a 12 MP camera. And it’s a nice camera at this price point.
Just watch out for the narrow depth-of-field, inability to take close-up photos and potential over-processing.
Not For Serious Gaming
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 is a pretty good processor at this price point, and offers decent work performance.
However, it has a rather weak GPU. Perfectly fine for those playing simple mobile games, but not for serious gamers.
Slow Charging
Xiaomi may quote a 18 watt charging capability, and even pack a 22.5 watt fast charger in the box. But this baby sure takes its time recharging.
Fortunately, its long battery life ensures that you really don’t need to keep it plugged more than once a day.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Our Verdict + Award
The Xiaomi Redmi 9T offers a lot of decent features and a very long battery life, at a great price point.
There are very few smartphones at this price point that would offer you a large Full HD display, a decent processor and camera system, with a large battery.
This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Xiaomi Redmi 9T : Where To Buy?
The Redmi 9T is available for purchase, in two variants :
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Lenovo just introduced four 2021 YOGA laptop models – Yoga 6 AMD, Yoga Slim 9i, Yoga 9i and Yoga Slim 7i Carbon.
Confused? Hear from Lenovo themselves, and we will give you a quick run down of all four models!
2021 Lenovo YOGA Laptop Models Revealed!
The Yoga is Lenovo’s top-of-the-line consumer sub-brand, and is designed to offer refined craftsmanship and stunning design, for “consumers with sophisticated taste”.
Lenovo Yoga 6 AMD
The 2021 Lenovo Yoga 6 AMD is their first-generation consumer convertible laptop, that uses a hybrid design of metal and soft-touch materials wrapped in blue fabric.
This 13.3-inch, 2-in-1 convertible laptop features an AMD Ryzen 4000 series mobile processor with optional AMD Radeon graphics, with up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory an 1 TB of SSD storage.
It comes with a Full HD touch screen display, with narrow bezels and a backlit keyboard. It also comes with front facing stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos.
Weighing only 1.32 kg, the Yoga 6 AMD offers up to 18 hours of battery life with a 60 Whr battery.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i
The 2021 Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i offers an exquisite Shadow Black genuine leather cover bonded to an aluminium chassis for a better feel and greater durability.
Built around the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, with Intel Xe Graphics, this 14-inch laptop is just 13.9 mm thick, and weighs just 1.29 kg.
Lenovo also offers a more powerful 15-inch option, powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i9 HK-series mobile processor, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q Design graphics.
Both models offer up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X memory and up to 2 TB of PCIe SSD storage, with three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Lenovo Yoga 9i
The 2021 Lenovo Yoga 9i offers an exquisite Shadow Black genuine leather cover bonded to an aluminium chassis, as well as an all-metal Mica option.
They both come with an edge-to-edge Glass Palm Rest with an encased Smart Sensor Touchpad with haptic feedback.
Built around the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, with Intel Xe Graphics, this 14-inch convertible laptop features thermal venting holes under the keyboard to lower its temperature by two degrees Celsius compared to the previous generation.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is an ultra-light 13.3-inch laptop, with a 16:10 display and a thickness of just 14.25 mm and a weight of just 966 grams.
This is an Intel Evo-certified laptop, with a stunning Moon White finish, and a chassis made from carbon fibre with an anti-fingerprint finish.
2021 Lenovo YOGA Models : Price + Availability
All four 2021 Lenovo Yoga laptop models are available for purchase, with immediate effect, at these starting prices :
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 – their latest flagship smartphone, boasting studio-grade cameras and top-of-the-line performance – is now available in Malaysia!
Here is what you need to know about the Xiaomi Mi 11, including its price and pre-order deal in Malaysia!
Xiaomi Mi 11 : Now Available In Malaysia
On 8 February 2021, Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 – their latest flagship smartphone, built around the latest Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. It was finally introduced to Malaysia on 25 February 2021.
Let’s start with their official launch presentation on the Mi 11 smartphone :
6.81-inch 120 Hz AMOLED Display
The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a large 6.81-inch AMOLED display, with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 480 Hz sampling rate.
It has a resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels, a maximum brightness of 1500 nits, and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
The Mi 11 is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile SoC, fabricated on the 5 nm process.
It boasts eight CPU cores with a triple-tier architecture, consisting of :
1 x Kryo 680 Prime core (based on ARM Cortex-X1) at up to 2.84 GHz
3 x Kryo 680 Gold cores (based on ARM Cortex-A78) at up to 2.42 GHz
4 x Kryo 680 Silver cores (based on ARM Cortex-A55) at up to 1.8 GHz
It also comes with an Adreno 660 GPU, Hexagon 780 DSP, Spectra 580 ISP and a built-in X60 5G/LTE modem.
RAM + Storage Options
The Xiaomi Mi 11 comes with 8 GB of LPDDR5 SDRAM memory running at 3200 MHz.
Xiaomi will offer 128 GB and 256 GB storage options, with no external storage expansion through a microSD card.
Cameras
In the front, the Xiaomi Mi 11 has a 20 MP selfie camera, with an f/2.2 aperture. In the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :
108 MP main camera, f/1.85 aperture
13 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.4 aperture
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4 aperture
This triple-camera system is supported by a single LED flash.
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Samsung just introduced the Galaxy S21 Plus, a new flagship smartphone with an iconic new design!
Find out if the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is the smartphone you have been waiting for!
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus : Our Hands-On Preview!
With a 6.7-inch display and a large battery, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is designed for marathon gamers and binge-watchers.
Its edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X display has a Full HD+ resolution, with an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate.
New Flagship Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the US, South Korea and China, and the new Samsung Exynos 2100 in other countries.
They are both flagship mobile SoCs, and here is a quick comparison of their key specifications :
Specifications
Samsung
Exynos 2100
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 888
Fab Process
5 nm EUV
Processor
1 x Cortex-X1 (2.9 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A78 (2.8 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (2.2 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A78 (2.4 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.8 GHz)
The Galaxy S21 Plus comes with a 10 MP Dual Pixel front camera, with an f/2.2 aperture. The Dual Pixel capability allows for faster auto-focus.
In the back, it has a triple camera system, that consists of :
a 12 MP Dual Pixel main camera, with an f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with an f/2.2 aperture
a 64 MP telephoto camera, with an f/2.0 aperture, 1.1X optical zoom and 3X hybrid optic zoom.
This is basically the the same camera setup as the Galaxy S20, without the DepthVision camera.
Most of the improvements are in its camera software :
Improved 8K Snap, that lets you capture clear images from your 8K video footage
Super Steady video now supports 60 fps video recording
Single Take lets you capture a variety of still and video formats with a single tap.
It is now enhanced with new pro-style settings like Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo
New Director’s View that lets you see, switch and select the best shot… LIVE!
Improved Space Zoom with new Zoom Lock capability
Samsung SmartThings Find
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus supports the new SmartThings Find capability, which lets you quickly and easily locate compatible Galaxy devices, even when they are offline.
You can also locate non-connected devices using Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth locater. Simply attach it to your keys, bag or pet, and use SmartThings Find to locate them!
Protection
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is IP68-rated against dust and water, allowing you to immerse it in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
Its display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus against scratches in the front.
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus comes with a large 4,800 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, and it supports 18 watt wireless charging, as well as 25 watt wired charging.
But here’s the bad news – the Galaxy S21 Plus does NOT come with a charger in the box. It only ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus : Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Model
SM-G996
Display Size
6.7-inch Flat
Display Panel
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Display Resolution
1080 x 2400 pixels
Pixel Density
394 ppi
Display Features
48~120 Hz refresh rate
1300 nits
Protection
IP68, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Operating System
One UI 3.1 (Android 11)
Platform
Samsung Exynos 2100, or
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Memory
8 GB LPDDR5
Storage Options
256 GB
External Storage
None
Front Camera
10 MP Dual Pixel (f/2.2)
Rear
Cameras
12 MP Dual Pixel (f/1.8) main camera
12 MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide camera
64 MP (f/2.0) telephoto camera
– 1.1X optical zoom, 3X hybrid zoom
Connectivity
5G / 4G / 3G / 2G
Wi-Fi : WiFi-AC
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB 3.2 Type C
GPS Support
GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
Ultra Wideband
Yes
NFC / MST
Yes
S Pen Support
No
Fingerprint Sensor
In Display
Other Sensors
Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro,
Geomagnetic, Hall sensor,
Proximity, Ambient Light
Audio
Dual stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Battery
4,800 mAh
Charging
25 watt wired,
18 watt wireless
Width
Height
Thickness
75.6 mm
161.5 mm
7.8 mm
Weight
200 g
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus : Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus comes in three colour options – Phantom Silver, Phantom Black and a new signature colour, Phantom Violet.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus : Launch Price List
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus comes in two variants globally, with these prices :
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At CES 2021, NVIDIA announced the coming availability of Ampere-based GeForce RTX 30 series gaming laptops!
Starting 26 January 2021, NVIDIA partner brands like MSI will begin shipping RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 gaming laptops, followed by RTX 3060 gaming laptops from 2 February 2021 onwards.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series mobile GPUs are built on the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, giving them 2nd Gen Ray Tracing cores and 3rd Gen Tensor Cores.
New Streaming Multiprocessors : Delivering 2X the FP32 performance of NVIDIA Turing, and 30 Shader-TFLOPS of processing power
2nd Gen RT Cores : Delivering 2X the performance of NVIDIA Turing, plus concurrent ray tracing and compute, with 58 RT-TFLOPS of processing power.
3rd Gen Tensor Cores : Up to 2X the performance of NVIDIA Turing, with 238 Tensor-TFLOPS of processing power.
NVIDIA RTX IO : Enables rapid GPU-based loading and game asset decompression, accelerating I/O performance by up to 100X. When used in conjunction with Microsoft DirectStorage API, it offloads the work to the RTX GPU, improving frame rates and enabling near-instantaneous game loading.
GDDR6X Memory : Delivers close to 1 TB/s of memory bandwidth, improving gaming performance.
Custom Samsung 8N Process Technology : Delivers higher transistor density and greater efficiency.
HDMI 2.1 : Delivers single-cable connection to 8K HDR TVs and monitors for ultra-high resolution gaming.
AV1 Decode : First discrete GPUs to support hardware decoding of the new AV1 codec, allowing for up to 8K HDR videos at 50% less bandwidth.
MSI GS66 Stealth GeForce RTX 30 Gaming Laptops
MSI is introducing two GS66 Stealth gaming laptops :
a premium model powered by the Core i9-10980HK processor with GeForce RTX 3080 graphics, and
a more affordable model powered by Core i7-10870H processor with GeForce RTX 3070 graphics.
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