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The Official HONOR 8C Tech Briefing, Price + Deals!

HONOR just launched the HONOR 8C – the entry-level companion to their HONOR 8X smartphone. Here are the official HONOR 8C tech briefing, price and deals!

 

The HONOR 8C Tech Briefing

Zhao Zhiwei, Head of HONOR Malaysia, shared the HONOR 8C’s key features in this video!

Display

The HONOR 8C comes with a 6.26-inch IPS display with a HD+ resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels. It is a FullView display that offers a 86.6% screen-to-body ratio.

Performance

It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 mobile SoC, which has eight Kryo 250 cores running at 1.8 Ghz, and an Adreno 506 GPU.

RAM + Storage

The HONOR 8C comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal flash storage. It has a microSD card slot that supports up to 256 GB of additional storage.

Cameras

In the front, it has an 8 MP camera with a soft light flash. In the back, its 13 MP PDAF camera has a large f/1.8 aperture, and is paired with a 2 MP depth sensor.

Battery

Powering everything is a large 4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery. HONOR says that it will last up to 2 days.

 

HONOR 8C Spécifications

SpecificationsHONOR 8C
Display6.26-inch IPS display
-720 x 1520 pixels (269 ppi)
Operating SystemAndroid 8.1 Oreo with EMUI 8.2
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 632
Processor8 x Qualcomm Kryo 250 (1.8 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 506
Memory3 GB
Storage32 GB
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera8 MP sensor with soft light flash (3 levels)
Rear CameraDual Lens Camera
- 13 MP PDAF camera with f/1.8 aperture
- 2 MP depth sensor
ConnectivityWiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz only)
Bluetooth : BT 4.2
USB : micro USB 2.0
Battery4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery (non-removable)
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear-mounted
Other SensorsGravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Digital Compass
NFCNo
Dimensions75.94 mm wide
158.72 mm tall
7.98 mm thick
Weight167.2 grams
Colour OptionsBlue / Gold / Black

 

HONOR 8C Price + Availability

The HONOR 8C is officially priced at RM 599 / ~US$ 147 / ~£111. It will be available for retail sale from 5 April 2019 onwards in three colour options – Blue, Gold and Black.

Lazada Exclusive First Sales

HONOR partnered up with Lazada to offer the Blue and Black models starting 27 March 2019 onwards. In addition, the first 1,000 buyers will receive an exclusive tote bag featuring their catbassador of the British short-hair persuasion!

 

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The HONOR 10 Lite Smartphone Review

The HONOR 10 arrived 8 months ago, impressing us with its five key features. Now they are introducing a Lite version – the HONOR 10 Lite, at a more affordable price point.

The HONOR 10 Lite is positioned below the HONOR 10, but offers a larger Full HD+ display and a microSD card slot. Let’s take a close look, and see what else it offers!

The HONOR 10 Lite Tech Briefings

Let’s start with a video of the exclusive pre-launch tech briefing.

Now watch Zhao Zhiwei, Head of HONOR Malaysia, who shares the HONOR 10 Lite’s key features at the launch.

HONOR 10 Lite Price + Availability

The HONOR 10 Lite is avaialble in two variants, at the following price points :

  • 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage : RM 749 / ~US$ 182 / ~£143
  • 3 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : RM 799 / ~US$ 194 / ~£152

The 32 GB model will be available for sale starting 9 January 2019 in two colours – Midnight Black, and Sky Blue.

The 64 GB model, on the other hand, will be available for sale at a later date, in Sapphire Blue and Shiny Red colour options.

Unboxing The HONOR 10 Lite

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) comes in a plain an artic blue box, sealed by two security stickers. Let’s take a quick look and unbox it!

To keep costs low, Honor provided only the essentials in the Honor 10 package :

  • One Honor 10 Lite smartphone
  • One clear TPU bumper case
  • One 10 W Huawei fast charger
  • One micro USB cable
  • One SIM tray extractor pin

Next Page > The HONOR 10 Lite Up Close + Full Specifications

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The HONOR 10 Lite Up Close!

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) is built around the mid-range Kirin 710 SoC, with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. Its large 6.21-inch display has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, and a dewdrop notch.

Even though it is a cheaper version of the HONOR 10, it also comes with the stunning Aurora Glass back, although the effect is more pronounced with the Sky Blue version, and less so with our Blue review sample.

Like the HONOR 10, it is powered by a 3,400 mAh battery, However, it only supports 10 watt fast charging, instead of the more advanced 22.5 watt HUAWEI SuperCharge technology.

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HONOR 10 vs HONOR 10 Lite Comparison

Look at how the new HONOR 10 Lite compares against the HONOR 10.

SpecificationsHONOR 10HONOR 10 Lite
Display5.84-inch AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2280 pixels (432 ppi)
6.21-inch AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels (415 ppi)
- 90+% display-to-body ratio
Operating SystemAndroid 8.1 Oreo with EMUI 8.1Android 9.0 with EMUI 9.0.1
PlatformHisilicon Kirin 970Hisilicon Kirin 710
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.8 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.7 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-G72 MP12ARM Mali-G51
Memory4 GB LPDDR4x memory3 GB LPDDR4x memory
Storage128 GB
No microSD card slot
32 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot
Front Camera24 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens24 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear CamerasDual Camera System
- 16 MP RGB sensor with f/1.8 lens
- 24 MP monochrome sensor
- single LED flash
Dual Lens Camera
13 MP sensor with f/1.8 lens and single LED flash
- With 2 MP depth sensor
Connectivity4G : LTE
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth 4.2
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
4G : LTE
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB : micro USB 2.0
SIM Support2 x nano SIM cards
Dual SIM, Dual Standby capable
2 x nano SIM cards
Dual SIM, Dual Standby capable
NFC CapabilityYesNo
OTG CapabilityYesYes
Fingerprint SensorIntegrated Into Home ButtonYes, Rear Mounted
Other SensorsE-Compass, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, G SensorE-Compass, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, G Sensor
Battery3,400 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
- supports 22.5 W SuperCharge fast charging
3,400 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
- supports 10 W fast charging
Dimensions71.2 mm wide
149.6 mm tall
7.7 mm thick
73.6 mm wide
154.8 mm tall
8.0 mm thick
Weight155 grams162 grams
Colour OptionsPhantom Blue / Phantom Green / Midnight Black / Glacier GreySky Blue / Blue / Red

Next Page > The HONOR 10 Lite Key Features

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The HONOR 10 Lite Cameras

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) appears to use the same high-resolution 24 MP front camera, with a fast f/2.0 lens, as the HONOR 10.

The bright f/2.0 lens allows it to better handle low-light conditions – important since the front camera does not have any flash.

At the back, it sports an upgraded dual-lens camera from last year’s HONOR 9 Lite smartphone. It consists of a 13 MP camera with an f/1.8 lens, supported by a 2 MP depth sensor.

The depth sensor does not actually take any pictures. Instead, it lets the camera to more accurately differentiate the subject from its background, allowing for more realistic software bokeh effects.

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Fingerprint Sensor

Honor opted to go with a rear fingerprint sensor with the Honor 10 Lite. It is very fast and accurate, and allows you to trigger specific actions with different fingers.

The only downside? You can’t use it to unlock the device while it’s attached to a car mount. That’s when you need to use the Face Unlock feature. It uses the front camera and facial recognition algorithms to authenticate your identity, so it will work even with the Honor 10 Lite mounted on your car’s dashboard.

Next Page > Hybrid SIM, Dewdrop Notch, GPU Turbo

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Hybrid SIM Tray

Unlike the Honor 10, the HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) has a hybrid SIM tray. This means the SIM 2 slot doubles as a microSD card slot.

You can either use a second nanoSIM card, or a microSD card for extra storage capacity. But not both at the same time.

The microSD slot will come in handy, because the HONOR 10 Lite only has 32 GB of internal storage.

There is also a higher-capacity 64 GB model, but microSD storage offers additional peace of mind – even if the phone is physically damaged or destroyed, you can still recover your data or photos and videos from the microSD card.

Dewdrop Notch

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) has a Full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. It features a dewdrop notch that is noticeably smaller than that of the Honor 10.

The display notch allows for notifications to be confined to the top, giving you more space for your work… or really, your games. Heh… In games or apps that do not support the notch, it will simply “disappear” by turning black.

GPU Turbo

GPU Turbo is a hardware and software combination that increases the “efficiency” of the GPU by up to 60%.

It does not mean you get a 60% boost in frame rate, although Honor says it will greatly reduce the jitter rate (variance between the highest and lowest frame rates), while appreciably increasing the overall frame rate.

How does GPU Turbo work? From what we understand, it uses a proprietary algorithm in the graphics driver to detect the change between the current frame being rendered, and the next one.

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This allows the HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) to boost CPU and GPU performance for completely new frames, and reduce them for frames with few changes.

The only downside? GPU Turbo support is currently limited. Extremely limited.

From what we understand – it will only work with PUBG MobileMobile Legends: Bang Bang and King Glory. Naturally, game support will be extended to more games over time.

Next Page > HONOR 10 Lite Setup, Ergonomics, Memory + Storage

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Setting Up The HONOR 10 Lite

Setting up the HONOR 10 Lite is easy, and takes no more than 10 minutes if you are setting it up as a new device. Take a look at a video of the setup process.

Ergonomics

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) is definitely much larger than the Honor 10(Price Check). In fact, it is about the same width as the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and the OPPO R17 Pro – they both have similar-sized displays, albeit shorter than both of those examples.

Its 6.21-inch IPS display is bright, although not as vivid as an AMOLED display. The non-standard 19.5:9 aspect ratio of the main display section gives you more screen space for gaming, but you will get some pillarboxing while watching movies.

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Available Memory + Storage

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) comes with 3 GB of memory, of which 1.83 GB (61%) is available for use. That’s actually pretty good, giving you enough free memory to run several memory-guzzling apps at the same time.

It also comes with 32 GB of internal storage, of which just over 22.6 GB (70%) is available for use. That’s enough for over 5,500 photos, or 4.25 hours of 1080p videos.

Next Page > HONOR 10 Lite Camera Performance – Photos + Videos

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Camera Performance – Photos

The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) has a depth-sensing dual-lens camera, with a 13 MP image sensor paired with f/1.8 lens.  Photos from this camera have a 4:3 aspect ratio, with 3264 × 2448 pixels and an average file size of between 3 MB and 5 MB.

Here are 6 high-resolution samples from this 13 MP camera for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.

The photos from the HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) are surprisingly good for its price point. It also has the brightest lens we have seen at this price point.

Just note that it does not have a macro mode, so has trouble focusing on near objects. Also, its bright lens greatly narrows its depth of field, so make sure you focus properly on the subject, or it will appear out of focus.

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Camera Performance – Video Recording

Although its image sensor and processor is more than capable of handling 4K videos, the HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) can only record 1080p videos.

Video Sample #1 : Piano Performance

The image quality is not comparable with flagship smartphones, but is good for its price point. That said, there are some focus seeking issues, and a notable lack of stabilisation.

Video Sample #2 : Street Market

In this walkthrough of a street market, you can see that the HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) lacks image stabilisation. This is a shame, because electronic image stabilisation is not expensive from a software or performance point of view to implement.

Next Page > HONOR 10 Lite Gaming Performance + Verdict

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Benchmark Notes

For some odd reason, recent HONOR review samples (like the Honor 8X) appear to disable the installation of PCMark and AnTuTu. This prevents us from testing its work, as well as battery performance.

With that in mind, we would counsel that you take the 3DMark gaming performance results with a pinch of salt. We cannot be sure if this review sample is using the same firmware as an actual retail unit.

Gaming Performance – 3DMark

Here is the HONOR 10 Lite’s score running 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.

Ice Storm Unlimited Honor Play HONOR 10 Lite OPPO R17 Pro Samsung Galaxy A7 2018
Gaming Score 31622 16505 15354 15354
Graphics 37351 19183 15788 15788
Physics 20576 11087 14005 14005
Graphics Test 1 208.9 fps 120.7 fps 136.5 fps 136.5 fps
Graphics Test 2 132.8 fps 63.7 fps 45.8 fps 45.8 fps
Physics Test 65.3 fps 35.2 fps 44.5 fps 44.5 fps
Review Links Honor Play Review   OPPO R17 Pro Review Galaxy A7 2018 Review
Price Check MY | US | UK MY MY | US MY | US | UK

The Kirin 710 appears to have a slight 7.5% performance advantage over its rival, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, which powers the OPPO R17 Pro.

A closer examination of the results will show that its ARM Mali-G51 GPU is faster than the Snapdragon 710’s Adreno 616 GPU. On the other hand, it has a slower CPU.

Our Verdict

At first glance, the HONOR 10 Lite is hardly a notable smartphone. Those of us who are used to flagship devices will dismiss it. In fact, we would naturally favour the Honor 10 over it.

But we are not its target market. The HONOR 10 Lite (Price Check) is designed for the lower mid-range market, against rivals like the Realme 2 and Realme 2 Pro. In that regard, it is a formidable competitor.

The HONOR 10 Lite offers a large dewdrop display with a new processor in an elegant package, and a great price point. It also boasts a dual-lens camera with very bright f/1.8 lens.

Unfortunately, we are unable to give you a complete verdict because we are unable to test its work and battery performance. But we hope we have provided you with enough information in this review to make an informed decision if this is the right smartphone for you.

Where To Buy The HONOR 10 Lite

The HONOR 10 Lite is available in two variants, at the following price points :

  • 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage : RM 749 / ~US$ 182 / ~£143
  • 3 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : RM 799 / ~US$ 194 / ~£152

The 32 GB model will be available for sale starting 9 January 2019 in two colours – Midnight Black, and Sky Blue.

The 64 GB model, on the other hand, will be available for sale at a later date, in Sapphire Blue and Shiny Red colour options.

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The Top 5 Reasons Why The Honor 10 Is Awesome!

The Honor 10 smartphone is one of the best smartphones Honor ever made. Here are the top 5 reasons why the Honor 10 is amazing!

 

Reason #1 : Exquisite Aurora Glass

The first thing that strikes you when you pick up the Honor 10 (US Price Check) for the first time is the spectacular Aurora Glass design. Inspired by aerial net sculptures and first introduced in the Honor 8, the Aurora Glass is painstakingly crafted using 15 layers of membrane and glass in a Class 100 dust-free workshop.

Creating the Aurora Glass is a laborious affair that takes twice as long to fabricate, with a high failure rate. But all that hard work and sacrifice is rewarded with the exquisite Aurora Glass design that is literally out-of-this-world.

 

Reason #2 : Large True Colour Display

You will be amazed by the Honor 10’s large 5.84″ display, with an incredible 86% screen-to-body ratio. Thanks to its bezel-less design, the Honor 10 (US Price Check) is only about the size of a traditional 5.2″ smartphone. You will love how it fits in your hand and pocket. Now you can have your cake and eat it too – a large display in a small package!

You will also be amazed by the display’s true colour capability. The Honor 10 (US Price Check) has an improved FullView 2.0 display with a wide 96% NTSC colour gamut. Once you see your photos and videos appearing exactly as they would in real life, you can never go back!

 

Reason #3 : AI Camera

The Honor 10 (US Price Check) has an amazing dual-lens AI camera that combines a 16 MP RGB camera with a 24 MP monochrome camera to capture photos with less noise and greater detail.

The RGB sensor captures the colour data; while the monochrome sensor captures the details, with less noise and greater sharpness. Both cameras then combine their sensor data to create a final image that is sharper and with greater detail than would be possible with a single RGB camera

But its photographic capabilities go beyond its dual-lens setup.

The Honor 10 AI Camera can recognise more than 500 photographic scenarios in real-time, identifying the outlines of objects and separating them from the background using the world’s first Semantic Image Segmentation technology.

Semantic Image Segmentation is game-changing because it allows the Honor 10 to literally take apart the picture, and dynamically enhance each element separately for the best results possible. You can take great photos, but the Honor 10 will make them amazing!

 

Reason #4 : Flagship CPU With AI Capabilities

The Honor 10 (US Price Check) runs on the most powerful platform from HiSilicon – the Kirin 970. This is a flagship-class platform that is fabricated on the latest and most power-efficient 10 nm process.

The Kirin 970 does not only boast a fast octa-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, it supports the latest LPDDR4X memory, and comes with the best-in-class network capabilities – LTE Cat18 for download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps, with 4×4 MIMO, 5CC carrier aggregation and 256-QAM.

The HiSilicon Kirin 970 also boasts a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that delivers 25X the AI processing performance, at half the size! The Kirin 970 NPU is more than twice as fast as the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, and 21X faster than the Samsung Galaxy S8.

The AI processing capability of the Kirin 970 NPU is important because it allows the Honor 10 AI Camera to quickly identify the scene and apply the appropriate settings for the best picture possible. Take this motion capture demo, for example.

The Kirin 970’s ability to identify and predict the motion in the scene allows it to better capture a sharper image. Without the AI predictive capability, it will be virtually impossible to capture a clear image of an object in motion.

 

Reason #5 : Unbelievable Price!

Flagship smartphones always feature the best technologies possible. However, they are often priced in the stratosphere for the same reason. The Honor 10 (US Price Check) is one of the few exceptions.

Price at only RM 1,599 / ~US$ 399, the Honor 10 (US Price Check) offers flagship capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Can you find another flagship smartphone with the same features at this price point? No, you cannot!

 

Honor 10 Price & Availability

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The Honor 10 is available in three colour options – Phantom Blue, Glacier Grey and Midnight Black – at a low, low price of RM 1,599 / £299 / US$ 403! You can get them from :

Don’t forget to check out our comprehensive Honor 10 Review!

 

Disclosure

This post was sponsored by Honor Malaysia.

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Price, Availability + Specifications

Here are the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 price, availability and specifications! Find out why Xiaomi calls it the Camera Beast, and what other killer features this new smartphone offers!

Updated @ 2018-05-28 : Updated the specification comparison against the two ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 models, and shifted the photo samples to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Preview.

Updated @ 2018-05-07 : Added more details, and updated the specifications.

Updated @ 2018-04-26 : Added eight Redmi Note 5 sample photos taken by Allen An!

Originally posted @ 2018-04-25

Don’t forget to check out our Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Preview!

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 : The Camera Beast

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 platform, which boasts eight Kyro 260 processor cores, and an Adreno 509 GPU. Xiaomi calls it the Camera Beast because of its flagship-level photography capabilities.

Clearer images and faster focusing even in low light

The Redmi Note 5 employs a dual camera setup, for better bokeh effects. The main 12 MP sensor features large 1.4 μm pixels, which can capture more light and deliver better results under low-light conditions. The sensor also supports Dual Pixel technology, delivering very fast autofocus speeds.

The front camera of Redmi Note 5 has a 13 MP sensor, complemented by an LED Selfie light. When Portrait Mode is engaged, both the front and rear cameras can add different Beautify 4.0 effects. Even without a second sensor, Xiaomi claims that the front camera will deliver a great bokeh effect in Portrait Mode, thanks to AI technology that helps to isolate the subject from the background.

Powerful and efficient performance

Redmi Note 5 uses Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 636 platform based on the 14 nm process. Users will experience faster performance, whether they are editing a large spreadsheet or playing demanding games. Compared to Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Snapdragon 636 has a 40% better performance while maintaining power efficiency.

The Redmi Note 5 is the first device in the Redmi family to use LPDDR4X SDRAM, which is usually only available on flagship smartphones. With up to 4GB of fast RAM, it can run more apps simultaneously and switch between programs even more smoothly.

So much packed in a small form factor

The Redmi Note 5 sports a 5.99 inch FHD+ 18:9 display, a large 4000 mAh battery and support for fast charging. Equipped with the latest MIUI 9 operating system based on Android Oreo, it also supports full screen display gestures, which allows users to completely hide the navigation bar, for a maximized display area.

Don’t forget to check out our Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Preview!

 

Redmi Note 5 vs. ZenFone Max Pro M1

ASUS just revealed two ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB601KL) models to directly take on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, so here is a table comparing their specifications.

SpecificationsASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL)ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB601KL)Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Display6" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 85% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
6" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 85% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
5.99" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 83% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
Operating SystemAndroid 8.1 OreoAndroid 8.1 OreoAndroid 8.1 Oreo
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 636Qualcomm Snapdragon 636Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
Processor8 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 cores (1.8 GHz)8 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 cores (1.8 GHz)8 x Qualcomm Kryo cores (1.8 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 509 GPUQualcomm Adreno 509 GPUQualcomm Adreno 509 GPU
Memory3 GB / 4 GB / 6 GB LPDDR4X memory3 GB / 4 GB / 6 GB LPDDR4X memory3 GB / 4 GB LPDDR4X memory
Storage32 GB / 64 GB internal flash storage (eMMC 5.1)
microSD card (2 TB)
32 GB / 64 GB internal flash storage (eMMC 5.1)
microSD card (2 TB)
32 GB / 64 GB
microSD card (shared with SIM2)
Front Camera8 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens and LED softlight flash8 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens and LED softlight flash13 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens and LED flash
Rear CameraDual-lens camera
- 13 MP image camera with f/2.0 lens
- 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 lens
Dual-lens camera
- 13 MP image camera with f/2.2 lens
- 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 lens
Dual-lens camera
- 12 MP Samsung sensor with f/1.9 lens
- 5 MP Samsung depth sensor with f/2.0 lens
Connectivity4G Version A
- LTE Cat4 DL : 150 Mbps
- LTE Cat5 UL : 75 Mbps
4G Version B
- LTE Cat13 DL : 400 Mbps
- LTE Cat5 UL : 75 Mbps

WiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB : microUSB 2.0
4G : LTE Cat4 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL
WiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB : microUSB 2.0
4G : LTE Cat12 600 Mbps DL, LTE Cat13 150 Mbps UL
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB : microUSB 2.0
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, dual standby capability (4G / 4G)
Dedicated dual SIM tray
Dual SIM, dual standby capability (4G / 4G)
Dedicated dual SIM tray
Dual SIM, dual standby capability (4G / 4G)
Hybrid SIM tray
Fingerprint SensorRear-Mounted, 0.3 Sec UnlockRear-Mounted, 0.3 Sec UnlockRear-Mounted
GPSGPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoGPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoGPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
Audio5-magnet speaker5-magnet speaker
Battery5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery4,000 mAh lithium-ion battery
Dimensions76 mm wide
159 mm tall
8.5 mm thick
76 mm wide
159 mm tall
8.5 mm thick
75.4 mm wide
158.6 mm tall
8.05 mm thick
Weight180 g180 g181 g
Available ColoursDeepsea Black, Titanium GreyDeepsea Black, Titanium GreyBlack, Gold, Lake Blue

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Price + Availability

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Here is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 price list at launch. There will be two models with different memory and storage capacities :

  • 3GB + 32GB : RM 799 / ~US$ 205
  • 4GB + 64GB : RM 999 / ~US$ 256

Both versions will be available in three colors – Lake Blue, Gold, and Black. A simple and elegant TPU case will be shipped in the box with every Redmi Note 5.

You can purchase them from Lazada and 11street, or offline from our Authorised Mi Stores starting 5 May 2018. Here are some offers :

  • Redmi Note 5 (3 GB + 32 GB) : RM 768
  • Redmi Note 5 (4 GB + 64 GB) : RM 954

So what do you guys think about the Redmi Note 5 price points?

 

Suggested Reading

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The OPPO R15 Pro with Dual 20MP AI Cameras Revealed!

The new OPPO R15 Pro is targeted at the youth market, especially those who are into fashion and style. Read all about the OPPO R15 Pro, and find out if this is t he smartphone for you!

 

The OPPO R15 Pro

OPPO collaborated with famed designer Karim Rashid to create two trendy colors for OPPO R15 Pro –  Cosmic Purple and Ruby Red.

The Cosmic Purple and Ruby Red models were created using an aluminum frame with more transparent glass in new gradient design, allowing light and shadow to play off with the colour to deliver an ethereal feel.

The OPPO R15 Pro boasts a 6.28-inch bezel-less display with a resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9. The OPPO Super Full Screen is not only a notch display but has enhanced customized standby Multitasking functions and deep system optimizations.

The narrow left and right frames can provide convenient notifications shortcuts to multiple functions and third-party apps. it also supports gestures and full-screen multitasking.

The OPPO R15 features a dual lens camera with 16MP+20MP sensors, and an upgraded AI scenario recognition capability. It is also the first smartphone to adopt the Sony IMX519 sensor, and can now accurately collect 296 feature points of a human face.

The OPPO R15 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, and comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. It also has a 3,430 mAh battery with VOOC Flash Charging capability. In addition, it is now equipped with an NFC chip which allows you to make mobile payments using Android Pay, bank card, or transport card.

 

OPPO R15 Pro Specifications

SpecificationsOPPO R15 Pro
Display6.28-inch AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2280 pixels
- 401 ppi, 19:9 aspect ratio
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Operating SystemAndroid 8.1 Oreo with ColorOS 5.0
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 660
Processor4 x Qualcomm Kyro 260 (2.2 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kyro 260 (1.8 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 512
Memory6 GB LPDDR4 (1866 MHz)
Storage128 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 256 GB, shared with SIM 2)
Front Camera20 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
- 1080p video recording
Rear CameraDual Lens Camera
- 16 MP sensor with f/1.7 lens
- 20 MP sensor with f/1.7 lens
- 4K @ 30 fps video recording
- 1080p @ up to 120 fps video recording
- 720p @ up to 240 fps video recording
Connectivity4G : LTE Cat12 (600 Mbps DL, 150 Mbps UL)
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB : microUSB 2.0
GPS SupportGPS , A-GPS, GLONASS
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear Mounted
Other SensorsAccelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, Compass
Battery3,400 mAh Li-Po battery (non-removable)
Dimensions75 mm wide
155.3 mm tall
7.5 mm thick
Weight175 g
Available ColoursCosmic Purple, Ruby Red

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OPPO R15 Pro Price + Availability

The OPPO R15 Pro will be available in the Cosmic Purple or Ruby Red colour options, at the recommended retail price of RM 2,399 / ~US$ 602. Here are some purchase links :

It will be available to pre-order from 25 May to 31 May 2018, with retail purchase starting on 1 June 2018.

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HUAWEI nova 3e Price, Specifications & Tech Briefing

17 May 2018 – HUAWEI today launched the HUAWEI nova 3e smartphone, which features a FullView display and a dual-lens camera. Here are the HUAWEI nova 3e price, specifications and full tech briefing. Enjoy!

 

HUAWEI nova 3e Tech Briefing

The HUAWEI nova 3e is targeted at the youth market, with its high-resolution 24 MP selfie camera and its FullView display with the iPhone X-like notch. It also has 2.5D curved edge glass panels, with rounded corners for a more sophisticated look and feel.

The HUAWEI nova 3e is powered by the octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 659, and comes with 4 GB of LPDDR3 memory, and a whopping 128 GB of internal flash storage. If that is not enough, you can upgrade it using a microSD card (up to 256 GB).

In addition to its 24 MP front camera, the nova 3e also comes with a rear dual-lens camera. This consists of a 16 MP main camera, with a 2 MP secondary camera that serves as a depth sensor. This depth sensor offers better depth perception, allowing the nova 3e to apply its bokeh effects with greater accuracy.

 

HUAWEI nova 3e Specifications

SpecificationsHUAWEI nova 3e
Display5.84" FullView IPS display
- 1080 x 2280 pixels (432 ppi)
- 2.5D curved glass edge
Operating SystemAndroid 8.0 Oreo with EMUI 8.0
PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 659
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (2.36 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.7 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-T830 MP2 (900 MHz)
Memory4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
Storage128 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera24 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear CameraDual-Lens Camera
16 MP sensor + 2 MP sensor, with f/2.2 lenses
ConnectivityLTE : Cat6 (300 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL)
WiFi : 802.11b/g//n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth 4.2
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, Dual Standby
GPSWith AGPS and GLONASS
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear Mounted
Other SensorsHall sensor, Proximity, Ambient light, Digital compass, Gravity and Gyroscope
NFCYes
Battery3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
- supports 18 W fast charging
Dimensions71.2 mm wide
148.6 mm tall
7.4 mm thick
Weight145 g
Colour OptionsKlein Blue / Midnight Black

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HUAWEI nova 3e Price & Availability

The HUAWEI nova 3e will be available from 25 May 2018 onwards, in two colour options – Klein Blue (with glitter cover film), and Midnight Black. HUAWEI announced an official retail price of RM 1,399 (inclusive of 6% GST) / US$ 352.50, but we have good news.

To assuage consumer concern about the upcoming zero-rating of the GST, HUAWEI is offering a RM 79 cash back up to 31 May 2018, so the actual retail price will be RM 1,320 / US$ 332.50. Purchasers of HUAWEI nova 3e will also receive a HUAWEI tripod and selfie stick worth RM 68 / US$ 17, while stocks last.

Starting 1 June 2018, we expect HUAWEI to maintain the price of RM 1,320.

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The honor 9 Lite Launched At Just RM 749 / US$ 189!

honor Malaysia just launched the honor 9 Lite smartphone that features four cameras! Best of all, they’re pricing it at just RM 749 / US$ 189, with a special launch price of RM 699 / US$ 176!

 

The honor 9 Lite Quad-Camera Smartphone

The honor 9 Lite features a dual-lens 13 MP + 2 MP camera on both the front and rear, allowing users to capture crystal clear and stunning images anytime, anywhere and anyway. It boasts upgraded and customisable beautification features, and hardware-level bokeh effects, which should appeal to for selfie enthusiasts.

Although honor calls it a quad-camera system, it’s really a dual-lens camera on both sides. Each dual-lens camera has a single 13 MP sensor that takes the actual photos, with a secondary 2 MP sensor that serves as a depth sensor.

This combination allows for bokeh effects to be more accurately applied, as well as post-capture focus selection.

Design & Display

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The honor 9 Lite comes with a reflective glass back in the Sapphire Blue and Glacier Grey options, which gives it a premium look and feel.

It also boasts a bezel-less 5.65-inch FullView HD Display screen and mirror-like glass finish with a high screen-to-body ratio, promising to give users a device with a luxe design.

Performance

The honor 9 Lite is powered by the Kirin 659 processor and is equipped with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage (expandable up to 256 GB). It also packs a 3,000 mAh battery which is able to provide users a day’s usage even on heavy use.

Colour Options

The honor 9 Lite will be available in Sapphire Blue and Glacier Gray colour options.

 

The honor 9 Lite Specifications

Specificationshonor 9 Lite
Display5.65" Full HD+ IPS display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels (428 ppi)
Operating SystemAndroid 8.0 + EMUI 8.0
System PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 659
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.45 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.7 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-T830 MP2
Memory3 GB RAM
Storage32 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
Front Cameras13 MP photo sensor + 2 MP depth sensor
- Photo resolution : 4160 x 3120
- Video resolution : 1920 x 1080
Rear Cameras13 MP photo sensor + 2 MP depth sensor
- Photo resolution : 4160 x 3120
- Video resolution : 1920 x 1080
- single LED flash
Connectivity4G : LTE FDD B1/3/7/8/20
3G : WCDMA B50/900/2100/1900
2G : GSM / GPRS / EDGE : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
WiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.2
USB 2.0
GPSGPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear-Mounted
Other SensorsProximity, Ambient Light, Compass, Gravity, Phone Status
Battery3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery
Dimensions71.9 mm wide
151 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight149 g
Available ColoursSapphire Blue / Glacier Grey

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The ASUS ZenFone 5 Launch Event @ MWC 2018

At MWC 2018, ASUS CEO Jerry Shen unveiled three new ASUS ZenFone 5 Series smartphones, as well as the ZenFone Max (M1). Get the low-down on these new smartphones, and watch the full ASUS ZenFone 5 launch event!

 

The ASUS ZenFone 5 Launch Event

The ASUS ZenFone 5Z and the ASUS ZenFone 5 are both 6.2-inch dual-camera smartphones, and the first ZenFone models to harness the power of artificial intelligence, and feature all-screen displays with a 90% screen-to-body ratio.

The ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite, on the other hand, is a 6-inch smartphone with a quad camera system!

ASUS ZenFone 5Z

The ASUS ZenFone 5Z is a extreme-performance dual-camera smartphone, with a 6.2-inch all-screen display with a 90% screen-to-body ratio.

It is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile platform, with the Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence Engine (AIE). Priced at just €479, it will come with up to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash storage.

Its dual-camera system is built around the latest flagship Sony IMX363 sensor with large 1.4µm pixels, an f/1.8 wide-aperture lens,120° wide-angle secondary camera, four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) and AI-enhanced camera features.

ASUS ZenFone 5

The “standard” ASUS ZenFone 5 is the first smartphone in the world to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 mobile platform.

Like the ZenFone 5Z, it also has a dual-camera system built around the latest flagship Sony IMX363 sensor with large 1.4µm pixels, an f/1.8 wide-aperture lens,120° wide-angle secondary camera, four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) and AI-enhanced camera features.

ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite

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The ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite features the world’s first true four-camera system. That quad-camera system consists of a high-resolution camera and a 120° wide-angle camera on both front and rear aspects! Unlike rival systems, each camera works independently.

The 6-inch Full HD+ IPS display has a Full View 18:9 aspect ratio and an ultra-slim bezel, making it as compact as a standard-aspect-ratio 5.5-inch phone. The ZenFone 5 Lite runs on the Snapdragon 630 Mobile Platform, and has a 3300 mAh battery.

ASUS ZenFone Max (M1)

The ASUS ZenFone Max (M1) is the latest model in the new ZenFone Max Series. This is the (slightly) smaller brother of the ZenFone Max Plus M1 smartphone that launched in December 2017.

The ZenFone Max has a 5.5-inch full-view display, yet comes packed with a high-capacity 4000 mAh battery. It also boasts dual rear cameras with 120° wide-angle lens, and fingerprint-based unlocking.

 

The ASUS ZenFone 5 Series Specifications

SpecificationsASUS ZenFone 5ZASUS ZenFone 5ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite
(SDM630)
ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite
(SDM430)
ModelZE620KLZE620KLZC600KLZC600KL
Display6.2" Super IPS+ Display
- 1080 x 2246 pixels (18.5 : 9)
- 500 nits brightness
- 95.4% NTSC colour gamut
6.2" Super IPS+ Display
- 1080 x 2246 pixels (18.5 : 9)
- 500 nits brightness
- 95.4% NTSC colour gamut
6.0" IPS Display
- 1050 x 2160 pixels (18 : 9)
6.0" IPS Display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels (18 : 9)
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass2.5D edge glass panels2.5D edge glass panels
Operating SystemAndroid 8.0 with ASUS ZenUI 5Android 8.0 with ASUS ZenUI 5Android 8.0 with ASUS ZenUI 5Android 8.0 with ASUS ZenUI 5
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 845Qualcomm Snapdragon 636Qualcomm Snapdragon 630Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
Processor4 x Qualcomm Kyro 385 cores (2.8 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kyro 385 cores (1.8 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kyro 260 cores (1.8 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kyro 260 cores (? GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.8 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (? GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 630Qualcomm Adreno 509Qualcomm Adreno 508Qualcomm Adreno 505
MemoryUp to 8 GB LPDDR4X4 GB LPDDR4X4 GB LPDDR43 GB / 4 GB LPDDR3
Storage256 GB (UFS2.1)
microSD card (up to 2 TB)
64 GB (eMCP)
microSD card (up to 2 TB)
32 GB / 64 GB (eMCP)
microSD card (up to 2 TB)
32 GB / 64 GB (eMCP)
microSD card (up to 2 TB)
Main Rear Camera12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.8 lens
- Dual Pixel autofocus
- 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation
- LED flash
12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.8 lens
- Dual Pixel autofocus
- 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation
- LED flash
16 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens
- LED flash
16 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens
- LED flash
Second Rear Camera120° wide-angle 8 MP camera with f/2.2 lens120° wide-angle 8 MP camera with f/2.2 lens120° wide-angle 8 MP camera with f/2.2 lens120° wide-angle 8 MP camera with f/2.2 lens
Main Front Camera8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens20 MP Sony IMX376 sensor with f/.1.8 lens
- Softlight LED flash
20 MP Sony IMX376 sensor with f/.1.8 lens
- Softlight LED flash
Second Front CameraNoneNone120° wide-angle camera120° wide-angle camera
AudioDual 5-magnet speakers
- with dual NXP Smart Amp
- Hi-Res Audio support
-DTS Headphone:X 7.1 virtual surround sound
Dual 5-magnet speakers
- with dual NXP Smart Amp
- Hi-Res Audio support
-DTS Headphone:X 7.1 virtual surround sound
Single SpeakerSingle Speaker
FM RadioYesYesYesYes
Network CapabilityLTE Cat18 DL : 1.2 Gbps
LTE Cat12 UL : 100 Mbps
LTE Cat13 DL : 600 Mbps
LTE Cat12 UL : 100 Mbps
LTE Cat13 DL : 400 Mbps
LTE Cat5 UL : 75 Mbps
LTE Cat13 DL : 400 Mbps
LTE Cat5 UL : 75 Mbps
SIM + MicroSD
Hybrid SIM Tray
- SIM1 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM
- SIM2 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM or microSD card
Hybrid SIM Tray
- SIM1 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM
- SIM2 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM or microSD card
Dual SIM Tray
- SIM1 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM
- SIM2 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM
Dedicated microSD tray
Dual SIM Tray
- SIM1 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM
- SIM2 : 2G/3G/4G nano SIM
Dedicated microSD tray
Wireless Technology802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 5.0
802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 5.0
801.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.1
801.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.1
NFCYesYesYesYes
GPS SupportGPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BDS
Fingerprint Sensor0.2 seconds unlock
Supports 5 fingerprints
0.2 seconds unlock
Supports 5 fingerprints
0.3 seconds unlock
Supports 5 fingerprints
0.3 seconds unlock
Supports 5 fingerprints
Face RecognitionYesYesNoNo
Other SensorsAcceleration, E-Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light, RGBAcceleration, E-Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light, RGBAcceleration, E-Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient LightAcceleration, E-Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light
Battery3,300 mAh lithium-ion battery
- 18 W fast charging capability
3,300 mAh lithium-ion battery
- 18 W fast charging capability
3,300 mAh lithium-ion battery3,300 mAh lithium-ion battery
Charger18 W charger (9 V @ 2 A)10 W charger (5 V @ 2 A)10 W charger (5 V @ 2 A)10 W charger (5 V @ 2 A)
Dimensions75.65 mm wide
153 mm tall
7.85 mm thick
75.65 mm wide
153 mm tall
7.85 mm thick
76.16 mm wide
160.62 mm tall
7.8 mm thick
76.16 mm wide
160.62 mm tall
7.8 mm thick
Weight165 g165 g168.3 g168.3 g
Available ColoursMeteor Silver, Midnight BlueMeteor Silver, Midnight BlueMidnight Black, Rouge Red, Moonlight WhiteMidnight Black, Rouge Red, Moonlight White

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The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (SM-A530F) Smartphone Review

Samsung just announced the Galaxy A8 2018 and Galaxy A8+ 2018 smartphones, bringing the key features of their award-winning Galaxy S8 series to the masses. We had the opportunity to review the new Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (SM-A530F) smartphone before its official launch. Let’s check it out in depth!

 

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 & A8+ 2018 Compared

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) and Galaxy A8+ 2018 may look like they differ only in size, but that’s not quite accurate. Let’s take a look at their specifications :

SpecificationsSamsung Galaxy A8Samsung Galaxy A8+
Display5.6" Super AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2220 pixels (440 ppi)
6.0" Super AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2220 pixels (410 ppi)
Operating SystemAndroid 7.1.1Android 7.1.1
PlatformSamsung Exynos 7885Samsung Exynos 7885
Processor2 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.2 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.6 GHz)
2 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.2 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.6 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-G71ARM Mali-G71
Memory4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM6 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Storage32 GB internal flash storage
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
64 GB internal flash storage
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
Front CameraMain Camera
- 16 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K2P6SX sensor with f/1.9 lens

Wide-Angle 85° Camera
- 8 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K3P8SP sensor with f/1.9 lens
Main Camera
- 16 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K2P6SX sensor with f/1.9 lens

Wide-Angle 85° Camera
- 8 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K3P8SP sensor with f/1.9 lens
Rear Camera16 MP camera with f/1.7 lens and single LED flash
- Samsung ISOCELL S5K2P6SX sensor with PDAF technology
16 MP camera with f/1.7 lens and single LED flash
- Samsung ISOCELL S5K2P6SX sensor with PDAF technology
Connectivity4G : LTE Cat11
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth v5.0
USB Type C
4G : LTE Cat11
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth v5.0
USB Type C
SIM CapabilitySingle SIM Model : Single SIM
Dual SIM Model : Dual SIM, Dual Standby
Single SIM Model : Single SIM
Dual SIM Model : Dual SIM, Dual Standby
NFCYesYes
GPSGPS, GLONASS, BeiDouGPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear-MountedYes, Rear-Mounted
Audio24-bit Ultra High Quality (UHQ) support
- PCM support up to 32-bits
24-bit Ultra High Quality (UHQ) support
- PCM support up to 32-bits
Water ResistanceIP68 ratedIP68 rated
Battery3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
- fast charging capable
3,500 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
- fast charging capable
Other SensorsAccelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity and RGB light sensorsAccelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity and RGB light sensors
Dimensions70.6 mm wide
149.2 mm tall
8.4 mm thick
75.7 mm wide
159.9 mm tall
8.3 mm thick
Weight172 g191 g
Available ColoursBlack, Orchid Gray, Gold, BlueBlack, Orchid Gray, Gold, Blue

As you can see, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ 2018 is only a little larger than the Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check). But it not only comes with a larger 3,500 mAh battery, it also has 50% more memory (6 GB) and twice as much storage (64 GB).

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The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 Up Close

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8 in design. They both boast the same glass and metal design, with an Infinity Display and IP68 dust- and water-resistance.

Of course, there are some differences. The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 has two front cameras, instead of one. It also comes with a dedicated microSD card slot, instead of a hybrid SIM slot; and features a centrally-aligned fingerprint sensor.

 

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 Price & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is available from 19 January 2018 onwards. At launch, there will be four colour options – Black, Orchid Gray, Gold and Blue. However, not all colours are available in every country. Here in Malaysia, only the Black, Gold and Orchid Gray colours will be available.

Samsung has only announced the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) prices for select countries. Let’s take a look at what’s announced, and what we project will be the launch prices in other countries.

Countries Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 Samsung Galaxy A8+ 2018
Russia 34,990 Rubles 37,990 Rubles
Vietnam VND 10,990,000 VND 13,490,000
Malaysia RM 1,799 (~US$ 449) RM 2,499 (~US$ 625)
United States $599 (Estimated) $649 (Estimated)
United Kingdom £449 (Estimated) £559 (Estimated)
Europe €499 €599
India Rs 30,980 (Estimated) Rs 38,040 (Estimated)

Next Page > Key Features of the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018

 

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The Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) boasts, not one, but two front cameras like the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro. It consists of a 16 MP high-definition selfie camera… and an 8 MP wide-angle selfie camera, both with f/1.9 lenses.

Like the dual rear cameras of the Samsung Galaxy Note8, these dual front cameras support Live Focus. This allows you to adjust the bokeh effect before or after you take the picture!

The rear camera is no slouch either. It uses the same 16 MP PDAF sensor from the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017, but upgraded with a faster, brighter f/1.7 lens.

 

SIM & MicroSD Trays

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) comes in both single SIM, and dual SIM options. In the dual SIM model, it supports two nano SIM cards with dual standby capability.

In both versions, it comes with a dedicated microSD card tray, which officially supports microSD cards of up to 256 GB in capacity.

 

Fingerprint Sensor

Like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note8, the new Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. But this time, Samsung moved it to a central location, just below the rear camera.

This central alignment of the fingerprint sensor makes it easier to use with both hands, addressing a major criticism of the Galaxy S8 and Note8 smartphones.

That said, the fingerprint sensor is still too small and too close to the rear camera, making it easy for you to touch and smear the sensor. The sensor is also not the most accurate of sensors, sometimes requiring several tries to unlock the smartphone.

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IP68 Dust & Water Resistance

Like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note8, the Samsung Galaxy A8 is IP68-rated for dust- and water-resistance. Best of all, you don’t even have to prepare it in any way before you dunk it into water! For more information how how Samsung achieved this feat, take a look at our Samsung Galaxy S7 IP68 Engineering Explained.

Officially, the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) can withstand complete immersion in water up to 1.5 m in depth, for up to 30 minutes. That means you can take it for jogs in the rain, reading in the shower or soaking in bath. Heck, you can even take it for a swim!

There are some caveats though. The IP68 rating applies to a specific set of test conditions : 15-35 °C, 86-106 kPa, 1.5 metre, 30 minutes. Even so, water may enter and damage the Galaxy S7 edge if it is exposed to “water moving with force“, like running water from a tap or waterfall, or ocean waves.

In other words, this is not a waterproof phone like the Oukitel K10000 Pro or the Kenxinda ruggerdised smartphones. It is IP68 water-resistant, so you need to be gentle with it. You can read more about this in our article – Samsung Galaxy S7 IP68 Engineering Explained.

Next Page > The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 Setup, Ergonomics, Memory & Storage

 

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Setting Up The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) comes with Android 7.1.1 Nougat pre-loaded. Let’s boot it up, and see how easy it is to setup!

 

Ergonomics

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) has a 5.6″ bezel-less Infinity Display, so it does not feel like a large smartphone. In fact, it is about the size of a 5″ or 5.2″ smartphone. This means it will feel more comfortable in smaller hands, and fit better in smaller pockets.

The use of an Infinity Display means there is no physical Home button. The virtual Home button on the Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is not pressure-sensitive like that of the Samsung Galaxy S8. You need to double tap it to activate the virtual Home button.

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Available Memory & Storage

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory, of which 1.8 GB (45%) is available for use. There is a fair bit of bloat, but slightly better than the 1.5 GB in the Galaxy S8. With that in mind, 1.8 GB of memory is plenty of memory to run several applications simultaneously. In fact, it is more memory than what some low-end smartphones ship with!

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) comes with 32 GB of internal flash storage, with 23.2 GB of free space for you to use. That is enough space to store about 4,200 photos, or 3 hours of 1080p videos. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).

Next Page > Camera Performance – Photos & Videos

 

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Camera Performance – Photos

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) uses the 16 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K2P6SX camera as the main camera, with f/1.9 lens and a single LED flash. The maximum 16 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4608 x 3456 pixels, and a file size of between 4.8 MB and 6 MB.

Here are 8 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.

If you compare them side-by-side with photos from the Samsung Galaxy S8, they will look less vivid. But the resolution is top-notch, and the noise levels are low, thanks to the bright f/1.9 lens.

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Camera Performance – Video Recording

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is restricted to recording up to 1080p videos from both front and rear cameras. There are no time limits when you record videos. However, it is still subject to the 4 GB file size limit.

When you record a long 1080p video, it will be broken up into separate files that are about 32 minutes in length, with a short recording gap in between. Here are three 1080p video samples, all taken without the use of gimbals.

Video Recording Test #1 : Piano

The camera’s resolution is really good. You can pick out the tiny signs in the background very clearly. It also demonstrated good control of the highlights – you can see into the Padini Concept Store in the background.

That said, it has some seeking issues as Mr. Yang sways his body – it seems to confuse the camera’s autofocus. Cameras with Dual Pixel technology (used in the Galaxy S8) are superior in this respect.

Video Recording Test #2 : Street Market

There is no optical image stabilisation (OIS) capability, but its electronic image stabilisation (EIS) did a decent job of smoothing out the harsher shakes during our walk. Note too the seeking issues – they are still evident outdoors, so it’s not a lighting issue.

Video Recording Test #3 : Christmas Showcase

In this walkabout of an indoor Christmas showcase, we can see the incredible detail the camera is capable of capturing. Many cameras can record 1080p videos, but most can’t capture the kind of detail this camera can.

The only downsides – the lack of optical image stabilisation, and the autofocus performance.

Next Page > Work & Gaming Performance, Battery Life & Recharging Speed

 

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Work Performance – PCMark

We tested the 2018 Samsung Galaxy A8’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 2.0 ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
Performance Score
(Average)
5656 5303 5197 3846
Web Browsing 5708 5155 5035 4371
Video Editing 5888 4998 4433 3716
Writing 4509 5158 5607 2822
Photo Editing 10698 7082 7238 6671
Data Manipulation 3570 4458 4183 2753
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The Samsung Exynos 7885-powered Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) was just 2% slower than the Samsung Galaxy S8, that runs on the faster Samsung Exynos 8895.

 

Battery Life – PCMark

We then tested the 2018 Galaxy A8’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.

Work 2.0 ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 Samsung Galaxy S8 ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
Battery Life 14 hours 19 mins 12 hours 19 mins 10 hours 32 mins 8 hours 41 mins
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This is amazing performance! The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) lasted almost 2 hours longer than the Galaxy S8, and 3.5 hours longer than the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro. Only the ZenFone 4 Max Pro lasted longer – by exactly 2 hours.

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Battery Recharging Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 comes with an adaptive fast charger with a power output of 15 W. Take a look at how fast it recharged the 3,000 mAh battery.

It only took the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) just over 86 minutes (1 hour 26 minutes) to recharge its battery from 17% to 100%. That is a battery life : recharging ratio of 8.6 : 1 – a truly amazing performance.

The Galaxy A8 2018 recharged fastest in the first 85%, taking only 54 minutes. Its recharging speed slowed them for the remaining 15%, taking an additional 32 minutes.

 

Gaming Performance – 3DMark

We tested the 2018 Galaxy A8’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.

Ice Storm Unlimited Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
Gaming Score 29509 14684 14015 9751
Graphics 33279 15201 13470 9609
Physics 21130 13121 16328 10285
Graphics Test 1 173.1 fps 134.4 fps 80.7 fps 55.1 fps
Graphics Test 2 124.3 fps 43.8 fps 46.0 fps 33.6 fps
Physics Test 67.1 fps 41.7 fps 51.8 fps 32.7 fps
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The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is not a gaming powerhouse like the Galaxy S8, but it has more than decent performance, coming in a little faster than the Snapdragon 625-powered ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro. It was 50% faster than the Snapdragon 430-powered ZenFone 4 Max Pro.

Next Page > Overall Performance, Our Verdict & Award

 

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Overall Performance

AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.

AnTuTu Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
TOTAL SCORE 175422 79619 65302 41952
3D SCORE 74336 17381 13431 8282
– 3D (Marooned) 43953 9977 8230 5915
– 3D (Garden) 30383 7404 5201 2367
UX SCORE 52159 24625 24848 14099
– UX Data Secure 7996 7271 6226 4655
– UX Data Process 5866 5758 3404 2328
– UX Strategy Games 11165 4032 4611 1143
– UX Image Process 22716 3743 7291 3585
– UX I/O Performance 4416 3821 3316 2388
CPU SCORE 38513 28827 21357 14940
– CPU Mathematics 10996 8545 4304 2964
– CPU Common Use 10939 7960 7150 5180
– CPU Multi-Core 16578 12322 9903 6796
RAM 10414 8786 5666 4631
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Like all mid-range SoCs, the Samsung Exynos 7885 has a decent, albeit unexceptional, graphics processor – the ARM Mali-G71 in this case. Even so, it is about 29% faster than the Qualcomm Adreno 506 used in the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro, and twice as fast as the Qualcomm Adreno 505 used in the ZenFone 4 Max Pro.

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Our Verdict & Award

In many ways, the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is a lite version of the Samsung Galaxy S8 (Price Check). The Galaxy A8 2018 boasts many of its key features – the same metal and glass design, an Infinity Display, IP68 dust- and water-resistance. and the new, improved battery.

Even with greater scrutiny and safety protocols in place, Samsung managed to squeeze in a plethora of new technologies into the Galaxy S8.

The Infinity Display is almost bezel-less and covers almost all of the front aspect. This also allows Samsung to increase the display size while reducing the size of the device. The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) has a large 5.6″ display in a form factor that equivalent to a regular 5″ device. It makes for a better fit for smaller hands, and most pockets.

The display also comes with the new 18.5 : 9 aspect ratio, which is useful for viewing two different screens at the same time, but introduces pillarboxing when you watch movies. Samsung allows you to stretch the videos to fit the entire screen, but you will lose the upper and lower parts of the videos. So it’s a trade-off.

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) appears to be using a similar rear camera to the Galaxy A7 2017 albeit with a newer 16 MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor. It is paired with a fast f/1.9 lens and a single LED flash. As expected from recent Samsung models, the photographic quality is excellent. The only downside – some autofocus issues while recording video.

The main difference in the photography department though is its new dual camera setup in the front. This makes it a direct competitor of selfie-focused smartphones like the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro.

In this respect, it offers a very high-resolution 16 MP main selfie camera, with a high-resolution 8 MP wide-angle camera. Its dual selfie camera setup is, arguably, one of the better ones we’ve tried.

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We also love what Samsung did with its battery. The Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) comes with a relatively small 3,000 mAh battery, but it lasted more than 12 hours in our stress test! That is 3.5 hours longer than the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro, which also has a 3,000 mAh battery. Best of all – you can completely recharge it in less than 1.5 hours!

The fingerprint sensor, while now centrally located, is still awkward to use. We recommend that Samsung move the fingerprint sensor lower, and opt for a more accurate sensor, in the next version.

The Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 (Price Check) is Samsung’s answer to Millennial generation’s fascination with selfies. While they’re relatively late to the game, they came literally with both guns blazing. And they paired it with an Infinity Display and IP68 dust- and water-resistance. That’s something no other selfie-focused smartphone can boast.

That’s why we think the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 deserves our Reviewer’s Choice Award. Job well done, Samsung!

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The honor View10 Preview, Price & Specifications Revealed!

Right after honor launched the honor 7X FullView Display smartphone, they gave us an in-depth preview of their first AI smartphone – the honor View10 (also known as the honor V10). Check out their 26-minute long presentation, and see for yourself what you can expect from the honor View10 AI smartphone!

Updated @ 2018-01-05 : Added the retail price, and pre-order offer for the honor View10.

Originally posted @ 2017-12-19


 

The honor View10 AI Smartphone

As honor’s first AI smartphone, the honor View10 boasts a plethora of AI functionality, or so the marketing pitch goes. First and foremost, it is powered by the Kirin 970 SoC  – the first to have a dedicated NPU (find out how fast it is!).

The Kirin 970 with its dedicated NPU is what enables its AI functionality, delivering 25X better neural processing performance at 1/50th the power consumption of a traditional CPU. Let’s take a look at its key features.

AI Camera

Photos taken with the honor View10 will be adjusted automatically to create a final output that looks like they were taken professionally. In addition to recognising the subject in focus, it has the ability to intelligently recognise up to 13 different scenes.

AI Motion Detection

The main camera also has the capability to predict motion in order to improve the focusing response. This allows it to better capture moving subjects with less motion blur.

AI Front Camera

The front camera uses the machine learning results from millions of portraits to improve the look of the portraits you take. It also attempts to intelligently adjust the brightness of the front flash to better capture your selfie without overblowing the highlights.

NPU Driven Translation

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The honor View10 comes with NPU driven translation, running on Microsoft Translator, and powered by the Kirin 970 NPU. It allows you to take a picture of foreign words and have it translated into your language of choice.

AI Gaming

The honor View10 will intelligently adjust graphics settings and system resources for better gaming performance.

Sync Play

Using NFC Connect, multiple devices can be linked as mobile speakers, delivering synchronised surround music. Note that these devices must support honor Sync Play.

 

The honor View10 Specifications

Specificationshonor View10
Display5.99" FullView Display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 402 ppi
BuildAluminium body with front glass
Operating SystemAndroid 8.0
PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 970
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.8 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-G72 MP12
Memory4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Storage64 / 128 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera13 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear CameraDual-Lens Camera System
- 20 MP main camera with PDAF and f/1.8 lens
- 16 MP sensor with f/1.8 lens
Battery3,750 mAh LiPo battery (non-removable)
ConnectivityWiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band)
Bluetooth 4.2
USB 2.0 Type C
Size74.98 mm wide
157.0 mm tall
6.97 mm thick
Weight172 g
Available ColoursNavy Blue / Midnight Black / Beach Gold / Aurora Blue / Charm Red

 

The honor View10 Price & Availability

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The honor View10 will be made available in Malaysia on 12 January 2018, with pre-orders beginning on 8 January. It will be offered in only two colours – Aurora Blue and Midnight Black.

Despite its official price of 500 Euros and 450 Pounds in Europe, honor is selling the View10 for only RM 2,099 / ~US$ 509 – about 15% cheaper!

honor has a pre-order offer for the first 1,000 units, that will be sold on Lazada, Vmall, Shoppee and 11Street. These pre-order purchases will come with an honor band A2 and a Final Fantasy redemption card.

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The honor 7X FullView Display Smartphone Revealed!

On 12 December 2017, honor Malaysia revealed the honor 7X FullView Display smartphone at a packed klpac auditorium. Join us for the full presentation of the honor 7X’s key features, as well as the official honor theme song by SonaOne!

 

The honor 7X FullView Display Smartphone

The honor 7X is honor’s first smartphone to feature the honor FullView Display; a 5.93″ edge-to-edge, bezel-less screen design that maximises the screen-to-body ratio. This allows the user to enjoy a much larger display in a compact design that comfortably fits their hand.

The honor 7X display also has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, with an 18:9 ratio. The FullView Display is not only the defining feature of the honor 7X, which boasts a dual-lens 16MP + 2MP rear camera design, and an octa-core Kirin 659 processor, wrapped in a premium aluminium body.

Stunning honor FullView Display

  • The honor 7X is equipped with a 5.93″ FHD+ display with 2160 X 1080 resolution.
  • The honor 7X has an 18:9 screen that allows a wider view for mobile gamers to see more when in the midst of the action. The wider aspect ratio also allows for a more cinematic experience while watching movies.
  • You can double your productivity with the One-key Screen Split function. From email and WhatsApp to Netflix and YouTube, multi-tasking has never been faster and easier.

Professional Photography

  • The dual-lens 16MP + 2MP rear camera focuses on your subjects in as little as 0.18 seconds thanks to Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology.
  • Software bokeh effect with a large pseudo-aperture range of f/0.95 – f/16 gives you the creative options that used to be available only in DSLRs.

Uncompromised Performance

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  • The honor 7X is powered by an octa-core Kirin 659 processor and comes with 4GB of RAM and EMUI 5.1.
  • A microSD card of up to 256 GB can be used to increase data storage so that hundreds of TV episodes can be downloaded and stored to watch offline.
  • Smart optimisation and file management features prevent the degradation of Android performance over time.

Long Lasting Battery life

  • Even with the larger FullView Display, a single charge of the 3,340 mAh battery enables the honor 7X to last more than a full day.
  • Thanks to the power saving technology and the Ultra Power Saving Mode, users can now enjoy a full season of their favorite TV series, or 91 hours of music, on one charge.

 

The honor 7X Specifications

Specificationshonor 7X
Display5.93" FullView Display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels (18:9 ratio)
BuildAluminium body with front glass
Operating SystemAndroid 7.0 with EMUI 5.1
PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 659
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.36 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.7 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-T830 MP2 (900 MHz)
Memory4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
Storage64 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera8 MP camera
Rear CameraDual-Lens Camera System
- 16 MP main camera (with PDAF)
- 2 MP depth sensor camera
ConnectivityWiFi : 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.1
micro USB 2.0
Battery3,340 mAh lithium ion battery (non-removable)
Size75.3 mm wide
156.5 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight165 g
Available ColoursBlue / Black

 

The Official honor Theme Song – honor Is Mine

Malaysian rapper, graffiti artist, composer and publisher SonaOne wrote and performed the official honor theme song, honor Is Mine, live at klpac. Check it out!

 

honor 7X Price & Availability

The honor 7X will be available nationwide in Malaysia, starting 22 December 2017, with the colour choices of Blue or Black. It will be sold at the recommended retail price of RM 1,099 / ~US$ 268.

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The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 Revealed!

ASUS just revealed the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 smartphone, which boasts a 5.7″ full-screen display with a 18:9 aspect ratio and a dual-lens camera system. Here is everything you need to know about the new ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 smartphone!

 

The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL)

Also known as the ASUS Pegasus 4S in China, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 has a model number of ZB570TL or ASUS X018D. It has a 18:9 ultra-wide screen display, and a 81.5% screen-to-body ratio. This allows ASUS to fit a 5.7″ display into a 5.2″ form factor.

It is powered by an mid-range MediaTek MT6750T SoC, and comes with 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of storage. It also has a dedicated slot for a microSD card (up to 256GB), and two nanoSIM slots. All of that is powered by a 4,130 mAh battery with reverse charging capability.

Like the ZenFone 4 Max Pro, the ZenFone Max Plus has a dual-lens camera at the back. But this time, ASUS chose to use a 16 MP + 8 MP combo. The main camera has a 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens, while the wide-angle camera has an 8 MP sensor with 120° lens.

Instead of a 16 MP camera in the ZenFone 4 Max Pro, ASUS went with an 8 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens in the ZenFone Max Plus.

 

The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 Specifications

SpecificationsASUS ZenFone 4 Max Plus M1
ModelZB570TL
Display5.7" Full HD+ display with 2.5D curved edge
- 720 x 1440 pixels
Operating SystemZenUI 4.1 (Android 7.0)
System PlatformMediaTek MT6750T
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.5 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.0 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-T860 MP2 (650 MHz)
Memory4 GB LPDDR3 memory (833 MHz)
Storage32 GB GB internal storage
microSD card option (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear CameraDual Lens Camera System
- 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 6P lens
- 8 MP sensor with 120° lens
Connectivity4G : LTE Cat6
WiFi : 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
USB : microUSB 2.0
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, Dual Standby capability
Dual Nano SIM cards
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear-mounted
GPSYes, with AGPS and Beidou
Battery4,130 mAh lithium-ion battery
- with Reverse Charging feature
Dimensions72.7 mm wide
152.6 mm tall
8.8 mm thick
Weight160 g

 

Price & Availability

Locally, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 was just approved by SIRIM, but ASUS confirmed that it will be ready for purchase / delivery starting 20 December 2017. In the meantime, you can pre-order the ZenFone Max Plus M1 at a very, very special price.

The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 will have a recommended retail price of RM 899 / ~US$ 219. But during the pre-order period, ASUS will offer a limited quantity with a discount or Lazada coupon worth RM 200 / ~US$ 49!

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Offline Pre-Order Offer

Duration : 14-19 December 2017
Collection : 20 December 2017
Offer : Get a RM 200 rebate when you trade in a mobile phone (working or non-working). A deposit of RM 100 will have to be placed.

Lazada Pre-Order Offer

Duration : 14-19 December 2017
Collection : 22 December 2017
Offer : Get a RM 200 Lazada discount voucher when you purchase the ZenFone Max Plus M1 using this pre-order purchase link. trade in a mobile phone (working or non-working). Each account can only purchase a maximum of two (2) units.

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The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro Review – Battery Life King!

ASUS had a reputation of being short on battery life with their Intel-powered ZenFone 2 smartphones, but almost on a dime, turned around with their ZenFone 3 smartphones to deliver truly amazing battery life. So one of the most anticipated ZenFone 4 model was the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro, with its focus on battery life.

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) smartphone is designed to offer extremely-long battery life to users who are always on-the-go, and may not have ready access to a power source. On top of that, it boasts a fast reverse charging capability, as well as a dual lens camera system!

 

The Pro Edition Of The ZenFone 4 Max

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is the “Pro Edition” of the regular ZenFone 4 Max (Price Check). It even comes in the same box as the regular ZenFone 4 Max, with a Pro Edition sticker slapped on it. So make sure it’s the ZC554KL (Max Pro), and not the ZC520KL (Max). Here’s a table comparing their key specifications :

SpecificationsASUS ZenFone Max ProASUS ZenFone Max
ModelZC554KLZC520KL
Design2.5D glass with metallic design & multiple colour selections
Premium metal unibody
2.5D glass with metallic design & multiple colour selections
Premium metal unibody
Display5.5" HD IPS display (720 x 1280)
Greater than 400 nits brightness for best outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10 points multi-touch (support glove touch)
5.2" HD IPS display (720 x 1280)
Greater than 400 nits brightness for best outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10 points multi-touch (support glove touch)
Operating SystemAndroid 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 430Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
Processor8 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.4 GHz)4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.4 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 505Qualcomm Adreno 308
Memory3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
Storage32 GB internal flash storage
One microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
32 GB internal flash storage
One microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
Main CameraDual Lens Camera System

Main Camera (25 mm)
- 16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor
- 1.12 μm pixel size
- f/2.0 aperture

Wide-Angle Camera (18 mm)
- 5 MP Omnivision 5675 sensor
- 1.12 μm pixel size
- f/2.2 aperture
Dual Lens Camera System

Main Camera (25 mm)
- 13 MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture

Wide-Angle Camera (18 mm)
- 5 MP Omnivision 5675 sensor
- 1.12 μm pixel size
- f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor
- 1.0 μm pixel size
- f/2.0 aperture
- soft LED light
8 MP sensor
- f/2.0 aperture
- soft LED light
Connectivity4G : CAT 4 - up to 150Mbps download / 50Mbps upload
WiFi : 802.11n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.1
Micro USB 2.0 - supports OTG
4G : CAT 4 - up to 150Mbps download / 50Mbps upload
WiFi : 802.11n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.1
Micro USB 2.0 - supports OTG
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, dual standby
SIM1 : nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
SIM2 : nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
Dual SIM, dual standby
SIM1 : nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
SIM2 : nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
Fingerprint Sensor0.3 sec ultrafast unlocking, supports 5 fingers and 360 degree recognition0.3 sec ultrafast unlocking, supports 5 fingers and 360 degree recognition
GPSGPS, AGPS, Glonass, BDSGPS, AGPS, Glonass, BDS
AudioSpeaker with PMIC internal amplifierSpeaker with PMIC internal amplifier
Battery5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Supports reverse charging (1A )
4,100 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Supports reverse charging (1A )
Dimensions76.9 mm wide
154 mm tall
8.9 mm thick
73.3 mm wide
150.5 mm tall
8.73 mm thick
Weight181 grams156 grams
Available ColoursRose Pink / Sunlight Gold / Deepsea BlackDeepsea Black

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Unboxing The ZenFone 4 Max Pro

As mentioned above, the ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) comes in the same white box as the regular ZenFone 4 Max (ZC520KL). So look for the “Pro Edition” sticker, and check the label on the underside of the box for the model number.

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Here are the items you will find inside the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro box :

  • One ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) smartphone
  • One ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro TPU bumper case
  • One ASUS 10 W fast USB charger
  • One set of micro USB 2.0 cable and OTG cable
  • One pair of ASUS earphones with spare ear buds
  • One set of warranty form, user guide and IMEI stickers
  • One SIM tray ejection pin

Next Page > The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro Up Close, Better Battery

 

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The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) Smartphone

Thanks to its thin bezel, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) has a 5.5″ IPS display in a form factor that is smaller and lighter than the iPhone 8 Plus (Price Check). The only downside – it only has a HD resolution of 720 x 1280.

Somehow, ASUS managed to pack a massive 5,000 mAh battery and everything else into a metal unibody chassis that is just 8.9 mm thick, and weighs only 181 grams. It may not be as svelte as the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check), but it has a much larger battery.

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, which has eight Cortex-A53 processor cores running at 1.4 GHz, and an Adreno 505 GPU. It also comes with 3 GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM and 32 GB of internal flash storage.

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Larger, Smarter, Safer Battery

The killer feature of the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is its phenomenal battery. It has a massive 5,000 mAh battery – equal to the capacity of most power banks, and much larger than what smartphones generally carry. In fact, you can use it like a power bank, thanks to its fast reverse charging ability.

This battery is not just bigger, it is smarter. It comes with a suite of power management technologies to optimise battery capacity, safety and lifespan. The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) even has a double battery lifespan feature that extends its lifespan by up to 2X, allowing you to fully discharge and recharge the battery (0 to 100%) up to 500 times in a 25°C environment.

The ZenFone 4 Max Pro battery is also protected by 12 battery safety mechanisms. Combined with the automatic battery maintenance capabilities of ASUS PowerMaster, this battery is not only extremely safe, it will have 2X longer lifespan compared to other smartphones.

Finally, this battery has 10W fast charging capability, which allows you to fully recharge the ZenFone 4 Max Pro in just four hours. We will share with you our performance test results of this battery later in the review.

Next Page > Cameras, SIM & microSD, Fingerprint Sensor, Ergonomics

 

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Soft Lit Selfies

In addition to its battery, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) also boasts some serious photographic chops. First up is the high-resolution 16 MP front camera with a 140° wide-angle lens, with f/2.0 aperture. The wide-angle lens lets you fit more of your friends in the frame, while the fast aperture improves its low-light performance.

If the f/2.0 aperture is not sufficient, the front camera has a Softlight LED flash. It delivers just enough fill light, giving you the ability to take great selfies even in the darkest conditions, without harsh shadows and overblown highlights.

 

Dual Lens Camera

A nice surprise in a smartphone at this price point – a dual lens camera! It consists of a 16 MP main camera with f/2.0 lens, and a 5 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.2 lens. They are both supported by a single LED flash.

The 16 MP main camera is what you would be using for most of your shots. It has fast phase detection auto-focus, and electronic image stabilisation (EIS). But for greater creativity, and more dramatic photos and videos, you can switch to the 120° wide-angle camera. It may have a lower resolution, but it has a 200% wider view.

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SIM & microSD Capability & Fingerprint Sensor

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) has dual SIM, dual standby capability. But unlike many other smartphones, it has a full SIM tray for two nano SIM cards, as well as a microSD card (up to 256 GB). This allows you to use all three cards simultaneously!

It also boasts a fast, all-aspect fingerprint sensor integrated into the Home button. Our tests showed that it requires just 12 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and is very fast and accurate in recognising the registered fingerprint.

 

The Ergonomics

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) may have a large 5.5″ display, but it is svelte at less than 77 mm wide and relatively slim at just under 9 mm. Even though it packs a 5,000 mAh battery, it weighs just 181 grams. That said, it will feel a bit chunky, if you are used to really thin smartphones like the Galaxy S8 or ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro.

We really like the anodised metal chassis, which has a really premium feel that is resistant to fingerprint smears. We also give ASUS props for providing a soft bumper case in the package. It actually adds grip, while protecting the ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) without making it overly bulky, or covering up its look.

Next Page > Setting Up, Available Memory & Storage, Dual Lens Camera Comparison

 

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Setting Up The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) ships with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and ASUS confirmed that it will be upgraded soon to Android 8.0 Oreo. It also comes with 100 GB of free Google Drive storage for 1 year. Let’s show you just how easy it is to set-up the ZenFone 4 Max Pro.

 

Available Memory & Storage

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) comes with 3 GB of LPDDR3 memory, of which 2.1 GB (70%) is free to use. That’s a lot of free memory, allowing you to run many applications simultaneously.

The ZenFone 4 Max Pro also comes with 32 GB of internal flash memory. Of that, just under 22.4 GB is available to use. That’s not a lot, but you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).

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The Dual Lens Camera Comparison

The dual lens camera of the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) consists of a 25 mm main camera, and an 18 mm wide-angle camera. The main camera pairs a 16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor with a f/2.0 lens, while a 5 MP Omnivision 5675 sensor with f/2.2 lens.

The wide-angle camera may have a lower resolution, but it has a 2X wider angle of 120°. How useful is that? Let’s take a look at these full resolution samples.

Next Page > Camera Performance – Photos & Videos

 

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Main Camera Performance – Photos

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) uses the 16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor with a f/2.0 lens for its main camera. The full 16 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 4640 × 3480 and a file size of between 3.3 to 7 MB.

Here are 6 full resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.

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Main Camera Performance – Video Recording

We tested the main camera’s video recording performance at its maximum resolution of 1080p. It supports EIS (electronic image stabilisation) at this resolution.

Video Recording Test #1 : Piano (1080p)

The EIS did an okay job in this video, but what was very noticeable was its inability to focus properly. It kept seeking, which was very distracting. The audio also lacked punch, with too little bass. It was almost all treble.

 

Video Recording Test #2 : Street Market (1080p)

The lack of optical image stabilisation is noticeable, although its electronic image stabilisation capability was decent enough to remove the worst hand shaking in this video. However, the audio was extremely thin… why is there so much treble?

 

Video Recording Test #3 : Cable Car (1080p)

This video showed the limits of electronic image stabilisation (EIS). It could not take out the vibration, but helped to smooth out the heavier hand shaking. From the recorded audio, it appears that the ZenFone 4 Max Pro is tuned to maximise the clarity of the voices, at the expense of other frequencies.

Next Page > Work Performance, Battery Life & Recharging Speed

 

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Work Performance – PCMark

We tested the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 2.0 ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro Samsung Galaxy S8 Huawei Mate 9
Performance Score
(Average)
3846 5656 5303 6316
Web Browsing 4371 5708 5155 5624
Video Editing 3716 5888 4998 5370
Writing 2822 4509 5158 6326
Photo Editing 6671 10698 7082 9864
Data Manipulation 2753 3570 4458 5333

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) may have an octa-core processor, like the other three smartphones, but it is a less-powerful model – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430. It was 32% slower than the Snapdragon 625 processor used by the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check), and 27.5% slower than the Samsung Galaxy S8 (Price Check).

 

Battery Life – PCMark

We then tested the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.

Thanks to its large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro lasted 14 hours 19 minutes in our battery test. That’s more than 5.5 hours longer than its higher-performance brother, the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check)!

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Battery Recharging Performance

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) comes with a 10 W fast charger. It took about 172.5 minutes (2 hours 52.5 minutes) to recharge its battery from 17% to 100%. The fastest recharging happened in the first 90%, before recharging at a lower speed for the last 10%.

The recharging time of under 3 hours is far lower than the 4 hours quoted by ASUS. It also has a battery life : recharging ratio of just 5.2 : 1 – which is excellent.

Next Page > Gaming & Overall Performance, Our Verdict & Award

 

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Gaming Performance – 3DMark

We tested the ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.

Ice Storm Unlimited ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro Samsung Galaxy S8 Huawei Mate 9
Gaming Score 9751 14015 29509 27853
Graphics 9609 13470 33279 36605
Physics 10285 16328 21130 15164
Graphics Test 1 55.1 fps 80.7 fps 173.1 fps 202.5 fps
Graphics Test 2 33.6 fps 46.0 fps 124.3 fps 131.1 fps
Physics Test 32.7 fps 51.8 fps 67.1 fps 48.1 fps

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) uses the Qualcomm Adreno 505 GPU, which offers decent performance but is no match for the much faster GPUs in flagship smartphones. It is about 30% slower than the Adreno 506 GPU used by the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check).

 

Overall Performance

AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.

AnTuTu ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro Samsung Galaxy S8 Huawei Mate 9
TOTAL SCORE 41952 65302 175422 123167
3D SCORE 8282 13431 74336 40114
– 3D (Marooned) 5915 8230 43953 23313
– 3D (Garden) 2367 5201 30383 16801
UX SCORE 14099 24848 52159 39975
– UX Data Secure 4655 6226 7996 7943
– UX Data Process 2328 3404 5866 6985
– UX Strategy Games 1143 4611 11165 11860
– UX Image Process 3585 7291 22716 5580
– UX I/O Performance 2388 3316 4416 7607
CPU SCORE 14940 21357 38513 31992
– CPU Mathematics 2964 4304 10996 9680
– CPU Common Use 5180 7150 10939 11139
– CPU Multi-Core 6796 9903 16578 11173
RAM 4631 5666 10414 11086

Even with an octa-core processor, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is no race horse. It is definitely much slower than the top-of-the-line processors used in flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 (Price Check). But make no mistake – this is very decent performance at its price point..

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Our Verdict & Award

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) smartphone offers extremely-long battery life to users who are always on-the-go, and may not have ready access to a power source. With its large 5,000 mAh battery and the ASUS PowerMaster system, you can run the most strenuous apps on it for hours, and it will still have hours more of battery life to spare.

ASUS knows this, so they added a fast reverse charging feature. This allows the ZenFone 4 Max Pro to function like a power bank, recharging your other devices. If battery life is critical for you, there can be no doubt that the ZenFone 4 Max Pro is about as good as it gets!

But the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is not just a smartphone with large battery. It actually boasts some serious photography chops. It has a 16 MP front camera for really high-resolution selfies, with a soft LED flash for low-light conditions.

It even has a dual-lens camera system, albeit not as advanced as those in flagship smartphones. Still, this is a nice surprise for a smartphone at this price point. The main camera has a 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens – no complaints here. The wide-angle camera only has a 5 MP sensor, which reduces its utility.

What this means is you will most likely use the 16 MP main camera for a vast majority of your photos, switching to the wide-angle camera only when you really need the wider angle. Still, it is better than not having the option at all.

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What we did not like was its video and audio recording performance. It has focusing issues when there are multiple subjects at different distances, which detracts from its otherwise decent video recording performance. The recorded audio though was reedy and lacks punch. It appears to be tuned for voice recording, at the expense of other frequencies.

The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) looks very similar to the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check). It has the same basic design with a premium anodised metal chassis. Other than the difference in the cameras, it looks like a thicker brother of the Selfie Pro.

All in all, we really like its awesome battery capabilities, premium build quality, and 16 MP front camera. Its dual-lens camera is also a nice bonus at this price point. With all that in mind, we think the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

 

Other ASUS ZenFone 4 Articles

Here are the links to our other ASUS ZenFone 4 previews and articles :

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Huawei Pits The nova 2 Plus Against The iPhone 7 Plus!

The Apple iPhone is the smartphone brand to beat, so it’s not surprising to see Huawei throw their hat into the ring. What’s really surprising though is what they are tossing into the same ring as the iPhone 7 Plus – the Huawei nova 2 Plus.

Seriously. That was not a typo. Huawei is indeed pitting the nova 2 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) against the iPhone 7 Plus. Check out this slide for yourself.

While anyone can compare any smartphone against the iPhone 7 Plus, we are pretty sure Apple (and iPhone fans) will strongly disagree that the iPhone 7 Plus is a mid-range device.

Even when we compared the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom to the iPhone 7 Plus, we avoided pegging them at the same level. Heck, the price tag alone puts it in the stratosphere…

Let’s take a closer look at the nova 2 Plus, and see why Huawei thinks it’s a worthy challenger to the vaunted iPhone 7 Plus.

 

The Huawei nova 2 Plus

The Huawei nova 2 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) is Huawei’s latest mid-range smartphone with a 20 MP front camera, and a dual-lens main camera. Here are some details on its photographic capabilities.

20 MP Selfie Camera

Its 20 MP front camera boasts 3D facial recognition technology, with Huawei’s own ISP and an intelligent portrait algorithm. Huawei claims to be able to achieve “millimeter-level facial data positioning” to deliver more natural portraits.

Dual-Lens Main Camera

The Huawei nova 2 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) has a dual-lens main camera with a 12 MP wide-angle camera, and an 8 MP zoom camera. The two lenses are designed to work in unison, with the second lens serving as an auxiliary lens when the active lens is shooting.

 

Their Specifications Compared!

Still not convinced? Let’s compare their specifications and see…

SpecificationsHuawei nova 2 PlusApple iPhone 7 Plus
Operating SystemAndroid 7.0 + EMUI 5.1Apple iOS 10
Display5.5" IPS display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
- 400 ppi pixel density
5.5" IPS display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
- 401 ppi pixel density
System PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 659Apple A10 Fusion
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.36 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.7 GHz)
2 x Apple Hurricane cores (2.34 GHz)
2 x Apple Zephyr cores
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-T830 MP2PowerVR GT7600 Plus
Memory4 GB RAM3 GB RAM
Storage64 / 128 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 128 GB)
32 / 128 / 256 GB internal flash storage
Front Camera20 MP sensor7 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens
Main Camera12 MP f/1.8 wide-angle camera
8 MP f/2.4 zoom camera
12 MP f/1.8 wide-angle camera
12 MP f/2.8 zoom camera
ConnectivityWiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX
USB 2.0
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.2
USB 2.0
GPSGPS, AGPS, GLONASSGPS, AGPS, GLONASS
Fingerprint SensorYesYes
NFCNoYes
Water ResistanceNoYes, IP67
Battery3,340 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)2,900 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Launch PriceRM 1,999 / ~US$ 475 (128 GB)RM 4,299 / ~US$ 1,025 (128 GB)

So what do you think? Is the new Huawei nova 2 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) (priced at just RM 1,999 / US$ 475) a worthy rival to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (priced at RM 4,299 / ~US$ 1,025)?

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Yes, I Want To Buy The nova 2 Plus!

Great! Here are some direct purchase links on Amazon and Lazada for your convenience :

 

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The honor 8 Pro Smartphone Debuts @ Just RM 1999!

honor Malaysia today introduced the honor 8 Pro premium smartphone. It features a top-of-the-line processor, a long battery life, a 5.7″ Quad HD display and a dual-lens camera – all packed into a chassis that is just under 7 mm thick!

 

The honor 8 Pro is Geared for Speed

The honor 8 Pro is powered by the Kirin 960 SoC, that promises significantly better performance than its predecessor, the Kirin 950.

  • The Kirin 960 has 8 processor cores – 4 x high-performance ARM Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and 4 x low-power Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz – that improve single-core and multi-core performance by 10% and 18% respectively.
  • The ARM Mali-G71 GPU includes support for the cutting-edge Vulkan API, boosting graphics performance by up to 400%.
  • The new EMUI 5.1 system leverages machine learning to learn from your behavior and habits to minimise lag and ensure applications and files load smoothly. For example, if you tend to open an application at a certain time of the day, the honor 8 Pro will be able to anticipate your needs and pre-load the application.

Longer Battery Life

Coupled with advanced power-saving features, the honor 8 Pro’s 4,000 mAh battery provides up to 2 days of regular use, and almost 1.44 days of heavy use. The Smart Power 5.0 technology helps to maximise battery life by automatically identifying and terminating processes with exceptionally high power consumption, as well as minimising power consumed by background applications.

 

Minimalist Sophistication

The honor 8 Pro boasts an ultra-thin 6.97 mm metal body that is available in navy blue or midnight black colours. Its Quad HD display features a high pixel density of 515 ppi, 16.7 million colours and a 94.5% NTSC color gamut.

The honor 8 Pro also comes VR-ready, with a bundled cardboard viewer and pre-installed Jaunt VR app containing a wealth of video content. Users will also be able to dive into the exhilarating world of Galaxy on Fire 3, the first 3D game to run on the Vulkan interface.

Dual 12 MP Cameras 

The honor 8 Pro features a 12 MP dual-lens camera. The two lenses work in tandem to always deliver the perfect shot:

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  • the monochrome lens captures a black-and-white image with incredible depth of detail while the RGB lens ensure faithful and vivid color reproduction
  • the camera software then combines the two images together.

The camera supports a wide software aperture range (f/0.95–f/16) to delivers DSLR-like depth of field “bokeh” effects for both photo and video shooting. The cameras also support 4K video recording, which are encoded in the efficient H.265 codec, producing files twice as small as its predecessor.

EMUI 5.1 also introduces Highlights, a new feature co-developed with Go Pro that intelligently organises photos by category and automatically generates video stories that are easily customisable – making sharing memories a breeze.

 

The 2017 Mobile Legends South East Asia Cup

Marking honor 8 Pro’s exclusive partnership for the 2017 Mobile Legends South East Asia Cup in Malaysia, Mandy Dai, Senior Marketing Director from Moonton said, “I am honoured to announce this exclusive partnership with honor Malaysia and have the honor 8 Pro as the official gaming phone for the tournament which will be used by professional e-sport gamers. The honor 8 Pro is a device that offers exceptional speed, graphic and detail, and we believe that gamers will take pleasure through its superior user experience.”

 

The honor 8 Pro Price & Availability

The honor 8 Pro will be made available in the Malaysia market beginning 11 July at a retail price of RM1,999 / ~US$ 475. vMall, the official licensed e-store for honor and HUAWEI will be the first online platform to offer the honor 8 Pro followed by honor experience stores and display zones beginning 12 July 2017.

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The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode Guide

ASUS just released a huge-ass Android 7.1.1 Nougat update for the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom smartphone. Amongst the many updates and upgrades is a new Portrait Mode. Software bokeh may not be new, but the ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode promises a better looking and more accurate bokeh effect, thanks to the way it uses its dual camera system.

Recommended : The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom – iPhone 7 Plus Killer At Half The Price!

Updated @ 2017-07-07 : Added some ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode sample photos

Originally posted @ 2017-06-29


 

The ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode

The ZenFone 3 Portrait Mode works by using the ZenFone 3 Zoom‘s two cameras simultaneously to calculate portions of the photo that should be blurred out for that bokeh effect. The blur effect can be changed in real time via a slider in the new Portrait Mode interface.

This type of “software bokeh” effect is not new. Other smartphones have introduced similar camera modes like “Bokeh” or “Subject Focus” but most of them either use the second camera as a dedicated “depth sensor”, or use software to blur out the background. Other ASUS ZenFone models also have the similar Depth of Field Mode that creates a similar effect, but it requires multiple shots, which means you’re limited to still objects.

The new ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode differs from those methods though. It makes use of the dual cameras to simultaneously shoot two photos – the 59 mm lens focusing on the subject, while the 25 mm lens takes the background. Using the depth information from the two photos, the depth of field can be made shallower or deeper depending on the f-stop you wish to simulate (from f/0.95 to f/22).

While this is still a software bokeh effect, it should result in a far more accurate and realistic blurring of the background. You may recall that the traditional software bokeh can inadvertently blur the wrong parts of the picture. Using both lenses simultaneously should eliminate that problem, and allow the bokeh effect to be applied even to moving objects.

The new interface – when opening the camera for the first time since the update, you’ll notice some subtle changes in the UI. Gone is the dedicated switch to Manual Mode (though you can always just tap the Modes button and switch from there) and is now replaced with a Portrait Mode button, which you can tap to switch.

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How To Use The ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode

When you open the ZenFone 3 Zoom‘s camera for the first time after installing the update, you’ll notice that the Manual Mode button is gone,  replaced by a Portrait Mode button. The Manual Mode is now accessible via the Modes button.

Once you switch to Portrait Mode, an f-stop slider will appear. The slider allows you to adjust the virtual depth-of-field, which will determine where and how much of the bokeh effect is applied.

When you take the photo, the ZenFone 3 Zoom will take two photos – the main camera with f/1.7 lens takes a photo of the background, while the secondary camera with f/2.8 lens takes a photo of the subject. Your f-stop setting will be applied to the final image using the depth information from the two photos.

Try out the new ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode and let us know how it works for you!

 

Some Portrait Mode Samples

We took the opportunity during the ASUS ZenFone AR launch to take photos of these models to demonstrate the ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode effect.

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What’s In The Huge ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Nougat Update?

If you read our ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom review, you will recall that we pegged it as the “iPhone 7 Plus killer at half the price“. Its operating system aside, it offers hardware features that are similar or better than the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, but at less than half the price.

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom has just received a big boost in its capabilities with the new Android 7.1.1 Nougat update. This update weighs in at just over 1.2 GB and the installation takes about 15 minutes to complete, so make sure you use WiFi and the ZenFone 3 Zoom has at least 20% battery life. But you will love what the ZenFone 3 Zoom Nougat update offers!

Recommended : The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom – iPhone 7 Plus Killer At Half The Price!

 

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Nougat Update

In addition to Android operation system upgrades and improvements, this update also adds Portrait Mode and RAW image support to boost the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s photographic capabilities.

Portrait Mode uses the 25mm and 56mm lenses to create a shallow depth of field effect for photos, while the ability to take photos in RAW will allow greater flexibility and control in editing them. ZenFone 3 Zoom users will also be able to preview and organize all RAW files in their mobile gallery.[adrotate group=”2″]

The Android Nougat update also adds new features like multi-window view, notification-screen replies, and improved customization settings, to the ZenFone 3 Zoom. The new Android 7.1.1 Nougat features include:

  • Multi-Window View – Run two apps side by side
  • Quick App Switch – Switch between apps with a double tab
  • Notification Directly Reply – Reply to messages right inside the notification screen
  • 72 New Emojis – Select new emoji genders and skin tones
  • Data Saver – Limit how much data the device uses
  • Notification Controls – Choose app notification preferences
  • Display Size – Change the size of texts and icons

Recommended : The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Portrait Mode Guide

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The nubia M2, M2 Lite & N1 Lite Smartphones Revealed!

On 19 June 2017, nubia officially entered the Malaysian market with three of their latest smartphones – the nubia M2, nubia M2 Lite and nubia N1 Lite. Take a look at the origin of the nubia brand of smartphones, and find out these three smartphones offer!

 

The Origin Of The Nubia Brand

nubia is actually a ZTE brand that was established in 2012. Erik Meng, the nubia ASEAN regional director explains their origin, and the meaning of the name nubia, and their technological milestones so far.

 

The nubia M2, M2 Lite & N1 Lite Smartphones Revealed!

In this video, CP Chow, Senior Channel Manager of nubia Malaysia, presents the key features of the nubia M2, M2 Lite and N1 Lite smartphones.

The nubia M2 Smartphone

The nubia M2 (Lowest price) was designed using the nubiArc design concept. It has a slim metal unibody that is polished and sand-blasted, undergoing a 72-step process to create a soft texture. It is also the first nubia smartphone to offer dual main cameras, with a 13 MP colour sensor and a 13 MP monochrome sensor.

Both cameras are protected by sapphire glass, and come with f/2.2 lenses. Their images are processed by an image engine that consists of a DOF (depth of field) calculator and a dual-core image signal processor. The cameras also support PDAF, allowing for very fast focusing (0.1 seconds).

The primary colour camera also supports 3D noise reduction, which reduces noise in low-light conditions. The monochrome sensor increases light input, allowing for brighter and clearer night shots. They are supported by a dual LED real-tone flash.

The nubia M2 (Lowest price) smartphone boasts a 5.5″ Super AMOLED display, and a full HD resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, with a 2.5D edge. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, and comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. It packs a 3,630 mAh battery which supports 18 W fast-charging technology.

The nubia M2 (Lowest price) also features a fast fingerprint sensor, and support for DTS HEADPHONE:X, as well as a hybrid SIM tray.

The nubia M2 Lite Smartphone

The nubia M2 Lite (Lowest price) is a less-capable version of the nubia M2. It is still a 5.5″ smartphone, but it only has an IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1280, without Gorilla Glass protection.

The M2 Lite (Lowest price) is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 SoC, and comes with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. It has a 3,000 mAh battery that supports 10 W charging.

Instead of a dual camera system, it has a single 13 MP primary camera (f/2.2 lens), and a 16 MP selfie camera (f/2.0 lens). It also has a fast fingerprint sensor.

The nubia N1 Lite Smartphone

The nubia N1 Lite (Lowest price) is also their entry-level smartphone, with a 5.5″ IPS display (720 x 1280). It is powered by the quad-core MediaTek MT6737, and comes with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.

The N1 Lite (Lowest price) has an 8 MP rear camera with f/2.0 lens and dual LED flash, and a 5 MP front camera with f/2.8 lens and a soft light flash.

It has dual SIM capability, and packs a 3,000 mAh battery. It also has a fingerprint sensor, but this is located at the back.

 

The nubia M2, M2 Lite & N1 Lite Price & Availability

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The nubia M2 (Lowest price) is available in Black Gold and Champagne Gold colours, with a retail price of RM 1,699 / ~US$ 399.

The nubia M2 Lite (Lowest price) is available in Black Gold and Champagne Gold colours as well, with a retail price of RM 1,099 / ~US$ 259.

The nubia N1 Lite (Lowest price) is only available in the Black Gold colour, with a retail price of just RM 599 / ~US$ 139.

Limited quantities of the nubia Z11 (Lowest price), powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, with 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, will be available for sale at RM 1,899 / ~US$ 449.

Go Back To > Events | Home

 

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The honor 8 Wins The International Design Award!

16 May 2017The Honor 8 was recently recognized for its sleek and beautifully-crafted design by the International Design Awards (IDA) in Los Angeles. Honor’s latest flagship smartphone received Silver (second place) under the “Media and Home Electronics” category for IDA’s 2016 competition.

The IDA’s annual competition recognizes, honors and promotes legendary design visionaries and uncovers emerging talents in Architecture, Interior, Product, Graphic and Fashion Design on a global level. The rigorous judging process, which consists of over 1000 entries from 52 countries, awards professional and emerging designers for their achievements in terms of design, creativity, usability and innovation.

honor 8

Since its official global launch, the Honor 8 (Amazon) has received popular recognition from media publications and consumers. The device has been praised for its intricate design and flawless craftsmanship. The Sapphire Blue variant, especially, has garnered positive responses from the public for its unique and sleek appearance.

Malaysia was one of the first few markets to experience the Honor 8, the latest flagship device that accentuates the unique personality and style of digital natives. The device comes with a 2.5D glass body and diamond-cut aluminium alloy edges that create an ultra-narrow bezel.

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The Honor 8 (Amazon) is also unique due to its 3D grate design and 15-layer craftsmanship on the back of the device that reflects beautifully from any light source.

The Honor 8 (Amazon) combines stunning beauty with great power; the device runs on the Kirin 950 processor built on a 16nm architecture with 4GB RAM that provides flawless multitasking and seamless gaming.

The Honor 8 (Amazon) is a testament of Honor’s commitment to meeting the demands of today’s digital natives. A versatile device, the stunning and sparkling Honor 8 is a fashion statement on its own and an accessory that gives hardcore performance to fit the lifestyle of digital natives.

For more information, read our comprehensive Honor 8 Aurora Glass Smartphone Review!

 

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The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom – iPhone 7 Plus Killer At Half The Price!

Ever since they were announced at Computex 2016, ASUS has churned out a number of ZenFone 3 models, like the ZenFone 3 Ultra phablet and the eponymous ZenFone 3 smartphone. But what mobile photographers have been waiting for was ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL).

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the photography-focused ZenFone 3 model designed to take on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) head-to-head, and beat it in every aspect. Yet it costs only half as much! Don’t believe us? Read on and find out for yourself!

 

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom vs. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus

We are serious about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) taking on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada). Check out this comparison of their specifications and see how they compare with each other!

SpecificationsASUS ZenFone 3 ZoomApple iPhone 7 Plus (32 GB)
Display5.5" Full HD AMOLED display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
- 500 nits brightness
5.5" Full HD IPS display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
- 625 nits brightness
ProtectionPremium aluminium-alloy frame
2.5D contoured Corning Gorilla Glass 5
IP67-rated dust and water-resistance
Dual-ion exchange strengthened glass
Operating SystemAndroid 6.0 MarshmallowApple iOS 10
PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 625Apple A10 Fusion
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.4 GHz)
2 x Apple Hurricane cores (2.34 GHz)
2 x Apple Zephyr cores (2.34 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 506PowerVR 7XT GT7600 Plus
Memory4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (933 MHz)3 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Storage64 GB internal flash storage
microSD card (up to 2 TB, shared with SIM2)
32 GB internal flash storage
No microSD card slot
Front Camera13 MP PixelMaster camera
- Sony IMX214 sensor
- f/2.0, 5-element Largan lens
7 MP camera with f/2.2 lens
Main Camera12 MP PixelMaster 3.0 camera
- Sony IMX362 sensor (1.4 µm pixels)
- f/1.7, 6-element lens
- Dual Pixel PDAF technology
- 4-axis, 4 stops Optical Image Stabilization for steady photos
- 3-axis Electronic Image Stabilization for shake-free videos
12 MP camera
- Sony Exmor RS sensor
- f/1.8, 6-element lens
- Optical image stabilisation
Zoom Camera12 MP sensor (unknown model) with f/2.6 lens
- 2.3X fixed optical zoom
- 12X maximum zoom (digital + optical)
12 MP sensor with f/2.8 lens
- 2X fixed optical zoom
- 10X maximum zoom (digital + optical)
Connectivity4G : LTE Cat4
WiFi : 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth : 4.2
4G : LTE Cat12
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : 4.2
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, Dual Standby with Hybrid SIM tray
- nano SIM slot 1 (3G / 4G)
- nano SIM slot 2 (3G / 4G) / micro SD
Single nano SIM only
NFC CapabilityNoYes
GPSGPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, AGPS, GLONASS
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear-MountedYes, built into Home button
Audio192 kHz / 24-bit Hi-Res Audio support
5 magnet speaker with NXP Smart Amp
Dual microphone with noise cancellation
VoLTE support
DTS Headphone:X virtual surround sound technology
No Hi-Res Audio support
Stereo speakers
FM RadioYesNo
Battery5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery
Supports reverse charging
2,900 mAh lithium-ion battery
No reverse charging support
Dimensions77 mm wide x 154.3 mm tall x 7.99 mm thick77.9 mm wide x 158.2 mm tall x 7.3 mm thick
Weight170 grams188 grams
Colour OptionsNavy Black, Glacier Silver, Rose GoldRose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black, Jet Black
PriceUS$ 329US$ 769

We will go into more detail later, but first, let’s unbox the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom!

 

Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is a premium smartphone, so it comes to no surprise that ASUS gave it the full treatment. It even comes with a soft case and a pair of ZenEar earphones!

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Inside the box, you will find the following items :

  • One ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) smartphone
  • One ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom soft case
  • One set of ASUS ZenFone 3 User Guide, Warranty leaflet and IMEI stickers
  • One 10 W ASUS charger with a 3-pin adaptor
  • One USB Type C cable
  • One pair of ASUS ZenEar earphones with four spare earbuds
  • One SIM card tray ejector pin

Next Page > The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Key Features

 

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The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL)

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom has a 5.5″ display like the iPhone 7 Plus, but it is slightly smaller and lighter. Instead of the usual IPS display though, the ZenFone 3 Zoom uses an AMOLED display that is protected by the latest Gorilla Glass 5 cover with a 2.5D edge, and a full metal unibody chassis.

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC as the ZenFone 3 smartphone. It comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory and 64 GB of internal flash memory. All that is powered by a large 5,000 mAh battery.

The button placements are the same as that of other ZenFone 3 models – the Power and Volume control buttons are on the right side, with the hybrid SIM slot on the left side, and the fingerprint sensor on the back.

Like many thin devices, the audio port on the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is located at the bottom, next to the bidirectional Type C USB port. But note that it is still using USB 2.0 standard, not the latest USB 3.1 standard.

 

Hybrid SIM & Fingerprint Sensor

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has dual SIM, dual standby capability. It has a hybrid SIM tray for two nano SIM cards. The second SIM card tray (SIM2) doubles as a microSD card slot (up to 256 GB). Both SIM1 and SIM2 support 3G and 4G connectivity, but only one SIM card can connect to the 3G / 4G network – the other can only connect to a 2G network.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has an all-aspect fingerprint sensor located at the back, just under the main cameras. Our tests showed that it requires just 10 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and is very fast and accurate in recognising the registered fingerprint.

 

The ZenFone 3 Zoom Cameras

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) boasts a 13 MP front camera, built around the Sony IMX214 sensor and a 5-element Largan lens with f/2.0 aperture. It does not have a dedicated LED flash but uses screen flash instead, like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada).

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Like the iPhone 7 Plus, the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has a dual camera system, with a main camera and a zoom camera. This is different from the dual-lens camera of the Huawei Mate 9 or the Honor 8 smartphones, which combines images from two cameras with the same focal length.

Its main camera boasts the Sony IMX362 sensor with large 1.4 µm pixels, and Dual Pixel PDAF technology. It is coupled to a 6-element lens with f/1.7 aperture, and boasts 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation as well as 3-axis electronic image stabilisation capabilities.

The zoom camera has a 12 MP sensor of unknown model, paired with a 59 mm f/2.6 lens. This gives us a 2.3X optical zoom over the main camera. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) has a similar zoom camera, with a shorter 2X zoom and an f/2.8 lens.

Next Page > The Initial Setup, Ergonomics, Available Memory & Storage

 

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Setting Up The ZenFone 3 Zoom

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and is very easy to set-up. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5 minutes to finish the setup process.

 

The Ergonomics

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is a 5.5″ smartphone that is 7.7 cm wide, so it is a two-handed device. But because it’s reasonably thick at just under 8 mm, it offers better grip than its thinner rivals. The large display with its full HD resolution is just perfect for watching movies. We also applaud ASUS for using an AMOLED display – it is generally more vivid and power-efficient.

We especially like the satin finish of the anodised aluminium chassis. It is smooth and comfortable to touch, and is resistant to fingerprint smears. Adding on the provided soft case greatly increases grip, but the Power button may be harder to activate.

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Available Memory & Storage

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory, of which 2.2 GB (55%) is free to use. That is more memory than some smartphones ship with! You will never run out of memory with the ZenFone 3 Zoom!

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) also has 64 GB of internal flash memory. Of that, just under 52 GB is available to use. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).

Next Page > Camera Performance – Photos

 

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Camera Performance – Photos

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the excellent Sony IMX362 sensor for its main camera, which boasts very advanced optical and electronic image stabilisation and a fast f/1.7 lens. The full 12 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 3928 × 2944 and a file size of between 4 to 8 MB.

Here are 16 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.

As the picture show, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) can really produce amazing pictures. The automatic HDR capability worked great too, adding dynamic range whenever the light permits. The final result – very vivid colours, even in low light. For that, we have to thank the Sony IMX362 sensor with its large 1.4 µm pixels, and the fast f/1.7 lens.

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Next Page > Camera Performance – Video Recording

 

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Camera Performance – Video Recording

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s photographic capability extends beyond just photos. It is capable of recording videos at resolutions of up to 2160p (4K) at 30 fps. It also boasts advanced optical and electronic image stabilisation as well as support for Hi Res Audio. Let’s check out how well it does…

 

Test #1 : Blues Band (1080p)

The image stabilisation seems to do a very good job, but notice the occasional jerks. We have no idea why it happens, but it seems to only afflict the 1080p video recordings. It did produce very good audio though, and had good control of the bright background.

 

Test #2 : Blues Band (4K)

Electronic image stabilisation appears to be turned off, so there is more wobbling at 4K, but there’s no sign of the sudden jerks in our 1080p example above. The resolution at 4K is amazing!

 

Test #3 : Rainbow Waterfall

This is another test of the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s image stabilisation capabilities. Oddly enough – there is no sign of the sudden jerks. This probably means that the jerks we saw in the first video is likely to be software-related. Probably errors in electronic image stabilisation.

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Test #4 : Logging Camp

A 4-wheel drive ride is a great way to test the advanced image stabilisation capabilities of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom. As you can see, it did a pretty good job on this rugged logging trail. It may not appear so, but we were seated at the back shaking non-stop. 😀

 

Test #5 : Jungle Ride

Here is another video on the same 4×4 Hilux truck ride through the Pahang jungle. Nice job on the image stabilisation, ASUS!

Next Page > Work Performance, Battery Life & Recharging Speed

 

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Work Performance – PCMark

We tested the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ASUS ZenFone 3 Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) OPPO F1s
Work Performance Score
(Average)
6655 6405 4954 3884
Web Browsing 7595 8045 5143 3688
Video Playback 4545 3469 4515 3789
Writing 7264 7316 4948 4141
Photo Editing 7824 8246 5243 3933

Both the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) and the original ZenFone 3 smartphone use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, so it’s no surprise they perform about the same. They both did much better than the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), and the OPPO F1s in this test.

 

Battery Life – PCMark

We then tested the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro is so popular because it has a large 5,000 mAh battery. The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) with a large 5,000 mAh battery as well, even though it’s much smaller in size. But more importantly, it has a much longer battery life of 17.25 hours –  33% longer than the Galaxy A9 Pro!

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Battery Recharging Performance

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) comes with a 10 W charger, instead of more powerful 15-18 W chargers common in other flagship devices. Take a look at how fast it recharged the 5,000 mAh battery.

It took the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) about 160 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This is 20% longer than what the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (with a similar 5,000 mAh battery) took with its 15 W charger. Overall, it has a battery life : recharging ratio of 6.5 : 1, which is good but not exceptional.

Next Page > Gaming & Overall Performance, Our Verdict & Award

 

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Gaming Performance – 3DMark

We tested the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ASUS ZenFone 3 Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) OPPO F1s
Gaming Score 13844 13956 13540 7666
Graphics 13372 13484 13548 7511
Physics 15797 15903 13510 8265
Graphics Test 1 80.3 fps 80.5 fps 81.1 fps 49.4 fps
Graphics Test 2 45.6 fps 46.1 fps 46.2 fps 24.4 fps
Physics Test 50.1 fps 50.5 fps 42.9 fps 26.2 fps

Like the ZenFone 3, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) did well in this test, matching the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), and coming in twice as fast as the OPPO F1s.

 

Overall Performance

AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ASUS ZenFone 3 Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) OPPO F1s
TOTAL SCORE 63218 62761 56431 41486
3D SCORE 12966 18816 15458 4868
– 3D (Marooned) 7878 10861 10511 3188
– 3D (Garden) 5088 7952 4947 1679
UX SCORE 24089 26794 18496 17640
– UX Data Secure 5713 5077 5295 4885
– UX Data Process 2991 4198 2612 2542
– UX Strategy Games 4193 7503 3671 2829
– UX Image Process 7893 6879 3373 3885
– UX I/O Performance 3299 3137 3545 3499
CPU SCORE 20683 23689 16459 14336
– CPU Mathematics 4264 6950 3132 3142
– CPU Common Use 6673 6311 5199 4805
– CPU Multi-Core 9746 10428 8128 6389
RAM 5480 6797 6018 4643

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) did well in this test, beating the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) by 12%, and the OPPO F1s by 52%.

 

Our Verdict & Award

While ASUS may not make a point about it, it is obvious that they are targeting the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) squarely at the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada). They even eschewed the innovative zoom camera in the original ASUS ZenFone Zoom for the same dual camera system used in the iPhone 7 Plus. However, they were not aiming to copy, as much as beat, the iPhone 7 Plus on as many aspects as possible.

The iPhone 7 Plus has a 7 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens? ASUS gives the ZenFone 3 Zoom a 13 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens!

The iPhone 7 Plus has a 12 MP Sony Exmor RS main camera with f/1.8 lens? ASUS tops that with the latest 12 MP Sony IMX362 sensor with Dual Pixel PDAF technology and a f/1.7 lens!

The iPhone 7 Plus has a 12 MP zoom camera with 2X optical zoom and f/2.8 lens? The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom gives you a 12 MP zoom camera with 2.3X optical zoom and f/2.6 lens!

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This isn’t just about beating the iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) on specifications. The ASUS PixelMaster 3.0 camera on the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is amazing. It produces some of the best pictures and videos we have ever seen. Its 4K video recording and audio recording quality was especially good.

ASUS didn’t just stop at the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s photographic capability. To make sure the photos and videos look great on the device itself, they opted for an AMOLED display, instead of a regular IPS display. They even packed in a large 5,000 mAh battery, in a form factor that is smaller and lighter than the iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) with its puny 2,900 mAh battery.

But arguably, what’s most impressive about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the fact that it delivers its superior capabilities at half the price of the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada)! We don’t know how ASUS managed to do that, but we think their efforts deserves no less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Congratulations, ASUS!

 

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The ZTE Blade V8 Price, Specifications & Preview

The new ZTE Blade V8 (Amazon | Lazada) smartphone was officially launched today. Designed with the youth market in mind, the Blade V8 comes with a dual-lens camera that not only produces better bokeh, it is also capable of taking 3D photos and videos. Let’s check it out in greater detail!

 

The ZTE Blade V8 Smartphone

The ZTE Blade V8 (Amazon | Lazada) is a 5.2″ smartphone that runs on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat, and is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435. It comes with 3 GB of memory and 32 GB of internal flash storage. If that’s not enough, you can add storage using a microSD card (up to 128 GB).

The ZTE Blade V8’s killer feature is the main camera, which is 3D capable, thanks to the second 2 MP camera placed away from the main 13 MP camera. This gives the camera enough stereoscopic capability to produce 3D pictures and videos. It can also improve the bokeh in normal 2D photos, and adds a refocus mode, which allows you to change the focus in the picture after you have taken it.

Its front camera is no slouch either. It boasts the same 13 MP Sony IMX258 sensor used by the main camera, paired with a f/2.2 lens, and supported by a Moonlight flash. What is a Moonlight flash? It’s actually a dedicated LED flash, with a softer glow to avoid harsh highlights when you take selfies.

 

The ZTE Blade V8 Specifications

SpecificationsZTE Blade V8
Display5.2" full HD IPS display, with 2.D edge glass cover
- 1080 x 1920 pixels, 424 ppi
Operating SystemAndroid 7.0 Nougat with ZTE MiFavor UI 4.2
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 435
Processor8 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.4 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 505
Memory3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (800 MHz)
Storage32 GB internal flash storage (eMMC 5.1)
microSD card slot (up to 128 GB), shared with SIM2
Front Camera13 MP Sony IMX258 sensor with f/2.2 lens
- supports PDAF technology and Moonlight flash
Main CameraDual-lens camera capable of taking 3D pictures and videos
- 13 MP Sony IMX258 sensor with f/2.0 lens + 2 MP sensor
- supports PDAF and single LED flash
ConnectivityGSM : 2G / 3G / 4G LTE
WiFi : 802.11/b/g/n
Bluetooth : v4.1
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, Dual Standby
- dual nano SIM slots (hybrid SIM)
- SIM2 shared with microSD card
- SIM1 : 4G, SIM2 : 3G
Fingerprint SensorYes, integrated into Home sensor
Other SensorsAccelerometer, Proximity, Ambient light, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall sensor
FM RadioYes
Battery2730 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Dimensions71.5 mm wide x 148.4 mm tall x 7.7 mm thick
Available ColoursGrey / Rose Gold

 

The ZTE Blade V8 Price & Availability

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The ZTE Blade V8 (Amazon | Lazada) is priced at RM 999 (inclusive of GST) / ~US$ 219. It is available in the Grey colour option right now, with the Rose Gold option coming in only in June 2017.

Every ZTE Blade V8 (Amazon | Lazada) will come with a TPU case and screen protector. But those purchasing their Blade V8 online will also receive a flip case, in addition to the standard freebies (TPU case and screen protector).

 

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The Huawei Mate 9 (Editor’s Choice Award) Review

Huawei is the world’s third largest smartphone brand in the world, accounting for 9.5% of smartphone sales in Q4 2016. Spearheading their assault on Samsung’s position as the top Android smartphone brand in the world is their Leica c0-branded Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) smartphone.

In this review, we will check out the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) in great detail, including its Leica branded dual-lens camera. Find out why we awarded it our coveted Editor’s Choice Award!

 

The Huawei Mate 9 Specifications Comparison

In case you are wondering how much of a difference the Huawei Mate 9 brings to the table, here is a detailed comparison of its specifications to its predecessor, the Huawei Mate 8 (Amazon | Lazada). We also added the bespoke Huawei Mate 9 Porsche (Amazon).

SpecificationsHuawei Mate 9 Porsche DesignHuawei Mate 9Huawei Mate 8
Operating SystemAndroid 7.0 NougatAndroid 7.0 NougatAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow
Display5.5" AMOLED display
- 1440 x 2560 pixels (534 ppi, 73.2% screen to body ratio)
5.96" IPS-NEO LCD display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels (368 ppi)
6.0" IPS-NEO LCD display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels (368 ppi, 78% screen to body ratio)
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 4
System PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 960HiSilicon Kirin 960HiSilicon Kirin 950
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A72 (2.3 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-G71 MP8 (900 MHz)ARM Mali-G71 MP8 (900 MHz)ARM Mali-T880 MP4
Memory6 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (NXT-L29)
3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (NXT-L09, NXT-L19)
Storage256 GB internal flash storage
NO microSD card slot
64 GB internal flash storage
microSD slot (supports up to 256 GB)
64 GB internal flash storage (NXT-L29)
32 GB internal flash storage (NXT-L09, NXT-L19)
microSD slot (supports up to 256 GB, shared with SIM2)
Front Selfie Camera8 MP sensor with f/1.9 lens8 MP sensor with f/1.9 lens8 MP sensor with f/2.4 lens
Main CameraDual-lens camera with f/2.2 Leica lens
- 20 MP monochrome + 12 MP RGB sensors
- 2X hybrid zoom, OIS support
- PDAF and laser autofocus
- dual-tone LED flash
Dual-lens camera with f/2.2 Leica lens
- 20 MP monochrome + 12 MP RGB sensors
- 2X hybrid zoom, OIS support
- PDAF and laser autofocus
- dual-tone LED flash
16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
- PDAF autofocus, OIS
- dual-tone LED flash
ConnectivityWiFi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth : v4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
USB : USB 3.0 Type C port
WiFi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth : v4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
USB : USB 2.0 Type C port
WiFi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth : v4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
USB : microUSB port
SIM SupportSingle nano SIM
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby
Single nano SIM (MHA-L09)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (MHA-L29)
Single nano SIM (NXT-L09)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (NXT-L29)
GPSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDS
NFCYesYesYes
Fingerprint SensorYesYesYes
Battery4,000 mAh lithium polymer battery (non-removable)4,000 mAh lithium polymer battery (non-removable)4,000 mAh lithium polymer battery (non-removable)
Dimensions75 mm wide
152 mm tall
7.5 mm thick
78.9 mm wide
156.9 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
80.6 mm wide
157.1 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
Weight169 g190 g185 g
Available ColoursBlack GraphiteBlack Graphite, Space Grey, Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown, Ceramic WhiteSpace Grey, Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown

 

Unboxing The Huawei Mate 9

As a premium smartphone, the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) comes in a premium black box. Let’s take a look at what’s inside!

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Inside the box, you will find the following items :

  • One Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) smartphone
  • One Huawei Mate 9 protective case
  • One Huawei Mate 9 quick start guide
  • One 22.5 W Huawei SuperCharge power adaptor
  • One USB Type C cable
  • One micro USB to USB Type C adaptor
  • One pair of Huawei earphones
  • One SIM card tray ejector pin

The inclusion of the Huawei Mate 9 protective case in the package is most welcomed, even though it only protects the back and the four corners of the Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada). At least it offers some protection out of the box, until you get a better case.

Next Page > The Huawei Mate 9 Key Features

 

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The Huawei Mate 9 Smartphone

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) is a 6″ phablet (officially 5.98″) with an IPS-NEO display. There was some confusion about its display and protection. Let us be clear – the Huawei Mate 9 Porsche (Amazon) has an AMOLED display, while the “regular” Huawei Mate 9 uses an IPS-NEO display. They are both protected by Gorilla Glass 3, not Gorilla Glass 5.

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) runs on the octa-core Kirin 960, with 4 GB of LPDDR4 SDRAM and 64 GB of internal flash storage. It is powered by a large 4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery. All that is packed into a metal unibody chassis less than 8 mm thick.

The Huawei Mate 9 has a two-slot SIM tray on the left side. Depending on region, this may support a single nano SIM and a microSD card, or a hybrid SIM tray in which a second nano SIM can be used in lieu of the microSD card.

Like many premium smartphones, the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) uses the new bidirectional Type C USB port. To support users with existing micro USB cables and OTG drives, Huawei threw in a micro USB to USB Type C adaptor.

Somehow, Huawei managed to squeeze in the 3.5 mm audio port at the top. This will please people who enjoy using their smartphones as music players, but may prevent the use of external microphones.

 

Hybrid SIM & Fingerprint Sensor

The MHA-L29 version of the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby capability. However, only the SIM1 supports 4G calls and data, while SIM2 can only support 3G calls. The SIM card tray is located along the left edge, and supports two nano SIM cards.

The second SIM card tray is a hybrid SIM tray, which allows you to install a microSD card instead. In other words, it supports either a second nano SIM card, or a microSD card, but not both at the same time. In the MHA-L09 version, the tray only supports one nano SIM card with the second slot dedicated to the microSD card.

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) uses a fingerprint sensor that is located at the back, just under the main camera. This is an all-aspect fingerprint sensor that unlocks the smartphone with just a touch. Huawei promises that it is 20% faster than the Huawei Mate 8’s fingerprint sensor.

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The Huawei Mate 9 Cameras

The Huawei Mate 9’s killer feature is its second-generation Leica-branded dual-lens camera. The camera uses a 12 MP RGB sensor to capture colour, and a 20 MP monochrome sensor to pick up the finer details. Their output are then combined to produce the final image.

The dual-lens camera features f/2.2 Leica Summarit-H lenses with optical image stabilisation. The camera’s ability to reduce handshake in low light condition is further enhanced by the pixel binning ability of the dual lenses.

Its front camera though is more run-of-the-mill. It has an 8 MP front camera with autofocus capability. The wider than average f/1.9 aperture though allows for better low light selfies. That is important because the Huawei Mate 9 does not come with a front LED flash, or even support screen flash.

Next Page > Setting It Up, Ergonomics, Available Memory & Storage

 

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Setting Up The Huawei Mate 9

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) runs on Android 7.0 Nougat, and is very easy to set-up. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5 minutes to finish the setup process.

 

The Ergonomics

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) is a large 6″ phablet that is almost 8 cm wide, so it is definitely a two-handed device. While it does not boast a QHD AMOLED display of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and the Huawei Mate 9 Porsche (Amazon),  its Full HD IPS-NEO display still looks great. No complaints here.

The anodised aluminium chassis is smooth to the touch, with a nice satin finish that imparts a nice shine and yet is resistant to fingerprint smears. If you feel that it lacks grip, slap on the provided clear case – it will give you more grip while protecting the back against scratches.

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Available Memory & Storage

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory, of which 2.3 GB (57.5%) is available for use. That’s plenty of free memory to run multiple apps at the same time.

As befits a premium smartphone, the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) has 64 GB of internal flash storage. Of that, 59.29 GB is available to use, which is just awesome. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).

Next Page > Camera Performance – Photos & Videos

 

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Camera Performance – Photos

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) has an impressive dual-lens camera that Huawei co-designed with Leica. It boasts two separate RGB and monochrome sensors, both with Leica Summarit-H lenses. The full 20 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 5120 x 3840 and a file size of between 4.5 to 6.5 MB.

Here are 8 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.

As these samples show, the amount of detail captured by the Leica dual-lens camera was quite astounding. Even the darker areas showed an amazing amount of detail. Even the night shot of Disneyland showed a surprising amount of detail, and very low noise. Simply amazing.

If there is a word of caution though, we have to point out that the Leica Summarit-H lens has an aperture of f/2.2. This is not as fast as the lenses on other premium smartphones, so low light conditions may result in blurry photos. The optical image stabilisation helps some, but the pixel binning capability only works if you take photos at 12 MP or less.

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Camera Performance – Video Recording

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) is capable of recording 1080p and 4K videos. They are also encoded using the H.265 standard, which allows for much smaller file sizes. It also supports optical image stabilisation, although it does not seem to support electronic image stabilisation. To test out these capabilities, we took some sample videos.

 

Test #1 : Piano Recital

In this piano recital, the image resolution is so high you can see the sweat glisten off Mr. Yang I-Deun’s forehead. We also liked how clear the recorded sound was. The distinct lack of background noise was very impressive. The Huawei Mate 9’s control of the bright highlights was also pretty good.

 

Test #2 : Food Trucks

We did this short take of some food trucks to test out the image stabilisation capability. It did a pretty decent job of removing most of the shaking, but the jerking as I walked was rather pronounced. Some electronic image stabilisation capability would have been useful in reducing that.

 

Test #3 : Night Dancing

I think the first thing you will note is how clear the audio recording is. There is some colour noise from the low light areas like the floor, but the amount of detail you can pick out is still amazing. There is also very good control of the highlights in the background.

Next Page > Work Performance, Battery Life & Recharging Speed

 

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Work Performance – PCMark

We tested the Huawei Mate 9’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Huawei Mate 9 ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra HTC 10 honor 8
Work Performance Score
(Average)
7593 6313 6105 6350
Web Browsing 8717 6257 5782 8073
Video Playback 4987 4287 3321 4396
Writing 7883 7166 7463 6231
Photo Editing 9702 8262 9694 7352

The Kirin 960 is a surprisingly speedy processor. It beat the ZenFone 3 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 652, and even the Snapdragon 820 in the HTC 10!

 

Battery Life – PCMark

We then tested the Huawei Mate 9’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.

Amazingly, the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) lasted 13 hours! That’s 40% longer than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, which has the same battery capacity; and a full 1.5 hours longer than the ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra with a larger 4,600 mAh battery. This is truly fantastic performance!

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Battery Recharging Performance

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) comes with a SuperCharge adaptor with a power output of 22.5 W. Take a look at how fast it recharged the large 4,000 mAh battery.

It took the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) an astoundingly bad 401.5 minutes (6 hours 41.5 minutes) to recharge its battery from 19% to 100%. This is a battery life : recharging ratio of about 2 : 1 – a truly abysmal performance.

The SuperCharge capability does not seem to be working in our review sample, because the chart shows a linear increase in battery capacity over time. We would have expected a large boost in battery life that would taper off as the battery reached its maximum capacity.

Next Page > Gaming & Overall Performance, Verdict, Award

 

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Gaming Performance – 3DMark

We tested the Huawei Mate 9’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.

Huawei Mate 9 ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra HTC 10 honor 8
Gaming Score 27853 17719 23171 18659
Graphics 36605 21124 27512 19993
Physics 15164 11328 14925 15127
Graphics Test 1 202.5 fps 115.2 fps 136.6 fps 122.5 fps
Graphics Test 2 131.1 fps 76.3 fps 106.4 fps 67.4 fps
Physics Test 48.1 fps 36.0 fps 47.4 fps 48.0 fps

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) did very well in this test, coming in 20% faster than the HTC 10, and 57% faster than the ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra. It should have no problem handling any 3D game you throw at it.

 

Overall Performance

AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.

Huawei Mate 9 ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra HTC 10 honor 8
TOTAL SCORE 123167 76096 113813 90737
3D SCORE 40114 18816 50700 17706
– 3D (Marooned) 23313 10861 34778 9829
– 3D (Garden) 16801 7952 15922 7877
UX SCORE 39975 26794 30890 34550
– UX Data Secure 7943 5077 6319 7338
– UX Data Process 6985 4198 3379 5513
– UX Strategy Games 11860 7503 5433 9745
– UX Image Process 5580 6879 9521 5017
– UX I/O Performance 7607 3137 6238 6937
CPU SCORE 31992 23689 21915 32255
– CPU Mathematics 9680 6950 8494 10483
– CPU Common Use 11139 6311 5931 8543
– CPU Multi-Core 11173 10428 7490 13229
RAM 11086 6797 10308 6226

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) did well in this test, edging out the Snapdragon 820-powered HTC 10. It did particularly well in the CPU tests, and less so in the 3D tests. However, it was still overall a very powerful smartphone.

 

Our Verdict

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) was everything we expected of it, and then some. Its headline feature – the Leica-branded dual-lens camera – was more than just marketing fluff. It actually delivered really impressive photos and videos, even in poor light conditions. That’s quite impressive since it uses relatively slow f/2.2 lens.

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The Kirin 960 SoC that powered it did not disappoint either. It delivered great CPU and graphics performance in every test we put it through. It also comes with plenty of memory and storage space. You will never need to worry about the Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) not being able to handle any app or game.

The Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada) also had a very impressive 13 hours of battery life in our test. The only downside though was its abysmal battery recharging performance. You will need at least 6 hours to fully recharge its battery. That, fortunately, seems to be its only major flaw.

Overall, we are most impressed with the Huawei Mate 9 (Amazon | Lazada). In fact, we like it so much, we think it deserves no less than our Editor’s Choice Award. Congratulations, Huawei!

 

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The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Smartphone Launched!

23rd March, 2017 — ASUS today announced ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada), the world’s slimmest and lightest 5.5-inch smartphone with a high-capacity 5000mAh battery and a dual-camera system that delivers photographic perfection.

 

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom

ZenFone 3 Zoom’s innovative dual-camera system consists of two cameras: A main camera with an f/1.7-aperture, 25mm wide-angle main lens paired to a 12MP SONY IMX362 sensor with large 1.4µm pixels (1/2.55in sensor size); and a dedicated 59mm, 12MP zoom camera with an instant 2.3X optical zoom and a 12X total zoom.

This setup ensures sharp focus for subjects at any distance. ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) also has the first ASUS SuperPixel Camera that enables it to shoot photos quickly and clearly in night-time or low-light environments. The SuperPixel Camera combines advanced hardware and software enhancement by ASUS SuperPixel technology to achieve light sensitivity that is 2.5 times[1] (2.5X) greater than that of the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada), and 10 times that of an average smartphone.

ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) houses an incredible 5000mAh battery that has a much higher capacity than that of an average smartphone. This is paired to a powerful yet energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 14nm processor, enabling the new smartphone to achieve an amazing 6.4 hours of continuous 4K UHD video recording and an outstanding 42 days of standby time.

The high-capacity battery also gives ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) the ability to double up as a power bank to charge other devices. Remarkably, the high power density of the battery allows it to be fitted into a super-slim, 7.9mm full-metal chassis that weighs a mere 170 grams, making it the world’s thinnest and lightest 5.5-inch smartphone with a 5000mAh battery.

[1] Compared to the iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) main camera (f/1.8 with 1.22µm pixel size)

[2] Compared to average smartphone cameras (f/2.0 with 1.0µm pixel size)

 

Built for photographic perfection

The ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the most accomplished camera smartphone to date from ASUS, with a list of new features designed to make it unrivalled in mobile photography. These include:

Dual-camera system — ZenFone 3 features an all-new ASUS SuperPixel Camera for unbeatable low-light photography, plus a dedicated 12MP, 59mm camera for instant 2.3X optical zoom and 12X total zoom, making the best camera mode for different subject types and focal lengths instantly available to photographers.

The main SuperPixel Camera is ideal for shooting general subjects and macro shots as close as 10cm, while the optical-zoom camera is excellent for distant subjects. The biggest advantage of having two cameras with lenses of different focal lengths is the ability to let users switch lenses and compose in different perspectives.

ASUS SuperPixel CameraZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) features a new main ASUS SuperPixel Camera that can shoot photos quickly and clearly in night-time or low-light environments. The SuperPixel Camera consists of three main components:

  • Large 1.4-micron pixel size — Larger pixels increase the camera’s sensitivity to light, and decrease the graininess of resulting photos, especially those shot in low-light environments. ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the Sony IMX362 sensor with pixels measuring 1.4 microns (µm) wide pixels and a 1/2.55-inch sensor size, which is one of the largest of any smartphone camera sensors, making the camera excellent for low-light photography.
  • Large f/1.7 lens aperture — the large aperture allows for more light to enter the sensor compared to other smartphone cameras.
  • ASUS SuperPixel technology — A combination of the new ASUS SuperPixel engine hardware and image digital-signal-processing software that that boosts light sensitivity up to four times (4X) by intelligently controlling ISO levels while shooting, and removing noise in post-shot processing.

High-resolution SuperPixel selfiesZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) features one of the highest-resolution front-facing cameras of any smartphone. It has a 13MP SONY IMX 214 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture lens that shoots high-resolution selfies and also benefits from ASUS SuperPixel technology to achieve twice the light sensitivity. It also features a new ‘screen flash’ mode that uses the display as a flash in low-light environments.

ASUS 0.03s TriTech+ autofocus ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has an improved ASUS TriTech+ autofocus system with new Dual Pixel PDAF technology as one of its three focusing technologies along with the second-generation laser autofocus and subject tracking autofocus. ASUS TriTech+ automatically chooses the best technology to use depending on the subject, and achieves focus in an amazingly fast 0.03 seconds — the world’s fastest autofocus.

  • Dual Pixel PDAF — Each pixel on the sensor is now divided into two phase-detection sections that can detect the movement of subjects by analyzing the variations between the light rays hitting the two sensors. Working together with all the other 12-million pixels on the sensor, ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is able to achieve rapid phase-detection autofocus even in low-light conditions.
  • Second-generation laser autofocus — Which has three times (3X) the range of standard laser focusing systems which can benefit shooting close-up subjects within 1.5 meters.
  • Subject-tracking autofocus — The system cleverly tracks moving subjects while the user is shooting, so they will never be out of focus. Subject tracking is enabled by default for both still images and videos.

RAW file supportZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) offers photographers the freedom to shoot and store compositions in RAW format. RAW files save the full data of the photo captured by the camera’s sensor and are ideal for enhancement with editing software, where users are able to uncover fine details in areas of shadow, or recover overexposed areas in the highlights, with much less degradation of of image quality when compared to editing JPEG image files. RAW support will be available with Android 7.0 ‘Nougat’.

Full Manual mode — This mode enables full control over ZenFone 3 Zoom’s extensive camera settings. These includes white balance, exposure value (EV), focus, and ISO settings, and an impressive shutter-speed selection of between 1/16000 sec and 32 seconds. In ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada), this mode also allows users to override the automatic camera selection and choose to use either the 25mm, f/1.7 lens of the main camera or the 59mm lens of the zoom camera.

Continuous autofocus 4K UHD video recording — For video recording, ZenFone 3 Zoom’s subject tracking autofocus system allows the smartphone to continuously focus on subjects while recording video at stunning 4K UHD resolution.

ZenFone 3 series camera featuresZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) also comes with all the powerful photographic features of the ZenFone 3 series including:

  • Four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) and three-axis electronic image stabilization (EIS) to prevent hand movements from blurring photos or making videos appear shaky.
  • Ultra-sharp 4K UHD video recording at 3840 x 2160 resolution.
  • RGB Color-correction sensor that automatically adjusts the colors in a photo to look natural and accurate.
  • 48MP Super Resolution mode that combines four native 12MP photos to create a single image with exceptional 4X clarity, greater detail and less noise.
  • 19 different unique and versatile modes that optimize the camera to shoot scenes or add special effects to photos.

 

Ultra-large 5000mAh battery and reverse-charging ability

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With a charge rating of 5000mAh, ZenFone 3 Zoom’s battery has one of the highest capacities of any smartphone — and the world’s highest capacity in its class.

Paired with the powerful yet battery-efficient 14nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, this high-capacity battery enables ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) to achieve an amazing 6.4 hours of continuous 4K UHD video recording time, or 42 days of standby time, without worrying about running out of charge.

ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the world’s slimmest and lightest 5.5-inch 5000mAh smartphone, and is a mere 7.9mm thin and weighs just 170 grams. ZenFone 3 Zoom’s high battery capacity also lets it double up as a high-speed power bank for charging other devices via an automatic reverse-charging capability.

 

Strong-yet-beautiful display

ZenFone 3 Zoom’s display is a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED panel with high 500cd/m2 brightness for outdoor-readable images with extreme clarity and contrast, and a color gamut that is more than 100% of the NTSC color space. It also features a blue-light filter that prevents eye strain over long periods of viewing.

ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is also one of the first smartphones to have a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 display cover panel that is 70%-more resistant to drop damage compared to the previous Gorilla Glass generation. This panel has been crafted and shaped to fit within the phone’s beautifully small, sandblasted aluminum-alloy body. A fingerprint sensor is conveniently placed at the back of the smartphone for easy accessibility.

 

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The Oukitel K6000 Plus, U16 Max & U20 Plus Smartphones Revealed

Oukitel officially entered the Malaysian market earlier this week. They not only shared the meaning of the Oukitel brand, they also revealed three new 2017 smartphones – the Oukitel K6000 Plus, the Oukitel U16 Max and the Oukitel U20 Plus.

 

Who & What Is Oukitel?

Shenzhen OUKI Digital Electronic Co. Ltd has been in the business of designing and manufacturing smartphones since 2007. Two years later, they ventured into the consumer market with their Ouki brand in China.

The brand, Oukitel, was created in 2015 specifically for the international market. So what does Oukitel mean? Believe it or not, it is short for U & I for OK Life.

 

The 2017 Oukitel Smartphones Presentation

This video offers a short primer on the Oukitel C, K and U series; and the new Oukitel K6000 Plus, the Oukitel U16 Max and the Oukitel U20 Plus smartphones.

 

The Oukitel Smartphone Series Explained

Oukitel smartphones are divided into three series :

  • Oukitel C Series – affordable smartphones
  • Oukitel K Series – smartphones with large batteries
  • Oukitel U Series – premium smartphones

 

The Oukitel K6000 Plus

Announced in MWC 2017, the Oukitel K6000 Plus is a 5.5″ smartphone with a full HD LTPS display. It runs on Android 7.0, and is powered by the octa-core MediaTek MT6750T. It has 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of internal flash storage.

The Oukitel K6000 Plus has a 16 MP main camera, which uses the Sony IMX298 sensor; and an 8 MP front camera with 80° wide-angle lens. But arguably, its biggest feature is the large 6,080 mAh battery that supports 12V/2A fast charging.

 

The Oukitel U16 Max

The Oukitel U16 Max has a 6″ HD LTPS display, with an aluminium alloy body. It runs on Android 7.0, and is powered by the 1.3 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6753 SOC. It has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage.

The U16 Max features a 13 MP main camera, with a 5 MP front camera. It also boasts a large 4,000 mAh battery, which supports 5V/1.5A quick charge.

 

The Oukitel U20 Plus

The Oukitel U20 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) features a 5.5″ Full HD display, with a polycarbonate body. It runs on Android 6.0, and is powered by the 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737T SOC. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.

The Oukitel U20 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) has a dual-lens camera with a 13 MP Sony IMX135 sensor, and a 0.3 MP secondary sensor. For selfies, it has a 5 MP front camera. It also boasts a 3,300 mAh battery, which supports 5V/1.5A quick charge.

 

The Oukitel K6000 Plus, U16 Max & U20 Plus Price & Availability

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The Oukitel K6000 Plus is available in Malaysia this April with an official price of RM 999 / ~US$ 219. Oukitel will offer it in two colour options – Gray and Gold.

The Oukitel U16 Max is available in Gray and Gold colour options as well this April, for RM 889 / ~US$ 199.

The Oukitel U20 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) is available right now at RM 639 / ~US$ 139, with three colour options – Jet Black, Gray and Gold.

 

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The honor 8 Aurora Glass Smartphone Review

Boasting a unique Aurora Glass finish on its back, the new honor 8 smartphone is truly a work of art that has to be seen to be appreciated. But it is not just a good-looking smartphone. The honor 8 also features a dual-lens main camera, like its brother – the Huawei P9So join us as we take a close look at the honor 8 smartphone!

 

The honor 8 Smartphone Specifications

First up, we would like to point out that the honor 8 is available in 5 different models, with 3-4 colours, depending on the location. But they basically consist of two versions – a standard honor 8 model, and a premium honor 8 model. Check out their specifications :

Specificationshonor 8 (Standard)honor 8 (Premium)
ModelFRD-L02 (India), FRD-L04 (US), FRD-L09 (EU & Asia)FRD-L14 (US), FRD-L19 (EU & Asia)
Available ColoursPearl White, Midnight BlackSapphire Blue, Sunrise Gold
Display5.2" LTPS LCD display
- 1080 x 1920 resolution (423 ppi)
- 1500:1 contrast ratio, 96% NTSC colour gamut
5.2" LTPS LCD display
- 1080 x 1920 resolution (423 ppi)
- 1500:1 contrast ratio, 96% NTSC colour gamut
ProtectionNippon Electric Glass (NEG)Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Operating SystemAndroid 6.0 with Huawei Emotion UI 4.1Android 6.0 with Huawei Emotion UI 4.1
Processing PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 950HiSilicon Kirin 950
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A72 (2.3 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
i5 co-processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A72 (2.3 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
i5 co-processor
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-T880 (650 MHz)ARM Mali-T880 (650 MHz)
System Memory4 GB LPDDR4 memory4 GB LPDDR4 memory
Storage32 GB internal flash memory
microSD slot* (supports up to 128 GB)
* shared with SIM2 (L09)
64 GB internal flash memory
microSD slot* (supports up to 128 GB)
* shared with SIM2 (L19)
Selfie Camera8 MP sensor, with f/2.4 lens
- 1080p video recording
8 MP sensor, with f/2.4 lens
- 1080p video recording
Main CameraDual 12 MP cameras (monochrome + colour)
- Sony IMX286 sensor
- f/2.2 lens, dual LED flash and hybrid auto-focus
- 1080p video recording with EIS
Dual 12 MP cameras (monochrome + colour)
- Sony IMX286 sensor
- f/2.2 lens, dual LED flash and hybrid auto-focus
- 1080p video recording with EIS
GPSGPS / AGPS / GLONASSGPS / AGPS / GLONASS
SIM SupportSingle nano SIM (L02, L04)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (L09)
Single nano SIM (L14)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (L19)
Connectivity4G : LTE FDD LTE Cat6 : 51 Mbps (UL), 301 Mbps (DL)
3G : WCDMA
2 G : GSM
Bluetooth : 4.2 BLE
OTG, VoLTE
4G : LTE FDD LTE Cat6 : 51 Mbps (UL), 301 Mbps (DL)
3G : WCDMA
2 G : GSM
Bluetooth : 4.2 BLE
OTG, VoLTE
WiFi Capability802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz dual-band)
Hotspot supports up to 8 devices
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz dual-band)
Hotspot supports up to 8 devices
USB PortUSB 2.0 with USB Type C interfaceUSB 2.0 with USB Type C interface
Fingerprint SensorYes, 3D fingerprint recognition, 0.4 second unlock with Smart Key customisationYes, 3D fingerprint recognition, 0.4 second unlock with Smart Key customisation
Infra-Red TransmitterYes, with Smart Control 4.0Yes, with Smart Control 4.0
NFC SupportYes, tag read/write, P2P transfer, mobile paymentYes, tag read/write, P2P transfer, mobile payment
AudioHiSilicon Hi6402 audio DSP with Dolby DTS and HiRes Audio support
Dual-microphone noise reduction
HiSilicon Hi6402 audio DSP with Dolby DTS and HiRes Audio support
Dual-microphone noise reduction
Battery2,900 mAh lithium-polymer battery
18 W fast-charging capability
2,900 mAh lithium-polymer battery
18 W fast-charging capability
Dimensions71.0 mm wide x 145.5 mm tall x 7.45 mm thick71.0 mm wide x 145.5 mm tall x 7.45 mm thick
Weight153 g153 g
Launch PriceRM 1,699 (~US$ 425)RM 1,899 (~US$ 475)

The standard honor 8 models are priced at RM 1,699 / ~US$ 425 with 32 GB of storage, and is available in either Pearl White or Midnight Black. The premium honor 8 models are priced at RM 1,899 / ~US$ 475 with 64 GB of storage, and either Sapphire Blue or Sunrise Gold colours.

 

Unboxing The honor 8 Smartphone

The honor 8 comes in a white two-piece cardboard box with a textured surface. The tall and thin design presumably allows more units to be placed side-by-side on a counter. The inner box slides downwards and is secured by a single clear security sticker. Be careful once that sticker is cut, because the inner box will slide right out!

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Inside the honor 8 box, you will find the following items :

  • One honor 8 smartphone
  • One set of honor 8 Quick Start Guide & Huawei warranty leaflet
  • One SIM card tray extractor pin
  • One set of six IMEI stickers
  • One 18 W Huawei quick travel charger
  • One USB 2.0 cable with USB Type C interface

Next Page > The honor 8 Up Close, Hybrid SIM, Fingerprint Sensor & OTG Support

 

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The honor 8 Smartphone Up Close

The honor 8 has a large 5.2″ LTPS display that covers almost its entire front – with a 72% screen-to-body ratio. To achieve that, honor eschewed the use of physical buttons, in favour of virtual on-screen buttons. In fact, it only has two physical buttons – a Power button and a Volume rocker switch on the right side.

The honor 8 has an infra-red transmitter at the top, which can be used as a remote control in conjunction with the built-in Smart Controller app. It is also the first honor smartphone to feature the new Type C USB interface. It is still a USB 2.0 port, but the Type C interface is bidirectional – you no longer have to worry about plugging the cable in the wrong way.

Even though the honor 8 is the same size as the honor 5C, they managed to squeeze in a 2,900 mAh lithium-polymer battery while reducing its thickness to just 7.45 mm. They even fit in the 3.5mm audio port, albeit at the bottom, together with the USB port.

 

Hybrid SIM

The honor 8 has dual SIM, dual standby capability. However, only the FRD-L09 and FRD-L19 models come with the hybrid SIM slot that allows for a second nano SIM card. These two models are only sold in Europe and Asia. The other models only support a single nano SIM.

Of course, the hybrid SIM slot means you have to choose between using a second nano SIM card, or a microSD card. You can’t use both simultaneously.

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Fingerprint Sensor & OTG Support

The honor 8 boasts a new 3D fingerprint sensor that can actually detect the ridges of the finger. This allows for more accurate detection of your fingerprint. With an auto-learning ability, the honor 8’s fingerprint sensor can recognise your fingerprint and unlock the honor 8 in just 0.4 seconds.

On the other hand, the honor 8 (like the honor 5C) does not support USB OTG (On-The-Go) drives. If you plug any USB OTG flash drive into its USB port, it will not be detected. The honor 8 also requires you to use the Huawei HiSuite software to access its files from your computer. This also limits what you can copy out from the honor 8 smartphone.

Next Page > Cameras, Aurora Glass, Initial Setup, Memory & Storage

 

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Cameras

The honor 8 has an 8 MP front camera with an f/2.4 lens. It will deliver a maximum photo resolution of 3264 x 2448 in the 4:3 format. Again, a wider 16:9 format will crop that to 3264 x 1840. It will record videos in 1080p quality with electronic image stabilisation.

Its killer feature is the dual-lens camera at the back. It is actually two individual cameras, each with a Sony IMX286 sensors with f/2.2 lens. One camera captures the image in monochrome, while the other captures the same image in colour. They are then combined to deliver sharper and more detailed pictures. The camera is supported by a dual LED flash, and a laser autofocus system.

The photos have a maximum resolution of 3968 x 2976 in the 4:3 format. If you prefer a wider format, the honor 8 will do that by cropping the image to 3968 x 2240 (16:9). It is capable of recording video in full HD quality (1080p) with electronic image stabilisation.

 

Aurora Glass

The honor 8 has a 2.5D glass body on both sides with diamond-cut aluminium alloy edges to create an ultra-narrow bezel. Its 3D grate design and 15-layer craftsmanship on the back of the device, combines with the glass/metal back to create what honor calls Aurora Glass.

The Aurora Glass back gives the honor 8 a very reflective surface at the back. The only catch – it naturally lacks the oleophobic coating of the front screen for a proper grip. However, that means its highly-reflective back is easily smudged by fingerprint smears, which detracts from its lustre.

 

The Initial Setup

This video will show you the initial setup process when you power up the honor 8 for the first time. If you do not need to restore a backup, the whole setup process should take about 5 minutes. Note how fast it takes to register a fingerprint.

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Available Memory & Storage

The honor 8 comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory. The Android 6.0 operating system and honor-preloaded apps take up about 1.3 GB of memory, leaving you with 2.4 GB (60%) of free memory. Very good!

This is a premium honor 8 model (FRD-L19), which comes with 64 GB of internal flash memory. This is expandable via a microSD card (up to 128 GB). Fresh out of the box, the honor 8 has 53.2 GB of available space (excluding the system files), of which 51.38 GB is free to use.

In the standard honor 8 models which come with 32 GB of internal flash memory, we can estimate that they will have about 19 GB of free space.

Next Page > honor 8 Camera & Video Recording Performance

 

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Camera Performance – Photos

The honor 8‘s dual-lens camera has not one, but two, 12 MP Sony IMX286 sensor with reasonably fast f/2.4 lens. The photos have a maximum resolution of 3968 x 2976 in the 4:3 format. Check out these photo samples.

The honor 8 delivered excellent resolution in these photos. If you blow them up to 100%, you can see the amount of detail that is not possible in other smartphone cameras. The edge resolution (between elements of different colour), in particular, was very impressive. The amount of noise is also very low, even in dark areas.

While the honor 8 does not have the most user-friendly camera app in the industry, the photos produced by its dual-lens camera is very, very impressive. Even without turning on HDR, the colour are very vivid and visually pop out.

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Camera Performance – Video Recording

The honor 8 can record full HD (1080p) ideos with electronic stabilisation. This is an improvement over the honor 5X, whose main camera does not support electronic stabilisation. Here is a sample video we recorded of a piano performance by Mr. Yang I-Deun.

And this is a sample video taken at a street market.

The honor 8 did a great job maintaining focus and controlling exposure in the videos we took. Even bright backgrounds were not overblown. The honor 8 does not support optical image stabilisation, probably because it would prevent the dual-lens system from being in sync, but its electronic image stabilisation still did a decent job.

You should also notice that it records better audio than most smartphones. The piano music sounds richer, even through the background noise. And in the street market footage, the ambient sounds sound clearer and more authentic.

Next Page > Work Performance, Battery Life & Recharging Performance

 

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Work Performance – PCMark

We tested the honor 8‘s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

honor 8 ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra HTC 10 Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
Work Performance Score
(Average)
6350 6313 6105 4892
Web Browsing 8073 6257 5782 6908
Video Playback 4396 4287 3321 3218
Writing 6231 7166 7463 4629
Photo Editing 7352 8262 9694 5563

The honor 8 is powered by the top-of-the-line Kirin 950 SoC. These PCMark results show that the Kirin 950 proved to be more than a match for the Snapdragon 820 that powers the HTC 10, and the Snapdragon 652 that powers the ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra. In fact, it was 30% faster in this benchmark than Samsung Galaxy S7 edge‘s Exynos 8890!

 

Battery Performance – PCMark

We then tested the honor 8‘s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.

The honor 8 lasted just over 10 hours on the PCMark stress test. This is 1.5 hours less than the honor 5C, but is excellent considering it uses a more powerful processor and graphics processor, and comes with twice the memory. The HTC 10, for example, lasted just over 5.5 hours on the same test!

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Battery Recharging Performance

The honor 8 has a large 2,900 mAh lithium-polymer battery, with Fast Charging capability. honor claims that it will recharge from 0% to 47% in just 30 minutes. Let’s see if that’s true…

Our tests showed that the honor 8 will recharge from 17% to 100% in just 146 minutes (3 hours 26 minutes). This is decent, but not exceptional quick charging performance. It fully recharges the battery about 20% faster than the honor 5C, which does not support quick charging and uses only a 5 W charger.

That said, we can see that the honor 8 recharges fastest in the first 90%, before it tapers off to a slower recharging pace for the last 10 percent. Recharging 47% (from 17% to 64%) took 36 minutes in our test.

Next Page > Overall & Gaming Performance, Our Verdict & Award

 

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Overall Performance – AnTuTu Benchmark

AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.

honor 8 ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra HTC 10 Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
TOTAL SCORE 90737 76096 113813 131246
3D SCORE 17706 18816 50700 40824
– 3D (Marooned) 9829 10861 34778 23336
– 3D (Garden) 7877 7952 15922 17488
UX SCORE 34550 26794 30890 42765
– UX Data Secure 7338 5077 6319 8169
– UX Data Process 5513 4198 3379 5966
– UX Strategy Games 9745 7503 5433 10745
– UX Image Process 5017 6879 9521 13878
– UX I/O Performance 6937 3137 6238 4007
CPU SCORE 32255 23689 21915 37882
– CPU Mathematics 10483 6950 8494 11831
– CPU Common Use 8543 6311 5931 10875
– CPU Multi-Core 13229 10428 7490 15176
RAM 6226 6797 10308 9775

The honor 8 did well in AnTuTu, coming in only 20% and 31% slower than the HTC 10 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge respectively.

It was actually 12% and 47% faster than the HTC 10 in the UX and CPU tests, but its 65% slower 3D performance pulled down its overall results.

 

Gaming Performance – 3DMark

We tested the honor 8‘s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.

honor 8 ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra HTC 10 Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
Gaming Score 18659 17719 23171 28650
Graphics 19993 21124 27512 33685
Physics 15127 11328 14925 18810
Graphics Test 1 122.5 fps 115.2 fps 136.6 fps 162.9 fps
Graphics Test 2 67.4 fps 76.3 fps 106.4 fps 133.1 fps
Physics Test 48.0 fps 36.0 fps 47.4 fps 59.7 fps

The honor 8 is roughly equal to the ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra in gaming performance. This means the ARM Mali-T880 GPU in the Kirin 950 is about as fast as the Qualcomm Adreno 510 GPU.

 

Our Verdict

The honor 8 is more than just a more powerful version of the honor 5C smartphone. Yes, they are both 5.2″ smartphones powered by Kirin processors from HiSilicon, a Huawei company. But the honor 8 is really a whole different beast targeting a different market.

The honor 8 is very fast, and comes with 4 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB of internal flash storage. On top of that, its dual-lens camera produces excellent photographs and videos. It even comes with a new 3D fingerprint sensor that activates the phone in just 0.4 seconds.

The honor 8 also looks the part of a premium smartphone, thanks to its Aurora Glass finish. This is honor’s top-of-the-line smartphone for those who want nothing but the best without paying through the nose.

Now, all that extra capability comes at a price, and it comes to no surprise that the honor 8 costs twice as much as the honor 5C. Even so, it costs less than half of what their competitors charge for equivalent smartphones.

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So are we impressed with the honor 8? Hell, yeah!

If we have any gripes, it is the lack of USB OTG support and the requirement to use the Huawei HiSuite to manage files using a computer. This unnecessarily makes it a pain to access the files in the honor 8 smartphone.

honor continues to impress us with their ability to focus on creating no-nonsense Android smartphones with practical features. Even the dual-lens camera proved to be a practical way to improve the quality of photos and videos taken using a smartphone.

We like the honor 8 enough to give it out coveted Editor’s Choice Award. Congratulations, honor!

 

Back To Start > honor 8 Specifications & Unboxing

 

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The Exclusive Huawei Mate 9 Preview + Launch Dates

On 3 November 2016, Huawei revealed not just the Huawei Mate 9, but also the bespoke Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design. Before their official launch, we were given exclusive access to the Huawei Mate 9, albeit only for a few short hours. We are now allowed to reveal to you the photos and details in our exclusive Huawei Mate 9 preview.

 

The Huawei Mate 9 Preview

The Huawei Mate 9 has a 5.9″ IPS display with a full HD resolution of 1080 x 1920. It is powered by the new Kirin 960 octa-core SoC, with 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The Kirin 960 offers four 2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 cores and four 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 cores, together with the powerful Mali-G71 MP8 GPU.

In the photography department, it boasts a second-generation dual-lens Leica-designed camera. This camera now pairs a 20 MP monochrome sensor with a 12 MP colour sensor. They both feature f/2.2 Leica lenses, and support optical image stabilisation (OIS).

How good is the new Leica-designed dual-lens camera? Take a look at this monochrome sample (full-size 20 MP @ 6 MB here). The new Huawei Mate 9 also comes with a 4,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery that supports Super Charge. Super Charge allows for very fast charging, thanks to its 22.5 W charger.

The Huawei Mate 9 will come with 64 GB of internal flash storage, and a microSD card slot that supports up to 256 GB of additional storage. It’s priced at €699 for Europe.

Sadly, that’s all we could take out of the exclusive Huawei Mate 9 preview session. We hope to get more hands-on time with the Mate 9 when it hits the stores (see the launch dates below).

 

Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design

For those who want something more exclusive, Huawei offers the bespoke Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design variant.

Available only in Black Graphite, the Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design features a 5.5″ curved AMOLED display with a higher resolution of 1440 x 2560. It also comes with a whopping 6 GB of LPDDR4 memory and 256 GB of internal flash storage. However, it does not come with a microSD slot.

The other features of the Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design remain the same with the “standard” Mate 9. It comes with the same processor and dual-lens Leica-designed camera. It will, however, retail for twice the “standard” Mate 9’s price at €1395 in Europe.

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The Huawei Mate 9 Availability New!

Huawei will launch the Mate 9 in these 12 countries first – China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand and the UAE.

Here in Malaysia, our sources say that the Huawei Mate 9 launch will take place either on the 18th (Friday) or the 24th (Thursday) of November.

 

The Huawei Mate 9 Models vs. Mate 8 Comparison

If you’re wondering how do the two Huawei Mate 9 models compare against the Huawei Mate 8, we prepared this comparison for your convenience.

SpecificationsHuawei Mate 9 Porsche DesignHuawei Mate 9Huawei Mate 8
Operating SystemAndroid 7.0 NougatAndroid 7.0 NougatAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow
Display5.5" AMOLED display
- 1440 x 2560 pixels (534 ppi, 73.2% screen to body ratio)
5.96" IPS-NEO LCD display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels (368 ppi)
6.0" IPS-NEO LCD display
- 1080 x 1920 pixels (368 ppi, 78% screen to body ratio)
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 4
System PlatformHiSilicon Kirin 960HiSilicon Kirin 960HiSilicon Kirin 950
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A72 (2.3 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.8 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorARM Mali-G71 MP8 (900 MHz)ARM Mali-G71 MP8 (900 MHz)ARM Mali-T880 MP4
Memory6 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (NXT-L29)
3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (NXT-L09, NXT-L19)
Storage256 GB internal flash storage
NO microSD card slot
64 GB internal flash storage
microSD slot (supports up to 256 GB)
64 GB internal flash storage (NXT-L29)
32 GB internal flash storage (NXT-L09, NXT-L19)
microSD slot (supports up to 256 GB, shared with SIM2)
Front Selfie Camera8 MP sensor with f/1.9 lens8 MP sensor with f/1.9 lens8 MP sensor with f/2.4 lens
Main CameraDual-lens camera with f/2.2 Leica lens
- 20 MP monochrome + 12 MP RGB sensors
- 2X hybrid zoom, OIS support
- PDAF and laser autofocus
- dual-tone LED flash
Dual-lens camera with f/2.2 Leica lens
- 20 MP monochrome + 12 MP RGB sensors
- 2X hybrid zoom, OIS support
- PDAF and laser autofocus
- dual-tone LED flash
16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
- PDAF autofocus, OIS
- dual-tone LED flash
ConnectivityWiFi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth : v4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
USB : USB 3.0 Type C port
WiFi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth : v4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
USB : USB 2.0 Type C port
WiFi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth : v4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
USB : microUSB port
SIM SupportSingle nano SIM
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby
Single nano SIM (MHA-L09)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (MHA-L29)
Single nano SIM (NXT-L09)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (NXT-L29)
GPSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDS
NFCYesYesYes
Fingerprint SensorYesYesYes
Battery4,000 mAh lithium polymer battery (non-removable)4,000 mAh lithium polymer battery (non-removable)4,000 mAh lithium polymer battery (non-removable)
Dimensions75 mm wide
152 mm tall
7.5 mm thick
78.9 mm wide
156.9 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
80.6 mm wide
157.1 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
Weight169 g190 g185 g
Available ColoursBlack GraphiteBlack Graphite, Space Grey, Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown, Ceramic WhiteSpace Grey, Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown

 

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