Purchased the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip foldable smartphone, and wondering how to set it up?
Here is a quick guide, with a video, on how to set up your Galaxy Z Flip for the first time!
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip : A Quick Primer
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the second Samsung foldable smartphone, and the first from their new Z series with a different folding design.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip features an Infinity Flex display, with bendable Ultra Thin Glass (UTG). Its Hideaway Hinge has a dual CAM mechanism to ensure a smooth and stable folding and unfolding process.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, which is a higher-clocked version of the Snapdragon 855 offering better CPU and graphics performance.
its single prime Kryo 485 Gold CPU core has a slightly faster clock speed of 2.96 GHz
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip comes with 8 GB LPDDR4 memory, and 256 GB of internal storage.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip : How To Set Up For The First Time!
If you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and have no idea how to set it up for the first time, we recorded this video to show you how!
The first thing to do after it boots up, is to select the language and region of choice
You will need to accept the End User licence Agreement and privacy policy
But you can refuse to send diagnostic data or allow information linking or accept marketing
Next, you should log into your Wi-Fi network
Wait until it connects successfully, and then tap Next
You will now be given the opportunity to copy your apps and data from your old Android smartphone
If you are setting up the Galaxy Z Flip as a new device, just tap Don’t Copy
You can now log into your existing Google account, or create a new Google account. Or you can skip this part and do it later
Next, you have the opportunity to turn off certain Google services. Most of these Google servers are actually very useful. You should only turn off sending Google usage and diagnostic data
Now it’s time to protect your Galaxy Z Flip from unauthorised access!
In this demonstration, we will set up its capacitive side fingerprint sensor…
First, you will be asked to set up a secure screen lock method. Let’s use Pattern.
You will need to draw your pattern once and draw the pattern again to confirm it
The Galaxy Z Flip’s fingerprint sensor is integrated into the Power button on the right side. To train it, you will need to place your finger on the fingerprint sensor and lift when you feel a vibration.
At almost the end of the training process, you will be asked to reposition your finger to capture the edges of the fingerprint
Now, you will be asked to sign into your Samsung account or create one. You need a Samsung account to make use of Samsung services like Bixby or Samsung Pay. But of course, you can always skip this step, and do it later.
The setup process is done, but you need to go through the warnings at the end first
– Please treat the display gently. Tap the screen lightly, and do not press hard on it.
– When you fold the phone, make sure there’s nothing between the display that can damage it.
– The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is not water or dust resistant!
– Do NOT attach any film to stickers to the main display
– Keep the Samsung Galaxy Z flip away from credit cards and anything that can be affected by magnets.
Now, you can start using your Galaxy Z Flip!
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip : Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip will be available in limited quantities in the Mirror Purple and Mirror Black colours, starting in the US and Korea from 14 February 2020 onwards. That will be followed by Mirror Gold in select countries.
It has a recommended retail price of US$1,379.99 / 1.65 million won globally, which is approximately SGD 1,919 / £1,059 / A$2,049. It is available in Malaysia for RM 5,888.
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We had the opportunity to get our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and here is our up-close and personal look at Samsung’s second foldable smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Preview : Unfolding With Style!
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the second Samsung foldable smartphone, and the first from their new Z series with a different folding design.
Foldable Glass Display with Ultra Thin Glass
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip features an Infinity Flex display, with bendable Ultra Thin Glass (UTG).
There have been suggestions that it’s really plastic, but that’s not true. There is simply a plastic film over the Ultra Thin Glass.
Hideaway Hinge with Sweeper Technology
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip has a Hideaway Hinge that is backed by a dual CAM mechanism to ensure a smooth and stable folding and unfolding process.
This Hideaway Hinge also lets the Z Flip stay open at any angle you want, and comes with Sweeper technology – nylon fibres designed to repel dirt and dust!
New Flex Mode
Leveraging its forward folding form factor, the Galaxy Z Flip will switch to the Flex mode when it is in the free standing mode.
The display automatically splits into two 4-inch screens, so you can view photos or videos in the top half, and control them or perform actions on the bottom half!
Performance, RAM + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, which is a higher-clocked version of the Snapdragon 855 offering better CPU and graphics performance.
its single prime Kryo 485 Gold CPU core has a slightly faster clock speed of 2.96 GHz
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip comes with 8 GB LPDDR4 memory, and 256 GB of internal storage.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip will be available in limited quantities in the Mirror Purple and Mirror Black colours, starting in the US and Korea from 14 February 2020 onwards. That will be followed by Mirror Gold in select countries.
It has a recommended retail price of US$1,379.99 / 1.65 million won globally, which is approximately SGD 1,919 / £1,059 / A$2,049. It is available in Malaysia for RM 5,888.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The new Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphones are powered by the Exynos 990 – the latest, greatest mobile platform developed by Samsung themselves.
But just how fast is the Samsung Exynos 990, compared to other mobile platforms? Let’s find out!
Samsung Exynos 990 : What You Need To Know
The Samsung Exynos 990 builds upon Samsung’s first mobile platform with an integrated 5G modem – the Exynos 980, but focuses on performance instead of 5G connectivity.
It boasts a range of significant improvements – new Samsung Mongoose 5 (Exynos M5) and ARM Cortex-A76 cores, and a new Arm Mali-G77 GPU.
Faster Processor + GPU
According to Samsung, its new custom Mongoose 5 (Exynos M5) cores are 20% faster than the Mongoose 4 (Exynos M4) cores used in the flagship-class Exynos 9825 used in the Galaxy Note 10 smartphones!
Its Arm Mali-G77 GPU uses the new Valhall architecture, and promises to offer a 20% boost in graphics performance or power efficiency.
Faster LPDDR5 Memory
The Exynos 990 will be the first Samsung mobile platform to use the new LPDDR5 memory, which offers a 31% higher clock speed – increased from 2093 MHz to 2750 MHz.
This allows it to deliver up to 5,500 Mbps or 687.5 MB/s in memory bandwidth. It should also allow for lower power consumption.
Faster NPU + DSP
Its AI capabilities also received a big boost with a new dual-core NPU and improved digital signal processor (DSP) that can process over 10 trillion operations (TOPS) per second!
Well, this is quite a nice surprise! Samsung Exynos has historically been rather poor at work performance.
The last-generation Exynos 9825 and Exynos 9820, for example, were significantly slower than their Qualcomm counterparts – the Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 855+.
But the new Exynos 990 was 36% faster than the Exynos 9820 (its predecessor), and 13% faster than the Snapdragon 855.
Samsung Exynos 990 Gaming Performance : 3DMark
For gaming, we first tested the Exynos 990 using 3DMark, with these results :
Not bad at all! Samsung caught up with Qualcomm in gaming performance as well.
The new Exynos 990 was 7.5% faster than the Snapdragon 855+, that powered high-end gaming smartphones like the Black Shark 2 Pro, in Sling Shot Extreme, matching it in the easier Sling Shot benchmark.
Notably, the Exynos 990 was 50% faster than its predecessor, the Exynos 9820 that powered the Galaxy S10+.
Samsung Exynos 990 Gaming Performance : AnTuTu
We then tested the Exynos 990 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
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Together with the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip – their second foldable smartphone.
Let’s take a quick look at the important stuff you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip!
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip : EVERYTHING You Need To Know!
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the second Samsung foldable smartphone, and the first from their new Z series with a different folding design.
Foldable Glass Display with Ultra Thin Glass
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip features an Infinity Flex display, with bendable Ultra Thin Glass (UTG).
There have been suggestions that it’s really plastic, but that’s not true. There is simply a plastic film over the Ultra Thin Glass.
Hideaway Hinge with Sweeper Technology
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip has a Hideaway Hinge that is backed by a dual CAM mechanism to ensure a smooth and stable folding and unfolding process.
This Hideaway Hinge also lets the Z Flip stay open at any angle you want, and comes with Sweeper technology – nylon fibres designed to repel dirt and dust!
New Flex Mode
Leveraging its forward folding form factor, the Galaxy Z Flip will switch to the Flex mode when it is in the free standing mode.
The display automatically splits into two 4-inch screens, so you can view photos or videos in the top half, and control them or perform actions on the bottom half!
Performance, RAM + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, which is a higher-clocked version of the Snapdragon 855 offering better CPU and graphics performance.
its single prime Kryo 485 Gold CPU core has a slightly faster clock speed of 2.96 GHz
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip comes with 8 GB LPDDR4 memory, and 256 GB of internal storage.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip has a recommended retail price of US$1,379.99 / 1.65 million won, which is approximately RM 5,699 / SGD 1,919 / £1,059 / A$2,049.
It will be available in limited quantities in the Mirror Purple and Mirror Black colours, starting in the US and Korea from 14 February 2020 onwards. That will be followed by Mirror Gold in select countries.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
This release is a slap in the face of those who bought the expensive Elite Edition earlier, and those who claimed that the Tencent Edition was only possible because of Tencent’s sponsorship in China.
ASUS have basically admitted that they can release a much cheaper ROG Phone 2, without sponsorship of any kind… and yes, that the Elite Edition was really just a way for them to make extra money off the foolish and the gullible.
ROG Phone 2 Ultimate = Elite Edition With 1TB Storage
The ROG Phone 2 Ultimate is yet another marketing ploy to pick the pockets of gullible gamers. It is nothing more than the already expensive ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition with 1TB of storage and a higher price tag.
Let’s be honest – how many of you will actually use up 128 GB of storage, much less 512 GB or 1 TB? In fact, many of us are still using laptops with just 256 GB or 512 GB of storage!
So yes, it is colossally STUPID for anyone to buy for gaming. We will show you why…
ROG Phone 2 Specification + Price Comparison
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s different between the ROG Phone 2 STRIX vs Elite vs Ultimate in this table :
Specifications
ROG Phone 2
STRIX Edition
ROG Phone 2
Elite Edition
ROG Phone 2
Ultimate Edition
Display
6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
8 GB LPDDR4X
12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
128 GB UFS 3.0
512 GB UFS 3.0
1 TB UFS 3.0
Front Camera
24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras
48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!
Now, let’s show you why the the ROG Phone 2 STRIX is the best option of the three, and why you should NOT pay extra for the Elite or Ultimate Editions!
Performance : They Are ALL EQUALLY FAST
The STRIX, Elite and Ultimate Editions are powered by the SAME Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, as well as the same LPDDR4x RAM.
The Elite and Ultimate Editions come with 12 GB of RAM, while the STRIX Edition only comes with 8 GB of RAM. However, which mobile game do you know needs more than 2 GB of RAM?
In fact, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!
So all you are getting when you purchase the Elite or Ultimate Edition is the right to brag about how your ROG Phone 2 has 4 GB of additional RAM just sitting there doing nothing.
All three ROG Phone 2 models use fast UFS 3.0 storage. The only difference is how much storage they come with :
ROG Phone 2 STRIX : 128 GB
ROG Phone 2 Elite : 512 GB
ROG Phone 2 Ultimate : 1 TB
Storage may be important for some users, but frankly speaking, 128 GB is plenty of storage for most users.
For gamers, it’s actually A LOT more than they will ever use. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.
128 GB of storage in the STRIX Edition should be more than enough to let you install 50-80 large games. Oh, you don’t have that many games? See what we mean?
Paying extra for 512 GB of storage in the Elite Edition is really pointless… at least for mobile gamers.
Paying extra for 1 TB of storage in the Ultimate Edition? That’s just plain stupid for mobile gamers.
Connectivity : Practically The Same
The Snapdragon X24 LTE modem supports LTE Cat 20 and WiFi-AD connectivity, but ASUS artificially limited their capabilities slightly to differentiate the three models :
But for all practical purposes, you won’t be able to tell the difference because mobile games are designed to use very little data!
PUBG Mobile, for example, only uses between 15 MB and 50 MB of data for an entire 20-30 minute game. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 1.7 MB per minute, or 28 KB per second.
And how many of you actually have a WiFi-AD router? Most gamers still rely on a WiFi-AC router, which is plenty fast enough.
Charging : ROG Phone 2 Elite / Ultimate
The only clear-cut performance advantage the ROG Phone 2 Elite and Ultimate Editions offer is the 30-watt fast charger.
The ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition only comes with a 18-watt fast charger, but in case you are wondering – it’s still fast enough to recharge the phone while you game on it.
Bundled “Freebies” : ROG Phone 2 Elite / Ultimate
The Elite and Ultimate Editions come bundled with the AeroActive Cooler II and the Aero Case, while the STRIX Edition comes with just a bumper case.
But guess what – you can purchase the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case for the STRIX Edition as separate upgrades! And you can get them both for less than $100.
Price : ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition
Now, this is the real kicker.
The Elite Edition costs 38~41% more than the STRIX Edition, for no difference in gaming performance!
The Ultimate Edition costs 50% more than the STRIX Edition, for no difference in gaming performance!
Of the three models, the ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition is the true gamer-centric model.
It focuses on delivering top-notch gaming capabilities with the same 120 Hz display, at a much lower price point than the Elite and Ultimate Editions!
All you are getting with the Elite or Ultimate Edition is a 38% to 50% higher price tag for more storage, a more powerful charger, and the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case.
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If you want to buy one for mobile gaming, get the STRIX Edition. Your wallet will thank you!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
After the special ROG Phone II Tencent Edition was launched, ASUS immediately sent out a press release that the Elite Edition would be quite different.
However, after comparing them both (as well as the similar Indian model and the global STRIX model), we can definitely tell you that the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition is A MUCH BETTER DEAL than the ROG Phone II Elite Edition for gamers!
ROG Phone II For India
In India, ASUS prepared a special low-cost ROG Phone II, which is almost exactly like the Tencent Edition.
For all intents and purposes, we consider it to be the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition for India.
The new ROG Phone II STRIX Edition is basically the Tencent Edition, without the Tencent logo.
This release is a slap in the face of those who bought the expensive Elite Edition earlier, and those who claimed that the Tencent Edition was only possible because of Tencent’s sponsorship in China.
ASUS have basically admitted that they can release a much cheaper ROG Phone 2, without sponsorship of any kind… and yes, that the Elite Edition was really just a way for them to make extra money off the foolish and the gullible.
ROG Phone II Specifications : Tencent Edition vs. Elite Edition
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s different between the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition, and the ROG Phone II Elite Edition. For your convenience, we compare their specifications in this table :
Specifications
ROG Phone 2
(Elite)
ROG Phone 2
(Tencent / STRIX)
Display
6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
Chassis
Glass Back Cover
Glass + Metal Back Cover
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
12 GB LPDDR4X
8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
512 GB UFS 3.0
128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera
24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras
48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
ROG Phone II Compared : Tencent Edition vs. Elite Edition
Let’s compare both versions in the eyes of ASUS’ target market – mobile gamers.
Performance : They Are Both EQUALLY FAST
Both the Tencent Edition and the Elite Edition of the ROG Phone II are powered by the SAME Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, as well as the same LPDDR4x RAM.
The Elite Edition comes with 12 GB of RAM, while the Tencent Edition only comes with 8 GB of RAM. However, which game do you know needs more than 2 GB of RAM?
In fact, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!
So all you are getting when you purchase the Elite Edition is the right to brag how your ROG Phone II has 4 GB of additional RAM just sitting there doing nothing.
Both the Tencent Edition and the Elite Edition of the ROG Phone II use fast UFS 3.0 storage.
However, the Elite Edition comes with 512 GB of storage, while the Tencent Edition only comes with 128 GB.
Storage may be important for some users, but frankly speaking, 128 GB is plenty of storage for most users.
For gamers, it’s actually A LOT more than they will ever use. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.
128 GB of storage in the Tencent Edition should be more than enough to let you install 50-80 large games. Oh, you don’t have that many games? See what we mean?
Paying extra for 512 GB of storage in the Elite Edition is just pointless… at least for mobile gamers.
Connectivity : Practically The Same
To differentiate the two versions, ASUS slightly crippled the connectivity capabilities of the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition, limiting it to LTE Cat16 (1 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL) and WiFi-AC.
The ROG Phone II Elite Edition, on the other hand, boasts LTE Cat18 (1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL) and WiFi-AD capabilities.
But for all practical purposes, you won’t be able to tell the difference because mobile games are designed to use very little data!
PUBG Mobile, for example, only uses between 15 MB and 50 MB of data for an entire 20-30 minute game. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 1.7 MB per minute, or 28 KB per second.
And how many of you actually have a WiFi-AD router? Most gamers still rely on a WiFi-AC router, which is plenty fast enough.
Charging : ROG Phone II Elite Edition
The only clear-cut performance advantage the ROG Phone II Elite Edition offers is the 30-watt fast charger. The Tencent Edition only comes with a 18-watt fast charger.
Bundled “Freebies” : ROG Phone II Elite Edition
The Elite Edition comes bundled with the AeroActive Cooler II and the Aero Case, while the Tencent Edition comes with just a bumper case.
But guess what – you can purchase the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case for the Tencent Edition as separate upgrades! And you can get them both for less than $100.
ASUS also took pains to share with us that the Elite Edition comes with a premium six prism box, while the Tencent Edition comes with only a square box.
Uh, okay… how is that important? Does ASUS expect us to play with the box, or with the ROG Phone II?
Price : ROG Phone II Tencent Edition
Now, this is the real kicker. The Elite Edition costs 38~41% more than the Tencent Edition for no difference in gaming performance!
Frankly speaking, the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition is the true gamer-centric model.
It focuses on delivering top-notch gaming capabilities with the same 120 Hz display, at a much lower price point than the Global Edition!
All you are getting with the Elite Edition is a 38% to 41% higher price tag for a larger storage capacity, a more powerful charger, and the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case bundled… and yes, it comes in a fancy six prism box.
If you want to buy one for mobile gaming, get the Tencent Edition. Your wallet will thank you.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Black Shark 2 Pro Gaming Smartphone
Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) is a mid-cycle update of the excellent Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone that launched in April.
The Volume control buttons are on the left side, with an LED light strip.
On the right side is another LED light strip, with the Power button, and the Shark Key switch.
The top is clean, with a second microphone located at the top of the back.
The SIM tray is located at the bottom, next to the USB Type C port. You will note, by now, that there is no 3.5 mm audio jack.
But fortunately, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+, Black Shark provides a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the package! So you can still use your existing 3.5 mm earphones with it.
Black Shark 2 Pro Specifications
For your convenience, we compare its specifications against the Black Shark 2.
Specifications
Black Shark 2 Pro
Black Shark 2
Display
6.39-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels, 403 ppi)
– 108.9% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 430 nits max brightness
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
Processor
1 x Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
1 x Kryo 485 Gold core (2.84 GHz)
3 x Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (585 MHz)
RAM
8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR4X-2133 (Dual Channel)
Storage
128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.0
128 GB / 256 GB UFS 2.1
Front Camera
20 MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture
Rear Cameras
48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor with f/1.75 aperture
12 MP telephoto camera with f/2.2 aperture
Connectivity
4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ac, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Audio
Dual, front facing speakers
Vibration Sense
Yes
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, In-Display Optical Sensor
Other Sensors
Gyroscope, geomagnetism, gravity, distance, ambient light and ForceTouch sensors
Battery
4,000 mAh battery
Charger
27 watt, with USB-C cable
Dimensions
75.01 mm wide x 163.61 mm tall x 8.77 mm thick
Weight
205 g
Setting Up The Black Shark 2 Pro
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) runs on Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, and is very easy to set-up. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5-7 minutes to finish the setup process.
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Black Shark 2 Pro Performance Features
Now, let’s go through its key features, and see why it’s designed to deliver the best possible mobile gaming experience.
Flagship Class Performance
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, which delivers a 4% boost in CPU performance and a 15% boost in GPU performance over the “regular” Snapdragon 855.
its single prime Kryo 485 Gold CPU core has a slightly faster clock speed of 2.96 GHz
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz
If you are a professional gamer who cannot abide even the possibility of dropped frames, you can turn on the Ludicrous Mode, which locks the CPU and GPU into their maximum clock speeds.
This delivers the best-possible gaming performance, at the expense of battery life and greater heat output.
Mille-Feuille Full Area Liquid Cooling System
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) features a Mille-Feuille full area liquid cooling system that keeps the entire device cool, as opposed to just cooling the CPU and GPU.
The Black Shark team claims this is far superior to that of the ROG Phone 2.
Device
CPU Temp.
GPU Temp.
RAM Temp.
Chassis Temp.
Black Shark 2 PRO
65.7 °C
51.2 °C
52.0 °C
35.7 °C
ASUS ROG Phone 2
77.5 °C
54.6 °C
55.0 °C
47.1 °C
Difference
+ 11.8 °C
+ 3.4 °C
+ 3.0 °C
+ 11.4 °C
AMOLED Display With DC Dimming
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) eschewed the 120 Hz display of the ROG Phone 2, opting instead to use DC dimming for its large 6.38-inch AMOLED display to reduce eyestrain.
It also boasts an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur.
Low Latency Touch Screen
Black Shark also focused on reducing the latency of the touch screen display, with 240 Hz report rate even with three fingers.
In fact, they claim it has the “world’s lowest latency touch screen“, with a response time of only 43.5 ms, slightly less than the iPhone XS at 45 ms and the Galaxy S10 at 60 ms.
This is, arguably, far more important for competitive gaming than a 120 Hz display.
Touch Report Rate
Black Shark 2 PRO
ASUS ROG Phone 2
Difference
1 Finger
240 Hz
195 Hz
– 45 Hz / 18.75 %
2 Fingers
240 Hz
145 Hz
– 95 Hz / 39.58 %
3 Fingers
240 Hz
135 Hz
– 105 Hz / 43.75%
They also claim that the Black Shark 2 Pro has a significantly lower touch latency than the ROG Phone 2.
Touch Latency
Black Shark 2 PRO
ASUS ROG Phone 2
Difference
Not Shooting
30.7 ms
41.6 ms
+ 10.9 ms / 35.5 %
Shooting
48.6 ms
70.0 ms
+ 21.4 ms / 44.0 %
4D Gaming Experience
Unlike regular smartphones, it can recognise different environments, weapons, movements and actions (e.g. hits), and can automatically vibrate itself to create a 4D gaming experience.
Black Shark 2 Pro Host Mode
If you want to play on a larger display, you can connect it to a TV or monitor using a HDMI cable. Play your games like a console with the optional GamePad 3.0 accessory.
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Black Shark 2 Pro Rear Cameras
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) is not just a gaming smartphone. Like any other flagship-class smartphone, it comes with a great set of high-resolution cameras.
At the back, it has two cameras supported by a single LED flash :
48 MP main camera, with f/1.75 aperture and 6p lens
12 MP 2X telephoto camera, with f/2.2 aperture and 6p lens
The main camera uses the Sony IMX586 sensor, which is used in the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9T Pro smartphones as well.
This 48 MP sensor defaults to 12 MP, combining 4 pixels into a large pixel for better low-light performance. But you can switch to 48 MP whenever you need the higher resolution.
In the front, it boasts a 20 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture and 5P lens.
Its sensor has 0.9 µm pixels, with the ability to combine four pixels to create a larger pixel for significantly better low-light photos and videos.
Black Shark 2 Pro Gaming Audio
Its audio system is designed specifically for gamers, with dual front-facing speakers. They are also 25% larger than speakers of a standard smartphone.
It also comes with three gaming microphones – two of them noise-cancelling microphones in the front to ensure clear in-game voice chats.
Dual Nano SIM Cards
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) comes with a SIM tray that supports two nano SIM cards. However, it does NOT come with a microSD card tray, so you cannot add storage.
Black Shark 2 Pro Memory + Storage
Our review sample came with 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory, of which 5.9 GB (74%) is available for use. That’s really more than enough for even the most serious of gamers.
After all, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!
Our unit also came with just 128 GB of UFS 3.0 storage, which is about 2X faster than the UFS 2.1 storage in Black Shark 2. Just over 113 GB is available for your use – more than enough for most users.
Unless you are using it to take lots of photos and videos, it’s enough to install 50-60 large games. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.
5-Hour Battery Life?
Despite its powerful components, the Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) only comes with a 4,000 mAh battery, which Black Shark claims will let you game for up to 5 hours.
Fast Charging While Gaming
It supports 27 watt fast charging, which gives you 30 minutes playing time with a quick 5-minute charge, and one full hour of gaming with just 10 minutes of charging.
You don’t even have to stop playing. Even if, for example, you are playing PUBG, it will recharge to 50% in just 30 minutes.
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Black Shark 2 Pro Camera Performance
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) uses the Sony IMX586 sensor, which is notable for its high resolution of 48 MP.
But it defaults to 12 MP – combining four pixels into one for better image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
The maximum 12 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4000 x 3000 pixels, and a file size of between 4 MB and 6 MB.
Here are 10 high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The Sony IMX586 sensor is good, almost as good as the 12 MP Samsung ISOCELL Fast SAK2L4 used in the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ smartphones.
However, its main camera has a very narrow depth-of-field, and a problem focusing on objects that are too close.
You can tap on the display to “focus”, and it’s quite slow in this aspect, taking a second or two. But while it looks sharp in the preview, the actual picture appears out-of-focus. So try not to take macro shots with this camera.
Take a closer look at the broccoli picture, for example. Look at how only a narrow section of florets are in focus, with the rest quickly going out-of-focus.
But otherwise – the Black Shark 2 Pro can take pretty good photos. Just don’t bother with the 48 MP mode. It works best in the default 12 MP mode.
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Black Shark 2 Pro Video Recording Performance
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) is capable of recording 4K from its 48 MP main camera, but curiously does not record video from its telephoto camera at all.
That means you do not have the ability to switch from the main camera to the telephoto camera. You can only record videos with the main camera.
Also odd is the fact that while the front 20 MP camera is more than capable of recording 4K videos, it’s limited to 1080p video recording.
Well, let’s take a look at some 1080p and 4K video samples from the main camera!
Video Sample #1 : Piano (1080p)
The image quality at 1080p is very good, and while its exposure is a little too dim, it has good control – allowing you to see right to the back of the store in the background.
It also appears to use electronic image stabilisation to get rid of hand shake, and keep everything steady.
Its noise cancellation was pretty good, but it was marred by an overly bright audio recording. It also seems to be recording some wind noise.
Video Sample #2 : Piano (4K)
Its 4K image quality is very good, and it actually seems to have better exposure control. However, the image is no longer stabilised at 4K. You can see the hand shake very clearly.
Yet again, its audio recording is way, way too bright. Which is a shame, because it seems to have very good noise cancelling capability.
Video Sample #3 : Street Market (1080p)
In this test of its image stabilisation capabilities, you can see that at 1080p, it does a pretty good job of cancelling out hand shake as we walked.
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) appears to be optimised for recording voices – you can clearly people’s voices even as we walk past them.
Video Sample #4 : Street Market (4K)
Again, there was no image stabilisation at 4K – so you get to see and experience every shake and jerk. We definitely do NOT advise you recording videos at 4K when you are on-the-move.
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Black Shark 2 Pro Work Performance
We tested its performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Why work performance? Because even though it’s designed to be a gaming smartphone – you can actually use it like, well, a regular smartphone for work too! 🙂
There is no doubt that the Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) has a distinct performance advantage over its competitors, including the Xiaomi Mi 9, which uses the Snapdragon 855.
14% faster in Sling Shot Extreme (OpenGL)
12% faster in Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan)
12% faster in Sling Shot
Black Shark 2 Pro Battery Life
We then tested the its battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
Thanks to its 27W faster charger, the Black Shark 2 Pro fully recharged its battery from 20% to 100% in just 67 minutes. That is 27% faster than the Galaxy S10+, which has a similar-sized battery, but uses a 15W charger.
But it didn’t do as well as the Galaxy Note10+, which actually recharged 14% faster using its 25W charger.
It has an excellent battery life : recharging ratio of 11:1. A general rule of thumb – for one of hour battery life, you just need to charge it for 9 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 80% level. This took just 33.5 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 33.5 minutes to top up the last 20%.
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Black Shark 2 Pro : Our Verdict + Award
We have been pretty effusive about the Black Shark 2 PRO, after it was launched. And why not?
It offered flagship-class performance, memory and storage with gaming-specific features at an affordable price point.
We were initially worried about its size and weight, and while it was not easy to fit into small pockets, it was definitely a good size for playing mobile games.
Some argue that the Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) is not as good a gaming platform as the ROG Phone 2, because of its 60 Hz display.
Now we do not deny that a 90 Hz or 120 Hz display would look smoother than a 60 Hz display, when they are placed side-by-side. But is it a “necessary” feature for mobile gaming?
The fact is a higher refresh rate looks better but plays no role in your gaming performance. More critically – high refresh displays suck up a lot of power, which has resulted in some gamers turning off the higher refresh rate.
But that brings us to the Ludicrous Mode. While it looks good for marketing purposes, it does nothing for your gaming performance and only wastes power and increase the heat output.
We also have to point out that while the Black Shark 2 Pro is a gaming device, it is also a smartphone. Therefore, we should comment a little on how useful it is for non-gaming tasks.
Its large display is great for work (emails, texting, etc.), but you will definitely feel its weight when you use it on the go. And despite its less than stellar work performance results, it feels just as fast as any other flagship smartphone.
It has a good set of cameras, and we like that Black Shark did not throw in useless cameras just to make up the numbers. Its 48 MP main camera is excellent, although it has a very narrow depth-of-field and a slow focus.
What we cannot understand though is why they would not allow video recording from the telephoto camera, or 4K video recording from the front camera.
It was also a shame that the Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) does not perform image stabilisation for 4K video recordings. So was the tuning of its microphones to optimise for voice, causing everything to appear too bright (too much treble).
On the other hand, Black Shark did well with its battery, delivering more battery life that we would expect with just a high-performing smartphone. And we especially like that they made it so affordable.
This brings us to the final point – value for money. The Black Shark team appears to be more focused on what’s important for gaming performance, delivering a whole package that is significantly cheaper and offers more value for your money than its competitors.
This is why we gladly award the Black Shark 2 Pro our Reviewer’s Choice Award. Keep it up!
Black Shark 2 Pro Price + Availability
It comes in two variants, with these recommended retail prices :
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Now that both the ASUS ROG Phone 2 and Black Shark 2 PRO are out and competing with each other, the question mobile gamers are asking – which is the better gaming smartphone?
In this article, we will compare both the ROG Phone 2 and the Black Shark 2 PRO, and see which is the better gaming device!
Gaming Smartphones?
Both the Black Shark 2 PRO and ASUS ROG Phone 2 claim to be gaming smartphones. What’s the difference between these two “gaming” smartphones and “regular” smartphones?
While ALL smartphones can handle games pretty well, especially if they are flagship devices, gaming smartphones claim to offer an edge to serious mobile gamers, like :
really fast CPU and GPU, with high-speed memory and storage
better cooling system to sustain gaming performance
large display with a high refresh rate, or low latency, or both
better wireless connectivity to ensure no lag during gameplay
large battery for longer gameplay
better audio for more enjoyable gameplay
special controls or buttons, or gamepad add-ons
Of course, many flagship-class smartphones already offer many of those features, which is why some argue that gaming-specific smartphones are merely a way for some brands to carve a niche to survive in the ultra-competitive smartphone market.
But we digress… let’s compare the two top gaming smartphones that are coming, or will soon come to a store near you – the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) and the ASUS ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).
ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO Specifications
Let’s start with a quick comparison of their key specifications.
6.59-inch AMOLED display
– 1080 x 2340 pixels
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.0
512 GB / 1 TB UFS 3.0
Front Camera
20 MP with f/2.0 aperture
24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras
48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, with f/1.75 aperture 12 MP telephoto camera, with f/2.2 aperture
48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, with f/1.79 aperture 13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
Connectivity
4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ac, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Special Sensors
ForceTouch Sensors
Ultrasonic AirTrigger
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, In-Display Optical Sensor
Audio
Dual front-facing speakers
Dual front-facing speakers + DTS:X Ultra
Battery
4,000 mAh battery
6,000 mAh battery
Charger
27 watt fast charger
30 watt fast charger
Dimensions
75.0 mm wide 163.6 mm tall 8.77 mm thick
77.6 mm wide 170.99 mm tall 9.78 mm thick
Weight
205 g
240 g
ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO
Although there are quite a few more differences between the two models, we are going to focus mainly on the gaming and mobility aspects in this comparison.
The ROG Phone 2 comes with twice as much storage as the Black Shark 2 PRO. However, 256 GB is more than what most gamers will ever use – even PUBG Mobile takes up only 1.54 GB of space!
Honestly, paying extra for 512 GB of storage or even 1 TB is just pointless for gamers. But we will give the advantage to the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU), if only for the bragging rights.
Cooling : Black Shark 2 PRO
The Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) features a Mille-Feuille full area liquid cooling system that, according to them, is far superior to that of the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).
However, Black Shark has publicly pooh-poohed the usefulness of a 120 Hz display in this recent Q&A session :
Instead of a higher refresh rate, they opted to use DC dimming to reduce eyestrain, and an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur. So we think this counts as a tie.
Do note too that a 120 Hz refresh rate uses up significantly more power, which is why ASUS actually set it to 60 Hz by default!
Black Shark also focused on reducing the latency of the touch screen display, with 240 Hz report rate even with three fingers. This is, arguably, far more important for competitive gaming than a 120 Hz display.
The ROG Phone 2, on the other hand, boasts a 6,000 mAh battery that is 50% larger than the Black Shark 2 PRO‘s battery. This means you will get to play longer on the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).
Portability : Black Shark 2 PRO
This may not be important to everyone, but if you want to be able to carry your gaming smartphone in your pocket, the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) is both smaller and lighter than the ROG Phone 2.
Availability : Black Shark 2 PRO
This may not seem important, until you decide you want to buy one.
ASUS has always had a reputation for a slow roll-out, and that hasn’t changed with the ROG Phone 2 – even after it was launched, quantities were limited.
Price : Black Shark 2 PRO
Here is a quick comparison table to show the price difference between the two models :
Frankly speaking, you can game without any issue on any decent smartphone these days. But if you are a serious or professional gamer, a gaming smartphone could give you the competitive edge you need.
But between the two models, we personally prefer the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) for these reasons :
its better cooling system will maintain gaming performance, while keeping the chassis cooler to touch
a low latency touch display is arguably more important for gaming, than a high refresh rate display
even though the ROG Phone 2 has a larger battery, the 120 Hz display significantly limits its battery life
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To guarantee maximum gaming performance with no dropped frames, the Ludicrous Mode locks the CPU into its maximum clock speed.
Mille-Feuille Full Area Liquid Cooling System
The Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) features a Mille-Feuille full area liquid cooling system that keeps the entire device cool, as opposed to just cooling the CPU and GPU.
AMOLED Display With DC Dimming
Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) comes with a large 6.38-inch AMOLED display with DC dimming to reduce strain on the eyes.
It also boasts an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur.
Low Latency Touch Screen
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It claims to have the “world’s lowest latency touch screen“, with a response time of only 43.5 ms, slightly less than the iPhone XS at 45 ms and the Galaxy S10 at 60 ms.
Black Shark 2 Pro Has 5-Hour Battery Life
Despite its size, it only comes with a 4,000 mAh battery. However, they assure us that it will let you game for up to 5 hours before it needs a recharge.
X+2 Antenna
To ensure maximum wireless connectivity, it features an enhanced X+2 antenna design.
The two additional side antennas help the X-type smart antenna transfer data wirelessly no matter how you grip the phone.
Black Shark 2 Pro Gaming Audio
Its audio system is designed specifically for gamers, with dual front-facing speakers. They are also 25% larger than speakers of a standard smartphone.
It also comes with three gaming microphones – two of them noise-cancelling microphones in the front to ensure clear in-game voice chats.
4D Gaming Experience
Unlike regular smartphones, it can recognise different environments, weapons, movements and actions (e.g. hits), and can automatically vibrate itself to create a 4D gaming experience.
Black Shark 2 Pro Host Mode
If you want to play on a larger display, you can connect Black Shark 2 Pro (MY | SG | AU | UK) to a TV or monitor using a HDMI cable. Then you can play your games like a console with the optional GamePad 3.0 accessory.
Fast Charging While Gaming
It supports 27 watt fast charging, which gives you 30 minutes playing time with a quick 5-minute charge, and one full hour of gaming with just 10 minutes of charging.
You don’t even have to stop playing. Even if, for example, you are playing PUBG, it will recharge to 15% in just 30 minutes.
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The realme X2 Pro was just launched in Malaysia, offering a 64 MP camera, and the Snapdragon 855 Plus processor! Here are its official price and more importantly, pre-order + DirectD special sale deals!
realme X2 Pro Price + Deals In Malaysia!
The realme X2 Pro (MY) is available in two colour options – Neptune Blue and Polar White.
It will be offered in a single variant, with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, with a recommended retail price of RM 2,399 / ~US$574 / ~£445 / ~A$846 / ~S$786.
Here is the official online pre-order / sale page in Malaysia :
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realme today launched the realme X2 Pro with a 64 MP camera, and the Snapdragon 855 Plus processor!
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the realme X2 Pro smartphone. Find out if this is the smartphone for you!
realme X2 Pro : Everything But The Kitchen Sink
The new realme X2 Pro (MY) seems designed to be realme’s highlight of the year, with everything thrown but the kitchen sink.
In fact, it has all of the hallmarks of a gaming smartphone – large display, high-performance and a long battery life!
90 Hz Super AMOLED Display
The realme X2 Pro (MY) has a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
In addition, it features a 90 Hz refresh rate, which promises silky-smooth graphics at the expense of battery life.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
The realme X2 Pro (MY) is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, which is just a speed-binned version of the regular Snapdragon 855. They are otherwise identical.
The only differences are the clock speeds of two parts in the Snapdragon 855 Plus :
its single high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core is clocked at 2.96 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz.
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz.
In other words, its advantage in mobile gaming is a 4% increase in the short boost performance of the CPU, and a 14.9% increase in peak GPU performance.
6.5-inch Super AMOLED display – 1080 x 2400 pixels (~402 ppi), 90 Hz refresh rate
– 1000 nits max brightness, 100% DCI-P3
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Operating System
Android P with ColorOS 6.1
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
CPU
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
12 GB LPDDR4x
Storage
256 GB UFS 3.0 storage
Front Camera
16 MP camera with f/2.0 lens
Rear Cameras
64 MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 main camera (f/1.72) 8 MP wide-angle camera (f/2.2) 13 MP telephoto camera (f/2.5) 2 MP portrait camera (f/2.4)
Connectivity
4G : LTE
Wi-Fi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, In-Display
Other Sensors
Light, Proximity, Magnetic induction, Gyro-meter, Acceleration
Battery
4,000 mAh
50 W SuperVOOC flash charging
Dimensions
75.7 mm wide
161.0 mm tall
8.7 mm thick
Weight
199 g
Colour Options
Neptune Blue / Lunar White
realme X2 Pro : Price + Deals In Malaysia!
The realme X2 Pro (MY) is available in two colour options – Neptune Blue and Polar White.
It will be offered in a single variant, with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, with a recommended retail price of RM 2,399 / ~US$574 / ~£445 / ~A$846 / ~S$786.
Here is the official online pre-order / sale page in Malaysia :
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It took them more than two months to introduce the ROG Phone 2 to the US market, and even then, they are only offering A SINGLE MODEL.
While the Indian market will receive a low-cost variant similar to the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, ASUS is only introducing what they call the ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition.
Here is a short summary of how the Elite Edition differs from the Tencent Edition, and similar low-cost variants :
It comes with 12 GB of memory (which is pointless), instead of “just” 8 GB
It comes with 512 GB of storage, instead of 128 GB
It comes with faster LTE and Wi-Fi speeds (also pretty pointless)
It comes with a 30 W fast charger, instead of an 18 W fast charger
It comes with an AeroActive Cooler II, which is basically a bolt-on fan
ASUS says that they are planning to introduce the Ultimate Edition later, with a faster Cat20 LTE modem and 1 TB of UFS 3.0 storage.
ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition – Price & Availability In The US
In the US, ASUS will eventually introduce two high-spec models, but only the Elite Edition is available with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage :
However, ASUS does NOT want you to think about the Tencent Edition because it is MUCH CHEAPER, and is a darn better deal than the Elite / Global Edition that they are offering in most countries.
They have been urging their media friends to talk up the Elite / Global Edition. But in our honest opinion, the Tencent version is a better deal for gamers. Here’s why!
For your convenience, we compare the specifications of both models in this table :
Specifications
ASUS ROG Phone 2
(United States)
ASUS ROG Phone 2
Tencent Edition
Display
6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 118% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
12 GB LPDDR4X
8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
512 GB UFS 3.0
128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera
24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras
48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
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With brands trying to pitch gaming smartphones based on the Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, the question arises – is the Snapdragon 855 Plus really necessary for mobile gaming?
Find out what the Snapdragon 855 Plus offers over the “regular” Snapdragon 855, and if they will really affect your gaming experience!
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Announced in December 2018, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus is a mid-cycle refresh of the flagship Snapdragon 855 mobile platform.
Since it started shipping in the first quarter of 2019, some smartphone brands have been promoting it as a “must-have” feature for the ultimate mobile gaming experience.
The ASUS ROG Phone 2, for example, boasts of it as a key selling point. As does the upcoming Black Shark 2 Pro.
Snapdragon 855 Plus vs Snapdragon 855 : What’s Different?
In Qualcomm’s product brief, they even claimed that it would deliver “incredible gains” in performance, and that your gaming experience will take on “a new dimension“.
WOW… That’s some pitch…
But as bombastic as it sounds, the Snapdragon 855 Plus only differs from the Qualcomm 855 in two aspects :
its single prime Kryo 485 Gold CPU core has a slightly faster clock speed of 2.96 GHz
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz
Its other features are completely identical to the “regular” Snapdragon 855, as you can see in our comparison table :
Specifications
Snapdragon 855 Plus
Snapdragon 855
Fabrication Process
7 nm FinFET
Prime CPU Core
1 x Kryo 485 Gold (2.96 GHz)
1 x Kryo 485 Gold (2.84 GHz)
Performance CPU Cores
3 x Kryo 485 Gold (2.42 GHz)
Low-Power CPU Cores
4 x Kryo 485 Silver (1.8 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
Adreno 640 (585 MHz)
Modem
Snapdragon X24 LTE Modem
LTE Peak Download Speed
2 Gbps (7 x 20 MHz carrier aggregation)
LTE Peak Download Speed
316 Mbps (3 x 20 MHz carrier aggregation)
Image Signal Processor
Spectra 380 + Dual 14-bit CV-ISPs
The Snapdragon 855 Plus CPU Performance Explained
The Snapdragon 855 Plus has eight CPU cores, but only its single prime Kryo 485 Gold core has a 4.2% higher clock speed.
This gives single-threaded workloads a small 4% boost in performance. However, you should expect to see the performance difference only in benchmarks.
With multi-threaded workloads, the effect will be even more insignificant and definitely not noticeable.
The Snapdragon 855 Plus GPU Performance Explained
Its Adreno 640 GPU, on the other hand, received a significant 15% boost in clock speed. This will improve its graphics performance significantly.
However, whether you can actually feel a difference highly depends on the smartphone.
If it’s being used to drive a 4K and/or 120 Hz display, it could mean the difference between silky-smooth and occasionally jerky gameplay.
But if it’s just driving a Full HD and/or 60 Hz display… then it’s probably being used for marketing purposes because you won’t be able to tell the difference.
Remember – the regular Snapdragon 855 is a gaming powerhouse in its own right. You haven’t heard anyone complaining about its gaming performance, have you?
Is It Worth Paying Extra For The Snapdragon 855 Plus?
That would be like asking if it’s worth paying extra for a Lamborghini.
For the ultra-rich, they will probably settle for nothing less than the very best money can buy.
But for the rest of us – the economic hoi polloi, it really depends on how much extra brands want you to pay for an 855 Plus smartphone.
If you want to use your smartphone primarily as a gaming device, you should logically not pay more than a 15% premium. After all, the most you can expect is a 15% boost in graphics performance.
We personally wouldn’t pay more than a 5% price premium for what’s really an overclocked Snapdragon 855.
But take note too the other features of the gaming smartphone, like a high frame rate or HDR display. It may be worth paying a higher price premium for those features…
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