Samsung just sent us the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra – their largest and most powerful tablet, with a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display!
As you will see in this video – this is a really large tablet, and it is pretty hefty too at 726 grams. But it is very solidly built, and weighs half as much as a typical laptop.
It also comes with a new full-size S Pen with an ultra-low latency of just 2.8 milliseconds.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra runs on the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform boasts a powerful Adreno 730 GPU as well as eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :
a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, and
four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.7 GHz.
Powering all that is a massive 11,200 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, with 45 watt fast charging capability!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard : Hands-On!
This year, Samsung included the really awesome Book Cover Keyboard with every Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet.
This cover not only provides really solid protection for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, it also converts it into a 2-in-1 tablet with a kickstand!
In addition, the Book Cover Keyboard has a special S Pen cover that prevents your precious S Pen from falling and getting lost.
As I shared in my Galaxy Tab S7 Book Cover Keyboard review last year, this is a must-have accessory, and I’m really glad Samsung included it as part of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra package.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra : Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Display
14.6-inch Super AMOLED Display
– 60 Hz or 120 Hz refresh rate
Protection
Gorilla Glass 5 (Front + Back)
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU
1 x Arm Cortex-X2 core (3.0 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.4 GHz) 4 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (1.7 GHz)
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 official promo video just leaked ahead of Galaxy Unpacked 2021!
Check out the leaked video, and find out what we know so far about the two new Samsung foldable phones!
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 + Z Flip3 Promo Video Leaked!
The official promotional video of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphones was just leaked, ahead of Galaxy Unpacked 2021!
Get an early sneak peek at these two new magnificent Samsung foldable smartphones!
Here is what the 30-second official Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 revealed :
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
It has a bigger and more versatile cover display.
Flex mode supports angles of between 75° and 115°.
IPX8 water-resistant – up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
Not dust-resistant
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
Flex mode supports angles of between 75° and 115°.
IPX8 water-resistant – up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
Not dust-resistant
New Samsung S Pen Models
There are two models – S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition
Both are sold separately
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : Where + When?
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event will be held virtually, and streamed on Samsung official websites, YouTube and Facebook.
The livestream starts on 11 August at these times globally :
Malaysia + Singapore : 10 PM (GMT+8)
US : 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PDT
UK : 3 PM
India : 7:30 PM IST
Australia : 12 AM AEST (12 August)
If you register your interest from now until 11 August, Samsung will give you an e-voucher worth RM300 / US$100 / SGD$100 or a complimentary Samsung Care+ (Australia), which you can use with the purchase of your next Galaxy device.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : What To Expect?
Here is what you can expect Samsung to announce during Galaxy Unpacked 2021 :
Two Foldable Smartphones
Samsung will likely introduce two foldable smartphones, with a more robust folding design and upgraded hardware :
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 – available in Phantom Green, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black.
– 256 GB variant will be priced around €1,678.51 (before VAT).
– 512 GB variant will be priced around €1,783.10 (before VAT).
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
– available in Phantom Black, Dark Blue, Grey, White, Cream, Green, Light Pink and Lavender.
– 128 GB variant will be priced around €978.13 (before VAT).
– 256 GB variant will be priced around €1,029.20 (before VAT).
No Galaxy Note On The Horizon
We would normally expect Samsung to introduce a new Galaxy Note design, but this appears to be off the table in 2021.
However, you can expect Samsung to introduce t he Galaxy S21 FE as an affordable option for the new normal.
More Wearables, Of Course!
Look out for more wearables like Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch Active 4 smartwatches, and Galaxy Buds 2 TWS earbuds.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.
But take a look at what happens when you use them together!
HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Quick Primer!
HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.
HUAWEI MatePad 11
Running on HarmonyOS 2, the MatePad 11 is the first HUAWEI tablet to feature a 10.95-inch FullView display with a 120 Hz refresh rate for a silky-smooth visual experience, and a DCI-P3 colour gamut for real-to-life colours!
Its display is also TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light-certified, and TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free certified, guaranteeing you hours of comfortable viewing without eye fatigue.
The MatePad 11 comes with the 2nd Generation M-Pencil stylus, which boasts an almost imperceptible lag as low as 2 ms. It has 4,096 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity, giving you a natural writing and drawing experience.
The 2nd Generation M-Pencil also supports Double Tap to Switch tools, for convenient writing and drawing. If you make a mistake, just double tap the M-Pencil to instantly switch it to the eraser mode!
It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript that quickly converts your handwriting into beautiful text, as well as Instant Shape and Instant Table, to help you easily draw perfect shapes and tablets!
The MatePad 11 is also a multimedia powerhouse, with quad-channel large amplitude quad-speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.
It is further enhanced with Histen 7.0 for greater bass and a new sound field enhancement algorithm, giving you that immersive cinema-like audio experience when you watch movies!
The MatePad 11 tablet also comes with 4 microphones, to pick up your voice while eliminating background noise using its built-in noise reduction and echo cancellation technologies.
You also do not need to worry about its battery life – the HUAWEI MatePad 11 offers up to 12 hours of work productivity time or 1080p video playback on a single charge.
HUAWEI MateBook D15
The HUAWEI MateBook D15 is now powered by either the 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, in a superbly thin and light aluminium alloy chassis – just 16.9 mm thin and weighing only 1.56 kg.
It comes with a FullView Display, offering 87% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to its 5.3 mm narrow bezels at the top and sides.
The large 15.6-inch display has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and an anti-glare IPS panel that is TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free certified.
Despite its slim design, the MateBook 15 offers an impressive array of ports :
1 x USB-C port
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
2 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x HDMI port
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Synergistic Combo!
Both the HUAWEI MatePad 11 and MateBook 15 are not your average tablet or laptop. They both come with built-in distributed technology to harness the capabilities of other devices.
This distributed technology unleashes the synergistic potential that most people don’t realise, when the MatePad 11 and the MateBook D15 are used together!
When used together, they both can perform what HUAWEI calls Multi-screen Collaboration, with three modes :
Mirror Mode
The HUAWEI MateBook D15 display can be mirrored onto the MatePad 11 tablet, allowing it to be used as a digital drawing pad using the bundled 2nd Generation M-Pencil.
You can use the M-Pencil to write, draw or doodle on the MatePad 11 tablet, with the changes reflected on MateBook D15’s documents.
You can also use the mirror mode for collaborative discussions by separate groups – the same content can be viewed and changed on the tablet and PC by different people / groups at the same time.
Extend Mode
The HUAWEI MatePad 11 can serve as a secondary display for the MateBook D15 laptop, giving you more space to work with.
You can use tablet to load documents for reference, or browse for information or play videos while you work on the laptop.
Collaborate Mode
The built-in distributed technology allows you to easily transfer content between the MatePad 11 and the MateBook D15, without using a USB flash drive!
All you have to do is drag and drop the files you want – be they photos, videos, music or even documents – using the mouse. It’s that simple!
On top of that, you can use the keyboard and mouse between both devices using the Collaborate Mode!
HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : Price + Deal!
HUAWEI is offering their new tablets and laptops at these launch prices :
* These free gifts are available while stocks lasts, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Here are some great tips on how you can ramp up productivity with the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro.
Don’t forget to SHARE these tips out!
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro Productivity Tips!
Today, we are going to share with you some great tips on how you can ramp up productivity with the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro.
These tips are great not just for remote workers and content creators, but also students and other people working from home.
Please don’t forget to SHARE these tips with your friends!
Flagship Performance
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro is built around the Kirin 9000E, the world’s first 5nm 5G mobile SoC that has an 8-core CPU, with a 22-core GPU and two Neural Processing Units.
And it comes with 8 GB LPDDR4x memory and 256 GB built-in storage, with the option of adding an NM card for additional storage (up to 256 GB).
So right off the bat, you have all the processing power and memory capacity you need to get A LOT of work done right on the tablet.
Multi-Screen Collaboration
Hardware performance aside, one of the 2021 MatePad Pro’s key features is its multi-screen collaboration capability when used with a HUAWEI laptop like the MateBook X Pro.
Mirror Mode : Your laptop display is mirrored onto the MatePad Pro, which can now be used as a writing or sketching pad.
Whatever you write or draw on the MatePad Pro with the M-Pencil is instantly synced in real-time to the laptop screen.
Extend Mode : You can drag a task from your laptop to the MatePad Pro, turning it into a second monitor instantly.
For example, you can video conference on one display, while edit notes or check files on the other display. This makes the MatePad Pro a great “workmate” for your laptop!
Collaborate Mode : Using the collaborate mode, you can use the laptop keyboard and mouse on both the laptop and the MatePad Pro.
In addition, you can easily drag and drop files and texts between the laptop and the MatePad Pro!
Bottom Dock + Service Widgets
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro introduces a new Bottom Dock that not only displays frequently-used apps, but also recently-used apps.
In addition, it features new Service Widgets that can display real-time information, so you can quickly and conveniently access certain app features without launching those apps!
Those Service Widgets can be placed anywhere, and are fully customisable so you can personalise your tablet as you wish!
Make Full Use Of M-Pencil (2nd Generation)
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro comes with the 2nd Generation M-Pencil, which features a transparent tip design, platinum-coated nib, and a rounded hexagonal shape for a more comfortable grip.
It has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports tilt writing, with ultra-low latency of just 9 ms.
Make use of its support for HUAWEI FreeScript to transform your handwritten jotting into machine-encoded text in real time.
The new 2nd Generation M-Pencil also supports Double Tap to Switch tools, which is very convenient.
For example, if you make a mistake while writing or drawing, you can just double tap the M-Pencil to switch to the eraser mode.
Don’t forget its other built-in features like Instant Shape and Instant Table. All you need to do is just start drawing, pause and then let go – it will automatically give you the shape you want!
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Price + Freebie Tips!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro is available for sale in Malaysia, in the Matte Grey colour.
It has an official launch price of RM 3,999 (about US$970 / £686 / A$1,253 / S$1,286). Here are online purchase options :
HUAWEI officially launched the 2021 MatePad Pro in Malaysia – their first tablet to feature the new HarmonyOS 2 operating system!
Here is what you need to know about the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet, including its price and deal in Malaysia!
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Now In Malaysia!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro looks superficially like the 2020 HUAWEI MatePad Pro, but they are quite different beasts altogether.
It is now much bigger 12.6-inch tablet, built around the Kirin 9000E mobile platform and runs on the brand new HarmonyOS 2 operating system!
Flagship Performance
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro is built around the Kirin 9000E, the world’s first 5nm 5G mobile SoC.
It has a triple-core CPU architecture, with a boosted Cortex-A77 core at 3.13 GHz, three high-speed Cortex-A77 cores at 2.54 GHz, and four low-power Cortex-A55 cores at 2.05 GHz.
It has a 22-core Mali-G78 GPU, and two Neural Processing Units – one Big-Core NPU and one Tiny-Core NPU.
Memory + Storage
The 2021 MatePad Pro comes with 8 GB LPDDR4x memory and 256 GB built-in storage, with the option of adding an NM card for additional storage (up to 256 GB).
Large OLED Display
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro sports a massive 12.6-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Thanks to its ultra-narrow 5.6 mm bezels, this FullView Display offers a 90.1% screen-to-body ratio.
On top of that, it has a colour accuracy of ∆E < 0.5, making it a great portable second monitor for professional photographers!
Improved HUAWEI Share Capabilities
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro offers improved HUAWEI Share, offering the next level of device connectivity :
You can not only mirror your HUAWEI smartphone onto your tablet, you can also transfer and share files across multiple devices even laptops, simply by dragging and dropping them!
2nd Generation HUAWEI M-Pencil
HUAWEI is introducing the 2nd generation M-Pencil with the MatePad Pro. This optional stylus has a much lower input lag – as low as 9 ms, with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt sensitivity.
Designed to give you the natural writing experience, it offers the feel of a real pencil on paper. It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript, which transforms handwritten content into machine-encoded text in real time.
If you need to switch into different modes like Instant Shape or Instant Table, all you need to do is double-tap it!
HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
The HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard with a key travel of 1.3 mm; and supports Bluetooth and wireless charging.
This magnetically-paired keyboard quickly converts the MatePad Pro into a full-fledged laptop, offering greater working productivity.
Large Battery + Super Fast Charging
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet comes with a large 10,050 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery built-in for a very long battery life.
On top of that, it supports 40 watt SuperCharge, when used with a 40 watt HUAWEI Super Fast Charger.
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Malaysia Price + Deal!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro will be available for sale in Malaysia from 18 June 2021 onwards, in the Matte Grey colour.
It has an official launch price of RM 3,999 (about US$970 / £686 / A$1,253 / S$1,286). Here are online purchase options :
HUAWEI just launched the 2021 MatePad Pro, which runs on the new HarmonyOS 2!
Here is what you need to know about the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet!
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : What You Need To Know!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro looks superficially like the 2020 HUAWEI MatePad Pro, but they are quite different beasts altogether.
It is now much bigger 12.6-inch tablet, built around the Kirin 9000E mobile platform and runs on the brand new HarmonyOS 2 operating system!
Flagship Performance
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro is built around the Kirin 9000E, the world’s first 5nm 5G mobile SoC.
It has a triple-core CPU architecture, with a boosted Cortex-A77 core at 3.13 GHz, three high-speed Cortex-A77 cores at 2.54 GHz, and four low-power Cortex-A55 cores at 2.05 GHz.
It has a 22-core Mali-G78 GPU, and two Neural Processing Units – one Big-Core NPU and one Tiny-Core NPU.
Memory + Storage
The 2021 MatePad Pro comes with 8 GB LPDDR4x memory and 256 GB built-in storage, with the option of adding an NM card for additional storage (up to 256 GB).
Large OLED Display
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro sports a massive 12.6-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Thanks to its ultra-narrow 5.6 mm bezels, this FullView Display offers a 90.1% screen-to-body ratio.
On top of that, it has a colour accuracy of ∆E < 0.5, making it a great portable second monitor for professional photographers!
Improved HUAWEI Share Capabilities
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro offers improved HUAWEI Share, offering the next level of device connectivity :
You can not only mirror your HUAWEI smartphone onto your tablet, you can also transfer and share files across multiple devices even laptops, simply by dragging and dropping them!
2nd Generation HUAWEI M-Pencil
HUAWEI is introducing the 2nd generation M-Pencil with the MatePad Pro. This optional stylus has a much lower input lag – as low as 9 ms, with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt sensitivity.
Designed to give you the natural writing experience, it offers the feel of a real pencil on paper. It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript, which transforms handwritten content into machine-encoded text in real time.
If you need to switch into different modes like Instant Shape or Instant Table, all you need to do is double-tap it!
HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
The HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard with a key travel of 1.3 mm; and supports Bluetooth and wireless charging.
This magnetically-paired keyboard quickly converts the MatePad Pro into a full-fledged laptop, offering greater working productivity.
Large Battery + Super Fast Charging
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet comes with a large 10,050 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery built-in for a very long battery life.
On top of that, it supports 40 watt SuperCharge, when used with a 40 watt HUAWEI Super Fast Charger.
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Specifications
Here is how the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro compares to the 2020 MatePad Pro!
Specifications
MatePad Pro
2021
MatePad Pro
2020
Display Size
12.6-inch
10.8-inch
Display Panel
OLED
LCD
Display Resolution
2560 x 1600 pixels
Max. Brightness
400 nits
540 nits
Colour Gamut
DCI-P3
Operating System
HarmonyOS 2
EMUI 10.1 (Android 10)
System Platform
HUAWEI Kirin 9000E
HUAWEI Kirin 990
Memory
8 GB
6 GB / 8 GB
Storage
256 GB
128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB
External Storage
256 GB NM Card
Front Camera
8 MP selfie camera
Rear Cameras
13 MP main camera
8 MP wide-angle camera
13 MP main camera
Connectivity
WiFi-AX
Bluetooth 5.2
USB Type C
WiFi-AC
Bluetooth 5.1
USB Type C
Stylus
Optional
M-pencil Gen 2
Optional
M-pencil
Fingerprint Sensor
No
NFC Support
No
Audio
8 Speakers
HUAWEI Histen 7.0
4 Speakers
HUAWEI Histen 6.0
Battery
10,050 mAh
7,250 mAh
Charging
40 W SuperCharge
20 W fast charging
Dimensions
286.5 mm wide
184.7 mm tall
6.7 mm thick
246 mm wide
159 mm tall
7.99 mm thick
Weight
609 g
492 g
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Price + Deal!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro will be available for sale in Malaysia from 18 June 2021 onwards, in the Matte Grey colour.
It has an official launch price of RM 3,999 (about US$970 / £686 / A$1,253 / S$1,286). Here are online purchase options :
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the new ultimate flagship smartphone with an iconic new design!
Find out if the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the smartphone you have been waiting for!
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra : Our Hands-On Preview!
With a 6.8-inch display and support for the S Pen, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is designed to maximise your productivity and creativity.
Its edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with curved edges, has a Quad HD+ resolution, with an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate.
New Flagship Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the US, South Korea and China, and the new Samsung Exynos 2100 in other countries.
They are both flagship mobile SoCs, and here is a quick comparison of their key specifications :
Specifications
Samsung
Exynos 2100
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 888
Fab Process
5 nm EUV
Processor
1 x Cortex-X1 (2.9 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A78 (2.8 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (2.2 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A78 (2.4 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.8 GHz)
The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a 40 MP front camera, with an f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a new quad camera system, that consists of :
a 108 MP main camera, with an f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with an f/2.2 aperture
a 10 MP telephoto camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, and 3X optical zoom, and
a 10 MP periscope telephoto camera, with an f/4.9 aperture, and 10X optical zoom
For the first time on a Galaxy smartphone, you can now shoot in 4K at 60 fps on all front and rear cameras. In addition, you can choose to take photos in a 12-bit RAW format!
And its dual telephoto cameras powers its phenomenal 100X Space Zoom capability, with Zoom Lock capability.
It also comes with other improvements like :
Improved 8K Snap, that lets you capture clear images from your 8K video footage
Super Steady video now supports 60 fps video recording
Single Take lets you capture a variety of still and video formats with a single tap.
It is now enhanced with new pro-style settings like Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo
New Director’s View that lets you see, switch and select the best shot… LIVE!
S Pen Support
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the first S Series smartphone to support the S Pen, with Wacom’s technology.
You can use an existing S Pen from the Galaxy Note, or Galaxy Tab, or purchase a separate S Pen, or with a compatible case.
Samsung is offering two cases that are bundled with the S Pen – Smart Clear View Cover with S Pen, and Silicone Cover with S Pen.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is also one of the first smartphones to support the Wi-Fi 6E standard.
This opens up the 6 GHz spectrum, introducing 14 additional 80 MHz channels and 7 additional 160 MHz channels.
When used with a compatible Wi-Fi 6E router, it will allow for higher bandwidths and reduced congestion.
Samsung SmartThings Find
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra supports the new SmartThings Find capability, which lets you quickly and easily locate compatible Galaxy devices, even when they are offline.
You can also locate non-connected devices using Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth locater. Simply attach it to your keys, bag or pet, and use SmartThings Find to locate them!
Protection
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is IP68-rated against dust and water, allowing you to immerse it in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes.
Its display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus against scratches in the front.
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, and it supports 18 watt wireless charging, as well as 25 watt wired charging.
But here’s the bad news – the Galaxy S21 Ultra does NOT come with a charger in the box. It only ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Acer Spin 3 2020, which was recently announced at CES 2020, is here and available for purchase!
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the new Acer Spin 3 2020 convertible laptop!
Acer Spin 3 2020 Convertible Laptop
The Acer Spin 3 2020 features a slimmer design with a more powerful 10th Gen Intel Core processor, a weight of just 1.5 kg and a thickness of just 16.9 mm.
A convertible laptop, the Acer Spin 3 2020 comes with 360-degree hinges, allowing professionals and students to effortlessly sketch, take notes, create content and share ideas throughout their day, all with one easy flip.
With a 14-inch touchscreen Full HD display, the new Spin 3 has 7.82 mm thin bezels that offer a 78% screen-to-body ratio for maximum screen real estate.
The Acer Spin 3 2020 supports writing and drawing using its fast-charging Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES (active electrostatic) technology. The stylus has 4,096 pressure levels and is kept in a convenient storage dock where it quick-charges – a 15 second charge gives you 90 minutes of active writing!
Acer Spin 3 2020 Specifications
The new Acer Spin 3 comes in two variants – one with a Core i5 processor, and the other with a Core i3 processor :
Specifications
Acer Spin 3 2020 (Core i5)
Acer Spin 3 2020 (Core i3)
Model
SP314-54N-54F
SP314-54N-38F9
Display
14-inch Full HD IPS Touch Display
Processor
Intel Core i5-1035G1
Intel Core i3-1005G1
Memory
8 GB LPDDR4
4 GB LPDDR4
Graphics
Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Storage
512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Connectivity
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Launch Price
RM 3,199
RM 2,699
Acer Spin 3 2020 Price + Availability + Deal
The new Acer Spin 3 will be available for purchase in March 2020, at all Acer Concept Stores, and Acer Official Online Stores at these recommended retail prices :
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!
One of the Samsung Galaxy Note9‘s most revolutionary features is its new Bluetooth S Pen. Everyone knows what it can do as a stylus, but here are FOURTEEN Galaxy Note9 S Pen features and tips that most people are completely oblivious to!
2018-10-04 :Upgraded to The Ultimate Galaxy Note9 S Pen Features + Tips Guide with additional tips and how-to instructions.
2018-09-03:Originally posted as The 7 Secret Galaxy Note9 S Pen Features You Never Knew!
Here are some direct links to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in the US.
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (128 GB, International Unlocked) : $849
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (128 GB, US Unlocked) : $999.99
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (512 GB, International Unlocked) : $1,214
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (512 GB, US Unlocked) : $999.99
What You Probably Know About The Note9 S Pen
Let’s run through what you probably know about the Note9 S Pen, since Samsung has been promoting them.
The Note9 S Pen Is A Bluetooth Device!
For the first time, S Pen communicates with the Samsung Galaxy Note9 via Bluetooth Low Energy. Opening it up reveals that the new S Pen uses the Dialog DA13580 Bluetooth Smart SoC.
The Note9 S Pen Is A Remote Control!
The Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity lets you use the shutter button to remotely perform a variety of tasks.
Hold the shutter button to open any app you wish. By default, it launches the Camera app.
When the camera is activated, press the shutter button once to take a picture, or twice to switch between the front and main cameras.
Press the shutter button once to go forward in an app or browser, or twice to go backwards.
You can customise this remote control feature in Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.
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The Note9 S Pen Battery Life
This S Pen will last a good 30 minutes once it is ejected from its dock, or up to 200 clicks – whichever occurs first.
Your Samsung Galaxy Note9 will alert you when the S Pen’s battery is down to 15%, with more reminders as the battery level drops.
It Writes In A Signature Colour!
Like previous versions, you can pop out the S Pen to immediately jot your thoughts using the Screen Off Memo feature.
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 though introduces the ability to write in its signature colour!
The Ocean Blue S Pen will write in bright yellow, while the Midnight Black S Pen will write in silver, the Lavender Purple S Pen will write in purple, and the Metallic Copper S Pen will write in brown.
The only downside? The Samsung Notes app has not been updated with the ability to change its background to black.
If you prefer to write in the standard silver colour, go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Screen Off Memoand disable Use S Pen signature colour.
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What You Don’t Know About The Note9 S Pen
The Note9 S Pen is more than just a stylus with a remote control button though. Here are some fun facts about it that most users are completely oblivious to!
It Will Work Even With Bluetooth Disabled!
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Price Check) communicates with its S Pen using Bluetooth Low Energy (formerly known as Bluetooth Smart) to keep power consumption low.
But we’ll bet you didn’t know that the S Pen will work even if you turn off the Galaxy Note9’s Bluetooth feature!
You can safely turn off your Galaxy Note9’s Bluetooth connectivity for security reasons, or to further reduce power consumption, and still have access to the S Pen’s full range of capabilities.
You Can Use It To UNLOCK Your Galaxy Note9!
To save power and protect your privacy, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Price Check) will turn off and lock its screen after a period of inactivity.
This can be annoying if you are using it to dictate notes or give a presentation… until you realise you can simply unlock the screen with your S Pen!
This does not mean anyone can use your S Pen to unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note9. This feature only works if you :
manually activate it at Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Unlock with S Pen remote
It will not work if you pull out the S Pen while the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is locked. If you reinsert the S Pen into its dock, you will not be able to use it to unlock your Galaxy Note9.
This prevents strangers from using the S Pen to unlock your Galaxy Note9, while giving you the option to instantly unlock the screen if it locks up while you are using it.
Never Lose Your Note9 S Pen!
Its Bluetooth capability allows the Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Price Check) to sense when you forget your S Pen and set off an alarm to warn you.
It is more of a notification with an audio alert, but this incredibly useful feature will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the chance of losing your S Pen.
This feature is enabled by default, but if you want to make sure it’s turned on, it’s the Alarm option under the Removal section of Settings > Advanced features > S Pen.
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It Is Powered By A Supercapacitor!
This S Pen is not powered by an internal lithium-ion battery, but a Seiko K8373 supercapacitor.
This supercapacitor is not only incredibly tiny and light, it is highly durable and withstands extreme temperatures. It can be recharged hundreds of thousands of times without any loss in capacity.
It also recharges in a flash, and delivers long battery life – just 40 seconds of charging will give you 30 minutes of use! It is also simple to recharge – the S Pen recharges automatically whenever it is docked.
Note : The S Pen’s supercapacitor will start discharging once it is out of the dock. Don’t be surprised if the battery level drops even if you did not use its remote control. This is perfectly normal.
How To Check The Note9 S Pen’s Power Level
You can check the supercapacitor’s power level in your Samsung Galaxy Note9 at Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.
However, this is really not necessary, because the supercapacitor recharges so quickly! All you need is pop it in its dock for 40 seconds to get it up to 100%!
The Note9 S Pen Has TWO Power Sources!
Believe it or not, this S Pen has TWO power sources.
The supercapacitor is only used to power the Bluetooth Low Energy radio for its remote control functionality.
The stylus itself is still powered electromagnetically by close proximity to the Samsung Galaxy Note9‘s display. This means its stylus functions will never run out of power.
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How To Disable The S Pen Remote Control
If you do not like using the S Pen remote control features, you can simply turn it off.
Go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.
Tap on the On/Off toggle to disable the S Pen remote control.
To re-enable it, just tap on the On/Off toggle again.
Note : If you can’t reactivate the S Pen remote control, the S Pen is probably out of its dock. To reestablish the Bluetooth connection, it needs to be inserted into the Galaxy Note9.
How To Connect Another S Pen
If you need to connect another S Pen to your Samsung Galaxy Note9, here are the steps :
Go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.
At the upper right corner, tap the More Options icon.
Tap t he Reset S Pen option.
Note : It may take a few minutes for the Samsung Galaxy Note9 to establish a new Bluetooth connection to your S Pen.
The Power Of S Pen Hovering
The S Pen is not just about writing or tapping. Many users are no aware of the power of hovering with the S Pen. These are not new features, but did you know that you can activate these features by merely hovering the S Pen over the screen?
Air View : Preview information, text and images by hovering the S Pen over the screen
Scrolling : Scroll up or down by hovering your S Pen over the edge of the screen
Translate : Translate words and phrases by hovering your S Pen over them
Bixby Vision : Search for products online by hovering your S Pen over their pictures
Magnify : Magnify areas of the screen by hovering your S Pen over them.
Glance : Minimise apps to a thumbnail that you can hover your S Pen over to expand.
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Picture Credit
Pictures of the internal parts of the S Pen are courtesy of the awesome folks at iFixIt!
Where To Buy The Galaxy Note9
Here are some direct links to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in Malaysia.
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!
Don’t you wish you have a stylus to write or draw on your tablet or smartphone? Even users of the phenomenal Samsung Galaxy Note8 may not like the tiny stylus it comes with. Enter the Genius Pen – a premium capacitive stylus. Find out if this is the stylus for your smart device!
Genius Pen Specifications
Specifications
Genius Pen
Model
GP-B200 : iOS
GP-B200A : Android
Build Quality
Full metal body
Stylus Type
Retractable plastic nib (non-replaceable)
Battery
Internal Lithium-Ion Battery
- 15 minutes of charging for 8 hours battery life
Dimensions
11.3 mm / 0.44 inches in diameter
140 mm / 5.51 inches in length
Weight
22.4 g
Available Colours
Black, Silver, Iron Grey, Gold, Rosy Brown
Warranty
One year limited hardware warranty
Unboxing & Close Look
The Genius Pen (Price Check) comes in a nice white cardboard box sealed by plastic shrink wrap. Let’s unbox it and see what we find inside!
The Genius Pen (Price Check) package is made up of just 3 items :
the Genius Pen (GP-B200) active capacitive stylus
a Genius Pen multi-language user guide
a short micro-USB cable
In this video, we unbox the Genius Pen, and take a close look at the pen itself.
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Genius Pen Key Features
Premium Metal Build
The Genius Pen (Price Check) is designed to look and feel like a high-quality ballpoint pen. It has a solid metal body with a matte surface, which fits comfortably in the hand.
Retractable Nib
The Genius Pen (Price Check) has a retractable nib, just like a real ballpoint pen. This helps to protect the nib from damage whenever the pen is not in use. Just tap on the push button to extend the nib to use, and again to retract it for storage.
Permanent Pen Nib
The Genius Pen nib is made from hard plastic and designed to last the lifetime of the pen. So there is no need to worry about replacing it after hard use.
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Active Capacitive Nib
The Genius Pen (Price Check) comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery that is recharged using a micro-USB port in the push button. The battery is used to generate a greater capacitive effect on the small nib.
The action of pressing on the push button to extend the nib activates the Genius Pen. There is even a small LED light that glows blue when activated (and red while charging).
The battery capacity is unknown, but the Genius Pen will last 8 hours with just 15 minutes of charging. That means the pen only uses about 0.15 watts of power.
Android & iOS Compatibility
The Genius Pen (Price Check) comes in iOS and Android models – GP-B200 for iOS, and GP-B200A for Android. However, our tests showed that the iOS model at least works perfectly fine for both iOS and Android devices.
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Genius Pen Usability
The Genius Pen (Price Check) is battery-powered, but you should not mistaken it for an active pen. It lacks many of the features that an active pen would have – pressure sensitivity, buttons, palm rejection, etc.
It is an active capacitive pen, which means the battery creates the capacitive effect. This allows the nib to be small and hard for more precise and accurate writing and drawing than would be possible with the soft, large nib of a passive capacitive pen.
It is universally compatible with all devices with capacitive touch screens, working on every device we threw at it – from the small iPhone 6 to the iPad 2 Air. We even tried it out on the Samsung Galaxy S8, even though this is ostensibly the iOS model.
Although it lacks pressure sensitivity and control buttons, it requires absolutely no set-up to use. You don’t have to pair it with your device before using. Just press on the push button to extend the nib and activate the pen, and you’re good to go!
Because it does not require any set-up, the Genius Pen can be used with multiple devices. You can switch between your devices in an instant – the active capacitive nib registers as a tiny finger to those devices.
On the other hand, there is no palm rejection because your devices are actually unaware that a digital pen is in use. So you need to make sure you keep your palm off your device while you write or draw.
Our Verdict
The Genius Pen (Price Check) offers the precise writing and drawing capabilities that passive capacitive pens cannot, with the same ease of use. There is no set-up. Just click and go! If that is all you are interested in, the Genius Pen is exactly what you need.
But don’t mistaken it for an active pen, just because it is powered. If you want a pressure sensitive pen with palm rejection capability, you will need to look for a Bluetooth active pen.
The Genius Pen is not cheap but is built to last for many years of heavy use, with its hard nib and premium metal build. More importantly, its universal compatibility with capacitive touch screen devices means it can be your personal digital pen for all of your digital devices – One Pen to Rule Them All!
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If you are looking to buy one, here are some purchase links and prices for your convenience :
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Despite some news to the contrary, the Acer Active Stylus is an optional accessory for the 2017 Acer Spin 5 convertible laptop. Let us clear up the confusion, and tell you how you can get the Acer Active Stylus absolutely FREE!
The Acer Active Stylus Confusion
In our coverage on the 2017 Acer Spin 5 convertible laptop, we pointed out that the Acer Active Stylus was an optional accessory. Some publications reported otherwise, leading to confusion and some disgruntled customers.
We checked with Acer Malaysia, who confirmed that their official press release remain correct – the Acer Active Stylus, was and still is, an optional accessory.
However, they also confirmed that they gave away the Active Stylus free with the 13.3″ Acer Spin 5 as part of a special offer. They also said that they are now extending the same offer to the 15.6″ Acer Spin 5.
So that’s the good news – everyone who purchased the new 2017 Acer Spin 5 will receive a FREE Acer Active Stylus!
How To Get The Free Acer Active Stylus
Acer Malaysia included the Active Stylus in the package of every 13.3″ model of the 2017 Acer Spin 5. If you purchased one, the Active Stylus should already be inside the package.
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If you purchased the 15.6″ model, you will need to send an email with a proof of purchase (receipt or tax invoice) to ama.marcom@acer.com. Acer Malaysia will make arrangements to send you the free Acer Active Stylus in a month or so.
The free Acer Active Stylus is classified as complimentary, and is not part of the standard 2017 Acer Spin 5 package. That means Acer will only send one to you, if you ask them about it.
So help spread the word, so that all Acer Spin 5 customers are aware that they’re entitled to a free Active Stylus!
The Official Acer Malaysia Statement
Here is a statement by the Acer Malaysia rep who spoke to us about the Active Stylus issue :
The 13.3″ and 15.6″ Spin 5 support the Acer Active Stylus, which is an optional accessory. The stylus is not a standard bundle with the device during shipment. However, Acer Malaysia is giving the Acer Active Stylus FOC with any purchase of the newly launched Spin 5 (both 13.3″ and 15.6″ models).
The 13.3″ model was shipped with the stylus. Customers who bought the 15.6″ model can send an email with proof of purchase (Tax Invoice) to ama.marcom@acer.com to claim their complimentary stylus. The arrangement and process will take about 1 month.
Share this article, so that all Acer Spin 5 customers are aware that they’re entitled to a free Active Stylus!
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