It’s been a while since I set my hands on an A Series phone from Samsung, but from what I remember, they’ve always been reliable and solid phones for their price points.

The Galaxy A35 has just launched in Malaysia, and right off the bat, I have to say the phone looks really nice. We have the IceBlue version, and if we didn’t know better, we would’ve said this was a flagship model.

It has a nice heft, and the back is kept nice and clean with the three camera lenses lined up in a vertical row on the top left.

It’s not clear what glass is used on the back of the phone, but the front is Gorilla Glass Victus+, and the side panel with curved corners is made of plastic. The phone weighs 209g.

Looking good

The 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, along with Vision Booster to improve performance when directly under sunny skies.

There’s also an IP67 rating, which means it’s protected against dust and water, lasting up to 30 minutes in water of a 1-metre depth.

The A35 has an Exynos 1380 (5 nm) chipset. I downloaded Honkai: Star Rail, which is said to be quite a demanding mobile game, and it was able to play decently so far, with little screen tearing. I’ve yet to see how it handles sustained gaming sessions.

Battery life looks good too, the phone comes with a 5,00mAh battery, and I don’t think quick battery drainage will be an issue considering the specs.

Improved performance and security

For the cameras, you get a 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and a 13MP selfie camera.

They deliver sufficiently nice-looking photos, and Samsung says that the A35 has been equipped with enriched nightography for clearer photos in the dark too.

Something worth taking note of is also the fact that Samsung Knox Vault has appeared for the first time in the brand’s midrange phones through the A35 and A55.

To explain it simply, Knox Vault protects against hardware and software attacks by creating a secure execution environment that is physically isolated from the system’s main processor and memory.

This means that even if your phone is lost or stolen, your personal data like passwords, patterns, PINs, and biometric data will remain secured, according to Samsung.

Along with this, Samsung has also included other security features in the A35 such as:

• Auto Blocker, which blocks unknown apps, does app security checks, etc.
• Smart Call, to help you discern when unknown or unwanted numbers are calling 
• Samsung Knox Matrix, which ensures that no one can access your cloud data without your registered device
• Secure Folder, a private, encrypted space on your phone for an added layer of security when storing sensitive data

All in all, Samsung has taken steps to ensure that the new A Series phones hold their own when it comes to daily use and modern security needs.

The recommended retail price for the A35 is RM1,699, and we’ll be doing a more in-depth review of the phone to see how it fares against its price point soon, so stay tuned.

• Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy A35 here.
• Read more Samsung-related articles here.

Malaysia has a grand plan to transform its industrial landscape. It’s the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 tabled on September 1, 2023, which outlines the strategies and targets to be fleshed out by the government.

Among some sectors that will be seeing enhanced support include the aerospace and medical devices sectors. 

On March 13, 2024, news broke that a RM30 million grant was launched in order to nurture talents in the above industries to meet the growing demand in high-value sectors.

Here’s how it’ll be carried out, and who will be managing it.

RM30 million for rapid talent development in one year

Called the Upskilling Grant for Aerospace and Medical Devices Industries, it was launched by Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST), in conjunction with the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Association (MAIA) and the Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI).

CREST has been an agency under MITI (Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry) since July 2023. It focuses on creating a vibrant research, development, and commercialisation (R&D&C) ecosystem by promoting collaboration between the industry and academia, with support from government organisations.

Meanwhile, MAIA is a private sector organisation aiming to support the continued in-country growth and capacity development of the expanding local aerospace industry. 

AMMI was established in 1989, and is recognised as the voice of Malaysia’s medical device industry with a vision to make Malaysia the preferred global manufacturing and services location for medical technology. 

Together, the three parties will carry out the execution of the upskilling grant within one year.

The grant itself comprises four programmes:

1. Upskilling Grant for Industry Current Workforce

This training grant gives employees an opportunity to continue strengthening their skills in order to be relevant to the current needs of the industry while increasing their competitiveness in the job market. 

Companies from aerospace and medical devices industries may apply for this training grant in order to upscale their current employees.

Applications opened on March 11, 2024, and the detailed process on how to do so can be found here.

2. Train and Place Program

Targeted for school leavers, unemployed graduates, and retrenched workers, this will cover the training cost and monthly allowance of RM1,500 for each participant for a training period of three months.

Applications for this are already open, with more information here.

3. Grant to Upgrade Technical Capabilities of Educational Institutions

This grant emphasises on upgrading the technical capabilities of educational institutions in the field of aerospace and medical devices. The goal is to create a conducive learning environment, improve the quality of education, and prepare academic staff and students with the technical skills required by the industry. 

This initiative also aims to ensure that educational institutions are equipped with the latest equipment, software, and technological facilities. The grant amount is RM500K per education institution, and the grant should be open for applications in April 2024.

4. Finishing School Program

This is an early intervention initiative designed to equip tertiary education institutions students with skills and knowledge related to the aerospace and medical devices industries. 

Activities under this programme may include technical training, industry talks, industry related projects, bootcamps, design competitions, and other related talent development activities. 

The industry representatives may contribute as industry speakers, project evaluators, trainers, company visit hosts as well as other related roles.

This programme will commence in April 2024.

Actions speak louder than words

In summary, the Upskilling Grant for Aerospace and Medical Devices Industries will benefit:

• Aerospace and medical device companies located in Malaysia, and their Malaysian employees
• Malaysian unemployed individuals which consist of unemployed graduates, retrenched workers in their period of unemployment, and school leavers
• Malaysian education institutions in need of help to improve their technical capabilities
• Malaysian students from tertiary education institutions

CREST is no stranger to talent development, as it’s worked closely with universities and leading industry partners to develop relevant programmes for the past 11 years.

We often hear sentiments of Malaysia’s underdeveloped or lacking talent pool in public spheres, and while opinions might differ depending on who you ask, one thing is clear:

Efforts to nurture and support our existing and future talent pool across prominent industries in Malaysia are always welcome, and CREST, MAIA, and AMMI are leading the way for such initiatives in the aerospace and medical devices sectors.

• Learn more about the grant here.
• Read more articles about Malaysia’s business space here.

Featured Image Credit: CREST

Aurum Theatre, Golden Screen Cinema’s (GSC) luxury concept, has officially launched its newest location at The Exchange TRX today. This marks GSC’s 56th cinema location.

Spanning an impressive 120,000 sq ft, Aurum Theatre at The Exchange TRX is said to be SEA’s largest ultra-luxurious entertainment experience. 

The cinema is spread across four floors and features 11 halls equipped with lush interiors and comfortable seats.

Here’s a first look into the different halls at this Aurum Theatre.

IMAX hall & ScreenX hall

From the main entrance of Aurum Theatre, head upstairs to the IMAX hall. 

We got to experience this ourselves today, watching Dune: Part 2, and while there will be no spoilers here for that, we can say that the comfort levels and movie viewing experience were chef’s kiss.

It might not come as any surprise though once you know that the hall features fully reclinable seats at the press of a button, complimentary snacks and drinks, and of course, top-of-the-line IMAX technology.

Did you know: IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theatres known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio and steep seating.

Still, you can trust that whatever movies you watch in the IMAX hall will be immersive. Even the ground trembled to the sound of the blasts and booms, making us feel like we were right in the action.

If one screen isn’t immersive enough though, how about three screens?

Opposite the IMAX hall is the ScreenX hall, which offers 270-degree panoramic views, also with reclinable seats and complimentary refreshments.

Escape Studios

One floor below the main foyer of Aurum Theatre is the Escape Studios, with four differently themed halls.

These halls are based on movie themes and iconic pop culture references.

One of the most eye-catching ones is the “La Romance Hall”, inspired by the city of love, Paris, and romantic tales told on the big screen.

Then there’s also the “Neon Nippon Hall”, a nod to the bustling streets of Shinjuku, Tokyo. This and the La Romance Hall were some of our favourites.

For something more sophisticated, perhaps you’d like the “Couture Hall”, inspired by the popular movie, The Devil Wears Prada, and designed with monochromatic themes and a pop of bright red.

The last of the Escape Studios is a hall that’s an ode to classic film scores, with musical notes gracing the walls. It’s classy, and a GSC rep told us that it’s also inspired by iconic band Queen, hence the name “The Rhapsody Hall”.

All of the Escape Studios halls feature different types of seating, but all are with the same luxuries and comforts. They seat up to 38 pax.

Maybank Comfort Cabins

If you’re looking to truly sit back and relax as you enjoy a movie, the Maybank Comfort Cabins could deliver.

There are two such halls, and they’re inspired by the gorgeous Grand Theatre.

They have Stressless recliners which are equipped with patented technology, and a quick Google search shows us that one couch retails for a minimum of about RM40k (when converted from US$), so you know you’re getting the good stuff.

These halls seat 40 pax each, and seating is also arranged in pairs.

Getha Lux Suites

Not forgetting the famous Getha Lux Suites, Aurum Theatre at The Exchange TRX features plush Getha recliners with built-in mini fridges that have complimentary snacks and beverages.

GSC states that these halls are best suited for longer movies so you can bask in the comfort and amenities. Each seat comes with wireless charging ports, dimmable lights, soft blankets, and even bedroom slippers.

We’d watch all of the movie’s end credits just to stay comfy here.

Hungry for more?

Regardless of the hall type selected, each Aurum Pass includes a choice of selection from a menu of snacks and drinks and will be served to your seat as you watch a movie.

But there are more upscale dining options for moviegoers and non-moviegoers alike.

Hokkaido Table serves up a Japanese-Italian fusion menu, comprising an omakase, restaurant, and bar.

GSC labels it as being the first-of-its-kind omakase within cinema premises, and it offers lunch and dinner.

A more casual restaurant is the Kissa Cafe and Diner, which has a range of Japanese-Western food and is inspired by Japanese kissaten (tea-drinking shops) and Western diners.

Bookings and enquiries for GSC’s F&B offerings can be made through their website or social media, we were told.

If you’re a Maybank cardmember, GSC has special deals for moviegoers and diners during its ongoing launch promotion.

Maybank cardmembers can get 20% off movie tickets (all halls except IMAX) and 20% off the total bill when dining at Hokkaido Table and Kissa Cafe and Diner.

The promotional prices and regular prices for the halls are as follows:

Hall	Promo pricing (February 6 – TBC)	Regular pricing
Getha Lux Suites	RM350/twin	RM440/twin
Escape Studios	RM120/seat	RM150/seat
Maybank Comfort Cabin	RM300/twin	RM360/twin
IMAX	RM65/seat	RM80/seat
Screen X ScreenX (2D)	RM65/seat RM55/seat	RM80/seat RM70/seat

As we toured the space, we were also informed that companies can actually book out some of these cinema halls to do their own product launches or events, and even decorate the poster walkway with their own achievements.

So, don’t dismiss Aurum Theatre as just a fancy cinema, because GSC is clearly diversifying their offerings, and we’re excited to see what’s next.

• Learn more about Aurum Theatre here.
• Read more entertainment-related content from us here.

All images credit: Vulcan Post

I’m really late to the electric vehicle (EV) game. We’ve been writing about EVs for years, but I have never actually sat in one, let alone driven one.

With the launch of the BYD Seal though, that all changed. 

But first, a few disclaimers. Obviously, I have no basis of comparison when it comes to EVs, so my thoughts would be from the perspective of someone who has driven only internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. 

All the bells and whistles of newer, fancier cars aside, what I want to review in this article is also purely down to the expected features of a premium car.

That means we’re mainly talking about safety features, comfort, and the driving experience. 

Since this was a barely one-hour test drive with the BYD Seal, I can’t speak on the cost-saving features of driving this EV versus a petrol car, nor can I properly give an in-depth review of the BYD Seal.

With that in mind, here’s what my experience driving an EV for the first time was like.

Looking good

I have to touch upon the looks of the BYD Seal, because I think that matters to quite a lot of people (myself included). 

A lot of popular EVs I’ve seen on Malaysian roads seem to be on the tamer, rounder side, especially the SUVs. So I quite like that the BYD Seal is a sleek, sporty, and stylish car. In short, it has that “sexy” factor.

I kept thinking it looked reminiscent of the Mazda MX-5 or Porsche Panamera, except with a much smaller grille. EV-wise, I’ve heard people say it reminds them of the Tesla Model 3, and I can see that too.

The BYD Seal is said to carry on the brand’s “Ocean Aesthetics” philosophy, which they showcase through elements like the waterdrop mirrors, LED tail lights, wave waistline, and more.

The car supposedly takes design inspiration from waves and mountains in its smooth curves all over, but I can’t quite get the vision. Maybe I just need to get more imaginative, though.

But all in all, yes please, to more sporty looking EVs in the future.

Gearing up for the road

Taking it out onto the road, the first thing I noticed was that the gear is very different from what I’m used to. There are just three modes I can switch in between, which are R, N, and D.

Upon further research, it seems like this is more common in EVs than I would’ve thought, which I suppose makes sense given that they don’t need multi-speed transmissions.

EVs are said to have better responsiveness, and I could definitely feel that. 

The car would immediately accelerate once I stepped on the pedal, and the brake was very sensitive, but thankfully it didn’t take long for me to get used to the latter.

BYD says that the Seal can go from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds for the Premium version we drove (the Performance version takes just 3.8 seconds). I couldn’t test it during our drive, but I can say that it feels like the car has a good amount of power behind it. 

According to the specs sheet, the BYD Seal (Premium) produces around 230kW of maximum power and 360Nm of torque. This is powered by a 82.5kWh battery that is directly integrated into the chassis of the vehicle, in what’s known as cell-to-body (CTB) technology. 

Navigating the car around tight, narrow bends and through KL’s rough roads was easy enough, which I guess points to the car having good steering. 

Safety-wise, we saw some features of the BYD Seal’s advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) come into play, such as the predictive collision warning, and adaptive cruise control calibration.

In short, the steering system would nudge the car back into its own lane if it felt like I was doing a riskier overtaking manoeuvre, and the cruise control would adapt its speed and braking according to the cars around me.

I noticed that the car also had a speed limit warning which kept going off while we drove around. In my defence, I was simply matching the speed of our convoy.

I couldn’t figure out how to turn it off either; asking the voice assistant inside the 15.6-inch rotating display was fruitless, as she either couldn’t understand us, or that command simply didn’t exist.

(According to research as I’m writing, it seems that the setting can be turned off in the ADAS section of the display, but man, does it take some digging to find.)

Thankfully, the warning wasn’t too loud or jarring. 

Even the indicators were quiet, without the usual “tick-tock” noise. They were so quiet that several times, I accidentally forgot they were still on.

Confirmed comfort

If you remember the CTB technology mentioned earlier, it also enables a vehicle to be lighter and more spacious. 

The Thaumus Black interior has ergonomically designed sports seats which felt plush, and the overall cabin was definitely spacious.

I don’t think legroom would be a problem, and those who often have lots of stuff to stow away will be glad to know that the sedan has 400L of rear trunk capacity (with 50L of space in the front trunk).

The BYD Seal also promises great suspension, and I’d say it holds true. For both driver and passenger, the ride was very comfortable.

In general, the BYD Seal was quite a quiet car. The sound insulation in the cabin was pretty good compared to ICE cars, but I’m not sure how it fares against other EVs of its segment.

Overall thoughts

To describe the BYD Seal in one word, it is smooth. From the design choices to the driving experience, everything felt very smooth. It aligns with what I’ve heard of EVs, at least. And don’t just take it from me, the driver, because my colleague (passenger) agreed with me too.

Other than the slight differences I had to get used to, such as the gear, the experience wasn’t groundbreaking.

There was a lot of fancy “high tech” which I think is common in many of today’s EVs, but those are things I could live without. They’re not crucial to the day-to-day driving experience, I’d argue, and sometimes don’t feel intuitive at all. 

I’m in no way blaming my lukewarm review of EVs on the BYD Seal, as I think most existing premium EVs would garner the same results for me. Unless it was one equipped with a completely autonomous self-driving system. 

Now, that might just change my life, but we will not know for sure for the foreseeable future, since full autopilot of cars is still not allowed in Malaysia.

My biggest takeaway from this test drive is that EVs really aren’t as “weak” or “boring” as some ICE car enthusiasts might say (and as I once assumed).

If you still harbour doubts, there’s no harm in just going for a test drive and seeing how EVs perform for yourself.

Only two of three variants of the BYD Seal will be available in Malaysia, distributed by Sime Darby Motors. The Premium variant starts at RM179,800, and its colour options include Cosmos Black, Atlantis Grey, and Aurora White.

Meanwhile, the Performance variant starts at RM199,800, and its colour options are the same as the Premium’s, with the exclusive addition of Arctic Blue.

• Learn more about BYD Seal here.
• Read more car-related content from us here.

All images credit: Vulcan Post

New year, new home? Before you dismiss the idea as being a pipe dream due to limited finances, know that it might just be possible, with some luck on your side.

Maybank has teamed up with local home renovation specialist The Makeover Guys (TMOG) to come up with a campaign that offers participants the chance to win home makeovers worth up to RM1,100,000.

In essence, they might just turn your dream home into a reality.

What’s this about?

This campaign is for homeowners who sign up for Maybank Home Ownership solutions, and gives you the exclusive opportunity to win cash rebates and cash vouchers.

To break it down, Maybank Home Ownership solutions involve holistic financing for customers, beyond the financing of new or sub-sale properties.

The bank also offers financing for renovations, decorations, furnishings, and fittings, through their Maybank MyDeco and Maybank Home+Reno solutions.

Maybank stated that the MyDeco is a first-of-its-kind loan built to finance home interior designs, and is distinct in that it is mortgage financing, and not a personal loan. 

“The programme offers up to a 30% additional margin of finance or up to a combined total of 120% of property price/open market value (whichever is lower), or a maximum of RM250,000, whichever is lower, in a separate loan account to finance a home owner’s interior design expenses,” a press release stated.

Meanwhile, Home+Reno is for more extensive full-fledged home renovations catered for landed properties. It’s a combination of home financing and renovation facility, with the latter offering up to 120% of the property’s price or the latest open market value, whichever is lower.

The bank told Vulcan Post that customers are eligible to gain entries when they sign up for Maybank Home Financing, MyDeco, or Home+Reno financing during the campaign period (now until July 31, 2024), with their financing documents executed legally by August 31, 2024.

Customers will get an extra entry if their property is a green home. 

Dictionary time: Green homes focus on the efficient use of energy, water, and building materials. A green home may use sustainably sourced, environmentally friendly, and/or recycled building materials.

From dream to reality

The winners will be drawn by a randomiser on September 30, 2024, after which a total of seven winners will be announced on the Maybank website and social media channels.

The structure and value of the prizes are as follows:

Cash rebates into winners’ Home+Reno financing or MyDeco financing accounts	Quantity	Value (RM)
Grand Prize Winner	1x	50,000
First Prize Winner	1x	20,000
Second Prize Winner	1x	15,000
Third Prize Winner	1x	12,000
Consolation Prize Winners	3x	3,000

On top of these, the first 1,000 customers who accept the MyDeco Financing Letter of Offer and accept renovation services with a minimum spend of RM45,000 offered by TMOG will automatically win cash vouchers valued at RM,1000 each.

A win-win situation

Speaking to The Makeover Guys, it turns out that Maybank was the one who approached them first.

As you can imagine, the TMOG team was honoured. Following this campaign, they have also been designated as Maybank’s Preferred Home Renovator.

“This designation implies that The Makeover Guys meet certain criteria set by Maybank, such as quality of work, reliability, and customer satisfaction,” the team told Vulcan Post.

“For customers, this designation serves as an assurance of quality and credibility when choosing The Makeover Guys for their home renovation needs. Additionally, Maybank’s customers will be able to enjoy exclusive offerings by The Makeover Guys.”

TMOG was started in 2015 with the goal of helping property investors increase rentability through strategic makeovers. To date, they’ve worked with clients such as EcoWorld, Sunway Properties, Gamuda Land, and more, to provide affordable designed homes to the masses.

Crowned as the top bank in Malaysia in 2023 by Forbes, Maybank’s support will help TMOG with their bigger goal of becoming a leading name in the home renovation industry.

• Learn more about this campaign here.
• Get to know The Makeover Guys here.
• Read more Malaysian startup stories here.

Featured Image Credit: Maybank / TMOG

What comes to mind when you think of ASUS? For me, one word in particular sticks out: bold.

I’m no expert when it comes to the brand, but it’s shown me that it doesn’t shy away from pushing the envelope in consumer tech.

So it’s no surprise that when asked what ASUS’ standout milestones are, Lenny Lin, Business Development Manager of ASUS Malaysia, told Vulcan Post:

“Our proudest milestones would be how far we have come in offering truly innovative viewing experiences in various form factors.”

“We are very proud to be the only PC brand to offer a wide selection of multi-display form factors, with our ScreenPad, ScreenPad Plus and of course, our most recent ASUS Zenbook DUO that gives you two full 14-inch OLED displays in one ultraportable laptop.”

Granted, these technologies may not be for everyone. However, Lenny did share results from a survey performed to gauge the interest in dual-display technology, and they were quite promising.

Regardless, seeing laptops that deviate from the norm is always an exciting thing to witness, and ASUS seems set on paving the way for more innovation.

Welcome to our new future

According to a 2023 report from market company research GfK, ASUS dominates in market shares for both the global and Malaysian market when it comes to OLED laptops.

The exact figures are P&C, but we have verified that they justify ASUS’ claims of market dominance.

That’s a significant result, because Lenny candidly shared that ASUS had invested heavily to become the leaders in OLED laptops (and multi-display laptops too), a move that has paid off.

What’s next for the brand, then?

Doubling down on AI, it seems. 

ASUS has already been integrating AI features into their laptops, Lenny shared. This includes their AI noise cancellation, and the ASUS AiSense Camera for 3D noise reduction, eye contact correction, appearance filter, and automatic framing, among other things, to improve how users experience virtual calls.

“The reason why we are making AI the next big thing to focus on is thanks to the wider availability of AI-capable hardware from our partners,” he explained.

“Now with Intel and AMD integrating NPUs (Neural Processing Units) into their designs, these features will only improve while making a minimal impact on battery life, which is key to a great user experience.”

Part of what that enhanced user experience would look like involves a more efficient workflow through features such as:

• Call summarisation and raw data analysis (Microsoft 365 Copilot)
• Optical character recognition capabilities to extract text from screenshots (Snipping Tool on Windows)
• Transcribing video to text (Premiere Pro)

Beyond all that, AI in gaming is already quite mature, Lenny pointed out. An example would be NVIDIA using AI for Frame Generation in order to deliver higher FPS.

“And even with all that said, I would say that we are barely scratching the surface of what we can do with AI.”

From doubts to demand

You’re not alone if you feel like everything online seems to revolve around AI this and AI that. Sometimes you might even wonder, is it really AI, or are brands just using it as a marketing buzzword?

Many of us would be none the wiser, after all.

Despite that, Lenny is confident in the direction that ASUS is taking.

“ASUS AI-ready laptops are here to stay, and the advantage of having AI-ready hardware will only keep growing.”

He did acknowledge though that it’s a new field of PC that will take some time to develop depending on consumer response and technology maturity.

Thus, to promote user experience, ASUS is working with upstream and downstream partners to enable AI PCs to become an important driving force in the PC industry.

Lenny shared, “We are seeking to democratise AI by making AI models that are trustworthy, inclusive, secure, and affordable, and we are also collaborating closely with our key partners on a range of innovative AI solutions which everyone will get to see this year onwards.” 

So, gamers and creators can keep a keen eye out for ASUS’ AI PCs to drop sometime in the second half of this year, and ASUS expects single-digit penetration of AI PCs in 2024.

“Whether there will be double-digit penetration in 2025 depends on the development progress and user response in 2024.”

“But we are confident that once consumers see the practical benefits of AI laptops, the uptake of AI laptops in the market will be on the uptrend,” Lenny concluded. 

I may still be a skeptic with my doubts about AI PCs, but I truly look forward to being proven wrong by ASUS’ signature bold approach.

• Learn more about ASUS here.
• Read more of our content about ASUS here.

Featured Image Credit: ASUS

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been to a social gathering where I don’t quite want to make small talk or make new friends.

Those times are when I wished I could game without my phone dying on me within the hour (ah, the struggles of using phones of yesteryear).

Newer phones with bigger batteries and better processors might make that issue a thing of the past, though.

With the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in hand, I decided to put its gaming performance to the test. 

Just how long would it take to drain its 5,000mAh battery from 100% to 0% if I was gaming non-stop?

Game on

To try and get results that were as accurate as possible in my non-professional, non-lab tested experiment, I simply charged the phone to 100% and closed all background apps before running a game.

Then I went into the Gaming Hub and ensured that no notifications would get through (maybe that would help reduce battery consumption too?).

It was time to lock in.

Hour 1

My two games of choice were Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail (HSR). One, because they were games I actually enjoyed playing, and two, I know for a fact that they’re quite demanding games.

I started with Genshin Impact, bumping up all its settings until they were overclocked. This meant 60fps with pretty much every feature on “High” or “Very High”.

Off I went, exploring the open world, engaging in battle, doing some quests, and living my best RPG life.

Halfway through the first hour, my hands and wrists were aching before the phone was even warm.

The S24 Ultra weighs 232g, just 2g lighter than its predecessor, so it’s still quite a heavy phone. I really started to feel it with both my arms unsupported, slouched over in my chair, and trying to keep a grip on the smooth metal back.

Resting my arms on my table helped take off the tension a bit, and having an ergonomic, easy to hold phone case would have been much more comfortable too.

I ended hour 1 with 78% battery left.

Hour 2

Going into hour 2, I wasn’t expecting much to change yet. After all, the S24 Ultra seemed like a beast, taking on my challenge easily.

I had moved locations, leaving my wonderfully air-conditioned bedroom to brave the fan-ventilated living room.

This was when I felt the phone actually start getting hot. I’m not sure if it was because of the change in temperature, my continued Genshin Impact gameplay, or a combination of both.

The heat was right around the camera housing, and though it was growing noticeable, there was still zero lag or screen tearing, not even a stutter.

Hour 2 ended with 59% battery, and it seemed like the battery consumption was quite consistent so far.

Hour 3

Halfway into hour 3, at 50% battery, the phone was getting quite hot to the point where it was uncomfortable to use, but to my amazement, there was still no lag. I was loading areas and domains just fine, and could even co-op online.

Normally, online co-op is intimidating when your device or network isn’t strong enough, because your teammates will be left waiting for you to load in and you’ll end up feeling like a burden. With the S24 Ultra, I was the one who would often end up waiting for everyone else.

Since I was at the midpoint for battery life, I decided to switch games to HSR (also on overclocked settings) to see how the phone would handle that.

Hour 3 ended with the phone being at 39%. Interestingly enough, the phone had cooled down after I switched to HSR, and maybe because I moved back to my air-conditioned room too. 

And this was without me even taking a break between switching games, so the phone had been running non-stop for three hours by now.

Hour 4 

I don’t have much to report on how the S24 Ultra performed around hour 4, because it kept on trucking. 

I had found a comfortable position to game in by this time, which is why I’m no longer complaining about the weight of the phone. However, I could feel myself getting fatigued by this point, unlike the unwavering S24 Ultra.

Bit by bit, the battery had trickled down to 18% by the end of hour 4.

And guess what?

Still no lag!

Hour 5

This is where things started getting crazy, and not because the S24 Ultra was acting up or anything. The complete opposite, in fact. 

It was still going as steadily and smoothly as ever. I swear that I had yet to see a noticeable lag in my gameplay, even though the battery had dipped well below the 20% mark.

TechRadar tested the S24 Ultra against a top-of-the-line dedicated gaming phone, and reported that the Samsung came up on top in every metric.

Hard to believe at first, but I wouldn’t be surprised after seeing the S24 Ultra in action myself.

Though the phone was at 11% by the end of hour 5, it was just warm and had no stutter, performing as though its battery was still full.

Hour 6

I wasn’t ambitious about the phone lasting much longer past the fifth hour. Based on my track record, it seemed like I was draining the battery at an average of 20% every hour, so surely it wouldn’t last more than five hours… right?

This was the only time when performance dropped a bit. Running around in the game was okay, but whenever I clicked into stuff and the game had to change its UI or load menu screens, it would get a bit choppy.

23 minutes into hour 6 (a whole 23 minutes more than I expected the phone to last!), I called it quits with the phone at 2%.

And right up until it hit 2%, I was still engaged in battle. I only lost the battle due to skill issues, but it was better than losing because the phone suddenly shut down. 

Verdict

About five and a half hours of high performance gaming across two demanding games on a full charge is no joke, especially considering how optimal my experience was right up to the very end.

Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, the S24 Ultra supports ray tracing too, but there aren’t many mobile games that support that yet. Maybe with such games, the performance might take a harder hit faster, but until then, I have to say:

If you had the S24 Ultra with you at a boring event, rest assured that you’ll get lots of use out of it, gaming or not, with probably more battery to spare to Grab or Waze home after.

Pros	Cons
Large 5,000mAh battery that has good lasting power	Phone is quite heavy to hold for extended periods
Bright, gorgeous, HD display
Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for consistent performance

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a starting price of RM6,299, and you can learn more about it here.
• Read our full reviews of the phone here, our thoughts on its AI features here, and its photography prowess here.

The OPPO Reno11 Pro is the latest successor to the brand’s portrait expert series, and with a proud title like “portrait expert”, my expectations are high.

So, I brought the phone out on a trip to Farm In The City, where a bunch of animals would be my models for the day.

Getting a grip on things

At 181g, this has been one of the lightest phones I’ve tested so far, which made it nice to carry around for the outing. Anything that has my bag feeling less like a rock is a plus in my books.

Available in a Pearl White or Rock Grey colourway, the former is for those who prefer a fashionable statement phone, while the latter is for those who like it more discreet.

The Rock Grey we got is quite beautiful regardless, with a sheen that looks like tightly-packed fine glitter under light.

While I’m not exactly sure what the back of the Rock Grey variant is made of, I will say that tapping or knocking on it gives off a rather plasticky sound.

In contrast, the camera module is quite solid, and OPPO has innovated its look from the previous model. 

It’s a lot sleeker now, and I like that the cameras are housed in a smooth pill-shaped glass casing.

The separated lens look and feel of many flagships nowadays isn’t my cup of tea, because I overthink how debris would easily get trapped in the valleys between each lens and the entire thing just often feels… more fragile.

All that aside, the camera module does stick out a bit, so get a case that balances it all out if that bothers you.

Speaking of cases, I highly recommend using the provided case or getting your own, because the Rock Grey Reno11 Pro is super slippery to hold (not sure about the Pearl White), and the curved AMOLED display doesn’t help. 

Thankfully, though the display is curved, it doesn’t seem like the edges are overly-sensitive, so I didn’t experience any accidental touches.

The 6.7-inch screen is nice, going up to 120Hz, and it has a peak brightness of 950 nits. Under the decently sunny weather, I was able to see the Reno11 Pro’s screen at all times while snapping away at Farm In The City.

Now, how did those snaps turn out? 

Okay portrait expert, come through

Full disclosure, I’m no photography expert (mobile or otherwise) but I think I share similar standards to most people as to what constitutes a nice photo in terms of clarity and colours.

And I’d say that the photos taken with the Reno11 Pro came out pretty nice.

Colours weren’t overly vivid, leaning towards a more natural look without being too dull. Overall, they were comparable to what my eyes observed in real life.

The 50MP wide camera performed well, capturing nice detail under good natural light.

In low light though, you do lose some clarity.

The zoom capabilities were sufficient to capture animals that I spotted further away. Though I personally prefer crisper images, I’m still satisfied with the details maintained.

Honest opinion: mobile cameras still have a ways to go before they can truly replicate what DSLRs can do. But what some have achieved is still impressive.

The Reno11 Pro is one of them. Just check out the glamour shots I took of these Farm In The City residents with Portrait mode.

Sure, they’re a little hairier than our smooth-skinned brethren, and maybe the edge detection of the Portrait mode could be better for those blessed with thick fur, but I think these shots are beautiful. The bokeh can also be adjusted post-snap to hide any issues with the edge detection.

The Portrait mode on the selfie camera (32MP) performs really well, keeping faces and colours natural, and the face detection was able to focus on the different subjects in frame.

I think all subjects do have to be facing the camera though for this to work properly.

Colour me impressed.

Verdict

On the performance side of things, you’ve got a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset and a 4,600mAh battery under the hood.

Nothing really stood out here, but playing a demanding game (Honkai: Star Rail) on the Reno11 Pro on maximum settings did have it noticeably warm up within 10 minutes.

When not gaming, the battery has good lasting power, so no complaints there.

Where I do see people having some complaints is at the lack of an IP rating.

I think having an IP rating is a no-brainer for smartphones these days, because of how attached we are to these little devices. 

We bring them everywhere we go, and into all kinds of situations. Like, what if I had dropped this into Farm In The City’s many bodies of water? (Luckily, that didn’t happen.)

So while I don’t see the lack of an IP rating as a deal-breaker per se, it’s definitely something that many appreciate having.

All things considered though, the Reno11 Pro appears to be an all-rounder, if you can acknowledge it for what it is—a mid-range phone.

It comes with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, and is available in Malaysia at a starting price of RM2,499.

Pros	Cons
Impressive Portrait mode for both main and selfie cameras	No IP rating
Battery has good lasting power	Phone without a casing is quite slippery to hold
Sleeker, more modern look compared to previous model

• Learn more about the OPPO Reno11 Pro here.
• Read more VP Verdicts here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Up the split stairs from InterContinental Kuala Lumpur’s lobby and to the right is where you’ll find Tao Chinese Cuisine.

Nestled behind a moody walkway and giving diners lots of privacy, this Chinese restaurant has an air of modernity about it.

Perhaps it’s the pattern of stars above diners’ heads in the main dining room, or the use of decorated glass panes as walls.

What confirms it though is the food, which the restaurant describes as a “refreshing blend of traditional recipes reinvented”.

We experienced this first-hand with their Chinese New Year 2024 collection called The Enchanting Legend.

A star dish

This year, Tao offers six sets that range from 8-course to 6-course menus, with one of them being vegetarian.

The vegetarian set aside, a staple dish—and a Tao signature—across the sets is the Roasted London Duck.

This name supposedly comes from roasted ducks’ popularity in London’s Chinatown, as well as hotels like Four Seasons UK.

The ducks themselves are actually flown in from Ireland’s famous Silver Hill Farm.

Touted as the wagyu of ducks, these ducks are raised cage-free on a diet of grains and natural spring water. 

Once at Tao, they’re put through a three-day drying process which crisps up the skin beautifully when roasting.

The resulting meat is tender, juicy, without a hint of gaminess, and it has a fat amount that’s just right, blanketed by a super crispy skin. Chef Tommy Choong, who helms Tao, told us that with their method, the duck skin is able to still stay crispy for half an hour when left out.

It’s clear to see why this dish deserves its spot as a Tao signature, and one that we couldn’t get enough of.

Festive with a flair for fusion

But what about that “refreshing blend of traditional recipes reinvented” that Tao assures diners get to enjoy?

For our set, which was the Majestic Set (9-course menu), we got to see Chef Tommy’s expertise in Cantonese cuisine, coupled with his flair for fusion in several dishes.

Namely, the Braised Seafood Treasure Broth with Black Truffle Paste, Braised Mushroom, Abalone, Fortune Money Bag & Seasonal Vegetables with Abalone Sauce, and the Chilled Snow Bird’s Nest, Aloe Vera, Roselle & Hawthorne Syrup.

The truffle in the seafood broth was very indulgent, strong and slightly overpowering the seafood flavours, which could be polarising. We personally enjoyed it a lot. 

You would expect the abalone to be the standout ingredient in the Braised Mushroom, Abalone, Fortune Money Bag & Seasonal Vegetables with Abalone Sauce dish, but what lingers in our memories is actually the Fortune Money Bag.

Chef Tommy incorporates tobiko (fish eggs) and the filling is reminiscent of otak-otak, quite different from the expected filling of shrimp and pork (or chicken, for pork-free versions).

The Chilled Snow Bird’s Nest could be a bit of an acquired taste for those used to the plainer flavours of regular bird’s nest desserts, as the roselle and hawthorne syrup were quite tart and sweet.

In other set menus, dishes touched by fusion include the “Lei Cha” Fried Rice with Mix Vegetables, and the Stir-Fried Mixed Fungus with Black Truffle Paste Stuffed in Fortune Money Back, for some examples.

The classics

More traditional dishes in our Majestic Set were the:

• Grilled Boneless Chicken Roll with Spicy Sesame Sauce (comes with the Roasted London Duck)
• “Hong Kong” style Steamed Red Snapper
• Wok-Fried Tiger Prawns with Butter Oat
• Steamed Mini Lotus Leaf Rice with Yam
• Steamed Nyonya “Ninko” with Shredded Coconut

The “Hong Kong” style Steamed Red Snapper was the most memorable for me, it wasn’t fishy, and the light sauce complemented the fish’s naturally mild sweetness. 

The flesh itself was perfectly soft and flakey, and we could see ourselves being satisfied with just this and a bowl of white rice.

Not forgetting the yee sang, a hallmark of CNY celebrations, our table enjoyed Tao’s Yee Sang with Salmon & Crystal Pear. It was sweet, savoury, and tart all at once. 

The freshness of ingredients is what I really think sets a good yee sang apart from a mediocre one, and Tao’s picks were as fresh as could be, down to the Crystal Pear flown in from Korea.

Tao has five different yee sang options, and each set comes with its own yee sang. They are also available for ala carte with add-ons.

Yee Sang	Half Set	Full Set
Yee Sang with Abalone, Snow Crab Stick & Baby Octopus	RM208+	RM368+
Yee Sang with Soft Shell Crab & Salmon Skin	RM148+	RM258+
Yee Sang with Salmon & Crystal Pear	RM138+	RM238+
Yee Sang with Dragon, Star Jelly & Chia Seed	RM118+	RM208+
Yee Sang with Shredded Roasted London Duck	RM138+	RM238+

Tao’s take on Chinese cuisine might not be for those who prefer their classics untouched, but it’s a breath of fresh air that we think those more adventurous would appreciate.

Available from now until February 24, 2024 for dine in at Tao, here are the six sets:

• Majestic Set (9-course) – RM2,388+ per table of 10 persons
• Ethereal Set (9-course) – RM2,888+ per table of 10 persons
• Legendary Set (9-course) – RM3,688+ per table of 10 persons
• Renewal Set (9-course, vegetarian) – RM1,888+ per table of 10 persons
• Mystic Set (8-course) – RM988+ per table of four persons
• Radiance Set (9-course) – RM1,299+ per table of six persons

• Learn more about Tao Chinese Cuisine’s offerings here.
• Read more of our reviews here.

All images credit: Vulcan Post

The two big things for ASUS this year seem to be AI-powered features and 16-inch screens, regardless of whether you’re looking at their productivity or gaming-centric laptops.

At the 2024 launch event today, ASUS spotlighted the Vivobook 16 (A1605), Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405), Zenbook DUO, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), and TUF Gaming F16 (2024). 

With quite a few laptops to go through, we’ll focus on some of the more interesting ones.

ASUS Zenbook DUO

The Zenbook DUO isn’t the predecessor to the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, if you were wondering. It’s in a category of its own, and will please fans who want more screen real estate but dislike the look and utility of just one large, foldable screen.

Made for multitasking and mobility on the go, the Zenbook DUO features dual 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED touchscreens, with a 120Hz refresh rate and 16:10 aspect ratio. The chassis measures just 14.6mm and features multiple ports and an audio jack.

The displays are joined by a lay-flat 180-degree hinge that expands your visual workspace to 19.8 inches, which can be used in a vertical or horizontal orientation for versatile work modes.

It comes with a rechargeable ASUS ErgoSense keyboard that can be fully detached, or placed on the lower display for a more traditional laptop experience. There’s also a built-in kickstand on the back of the laptop.

Altogether, this allows you to use the laptop in many ways. Aside from the traditional style, you can use each screen independently which is convenient when you need to work using a reference, and you can opt to have this in a top-bottom orientation.

Or, flip the laptop on its side and you get a side-by-side view of your work. For those who don’t want to bring the detachable keyboard around, the lower screen can be configured as a full-size virtual keyboard.

Internally, the Zenbook DUO boasts the latest generation of Intel processors, up to the all-new Core Ultra 9-H series, and has 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

The Intel Core Ultra processors feature Intel’s first integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to help unlock AI experiences on the PC, including low-latency AI computing, accelerated multitasking, advanced immersive graphics, and more.

The battery has also been redesigned to a 75 Wh high-capacity one with an extended lifespan that supports up to 20% more charging cycles than the previous generation. 

The Intel Core Ultra 7 processor variant of the Zenbook DUO will be available from February 19, 2024, onwards, and is priced at RM9,999. Meanwhile, the variant featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor will be coming to Malaysia at a later date.

ASUS TUF Gaming F16

A brand-new gaming laptop from ASUS, the TUF Gaming F16 has an upgraded chassis and a 16-inch display with a 16:10 ratio, giving users a 90% screen-to-body ratio.

It’s available with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX with 14 cores and 20 threads, ultrafast RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with NVIDIA Advanced Optimus for what ASUS assures will be long-lasting value for mainstream gamers.

A 90Wh battery will power your gaming needs too.

ASUS added that upgradeability is a key highlight of the TUF Gaming F16 with two memory and storage slots available for expansion. The laptop has also been tested to the new 2024 military-grade MIL-STD-810H standards for durability, including vibration, shock, altitude, and temperature resistance.

This will be available in Mecha Gray, and in two GPU options: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU-powered version (RM 5,999), and the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU-powered option (RM 6,299).

It should be on shelves from January 24, 2024, onwards.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 

The Zephyrus G16 has been completely redesigned and now features all-aluminium and ultra-sleek chassis designs.

This year, brand-new Intel and NVIDIA silicon with powerful AI acceleration features have also been added. Basically, this will supercharge your experience, be it with gaming or work.

The AI features include Microsoft Copilot in Windows, video conferencing tools like dynamic backgrounds and automatic gaze correction, and rendering technology like NVIDIA DLSS and Frame Generation. 

It’s also the first ROG OLED gaming laptop with ROG Nebula Display, and sports a 2.5K 240Hz display. 

This allows it to showcase true inky blacks, great colour accuracy, and provides gamers with a 0.2ms gray-to-gray response time for the cleanest image possible.

On the outside, the new aluminium CNC-machined chassis offers weight reduction, structural rigidity, and increased chassis space.

This design gives the laptop an edge-to-edge keyboard design, and larger and louder speakers (25% larger than the previous generation, with a 47% volume increase).

To increase precision in typing and scrolling as well as facilitate fluid gaming, the Zephyrus G16 comes with larger individual keycaps and a larger touchpad.

A new colourway, Platinum White, has been introduced, and the laptop also sports a new LED lighting array on the lid.

The Slash Lighting array traces a diagonal line across the lid, and has animated sequences and customisable unique patterns.

For a gaming laptop, it still boasts portability, measuring 1.49cm thick and weighing 1.85kg.

The ROG Zephyrus G16 starts at RM9,999 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 155H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 (105W) version will be available around the end of January.

The higher-end variants will come in around mid-February, with prices going up to RM14,999.

-//-

It’s still difficult to see AI features as more than just a buzzword in a lot of the consumer tech we have these days, but AI has been used to enhance user experience across devices and brands for quite a while now.

As an end user, I think while I might not yet be able to fully understand just what the AI is doing for me, I can definitely still appreciate better performance and utility in a device.

Plus, I’m always down for brands being bold enough to try something new.

• Learn more about the new ASUS laptops here.
• Read more of our ASUS content here.