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ASUS Malaysia recently announced that their online ecommerce portal, the ASUS Store is now officially open for business here in Malaysia. As mentioned earlier, key highlights of the site include the fact that ASUS devices like the ZenFone smartphones are sold at the recommended retail pricing. In addition, users have the option of paying for their devices either with Credit Card or cash on delivery (COD) so you don't need a credit card to get your favourite ZenFone. The first 20 ASUS Store customers who send in the redemption email can also get a free mystery gift while other freebies like a free bumper case for the ZenFone 4 smartphone are also available. ASUS Malaysia have said that more devices like the ASUS Fonepads, MeMO Pads and PadFones are expected to be sold at the ASUS Store soon, along with original accessories previously unavailable anywhere else.

Thanks to the GFX Benchmark database, we have some details about an upcoming ASUS ZenFone model. The device with the model number ASUS X002 was recently found in the database with a MediaTek processor. This marks a shift from the usual Intel processors found inside all the ZenFone models to date namely the ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6. Tech specs include a 64-bit quad-core Mediatek MT6732 processor along with Mali-T670 GPU, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage which is expandable up to 32GB and a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. An 8MP rear camera at the back seems to confirm that it is a ZenFone 5 variant but this one also comes with a 5MP front camera marking it possibly as a selfie camera (other ZenFones pack in a 2MP front camera). It also supports a single SIM card slot and 4G LTE connectivity. It is expected in CES 2015 next year with a Malaysia release a few months later, sometime around April. No Malaysia release dates or pricing yet but we expect a drop in price considering the MediaTek processor.

If you were waiting for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G variant, mark your calendars as Xiaomi Malaysia just announced that the device would be available for sale in the country from 11 December 2014. The news comes almost three weeks after Xiaomi announced the device back in Singapore. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G supports 4G TDD-LTE network unlike the regular 3G version. However, this isn't the only difference between the two devices. For example, the regular Redmi Note runs on a Mediatek processor unlike this variant which features a Snapdragon 400 Quad Core processor. The battery is smaller on the 4G version, 3100 mAh instead of 3200 mAh capacity and it weighs 10 grams less too. Also, the new device is expandable up to 64GB via MicroSD as opposed to 32GB on the Note 3G. Xiaomi has also removed the dual sim card slots in the 4G model. Other than these, tech specs and design are the same. You have a 8GB internal storage, 5.5inch IPS 720p display, 13MP  f/2.2 rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The Redmi Note 4G will be available to purchase for a retail price of RM589. Meanwhile, check out the detailed comparison between both the devices using our tech spec comparison tool.

Just a few days back we reported that HTC Malaysia was going to release the HTC Desire Eye smartphone and the HTC RE camera in the country on 5 December 2015. While we still have a day to go, a new report says that the second generation of this unique camera is already confirmed. According to Focus Taiwan, Jack Tong, the North Asia president of HTC confirmed that a new HTC Re camera was already under works and would be released sometime later in 2015. The device would be tailor made as a product for the mass consumer market. However, as of now, HTC has not yet revealed anything about this upcoming second generation of this everyday camera. The HTC Re is the company's first attempt at a standalone action camera and aims to compete with the likes of GoPro, but in a more casual manner. In fact, clicking pictures with this cylindrical shaped device is much easier than most other cameras in the market as it lets you shoot videos and capture images with just a click of a button. Given that the Re camera is releasing in Malaysia on 5 December 2015, expect concrete details like Malaysia availability and pricing in the next few days.

The Samsung Galaxy A7 has just passed the Chinese Telecommunication Equipment Certification Agency, TENAA which means that it may soon be announced in China. The Galaxy A7 is a part of Samsung's recently established 'A' series which also includes the Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5. According to the TENAA page, the device will be the thinnest smartphone from Samsung at just 6.3mm in thickness which makes it even thinner than the recently announced A5 which measures in at 6.7mm. The tech specs of the device are pretty impressive with a 64-bit 1.5GHz octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB storage which is not expandable. On the front, there is a large 5.5 inch 1080p display. The rear camera measures in at 13MP while the front camera is at 5MP. The phone supports high speed 4G LTE networks and runs on Android 4.4 Kitkat OS. While we expect a Malaysia release of the device, the one that hit TENAA had the model number SM-A7009, which is probably the Chinese variant of the device. Malaysia pricing and availability will be updated once the device is officially announced by Samsung.

The Nexus 6 is probably one of the best Android phablets available in the market today. It comes with a great design as well as top end features which makes it better than most other phones in the market. But when Google announced this phablet a few weeks back, the company just mentioned that it was water resistant. So, unlike other competitors like the Sony Xperia Z3 and the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Nexus 6 wasn't IP certified. However, that didn't stop a user from testing the device under water. In a YouTube video uploaded a few days back, the user submerged his Nexus 6 in the bathtub to see whether it would work underwater. Surprisingly, even without the IP67 rating, Google's latest flagship survived the quick bath. In fact, as you will see in the video below, he could even charge it under water, which clearly shows that you won't have to worry about accidentally dropping your device in water. Recent Motorola devices come with a special nano-coating which makes them water resistant. It was seen earlier that the Moto G as well as the latest Moto X 2014 could survive a dip in water, thanks to this coating. So, it looks like the same coating makes Nexus 6 water proof to some extent too.

Samsung is going back to its roots to develop the new Samsung Galaxy flagship. The initiative called as 'Project Zero' internally aims to develop a new flagship that stands out from the crowd. However, it looks like the company will be sticking to its usual naming scheme for the upcoming smartphone. SamMobile reports that the next Samsung flagship will be called the Samsung Galaxy S6. They have been right many times in the past few years especially when it comes to Samsung's plans, hence this report could be true. The website further reveals that the company is also planning to launch another variant of the flagship alongside the regular model called the Galaxy S6 edge. Judging from the name, the S6 edge could be curved display variant of the device, just like the Galaxy Note Edge. Expected tech specs of the Galaxy S6 include a 64-bit Exynos 7420 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 32/64/128GB storage, quad HD 2560 x 1440 pixel display and a 20MP rear camera. However, it is still early to confirm any of these reports, so make sure you take this news with a pinch of salt.

While we have seen smartphones with unique button placements like in the LG G3, a new Chinese based manufacturer is looking to develop a smartphone with no physical button at all. So, the phone will have a clean design with just a display up front. It will be called the Manta X7 and will run on the company's custom OS, built on top of Android called MO7os. As the device is still under development, no concrete details are available about how it works. But simple operations like powering up the phone and controlling volume could be via gesture controls. For example, it is said that one side of the phone will feature a unique thumb tracking technology which will detect the user's thumb and adjust the phone's dialer. This would make one handed operating very easy, even if the phone is large in size. Moreover, other controls such as turning volume up or down, accessing apps etc could be via some sensors in the bezels or smart gestures in the OS. Hardware details are scarce, but some speculate that it will run on a Mediatek processor. It is also doubtful whether the phone would be released outside of China, hence, we don't expect it to hit Malaysian markets anytime soon.

Google's Project ARA isn't the only modular smartphone under development. A Finnish startup by the name of Circular Devices has just announced a new project, called the Puzzlephone. As the name suggests, it is a modular smartphone with replaceable parts which can be put together like a puzzle. However, you can't replace everything on this phone like Project ARA.  It is made up of three different components namely the brain, spine and heart. The brain consists of electronic components like the processor and the camera. The spine includes speakers, main buttons, microphone and display while the hear houses the phone's battery and other secondary components. You can swap each of these modules to upgrade your device.

Earlier this year, the OnePlus One stirred the market with its flagship killer features and affordable pricing. Now, we are hearing that the existing flagship will soon be replaced by the second generation model called the OnePlus Two. Company director, Carl Pei recently said that they were planning to announce the OnePlus Two in Q2 or Q3 next year. This confirms the earlier rumors about a Q2 2015 launch of the next OnePlus flagship.

“We are planning to announce the OnePlus Two in Q2 or Q3 next year,” Pei said. “So it is one year after this phone [OnePlus One].

OnePlus has not yet revealed anything about its upcoming flagship, but sources at Business Insider hint that the device will come with surprises. Meanwhile, the company is looking forward to launch the device in Malaysia. In fact, they have an opening for the position of General Manager in Malaysia at the moment. Given that OnePlus One is now available in India, we expect a Malaysia release soon as well. But if you can't wait for a few more months, you can purchase the device online for about RM1250 to RM1350 from third party sellers.