Latest Reviews

While the smartband and smartwatch seems to have fizzled out a little, the devices coming out are starting to offer some real value. This includes the Sony SmartBand Talk SWR-30 which was recently announced for Malaysia at RM579. A step up than the usual fitness tracker Sony SmartBand, the SmartBand Talk SWR30 packs in a 1.4-inch e-ink display with 288 x 128 pixel resolution. You can also talk directly to it, issuing voice commands, making and answering calls and so forth, and it is also IP68 certified water resistant. We did an unboxing video to see what else you get in the box which you can see in this article.

The trend for thin metal-body smartphones continues as companies chase the coveted title of "World's thinnest smartphone". The title isn't just about making the device as thin as possible, as a balance must be met where these super-thin devices must be both strong and functional. The vivo X5Max once held this title with a 4.75mm thin body but the Malaysian version of the device only comes in at 5.08mm thin. While this is still very thin does this version manage to retain functional features and sturdy construction at the same time? We find out in our review of the Malaysian version of the vivo X5Max below.

The ASUS ZenFone 2 is shaping up to be the flagship killer smartphone of 2015 and we managed to get our hands on the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML packing in tech specs that include 4GB RAM, 32GB storage and more. Priced at RM1099, we did an unboxing video to see what else comes in the box. While there aren't that many surprises it does offer a good bundle for the price. Check it out for yourself in the ZenFone 2 ZE551ML unboxing video in this article.

We go hands-on with the thin yet premium vivo X5Max. Priced at RM1799, the smartphone features a mix of midrange to high-end tech specs. However, the X5Max used to be known as the world's thinnest smartphone but the version we have here in Malaysia is 5.08mm thin and not the record-breaking 4.75mm thin of the international version. There are pros to this as it means that our Malaysian vivo X5Max comes with a larger 2300 mAh battery. Truth be told, we hardly noticed the difference but you can see for yourself in the video in this article.

The Huawei Honor 6 Plus was recently launched alongside the Honor 4C at the recent Honor Malaysia 1st Anniversary Celebrations and introduced a number of interesting features which included a Kirin 925 processor, dual parallel rear camera with dual LED flash and more. Priced at RM1399, Honor Malaysia were kind enough to drop off the Honor 6 Plus for review here at TechNave.com and we've done a quick unboxing. While the usual suspects of a pair of headphones, a charger and microUSB cable were revealed the unboxing also showed that Honor Malaysia have also packed along dual screen protectors for the front and back. Now if only all of us had the skills to put it on with no bubbles. We're certainly thankful for the extra value Honor Malaysia have added to the Honor 6 Plus package but we'll probably look up some more skilled help for the screen protector application. The hands-on and review are coming soon so stay tuned for those but for now you can check out our unboxing video in this article.

While the vivo X5Max for Malaysia isn't as thin as the international version, it remains one of the thinnest metal smartphones in the market. Retailing at RM1799, tech specs and features for the vivo X5Max include a quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU processor with 2 GB RAM. The device also has 16 GB internal storage + microSD (up to 128 GB (uses SIM 2 slot)) and a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display. It has a 13MP rear camera and supports Wifi, GPS, 3G and 4G LTE. Our unboxing video reveals some extra freebies which include a more premium headset along with a thin and clear plastic casing, perhaps to help protect the metal back. Stay tuned for the hands-on video and full review in a bit but for now, check out our unboxing video in this article.

While we've already had some hands-on time with the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML, this time around we managed to try out the red ZenFone 2 ZE551ML along with some gaming and even VR (Virtual Reality). As per the previous ZenFone series, low-light performance is definitely better than before with clearer images but the new additions to hardware also ensure that all the enhancements get done quickly and smoothly. The Super HDR mode in particular gets even faster autofocus than before with better backlight performance. Retaining the same rounded back with concentric circle design on the lower front panel as before the standard ZenFone 2 now comes with a brushed metal back in either black, gold, red, silver or white.  While it is still plastic, the shiny back cover is attractive enough to get a second glance or two so even if you don't get the new fusion or illusion pattern back covers, the standard covers still look and feel awesome.

The larger Microsoft Lumia 640 XL recently passed into our hands for a little hands-on of the 5.7-inch display Lumia smartphone. Other notable tech specs include a 13MP rear camera with ZEISS lens and a 5MP front camera. Unlike the Lumia 640, the larger Lumia 640 XL has a matte back with a raised camera perhaps due to the ZIESS lens and larger sensor size. Despite the larger screen, we found the Lumia 640 XL to be surprisingly comfortable in the hand with a fairly thin profile despite being 9mm thick. At 171g it weighs lighter than most phablets but do check out our hands-on photos below for yourself.

The recently released Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM is the slightly smaller smartphone compared to the Lumia 640 XL but for Windows Phone users it does offer a much larger screen than most are used to. That being said, the Lumia 640 is slimmer and more compact with a glossy surface backside. Like most other Lumias the Lumia 640 felt quite solid but still quite lightweight at 145g. The 8MP rear camera is flat compared to the other smartphone though and looks sleeker as well. Check out our hands-on photos in this article.

When you say local Malaysian brand you don't often equate that with quality products, instead you tend to say cheap build and affordable pricing instead. The IPRO Livepad 8.9 tablet keeps that affordable perception but offers a premium full metal frame covered by tempered glass on the front and back in a beautiful flat and thin design. Truth be told, we haven't seen a tablet of this quality in some non-local brands for a while and to top it off it is going for a promotional price of RM699. How can something so cheap be so awesome? And can you replace your laptop with it? We find out all the details in our review of the very much value-added IPRO Livepad 8.9 tablet below.