While we probably will never see this metal backed Samsung ATIV SE here in Malaysia, it is interesting to hear about it. While details have been hard to come by asides from a press render from @evleaks and that it may have a 5-inch full HD 1080p display, some news has come out about other tech specs. This includes that it will likely be following a higher-end Samsung Galaxy S4 version. This sounds a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE+ which includes a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and 13MP rear camera along with Windows Phone. Despite it being an older Galaxy S4, These tech specs still make this an up-to-date smartphone though with a release date expected in April 2014. Don't expect any Malaysia release dates or pricing though, as this is probably tied to Verizon (US) only.

We've always liked metal-clad Samsung smartphones, perhaps because most Samsung smartphones are made from plastic, but it seems that they may soon come out with a refresh of the Samsung ATIV S. Asides from being one of the few Samsung smartphones with a metal backside it is also one of the few Windows Phone 8 smartphones from Samsung as well. Leaked by master leaker @evleaks, the new Samsung ATIV SE looks to retain the same brushed metal backside as before but has some upgraded tech specs as well. These tech specs include Windows Phone 8.1 and 4G LTE along with a full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution screen. So far, it looks to be just a Verizon-only phone, so it probably won't have a Malaysia release date or pricing here. Still, stay tuned for the latest updates.

Imagine an x86 tablet doing a benchmark for Android devices like AnTuTu and you'll get some pretty high scores. Imagine that with the Samsung ATIV Q, one of the most powerful x86 based tablets in existance and you'll get AnTuTu scores that beat out everything else in the market. Thanks to the dual nature of the Samsung ATIV Q it was able to run the AnTuTu Benchmark and got an AnTuTu score of 54861. So far, the highest AnTuTu score was previously Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 devices with AnTuTu scores of around 33000 points.

Of course, this is by no means a fair apples vs oranges comparison since the Samsung ATIV Q is packing a very fast Intel Core i5 and 4GB of RAM while even the fastest smartphone is still limited to 2GB of RAM and a much more energy efficient processor and chipset. Will we ever see Intel Core i5's in Smartphones or smaller sized tablets? Probably not, as for that market, Intel is using the Atom based Silvermont range which have so far still not beaten the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. It does point towards a more promising future for Intel in mobile (and more powerful devices for us) if they manage to pull off the same sort of performance for the processors meant for the mobile market.

The Samsung ATIV Q Hybrid Tablet combines the best of two worlds from two different categories by combining a tablet with an ultrabook and Windows 8 with Android in one single device. Featuring a multi-mode hinge on the keyboard part, the ATIV Q can be used as a tablet, a notebook computer, a touchscreen desktop and a floating display. It is also no slouch in terms of tech specs which include:

• 4th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor
• Intel HD Graphics 4400
• 4GB DDR3L RAM
• 128GB SSD
• Camera (720p HD)
• 13.3-inch Touch display (3200 x 1800 pixels, 275ppi)
• Supports S Pen (1024 levels sensitivity)
• 327.0 x 217.8 x 13.9mm thick | 1.29kg
• Battery (Up to 9 hours)
• Supports 1x USB3.0, 1x USB2.0, HDMI, RJ45 (dongle), HP/Mic combo, micro SD
• Windows 8 + Android

Samsung recently released a teaser image for their upcoming Samsung Premiere 2013 event happening on 20 June 2013 in London. They will also be streaming the event live at www.youtube.com/SamsungMobile so you can watch it here in Malaysia as well. From the text it is clear that they intend to release something Galaxy and ATIV related and the chopped up image seems to suggest a new notebook computer or hybrid tablet. However, since the text also mentions Galaxy it could also mean an announcement on new Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung Malaysia recently announced the official release of the Samsung Ativ S, one of the company's premier Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Priced at RM1699, it doesn't really come as a surprise since we have seen it appear on local store shelves at the same price. What the official release does mean is that the Samsung Ativ S should now be available in most retail outlets and shops supporting Samsung smartphones.

As far as smartphones go, the Samsung Ativ S is in the upper mid-range with an 8MP camera and 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm snapdragon processor. The 4.8 inch Super AMOLED display offers great 1280 x 720 pixel resolutions though while a 2300 mAh battery ensures that you get a bit more battery life than the average smartphone.