Xiaomi might have been planning something interesting for its smartphone camera system. Reputable tipster Digital Chat Station found that the Chinese company has patented a DSLR-like camera zoom system for smartphones, which only uses a single camera on the rear.

Samsung Malaysia recently announced that the Galaxy K Zoom cameraphone is available in Malaysia for RM1699. Picking up from the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, the new Galaxy K Zoom offers a more compact chassis and a telescoping 10x optical zoom along with a 20.7MP BSI CMOS sensor. Other tech specs and features include an Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), Xenon Flash and a host of camera specific features. These features include AF/AE Separation (Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure Separation), Pro Suggest mode and Selfie Alarm so you can take quality pictures regardless of the situation.

Premium looks don't always mean premium performance, especially when the price of the mobile device isn't at a premium. Unfortunately, there aren't that many premium looking Android smartphones out there that both perform well and cost affordable but OPPO hope to change that perception with the OPPO R1, their second smartphone for the Malaysian midrange market. Does it fulfill all of the above? Read our full review about the OPPO R1 to find out.

Samsung has finally confirmed the existance of a successor to the previous smartphone and camera combo, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom with the official announcement of the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom. Utilizing the Samsung Galaxy S5 perforated casing design and a dedicated camera shutter button, the new Galaxy K Zoom incorporates a 10x optical zoom with a huge 20.7MP camera sensor. Thankfully, this time around the Galaxy K Zoom looks more like an ultra-compact point-and-shoot camera making it alot easier to carry around than the previous Galaxy S4 Zoom. Confirming many of the earlier rumoured features, tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy K zoom include:

• 1.7GHz hexa-core Samsung Exynos 5 processor (1.7GHz dual-core Cortex A15 + 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex A7)
• 2GB RAM
• 8GB storage + up to 64GB microSD (SDSC, SDHC, SDXC)
• 4.8-inch display (720 x 1280, 306ppi)
• 20.7MP rear camera (BSI CMOS, 1/2.3", F3.1 at 1x zoom ~ F6.3 at 10x zoom, 10x Optical zoom, OIS, Xenon flash + AF Assist LED light) 
• Supports 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, NFC, A-GPS + GLONASS
• 137.5 X 70.8 X 16.6(20.2)mm | 200g
• 2430mAh
• Android 4.4 KitKat

The camera samples for the Samsung Galaxy K cameraphone have already shown some tech specs of the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, but new pictures finally show the zoom lens of the more compact cameraphone. While it seems to be encased in a transparent or clear case it confirms that the zoom lens does not stick out so much and that the rear will indeed be covered in artificial leather. Tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy K so far include a 20MP camera sensor, 10x optical zoom, xenon flash, a 4.8-inch super AMOLED display, a Samsung Exynos 5 Hexa processor and 2GB worth of RAM. The design reminds us of a ultra-compact point and shoot camera from the back and we assume that it will look somewhat like the Samsung Galaxy S5 from the front. No news on pricing or Malaysia release dates yet though so stay tuned for more developments.

The upcoming successor to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom which was earlier thought to be called the Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom could be called the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom with camera samples of the cameraphone already appearing. The EXIF data in the picture states that the device has the model number of Samsung SM-C115. It also reveals tech specs like a 20MP camera sensor at a 4:3 aspect ratio along with 4mm focal length, f/3.1 aperture, 1/50s shutter speed and ISO 80. Unconfirmed tech specs and features include a 10x optical zoom and a zoom lens that doesn't stick out so much along with xenon flash, a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen and a hexa-core Samsung Exynos processor. Said to be coming with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom could be coming as early as 29 April 2014 at the Kapture the Moment event in Singapore. No news yet on Malaysia pricing or release dates but we'll keep you posted.

While we've already reported on a possible tech spec leak for the Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom, some new tech specs have leaked, this time on paper. Unfortunately, it isn't a document but more like a hand written note. It does however confirm that we could be seeing tech specs which include a 20MP camera sensor, 4.8-inch display, 2GB of RAM and Android 4.4.2 KitKat. However, this leak claims that the Galaxy S5 Zoom will be running a 1.6GHZ quad-core processor and not the 1.3GHz Samsung Exynos 5 Hexa as previously reported. Other new tech specs and features include a 10x optical zoom, Xenon flash and that the new Galaxy S5 Zoom will be more compact with a better hidden zoom lens. The previous Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom looked more like a midrange compact camera with it's jutting out zoom lens so we're hoping for a slimmer design when the Galaxy S5 Zoom comes out. No news when this might be or any specific Malaysia release dates or pricing but we're still hopeful nonetheless. Stay tuned for more updates.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom could soon see a successor with the Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom rumoured to be coming with upgraded tech specs and features. This rumour comes after the Galaxy S5 Zoom was spotted at the GFXBench database, showing off tech specs which includes a 1.3GHz hexa-core Samsung Exynos 5 Hexa processor, 2GB RAM, 19MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 4.8-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and Android 4.4.2. Check out the tech specs in the screenshot for yourself.

With 2014 already here, we look back at the year 2013 for all the awesome mobile phones to have come out in 2013 for Malaysia. There were quite a lot of them, so we picked based on innovation, performance, design and potential successfully delivered. In no specific order we list out the following mobile phones that rocked our world currently available with local Malaysia support as follows:

• HTC One - The First Good-looking Android Phone
• Sony Xperia Z - The First Stylish Water-proof smartphone
• Samsung Galaxy S4 series - A performance smartphone for every user
• Nokia Lumia 1020 - The Ultimate Cameraphone
• LG G2 - Best all-rounder performance with functional rear controls
• Sony Xperia Z1 - The most feature-filled smartphone
• Nokia Asha 500 series - Bringing hybrid smartphone capabilities to the masses
• Apple iPhone 5S - The world's first 64-bit smartphone with well-done fingerprint scanner
• Nokia Lumia 1520 - The Videographers phablet
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - The Ultimate Phablet with 3GB RAM
• Motorola Moto X - Always on and always listening
• Vivo Xplay 3S - World's first 2K display smartphone
• BlackBerry Z10 - World's first BlackBerry smartphone with no QWERTY keyboard

While compatibility with just the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Note 10.1 2014 Edition is one of the main constraints of the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch, this may no longer be the case as Samsung have announced that quite a few Galaxy devices are going to get compatible soon. This includes the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Note II as soon as they receive their Android 4.3 updates, which are currently being rolled out in phases. Following these are the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, S4 Active, Mega 5.8, Mega 6.3 and S4 Zoom. While the software update will again be released in phases, these devices will begin getting the update by the end of October. Bear in mind though that certain functions and features available for use on the Samsung Galaxy Gear will depend on the tech specs available to each device.