Following its announcement on 13 November, Valve’s Steam Machine hybrid console has raised questions from the gaming community regarding its price point, but now, Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais has revealed that its cost will be more in line with that of a regular PC.

Speaking on Skill Up’s Friends Per Second podcast, Griffais explained that the Steam Machine will target comparable PCs on the market, with the aim to provide a “good deal” for the amount of performance it can push out.

“If you build a PC from parts and get to basically the same level of performance, that’s the general price window that we aim to be at,” Griffais explained “Ideally, we’d be pretty competitive with that and have a pretty good deal, but we’re working on refining that as we speak. Right now is just a hard time to have a really good idea of what the price is gonna be.”

When asked if the Steam Machine will see the same subsidies as other consoles on the market, like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, Griffais said that it would not, although he added that Valve will try to remain competitive in terms of price versus the performance of the hardware on offer.

“Obviously our goal is for it to be a good deal at that level of performance, and then, you have features that are actually really hard to build if you’re making your own gaming PC from parts.” he added, noting that these include the hybrid console’s portable size, its low noise level, or the ability to be used with a TV remote or be switched on using a controller, further reiterating that the Steam Machine is “not really something that exists in the PC market right now”, making price planning a challenge at this point.

With the current generation of gaming consoles already being rather expensive due to price bumps over the years, the PS5 comes in at S$669 and S$799 for its digital and disc versions, respectively, while the Xbox Series X and S cost S$799 and S$469.9, it remains to be seen just how expensive the Steam Machine will get, but even if it does turns out to be pricey, let’s hope the hardware it packs is powerful enough to justify its cost.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Valve’s Steam Machine Hybrid Console Will Be Priced Like A PC appeared first on Geek Culture.

Amazon Singapore is transforming the traditional shopping experience in time for Black Friday, as the e-commerce giant is turning the Suntec City Atrium into an interactive gift discovery space on 22 and 23 November 2025.

Promising to combine deal-hunting and entertainment, the Holiday Giftorium will kick off the shopping journey with a personality quiz to determine a shopper’s unique gift shopping persona, placing them into different categories such as a “heart-led Mood Gifter” or a “one-click Convenience Champion” to streamline their experience and make it easier for them to decide on the perfect gift for their loved ones.

Shoppers will then enter the main Giftorium via a giant slide into a ball pit, where they can then embark on an exciting treasure hunt through various themed rooms featuring a curated selection of potential gifts. Each space will also offer ample opportunities for social-media-worthy moments, alongside the ability to go hands-on with the latest gadgets, try on trending beauty products, or pick out the latest toys and gizmos, with shoppers selecting anything they fancy via the Amazon app on their mobile devices.

In addition, every shopper will get a chance to walk away with a goodie bag at the end of their shopping journey, alongside one of four limited-edition Amazon.sg plushie charm designs (dinosaur, headphones, dumbbell, or Amazon package). Goodie bags and plushies will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, with limited stocks available.

Apart from the weekend festivities, Amazon Singapore has also launched its 12-day Black Friday sale from 20 November to 1 December 2025, offering the perfect opportunity for savings across all categories, from electronics to toys and home appliances, featuring deals of up to 40% off from brands like LEGO, Hasbro, Dyson, SharkNinja, Sennheiser. It might also be a good time to get a Nintendo Switch 2 console at up to S$100 off.

To get started on your Black Friday shopping spree, be sure to harvest the various exclusive vouchers and redeem daily flash vouchers at 12pm and 6pm daily. To top it all off, don’t forget to buy an Amazon.sg Gift Card worth S$220 to receive an extra S$15 credit, from 20 November to 1 December.

Amazon Singapore’s Black Friday Giftorium will run on 22 and 23 November 2025 at the Suntec City Atrium (Convention Centre) at level 1, from 12pm to 9pm.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Amazon Singapore Reimagines Shopping Experience With Black Friday Holiday Giftorium At Suntec City appeared first on Geek Culture.

Wireless headphones are a dime a dozen, but an audiophile-grade option remains elusive. Sennheiser, long known for its superior audio quality, seeks to transform this vision into reality with the HDB 630 headset, and it has made further strides than most, if not all, of the competition.

Inheriting the same chassis from its Momentum 4 lineup, it lacks the sophisticated polish expected of a S$749 price tag, preferring instead to let its acoustics and comfort speak for themselves. The all-new Japanese protein leatherette, paired with breathable ear cushions, offers an ergonomic fit, and there’s hardly any clamping force or fatigue even after two or three hours of extended use.

Active noise cancellation has never been Sennheiser’s strong suit, so don’t expect groundbreaking performance here. While the HDB 630 blocks out everyday noise, such as speaking voices and commuting sounds, fairly well, higher-decibel audio is often able to creep its way in, making it more ideal for indoor environments.

Where the headset excels is in music delivery, especially after some manual fine-tuning. Boasting a near-neutral profile, tight bass, and fine detail, it gives the mids more room to shine, with the introduction of Parametric EQ allowing users to adjust various settings.

Check out our full review in the video above.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Sennheiser HDB 630 Hi-Res Headphones — Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

So you’ve just picked up the latest Apple iPhone 17 Pro, but as much as you want, you just don’t have any more funds to get the accompanying AirPods. But as luck would have it, those aren’t the only performance noise-cancelling earphones that can help immerse yourself in your favourite true crime podcast on your daily commute home.

All of a sudden, you hear a dial tone and see your mom calling, “Are you coming back for dinner? Are you on the train? I can’t hear you at all!” The folks over at Nothing, the UK-based and China-produced brand responsible for single-handedly bringing the 90s back with its transparent casing aesthetic, must’ve received one too many calls from their parents for them to try something new with the latest Nothing Ear (3) — what if we made them a walkie-talkie too? Nothing introduced this walkie-talkie through their new Super Mic, which transforms its case into a push-to-talk microphone, but more on that later.

Coming in with a reasonable S$259 price tag, it’s a clear signal that this iteration is meant to go toe-to-toe with popular premium options like the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Apple AirPods Pro 3. In fact, there are many features here that are quite similar to those offered by Apple. And when you pull it out of the box, which comes with a nice transparent lid for the top half of the square charging case (more handy than you think), it tells you that the pods are in the case. Compared to earlier models from Nothing, the bottom half is now replaced with recycled aluminium instead of plastic, allowing the case to be fully charged via both USB-C in slightly over an hour or about two via Qi wireless charging. 

Putting money where their mouth is, Nothing has also paid attention to the minutiae, by providing two inconspicuous holes for you to tie a lanyard loop (not that we’ve met anyone who has actually attached a lanyard to the casing of their earphones, but it’s still a nice detail). Nothing sent us a white set to review, but you can also opt to have them in black for all our dark mode aficionados.

So what’s different here? How about a big shiny “Talk” button on the rim of the charging case. Holding it down will bring forth the Ear (3)’s headline act — the activation of two MEMS microphones that use beamforming to isolate your voice from background noise of up to 95 dB. You can hold the button down to take down some quick voice notes, or double-press it to lock it on for calls. It’ll take some getting used to — it isn’t the most intuitive to be holding up and speaking to your charging case out in public, especially when your earbuds or phone could arguably act as greater natural hands-free options. You’ll forget that the Ear (3)’s case even had that function — only reminded when the “Talk” button gets toggled accidentally while you’re digging for something in your pockets.

When you actually attempt to use the Super Mic as advertised, it works really well across most major apps, including Google Meet and WhatsApp, though compatibility can feel like a hassle. It won’t work with your Android or Apple camera app, only those that allow manual microphone selection. Even after finding an app that works, there’s noticeable audio lag, which can be quite jarring and off-putting for all the aspiring vloggers. Despite its innovation, its most compelling use case (recording voice notes for creatives with fleeting thoughts that need to be captured in the moment) differs significantly from Nothing’s marketing focus, and it’s rendered all the more futile for users outside of the Nothing ecosystem who don’t have access to its added functionality.

But not all is lost, as the Ear (3)’s are extremely plug-and-play. Using Bluetooth 5.4, the earbuds support the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs as well as LDAC, allowing them to deliver higher-quality streaming on supported devices. On top of that is a low-latency mode that can be enabled via the Nothing app (more on that later) that brings the end-to-end delay down to below 120 milliseconds for gaming and videos, and an option to allow pairing to two devices simultaneously.

Once you put them on, you’ll notice that the shape of the earbuds has been tweaked ever so slightly to accommodate extended listening sessions. They feel light, but most importantly, they fit securely and create a pretty good seal for most ears, and even with extended use, they passed the ‘mid-afternoon post-work jog in hot and humid Singapore’ test. Like many in the market, its stalks have tactile squeeze controls for playback, noise cancelling, volume, or to bring up your voice assistant, and they can even be customised to your liking. A strange thing to note is that despite a custom antenna which has been touted to improve power and signal sensitivity, you’ll still encounter interference at crowded street intersections, leading to brief connectivity glitches and uncomfortable fax-machine-esque noises.

The Ear (3)’s sound energetic, and work best for listening to pop hits with high-frequency vocals and isolated/synthy bass thumps — basically anything from Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album. They offer great value for money when it comes to the listening department, providing plenty of detail and solid separation of tones. Turning on the spatial audio option creates an even bigger soundscape overall, but you might have to tinker with the EQs, as its default bass and treble emphasis may come off as too boomy, resulting in some vocals sounding a tad bit distant.

All of this can be mitigated thanks to the excellent customisation available in the Nothing X app. You can immediately notice essentials like battery life (of both the case and the earbuds), and switch between noise-cancelling and transparency modes with ease on its front page. Beyond that, you can tweak other options such as Bass Enhancement, and even dive deeper into an Advanced Mode for the equaliser, enabling manual adjustments over eight frequency bands together with Q factors. But if you’re like us and you have no idea what sounds the best for your ears, Nothing has got you covered with an ear test, like Apple has, within the app itself (under the Personal Sound Profile), that’ll run some frequencies through your buds while you have them on, calibrating them to the frequencies your eardrums respond to best.

Nothing claims a 45-decibel reduction when you have your Ear (3)’s on noise-cancelling, with low, medium, high and adaptive options to adjust the level of noise-cancellation. All do a decent job of dampening general background noise and low rumbles from a morning train commute, managing higher tones such as cafe chatter better than its predecessors. It’s nothing to shout about, but they get the job done. The transparency mode is also pretty decent, albeit sounding slightly artificial. Wind appears to be a weakness in both, with gusts of wind still being audible regardless of which mode you have your Ear (3)’s on.

There’s also the battery, which is pretty run-of-the-mill. With noise cancellation off, Nothing boasts 11 hours of use per charge without a case, and 43 hours with one. From our experience, it’ll last you anywhere from a few days to a week of regular usage.

All things considered, Nothing has tried swinging for the fences with this set of earbuds, making the unique selling point of their Nothing Ear (3)’s, nothing to do with the Ear (3) but with a case that doubles as a walkie-talkie. Despite being priced higher than previous iterations of the Ear, they maintain the Nothing DNA: good sounds, reasonable noise cancellation, solid battery life, and a ridiculous amount of customisation. While the Super Mic’s adaptability and functionality leave much to be desired, it lays the foundation of a novel idea that could potentially be revolutionary.

Yong Le

Everything changed when his parents bought him a PlayStation 2 for Christmas. Since then, he’s been hooked on all things esports, video games, and music. If he’s not livestreaming his shenanigans, he’s probably out taking mirror-selfies with his friends, vigorously debating over the Internet’s Meme of the Year.

The post Nothing Ear (3) — Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

Android devices and iPhones have traditionally gotten along as well as oil and water, but recent developments, such as OPPO’s O+ Connect app, are slowly bridging the file-sharing divide. Now, Google has some welcome news to share — its Pixel 10 smartphones will allow users to share data with Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs of any variety, via Quick Share.

To do so, owners of the Apple device are required to change their AirDrop settings to “Everyone for 10 Minutes”, with support documentation confirming two-way functionality. Per the announcement post on Google’s security blog, the feature is “direct and peer-to-peer, meaning your data is never routed through a server, shared content is never logged, and no extra data is shared.”

The tech juggernaut also highlighted that Apple wasn’t involved in the process, with a company spokesperson telling WIRED, “We accomplished this through our own implementation. Our goal is to provide an easy and secure file-sharing experience for our users, regardless of who they are communicating with.”

Cross-platform compatibility is big news for non-Apple users, considering how Quick Share has only worked between Android devices up until now. AirDrop support rolls out today to Google’s latest-gen series, comprising the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, with plans to expand it to older models sometime in the future.

There’s no word on whether the feature will eventually be available on other Android phones, but fingers crossed.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Google Pixel 10 Phones Roll Out AirDrop Support For Quick Share appeared first on Geek Culture.

The tech scene is no stranger to the numbers race. Even as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to gain steam, it’s still back to the basics with hardware, with more powerful cameras, faster processors, and sturdier builds, all mapped out in math figures that, in general, translate to “the bigger, the better.” 

OPPO’s latest flagship smartphone, the Find X9 Pro, adopts the approach, touting a whopping 200-megapixel (MP) telephoto shooter that builds on its existing Hasselblad-branded imaging prowess. It’s not just for show, though, cementing the device as one of the best mobile cameras on the current market that, alongside an upgraded chip, covers all bases for day-to-day use. Parts of its design identity are lost due to a certain fruity inspiration, and gaming performance can be inconsistent in more demanding titles, but there’s little else to grouse about and plenty to love. 

Coming from its predecessor, the most prominent change is the look. Gone is the distinctive circular cutout on the rear, and in its place a pill-shaped module and two round ones, housed within a squarish block. It also comes in two colours: Silk White and Titanium Charcoal, with the former adding an elegant shimmer to the body, and the satin-like surface proving effective at keeping fingerprints at bay. The aesthetic tweak is a bit of a mixed bag, as while the previous back design may not be everyone’s cup of tea, switching it up entirely chips away at the Find X personality, resulting in a more generic finish. 

On the sides are two new buttons that would be familiar to Apple users. The Snap Key, replacing the old ringer switch, sits on the left edge and can be programmed to quick-launch apps or perform certain actions, accompanied by a dedicated, right-aligned Quick Button that offers a shortcut to the Camera app. Double-tapping brings it up, after which the button turns into a shutter and zoom dial. The influence of its Western counterpart is hardly subtle, but the additional usefulness has its place, especially since the Quick Button feels more intuitive and responsive to control. 

All of that, including a USB-C port, a volume rocker, and the power button, is packed into a similar chassis to before. Measuring 161.26 x 76.46 x 8.25mm (versus 162.27 x 76.67 x 8.24mm), the OPPO Find X9 Pro is slightly heavier at 224 grams, with the lack of flex under applied force serving as a testament to its solid physical build. Water and dust resistance is also a step up from the IP68 industry standard, now rated IP69 for improved protection against submersion and high-pressure water jets from any angle. 

Likewise, there are minimal changes to the 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display (2,772 x 1,272 pixels), which retains support for a 120Hz refresh rate and a pixel density of 450 PPI. Peak brightness has dropped from 4,500 nits to 3,600 nits – still bright enough for outdoor use, even in sunny Singapore – on the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, designed for toughened durability. 

The screen works no differently from what users would expect, delivering deep blacks and natural, lively colours across all sorts of viewing content, as well as sharp detail and fluid visuals in high-motion scenes. Parked underneath is a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that proves snappy and reliable at unlocking, wet and oily fingers notwithstanding. 

Unlike most of its Android brethren and following family tradition, the OPPO Find X9 Pro swaps out the more widely used Snapdragon 8 Series chipset for the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, pairing it with a Mali Drage MC12 GPU. In theory, it boasts beefy power rivalling other top dogs, excelling particularly in the single-core segment (that’s to say, strong single-app performance), demonstrated through seamless user interface (UI) and app navigation. 

Gaming capabilities are equally impressive, if slightly more inconsistent. The device runs various titles smoothly, showing little to no signs of stutter or lag for the most part, but particle-heavy set pieces, such as when certain characters trigger their animated Ultimate ability sequences in Honkai: Star Rail, reveal some evident frame rate drops. It bounces back quickly enough, though, with above-average graphical fidelity at standard settings, softening the hit. Due to the heavier weight, fatigue may set in earlier than expected during extended gaming sessions. 

In terms of the operating system, the OPPO Find X9 Pro comes outfitted with the company’s ColorOS 16.0 on top of Android 16, and it’s nothing new for existing Android users. There are a couple of touch-ups to aesthetic elements like the pop-up animation and fonts, while the persistent issue of bloated pre-installed apps, as well as their cluttered default layout, remains. 

Mobile photography is where the fun (and its expertise) lies. Alongside two 50MP cameras (main and ultrawide) on the rear, a 200MP 3X telephoto shooter – established earlier as the headliner – turns the OPPO Find X9 Pro into an imaging powerhouse for the regular Joe, especially in the zoom department. Armed with a 1/1.56-inch sensor, the main camera produces crisp, punchy images and balanced exposure in natural lighting, without the oversaturated tint that some of the competition offer. 

As with most smartphone cameras, there are instances of over-sharpening or excessive digital processing, most prominently seen in high dynamic range (HDR) shots – framing a Mulan performer during the character parade at Disneyland Shanghai against the bright sky, for instance, brought the contrast up to unnatural levels. Otherwise, the main snapper is a beast, retaining detail and a good balance of shadows and highlights in low light. Noise and flare aren’t a concern, either. 

Switching over to the ultrawide camera, performance is nearly identical and nothing short of competent, although the slight loss of detail and the occasional excessive digital processing knock it down a peg. Naturally, the upgraded 200MP telephoto snapper steals the show with welcome versatility, allowing for a seamless transition between wide snaps and close-ups without sacrificing quality, thanks to support for native 50MP capture at 6X and lossless zoom at up to 13.2X.

What this translates to are beautiful, detailed portraits with soft, natural bokeh and natural-looking colours, even when shot from a fair distance away. Keeping the subject within 10X zoom is ideal, as the AI-powered image recovery and upscaling capabilities beyond that eliminate a fair amount of detail from the original. For those seeking stronger camera chops, an optional Hasselblad-engineered teleconverter lens offers up to 40X zoom, proving handy for street, wildlife, and sports photography at the cost of being less pocket-friendly. 

The front camera is decent, and existing photography features, such as XPAN mode, which captures ultra-wide panoramic photos with a 65:24 aspect ratio to recreate the experience of the classic Hasselblad XPan camera, and light painting, allow for creative experimentation and shooting.

Battery life also sees a bump, and a significant one to boot. The OPPO Find X9 Pro packs a substantial 7,500mAh battery, up from 5,910mAh previously, that can last for two days on a single charge. It’s a ballpark, on-paper figure, but real-world testing indicated fairly accurate results, with intensive mixed use – watching videos, browsing social media, gaming, and replying to chats on the highest brightness, and with always-on display enabled – clocking a 10 to 12 percent drop after an hour. Of course, mileage will vary across individuals, but a full day of use can easily be achieved (and more for lighter workloads). 

Should the device run out of juice, support for 80-watt fast charging gets it up to speed in under an hour, with 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging for power sharing, serving as alternatives. 

Other notable capabilities come from ColorOS 16.0, including a new Dynamic Island-adjacent feature and existing ones like file sharing and remote control via the O+ Connect app for both PC and Mac, Mind Space, which saves screenshots and voice notes throughout the day for reference at a later date, and AI Studio. Standard tools, such as translation, a voice recorder with transcribing support, and Google’s Gemini and Circle to Search, are also available. 

The OPPO Find X series is no stranger to commanding attention, and it hasn’t changed here. At S$1,599 for the fixed configuration of 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, the Find X9 Pro leans towards the pricier side, but knocks it out of the park with stellar, well-rounded performance. It scores praise in all key aspects, and users will be hard-pressed to find genuine criticism beyond nitpicking. 

Now, if only it could retain some elements of its signature look…

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post OPPO Find X9 Pro – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

[Snapdragon flew us out to San Diego for Snapdragon X Deep Dive Architecture 2025. All experiences were hosted, but no additional compensation was received.]

As the leading chipset supplier for flagship smartphones, Qualcomm is no stranger to the world of high-performance mobile gaming, and since its rollout, the Snapdragon 8 Series has been a constant, steady force in pushing the limits of mobile play. But even as Qualcomm improves on the chipset that allows users to enjoy their favourite games on the go, it’s now setting its sights on something bigger – gaming on ultraportable PCs, without the hassle of an external setup. 

Building on its current expertise and momentum, the tech juggernaut is looking to make strides in PC gaming, even as the presence of long-standing industry players and rivalry brings its own set of challenges. 2024’s Adreno X1 integrated GPU served as the springboard for Qualcomm’s efforts – itself subsequently outfitted across various models, including Dell and ASUS – and now, its successor will keep the ball rolling. 

Enter the Adreno X2 processor, first unveiled during this year’s Snapdragon Summit in September in Hawaii. Touted as the largest and fastest GPU built by the company to date, it claims to deliver up to a 2.3 times increase in speed and 125 per cent more efficiency per watt than the previous generation, with the gains translating to improved frame rates across a selection of games.

On paper, the average frames per second (FPS) count is 2.3 times higher than before, making it 50 per cent and 29 per cent faster than the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 and AMD Ryzen AI 9, respectively. Black Myth: Wukong, for instance, clocked 33 FPS at medium quality at 1080p (without Super Resolution), versus 21 FPS on the latter two, while Cyberpunk 2077 recorded 53 FPS at the same settings, compared to 31 and 39 FPS. For esports titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, and Fortnite, the numbers stand at 87 FPS (versus 95 and 87 FPS), 103 FPS (88 and 122 FPS), 121 FPS (31 and 60 FPS), and 111 FPS (68 and 92 FPS). 

Those figures were put to the test during an office tour of Snapdragon Studios in San Diego, held as part of the Snapdragon X Series Architecture Deep Dive 2025 event, where several of the above titles were running in real-time. At low graphical settings with AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.0 (FSR) enabled, Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong averaged 146 FPS and 90 FPS. Overwatch 2, which currently only supports FSR 2.2, saw an average of 175 FPS. 

According to Qualcomm, the Adreno X2 is also 70 per cent faster than its predecessor at the same power, featuring a built-in Ray Tracing Unit, or RTU, that offers ray tracing functionality for all current and upcoming games that support it. As previously announced, the GPU is built on a new architecture utilising a modern 3-nanometre process, and comes as part of the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip, alongside a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU with 80 TOPS for AI tasks. 

A separate session at the company’s headquarters offered some hands-on time with benchmarking performance, yielding the following results on Geekbench AI and 3DMark’s Solar Bay, on a 16-inch test laptop running on 48GB of memory and 1TB of storage:

• Geekbench AI – 2070 (Single Precision Score), 33,424 (Half Precision Score), 89,813 (Quantised Score)
• Solar Bay via 3DMark (plugged in) – 23,932, 91.00 FPS
• Solar Bay via 3DMark (unplugged) – 22,505, 85.57 FPS

Notably, the small difference between the plugged and unplugged state of the Adreno X2 is impressive, painting an (theoretical) optimistic picture for both work and play. The PC gaming push doesn’t stop there, as Qualcomm continues to expand its ecosystem.

Already available are graphics driver updates for machines running Windows on Snapdragon, which bring performance improvements, bug fixes and new features, as well as validated support for “thousands of Windows games and applications”. The newly available Snapdragon Control Panel will add to the list, serving as a companion app to Adreno-powered devices that keeps GPU drivers up to date and automatically optimises game settings. 

Additionally, users can expect native anti-cheat tools and systems, including Easy Anti-Cheat via Epic Games Online Services, Tencent ACE, Denuvo by Irdeto, and more – a high-priority implementation that saw the company engaged with “over 100 of the top game studios in the world”. 

“We’re engaged with over 100 of the top game studios in the world, so it’s a global system. The first thing we really tackled was just knocking out all the anti-cheat solutions,” shared Dave Durnil, head of Gaming Ecosystems and Technologies at Snapdragon Studios, in an open Q&A held for the event.

Specifically for Epic Games, more than 15 years of collaboration have worked in the team’s favour. “They’re all in on Windows on Snapdragon, and bringing over not just the Easy Anti-Cheat but also the whole Epic Games service – I think it’s a really strong testament in terms of everything that we’ve been able to do and showing how we can work with developers,” he added.

With faster and more powerful processors like Apple silicon proving that Intel and AMD have an arms race on their hands, Qualcomm is looking to flank the others by focusing on what it does best – power the experience through a new chip based on its legacy of mobile processors and performance. Earlier this year, the company claimed that 10 percent of Windows PC sales in the U.S., priced above US$800, are powered by Snapdragon X chips, and the Adreno X2 looks set to raise that…unless Intel and AMD find a way to respond.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Qualcomm’s Adreno X2 Integrated GPU Targets Intel & AMD, Takes Aim At PC Gaming Ambitions appeared first on Geek Culture.

[Snapdragon flew us out to San Diego for Snapdragon X Deep Dive Architecture 2025. All experiences were hosted, but no additional compensation was received.]

There’s no denying that artificial intelligence (AI) will drive the future of PC computing, but the current question is, which brand of chip will bring the industry closer to that goal? With AI set to become an integral part of the PC experience, the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is now more important than ever, and chipmaker Qualcomm is banking on this with its second foray into developing a dedicated processor designed to accelerate AI and machine learning tasks: the Snapdragon X2 lineup of integrated chips. 

Announced during this year’s Snapdragon Summit, held in September in Hawaii, the new lineup featuring the X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme ships with an upgraded Adreno GPU and a new Hexagon NPU that delivers improved all-around performance, with up to 18 cores and 5.0 GHz boost speeds on the latter, primed to offer an edge over general-purpose CPUs, as AI workloads are executed with greater speed and power efficiency. 

According to the company, this latest-generation NPU is capable of 80 TOPS of AI processing, surpassing the current high of 55 TOPS from AMD, which puts it as the world’s fastest laptop NPU for now. Numbers-wise, it’s expected to be 78 per cent faster than before, with a threefold increase in AI performance and efficiency compared to the competition. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H (77 TOPS), for instance, obtained a score of 1,197 on Procyon AI, while the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme recorded 4,151, alongside a power efficiency score of 54.2 and 200.5, respectively – or so the claim goes. 

The leap proves even more handy for agentic workloads, AI-driven processes where autonomous AI agents make decisions, take actions, and coordinate tasks with minimal human intervention, and other areas of content creation, collaboration, and productivity. Where its predecessor enabled a slate of applications, from Premiere Pro and Capcut to Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the Snapdragon X2 Series will introduce new AI-powered experiences to the list. 

Alongside existing features like transcription, real-time translation, Generative Fill, Voice Separation, SEO Optimisation, and more across the various platforms, users can expect additional tools that include the following:

• Adobe Premiere Pro – Edit Video, Add Effect, Add new frames with AI
• Blender – 3D Modelling with Text to Image Generation
• Moises.AI – Instrument isolation
• Context – Agentic AI-Doc creation, Gen AI Productivity
• McAfee – Anti-Scam, Media Deepfakes
• Personal.AI – Agentic AI, Personal LLM
• Guidde – Video Tutorial with translations
• Bria – Advertisement, Trademark Gen AI
• VS Studio Code – Code Generation, Commenting
• Affinity Photo – Object and Subject Selection 

Open-source software, such as Anything LLM and Nexa AI SDK, also stand to benefit from the 80 TOPS of processing power on the Snapdragon X2 Elite. Not only is performance set to improve twofold gen over gen on the former desktop app, its Mobile App will offload on-device RAG – or retrieval-augmented generation, a technique enabling large LLMs to extract and incorporate new information – and LLM inference to the Hexagon NPU. 

Outside of the AI space, the Snapdragon X2 chips have more to offer. The 3rd Gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU touts 50 percent faster processing and 43 percent less power versus the previous generation, with the Areno X2 integrated GPU looking to elevate gaming experiences with up to 2.3 times increase in speed and 125 per cent more efficiency per watt. A faster memory of up to 228 GB/s bandwidth, improved connectivity through Wi-Fi 7, 5G cellular support, Bluetooth 5.4, remote PC control features, and triple 5K at 60Hz monitor support will be available as well.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme are scheduled for launch in the first half of 2026. 

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Snapdragon X2 Series Chip Delivers AI Performance Gains, Presents PC Makers With Another Alternative To Dominate appeared first on Geek Culture.

Apple has unveiled the finalists for this year’s iteration of its App Store Awards, recognising 45 of the best apps and games across 12 different categories spanning the company’s various devices, like the iPhone, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro.

Selected by Apple’s App Store editorial team, these finalists represent the cream of the crop in terms of providing excellent user experiences, technical innovations, or design, and celebrate the developers whose apps push creative boundaries or help improve users’ lives. App Store Awards winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the App Store Award finalists, a diverse and talented group of developers from around the globe,” said Apple’s head of App Store Worldwide Carson Oliver, “Their commitment to excellence is an inspiration, resulting in experiences that empowered users to tap into their creativity, achieve more through technical innovations, and discover new adventures through the world of gameplay.”

Here’s the full list of Apple App Store Award finalists for 2025:

iPhone App of the Year

• BandLab (BandLab Singapore)
• LADDER (Ladder Technologies)
• Tiimo (Tiimo)

iPhone Game of the Year

• Capybara Go! (HABBY)
• Pokémon TCG Pocket (The Pokémon Company)
• Thronefall (Doghowl Games)

iPad App of the Year

• Detail (Detail Technologies)
• Graintouch (IORAMA)
• Structured (unorderly)

iPad Game of the Year

• DREDGE (Black Salt Games)
• Infinity Nikki (Infold)
• Prince of Persia Lost Crown (Ubisoft)

Mac App of the Year

• Acorn (Flying Meat)
• Essayist (Essayist Software)
• Under My Roof (Binary Formations)

Mac Game of the Year

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition (CD Projekt)
• Neva (Devolver)

Apple Arcade Game of the Year

• Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
• PGA TOUR Pro Golf (HypGames)
• WHAT THE CLASH? (Triband)

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year

• Camo Studio (Reincubate)
• D-Day: The Camera Soldier (TARGO)
• Explore POV (James Hustler)

Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year 

• Fishing Haven (Devs United Games)
• Gears & Goo (Resolution Games)
• Porta Nubi (Michael Temper)

Apple Watch App of the Year

• GO Club (Arkade Club)
• Pro Camera by Moment (Moment Inc)
• Strava (Strava Inc)

Apple TV App of the Year 

• HBO Max (WarnerMedia Global Digital Services)
• PBS KIDS Video (PBS KIDS)
• Super Farming Boy 4K (Renxo Europe Limited)

Cultural Impact Finalists

• Art of Fauna (Klemens Strasser)
• A Space for the Unbound (Toge Interactive)
• Be My Eyes (Be My Eyes)
• Chants of Sennaar (Playdigious)
• despelote (Panic Inc)
• Focus Friend (B-Tech Consulting Group)
• Is This Seat Taken? (Poti Poti Studio)
• Retro (Lone Palm Labs)
• StoryGraph (The StoryGraph)
• Venba (Visai Games)
• Whoscall (Gogolook)
• Yuka (Yuca)

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition’ & ‘BandLab’ Lead The Charge For Apple’s 2025 App Store Awards Finalists appeared first on Geek Culture.

Certain brands have become synonymous with the product category they compete in – Microsoft for computer operating systems, Nintendo for game consoles, Samsung for Android phones, Apple for tablets, Porsche for sports cars, Maggi for instant noodles, Cadbury for chocolate, Coca-Cola for soda – the list goes on. What is rare to see is one of these brands getting displaced, but we’re close, as several vacuum cleaning brands are looking to be the new Hoover. And while some might be quick to name Dyson as the leader, it’s not the only player when it comes to cordless vacuums.

Make no mistake – Dyson clearly leads the charge with sleek, quiet models that balance performance and design, but if your home is looking for more, the Shark EvoPower System NEO+ is here with a clear goal to rival Dyson’s cleaning power, while adding a self-cleaning dock into the mix.

Out of the box, the Shark EvoPower System NEO+ comes in 5 main components: the cordless vacuum unit, the Auto-Empty Dock, a Duster Crevice Tool, an Upholstery Tool, and a Motorised Pet Tool. The main cleaning unit measures approximately 1.06m in height when assembled, with the upper handle housing the dust container and motor. On the controls, there are three buttons. A power button, an Eco mode button, and a Boost mode button allow users to toggle between different cleaning intensities. The entire unit weighs 1.7 kg, with the top handheld section weighing around 1.3 kg, and the motorised cleaning head contributing the remaining 0.4 kg. Its Flexology swivel function allows the wand to bend up to 90 degrees, making it convenient for reaching under furniture and low spaces.

The Auto-Empty Dock is one of the Shark EvoPower System NEO+’s best features, which serves as both a charging and self-cleaning base. Once docked, the vacuum automatically clears its bin through a strong, dry suction process in under 10 seconds that, while noisy, is highly effective. The vacuum slides and locks neatly into the dock, with the base of the dock measuring approximately 40 cm by 27 cm, including the accessory holder.

The dock houses two collection chambers, with the right side collecting larger debris, while the left side handles finer dust particles via the pre-motor foam filter. The right chamber can be completely removed and washed, while the left chamber allows only the pre-motor foam filter to be detached for cleaning. This separation system works efficiently and makes disposal cleaner. In addition, a cable management handle keeps the wires neatly tucked away at the back.

The dust compartment, however, is on the smaller side. After cleaning an entire apartment, it was about half full, which means users will likely depend on the Auto-Empty Dock to clear it regularly, to move the dirt from the handheld to the docking station. The suction pressure of the unit seems to help compact the debris more efficiently, which may help reduce how often it needs to be emptied, but this is something you’ll need to clear at least weekly, depending on your frequency of use. Do note that you can manually clean the dust compartment with your fingers, but it can get messy, so using the dock, simply by inserting the handheld, is a far more convenient and cleaner option.

The vacuum includes three primary attachments. A duster crevice tool for tight corners and edges, an upholstery tool designed for smaller surfaces such as sofas and chairs, and a motorised hand tool ideal for beds and sofas. Each tool performs well in its intended role, allowing users to tailor their cleaning approach throughout the home. The charging base includes designated holders for each attachment, enabling the unit to be stored, charged, and organised in one compact footprint. This all-in-one storage and cleaning system enhances convenience, providing users with not just powerful suction but a fully integrated cleaning station. The only caveat is that the holders do not fasten securely, so moving the dock can cause tools to become loose.

Suction performance is where the Shark EvoPower System NEO+ stands out. It handled pet hair and long strands exceptionally well, outperforming the Dyson PencilVac in some cases. Hair that usually requires multiple passes with the Dyson was picked up in one go by the EvoPower System NEO+, with the Anti Hair Wrap technology effectively preventing tangles around the roller. This is a new-fangled feature found in China brands such as Dreame and Ecovacs that effectively either snips the strands of hair or shoves it to one side of the cleaning head, preventing the hair from getting tangled up in the moving cleaning head and causing issues.

The vacuum also comes with three selectable power modes. Eco, Normal, and Boost, making it easy to match cleaning intensity with the task at hand. The Smart IQ Pro Floor Detect feature automatically optimises suction strength depending on the load of debris picked up.

In Normal mode, a single charge lasted 45 minutes, while the unit drained itself on Boost mode in under 20 minutes. Eco mode delivers the longest runtime of up to 60 minutes with reduced suction power for lighter cleaning, while boost provides maximum suction for intensive tasks but drains the battery faster, lasting around 20 minutes.

The vacuum’s battery indicator consists of three light bars, and we tested the unit in a 1,033 square-foot five-room HDB flat that was filled with a fair amount of dog hair, long hair, and daily dust. After vacuuming the apartment for about 15 minutes, one light bar was depleted, suggesting a total runtime of roughly 45 minutes on a full charge, and a full charge takes around 3.5 hours from a completely drained battery. Although not without a few quirks.

The trade-off, however, is noise. The vacuum is noticeably louder than the Dyson, both during operating the vacuum and when the dock’s cleaning function is activated. Due to its lightweight, the EvoPower System NEO+ offers smooth manoeuvrability, thanks to the swivelling head, though the rear fabric strip on the main head tends to trap dust and pet hair. The rollers can also squeak slightly during movement, adding to the overall noise level. 

While the vacuum includes LED indicators that change from green, yellow, to red depending on the amount of debris detected, the head lighting does not add much value. Unlike Dyson’s laser illumination that lights up the area directly in front of the cleaning head for users to notice any dirt, the Shark’s front light fails to make debris more visible, serving little to no purpose in darker areas or even under the furniture.

The Shark EvoPower System NEO+ Cordless Vacuum delivers strong suction performance and an excellent auto-cleaning dock system that adds genuine convenience. It is especially effective for homes with pets and long hair, where its Anti Hair Wrap technology keeps the brush free from tangles. However, its high noise level, underwhelming headlighting, and small dust compartment prevent it from reaching perfection. Despite these shortcomings, the EvoPower System NEO+ offers reliable power and smart cleaning features that make it a strong contender in the cordless vacuum category.

At S$699, the Shark EvoPower System NEO+ is an impressive addition to the home cleaning lineup for users who prioritise suction strength and automated convenience over noise.

Debbi Koh

Living multiple lives, Debbi is a singer-songwriter and music coach by day, FPS gamer and variety streamer by night. Let’s not forget being a full-time dog mom to her Cavapoo, Buddy. With life like this, who needs a multiverse?

www.twitch.tv/debbidooo/

The post Shark EvoPower System NEO+ Cordless Vacuum – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

With every smartphone maker aiming for hardware performance that outshines the competition, China’s OPPO is adopting a slightly different approach to tackle the long-term performance of its devices, to combat  signs of wear with an enduring quality that lasts after the dazzle of fleeting upgrades. With its Apex Guard suite of benchmarks, the company’s vision is to deliver devices that retain their original performance and reliability over time, ensuring users enjoy the same seamless experience year after year.

Announced at the company’s global headquarters and R&D hub at the new Binhai Bay Campus in China to a select group of exclusive media from around the world, Apex Guard is a comprehensive technology suite aimed at redefining smartphone quality across hardware and software and represents OPPO’s latest commitment to elevating user experience and extending product lifespans.

Apex Guard introduces three pillars of innovation. In design, OPPO has developed Ultra-High-Strength Steel and AM04 aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, alongside structural features like Armour Shield, to protect devices from water damage, drops, and daily wear. In battery technology, the OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery extends cell life by 400 cycles, ensuring long-term performance and safety.

To uphold its rigorous standards, OPPO partners with global testing authorities such as TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SÜD, and SGS. Devices undergo over 180 tests throughout their lifecycle, including extensive material assessments and precision manufacturing checks. OPPO’s after-sales services also exceed industry norms, reinforcing its dedication to quality beyond the point of sale.

Recognising that smooth performance is one of the most tangible indicators of quality, OPPO has introduced a suite of advanced technologies in ColorOS 16 to ensure both immediate responsiveness and long-term reliability.

At the heart of this upgrade is the new Luminous Rendering Engine, which debuts the first Unified Animation Architecture for Android. This breakthrough delivers fluid app launches and seamless transitions across the system. Devices also undergo extensive aging simulations, spanning 48 to 72 months, to ensure they remain smooth and responsive over time.

The OPPO Smoothness Baseline Test assesses performance across hundreds of real-world scenarios, while the Parallel Animation Standard 6 Zero sets a new benchmark with zero lag, latency, flicker, crash, mislaunch, and freeze during home-screen interactions. These innovations apply across OPPO’s entire lineup, from the A Series to the flagship Find Series, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to delivering a consistently smooth and reliable user experience.

With Apex Guard, OPPO sets a new industry benchmark, promising users a worry-free, enduring smartphone experience built on innovation and trust.

A Visit To OPPO’s New Binhai Campus

Geek Culture managed to take a brief tour of OPPO’s Binhai Campus, to take a closer look at how the company delivers on its commitment to quality. The campus houses advanced labs including Materials, Intelligent Terminal Testing, Power Consumption, and Communication Labs. Each of these labs play a vital role in ensuring reliable hardware and seamless software performance.

The Materials Lab is a cutting-edge research facility responsible for over 380 patents that drive innovation in OPPO smartphones. It is equipped with more than 200 high-precision instruments, including one of the industry’s most advanced spectrometers, enabling OPPO to conduct world-class material analysis. Some notable breakthroughs include ultra-thin nanocrystal glass with 400% improved drop protection, a steel hinge that withstands one million folds, and ultra-strong, lightweight aircraft-grade fibers that are 50% thinner yet 4 times stronger.

The Intelligent Terminal Testing Lab is the industry’s largest software testing facility, spanning over 2,000 square metres and capable of testing tens of thousands of devices simultaneously. Operating 24/7 with highly automated systems, requiring minimal human oversight. The lab rigorously verifies all code and applications before release, validating nearly one million lines of code and testing over 10,000 third-party apps monthly to ensure stability, security, and compatibility across devices and system versions.

The Power Consumption Intelligent Lab is OPPO’s AI-driven hub for ensuring smooth and stable device performance. Outfitted with over 100 advanced instruments and powered by proprietary automation software, the lab operates around the clock, supporting over 100 devices to simulate real-world scenarios and optimise power efficiency.

The Communication Lab serves as the testing ground for cutting-edge technologies like AI LinkBoost, 360° Surround Antenna Design, and OPPO’s proprietary communication chips. To simulate real-world scenarios, the Live Network Wireless Lab recreates environments such as elevators, while the Automated Microwave Lab, an industry-first nonstop OTA testing system, uses robotic arms and high-precision machine vision to ensure continuous, error-free reliability testing.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post OPPO Sets Hardware & QC Benchmark Standards Across Ecosystem, Focusing On ‘Apex Guard’ Durability appeared first on Geek Culture.

Valve is taking a second swing at home consoles, as it has announced a new Steam Machine PC/Console hybrid, alongside an upgraded version of the Steam Controller.

As part of a larger wave of Valve hardware announcements, the new Steam Machine takes some design cues from the Xbox Series X with its cubic form factor and minimalistic aesthetics, and will come in 512GB and 2TB models. Under the hood, the console will feature a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T CPU and a semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, with support for 4K gaming at 60fps with FSR (AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution).

The new Steam Machine will also feature 16GB of DDR5 and 8GB of DDR6 VRAM, and according to Valve, it will be six times more powerful than the Steam Deck, its handheld gaming console released in 2022. The console will run on SteamOS, but will function essentially like a PC too, allowing users to install apps outside of Valve’s platform.

The launch of a new Steam Machine definitely comes as a surprise, especially considering how the original console, which was released in November 2015, was dead on arrival, barely lasting three years before being pulled from stores. Perhaps with the advancement of gaming graphics technology, a compact PC/Console hybrid is more feasible now, with the rise of gamers’ desire for more powerful home console experiences.

The 2015 Steam Machine also launched alongside the release of the original Steam Controller, so it makes sense that Valve is releasing an upgraded controller variant to coincide with this new launch. Unlike the original, which replaced the traditional D-Pad and right thumbstick with circular touchpads, the new Steam Controller will mostly follow the layout of Sony’s PlayStation controllers, with its D-Pad situated above the two thumbsticks, while simultaneously including two touchpads, one below each thumbstick, giving users more options in-game.

Much like its predecessor, the new Steam Controller is designed to work with the Steam Machine, although it will be compatible with any PC. Similarly, users will also be able to use any PC-supported gamepads with the Steam Machine.

While Valve has yet to announce the prices for both the Steam Machine and Steam Controller, both are expected to launch sometime in 2026 in either a bundle or standalone.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Valve Revives Steam Machine Hybrid Console Alongside Upgraded Steam Controller appeared first on Geek Culture.

Sony has announced the release of a Japanese-language-only PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console, which will launch exclusively in Japan at a discounted price.

Unveiled during its State of Play Japan broadcast, the cheaper console will cost 55,000 yen (roughly S$464) and will release on 21 November 2025. In comparison, the standard PS5 with a disc drive currently costs S$799 in Singapore (US$549.99 in the US), while its discless digital version costs S$669 (US$499.99 in the US).

Releasing the PS5 at a cheaper price in Japan is likely linked to Sony’s current strategy to increase sales of the console and grow its user base, and follows Nintendo’s similar strategy when it launched the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier in June, where the company also released a Japanese-language-only version of the hybrid console at roughly US$130 cheaper than its global counterparts.

This move does make sense, considering sales of the PS5 have yet to beat its predecessor, with Sony recently reporting that its newest console has shipped 84.2 million copies over the five years since its launch in November 2020, although this figure is still slightly behind that of the PS4, which sold 86.1 million units within the same time frame.

The Japan-only PS5 variant wasn’t the only new hardware unveiled during the State of Play broadcast, either, as Sony also announced its first-party PlayStation-branded 27-inch gaming monitor, which comes with many important features to enhance the gaming experience such as HDR support with Auto Tone Mapping, a 120Hz refresh rate with VRR support on console and 240Hz for PC and Mac, alongside a built-in charging hook for DualSense wireless controllers. The PlayStation monitor is set to launch in 2026 in the US and Japan.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Sony Unveils Cheaper Japanese-Language Only PlayStation 5 Console appeared first on Geek Culture.

Almost 10 years on from the release of the first Apple Watch in 2015, WhatsApp is finally launching its own dedicated app on the wearable, letting users access various core messaging features straight from their wrist.

WhatsApp’s launch on Apple Watch follows shortly after the messenger app’s arrival on the iPad back in May this year, and according to its announcement blog post, will help users “stay on top of your chats without needing to pull out your iPhone.”

Apart from the basic functionality of reading and responding to messages, with end-to-end encryption remaining enabled for all personal messages and calls, like other platforms, WhatsApp on Apple Watch will also support a host of other features, including:

• Call notifications: Allows users to identify who is calling without needing to refer to their phone.
• Full messages: Enables the viewing of even lengthy messages in full directly via the Apple Watch app.
• Voice messages: Users can record and send voice messages for more efficient communication.
• React to messages: The ability to send quick emoji reactions to received messages.
• Chat history: Users can view more of their chat history on screen when reading messages.

The WhatsApp Apple Watch app is available on the Apple Watch Series 4 or later, and requires devices to be running watchOS 10 or above. To access the standalone app, ensure that your Apple Watch fits the requirements listed above, and make sure that WhatsApp on the paired iPhone is updated to its latest version, and the app should automatically show up on the Apple Watch’s app list.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post WhatsApp Brings Voice Message & Media Support To Apple Watch appeared first on Geek Culture.

Productivity mice are generally overlooked over their flashier gaming cousins, though their popularity has risen in recent years – and for good reason, especially in the case of Logitech. Known for their customisable functions and ergonomic comfort for maximum productivity, there’s plenty to love about the Logitech MX Master series, and the latest MX Master 4 only reinforces its position as the leader of the pack, with some sweet haptic upgrades creatives never knew they needed. 

A follow-up to the office favourite Logitech MX Master 3S, it returns with the same level of comfort and functionality that makes onboarding easy for newcomers and a smooth homecoming for existing users. The mouse comes with a USB-C Bolt receiver and eight buttons: left/right click, middle click, back/forward, App-Switch, Wheel mode-shift, side buttons, MagSpeed scroll, and the new Actions Ring, housed in a textured thumb rest alongside a motor that triggers haptic feedback.

There has also been an improvement to the mouse’s stain-resistant silicon surface, a departure from the soft rubber used previously, which has come in handy when a drip of coffee somehow ends up on it. Three colourways are available: Graphite, Black, and Pale Grey, but it works well enough that users don’t have to worry much about the lighter-coloured option – just don’t leave stains unattended for too long, of course. 

The base is identical to its predecessor, with a USB-C port that doubles as a receiver for a bolt receiver, an Easy Switch button that, well, switches between three paired devices and a power button that locks the haptic thumb rest in place when turned off. The starting DPI is set to 1,000 and can be adjusted in the Logi Options+ application in increments of 50. Besides the mouse sensitivity, you can also change the speed of its Magspeed wheel and the required force to activate the Actions Ring button, which is useful for preventing users with stronger grips from accidentally pressing against it.

The biggest change that sets this apart from the rest of the MX Master line is the introduction of haptic feedback, indicated by a pulse-like effect when the mouse is turned on. This feature has raised a great many eyebrows over its practical usage, but don’t be quick to judge – it gives more reassurance to users than you would think. 

With support for Adobe applications such as Premiere Pro and Photoshop, users will be able to feel the click of joining two clips together or aligning images to the guiding lines, which proves a lot more satisfying than it should, and inspires confidence in users that their elements are exactly where they need them to be. With the Adobe plug-ins available for the Actions Ring, Logitech claims you can save up to 33 percent of your time with the shortcuts, and there seems to be some truth to it once you get used to the process. 

The plug-ins serve as a great template for commonly used functions on the different Adobe apps, such as reducing a video clip’s speed to 50 per cent for slow motion, or navigating to the exposure slider to adjust the brightness of an image – all of which are helpful to get you started and are customisable in the Logi Options+ app. Out of the box, the base shortcuts found in the Actions Ring include opening up File Explorer or Finder, or clicking into Logi Options+ and accessing an AI bot, to name a few. It should be noted that while the Actions Ring is easy to set up, users should adapt it to their workflow and familiarise themselves with the ins and outs to get the most out of it, with the eventual goal to use available plug-ins or create their own profiles for an optimised day-to-day productivity experience. 

More notably, most creatives pack smaller form factor keyboards for their mobility, and having a mouse like the Logitech MX Master 4 makes up for the lack of macro keys and additional buttons, especially if they are working on the go. Given the versatility of its 8K DPI tracking, the device can be used on any kind of surface, from ultra-smooth glass mousepads to wood tables in hotel rooms, while consistently maintaining its accuracy throughout. 

Switching between an Apple Mac Studio M2 Ultra and ROG gaming PC daily for work on our end means frequently hitting the Easy-Switch button, located on the base of the mouse, to toggle between the two machines. Logitech’s workaround lets the cursor spill over to the other platform, albeit with a slight wait, since it uses the local network for communication between them, making it easy to send files by simply dragging them across the screen. 

When it comes to gaming, however, it’s best to set up a whole new profile that removes everything from the Actions Ring, as it will minimise the app window and cause disruptions to gameplay. Playing shooters like Battlefield 6 at default mouse settings wasn’t the best experience, interspersed with interruptions after accidentally setting off the Actions Ring, even though performance was decent with the right profile. While the MX Master 4 is far from gaming-focused, its ergonomics ensure comfort rarely offered by gaming mice, and can even shape up to be a formidable gaming mouse through some practice and patience with creating separate profiles for different games. 

The only caveat with the MX Master 4 is the lack of onboard memory, so you can’t plug it into a new device and dive right into the swing of things, which is a pity because the setup will take even more time – unless the Logi Options+ app is installed to load up profiles. It’s a missed opportunity, as longtime users have consistently requested that the feature be included in the MX Master series, particularly in light of the onboard memory support available in the classic Logitech G502 gaming mouse range. 

Besides that, its ergonomics, comfort and battery life are in its own league, promising up to 70 days on a full charge, similar to the MX Master 3S that has been tried and tested over the course of five working days and registered a 10 to 12 per cent drop each week while being used primarily for video and photo editing. The mouse can also be directly connected to your PC or Mac with a USB-C – there’s no cable included right out of the box, so you’ll have to use a spare one lying around. 

While the Logitech MX Master 4 is a step in the right direction, the $199 price tag is a bit steep, though the generous spread of features makes it easy to justify the price tag, even if MX Master enthusiasts have to hold onto the dream of onboard memory. Between the addition of game-changing haptic feedback and the Actions Ring, and the retention of the best bits from its predecessor, it signifies the start of next-gen productivity mice, and the experience itself is worth the price of admission. It is still the best wireless productivity mouse on the market, and it deserves your attention. 

Zinho De Costa

Abandon Reason Know Only War! Zinho is a shooter fanatic still waiting for direct sequels to Black (2006) and Star Wars: Republic Commandos. He also truly believes that the Warhammer 40K universe can take on any franchise and destroy them. To think any different is heresy and punishable by Exterminatus.

The post Logitech MX Master 4 Ergonomic Mouse – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.