Latest from Ben Sin
Social role-playing game Sky: Children of Light named iPhone game of the year. Shanghai native Jenova Chen, who developed it, explains why players win by showing kindness, not killer instinct.
Social role-playing game Sky: Children of Light named iPhone game of the year. Shanghai native Jenova Chen, who developed it, explains why players win by showing kindness, not killer instinct.
Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 finally dumps the butterfly keyboard, automatically making it a winner, while insane power, great battery life, improved design and superb speakers make it one of the best laptops out there.
Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 finally dumps the butterfly keyboard, automatically making it a winner, while insane power, great battery life, improved design and superb speakers make it one of the best laptops out there.
The ZTE Nubia Z20’s OLED back screen allows users to take selfies with the phone’s main camera system, which sports a 48-megapixel Sony sensor, and easily flip between apps like games and WhatsApp.
The ZTE Nubia Z20’s OLED back screen allows users to take selfies with the phone’s main camera system, which sports a 48-megapixel Sony sensor, and easily flip between apps like games and WhatsApp.
Physical buttons could be replaced by highly sensitive pressure sensors made by Shenzhen tech company NDT. The sensors can detect 1,000 levels of pressure and sit under the phone’s screen or body.
Physical buttons could be replaced by highly sensitive pressure sensors made by Shenzhen tech company NDT. The sensors can detect 1,000 levels of pressure and sit under the phone’s screen or body.
The 108MP specialist lens will be of most use to travellers and adventurers who want to photograph landscapes and architecture. However, the lens – one of six – struggles in low light and overall, this Chinese-made phone does not offer great value.
The 108MP specialist lens will be of most use to travellers and adventurers who want to photograph landscapes and architecture. However, the lens – one of six – struggles in low light and overall, this Chinese-made phone does not offer great value.
LG’s two screens are great for multitasking, typing documents and playing games. As a smartphone it’s nothing special, but the dual-screen configuration makes up for any shortcomings.
LG’s two screens are great for multitasking, typing documents and playing games. As a smartphone it’s nothing special, but the dual-screen configuration makes up for any shortcomings.
The Xperia 5’s quirky, narrow form will appeal to fans of Sony’s other smartphones and it feels good in the hand, but the relatively high price compared and mediocre camera performance will put some people off.
The Xperia 5’s quirky, narrow form will appeal to fans of Sony’s other smartphones and it feels good in the hand, but the relatively high price compared and mediocre camera performance will put some people off.
The X2 Pro by Oppo sub-brand Realme has a mesmerising 90Hz display that, in this reviewer’s opinion, is the best available on the market right now, and overall the phone offers value far beyond its price tag.
The X2 Pro by Oppo sub-brand Realme has a mesmerising 90Hz display that, in this reviewer’s opinion, is the best available on the market right now, and overall the phone offers value far beyond its price tag.
The cult Japanese game plays centre stage in this thinly disguised tribute to the Final Fantasy franchise. The film cuts between live action and CGI and despite the cheesy melodrama, it is fun to watch.
The cult Japanese game plays centre stage in this thinly disguised tribute to the Final Fantasy franchise. The film cuts between live action and CGI and despite the cheesy melodrama, it is fun to watch.
Cameras, battery life and design are the best on the market, but US export ban that means there’s no official Google apps support makes the phone useless for many. Don’t buy one until the Google issue is resolved.
Cameras, battery life and design are the best on the market, but US export ban that means there’s no official Google apps support makes the phone useless for many. Don’t buy one until the Google issue is resolved.
A predictable plot, terrible CGI and shaky camera work mar this sci-fi thriller. Smith’s CGI double is reminiscent of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but without the charisma.
A predictable plot, terrible CGI and shaky camera work mar this sci-fi thriller. Smith’s CGI double is reminiscent of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but without the charisma.
The US$199 Fitbit Versa 2 fixes many of its predecessors’ shortcomings, boasts a best-in-class five-day battery life and is spot on with its fitness tracking. There are some minor performance quibbles, though.
The US$199 Fitbit Versa 2 fixes many of its predecessors’ shortcomings, boasts a best-in-class five-day battery life and is spot on with its fitness tracking. There are some minor performance quibbles, though.
One of the few significant changes Apple has made from its Series 4 smartwatches is an ‘always-on display’ – but we don’t find much use for it; if you have a Series 4, don’t bother upgrading.
One of the few significant changes Apple has made from its Series 4 smartwatches is an ‘always-on display’ – but we don’t find much use for it; if you have a Series 4, don’t bother upgrading.
Foldable phone may be one of the small number of handsets that, like the iPhone, changes the direction of smartphone design; folded up its screen is small, but open it and you have a 7.3-inch display that’s great for multitasking.
Foldable phone may be one of the small number of handsets that, like the iPhone, changes the direction of smartphone design; folded up its screen is small, but open it and you have a 7.3-inch display that’s great for multitasking.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has three 12-megapixel lenses for general, wide-angle and telephoto shots with consistent image quality. In a first for Apple phones, it comes with a battery that can endure a whole day of heavy use.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has three 12-megapixel lenses for general, wide-angle and telephoto shots with consistent image quality. In a first for Apple phones, it comes with a battery that can endure a whole day of heavy use.
With its huge 6.9-inch ‘waterfall screen’, triple camera and huge, fast charging battery, the Nex 3 is very good value for money. It lacks wireless charging, waterproofing and stereo speakers, but is cheaper than many high-end phones.
With its huge 6.9-inch ‘waterfall screen’, triple camera and huge, fast charging battery, the Nex 3 is very good value for money. It lacks wireless charging, waterproofing and stereo speakers, but is cheaper than many high-end phones.
Possibly the world’s smallest action camera, the Insta360 Go weighs 18.3 grams and is probably smaller than your thumb. There’s no other camera on the market of this size that can capture better videos.
Possibly the world’s smallest action camera, the Insta360 Go weighs 18.3 grams and is probably smaller than your thumb. There’s no other camera on the market of this size that can capture better videos.
The G8X ThinQ Dual Screen comes with a detachable second screen attachment that brings functionality not available elsewhere on the market – and is likely to be cheaper than a Samsung Fold or Huawei Mate X.
The G8X ThinQ Dual Screen comes with a detachable second screen attachment that brings functionality not available elsewhere on the market – and is likely to be cheaper than a Samsung Fold or Huawei Mate X.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is strong and more manageable than just about any other smartphone three-axis gimbal – it’s the smallest of its kind and its clever arm design allows it to shoot wide-angle camera modes without obstruction.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is strong and more manageable than just about any other smartphone three-axis gimbal – it’s the smallest of its kind and its clever arm design allows it to shoot wide-angle camera modes without obstruction.
Hardware compromises mean the six-inch OLED screen has a resolution of just 720p, and it runs on an old processor, with only 4GB of RAM. But battery life is good and video recording in 1080p mode impressive.
Hardware compromises mean the six-inch OLED screen has a resolution of just 720p, and it runs on an old processor, with only 4GB of RAM. But battery life is good and video recording in 1080p mode impressive.
The latest smartphone from Asus is marketed as a gamer’s phone and it lives up to the claim. The screen refreshes twice as quickly as iPhones and Samsung handsets and there are plenty of game-centric options.
The latest smartphone from Asus is marketed as a gamer’s phone and it lives up to the claim. The screen refreshes twice as quickly as iPhones and Samsung handsets and there are plenty of game-centric options.
Chan, who has previously acted alongside Donnie Yen and Max Zhang, plays the femme-fatale bodyguard of a triad boss in Wu Assassins, a role she considers unique given most ‘top enforcer’ characters in films are men.
Chan, who has previously acted alongside Donnie Yen and Max Zhang, plays the femme-fatale bodyguard of a triad boss in Wu Assassins, a role she considers unique given most ‘top enforcer’ characters in films are men.
Chinese company Royole makes history releasing FlexPai, the first foldable device that can be used as a tablet and a smartphone. Be warned, the camera is terrible and Google apps cannot run on the device, though.
Chinese company Royole makes history releasing FlexPai, the first foldable device that can be used as a tablet and a smartphone. Be warned, the camera is terrible and Google apps cannot run on the device, though.
Samsung has given its A80 a daring design, but the camera is not up to standard and the fingerprint sensor is slow. It has dropped the annoying Bixby digital assistant button and has a camera that rotates to face the front or back.
Samsung has given its A80 a daring design, but the camera is not up to standard and the fingerprint sensor is slow. It has dropped the annoying Bixby digital assistant button and has a camera that rotates to face the front or back.
Android device’s 4G connectivity via eSIM is a given, its circular display houses two panels, it tracks your heart rate and steps, and lets you use chat apps. Easy to use and navigate, at US$300 it is expensive.
Android device’s 4G connectivity via eSIM is a given, its circular display houses two panels, it tracks your heart rate and steps, and lets you use chat apps. Easy to use and navigate, at US$300 it is expensive.
Chuwi LapBook Plus is a MacBook Air clone with a gorgeous 15.6-inch screen, full-size keyboard and large, responsive trackpad; best used to consume media or do basic office work, it’s not capable of graphic-intensive work.
Chuwi LapBook Plus is a MacBook Air clone with a gorgeous 15.6-inch screen, full-size keyboard and large, responsive trackpad; best used to consume media or do basic office work, it’s not capable of graphic-intensive work.
Smartphone’s 6.4-inch OLED display is uninterrupted thanks to pop-up selfie camera, its processor is second-tier but very capable, and its triple-lens rear camera performs well in daytime; at this price, it offers unbeatable value.
Smartphone’s 6.4-inch OLED display is uninterrupted thanks to pop-up selfie camera, its processor is second-tier but very capable, and its triple-lens rear camera performs well in daytime; at this price, it offers unbeatable value.
Ben Sin has spent a day testing the new iPhone operating system and is so far impressed, with dark mode, swipe typing, better maps, improved photo app and an overall speed boost the stand-out improvements.
Ben Sin has spent a day testing the new iPhone operating system and is so far impressed, with dark mode, swipe typing, better maps, improved photo app and an overall speed boost the stand-out improvements.
Apple’s new tablet software includes a bunch of new features designed to boost productivity, including a new storage system that lets users create folders, support for external storage and better multitasking functions.
Apple’s new tablet software includes a bunch of new features designed to boost productivity, including a new storage system that lets users create folders, support for external storage and better multitasking functions.
iTunes will be replaced by Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV when consumers upgrade their MacOS software to the latest version. But in 2003 it changed the way we bought songs and albums as the music business struggled with online piracy and file-sharing sites.
iTunes will be replaced by Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV when consumers upgrade their MacOS software to the latest version. But in 2003 it changed the way we bought songs and albums as the music business struggled with online piracy and file-sharing sites.