Malaysia
Budget Samsung Galaxy J2 Core debuts in Malaysia
Samsung’s first Android Go phone!
The Android Go-powered Galaxy J2 Core is now available in Malaysia at a very affordable price tag.
It’s probably one of Samsung’s most bang-for-your-buck smartphones you will ever come across, modestly priced at MYR 379 or about US$ 92.
First of all, the Galaxy J2 Core features a 5-inch display at a 960 x 540 resolution. It packs Samsung’s own Exynos 7570 processor, alongside 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage.
The lightweight Android Go OS means software won’t take a toll on the phone’s entry-level hardware. Samsung promises a full day’s use with the 2600mAh battery, which sounds impressive.
The camera setup of this handset isn’t much to shout about, with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie shooter. All these specs, however, pale in comparison to the Nokia 2.1, which is only a tad more expensive at RM 415 (US$ 100), featuring a more powerful specs sheet.
Samsung’s first ever Android Go smartphone is currently available at Samsung retail and authorized stores nationwide.
Events
[UPDATED] Stellar Blade: PlayStation taps cosplayers to play Eve for game’s launch
Exclusive items up for grabs too
PlayStation Asia has tapped different cosplayers to dress-up as Eve in anticipation of sci-fi action adventure title Stellar Blade. Larissa Rochefort, Le Josette, and Rurusama will grace a one-of-a-kind meet and greet event on April 27. That’s the same weekend of the game’s launch.
There will be three simultaneous meet and greets across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Since slots are limited, fans are encouraged to register via PlayStation Asia’s link here.
The venue and time details are as follows:
- Indonesia: GSSHOP, Gandaria City Lt. 2, Jakarta, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Malaysia: Anime Fest+ 2024 booth A25 and A26, Tropicana Gardens Mall Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Singapore: 313@Somerset, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Aside from seeing the cosplayers as the title’s main character, fans will also get a chance to redeem exclusive merchandise and try the game on PlayStation 5. Based from PlayStation Asia’s posts, prizes include exclusive vinyl and USB flash drives.
Here’s a glimpse of the cosplayers.
Rurusama
Larissa Rochefort
Le Josette
GadgetMatch was already able to try Stellar Blade‘s demo preview. For a quick refresher, here’s the link where you’ll find more details about the game’s visuals, character designs, gameplay, and more: Stellar Blade First Impressions
It’s fitting that PlayStation Asia thought of this idea for a launch event. We already know for a fact that players can customize Eve with various outfits. Seeing the cosplayers in the flesh is like seeing different versions of Eve. And that’s just a glimpse of the entire sci-fi world Shift Up’s platformer is about to offer.
Stellar Blade will be accessible by April 26.
UPDATE: On launch day, Filipino Cosplayer Charess revealed that she too was cosplaying Eve.
Genshin Impact is among the most popular mobile games in Southeast Asia. Establishing its presence further in Malaysia, HoYoverse’s hit open-world RPG has collaborated with equally renowned pizza chain Pizza Hut for a six-week promotional campaign with the official slogan “A Tasty Adventure with Pizza Hut.”
The two brands are bringing the unique experience to Malaysia this time. This, following the success of familiar campaigns in China, Taiwan, and Japan.
There will be a lot of physical manifestation of the collaboration at Pizza Hut Malaysia stores; three flagship stores will be transformed into Genshin Impact-themed scenery to become the perfect haven for fans.
Exclusive fan events will be held at these three stores on the following dates:
- Pizza Hut Sunway Pyramid: July 8
- Pizza Hut Queensbay Mall (Penang): July 15
- Pizza Hut Midvalley Southkey (Johor Bahru): July 22
Tickets to the event are priced at MYR 60, inclusive of a MyBox Melts Genshin Impact Premium meal set worth MYR 47.90, a limited-edition merchandise, and in-game inspired beverage.
The Pizza Hut x Genshin Impact merchandise will release in three phases to allow players to collect items featuring specific characters:
- July 5 to 18: Ningguang
- July 19 to August 1: Yelan
- August 2 to 15: Xiangling
Fans may choose from two MyBox Melts collaboration combo packages:
- Standard Meal Set: MYR 27.90 + photocards + sticker packs
- Premium Meal Set: MYR 47.90 + photocard + sticker pack + notebook
Malaysia
Study: Smartphones least affordable in Philippines, Vietnam
About two months’ worth of salary
With inflation rates skyrocketing everywhere lately, consumers wonder how much spending power has been generally affected.
Well, a recent iPrice study, “Highly Connected, But Highly Priced: Smartphones Out of Reach for Many in SEA”, revealed that when it comes to smartphone affordability, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia lag behind considerably.
The study took into account the salaries of workers in the three countries, and found out that mid-range smartphones cost twice an employee’s monthly salary on average.
In the same countries, high-end smartphones come as expensive investments, as they cost anywhere between about three to six times the monthly average salary of workers.
And as if adding insult to injury, the prices of phones top brands like Apple, OPPO, vivo, and Samsung are generally higher in the Philippines and Indonesia compared to other countries in the region.
This leads to consumers opting for postpaid plans from telecom providers, capitalizing on the free device in exchange of a two-year lock-in period.
The finding is a stark contrast to the same smartphones’ affordability in Singapore and Malaysia. In those two peninsular countries, phones cost only about a third of an employee’s monthly average salary.
The main takeaway from the study is: average monthly salaries do not only differ from one ASEAN country to another; for some reason, products and services in countries with less spending power also cost more. Life is unfair, isn’t it?
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