Features

My favorite figures at XM Studio

Selected from over 300 figures

Published

on

XM Studio opened the doors to its first flagship store in Singapore on March 23, 2022. The award-winning global design studio is home to 300 prized statue collectibles conceptualized and designed in-house. 

They are a licensee for major brands including Disney, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Hasbro, Godzilla, Ultraman, Sanrio and more. As such, the 19,000 square feet studio is filled with statues inspired by Marvel, DC, Hasbro, and so much more. 

I was present at the store’s official launch and was completely overwhelmed by all of the figures available. I took hundreds of photos that I can’t possibly fit in one article. To make things easy for myself, I narrowed things down to my absolute favorites.

War Machine (XM ‘War Tank’ Exclusive)

This is one of the first figures you’ll see as you enter the store. It’s so massive that it’s impossible to miss. And it’s a statue that can be configured in many ways. You can have War Machine inside the War Tank. But you can also move him and connect his upper body to a separate lower body and have him pose outside of a War Tank.

It’s huge, it’s detailed, and it is an absolute scene stealer. There are two versions and they are prized as follows: 

Ver A – SG$ 4,199
Ver B – SG$ 4,499

The Batman Who Laughs 

I was surprised to see this figure because Dark Knight: Metal, the comic book it comes from, is fairly recent. But it was such a huge hit that I guess, naturally, it merited getting its own figures right away. Of course, it helps that the designs look so badass. It’s one hell of a Batman story that I encourage everyone to read. 

This one retails for SG$ 1,499. 

As a bonus, I’m slotting in here as well the Version B of The Merciless. Also from the Dark Knight: Metal, this is an alternate version of Bruce Wayne Batman who obtained the power of God of War Ares. In the comics, he dons blue armor. But his initial design came in this red one which, in my opinion, looks more fearsome.

This one also retails for SG$ 1,499. 

Cyclops Version A 

Scott Summers AKA Cyclops is my favorite character from the X-Men franchise. He hasn’t had any good representation in the live action films so far and I’m hoping that changes in the future. He is steadfast, decisive, and is often described as the happy medium between the ideologies of Professor X and Magneto. 

This particular version retails for SG$ 1,099. 

Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker Set

Sold as a set, this shows how the seemingly innocent Anakin Skywalker transitioned into being the Sith Lord Darth Vader. Vader is easily one of the most iconic villains of all time and is nearly synonymous with the Star Wars franchise. 

It retails for SG$ 2,200

Saitama (One Punch Man)

Saitama is easily one of my favorite animé characters because I personally want to be as OP (overpowered) as he is. The figure is simple but captures the main character of One Punch Man perfectly. Plus the anime’s first opening song is an absolute banger and it played in my head as I typed this. 

It retails for SG$ 1,099.

Nightwing Samurai Series (Batman Ninja

Nightwing is my favorite member of the Bat Family. He is suave, smart, and good-looking – which is everything I am not. This is one of the character’s more unique versions as Batman Ninja is about as bonkers as it gets when it comes to Batman stories. The design is fresh, unique, and is just plain cool. 

It retails for SG$ 1,290.

The Flash and Reverse Flash (JLC Classic Series)

These two are sold separately but almost feels like they have to be bought together. The Flash’s nemesis is The Reverse Flash and is the primary reason why The Flash even became a hero in the first place. This hero-villain pair is just an absolute classic. 

The Flash retails for SG$ 1,399
Reverse Flash retails for SG$ 1,399 

Spider-Man 2099 

To be perfectly honest, I haven’t read a single comic related to Spider-Man 2099. I only know the basics – his name is Miguel O’hara and is a Spider-Man in an alternate future reality. The character and his suit has appeared in many Spidey video games and I’m looking forward to seeing him in action in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse animated flick.

It retails for SG$ 1,299

Iron Spider

This is Peter Parker donning the Iron Spider suit made for him by Tony Stark (Iron Man) in the Civil War storyline. Not sure if many share the same opinion, but this looks 100 times better than the Iron Spider suit in the MCU. If I had to purchase one figure right now, it would be this one. 

It retails for SG$ 1,299

Megatron

I don’t even like this character at all. But the figure is so detailed and really gives off a sinister look, capturing the villain that is Megatron. 

It retails for SG$ 2,199. 

Sneaking in Megatron’s second-in-command Starscream here only because I remember having a Starscream toy as a child. 

This one retails for SG$ 2,099

X-Men vs Sentinel Diorama

This one just looks absolutely epic. It features select members of the X-Men battle against a sentinel. Present in the figure are Colossus, Jubilee, Psylocke, Archangel, Bishop, and The Beast. It’s colossal, it looks epic, and the poses have so much energy it always looks like the battle is ongoing. 

 

It retails for SG$ 6,000.

Justice League vs Dark Seid Diorama

Another absolute classic, this one showcases classic version of the Justice League going toe-to-toe against one of their most iconic villains, Darkseid. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aqua Man, and the Martian Manhunter gang-up on the galactic baddie in this kinetic-feeling statue. 

It retails for SG$ 3,299. 

XM Studio

There are absolutely more figures that I like but just couldn’t fit here. If you have the time, feel free to drop by the XM Studio located at Kitchener Complex, 809 French Rd, Singapore 200809, Level 3. They’re open 11AM-8PM, Monday to Friday and 10AM-8PM, Saturday and Sunday.

If you can’t drop by yet, just follow XM Studio on Facebook or Instagram.

Hands-On

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series Hands-on

And everything announced during Apple’s September 2026 Event

Published

on

The latest Apple event isn’t just about the shiny new Apple Duo. There’s a lot to talk about!

In this video, we break down everything Apple has announced during their September 2026 keynote.

First, there’s the updated iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. That’s alongside their design and color changes, battery and performance improvements. Even that massive camera upgrade.

There’s even the ANC-infused AirPods 5 alongside the newer Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Plus, the latest software updates coming to both these wearables.

So, are these worth the upgrade?

Continue Reading

Explainers

Spotlight: Hisense UR8 + RGB MiniLED Explained

The Biggest TV Upgrade in Years?

Published

on

TV technology is changing in a way you can’t see. And it starts with how color itself is made.

Hisense’s new RGB MiniLED technology could change the way we see TVs.

Here’s our spotlight on their latest Hisense UR8 offering.

Check out the Hisense UR8 TV: https://bit.ly/4cxo6xl

Continue Reading

Features

How did new CEO John Ternus do for his first Apple event?

Is a new golden age coming for Apple?

Published

on

For a brief moment, I thought Tim Cook was refusing to step down as Apple’s CEO.

Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, which heralded the coming of the foldable iPhone Duo, started bombastically with a montage of cinematic moments spanning different genres. The main point was: “what’s the best way to start an opening scene?”

After what felt like an age, the all-too-familiar voice of Tim Cook came on, perhaps for the very last time. But rather than overstaying his exit as the former CEO, he describes that the perfect opener should be classic, as a car that is, quite symbolically, riding off into the sunset. He then explains that he’s not the main character anymore.

Last shot of Tim Cook at the Surprise and Shine event

“That’s your guy,” he said, before pointing to John Ternus, who steps into frame without an introduction or even a name card. It’s hard to image that this guy is the new face of Apple.

It’s the perfect end to Tim Cook’s tenure and as perfect a start for John Ternus’s.

Moving from an age of crisis to a golden age

After a decade and a half of being the face of the brand, Tim Cook stepped down from his tenure as CEO. He leaves the company in a much better state than when he took over. Thanks to him, the iPhone is now a household item. It’s a ubiquitous phone that draws millions of fans every time a new one comes out every year.

But his tenure didn’t start on a bed of roses. When he took over in 2011, it was in response to Steve Jobs’s failing health, who passed away soon after. He inherited a company constantly threatened by competitors trying to eat into Apple’s slice of the pie.

Indeed, Cook’s tenure was peppered with crises. He had to navigate Trump’s first reign, destructive as it was towards relationships in China. He had to figure out survival during the tempestuous pandemic years. Finally, he had to carefully build a strategy for the dawn of AI.

Cook is, first and foremost, a businessman. While the Jobs era was typified by innovation after innovation, Cook built upwards, turning Apple into a trillion-dollar company. Although we didn’t see a lot of new exciting segments introduced, the company built on what it was already good at, delivering a premium and refined experience.

John Ternus comes at an opportune time. Though the brand will always have a healthy share of diehard fans, Apple must now find the next big thing and rediscover the spice of years past.

A time for AI?

After his nonchalant introduction, Ternus immediately goes on the offensive and describes his vision for Apple Intelligence. Rather than dwell on NPUs, TOPS, and other metrics that a regular user can’t make heads or tails of, he described Apple Intelligence and Siri AI as a personal assistant. Usage versus performance, in other words.

If you’re an AI enthusiast, the renewed push towards Apple Intelligence should give you hope that the iPhone won’t just be a receptacle for other AI software. Rather, it’s building its own. Wherever the AI industry is going, Apple looks like it can keep up.

Now, if you don’t like AI at all, that’s fine, too. Ternus isn’t there just for the AI.

Unlike Jobs or Cook, Ternus comes from a strictly engineering background. In today’s world, hardware complements AI. The software must use NPUs after all. But, when the AI bubble finally pops, Ternus isn’t out of a job. In fact, if his track record is any indication, it’s just getting started.

Or a time for new hardware?

This year is absolutely monumental for Apple. Earlier this year, the company launched the MacBook Neo, its first budget-friendly notebook built for everyone. If you were looking to get into the MacBook lifestyle, now is the perfect time to buy in. A lot of users felt a subtle changing of the guard.

From there, you can feel Ternus’s influence already seeping in. And if it wasn’t obvious back then, it’s more than apparent now.

iPhone Duo

In his first ever “One More Thing,” Ternus started his tenure strong with the introduction of the iPhone Duo. Almost twelve hours since the phone’s announcement, I’ve never seen a more visceral reaction to the launch of a new iPhone.

Whereas most of their annual releases reveled in more incremental improvements that primarily tickled already dedicated fan, the iPhone Duo is something new. Everyone’s talking about it. It’s gotten so crazy that even Samsung, often more nonchalant with its prodding, openly attacked the foldable after teasing the brand to go foldable last year.

Though it’s technically not a new segment, the iPhone Duo is patching up the mistakes of past foldables. Rather than just pasting two screens together, Apple’s take feels like a unified whole, emphasized by an interface that seamlessly changes from folded to unfolded.

Where Tim Cook failed to illicit more than a modest ripple with the Vision Pro, Ternus flew to new heights with the iPhone Duo’s announcement. And the phone isn’t even out yet.

Now, there’s still a chance that the Duo won’t be a hit with sales, especially because of the price. But this is still a strong opener for Ternus.

Who is the main character?

“That’s your guy,” Tim Cook pointed.

I don’t think he was pointing in the right direction. Though the camera cut to Ternus himself, his first outing clearly states that the main character is no longer whoever is handling the reins. His decision to skip an official introduction feels intentional. The main character, after all, is the hardware itself: the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Duo.

The entire event started with a bold declaration that everything was shot with an iPhone. It ended, in fact, with the same declaration. Channeling their inner Marshall McLuhan, Ternus’s Apple wants you to believe in the iPhone again.

Even as someone who doesn’t use Apple products mainly, I’m stoked to see what the new era will bring to the table. This is an exciting time for Apple. We might be in the first year of a new golden age.

Continue Reading

Trending