The Food Bank Singapore Raises Fund Through NFTs

The Food Bank Singapore today launches its first aution of non-fungile tokens (NFTs) to raise fund to support 10,000 beneficiaries in Singapore with food and essential items for one year.

The NFTs feature FBSG’s mascot KooriMo and include a unique utility to benefit and honour the successful bidder.

The three sets were drawn by an artist from Smobler Studios, which today signed a memorandum of understanding to help FBSG establish a presence on the metaverse.

“We are aware many Singaporeans are apprehensive about cryptocurrency and the metaverse. This initiative is also part of an awareness and education campaign to acquaint our community to the Web3 space through familiar faces like Yung Raja, a meaningful cause and established partners such as FBSG to lend credibility and gravitas. Ignorance isn’t always bliss for a small country like Singapore so it is bestto lean in, learn more especially if we want to stay competitive and remain an innovation hub,” said Loretta Chen, Co-founder of Smobler Studios.

“NFT is a cool and interesting way to use art to spread our messages. From our
metaverse experiment, we hope to share lessons learnt with fellow nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) so that they too can consider this space for their
fundraising efforts,” said Nichol Ng, Co-founder of FBSG.

Loretta Chen, Co-founder of Smobler Studios (left, after signing
MOU with Nichol Ng, Co-founder of FBSG)

To align with the new economy and make it more convenient for a new generation of tech savvy donors, FBSG is among the first charity organisations to accept cryptocurrency as donations. FBSG works with Coinhako to ensure the transaction is secured and legitimate.

New ideas always come with challenges. For instance, charity organisations with IPC status such as FBSG are authorised to issue tax deduction receipts for donation received. However, cryptocurrencies do not qualify for such tax benefits as there is no existing framework covering donation using digital assets.

To engage the younger generation of donors, FBSG has also appointed local rapper Yung Raja as its first phygital ambassador. Chosen for his passion for the charity’s cause and knowledge in the digital space,
Yung Raja is tasked to spread the word on digital adoption, including championing crypto and NFT donations.

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021

Review of realme 7Pro – Why is it a value-buy? (Even Now)

Google “realme 7Pro” and you know that this is not the latest smartphone. It is also not the “coolest” smartphone in the Singapore market (based on my quick search online for review done by Singapore tech writers.) However, I have yet to encounter any negative reviews on this phone and I can see it why. It is cheap and it delivers.

Quick Recap on the key features

In summary, I have narrowed it down to 2 which I think are awesome – 65W Fast Charge and 64MP Quad Camera.

Let us start with its 65W fast charge. Although it is not uncommon to find fast charge feature in the midrange smartphone, the realme 7Pro is one of the handful models offered at that price range that is armed with 65W fast charging capability. Its 65W SuperDart can charge up to 90% of its 4500mA dual cells battery in less than 30 minutes. A big thumbs up.

Yes. Camera (that’s what everyone is looking for in the smartphone). The realme 7Pro is giving you 4 cameras with the primary one sports 64MP Sony IMX 682 sensor which in theory, you can shoot sharper photos with better colour fidelity. The other 3 lens complement the main camera giving more control to user to take a wider variety of shots that a single lens camera cannot.

I have put up some unedited photos taken with the realme 7Pro. Take a look

What I really like?

If I just want a phone for doing the tik-tok stuffs, there are plenty of phones out in the market. However, what i really need is a phone that is versatile for me to get my work done while keeping me entertained at the same time, the realme 7Pro probably is the phone that can do the job without burning a hole in your pocket.

The 2 delicated nano SIM card slots allows me to insert both my private and business lines on a same phone. Yes, there is really no need for company to issue me with another phone especially during this time when we spend most of the time at home. The additional microSD card slot expands the storage capability upto 256GB. This feature gives a lot more flexibility especially when you need to make large file transfer between phone and computer. In that prospective, the “2+1” card slot matters the most and sadly, we cannot find this feature in the premium smartphones (even though you pay a huge premium)

Verdict

Judging from the global chip shortage, mid-range phone price may increase in the later half of the year. The price tag of SGD499 for the Snapdragon 720G-powered realme 7Pro does not sound expensive.

April 15, 2021April 15, 2021

Traveloka Launches EPIC Sale Campaign Up to 80% special deal in Singapore

Traveloka presents EPIC Sale Campaign in Singapore. Taking place from 14th to 20th April 2021, Traveloka unveils special deals of up to 80% for a wide variety of Accommodations and Xperience products. Users are welcome to combine their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers, and numerous promotions available on the Traveloka’s App to get more benefit from this campaign.

EPIC Sale is one of the manifestations of Traveloka’s commitment in supporting the government in reviving the local tourism industry that is heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the economy moves towards recovery, the EPIC Sale campaign is also expected to boost the customer demand hence can positively contribute to the partners’ business continuity.

“The pandemic has impacted many businesses around the world, especially the tourism industry. Therefore, it is crucial for us to support and form a partnership with all stakeholders, including the government and industry players to revive their businesses post-pandemic. This has become our baseline in rolling out the EPIC Sale campaign in the market, not only to provide the best experience to our users but also to support our partners and the local tourism sector. Utilizing human-centered technology, the EPIC Sale combines the creative marketing strategy with cutting edge and breakthrough approach to better understand the customers, bringing forth offers that are aligned with the change in users’ behaviour and needs,” said Pascal Gekko Head of International Accommodation at Traveloka.

Learnings from Traveloka signalled that Singaporeans started their user journey looking at flexibility in brands to provide a better user experience through a combination of coupons stacking and time-bound promotions. As such, Traveloka’s EPIC Sale will feature the following:

Epic Referral has begun as a pre-sale activation from 7-13 April, whereby users can earn coupons by sharing a referral link. There will also be daily rewards, new features and grand prizes!

EPIC Hour offers 50-80% special deals every day between 6 – 7PM (Singapore Local Time) and additionally between 9-10AM on 14 April and 12-1PM on 20 April

EPIC Sale offers incredible special deals ranging from 25 – 80% all day long that is combinable with SRV, Traveloka promotions, and bank coupons. Users can also save more with up to SGD 40 off all day during EPIC Sale period and up to SGD 50 off during EPIC Hour when paying with DBS/POSB Cards and applying the DBS/POSB Cards Coupon with Terms & Conditions apply.

Crafted based on Traveloka’s best selling experiences during its SingapoRediscovers campaigns, the EPIC Sale was created for users to enjoy experiences with family and friends at an affordable price. It reinforces Traveloka’s commitment to supporting the Singapore Government in boosting domestic tourism and promoting a safe way to enjoy a holiday.

While it has been a rocky road to recovery for Singapore’s hospitality industry, such a partnership between the Singapore Tourism Board and private travel and lifestyle platforms has ensured the survival of many hotels and attractions as international leisure travel has yet to return in the foreseeable future. In addition, such a synergistic partnership caters to the steady increase in hyper-local experiences such as staycations and rediscovering places of interests within the tropical island.

“We are grateful to partner with Traveloka and join the first EPIC Sale campaign this year, as they not only share the same mission and values with us but they also aim to provide a positive contribution to boosting Singapore’s local tourism sector, aligned with the Singapore Tourism Board’s agenda. Through this partnership, we believe it will bring a positive contribution to our business amid the pandemic,” said Jorge Fernandez, Director of Revenue Optimization at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.

Traveloka’s EPIC Sale campaign will run from 14 April 2021 to 20 April 2021 and can be enjoyed through the latest version of the Traveloka App. Partnering with all of our merchants, users will be spoilt for choice and can discover more deals for their desired hotel stays, leisure attractions to visit or local tours by operators, such as Shangri-La Singapore, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, The Fullerton Hotels, Park Hotel Group, Singapore Cable Car, Jewel Changi Airport Attraction, Go Green Segway Eco Adventure, Wild Wild Wet, Trick Eye Museum, and more.

March 7, 2021March 7, 2021

Linksys Singapore Launches New Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh Router (Starhub Exclusive)

Earlier this month, both Starhub and Linksys announce the exclusive launch of the Linksys Velop MX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh System router in Singapore. Referred to as StarHub Smart WiFi Pro under the partnership, Linksys’ MX4200 combines Mesh networking and next-generation WiFi 6 technology for coverage, low latency and speed – offering the best of two worlds for an unrivalled home broadband experience.

Key Product Features of the Velop MX4200

Wi-Fi Certified 6 – Built with the latest generation WiFi technology and security standards set by the Wi-Fi Alliance, WiFi 6 certification ensures increased capacity, device battery life and network safety for customers and their devices.

Linksys Intelligent Mesh – in-house mesh system that is compatible with other Linksys’s product. Flexible and scalable for existing Linksys consumers who can expand their network as needs grow, with a simple addition of any Linksys mesh node/router.

Qualcomm Networking Pro 800 platform – With 8 streams of tri-band WiFi 6 connectivity, and a 64-bit 1.4GHz Quad-Core ARM processor powering dynamic data processing and management, the Velop MX4200 provides game-changing network advancements that enhance efficiency, range and power consumption and deliver more capacity for online gaming, video calls and meetings, and 8K streaming on their devices.

Tri-band dynamic backhaul – Unlike some mesh systems that use a dedicated backhaul and limit the number of bands that the user can connect to, Linksys uses a dynamic backhaul, allowing access to all 3 bands throughout the home. Linksys’ dynamic backhaul technology chooses the best band to connect between nodes.

(Far Right) The Velop MX4200 is fully compatible with other Velop Mesh System. Source: Instagram @weewu

StarHub is launching the Smart WiFi Pro (Usual price: $399) at no extra cost for customers who sign up for or renew their StarHub 2Gbps Fibre Broadband plans. Other StarHub Fibre Broadband customers can purchase this router at $0 upfront cost on an instalment plan from as low as $12 monthly. Cash and carry router purchase is also available for in-contract (broadband) customers at $288 per unit (via ePOS), available at Starhub Shops and Platinum Shops.

December 13, 2020December 13, 2020

Review: Trek iSSD, 4-In-1 Portable Data Storage Solution Made By A Singapore Company

These days, we interact so much online. Posting on Instagram and live streaming anytime and anywhere just mean that we need more gadgets on the move. Let run a quick checklist – a power bank (for your smartphone), laptop (obviously, that’s meant to edit stunning photos and video for posting), portable hard disk (what’s more disheartening when you forgot to back up your work?), camera (to capture professional shots for posting) and the list goes on. Well, does it make sense to carry that many devices?

Trek 2000 (stock quote: 5AB.SI), a Singapore-based company, wants to reduce your load with their Trek iSSD. The Trek iSSD is a portable data backup solution, power bank, SD card reader and a wireless charger.

Quickly, let us go through the specs.

– The Trek iSSD is available in either 240GB, 480GB or 960GB capacities that pretty much covers the needs of users from day-to-day mainstream consumers segment to hardcore mobile workers.

– It also comes with a SD card slot that enable users to directly backup their photos/video in the card without going through an external computer.

– The Trek iSSD also double-up as a 3000mAh power bank that supports bi-directional Qi wireless charging.

– Through its wireless b/g/n connection, users could access their files via their smartphones which means you could use the device virtually anywhere.

– FTP Functions that allow large file transfer via a network connection.

Well. Enough of the sales pitch! I will just list down in order what I like about the product.

This is what you get in Trek iSSD. Instagram user @weewu

Light and Compact: The Trek iSSD weighs only 221g and measured 11.8cm by 7.0cm. To put it in prospective, the Trek iSSD weighs like a typical 20,000mAh powerbank but it is about the size of a portable hard disk. Considering that the Trek iSSD could do so much more, its noticeably light weight (as well as its compact size) is a big plus point. Kudos to Trek team!

Simple and Seamless SD Card Backup: The One Touch Backup in Trek iSSD is one of the most make sense features that a lot of portable hard disk makers overlooked. More importantly, it is amazingly easy to use. Power on, plug in the SD card, press twice on the power button to start the back up. Once the LED indicator stop blinking, Bang! You have backed up your SD card!

This is extremely useful when you are traveling (not that we can in the COVID-19 situation). I can imagine the time I am running up of capacity in my DSLR. I desperately need one more SD card, but I don’t have an extra one at my disposal. This feature will come in handy to free up the space of the card without going through computer. (I mean as much as we can, we will travel light)

Wireless Charging: It is all about decluttering. It is definitely not nice to see many wires lying around. The Trek iSSD also serves as a wireless charging bay. The best part – it supports pass-through meaning you just need one USB cable to charge both Trek iSSD and your mobile phone. In other word, you free up one more power socket.

Mobile (Wireless) Backup: We have so many photos stored in our smartphone these days. However, there is a limit in the smartphone and occasionally, you need to clean up the phone’s memory. The Trek iSSD offers an easy way to back up the photo in your smartphones via a mobile app.

One Touch Backup. Source: Instagram user @weewu

Well, this is more like an alternative way of backing up your photo on top of what Apple iCloud and Google Drive are offering. I still stick to an old school way of storing digital photo offline at a separately physical drive. We have heard enough stories of photo leaked online which eventually may be detrimental to some of you especially those who are influencers with large following. Come and think about it. Old school may be better.

Wireless Sharing: When I first heard that the Trek iSSD is a file server and could support upto 8 devices simultaneously, I think it is a very cool feature. I tried to share with another user, it works reasonably well which it is within my expectation; well, I have kept the number of users small. Although speed will be noticeably slower when any new device connected to it, it still delivers. Well, it is not fair to benchmark this to a NAS system. Considering how small the Trek iSSD is, its performance is quite remarkable.

My Take

It is a very versatile storage companion that serves my day-to-day needs. If you consume a lot of contents, this is a good storage solution. The Trek iSSD comes with 3 choices – 240GB (Black), 480GB(Blue) and 960GB (Red) and are priced at RRP USD $179, USD$349 and USD$499 respectively.

December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

Grab-Singtel Consortium Now a Digital Full Bank is offering 200 Roles

MAS has announced that Grab-Singtel (Stock Quote: Z74.SGX) Consortium is one of the two Digital Full Banks alongside with video game development company Sea Ltd (Stock Quote: SE.NYSE)

The consortium has appointed Mr Charles Wong, Citigroup’s former retailing head in Singapore as CEO and will fill up around 200 roles by end 2021.

The consortium will focus on serving consumers and small businesses, starting with time-starved young PMETs, gig workers with flexible incomes, and micro-SMEs who face limited access to financing. Grab and Singtel will enable these underserved groups to easily access transparent financial services that are embedded in their everyday activities, helping them achieve a better quality of life. The consortium will do so by drawing on both companies’ extensive experience in meeting the daily essential needs of millions in Singapore.

Mr Wong, CEO of the Grab-Singtel digital banking consortium, said, “An opportunity such as today, where we are entrusted to develop a digital bank from scratch, is truly rare. We will redefine banking by building a sustainable business focused on out-serving Singapore with personalised, accessible and trusted financial products. Customers from multiple segments, including the underserved and underbanked, will be able to have their financial needs met seamlessly, powered by our next-generation cloud technology and data platform.”

The digital bank is a natural extension of the Grab Financial Group as well as the mobile financial business of Singtel, with the aim of enabling wider access to financial services. It will also draw on the combined experience of both companies in having already built a successful regional fintech ecosystem in highly regulated environments, offering digital financial services across payments, insurance, lending and investing.

November 22, 2020November 22, 2020

Sony Brings Its Popular Alpha Camera Experience to Its Xperia 5 II Smartphone

Last week, Sony Singapore introduces its latest smartphone to the Singapore market – Xperia 5 II.

Camera

The Xperia 5 II sports triple camera lens that paired with ZEISS optics calibrated specifically for the Sony Xperia 5 II. The triple camera system, with 3 different focal lengths: 16mm/24mm/70mm, is versatile to capture objects from a varied distance – be it a close-up or zoom in on distant objects.

Designed with technology from Sony Alpha series of camera, the Xperia 5 II is capable of capturing fast moving people and animal. The Real-time Eye AF is able to keep the focus on the moving people or animal even when one eye is covered.

Xperia 5 II offers Photography Pro which was developed in collaboration with professional photographers, giving advance features to more sophisticated users to manually control camera setting such as ISO, Shutter Speed and EV Indicator. At a look of it, the interface resemblance a lot to a Sony Alpha camera’s.

Other Physical Attributes

Photography Pro Interface designed for the more advance users. Source: Instagram user @weewu

Unlike other smartphones we have seen in the market, the Sony Xperia 5 II sports a 21:9 display ratios which is very unusual from the standard 16:9 display we seen in other smartphones. At just 68 mm wide , the Sony Xperia 5 II is much more elongated and it is certainly, in the ergonomic sense, easier to hold with one hand. The wider display also gives a more cinematic viewing experience.

The Xperia 5 II is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery with a fast charge that charges up to 50% in about 30 minutes.

It is also IP65/68 certified with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on both front and back sides.

Price

The Xperia 5 II is already in store at SGD 1, 349 and it is available in Black, Pink and Blue. During the Sony Days 2020 Year-End Promotion, a WH-H910N wireless noise cancelling headphones worth SGD 399 will be given for every purchase of Xperia 5 II (obviously while stock last).

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020

OnePlus 8T Packed with 120Hz Fluid Display and 65W Warp Charge

Today, OnePlus launches its latest flagship smartphone – OnePlus 8T. 2 takeaways from the launch of new OnePlus 8T – One, its 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display and Two, Warp Charge 65.

Warp Charge 65 – A Day’s Power in 15 Minutes

One of the biggest selling points of OnePlus phone is its Warp Charge technology. The new Warp Charge 65 offers a full day’s power in just 15 minutes. It utilizes twin-battery charging technology to rapidly replenish the large total capacity of 4,500 mAh and takes just 39 minutes to complete a full charge under normal usage. Why do we still bother to charge our phone overnight these days?

To circumvent heating issues from charging, the OnePlus 8T is equipped with 12 temperature sensors, along with an extra encryption chip in the adapter and cable, to keep charging temperatures at a comfortable level while operating at a peak output of 65W.

120Hz Fluid AMOLED Display

The OnePlus 8T’s 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display is the first flat 120Hz display ever to earn an A+ rating from DisplayMate. Every swipe or scroll across the panel will deliver astonishingly smooth visuals, so users can enjoy the most intense games with remarkable fluidity and browse effortlessly through social media feeds on the immersive display panel.

With a Just Noticeable Color Difference (JNCD) of around 0.3, the OnePlus 8T display has the highest colour accuracy in the industry. The FHD+ 2.5D flexible display also features a peak brightness of up to 1,100 nits, delivering clearer visuals even under bright sunlight. In addition, the OnePlus 8T has 8,192 levels of brightness, making the transitions between various brightness settings feel natural and comfortable.

Superior Power and Performance

The OnePlus 8T is equipped with the flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform with a Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System, which enables staggering multi-gigabit 5G connectivity, professional-quality photography at Gigapixel speeds, desktop-level gaming with ultra-realistic graphics, and intuitive AI experiences. The superior computing power is further complemented by dual-mode NSA + SA 5G and Wi-Fi 6 support for faster, more reliable data speeds.

With up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage, the OnePlus 8T delivers faster and more stable performance. The exceptional hardware enables smoother 4K video capture and playback with reduced battery drain, allowing users to take advantage of 5G network speeds to stream HD videos or play performance-demanding games while on the move.

Advanced Quad-Camera System

The OnePlus 8T features a robust and versatile camera kit designed to efficiently capture any and every moment in crisp detail. The quad-camera system includes a 48MP main camera with optical, a 16MP lens, and dedicated macro and monochrome lenses, letting users enjoy studio-level photography on the go.

The 123-degree ultra-wide lens on the OnePlus 8T provides a new perspective for framing shots so users can confidently capture vast landscapes, expansive architecture, and other wide-angle subjects in full view. The lens delivers clear images in various lighting conditions – even at night or in the dark due to the improved Nightscape mode.

OxygenOS 11 – Android 11

OnePlus 8T is the world’s first non-Google-manufactured smartphone that comes with the latest Android 11 fresh out of the box. Their new OxygenOS 11 has optimized the Android experience making one-handed operation easier.

Pricing and Colours

The OnePlus 8T is available in two new breathtakingly beautiful colourways: Aquamarine Green and Lunar Silver.

The phone will be available for exclusive pre-order on Lazada from 17 – 23 October 2020. Customers who place their pre-order will receive a OnePlus 8T Bumper case (worth S$39.30). The phone will be available islandwide from Saturday 24 Oct 2020 at OnePlus Lazada and Shopee online flagship store.

The OnePlus 8T comes in Aquamarine Green with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, and is priced at S$899; and Lunar Silver with 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM, and is priced at S$1,099.

October 9, 2020October 9, 2020

SINGAPORE WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO LAUNCH THE LINKSYS E9450 WIFI 6 EASYMESH ROUTER

Linksys E9450 WIFI 6 EasyMesh Router. Source: Linksys Asia

SINGAPORE, 9 OCTOBER 2020 Linksys today announced the global launch of Linksys’ first WiFi 6 EasyMesh router, the E9450 (AX5400). Singtel is the first operator in the world to offer the new Linksys WiFi 6 router as it continues to bring next-generation WiFi connectivity to more Singtel fibre broadband customers in Singapore.

The WiFi 6 standard enables customers to enjoy faster data transfers, increased capacity, better connectivity performance in environments with many connected devices, and improved power efficiency. As the latest WiFi 6 solution for consumers’ increasingly demanding wireless connectivity needs, the E9450 router will be exclusively available to Singtel fibre broadband customers for two months starting from 10 October 2020.

“Asia has the greatest number of internet users in the world, accounting for 50.3% globally^[1],” said Jenny Ng, General Manager for Asia. “In 2019, 81% of Singaporeans were using the internet, with a trajectory to continue growing year-on-year². As a tech savvy nation, it is no wonder that Singaporeans are discerning when it comes to the routers they use at home. We are pleased to offer consumers an opportunity to optimize their home internet speeds and capacity with the next generation Mesh WiFi system in order to cater to growing bandwidth demands.”

So What is EasyMesh Wi-Fi?

EasyMesh was introduced by Wi-Fi Alliance and it is intended to serve as a standard to Wi-Fi networks that allows Wi-Fi routers or mesh systems to communicate with one another regardless of product line or brands. To put it simply, consumer can choose router or nodes of different brands to setup their mesh system as long as the products comply to EasyMesh standard. In other words, consumers have more choices.

Complied to this standard, the Linksys E9450 makes future upgrading of mesh system seamlessly for consumers.

Tech Specifications

The E9450 WiFi 6 router feature details below:

Technical Specification	Details
Wi-Fi Speed	Dual Band AX5400 (4800 Mbps on 5GHz + 600 Mbps on 2.4GHz)
Product Dimensions	Length – 15.6cm Width – 6cm Height – 22cm
AX5400 Dual Band	4 internal antennas MU-MIMO OFDMA Technology 2.4 GHz radio 5 GHz radio USB3.0 port
Processor & Memory	1.5GHz Tri-Core Processor 256MB Flash and 512MB RAM
WAN and LAN Connectivity	● 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports: o 1x WAN o 4x LAN
Security	WPA2 Personal WPA3 Personal WPA2 / WPA3 Mixed Mode Personal

Pricing & Availability

The E9450 WiFi 6 router retails at $399.

At launch, it will be available at the special introductory price of $10.00/mth to the first 100 Singtel customers to sign up for or re-contract Singtel Fibre 1Gbps at $39.90/mth (U.P. $49.90/mth). Subsequently, customers can purchase the E9450 at $14.00/mth (U.P.$16.00/mth) with Singtel fibre plans.

The Linksys E9450 will roll out to the rest of the channel from 10 December 2020.

[1] Miniwatts Marketing Group, “Internet Users Distribution in the World – 2020 Q1” Data

²Statista Research Department, “Singapore: Internet user penetration 2015-2025” , Jul 28, 2020

September 13, 2020September 18, 2020

Review of Sudio Elva – Reconceptualizing Neckband headphones

These days when every audio system manufacturer is making true wireless system (TWS), it is increasingly difficult to find neckband wireless headphones in the market. Frankly, I am little surprised by Sudio’s move to launch a neckband headphone – Sudio Elva.

Sudio Elva is the latest neckband headsets from Sudio

The last time we saw a neckband from them was Sudio Tre 3 years ago. My first impression when I first hold on to the Sudio Elva – it just looks like any ordinary neckband headset. Disappointed as first but, I still went ahead to test the product (you know. part of my job). As I am exploring the control buttons on the product, something shocked me – Where is the USB charging port?! For that split seconds, I wonder how am I supposed to charge this if I do not have one?

Detachable control panel that cleverly conceals the charging port.

The curiosity dies off quickly when I realize a suspicious line on the left-side control panel. True enough, that is detachable and when you do so, Tada…you have your USB Type C charging port!

Inside the box, you get the standard USB Type C charging cable and 5 different earbuds (standard Sudio product package). To cater for Elva’s unconventional way of charging, you are also getting a USB 2.0 (male)- to – USB Type C (female) adaptor. One more thing, you are getting an in-flight Bluetooth adaptor – Sudio Flyg.

Ease-of-use

These days, auto pairing is like a standard feature for Bluetooth headset. No surprise, this feature is included in Sudio Elva. Sudio Elva immediately goes into pairing mode when you first turn it on. All you need to do is to have your smartphone near the device and there you go; your Elva is successfully paired to your smartphone.

You know these days; we own multiple devices such as iPad and laptop. Often, you need to manually turn on the pairing mode of your headset again for your 2^nd device. One smart thing about auto-pairing feature is that it will turn on the pairing mode of the Elva when it could not find/connect to its first paired device. All you need to do next is to switch on the Bluetooth of your iPad and bring it near to your Elva. (Tips: To do so, switch off Bluetooth of your 1^st device (I presume your smartphone) first and your Elva will go into pairing mode automatically)

Sound Quality – ANC On or Off?

ANC is off by default. In this mode, you get clear vocal and reasonable bass. However, I always find the sound at this mode lacks refinedness; some “life” is missing.

When the ANC is turned on, the sound volume heightened. In this mode, the clarity remains but you get richer bass. Overall, sound just gets better with the surrounding noise being blocked off.

Other Perks?

As expected, Sudio Elva is armed with IP rating of IPX5 and long battery life of up to 11 hours. It is good enough to meet your daily usages. (Come on. You could even bring the Elva out for a marathon during a rainy day! It will come out unscathed)

Another surprise in the package –Sudio Flyg, flight Bluetooth adaptor. In this era, you will be surprised that there are devices that do not come with Bluetooth connectivity. For instance, some TV does not have Bluetooth connectivity. Connecting TV with this, you could enjoy your movie with your Bluetooth headphones.

Verdicts

In relative to similar products in the market, Sudio Elva meets my expectation. At SGD 199, its audio quality is up-to-mark and suits most people’s likings. On top of that, you are also getting a water-resistance Bluetooth headset and a flight adaptor. At this price, I really could not find any reason to complain.

The Sudio Elva will be launched on the Sudio official website from 14 September onwards. As part of the online store promotion, you can checkout with promocode “wireless15” to enjoy 15% discount. Note: this discount code is active on all other Sudio products if you shop through their official website.