This month, wearables and audio technology lead the most exciting drops on our radar. If you’re considering a smartwatch companion to promote a more active, healthier lifestyle, or investing in new headphones to transition seamlessly from WFH meetings to your favourite music playlists, consider one of these new tech gadget launches of the month.
1. Garmin Forerunner 55
For those browsing the market for a smartwatch catered to athletes and running enthusiasts, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is a worthy contender. Launched with a built-in GPS, the Forerunner 55 comes with a range of features to track time, distance, speed, pace, and heart rate data straight off the smartwatch. With advanced features such as Pace Pro and Garmin Coach, users can customise their runs to train for specific goals—be it running 5K, 10K or a half-marathon.
Since a balanced regime is important for a good athlete, it’s also equipped with a variety of daily suggested workouts and built-in activity and sports profiles, including HIIT, yoga, pilates, swimming. What’s more, these workouts are tailored to the user’s training history, fitness level, and recovery time for more personalised coaching. Other features such as 24/7 heart rate monitoring, as well as step, calorie, sleep, menstrual, and pregnancy trackers come as standard.
Price: RM960
Availability: Lazada, Shopee, AECO e-store and all Garmin authorised retailers from June 2021 onwards
For more information, visit the Garmin website.
2. Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Headphones
The Sony WF-1000XM3 has been immensely popular among tech geeks since its inception, but the WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Headphones look set to take its lead in active noise-cancelling a step further. Thanks to the newly designed Integrated Processor V1 and dual noise sensor microphones, the buds are capable of delivering industry’s highest level of noise cancellation while using less power than its predecessor.
Besides that, the new Noise Isolation Earbud Tips are made from a unique polyurethane foam material to offer a soft, elastic and improved fit. Sony’s LDAC technology is said to transmit three times more data than conventional Bluetooth audio, promising an exceptional sound quality close to that of wired connections. It also features Speak-to-Chat, Precise Voice Pickup Technology, and Adaptive Sound Control functions for superior call quality and smart, uninterrupted listening. Battery life is rated at eight hours on full charge, and another 16 hours with the case for a total listening time of 24 hours.
Price: RM1,099
Availability: From mid-July 2021 onwards (pre-orders from now on until 15th July 2021 will receive a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad worth RM339, available at Sony Store The Curve and KLCC, Sony Store Online and all authorised dealers)
For more information, visit the Sony website.
3. Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2
Mobile gamers, you’ll want to check out Lenovo’s flagship gaming phone, Legion Phone Duel 2. It’s equipped with the leading Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform, innovative ATA 2.0 horizontal design, and cooling technologies for peak performance even during long gaming sessions. This is supported by a pair of 2750mAh batteries on either side of the device for 5500mAh of total power. Should those run out, it takes only 30 minutes for a full charge.
In terms of display, it features a 6.92-inch AMOLED (2460 x 1080) HDR gaming display with an ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate and 720Hz touch sampling reaction speed powered by a Pixelworks™ i6 Processor. Plus, the 44MP pop-up camera with ultra-wide 84-degree autofocus lens makes streaming possible wherever, whilst the Octa-Triggers and Dual HaptiX feedback ensure am immersive gaming experience.
Price: RM3,299 for 12GB RAM +256GB storage / RM3,899 for 16GB RAM + 512GB storage
Availability: Lazada, Shopee and Lenovo Exclusive Stores (LES) nationwide
For more information, visit the Lenovo website.
4. Ikea X Sonos Symphonisk Speaker
What happens when a Swedish furniture brand and a premium audio company collaborate? An aesthetically pleasing speaker with outstanding sound is what. After the birth of their first Symphonisk Bookshelf speakers in 2019 comes Ikea and Sonos’s second child—a picture frame with a built-in WiFi speaker.
Arriving in either black or white with two art motifs on a removable front, the minimalist frame can be hung on the wall, placed on the floor, or leaned against a wall to blend in with your interior decorations. It can be used on its own or combined with other products from the Symphonisk series to complete your home audio experience.
Price: US$199 (approximately RM828)
Availability: Arrival in Malaysia is yet to be announced/confirmed
For more information, visit the Ikea website.
5. Suunto 9 Peak
Don’t let its slim, elegant design fool you; the Suunto 9 Peak claims to be the most powerful, and durable watch in the brand’s history. Inspired by its forerunner, the Suunto 9 Baro, this new smartwatch has been tested in harsh conditions to accompany users through adventures and peak experiences, while providing a sleek Nordic form factor that sits comfortably on the wrist.
Whichever sport or activity you enjoy, the Suunto 9 Peak will be able to track and display the most relevant data for you from its extensive 80-plus sports modes. It is also capable of measuring your blood oxygen levels to help determine acclimatisation levels at higher altitudes, provide accurate wrist-based heart rate monitoring, as well as offer in-depth weather insights and expansive on-watch navigation capabilities. To meet your hunger for your next adventure, the smartwatch achieves a full charge in just one hour.
Price: RM2,799 (sapphire glass and stainless steel) / RM3,199 (sapphire glass and grade 5 titanium)
Availability: Lazada, Shopee, SolarTime.com and all on-ground point of sales of a.d time from June 17
For more information, visit the Suunto website.
6. Beats Studio Buds
If you’re considering alternatives to Apple’s Airpods or the Samsung Galaxy Buds, this might be a worthy rival. The Beats Studio Buds are the brand’s latest True Wireless Earbuds that offer active noise cancellation (ANC), IPX4-rated sweat resistance, and up to eight hours of battery life or a total of 24 hours with the charging case. A quick five-minute charge offers up to an hour of playback.
Design-wise, it features a redesigned in-ear form that comes with three different replaceable tips for the perfect fit. An 8.2mm dual-element diaphragm driver encased within the two-chamber acoustic housing offers clear, high quality sound, whilst the advanced digital processor then optimises audio performance for loudness and clarity.
Price: RM629
Availability: It is currently listed on the Apple store, but is not available for purchase yet. No further details on release dates have been announced as of time of writing
For more information, visit the Apple website.
Check out last month’s BURO Gadget Guide here.
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