Welcome to Tech Bytes! This series brings you the biggest news stories in tech and gaming in concise, easy-to-digest summaries to help you catch up over dinner and drinks.
As you know, June is gaming month, but that doesn't mean it's only about games. In Tech Bytes: June 2024, we'll be covering the highlights of WWDC 2024, ASUS' latest gaming handheld, and other notable news coming to the tech and gaming sectors.
Nikon Z6III enters the frame
If you're a fan of the Nikon Z9 and Z8, you might be excited about the company's latest camera. Nikon Z6IIIis a 24.5-megapixel full-frame mid-range camera that combines the best of two popular premium models.
The biggest feature of the Nikon Z6III is that it is the world's first partially stacked CMOS sensor, which offers a number of benefits, including faster autofocus and higher continuous shooting speeds. It also has an extremely bright electronic viewfinder with up to 4,000 nits. Nikon has confirmed that the display refresh rate will allow for a 60 fps display during high-speed continuous shooting at 20 fps. The camera can also shoot 6K RAW video at up to 60fps and 4K RAW at up to 120fps.
The camera also inherits some features from the Z9 and Z8. For instance, its build is similarly dust- and splash-proof, and can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C. But that's not all. It comes equipped with a nearly identical dial and button layout as the Z8, and offers a wide range of custom settings. The Nikon Z6III also features the Z9 and Z8's AF detection range down to -10 EV4, allowing users to easily capture still objects in low-light conditions.
No local pricing or availability information has been announced yet, but the Nikon Z6III retails for US$2,500 in the U.S. In the meantime, you can register your interest in the camera on the Nikon Singapore website to be one of the first to get your hands on it.
Apple Introduces Apple Intelligence
Let's talk about Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC 2024. The event is aimed at software developers, and usually there are exciting news announcements we can expect there, and this year was no different.
AI is of It's a hot word in the tech world, so it was highly expected that Apple would talk about it at WWDC 2024. And although they didn't call it artificial intelligence, Apple Intelligence — very much on brand. But funny names aside, Apple is set to introduce some cool features to iPhones and Macs.
One of the big results of Apple Intelligence is that Siri will become smarter. The assistant will now have “on-screen awareness,” allowing it to understand the user's questions from what's displayed on the screen. Siri will be complemented by ChatGPT, coming to iOS, macOS, and iPadOS later this year. ChatGPT will be able to perform more complex tasks that Siri can't perform, like planning meal courses or generating images from text.
However, Apple Intelligence won't be available to all Apple users. The company says only iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max users, and those with an iPad or Mac with an M1 or later chip, will be able to experience the AI features. If you have one or more of these devices, you'll be able to try out the new OS updates for each system when they are released this fall.
Huawei unveils latest MatePad tablet
This month, Huawei launched two new devices. MatePad 11.5'S And that Matepad SE 11”To strengthen its tablet lineup.
First up is the MatePad 11.5. It features a PaperMatte display that, when used with the M-Pencil, recreates the feel of writing with pen on paper. But the screen has other features too: it emits low blue light, is flicker-free, and prevents screen reflections. As for specs, the display has a 2.8K resolution and an adaptive 144Hz refresh rate.
Another new tablet from Huawei is the MatePad SE 11-inch, a more budget-conscious choice for consumers. Weighing just 475 grams and measuring 6.9mm thick, the device is built to be ultra-portable. The 11-inch display has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and has four speakers underneath, providing powerful audio performance when watching movies and TV shows on the device. The 7,700mAh battery capacity also supports 22.5W fast charging to get the tablet up and running quickly.
The MatePad 11.5'S retails for S$698, while the MatePad SE 11-inch retails from S$268. The MatePad SE 11-inch is available now, while the MatePad 11.5'S will be launched in Singapore at a later date.
ROG Ally X is ASUS' upgraded gaming handheld
While there are a few options for portable gaming consoles today, the ASUS ROG Ally was the first Steam Deck competitor from a major electronics brand, and now, a year after its launch, the company is readying its successor with an all-new product. ROG AllyX.
This isn't a full successor to the ROG Ally; it still has the same AMD Z1 Extreme chipset and 7-inch 48-120Hz VRR display, but the device has some notable improvements. The biggest improvement is the new battery capacity; ASUS has doubled the battery to 80Wh, allowing you to enjoy longer gaming sessions. There's also an increase in RAM and storage, specifically 24GB of DDR5-7500 RAM and 1TB of storage.
The handheld itself has also received notable updates: the chassis is now slightly rounded for improved comfort, and the joystick and D-pad have been tweaked to be more responsive and precise. The device also gets two more USB-C ports, one of which is Thunderbolt-enabled for use with third-party docks or external GPUs. Internally, ASUS says a new smaller fan system improves thermal performance while keeping weight down.
ROG Ally X will be available in Singapore from 26 July 2024, retailing for S$1,199. It will be available from the ROG Experience Store Bugis, the ASUS online store, and all authorized resellers.
Samsung unveils 2024 Odyssey OLED gaming monitor
Once a feature exclusive to televisions, OLED is now becoming more prevalent in monitors too: CES 2024 showed it off earlier this year, and now Samsung has brought it to life with its new 2024 Odyssey OLED gaming monitor.
It consists of two models. Odyssey OLED G8 And that Odyssey OLED G6The G8 is Samsung's first flat 32″ OLED gaming monitor, boasting 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. It's also Samsung's first OLED gaming monitor with AI, capable of upscaling content to near 4K thanks to the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor. The monitor also comes with native Smart TV apps installed.
Meanwhile, the Odyssey OLED G6 is a 27-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution monitor with an incredible 360Hz refresh rate that's built for the competitive scene. It also shares some features with the 68, including Samsung OLED Safeguard+ (a new proprietary anti-burn-in technology) and FreeSync Premium Pro.
Both models are available now – the G8 is priced at S$2,058 and the G6 at S$1,404 – and are available from the Samsung Online Store, Samsung Official Store on Lazada and Shopee, as well as leading electronics and IT retailers.
This concludes Tech Bytes for June 2024. We hope this roundup has given you a better understanding of the technologies that excite you. Be sure to check back in July 2024 for even more bite-sized news every month.
Images courtesy of Nikon Singapore, Apple, Huawei, ASUS, and Samsung Singapore.
