Welcome to Tech Bytes! In this series, we bring the biggest news hitting the Tech and Gaming fields, getting them into a simple brief for you to quickly catch up on, so you’re up to speed over dinner and drinks.

The August month ends with a big gaming event in the form of gamescom, with announcements galore on upcoming titles. In addition to that, we have a couple of news from the tech world, notably Samsung. Be sure to check out what you might have missed here!

Samsung unveils the latest editions of their foldable line

Over the years, Samsung has been slowly but surely refining its foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip. The two phone series get another upgrade this year, with new versions unveiled in early August.

The new iterations are called the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4, where both have received minor updates. Galaxy Z Fold4 now comes a little slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, with software tweaks (such as the taskbar on the bottom of the screen) to improve the multitasking experience. The most significant change comes from the camera system, which now has a 50MP sensor and 3x telephoto lens. The phone also has the latest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset.

For the Galaxy Z Flip4, the device now has a bigger battery capacity of 3,700mAh, with faster 25W charging to boot. More features have also been added to the cover screen use, where you can see preview selfies in their intended final aspect ratio and send quick text replies. Internally, the phone also has the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 powering it.

Both devices are now available for pre-order in Singapore at the Samsung Online Store, Official Samsung Store in Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon, as well as on Singtel and Starhub’s official websites. Customers can also pre-order the device physically at Samsung Experience Stores and selected consumer electronics stores. The phones will be widely available on 2 September 2022.

New Samsung accessories inbound

Also announced alongside the foldable devices were the new models for Samsung’s smartwatch and wireless earbud line.

The Galaxy Watch5 series again consists of a regular and pro version, both now made even more durable, with the display using a Sapphire Crystal material. The sensors on the watches also have an increased surface area, allowing for more accurate health tracking. But the biggest improvement goes to the batteries. The regular Watch5 gets a 284mAh battery and 410mAh battery for the 40mm and 44mm versions, respectively. The pro edition brings a huge 590mAh battery, estimated to give 80 hours of use.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro succeeds the previous Galaxy Buds Pro. This new model boasts a smaller design that provides a more comfortable fit for users. Also, if you own a Samsung device, you’ll be able to enjoy superior 24-bit hi-fi audio. The built-in native Dolby Atmos support will also aid the 360-degree audio feature. Finally, the wireless earbuds are still rated to last 8 hours without ANC, but the case brings an improved 20 hours worth of full use.

The new smartwatch and wireless earbuds are available for pre-order at the Samsung Online Store and the official Samsung Store on Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon. Pre-orders can also be made physically at Samsung Experience Stores and selected consumer electronics stores. Both devices are slated to launch on 2 September 2022 officially.

Another foldable comes along — Xiaomi MIX Fold 2

Not to be outdone by Samsung, Xiaomi was also on hand this month to unveil the newest device in their foldable line, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2.

With the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, the company is attempting to one-up Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series in many aspects. The external display has a 6.56-inch OLED screen, while the inner display unfolds to an 8.02-inch screen, both slightly larger than Samsung’s offering. It also has a triple camera system consisting of a primary 50MPl camera, a 13MPl ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto capable of 2x optical zoom. Xiaomi is also flaunting the device’s thin profile, which measures only 5.4mm when fully unfolded.

The phone was recently launched in China this month and is currently only available there at this time. Still, given the popularity of Xiaomi phones in Singapore, there is a good chance it will make its way here.

PRISM+ brings ‘cool’ new Aircon line

We routinely associate PRISM+ with display technology like monitors and television sets, but they are expanding upon that. Earlier this year, the company entered the audio space with their new soundbar line, but their new endeavours are something out of the left field.

PRISM+ is making inroads into the smart home appliance market with their new smart air conditioner line-up, the PRISM+ Zero. The company touts the line as being the smartest aircon on the market, with a smartphone app called PRISM+ Connect helping with home automation. 

With the app, users can set up routines for aircon activation using timing or ambient room temperature. Alongside that, the app allows for voice control and sharing settings of each individual air condition unit in other rooms to remove the hassle of multiple setups. Insights like average usage hours and ambient temperature will also be tracked, and it will also send reminders to users to book their quarterly maintenance, which you can schedule on the app.

The PRISM+ Zero aircon line will have three indoor unit models to choose from, featuring varying cooling capacities. Two outdoor compressor models can also be picked to go alongside the model of your choosing. Pricing on the air conditioners starts at S$2,199 and can be purchased at PRISM+’s official website, where they are running a free gift promotion for the first 200 customers — a Flow soundbar and the Q32, Q55 PRO, and Q65 PRO TVs are up for grabs.

PlayStation’s DualSense Edge controller announced 

With the success of Xbox’s Elite controllers, many people have been waiting for Sony to make their own ‘pro’ controllers. That time has finally come with the unveiling of the new DualSense Edge wireless controller at gamescom’s Opening Night Live stream.

Sony describes it as their first-ever high-performance, ultra-customisable controller. In addition to having the unique DualSense features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, the DualSense Edge allows for remapping or deactivating specific button inputs and adjusting the analog stick’s sensitivity and dead zones. Multiple control profiles can be saved to be used for different games, and an on-controller user interface can quickly adjust your setup.

The stick caps and back buttons can be swapped around; if your stick module goes bad, users can replace them entirely. Coming along with the controller is a braided USB-C cable that uses a connector housing to lock into the controller to prevent slipping. A carrying case is also provided for users to safely transport the DualSense Edge around.

As of yet, there is no information on when the controller is set to launch, nor is there any indication of price, but Sony does tease that more details will be rolled out in the months ahead.

Dead Island 2 is reincarnated

Geoff Keighley opened gamescom with his Opening Night Live event, announcing an assortment of game reveals like Dune: Awakening and Under the Waves, while showcasing new looks at games like Hogwarts Legacy and The Callisto Protocol. However, the biggest news came at the end with the re-reveal of Dead Island 2.

Dead Island 2 was initially announced back in 2014 at Sony’s E3 show. A troubling development ensued, with the game moving between development studios multiple times, which caused its long delay. Now, with developer Dambuster Studios at the helm, the game looks set to finally come out.

Taking place in Los Angeles, players get to pick from a roster of six characters, each with their own unique personalities and dialogues. It features a full RPG experience that allows you to customise your character’s abilities as you try out crazy builds to slay zombies. Co-op also returns, and you’ll be able to experience the game’s exciting quests, eccentric characters, and thrilling story with up to three players.

The game is surprisingly coming out soon, with the release date set for 3 February 2023. It will come out to PC, Stadia, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5, along with the Xbox Series and Xbox One consoles. 

This marks 2022 August’s edition of Tech Bytes, and we hope this roundup gives you a little insight into tech to be excited about. Check with us again in September 2022, as we bring you more byte-sized news every month!

Photos of Samsung devices by Sunny Low of the DANAMIC Team. Additional visuals courtesy of Samsung Singapore, Xiaomi, PRISM+, Sony PlayStation, and Deep Silver.