Welcome to Tech Bytes! In this series, we bring you the biggest news hitting the Tech and Gaming fields, putting it into an excellent, simple brief for you to quickly catch up on so you’re up to speed over dinner and drinks.
New games, new tech — April 2024 continues the ever-revolving door of news and announcements! This month, we see DJI’s latest flying revolution, Sony’s next visual masterpieces, and more. Are you excited to dig into the biggest news in April? Let’s go!
Sony surprises with latest TV lineup
If you know your TVs, you’ll be familiar with Sony’s line of televisions — highly regarded due to their excellent picture quality and renowned image processing. And with every refresh comes renewed excitement for what the new generation presents.
In 2024, Sony’s latest BRAVIA televisions are all about Mini LED and also see a more streamlined approach to the naming scheme. Of the four new TV systems, the BRAVIA 9 is at the top of the pyramid. Containing more dimming zones than 2023’s X95L, the BRAVIA gets 50% brighter than the already exceptionally bright X95L. Plus, Sony says it achieves this level of performance while using 20% less energy.
Meanwhile, the BRAVIA 7 arrives as the successor to the X90L but now comes with the benefits of Mini LED, such as full array local dimming and signature Sony features like XR Backlight Master Drive and XR Clear Image. Finally, the BRAVIA 3 is Sony’s entry-level Mini LED TV system, which is still equipped with its raved image processing. The only non-Mini LED system is the BRAVIA 8, an OLED TV. It has the same features as the BRAVIA 7 but also comes with Acoustic Surface Audio +, which delivers better audio performance because the screen emits sound.
The BRAVIA 9 has 75-inch (S$9,999) and 85-inch versions (S$12,999), which will arrive in Singapore in May and June, respectively. Sony’s BRAVIA 8 will launch in June 2024 with 55-inch (S$4,099) and 65-inch versions (S$5,999). As for the BRAVIA 7, it will come with 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch variants, releasing in May 2024 with a starting price of S$4,999. Lastly, the BRAVIA 3 will have a vast range of sizes from 43 to 85 inches and start at S$1,399.
BlizzCon 2024 is cancelled
The past year has been busy for publisher Blizzard, which formally closed its acquisition by Microsoft. But 2024 has been particularly brutal, with massive layoffs and the cancellation of its new survival game recently announced. The bad news extends to this month, with Blizzard announcing that BlizzCon 2024 will not happen.
This will be disappointing to fans, especially with World of Warcraft: The War Within and Diablo IV’s first expansion expected to launch this year. But the company says it will still have a presence at other trade shows and conventions, such as gamescom, to share updates.
Instead of BlizzCon, the company indicates that it is currently planning to hold multiple global, in-person events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Warcraft. Blizzard also assures that BlizzCon will not disappear like E3, so you can still expect more BlizzCon events in the future.
Razer introduces the latest Razer Blade 18
If there is one thing Razer isn’t, it is subtle. And that is evident with their latest laptop, the Razer Blade 18, which has some significant innovations.
Not only does the laptop sport a massive 18-inch display, but it is the world’s first screen of that size to deliver a 4K resolution and 200Hz refresh rate. Alternatively, users can opt for the QHD+ 300Hz Mini-LED option to take that refresh rate to the next level. It’ll additionally provide a 3.0ms response time and DCI-P3 100% colour gamut—useful for gamers and creators alike.
Specs-wise, the Razer Blade 18 is similarly strong. Inside, it is equipped with a 14th-generation Intel i9-14900HX processor, the fastest mobile processor available now. The laptop is also powered by an NVIDIA RTX 4090 card, allowing for uncompromising graphical performance. The experience is further complemented by the equipped THX spatial audio 6-speaker array for audio for full immersion when gaming or watching media.
Razer’s most powerful laptop is available starting at S$4,499, and you can order it from Razer’s official website or physical stores.
Kingdom Come Deliverance II announced
Warhorse Studios is returning to the medieval kingdom of Bohemia with the reveal of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, the sequel to its 2018 action RPG title.
It will pick off from where the original ended, with players continuing the story of protagonist Henry of Skalitz, who is on a quest to avenge his murdered parents. His journey will pit him against the King of Hungary, Sigismund the Red Fox, crossing paths with “a charismatic cast of characters” along the way.
The developer touts the sequel as much bigger in scope, with the game twice as large as the original. As you explore the sprawling open world, players will be presented with tough moral choices to make—choices that affect not only how characters will react to Henry but also his pathway in the story. The nuanced First-Person Combat also returns, with Henry having access to a range of authentic weapons and combat styles.
Kingdom Come Deliverance II is targeting a 2024 release and is expected to release on Xbox Series consoles, PS5, and PC.
DJI Avata 2 flys into view
Drone Flyers will be happy this month after DJI officially unveiled their newest drone — the DJI Avata 2. It is the successor to the very popular Avata drone, but this latest one is slated to be even better all around.
The DJI Avata 2 has a new design, with a shorter and wider frame to allow for more stability in the air. Inside, it is equipped with an upgraded 1/1.3-inch camera sensor that helps the drone perform better in low-light conditions. Its ultra-wide-angle lens enables viewing angles of up to 155°. Also, battery life has been improved, and it offers a flight time of 23 minutes.
Announced alongside the DJI Avata 2 is the DJI Goggles 3 headset, which lets you see the world through the drone’s eyes. This headset now has a built-in battery and no longer requires a phone tether for Remote ID, enabling more immersive experiences when used with the drone. There are also outward-facing cameras that give passthrough vision so that you don’t need to remove the headset to view your surroundings.
Launched this month, the DJI Avata 2 costs US$425 standalone, but you can also bundle in the DJI Goggles 3 for US$512.
This marks April 2024’s edition of Tech Bytes, and we hope this round-up gives you insight into tech to be excited about. Check with us again in May 2024, as we bring you more byte-sized news every month!
Visuals courtesy of Sony Singapore, Razer Singapore, Warhorse Studios, and DJI Singapore.
