What non-Xiaomi/Poco smartphones can you get for under RM1500? | Ask Us Anything #26

Welcome back to another episode of Ask Us Anything, where we gather your questions from the internet and answer them.

In today’s episode, we answer any wireless half-in-ear headphones for Android smartphones, a smartphone powered by a Snapdragon processor for under RM1500 that’s not a Xiaomi or Poco, and can Touch ‘n Go Go+ be used for transactions?

Can Touch ‘n Go Go+ be used for transactions?

Yes, the money in Go+ can be used for RFID payments. As a matter of fact, the funds in Go+ can be used for all transactions. However, by default, the app will first deduct from the eWallet balance. If the balance is insufficient, then it will automatically deduct from your Go+ balance.

Since you can earn daily returns from your Go+ balance, it’s better to transfer all your funds into Go+ and use your Go+ balance for all your eWallet transactions.

Now, you can cash in with funds reloaded with a credit card to your Go+. But you cannot cash out those funds from Go+ to your bank. If Touch ‘n Go finds out, they have the right to suspend your account.

Wireless half-in-ear headphones for Android smartphones

In case you didn’t know, half-in-ear headphones are those without a tip that goes into your ear canal but instead sit in front of the ear canal.

Here are a couple of options at different price points for consideration.

SoundPEATS Air3

Let’s start with the more wallet-friendly SoundPEATS Air3 which goes for RM189.

It comes with Bluetooth 5.2 and supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec which provides low latency audio when watching videos or gaming. The buds are also rated IPX5 for splash resistance, so you can use them in the gym.

Audio playback is rated up to 5 hours for the buds with the case providing an additional playtime of up to 17 hours.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

Now, if you’re rocking a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, you can consider the Galaxy Buds Live which is priced at RM549, but you can find them for lower on Shopee Mall.

Firstly, the buds will seamlessly pair with your Galaxy smartphone and switch between all connected Galaxy devices under the same Samsung account. However, the most interesting feature of the Buds Live is active noise cancellation (ANC), but given its lack of passive noise isolation, the ANC is not very effective.

Battery life is decent with up to 8 hours of playback for the Buds themselves and up to 29 hours of usage from the charging case with ANC turned off. These numbers fall to 6 hours and 21 hours respectively with ANC turned on. Recharging the case is made easier with the option of wireless charging.

Sony Link Buds

Rounding off this list is the uniquely designed Sony Link Buds which you can buy for RM639.

Each bud consists of a Mentos-shaped unit linked to a circular piece with a hollow centre that houses the speakers. Sounds from your environment enter your ears through that hollow centre. Sony’s pitch for the Link Buds is that you never have to take them off since you can hear everything.

Due to their compact nature, the buds feature a smaller battery returning up to 5 and half hours of audio playback with the case providing up to 12 more hours. That said, a 10-minute charge provides up to 90 minutes of playtime.

Now, the Link Buds do not support multi-device Bluetooth pairing, which means you need to disconnect the buds from your current device before they can pair with another device. Thankfully that process is made easier thanks to support for Google’s Fast Pair technology on Android devices and Microsoft’s Swift Pair on PCs.

What non-Xiaomi/Poco smartphones can you get for under RM1500?

Well, both Alex and Najib agree that Realme is one of the best alternatives to Xiaomi and Poco.

realme 9 Pro

As such, you can consider the realme 9 Pro which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Up front, there is a 6.6” FHD+ IPS LCD display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Providing juice is a 5000mAh battery capable of 33W fast charging with the included Dart charger.

Now, I know you said you don’t care much for the camera, but just for your information, there’s a triple camera setup with a 64MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor.

You can pick one up for RM1,199.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G

Another option that the guys suggested was the One Plus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, which is also priced at RM1,199. As for the specs, it might sound like I’m repeating myself but that’s because both phones have a lot in common.

So, you get the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor mated to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You will find a similar 6.59” FHD+ IPS LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Battery capacity is similar as well at 5,000mAh and it also supports 33W fast charging albeit using the included SuperVOOC charger.

In the camera department, there is some differences with the OnePlus devices featuring a 64MP main camera, 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor, essentially giving you only 2 shooting modes compared to 3 on the realme.

So, the deciding factor could come down to whether you prefer Realme UI or OxygenOS on the OnePlus.

We’re looking for people to join the team!

I would like to announce that we are looking for people to join the SoyaCincau family. There’s an opening for Videographer, editor and graphic designer, social media manager, and BM Tech writer. If any of these positions caught your attention, you can find more information here.